Let's just call this the OTA Catchall March post shall we?

[bythewaves]

Who: Maglor + ANYONE
What: various Citadel stuff + whatever
When: Day 417-... let's say the Burning Bridges event
Where: Citadel + Park/Pub/wherever you like
Rating: ...there is scripted violence, so PG I guess?

(ooc: several existing scenarios + come poke me now that I'm officially off hiatus YAY also I now have a plurk that I don't know what to do with here: http://www.plurk.com/bookwormfaith )

Option 1: Sparring with Elrond - closed to Elrond, but you can come watch & comment on two Elf-lords going to town on each other after if you like

Option 2: Training Alice the Elder - ....prrrrrobably closed to Alice and maybe Elrond, but again, if folk would like to watch or comment...

Option 3: The Park - he's usually by the lake, singing. Yes really. Especially late at night when the stars are out. Open as heck come bug him.

Option 4: The Pub - He's here if he's not at the park, also singing (he doesn't have much of a life outside music, I'm sorry) - one thread def. closed to Merlin, else come bug him

Option 5: Choose your own adventure - OTA obviously

Comments

[bythewaves]

Good! [ he nods approvingly - she's got experience, that much is clear, and he ruthlessly shoves down the welling of grief that thought brings - now is not the time ]

But you overextended yourself on that last strike - a knife gets you too close to be safely used for a stab unless it is fatal, disarming, or you are much faster than your opponent. A blade like yours is better suited for disarming - [ he mimes a slash and then a stab to wrists or elbows ] or slashing - it would open a throat swiftly, or disembowel your opponent, but that last is too slow. Again.

[digophelia]

[She shouldn't really let her anger dictate the usage of the vorpal blade, she's sure that the cheshire cat would say something as much.

Which is basically inner chiding that she should know this. She's shaking, trying to let the images go away, especially the most recent that compelled her out here. Despite her palms being sweaty, her grip on the carved handle doesn't loosen. She wishes that the memories could just leave her in peace, but she knows by now they never can.

They have to be faced reasonably now, she knows this. Memories good and bad will always be apart of who she is, but they shouldn't define her. Swiftly, Alice flicks her blade back, quicker, still keeping on her toes, rather than her heals, with a bent stance that allows her to move around quicker. It'd be good for her to learn to formulate her movements better, rather than jump in with a frenzy. There's people here she wants to protect and they need her alive and unharmed.]

[bythewaves]

[ This will go on for a while - Maglor correcting stance or grip or strike and offering advice on better movement or a better strike pattern. Sometimes he'll move to show her. Alice will get thoroughly sick of the word 'again'.

When he's satisfied, he offers her his hunting knife so she can see how a different blade changes her attack pattern. The Elven knife is long and slender, almost a short sword, really - better for stabbing - he shows her how it slides neatly into the dummy, how it would be able to slip past ribs and armor - but light and balanced enough to be able to be thrown. And then he gets her to try. ]

[digophelia]

[It will likely be in her dreams later on. Or nightmares, depending. Her wild imagination conjures all sorts of things, much like visibly imagining stabbing someone. Maybe a Rutledge orderly, maybe something else. A nightmare.

After a while, her fears of being judged and observe slowly evaporate; Alice has finally shown her true colors, in a sense, quick and agile. As small as she is in comparison to him, she seems to have unlimited energy that's fueled by her uneasy nature currently. And while she has yet to pull back her dark hair that has fallen in her face numerous times, she uses it as a veil of the sort, only occasionally glancing back at him. Small glances from curiosity. Her curiosity that never can be sated.

The blade reminds her of a sword, of the sort. It's exciting, but it's also bringing up the feelings of uneasiness, the feelings she'll never live up to anyone's expectations. She'll be thrown on the ground again, her opponent asking her why she should live. Like him. It doesn't send her off into a frenzy, now Alice has finally managed to cool her temper. It's lighter, but she still prefers her vorpal blade more than anything, for emotional reasons.

She bites her lip in hesitation again, letting her dark hair fall into her face. Same stance as before, same shaking hands that grip both her own knife and his in her left hand. A thrust with her knees bent and on her toes as before. It's weirder with her left hand, but somehow, she manages. A puff of relief through her dark hair. All the while, Alice has kept her sharp tone, barely saying anything.]

