[Training] In the name of the sound of the name

The coast was not, unfortunately, clear.

Hadama had invited Ronin to join him on a quiet patrol down the beach, but his suggested meeting place had been overtaken by a young grove of formerly-molten pineapples. Normally the fiery fruits would have been a sign of a healthy Flowerbirth following LongNight, but these plants exuded an icy aura of dread, and the frozen flesh of their growing seeds was entirely unwelcome in the tropical region.

The wind tugged at Hadama's braid, a few raindrops splattering the sand around him, as he surveyed the Void-touched incursion with an unreadable expression. He gripped his trident contemplatively and then took a step back as he focused on the warmagic that Safrin had granted him.

The air shimmered and light bent above the grove as three gravity spikes gathered in the air a heartbeat before they struck down with crushing force to smash the violet corruption flat, reducing the young trees to splinters and their fruits to sticky blotches on the sand. Emerald eyes gleamed with satisfaction and then rose to the horizon and the unwelcome island crouching on the horizon.

Not yet, perhaps. But soon.

---

Shadowed Pineapple (common): The molten pineapple's protective layer now harbors a dark energy, and its once juicy flesh is replaced with an unnaturally cold substance. Consuming it is rumored to bring vivid nightmares and a lingering sense of dread.

RONIN

the white knight

"That's a clever bit of magic," Ronin rumbles as he appears fortuitously at the Tidebreaker's shoulder, having spotted him down the stretch of beach. Ordinarily he'd have called out a greeting or broken into a jog to join his fellow demigod sooner, but Hadama had seemed somewhat preoccupied, and Ronin was a soldier long before he was anything else, and knows better than to startle a man holding a weapon.

"I didn't get to say so at the last meeting," he adds a touch apologetically; by that point he'd been understandably preoccupied by the state of his husband, and committing to small-talk had vanished to the back of his mind and then some. "Have you found many of these since the sun rose?" he wonders of the pineapples - or what's left of them, thanks to Dama's magic.

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

"Ronin," the Tidebreaker greeted, surprised at his fellow demigod's appearance but pleased by his arrival. "Thank you." A final look over the grove of formerly-Shadowed Pineapples assured him that they were thoroughly destroyed and unlikely to infect anything else, so he was able to turn his full attention on the White Knight. Emerald eyes took in the appearance of Vi's champion, reassured at the calm confidence he saw in the White Knight's bearing.

"It is good to see you again." He finished his welcome before giving a grave nod to the other man's question. "But yes. Unfortunately. The Arclight and Haulani are protected. But the Coast is remains vulnerable." He gestured politely, inviting Ronin to fall in with him as he began to walk down the beach. "How are you and your husband?" He had not been able to visit the Northaven as often as he'd hoped, between Void-related crises and various gatherings.

RONIN

the white knight

Scrunching his nose at the Tidebreaker's confirmation, Ronin glances from the remains of the Shadowed Pinapple grove and down along the beach, as if they might already be able to see evidence of more of the void infested flora. At least they'll be able to take care of them as they go, if that's the case, and the Knight falls easily into step with Hadama so they might stroll together. "Two out of three isn't bad," he remarks with a smirk. "And Remi and I live along the coast, at least, so we can do our best to take care of things here."

Speaking of his husband, Ronin's lips curl into an easy smile at Hadama's question, and he automatically glances back towards where he knows the Northaven is anchored. "We're good, all things considered," he says. "Just trying to prepare, ready for whatever might happen later this season. How are things with you?"

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

The tides have shifted the sand just so to reveal an elegant statuette abandoned on the beach. It looks like it once depicted a young woman standing tall, lightning clutched in her hands, but the water has eroded much of the detail by now.

"Mmh. It is a start." The Tidebreaker glanced at Ronin with a flicker of wry amusement in emerald eyes, suspecting that the White Knight would know exactly what it meant for a job to never be done. Not for a ruler, or for a demigod. "But thank you." Knowing that Torchline's strongest residents would be helping with the defense of her coast was a welcome reassurance for the tasks ahead.

Given no further crises, shenanigans, or Key Quests to endanger Flora's fathers, Hadama inclined his head in quiet relief that things were well for the Taliesins. He paused at the sight of the statue in the sand, bending to study it for a moment before straightening and continuing on when it held no evidence of Void corruption. "Much the same. I have... struggled. To improve my strength and abilities in recent months," he admitted, his low voice going quieter still. In peaceful times he would be content to improve at his own pace, but it did not feel as if they had that luxury in the era of Starfall. "I would appreciate any advice you could give. Or the opportunity to train together," he added, looking over to the White Knight once more with a questioning but hopeful tilt to his chin.

RONIN

the white knight

Oh, Ronin knows it all too well. His brief stint with Remi living up in the Cordillera had been the closest to done that either of them had ever come, and although it had only lasted a year or so, the Knight had never slept so much or so well in his life. "Well, if you need a hand in future, you know where to find me." If Hadama should try to provide the same protection to the coastline as the rest of the islands, he means.

Also pointedly stepping over a hauntingly familiar statuette in the sand - but absolutely not giving it much of the time of day at all - Ronin instead lends his attention to Hadama in full. "Oh?" He tilts his head, an immediate and boyish grin spreading over his face. "It would be my honour to spar with the King of Torchline," he says with a little half bow. "Here and now? I'm not busy for the rest of the afternoon."

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

"I do," Hadama affirmed, emerald eyes gleaming with the certain promise that he would be knocking on the Northaven's door when the next quest came. And it would, of that he was certain. There was more motivation than ever to continue Torchline's protection against the Void on their doorstep, and he would push to see their home secured against the encroaching threat.

