[ OPEN ] Well I can't stand to be with myself, this liberation's seemingly rare

[ombranera]

WHO: Zevran and Various
WHAT: Zevran sparring and dealing
WHEN: Throughout Drakonis
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Violence, swearing, usual Zevran Content Warnings Apply. Open prompt below, poke me on plurk for a closed starter. Prose or actionspam welcome!

As much as he'd protested Alistair running off on some mission in the west- the time apart gives him that much more chance to train. He'd been doing so privately in the barn, occasionally squaring off against Settimo when they both had the time and patience for Settimo's paranoia and Zevran's over-adjustments for the blind side. Learning to fight with only one good eye is slowly driving Zevran to frustration. Settimo could not come at him hard enough to be a challenge, he could not learn his new limitations without a solid effort on both their parts.

Setting aside his vanity he takes to the training grounds- but working on stuffed dummies is only good for so much. Soon enough he is picking out soldiers and rogues to come at him in the dirt circle. Day to day it goes much the same. Zevran stands with bad eye covered and his swords, with his hands, with a single short sword and calls any that would step up to help him regain his awareness. It is, to be honest, slow going. More often than not if his opponent has any manner of skill he ends up on his ass. But he grits his teeth, stands, and goes at it again. And again. Afterward he recovers with the highlight of his training- a bucket of water to sluice off the sweat and grit of the day. Whether it's the relief the cold brings or the appreciative looks it tends to earn? He doesn't say. But thus he spends his days, training himself or wrestling with the fledglings, who will offer their own commentary and catcalling in Antivan during his other matches.

Comments

[ombranera]

"Sweet promises from honey'd lips." A little flair, a little flourish as he brought his swords to bear, matching Norrington's pace for the circling. One thing he knew from sparring with Alistair- he would wear himself out quicker than Norrington if he attempted an outright assault. Less energy was spent keeping that shield up than it was attempting to get around it.

Thus he would let the templar come to him. "Ah, you call it dancing, do you? Perhaps you should wish to lead?"

[judgemewhole]

"We'll see how sweet you find my lips when we're done. I have a feeling you might be a little cross with me." Was Norrington's reply, even as his green eyes glinted faintly. Ah hah, so he was going to allow Norrington the first step forward. Very well then.

"I usually do, if only because I know all my own steps. Let's see which ones you have up your sleeve." And he moved forward with speed, coming in at an angle at his good eye, moving to shift his weight so he could swing his sword across the other man's blades to test his speed, then immediately drop down the shield before he was skewered twice.

[ombranera]

"Only if you continue to tease, Bello, and leave me unsatisfied." Though that wasn't terribly likely- at least with what he knew of the man's skills. They were not insubstantial- more than worth a round or two of getting knocked on his back.

Norrington swung in hard and fast- Zevran's response was simple muscle memory- Block and parry. One blade brought up to prevent the cut, the other snapping out to glance across the shield. He leaned into it, attempting to get some leverage with how he was braced and pushed to give them both a bit of breathing room. "So vigorous."

[judgemewhole]

"In this arena? Never, my fine friend." Norrington used his strength to push the shield forward, but Zevran's leverage was considerable and he was forced back a step or two. He grunted approval, before he twisted his body sideways, going for a proper lunge, before twisting around swiftly to bring his shield to bear, hoping to be the one knocking Zevran off balance.

"Oh, you have no idea."

[ombranera]

Still on his good side, still where he could see, where he could react accordingly; it was no shield and that was the greatest failing of dual wielding short swords, but he could counter, could parry. He danced back and brought his blades up to clash with that shield, back leg braced for it- though the force slid him back a half step. Not as strong as Alistair- but with more momentum. More finesse. "Perhaps you ought to give me one, mm?"

[judgemewhole]

"If that is what you truly want ... but I have already promised not to go easy on you. Do you truly wish to be exhausted to the bone?" Norrington asked, all too innocently, as he pushed forward once more with his shield, swinging it back to bash into those swords, spinning around to bring his sword to bear and to counter-thrust over that parry.

