Flashes of steel (Fencing Class)

[Serinity Dawson]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://i56.tinypic.com/20hldp2.png,true] Professor Vincent was speaking. Serinity took note of his name, but she disliked having to call him just “Vincent.” How could she do that? He was the teacher and she was the student. Didn’t that break some kind of student-teacher code law or something? The blonde itched her nose and readjusted the helmet under her arm. Maybe she could get away with just calling him Professor. The brief lecture continued on talking about the actual class itself. Rapier class, right. Keeping that in mind. Ever fearful of the pop-quizzes, Serinity tried to store as much knowledge as she could in her mind whenever the teachers droned on about their subjects. At least this one was more of an experience class rather than a lecture class! The blonde listened to Vince’s words carefully so as not to miss any important need to know pieces of information. When her name popped up in his speech, her heart practically stopped. She caught her breath and held it without realizing it. Had she heard right? Did he really just call her to come to the front of the class? Crap, crap, crap, crap, craaaap! This is NOT what I meant when I said I wanted to redeem myself! Nervously biting her lip, Serinity had to force herself to let out the old air and let in some new. Calm down, you’re just going to be doing the basic steps… in front of the whole class… with Daniel watching... Crrrrrrrraaaaaaapppp. Taking in a deep breath, the blonde was about to put on her helmet and follow Seth’s led. Before she did, Daniel wished her good luck, Charlotte repeating the phrase. “Thank you,” she managed to say softly, “But I’m pretty sure I will need it. And if not me - he will.” She nervously chuckled after gesturing to Seth. More than likely, it would turn out bad for the other kid. Stepping up behind the professor and near Seth, Rini eyed her so called partner warily. He suddenly made a slight movement toward her and whispered. Anger and embarrassment flooded Serinity. She hated when people did that. Her jaws clenched together tightly while her hands moved to put on the head gear to complete her suit. Before the helmet went on, her eyes took one last clear peek at Daniel her so called “boyfriend.” Now, it was personal. If something accidently happened to Seth during the training session, Serinity would feel a heck of a lot less bad about it. Not to say she’d actually go out of her way to do something. He hadn’t over stepped the line… Yet.

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[vincent]

Vincent waited until Seth ans Serenity had come to the front of the class.
"Thank you." He said before dropping into the basic opening stance. He had shifted his own rapier to his right hand for the purpose of demonstration. His right foot was leading, slightly bent at the knee while his left was back slightly, the foot facing out to the side as his left hand rested on his hip while his right arm was held forward, slightly bent at the elbow, the blade held so that the edge was facing his inside line, while the back of it was facing out to his side, the point at chest level while the handle was slightly lower.

"This is the basic opening stance that you will be starting with. From this stance most actions can easily be taken. We will be working on footwork, and other exercises later, but I've always found it less dull to get a taste of the actual dueling right from the start." He said before making six slashes. Two diagonally from the lower position, two horizontally side to side, followed up by two slashes diagonally coming from above. All of them were mostly used with the wrist and forearm and executed with a fluid and deadly grace.
"These six strikes are what you will start with today." He said before making shorter motions that consisted of shifting the base of the weapon that matched the strikes.
"And these are the parries. Keep in mind that it's about timing and technique than power." He said before he stood normally once more.

"Seth, Serenity, using these basics. I would like you to go through a quick duel so the class can get an idea of what a basic exchange looks like. After that, we will pair of and then start going over the techniques step by step." He took a few steps back as he removed his helmet revealing an encouraging smile.
"I know that was only a quick demonstration, and I don't expect you to have it down just from that. Just give it a try, I promise I have my reasons for this." He added just before giving a nod.

"Very well, begin." He said, eagerly awaiting to see how this turned out. He was standing by ready to intervene if things went nasty. One of the reasons he was allowing this 'Sink or swim' method at the moment, he had the ability to keep things from going too far if need be.

