[open] once amid the soft silver sadness in the sky

[wotchesyou]

Who: Tonks and You!
When: Tuesday, August 9th.
Where: Various points in the city starting and ending at the Clinic.
Format: Paragraph to start then whatever tickles your fancy.
What: Tonks is trying to find herself.
Warnings: Angst

Comments

[supercilious]

It was Arthur's sword which had started their friendship, in some ways. There hadn't been much more than animosity between them until Arthur had promised to do what Nymphadora had thought others could not. To put her out of her misery if she needed it

[wotchesyou]

One day, she will say thank you. One day Tonks will be completely open and honest with her feelings. It will not be today or even tomorrow. She still hurts. She's still angry. She's still unsure.

While Tonks is on the path to recovery, it is still hard for her to articulate most of her feelings.

When she enters the Dojo she doesn't have her wand in sight. It is on her person, tucked safely into a holster at her calf which is concealed by her trousers. Tonks wasn't worried about fighting in her dress. She could fight in wizard robes (which were much longer and more voluminous), she could fight in this. However, she didn't have to. She had borrowed a white tunic and trousers from the clinic.

"Listen, I think you should know. I'm a bit of a klutz. If I happen to step on your foot, it's probably not intentional."

Her path to recovery is a long one but every so often some of her old self shows through. The number of occurrences are increasing.

[supercilious]

Once, Arthur wasn't very fond of Tonks' quips. It's not that he has no sense of humour, simply that his is very specific, often cruel, often dark, never (or barely ever) at his own expense. So when she'd made fun of him in the past it had made him scowl and stiffen. Now he cherishes each time her vivid personality shines through her sadness, a brief glimpse of sunlight through the clouds.

"We're not dancing. I don't know that you'll have the opportunity to step on my toes," Arthur replies, wry. "But if you accidentally run me through, I'll rest easy knowing it's because you're clumsy." A beat, and then he's tossing on of the swords at her. "Catch

[wotchesyou]

"No, we're not. I don't think your toes could handle that amount of damage." A small grin plays at the corner of her lips, "Yeah. You can rest easy knowing it's not an affront to your abilities

[supercilious]

Arthur wouldn't throw a real sword at Nymphadora. Probably.

She catches it - just - and he's pleased. There's instinctual hand-eye co-ordination there, and her grip isn't bad for a first-timer... but there's also a tendency to ignore the sword completely. He can tell by the fact that she's punching him.

"Ow!" He cops it in the shoulder, brings his own sword up to rap her smartly across the knuckles in retaliation. "Hit me with your sword, idiot!"

Probably a little harsh, but Arthur has his own instinctual responses, and shouting is one of them. Parrying is another, and this time he doesn't intend to let her land a blow. Whether she uses her sword or her fist. (But hopefully it's the sword.)

[wotchesyou]

"Honestly, Arthur, you tell me to hit you and then you yell at me. You should've... Ow! Bloody hell!" Tonks jerks her hand back and shakes it. "That hurts!" For a moment, for one brief moment, Tonks is reminded of Mad-Eye and it is glorious.

Tonks takes a step backwards. She grips the hilt of the sword with both hands. Experimentally, she draws back and attempts to slash diagonally at him. Tonks doesn't know what she's doing but she thinks she's seen this in a movie once, a movie with glowing swords.

[supercilious]

[ Arthur turns her sword aside with ease, the blades clacking. She's terrible, but that gives them somewhere to start with. ]

First things first, your sword isn't a club, it's an extension of your arm. You need to hold it like this.

[ He shows her his grip, placing his fingers on the hilt of the sword deliberately so she can mimic, and then moving to correct the position of her fingers slightly. ]

Remember, if you drop your sword you're likely dead before you can pick it up. So the way you hold it is important. It should be comfortable, and flexible, and protect your fingers. There, that's it. Obviously you're unlikely to have the muscular strength to hold a real sword in this way, but that's what training is for.

[ He gives her a look from under his lashes, and there's feeling there, compassion. ]

You'll get stronger. Now, hit me again.

[wotchesyou]

[ Tonks pays attention. She is taking this seriously. Her fingers mimic his on the hilt of her practice sword. ]

But if I drop the sword, I could always apparate. As long as I have my wand on my person, I mean.

[ Her tone is not one of stubbornness. She feels she is conveying something she can do. Tonks isn't prone to running away, however.

She doesn't say anything when Arthur comments on her strength level. He is speaking the truth. A wooden sword is far heavier than a wand. It's not a judgement against her as a person, just her skills.

However, while she does recognize that, she can't help but give a small roll of her eyes. ]

Yeah, yeah. I'll get stronger, better, faster.

[ Oh, Arthur. One day, you'll be a brilliant ruler. She notes that tone and look.

Tonks shifts her grip slightly. She moves forward and tries to run him through. ]