To test the bad side, just to see how Zevran's muscle memory, he brought his shield up underneath it as he shifted his weight to the right, turning it more to swing than a push.

[ombranera]

"If I did not wish for such a thing-" Ah, interrupting banter with shield bashes. How familiar! Well, Alistair's was less 'banter' and more 'your face/no, you/I am NOT smiling/etc so this was an improvement. Zevran angled his swords against the jarring blow, deflecting as much as blocking and- ah, the spin. It gave him room to form a proper guard between them, dancing back a step. "I would not have called upon you!"

On the defensive but- expending less energy. Which was good seeing as he needed every scrap for focus-

Movement on the blind side and he jerked his head about swordtip snapping up a hair too late to avoid the blow. "Brasca."

[judgemewhole]

Maker, the man is like a leaf on the breeze - faster than anything Norrington has ever seen. His guard is excellent, and the way he hands his two swords is with the air of someone who knows precisely what he is doing.

He didn't pause, but followed through on the attack. However, since this was to help Zevran and not simply bludgeon him about, Norrington slammed his shield in against the man's raised swords on his blinded side, speaking calmly, "That's because you know I shall give as good as I get -- if my noises don't scare you away like a shy maiden."

He'd worked with enough men who had their eyes scarred over -- they always found Norrington by merely the sound of his movements. Zevran's hearing, Norrington knew, was sharp enough to make this a major asset where there was currently a weakness.

[ombranera]

"You know I enjoy my partners to be quite vocal, Ser." All low and warm and demure as he found his footing and adjusted, twisting his blades to hold against the sudden shove of the shield. A quick slash and slide gave him room enough to give them space for the next engagement. Little by little he was learning what it was to hear for a blow- the whistle of a blade, the creak of leather on a shield's grip, the rustling of clothing under platemail.

In full armor this would be a simpler task- it was impossible to fight quietly in full plate. But like this? It was far more challenging.

And all the more enjoyable for it.

Zevran darted in for his own offense, blades flashing and dipping, one arcing high at Norrington's guard, the other flicking out to seek out openings. "Now tell me- what might I do to make you truly sing, mm?"

[judgemewhole]

"Maker, you want them to scream like small children? Rather undignified, if you ask me." Is Norrington's wry, warm reply. Ah yes, good. The man was adjusting and now Norrington was on the defense. A good thing that as a shield bearer, this was rather in his particular wheel house.

The shield flew up, slapping away the blows, as his sword danced in turn. The high one at his guard just slipped by, nicking his arm. He let out a soft, "Maker's Breath!", before he brought up his arm with force to knock the blade up and away from him, moving in with the shield for another slam against Zevran's front.

"I would say if you wanted to get me to sing, you'd have to reach some sort of holy status, my fine friend."

[ombranera]

"It says something about who it is you take on if you only hear the cries of children, my friend. Perhaps a more mature partner would teach you better." Better tricks, better banter- not that Zevran was in want of either. The nick was a glance, a love tap that slipped past Norrington's guard and a reminder that, perhaps, such exercises were best done with practice swords.

Zevran, however, learned everything by leaping to the highest stakes, the greatest possible falls and failures. Perhaps he ought to dial it back.

Or he could pivot about the shield and lock the crossbars of their blades, leaning in to smirk. "I have heard 'oh Maker yes' more than my fair share. Perhaps you ought to hum."

[judgemewhole]

"A more mature partner would probably be the death of me, in some aspects. You wouldn't want me ruined for everyone else, would you?" Was Norrington's smiling reply, and his green eyes flashed. A little cut would hardly slow him down, after all.

Which is when they locked blades, those eyes flashed again as he leaned in kind, "Humming seems rather tame for what you've promised, my fine fellow." And then another push forward, and he moved, bending down to use his strength to basically lift Zevran up by the blade and shift so he could use the twist to throw Zevran off, and away.

[ombranera]

"I do mean to ruin you, Bello." He shall need a better endearment for Norrington before the duel is through- but given time it would come to him. Much as James came to him, leaning in, hefting up. Zevran was unfamiliar with the maneuver but familiar enough with the tactic that he could take that force and work with it.

