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Post by Jay on Nov 15, 2017 0:08:48 GMT
Kenessa 'Ma'am, please stop' was starting to become a regular thing I heard here. I mean, perhaps it was warranted, considering I was in a courtyard of the sun palace, wireless headphones in my ears as I, well, danced.
I was just out there, dancing to some music. The music player I had wasn't some machine of Sanctuary, and bringing it to this place had almost fried it completely. Then, through some clever application of magical technology, I got it working again.
After my gun, of course. Couldn't have forgotten that.
Now I was standing out here, two weeks into my time under the Exalted, pulling various servants to the side to dance with me for a minute at a time. Many didn't seem all that jazzed about the intrusion.
Of course, I was out here waiting for Shinzo to end his sweat session with Kishar. Most people were eager for the chance to learn some sword fighting. I wasn't any different - my weapon was powerful, but I was a damn novice compared to half the things I tangoed with on the regular.
Give me one good reason why I shouldn't do something like this? I had a lot of stress, especially considering that dream a few nights ago. I needed to take a load off.
"Shake it, girl!" I slurred to one of the more feminine looking servants. She, it, they, whatever the creature was, didn't seem to understand it. So, I turned and promptly showed what 'shaking it' really meant. "Like this, come on, babe!"
She didn't seem to get the memo that well, and only bent her knees to join in on the shakin'.
"Close enough! Woo!" I cheered, lifting up my cup, or rather grail, of Celestial Wine as I continued to dance.
Planeswalking human True Neutral | 31 | Female
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Post by shinzo on Nov 15, 2017 1:01:01 GMT
I'd done it.
The threat that had been posed to this very world by Kishar's careless application of Sidereal martial arts was put to an end. I didn't like having to do it...in fact, it rebelled against my very existence. But I'd done it. Just as I had thought several times, been cajoled, coerced, and entirely ordered by some darker part of my mind to do to Kishar herself. In fact, even now, I still felt that urge. Kishar was defenseless, utterly empty on Essence and Willpower, and completely vulnerable to whatever I wished. I could hear whispering about what a good thing it would be, that such an irresponsible individual was put serenely out of her misery, that she would not have to suffer the continued absence of her long-dead mate, and Creation would be rid of a deadly threat that could further destabilize it and lead to the safe implementation of the Prophecy of Bronze.
But I didn't. After all, I had an appointment to keep.
Looking composed despite my fairly obvious level of exhaustion, I wave over at Nessie. "Yo! Keep on shaking it!" Grinning wide, I'm treated to a very nice view to help me get over what just occurred. Things like this were good for my sanity. "I see you're getting along great with the other mortals around here." Seeing the obvious discomfiture of her victim, I grin. "Come over to the observatory sometime if you want to dance. We're more fun over there~"
With that, I withdraw my own sword, from my amulet, attaching it to the belt of my robes as I drag the unfortunate along with more dancing, easily guiding it along in a more proper rendition of the dance. It would always be nice to have a bit of eye candy in the background when working on training, it really helped to keep one properly fired up. "For now, though, I believe we're going to be doing a rather different dance. But if you'd rather have some fun this way, I'm not going to complain!" Grinning wide, I glance over at her, I shake my head. "You seem rather stressed for someone about to engage in training in the martial arts." And then, sliding on up to her, I take hold of her shoulders and crane my neck forward, looking back at her. "If you'd like, I could help you take care of that before we start~"
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Post by Jay on Nov 16, 2017 3:54:12 GMT
Kenessa "Ohh, big boy," I gave the Exalted a smirk as he slid his way over. "Can't just dangle that in a girl's face, you know? We got a schedule to keep."
I booped at his nose, the stepped back. "Only tango we should be doing is alternative skin-on-skin," I licked my lips, lifting my fists. "Can't say it'd be as nice as the original, though." Planeswalking human True Neutral | 31 | Female
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Post by shinzo on Nov 16, 2017 5:08:30 GMT
I grin as she flirts back. She was definitely a fun one. I slide in closer, letting my hands run down her arms. "I find that one of the most important things in any kind of dancing, vertical or horizontal, is to be flexible~" Still, as she presses against my nose, I let her pull away. "Later, then." I say with a wink. "You have no idea~" I say, giving her a tease about what she was missing out on.
When she raises her fists, though, I tilt my head, settling into a slightly more serious mood. "Here I thought that we were going to be training in swordsmanship. The techniques I had planned would be usable without a blade, but they make more sense paired with one." With that said, I direct my voice towards the AI Kishar created. "Enki II, please direct training dummy creations to the training field at my position." Turning back to the delightful young woman in front of me, I shrug. "Up to you. I would like to see your fighting style regardless, it would help me see what would fit best to train you in."
