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SPARRING GROUNDS - LATE AFTERNOON
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Sammi had been tracked down lots of times by Gareth, so now it was time to return the favour! She had learned that Gareth was practising weaponing a lot, so that seemed like a good spot to start. She had a chat with the grounds manager, and after an 'enlightening' conversation, she also took the option of preparing for weapon training, dropping all her 'practice weapons' in her bag for later use. That done, she looks around the space, looking for Gareths. Any number would do.
Gareth is currently in one of the sparring rings nearby with Lianne, in the middle of a rather intense match, though the two are taking a short moment to catch their breaths as they size each other up for another exchange. From the dust wafting away from the arena, the two have been going for a while, but they don't quite show any signs of stopping yet.
Narrator: As of late, it isn't unusual for Gareth and Lianne to be found sparring with one another at the grounds, both to keep their fighting forms in top shape. Gareth is undoubtedly improving at dealing with Lianne's dexterity and disarming techniques, while Lianne is figuring out how to improve those techniques against an opponent who has adapted to them.
Lianne Sparr smirks at Gareth. "My, you wouldn't leave a girl unsatisfied, would you?" Lianne teases, spinning her golden sai (Corked, of course) in a flourish, lowering into a stance, prepared to go another round.
Gareth laughs and settles back into a combat stance, his own cutlass (likewise safe with an edge guard) flashing a bit as he readies for their next exchange. "O' course not, Lianne. Ye know I can't leave a girl feelin' unfulfilled. This wolf's still got some energy left to burn."
Sammi: "Ooh! Gareth! and Lianne!" Sammi sees both of them at once! Yay! She waves eagerly to the both of them "I found both of you at once! This is great! I've been looking for both of you, so this is actually super helpful"
Lianne Sparr turns her head to face Sammi, briefly distracted from what would have been the next exchange. She looks back to Gareth. "Uh-oh. Looks like your wife is here. I suppose you'll have to stop spending time with your mistress, then." Lianne teases. She doesn't relax her combat posture yet, only doing so if Gareth does.
Gareth tenses as Lianne redirects her attention, only to do the same moments later. He smiles and relaxes his pose, hoping that Lianne does the same, and waves, though he shoots Lianne a slightly embarrassed look at her comment. "Ah, afternoon, Sammi! Ye've been lookin' fer us?"
Sammi is very confused by Lianne's comments, but..forging on! "Ahuh! I'd promised Lianne a gift, but I'd never worked out what it should be, and I got you another one! This one I bought, rather than pulling out of the bag, because I read somewhere that you should sometimes buy a gift, and that can be good too..." She pauses, and looks to Lianne again "But I'm happy! Its great when my friends are friends!"
Lianne Sparr indeed relaxes, uncorking her Sai immediately. She stuffs the corks in her cleavage, just in case they're needed again in the future, though she doesn't put away her sai just yet, instead opting to hold both of them in one hand. She winks at Gareth in response to his embarrassed look, then devoting her attention to Sammi. "My my, Sammi! What a pleasant surprise." She smiles, though is then taken aback at the mention of a gift. "A gift? Why, my dear, how thoughtful of you. To what do I owe the unexpected pleasure?" She questions.
Gareth smiles. "Another gift? Well, thank ye kindly, lass! And, aye, purchasin' a gift can be just as good." He gives his cutlass a little flip into his off-hand.
Sammi presents two items. One, a small pendant, affixed to a silver chain, which is for Gareth, and a second, what appears to be an odd blade, with a hollow 'handle'. She hands both over with excitement! She loves explaining gifts! "This pendant it..um..its something about balance? I don't really know honestly, but that's what the nice lady said after I gave her a ruby, and the other thing..it goes on your stingery thing, to keep it safe!" She nods "I hope both are good!" She looks at all the weapons "Are you still doing practicemurder?"
Gareth perks up quite visibly as he accepts the gift from Sammi, a practiced eye looking over the pendant and chain. He takes a moment to lean his cutlass against his leg, then deftly puts the necklace on, letting the metal glint nicely in the sunlight atop his clothing. "This is really nice, Sammi, thank ye! I'll be wearin' it all the time, I think." He grins after a moment and picks his cutlass back up, "And aye, just a friendly sparrin' match."