Flip with it, even, backwards in a show of dexterity that was all coiled instinct. And, to the catcalls of his students, hardly impressive. 'a fledgling could do that!' cries Settimo. 'kiss him already!' cries Vita.

Children.

"I have promised nothing as of yet." Key words there being yet as he found his feet, found his opening- and darted in once more to the right, coming up at Norrington's shield at an angle.

[judgemewhole]

"Hmmm, but will you be able to handle me, that is the true question." Was the light reply, as Norrington pressed his advantage. The 'children', as they were, got a faint smirk before he was on the offensive again, to almost run right into Zevran's sword on the right.

Luckily, they had taught him to duck in the Templar Order, so he rolled, shield, sword and all, out of the way and up to his feet again. "That is true. I am the one who promised that this would not be an easy dance. How are you liking the steps so far?"

Step back, shifting his weight to have the man go on the offensive once more.

[ombranera]

"When have I led you to believe otherwise?" Smirking, laughing through the lunge- and Norrington rolled away. It was good to know that at least one warrior he knew understood what it was to protect their flank.

Sun high and sweat beading upon his forehead, Zevran began to circle around Norrington, keeping his good eye on the man. An apparently idle roll of the wrist brought the tip of his sword around in a wide circle; a flashy way of adjusting his grip. An underhanded tactic meant to flare the sun's light in his opponent's eyes for a moment.

[judgemewhole]

"Well, not yet, but the dance has yet to be finished." Norrington drawled, as he moved backwards. Sword twisted in his grip, slightly, so he could adjust slightly.

The sun's glare flashed him right in the eyes, and he lifted his shield up to deflect the light, taking another step back as he did so.

[ombranera]

It was but a moment- but that was all Zevran required to dart in, swordtips flicking out to clash against the shield along the one side, and strike at Norrington's guard on the other. Darting and prodding back, attempting to herd him to the fence. "Ah, yes, tell me of that templar stamina."

[judgemewhole]

Norrington flicked his sword out to counter, and counter again. He was well aware that he was being cornered, but he wasn't quite sure for what. So he pressed on, his lips twitching, "I know I can hold out for much longer than you can, certainly."

[ombranera]

"Such sweet promises from panting lips." He had Norrington on the backfoot- for the moment. Edging him further and further back took patience- too quickly and the man would be able to turn away, too slow and he'd weary before he gained ground. But they made a steady pace all the same, parrying with blades and shield.

He had not half so much fun in the ring in a fair while.

[judgemewhole]

"Well, I am known to keep my promises." Norrington stated with a pious tone, before he felt the shadow of the fence behind him. He bit on his bottom lip, and then shifted towards Zevran's bad side, rolling to the side, making Zevran follow him around the circle a little. Coming up to his feet, he moved in a circle around Zevran, trying to box him in in turn with a swipe of the sword across Zevran's center mass, coming to smack him with the shield on the bad side.

[ombranera]

"Are you now?" Well there went his opportunity to end this swiftly by pinning him to the fence- Zevran turned about and hopped up, balancing on the railing instead for the half moment it took him to flip over Norrington and land, swords at the ready.

Even he looked a little surprised that he managed it.

"Ta-dah."

[judgemewhole]

"Yes, I am - " He started back, as Zevran hopped on the fence, flipped over his head, and landed with his swords at the ready.

Both Norrington's eyebrows shot up, and he looked damned impressed.

"Well, I shall never fault your agility and flexibility as being twice mine."

[ombranera]

"You should see me when I'm trying." Clearly he wasn't even making a token attempt. Or rather he'd made a choice in a moment of panic and it payed off.

That was not the best lesson to teach his kestrels, but they were applauding.

[judgemewhole]

"I rather think I would like that..." Was Norrington's reply, before he flashed him a boyish grin and did a slight bow without taking his eyes off of him.

"Shall we continue, or have we both run out of tricks and witty retorts?"

[ombranera]

"I have more tricks than you could possibly imagine, Bello- but they are not ones done with swords." A beat passed. "Well, not these swords."

Another beat.

"Well perhaps these swords."