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 Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:40 pm
The idea of a spar had sounded like a good one when Leah had suggested it back in the bakery, but now that Aeleas was back in the woods with Neryn, she was second guessing herself and her choices.
“I have to confess I wish…I had chosen the blaster. I have never been good with the knife. First with cutting my hair, and then that incident the last time you and I were out here…do you really think that you can help me get any better with it? I…do not practice, but I have skill with using a knife for cutting pastries! I help in the kitchen more often than I am out front, I prefer the cooking more than I do talking with people. I…do not mind talking with people but. It can be exhausting.”
Drawing her small dagger out, Aeleas waved it half heartedly. “I am ready to try though! Not that I think I will be doing much fighting but…it is always good to be prepared!”
…It would be useful if she ever ran into someone else from the Vanguard and they weren’t willing to be friendly and open…
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Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:56 pm
Neryn tied their hair back with a thin leather cord, so it fell in a wavy pony tail from the middle of the back of their skull. The fact that Aeleas had been the one to suggest sparring had caught them off guard, but they weren't going to say no either. Having some idea how to use a weapon, even just a basic knife, was a smart decision. Stars forbid Aeleas ever had to defend her found family from the Negaverse or evil humans, but at least this way she could.
"I transitioned to a boltcaster after the mission. Not that I didn't like the smaller blaster, but I'd seen this... movie, I think the term is, and one of the actors had this futuristic crossbow that fired energy bullets. I liked it and requested one for use," they said, patting the weapon strapped to their back. It was a heavy weapon, and slow to fire, but packed a punch, even though it was just a training weapon.
They weren't going to use it for training today - that just wasn't fair - and instead Neryn was going to help Aeleas with hand to hand. They did have a training dagger though, so they weren't completely unarmed.
"It is good to be prepared, and I've been doing some training on my own in the event my weapon is inaccessible or breaks mid-fight. Besides, our weapons don't do a lot of real damage in general; when it comes down to it, you'll be better off with a kitchen knife if you need to defend yourself or your family," they said, assuming a stance, training dagger forward and body turned slightly.
"Let's start off with you attacking me, and I will focus on defense. Come at me however you wish, and I'll assist if you get stuck or are unsure what to do next," they said with an encouraging smile. It was good training for them to be on the defense, and would allow Aeleas to feel more comfortable fighting. "Begin when you are ready, my friend."
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Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 5:53 pm
Aeleas was already having second and third…and possibly even forth thoughts about this, but…it was going to be for the best, and it was important to at least pretend that she knew what it was that she was doing. “I think I will always be stuck with my dagger, I do not think I will ever grow or move through the ranks of the Vanguard, and that is fine with me. But…I am glad that you have done training on your own! I am very proud of you, Neryn!”
She couldn’t quite describe the fluttery feeling when they called her their friend, but…she liked it. That was for sure…it didn’t stop Aeleas from drawing in a deep breath and moving as swiftly as she could towards the other Velencian, her dagger raised for the attack. She had seen Earth movies too, a lot of them. And as she made it look as though she were aiming for his left arm, she swiftly swerved and slashed at his right instead.
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Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 4:25 pm
Neryn came up to block on the left, falling for the feint, and winced as their right forearm went numb. To be fair, they let themself fall for the feint, but it was a really good tactic regardless! They were impressed with Aeleas's quick thinking and use of a more advanced strategy out of the gate.
"Good feint! A very good opening strategy, especially if your opponent isn't expecting you to attack them!" they praised, providing feedback and guidence on the tactic. Neryn disengaged from Aeleas, and reset for the next attack.
"I think you are more skilled than you give yourself credit for, Aeleas. A beginner wouldn't be able to execute a technique like that out of the gate."
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 5:49 pm
Aeleas hesitated. “You do not think that a move like that is dishonest? I have learned it from some of the movies that we partake of at home, and…I am honestly surprised that it worked so well, but…it has always seemed so…tricky to me. And…the idea of being tricky is not all together appealing.” Perhaps that was one of the most negative aspects about living on Earth.
“Do you suppose that Lyndin grew so cruel and tricky because of the time that we spent here? Do you think that the Earth is poisoning us and changing who and what we are? Perhaps it would be best for the Vanguard to leave the Earth and…figure some other way to save our…um. The Home.”
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 6:04 pm
Neryn shook their head. "No I think it is good strategy. I have found that many things that I would have assumed would be 'dishonest' are colored by perceptions and circumstance. For instance..." They held out their dagger, reversed grip in their hand. "'Backstabbing' someone is a valid combat technique. If you can sneak up on someone and take them out silently, then you run less of a risk of alerting others to your presence. However, if you backstab someone by going behind their back and expressing false statements, that is dishonest."
Aeleas mentioned Lyndin and they sighed softly, dropping their arm. "I... I don't think Earth poisoned him. I think the elders were at their wits end trying to awaken our Senshi, and Lyndin put his love of his home over his love of his prince. I think if they had perhaps tried to negociate or be more open to Cosmos and the Silver Millenium, none of this may have happened. Or it still might have. But no... I do not think this world is poisoning us. I think Lyndin does not want to die, and wants us to experience the world we came from."
Neryn let out a shrug. "I do not approve of his methods... but I spoke to him after... everything. I can see the logic in what he did. Yet I think... home is where your family is. Yours is here. Mine is... I'll find it someday." Ah, that went a little... deep there. They'd apologize but something just... made them want to open up to Aeleas. Maybe it was because Aeleas had chosen to stay on Earth, maybe it was because they had chosen a human life.
Maybe it was just because Aeleas was Aeleas.
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 6:26 pm
Aeleas nodded and let out a long, slow breath, closing her eyes for a moment and finally, she took a step closer and drew Neryn into a tight hug. “I hope that you will find it. I think that everyone deserves to find it. And I know that our home…the home that Lyndin wants to get back must be nice…must have been nice but. I think that he needs to move on. I think that they all do. If this planet is not what is changing them…I hope that everyone can find home here...or. At least I hope that some do.”
She swallowed and squeezed the fellow member of the Vanguard once more, holding back the last bit of what she wanted to say.
It was selfish to say that she did not want to be alone…but. That was the truth of it all.
“Please, let us meet up again soon, okay? I enjoy spending time with you.”
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 6:33 pm
"I agree," they said, hugging their friend back. Neryn patted Aeleas on the shoulder and nodded.
"Absolutely. Perhaps for some more pastries!"
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