Closed Give and Take (Bones)

[Savio]

Savio shivered as he stepped inside the warm training room from the chilled courtyard. Snow had yet to fall in Nyka but it was still quite cold for someone who had neglected to bundle up before going out. The sun was not yet at its highest but it was not like it was going to get much warmer anyway. The winter season was in full swing in the city and it was not going to change until Tavasi makes his yearly trip across the land, spreading warmth and life in his wake.

The training room was as it always was. Slightly cluttered with training equipment but otherwise nicely kept but still very warm. He did not much care for training inside since it limited what he could do versus what he can do outside in the way of flips and other acrobatic tricks. Well, while he was here and had nothing better to do since he quit his job as a courier in favor of teaching, he could practice with the gladius. He had been neglecting that for a short time to work on his other skills but what better time than then…right?

Savio rolled his shoulders and started his simple stretches. He would work his way down. He would move his neck on his shoulder, and then roll his shoulders, before extending his arms in different directions. It was something he was used to. He had no desire to hurt himself and the stretching helped pass the time, at least. Once the simple task was completed, he headed for the nearest weapon rack of wooden, quickly grabbing a simple and well used wooden gladius. It fit nicely in his hands but it still felt foreign. Perhaps he should seek out Bones for another round of sparing. Were teachers aloud to do that? Learn from other teachers? He hoped so.

He walked over to one of the nearest dummies and got into the stance Bones had taught him, knees bent and Gladius held ready in his dominant hand. Savio took a few deep breaths, calming himself before easing through a few simple motions. He slashed out at the dummy, creating a loud “thunk” from wood striking wood before stepping back to assume the defensive stance to block any in coming attacks before striking out again for head. He would then move to the side to dodge an imaginary attack. His footwork was still a little clumsy and the gladius did not move smoothly through the air as it hit the model. But at least it was not as bad as it used to be.

[Ssafirsotibones]

As Bones headed for the door to the training room, he heard the thunk of wood on wood. Someone was inside, either training by themselves, or teaching a student. If it was the latter, he likely should head back out... But if it was the first, then perhaps he could give a quick lesson, or even find himself suitably well met in a spar. Opening entering the room he saw a vaguely familiar human face. He could not recall his name, but he was fairly certain he had given the human male a lesson before. And since he held in his hand a wooden facsimile of a gladius, he supposed that had been the weapon with which Bones had taught him. Or perhaps he had taught him in unarmed. He could not recall, it had after all been a time since then, and he had taught other humans since then. After awhile their bland features tended to blend together, and confused his memories. Oh what he would give for some proper scales and patterns and colors, which actually made sense and could be differentiated easily. Not this human flesh-iness he so often saw... Of course, part of this feeling was more about him, having been trapped in his human form for far to long. He really needed to change forms, needed to release the pent up weight he had gathered within his muscles that longed for the release of the shifting of his form brought. But his dhani form was ill adapted for the cold of winter, and did not really fit inside of the school to well... And he did not want to have to explain the destruction a casual twitch of his tail could bring in his other forms. Finally deciding to speak to the human, and perhaps have a spar with him, Bones called out. "You know, ssossse wooden ssingsss don't hit back too well. Perhapsss your practice would be better ssserved againssst a flesssh and blood foe ssat can actually hit back?" speech : "You know, those wooden things don't hit back too well. Perhaps your practice would be better served against a flesh and blood foe that can actually hit back?"