middaeg | [closed] and should the sky be filled with fire and smoke

[ viren gives him a tiny little glare at the incredibly innocuous question ("how do you think i'm doing??"). wearing a long black coat, he's bundled to his throat, his arms held tight at his sides. his teeth click together. ]

I'm...

[ this is cold. he honestly looks like some dark, broody, shivering beanstalk. his shoulders hunch. he thinks he can feel every snowflake that dusts against his exposed face; some hit his nose, catch in his eyebrows and beard. pathetic. snowflakes, they're pathetic. this is pathetic. ]

—inside is fine.

[ whatever... that's supposed to mean. ]

[Zack almost snorts. He gets the picture loud and clear. So he goes to Viren and slaps him on the shoulder and then heads for the front door of the rustic looking cottage.]

Alright, get in here! Before you freeze your ass off.

[Entering the cottage it's fairly empty with pretty much the bare necessities to living. A table with two chairs, a kitchen with a few pots and pans and things and a gas stove, two bedrooms on either side of the living space and some stairs to a second-floor presumably to a third bedroom and a washroom. It looks barely lived in.]

Sorry, no witch here to get this place instantly heated, though.

[ zack is, officially, one of those permitted by viren to Smack His Shoulder, With Gusto. it's a pretty exclusive list, feel honored. he follows close, shutting the door behind them as they enter --

into somewhere that feels only marginally less cold. alas, no wind chill, nor snow. this must be marked as an improvement. ]

We will need to have that... corrected.

[ a thin smile. whenever that may happen. his eyes dart about the area. there must be a fireplace, somewhere, though... ]

How long have you lived here, Zack? [ there is a purpose behind this question, alas. ]

[If he knew he was on such a privileged list or not he'd still be doing the action so Zack is pretty lucky, considering.

Zack moves across the room to the cozy corner where the fireplace and central source of heating are and starts to build up a fire to get it going.]

We'll get it toasty in here quick enough. [He grins.] And I've been here about eight months I think.

[He was one of the first arrivals when mirrorbound started to show up here in Aefenglom. And it barely looks like he's ever lived here since it's so empty??]

And you've done nothing with the decor?

[ it's not accusatory - viren perfectly well understands decorating to be low on the list of priorities, particularly if the home isn't somewhere zack frequents. practically at the bottom of that list, actually. it reminds him of crymaria's lack of personalization to her own place.

he will follow the chimera right along; when a flame's ignited, he's immediate in holding out his hands to warm himself. ]

I understand our stay here to be temporary, since we are to return to our worlds. [..] But I'm also guessing you wouldn't mind, if I made it more livable?

[He's lived in barracks most of his late teenage years and adult life. There wasn't any want or need for extra things around his space seeing as he mostly used it for sleeping and that's about it. He shoots Viren a look and smiles a bit.]

Do you need a place? I wouldn't mind sharing.

[Zack isn't opposed, honestly it's been dead in here since Cloud left. Maybe a roommate wouldn't be such a bad idea in case something happened to him or Viren.]

I'm not much of a decorator. Growing up in the military I mostly had a cot to call my own. I didn't even do much with my personal quarters when I hit first class too, though. Guess I'm just kind of used living with the bare basics.

[ zack - was beyond casual about that invitation. viren shouldn't be surprised by this point; thankfully, he's standing still, or else he that may have tripped him up somewhat literally. ]

Oh. —Well.

[ that makes sense, that he wouldn't have seen decor as an issue worth resolving. ]

[ viren looks to zack, off to the side, then back to the side. ]

I... suppose. [ ... wow, he hasn't even gotten a good look at the bedroom yet. viren clears his throat. ] If you're not terrible as a roommate.

[ because people would admit that about themselves, clearly. ]

I'm told I snore pretty loud sometimes.

[Hey, he's being honest!?

With the fire started Zack stands up and motions to the two main floor bedrooms across from each other and then the stairs that lead up to a third one.]

That's my room on the main, there's an empty one there and another one upstairs. So I guess take your pick, man. [He shrugs.] I don't cook much either but I bring home food all the time.

[And it's apparent that Zack is actually very neat, the dishes are cleaned and put away and everything. Military discipline, again.]

[ viren approaches the stairs, alights these to glimpse the third room. after a few moments in which he studies it, apparently deciding that it passes, he returns to zack's level. ]

... The upstairs one.

[ there it is, the pick. so viren won't be able to have some underground lair, but that's a small sacrifice. burrows could arise elsewhere. he presumes that zack bringing home food must be as a result of a job, or else he just has a penchant for eating out. regardless, depending on the quality of food, it does sound sort of nice. ]

If I can hear your snoring from another floor, I would be... [...] impressed.

[Let's hope Viren likes fresh deer venison. Zack hunts sometimes but he gets a lot from working side jobs outside in the wild so sometimes he comes back with weird items (green fairy-magic-made fruit cake) but it's mostly all good and fresh.

He grins easily and laughs.] Alright, it's all yours. Just don't make a huge mess and I'm happy.

[He rolls his shoulder.]

How about we break things in with some training then?

[ fresh venison? GREEN FAIRY-MAGIC-MADE FRUIT CAKE?!??? sign viren tf up. ]

I will be sure to keep it contained.

[ —mostly dry humor, somewhat sincere. hoarding can get messy, but it's certain that no part of his hoard would be scattered about the home - if any treasures (debatable word choice) were to be brought here, then it would be kept under lock and key in his room. ]

[ at the suggestion, viren gives a solid nod. they did detour there, didn't they. ]

Unconventional, but yes. [ perhaps he may need to fetch his weapon, kept near. ] How would you like to begin?

Edited (words) 2019-12-21 02:19 (UTC)

[Zack is more than satisfied with that. Having a roommate will probably be a pretty good thing. At least it'll make the days a little less quiet. So long as Viren really is okay with the weird things he brings home and Zack's early hours of training.

