[Individual lessons. Good. That meant less likelihood of someone seeing this disaster waiting to happen.
Albert waited outside of the western entrance of the barracks, hands in his coat pockets as he looked out upon the village. He had contacted Caesar to meet him at the building, vaguely telling his brother that he had something important to talk to him about.
While he was still not looking forward to taking the first step into the world of swordsmanship, there was a vague satisfaction that he would at least be dragging Caesar down with him. With his little brother, he could afford to be petty once in awhile.]
[A certain older brother has been acting rather strange lately. But, you know, when he hints at something important he wants to speak about, Caesar decides that he can put all this aside and meet with him, regardless of how... suspicious the whole situation is.
He takes his time in showing up, of course, but certainly not as long as he might have taken if it were someone else. And Albert isn't very hard to spot when Caesar gets there.
...but something still doesn't feel right about all this. Hmm.]
[Albert has a stern expression in place. Considering they had never really resolved that conversation they had last week, it made sense to greet Caesar without the vaguely-relaxed air he usually had around him. He watches Caesar approach, frowning.]
Let's go inside.
[No pleasantries, no comments about last week. Albert just gestured towards the door and told Caesar to follow him.]
[Well, that wasn't entirely unusual, at least. They tended to do that, whenever they had such strange conversations. It would be awkward for a while, but they'd probably just move on and not mention it. Eventually. So as Caesar quietly (...or lazily) followed his brother's instructions, he was more concerned with what he wanted to talk about rather than, well, all of that.
And see, Caesar's kind of stuck on that thought when he enters the building, so he doesn't quite realize the set-up of things. Or its purpose. But he's not going to like it when he does.]
[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
( ... )
[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
( ... )
[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.]
[For once, Richard isn't clad in his royal finery, opting instead for a loose-fitting, long-sleeved tunic and a pair of pants, though he's kept the boots-- a few days isn't really enough to break in a new pair of boots and make him feel comfortable enough to fight in them. He's got his rapier on his hip, though no shield or armor as he'd noted to Sigmund before.
Personal swordsmanship training is something Richard is quite used to by now after the string of tutors he had back in Balonia. Admittedly the circumstances here are rather different, but the idea is the same, and he's confident enough that he'll be able to handle anything Sigmund can dish out.
At least, he was until he saw the man in action. Now he's not quite so sure.]
[Sigmund may be a strict taskmaster, but he's not that bad. Turning brand new students into one large bruise on the first lesson is not conducive to teaching them things. But if Richard saw that, Sigmund can at least be certain that his student is assured of his skills. It is important to have a teacher whose abilities one can respect.
He greets him with a tiny nod, sheathing his sword.] Are you ready to begin? [...No niceties here.]
[And assured of his skills Richard is indeed. If nothing else, he knows he's going to get a workout during this lesson.]
I am. What would you have me do?
[It's a bit of a different setup than what he's used to, so he's not quite sure where he's supposed to stand or even whether he's expected to use a real sword for this lesson. He's used to training with a real sword, of course, but Sigmund may want to start off with something a little less hazardous. Richard wouldn't object to that in the slightest after that display of skill he just witnessed.]
[True to his word, Arumat is there early. That's not really all that surprising considering his tendency to hang around the barracks to practice, but what may be surprising to Sigmund is the weapon he carries resting on his shoulder: a giant laser scythe, blade glowing a bright purple in the darker light of the barracks. The weapon has to be almost eight feet long, yet Arumat holds it as if it weighs little more than a twig to him.
He's been standing off to the side watching the other set this little training arena up and just waiting for him to be ready. There's nothing better for him to be doing anyway, and it's been far too long since he last had a decent spar.]
There's something he hasn't seen before, and it doesn't look like a promising thing to be on the business end of. 'Never raise a blade against a man you aren't prepared to kill' is a wise philosophy, but all the same... he doesn't particularly want to be fending that off with a stick. If it can be fended off...]
You were planning on leaving enough to teach with. [No, that is not a question.]
[Likely not, as that thing can slash through everything from Phantom soldiers to Grigori with ease. But he's no fool and won't go all-out in a spar for the simple reason that he knows damn well that the majority of the people he's sparred with would be dead by the blade of that scythe. And given that his regular sparring partner used to be Crowe while the man was here...]
Only a fool would maim the first sparring partner he's had in a long time.
[This is exactly the first laser Sigmund has ever seen, but he is already planning ways to keep all his limbs attached to his body. If Sigmund is his first sparring partner in a long time, it's probably only because he has about a quarter of the good sense and self-preservation people are usually blessed with. He tugs on one of his rerebraces to adjust it]
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Albert waited outside of the western entrance of the barracks, hands in his coat pockets as he looked out upon the village. He had contacted Caesar to meet him at the building, vaguely telling his brother that he had something important to talk to him about.
While he was still not looking forward to taking the first step into the world of swordsmanship, there was a vague satisfaction that he would at least be dragging Caesar down with him. With his little brother, he could afford to be petty once in awhile.]
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He takes his time in showing up, of course, but certainly not as long as he might have taken if it were someone else. And Albert isn't very hard to spot when Caesar gets there.
...but something still doesn't feel right about all this. Hmm.]
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Let's go inside.
[No pleasantries, no comments about last week. Albert just gestured towards the door and told Caesar to follow him.]
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And see, Caesar's kind of stuck on that thought when he enters the building, so he doesn't quite realize the set-up of things. Or its purpose. But he's not going to like it when he does.]
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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 ( ... )
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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 ( ... )
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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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Personal swordsmanship training is something Richard is quite used to by now after the string of tutors he had back in Balonia. Admittedly the circumstances here are rather different, but the idea is the same, and he's confident enough that he'll be able to handle anything Sigmund can dish out.
At least, he was until he saw the man in action. Now he's not quite so sure.]
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He greets him with a tiny nod, sheathing his sword.] Are you ready to begin? [...No niceties here.]
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I am. What would you have me do?
[It's a bit of a different setup than what he's used to, so he's not quite sure where he's supposed to stand or even whether he's expected to use a real sword for this lesson. He's used to training with a real sword, of course, but Sigmund may want to start off with something a little less hazardous. Richard wouldn't object to that in the slightest after that display of skill he just witnessed.]
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[The first thing he wants to do is get a feel for the balance of that weapon, so as to better match him up with a practice sword.]
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He's been standing off to the side watching the other set this little training arena up and just waiting for him to be ready. There's nothing better for him to be doing anyway, and it's been far too long since he last had a decent spar.]
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There's something he hasn't seen before, and it doesn't look like a promising thing to be on the business end of. 'Never raise a blade against a man you aren't prepared to kill' is a wise philosophy, but all the same... he doesn't particularly want to be fending that off with a stick. If it can be fended off...]
You were planning on leaving enough to teach with. [No, that is not a question.]
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Only a fool would maim the first sparring partner he's had in a long time.
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We'll need to go outside.
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