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Post by Jay on Nov 19, 2017 9:12:49 GMT
Kenessa Oh. Right. Swords.
"Aye, that's, uh, true. Well, uh...," when the, what I guessed were, projections appeared to be my targets, I looked to the sword and gun on my side.
Best to just play it by ear, then. That's how I usually worked. "Let's go then."
I tightened my fists, readying myself for attack.
Planeswalking human True Neutral | 31 | Female
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Post by shinzo on Nov 20, 2017 21:35:37 GMT
The dummies would be here shortly, but they were not for the training. I could see where she would be confused, however. "Oh, don't worry about them. I want you to show me your technique personally. I will mostly dodge the attacks, but occassionally I will be parrying the strikes and throwing responses to see how you react to them." I would be holding back, of course, but that probably went without saying and wouldn't be worth belaboring the point.
As she tenses up, I draw my sword and settle into a loose, flowing stance that would give me maximum flexibilty to react to the attacks that would be coming my way. "Whenever you're ready, we can begin." The projections simply stood by ready, a silent audience to what would transpire.
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Post by Jay on Nov 20, 2017 21:53:52 GMT
Kenessa He made the dummies to be witnesses to the fight?
I just suppressed the roll of my eyes at the prospect. Gods were Gods, no matter what coat of paint they put on themselves.
Still, I was cracking my knuckle, readying myself to take a punch at this god. Swords weren't really what I was looking forward to; I wasn't going to draw a divinity-slayer against a divinity.
So, instead, I spun on my heel, and threw myself at Shinzo with a punch aimed at directly for his face. It was a direct move; even drunk, I knew it would be immediately countered or intercepted. I had a really mean right hook, I knew, but I was being forward here. Planeswalking human True Neutral | 31 | Female
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Post by shinzo on Nov 20, 2017 22:23:50 GMT
Fast. Powerful. Effective. She had good form, that was for sure. Not enough to have a chance to land, of course, but then, from what I could read from her, she wasn't expecting such a result either. Whether born from experience or instinct, that would be a correct read on the situation. With a few deft steps and superhuman reaction, I sidestepped the attack effortlessly, and moved to tap her on the back of the head. "I'm certainly willing to be your instructor in hand to hand fighting as well, but you needn't worry about harming me."
Smiling, I turn back to face her, before entering an attack on my own. I deliberately slowed it down significantly, but likely, it would still be difficult for her to avoid. I couldn't exactly guage how much I needed to tone myself down, but I hoped it would be close enough to the perfect point of "difficult, but not impossible" that would let me get a good reading on just how honed her fighting techniques were. My strike comes as a quick jab, aiming for her throat. If it was going to be too much, at the very least, I could pull it if need be.
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Post by Jay on Nov 21, 2017 2:00:40 GMT
I landed cleanly behind him when he dodged. The counterattack I was waiting for came soon after. It was a measured blow, aimed for my throat. Quick and precise; applying what I assumed was some sun person martial art.
I'm pretty sure, for all intents and purposes, it seemed like the attack was going to hit me.
It didn't.
There I was standing next to his outstretched arm. One of the best practical applications of my powers, honed by yours truly.
The speed of the attack might have been fast for just about anything else on the mortal end of the spectrum, but I some years of ducking under thrown objects of all shapes, sizes, and material composition.
"What was that, your morning stretch?" At this point in my experience, Shinzo might as well have just stood still.
Planeswalking human True Neutral | 31 | Female
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Post by shinzo on Nov 25, 2017 3:13:59 GMT
I smiled. "Good. Very good." I laugh at her summation of it, and nod. "Something like that, you could say. I need to know just what I'm dealing with, you see." Still, that makes me tilt my head. "So, should I take it you're better at avoiding attacks than making them? Not a bad policy by any stretch, but it does make it hard to get a good read on just what I'm working with here." I tilt my head, amused. "Or are you perhaps holding back yourself?"
With that, I make another attack, faster. I hadn't been using my true techniques yet...but now, I decide to invoke that. I take in a long breath of air, and prepare a stance as I face her. I was sizing her up, and while she was not using her Essence, I could see other powers at work. Through my mastery of both the Even Blade style, which I planned to teach her, and the Sapphire Veil of Passion, which I would teach her if I wasn't fairly confident that she would literally violently explode upon attempting to perform the techniques, I amassed a certain amount of information regarding her abilities...and quickly began to put that to use.
"You needn't bother. If anything...wouldn't it be nice to embarass me a little, if you could? Put, the, ah, sun-person in their place?" Inaccurate as that was, I decided to put the pressure on her with a new attack, seeming to flash behind her as I make a strike for her back. Adjusting my movements to what I learned, I wanted an attack that would be able to be avoided just by the skin of her teeth. If I could force that sort of reaction...then I would be confident I had a solid idea of the foundation I was working with.
