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 Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 10:08 am
Hy-Brasil had followed the signature she felt. It led her to a more remote part of town, one that wasn’t necessarily a bad neighborhood but wasn’t the most sought out either. Pretty much, the place you went where you were trying to get a foot in the door in DC and make a life there if you didn’t have a ton of money. Not too dissimilar from her own neighborhood, actually.
There was no sense of urgency to find the owner of the signature. It radiated that ‘pureness’ that indicated it belonged to an order member. Someone she could, potentially, partner up for the evening. She had been feeling a tad bit lonely and some company would be nice. Loneliness seemed to be a reoccurring part of her life now since she was living alone once again. She’d found ways to battle it, and seeking out other Order members tended to ease the ache.
She eventually found who she was looking for. “Hey!” She called with a wave of her hand as she approached the other. A smile graced her face as she opened herself up to meeting this new person. “Do you mind some company tonight?” She questioned. “Assuming you don’t already have plans, that is.”
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Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 10:33 pm
Sherwood was patrolling alone...again, despite Newgrange and Neckar telling her not to. She had just finished healing from her battle with Witherite and she should have been playing it safe. If she ran into another Negaverse agent she wasn't likely to get away this time. Or rescued. It was a relief, then, that the signature she felt was one of her own side.
"Hey there!" Her chipper voice filled the night. "I'm Sherwood."
She offered her hand to the other woman, spotting the Earth symbols on her fuku. She also felt the woman was of an equal rank as she was, which was promising. Maybe she knew a better way to survive in this war. It was almost embarrassing to ask but she didn't want Newgrange or Neckar to worry about her. They already had plenty of reasons to, given her history.
"Who are you?"
Clearly she didn't have any company but the sunny Squire was always up to make new friends.
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Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:23 pm
Well, it seemed this other Earth Squire was of a welcoming disposition. That posed the option for an evening spent with another soul as opposed to being on her own like normal. Though Hy-Brasil never made it a habit to patrol with someone, when the opportunity arose, she was always willing. Company made the night more enjoyable and meant a better chance of a safe evening with someone to watch her back and vice-versa.
"Hy-Brasil." She said with a smile as she took the proffered hand. "Nice to meet you, Sherwood. I hope you don't me dropping in? I was hoping to find someone to pass the time with tonight. I makes for a more interesting evening. I can't tell you how bored I can get when on patrol by myself." She said with a chuckled and a shrug as she released the other woman's hand. ZaiaFantasy Little bitty post. Sorry! Initial greetings are always tough to write, imo. haha
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Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 6:52 pm
"I don't mind the company."
Truthfully, Sherwood found herself more alone on patrol than she would like so making more friends was probably the best cure for that problem. She couldn't expect Newgrange and Neckar to always be available, especially since she wasn't living with either of them. She motioned for the Earth Knight to take a seat beside her.
"It's funny, most of the other knights I know are Earth knights: you, Newgrange, Papa Camelot, Mama Shalott."
Not that she minded that, having some measure of pride of whose knight she was.
"Have you been out long? I can't tell what level you are. I'm a squire, but I'm not sure what we do to advance. I think it just happens."
She shrugged, offering a sweet smile.
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 10:26 am
Hy-Brasil recognized all but one of the names that Sherwood listed. Seemed that those specific Earth Knights got around quite a bit. Though, it was amusing to hear someone call Camelot Papa. Could Mama Shalott be related to Camelot or was it a just a name of endearment? Whatever the case, it didn't much matter.
Sliding up to the other Squire, Hy made herself comfortable. "Yep. I am a squire as well." She said with a smile before contemplating the second half of the statement. "I think it is something that just happens. At least, that's what occurred when I became a squire.
Interesting she couldn't tell what I was. Maybe she was bad at reading signatures but as a squire Hy-Brasil had assumed most would have figured out how to read signatures somewhat accurately, especially when standing right next to the person.
"Any plans for the evening?" She questioned lazily. "I mean, going on patrol of course, but perhaps you're up for a bit of sparring too? Keep ourselves on our toes and trained up?" Hy was always curious to see what sort of magic others had and what they're level of fighting was.
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 12:41 pm
Mostly, Sherwood's inability to read signatures was from a lack of trying, not for a lack of aptitude. Why bother when it was like her own and she could just ask to verify, taking the guesswork out of it? Anyway, it hardly mattered as she was in friendly company. If it had been a Negaverse agent, well, that would have been a different matter.
"I wouldn't make a very good sparring partner. I don't know how to fight."
