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Noemi had interrupted what looked like a staring contest between Dawson and the dummy, as though it had insulted his mother and spat. Really, it was just refusing to be as entertaining as a live partner, and his arms were still not quite recuperated from his string of fights. Still, they weren't as flabby as they used to be, which meant something, right? Maybe overexercising wasn't possible after all...

He jumped a little when he was first approached. "Oh! Didn' see ya there, hun," he greeted her as he tugged at his cap and put on a bright, dimpled smile. "Ya got good timin', I was about t'ask someone if they'd mind bein' a partner."

Intermediate, Noemi had said. He shouldn't have perked up like that, but intermediate was as good as it got for him. It'd be hopefully fast and informative, because fighting people on his own level wasn't giving him the same satisfaction.

"I, Dawson Grace, Moon trainee n' local bacon lover, would love t'be yer meat shield on this lovely day," he said as he picked up his shield.

He couldn't help but chuckle: the girl was just cute. "Yer not obliged fer anythin', hun," he told her as he twisted his cap backwards--battle time. "S'a spar, we're gonna get a bit banged up one way or another. But I won' say no t'some bacon if ya make it, heh!"

After getting some distance between them, Dawson raised his shield and checked Noemi's weapon out: trident, just like Maebe. She was so skittish, though, he wondered if this chick's attacks were just as strong...

(He also wondered when and how he had changed from don't hit girls to but will girls hit you over time.)

"Ready!"

HP: 40
Defense: 3
Charge: 0/3

Dawson had his own ideas as to why he was in Moon--namely that he had a complex about helping literally everyone all the time for better or for worse lest his ego suffer--but the shield was an easier excuse. "Yeeeup," he said proudly, though Noemi was spared his cheer of MOON DIV BEST DIV as her trident crashed against his weapon and slid past his defense.

It was worse than fighting Arorangi. At least the spear had only one pointy end.

"Not too fast at all, honeybunch," Dawson assured her as he raised his shield again. "I'ma tough customer. Don' let the shield thing fool ya either, she's a hard hitter when she wants ta, heh." He gave his weapon a few taps. "So bring yer A game! Nothin' rustles up a hunger faster than a good work out."

hp: 36
defense: 6
charge: 1/3

"A lil' heavy, yeah." His shield held against the attack, but he was too slow with his counter to hit her, plus the distance was too far to cross in one go anyway. "I switch arms so I don' tucker one out," Dawson explained as he rolled his shoulder. Thank God for weapon speed healing, otherwise he was sure he would have torn something before now.

"But yeah, just a trainee." He couldn't help but look terribly pleased with the compliments nevertheless and bounced on his feet. "Not fer long, though! I'm doin' these spars so I can prep fer promotion time, heh. Gotta be sturdy as a bull n' stronger than one."

Hp: 36
Damage: 0

If it was possible to have sparkle eyes in real life, that was what Dawson wore. Castle wall, never crumbling. It had exactly the sort of knightly feeling he was looking for.

"Hell yeah!" he cheered as he fist pumped with his free hand. Probably not a great move considering the trident smacking him, but he was enthusiastic nevertheless. "I like how ya think. But don' mind me, hun, m'gonna switch between t'practice. You just keep hittin' me t'yer heart's content n' don't stop 'til I call when."

He raised his shield and beckoned her over again, this time moving around Noemi to try and be a harder target.

Hp: 28
Defense: 3

This time she was close enough that Dawson was able to shrug off her trident, push it to the side, and move forward into a short bash against Noemi. He was starting to get the technique a bit down now--less about hardening against attacks, more diverting them to make your opponents vulnerable.

He still felt a twinge bad doing so, though. Some things were just bred in the bones, and smacking a lady still wouldn't ever feel 100% right.

"Now I know you got more than that," he challenged her with a good-natured smile.

hp: 28
damage: 3

She was polite enough to give a warning, aww. Ready to get blasted on his a** (which seemed the norm whenever people used their charges on him), Dawson braced both hands on his shield and rooted his stance. Neither of which stayed for long when the energy exploded in Noemi's face instead.

His initial thought was to abandon battle and check on her, but Syn growled. People were tougher than that, didn't he remember? He should have take the opportunity to strike.

"You awright?" Dawson asked with a slight frown. It made him glad that the worst that happened when his charge failed was that his weapon merely stopped glowing.

Hp: 28
Damage: defending self for 2