Damsel in Distress (Zandelia)

by **Caela Dorin** on July 9th, 2014, 9:25 pm

A lute. That was the name of the instrument that Web was murdering. It certainly didn't sound like music and the way she played it was almost akin in sound to the torture of some creature. It may have been a slight exaggeration but it certainly didn't sound good. She even admitted that she couldn't play well, something that made the dancer feel a little guilty. Words said before she was fully awake had given away far more than she would have liked in hindsight. The last thing she wanted was to offend the woman who had saved her. It was probably for the reason of improvement that she'd brought the instrument to play and as a way to pass the time while Caela slept. It wasn't nice of her to sneer at her. She doubted that she would play any better that Web was doing anyway.

A grimace as the full impact of what she'd said sank in. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that it wasn't very good. I was just... surprised," she replied lamely, making a poor attempt to undo any offence she may have caused. It probably would have gone better if she'd just kept her mouth shut, rather than draw further attention to what she'd said. A change of topic was something that she was going to need but Web had already provided it, skipping onto other things almost immediately.

"I'm fine, I got enough sleep. It might come back to bite me later but... I'd be interested in whatever you can teach me now. It makes sense that it'd be difficult to teach something hands-on in here. You don't have much space to work." The suggestion of teaching her rescuer dancing in return made her raise her brows raise, incredulous. This woman considered dancing a fair payment for teaching self-defence? The young woman had known that the woman wouldn't have offered her help purely from the goodness of heart but the form of payment was certainly unexpected. She chewed on her lip to hold back a snigger at the last part, guilt flaring slightly as she realised that her inner thoughts had somehow come across to her.

A roll of the eyes and a sigh at the question concerning her owning a weapon. This was Sunberth, of course she owned one. Although it wasn't on her at the moment, hadn't been on her during her attack either s the older woman's question wasn't that ridiculous. Perhaps her dagger was something that should be kept on her at all times, even when she was dancing. "I have a dagger and I know how to hold it, or at least I'm fairly sure that I do. It's downstairs. I know that's not a good place for it," her hands rose as if fending off a scolding that she was anticipating, "but it's a bit of an inconvenience when I'm dancing. I've nowhere to put it that wouldn't be extremely obvious and that just doesn't work with the image I'm going for," she puffed out in her defence.

The dancer smiled slightly in surprise, realising that she was acting how she normally did. That wouldn't be that surprising to most people but after what she'd been through, it was a small miracle really.

Despite her novice knowledge, the dancer took the offered blade, willing to learn anything that the woman could offer to teach her. She'd made an attempt earlier in the season to improve her dagger usage but she had tried to practise alone and she wasn't sure how well that had gone. The time before that when she had actually had someone to spar with things hadn't exactly gone to plan. And before that... it had been so long that she couldn't even remember when she'd been taught. No, she needed help with this and she wasn't too proud to avail of such aid.

Her fingers moved into a grip that was familiar to her, comfortable, strong. Her fingers wrapped around the hilt, her thumb coming to rest against her index finger. The digits tightened almost to the point of causing pain before loosening into a more comfortable but yet still firm grip. She twisted her hand this way and that, testing the hold and adjusting the pressure accordingly until it felt right to her. She showed Web the way she was holding it, hoping for some feedback. If she'd picked up some horrible habits it'd be good to know. "This is how I was shown to hold a dagger. I've done a bit of experimenting since but... sometimes it's good to stick to the basics. As for punches, I don't think I even know how to throw one properly. I did accidentally strangle someone last season though. I didn't kill them! But I could do with knowing how to punch," Caela explained.

x

by **Zandelia** on August 6th, 2014, 2:50 am

She laughed at the comment about offending her, she couldn’t help it. It was well intentioned by all means but if she was able to feel affront at someone telling the truth then she was no spy at all. She lived for the truth in many ways, though she doubted many appreciated that she could make that assertion about herself. Spider she had been called, one who crept about and pulled on strings as she sought out the lies and the secrets others desired. She supposed it was the curse of her business to be misunderstood. If she never found the truth then she never got paid, something many perhaps forgot. Or chose not to see for their own reasons. She was not overly loved but then she was not there to be loved. She was there to get what people wanted.

“You said what you thought and what you thought was correct, a good observation. I have been insulted many times and believe me if those didn’t offend me your words did not either Caela” she spoke finally, a tone of wry amusement.

“Very well, here it is. Strangle you say? Well we have all done things to survive, I’ve done far worse believe me. I’ll teach you to get a decent punch too as we go then. Good combination to use - dagger and fists. Probably for the best if you are wanting to keep this ability with the dagger hidden unless you truly need it,” she stated as she turned to watch the woman carefully - she doubted she would attack her but then many things came as a surprise these days, “the first thing might surprise you. Logic” she continued smoothly.

