Training [SE] but the silence was unbroken
Korbin Hale
Healer / Bartender

Age: 25 | Height: 6'3in (190 cm) | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 19 - Dext: 17 - Endr: 20 - Luck: 9 - Int:
Played by: Chan Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,102 | Total: 5,762
MP: 0
#1
KORBIN
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed,
With all the soldiers and hunters and other bored men and women stuck in the Citadel for the season, the training halls were usually crowded. There were times and moments when the throng lessened, and Korbin had quickly realized that they'd either have to get there before the soldiers woke up, during a meal hour, or once everyone else had gone to bed. Being the early bird he was, he preferred the dawn. It was quiet and fresh, uncluttered by the troubles that always came with the rest of the day.

And training was always something he was eager to be over with. Not because the exercise in itself was unpleasant, but because it always devolved from the nice, peaceful repetition of movements and stances into full on spars. That's where the fun stopped for him. He enjoyed the dance, not the fight.

But to Weaver they were one and the same, and Korbin owed her rather a lot lately. So instead of going off to do his own thing in a corner, he warmed up with her, and lingered when it became time to get serious.

"All yours, sis. What's it gonna be today?" Korbin still couldn't hear, but didn't really need to; they had their routines, their games, and no lack of tools to use. Swords, spears, bows and daggers, axes and staffs, along with less common weapons - not to mention hobbles for the feet, belts to strap down arms with, and fun fun weight harnesses for the truly dedicated.

Korbin fervently hoped she wouldn't pick the weights.
Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed.
Weaver Hale
the Scythe
Warden of the Citadel

Age: 33 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 10 - Dext: 13 - Endr: 21 - Luck: 22 - Int:
Played by: Kyra Offline
Change author:
Posts: 903 | Total: 918
MP: 0
#2

WEAVER

She is still willing to get up early, particularly on mornings when she hadn’t been at the Kraai until the ass crack of dawn. Weaver never kicks anyone out. There is no ‘closing time’. Either the place empties out or eventually she finds she has to cut them off, but the time of the evening always varies. Still, though they were all trapped inside, during the weeks there were jobs to attend to, shops to open, and the nights were not so long.

So she heads over to the training halls with Korbin early, because she does try to avoid bringing outsiders into the Academy too often (though when she was alone, she’d simply go train there, the rooms usually far more empty and designed to withstand her magic anyway). The anticipation already sings her veins, for the fight is the dance. The cuts, the bruises, the possibility of pain always brings her to life. She finds beauty in the clash of steel on steel, fists against flesh.

Korbin stays with her today, and she goes through the usual warm up drills, pleased to see him not disappearing from her side. She grins as he lets her pick the fight, and she pulls out the little notepad and pen she’s taken to keeping with her. One rule. Can’t use your right arm, she writes, showing him the paper and removing the scythe from her back. She couldn’t wield that without both hands, but there were plenty of other choices.

Weaver grabs two straps and helps Korbin wrap one around him to hold his right arm in place before allowing him to help her as well (infinitely more awkward since he’s already down to one arm). When they are done, she pulls a dagger from the belt at her waist, getting into a fighting stance and nodding to him to take the first move when he’s ready. She’ll give him that small advantage, at least.

I was made to be wild, wicked, and free

Korbin Hale
Healer / Bartender

Age: 25 | Height: 6'3in (190 cm) | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 19 - Dext: 17 - Endr: 20 - Luck: 9 - Int:
Played by: Chan Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,102 | Total: 5,762
MP: 0
#3
KORBIN
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed,
Well, not the weights, but something ridiculously difficult and damned inconvenient all the same. He rolled his eyes when he saw the note, but couldn't help the slight grin; clearly she would enjoy this. Far more than he did. But that was always the case, and he was not about to back down.

With both their right arms secured behind the backs and out of the way, Korbin drew his own dagger. Big and heavy to suit his bigger and heavier frame, he tested the weight of it and found it foreign in his left hand. Taking a moment to test his balance and get adjusted to the new sensation, his lunge came suddenly and without warning. A quick instep and a swift cut aimed just below her neck - he would really rather not kill her if the blow were to land. It was always the danger of fighting with sharpened blades...

