Harrington Residence, Wednesday Morning
While she would have preferred to beat the living daylights out of another trainer, Honor opted to work on kata that morning. The precise movements and concentration on form allowed a focus for the nervous energy she felt surging through her.
The graduation ceremony went well, over all, she thought as she glanced down, checking the position of her feet. Her lead guardsman, Andrew LaFollet, was less than amused by the inflatable gremlin incident, and was threatening to keep her locked away when she wasn’t teaching. But, as promised, the graduating seniors saved the day -- their day, Honor reflected -- and put the impossible object out of commission. She was incredibly proud of her students, and wished she had more time with them. For now, all she could do was wish them well.
She shifted her feet slightly, the right foot perpendicular to the planks in the hardwood floor, left foot at almost a forty-five degree angle. She then shifted her hips and moved slowly through the appropriate arm movements for the kata before taking another step forward. Memories of White Haven’s previous visit flashed through her, their words echoing in her mind. They had stood together on the back deck the night before his departure. "Just... promise me you'll be careful," he’d said, his eyes more imploring than his voice.
Honor could well remember the rueful smile that curved her lips in that moment. "As careful as I can be, My Lord, when I seem to find trouble everywhere," she replied. Once he found out about the inflated gremlin, the earl was probably going to be equally as amused as Andrew had been - as in, not at all. Her impeccable ability to find trouble had followed her here to this very strange place.
A twinge of pain shot up from her injured knee, and she shifted her left foot once more to ease the pressure. The vindictive part of her couldn’t wait to see Hamish’s expression when he learned of the incident. After all, where else but Fandom could one see the spontaneous animation of an oversized balloon? Nothing in her years serving the RMN could have prepared her for it, and she doubted the earl had seen many in his career, either.
She was ashamed to admit that she was looking forward to this visit as much as she was dreading it. Her mother, Allison Chou Harrington, didn’t do subtle well; the fact that she had tried set Honor’s nerves on edge. There was something going on back home, something no one was telling her, and from her mother’s message, she guessed it wasn’t good. And now it’s going to land square in my lap, she thought, just like normal. Just like normal, however, she would deal with it, regardless of what it was. The fact that it gave her one more excuse to see Hamish was something else. Not that she should be looking forward to it, or seeking out excuses. He was a married man still very much in love with his wife, whatever else he might have felt for her. She would have to take what little she could get...even if that meant nothing more than friendship for the two.
Reaching for her towel, she gave a derisive snort. Right. Just keep telling yourself that, Honor. She was still shaking her head as she headed for the showers.
The graduation ceremony went well, over all, she thought as she glanced down, checking the position of her feet. Her lead guardsman, Andrew LaFollet, was less than amused by the inflatable gremlin incident, and was threatening to keep her locked away when she wasn’t teaching. But, as promised, the graduating seniors saved the day -- their day, Honor reflected -- and put the impossible object out of commission. She was incredibly proud of her students, and wished she had more time with them. For now, all she could do was wish them well.
She shifted her feet slightly, the right foot perpendicular to the planks in the hardwood floor, left foot at almost a forty-five degree angle. She then shifted her hips and moved slowly through the appropriate arm movements for the kata before taking another step forward. Memories of White Haven’s previous visit flashed through her, their words echoing in her mind. They had stood together on the back deck the night before his departure. "Just... promise me you'll be careful," he’d said, his eyes more imploring than his voice.
Honor could well remember the rueful smile that curved her lips in that moment. "As careful as I can be, My Lord, when I seem to find trouble everywhere," she replied. Once he found out about the inflated gremlin, the earl was probably going to be equally as amused as Andrew had been - as in, not at all. Her impeccable ability to find trouble had followed her here to this very strange place.
A twinge of pain shot up from her injured knee, and she shifted her left foot once more to ease the pressure. The vindictive part of her couldn’t wait to see Hamish’s expression when he learned of the incident. After all, where else but Fandom could one see the spontaneous animation of an oversized balloon? Nothing in her years serving the RMN could have prepared her for it, and she doubted the earl had seen many in his career, either.
She was ashamed to admit that she was looking forward to this visit as much as she was dreading it. Her mother, Allison Chou Harrington, didn’t do subtle well; the fact that she had tried set Honor’s nerves on edge. There was something going on back home, something no one was telling her, and from her mother’s message, she guessed it wasn’t good. And now it’s going to land square in my lap, she thought, just like normal. Just like normal, however, she would deal with it, regardless of what it was. The fact that it gave her one more excuse to see Hamish was something else. Not that she should be looking forward to it, or seeking out excuses. He was a married man still very much in love with his wife, whatever else he might have felt for her. She would have to take what little she could get...even if that meant nothing more than friendship for the two.
Reaching for her towel, she gave a derisive snort. Right. Just keep telling yourself that, Honor. She was still shaking her head as she headed for the showers.