dancing_flames | [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

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?

[The corner of his mouth quirks upward in a slight smirk.]

It's normal. I'm the one who's unusual in that respect.

Which is an advantage, I take it?

_{[ The unexpected in a fight was always an advantage as far as Kirk
could see. ]}

So, what's lesson number one?

It can be. Most people aren't anticipating a left-handed opponent.

[But enough talking about him. That isn't a topic he prefers to expound upon.]

First up is learning how to grip it properly.

[Now it's his turn to take one of the shinai from its place against the wall, settling easily into a ready stance.]

You won't be able to strike if your grip is off.

_{[ He watched him, trying to be a good student even though he had quite
a few questions already. ]}

Right, makes sense. Just like if you grip the bat poorly in baseball your chances of hitting go way down.

_{[ He tried to shift his body to match Shuda's, but it wasn't exactly a
graceful attempt - or very good, even. ]}

Exactly.

[He glances over at Kirk to see how well the other man is copying his stance and... from the look on his face, he is not entirely pleased with what he sees.]

Use the last two fingers of your hand to grip it, not the first two. Those are more of a guide.

_{[ He made a face, but he didn't argue either, shifting his hand as the
other had instructed. It probably looked more right, but not perfect. It
felt weird to hold it this way and he frowned, shifting the wooden sword to
make it feel less awkward. ]}

Okay, so the baseball metaphor is only going so far here.

They're only alike in the sense that both are wooden objects. Everything else is completely different.

[And he lowers his own shinai, walking over to start adjusting Kirk's grip with his flesh-and-blood hand.]

The sooner you wipe that metaphor from your mind, the sooner you'll be able to get this right.

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