As always, Korbin held his dagger backwards, with the blade resting down along his wrist. His technique was meant to cut rather than stab - less precise, less need to aim properly, more area to cut with and not as deep a wound if it were to strike true. A gentle way of fighting, by Halo standards...

But strangely enough, he actually didn't hold back this time. There was force to the strike, and aim, and his gaze was keen and alert, already prepared to parry or dodge as necessary.
Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed.
Weaver Hale
the Scythe
Warden of the Citadel

Age: 33 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 10 - Dext: 13 - Endr: 21 - Luck: 22 - Int:
Played by: Kyra Offline
Change author:
Posts: 903 | Total: 918
MP: 0
#4

WEAVER

She didn’t really care if he thought it was ridiculous. She’d been told to steal a bell off an ursur’s neck using only basic fire magic. And you know what? Zariah had been right. You have to know how to survive at your weakest, not just your strongest. She really ought to hate Zariah more than she does…but still, she remembers the way their conversation ended, and she does not hate the woman. She doesn’t trust her either, but those aren’t quite the same things.

He takes a minute to test the weight, though she doesn’t. She knows her knives. Admittedly, she’s tempting to spin it around in her hand just to be a showoff, but then she might not be ready for him. Good thing she doesn’t because he strikes quickly, not holding back. Her knife is in the same position as his, not wanting to kill her brother, and she brings her arm up to block his attack. The edge of his knife grazes the skin on her forearm, drawing a bit of blood, but it’s nothing really. She’s taken worse.

Normally she’d stab him with her free hand, but she has no such luxury today. This is the point of this fight though, to take away their usual responses and find new things. Besides, she only had one rule, but everything else was fair game. Fire erupts in front of her, small enough that it shouldn’t burn him (too much, anyway), but hopefully large enough to force him to drop his arm away so she can lunge forward, killing the fire, and try to stab him in the side.

I was made to be wild, wicked, and free

Korbin Hale
Healer / Bartender

Age: 25 | Height: 6'3in (190 cm) | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 19 - Dext: 17 - Endr: 20 - Luck: 9 - Int:
Played by: Chan Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,102 | Total: 5,762
MP: 0
#5
KORBIN
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed,
The problem with fighting his sister was that he never managed to surprise her. Not ever. Not once in all the years they'd sparred together. She was there to parry right away, and though he felt the contact of blade to skin, he still hadn't landed the blow where it was supposed to go. And then, of course, she retaliated straight away.

It really was a downside to be unable to hear anything. While his balance wasn't as impaired now as it had been in the beginning, he wasn't fully functional either, and it showed, his reactions ever so slightly slower than they should have been. The fire that flared up singed the arm he threw up to shield himself with, and instinctively Korbin recoiled from it. But with his one arm occupied with shielding his face, he had no defenses left to ward of her attack with. Korbin was only able to twist to avoid being impaled; Weaver's dagger snaked in and cut a long gash over his ribs, snagging on the ursur-wool shirt he always wore.

Korbin hissed in pain as blood bloomed from the cut. With gritted teeth he tried to embrace it and set it aside, even as he countered. Stepping forth to invade her space, he reversed the knife with a quick flick of the wrist and tried to stab towards her gut in an underhand thrust - counting coldly on her ability to dodge away from any serious damage.

If she wanted to play rough, then by all means. Today, he would indulge her, in a way he rarely had ever done before.
Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed.
Weaver Hale
the Scythe
Warden of the Citadel

Age: 33 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 10 - Dext: 13 - Endr: 21 - Luck: 22 - Int:
Played by: Kyra Offline
Change author:
Posts: 903 | Total: 918
MP: 0
#6

WEAVER

He can surprise her just by actually trying. Honestly, that’s the thing that will throw her off, because he always takes it easy on her. The fact that he isn’t is a shock, though a pleasant one. Still, that doesn’t mean she’s going to let him get the upper hand. What kind of big sister would she be if she did?

She can smell the fire catch on his arm as he goes to shield herself, and she’d feel sorry but it’ll only be a flesh wound that she can heal later. There’d be no lasting damage, and she was careful to make sure she didn’t let the fire get out of control. He manages to twist out of her way somewhat, though she still manages to leave a cut along his ribs (though really, it would not be that bad through the wool shirt).

He responds quickly though, and she sees the glimmer of his knife as he switches his grip to actually have the point facing her. Well well brother, that is a surprise.

