[ACTION]

[atouchofstrife]

[ Cloud had decided to get up early and spend a few hours with his blades, making sure that they were in shape after the whole 'sucked into another world' thing. Once cleaned, sharpened, and polished he took the Fusion Swords outside of the Garden for practice. Sure he could have gone to the Training Center, but he had found the ceiling was just

Comments

[flirtninja]

I think there's a point where you've reached overkill, and that point is when you have more swords than you have hands.

[The ninja has paused to observe curiously, ducking down to look at some of the other weapons that comprise the set with a thoughtful frown. Even the smaller weapons look big and bulky, all things considered! But his words aren't challenging, merely wry.]

[atouchofstrife]

[ He spun around, the First Ken snapping open showing the grooves where he could place materia if he really had need for them. Then with a shake of his head, Cloud straighten from his half-crouch, casually swinging the sword over his shoulder. ]

You sound just like Barret.

[ He wasn't even breathing hard despite having spent most of the morning practicing. ]

Minus the swearing and firing round into the air.

[flirtninja]

I'm going to take that as a compliment in its entirety.

Seriously, what's with that one? [He points at the hollow blade.] It's just a big wedge of metal.

[atouchofstrife]

It's shaped the way it's meant to be shaped.

[ Cloud's mouth twisted into a smirk, a touch of arrogance mixing in with his enjoyment over how puzzling his swords were to people at first. ]

The Fusion Swords were customized for my fighting style after my six favorite swords.

[makeashowofit]

[While he knew there were swordsmen at this place other than his first mate, Marvelous had yet to see one practice really. He wasn't much of a refined swordsman but, he could appreciate the work and technique that went into it so, simply passing by, he paused to watch this guy.]

Hm. Not bad.

[atouchofstrife]

Thanks.

[ A slight flush at the other's words before Cloud opens the First Ken and plucks the jagged sword from the ground and snapping it into place on the main sword's over-sized guard with a slight click. ]

It's a basic training kata, nothing too impressive.

[makeashowofit]

[Slight smirk at the modesty. There were definitely some similarities.]

Does it get more impressive with more swords or should I stop watching now?

[atouchofstrife]

It depends on if you think bigger is better.

[ A shrug and he continues to link the swords up, turning it into one huge sword that should by all rights tear Cloud's arms out of their sockets, or at least make it impossible for anyone to carry, especially when they were not built like a brick wall. ]

I have a few tricks with the Fusion Swords that aren't normal for a Buster-class sword.

[wildmelody]

Wooooooowwwwww~

[Hibiki's watching in awe. She had never ever seen real sword practice before, even though she's done a little kendo. This wasn't kendo this was... wait, how many swords was that? One, two, three...]

[atouchofstrife]

[ He didn't actually expect for people appearing outside of Garden, but since they had done so, Cloud just went with it, trying to figure them and their comments out. Although he had to admit that he has heard that kind of thing before - mainly from Denzel when he had been well enough to follow him out to train.

Even as she was trying to count his swords, Cloud picked up the jagged sword and snapped it into place on the First Ken's guard before reaching over and picking up the hollow blade. With a sword in each hand, he went into an advanced kata, with both blades. ]

[wildmelody]

[Okay that was seriously impressive, and Hibiki was watching intently as he swung them. It was so different from the random bouts of kendo she did with others, and definitely different from anything she had seen.]

That's amazing! What kind of style is that?

[atouchofstrife]

Style?

[ He came to a stop and added the hollow blade to the base of the First Ken, snapping it into place before giving a shake of his head. Already the sword was growing to look more and more like a buster class sword - one of those huge swords that usually were used to break things in their path instead of cutting through them. He didn't seem very put off by the sheer mass of it, still easily holding it in his hand. ]

I just picked up a bunch of different styles from all over the place. I guess the closest thing to a style could be free form.

[elementof]

[Cloud wasn't the only one wanting space. Balthier was never really fond of ceilings, with them hiding the sky and all that.]

Come to relieve some tension hmm?

[He quirks his eyebrow and cock his gun against his shoulder]

You're not half bad, I'm impressed.

[atouchofstrife]

[ Cloud brought his blade to a stop with both hands and then pulled himself from the crouch he was in. Resting the First Ken on his shoulder, he ran his free hand through his hair, making the spikes move and settle into new spikes. ]

Yeah. Exercise helps getting my head out of the clouds.

[elementof]

Yet some of us would prefer our heads in the clouds. [smirks] Though I suppose it's all personal preference.

[atouchofstrife]

It depends on which clouds you're talking about.

[ A slight smile and he swings his sword lazily in the air, making a double cut in front of him. ]

I never had a head for air travel.

[northswains]

[Ashe hadn't been out of her dorm much lately.. besides for classes and eating, of course.

She needed some fresh air, some alone time.. so what better place to do that than on the field? Seemed another one was feeling the same way. Ashe was around 50 feet away from Cloud, sitting on a rather large rock.]

Good morning. [She said it softly, but loud enough for him to hear, hopefully.]

[atouchofstrife]

[ He heard. One of the many benefits of the SOLDIER treatments was how hyper-aware the senses were made. It had made a few things quite an adventure until he had figured it out. At her quiet greeting, Cloud fell out of the kata he was in, letting the First Ken settle in the ground next two one of the switchblade swords. ]

Morning.

[northswains]

Quite impressive, I must say. I'm sure SeeD is pleased to have trained units now.

[She hops up and begins to approach the man slowly.]

I wasn't expecting to see anyone out here so early, however..

[atouchofstrife]

Back home, I'm considered an equal to a SOLDIER 1st Class. From what I can tell, the SeeD group would be about the same thing.

[ He shrugged, watching her approach, a wry smile briefly appearing on his lips. ]

I don't sleep much and the Training area is too cramp for me.