[Seth Turner]

Their stares didn't make him jumpy like they might do to someone else. Attention infused him with more confidence. He stood up straighter, shoulders back and head high. He was the epitome of arrogance, the poster boy for over confidence. Seth knew what they thought of him and his actions only proved them correct, he was every bit as bad as they thought he was. There was no need to hide it and go out of his way to seem nice. He wasn't big into wasting time, and he wasn't about to start now. This girl couldn't even put on her gear without looking to him for help and he wasn't worried about her besting him in this first duel. Seth was all about sports, usually of the extreme variety, but he was positive that he could handle this watered-down junk.

Oh, he caught the jab. He heard her say that he would need the luck, but he didn't care. Snarky comments were all well and good, up until the point they had to be backed up by some action. He was ready, but was she? With a smirk, he waited up front, ready to begin. He didn't suppose it mattered, his expression, since no one could see it with the helmet covering his face. Loose and ready. His mind was already zoning in at the task on hand, focusing. He didn't like being shown up and he didn't care if it was a girl or a guy. Seth didn't let someone else win, it just wasn't his style.

His gaze slid across her as she went red, with anger or embarrassment, Seth couldn't tell. But, he was willing to bet it was a mixture of both. Satisfied that his comment had gotten to her, he chose to look away, back to the professor. He anticipated the long spiel of how they were going to begin, and within a few seconds of Rin joining him, he wasn't disappointed. Committing the offensive and defensive maneuvers to memory, he recognized they were only the basics, the building blocks to the advanced levels of fencing.

The thought did cross his mind, whether the professor was expecting something to go amiss. If Seth had been watching this practice session, he would probably have been rooting for something to go wrong. More fun that way, if he wasn't the center of attention. Now though, he was satisfied. He was in the spot light after all. Right now, with his mind focused, he wasn't thinking of the powers in the room, radiating off of every individual. It all faded away, leaving him with a sense of peace, something he so rarely obtained.

The demonstration over, his gaze settled back on Rin. He took the stance easily, mimicking what the professor had just shown them. It felt awkward, being so confined, but he soon realized it accommodated the attacks and counters comfortably. He moved forward, keeping to his stance. One slash, quick, cutting to her left side, forcing her onto the offensive, unless she wanted to get fancy.

[Serinity Dawson]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://i56.tinypic.com/20hldp2.png,true] Oh, blasted Rini why did you have to pick such an embarrassing class to be in? The poor girl didn’t handle embarrassment well, obviously. Vincent went into what he said was the standard opening pose. Serinity instantly let her gaze travel across his body from head to foot trying her best to memorize the details of what went where and how she was supposed to stand. It would be a miracle if she didn’t make a complete fool of herself by the end of the class. Inwardly groaning, she did her best to keep her nerves calm. Her powers tended to flare under extreme anger and nerves. Right now, it could go either way as to which one would be the trigger. The blonde eyed Seth behind the cover of her mask a certain expression of dislike appearing on her countenance. Six slashes were made against an invisible opponent. Rini instinctively took one step back from the professor as he demonstrated the moves. Marveling at his skill and grace, Serinity looked down at her rapier and wondered if she could ever match it or even comes close. The moves seemed simple enough, though. If Rini had a sword thrust into her hands without lessons and was told to attack, they would probably be the same moves she used. Paying particular attention to how Vince moved his wrist and forearm, the girl narrowed her eyes. More than likely the movements would not come easy for her. She felt like all out attacking her opponent, but in this sport especially for a beginner, that might not be the wisest of moves. When it came down to the parries, Serinity almost gave a sigh. That would probably be her weakest point, defending herself properly. The timing would be hard to figure out and there was no question that each person she faced would have a different kind of timing to watch for. Again, her blue grey optics flickered over to Seth. She could practically feel the confidence radiating off his body. It was seeping from his stance – the way he held himself proud and ready like he had already won the fight. Serinity gritted her teeth and focused on the teacher. Which would win this battle, over-confidence or angry determinacy? “Very well, begin.”