Her eyes darkened, a little bit of a reminder of her lower moments in battle. It didn't seem she could avoid it, and it had certainly cost her. The shiny pink scar on her side was the first physical piece of evidence to support that. Se shook her head, shrugging. Her bow was the only thing she felt qualified to use and was rather good with it, but she did not seem to be in possession of anything but a few magical arrows. It was frustrating. Whatever it was that gave her this power gave her what she could use, and nothing to use with it.
Bows were rather useless without arrows. She sometimes thought things would be better off if she got a club or something.
"Are you any good? At fighting, I mean."
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2017 9:35 am
Hy-Brasil didn't know the extent to which the other squire was unable to read signatures. Such a skill was extremely useful in figuring out friend or for and how strong they were. Being able to read signatures meant you could avoid encounters you knew were over your head. Unfortunately that conversation wasn't going to be expanded on at the moment.
She nodded at Sherwood's question. "I do fight. Well, I've been training anyway. It has certainly helped. If you're up for it, I wouldn't mind teaching you a few things. Actually, I'd prefer it. The idea of someone wandering around out here not knowing how to fight is alarming. The negaverse can be completely heartless with their tactics so the better equipped you are to take them on the better. If nothing else you can try and make a way for you to escape."
Hy was dead serious about that. She'd learned first hand what it was like to have no clue how to fight and be on the receiving end of an agent's weapon. It had not been a good outcome for her and almost resulted in her death.
"I can teach you a few quick things at least and then you can try them out on me." She winked. "It's the least I can do for another squire."
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Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:08 pm
"Tell me about it," she muttered, shivering. "I've already almost died because of one crazy ******** general."
This coming from a girl that had never sworn before she powered up. Nearly dying was a defining trauma, it seemed. Sherwood nodded, moving to stand. She'd often said she wanted to learn how to fight. Well, here was her chance. Her fellow squire seemed willing and able to teach her and at this point who was she to turn down a lesson, even if it turned out to be a poor one?
"I appreciate it."
She'd seen people fight though observation wasn't always the best teacher. She'd seen people walk on tightropes, too, and wasn't willing to risk her neck trying to do the same without proper instruction.
(note to self - research tightrope walking instructors)
"What do you want me to do?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 10:34 am
Finished in G-docs “There seems to be a lot of crazy Generals out there.” Immediately Hy-Brasil could think of two specifically but she had no doubt there were many more to go with those two. “Plus throw in the fact that they are physically stronger than us and they can certainly wreck some havoc when they want to. I am glad you managed to survive though. I’ve been close to death’s door as well. It’s why I started to learn how to fight. Nothing like a motivational kick in the a**.” She joked, but really the matter at hand was quite a serious one. Literally life and death at times. Perhaps that’s why she felt the need to add a bit of humor.
“Not a problem at all.” She said with a wave of her hand. “Though I will admit I’ve not really taught anything before and am still learning myself. But, every little bit I can give ya should help some.
First off I want to see what sort of defense stance you have, if any at all.” She said with a smile. Just, how do you prepare yourself for a fight?” Gwen lifted both of her arms up, hands in fists, legs spread and her body angled to Sherwood. It was a basic defense stance, but it worked for her so far. It put her in a position to protect herself or attack. “See, this is what I tend to do. It’s just a normal, basic stance, but it gets the job done.”
She stood up from her stance and put hands on hips. “Alrighty, let’s see.”--- “I wouldn’t have survived if it wasn’t for Papa Camelot.”
She hadn’t even had a chance to pray as the spear was brought down onto her with deadly accuracy. All she’d managed were brief flashes of the people she loved: Arias, Westley, Camelot, her parents. And then, suddenly, as if by magic he was there blocking Painite’s weapon with his shield. She could hardly believe it, in shock and terrified down to her core. She’s almost died and, in that moment, she had accepted it.
That’s what lingered with her now, that acceptance, and the confusion it wrought on her.
“Defensive stance?”
Like, when people turned sideways and put their fists up? She shrugged, doing that because she didn’t know what else to do and that was what she saw when she saw people fighting. It seemed like they moved a lot, too, but maybe that was later in the lesson. Right now she was trying to do her best impression of a fighter.--- “I only met Camelot twice. He was there when I awakened and then I saw him one time after that. He seemed like a nice guy. It’s nice to have people who care about you and to support you.” She smiled with a touch of sadness to her features, but it didn’t last long as her focus turned to what was at hand. And she wanted to help Sherwood as much as she was capable of.
