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Who: "Soujirou" aka Okita Souji and you!
Broadcast: Network-wide
Action: SS Golden, later the SS Iskaulit Gym
When: (Broadcast) January 3rd, morning (Action) January 3rd and onward, afternoons

Broadcast
Since it seems that I'm far enough in the past for most people to consider me quite long gone, I suppose there's no harm in announcing who I am. It's a little strange, seeing how I kept this to myself for so long before.

But-- [deep breath] --I'm a teacher of the Tennen Rishin style of swordsmanship. [What, did you think he'd announce himself for real? Haha, silly you. Still, people who know of him, might get a clue from that.] I'd like to find someone willing to spar with me, if they're up to it. I heard there is a space for it on the-- [ugh, foreign names are hard.] Iskaulit? The other big ship. I'll be there every afternoon to practice.

Also, I've been searching for proper boken or shinai as well, so if anyone can help me find some, I would be very grateful.

Action
[Every afternoon, Souji will be at the Iskaulit gym in an open area. Before he has practice swords, he'll be using makeshift staves and whatever else he can get his hands on to simulate a sword. Come learn from a legendary swordsman! Or just go "why is that babysitter guy suddenly looking like he can murder 50 people???"]

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Write me a list of supplies and I'll have it dropped off with you for whenever you have time.

[He smiles.]

Then perhaps we can practice together in each of our styles - the regular, boring sword and the sword made of light.

Sure, I don't mind. The list of parts isn't big, and if there's anything hard to find, just throw some credits my way and I'll track them down myself. It's easier when you've got the right augment for that stuff.

It'd be nice to have a proper sparring partner again.

Of course. I'll have to find a way to begin earning a little more here.

[Without becoming base entertainment for whoever the heck was watching them. It was weird to think about that his entire life was now on display.]

Ah, but is there something we can use as...armor? I was told to never let anyone spar [me] without it.

Oh, yeah, I guess so.

[Well, they don't exactly have kendo gear here... he hasn't bothered with it. His avatars tend to be pretty durable, and the augments have helped, too.]

You're security, right? There should be gear for you in the armory.

[His lips press together to give an impression of just how much he trusts that stuff.]

Yes, I do. Although it seems to be rather...thin. Is it really durable enough to take hits from a blade or a staff without transferring the energy inward?

I can't say- never used them, myself. But if it's anything like the technology I'm used to back home, it's probably pretty durable. Armor's come a long way since the old days.

[Since the old days, he says.

He pauses a moment, suddenly reminded that he is just a name in a book somewhere (if that, even) to this boy.]

Well, perhaps next time I'll bring along some of my ship's armor and we can test it. I'm curious to see how modern things stand up to my "old" style.

That would be awesome. Maybe I'll ask Theon if I can borrow the armor on our ship or something, just to keep it fair.

[...Theon would probably say no. Well, maybe he can switch to an armored avatar or something... either one would do.]

[He smiles and nods, bowing his head.]

Then we have a deal. Our duel will have to wait until we're both properly armed.

[So he doesn't get 'dis'armed.]

Would it be impudent of me to ask to hold your light sword though?

[To his credit, he does hesitate a moment, but it passes quickly enough and he turns off the sword, offering the hilt out, tapping one thumb lightly against where the trigger is.]

Sure, just be careful. Hollow side out, press this to activate it.

[Handing your sword to a stranger is totally fine, right.]

[It's totally fine to hand a lightsaber to an 1860s samurai stranger. Tooootally completely fine. But at least this stranger isn't part of the murder club (right now).

Okita listens to the instructions and takes the empty hilt, looking it over and avoiding the trigger for now. He is rather surprised at how little weight there is to the entire device. He tests the hilt a few times in a contained swing and then turns away from Kirito to press the trigger.

The beam of light shoots out and he grips the hilt a little tighter as he jumps. It's still so strange to watch a blade just "appear" out of nowhere. He isn't completely prepared even though he's the one that pressed the button. After a moment, he gives the sword a little swing and then turns it off.

He knows what he has to do now to get used to a thing like that which is all he needed. Part of being a genius swordsman comes with having an intrinsic understanding of his weapon, and now that he knows the weight, he can practice with a shortened piece of wood.

Okita hands the weapon back to Kirito with both hands, offering it with a smile.]

Thank you. It's going to be a challenge to master it, but I think I'd like to learn.

Well, you know what they say- anything worth doing.

[He clips the hilt back to his belt, stretching his arms out over his head.

If you want one, get me one of the guns from your ship's armory. I'll need to use it as a base. Gimme, say, a month or two? Depends on how finicky the equipment is.

[He chuckles and nods.]

Yes and it's been quite a long time since I had such an interesting challenge.

[He will gladly trade a gun for a sword. And a month or two will allow him time to test out the armor and begin practicing with the non-lethal version of the sword (aka a stick).]

I'll have the equipment transferred to your ship as soon as I return this evening.

[Because what is asking permission, right? He's a security officer, whatever.]

Thank you, Kirito-kun. Having a sword again will make this place feel just a little less alien.

[It's not like Kirito asked if he could grab a gun to begin with, he's not gonna criticize.]

Believe me, I know exactly how you feel.

[He laughs and nods.]

I suppose swordsmen will always feel the same, no matter what the time period, hm?

Yeah, the language of the sword is universal, I guess.

Mmhm. Especially when you use the pointy end for negotiations.

[Durhurhur]

I... prefer using words, but I can't deny that it's a helpful backup tool.

[scary, bro.]

[you don't know the half of it yet]

They don't always listen to reason.

[or torture]

So yes, it's quite a useful tool when all else fails.

[or when you only need one person to interrogate and there are three.

But since they don't have the proper equipment yet, Okita takes one of his short staves and holds it out to Kirito.]

As we're currently lacking in sufficient equipment, shall we just go through some forms practice?

I'm down for it. Maybe you can show me how to practice properly, since, uh. I've never done formal training.

[He has no idea how to explain how training works with MMOs and sword skills...]

I can certainly do that, but there's just one rule.

[He tosses one of the staves towards Kirito.]

No complaining about bruises.

[Kirito catches it deftly, surprised for a moment, then an echoing smirk crosses his lips, and he takes a fighting stance- an unconventional one, when it comes to kendo, but a practiced pose nonetheless.]

You won't hear any from me.

[He smiles and slides into a stance of his own after checking Kirito's. It's obvious that Kirito has a different discipline when it comes to swords from his stance alone, but that he has skill and practice.

This should be fun.]

When you are ready.

[He turns his body slightly to one side, holding the makeshift "sword" in a defensive position.]

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