(no subject)

[will_scarlett]

Outside at the clearing, Will's cut a staff for Miniver and just is waiting to see whether Miniver wants to watch him go through his forms or show off what he can do first.

Comments

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

Miniver hasn't got much to show off. He takes the staff -- it's heavier than Mia's -- and tilts his head at Will.

"I don't know how to start. Mia told me to dance."

[will_scarlett]

Also taller than the one Mia uses, "Tis good advice, why don't I show ye my forms to give ye an idea."

Then Will moves off a little bit, starting through his forms, his natural quickness and grace come through as he sweeps, lunges and blocks.

He has a confidence and surety in his movements born of fighting and sparring for long days, there's a sense of dancing but also of contained violence.

The fire of his temper is just below the surface, used to add speed and brutal power to the elegant moves.

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

A smile creeps onto Miniver's lips as he watches. He can't help it. It's beautiful, wat Will does, and terrifying. It's like the machines, that's what it is. The big machines that picked up the boxes, their long arms rotating, so big you'd think they were slow, but Miniver knows better. He saw Frank get eaten by them, he knows they're quicker than lightening, and hungrier than anything. Will is like those machines, but run faster.

It's terrifying. And its perfect. The machines dance. That's it. It's a machine.

Slowly, he tries to mirror Will's moves, and this time, he's a little more balanced than he was with Mia, a little more connected. He understands that it should work the way the machines do: coordinated, stable, because only when they work can they do their damage.

He still stumbles, his muscles are not used to moving this way, his body is not used to itself, but he MOVES a lot more smoothly the more he tries at it.

[will_scarlett]

As Miniver begins moving with him, Will watches out of the corner of his eye, slowing his movements slightly so its easier for Miniver to follow.

He nods at how Miniver moves, the smoothness is there and given time and dedication which he has it will come,

"Good, Miniver, ye've got a strong start, just a matter o'knowin' 'ow ye move best."

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

He smiles, cheeks red, trying everything he sees Will do, doing most of it incorrectly but TRYING.

"Is this a very good way to fight? I mean, is it as effective as like, swords and stuff?"

[will_scarlett]

Will slows the movements more, so Miniver can see the connections and gently corrects, not sure how comfortable Miniver is with criticism,

"Aye, tis, learned to use a staff 'fore a blade. Though part o'that was sword's a noble weapon, can carry a staff an na be questioned though still 'nough to take down a man."

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

Comfortable with criticism? He lived with Draco. For FOUR MONTHS. He's either masochistic or very good at selective deafness.

"Good enough for me, then." He listens to Will's corrections and tries his best to do it right. He's slow, he tires easily, but that's to be expected of a new student.

[will_scarlett]

Few people have Will's quickness, some of its from being a thief but a lot of it is just the way Will moves.

He's a patient teacher since he knows its hard though Will's not sure how good a job he's doing, so many of these moves are almost second nature to him, that's why its easier for him to show then explain,

"Also tis less chance o''urtin' yerself, if ye can 'andle a staff with ease, less chance o''urtin' yerself when ye start with a sword."

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

Miniver is also impatient.

"When do I get to actually fight someone with this?"

[will_scarlett]

Will grins at the enthusiasm,

"Glad to spar with ye so ye can get a feel o''ow it changes when tis 'nother person there. Though 'ave to warn ye, ye probably willna get many 'its in an may end up a wee bit bruised."

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

Miniver shrugs. "I'm used to that. Come on, give me your best!"

He readies his staff, firmly convinced that even without training, he is naturally capable and can defend himself just fine going on instinct alone.

[will_scarlett]

Another slightly sharper grin from Will, nothing to do with Miniver, just he does love fighting and the outlaw emerges from his green eyes.

He moves in quickly, not his fastest but almost there to strike at Miniver's left side and shoulder.

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

Miniver turns to try to block it, but the force of the hit makes him stagger. He blinks in surprise.

[will_scarlett]

Its a hardwood staff being thrust by someone who knows how to break a man's arm with it, so it might hurt a bit.

Will lets him get his balance before grinning, "Now ye try, attack me."

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

Well... Will asked for it.

Miniver gives his best barbarian's howl and runs atWill, swinging the staff like a housewife with a baseball bat.

[will_scarlett]

Will doesn't laugh just steps aside and thwaps Miniver on the back, should be enough to knock him to the ground.