[/i] The professor took his steps back and Serinity turned to face Seth. The words rattled around in her brain trying to find somewhere to stick and register. The blonde felt numb and scared. It was only a practice, but so many little things needed to be accounted for. Daniel was watching along with the entire class. Seth was standing there smug thinking he had already. It was likely she would make some move and cause herself to look like the fool. Shaking her head and trying to get her breath under control, Serinity ignored the light tremor in her hand. Her other hand slipped to her hip imitating the professor’s previous stance. Ready.

Seth made the first move. It was quick and unexpected throwing her off guard. It was a slash to her left, the more susceptible side. Serinity slowly followed up with a parry that just barely made it up in time, the ring of metal in her ears. She couldn’t help the squeak that accompanied the parry. That out and over with, the rest of the world fell away. Now, there were only two people in this new world, her and Seth. She could see him getting ready for another attack. Testing the waters the blonde went for a strike to the right with a diagonal cut upwards. She refused to give a resting period and attacked again with a horizontal strike to the left. As she moved back and away the awkward holding of her foot caused her to stumble slightly and momentarily let her guard down.
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[Seth Turner]

The rhythm was steady, pounding against his ribcage. The blood rushing in his ears blocked everything else out. He was focused, as well as he could be at any given time. The rapier was gripped in his hand and he tried to keep the muscles loose. Clenching up only made the motions jagged and sharp, awkwardly slicing through the air and leaving him open for attack. Attack… He chuckled inwardly. It was such a violent word for such a refined sport. Seth did his best to keep his other hand on his hip, but it always seemed to want to lift up, suspended in the air for balance. He jerked it down more than once and sighed. It was the etiquette and strict boundaries that was messing him up. If he was allowed to go all out, this mock duel would be over before it had begun. But this was a class where he was supposed to be learning all the right tricks. Like a dog, they were all being trained to come and go and the bidding of their professors, it disgusted him.

He wished he could see the expression on her face when he lunged forward. Her utter surprise would have boosted his confidence even more, if that was even a possibility. In her stance and body language, he could see the shock. It drove him forward with a zeal that was unmatched by anything that he had done before. To win, the only goal that mattered. Seth never engaged in a fight that he didn't think he could win. The people who said it wasn't about winning, it was about doing your best, were always the ones who lost. No one who won something would ever look back and say, oh I did my best, it doesn't matter that I won. He grinned from behind his mask, caught up in his own thoughts of victory, barely paying any mind to the duel that he was engaged in. After all, the actual duel was a trivial matter. Looking at the contenders, everyone knew who was going to win.

The grate of metal on metal sent a thrill through him, but he barely noticed, it wasn't the onslaught that he craved. He jerked his rapier up just in time to ward off the slash to his right side. Her weapon banged harmlessly off his, but before he had time to recollect for an attack of his own, she was at it again. He twisted his arm awkwardly, catching the side of her rapier with his. She stumbled back and yanking his arm back straight with a harsh movement, he lunged towards her. All or nothing, that was how Seth played. His gaze flicked over to their crowd, hungry for their approval and for the attention that he constantly sought. She was just a girl, but this was his first chance to show them what he was made of, and he wasn't going to slack off and give the glory to her.

Glancing to the side to see their reaction was his first, and likely his final, mistake. There was no do-over button he could push, though if there was someone with the ability to manipulate time, Seth would have no qualms of pressing the metaphorical button. He was too preoccupied with winning, with looking good in front of an audience, and Rin? She was throwing herself into the match, but not for looks, just for trying her best. Maybe there was a link to going all out and winning. Or not.

