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Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:29 am
Chath sat on a bench wrapping hand wraps around both his hands, he wasn't a true boxer nor did he want to be one, but he found that the wraps helped to keep the hands from suffering too much damage. He had brought extra for Earako as well. He felt a bit proud of himself, the poor girl wasn't very good at melee so he volunteered to teach her some. Well...practice with her anyway. Perhaps he could help her with magic as well....though...magic was something entirely different from hand to hand combat...ah well he would see how it would go.
Keir dozed lazily in the shade of a tree nearby, the black dragon had been practicing all morning his flight in secret of course, he wouldn't be caught dead being embaressed by anyone let alone Chath. Though Chath knew Keir was ashamed at being flightless.
Chath opened a container that had chalk in it, he dusted his hands lightly, he wasn't sure what the chalk was for, though he sensed it was probably to keep his hands dry and prevent too much sweating. He wondered wear Earako was...
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Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:29 pm
She hadn't meant to be late, of course, that would have been unbearably rude of her. But there'd been a fuss at home, and then a fuss with Dad, and it had held her up. It seemed like fussing happened a lot more these days and it was beyond her to understand why. Sometimes she felt like maybe her Dad didn't love her the way he used to. He treated her differently, now. Even if she couldn't quite put a finger on how.
So Earako wasn't in the best of moods when she arrived, just a bit late. But it didn't show, much. The girl walked with a grace that was so practiced at this point that it no longer looked practiced. It had become a part of her. Delicate thing that she was, she really wasn't good at Melee combat. Sure, she could hit just about anything with a bow and arrow these days, but ask her to punch something and... well... things kind of fell apart, there.
"Good Afternoon, Chath." She greeted the boy, and if she'd been in skirts, she would have curtsied. But this was her battle outfit, a thing of soft leathers, with few of the usual ruffles. So she inclined her head instead, not quite bowing, but being respectful. "Thank you for meeting me."
Vimber was following her, but the red dragon had little interest in these games. She was only escorting her Special, as was appropriate. And keeping an eye on the boy of course.
Vimber didn't trust boys.
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Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:03 am
Chath found her greeting cute, she was a bit quirky with all her politeness but that was what made him smile when he saw her.
"And a fine afternoon it is." He replied trying his best to mimic her politness, some would of thought he was making fun but her sincerly wanted her to feel comfertable around him. He stood up and stretched his arms over his head, muscles hardened as he tensed he had been working out a lot.
"You look great." he commented approving of her outfit with a nod of his head he then went and grabbed some of the left over handwraps and walked over to her. "We have much to too with little time to do it in. These are called hand wraps. You wrapp them around like so.." He indicated showing his free hand and indicating with his finger the clockwise direction to start wrapping.
"These are to protect your hands from abrasions and soften blows you may receive." He continued with a nod of his head, her hands looked so delicate, then again her pale skin always made her appear fragile like a china doll...and just as beautiful.
"Now, there is also some chalk you dust your wraps with once you put them on, i have alittle container of it. The chalk helps to keep unecessary moisture from biulding up in the wraps." Sweat. he could of just said sweat, but he wanted this to go over well, perhaps he was trying too hard to sound like he knew what he was doing.
He then laughed, his demenour changing nearly instantly, more relaxed. "Sorry I ama bit nervous about trying to teach. But I really do want you to do well in class, and if you learn how to block well then you won't get hurt, well...as mcuh anyway." He continued his eyes shining as talk of his favortie class caught up with him.
Keir looked over lazily as the pale one and her red dragon approached...oh dear it was THAT one again. His attention seemed to be fixed on Vimber as if trying to alert her that since he was here first this was his temporary territory. Keir was stupid sometimes, but also wanted nothing to interfer with Chath's lesson. It should prove interesting. That girl lookedl iek she couldn't hurt a fly...
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Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:28 am
Earako listened to Chath with every evidence of interest. And perhaps she was interested, or perhaps she was simply being polite. Either way, she nodded at all the right points, and followed Chath's instructions with care. The gloves she was wearing, silken and black, came off. The wraps went on, and her movements in this, at least, were graceful. Dressing was something she was good at, regardless of what she was being told to wear.