Lianne Sparr takes the tail blade, with a smile. An implement of murder? Why, Sammi is perhaps more observant than she gave Sammi credit for! Wait, is that a good or a bad thing? She's supposed to be laying low. Must be all the sparring. "A tail blade, how thoughtful, Sammi!" Lianne smiles. She swings her tail around infront of her, affixing the blade to her barb with her one free hand, as a sign of immediate appreciation. "What do you think, Gareth? Eager to include my tail as part of our practicemurder?"
Gareth grins over at Lianne as he taps a finger against the pendant. "Sure, it'll mix things up nicely durin' a sparrin' match. Long as ye don't use this against me. I'd rather not damage it."
Sammi: "Ooh! I'm glad you both like them!" She claps her hands together. The process of what comes out of her bag as a gift is an unknown one, especially to Sammi herself. "Well. I'm sure the fighting is important!"
Narrator: Gareth knows Lianne too well. Lianne has already thought about choking Gareth with it. She gives a knowing smirk to Gareth, such that he knows that she knows. Her attention turns to Sammi. "The fighting is indeed important, to keep ourselves in shape, to stay ahead of those that might mean you and I harm. Some must fight so that all may be free."
Gareth nods. "Aye, exactly as Lianne says. Keeps us healthy and fit, and also in proper shape to defend ourselves and others." He pauses, "...And so I can get paid fer doin' jobs fer others."
Sammi considers this "..I mean, I just make friends with people, or avoid them if they don't want to be friends, and they get all..like..torch and pitchforky. Papa always said that I shouldn't ever hurt anyone, or even want to! So I never do!" She nods brightly "People are usually nice though! It's been pretty good this time I've been up here!"
Lianne Sparr chuckles, finding the notion of embracing peace and avoiding conflict adorable. It happens. "Well, the guard are admittedly good at doing their job, from what I've seen thus far. Still, their influence doesn't extend far enough outside of Respite. . ." As Lianne getting shot before entering can attest to.
Gareth chuckles as well, though for different reasons. "Aye, the town's quite safe. The guards do a good job o' keepin' the peace around this place, but I guess their roster's still too small to really go wanderin' far beyond the walls." He shrugs, "Maybe that'll change over time, as more folk come to town."
Sammi doesn't quite understand why what she said was funny, but she smiles anyway! It made them happy, so it must have been good to say, right? "Ooh, maybe I could join the guard! If they have more people, that could make them better, right?"
Lianne Sparr: "I. . .Well, you'd have to hurt people, lass, if you wanted to join, in order to keep the town safe. Although, I suppose you could join them as an administrative assistant? I hear Captain Louma very much dislikes paperwork."
Gareth tilts his head. "Aye, I've heard similar, Lianne. Could be that Sammi can help her figure all that paperwork out, especially as the town gets more busy." He shakes his head, "But bein' a regular guard means ye'd probably have to hurt folks to make them listen sometimes." He gestures at the guards milling about the sparring area, "All these guards have to get rough with folks, sometimes. Not somethin' they enjoy, I'm sure, but... part o' the job."
Sammi: "Oh! I'm sure I could find a way! Papa always said it was about the tone of voice!" She smiles again "Like, if you wanted someone to stop, you'd like.." She takes a breath "~Stop~" In a not very deep voice "..Not wait, that's not right..lemme try again..."
Sammi: "̢̀S̛̀̀t̛͘ó̸͡p̴ ̨͟Wha͟͡t͝͠ ̨Y͏o͏͢u'͘re̛͜ ̨҉D̶͡o̡̨͜i͠҉n̡g͘͞.̷ ̧͝N̷͢O͝W҉͜"
Sammi: "Like that!"
Gareth takes a step back, actually thrown off by the unexpectedly (and unnervingly) threatening and distorted tone. He remains quiet for a moment, noting that nearby guards have also stopped to look over curiously, before he recovers. "Ah... huh... that... that might actually work at stoppin' a lot o' folks."
Lianne Sparr holds a hand to her mouth, stifling a giggle into it at first, though quickly stopping when Sammi's voice actually becomes terrifying. Her eyes widen just a bit, enough to indicate that she now legitimately thinks there is more to Sammi than her playful demeanour lets on to be. Gonna have to keep a closer eye on this one. "Certainly, though it's also just as likely to spook people into attacking out of sheer panic." Lianne notes.
Sammi: "Hmm..so, you're saying I need to be scarier?" She ponders "I could do that, I think! I'm usually trying to not be scary though..but if it was for helping people! I bet I could try!"
