trashprince | scawwy: pc: iwatooshi

[ taking his fighting stance is easy enough. second nature. he's ready for whatever caelus is about to bring him.

which isn't much, apparently. he laughs again, not unkindly. ]

You can't use me like a lance, remember? Lances are made for throwing, or thrusting. [ he shifts, swinging the practice nagi in a wide arc. ] I am made for slashing - cutting down your enemies.

[ caelus watches, doing what he can to break through the embarrassment to focus on memorizing the motion iwatooshi swings his practice blade. ] Slashing, not thrusting.

[ not bashing like a bat, either. something completely different.

this time, rolled a 13 which is over the midway point so i'm saying it's not that awful. but it is his first time copying this action. it's also not stupendous. ]

Again?

[ this time he should actually be able to make it across the mat to iwatooshi (before he falls over if he falls over) ]

I'm ready when you are.

[ he's confident that someone wielding him for the first time won't beat him even if all he's got is a practice weapon. it's gonna be fine. he just shifts into a simple block in one fluid motion, turning the weapon to the side. ]

Good, good! That was much better.

Are you teasing me?

[ even those few words are a slight effort to get out when all of caelus' attention really has to be on moving the naginata. iwatooshi's other self.

he has to be good enough for it. the other option simply doesn't exist--fuck off au memshare week!!

caelus moves again, slicing more air. it's so much slower than when he's moving with his bat. ]

Maybe a little.

[ he just makes it so easy - the teasing and the spar. the movement is slow enough that it's barely any effort to track, so iwatooshi decides to give him a quick little demonstration of what it's like to wield a naginata.

it's all in the blink of an eye. he easily sidesteps like it's a dance, surprisingly agile for his size, to shift around so he stands behind caelus and swings the practice blade right at his throat. not once does his smile falter. ]

Ha ha ha. You'll get used to it in time, Caelus-dono. A weapon is never mastered in one try, especially one like me.

[ at this rate, all of caelus' movements are telegraphed by the tension needed to brace himself for the next slash. consequently, it's not a shock when iwatooshi outmaneuvers him; the surprise lies in how swiftly he's slipped behind caelus.

which makes caelus jolt, nearly backing up directly into iwa to avoid the dojo's naginata. ]

Whoa--and yeah. Yeah, I know. But I want to show you a real fight.

[ no space to pivot, so he twists in place to look up and over his shoulder. ]

All of you.

All of me, hmmm?

[ an intrigued sparkle in his eye as he steps back, still grinning. ]

I'd like to see that. We can work on that.

[ iwa gives him enough space to plant the naginata against the mat and spin in a tight circle right there. he catches the grin. it's twisting something in his stomach but in a way that makes him smile, too. dumbly, perhaps. ]

I want to get you excited.

[ latest roll: 11. i'm done i'm screaming. i'm having more of a fit than if i would have rolled a 1. because caelus lifts the blade again, awesome, but he just can't stop making it so obvious where he's about to move. how he will be arcing that next swing. ]

You already do.

[ no matter how obvious the movements are, it's like iwatooshi said - he never expected caelus to be an instant expert. he's a difficult weapon to wield, even for someone with the appropriate training - the other naginatas might have been easier to start with, honestly.

but letting someone try at all is something special, and that sits warmly in the pit of his stomach.

it would be all too easy to disarm caelus when he's still learning like this, but iwatooshi simply lets him experiment with it, feel the effort it takes to move him properly. he's patient, and meets him halfway, once again deflecting the arc, this time on the "blade" of the practice weapon, with it slanted in just the right way to turn cae away from iwatooshi himself. ]

You don't have to be wield me to do that, but I'll look forward to seeing how you fight once you've gotten used to my size.

I like this size.

[ you know, after the 'hold me' incident, caelus has done his best not to misread iwatooshi's implications as anything beyond the most blunt and obvious. the least salacious reading is the right one. every time.

but it's impossible to request caelus, the impure one, not to feel anything at being told he does excite iwatooshi after all. ]

I'm gonna make your jaw drop.

[ turned away, caelus follows the momentum and completes a full circle. he's sweating already. no powers really, really sucks sometimes. ]

Just you wait.

[ another go at a slash. it's wild and not meeting its mark, but bonus points for tenacity. caelus follows with another two swipes, adrenaline warding off muscle fatigue. and rationality. ]

[ iwatooshi's delighted laugh rings through the dojo. ]

Good!