It was something that many fighters never learnt and it usually managed tog et them killed somewhere down the timeline that were their lives. Swinging a blade was one thing, using it with purpose and ability was another. Much of what was the making of the best warriors came from their minds and instincts, the latter could not be taught but had to be gained through experience. The former was more easily imparted, though it largely depended upon the pupil she had found. She used tonfa mostly over daggers but the principles of the logic of combat were relatively similar across all types of weaponry. She tilted her head in consideration as she wondered best how to put what she thought into words.

“Or philosophy, take your pick. I do not mistake you for a fool but basic principles are best covered just in case. Firstly, to assess the situation properly. Outnumbered and currently unskilled? Get an escape route and run. Always try to talk your way out of a fight if at all possible,” she counseled, “because as soon as you pull a dagger they will too and everything is escalated beyond repair and you better be willing to use it. Such thinking has saved the lives of the best survivors…they knew when running was better than dying. Simple as that. When you get better you can push such things more, gamble a bit. For now keep it in mind” she continued as she looked over the grip critically, seeking for perfection - or what little she knew of it.

Most of her skills with a weapon were transferable when it came to a grip, it was all about hilts and balance really. It was easy enough to know how to hold a dagger and she was pleasantly surprised that Caela already knew, and perhaps knew a little knife work - or so she claimed. She herself was not overly skilled with the weapon but she had had a lifetime of killing people wielding them. As such she was uniquely qualified to know how to exploit the grip’s weaknesses. She raised and eyebrow and pulled the woman’s arm out to its fullest extent. She held the back of the wrist gently simply to keep it in place and extended. She noted the tendons of the wrist stretching under the skin ever so slightly.

The edge of her right hand came out to chop at the tendons a few inches up the forearm and, as was the case with all humans, her fingers reacted and leapt out of place to cause the weapons to fumble ever so slightly. She then swept her right hand sideways to push Caela’s arm outwards and unbalance her slightly. She stepped back then with a small grin and let her recover, she had not hit her particularly hard - just hard enough to press the points home and not injure. She was not an uncompromising teacher but people never seemed to learn without a little bit of discomfort. It was often a drive to do better she knew.

“If your wrist is turned your tendons there are exposed and can be sliced or hit with a stick for all the difference it would make. Fight over, no weapon and at the mercy of another’s dealing of death,” she shrugged slightly at that, it was obvious to her and yet some never seemed to think - she had told her what she knew and that was all that mattered, “daggers are short weapons so exposed. Keep your inner wrist facing downwards as you hold it before you and that blocs one opportunity against you” she finished the part quickly.

“As to another grip you can use, reverse the blade like so,” she shifted the weapon in her hand until the blade was now angling downwards and her arm was angled across her body and blade following the edge of the forearm in direction,” much easier to actually punch even with the weapon hand then. I use that grip most if I am honest, actually easier to block, turn away an attack and of course strike back unexpectedly…but that’s just me. As to punching…everyone knows the basics. Come, punch at me and let‘s see what you‘ve got. You won’t hurt me, promise” a grin slipped across her lips then, full and filled with warm amusement.

“Once you’ve got that sorted out we’ll move on to an actual mini-spar I think. More a drill to let you see what it’s like to fight someone as knows how to actually fight. I’ll use my tonfa of course, more protection that way…but…you’ll definitely learn how to fight better. Few bruises maybe but then that’s learning for you. Hard and fast these days” she stood ready to bloc whatever blows would be aimed at her - she was confident she could defend herself and it would let her see what needed to be corrected.

A well rounded fighter uses everything after all, not just the weapon. The body is a weapon she thought to herself as she stood with her hands upon her hips and waited.

by **Caela Dorin** on August 13th, 2014, 10:11 pm

Caela couldn't hide a wince. Her attempt at deflecting Web's attention from her insult had failed miserably. She knew full well that it had been an atrocious attempt but she still wished that the woman had let it slide without comment. Instead she was almost congratulating Caela for insulting her. It was no comfort at all, the strangeness of it only adding to the dancer's guilt. Her eyes found an unoccupied point in the room and fixed upon it, carefully avoiding not only Web's gaze but also her entire person. Her eyes slowly made their way back to her as the conversation seemed to steer away from anything that would bring the insult back to the fore.

"I accidentally strangled someone. I didn't do it on purpose, I just wanted the guy to stop pulling my hair..." her voice trailed off as she realised how strange that sounded. Hopefully her rescuer wouldn't prod her for information concerning it but she couldn't see herself being so lucky. If Web wanted to know more about her fighting experience then she might also want to know what had set her off and what her reactions had been to particular actions. The dancer continued on quickly in the hope that the strangulation comment would somehow go unnoticed.

"Logic makes sense really but philosophy? How does that help? Actually what even is that? Some sort of thinky thing?" She'd heard of it somewhere before but she couldn't quite remember what it was. "You aren't always in a position to run or to fight so what do you do in that situation? Say you're in particularly sticky circumstances, like you're skinny dipping at night and you can't swim and some sailors come along. As an example. A hypothetical one." She knew that the treacherous blush that entered her cheeks would give her away, the lighting in the room not poor enough to obscure the rush of colour.