“Yea, that’s the right idea. Hold on a second.” Hy said as she walked over to Sherwood. Carefully she adjusted small things like how high Sherwood had her fists, they were a bit droopy, her legs weren’t quite far enough apart and she was a bit slouched. Carefully, Gwen adjusted each part with a gentle hand. “It’s a bit awkward at first but do you feel where you need to be?” She said. “It’ll get easier the more you practice. People think this stance is just for show, but really, when you’re in it right, you can move really quickly to block or even attack someone. It’s basic, sure, but there’s nothing wrong with basics. There’s a reason they exist, because the work.”
She stepped back to study the stance and nodded with a grin. “Stay there for a moment. Try to memorize how it feels in your body.”
Hy let Sherwood stand there for a moment, trying to memorize the stance before she fell into her own which was identical to what Sherwood was in. “Alright. I am going to come at you. Not too fast, but fast enough that you’ll need to work a bit to block.”
Watching carefully, Hy decided to make the first attack an easy one. Stepping into her attack, she swung a fist towards Sherwoods shoulder.--- “He’s pretty great. His wonder is really pretty!”
But what else could you expect of somewhere like Camelot, anyway?
She stood there almost patiently as she was adjusted in her stance, not knowing what she was doing but trying to pay attention. It was not in her nature to apply herself to things she didn’t want to do but this seemed like it warranted her full attention. She stood still, trying to memorize, wondering just who she was going to practice with. As far as she knew Newgrange didn’t fight and neither did Neckar. She was pretty much alone in the wanting to fight category.
Her scar itched.
When Hy’s fist came toward her she eeped and flinched, stepping back and flailing as she tried to block the hit. She was not successful, looking at her now aching shoulder ruefully.
“Well, that needs some work.”--- Hy’s brows furrowed a bit at the reaction she got from her almost lazy attack. She had expected maybe a dodge or a fumbled attempt at blocking but that has been...well a complete failure. “You need to trust that stance. It’s there to help you absorb the impact of a hit. I know it doesn’t feel natural, and it will take some time to get.” She had dropped her own stance as she talked.
“Try again?” She questioned. “I won’t hit too hard, I don’t want to hurt you, but I need to put enough effort into it so you can feel what it’s like.”
That flinch though. That wasn’t what she had expected.
“Only if you want to. I don’t want to force you into this if you aren’t ready.”--- “I know what’s it’s like to get hit!” she snapped, but mostly because she was busy reliving past, and more recent past, trauma.
Hell, as recently as a few weeks ago she’d had a batshit crazy captain carving out her side with a fork. She knew what pain felt like really, really well. But she also realized that while she was stressed and on edge it wasn’t actually Hy’s fault. In fact, the Squire was only trying to help. She sighed, looking down.
“I’m sorry. This doesn’t bring up good feelings for me.”
Fighting ran counter to everything she was. Though she recognized it as being necessary KD had always prided herself on being someone to create, not to destroy, and losing that was hard for her.
“Go ahead. I’ll try harder.”
Sherwood set her gaze, trying very hard to focus through the fear. This time she managed a shaking block that was more effective than the last. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t awful, either, and her aching shoulder thanked her.--- Hy didn’t say a word as Sherwood snapped at her. She took it and just dealt with the outburst. It was a talent well cultivated at this point in her life. So she let the other squire work through her mental battles.
When she got the OK to try again, Hy fell into her stance and made the hit. And Sherwood blocked it, shakily, but she did it. She hadn’t fallen backwards, flinched, or tried to flee. She smiled and stood up fully but instead of congratulating Sherwood she instead decided to share a bit about her own history with this damn war.
“I have a scar, right about here.” She placed her hand over her bodice, right around her belly button are off to her right side. “I made a stupid mistake and picked a fight I shouldn’t have as a page. It was with a Captain. Needless to say, it didn’t end well for me and I should have died there on the street, with his sword skewering me like a dead fish.” She could still remember that night. How she had hunted a youma which turned out to be protected by a rather hot tempered captain. Not that her own teasing and taunting had helped matters. “Thankfully Scholomance found me that night and managed to talk the Captain off of me. He carried me to the hospital as I bled out.” She sighed, eyes closed as she remembered. Taking a deep breath she opened blue eyes to look at Sherwood again. “It’s not easy. None of this s**t is easy. I won’t lie and say there aren’t days I wish I hadn’t been awakened, but here I am like it or not.”
“I think we just need to, not get over our fears but to try and accept them. They’ll be there, and hell, I definitely have my own flashbacks, but working on stuff to make me stronger helps. I don’t feel as useless as I did before. I feel like I could possibly hold my own if I need to, or if not, I have ways to get the hell out of dodge.” She chuckled and shrugged. “I don’t know if it will actually help you, everyone is different, but getting serious about learning how to fight and defend myself made a huge difference for me.”
