random waltz

[invoker]

Who: Mitsuru Kirijo (invoker) & Delita Heiral (subvert)
When: November 10
Where: ViViD
What: Sword fights and training in ViViD
Rating/Warning: No warnings, I think.

---

[ Mitsuru was never one to slack off in any manner, and she found herself going into ViViD often when she had a spare moment. Some say that she was running herself ragged a lot of the time, but she did rest. Occasionally.

The only problem with fighting monsters in ViViD is that their behaviour was very clearly patterned. They would attack in a specific manner so that anyone observing them for a sufficient period of time would be able to figure out the most effective way of dealing with them, be it with a physical strike from near by or a Bufudyne spell from afar.

But this method of training in ViViD, while deeply efficient -- was allowing Mitsuru to become complacent. Having trained the past year in Tartarus in an environment that was ever changing and erratic monster activity, ViViD was simply not fulfilling her expectations on her training.

Perhaps then, the next step would be to train with others.

It was a move she wasn't used to. Being the captain of the fencing team meant that she spent more time filling paperwork than she did actual matches and she was grateful for that on some level with the frequent trips the Tartarus testing her skills more than any club member could. But maybe, a fight with another thinking human being was what she needed.

And so she remembered the words of Delita Heiral, who said he was a skilled swordsman in his own world. She sent out an invitation to join her in ViViD at an area that resembled a coliseum. Hopefully he would be able to join her for a number of friendly spars. ]

Comments

[subvert]

[ It's not an untrue statement; he is a skilled swordsman. Not the most skilled swordsman - he's not the Thunder God Cid - but certainly capable of holding his own, and able to fake that he was thoroughly trained in it and had experience as a proper knight.

Maybe the academy in Gariland was good for something, after all.

And the whole "pattern" thing was something Delita had noticed too. While he sees combat as more of a utility, a thing that one does to accomplish some other means rather than a pursuit in and of itself, there's still something exhilirating about putting your life on the line. Maybe it's a healthy fear of death, when he has other, more important things that he ought to be doing; maybe it's just a rush and he's a thrill-seeker who, in a more sane world, would be a snowboarder or something.

But that's not really the point; the point is that he's noticed that fighting the monsters in ViViD is really boring and he can't even pretend to be excited by it. It's like playing the first level of Mario over and over again; you know exactly how the level goes, you know what to do. There's nothing to it; if you die it was entirely your error.

So when the invitation arrives, he's more than happy to accept - fencing is a sword style that doesn't really see much play in Ivalice, owing mostly to the fact that fencing is pretty impractical in war. But he's curious about it, and besides - he doesn't want to get out of shape in case they figure out how to make monsters that are effective.

Of course, when he shows up, he is already in full plate mail, because that's just how he rolls. Big sword, big shield, big everything. He is not a huge man, but he looks a lot bigger when he's armored up.]

Lady Kirijo. [He extends one armored hand. He would kneel, but they aren't nearly on that level of ... something. It's 3am you're not my real dad.]

[invoker]

[ Mitsuru comes from a time where the wars are fought on different grounds than direct combat... or so she would like to believe. There's something about Delita being something out of a fantasy tale that is interesting to her, because here's someone living that lifestyle of honour and --

Her train of thought is interrupted by the arrival of a large shiny figure.

And she blinks. ]

Good afternoon, Sir Delita.

[ Suddenly her own outfit is not enough, she's wearing reinforced armour underneath her school uniform but Delita's armour is the real deal - forged plates of metal to protect from blows from similarly heavy forged swords.

She's not nervous per se, but there's definitely something to suggest that they should be using wooden swords. Which she has, thankfully alongside a manner of other equipment for training such as targets and mannekins. ]

I trust that you had no problems finding this location?

[ It was a bit cheesy, yes but she couldn't think of anywhere else that wouldn't be relatively undisturbed. ]

[subvert]

[if only mitsuru knew. if only she knew. but unfortunately, he's not talking anytime soon, so mitsuru can just idealize him and where he comes from, that's cool.

while he's responding, he's going to give an appraising look over her outfit. delita is used to people who use swords wearing armor; he's not really expecting bigass plate mail from a fencer, but he's... concerned, to say the least.]

I did not. Thank you for the directions getting here.

[he's still looking. fortunately, it's not a junpei-esque ogling her; it's a sizing her up, so he can probably avoid an execution today. or most days, honestly.]

You intend to fight in that?

[there's genuine confusion because while he understands the need for mobility, he knows perfectly well that if he gets a good swing off there's a nonzero chance of a limb going flying. well, not in practice, but in real life - and delita assumes he's practicing for real life. or virtual reality. the point is that it's kind of important to keep all of one's limbs in combat.]

[invoker]

[ The question catches Mitsuru off guard. Clothes were never really her strong point, as evidenced by the fact that she had her own personal stylist choose her wardrobe and she rarely ever deviated from that. Ever. Usually she left her armour choices to her field leader, who seemed to be very experienced and astute in these matters.

... Even if it meant occasionally she wore some embarrassing outfits in the name of training.

She has that particular set of Battle Panties in her apartment, but those were even worse than what she was wearing now. Sure as a matter of necessity, Mitsuru wore the sleek, reinforced protective underarmour that could prevent all but the worst of gunshots and stabs under her clothes but they were not in any way like the armour Delita was wearing. ]

When I am fencing as part of my activities, I wear the appropriate kit of a mask, protective suit and rubber shoes during training and tournaments.

[ She rolls up her sleeve to show the black shiny material clinging to her skin. It was really something akin to a reinforced biker suit. ]

However when I have dealt with supernatural matters and enemies outside of that, I wear this. It may not look durable but I am wearing armour under this that has saved my life on numerous occasions.

[subvert]

Rubber shoes? You worry about lightning?

[... they are totally not on the same wavelength here. Rubber boots are a thing that one wears in Ivalice, but it's specifically to deal with lightning-based attacks (and immobilization). Come to think of it, Delita wishes he had a pair here; he'd talk to her about it but he suspects that her boots neither do the same thing, nor would fit him.]

And your armor has saved you from sword blows? [this is ... intriguing, mostly because he's gonna be honest, that stuff does not look at all like it's going to protect her. but if something so light and flimsy-looking can be so protective... that's an interesting advance in armor technique that he wouldn't have thought possible.

maybe they should stop chattering and start practicing, though. delita unsheathes his blade slowly, a shimmering effect around him - a spell of protection. it's not intentionally cast by him so much as just a thing that happens when he wields Save the Queen.]

Perhaps we should test it.

[...not that he's actually going to hurt her. he doesn't look like he's trying to threaten her!]