A hand came out to take ahold of the wrist of her dagger hand. Caela went to shy away from it but thought better of it, assuming that the woman would only examine and perhaps adjust the position of her wrist. Instead she did something that surprised her. She stretched her arm out, the purpose of which she couldn't discern, and then the edge of Web's hand slammed into her inner wrist. It probably wasn't the hardest that she could have hit her but the pain and the suddenness of it made her cry out, dagger dropped like a hot stone as her arm came back to her body where she could clutch it to her chest.

"That hurt! What did you have to go and do a thing like that for?" The explanation came as the dancer stood glaring at her attacker. She didn't appreciate the demonstration. She didn't actually have to hit her. She could have just pretended to and explained what would have happened. Apparently the woman's idea of teaching was learning through experience. She'd learned something from it though so hopefully she'd never have to experience such an action again.

Her hand dropped back to her side, the shockwaves of the strike now gone. She still regarded the other woman with some resentment but that didn't mean that she wasn't listening attentively and watching Web as she showed her an alternative grip that would allow her to switch between punching and stabbing. It wasn't something that she could see herself doing but then she wasn't in a desperate situation now. Would she have been willing to do that earlier when those men had attacked her? She shuddered at the memory, quashing it quickly before she could dwell on it further. Dwelling on it would only lead to her breaking down again and she wasn't going to do that again, at least not yet. Later, when she was at home and alone then she could cry again. There would be no more loss of control in the presence of this woman. She would not seem weak.

The invitation to punch her didn't make sense to her at first. "P-punch you? You want me to punch you? Are... are you sure that that's a good idea?" she asked nervously, glancing uncertainly between Web and her own hands. Another painful lesson could be on the cards. She'd said that she wouldn't get hurt which didn't put Caela at ease. She felt more worried in fact. The prospect of a spar afterwards wasn't a rewarding one either but she wanted to fight so she was going to have to do this.

Her right hand clenched into a fist, her thumb on the outside of her hand but resting beside her index finger. That felt strange to her and she knew that people's hands didn't normally look like that when they threw a punch so what way was it? The thumb moved its position, trying to move over the top of her hand before shifting below, coming to rest against the cleft between her index and middle fingers. That felt a bit better and so she went with that. She gave Web one last look as if searching for confirmation before the young woman pulled her arm back slightly - feeling incredibly stupid - and swung it at the woman's stomach. At least if she did happen to make contact she couldn't do too much damage. It wasn't the woman's face that she was aiming for after all.

x

by **Zandelia** on September 23rd, 2014, 12:35 am

She tilted her head to the side at the posed hypothetical situation that had been posed, it was a strange one to her mind as she was not entirely sure many people would actually want to strip naked and paddle around in the waters of Sunberth. Yet it was an apt little test of logic that posed a problem to be reconciled. She was correct of course, sometimes there were few options if any in lieu of physical combat. Yet she didn’t feel that that broke her own philosophy upon the matter at hand, merely required and adaptation or the resignation of realism. She looked the woman up and down, briefly wondering from the blushing of her cheeks when such an event had occurred in Caela’s past. It was unique indeed and as such the balance of probability was that it had happened.

“Well…considering this is Sunberth I’d say firstly that it would be wise to make sure you’re not caught in such a situation. Putting yourself in danger is the first mistake, even if the danger is just a distant background and not immediately apparent. You can avoid much danger by stepping outside of it, but you wanted an answer,” she paused in consideration, “there are times where you cannot avoid a fight. I am not saying that what I stated is infallible, nothing is ever that sound in theory. You will have to fight, probably have to kill at times. You know how dangerous Sunberth is but even in calmer places fighting is common enough. I am simply suggesting that it is better, on the whole, to avoid wherever possible. Ultimately it depends entirely upon where you draw your own boundaries. In that example you are naked, you have an attractive body as evidenced by your profession. Most men I know would be too busy looking at your tits and too confident to think properly. I‘d use that, lure them in with soft words and seductive tones…then kick them in the stones when they get close enough. Instant win” she shrugged at that.

It was a half-answer really and that would be apparent, she never claimed to have all of the answers. She was smart but not a goddess. If she were there would be many things changed in the city. As it was the topic was dropped in favor of indignation at her teach method. There was clear anger at the small amount of pain she had inflicted but though she sympathized she knew too well that if you wanted to fight you needed to know what pain was. You needed to be able to get hit and still stand on for the coming scuffle. Only through knowing the pain as an experience beforehand were you able to deal with it in a real fight. Her gaze did soften slightly though, it had perhaps been slightly mean of her and she acknowledged that fact without cursing herself for it. She placed a hand upon the woman’s shoulder briefly.

“Pain in training is temporary, but necessary to survive. If you ad reacted in surprise like that in a real fight it would then be over. Now you know how it feels, you will not react that way again. Believe me when I say that. I can deal with pain because of this,” she tapped her eye patch with one finger, “I simply offer an easier way to experience such things for when a real fight occurs. I meant no harm by it” she continued smoothly.

