Log View
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| Misa | The tiny old shrine is... unimpressive, truth be told. Humble, the charitable might say. The moss and vines of decades abandoned have been cut away- however a tinge of green still stains the walls of the main building. A few training dummies for weapon-work, made of straw and reeds dot the open dirt area next to the stone platform atop which the shrine sits- it's all well made, but also simple.
The proprietor, who is more claimant than purchaser, sits outside on the stone platform, in the corner of the two walls that break the breeze coming off the river the shrine sits next to. A few broad openings in the wall still allow a view, however. Misa, as she's known, sips at a cup of some kind of tea, her left hand drawing out High Realm characters on a scroll, explaining the philosophy behind some obscure technique of hers or another. The afternoon is bright and sunny, and one would have difficulty complaining about anything other than the distance of the trip from Great Forks. |
| Ignis | It's been a space of time since Ignis has made his way back out to this particular place out in the wilds. Business has kept him..well..busy..since his return from Nexus back to Great Forks and he's found his time divided between efforts that are sadly...mundane..though necessary for day to day life. Despite his best efforts, distancing himself from the legacy of his late foster father's Scavenger Lord efforts has not been successful and that aggravating word called responsibilities, continues to rear its head from time to time.
There are perks, though. Such that some attention must be spared from time to time in order to maintain said perks but...one can only stay still in one place for so long. Especially when carrying that certain special spark of sunlight. And so he makes his way through semi-familiar turf, leaving his horse nearby but occupied with good food, and he begin a slow but steady approach along the river towards the shrine..pausing briefly as he eventually sees Misa at work. "Hello, again! ...I'd thought you'd have gained some students by now. Still preparing?" |
| Nine Roads Alani | The distant rumble of what sounds like thunder out of a clear sky gives all the warning in the world, and the distant speck coming nearer gives even more. From here, the road dirt kicked up is a plume visible even at this distance, which means up close it must be pretty impressive, indeed. Most people who travel this road aren't in a hurry, truth be told--merchants and travelers, not soldiers or refugees--but whoever this is clearly wants to break their next traveling at top speed.
As the speck gets closer, it resolves into a two-horse chariot, a vehicle of war indeed. It's a fine specimen carved from dark wood with gracious, clean, elegant lines. There's nothing elegant about the driver, though. Covered in tan and grey traveling clothes--it's hard to tell with all the jouncing around and the incoming speed, but the voice letting out a completely undignified whoop of joy is high-pitched enough to at least tell her gender. The two horses are hauling the chariot in far too fast to even slow down, really, if that's even the intention. The chariot blows by the shrine, kicking up a huge plume of dirt and dust behind it, and it's only after it's completely past the shrine that there's a loud "WHOOOOOA!" heard from fifty meters down the road. A few minutes later, the chariot comes back, far slower this time, with two panting horses in front and a single figure in a tan traveling robe and ragged grey (or is that just road dirt?) cloak. Most of her face is covered by a hood, but there's a hank of straw colored hair coming out in front of either shoulder, and a huge, exhilarated grin visible from within from bright, even teeth. "Oi! Sorry to bother you both, but you two haven't seen a dojo around here by any chance, have you?" |
| Misa | Misa's brow quirks- she's heard both approachers, truth be told. Hard to sneak up on, really.
"Well hello again," she offers, not looking up from her writing until finishing the sentence. Once done, she sets down the brush and stands, smoothing out her robe before she looks at the man. "Well, I am hardly... skilled at saleship. But I have had a few challengers, interestingly, and those have been reward enough for the time being. Things will happen in time. A somewhat skeptical look as the charioteer sails on by, and she waits quietly for the return as the newcomer makes the slower trip back up the way. In the meantime, she adds; "I am surprised to see you back so soon. You seemed a busy sort last time, and I do not get the sense you are after a fight this particular day- or at least not after having further company." As Alani speaks out, she simply answers; "This is it. Small, perhaps, and inactive, but it has only opened up recently." |
| Ignis | "Truthfully..it feels like its been quite some time but perhaps not." admits Ignis, looking mildly embaressed. "I hope i'm not seeming that transparently eager to cross blades or to see something of interest. The Arena hasn't piqued my interest in quite some time and I've been unable to catch up with my associates back in the city. Things have been somewhat slow..so perhaps I am acting a little anxious in some ways. Either way it sounds like that being busy has caused me to miss noteworthy happenings.."
At this point, the newcomer has arrived and Ignis turns towards her, arms folded and eyebrow raised but a bemused expression on his face, "You were in quite the rush there. I'm glad I was off the road before you came thundering through. What's the hurry?" |
| Nine Roads Alani | "Well, then," the blonde calls out as she hops lightly off the back of her chariot, "well met to the pair of you. Call me Elena. And the hurry is just 'cause I felt like it!"