Her balance slightly off with only one arm, she doesn’t have much of a way to block him either, her knife hand too far away to get there in time. Instead she spins back from him, so it’s her right side facing him, her body dropping back and away from him. Still though, the knife manages to catch the side of her stomach as she moves away, and blood blooms through the cotton shirt she wears (hardly any protection, but what is life without a little danger). She hisses at the pain, trying to ignore, using her momentum to spin around and come at his right side, knife poised to catch him toward the bottom of his ribs.

I was made to be wild, wicked, and free

Korbin Hale
Healer / Bartender

Age: 25 | Height: 6'3in (190 cm) | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 19 - Dext: 17 - Endr: 20 - Luck: 9 - Int:
Played by: Chan Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,102 | Total: 5,762
MP: 0
#7
KORBIN
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed,
There was a point to going at her seriously. Several, actually. And he might reveal them to her when they were done - she'd probably be curious anyway - but for now, he tried to focus on the fight, on keeping himself in one piece and not accidentally getting his guts spilled.

His dagger struck home, and the impact with her flesh quivered up his arm, to remind him with nauseating clarity why he hated this. Rather than back away however, Korbin kept after her, tried to stick close within her space so she couldn't get much force behind the blows. When she turned back and to the size, Korbin followed, like they were partners in a dance. When she struck again he twisted just slightly to the side and felt the dagger cut into his side again, slicing a line perpendicular across the already bleeding wound. He'd get a new scar out of it, no doubt, and it hurt like a bitch.

Breathing into the blinding pain, Korbin shifted his weight to one leg and used the other to kick at her legs, trying to unbalance her, and aimed a stab at her simultaneously struck again at her stomach again. At the last moment, he flipped the grip on the dagger again and tried to strike the pommel into her gut, something that would be sure to leave her plenty winded if it landed.

Not being able to use his right side was annoying. It left him unable to parry, opening up to counters whenever he attacked. The only comfort was that she was in the same boat.
Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed.
Weaver Hale
the Scythe
Warden of the Citadel

Age: 33 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 10 - Dext: 13 - Endr: 21 - Luck: 22 - Int:
Played by: Kyra Offline
Change author:
Posts: 903 | Total: 918
MP: 0
#8

WEAVER

The wound in her gut pulls against her movements, and though she’s used to fighting through the pain, she doesn’t actually have to. They aren’t playing fair right now, and so she sends a quick burst of healing magic to her wound and the flesh begins to knit. It would be a little sore, but at least it wouldn’t be bleeding all over her anymore. After the fight she’d be nice enough to heal Korbin.

Her knife connects, leaving another cut above the one she’d previously made. How perfect. Her grin is wicked and feral, alive, as they dance together, with him actually trying. When he actually tries, he can give her a run for her money. He’s bigger and stronger, and they were trained together after all, so they know what the other knows.

He shifts his weight and she sees it, giving her a split second to jump back, the movement awkward with her balance off and he manages to kick her shin. She grunts, stumbling backward another few steps, which at least takes her out of range of his knife. Knowing she needs a second to right herself, she throws a wall of flame up between them, hoping she might catch his retreating limbs just long enough for them to feel a slight sizzle.

I was made to be wild, wicked, and free

Korbin Hale
Healer / Bartender

Age: 25 | Height: 6'3in (190 cm) | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 19 - Dext: 17 - Endr: 20 - Luck: 9 - Int:
Played by: Chan Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,102 | Total: 5,762
MP: 0
#9
KORBIN
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed,
The floor was different from the well-trampled ice and snow of the outdoor training ground he was used to. Pain throbbed through his side with every movement, and he had yet to check how much he was bleeding... the ribs were always painful and quick to flow, so he wasn't too worried, but it would weaken him if he lost too much blood.

He was surprised at how well things were going, all things considered. Korbin wasn't flat on his back already, after all. Weaver was bleeding too, though he wasn't overjoyed by that. He was able to land a kick on her leg and to his surprise she withdrew, trying to cut him off with a wall of fire. It was so unusual to be able to drive her back that the young raven acted on pure instinct, some predatory need to keep after that fleeing prey.

