[And here he is. The man himself. The Serious Red Haired Man Who Failed To Introduce Himself Despite Living With Sigmund's Mother. Aka The Serious Red Haired Man Who Has No Idea Why Sigmund Is So Antagonistic With Him. He really can't identify with moody people, especially aggressive moody people. But he'll try... for Svala's sake. And maybe a small part of him misses the companionship he had with Sigmund in the past.
Also, he doesn't particularly want Sigmund to wage war against him once he finds out that he's dating his mother.
Anyway, Kratos enters the barracks, his sword by his side and his shield strapped to his arm. He's wearing his knight (minus the wings, and yes, knights wore this in the past) outfit which, unbeknown to most, is made with complex technology, so that the fabric, most especially the belts, act as an armor all their own. Kratos arrived for a spar, yet he's less than hopeful that it'll actually be that.
He watches Sigmund for a moment, mildly impressed by the form and power that he presents. Already, he rests his hand against the sheath of his sword, preparing to draw it when necessary.]
[Sigmund straightens and turns to face him when he hears him speak.
Surprisingly, he sheathes his sword and begins unstrapping his shield as he walks over. He absolutely intends to rough his opponent up a bit, but a weapon is not something to be wielded flippantly. Sigmund doesn't make a habit of raising a blade against a man unless he means to see him dead, and he isn't going to start now.
That's all the acknowledgment he'll get until Sigmund has retrieved his wooden equipment and is tightening the straps on the shield. Then, he glances up and, flatly-]
It is an unworthy man that lives with another's mother without an introduction.
[For his opinion to get any lower, he'd have to chop its legs off.]
[Kratos watched Sigmund's movements carefully, though he's a bit surprised that he's taking the wooden equipment. Still, his facial expressions remain as (almost infuriatingly) calm as ever. The way he leans himself forward indicates that he, too, was about to go to the wooden weapons - it'd be ideal to match their weapons in a spar so as not to have any sort of advantage, when Sigmund speaks.
... Oh. Oh. Is that what this whole grudge is about? Kratos could give the world's largest facepalm right now, but he'll refrain. Instead, he raises his eyebrows before letting out a long sigh.]
... I apologize for that. It wasn't my intention to dishonor you or Svala. [Although he's sure he gave him his name... Oh well.] We were companions when she was here last. I merely wished for her to stay with someone she knew until another one from her world arrived. [He narrows his eyes a bit, hoping that his point will get across and be understood.] There are beings in Luceti who would not hesitate to raise their weapon against anyone. I did not want her to be defenseless against them, nor to be unaware of the dangers.
[That strap didn't really need to be yanked that hard. Sigmund is extra conscientious when tucking it in, as if making it up to his equipment. He draws the waster and rechecks the weight and balance, defiantly silent and straight faced.
Actually, he can respect that reasoning. It doesn't make him any more pleased with it, because he doesn't necessarily want to respect a man edging in on his territory... but it's something.
He turns his back to Kratos and strides into the center of the ring.]
You might have informed me of her location. [And then spins on one heel to face him.]
[As Sigmund does that, Kratos strides forward, loosening the straps of his own shield as he heads to the wasters and wooden shields. As he does so, he glances at the arena they'll be in, gauging how large the area is and how much he'll be able to move. Once he reaches the weapons, he places his own beside them in a position where he'll be able to easily grab them if necessary. He doesn't think Sigmund will turn this into a life or death struggle, but one must always be prepared. He then weighs each sword, trying to find one that matches or is at least similar to the weight he is used to. But he won't hesitate to give Sigmund his full attention once he's finished speaking.]
Yes... It was wrong of me to withhold such information. [But how can he explain that Presea was practically in guard dog mode and Sigmund bursting in would surely set her off?] But there is no way for me to return to the past and undo it. All I can do is try to make up for my mistake in the present.
[Ah, here's a good waster. Kratos gives it a few relaxed practice swings and, satisfied, he moves on to the shields.]
[From rope to rope, it is exactly six painful attacks from Sigmund across, not that the information would help Kratos much.
Sigmund watches him closely, sizing him up. He doesn't miss the way Kratos tries to keep his blade close at hand, even after Sigmund has deliberately discarded his own. For a moment, he's taken aback by the implied lack of trust... but he presses his lips together, twists the grip of the waster in his hands, and settles into a comfortable starting stance.]
[It's more of a matter of someone else bursting in and interrupting the spar than one of trust. In his world, at least, there's always the chance that a monster would be attracted by the noises and decide that it's hungry. There are no monsters here, but it's simply a habit that Kratos finds difficult to break out of. After he chooses the shield that fits the most comfortably on him, he takes another glance around as if checking to see if the area is indeed clear, for the above reasons.
And then he, too, steps into the arena, his stance comfortable and settled, and yet ready to move, with his feet shoulder wide and his back straight.]
[Just as soon as the word has passed his lips, Sigmund is rushing him, sword and body turned slightly so that his shield covers the softer bits his armor can't.]
[Kratos waited for the right opportunity. When Sigmund's legs were in mid-launch right when Kratos was in range for an attack. Once it gets to that point, he slides his feet to the side, going around Sigmund's shield arm, and then swings his waster down towards Sigmund's back. He keeps his shield up to protect the side closest to his opponent's sword, knowing that Sigmund may be aware of Kratos' plan.]
