Log [PG]
Who: Theodore, Draco, Harry, Tracey, Graham
When: Late afternoon
Where: The practice room
Rating: PG
Summary: Boys and their swords.
Status: Complete
There was a loud clang as Theo's sabre met Draco's with sudden force, and Theo pressed his advantage, forcing Draco back a few steps. "You're getting slow, Malfoy," Theo said, and Draco huffed out an irritated breath. "You were always faster, but-" a particularly viscous swing caught Theo across the arm, "-I'll always be better stronger."
Theo made a face, circling. "Heavy and unsubtle. There's a reason I don't fence sabre."
"Excuses, excuses," Draco said dismissively, and conversation stopped as he pressed forward again. Theo fell back a few steps and neatly ducked another swing, parrying with another loud clash of steel.
Graham sat off to the side, quietly watching the two of them spar. He tried to keep up with their movements, really wondering if he'd ever be able to do it.
Tracey stood beside him, leaning on another one of the practice swords. "Theo's out of his depth," she commented, watching them.
Graham looked up at her curiously, just as Harry walked into the room.
"Started without me?" he asked, walking along the side so he wouldn't get in their way.
"Practice," Draco called, sidestepping Theo's swing. "Haven't done this in a few years." He feinted left, then lunged forward, too suddenly for Theo to block it. "Point."
Theo huffed out a breath. "We should be starting with light swords first, anyway."
"I want to try," Harry said with a grin.
Draco shook his hair back from his face. "Take that foil by the wall, then. You're better off not sparring with Theo until you know what you're doing."
Harry did as he was told, picking up the light sword and walking over to where they stood. "Okay."
Theo tipped Draco a lazy salute with his sabre and turned to Harry, catching his right hand. "Here, you hold it like this," he said, nudging Harry's hand into position before moving out of the way.
"Thanks," he said, looking down to memorize the position before glancing up at Draco. "Now what?"
"Now you mirror me," Draco said. "En garde position first, like this. You always start here."
Harry moved to mirror him, nodding when he thought he had it right. "En garde."
Draco nodded. "Right. Now, the easiest way to attack is called an extension. You just aim and extend your arm." He suited action to word, bringing the tip of the foil forward in one swift motion to tap Harry's shoulder.
Harry did the same, touching the middle of Draco's chest instead. "Like that?"
"Like that," he confirmed. "Speed is important. Worry about force once we start working with proper swords."
Harry nodded. "I get it. Can you block somehow?"
"Parrying," Draco said. "Attack me."
Harry aimed for Draco's shoulder and extended his arm. Draco caught Harry's foil against his own, pushing it back from his body, and lunged forward, catching him square in the chest.
Harry blinked, looking down at his before looking up at him. "So it's like that. Okay."
Draco stepped back. "The second was a lunge, actually. Most common attack you see in formal fencing."
"Anything else?" he asked.
Draco shook his head. "I think I'll leave the more complex parts to Theo, he's always had neater blade work." He smirked slightly. "Up for trying a round?"
"Sure," he replied, getting back into the first position. "Try not to go too easy on me."
"And miss the chance to be better at something? Never." Draco smirked. "Always start with a salute," he said, and suited action to word.
"You'll only be better at it for now," Harry said, saluting him. "Then you'll see."
Off to the side, Theo snorted. "This is going to be a slaughter," he muttered. Beside him, Tracey hid a smile, and Theo traded glances with her before watching Harry and Draco as they circled one another.
It was a slaughter, but not as bad as he had predicted; Harry held his own rather admirably for someone with no experience, particularly given that Draco had been fencing since he was old enough to hold a sword. Seeker reflexes, Theo mused.
"This is profoundly ill-matched," Tracey said, and before Theo could reply, she had picked up her foil and caught Draco's with a sudden clash. "For pity's sake, Draco, you can't expect the boy to defend against a flèche," she scolded.
Draco stared at her. "Since when do you fence?"
Tracey smirked. "Bribed Kenneth's fencing master to teach me without mother finding out."
Harry stepped back and off to the side, leaning against the wall as they spoke. Graham glanced at him before he got up, walking over. "Can I?" He pointed to the sword.
"Oh, here," Harry replied, holding it out and giving it to him.
Graham took it, holding it like he saw Draco show Harry.
"Have Theo teach you," Harry said.
Any further questions Draco may have been about to pester Tracey with were effectively cut off by this, and he caught her by the arm and pulled her out of the way as Theo shrugged slightly and walked back into the center of the room, foil in hand.
"Have you been paying attention?" Theo asked.
"Yes," Graham answered, following him to the center of the room. Maybe this was when he could show Theo that he could do this.
"Then I trust I needn't repeat what Draco has done," he said coolly, and saluted before shifting into the en garde position.
Tracey's eyes narrowed slightly, and she leaned over to mutter to Harry, "Is it just me, or is there trouble is paradise, there?"
Graham shook his head, saluting him before moving into the same position.
"Could be," Harry said with a shrug, not caring all that much.