Like a fool, or an idiot, or a man with intent, he covered his eyes and charged straight on through the flame rather than back off. Quickly, like one might pull a finger through the flames of a candle without feeling the heat. There was a slight odor of singed hair and wool, but unless she had made the wall a lot thicker than it looked from where he'd been standing, he would get through with little more than a few blisters.

As he emerged on the other side, Korbin aimed another blow with the reversed dagger, again trying to punch her in the gut. It was precarious as he couldn't see where exactly she had placed her own weapon while out of sight, but it felt somehow vital that he didn't hesitate, didn't hold back.

Like he'd reached a turning point, a cross roads, and all sorts of things could go wrong if he let up here and now.

It was nonsense, of course.
Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed.
Weaver Hale
the Scythe
Warden of the Citadel

Age: 33 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 10 - Dext: 13 - Endr: 21 - Luck: 22 - Int:
Played by: Kyra Offline
Change author:
Posts: 903 | Total: 918
MP: 0
#10

WEAVER

He’s so much more fun to fight when he tries. Honestly, he should be able to beat her. There’s no reason he can’t, given the difference in size and strength alone. She only wins for two reasons. The first, because she is willing to take chances. The second, because he never gives it his all.

Today is different. She could stop and wonder why, but at the moment, she’s simply enjoying the fight too much.

Today he is full of surprises. She definitely does not expect him to charge through the fire. It is foolish, but fire does not burn much if you move through it quickly enough. Still, the wall did what she needed, and she’s back on her feet and ready for him. He goes for her gut, and she rocks her weight back to her right foot and kicks out toward his arm with her left, hoping to kick his knife hand or manage to get him in the side or gut. Just to discourage him from grabbing her leg, she kills the wall of fire and encases the lower half of her leg in fire instead, careful to keep the flames off her skin.

I was made to be wild, wicked, and free

Korbin Hale
Healer / Bartender

Age: 25 | Height: 6'3in (190 cm) | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 19 - Dext: 17 - Endr: 20 - Luck: 9 - Int:
Played by: Chan Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,102 | Total: 5,762
MP: 0
#11
KORBIN
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed,
There was no end to the things Korbin should do. Be happy, be grateful for what he had, be nice to people. He should let go of pain and embrace change, let people in and trust more freely. He should let his sister do whatever she pleased and take her advice, he should give his all in everything he did, even if it meant driving a dagger into her flesh during a training session.

And it wasn't that he couldnt be all that, do all that. He could. He had never been unable to. It just... lit his head on fire to do any of it when it was expected of him. Was that the essence of a teenage rebellion? To resent being told what to do? To refuse the voices of reason, precisely because they were reasonable? Resenting every chance to please because he didn't wish to make anyone pleased. It would be to play right into their hands, like a nice little puppet, when he did his best to cut all the strings.

Except they wouldn't let themselves be cut. Wouldn't break, wouldn't let go, and it made his enraged thrashing seem so much like the fly struggling in vain in the confines of a spider's web. Only bringing the inevitable closer.

Was the utmost form of rebellion to acquiesce, then? To give in, let go the control, become the ultimate puppet? Not because he had no other choice, but because he chose to give in. It was only an illusion of control, but then... control really was the ultimate illusion.

And none of this really mattered in the moment, because Weaver's leg came hurtling towards the arm that aimed to punch her, and he didn't have the balance to withdraw. The kick landed and his dagger was sent clattering offer over the floor. Her leg was wreathed in fire, hot and burning, and his options had become far too limited.

Not even thinking, Korbin simply hurled himself at her. Tried to slam all his weight and bulk into her smaller frame, to knock her off her feet and bring them both down.
Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed.
Weaver Hale
the Scythe
Warden of the Citadel

Age: 33 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 10 - Dext: 13 - Endr: 21 - Luck: 22 - Int:
Played by: Kyra Offline
Change author:
Posts: 903 | Total: 918
MP: 0
#12

WEAVER

He always thinks he should do what others tell him. There is where they are so very different. She believes she should do whatever she wants, whatever feels true to her (or to who she wants to be, as the case may be). Advice is just that, advice. It’s suggestions other people make based on their own experiences, on the things they would choose to do. And those are good things to consider, but in the end, you make your own choices. She doesn’t really care what he does so long as he enjoys the choice. And no, sulking in a corner is not enjoying the choice, sorry brother. Instead he does things because he thinks he’s supposed to, which isn’t exactly working for him.

