[Video/Action] (Backdated to the 15th)
[ Good evenin', Route! You're gonna be treated to the two faces of Axel and Bell, a Cyndaquil and a Togetic respectively, popping in your screens for the moment. Then they chirp and turn the Gear to the scene that's occurring now. ]
Haah! Hiyaah!
[ Here comes a Xion charging at Cecil... who is wielding a frying pan, and Xion's wooden weapon that looks like a vaguely misshapen Keyblade clashing with the back end of Cecil's frying pan. ]
Trying to get through my defenses? Good luck with that. [He pushes the wooden "keyblade" to the side with the frying pan, and brings it back quickly before aiming it at Xion's wrist.]
[ Bell, who's currently holding the Gear, is jumping up in fright at what's coming at her Trainer. Thanks to the shift, you can see Lancer off to the side and watching the fray, no doubt calculating the stances and moves of the current fighters.
Xion herself is quick to react. Recovering quickly from the deflection, she jumps back and is coming in quickly with a straight thrust to Cecil's chest, just like her finisher. ]
[Oh, not bad at all. Cecil sees that strike, and he counters it by-
...Doing nothing and taking it?]
Do you truly believe you can win by attacking the most armored part of my body?
[His right arm counters with a downward slash, aimed at Xion's own chest... while his left reaches up to grab her weapon.]
Ugh!
[ Struck, Xion is pushed back with even her weapon snatched out of her hand from the distraction. She wheezes a bit, her breath coming out in transparent puffs of air while clutches her chest. Cecil, for all his kindness, is certainly more experienced she thought, and certainly well beyond her current capabilities now. Still, stands from her kneeling position and eyes her kidnapped weapon. ]
But what if these weren't wooden, Cecil? That was risky to do... [ Taking her hit, she means. ]
Normally I catch attacks with my shield instead, but since I have none... [He shrugs.] Between Protect spells, accessories that give the same effect, better armor, my healing powers and my allies' support, I manage. [He starts spinning the wooden keyblade thoughtfully.] In fact, being able to unfailingly take attacks for others is one of my powers. I've become used to it.
[ Nodding to that, Lancer pipes up with: ] Sometimes the reckless tactic is a good choice. It'll throw off your opponent long enough for you to get a good strike in.
Hmm... [ Xion herself seems to be contemplating that, then nods. It'll be a tactic she might use later, because, hey, she's one of Sora's heartspawn; recklessness is like second nature. ] Can I have that back? [ She gestures to her wooden keyblade. ]
Of course, you need to be prepared to deal with those reckless decisions. If I must go down while covering an ally, I have to be certain it will be worth it. [He stops spinning the keyblade.] Oh, I apologize. There you go.
[He throws it back at her before turning his attention to his frying pan, looking for any scratches or bumps on the metal.]
Thank you. [ She catches the wooden keyblade in the air and soon snaps into her common keyblade stance. ] I'm ready for another round.
[ Off to the side, Axel is jumping up and down, almost as though cheering his trainer on. Bell herself moves the Gear a little to show herself pointing at her trainer and waving her arm as though saying, "Did ya see that?" ]
[ ooc: Cecil; Lancer, and they can both answer to tags answered here! ]