[bythewaves]

[ She may, to be honest, be too utterly exhausted to dream after this. Maglor is a good trainer - he's had five brothers to help raise, plus two rambunctious elflings, as well as the training drills all standing armies need to keep up - he knows how far he can push, and she shows no sign of injury today. His criticisms are all studiously neutral and he makes sure that she gets a correction before moving on. The Elven blade gets more of those, which is only to be expected with a weapon she's never seen or used. He won't push the double handed style too far today, he's mainly just getting her used to the idea - her own knife will be more dwarven, he has no doubt, shorter, but no less balanced. ]

Well done. [ he says when she works out the slash-thrust he was trying to teach her ]

One last thing, today - we'll see how you defend. [ yes, he is holding a practice blade - he won't use live steel on her, not yet. ] Just your own knife, I think. Ready?

[digophelia]

[She's never been the type to gloat, but it feels as if she's getting better with it. It almost reminds her of dancing to a degree, bent knees and being on the balls of your feet.]

My own knife.

[Alice isn't too particularly nervous, not at all. She's still holding onto her knife, to the point she's sure that there will be an indent of the carvings in her palms. Finally, Alice pushes her hair out of her face. Well, part of it, to where she can actually see.

She nods. Just as many times before, Alice hasn't said much of anything out of a few affirmations and nods. She shoves the familiar anxiety aside, resuming the same defensive stance as many times before, akin to a cornered animal. It's the best she knows, it's all she knows from fighting off those who have brought her harmed in Rutledge and beyond. Hopefully, she'll be prepared if she ever encounters another soul in Asgard to bring her harm.]

[bythewaves]

[ Is is, rather - there is a reason many of the Wood-Elf dances involve blades ]

Blade up. [ he reminds her ] Keep your arms loose as well - if you hold too tightly to your blade you can be too easily disarmed - arms as well as legs need to be fluid.

[ Then he moves to attack. If Alice was here early enough to watch Elrond and Maglor go at it she'll know he's holding back a lot right now - telegraphing moves and keeping back his strength and speed to something she will be able to read ]

Watch my eyes and feet, not the blade - by the time the blade moves, you are too late to counter. Remember that I have the reach and strength on you - you need to get inside my guard, do not try to catch the blade.

[digophelia]

[Alice is really starting to hate the fact she's so small in comparison, as she starts to wonder if she'll ever manage with someone taller than her. At least she's capable of jumping back -- Alice all around is a jumpy person, always so consumed with what could go around her.

It's also one of her bigger flaws, that paranoia.]

...

[She scowls. She's not necessarily angry at him, just at the situation as a whole, out of her comfort zone. All she does is nod, once again, using her steps to at least start taking a slow, side-stepping pace around, clenching the blade in her hands.

She's too reckless. By the time Alice recoils and jumps back, listening to his words, she wonders idly what were to happen if she didn't pay attention to the blade. Well, one way for her to find out is to use her similar slash, a flick of the risk as she takes one step forward with the other foot planted firmly in the back.]

[bythewaves]

Good! [ he nods in approval when she comes forward - the trick with knife fighting always boils down to movement - he catches her knife, sliding down the blade to tap at her wrist with the wooden practice blade ] But again, don't overextend - in, and then out. Watch for the openings and vary your pattern - if you use the same attack repeatedly, your enemy will become used to it.

[ he has a leather breastplate on, but he doesn't fear her doing him any serious harm yet ]

[digophelia]

[She [pauses briefly, with a a huff, and once again pushing hair out of her face. She tries to keep it in mind again.

Same thing as always a nod, a huff, and mulling it in her head as if she were stepping outside of her body to watch herself. She won't hurt him, of course. That's only reserved for the people who really upset her. Again, Alice resumes her stance, attempting to add her own variety in her pattern to go on the defensive, this time, watching his movements to see what he does in turn.]

[bythewaves]

[ As she gains confidence he'll speed up a little, encouraging her to try different things as he varies his own pattern. He'll point out openings she missed and if she leaves herself open too much the practice blade will tap on her wrist. He moves like a dancer, fluid and light on his feet, and encourages her to the same.

When he sees that she's starting to flag, he'll stop. ]

Well done, gwilwileth. [ it is the first time he's used the endearment since they've started - out here, she's only Alice, just a trainee until they're done ]

[digophelia]

[She tries.

But it may be a bit longer until she gets to the point of exhaustion, purely from her stubborn nature to learn as quickly and swiftly as possible. And the fact Alice seems to have an utter disregard for her well-being in combat, most times. It's hard to let go of that anger she has for herself.

And impatience. Alice does well at offensive strikes so far, not so much defensive.]