"They seem... off," she said, but subsided, watching as Graham and Theo circled one another warily, each waiting for the other to make the first move. It was Theo who finally did, lunging forward lightning-fast. Graham only just managed to dodge the point of Theo's sword and moved to attack in return, but Theo parried with almost unnatural speed- really, Draco had been right about his skill with a foil. It was almost painful to watch, the way Theo forced Graham farther and father back across the floor as steel clashed with steel, until Graham's back was to the wall and the point of Theo's sword hit the wall mere inches from Graham's neck, a deliberate near-miss. Everything seemed to fall still, the only sound that of their breathing, and the intensity in Theodore's dark eyes could have started fires as he stared at Graham.
Graham panted as he stared back at Theo, his heart beating fast. He was almost sure that Theo purposely was hard on him. After a while he just couldn't take his gaze anymore as he blinked and looked down, feeling ashamed.
Tracey cleared her throat delicately. "Boys, we're still in the room," she reminded them. "Men and their 'swords,' for Circe's sake." This whole situation was uncomfortable beyond words, and Tracey walked back into the center. "Theo, be a dear and permit me to demonstrate to my dear cousin why he should never underestimate me?"
It worked; Theodore quickly moved away from Graham and turned to face Tracey, sweeping his hair back from his eyes. "How long has it been since you've fenced, Trace?"
"Not as long as you," she retorted, and Theo gave her a sardonic smirk and saluted. She returned the gesture, and they started the bout. He was faster than her by a fair bit, but she was a surprisingly mean fighter with very little regard for the proper rules of engagement, and it quickly became a pure swordfight, formalities forgotten, until Theo finally ducked under a swing and kicked out a leg as she lunged, catching her by the ankle and throwing her balance.
"Yield?" he asked, and Tracey looked up at him along the length of the blade. "Like I have a choice."
Graham didn't bother to watch them. He carefully set the foil down and left the room, making his way back upstairs to his room. Harry watched him go, glancing back at Theo. He didn't want to care, but he wished Theo would do something about whatever was wrong.
"Nott," Draco said, "stop pointing sharp things at my cousin and go fix whatever the fuck has Graham in such a sulk."
"Graham is what has Graham in a sulk," Theo muttered, but lifted his foil and offered Tracey his hand, tugging her to her feet. "You're pretty good, Trace," he remarked. "You certainly fight like a Slytherin. Snape would be proud."
Tracey grinned and shoved him lightly toward the door. "Go on, Theo. I'll pound on your door when we've got dinner ready."
"Thanks," Theo said, and gave the other two a brief nod before walking out the door.
Draco looked at her. "Trace, what is this we you're talking about?" he asked warily.
Tracey just rolled her eyes.
When: Late afternoon
Where: The practice room
Rating: PG
Summary: Boys and their swords.
Status: Complete
There was a loud clang as Theo's sabre met Draco's with sudden force, and Theo pressed his advantage, forcing Draco back a few steps. "You're getting slow, Malfoy," Theo said, and Draco huffed out an irritated breath. "You were always faster, but-" a particularly viscous swing caught Theo across the arm, "-I'll always be better stronger."
Theo made a face, circling. "Heavy and unsubtle. There's a reason I don't fence sabre."
"Excuses, excuses," Draco said dismissively, and conversation stopped as he pressed forward again. Theo fell back a few steps and neatly ducked another swing, parrying with another loud clash of steel.
Graham sat off to the side, quietly watching the two of them spar. He tried to keep up with their movements, really wondering if he'd ever be able to do it.
Tracey stood beside him, leaning on another one of the practice swords. "Theo's out of his depth," she commented, watching them.
Graham looked up at her curiously, just as Harry walked into the room.
"Started without me?" he asked, walking along the side so he wouldn't get in their way.
"Practice," Draco called, sidestepping Theo's swing. "Haven't done this in a few years." He feinted left, then lunged forward, too suddenly for Theo to block it. "Point."
Theo huffed out a breath. "We should be starting with light swords first, anyway."
"I want to try," Harry said with a grin.
Draco shook his hair back from his face. "Take that foil by the wall, then. You're better off not sparring with Theo until you know what you're doing."
Harry did as he was told, picking up the light sword and walking over to where they stood. "Okay."
Theo tipped Draco a lazy salute with his sabre and turned to Harry, catching his right hand. "Here, you hold it like this," he said, nudging Harry's hand into position before moving out of the way.
"Thanks," he said, looking down to memorize the position before glancing up at Draco. "Now what?"
"Now you mirror me," Draco said. "En garde position first, like this. You always start here."
Harry moved to mirror him, nodding when he thought he had it right. "En garde."
Draco nodded. "Right. Now, the easiest way to attack is called an extension. You just aim and extend your arm." He suited action to word, bringing the tip of the foil forward in one swift motion to tap Harry's shoulder.
Harry did the same, touching the middle of Draco's chest instead. "Like that?"
"Like that," he confirmed. "Speed is important. Worry about force once we start working with proper swords."
Harry nodded. "I get it. Can you block somehow?"
"Parrying," Draco said. "Attack me."
Harry aimed for Draco's shoulder and extended his arm. Draco caught Harry's foil against his own, pushing it back from his body, and lunged forward, catching him square in the chest.
