houseofcards_rp | [RP] [Locked] For Lancelot and Alexander, sparring?

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[RP] [Locked] For Lancelot and Alexander, sparring?

So, an hour later or so, Elani can be found waiting for Lance in a practice room.

She's taken to forgoing loose hair and skirts for practice sessions such as these (possibly after the weaponsmaster tore one of her skirts in a session and told her to put her hair back lest it get pulled out if she had to fight). So she's braided her hair back and pulled on a simple outfit for exercise.

She's also performing various stretches in front of the mirror and she has quite carefully not picked up any of the practice blades yet.

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Elani does bobble, a moment, right after Lance steps in and the barest hesitation can be seen just before she "hits" him. She's never actually hit anybody and Lance, of course, might be the last person she'd ever want to strike (well, Eileen is probably the last one). But she reminds herself this is just practice and settles back into the focus she was holding a moment before, dropping her weight into her feet and anchoring herself more to the ground which has the effect of allowing her to put more actual power into the movements instead of gliding, graceful motions they were before Lance stepped in.

When they finish, she feels like she's actually done some work but it's a good feeling and she listens respectfully to what Alexander has to say. When he compliments her, she smiles and bows a little, "thank you, your Majesty."

She is, actually, rather proud of herself.

As is Lance.

He gives the King a bow just a moment behind Elani's. It's respect for his knowledge, for watching, for letting Lance do as he saw fit even though he could have dictated the bout. He pushes hair back from his forehead as he turns to Elani to smile. "You've learned well-- and obviously, have had a good teacher."

[Alexander nods his thanks, then continues speaking in the airy fashion of someone trying to keep a relaxed, theoretical tone, but a certain measure of pain and chagrin - even weariness - seep through his facade]

"I'll be frank with both of you; though I've yielded to our Queen on the matter of compulsory defense education, I still see it as of highest importance to our Suit. We are a people of long virtue, and while some virtues may be more precious than strength, none have life without the strength to safeguard their practice. As such, I will continue to foster those skills in the willing to the best of my ability.

Elani, it pleases me more than I can say that you have continued your practice absent a compulsory decree. Thank you."

Elani blushes at the compliments from both of them. "You're welcome, sire. It...I'm glad I continued."

And Elani doesn't lie so he can feel assured that's the truth.

[He smiles. Now an awkward moment. Does she want to continue working with him? Or Lance perhaps? Well, that can be settled in time. He'll extend an open invitation that doesn't require immediate response]

"Please come to me any time you like and we can make arrangements."

[There, that was inviting but not pushy, wasn't it?]

Not pushy at all and she does think it's a kind invitation for him to make. Especially since he is the King and likely has more important duties to attend to than whether one rather pacifistic Eight gets more one-on-one training with him or not.

"I will, Sire, thank you again."

[He smiles and nods curtly.

He does of course mean well for her personal development, but he also considers her valuable ideologically. If a pacifist learns to defend herself competently and appreciates skill at arms for the tool it is, can anyone else claim objection to it?]

Lance nods quietly at the entire dicussion. Elani looks good doing the forms, they seem to come naturally to her; why shouldn't she learn how to make them useful? She certainly doesn't have to go out and attack anyone with them to feel as if she's learned something. He'll have to pull some books off his shelves for her, things that Eileen went through but, he thinks, didn't understand as much as Elani might-- and not because of her age, but because of her already firm mindsight.

Both the King and the Jack know that they don't see eye-to-eye on certain matters, but Lance can't help but hear the undercurrent in the other man's voice. "I think it's well that you continue your training, Elani." He looks at the King and then the Eight. "Even if you never use it-- and hopefully that should be the case-- but knowledge is good for knowledge's sake."

[Alexander nods to the Jack in kind. They'll probably never be friends, but they can work together for the right reasons]

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[RP] [Locked] For Lancelot and Alexander, sparring?

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