But part of protecting his home was strengthening himself to be a better King and defender of his people.

Ronin's grin was not met with an answering expression from the Tidebreaker; nothing so wide or bright and open, at least. But the corners of his eyes crinkled and the corner of his mouth twitched up. "I am free as well, Champion of Vi," he rumbled, looking around in satisfaction at the empty stretch of beach. "Bare hands?" He did not doubt that Ronin would be careful not to end him with his own divine power, but as the tournament had shown accidents could happen. Bare knuckle fighting seemed more... survivable. He flexed his own large hands and raised them in a defensive posture. "When you are ready."

RONIN

the white knight

"Oh, please - call me Ronin," the Knight gushes, flapping a hand playfully at Hadama as if to say that such formalities aren't necessary. Ah, but then his fellow demigod is settling into a stance that is intimately familiar for the former soldier, and Ronin feels his shoulders relax even as his own hands close into fists. "My personal preference," he agrees with a roguish wink, glancing around at the beach - the slope towards the sea, the evenness of the sand, the potential obstacles - before giving a swift nod and proceeding.

Since Hadama is already in a defensive posture - and is much, much taller than the Knight besides - Ronin doesn't feel guilty about lancing forward in a spray of sand, attempting to catch Hadama in the shortribs and potentially drive the breath from his lungs. "I never would have taken you for a bare knuckle boxer," he comments.

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

"As you wish," Hadama agreed, tilting his head in acceptance of Ronin's request with a twinkle of laughter in emerald eyes that the White Knight would hopefully someday know him well enought to recognize as the Tidebreaker's own subtle brand of humour.

Ronin took up a stance that looked far more relaxed and practiced than Hadama's own. Though his upper body settled into position and his fists were held closed but loose with an old familiarity his feet were not quite as steady as the other man's, and his balance was a little too square upon his soles, limiting his mobility.

The speed of the attack was faster than the once-Mer could react to, and his attempt to bring his elbow down to protect his ribs was a half-second too late. A grunt escaped as the air left him but he managed to tighten his abs and stop himself from folding down. Instead he drove a short punch directly towards the White Knight's solar plexus to try and knock him back into a range the larger man favored.

I came to weapons late, he shared through the Attuned bond, given his lack of breath at the moment. And as a young man I was... less calm.

RONIN

the white knight

It's true that Ronin hasn't taken fully into account the fact that the Tidebreaker has only been in possession of legs (on a permanent basis, that is) for the past few seasons, whereas he's been fighting rings around soldiers and training them for the vast majority of his adult life. Nevertheless, proximity has its downsides, and he receives a glancing blow to his solar plexus in return for the one he delivers to Hadama, forcing him to skitter back on the sand and catch his breath.

You and me both, he responds, his laughter a shallow thing as he fights to compose himself once more. I still prefer hand to hand if I can get away with it. The difference being, of course, that Ronin also has a lot of other tricks up his sleeves, so he doesn't have to rely on being so up close and personal.

He isn't using those tricks today, though, soon darting back in to try and get past Hadama's defences with a flurry of blows.

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

The bruises didn't feel good, but the physical activity certainly did and Hadama inclined his head in appreciation for the workout as Ronin took a momentary step back to regain his breath. It was a much needed respite for the Tidebreaker as well, even if it was only for a moment.

Ronin's laughter was warm in the Attuned bond, and Hadama's answering pulse of understanding held a wordless wry humor and sense of camaraderie. I would like to trade stories sometime, he offered, but first they were going to swap some more punches. He ducked down, trying to use his elbows to protect his ribs while his fists protected his head, but Ronin's fists were swift and several blows made it through to land bruising hits on the large former-Mer.

He couldn't match the smaller demigod's speed, so Hadama tried to make up for it with timing and brawn. He absorbed the punishing blows with stoic determination until he could find a moment to launch a single straight jab toward the White Knight's jaw.

RONIN

the white knight

It would be my pleasure, Ronin assures the other man of trading stories, but like Hadama, he is first focused on finishing this little sparring match. And let it never be said that the Tidebreaker cant' take a punch - Ronin hasn't wrapped his hands for this and so his blows are perhaps not as sharp as they might have been with the extra protection, but there's only so much that can be done to dampen demigodly strength.

Speaking of which, he does not expect the sudden jab to strike as true as it does, catching him directly across the jaw and sending him staggering back a bit, spitting red onto the sand. Your Highness, did you just punch me in the face? He wants to know, eyeing Hadama with a mix of amusement and caution, before he's right back in the fray again, this time trying to trip the other man so he can catch him with a punch to the kidneys.

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

"Indeed," Hadama responded, his expression serene but a gleam of wicked mischief in his emerald eyes that belied his outward poise. The solid hit was a small balm against the ache in his ribs that was proof of the other demigod's more numerous successful strikes, but Hadama measured himself against an opponent with far more experience and training in war, and he counted the landing of even one good hit a reason for pride.

It was just as well that he was content with it, because the next offensive that Ronin launched went right for his weak spot: his legs. Hadama tried to shift his leg back in the sand but he was too slow. The White Knight's attack caught him off balance and there was a flash of nausea and a sharp pain in his lower back as a sharp fist found its target. Already stumbling, the Tidebreaker flung an elbow back towards where he thought Ronin's jaw might still be before he managed to catch his balance and twist - with a slight tightening of the corners of his eyes at the flare of pain from the motion - to face his opponent once more. He gave a short, sharp nod of acknowledgment for the hit. A move I would like to learn, he admitted, a hint of rueful appreciation in his mental tone.