mages are bad swordsmen

[crouching_sin]

Characters: Naoya and open
Setting: Floor 25
Format: Whichever.
Summary: Naoya got a sword, and is trying to remember how to use it properly. Unfortunately, physical skills are not so easily remembered.
Warnings: Naoya is probably only a danger to himself in this log, really. At least he has a healing spell.


[Naoya - or rather, Cain - had used swords before. It wasn't an uncommon weapon through the years, and it wasn't always that he'd had relatively weak physical strength. In some lives, he'd been extremely physically strong.]

[However, this life - Naoya - is… less so. He's still strong, but when he lifts the arming sword he struggles slightly with the weight. He needs to practice, and the meadow has enough space to wave a sharp object around with a minimal risk of hurting someone other than himself.]

[Which is how he's come to be in the meadow, going through old drills. His movements are a mixture of various styles, but he's rusty with them. His movements, while quick, lack power. The weight of the blade is significant enough that he occasionally has to set it down and rub his wrists, which is a good time for anyone who's been watching to speak or be noticed.]

Comments

[mostremaining]

[Prussia always liked the meadow. It seemed to be the one place in the blasted tower that wasn't ridiculously screwed up. So, it stood to reason that, after being dragged back to the tower yet again, he'd come back to visit this place to clear his head. However, when he spotted Naoya trying to swing his sword around, he just had to butt in. The prospect of a new sparring partner was always a good one for him. So, when he spots Naoya setting the sword down, he saunters over like there's nothing wrong with interrupting someone's practice (god forbid Prussia ever apply one of his own rules to himself for a change).]

What'cha doing?

[crouching_sin]

[He sighs as he looks over at Prussia. This is a little embarrassing. He'd have preferred to go undisturbed.]

Practicing.

[mostremaining]

[Prussia tends to evoke exasperated sighs, yeah. Not that he really cares.]

Sounds good to me! I should really be practicing too, considering I was gone for a while. Looks like you could use a biiiiit more practice, though! Build up your strength and all that!

[...This is probably not the right thing to say at all.]

[crouching_sin]

[It's not inaccurate, and he knows it.]

It's been some time since I used a weapon like this. It's not exactly a wise idea to walk around downtown Tokyo with a sword.

[For one it attracts too much attention. For another, it's very illegal. Which ties into the first reason, really.]

[mostremaining]

Yeah, that'd do it, wouldn't it... Tokyo, huh? I take it you're from some version of Earth, then?

[Prussia fiddles with the handle of his own sword, still in its sheath.]

I know that "it's been a while" feeling, though. When I first came to the tower, it had been a really long time since I'd used a sword. Decades at least, a century or two at most. Thankfully, I got back up to speed pretty quickly.

[alephbet]

...A little out of practice?

[Sorry, Naoya. Aleph calls them like he sees them.]

[crouching_sin]

Somewhat.

[He doesn't really mind.]

Carrying swords is illegal in Tokyo according to current laws, so it's been a while since I've used one.

[alephbet]

It's still a little strange to me that you live in a place so peaceful that weapons are banned.

[crouching_sin]

Well... not so peaceful anymore. But guns tend to be the preferred weapon of illegal activities. They're smaller and easier to carry in general.

[He holds the sword up again.]

Something like this isn't common to see outside of 'historical' events that never come close to being accurate. This is a European-style sword anyway, an arming sword. It's also known as a knightly sword, or a shortsword, characterized by the single-handed cruciform hilt and straight, double-edged blade. It was commonly used with a shield or a buckler, and wasn't used much after about the Italian Renaissance.

[Probably more information than Aleph wanted, but oh well.]

It's deadly enough if used correctly, but physical skills don't translate as well across my lives. The muscle memory simply isn't there.

[evokingfool]

[While Minato's not a master swordsman, he does know enough to gauge another swordsman's skills. And during his walk through the meadow, he saw and instinctively gauge someone's movements.

He paused to watch, noting the sword and how the man holds it up.]

...Learning or practising?

[crouching_sin]

Both. It's been a very long time since I've used one.

[He reaches down to pick his sword up again.]

[evokingfool]

Did you consider having a sparring partner or a teacher? It might help more.

[In case he's dead set on using this sword over other weapons.]

[crouching_sin]

A sparring partner might help. It's just a matter of developing the muscle memory again.

[bowandblade]

[He watches Naoya's movements as he walks over, drawn by the familiar face and the weapon usage. The sword is simple and the movement is sloppy, but there's an obvious knowledge there in how the sword techniques differ from one another.]

It looks like you remember more than your body does.

[crouching_sin]

[He grins a bit as he looks over at the Servant.]

Of course. I've had plenty of experience. This sword is very similar to one I used long ago.

[bowandblade]

[Archer keeps one hand in his pocket, eying the sword again at those words.]

I suspected it was something from the administrators. But you did not strike me as much the swordsman type.

[crouching_sin]

Not anymore. I have been, in the past. It seems like a wise idea to start arming ourselves more signficantly as time grows more and more short, though.

[athousandcurses]

[Grainne is starting to think the Meadow might just be the social hub of the Tower or something. It's the most soothing place to sit and think, and she's been afraid of checking into the other floors after that incident with the fairy rings.

Still, something makes her pause and watch for a minute instead of just leaving right away. Maybe it's the styles that catch her eye. When he sets the sword down and rubs his wrist, her confusion mounts.]

Were you injured?

[crouching_sin]

[He looks up and shakes his head.]

I'm simply not used to swinging a sword around anymore.

[athousandcurses]

[Understanding crosses her face.]

I see. I'm sorry for having intruded...

[crouching_sin]

No, it's fine. I don't mind.

[He sits down in the grass. There's no real need to be formal here. Not with time ticking down so quickly.]

My name is Naoya.

[sawthelockdown]

[... Okay, yeah, no. Asako was just going to pass through but then she saw the most ridiculous thing: Naoya attempting to use a sword.

She's perfectly well that - for the most part - her cousin is better at fighting with magic.

So to her, this is kind of ridiculous, and she can't help the muffled giggles of amusement. Muffled because, of course, even she knows not to distract someone in the middle of their drills.

Still, when Naoya takes a break, she can't help asking:] Uh, y-you need a healing spell, there?...

[... She's doing a lousy job of not sounding amused. Go noogie the brat. It is your duty as the older relative, Naoya.]

[crouching_sin]

[He bites back his initial response and just rolls his eyes.]

I have one for myself, so no. And just why are you laughing?

[sawthelockdown]

[...SNERK.]

I'm p-pretty sure mages don't use swords, so...it was just a ve~ry odd thing to see!

[crouching_sin]

I've used swords before, you know. And I thought it would be a good idea to refine whatever combat methods that I could before time runs out.

[It's not like the final battle will be peaceful.]