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Post by Jay on Dec 1, 2017 19:56:15 GMT
You ever just fuckin didn't for a week and leave someone hanging?
Sowwy, Shinzo. "You talk too much, Shin," I was quick to reply. The attack near my back was predictable; everyone who wanted to make a point did it.
I turned on my heel, and sent my free leg up to parry the strike. Elegant? That was too kind of a word. Instinctual - simple, primarily.
I finished the maneuver by doing a somersault to get some distance.
"I didn't get this far not knowing how to attack, bud," I adjusted my stance further. That last attack was... fast. I was starting to see what the sun people had in store.
Still, he was looking down on me. Apparently his oh-so-superior style of fighting was beneath me. Frankly, it would've pissed me off if I hadn't seen - and dealt with - beings of similar personalities. It ain't novel.
So, I guessed indulging him would be the best course of action since the fight would get nowhere, otherwise. I went into a sprint before sending another punch at the Exalt. A simple move. I wasn't willing to just show off all my tricks in one sitting.
Planeswalking human True Neutral | 31 | Female
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Post by shinzo on Dec 2, 2017 0:38:35 GMT
"Bad habit. Sorry~" I grin as she turns and parries the strike with a kick. Good. Very good. She was exceptionally well-trained and had excellent natural abilities. If I didn't have millenia of growth and experience, it was very possible that she would have backed me up against a wall. As she tosses her own rejoinder, I nod. "Evidently." I was getting a closer picture of her abilities, though I had a sneaking suspicion I wasn't pushingher hard enough. Well, always able to turn it up a bit.
As she somersaults away, I nod. Good form, excellent control. She really was skilled, even if it didn't seem to be any sort of formal style. It seemed closer to the effortless perfection of the Solars, or the wild grace of the Lunars. All it would take was a bit of refining, and she would be a truly excellent fighter, on the level of many Terrestrials I had trained. "Very impressive indeed."
As she counters with a straight punch, rather than attempting to avoid it...I take it head on, grabbing her fist with my hand and using it to guage her strength. Definitely more than her build would convey...it stung more than a bit. Wincing, I smile in spite of it. "You've got a great punch!" Following that, I test to see what her ability to react to a disadvantageous situation. Holding onto her hand to limit her ability to move out of the way, I deliver an open-palmed thrust up at her chest. "Still, you seem to be getting angry, Nessie. You should be keeping a clear head. I can't see you being able to land a hit on me like that."
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Post by Jay on Dec 2, 2017 7:13:36 GMT
Angry? "Bah," I let rolled my eyes.
Please, girl, don't get angry just because he's right. I was angry; that was how I fought. I went with my gut and rage and threw punches.
Usually, it worked.
It wouldn't here. Not against him. Shinzo's martial arts were... shite, I had only seen some basic maneuvers, but I knew I was fucked if I got hit.
Then, the aforementioned hit came at me, and I turned to try and move. Wasn't any moving out of the way, though.
And hit I was. That open palmed hit knocked me onto one knee real quick. Fucking hell, that shit hurt. I clenched my fist, trying to wrest my other from Shinzo, but I knew that was in vain. Once a god has a hold of you physically, you're done for.
"Fuuuck, you got me right in the tit, ya did," I breathed out, lowering my head. The sting was unbearable. Planeswalking human True Neutral | 31 | Female
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Post by shinzo on Dec 2, 2017 7:41:53 GMT
Her attempt to evade was quick, owing to her finely honed reflexes. However, because they were the result of reflexes, it was the incorrect reaction. My hold would have limited her ability to dodge too much. She should have gone for a counter or a parry in that sort of situation, and she ended up paying for it when the attack ended up hitting. That'd be something to teach, at the very least. Her attempted dodge merely redirected where the attack ended up striking, instead of landing right in her solar plexus, it ended up higher and to the side, pushing in her breast.
When she dropped to a knee and complained about just that, I let go of her hand as she tries to struggle to get out. "Well, sorry to hear that. I promise the next time I end up palming you there, it'll feel a lot better!" Grinning widely, I step back. "You need a breather? Because if it's alright with you, I'd like to take a moment to demonstrate the correct way to respond to that sort of attack. You've got amazing instincts, but dodging is the wrong answer against a powerful opponent when your mobility is inhibited. A better reaction, without getting into fancy stunts, would be to do a palm-thrust of your own to knock aside the arm, then follow up with an elbow strike."
I nod. "In general, that's the impression I get as a whole. You have instincts...but you haven't had the opportunity or inclination to hone them into a structure that will truly bring them out." I grin. "Fortunately, a lot of the styles I know are designed by and for people like that. Hell, that's a...what do you call the Solars? A 'sun people' thing if I've ever heard one."
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