[As soon as Kratos moves to his side, Sigmund changes tactics and uses his momentum to launch himself into a forward leap, preferably out of range. The tricky part is going to be getting turned around without leaving any openings. He feels a tap on his back, but by that point he's whipping around. He lashes out, not with his sword, but with his shield.]
[Heavy use of the shield, he sees. Kratos takes a light leap backward, quick to get his feet grounded again, quick to get out of range of that shield. With one step forward, he swings his sword low, aiming for Sigmumd's legs.]
[What is this, low blows? What Kratos may or may not realize is that Sigmund jumps to those ludicrous heights under only his own power, and he might as well be swinging at tree trunks. Sigmund doesn't even bother to block. The hit turns his knee in some, but he doesn't otherwise acknowledge it. Instead, he leaps.]
[A high jump. That's pretty impressive, too. Kratos can't even remember how high he can jump without his enhanced strength... Now that Sigmund's jumped, Kratos raises his shield and braces himself, ready for a strike from above. But he's ready to move, too, in case Sigmund doesn't strike and chooses to land instead.]
[Why choose one, when Sigmund can do both? He uses the brief moment at the height of his jump to turn the waster so that the flat will hit the shield. There are no dainty landings here. He may have come down on his feet, but he still hits the ground like several sacks of bricks.]
[Kratos takes the hit against the shield calmly, although he finds the corners of his lips turn up a bit. He's not being cocky, he simply hasn't had a good spar against someone in a good while. The last time he'd had one was against Lloyd, and that was months ago. As Sigmund takes the force of the landing, which Kratos can see was a hard one, he shoves against the offending waster and swings his own around towards his shoulder.]
[Sigmund will give him all the spar he can handle. He's still a little chafed from that "judge your skills" comment. If Kratos is going to make comments like that, far be it from Sigmund to deny him a fair and accurate (and possibly slightly painful) sampling.
He responds to the attack by doing two things at roughly the same time. First, he lifts his arm so that his rerebrace covers his otherwise unprotected shoulder. Secondly, he pushes forward with his shield. He doesn't treat it as an extension of his armor so much as he does a second weapon.]
Also, he doesn't particularly want Sigmund to wage war against him once he finds out that he's dating his mother.
Anyway, Kratos enters the barracks, his sword by his side and his shield strapped to his arm. He's wearing his knight (minus the wings, and yes, knights wore this in the past) outfit which, unbeknown to most, is made with complex technology, so that the fabric, most especially the belts, act as an armor all their own. Kratos arrived for a spar, yet he's less than hopeful that it'll actually be that.
He watches Sigmund for a moment, mildly impressed by the form and power that he presents. Already, he rests his hand against the sheath of his sword, preparing to draw it when necessary.]
You have impressive skill.
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Surprisingly, he sheathes his sword and begins unstrapping his shield as he walks over. He absolutely intends to rough his opponent up a bit, but a weapon is not something to be wielded flippantly. Sigmund doesn't make a habit of raising a blade against a man unless he means to see him dead, and he isn't going to start now.
That's all the acknowledgment he'll get until Sigmund has retrieved his wooden equipment and is tightening the straps on the shield. Then, he glances up and, flatly-]
It is an unworthy man that lives with another's mother without an introduction.
[For his opinion to get any lower, he'd have to chop its legs off.]
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... Oh. Oh. Is that what this whole grudge is about? Kratos could give the world's largest facepalm right now, but he'll refrain. Instead, he raises his eyebrows before letting out a long sigh.]
... I apologize for that. It wasn't my intention to dishonor you or Svala. [Although he's sure he gave him his name... Oh well.] We were companions when she was here last. I merely wished for her to stay with someone she knew until another one from her world arrived. [He narrows his eyes a bit, hoping that his point will get across and be understood.] There are beings in Luceti who would not hesitate to raise their weapon against anyone. I did not want her to be defenseless against them, nor to be unaware of the dangers.
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Actually, he can respect that reasoning. It doesn't make him any more pleased with it, because he doesn't necessarily want to respect a man edging in on his territory... but it's something.
He turns his back to Kratos and strides into the center of the ring.]
You might have informed me of her location. [And then spins on one heel to face him.]
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Yes... It was wrong of me to withhold such information. [But how can he explain that Presea was practically in guard dog mode and Sigmund bursting in would surely set her off?] But there is no way for me to return to the past and undo it. All I can do is try to make up for my mistake in the present.
[Ah, here's a good waster. Kratos gives it a few relaxed practice swings and, satisfied, he moves on to the shields.]
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Sigmund watches him closely, sizing him up. He doesn't miss the way Kratos tries to keep his blade close at hand, even after Sigmund has deliberately discarded his own. For a moment, he's taken aback by the implied lack of trust... but he presses his lips together, twists the grip of the waster in his hands, and settles into a comfortable starting stance.]
When you are ready.
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And then he, too, steps into the arena, his stance comfortable and settled, and yet ready to move, with his feet shoulder wide and his back straight.]
Ready.
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He responds to the attack by doing two things at roughly the same time. First, he lifts his arm so that his rerebrace covers his otherwise unprotected shoulder. Secondly, he pushes forward with his shield. He doesn't treat it as an extension of his armor so much as he does a second weapon.]
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