( closed ) caught in a motion

[supersoldier]

Who: Sephiroth and others.
When: The very end of March and through April.
Where: All around!
What: A catch-all post for misc. threads. Closed starters within!
Warnings: None! Will add if needed.

(( closed starters for various characters and scenarios below!
if you want me to write you something or had a thread in mind, do not hesitate to reach out!
simply pm this journal or find me over at aurajen ))

Comments

( dimitri )

[supersoldier]

[The training grounds, situated just behind the row of buildings that form the Barracks, are open and wide enough to accommodate several pairs of sparring partners. Though the area had fallen into disrepair upon Sephiroth's arrival, with time, many Mirrorbound became invested in its restoration and upkeep. It is a cleaner now, the ground swept away from wayward detritus. The once-fallen training dummies — scored with endless marks of jabs, stabs, and slices from steel — are now newer, repaired, and perfectly spaced and aligned for those who would test their mettle against an unmoving object.

Sephiroth, in many ways, finds himself bored of unmoving objects. He had long graduated from that mode of training, so far back that he can hardly remember when, and there is no challenge in cleaving wood in half. That is muscle memory, and only a half-second's worth of effort, which is too much effort spent all the same.

And so he tries something different since there is none else to entertain him. He stands with a single gloved hand raised to the air, calling forth a magic that had never come ever since he set foot on this alien planet. He imagines the dummies speared with ice, or set aflame in a great immolation. Or struck with jagged lances of lightning, scenting the air of burnt ozone.

Nothing happens, as the time before. He lowers his hand. The other holds tight against the hilt of a too-long sword, glinting in the sun.]

Useless. [—comes the utterance, to no one in particular.]

tyty sorry for the delay

[boarddyd]

[Back home, one strike from Dimitri would shatter a training dummy. Wood, metal, and stone alike splintered and scattered over the even dirt - a mess to clean up. Here, his blows don't fall with the same unchecked force, but he avoids the inanimate partners all the same.

Typically, Dimitri takes care not to interrupt anyone in their business. A simple habit of polite respect for those around him. At the training grounds, however, he finds that practice blanketed by a rush of excitement.

Sparring always has been his favorite way to meet new people.

When he sees a man alone, his eyes immediately rush over his weapon. The sword is long... perhaps equal to his lance in length. How interesting-]

Excuse me! [He walks over, recognizing too late the faint glimmer of frustration on the man's visage. Perhaps a friendly bout will help work whatever's vexing him out.] If you're available, I'd like to volunteer to be your opponent.

you're totally fine, no worries!

[supersoldier]

[A voice that sounds all-too-enthusiastic creeps past the discontent focused on his (lack of) magic, and Sephiroth moves his attentions inward to outward. He shifts his weight and his blade, Masamune, twinges in the sunlight overhead; today is a cloudless sky, rays of light bright and warm.]

...

[He's a big talker, this one.

To his credit, Sephiroth takes a moment to assess the other, eyes roving across Dimitri form a first impression based on an invisible standard in his head. Countenance, dress, how it might equate to familiarity in and out of a battlefield; if he seeks a sparring partner, this is of interest to him.

Eventually, he says-]

I won't say no to a volunteer. How skilled are you?

tyty

[boarddyd]

Well...

Unfortunately, that's difficult to put in words. [Dimitri approaches as he mulls over the question - describing his combat history feels too removed from the actual experiences. And from the demeanor of this stranger, he doubts the man cares to hear him prattle on about his years of training in this and that.]

I think it'd be easier to show you- [He shifts his spear in his hands, from carrying it to a formal combat stance.]

Ready? [His position is an aggressive one, poised to lunge forward more so than to defend - he fights best when overwhelming his opponent with strength. A component he is partially lacking without his own kind of magic, but has yet to adjust for.

He figures that will be easier to adjust in a fight, as well.]

