[Training] {se} how a spiral works

NATE

Honestly, Nate had been expecting nothing more than a shift, an attempted dodge, after his demonstration of footwork. What he gets is far more entertaining though, tells him more about Aamu in the one gesture than anything else.

An arm snakes out along his, taking advantage of where he’s left himself open and driving a fist into his shoulder. There’s no pain with it, despite the decent amount of force, something Nate is still quietly proud of, but he shifts back all the same, letting himself be pushed, and using the momentum to swing wide with his opposite hand, intending on making contact with Aamu’s side.

The movement is telegraphed, just a little, enough for the other to try and pick up on it. No reason he can’t make this a little more fair, or pretend to at least.

All dressed up like a switchblade knife
Let’s hang in love from the gallows

You are the night-time fear

Conclusion: it was interesting to try, but not very good.

Aamu's not used to a method of fighting where rolling with a punch is a good idea. 'Oh yeah, I'll just let him stab me here so I can stab him here'—no, you'd be dead, bleeding out, Aamu knows too much about stabbing you to death, but this? Nate just steps back with his blow, uses it to his own advantage, against Aamu who's caught out with his feet in the wrong place and maybe Nate's leg and arm are in the way, but the end result is that he can't do more than anticipate the blow and already fold to the side.

Nate still connects pretty hard with him, and Aamu staggers a little in the snow—as much as he can, anyway. At least his fighter's balance keeps him from toppling over but he lost that bout pretty firmly.

"Lesson learned," he says with a slight, breathless laugh. "If we fought dirty, though..." He flicks his wrist, showing off one of his blades. "Armpit's a great place to slice some arteries."

Having recovered enough of his wits Aamu carefully, consciously, takes up the stance Nate showed him again, holding up his fists and nodding to say he's ready for the next exercise.

And then they beat each other silly all night.

( fin <3 )

You are the morning when it's clear

AAMU