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

Yep. He goes sprawling, and picks himself up gingerly. He takes a moment to ponder his foe, and... does the exact same thing, only holding the staff like he wants to ram a door in with it. And this time, he doesn't run past Will. He AIMS and STOPS and SWINGS the staff.

[will_scarlett]

Again Will just watches then easily blocks the swing and sweeps his staff to take out Miniver's legs and he's still not grinning, just a rather sharp smile and he looks a little wild and its easier to imagine him fighting in Sherwood.

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

Miiver once again topples over with a surprised squeak. That one would hurt tomorrow.

He doesn't even get up this time, but aims a swing at Will's stomach.

[will_scarlett]

Which is blocked before it even gets there and Will holds his staff blocking Miniver's,

"Need 'elp gettin' up? Then ye can try 'gain."

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

"I can get up," he sniffs, scrambling and staggering. He tries again, a swing at Will that takes all his strength.

[will_scarlett]

Will backs up to give him space to get back up then blocks the swing with one end of his staff and with the other strikes at Miniver's open side.

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

Will's strike, naturally, hits home with no defensive from Miniver's part. He gasps and stumbles. THAT hurt. A lot. But also... it's a familiar pain.

He ignores it.

He strikes back. There is, perhaps, an ounce more ferocity in it.

[will_scarlett]

The fact that Will's not even hitting at full strength might surprise Miniver, but its true, he's holding back since this is just sparring and teaching.

Miniver will have bruises but not broken ribs which Will knows how to give, the added ferocity gets a grin from Will as he blocks the strike.

Then he counters with two strikes, other side and one of Miniver's hands, hard enough to numb and shake his grip on the staff, no more.

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

Miniver gives a very soft sound like a mewling of a cat. His grip does give way with that one hand, and the staff spins out of balance. But he pushes past it. Panting, he remembers the machine.

No one can hurt you if you're made of metal.

There's a flash in his face, and it's NOT the look of a warrior. It's the look of a child. It's feral.

This time when he charges, he means it. And he's quick. He's desperate. That spark was lit, and it sets something off in him and shows, if only for one single move, that the potential is THERE, it just needs to be taught and tamed.

[will_scarlett]

Its a look Will knows, but he's learned to harness his own temper and use it so he meets the wild, desperate move.

The motions come quick and fast, block, sweet Miniver's legs out and then Will's staff is on Miniver's neck and Will above him looking down, a man from legend with a weapon he knows well.

There's no smile or grin this time, he respects that feralness but if its not tamed, you'll die in battle just as quickly as if you're too meek.

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

A mouse in a trap. He knows when he's beat. For a few seconds, he GLARES up at Will, perhaps not seeing Will, seeming to debate whether it's worth another go, and then... all at once... it's gone. He slumps back in the grass, breathless, face blank, body limp.

[will_scarlett]

The glare is familiar to Will, the limpness is strange and Will pulls back, removing the staff and standing a few feet away to give Miniver time to collect himself,

"Ye did well, Miniver, tisna easy to learn."

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

Miniver takes a minute to catch his breath, then slowly rolls over and pushes himself up, shaking.

"Sorry."

[will_scarlett]

"Why? Ye did well for someone who 'as only learned 'ow to use a staff. 'ope I didna 'urt ye too badly."

The apology just throws Will off even more since to him there's no reason for it.

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

Why?

"I... I don't..." He shakes his head and slowly pushes himself to his feet, wincing just a little. His eyes burn. He blinks it away. "I'll be fine. When can we try again?"

[will_scarlett]

"In a few days, let yerself 'eal an spend time just gettin' used to the weight an feel o'the staff. Also tis Mia to 'elp ye too, best to learn from two o'us for when I 'ave to return to Nottingham."

Will tries to give Miniver a bit of privacy to get himself together, looking up at the sky to see what the weather will be like for the rest of the day.

[cheevy.livejournal.com]

He takes a deep breath and goes to collect his staff, rubbing his eyes as he bends to it. He's back to his mousey self when he comes back to Will, leaning on the staff for support as the bruise to his side and overworked muscles make it increasingly harder to move without falling over.

"Thanks."

[will_scarlett]

As they head back to the Bar, Will walks a little closer in case Miniver needs to lean on him, not making it obvious just being there.

Then makes sure Miniver can get to his room without any trouble, picking up some pain pills and ice for him from Bar before Miniver goes up the stairs.