012 [Audio]

[soggypastry]

[The feed opens to the snickering of a Haunter, before the sounds of flesh on flesh start up. Is Lightning sparring with Leon again? Probably---that's not Leon. That's Ven. Ven groaning and grunting in pain, actually.]

Spread your legs, Ven. [Another momentary pause, and Lightning sighs.] Wider. You need to be able to---good. Keep them like that

Comments

[audio]

[restardom]

[ there's actually a really long pause here, followed by a... whicker that is most definitely not Rise. But then the girl herself speaks up, with a hint of amusement. ]

Beating him up?

[action]

[restardom]

[ Rise nods, taking a look at her stance and adjusting herself to mimic it-- before she makes a face and bends her knees a little more. ]

Like this?

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Lightning appraises the pose, then shakes her head and carefully toes Rise's forward facing foot further apart from her rear one.] If you stand closed off like that, you'll get knocked over.

[Another look over, and a nod.] Keep your weight braced on your back leg, and don't lock your knees. [Just follow along, Rise. She'll teach you yet.]

[action]

[restardom]

And this'll feel natural one day, right? [ she says it jokingly, but even as she says it, she's moving to the correct position and settling into it. It's a little harder to stay bent without locking up, but choreography practice does come in handy. ]

[action]

[soggypastry]

After a lot of practice it will. [Light comes out that stance, walking around Rise almost like a vulture. Stance is right, knees are bent but unlocked, and she seems ready.]

I'm going to try and knock you over. Stay standing and we'll go from there. [Yes, she means that. And that was not a very light shove, either.]

[action]

[restardom]

[ ... sadly, Rise was braced, but not quite enough for that hard of a shove. At least she manages to keep from landing on her face, but she yelps a little and stumbles out of her stance. ]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Much better than what Lightning was expecting, really. The fact that Rise didn't fall over is progress right there.]

Try again. Staying on your feet might save your life.

[action]

[restardom]

[ Rise mastered the fine art of balance during idol training. Staying upright during her first ever battle kind of drove it home. ]

R-right... okay, here goes.

[ it takes her a few seconds to remember the position, but she eventually reaches it once more. ]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Lightning waits for a split second once Rise has her stance, then shoves again. It's a smidge lighter than the first time, but still not all that light. Rise's going to have to learn fast or be very sore.]

[action]

[restardom]

[ because that split second isn't enough for PROPER balance - though she really should have known better - and whoops, down she goes this time.

With a wince, though, she pushes herself up. Never a good idea to stay down too long, and she remembers frantic calls for her downed teammates to GET UP. ]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Not giving Rise time to regain her balance might have been the entire point, actually. An enemy certainly wouldn't give her the time.

Light just watches, stepping forward to be sure Rise isn't hurt, and she nods.]

Not bad for your first time. We'll have to work on it, but you're better than some soldiers I saw.

[action]

[restardom]

O-oh good... [ ruefully rubbing her cheek. ] Choreography actually pays off somewhere else.

[action]

[soggypastry]

[A quick nod, and Lightning rolls her shoulders.]

Besides giving you extra flexibility, yeah. [Without a word, she slips into her stance.]

Now, try and knock me over. Use her if you have to. [A gesture at the Ponyta, then a look back at Rise. It's only fair, really.]

[action]

[restardom]

... Um, Light, I know she's little, but she's still pretty strong. Are you sure?

[action]

[soggypastry]

I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't. [Weight braced, knees bent and unlocked, and back curved. She's standing her ground on this one.]

[action]

[restardom]

... Okay, if you say so...

[ because Rise herself can't bring herself to do it, she nods to the Ponyta, who tosses her head with a determined whinny and charges forward.

Sorry for the impact, Lightning. ]