driftfleet | 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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

About that.

[Pidge draws in a breath. coming to a stop a fair distance away, squaring her shoulders and dropping her smile in lieu of something more determined-looking.]

I know I'm not Galra, but I'd like to try sparring with you.

[That is an unexpected response. His frown deepens for a moment as he considers the request, turning to face her tiny form completely now. Kolivan has to look far down to meet her eyes but he can see the determination there. This is a path she truly wants to take.

All the same, he can't just let her go into this unaware.]

The way of the Blades is not for those of weak will. It will push you to the limits, even to spar against one of us. I would show you the same level of combat I offer any of my Blades if you were to spar with me. This will result in injury.

[Pidge doesn't even flinch.]

That's fine. I can take it.

[This is a girl who took on the universe to find her family and never took "No" for an answer. Who has now fought countless Galra soldiers and drones in and out of the Green Lion. Stood up to Shiro and Keith, her fellow paladins, during combat spars of their own. She's not afraid of bruises or broken bones; yes, they would suck and she'd complain for a while, but that's no reason to be scared of them.]

If I don't measure up, then that'll be obvious in a matter of minutes. I know my limits. I'll back down when I can't handle it.

[Well, that's a point in her favor. However, he supposes he will see how it is put into practice. Some claim to know their limits then clearly don't. Often it can get people killed.

She is still alive of course.

The silence fills the air as he considers this carefully. He is already sure she won't give him a challenge but at the same time Lotor and Haggar are here. There's no telling how many other dangers are sitting in wait and what will come of that. Peace now doesn't mean peace forever. She could use the training to handle anything.

And she did ask. He can appreciate that.]

Grab a weapon. We begin the moment one is in your hand.

[She's still tensed up while waiting to hear his reply, her hands curling into fists at her sides. Pidge knows she can do this. Sure, she's not as tough or as stubborn as Keith, and she knows that the likelihood of beating Kolivan is extremely low. But she needs this release. She needs to feel useful again. Like a Paladin of Voltron.

When Kolivan grants her request she can't help but smile a little, some of the tension in her shoulders gone as she quickly turns to look for a suitable weapon among the practice ones that the gym has provided. It's a bit of a difficult search - most of what's been provided are swords or staffs - but eventually she finds something vaguely similar to what she's used to. It doesn't have the electric charge or the grappling hook that her bayard has always provided her with, but it'll have to do for a spar.

One quick swing of her arm to test it, and then Pidge is turning to face the leader of the Blade of Marmora, about as ready for him as she'll ever be.]

[What Pidge doesn't realize is that Kolivan means quite literally what he says. She turns to find that Kolivan is already there swinging the flat side of his blade right at her. It's either dodge or block. He's leaving her with no other option in this matter.

Welcome to training with the leader of the Blades of Marmora, Pidge. He did warn you it wasn't going to be easy.

Oh and after that sword move? He's definitely kicking out with the intention of sending her sprawling across the room.]

[She should have figured as much. The Blade of Marmora are no joke. She's seen them in action, she's seen the way Keith fights. So really she's lucky that her reflexes kick in as quickly as they do, even if it means she's startled backwards just far enough to avoid getting smacked in the face with his weapon. Unfortunately it's not far enough to avoid the kick and she ends up knocked back, tumbling across the floor with a yelp.

But Pidge is stubborn, and this isn't enough to keep her down. She recovers quickly enough, managing to push herself up onto all fours to slow that momentum to a halt. And then she immediately springs forward, keeping herself low as she rushes at Kolivan, aiming a swing of her weapon to the side of his hip.]

[Is her movement and defense impressive? Not by a long shot. It's pathetic really. However, there is something she does that pleases the large Galra a great deal more than anything else.

She gets right back up.

It doesn't show on his face but he's very pleased as he waits for her to rush at him, blocking her attack easily with his sword. He barely move beyond that, clearly intending to make her work for this.]

[She's no match for him, physically. Kolivan outclasses her in size, speed, and strength. He also has years on her in battle experience, so coming up with a strategy to incapacitate her should be easy. But she's going to have to think of something if she wants to last longer than five seconds in this training. She asked for it, after all.

But first, she needs to gather data.

Blocking her weapon is expected, but she notes that he doesn't even budge in doing so. She draws back, just half a step, only to aim another downward swing at him. She focuses lower this time; how well can he defend the legs that are so easily within Pidge's reach?]

[Wise. Fighting at her height when outclassed. It's a wise move.

Kolivan shifts back to get out of her reach, taking advantage of her shorter reach to essentially just step out of the way. Once he's beyond her range, he rushes forward to kick at her head. It's a harsh blow if it lands but he's not intending to go easy on her.

No. He expects her to get hit or to dodge. That's it.]

[He's already figured out how far her reach goes. Pidge mentally makes a note of that and files it away.

As soon as she sees that incoming kick, she opts for the dodge option, ducking beneath the swing of Kolivan's leg. She's still moving forward though, enough to drop into a small slide so she can get past him. On the way she tries to catch him by the leg and pull, hoping to knock him off balance and send him to the floor.]

[He lets her pull. He even lets her take him down. However, it's all so that way he can roll with her attached to his leg to fling her across the room with the momentum that he builds up.

Largely just to see how she handles that.]

[Pidge is very well aware that she's going to be very, very bruised at the end of all this.

She decides, at the very last second, that as he rolls and tries to fling her off she's not going to let go. She does her damnedest to stay attached at his leg, using the momentum he's provided her to aim a kick at whatever she's able to reach.]

[Which really is only to his leg. But, hanging on is not a terrible move. There's a stubbornness to it which is worth noting. Something Kolivan is certainly doing as he shifts his blade around to aim at her.

Could he potentially hurt himself to get her off of him? Possibly. But obviously Blades don't mess around when sparring.]

Training Day

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