Training Day

[Seraphina]

Oh, ok, slow down. She can do that, and does. But she feels it, each muscle being used, straining, working, and reminding her that she was going to hate the morning.

“Not all of it, it’s very fragmented.” Not that she really wanted to remember, but sometimes you couldn’t help it. “Oh, I failed many times. There were always prices to pay for failure. Rather it was messing a note up in a song, or failing in a task, there was always punishment.” And if she had been designed to keep the scars, she’d be a monster.

But enough about her, and painful topics. “How are things with you?”

She watches the kick, not too sure about the balancing part, but she’d try it. And sure enough, there were a few stumbles, her balance not all that good. But after numerous tries, she was sweating by this point, she managed it. If there was one thing about it, it was that she didn’t give up. The other leg had its troubles as well, but she got there, not giving up. She wasn’t about to waste his time.

[Fawkes]

"Hey. You beat Them in the end," he said, blinking. He was surprised how much she was divulging. Actually, a lot of Lost seemed to delve into their history freely with him.

Lack of demeanor. You're a sound board.

If he notes her struggling at all, he doesn't comment on it. Any corrections are without emotion, and he remembers to confirm when she's proper to build her confidence. Even the Elemental understood that recognition was needed sometimes.

He catches her ankle as she wobbles a bit, "Just move your foot a bit wider, get your center of gravity back." He doesn't release her, forcing her to hop.

"How are things?" his jaw sets. She had been honest with him, so, "Not sure what to do about Cole. King Price also is looking at making me a titled officer, as well as a Knight. Though, he seems fixated on me not using any recreational drugs."

[Seraphina]

A should shrugs, “Maybe.” But were the scars worth it? It was hard to know.

The lack of emotion was weird for her, but she ignores it. But the confirmation when she did something right was great to her. Her confidence building bit by bit. She might not be the fighter she thought she was, but she could get there.

Him catching her ankle surprised her, and she fought to keep her balance. Move with her foot? So she tries to focus on that, feeling her body wobble and moving her foot to try and compensate. It wasn’t an easy thing to do. But the determination was clear on her face and she attempts to balance. Though having to hop wasn’t helping. Her body wants to fall, but she doesn’t want to. And that pushes her.

Trying to listen while balancing? Not easy. But after time, the foot seems to know what it needed to do, and the balancing became a tad bit easier.

“Cole giving you trouble?” she asks, still concentrating on not falling on her ass, “Oh! That sounds great! Congratulations! An officer and Knight! Well deserved.” She said honestly. The comment about drugs broke her concentration for a moment, there was more wobble, it was a bit harder for her to recover, but she did, not very gracefully. Drugs were a weird subject for her, bringing up her past and those memories wasn’t a happy topic. Blinking a few times, she looks at a spot on the wall, not sure what to say. “Was he worried about your ability to focus on tasks? Or more concerned with your well-being?”

[Fawkes]

Fawkes releases her foot once she has her balance back, syncing back into lightly blocking her controlled kicks. He eventually notes the sweat and eyes click to the clock. He had been drilling her for fifteen minutes without a break and she hadn't made so much as a peep. Gotta admire the fortitude.

"Take five, get some water," he says. The Fairest was extremely determined to not request these things, it seemed. But after their first sparring match, he had to admit it was naive to expect otherwise. Keeping to a clock seemed to be the best option for both of them.

As she asks questions, he takes the time to do his own small set with the bag, starting with small sets of weaves and punches. 3-3-2, 4-3-1, 1-1-2...

"Trouble. No, not me," he says flatly, adding kicks to the set. His mouth twitches, "He's being dumb. Entitled," he hitches the bag with his forearms as if putting it into a headlock, sending his knee into an imagined throat, "No giving a single. Fuck. About his Court. Just himself." He is apparently too distracted to talk about Richard at the moment. A topic for after.

[Seraphina]

It was nice to have her foot back. But she thinks she understands the reasons, and decides to practice that more later.

