V. Important Requests

[flickerflash]

Who: Katie and anyone
Broadcast: Fleet
Action: The Vanquish if you want
When: 10 Feb

Dear Atrama,

Can we please visit a planet with beaches next? I keep meeting people who haven't seen one and that's terrible. It's actually a crime where I come from.
Please don't let anyone get arrested.
I believe in you.

Also if you take requests can I have my cat please. And some chalk and I was meant to have a sword I think I could be wrong. It's a short silver gold magical
IT'S A LIGHTSABER
A RED ONE
Either that or just give me Mihawks.

[GO BIG OR GO HOME]

Please thank you love Dorothy.

[This has been a totally efficient use of your communicator, Katie, gj.]

Comments

[flickerflash]

[Okay wow. Technique games are cool.]

I like Star Q Prominence! What's a Savage Fulcrum? [What's a fulcrum? Also, there's a cracking sound up in the tree. This one looks a little better.]

[huaaaaagh]

A fulcrum is a central point of rotation. It's a technique that involves three different angled slashes, attacking an enemy with your blade turned a specific way each time. Um, savagely.

[That part is important.]

[flickerflash]

Savagely. That doesn't sound very polite. [She doesn't sound like she minds. She may be planning to co-opt it.]

And you don't have to yell them every time? It feels a little silly to give your enemy a warning.

[She jumps down lightly from the tree, holding a much better stick this time. Excuse her while she plucks the leaves away.

...and bats at them a little.]

[huaaaaagh]

[Welcome to the Aincrad School of Hard Knocks, Katie.]

Well, to be fair, most of the enemies I used to fight couldn't understand what the words meant, so they had no idea what was coming. But no, I don't usually go shouting it out. Only when it feels right!

[Or when it's time to show off. Sometimes that is fun, okay.]

[flickerflash]

I shall have to keep that in mind. Did you fight a lot of foreign people or just a lot of monsters?

[Either or.

...yes, this stick will do nicely. She swings it a few times. It's not as heavy, but eh.]

[huaaaaagh]

Er... monsters. Usually giant animals that can't talk at all.

[flickerflash]

That's good. Much less rude of you. Unless they're mean, of course.

[She swishes her stick one more time, then draws herself up like a... well, a little kid playing with pretend swords. But she's certainly holding it like she knows what she's doing.]

Do you say anything like "en garde"?

[huaaaaagh]

[That's actually not a bad stance at all. It's probably more official than his own, though he looks confident enough as he shifts into a responding position, hand out, blade part-way behind himself as if prepped to swing.]

I don't, but I've heard others use words like that.

[flickerflash]

Then I won't say it either.

[Katie you just did... but here! Have an experimental attack! It's a simple one and it's not very hard, but right now she's more curious as to Kirito's fighting. She hasn't seen someone get ready like that before.]

[huaaaaagh]

[He shifts forward and blocks the strike with his own, not too forcefully, but more to gauge her attack strength. He's not expecting much based on her size, but he's not very big himself, so it would be reckless to underestimate her. Sticks can still hurt if they connect in the right way, after all.

For the first few strikes, though, he'll mostly dodge. It's best to get a feel for the weapon before you charge right in.]

[flickerflash]

[Whereas Katie kind of... charges right in after the first couple of strikes, because now she's confident that Kirito is taking her seriously. There's not a lot of strength behind her attacks because smol child, but she's fast and definitely knows her stuff. She's not gonna land a hit on Kirito unless he wants her to because she hasn't trained furiously hard all year or anything, but she's ferocious enough.

...though she kind of giggles after a little while. She's enjoying this, sue her.]

[huaaaaagh]

[He'd have to sue himself if he did, because he's smiling, too. Serious fights are dangerous, and people can get hurt or worse. Spars are different. They're fun, just a friendly challenge to check out someone else's skills.

At some point he switches gears and starts attacking back, keeping his charges much more light and casual than he would in a real fight. She's not lacking for enthusiasm, and he'd like to see how far she goes with it.]

[flickerflash]

[She's actually not used to fighting with someone Kirito's size. Her two teachers were Mihawk and an eight foot tall guy with horns, respectively. Tall people everywhar. So she finds this way more fun than usual, because Mihawk is super serious and never let her mess around.

When he switches she'll roll with it. She's better at defense than offense anyway. Probably she should be countering around these but she kind of forgoes it for now in favour of talking, but her guard is excellent.]

You're really good! Have you done this a long time?

[huaaaaagh]

About three years, yeah.

[Which isn't as long as most swordsmen in fantasy settings, but most of them don't spend every waking hour of that time fighting monsters, so he figures it balances out. (Though that was only two of those three years... anyway, nitpicking.)]

You're no pushover, either. Has someone been training you?

[flickerflash]

Well, I am a knight, you know! [Though she grins.] I've even trained squires and everything.

[Well, you know, the other way round and all. She figures he'll work it out eventually. Knights are way better than she is.]

[huaaaaagh]

I can tell.

[Well, more like he can tell that she's gotten some training. That's more than he can say, since his abilities are mostly self-taught or built into the system he's used to. But yeah, if her age hadn't been enough of a hint, her skill certainly isn't on par with what a knight ought to be.

Good start though, yeah? Everyone starts somewhere. And if it's fun, all the better.]

Any squires in this place?

[flickerflash]

There was one! His name was Mihawk. [Her face falls a little, even though she doesn't lower her guard.] He had to go home, though. But I taught him half of what he knows.

[huaaaaagh]

Oh- Mihawk, yeah. I met him, actually. He was incredibly skilled.

[Definitely wasn't her squire, but maybe he'd found her enthusiasm endearing. Kirito didn't expect to understand a man like that after two conversations.]

He fought with blades a lot bigger than sticks. That must've been interesting.

[flickerflash]

I made him pick a smaller one with me. I'm only little!

He says he's the greatest swordsman in the world. [A little forlornly:] He left without saying goodbye, though. That was rude of him. I shan't give him lessons anymore.

[huaaaaagh]

I didn't get to see him before he left, either.

[He's less bothered by it - he'd only spoken to the man twice, after all, so they weren't close - but he can sympathize a little. Mihawk had definitely been an impressive swordsman, so his loss was a big deal.]

Maybe you should find yourself a new squire.

[flickerflash]

Maybe I should. Though I only take on people better than me. [She suspects he has the picture by now.] I shall have to keep a eye out.

Are you satisfied I know how to use a sword?

[huaaaaagh]

[He certainly does.]

Hah... you've impressed me, for sure. You really want a sword that much?

[flickerflash]

I'm not much of a knight if I'm wandering around without one. [She looks hopeful.] So will you make me a lightsaber? I'll pay you!

[huaaaaagh]

You don't- you don't have to pay me, geez.

[He'd feel a little guilty about taking money from a kid when the way they have to earn it here is so sketch to begin with.]

I do need something else from you first, though. Does your ship have a security assignment?

[flickerflash]

[But it's a lot of work, Kirito! She doesn't mind!

Though she just looks confused at that question because lol like Katie pays attention--]

A what?