[video]

[presto_turn]

[Well, here's Shindou. He's really not on the network that often, is he? And, truth be told, he doesn't look entirely thrilled about it this time around...but that's only because he's been sitting here for the better part of an hour now, trying to figure out who to filter this posting to. (His team? The faculty? Ultimately, he just threw up his hands and left it public to everyone.)

"Here," by the way, is one of the training rooms off of the Institute's main gymnasium, all wrestling mats and punching bags and lots of space to move around. Shindou's claimed it for himself this afternoon, and he's crouched on one knee in his usual "Soccer kits count as a training uniform, right?" outfit.

In front of him, there's a long, black bō staff set out across the mat. He keeps looking down at it, as if trying to sort out his thoughts.]

I think I need a sparring partner.

[He totally doesn't sound enthusiastic about that. This is actually pretty uncomfortable. He looks back up and clears his throat. Maybe he should've waited 'til everyone stopped being excited about prom to ask this?]

That is -

I've been practicing something new in my defense classes lately, and...I need to see how it works in a serious situation. [Or, in other words: He needs someone willing to kick his butt. How do you even say that?] If there's anyone who'd be up for that, I can pay you back with help studying or something?

...Sorry, I know it's a strange request.

Comments

[Video]

[jolie_aile]

Did you still need help? I don't mind helping people.

[presto_turn]

I'm not sure? I've spoken to a few people who were interested, but I haven't made any hard plans yet.

Have you had much practice with armed combat at all?

[jolie_aile]

Some, though my claws make it tricky to hold things like guns or swords unless they're modified. I've used my bare hands in missions so far.

[presto_turn]

Right, you're on Mr. Hakurei's team, aren't you?

[He really didn't know Reimu even before the whole stasis thing, but the guy's a full-fledged X-Man now, so that's a pretty high recommendation.]

I was looking for some to practice with this - [A nod down towards his bō staff] with, but if you would be comfortable with that...?

[jolie_aile]

Yes, I am.

[She seems to be preening a little.]

And I don't mind; you don't have to worry about hitting me, either. I can deal with it.

[Getting hit with sticks wasn't really fun, but it was nothing compared to being hit with chunks of marble.

Or a Reimu-shaped missile.]

[presto_turn]

We can always get training padding if you want.

[Shindou's sold, either way. He nods slowly before donning a small, slightly nervous smile.]

That would be good, though. I want to drill as close to the real thing as I can...when would be good for you?

[jolie_aile]

Oh, I'm not worried about me so much. The mat would be good, though, if you want to practice for awhile.

Any time in the afternoon; I generally scuttle inside at noon anyway.

[presto_turn]

Right. [Padding still sounds like a good idea, but he guesses that's the right attitude for what he's after.]

These training rooms aren't hard to come by in the afternoons...? We could start sometime this weekend, if that would be alright.

[jolie_aile]

That time would be fine; they are busy after lunch and again in the evenings, but as long as you reserve one early you'll be fine. I'll put in a reservation for one after I get out of class, if you haven't already.

[presto_turn]

I'm down here already, so I'll take care of it before I head back out. That's fine.

Sunday, maybe?

Did you want to play this out here or elsewhere?

[jolie_aile]

Sounds good. I'll see you there.

Here's as good as anywhere, I guess, if this works for you?

[presto_turn]

Right. Thanks again.

[With that, he signs off, the video going blank on his end.

And come Sunday, a while after lunch hour, he's back down by the training rooms. They have one booked for an hour and a half - he wasn't quite sure how much time they would need - and Shindou shows up ten minutes beforehand with the staff from the other day, plus a gym bag made somewhat weighty by the two sets of protective pads he'd brought along just in case.

Today, he's opted for his actual training uniform, largely skintight blue-and-gold. He drops his bag by one end of the room, pulling out both sets of mock-armor, and then begins stretching as he waits for his practice partner for the day.]

This is fine! I apologize for the wait D:

[jolie_aile]

[This wasn't anything like a mission--but Flandre was still nervous. No, that wasn't it--anxious, giddy, something like that--she wanted to be as helpful as she could be.

She came into the gym with a small equipment bag and her hair tied back, wearing a similar training uniform and her usual toed shoes with gaps in them for her claws to poke through. She wasn't wearing her wings, though, just the caps that went over the sockets in her back--tearing the mats was an exercise best avoided.]