[Serinity Dawson]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://i56.tinypic.com/20hldp2.png,true] Dismay registered on her face when Seth managed to block her second thrust. She thought he would have been caught off guard enough to miss thus earning her the hit. Serinity caught her footing and righted herself just as Seth was pulling his arm back only to job it forward with a quick, precise movement of an almost flawless quality. The blonde clenched her teeth trying to scramble her slow moving arm and wrist to block the attack. It was almost upon her. Like in the movies, time seemed to slow down as she watched the point of the rapier coming for her to tag her and end this little mock battle. However, Serinity, the competitor she was, was not going to give up this easily. “Arrrrrg,” she growled as time flicked forward into real time. Her wrist brought up her own rapier causing the two to meet in air and bounce off one another with a resounding strike of metal. It was then that Rini realized her chance. Seth wasn’t bothering to readjust himself or maybe he wasn’t paying attention. It didn’t make sense at all, but Serinity wasn’t going to let this moment pass. “Ahhhh!” she cried and turned Seth’s attack on him by bring back her own arm and thrusting it forward with a quick jab. Her point touched against the protective chest plate causing the blade to bend upward slightly. In shock, Serinity stood where she was with the point still touching his armor. “Ugh…” Was that supposed to have happened? Backing up and letting her fencing rapier fall to her side, the blonde stared at Seth for a moment before turning to Vincent. Even though her mask covered her featured, she seemed to be asking ‘Is that it? Is it over?’ Blinking, Rini couldn’t help but smirking at the fact she had just beaten him. She had beaten his cocky arse! HA! What now, huh?! Yeeeeah. That’s right! Showed you who was boss! Although her internal monologue was sassy, the external Serinity was more reserved, humble. Even though she desperately wanted to rub it in his face, she didn’t. Rini wasn’t out to make enemies.

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[vincent]

Vincent simply sat back and watched as his selected students attempted a duel. Both of them had the right idea of how to go about it with good timing and reflexes. In all honesty, he was extremely pleased to watch them engage in the duel. For two people not experienced in wielding the blade and only given a quick show of the basics, they did excellent. With practice they could become excellent fencers. The bout was also entertaining to watch just as it was two new people and their motions did not yet have the fluid grace he himself had cultivated.

Not that it was a surprise. He had been training for a good long time. It was only amusing because he remembered being at that point and was excited at the chance to help them progress and mold them into using the rapier as an extent of their bodies just as he had learned. It would take time as anything worth doing did, but he hoped that each of his students in this room would come to love the sport as he did. For that was what he was teaching. The techniques were of a deadly style, but this was a sport. He was training students, not warriors.

Then the bout was over. Seth had let himself get distracted, otherwise Vincent would figure that the bout would have lasted a while longer.
“That was very good.” He said, letting his own rapier hover next to him as he clapped his hands.
” And I’m not just trying to be nice. For the minimal displays you were given, you did excellent. Once you’ve had time to go through the proper exercises, I think you will both do very well.” He said as the rapier flew back to his hand.

“Now if Chris would please come over here.” He said, indicating one of the student who had been in the class before Vincent became the teacher.
“You got a small demonstration of an inexperienced duel. One done very well. After a few exercises, the people I put together will get the chance to do the same. I just wanted you all to have a chance to see that even with the safety measures, this can get your blood pumping from the physical motions, and the test of skill.” He said as the student he called approached.

“First we will practice the basic slash and parry. I know a rapier is very well known for its lunge as with other fencing weapons, but until you get a good sense of balance with the weapon, it would be best to use the slashes. Chris will be parrying my attacks to demonstrate proper procedure. You will be taking turns on attack and defense for a while, and when we reach the last ten minutes of class I’ll have you start dueling.” He said as he looked to the student and got into the ready position as Chris did the same.

He went through the basic slashes and Chris did the parries. The motions were both performed flawlessly, and it gave the students a better idea of what it was they were supposed to do. After the set demonstration was over he patted Chris on the shoulder and sent him back to the rest of the class.
“I will now pair you up. If you have any questions, wait until I have done so and I will be glad to answer them before I have you begin. As you practice I will be walking along and observing you, ready to give you advice or help you out if you wish.” He said as he removed his helmet and gave a quick smile.
“Matt and Serenity, If you would please partner up. Seth, why don’t you practice with Charlotte for now. And Daniel…” He looked around and saw that the other students left were the more advanced ones, and that there would still be an odd man out. Well if you will let me get some things out of the way, you can practice with me.” He then went on to pair up the remaining students.