"Don't be nervous." Earako chided gently, as she finished with her wraps, holding out her hands to allow Chath to see her handywork. "I'll do my best to be a good student, I promise. I fear I might not be good at it, but I can listen, at least."
She blushed and lowered her eyes, hidden though they might be behind her dark sunglasses. "I just can't seem to get the knack of fighting," she admitted with a quiet sigh. "And as for magic--" A shudder there, as she cut herself off.
"But nevermind that, I am hear to learn from you, not chat." She looked expecantly at Chath, patient as winter.
Vimber, meanwhile, was only mildly interested in Keir. The boy was the greater threat here. Sure, Special preened over other dragons, but Vimber knew that she was irreplacable. But people... Vimber just didn't trust them. They were dangerous, she'd seen them be dangerous. She'd seen them try and hurt her special.
And so she sat, not laying down but sitting at attention, waiting. Special had explained the nature of this meeting, so she would allow some fighting. Indeed, it was needed. Special was too delicate for her own good. But should things get out of hand... well...
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Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:10 pm
Chath watched her with eagerness as she wrapped her hands perfectly, she already looked like a pro. "Fighting...no I don't like that word, fighting always sounds like a fist fight, melee combat...that sounds better right?" Chath mused and then came to the conclusion that is must be better the regular ol fighting.
"Combat is different from fighting. First off, fighting usually isn't well planned out, the people involved are caught up in the moment and rely purely on instinct. Sure if they have faught numerous times they would be better at timing and reflexes but that is besides the point. " He started trying to help Earako ease into the subject better.
"It isn't necessarily meant for everyone, I know you can use a bow and that is great. But knowing some defensive stances can help if someone gets too close." He continued on walking a bit from Earako and flashing her a smile.
"Your really pretty so I would hate to see someone mess up your hair or face. People can be just plain bullies." By people he was thinking purely of Simon, though he only met the shark kid once...it still bothered him. As she mentioned magic class he thought back and it dawned on him that she ....hadn't shown up for the magic final...he wondered if she was ok?
"Don't worry about not knowing magic well...heck I was terrible at it until I practiced really hard." He commented with a more silly face and a laugh trying to lighten the mood. "But...I learned how to created magic in its raw form and to shoot it. and I will be using magic to help you with your defense." He continued with a wink. "Hope you don't mind getting a bit wet m'lday." He remembered Keanu calling her something like princess..or the like, he wanted Earako to like him too.
"I brought towels as well." He continued with that silly grin of his his hand gesturing towards the bag that contained his chalk and other items. First aid kit was amoung them. Better safe than sorry.
Keir didn't like Vimber's attentiveness...the kids hadn't even started anything yet and yet she was treated Chath as if he was some horrid criminal was going to kidnap the pale girl at any moment. And though he thought the boy could use so more....testosterone in his system he wasn't about to let the red dragon ruin the day.
Stretching he moved to sit directly across from Vimber his eyes making contact as if sending a silent message of I am watching you.
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Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:10 pm
Earako was not unused to compliments. Her father and his friends were rough, but that very roughness made them all the more affectionate and protective of the delicate, polite young bat they found in her midst. All the same, Chath's comments on her appearance called up a mild blush. She didn't, of course, believe him, but it was nice of him to say so.
"Some people are dangerous." She agreed, her thoughts far distant from kids like Simon. Earako was many things. Delicate, sweet, ladylike. She was not, however, sheltered. There had been days when she had not worn black for fashion, coffins and green grass. "I want to be able to defend myself."
"I am not studying magic any more," she said firmly, with a brief frown. She paused, shaking off her brief distaste. "I find it doesn't suit me."
The m'lady brought back her smile, the batling could certainly be easily charmed. She gave a soft little giggle, and straightened proudly.
"I don't mind water, I promise."
"Are we ready, then?" she asked, tilting her head slightly to the side. She fluttered her wings absently, and looked expectently at Chath. "How am I supposed to stand?"