“Yes, hit me. If you can then you will be a damned sight better than most thugs in the streets. Call it a challenge to best those who would be your attackers” she smiled slightly then as she readied herself for the impending blow.

She watched as the fist was formed, noting the shifting around of the thumb and nodding with approval. She had avoided the first mistakes that could damage the hand if it hit hard enough. Breaking knuckles was common but it was wise to use a good technique to lessen such occurrences. So far she was mildly impressed for someone who claimed to have never really thrown a punch, she clearly had an instinct for such things. She let herself down though when she aimed for the stomach, she didn’t even look at Caela’s fist it was easy enough to see where the strike would come from by looking carefully at the shifting eyes beneath the lashes. Her left forearm came around to gently push her arm to her right, past her torso and stepping left she was presented by the ribs of her would be opponent. She didn’t hit her though, a mere prod was enough.

“Dead,” she stated simply, “your eyes gave you away. As did the rolling of the shoulder. You want your strikes to be fast, snapping forwards and then backwards again so that you are not left exposed. Watch,” she stated as she settles into her usual stance, left foot forwards and left arm up before her, body twisted to the side and right fist bunched - knuckles facing upwards - and at her hip, “see the torso, less surface area to be hit. The legs are a firm base and you can shift forwards and backwards quickly. The fist, knuckles up and you twist your forearm as you snap it forwards. This increases the force and also if you pull it back quickly you are back with your left arm ready to defend yourself. Twist the hips, not the shoulders. There is where real power comes from, he snapping motion” she finished.

She demonstrated the jabbing motion a few times, enough to give Calea the general patterning and watch how the punch snapped out and came back to rest where it had started from. It was something she had learnt long ago, when she thought she had to be strong to survive. She had suffered in those days but then she had discovered that she just needed to be intelligent.

“Most people on the streets are not trained fighters, they cobble things together and brawl. You and I, we are not stronger than most men. So brawling with them is foolish. Fight smarter, not stronger. Use the right techniques and you can win any fight as you will be better trained and more efficient as a combatant. Try it out, this time I won’t block. Just hit the armour, it will protect me and worst I get is a bit winded. That way you can practice hitting something real, get the feel of real combat and the movement required” she nodded her reassurance and stood ready.

She would let her hit her a few times, not too many but enough to get a feel for what it was to throw a truly trained punch rather than a wild swinging of limbs. No doubt it might seem strange to her but then she was giving her a key, something to progress further in her own time and thus - eventually - be better at fighting than those who claimed they were truly warriors. She would stop it after a few tries and step back neatly to avoid any further attacks.

“A simple block, transferable as a motion with a dagger too if adapted properly. Most weapons actually. Simple triangles really…watch,” she stepped into her stance again and her left arm this time circled around and downwards diagonally as if pushing a kick away to the left of her, then came around to block an imagined diagonally vertical blow to her head, “see how with one simple movement you save energy and get speedy defense. If you can master it with both arms you can defend against all directions but form behind you. I‘ll do slow attacks, low first and then high, see if you can get the blocking down. You do it with the edge of your forearm, not your hand. For the dagger you can just block at a larger distance…marginally. Go on, give it a try” she stated simply and set about offering the opportunity to get some practice routines in for a little while.

“Now, the choice for the next portion I leave to you. I can teach you how to kick, I’m sure with the right technique a dancer like you would be able to kick through wood in time. Or you can use that dagger properly and I’ll let you - slowly mind - set about showing me what strikes you know. Not fast enough to injure, slow paced to test your techniques and defenses. Your choice Caela. Which do you want most?” she grinned slightly then.

They are the only things worth doing she told herself with relish

by **Caela Dorin** on September 28th, 2014, 11:54 am

Web must have known that the situation that Caela had asked about was far from hypothetical but she didn't call her out immediately, which the dancer was glad of. It gave her a chance to try to compose herself, to try to appear nonchalant about the whole matter. She sincerely doubted that the other woman would be fooled, the colour still lingering in the young woman's cheeks. She knew better than to ever put herself in such a situation and so she nodded along in agreement with the woman's words. She wouldn't knowingly put herself in danger again. The thought of having to kill made her gulp, sick at the idea and wondering if she'd be capable of such a thing. The dancer considered the earlier situation that Web had saved her from and decided that she would have been more than willing to kill in hindsight though at the time she'd been too much of an emotional wreck to do much of anything.

Colour burned in her cheeks anew as the woman ran over the "hypothetical" scenario. Yes, they would have been very distracted by her body but the idea of such exposure was a nightmare to her. Nudity was not a state that she was used to being in when there were other people about. One man had seen her naked and she hadn't been in the state to mind at the time, too inebriated to be concerned but afterwards when the alcohol wore off... No, being in a state of undress among strangers would not work well for her. She doubted that such a seduction could be carried off as her saviour suggested. If her brain worked at all in that situation then she'd be surprised. All the dancer could do was hope that such a situation didn't arise ever again but that on the off chance that it did, that she would be able to act in the way that Web suggested. The woman didn't have all the answers though so perhaps Caela would be forced to improvise, adapt to a particular circumstance herself.