Raking a hand through her hair she smiled. “That block of yours, while not perfect, definitely did stop me. So we can continue on here some more if you like. I also know of a good gym to hit up if you’re at all interested.”--- “I never wanted this,” she admitted shakily, “but the two most important people in my life are wrapped up in this war. Even if I wanted to quit, I couldn’t.”
She listened intently to the story, nodding along and understanding the sentiment behind it. Scholomance caught her attention, though, and she offered a shy smile. She’d met the knight a few times and though they had an awkward sort of history, she considered him a friend. She’d been there to defend when the Negaverse tried to steal him away and had been proud to be able to do that, even if she couldn’t have prevented his injury.
“You know Scholomance, too?”
Small world, indeed. First another Earth squire and now common friends.
She lifted the hem of her shirt to reveal her side, fresh pink scars puckered on her side, marring the clear skin.
“This was because of Witherite.”
She didn’t offer more explanation than that, it didn’t seem like it was necessary. They all suffered and the Negaverse: not nearly enough. Accepting fear was something she was getting better about and her poor boyfriend and brother were trying to convince her not to continue to go out alone. It wasn’t working, but they tried.
“Maybe we can meet again to train? Maybe it can be a regular thing?”--- Hy nodded at her explanation about why she fought. Hy’s wasn’t much different now. She fought to protect those who were wronged in this war and those she cared for who were also involved. It had been a tough road of acceptance, but here she was, doing everything she could. Did she like it? No, not really, but she accepted it as her fate. After all, that’s what it was wasn’t it? Fate. Somehow or another she was meant to do this even though being a warrior in an unknown war had never been on her projected plan for life.
At the mention of knowing Scholomance Hy opened her mouth to respond but hesitated. It wasn’t an easy subject to broach at the moment for her. She felt lost with their relationship. Were they -just- friends now? God, that was not what she wanted. She still loved him but did he return those feelings anymore?
Had he ever?
She pushed that thought back to the darkness.
“Yea, we’re friends. I’ve known him for about a year now.” She said finally, not giving any more explanation than that.
Wanting to change the subject quickly she poured her attention into the healed wound that Sherwood shared as well as the question. “I think meeting up can become a normal thing. It certainly would do us both good to have nights with someone else instead of being alone. At least that’s how it is with me most of the time.”
“Feel free to toss me a message whenever and I’ll respond as soon as I can. We can figure out the best days that work for us.” She smiled. “If you have any friends who may want to join in that could be fun too. The more the merrier. We can all learn something from each other.”--- “Newgrange keeps telling me not to be alone.”
No doubt the two were protective of each other. Arias was like a brother to her. After everything that happened both he and her boyfriend were determined she should never patrol alone. Of course, with conflicting schedules sometimes she was left to patrol alone or not to do it at all. She sometimes wondered which was worse but it never usually stopped her from doing her duty.
Earth to save and all that.
“Yeah, thanks. I’ll send you a message.”
There was that scheduling thing again. She’d have to get better at it if she wanted to actually get anywhere. Maybe Newgrange could join her one night. He was an Earth Knight too.
“Maybe. But at the very least I’ll be here.”--- Gwen blinked at the name Newgrange and grinned. “AH! I met him before. We’ve already had a fun sparring session together. Yea, make sure he joins sometime! We can have a three way match which would be useful considering you’re not always going to be one-on-one.” She tilted her head and chuckled a bit. “He is right though. You shouldn’t be along but that would be hypocritical of me to say since I tend to always be alone.” She shrugged. “It’s just how stuff seems to fall and it’s just easier.”
Nodding she stretched upwards, hands over her head. Tense muscles released a bit before she sighed and let her arms flop back down. “Perfect. Send me a message whenever and we’ll figure something out! Also, if you change your mind and are looking for a place to work out and learn to fight, let me know. I can introduce you to the owner of where I go or I can help ya do some reasearch into another place.”
With everything figured out for now, Hy-Brasil smiled at Sherwood. “Welp, since we’re all good to go and will be seeing each other again, I should get going. I have a bit more to patrol before I head home and I need to get my beauty rest before work. The little bit that I can manage, anyway.” Laughing she turned to leave, giving a final wave to Sherwood. “Remember, message me if ya need help with anything!”
The squire set off to finish her patrol because if that didn’t happen soon, she’d likely not get any sleep at all before work beckoned. Sometime she wondered how she managed it all.
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