Vimber was not unaware of Keir's regard, but she pretended to be. She was too proud to look at the black dragon, and she sure looked haughty. The jewels that decorated her glittered slightly, and her scales were oiled and healthy. Instead, she continued to watch the battle to be, proud too, of her Special, who matched her so nicely.
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Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:58 pm
Chath was for most it seemed a bit oblivious. He had lived a sheltered life, having only in the breifest of moments brushed fate with its all to ugly head. But that didn't stop him, his determination was something that a person could find remarkable, it not a bit pig-headed.
"No more magic?" Chath mused his eyes widened to show his surprise, but he brushed it off sensing her uneasiness on the subject. "Ah well, like I stated before, some subjects just are suited for everyone." An absent hand went to brush the tips of his fingers through his hair leaving a slight dust trail in it wake.
When she approved of the water idea Chath could only beam. Good, he didn't really want to have to hurt her physically, the water ...as he wasn't 100% perfected it yet would be like a weak squirt gun. With equally weak pressure. IT wouldn't hurt a bit, though it would get her clothes wet.
He coughed as her last question now turrned to the whole point of them meeting. "Well...." he paused, he had been practicing so long it came natural to him. What did he do? He tried to picture his last practice and then setteled into a position more familar to him, arms drawn up, hands in fists much like a boxer. Feet spread apart knees bent.
"This...is how i stand, you don't have to do it perfectly find what suits you better. The arms drawn up like this is to better protect blows to the face, hands can be opened or closed. Closed usually predicts an offesive attack while open it can defelect and move blows to the side." He started and then stood up again and moved closer to her so she could see what he was doing better and repositioned himself.
"The feet spread apart better to anchor you to the ground....keeps your balance better. I have a tail so my balance is hard to throw off, your wings could probably act like extra arms and help you balance as well." He noted, they were very large she could probably get some pretty good wind thrusts with those. But they did look rather delicate as well.
"knees bent mean you are able to pivit quickly and with more agility thatn if braced. er...straight." Yes...he sounded like he knew what he was doing....kinda. "Can you fly?" He asked looking once more at her wings. "Cause if you could that would be an excellent advantage against those with only melee combat and no ranged weapons. A bow on your back would prove you could shoot without interfernece. Have you practiced your archery in the air?" He asked curious now.
Keir...gave a huff of inderence as well. The red one annoyed him so. He wished to have his teeth around her throat to show her he was not to be ignored. But what good would that do? Other than interupt Chath and his pale friend in their pratice? The boy needed to practice with other creatures of his kind....fighting a dragon was one things...but other beings...were unpredictable.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:27 am
Earako sized up Chath's stance in one long glance, hers was a gaze used to looking at the details of things. It was not, in fact, difficult to get a sense of how the boy was standing. That part was easy enough. Different, of course, than the stance she used with her bow, but with some noteable and comforting simularities.
Slowly, she adjusted her own pose into an echo of is. She was no perfect mirror, but it was a decent try, at least. There was, more than anything, a tenseness to the way she held herself, a rigidity that would not serve her well in battle. The batling was determained to learn combat. That didn't mean that she enjoyed the practice. Battle made her nervous.
She opened and closed her hands thoughtfully as he spoke of attack and defense, finally settling them into small fists. Her wings fluttered slightly at his mention of them, unfolding from where she had them half closed against her back. "I can, though not fast or far."
The comment about flying with a bow brought a thoughtful expression to her face. She flapped her wings a few times, lifting slightly off the ground, and mimed shooting a bow. Still looking thoughtful, she landed, and resumed the stance Chath had shown her. "I hadn't thought of that." She admitted, after a second. "I am still working on shooting while also moving. And shooting things that are moving. But that you, I will attempt it."
Vimber, on her side of the room, absently resettled herself. The wings opened in a mime of Earako's own, and then closed again, neat against her back. She tilted her head slightly to the side, sizing up the way her Special stood. Even she could see that Special needed to relax a bit. But she was not the teacher today.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:05 pm
Chath felt a bit proud of himself. He had given Earako an idea. One that would probably help her out a lot to stay out of melee combat. If she could fly for longer periods of time anyway.
