driftfleet | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Everyone
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Iskaulit
When:

[So we've been stuck on the poison moon for a couple months now, so a lot of people probably want to get away from that.

Unfortunately, the only place you really can get away from it besides your own ship is the Iskaulit. So, here's a June Iskaulit mingle!]

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Even skillful warriors must start at the beginning. They are rarely blessed with immediate abilities to wield a sword or dagger.

[ Unless they're like Leto, but he's the special snowflake. He hands her the wooden dagger. ]

First, I'd like you to try and hurt me. Do not worry. I will not retaliate, only dodge.

There is the matter that I do not wish to hurt you and another that I think anyone trying to would have to be quite foolish.

[ she smiles, however, takes the dagger and holds it at ready ]

shall it be good practice if I do not wish you any harm?

I only wish to gauge your speed and current ability. After knowing that, I will be able to proceed.

[ Leto steps back, unassuming. There's nothing on the Fleet that can truly hurt him, but he dislikes making people worry. ]

[ she smiles a little and bows ]

Very well, then.

[ she treats it like a dangerous dance of a sort. she is graceful and quick on her feet but has little knowledge of what to do and that much is evident. her steps are careful and fast enough but when it comes down to hurt, she stops a breath away and chuckles ]

Am I to attempt to hit you with my dagger now?

By all means.

[ Leto takes out his own dagger that he had fashioned from wood and calmly stabs his hand. Nothing. Not even a cut. Satisfied, he drops it onto the table with a clatter. ]

I cannot be hurt by mortal ways.

And yet you know how to battle? When we are done, you shall have to explain to me why such an extraordinary man would even need to wield a weapon.

[ she is all smiles but a moment later, she moves to stab him. on a less clever man, she thinks it might yet do the trick ]

[ He dodges neatly, a quick sidestep. ]

Good. Deflection, masked intent can get you far in a vulnerable situation. But what if an enemy once-scorned returns? What then?

I suppose I have lost the element of surprise.

[ she turns the wooden blade in her hand ]

And my next steps will have be more direct, would they not?

Direct contact can offer many advantages but not enough for an enemy who would have their guard up.

[ He picks up his own knife, twirling it around his fingers - an artisan's touch. He treats it more like a toy than a weapon. Leto holds it in a loose grip and casually flicks it across the wall, embedding itself. ]

A thrown knife, with the right aim, is deadly and precise.

Throw it -

[ she gasps a little as his knife goes flying, eyes widening as it meets the wall. she imagines - can see the pain and the blood it can draw from an opponent. ]

Your aim is impressive. I must learn such or else I might hit someone else -

I will teach you. That is why we're having these sessions. Progress will be slow but it will be achieved.

[ He calmly retrieves it, pulling it out. ]

Strength is something to be built, like knowledge.

[ they are one and the same, truly. to survive in the world, one would need a healthy measure of both. she reckons that doing is, learning a new craft, is necessary. if there ever comes a day when there will be those who wish to dispose of them, she cannot trust others to defend her as much as she need to be able to keep herself safe. ]

How many years have you been learning, my lord?

[ He nods, a faint smile playing on his lips. ]

Ever since I was born. Royalty must know these skills. How to detect poison, how to ply men with sweet words and how to best fight.

Poison?

[ a pity they've never taught joffrey, she thinks, or mayhaps a fortune. she smiles, tidies down her tunic as she walks over to see the mark left on the wall ]

Are there many who wish to poison you?

Power always comes with its inherent plots.

[ He touches the point of the knife. ]

I was drugged once. For days on end. They wanted me to go mad.

[ It's not a memory he recalls fondly. It was a blur of hands on his bare skin and Spice being forced down his throat. Illusions and dreams melded together as the inner voices screamed. ]

Fools.

[ spoken softly. she thinks of joffrey who she was told choked on poison on their wedding day. he was a fool, he would not know better but to risk the vengeance of one such as lord leto, that was a risk, surely. ]

Who healed you? from the drug?

I healed myself.

[ He grins at her, a little rueful. ] It's a complicated story. I'll not bore you with the details. Let's try that movement once more.

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