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(no subject)

Who: IT'S A GAME MINGLE GET IN THE VAN
Broadcast: If you want!
Action: All of it!
When: Second half of the month.

[hey everyone! how's it been going? how's medieval-fun-time-world treating you? anyone pillaged and burned anything yet? got kicked out of the castle? been planning expeditions? registered for jousting? busy angsting for the last two weeks on your ship?

this is a mingle for everybody, whether they're hiding in the volcano, out and about in the city, or up on one of those random random stations where you can get quirky souvenirs.]

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[ he's going for that opening, and riku sees several openings--he didn't explain deceptive maneuvers so he's not going to sweep his feet out from under him. but just as hiro's about to tap his side, riku's taps hiro's knee. ]

Good counter. I'll consider that a tie. [ he pivots away from hiro at this point. when he strikes, it's obvious to see and prepare for, and he wants to see if hiro will block or parry. ]

[hiro almost expected a pause in the fighting, but riku's words ring right as he moves, "show me how you think on your feet."

[he hasn't calculated how to parry quite yet, so he goes with the more comfortable option--blocking. he places his hands in the right position to hold himself and his weapon steady, and his stance is ready to brace for impact.]

[ good! a real smile breaks across riku's face.

hiro's showing some amazing potential. he could be a really good fighter... but, no. riku makes sure to keep his priorities straight--his job is to teach hiro how to sling spells. this meditation is just an extension of that. it'll show him some self-defense while he calms his mind and balances himself, so he can actually cast spells... so he'll still have some way to defend himself and others while they work on building up.

... maybe he should teach axel. he's... actually enjoying this.

the hit connects, but it's not harsh. riku presses. come on, hiro. he knows you can redirect--either it'll be to get the pressure off of him, or to throw riku off balance. ]

[riku will no-doubt notice the flicker in his eyes, as he's changing through responses at rapid speed. it's the brain of a genius, running on six major tracks at once instead of one or two. he's got riku's weight against him, but he knows it's not all of it. the rest has to be on one leg, not both, or he couldn't jump back as easily if necessary. the way he needs to press depends on which foot he's got his weight on.

[this takes half a second to go through in his mind. all riku will get is the flick of hiro's gaze down to his feet before he's not just shifting their flow, but adding in a little extra push to see if he can get riku on one leg.]

[ interesting.

riku hasn't battled many geniuses. the most he's battled is young master xehanort--and truth be told, he saw flickers of this, but not much. when he pushes back, riku can feel it going and he's impressed. hiro's four years his junior and he's caught up this quick...

ah, no less for a genius, he supposes.

what does surprise him is that he almost pitches over, because he didn't expect the extra push and riku is always movable and light on his feet.

... but he just flips over, using one hand when he almost falls backward to toss himself into the air and back on his feet a few feet away. ]

Huh--not bad at all.

[aaaand hiro's guard is 200% down because that was the most badass catch he's ever seen in person. what the fuck, riku, you're awesome.]

... You think so?

[right, words.]

[ ah... why is he staring?

he rubs the back of his neck, and then clears his throat to look at him dead-on. he doesn't make a lot of eye contact, but somehow, hiro makes it easy. ]

Yeah. [ that's earnest. ] You learn fast, and you pay attention. The more you practice, the more you'll get better at it, and it'll become muscle memory--you won't have to think as much about what you're doing, just when and where.

[ he gives a light hum. ]

Okay. Time to teach you the routine.

[he looks so proud of himself. the stuff he's learning here isn't stuff he ever thought he'd get to learn, so finding out that people he can only think of as experts think he's got potential in this entirely new field makes him so happy.

[he has the most earnest determination in his eyes now, when he smirks at him.]

Ready for it.

Five moves, three phases. Watch--I'll show you the whole thing now, and then the three phases. Don't try this right away.