Hello! Are you ready? [Flandre asked brightly, stretching her arms out in front of her. She wasn't wearing any gloves, though they were in the bag if asked.]

[presto_turn]

[Oh, that's good. She's on time and obviously prepared. He nods, moving back for where he'd left his staff resting semi-upright against the wall.]

I am, if you are. [Though he's less sure about how to begin.]

I brought two sets of padding, if you want. Or we can just start without it...are you going to be unarmed?

[jolie_aile]

I am, unless you want me to get a sword.

[Her hands relaxed from her stretch, hanging down at her sides instead.]

Did you want me to wear gloves? My claws are sharp. I don't mind if you hit me, though.

[presto_turn]

That's fine, if that's what you're comfortable with.

[He'd assumed they'd be sparring weapon-to-weapon, but from the sound of it she has an advantage on him unarmed, regardless.

He has to pause to consider then.]

...Do you think we'll need them? Scratches aren't a problem. [They aren't worse than knocks, and he's sure he'll get worse from the Danger Room before long.] But I'd rather not get cut open.

[jolie_aile]

Well, possibly.

[She has clawed apart doors before. Better safe than sorry, especially if he was unused to it.

She unzips the bag, and takes out some custom gloves; they fit over her fingers and claws, covering them with enough rubberized padding to blunt them. They'd still hurt, but there was enough bounce there that she'd recognize when she reached too far. Hopefully.

She was still fretting about that.]

There. [Flandre raised her hands, showing that her gloves were solidly in place, before settling into a stance with her shoulders lowered, back straight, and sheathed claws raised.]

Ready?

[presto_turn]

All right.

[Is it strange that he feels a little disappointed, a little hopeless, looking at those gloves? He doesn't know, but he sets himself in a more defensive, opening posture than he might have otherwise, the bo clasped in both hands and set at his side. He rests on his back foot, prepared to counter a frontal attack.

He ought to be able to handle this, claws or no claws. Claws or whatever else! That's how this needs to go.]

When you're ready.

[jolie_aile]

[Her kind demeanor diminishes; it doesn't fully disappear, she doesn't want to hurt him. She wants to help! This was what he asked for, though.

Flandre didn't announce her approach with words--she stepped onto the mat, and launched off of her toes at him fast, but not too fast. Like an unarmed rioter--she had plenty of experience with those.]

[presto_turn]

[That shift in expression tells Shindou they're about to start, and so he squares himself on the mat and adjusts the bō in his hands, one grip about a third of a way from each end.

When she comes forward, he edges back some, staff going up to fend off claws or fists should they make a move for him. His weight shifts onto his back foot, the other resting light in a cat-like stance, before his hold slides further down the wood and he attempts to swing back and around for an uppercut of a strike, to back her off.

Even should it connect, though, it's little more than a sharp swat. Shindou's had time to begin getting a handle on the form and motions that go with his new weapon, in class and his solo practice sessions, but putting the force behind them needed for combat is another story. Especially when there's flesh and blood on the other end of them.]

[jolie_aile]

[The staff bounced off of Flandre's shoulder, enough to make her notice.]

Your control is good. But-

[It wasn't enough to stop her, though. She kept advancing after that short pause.]

You can hit me; I'll be fine, I promise.

[Between these gloves and her claws, making a fist was difficult; Flandre swatted at the staff instead, trying to make a grab for it.]

[presto_turn]

[He snaps the bō backwards and circles away from her, just out of reach.

He's not sure what to expect from Flandre strength-wise, but getting his weapon stripped from him would be close to an immediate loss. And as long as he's armed and she isn't-exactly, he can afford to fight defensively.]

Are you sure, though...?

[Even if he's not going to do any serious serious damage, going to classes with a concussion or whatever could royally suck, and that doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility?

All the same, he steps around and sweeps for her legs, keeping the staff low to discourage another grab. There's a little more force behind the strike this time.]

[jolie_aile]

[Her claws whistled through empty air, and settled back into a ready posture as soon as they could.]

Yes- [Oop--that was coming for her knees now. Flandre abruptly stopped her advance to bounce backwards, narrowly avoiding getting her ankle tagged. That would hurt, regeneration regardless. Blocking things coming at her feet would be one of the few times she wished she did have a weapon.]

-I'll heal from anything you can hit me with before dinner.

[Well, slight exaggeration. But it seemed like he needed the reassurance more.

When the staff was clear of her knees, Flandre charged in again--faster, a kind of half-sprint with her shoulder up to hit him with.]