(closed) while the sun’s a harsh reminder why

[ichaer]

WHO: Ciri & Felix Alexius
WHAT: Ciri meets the babiest of the baby Wardens, teaches him how to break man's arm
WHEN: earlish... Solace??
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Training montage music INTENSIFIES

She wouldn't say she's settled into the life at Skyhold but she is at least finding a routine. Routine kept her sane in Weisshaupt and it will, hopefully, help in the same ways here. It is strange in some ways to wake up with a decent amount of rest, knuckles not raw from fights and not so on edge about everyone around her. It's nice to have time to train which is why she's come this way, sword in hand and adjust the straps keeping her armor in place.

There is a surprise here today. It's in the form of face she has seen around the camp but one she only knows second hand, his name escaping her memory as she slows her approach. He seems to be training himself. Maybe? It's hard to tell. She never did pick up on the sort of practice that mages did and that seems to be what he is doing?

A part of her doesn't want to interrupt but the other half just cannot help herself.

"So you are our newest one."

Comments

[blightedson]

It's almost luck that she comes across him while he's doing mage training. He doesn't really focus on that. He only really does exercises occasionally to keep his mind fortified against demons - who aren't so picky as to ignore a mage weak in magic. In general, though, he isn't strong enough to manage offensive spells in any sort of useful way. His main goal in training is to learn how to use a sword in a way that will at least keep him alive. He's heard of mages who do that before, but his status as an altus meant he didn't have to worry about it back home.

Now, though, he spends almost every day at it. He's always happy for input. He stops what he's doing and looks over at her.

"I'm afraid so," he says. He offers her a small smile that lights up his face in a boyish charm sort of way. In the months since his Joining he's lost almost all sign of the Blight. His face has filled out and other than some odd patches of skin along his stomach and thighs which bare the sign of losing and gaining a lot of weight in a small amount of time, he just seems like a man who has always been in the prime of his health. "Felix Alexius," he offers his name and then offers his hand to her.

[ichaer]

She offers a half sort of smile in response. It is her own way of trying not to appear too stand-offish in response to his bright greeting. She leaves the straps unbuckled for now, taking his hand in a firm shake as the smile slips into a grin.

"I'm Ciri. You sure joined at in the most awkward of times." Yes, awkward. That was certainly a way of putting it.

Letting go of his hand, her eyes glance downwards toward the sword and she smiles faintly. "Trading in a staff for a sword?"

[blightedson]

Felix doesn't really comment on the time that he joined. After all, without the Joining he would be dead now. Instead, he focuses on her question.

He glances at the blade and then back at her. He has a small, slightly embarrassed smile on his face. "I am," he says. "I've never been very good at magic, and certainly couldn't use it in a fight. I wanted to train with the blade to be able to fight."

[ichaer]

There is a moment of pause where Ciri considers his answer before nodding. She's always been one that believed everyone should not fall back on just one of their skills and should always expand their knowledge especially now when they faced down demons from the veil.

"A good choice then but I am a little biased when it comes to swords. You're a little uncertain with your footwork but you hold it well, have you been practicing long?"

[blightedson]

"Only since my Joining," Felix admitted with some embarrassment. Then, carefully, because he doesn't want her to think of him as a nuisance. "Do you have any suggestions on how to improve my footwork?"

[ichaer]

She hums thoughtfully, finishing the last of her armor straps and thinking on her own lessons. They varied depending on the teacher and her style of swordplay was anything but traditional but there was always something to be taught.

"Always remember not to be afraid to get hurt. If you're afraid then you will get hurt and that's something you can't be worried about your own weapon in a fight." As she speaks, she approaches and takes his sword hand to raise both into the air.

"Perhaps it is silly to think of it this way but you must consider the sword like as an extension of your arm. It's a part of you now so you must be confident."

[blightedson]

Felix nods and allows her to move his arm. He looks at the sword for a moment, and then back at her. "That's how you're meant to think of a staff as well, though that's an extension of your magic as well as your arm." He was never very good at that either, and that causes him some concern.

i am so sorry for my lateness, gmail shot this into my spam folder for some reason

[ichaer]

"Mm... the only difference is that you are not channeling any magic through your sword. It's only whatever strength you want to put behind your swing."

Idly, she tests the weight of the sword with a curious look. "Are you planning to carry a shield as well? Or will you be a rule breaker like me?"

And now it's my turn to be late!

[blightedson]

"I was trained to use only one weapon." He might be weak with magic, but Tevinter still trains their children early how to handle a staff. "I might like to learn to use a shield eventually, but for now I want to learn how to carry over that training to a sword."

He is starting to seriously consider the idea though. It might be better to start learning sooner rather than later. "Unless you think that's a terrible idea?"

[ichaer]

"Mm... I imagine that the basics shall translate well but a sword is not a staff nor is a staff a sword." She pauses, frowning and wondering if her words had come off harshly before chuckling. "I spent many long and boring months stuck in Weisshaupt. More than once I picked up a staff and suffered a number of bruises from smacking myself in the face."

Ciri blinks though and humming thoughtfully. "I can't rightly say. I began with acrobatics before picking up a sword myself. I found it dreadfully hard to do a back flip with a shield in hand so I never bothered to learn with one."

[blightedson]

"Back flips?" he asks, his brow raising a bit. "Is that... usually expected from Wardens?" Somehow, he can't really imagine someone like Anders doing something like that, but then again maybe it was one of those hidden talents that people didn't talk about.

[ichaer]

And in response, she laughs. "Absolutely not. Can you imagine some of our fellows trying to back flip? They'd likely break their backs or their noodle arms."

Which obviously means she has to wiggle her own arms like noodles with a chuckle. "I'm just an odd duck. My training was not so... formal compared to most everyone else. I learned whatever I could from whomever would teach me so it wasn't always swordplay but I always tried to make it work in battle."