The unexpected pain that had been caused to the dancer drew no remorse from the other, only explanation. The words she said had to be grudgingly accepted. She would have left herself open to an attack, left herself open to her death but that didn't mean that she would thank the woman. It had still hurt and it would have hurt the same way if there had been some warning beforehand so could she not have said something? This wasn't a real fight and Web wasn't really an assailant so a warning wouldn't have been out of the question in the fake scenario. Resentment still burned in her gaze although it softened slightly at the tap upon the eye patch. The young woman wondered what lay beneath. Did she still have an eye, or was it damaged to the point of being useless? The dancer didn't have the nerve to ask but let the comment slide instead, allowing the fact that whatever lay beyond it had involved the pain that Web described.

There had been some reluctance on Caela's part at dealing a blow to her rescuer but at the same time she wanted to repay the injury that the other had done her. Even as she threw the punch though, she had no doubt that the woman would stop it. Sure enough the blow was deflected with ease and her mentor landed a "killing" blow before the dancer could even fully process what had happened. That there was fault in her method was unsurprising and so the girl paid close attention to what Web showed her. Her left arm seemed to act as a guard whereas her right fist was the weapon. She nodded in understanding. She had some understanding of momentum from her dancing, knowing that she could propel herself further and with greater ease and speed if her whole body was put into a movement. It made sense that the same idea could be applied to a fist. That coupled with the advice that the woman gave made the dancer more confident. She could fight, she could defend herself and she would be able to do it well.

The dancer copied the other's stance as best as she could. Her left foot was put forward, the right one left back and positioned in a way that seemed right, balanced. Her left arm was positioned as Web's had been, the right balled into a fist as she had done before but with the knuckles upwards this time. It all felt a bit strange but she supposed that with practice it would become more natural. Dancing had seemed unnatural to her body at first, many of the moves that she had first undertaken clumsy and awkward but with time she had grown to do many of them without thinking. Dance and fighting would no doubt have similarities that she could exploit, or she hoped so at least.

Her hips turned, following the movement of her right arm as it snapped out to punch the woman's torso. Her arm straightened completely, causing pain to her elbow with each repetition of the movement. To reduce the pain, she brought her right foot forward during the punch, shortening the distance slightly and didn't extend her arm fully this time but allowed a slight bend to her elbow, holding back slightly for fear of further pain. When she pulled back, the withdrawal was easier, faster and caused considerably less discomfort. It was at that point that Web stopped her and the dancer took the opportunity to ask a question relating to her accidental discovery. "Is it better to leave a bit of a bend in your arm at the elbow? Rather than extending it fully, I mean." It certainly seemed that way but the dancer couldn't be sure. She had tried it only once and she was sure that Web had more experience in such matters than her. If she didn't then she wouldn't be teaching Caela.

The woman didn't give her much of an opportunity for a break either, launching into the next lesson and aiming attacks at the dancer this time. The dancer fell back into the stance that she'd been shown, using her arm as the barrier that Web had demonstrated that it could be. The first attack was low and as the dancer was expecting it, she was able to repeat the movement that she's been shown. Her arm came around and down to push the blow aside. It was clumsy, the young woman just a tick too slow so that the blow wasn't blocked as effectually as it could have been, glancing off her arm. She tried to be faster the next time, catching the brunt of the attack on a portion of her arm that sent pain lancing up and down it because she'd been too quick off the mark. She watched the other woman closely as the next blow came, timing it better so that it was caught properly this time. The next blow came high and the young woman took her lessons from the previous attacks and managed to defend herself for most of the time, only receiving a blow or two to her shoulder when she dodged out of the way at the last tick to protect her head.

The exercise left her panting slightly, not exhausted but still feeling the exertion of the activity. There was no rest for her though, Web offering her the choice for her next lesson. At least this time she had an option and so could take a chime to consider, carefully weighing the two options. She would stick with the purely physical, having more confidence in the ability of her body alone than the addition of a weapon. "Show me how to kick. I'd prefer to be able to do that."

x

by **Zandelia** on October 16th, 2014, 2:09 pm

“Good, very good Caela. A very astute student indeed. Quickest learner I’ve had in a while,” she stated as the repetitions and attempts at learning were played out over and over until the young woman clearly thought that she had the motions memorized, “of course it’ll take much practise to perfect even these basic techniques but once done they will serve you well for protection. From thugs mind, you want from seasoned fighters then you’ll need to be taught more” she stated, her tone slightly warner at the decent progress made so far.

