dancing_flames | [Voice/Action]

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[Voice/Action]

[It's been a few weeks since the draft, and what they'd seen there in Zompania still isn't sitting well with Shuda at all. As a former Demon Card general, he's no stranger to leaving destruction in his wake just to make a point (Garage Island being one such example); it's hypocritical of him to be bothered by it, he knows.

But those bones he'd helped Rin bury, with those strange markings on them... they were more unsettling than anything he'd seen Demon Card be responsible for, and he hates it. He hates that there was nothing he could do.

Well-- nothing he could do there. But maybe there's something he can do here to help keep a situation like that from happening again.]

Since it seems to be the popular thing to do now, I'm offering sparring practice or lessons for anyone who wants to learn how to use a sword. I won't go easy on you, so if you're expecting some leisurely exercise, don't bother signing up.

[Then, as an afterthought:]

I can also try helping people contact Eferin if they want to learn from him. Seems like getting him to teach you is a rare thing, so I might as well offer help in that too.

I'll be in the barracks for a few hours if anyone wants to drop by. Just remember that I meant what I said about not going easy on anyone.

[Sure enough, if anyone happens to venture to the barracks after this announcement, they'll find Shuda there going through kata with his katana. Strike, thrust, parry. Strike, thrust, parry. There's a sort of comfort in the familiarity of the routine, a sense of control that he hasn't felt since they'd returned from Zompania. If he can hold onto that, maybe he can shake this feeling of unease that's been plaguing him.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fair enough. I guess you can decide if I'm not worth it after a couple of lessons.

Don't worry, I won't waste that much of your time-- I can tell within a single lesson if you have any potential or not.

_{[ Well, it wasn't his time that may or may not be wasted, but he kept
his mouth shut about that. ]}

So, you want to do this now? I don't have anything going on right now.

I wouldn't have made the offer if I hadn't been expecting people to take me up on it. Meet me at the barracks in fifteen minutes, but don't bother bringing that baseball bat of yours. I've got the proper equipment here.

_{[ Well, he had said baseball bat, but it had been an iron pipe or
something he'd found on the field. But now might not be the time to correct
that. So he shrugged, changed into workout gear, and made his way over,
though to be truthful he had never had much reason to be in the barracks
beyond figuring out where they were in the first place.}

He came up, hands in pockets, looking around for someone who looked like they had sword fighting equipment. ]

[Shuda won't be difficult to spot, luckily-- he's the only one there with a sword at the moment, as most of the Luceti residents tend to prefer the Battle Dome over the barracks.

Kirk might note that Shuda is holding the sword in his left hand as he practices his strikes; if he looks closer, he'll see that the right one is in fact a mechanical hand rather than a flesh and blood one. Not that this seems to cause Shuda any difficulties at all, nor does the missing eye.

It's clear he's a veteran, at least in this particular field.]

_{[ All of that wasn't hard to spot, and it was hard not to respect it
too. The mechanical hand intrigued him though, and he wondered if the other
would let him take a look at it. He was no biologist, but he loved new tech
things, though it was just as likely the hand had been magiced on too. Ugh.
He was not a magic person. ]}

Guessing you're the one who may or may not be my new teacher.

_{[ He stuck out a hand to him. ]}

Name's James T. Kirk, but you can call me Kirk.

[Shuda finishes out the kata he's in the middle of before lowering his sword and turning to get a good look at Kirk. He'd known the other man was there even before he spoke thanks to his footsteps, but he'd waited to see if he'd offer a greeting first.

Which, as it turns out, he did. There's a momentary raise of his eyebrow when he realizes that Kirk is holding out his right hand, but then he shrugs and takes it with the mechanical one to give it a quick shake.]

That's right. The name's Shuda.

Shuda, nice to meet you.

_{[ He didn't show any discomfort at holding the hand, though he was
impressed with the flexibility of it. It felt like it moved very much like
a real hand, which was intriguing. Yes, he would need to ask about that
later... ]}

That's a katana right?

[That's an automatic point in Kirk's favor right there. He's not much of a fan of people staring at it or asking him questions, so if he can avoid that whole spiel, he's glad to.]

That's right. I've used standard broadswords too, though not for a while now.

Well, it doesn't really matter to me, I guess. I honestly just know what a katana is because Sulu has one.

_{[ It unfolded and everything and was incredibly cool and Kirk might
have been a tad jealous of the man for it. ]}

I'm guessing neither is easier to learn?

It depends on the person. Some people have more natural affinity for one or the other, but I wouldn't say either one of them is easier.

What's more important is the amount of effort you put in.

Well, lucky for you I don't give up easy.

_{[ Stubborn as an ox this one, which was about half the time good for
him, and half the time bad. ]}

Good, because you'll get it wrong for a while before you start getting it right.

[It's just the truth. No point in sugarcoating it and making it seem like it's easier than it really is.]

Sure know how to give a pep talk.

_{[ But there's no animosity in his words, just an acceptance of fact.
Zev and Steve had put him on his back enough when he was learning fighting
skills from them for him to know it wasn't easy and he'd go home with more
than a few bruises. ]}

No one ever said I was good at that.

[If anything, Haru usually complains about him being too pessimistic. He, of course, prefers to think of it as being realistic.]

Fair enough.

So, what's the first lesson?

_{[ He glanced at the katana again, but he wasn't so sure he should be
giving live steel. He was as like to cut himself as someone else or a piece
of fruit or whatever it was they were going to do. ]}

[Seeing where Kirk's eyes have drifted, he's quick to clarify:]

We won't be using that to start out with. It's too dangerous for beginners to use real weapons.

Okay, good.

_{[ Because otherwise he would have seriously questioned your judgement.
]}

So what am I working with then?

One of those.

[And he points over to the wall, where several shinai are leaning against it. Those should be safe enough for even the most inexperienced novices.]

_{[ He goes over to them and picks one up, weighing it in his hand. He
is uncomfortably reminded to the piece of metal he had used in the Draft to
fend of enemies when the fighting began. He sincerely doubted he could use
this like a baseball bat, though. ]}

Well, at least the worst I'll get off this is a splinter.

Or a good knock on the head if you aren't fast enough.

[Like he said, he isn't the sort to go easy on people, even beginners. No point in coddling people, as far as he's concerned.]

Well, it won't be the first time, so bring it on.

_{[ He grinned at the other, looking down at his wooden blade and back
up at him. ]}

So, how am I really supposed to hold this thing?

Are you right-handed or left-handed?

[It's a question he never would've thought to ask before; however, now that he's been forced to switch his own dominant hand, he's become far more aware of how much of an effect that can have on one's swordsmanship.]

Oh, right handed. Is that good or bad?

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