#earthrunes

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Once again, a workout shoehorned into a busy day. August glistens in the sunlight of the sparring ring as he works through a kata. Alone.

Footsteps and.. "Oh, pardon me, Sir Augsust. WOuld you like to be alone?"

The voice belongs to Dame Claire ap Ailil

August looks up from his martial trance. Blink. Bow. "Ah." He actually stops and thinks about it. Would he? "Not particularly. I mean, I'm just grabbing a quick workout."

"Good," She cleans walks up and starts to practice. She is a swordswoman trained and moves with a combination of speed, strength and control that is amazing.

August cedes the ring.

"We can share it, you know?" She says

"Oh. I thought ... Ah. Ok." He returns and takes a beat to refocus.

She nose wrinkles at something, eying his feet.

He catches it. "What? I mean, what is it?" He looks from her to his feet.

"Your stance is..well, it's not amateur, but it's lacking" She gestures "Wide enough is fine, but you're still not set for the best combination of balance and readiness"

"For which school?" Politely curious.

"The school of not getting your ass kicked" She says

"Look, try this" she shows a stance, "See that? That allows me to switch rapidly to a more offensive or defensive stance without betraying which one I'm going on."

He adopts the pose easily. "So, foil or rapier." He asks to confirm.

"For that, well, you'll want to find which suits you best somew what, but the balls of your feet are very important for sudden power so.." She demonstrates.

August follows, clearly practiced.

"Not bad, now you don't seem the agressive sort, and that can work for you if you're willing and able to slip into a role outside your comfort zone

... but chiefly, for you I would suggest..well, heck, let's spar slow and I'll show you?"

August looks at her very seriously, thinking, then nods. "It would be an honor."

"I'd like to think so," She inclines her head, and soon demonstrates, she does notice, "You've had a lot of different mentors haven't you? Your style is borderline muddled."

August focuses, and is deep on defense. "Ah. Well. Martial and combat Arts were required of all Sidhe at Alabaster Hollow."

"And because of your House, you had to take your lessons from anyone you could, am I right? Or did you have to duplicate while watching others get tutored?" A thrust

Parry. He takes a deep breath, exhales, and disengages the bout. "The Master at the Hollows didn't care for me." He says evenly. "I did the set-up and clean-up most of the time for practice, got there early and stayed late to do it. The other student's didn't care to be partnered with me for practice; I did a lot of that work on my own. Most practices ended with the Master having me bout with the other students one after the other until I couldn't continue. Each of them was relatively fresh, you see." Expressionlessly.

"So yes, I learned a fairly large variety of styles and how to counter them. I suppose some would say I learned the hard way."

"Interesting, you had an almost Ailil training then," she nods, "You've got variety, that's good, but you need to learn to harmonize it. Broken Rhythm works best if you choose where it breaks"

He nods, and salutes her before going enguard.

She doesn't pamper him, nor does she mock him. In that regard the lady of a dark house is kinder than some he's faced. And at times she even praises him, "August, am I nuts, or did you just incorporate a calligraphy pattern into your rounding the circle there?"

"It confused them. At the Hollow."

"Actually, it did me too." Claire admits, "Fortunately I'm good enough that surprise doesn't help folks against me as much as it would a non expert." Ailil arrogance ? Perhaps, but it appears to be true, " Does it help to think of it in those terms?"

"Like terms of font, and letter swoops?" She clarifies

August disengages again, stepping back. "Not really. It was more like... an experiment. To see if I could, and what happened if I did."

"What happens is it might throw someone off a few times, but you might also, in your effort to form the perfect Q, end up exposing yourself for Style's sake. We're sidhe, pretty comes naturally, don't ever sacrifice efficiency or victory on the altar of 'looks neat'" She demonstrates "This is what you did, it took me off guard, but you know where I'm going to end up, and you see that.. there, third step, I exposed my flank"

He nods, watching.

Should a certain sluagh be watching, she might observe that the Ailil, who bears August little true LOVE, is being a far more honorable tutor, frank without being cruel, than ones might have seen at the hallow. "Now, this makes you vulnerable OOOR... if you're feeling bold, can be used to.." A swish and switch "A feint!"

He nods again. "I will remember that."

"Good, now... you've got a bit to unlearn and then relearn again, but if you honestly want some proper teaching, and not some old sword master using YOU as a bait dog for his more favored students, I can help you."

Cautious reluctance. "Ah. How?"

"By tutoring you," She says simply

"In swordwork?"

"Yes," her brows shoot up, "If you want lessons in Dancing I suggest Sir Bachdion."

August nods. "He's a very good dance instructor, yes." A beat. "Well. I -do- want to work on my combat skills this summer....."

"Well then, the offer is on the table. You choose to accept it or not." She says

August nods slowly. "I accept. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I have to warn you, I'm not a very whimsical tutor. There wont' be me singing disney tunes about making a man out of you while I sweep your leg or such. But you'll be able to add on your own touches to the nuts and bolts I'll give you over time."

He nods gravely. "I understand."

"Good! Now, assume the position I showed you and... let's begin" Blades drawn.

He complies, saluting her and going enguard, then waiting for instruction, watching her carefully.

In some ways, it's much like he was taught before, and yet, here he is the focus, no talk to another student on what they should do to defeat August, rather comments on August as the focus and eventual master of his own fate in a battle. Stances are suggested not just because 'that's how it's always been' but because 1) These WORK, and 2) they work best for HIM. Claire seems to believe in instilling good solid routines and habits, and then teaching you how and win to break them. The next hour flows quickly, and while August can't say he's a 'new warrior' he does notice that she has done an excellent job in making sure this time he is not cheated of crucial elements