Control was indeed, only an illusion, but you can learn to believe the lie. Tell it long enough and it becomes true. Wear the mask long enough and it becomes a part of you. Eventually you no longer remember who you thought you might be, because you have become someone else, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, hadn’t Weaver done exactly that? She’d always been something like this, but still, she’d been different too. These were things Korbin wouldn’t remember, things sometimes she barely remembered.

All she remembered was falling to pieces that first night she’d finally come home after Erebor died, weeks later when the healers deemed her healthy enough to go. Remembers sobbing into her pillow with no clue what they were going to do, careful to make sure Korbin couldn’t hear her. And that night she’d slipped on the composure she’d worn ever since, donned a cloak of invisibility and never taken it off. There’d been no other path forward. Not one she could live with, anyway. Not one Korbin deserved to live with.

Eventually, you become what you pretend.

Her kick lands, and she sees his knife leave his hand, hears it clatter to the floor. The hilt of her knife forward, Weaver drops her leg and lunges to stab him in the gut. He’s charging forward, but she doesn’t try to stop him. She just thrusts the knife forward as he comes barling, hoping he can’t shift in time to miss the knife to his stomach before she gets slammed into the ground, all the breath leaving her lungs. She coughs, rolling onto her side slightly, trying to catch her breath, hoping that she managed to leave him sputtering for breath too.

I was made to be wild, wicked, and free

Korbin Hale
Healer / Bartender

Age: 25 | Height: 6'3in (190 cm) | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 19 - Dext: 17 - Endr: 20 - Luck: 9 - Int:
Played by: Chan Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,102 | Total: 5,762
MP: 0
#13
KORBIN
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed,
He never wanted to pretend. Hated the smiling mask he had worn for so long. Raged against the expectations it brought, of always shrugging things off when he wasn't, of always being content when he really crumbled to pieces, of being nice and thoughtful and considerate when it was so far from how he really felt. Korbin didn't believe in white lies, in covering up the truth in pretty wrappings to make it look prettier than it was.

What was the point in pretending to be fine when he was not? In pretending to care what his words did to others, when he really didn't give a flying fuck? Why be anything but terrible, when that's the only thing that made him feel much of anything?

Fortunately, those black moods weren't constant, but as he charged Weaver this time, there were traces of it in his eyes. He didn't even try to parry the knife hilt that was thrust into his gut; it took his wind as he crashed into her, and then they were falling. The impact with the ground rattled his vision and made his head ring. The knife wounds to his side was a constant agony that ate at his focus, the blisters on his arm a reminder of the fire.

She still had the dagger, and still breathless he tried to shift so he would pin that arm down, make her unable to use it. At the same time his unbound arm came up to try and press down on her throat, his eyes flinty and demanding a yield.

It would be his first ever win... not that he thought she would give up that easily.
Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed.
Weaver Hale
the Scythe
Warden of the Citadel

Age: 33 | Height: 5'6 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 4 - Strg: 10 - Dext: 13 - Endr: 21 - Luck: 22 - Int:
Played by: Kyra Offline
Change author:
Posts: 903 | Total: 918
MP: 0
#14

WEAVER

Weaver doesn’t lie, except on necessary occasions. Well, not anymore. She is who she acts like now. So many years of being unbreakable has made her as close as anyone could come to that status. So many years of being together, for him, has taught her to simply be together. It had been a lie once, in those early days, keeping herself together. Not that she hadn’t been sad. They’d both been sad, both been fumbling, trying to figure out how to live with only the two of them left. Still, she’d been together, she’d been as strong as she knew how.

He doesn’t give up when they hit the ground. Honestly she’d assumed they’d call a draw, let them each catch their breath. Instead she feels him tumble with her, feels him try to pin her down. If he thinks she’ll give up so easily...Weaver lights her arm on fire, trying to force him off so he can’t pin her down. His free hand goes to her throat, and she twists beneath him, thrusting the knife toward his throat to try and catch him in return.

Maybe when they are done, she will take the time to ask why. He never goes for the kill and she ought to be concerned. Right now though, she simply doesn’t feel like losing if she can help it. If he wants the win, he’s going to have to work for it.

I was made to be wild, wicked, and free



Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)


RPG-D