driftfleet | Training Day

Entry tags:

Training Day

Who: Kolivan and YOU
Broadcast: Nope
Action: On the Iskaulit
When: Today!

[Kolivan has been getting more familiar with locations here but one thing is clear...he needs to keep up with his own personal training. This may be a peaceful time here but he knows there are dangerous people already in this place. People he needs to prepare himself for should they decide to be anything less than peaceful.

So he's either in the gym or the obstacle course when he's not attending to his duties on the ship he was assigned. It means he's not asleep much but then again it's not like he is one to spend much time at rest. Not when he feels that there is a very real danger he needs to be prepared for. Just in case. Because he doesn't ever want to be caught off guard again and overwhelmed. He wants to be able to face his foes head on and not lose.

This also means it's easy enough to come across him and even if he doesn't look your way instantly it seems rather clear that he already knows you're there. Like he sensed your arrival. But it's only when he's finished a series of complex movements (with his sword and legs in the gym or through the more complicated area of the obstacle course) that he actually acknowledges you.]

Do you need something?

[It's gruff but...he's always like this. Don't mind him.]

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[Keith gave a slightly startled grunt, and spun, ducking to one side. Krolia had the family Blade, so he didn't immediately have a weapon on him. Kolivan had an extra advantage there. Keith recovered quickly, though, immediately taking a much more fight ready posture.

He really should have known this was going to happen.]

[This is really quite the way to find out the Leader of the Blades of Marmora has his blade back but here he is. And one would think that he should go easier on Keith because he's unarmed but honestly?

They're Blades.

That means he's quickly turning to face him and rushing him again, delivering several slashes his way to force Keith to dodge them.]

[The downside of this scenario was that it put Keith on constant defense and retreat. If he wanted to get some space between them and time to think for a second, he was going to have to turn the tables. Thankfully, his smaller size made him harder to hit when went low, and it wasn't hard for him to actually duck and slide under Kolivan's attacks. The Castle drones, the Galra sentries, the Galra themselves, had all been taller than him, and sliding in low was something Keith had found to be effective against them.

And he did just that, making his move towards grabbing one of the practice weapons from the side of the gym where they were stored. At least it would be something to parry with for a bit if the Blade didn't slice right through it on the first hit.]

[It's a wise move to make. Kolivan has to stop to turn around which gives Keith the time that he needs. After all, he's fast for his size but he was still moving forward and now has to make a 180.

When he sees the practice blade, he shifts how he's holding his sword to hit with the flat of his blade instead. These weapons are not those of his group so breaking them would cause others to be unable to use them. He doesn't want to take away the opportunity to learn and improve from others just because his own Blades go all out in a sparring matches.

Which means that at least his weapon doesn't cut through when it impacts.]

[Well, it was something, at least. Keith noticed Kolivan flip his weapon around to avoid breaking the practice weapon just before they connected with a loud crack from the force. Keith pushed against him for a moment, then dropped back and away suddenly in the hope that Kolivan's weight would tip him forward.]

[It does tilt him forward. However, he turns that into a roll that lets one of those long legs actually kick back straight at Keith before he gets back to his feet again. A pivot and he's facing him again, pushing off and rushing forward at the boy once more.]

[The kick connected before Keith could put enough distance between them, and he hit the floor. He let himself roll with the momentum a bit before planting his feet and popping back upright. He clenched his jaw and charged back at Kolivan, aiming to make the first strike with an upward reverse swing of his weapon.]

[Blocking the strike, he knocks it to the side before using another tool he has. His fist. This he aims right at Keith's face without the slightest hesitation. If it lands it's sure to leave quite the bruise for a few days.

But that's the price of being a Blade, right?]

[Oh, it did, drawing a grunt from the impact... and it pushed Keith off balance enough that he had to turn with the force of the blow. He managed to continue through the motion, almost stumbling, but he swung his leg up and back, aiming for Kolivan's ribs.]

[It looks like that kick will land solidly. Right up until Kolivan grabs his ankle to swing him around and throw him to the side. He appreciates the efforts but no he won't be allowing that one.]

[That got a yelp in response as Keith went flying. Nothing like some good air time to knock the wind out of you when you hit the floor.]

OOF!

[Keith pushed himself to recover as fast as he could, rolling away from Kolivan first and climbing back to his feet. He didn't charge in right away, instead waiting and watching while he tried to catch his breath.]

Your landings are poor. They will require work.

[Leave it to Kolivan to take a situation like this and suddenly turn it into a lesson instead. But he does allow Keith time to get air in his lungs.

For like two seconds before he rushes at him to aim a fist at his face.]

[Keith knew he wouldn't have long, and he barely managed to bite back a response to Kolivan's critique as he found himself once more on the defensive. He dodged, moving in the opposite direction of Kolivan's swing, and brought his weapon around for a strike at Kolivan's ribs, hopefully before the larger Blade changed his momentum.]