[ instead of blocking, he sidesteps again, but this time he remains before caelus to meet the next couple of blows head-on. it isn't hard to do; he's clearly getting tired already. ]

Until then, we can dance just like this. [ caelus may need practice, but iwa's not mad about it. ] Unless you're done, for now.

[ a gentle tease, but also an invitation to rest, if he needs it. ]

Edited 2024-07-25 04:24 (UTC)

[ moments like this, caelus can see the benefit of an undercut or less bangs. maybe iwatooshi has the right idea with his short crop and a few long locks for flavor. much better when you actually sweat. ]

Pause.

[ he balances the naginata against the floor and his chest. caelus strips off his jacket and underhand tosses it far to the side. he picks up the weapon again. ]

And play.

[ rolled a 14. better! he's already growing sore and will have to yield soon, however dropping a layer of clothing increases his range of motion, adds a dash of accuracy to his slashing. caelus won't say 'mercy' yet ]

[ no rest for the wicked? well, alright. iwatooshi falls back a step or two to give him room to maneuver - a better chance at getting the movement down. ]

I wonder how different it would be if you still had these "Paths" of yours.

[ idle curiosity as he watches the blade move through the air, using his own to twist it and press the naginata down, toward the floor. can caelus get out of that on his own, or does he need iwa to step back again? ]

Destruction and--

[ caelus scowls at the point where the naginatas meet. ]

--Preservation. Either would suit--

[ a feral grunt-growl noise as he puts his whole weight into swinging the weapon he's holding away from the mat. ]

--you.

[ caelus frees himself, but he doesn't make another move after iwatooshi. sometimes, it's most noble of spirit to face the truth. ]

Today, though, I think you win.

[ his arms are trembling. ]

Mm, I suppose I'll have to take your word for it. You haven't spoken much about them yet.

[ he looks pleased enough with that, though, so iwa laughs and stands the practice nagi on the floor to lean on it a little bit. ]

But you did well for the first time - you were able to move me.

[ even that is pretty impressive tbh. ]

[ and then you take this from me ]

Could you come take you back? No rush.

[ he's aiming not to fall over again. would love not to do that in front of iwa while he's being moderately praised. ]

[ lol ]

Had enough already?

[ alright, alright, he'll come to take the naginata back from caelus and put the practice weapon away. ]

[ not lol (tags this immediately just so i can emphasize that) ]

Give me two minutes and we can do a round of hand-to-hand.

[ sinks down to the floor for a moment. how nice. it's so much better here, on the mat. iwatooshi should give it a whirl sometime. ]

[ tags you back immediately to laugh at you more

but if that's what caelus wants, fine. he'll set his own weapon against the wall, too. ]

Are you sure? You look pretty winded.

Winded? I barely started.

[ now that i know whatever caelus does here is lost forever, i can do anything...

caelus removes his shirt and tosses it in the direction of his jacket. nothing iwatooshi hasn't already seen at trials and not like mr. boobilicious (also iwa, to be crystal clear) gets embarrassed. ]

This is how I normally replenish my energy between battles.

Edited 2024-07-27 02:09 (UTC)

[ what are you planning. ]

By sparring hand to hand? [ he looks intrigued. ] Interesting. You may have the advantage this time, then.

[ he can brawl but like. he's a weapon of course he prefers to use it. ]

[ idk what AM i planning

caelus meant he relaxes by slumping on the ground between battles, but he likes iwatooshi's interpretation better. ]

I'll go easy on you.

[ okay. two minute break over. caelus pushes to standing.

... i rolled an 8 you roll too i'm gonna have a tantrum ]

[ i see my dice luck has returned to normal this morning. he got a six.

he just looks amused? ]

You don't have to.

[ it's okay, a 6 and 8 are close and they're both under ten so it's not that amazing or stimulating a spar. but at least caelus doesn't fall onto his face (part the fourth???).

anyway he's shirtless and he's sweaty and after he gets a tap on iwatooshi, instantly is done. flops right back on the mat. smiling slightly. tired creature. ]

Better...

[ see?? see... ow. ]

[ is that all you've got? iwatooshi laughs, amused, and sits next to him. he's a sword so he's not that tired, honestly, but this is fine. ]

It's harder to fight without a weapon, but you do it well. [ peers at him with a smile. ] Are you satisfied now, Caelus-dono?

scawwy: pc: iwatooshi

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