Gareth gives a bit of a half-smile. "Eh... not necessarily scary, just... makin' it so someone unruly will back down without tryin' to fight. And if they try to fight anyway, ye subdue them fer the arrest." He taps his chin, "If yer serious about this... I imagine Captain Louma could give you more information."
Sammi: "Ahuh! I could show off my voice! People are always much nicer to me, when I show it off! I think its because they're impressed"
Lianne Sparr: "Just be sure to use it sparingly. Only on those whom deserve it. As a guard, your job is to make the town safer, which is harder to do if the residents are scared of you."
Gareth smiles and nods. "Aye, if ye become a guard, careful that that voice is only used if ye need to make someone stop fast. O' course, ye've got a reputation o' bein' really nice with the folks around town, from what I hear, so that works nicely."
Sammi: "Of course! I'm always trying to be nice!" She nods quickly "Though.." She ponders "I probably do need to have weapons..just for like..protecting people!"
Lianne Sparr: "Well. You'll also need to be good at using them. Hence why Gareth and I spend a lot of time here practising. Otherwise, you'll be run through easily."
Gareth shrugs. "I mean... I know the guards give new recruits basic gear they can get comfortable with. Spears and such, mostly." He nods, "But practice is what helps the most."
Sammi: "Sooo, I should practice!" She looks around "ooH! I'm in the perfect spot for it!"
Lianne Sparr chuckles. "What, so you want to join us in sparring?" Lianne questions.
Gareth tilts his head a bit. "This is the right place to practice, aye, but... what kind o' weapon would ye be usin'?"
Sammi: "Hmm.." She reaches into her bag "Lets see what it brings out..." She reaches in, and extracts..longswords. Multiple "Well..the bag says..this..I guess?" She has 6 of them "Well, I suppose this means..." Her hair tentacles wraps around 4 of them, and she takes two in her hands "So..like this?" All of them are held, slightly unsuredly, pointing forward.
Lianne Sparr blinks a little, looking to Gareth with a shrug. "I. . .Don't know how to teach that."
Gareth holds up a hand. "Woah, wait a second, lass! Can't be sparrin' with unguarded weapons! We wouldn't want any o' us gettin' hurt just practicin'." He lifts his cutlass up and points at the edge guard, "Got to guard the edges, first."
Sammi: "Hmm..." She considers this, before dropping the swords back into her bag "..Tell you what! I'll work out how to get safe swords, and then we can try this next time!"
Gareth nods over at the arena entrance. "There's a spot over that way where you can get material to guard the swords, so you can fight without hurtin' someone. O' course, we could also just use the wooden weapons they've got on the racks around the place."
Lianne Sparr falls silent, letting the two discuss.
Sammi: "Hmm, sounds like a plan! But..Yeah, I think I need to talk to the bag, it gets sad if it gives me something, and I use something else"
Sammi: "I'll just sit down, and watch you spar instead!"
Sammi would settle in, before eventually spacing out, and going to sleep, quickly enough that any scene can move on, and assume she can't hear.
Gareth nods and grins over at Lianne. "Sounds like a plan to me. Probably easier to get a few hints just watchin' how others fight it out." He adds to Lianne as he turns a bit more fully towards her again, "I know how to teach single swords, but... six? I doubt anyone knows a proper technique fer that."
Lianne Sparr: "Well. Hints from you, perhaps. The common thug doesn't fight like I do. The Sai are a weapon of finesse, after all." Lianne grins. "And yes, six swords is perhaps a bit much." Lianne pulls the corks back out from her cleavage. She corks up her sai, though then has to go and collect an additional cork for her new tail-blade. "But. At least I can train you in how to avoid a third appendage."
Gareth nods, smirking. "Aye, like I said, it'll mix things up nicely. Wouldn't hurt fer me to be a little lighter on me feet, and I can't think of a better way than to avoid gettin' hit by that new blade."
Narrator: Ready, Lianne gives one of her Sai back to her other hand and drops into her combat stance. "Well then, my dear. Shall we begin?" She questions.
Gareth dips into a bit of a bow, then transfers his cutlass back to his dominant hand as he readies up. "Let's get this started."
Lianne Sparr's expression fades into a neutral, serious tone, making the first move against Gareth. With that, the pair begin sparring. . .