Harry blinked, looking down at his before looking up at him. "So it's like that. Okay."
Draco stepped back. "The second was a lunge, actually. Most common attack you see in formal fencing."
"Anything else?" he asked.
Draco shook his head. "I think I'll leave the more complex parts to Theo, he's always had neater blade work." He smirked slightly. "Up for trying a round?"
"Sure," he replied, getting back into the first position. "Try not to go too easy on me."
"And miss the chance to be better at something? Never." Draco smirked. "Always start with a salute," he said, and suited action to word.
"You'll only be better at it for now," Harry said, saluting him. "Then you'll see."
Off to the side, Theo snorted. "This is going to be a slaughter," he muttered. Beside him, Tracey hid a smile, and Theo traded glances with her before watching Harry and Draco as they circled one another.
It was a slaughter, but not as bad as he had predicted; Harry held his own rather admirably for someone with no experience, particularly given that Draco had been fencing since he was old enough to hold a sword. Seeker reflexes, Theo mused.
"This is profoundly ill-matched," Tracey said, and before Theo could reply, she had picked up her foil and caught Draco's with a sudden clash. "For pity's sake, Draco, you can't expect the boy to defend against a flèche," she scolded.
Draco stared at her. "Since when do you fence?"
Tracey smirked. "Bribed Kenneth's fencing master to teach me without mother finding out."
Harry stepped back and off to the side, leaning against the wall as they spoke. Graham glanced at him before he got up, walking over. "Can I?" He pointed to the sword.
"Oh, here," Harry replied, holding it out and giving it to him.
Graham took it, holding it like he saw Draco show Harry.
"Have Theo teach you," Harry said.
Any further questions Draco may have been about to pester Tracey with were effectively cut off by this, and he caught her by the arm and pulled her out of the way as Theo shrugged slightly and walked back into the center of the room, foil in hand.
"Have you been paying attention?" Theo asked.
"Yes," Graham answered, following him to the center of the room. Maybe this was when he could show Theo that he could do this.
"Then I trust I needn't repeat what Draco has done," he said coolly, and saluted before shifting into the en garde position.
Tracey's eyes narrowed slightly, and she leaned over to mutter to Harry, "Is it just me, or is there trouble is paradise, there?"
Graham shook his head, saluting him before moving into the same position.
"Could be," Harry said with a shrug, not caring all that much.
"They seem... off," she said, but subsided, watching as Graham and Theo circled one another warily, each waiting for the other to make the first move. It was Theo who finally did, lunging forward lightning-fast. Graham only just managed to dodge the point of Theo's sword and moved to attack in return, but Theo parried with almost unnatural speed- really, Draco had been right about his skill with a foil. It was almost painful to watch, the way Theo forced Graham farther and father back across the floor as steel clashed with steel, until Graham's back was to the wall and the point of Theo's sword hit the wall mere inches from Graham's neck, a deliberate near-miss. Everything seemed to fall still, the only sound that of their breathing, and the intensity in Theodore's dark eyes could have started fires as he stared at Graham.
Graham panted as he stared back at Theo, his heart beating fast. He was almost sure that Theo purposely was hard on him. After a while he just couldn't take his gaze anymore as he blinked and looked down, feeling ashamed.
Tracey cleared her throat delicately. "Boys, we're still in the room," she reminded them. "Men and their 'swords,' for Circe's sake." This whole situation was uncomfortable beyond words, and Tracey walked back into the center. "Theo, be a dear and permit me to demonstrate to my dear cousin why he should never underestimate me?"
It worked; Theodore quickly moved away from Graham and turned to face Tracey, sweeping his hair back from his eyes. "How long has it been since you've fenced, Trace?"
"Not as long as you," she retorted, and Theo gave her a sardonic smirk and saluted. She returned the gesture, and they started the bout. He was faster than her by a fair bit, but she was a surprisingly mean fighter with very little regard for the proper rules of engagement, and it quickly became a pure swordfight, formalities forgotten, until Theo finally ducked under a swing and kicked out a leg as she lunged, catching her by the ankle and throwing her balance.
"Yield?" he asked, and Tracey looked up at him along the length of the blade. "Like I have a choice."
Graham didn't bother to watch them. He carefully set the foil down and left the room, making his way back upstairs to his room. Harry watched him go, glancing back at Theo. He didn't want to care, but he wished Theo would do something about whatever was wrong.
"Nott," Draco said, "stop pointing sharp things at my cousin and go fix whatever the fuck has Graham in such a sulk."
"Graham is what has Graham in a sulk," Theo muttered, but lifted his foil and offered Tracey his hand, tugging her to her feet. "You're pretty good, Trace," he remarked. "You certainly fight like a Slytherin. Snape would be proud."
Tracey grinned and shoved him lightly toward the door. "Go on, Theo. I'll pound on your door when we've got dinner ready."
"Thanks," Theo said, and gave the other two a brief nod before walking out the door.
Draco looked at her. "Trace, what is this we you're talking about?" he asked warily.
Tracey just rolled her eyes.