He watched as Earako mirrored his pose but even he wasn't oblivious enough to not notice her stiffness. She was nervous.... He chewed on his lower lip eye brows furrowing as he gazed at her. How could he make her feel more...comfertable?
"Hey, Earako...do you do dance?" He asked wondering it the elegant girl took any form of dance. If so that could help a lot. "Cause I can't help but notice you seem stiff..." He continued and then waved a hand at her as if trying to wave away his comment. "not that you shouldn't be...it is just..." Idea.
"Hey how about we warm up first? You know limber up? Stretch? That way you can get your muscles ready and perhaps take your mind off your nervousness. Besides you are only going to be fi....er sparring with me. So perhaps if we warm up you might relax more." He continued rolling his wrists and letting the bones make a little snapping sound.
"I know learning something new like this can be scary, but I am confident you can learn it. We can just take smaller steps."
Keir couldn't help but nod his head, the girl was indeed stiff, she would make a poor warrior. Nothing like Chath. The boy was bull-headed and a bit on the too enthusiastic side but at least he was putting real muscles on his limbs and practicing with so much devotion it could make any dragon admire him.
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:51 pm
"I can dance." Earako replied, hoping the slightly vague answer would keep the boy from the knowledge that she'd never been able to take formal lessons. D-corp kept her so busy, and then Dad... and it wasn't like they'd let her take Vimber to a lot of the dance studios. But she had watched the TV, and made her cousins be her partners while she lead herself through the steps that the books said was a waltz.
Streaching, however, she could do. Dropping the battle pose with ease, she slipped into a sitting position, placing one leg out in front of her so that she could reach for her toes. It was amazing how much flexibility was required to maintain the sort of poise that Earako sought. One had to know their body.
"I'm sorry I'm so nervous." She murmured, from where she was now grabbing her foot. An obedient student, if nothing else. "I, well, I don't really want to hurt anyone."
She paused a moment, switching legs before continuing on her train of thought. "But I do want to be able to, if I have to, you see?" She looked up at Chath, looking at him over her sunglasses. "I guess I'm strange."
From there, she moved into another streach, and it did seem to be working, she was certainly more relaxed then she had been.
The dragon had now settled into a more relaxed position, laying down with her head on her front legs. She kept her eyes open, watching absently, but what she was seeing now was nothing new. Nothing to be interested in, let alone concerned about. If things got dangerous, she'd get back up.
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:28 pm
Chath watched as she stretched and then joined her on the ground. He wasn't nearly as flexible as she was, it was a good attempt to get him to touch his toes but manage he did. He thought about what she said letting it tumble around his head while they were stretching on the ground.
"Don't be sorry. It is okay to be nervous with something your not sure about." he started and then listened to her second comment. He drew his legs up to his body and gave her a look that seemed very serious. Strange for Chath. Being serious.
"Do you want to know why I learned to fight?" He asked as he shifted to stand and then stretched his arms to one side, lingered for a moment and then moved to the other. "I learned.." he continued not waiting for her reply, perhaps a bit rude but he didn't want to lose his train of thought.
"because I want to be able to protect the people I care about. From dangers wither they be man made or otherwise. I can't just stand in the background and watch people get hurt...bullies bother me cause they use their strength to hurt the weak, I want to be strong to help the weak, not to pick a fight." He finished though in truth he hadn't a chance to save anyone.
"I am glad you won't give up on it, your determination is something I admire in you Earako, your scared but that isn't going to stop you from learning." It was odd Chath being so serious, he was usually so...aloof on such things.
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Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:08 am
Earako stood to complete her streaching, taking care of her arms and her wings as well. She even gave a few practice flaps, just enough to lift her off the ground before she allowed herself to settle back on her feet. Rolling her shoulders, she looked thoughtfully to Chath, her expression one of neutral interest. She could be hard to read, good manners making for good armor.
Mentally, she was not nearly so quiet, Chath's words creating a worrying echo of memories of images. Kyle, and Da', and even Lithle. The dark in their eyes, the hard edge to their words. But Chath... he was being kind, right? There was no reason to believe that seeking a path meant seeking pain as well, was there? It was just... Earako was good at seeing patterns, and she had seen this one repeatedly.
