[PQ] substance and blood

remember that you can't save everyone

remember that you have to try

This session wasn’t about trying to impress him. These moments were like little scattered patterns, an introduction to potential and prowess, and nothing else. He didn’t want them striving to be praised or complimented – they were here to try, to find munitions that worked for them, to build up talents, skills, and capabilities. The moment their maneuvers were meant to be show-off tendencies, would be the instant they lost their focus and the reason they should’ve been here.

So when Oliver apologized, the Sword arched a brow. This was an opportunity to learn, and he wasn’t about to scold – Oliver’s actions had already served as consequences and repercussions. Instead, he watched the pair, curious to what Evie would try, inquiring as to what Oliver would attempt – both inexperienced, both unfamiliar. While Oliver launched forward, Evie was quicker, her defensive procedure carefully orchestrated, knocking the wooden blade out of the younger man’s hands. Deimos, eternally drawn to watching, to witnessing, to adhering along mistakes and how to correct them, lingered nearby, tilting his head a fraction, as a predator might hone in on prey. “You rushed in without a way to protect yourself,” to Oliver, demonstrating the attack he’d modeled for them earlier, repeating it in slower methods and measures. “Nicely done,” he extended to Evie. “When you practice again, see if you can do it one-handed.” Freeing her other palm for more difficult maneuvers, or defensive modes.

He moved on to the more experienced pair, expecting semblances of confidences and convictions. Jigano had traded in his rapier, but with it came some more semblances of difficulty. Weaver, excelling with her formidable blade, brought her scythe up just as Jigano went to cut at her wrist, and split the Sage’s sword entirely in half. The General managed not to laugh, not looking at the Loreseeker at all. “That is an effective strategy.” Only then did his eyes roam to Jigano, a sympathetic furrowing of his brows following.

Thereafter, he maneuvered the targets back in place, no one severely hurt, maimed, or injured by the display, leaving Zuriel to the comfort of her grass over by the shade. “One last weapon,” he announced, allowing them the opportunity to put away the blades, and pick up a staff.

It wasn’t his most formidable or favorite munition, but it still held its place – just as ruthless as a sword, as a blade, as a knife, as an arrow. “Much like last time, we will try an attack first.” He raised his staff across both hands, another demonstration and modeling, walking up to his own designated dummy. “First you push,” a visual portion of strength and precision, “jump to the side,” a swift movement to the left, “then slam down.” The weapon was raised, calculated, and blistered forth upon the target. He repeated the motions, slower, steady, so they could watch, witness, and then strive on their own. “Your turn.”

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In the Oliver/Evie pairing, Oliver rolled a miss, Evie rolled a hit.

In the Jigano/Weaver pairing, Jigano rolled a miss, Weaver rolled a hit.

Next up, grab a staff, and try the move on your dummies!

No post order!

out for vengeance

DEIMOS