[His chest is a huge target and it's a decent place to aim for. However, he expects better than that so he changes his momentum to a flip to move over the top of Keith.]

Go for the head. Aim to kill.

[As soon as Keith spotted the shift to go over, he dropped low to dodge and get maneuvering room, spinning as he moved in order to keep Kolivan in his line of sight. Keith didn't look all that thrilled with the idea of taking a weapon to his leader's head in a sparring match, to be quite honest. Not that he didn't think Kolivan couldn't take it, but it wasn't something he liked doing... even if his opponent was willing to go all out and possibly even kill him... like Shiro's clone.

The statement caused him to stop. He didn't drop his guard, but he didn't attack. Kolivan had gotten into his head.]

[His eyes narrow and he rushes at him. This time it really looks like Kolivan is trying to kill him. Of course he isn't but to fight another Blade, to spar with another Blade, and not give everything in that moment...

After the recent time of seeing all his Blades killed off, of being responsible for more being killed after, he feels more responsible for them than ever. If something happens to him he wants them to be alright. He wants them to be able to fight when he can't be there and...

Kolivan carries more guilt inside him than he lets on. Right now, he just wants Keith to be able to do what it takes to live. And that means being able to fight someone he likes with everything he has.]

[There was a moment of panic, and Keith almost got lost to the moment. No, this wasn't Shiro's clone. Yes, this was Kolivan. No, they weren't actually fighting for their lives. Yes, this was sparring, even if that meant rougher fighting than what humans did to spar.

He visibly hesitated for that split second before he reacted. It was enough for Kolivan to make his point.

Idiot! Keith heard himself yell in his own head. He had to focus!

Keith swung hard with the practice weapon he held, his initial thought only to block because he was convinced he was too late. The angle cut upwards to account for their height difference, but the swing was wild, a reaction more than an actual block.]

[The erratic swing are almost pathetic. He finds himself able to essentially slap the weapon to the side as he swings his fist around to aim directly for Keith's face. Like he plans to punch sense into him.

But that's not all. He's already pushing forward again, another swing of his blade coming at Keith again.

There's too much hesitation here. Hesitation like this could get him killed. It's a hard lesson to learn but it's one he feels he has to teach right now. Even if it means that Keith will be walking out of here with a number of bruises.]

[Keith grunted as he took the punch, barely stumbling quickly enough to block the blade with his own weapon, a more solid reaction this time. He clenched his jaw, his teeth grit together with the effort to recover. Kolivan had him back on his heels again, and he knew he needed to turn the tables fast. But his head wasn't in it. Keith had lost his focus as the idea of fighting for his life against someone he cared about, a friend, a loved one, had hit a nerve that was surprisingly still raw.

His heel caught the edge of one of the mats, and Keith fell backwards, landing on his back. He parried fast, knowing the hit from Kolivan's blade was coming.]

[The sword stops only a breath away from Keith. A breath hangs in the air, the large Galra not moving right away.

When he does, he rights himself to look down and Keith who has fallen to the ground.]

You hesitated. That hesitation could get you or others killed.

[Keith sucked in a sharp breath as the blow came close, his eyes closed as he accepted defeat. He didn't move until he heard Kolivan stand, and then opened his eyes.

He was angry at himself. His grip on the practice weapon tightened for a split second as Kolivan spoke, and then Keith growled in frustration, slamming his fist against the floor before he got up. He moved quickly to stand, turning away from Kolivan to stalk off some steam before he faced him again.]

I know.

[He snapped that a little, his entire frame tense as he stood there.]

I don't know what happened.

[That was a lie. He knew exactly what happened. He just didn't want to admit that he still had hang ups about that.]

Edited 2019-01-23 15:55 (UTC)

You allowed your personal feelings to get in the way. Rarely anyone doesn't have personal situations they bring into a fight. It's what you do with them that matter.

[He flips his blade around and replaces it at his side. Crossing his arms, he continues to look down at Keith. Honestly he's sure that the boy is already aware of what happened here but that doesn't mean it can't be said aloud. Especially if Keith won't confess it himself.]

When we hesitate, we fall. Our enemies will not allow us the luxury of thinking things through. Even if it turns out to be an ally turned enemy.

[Keith didn't want to say it aloud. He didn't want to think that the thing that happened between him and Shiro was sill affecting him like that. He thought it was done. He and Shiro had talked about it.

But, nope... something in the back of his head was clinging to what happened, and he hated to admit that he was having trouble. Thankfully, it only seemed to come out when he was up against someone he cared about.

Yes, Kolivan... Keith actually did care about you...]

I've already had to do that.

[Keith's voice was raw.]

You are not the only one who has been forced into fights you never wanted. You have to stretch your mind beyond your own worries.

[Something that is never easy. It's taken Kolivan a long time to get to where he is now. To only really dwell on these problems when he is alone with no one else around him.]

[Keith narrowed his eyes.]

I know. Which makes this whole thing even more annoying. I should be able to deal with this!

[He was angry at himself for freezing up.]

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