Lowing her other leg, she nods and heads over to her gym bag. Water was pulled out and she offered him one in case he wanted some.

Taking a few drinks, she lets her heart rate settle using a towel to wipe her forehead. She watches him go after the bag before saying anything.

There was a shrug, “Well, dumb is a nicer word than what I would personally use. But yah, I get that from him. Part of the reason he was thrown out of my coffee shop and can’t come back.” She sipped some more water, “You know, that bag doesn’t stand a chance.” She jokes, before turning serious again. “I’ve gotten the impression he tends to act before thinking, letting emotions lead him. Sorry your Court’s having problems with him. Something you guys can sort out?”

[Fawkes]

Fawkes grunts as he skins his heel with a roundhouse kick, glass cracking and flaking on the surface. The power is unnecessary, and consequently throws him off balance as the bag swings. It's enough to shake him from the spiral, however. He blinks a couple of times as Sera offers the water,

"Wait. What's going on with him and Spring?" his tone doesn't shift but the body language is clear as he crosses his arms.

[Seraphina]

The Nix calmly watches, not saying anything. Though the power was impressive, and she hopes to maybe someday hit as hard as he could. Which made her side ache as a reminder. Someday.

There was a heavy sigh, “He got an attitude in the coffee shop and punched Abraham. He seemed to take exception to something Abraham said. So I threw him out and told him he wasn’t welcome there. Then had the nerve to challenge me to a Duel.” She laughs bitterly, “Like I’d give him what he wanted, more violence.” She rolled her eyes, “I can’t speak for Spring of course, but I won’t wilt in the face of someone being a jerk. But I don’t trust him at this point, or feel safe with him around. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be civil when at parties and what not, but I won’t seek him out for anything.” A shrug, “I’m not dwelling on it.” It wasn’t worth it to her.

“So what’s next?” she was eager to get back to training.

[Fawkes]

Fawkes makes a thrumming sound at the back of his throat as he smooths his hair.

Okay.

Sera redirecting the topic back onto the lesson reminds him that they're paying their debt to the Wyrd. "Right. That'll be addressed. Thanks." As they return to the mats he models a hook kick, deciding to skip front so she doesn't have to jump at him with the bruised rib cage.

"It's reverse of the turning kick," he waves his hands as he rattles off points on a clock, "Punches are usually assigned to a number, and you create combinations. Once you're used to the patterns you can be efficient with your choices to cut down on delay. Getting predictable is usually the problem."

The point of clarification is more to just show her he had a method to the seemingly random acts.

As they advance down the line, he was clearly distracted at this point as he almost fails to block her kick—slow and controlled as it was. He was looking through her rather than at her.

[Seraphina]

She should have reached out to Richard to let him know, but she knew Fawkes better. Was more comfortable with him.

Watching, she realizes that was quite the turn for her other leg. Not that she didn’t think she could do it, she had long legs, it shouldn’t be an issue. Maybe it all came together.

Trying it wasn’t all that easy, it was about balance. Which now made sense to her why they started off with balance. Once again, it took her a few tries, a few stumbles, but she got there. It didn’t look as flawless as his, but with enough practice she might get there.

“Might have to get one of those bags for my house. Keep practicing with it.” She says, knowing it was a way to improve on their days off.

The clock was noted with a nod. Made sense, predictable in a fight was bad.

An eyebrow arches as she holds back a kick, “You ok?” she asks, concern in her voice.

[Fawkes]

"If you're enjoying it," he says with her note on the bag. It appeared she was wanting to invest long-term, and he was a impressed she could just decide to drop cash like that. "It's good if you're conscious enough to make your own corrections. Sparring's always better." Wealthy Lost were a rarity in their communities.

He rubs his temple, blinking as he straightens from his stance, "Sorry. Headache. It'll pass." He breathes out through his nose as he slips back,

"We can freeform it. I didn't see anything specfic you need to repeat a lap for."