003 [Voice]

[restoremyhonour]

[Zuko had been spending most of his time over last several weeks out in the forest, basically ignoring everyone as he talks with Eferin, but since Bil's post Zuko has be around the village and the Avatar house. He knows both Sokka and Katara are competent, but he's still just not able to settle down and wait for their return. So after spending a

Comments

[ voice ]

[hakoiri]

[ He's hesitant to offer, at first. He should be spending his time on the lookout -- but a little distraction never hurt anyone. And they both need/want it, he thinks. ]

I'd be up for sparring with swords, if you've the time.

[ voice ]

[restoremyhonour]

I wouldn't have asked if I didn't have the time. Meet at the barracks? Or do you have somewherw else you prefer to spar?

[Pause.] I'm Zuko.

[ voice ]

[hakoiri]

That's true . . . [ A pause. ] Not particularly. So the barracks it is.

And I'm Alf. Shall we meet at our destination now?

[ voice ] - [ action ]

[restoremyhonour]

Sure. [And Zuko will grab his swords and head over to the baracks. Given his house is nearby it won't take him long to get there, so he will be outside waiting for Alf to get there.

[ action ]

[hakoiri]

[ Meanwhile, Alf makes haste. He's passed by the barracks before, so it doesn't take him longer than it should. When he arrives, he greets Zuko with a nod. ]

Zuko, yes? I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.

[ action ]

[restoremyhonour]

I wasn't waiting long.

Shall we? [Zuko will head inside the barracks.]

[ action ]

[hakoiri]

[ With an affirmative "mm," he follows. It's his first time going inside the barracks; he takes a moment to study the layout within with his eyes. ]

[ action ]

[restoremyhonour]

[Zuko is happy to let Alf look around the Barracks. He just didn't want to stay outside in the rain any longer then necessary.]

So, what type or sword do you use, and how comfortable are you with it?

[ action ]

[hakoiri]

[ Indeed, it was good to get out of the rain. ]

I'm very comfortable with the longsword. I've been taught how to use it since I was a child. [ Left hand on the scabbard, he unsheathes his sword with his right. ] And yourself?

[ action ]

[restoremyhonour]

[Zuko will pull his duel Dao blades out of the sheath oh his back.]

I use Dao blades. Likewise taught when I was a child.

[ action ]

[hakoiri]

Interesting! Then the odds are even.

[ He gets into position, which is basically straightening and tightening his grip on the sword. ]

Whenever you're ready.

[ action ]

[restoremyhonour]

[Zuko will settle into his starting stance, take a few moments to get comfortable, and then lunge at Alf. He's not trying anything fancy, just a few very simple hits just to gage Alf's reaction time and strength.]

[ action ]

[hakoiri]

[ Alf will raise his sword in front of him to intercept the strikes in time with ample strength. It's a tad difficult, what with there being two blades to watch out for, but he'll get by (for now). After getting pushed back far enough, and when chance allows him, he'll press forward with his weight to push away the blades and lunge for a stab. ]

Re: [ action ]

[restoremyhonour]

[Zuko will parry that stab, putting his weight into his swords as he forces the stab to once side and move slightly to the side before attacking again.]

[ action ]

[hakoiri]

[ He immediately jumps back when the stab fails, dodging Zuko's attack by a bare inch (especially with his word arm pulling back slower than the rest of him). This time he swipes upward from the right. ]

[ action ]

[restoremyhonour]

[Zuko darts backwards from the upwards strike, it just missing him, before attacking in a double sweep at Alf's right side.]