Yeah? [She guesses he's right. The only thing she could think of when she shot that guy was how he couldn't kill her, she'd promised. She didn't know if she'd killed him, or Ladd, finishing the job, but it didn't really count because she didn't mean to do it. This was going to have to count.
This is the first time since she's been here someone's touched her in a way that doesn't make her feel afraid of them, but she's not thinking about that. She curls her fingers into the grip he's placing them, fixing the shape in her hand's memory, and when he's done, looks up at him to ask as if she's doing this right.]
[He feels the pulse in her fingertips, and for a moment his eyes glaze over and he can see the glow of her body heat through her skin like a scarlet halo. He gives her hands the smallest squeeze, then forces himself to step back, nodding.] Good. Like that. You must practice strikes and blocks at least an hour a day to get it into your muscles.
Now...widen your stance some...[He slips out of his coat and tosses it aside.] I want you to attack me.
[And that quick tease to her hands makes her remember why she's here in the first place. Maybe he likes her just natural, and that's good. It'll let her pay better attention to what he says he wants to show her, too.
She should have known the next part was coming when he took off his jacket, but her eyes widen and she looks at him like he's nuts. She's got to if she's going to learn, and she's got to learn, but if she actually hurts him...]
[He responds to her surprised look with a smile that is almost tender.] Do not worry. My skin is tough and I heal very quickly. You must learn to strike as if you do not care, even though you clearly do.
If it helps, you can pretend I'm going to bite you without permission.
[She blushes, knowing she can't say anything even if she had a smart enough mouth to give it back to him. It can't look like her idea. Instead, she tries to slow her breathing down like he said, spreads the fingers of her other hand out, thinking about how this isn't going to hurt him, it'll be all right, he's too fast for her anyway...
It's not helping, but he wants her to do this, to try and fight him. She's got to. So she breathes one last time and lunges forward, trying not to look as she aims to graze him.]
[He schools himself to stay still, though the way she looks away could make it easy for him to step aside and grab her wrist. It is her first try and he does not wish to discourage her. The blade tip brushes his vest.]
Again. Try to look at me this time. It is all right.
[She recovers herself and finally looks at what little damage she did. She's not doing as well as he wants to make her think she is - he could have moved to prove she didn't know it. Does he want her to hurt him, or does he want to watch her fail and make her think she's good?]
When she finally responds, she's still not looking at him.] I can't.
[It's not surrender. She still keeps her hands the way he placed them. Fighting him, that's all right, because she knows she'll lose and he can stop it any time he wants. Seeing herself doing it, though? This isn't her or what she's like at all.]
Comments 63
This is the first time since she's been here someone's touched her in a way that doesn't make her feel afraid of them, but she's not thinking about that. She curls her fingers into the grip he's placing them, fixing the shape in her hand's memory, and when he's done, looks up at him to ask as if she's doing this right.]
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Now...widen your stance some...[He slips out of his coat and tosses it aside.] I want you to attack me.
Reply
She should have known the next part was coming when he took off his jacket, but her eyes widen and she looks at him like he's nuts. She's got to if she's going to learn, and she's got to learn, but if she actually hurts him...]
Reply
If it helps, you can pretend I'm going to bite you without permission.
Reply
It's not helping, but he wants her to do this, to try and fight him. She's got to. So she breathes one last time and lunges forward, trying not to look as she aims to graze him.]
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Again. Try to look at me this time. It is all right.
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When she finally responds, she's still not looking at him.] I can't.
[It's not surrender. She still keeps her hands the way he placed them. Fighting him, that's all right, because she knows she'll lose and he can stop it any time he wants. Seeing herself doing it, though? This isn't her or what she's like at all.]
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