|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 2:59 pm
Talfrid had done his best to make up for his creepy behavior as late. He was trying to cut back on being the silent observer, at least in the presence of people he actually wanted to be friends with, and get to know. He had learned that there were two methods to learning about people, and it just came down to if he wanted them to know he was interested or not.
Not everyone was a target, at least not immediately. There was a balance for him to find, between putting himself too far out there, making himself vulnerable of forgetting his path by exposure, and keeping himself too far locked away. He needed contacts, and he needed the knowledge he was gaining from the friendships he was making.
Or that was how it was easily justified.
He couldn't say he was adept, though. He still only really knew Bran, and was getting to know Fiona.
Yet despite everything he had learned, he was hiding at the top of a wall, using the overhang of an ornate rooftop, likely a home of an upper class member of society, peering down at the streets below as he waited for Bran. He had to keep his friends on his toes, after all, and help him get stronger and faster, as was their deal.
Plus it was fun.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:07 pm
This…was where they were supposed to meet; at least, Bran was fairly sure it was. It was simply that he didn’t see the other man. That fact alone raised more hairs on the back of his neck than any other training he’d been through to date. Given that he preferred libraries to the fighting grounds, that wasn’t necessarily saying much, but good things seldom came of not seeing Talfrid where he was intended to be.
He started to call for him; just an instinct bred of society at large but thought better of it.
He was –there-, somewhere, he was sure of it. He glanced from corner to corner, likely, and accessible hiding spot to hiding spot…
He was still working on the fact that humans, in general, lacked the instinct to look –up.
Some sound perhaps, or instinct maybe led him to glance upward, far too late though to do anything about the young man who was descending from on high.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:24 pm
Talfrid looked down at the meeting area and grinned as Bran looked everywhere but the one direction he should have. He had to give the other some credit, he did at least check the area thoroughly and he knew an attack was coming, he just did not know where.
At least, not until it was too late.
But it was still better than before, and Talfrid like seeing the obvious improvement. He leaped from the roof and dropped down at Bran, ready for a scuffle. He didn't have any real weapons out, though he always carried some. No, he opted for a smooth stick that he could use a club.
He aimed his feet for Bran's shoulders, bringing his arms down with him and aiming for his head.
Because why make it easy?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:49 pm
It was not a graceful, but he did make some effort to defend himself from the assault. Tumbling into an awkward roll across the pavement as the stick –thudded hard, against his shoulders well before he could finish the move. It was not his wisest choice of defense either he decided, because it meant he had to stand again and that too would leave him vulnerable.
“TALFRID!” He yelled in frustration, though he had asked for it, and…there by deserved it. Still frustrating though.
“Knights and wonders! I’ll catch you at this one of these days!” he swore, though if any god or goddess was listening it was hard to say. He lashed out half blindly with a foot trying to take his own hits in where he could.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 4:22 pm
Talfrid looked as innocent as a man who had just attacked his best friend could, tilting his head as if to inquire after just what Bran was so upset about. Because he just not figure it out: what was the problem here?
He couldn't hold the look for long, though, feeling the corners of his mouth twitching under threat of a smile.
"You will not," he said, with a pointed nod of his head, "You looked left and right twice before you looked up. Instincts like those won't do you any good. Expecting that there may be a trap, or something unexpected, around every corner is something you should be used to by now."
Considering he had a knight that liked to attack him out of no where hanging out with him all the time.
He was already up and off of Bran, circling around and at least giving him a chance to get to his feet. Except he wasn't, he was just letting the other think that. He charged forward from the side, club swinging.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 4:43 pm
“I WILL” He protested, before yelping and rolling again, not even trying to gain his feet strait away as he rolled away from the stick and grabbed for whatever game to hand for a weapon. Thank god he hadn’t worn his dress clothes, he’d learned that fast enough, no time was safe from ‘keep on your toes’ training. “You know I hate it when you… I’m making SOME progress surely, far better than when I looked no where at all!” He briefly wielded a stick, which snapped in half moments later, only to have the remnants tossed at Talfrid. “I’ve done at least as well at this as you have in learning to behave around people!” He summarized and finally gave up, using one of his books as a defense. Poor book…
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 5:48 pm
Talfrid was a notorious ruiner of good clothes, so it was better to dress down rather than dressing nice when agreeing to hang out with him. He was one of the largest enemies of fashion in his day and age, probably.
And not just because he didn't dress very well.
Talfrid liked to push Bran, make him fight harder than he really needed to. It was obvious that progress was being made, very good progress, and Talfrid was well aware of it. He was proud of his friend, but that didn't let him take it easy.
The people who trained him had never gotten complacent with him, never told him how well he was doing. Talfrid was becoming a better friend, his own training in that regard going well due to Bran's help, but he still wasn't good with every aspect of personal interactions.