"That's nice," she said, when he finished speaking. Because, of course, it was nice. It was very nice to want to protect people, to take care of them. "Someone has to stand up to the wolves."
Those were her Father's words, but as such they were a part of her vocabulary. Wolves, dogs, sheep. And Chath wanted to be a dog. She just hoped he didn't loose his kindness.
"I think I'm ready now." She moved back into the position he'd shown her, a little more at ease this time.
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:35 am
Chath snapped out of his serious expression as if it hadn't occured at all. He was odd that way, he didn't like to stay serious, it wasn't too much fun that way. He felt the gust of wind as Earako flapped her wings and flashed her another grin.
"Ok, now that we have stretched let us go back into our defensive stance." He instructed and with ease settled back into the position he has shown Earako earlier.
"Now unfortunately, in combat you should always expect to receive pain. I want to try and show you what I have been taught to dodge and change lethal blows into minor ones. Now consider what i am showing you is only what I do and what i Have learned, you may of learned something else, or learned it differently. So if you have any suggestions or questions feel free to ask." He continued and then backed off some, so that he had enough room to cast his spell.
"Learning to aniticipating an attack is the first goal. My first defense teacher used magic and conditioned me to pay attention to details. Such as movement of hands, body position and that sort of thing. With magic, some spells need to be chanted or use fairly complex hand signals to summon. I havn't mastered my magic yet, so this may be a bit slower and I may tire out sooner, but enough about that. Watch."
Chath raised his hand out in front of him, palm facing the sky and about eye level. He looked like he was concentrating very hard. Suddenly liquid seeped out from his finger tips and rolled into the palm of his hand like it had a life of its own. It gathered until it formed the size of a large marble. This was about the best he could manage at this point. He still needed lots of practice.
"Because I am still a novice when it comes to magic, I wouldn't use magic in combat unless I was desperate. As you can see, the process is slow and tiring." He explained using his free hand to wipe some sweat that had gathered on his brow.
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:41 pm
Earako watched in facination as Chath summoned water. It was nothing like how she'd been taught to do magic. But he was a different type then her, wasn't he? His type certainly seemed more interesting, but in the end it didn't matter. The man had--
Focus on the present.
In the present, Chath looked like it was exhausting, doing what he was doing. She felt bad for him, especially since he was doing it just to teach her. She'd have to do her absolute best, make it worth his trouble. She just hoped that that was enough. She just wasn't good at things.
Anything.
She cleared her mind, pushed away concerns and fears, focusing only on what Chath was saying. She was good at focus.
"Can you stop a spell? Even if you see that it's happening?" She really wasn't sure how these things worked. If there was a way to stop magic, stop that hateful intrusion, that was something that she wanted to know.
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:35 am
Chath offered a smile to Earako and let the ball of water float about on his hand.
"Stop a spell? While casting? Certianly. Any spell can be interrupted unless the person can mantain their focus. If say someone had hit me in the shoulder just now or even just starteled me most likely the spell would lose its potiency and i would have water dripping all over me." He said with a casual laugh.
"So, you also have to take notice type of spell, I mean my water spell is fairly weak, more like a squirt gun. But some spells the more powerful ones you wouldn't dream of blocking with your hand or body for that matter. You would have to stop it from being cast." He looked around and then looked to his black dragon.
"For example Keir fires acid from his mouth. If i didn't dodge or stop him from doing that I would be burned by it. " But wait...they weren't having a magic class...Chath tried to get back on subject.
"But enough about that. If you want we can dicuss that stuff later." Moving Chath moved a bit to his left and concentrating really hard manage to split the water marble into two, one for each hand.
"Ok...so what I want you to do it notice my hand gestures. I have to make a slight movement of my hands to send the water in the direction I want. Facial expression always determines direction. If my eyes are past you I would probably be aiming for something higher up, or anticipating you backing up.
"Now I want you to try and block my first shot, with instinct. Ready?"
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