[bythewaves]

[ By the time they end, Maglor is feeling his own injuries - he's experienced at pushing them to the back of his mind, but he sparred with Elrond earlier as well, and his ribs burn (he can almost feel his foster son's disapproving stare from here). Alice is actually quite good - she's fast and takes instruction well. He'll need to work on her defense, and also her sense of her surroundings - she's far too reckless, but nothing is irreversibly bad. ]

You've done well today gwilwileth. [ he smiles at her, even as he walks her through the warm-down stretches and then leads her over to the water pitchers - lukewarm but he won't risk cold water yet. ] You have a lot of natural talent - in my world with skill like yours, the Rohirrim would likely have trained you early as a shieldmaiden, and the Dunedain would have likely done something similar.

[ he keeps a close eye on her to make sure she doesn't seem more than simply tired out - the last thing he wants to do is injure her ]

[digophelia]

[Alice wouldn't think so.

But then again, secretly coveting her experience with knife fighting came from the most unlikely places is something she's not particularly proud of. She had been a person of few words this entire time, hardly saying anything. She was feeling more at ease; if only she could learn not to jump so head long into fights. That would be a start. And as always, Alice rarely displays any sort of confirmation of physical pain. Sure, there is a few scrapes and bruises, but her pain tolerance is far too great at this rate. She's small, it was bound to happen. And she'll hide it well so that he doesn't say anything.

It's the lack of sleep that's starting to haunt her after riding a high of anxiety that finally starts to show in her green eyes that are red. She's learn to be humble. And for the record, she is still a ball of awkwardness, thank you very much. The rest of her cleaning up the grime and dirt will be done at home; this week has been far to scandalizing.]

I'm not particularly special.

[Alice would like to make that clear, lowering her head. God, she needs more sleep.]

I just want to fend for myself.

[bythewaves]

[ Did she truly think that she could hide her weariness? Maglor stopped when he did for her sake as well as his own. Gently he reminds himself ]

Oh hinya, but you are, gwilwileth. I have seen so many lives of Men, and you all are, in your own ways. [ and I would protect that light, he doesn't say - it is all that is left to me now ] Do not underestimate the worth of a single life - even the smallest, simplest thing may change the fates of the world.

And you will gwilwileth. You have done well this day, and will continue to do so, I do not doubt. Rest now, and I will see you again, perhaps on the morrow.

[digophelia]

[She still needs more sleep.

It will be a miracle if she wakes up less in the middle of the night when not dredged up by nightmares of fires and Alfhiem still. But those words echo so much of cheshire's.

She who saves a single soul, saves the universe.

In a very round about way, Asgard does a good job of reminding her of many things she should know.]

Very well.

[She breathes, allowing her usually tense shoulders to relax just a bit. She has the feeling she shouldn't leave quite yet without a proper dismissal.]

[bythewaves]

[ A good sentiment, and one Maglor would agree with, if he knew ]

[ Maglor smiles at her relaxing, and bows formally to her to prevent his instinct of reaching out to touch instead ]

If you do not hate me in the morning, come back to the Citadel, and we will work on some of the things you missed today, hm? [ He teases gently, but the sentiment is true. Maglor himself will go straight to Elrond after this for painkilles because ow. He thinks that she will be here - she's far too stubborn to let painful muscles stop her ]

Namarie! May your journey home be swift and may the stars guard your dreams this night.

[digophelia]

[Alice lets out a small sigh.

Would it be too hypocritical to tell him not to be so critical of his actions? Probably. Which is why Alice won't say it to begin with. ]

I'm sure if I hated you so, I would have drawn blood.

[She says it dryly, in a terrible jokingly way. Yet she considers it a serious comment, the people who angered her in the past who made her feel threatened were worse for wear. Wonderland inhabitants not included.

She is very stubborn, which is why she'll be back again. Alice thinks she should be rewarded for keeping her temper.]

... Thank you.

[Alice mutters rather awkwardly as she turns to head back, rubbing the back of her neck.]

[bythewaves]

You might yet. [ Maglor answers amused ] That is the final goal of these sessions after all, to get you to that point. [ one mark - if she can get to the point where she can get past his guard to manage that, he'll be pleased - and he'll push her til she makes it ]

Rest well, hinya. [ and he doesn't notice his slip in address ]

[digophelia]

[Fortunately for him, Alice's curiosity is held back to her fatigue. Restless nights of tossing and turning, followed by late night adventures of playing with her puppy until she felt better.

She still has to feel better. Alice glance back at him, still with a section of her dark hair over her green eyes. Eventually, Alice leaves without a word, slowly making her way back to Loki's district.]