He grins and rolls a shoulder before retrieving his own sword from a hanger nearby. It's a thinner sword than what he usually prefers. No worries about Zack using his usual giant final fantasy broadswords for this. He gives it a twirl before holding it up.]

Who says training can't be celebratory? Let's start with some basic defensive stances.

[ he follows suit, then, taking his practicing sword and contemplating it momentarily in his hand. it is certainly... different, from the staff (sticks) he's more accustomed to fighting with. weighs differently, balances differently, handles differently. hopefully the change in weapon, even if only for the sake of at least having the skill, would pay-off sometime. now more limited to his physical abilities, he's hopeful for the investment - even if he does resent that it's necessary in the first place. ]

Very well.

[ viren does nothing tricky with it. embarrassingly, bitingly, he will mimic a stance he's seen his son adopt hundreds of times; both hands grip the handle, a foot shifting behind the other. less a demand, almost a challenge, but certainly thinking he's capable of this (he does think he's heeding caren's warnings, somehow, still) -- ]

Show me.

Hmm.

[Viren's stance is a little weak but he's got a basic form which is decent. Zack sizes him up and then adopts his own stance.]

So you're not totally new to this. The stance you've got there is called a Longpoint Guard. It protects most of your body but exposes your legs. The good thing about it is it's easiest to parry incoming attacks.

[Zack steps forward, slow and deliberate in his movement to pretend to strike at Viren's lower left thigh.]

Try to feel how naturally you should be parrying from that position. Hold your ground with your back foot.

[At least he's not pushing the man hard. Yet. Gotta get those basic footsteps in first.]

[ longpoint guard. viren does as bid, the sword lowering appropriately to parry against the mock gesture. long acclimatized to fighting with a longer weapon, viren's more used to keeping his balance at a lower center of gravity. so his back foot slides backward an inch or so, allowing himself a sturdier stance.

there's a certain impatience to his expression (how difficult it will be, to shake the mindset that simple swordfighting to be beneath him) - one that he tries to override with a scowl of concentration. ]

Have you found fighting with a sword to be the most useful to you here, Zack?

Edited (funky sentence) 2020-01-05 18:19 (UTC)

Here? Well.

[Zack raises an eyebrow, sensing the sort of air around Viren. With that in mind, he suddenly lunges forward and strikes his sword against Viren's just so that it hits hard and fast and knocks the sword right from Viren's grasp. He doesn't aim to hit Viren, not yet, but it's to take the older man off guard even more.]

I haven't lost my touch, but I've noticed I'm starting to rely on my claws more often than not.

[He grins wolfishly.]

So it's kind of nice to get back into the habit again. A sword isn't something anyone should take lightly.

[ clang! zack's manuever does the trick, dislodging the sword free of viren's hand - it clatters to the floor, its noise all the more reverberating in viren's ears due to his perceived failure. his lip curls and he growls his frustration, stooping to quick retrieve the weapon. ]

Fine.

[ nearly a huff, that. as much of a huff can convey i will this seriously, because i take everything seriously, yet try not to (openly) sneer too much at it. but with a contemplative pause in which the tip of his sword tapped against the ground, the irritation having been fleeting, ]

Swords or not, against magic-users [ ah, more of the real concern. he means witches, but he won't be so bold so as to verbally point fingers at an entire sub-class of people. not yet, anyway ], I suppose we would just have to maintain our ... creativity.

[Zack gives Viren a nod when he goes to pick up his weapon. Good, he likes a man that picks up when he falls. It's all part of learning, even the irritation.]

And speed. Speed always helps.

[He hasn't fought against any witches lately but he's had his fair share of battles against magic and magic-using things.]

Let's work on your footwork.

[With that- Zack will go about teaching Viren various ways to pivot and parry attacks while swinging and attacking in return. It really is all in the feet and reading the other person. It'll take time for Viren to pick it all up and memorize technique but Viren's a sharp thinker so that helps with the Reading People part.

After an hour or so Zack lifts a hand for a break. He's barely out of breath and is grinning instead. Viren on the other hand... Well, he wasn't easy on the old guy.]

[ an hour or so passes, and although he tries not to show it, viren is left winded. he does consider himself fit (needs to be), his stamina high due to some of the rigors involved with dark magic, but the steady exertion exertion takes something of a toll. he works on slowing his breath, and then draws out a neat handkerchief to mop at his scaled brow.

he straightens, gives zack a Look(tm), his expression flat (especially contrasted to that grin). ]

[ just, casually, a little bit of his 'tude showing but without sincere bite, ]

Enjoying yourself?

[ some part of him sort of wants to demand! that they continue, but it's an urge that he quells. breaks are necessary, in longterm. ]

Quite a bit.

[Zack says this cheekily, throwing Viren a pleased wink before going to stretch his shoulders and wings out. Nothing feels better than getting some training in and it's honestly been a while for Zack too. He doesn't seem a lick out of breath but he's sweating lightly and he's happy about Viren's first day of progress too.]

That's probably enough for one day. Make sure you stretch and drink some water.

[He picks up the swords to set them aside.]

How do you feel?

[ viren watches as the chimera stretches his wings; they look improved from that mist debacle, he notes. and they also serve as a reminder that one day he's to have a pair of his own. strange to think about, and he looks away. ]

... Like I could use a bath. Eventually.

[ now that's a tad dramatic. he's not nearly sweaty enough for that, but his uppity sense of cleanliness otherwise compel it. but, sore and out of breath as he may be, he doesn't feel bad. his expression's less severe than how it might otherwise be. ]

Where are your glasses?

[ he would get them both water!! ]

[closed] and should the sky be filled with fire and smoke

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject