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.]

[alephbet]

...A little out of practice?

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

[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.]

[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?

[alephbet]

That's about what I'd expect. Swordplay isn't all mental, even though a lot of it is.

Do you need a sparring partner?

[crouching_sin]

I'd appreciate one, yes.

[He picks his sword up again, trying to keep himself from stiffening up at the joints. He needs to be able to move, and more than that he needs to remember to compensate for his physical limitations.]

[crouching_sin]

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

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

[alephbet]

[Aleph draws his sword. He hasn't fallen out of practice since his days at home - how could he - so he's confident he'll put up a good fight.]

[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.

[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]

[Naoya watches Aleph, trying to spot any weak points. His style is more open than defensive, but when he moves forward to strike it's nimble rather than powerful.]

[crouching_sin]

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

[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.

[alephbet]

[Aleph has the benefits of being both fast and strong, and blocks the blade with his own. If there are weak points in his style, it's that he relies a little too heavily on his armor to protect what he can't block. On the other hand, it is good armor.]

[evokingfool]

...I can offer to help, if you don't mind.

[His partners come and go, and he can't go back to Sephiroth for lessons again.]

[athousandcurses]

[Understanding crosses her face.]

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