[supersoldier]

[Sephiroth likes to have a fleeting idea of what to expect from an opponent; it makes it easier to match skill level. Often, he finds both parties benefit from this adjustment, as it prevents boredom from settling in between crossed blades — the worst possible scenario out of all.

But if this young man would prefer to let his actions inform him instead, then he’ll not press the matter. Dimitri is right; he is not one for prattle, either idle or related to the subject at hand. A man of few words appreciates being spared of them in excess.]

In that case, show me your capabilities.

[Already on he offensive, this one. Ready to strike first, and so Sephiroth waits for the first move to come at him — as if it were a coiled spring just waiting to be unloaded.]

Ready.

action tags are short im gomen

[boarddyd]

[Against any other sword, Dimitri would have an advantage in reach - but not this time. He orients himself as if he's fighting an opponent with a spear instead; he takes two quick paces forward and then thrusts his weapon forward.

Not aimed to test his opponent's weapon, or reaction time, but to drive a true hit.

He won't rely on it connecting - but the momentum behind it is there. If he misses, he'll follow his own steps, closing range to proximity ill suited for either of their weapons.]

you're cool! no worries c:

[supersoldier]

[Range is often a problem when it comes to sparring with Sephiroth; inexperienced opponents do not know what to make of such a long blade, nor the reach it grants the silver-haired SOLDIER. But it’s interesting to see someone who wields a spear judge a situation on a different set of working criteria — so seems to be the case with his sparring partner now, who moves forward in a lunge directed straight towards the body.

Interesting, but not unheard of. Sephiroth would be a fool to merely stand in place, however, and his feet move through instinct. A sidestep to the right, a twist of his body, the raise of Masamune’s guard to catch Dimitri’s spear by the haft and push it aside. It leaves room for the other to close a few feet of space, however, and he’s successful in that endeavor.

His lips quirk as he tests the other’s reaction time as a reply, striking at him with two swift swipes of his blade — both angled vertically but at a slant.]

[boarddyd]

[With less space between them, neither should be able to make any sweeping attacks - which means that the blows to come will be weakened by lack of momentum. The change in constraints comes at a cost; Dimitri closed ground, but his shoulders aligned his back to his opponent.

Which means the two strikes can't be blocked by his spear.

Instead, Dimitri raises armored forearm and buffers the blows with his body. It rattles him, and before he can do anything else he adjusts his grip on his spear and resets his footing.

A piece of his armor hangs loose, but he pays it no mind.

Twisting his torso, he crashes the haft of his spear into the man's side. Most would catch the blow between arm and body in an attempt to immobilize or disarm, and that's what Dimitri is hoping for.]

[supersoldier]

[Those who regard the state of practice weapons and armor would treat them both with care, but Sephiroth was never trained for delicacy, even outside of the training room. Masamune’s metal, striking clean against the guard of Dimitri’s arm, isn’t given a second thought — even as it hangs loose and partly disconnected as a result. Armor is made to be struck; his own pauldrons are scored with proof of the same.

Dimitri twists and sends the spear’s grip into his side, a blow that Sephiroth takes to gauge just how much it jostles his frame. The answer is… surprisingly more than he expected. His opponent’s frame belies his strength, and he is set back a few inches in a skid. If bruising forms, it will be negligible; for now, his right hand does come down to grip at the haft tightly, followed by a twist to disarm if the other is not careful.

All-in-all, it is very by the book thus far, but Sephiroth does not mind starting steady before giving anyone a good push.]

You’re strong. [-he says, mid-movement.]

[boarddyd]

[The moment his blow connects, Dimitri adjusts his grip - the pole slides in his hand, but is not pried away when his opponent attempts to disarm him. Now they're both pinned by the same weapon, a proximity created perfectly for Dimitri's reach.

His eyes dart to Sephiroth's face, silent acknowledgement of the compliment.

But their fight is not over; he presses into the steadied pole, breaking the training weapon in two. He retains the bladed end, and twists it to jab forward at the man's neck with in a full lunge.

Even without his crest, Dimitri fights with no restraint.]