"I think you've done better," he tried, nodding his head and looking deadly serious about his compliment. He didn't let up in his attacks though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 6:18 pm
“I’m…so glad, I’m glad you approve!” He said huffing for a moment, looking, or trying to look winded, right before that expression was swept away and he lunched for Talfrid, a gutsy move, or perhaps a foolish one. Either way he was aimed right for ‘center of mass, hoping to topple his opponent.
“I think you’ve gotten better too…” he admitted. “To my frustration, you are better on –all- fronts” He admitted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:10 am
Talfrid almost laughed, though that was still difficult for him, watching his friend with interest and eagerness. He liked seeing Bran get worked up, because the other was so mellow most of the time. It was interesting to see him getting into the fight, and pushing himself.
He thought he knew what Bran would try, something defensive and tactical, rather than leaping right at him. That caught him by surprise and he pulled himself backward, foot catching on something behind him, maybe a rock.
It gave Bran an opening that Talfrid wasn't anticipating. His instincts kicked into gear and he almost forgot it was a friendly fight, though he managed not to lash out for Bran's throat or pull out a more dangerous weapon.
Instead, he took a swing while he stumbled, pulling his body downward but not able to get under Bran's charge. He grabbed on to the other instead, taking him down too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:25 am
Down they both went, a startled tangle of limbs and exasperated sounds from Bran. He panicked for a moment, the combination of the fall, and the grapple brushing away the thoughts of friendly combat for a moment. He struck out blindly with the butt of his hand, trying to push away and free himself as much as he was trying to injure, if not more intent on freedom. Bran had personal space issues that he’d never quite worked out, though a minor flip out while combatting someone who’s whole life prior had been devoted to lethal combat, was perhaps not the best timing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:47 am
Talfrid took the hit and he couldn't help himself. He was out of control, and he did not like being the one controlling a fight. He lashed out and caught Bran's arm with one hand while he lashed out with the other, punching him hard in the stomach to make him lose his wind.
He moved to turn them, yanking Bran's arm behind his back in a way that did not agree with his shoulder, and forcing him down onto the ground.
It was only when he was kneeling on top of poor Bran, knee digging into his back, that Talfrid realized what he was doing and released him. He leaped up and away, onto his feet.
"I... I'm... I'm sorry."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:57 am
It was alarming, it was fast, and by god it hurt, he couldn’t even breathe to protest as his arm was yanked roughly upward, shoulder burning with the angle and direction it had been so roughly yanked, never mind that he was being compressed into the ground. He –wheezed- for air as his solar plexus remembered it played a vital roll in the supply of oxygen. “Sokay….” He wheezed, eyes watering, hasty to reassure. “My, my fault…” He pushed himself up with shaky arms and just knelt for a moment to catch his breath. “You, are really good at that.” He admitted, pained but awed. It was that or be angry, he didn’t want to be angry, as hard as it was to avoid on the impulse of pain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 4:35 pm
Talfrid looked very guilty, like a dog who had accidentally just bitten its master in anger. He had that sort of an air about him, anyway, like he needed someone to follow, to care about, or he didn't know what to do with himself. It was strange, living such an isolated life and yet needing that purpose.
The last thing he wanted to do was hurt his friends.
He offered his hand to help Bran back up, hoping he hadn't broken something in all that. It had happened fast, as it always did, but usually he didn't need to stop himself.
"I am sorry. I did not mean to hit you so hard... you caught me off guard. It means you are getting better, you put me on edge." He offered a feeble compliment, as if that justified him trying to reorganize Bran's ribcage with his fist.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 4:45 pm
For his part, hearing those words set Bran to beaming, a pained smile perhaps around bruised ribs but never the less he looked pleased indeed. “That means a lot coming from you.” He beamed.
“Maybe, if I keep practicing I’ll move as fast as you do.” He said and took the offered hand without even a hint of reservation. He winced slightly and pressed a hand to his ribs for a moment before sliding it away again, if real damage had been done he wasn’t going to say, he refused to add to the look of a kicked hound. “I’m lucky… other teachers might be a lot harder on me, or less patient with my slow progress.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 4:55 pm
"You're already fast. I think you will be able to hone that into a effective skill. I have a hard time keeping up with you, sometimes." And that was true. Talfrid was fast, but he was muscular and built like a brick wall. It wasn't the best for running, though he was silent and quick from his training. It had been another skill he'd had to train diligently to perfect, it was not natural.
"I think... we should call it a day on training for now. And perhaps tomorrow as well... if you are hurt it will not help to push you beyond your body's limit."
And Talfrid felt guilty enough to be lenient in their training schedule, though he was also letting himself off of book studies and the things Bran taught him, as well. He just didn't want to risk hurting him further.
"I think you are a capable student, and any real teacher would be glad to have you," he said, smiling slightly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