“Alright everyone. Pair up and make sure you have enough room that you won’t run into anyone else.” He said as he motioned for Daniel to stand over by him until any questions he had to answer would be asked. Once that was done he would be ready to have Daniel start with him.

[satara]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; background-image: url(http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss279/legendskseeker/oceanbreezebg.png); padding-bottom: 20px;] words // 669 // tagged // Vincent/Rini/Seth/Matty/Charlotte boy with a coin, T H E N M A K I N G A W I S H , A N D T O S S E D I N T H E S E A Daniel watched with a bit of apprehension as Seth and Rini took their places at the front. Professor Monroe showed them a few moved that looked both graceful and deadly, not to mention complicated. Why was Daniel in this class again? Oh, right. It was supposed to be more entertaining than a regular gym class. He rolled his eyes at himself and stood patiently, watching Seth act macho. He didn't really have room to judge others, but he'd seen that kind of behavior with countless foster "siblings" of his. He knew it was an act that covered up a lot of pain and heartache. Unfortunately, there wasn't really much to be done about people who wouldn't or couldn't face their issues. It didn't matter what was said or how it was presented, they wouldn't listen until they chose to. Seth and Serinity took their stances which at least looked legitimate. Despite being British, he knew absolutely nothing about fencing. In fact, when Vincent had informed them that their weapons were called rapiers, he'd been a bit surprised. He'd heard they were called foils, and made a mental note to ask about that later. Daniel watched, trying to keep his mind focused on what was going on rather than just watching Rini. Seth leaned toward her and muttered something that he didn't quite catch, but Serinity was definitely effected by whatever he'd said. Hopefully she'd poke him a few times. It was an amusing thought, and he grinned. Then the demonstration began in earnest. Daniel couldn't take his eyes off of the battle, uncoordinated as it was. Serinity seemed to be taking it seriously while Seth still acted like his victory was all but set in stone. Still, Seth looked like he had more natural skill, making the first move and nearly striking Rini, but she blocked it at the last minute. The air rang with the sound of metal on metal, and the fight continued. Daniel hoped he'd do half as well as they were doing when it was time for him to give it a shot. It was almost beautiful to watch, even with Seth's attitude. Then he did something stupid. He underestimated Serinity Dawson. Daniel grinned, almost being able to see what was coming. Rini let out a convulsive yell and ended up striking Seth square in the chest. Daniel nearly cheered, but settled himself with a giant grin that wouldn't go away. Vincent stepped forward, told them they'd done a good job, and called a more experienced student forward by the name of Chris. Vincent gave them a rundown of what they'd be doing, then did a spectacular demonstration with Chris that looked almost like they were dancing. That gave Daniel a small shiver. He couldn't dance to save his life. He searched around in his mind for a better comparison, but couldn't come up with one. It was entrancing to watch them, and it ended all too soon with Vincent calling a halt. He announced that he'd be pairing them up, and he silently hoped he'd be with Serinity, but she got paired with the crashing teleporter, Matty. When Daniel was the only one left, he looked around, feeling slightly left out. It made him think of grade school gym classes where one student was always the last one picked for a team, and he struggled not to fidget. Professor Monroe looked around for a moment, then told Daniel that they'd be practicing together and it felt like a lump of lead had settled in the pit of his stomach. He'd just seen what Vincent was capable of and now he was going to make himself look like a complete fool in front of the instructor. Perhaps it was a good thing he wasn't paired up with Rini. At least she'd be too preoccupied with her own partner to notice how horrible he was... he hoped. Still feeling apprehensive, he walked over and stood where Vincent had indicated, waiting as patiently as possible. notes // psh, I have no notes. XD

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