“In short yes, it means you don’t lock out your arm. This means you don’t damage the joint. It also means,” she spoke as she stepped in and took her wrist to extend the arm again, “that it’s harder to dislocate it with a counter by applying pressure here and here,” she gripped the wrist gently and pressed her other palm against the outside of Caela’s elbow, “and it really should just snap out, twist and then return almost at once for basic punching. When you’ve got it properly learned it will be smooth. For now…keep practising” she smiled stated matter-of-factly.

She nodded at the choice of learning to kick, she didn’t blame her. She was not sure if she would trust anyone with a weapon around her, not without serious vetting. Not when she knew they could out-fight her without really trying. Caela was in such a situation and so her prudence was not only forgivable but quite wise. A further point towards her credit, she doubted she would ever work in her world. For her at least, she was a free agent. Yet she could go far with some proper training, some tutelage and a developing of attitude. She had the looks and the job, she just required the drive.

Who knows, perhaps I’ll help give it to her. At the very least she’ll be more prepared for the next time she told herself, content on some level with just helping make sure someone half-decent didn’t die altogether too soon.

“Very well, learning to kick properly it is. Now, there are two basic kicks that I think would suit the power that lies in a dancer’s legs. Not sure of their names but I call them the front and side kicks. Easy to remember, easy to pull off when you’re used to them. First up…front. Watch carefully” she instructed.

She settled into the stance she had shown her and took a breath in before shifting her weight onto her forwards foot, weight on the heel and turning her body so that is was facing straight ahead now. As she twisted her hips her leg came up, thigh parallel with the floor, and once it was at just above waist height her foot snapped forwards. It struck at an imaginary foe’s stomach, returning quickly to the starting position she then kicked it downwards as if lashing out at someone’s knee. She shifted back into the beginning stance before repeating it several times for Caela to see. Satisfied she stood normally then to explain the details.

“You couldn’t see it but the foot on the flooring is stable because I am shifting my weight towards the heel slightly to anchor me enough that balancing skills can take over from there. The toes too, can’t see them for the leathers but they are bent back so that when you strike you’re hitting with the balls of the feet – hard place to kick with. Does more damage that way. Now again the power comes slightly from the hip but more – this time mind – from the muscles and the knee joint’s speed. The quicker you can kick it the harder it will be. Not a problem for a dancer hmm?” she asked jovially.

“I like to imagine it as pushing forwards too with the foot, makes it easier to do for me. Maybe for others, not sure. But it can be used to push people away from you as well as to strike. Also to gage distance. If you can almost touch someone with it then you know they are in range for the next kick….side one. Like this” she continued simply.

Beginning once more in the stance taught there was a full pivot this time as her forwards left leg locked out, twisting on the floor so the instep was side on towards the feigned enemy. Leaning back slightly to maintain balance her leg whipped around to plant the top of her foot into the side of someone – had they been there. She repeated the process and then showed it hitting out at an ankle which required less of a lean back for balance, followed by hitting out at the side of a head which required slightly more of a lean back. Each time the power was generated by her hips, leg already fully extended by the time it would have landed.

“Again, power comes from hips and speed over sheer brute force. Your cup of tea I’d imagine. Balance should be easy for you on these but the real challenge is maintaining body form. That is, your arms must be position such as to counter any blows coming in as you strike, if they do. Maintaining line of sight on your enemy is also difficult at first when you’re pivoting like this. With time though it will come. Go one, tray them out a while”

by **Caela Dorin** on October 18th, 2014, 10:05 pm

The dancer would have flushed at the compliment, or at least managed a self-conscious smile if she hadn't been so preoccupied with doing what she was doing correctly. She could listen of course, hear everything that Web had to say but just didn't react. She took the words as encouragement, egging her on to keep up the speed that she'd progressed at so far. The faster she learned after all, the faster she'd be able to take care of herself without relying on other people. Full independence, it was something that she craved and something that was hopefully fast approaching. She just had to depend upon another in order to reach that point first.

Once the blonde had completed the punching exercise, she was pleased to learn that her question was a viable one. It hadn't just been a stupid waste of breath. The pain that she'd felt had been a bad sign all right and according to Web locking out the joint like that would cause damage. So she wouldn't be doing that again in a hurry. It was probably something that would happen over time but it sounded like indulging in such a practice would be inviting a bad habit. She also didn't like the idea of leaving herself vulnerable to any sort of dislocation. Snap out, twist, return. She could do that. She'd have to practise though if she wanted to get the movement down but she'd work at, she promised herself. Caela would have to set up some sort of dummy in her room to use but she'd manage it. Somehow. Her teacher didn't have to give her any encouragement.

Her saviour seemed content with her choice although she didn't pass any comment on her decision, either good or bad. It was just straight onto the lesson, no idle chit chat, not that she expected it. The woman's way of working had been made very clear. She got on with things, only speaking when necessary. The dancer wasn't sure if she was liked the lack of idle conversation or not. It might have been more comforting after what she'd been through to have a more casual set up but at the same time what Web was teaching her was serious business and not to be taken lightly. Whether she liked it or not, the attitude that the other had taken on suited the situation.