[ he moves with each word. ]

Strike, block. Parry, strike. Counter. Strike, counter, block. Strike, parry. Strike, counter, strike, block. Strike.

So the first part--strike, block, parry, strike, counter.

[he's paying very close attention, repeating the pattern in his head over and over as he goes.

[then riku repeats the first part, and hiro's... not doing it yet because he was told not to, but he wants to. he's just kind of nodding, being attentive.]

Strike, block, parry, strike, counter.

[nod!]

[ good tiny genius, you can be taught.

when he repeats after him, he nods. ]

Show me.

Alright...

[he's conscious of his foot and grip placement as he prepares to move, taking an extra moment to get it right before starting. if he learned one thing from cass's training, it's that form comes first, speed comes later.

[then he does his best to make the moves flow together. he's way slower than how riku did it, a lot more careful, and a little sloppy (sometimes as a result).]

[ riku nods, and then tilts his head. ]

Good. You've got the basic form right--go back to block.

[ he waits for him, and then raises his rod to slightly press against hiro's elbow. ]

Lock your elbows--good. Next: strike, counter, block, strike, parry.

[he's following his orders, but also visibly paying attention to memorize how he's moving.

[then he hears the next set, and gives five shallow, rhythmic nods while he figures out what he's doing.

[and then he moves. this one is only marginally sloppier than the first, but that sure is a pretty block.]

I can tell you're a genius.

[ he laughs and shakes his head. ] Good. Think you can do it from the beginning?

[he pauses to preen before he nods with confidence.]

You said it. I'm a genius.

[SHRUG. okay, let's do this.

[he backs up a bit to give himself a little more room, and takes a deep breath. he does it with a slight pause between the two sets, but the rhythm seems to help him flow a bit better. he's still absolutely far from perfect, but hey, he doesn't totally flop on any part of it, either. the blocks are pretty nice in both sets.]

I don't say things I don't think're true.

[ well.

most of the time anyway. 99% of the time. ]

You'll get the rhythm better when you practice it--so don't worry about that, just remember what order and how to do them. Being a little stiff is normal.

Ready for the third set?

[nodding!!]

Noted. I'm ready. It's... Strike, counter, strike, block... strike?

Yep, you've got it. Go ahead and try it out.

[hell yeah, alright. he's gonna focus a little harder on his strikes this time than the other two, since there are three, and it's a good chance to get his form down better.]

Don't put too much energy in your strikes, or you won't have enough energy to redirect.

[ a word of caution, but he gives a firm nod. ]

Now all together. If you forget one, ask and I'll remind you.

[that makes sense. he kind of... gently strikes again just to gauge it for himself.]

Alright...

[and then he goes back to where he was standing at the start before, and tries to get it all the way through. he's kind of wobbly by the end of it and seems a little rushed, like he's not sure if he's doing it right.]

Pause.

[ he waves a hand gently at him, and then stands beside him. ]

This isn't about fighting. Sure, the moves are about fighting, but this routine is about training yourself to move. Don't imagine an opponent, and don't rush it, okay? This is about you.

[ he does the first set without a word, calm and collected. ]

Just you.

[he watches him this time, taking a moment to calm down, because, yeah, he was thinking about an opponent. what would he do if this were someone trying to kill him? what has he done in those situations before? he wouldn't have a giant robot to hide behind anymore.]

Alright... Just me. Got it...

[this time, when he does it, he focuses on how it feels, on the rhythm, instead of throwing himself into the fray like an idiot. it looks... a good margin better.]

[ riku breaks out into a grin when he finishes. ]

Really nice. You've got it. [ er, well... ] At least, you've got the routine down. Now, all you have to do is practice that.

... and stop when you get sore. I mean it.

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i had this open and written for literally five days. what the fuck.

I was wondering <3

EVEN THOUGH I TOOK A BREAK I WAS LIKE "huh i thought she'd tag..."

LMAO.... no this is one of my priority threads tbh

screeee me too <3

:>

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