The young woman gave the other some room as she began to demonstrate kicks. The same stance that they'd used thus far was employed again. Her shift of posture seemed to suggest that her weight was placed on the foot in front. She twisted at the hips, her leg coming up to a height that Caela was sure she could manage comfortably before her foot snapped out in a kick. She couldn't tell if she locked the joint out but she doubted it. If it could damage an elbow, the same could be done to a knee. Web demonstrated the movement several times, allowing the dancer to memorise the steps of movement. Doing it herself would be a different matter though; watching was easier.

The other explained the details that had gone unseen: the weight upon the heel, the bending of the toes. There was no mention of locking out the knee joint so she decided to put the question to her in case the situation was different. The leg and the arm weren't the same after all. "No, shouldn't be a problem but... Do you keep your knee slightly bent, or can you snap it out fully? Is there the same sort of danger as with your arm?"

So now that the so-called front kick had been demonstrated, her teacher moved onto what she called a side kick. Like with the previous kick the woman started out with the basic stance and there the similarity ended. Her left leg turned, foot and all, a lean back before the other leg was driven towards an imaginary target. New imaginary targets were struck, lower, higher, the woman's balance marvelled at by the dancer. Could she do that? She didn't normally stray too far from the balance needed to keep both feet relatively close to the ground. A horizontal strike and one that could stretch higher still seemed a feat. That would have to be practised with something to soften any possible unplanned landings.

The older woman seemed to think that balance wouldn't be a problem but Caela didn't have the same confidence in her abilities. She'd try though, she had to. "I think I'll take off my shoes, that way you'll be able to tell me if I'm doing it right." It made sense. When she'd punched, her fists had been visible so why not have her feet on show for this? The dancer perched on the bed as the light shoes she wore for dancing were removed, toes wiggled as they were freed. It felt odd to walk over the boards barefoot but they weren't rough enough to stick the flesh full of splinters.

Plenty of space was given to her attempts, the dancer not wanting to worry about bumping into something when she was trying to concentrate on kicking out. She tried the front kick first, what she saw as being the easier seeming of the two. Left foot forward, left arm up, body twisted to the side. Although she wasn't punching she allowed her right hand to ball into a fist just so she could get used to a basic stance, one that would leave her opponent unsure of her mode of attack. Her weight rested upon her heel as she twisted, her leg coming up and out, her foot snapping out with force behind it to complete the movement. She'd focused on bending her toes rather than focusing on her balance and as a result she threw her weight too far forward and had to bring her kicking leg down fast to catch herself, arms windmilling briefly in an attempt to regain balance.

Her face set determinedly. One failure wasn't enough to deter her, she'd try again and try to avoid making the same mistakes. Again she took on the stance, weight shifting appropriately before her foot was thrust out, the toes bent back before the strike was attempted allowing her to have a better hold on her balance. A little wobble but she managed to bring the foot back to its original position without too much mishap. There were a few ticks of a break before the manoeuvre was repeated. New muscles burned in her legs, ones that didn't get much of a work out during a dance but seemed to be feeling the strain now. The break between each kick became longer until she had to stop, hands rubbing over the skin above the aching muscles.

Once she felt up for kicking again - although the muscles were still complaining and bound to be worse in a few bells - she moved onto the side kicks. Caela decided that low aimed kicks were the way to go and she could work her way higher as she got more used to it, less chance of her becoming unbalanced. She fell into the basic stance again, the repetition of its use making it almost seem normal to her. Her left leg was twisted, her body moving as well. She tried to lean back during the turn and nearly fell over, staggering before she could even attempt a kick. Too early. Again her body twisted, the young woman only leaning back when her body reached the end of its turn, leg coming up - although not too far - before striking out at an imaginary shin. She hadn't fallen over and that pleased her so she tried it again with more enthusiasm, more confidence. Her cockiness ended up with her on her backside, wincing from the heavy impact. She stayed where she was for a few moments, gesturing for Web to leave her and got up gingerly once she was ready.

Stinging flesh was briefly rubbed before the dancer repeated her endeavour. Confidence didn't affect her performance again, the blonde focusing on each step and convincing herself that she needed to work at it to get it right, that it wouldn't automatically come. After a few chimes, she'd progressed to a kick at a hip although her balance still needed some work and her movements were jerky and unnatural. Caela knew how to work on getting a movement just right. She hadn't been born, or woken up with the ability to dance the way she did and there was still plenty of room for improvement in that department. It was up to her now she assumed. Web probably wouldn't teach her anything else for now and there was no guarantee that they would even see each other in the future. If they came into contact before Caela had mastered these basics though then she probably wouldn't be taught anything new either. Maybe a spar or some other chance to practise what she knew but no new lessons for a long while.

"You aren't going to teach me anything else." It was a statement, not a question, the possibility of another lesson seeming out of the realm of possibility for the dancer. She doubted that she could manage anything more now anyway, aches where there hadn't been aches before plaguing her limbs, sweat clinging to her skin in an effort to vent the massive heat that had developed in her core. No, she was finished and Web probably knew it too.

x

by **Zandelia** on November 11th, 2014, 12:52 am

It was actually decidedly pleasant to watch the dancer set about practising her kicking, there was grace and power there despite the fact that evne though she was trying to imitate combat there was an element of sensuality that would likely take some time to fade. She did not mention this fact of course, it was not required and if anything would liekly cause hesitatnce for future endeavours. There was little one could do about the memories locked in their muscles, Caela was a dancer and had practiced her seductive art to such a degree it would be difficult to fully eliminate. Still, there was an attentiveness to detail too which was likely inherited from the same source, a good positive point worthy of praise.

“You clearly have an eye for detail and preciseness, your dancer's blood serves you well Caela. The knee joint, yes. When kicking it is actually more conducive to lock it out fully. It provides more power to the kick actually. Of course, it will likely take a while to get used to it but it will be worth the effort I assure you” she responded warmly, she was growing quite fond of her new pupil.

She knew that she must still hold some vestiges of fear and concern form her ordeal yet in those moments, consumed with the act of learning, she seemed to let it slip away form her and a youthful exuberance shone through instead. The fact that she was willing to learn at all meant she held a position of credit in Zandelia's graces. The fact that she was so attentive and clearly enjoying the routines – if perhaps for her own reasons – was further grace gained as far as she was concerned. She was setting out to change the city, change its people. She would sleep slightly better this night knowing that perhaps a few more street scum would end up being shown the error of their ways.

“As stated you certainly have power there in those legs. I know it is hard but truly, try to think less about the motions. Concentrate more upon the way it feels than mentally going from one stage to the next. That way fluidity comes, in time. In a fight if you are less fluid you usually lose. Your muscles will learn with enough repetition, if you let them learn. Let them take a bit of free reign. There are no targets to hurt you so give it some proper force, see how the balance must be just right” she counselled simply as the motions were continued and she sat herself upon the bed to watch them.

They went on for some time, every so often she would make a correction. Noting the curl of the toes were not quite right, that they needed to be further bent otherwise on impact would end up breaking. The fact that her thigh came up too high on a front kick here and there, or too low for that matter. The positioning of her grounding foot as she tried to side attack and that it needed to shift a bit less jerkily as she rotated in order to create maximum force. Truly though her pupil seemed to possess a certain level of inherent skill that she was unaware of and thus there were few enough corrections to make. She was reminded of Shai, so long ago now it seemed, who had possessed and insufferably good knack for learning. She liked the spider but her abilities sometimes put her own ability for learning to shame.

Or Shang...poor Shang. I tried to help you Zith, truly I did. Not much we can do against feral Jamoura though. Another pupil lost. So many gone. The world, truly, is a terrible place at times she mused sombrely as the lesson began to draw to a close.

Her mood and thought upon the matter was neatly reflected by Caela, her decision that the teaching was at an end. It had not been a question, it had been a demand of sorts. Usually she would bring a pupil up on that but there was little point to it then and there. Besides which her own energy for the teaching had waned upon her own reflections. There was a sense to it though, the lass was tired now and she had been given enough with which to take her first steps upon the road of self-defence. That much was a given, if she chose to continue the journey. That decision, ultimately, was Caela's alone to make though she hoped she made it correctly.

“Aye, enough for one day indeed. You have enough to keep you busy. If you ever need further instruction you know where I am. Or perhaps a spar to properly test you when you feel ready. A true imitation of battle,” she stated with a soft sigh, it had been years since such a thing had truly occurred, too long by half she thought, “and if you need my help for other things then it can always be arranged. I may call on you actually...I would like to be able to dance like you. Give a certain someone something to think about” she smiled fondly at that as she pushed herself upwards and gathered her things as quickly as she minded.

“You're a good lass Caela, this city is not good. Not yet. Don't let yourself get consumed by it. I'd hate to see such a thing go to waste. This room is yours for the night, should you wish it. I have no need of it” she stated at the door before stepping through it and closing it gently.

Upon reflection the day had been one of her less selfish ones, so, she wondered, why did she feel so saddened?

by **Vanari** on December 10th, 2014, 7:25 am

Caela

Observation	+5 XP
Intelligence	+3 XP
Meditation	+1 XP
Acting	+2 XP
Negotiation	+1 XP
Rhetoric	+2 XP
Unarmed Combat	+4 XP
Socialization	+1 XP
Interrogation	+3 XP

Lores :

Zandelia

Teaching	+5 XP
Subterfuge	+1 XP
Persuasion	+2 XP
Leadership	+1 XP
Interrogation	+1 XP
Philosophy	+1 XP
Negotiation	+1 XP
Instrument: Lute	+1 XP
Intimidation	+1 XP
Weapon: Tonfa	+1 XP
Socialization	+2 XP
Unarmed Combat	+3 XP

Lores :

Notes :

Closed Damsel in Distress (Zandelia)