She laughs lightly and does a quick and graceful pirouette. "Don't you worry. My horses are mighty put upon here but I pamper them back in town. I mean, I -could- walk, but the idea is to arrive at a dojo rested." She quirks a cheesy little grin. "Just in case. I'm not a swordswoman, mind, but I do love a good spar, and it's good to be ready. "Not saying I'm insisting on one, mind, but I've been making the rounds of dojos in Great Forks and thereabouts. And don't you worry about 'small and inactive'. The biggest dojos are the ones that cater to the greatest number of people, not the most skilled, necessarily. Guess which I care about facing." She smirks and brushes her hood back, revealing long, shaggy blonde hair with her bangs tied back behind her head in a half-tail. |
| Misa | "More challengers than students indeed," muses Misa with a slight smirk. "I am not certain how I should respond at this moment- I was taking time to write, but now I have not one, but two people who I'm sure would love to test skills at the moment. Last time this happened, the both of them turned out to be a little more than they appeared- I worry if the same comes true, it may become a pattern." She chuckles with that, only softly.
"But, yes. I do, in theory, teach. As it turns out, not only am I poor at sales, but I burned... a number of bridges in Great Forks, with my lack of charm and challenges to the teachers there." |
| Ignis | The swordsman simply smiles as Elena makes her introduction and he inclines his head in thought as he hears her explanation and then Misa's response. He then chuckles and folds his arms, leaning comfortably against a tree as he nods a few times and then speaks.
"Greetings, Elena. I'm Ignis. I must admit, your forthrightness and exuberance shame me a bit. I was so concerned about appearences that I danced around the matter myself on several occasions and yet despite all of that, Misa here saw right through me..and still seems to be doing just that." He shrugs a little and then gestures absently while looking towards Misa, "Though you've got me curious now. What do you mean by..turning out to be more than they appeared? Great Forks, being what it is, carries many mysteries and also much more overt acts of the supernatural and we well know but who did you encounter? Also..if you want help mending bridges..I'm sure I can assist. Granted...I suppose one might ask if they're worth mending. To hear the both of you, it doesn't seem that the dojos of Great Forks are worth dealing with." |
| Nine Roads Alani | The expression on 'Elena's' face turns quite wry indeed, and she chuckles a bit. "I feel like I'm being called out there some. But, yeah, I've come for more friendly challenge than teaching. I'll just say this: The martial arts are alive and well in Great Forks and...well, we all know what it's like to be second place in an art where one second place finish could be your last."
She gives Ignis a friendly grin. "Nice to meet you, Ignis. And, personally, I've always found it takes one to know one--once you see someone move, you can usually tell if they've swept a tatami before. May as well ask right up at that point, you're not fooling anyone." She remains quiet and attentive as Ignis asks Misa about her comments, though...very attentive indeed. |
| Misa | "Well, one was a sorcerer with an enchanted robe of sorts, made the bout rather one-sided with them forgetting and me unexpecting and not wearing any sort of armour of my own," Misa explains, shrugging. "The other... I recall little about him, save that his strikes seemed to ripple through the air to make contact without actually touching me- and perhaps some similarly ensorcelled attire. Perhaps something I should look into? It seems more common than I might have expected, based on that day." Another chuckle from Misa, shrugging with her palms turned upwards.
"But then, I'll not regret a loss in such an unexpected situation. Much to learn from. And if I'm not mistaken... that chariot of yours is quite a bit more extravagant than your clothing. And well, Ignis here carries a rather -large- blade, I will point out." She waves it off for the moment. "Ah, but perhaps it is the investigative side of me being paranoid. My name is Misa, by the way. Hanase Misa." |
| Ignis | "Large enough." notes Ignis, "Compared to others I've seen, this seems a toothpick but I suppose that we're long past the point of even pretending to be shrewd around you, Misa." remarks Ignis with a smile and slightly narrowed eyes. Friendly but intense.
He rubs his jaw in thought as he thinks on the descriptions of the duelists that Misa faced and he then nods his head, "Strange indeed. I can't say that any of that sounds familiar to me but it is very ntriguing..especially your description of the martial arts involved. It's fortunante that they didn't seem to intend any true harm..though I imagine you'd have handled yourself well if they did.." He considers the chariot as he speaks and his gaze wanders over it and to the two horses. He doesnt linger there overly long, mind wandering once again and then saying aloud, "And I agree with your words Elena. I've had some humbling lessons taught to me in recent memory, where that sort of thing is concerned. It pays to not underestimate opponents.." |
| Nine Roads Alani | Elena frowns, brow furrowed. "Sounds like they were more intent on winning than on having a friendly spar. Not gonna lie--I always have more to learn. But it sounds like they taught you more than just about their styles, didn't they?" Her voice is soft, thoughtful. "Or they were very, very wrong about how good at noticing things you are." She grins. "Arrogance, of course. Aaaaaaaalways the kind of stuff my sifu warns against, you know. I wonder what styles they practiced. Anyway, nice to meet you too, Misa."
She looks curiously at Ignis' sword as soon as Misa points it out, blatantly ignoring any mention of her chariot, no matter how nice it is. "That -is- a pretty beefy sword. I admit, my own iron is a bit less, er, pronounced." She slips a hand into her traveler's robe and briefly pulls out a slim but deadly-looking throwing knife of fine make before putting it away again. |
| Misa | "In fairness to the two of them," Misa begins, head shaking a little. "The former legitimately forgot about her armour- supposedly comfortable enough she forgets the enchantment at times," she notes with a chuckle. "And the latter... I may have provoked. I may have mentioned that being met with meaningful challenges was part of the purpose of opening this small dojo. Or appropriating this old shrine, as one's perspective may be. Nothing subtle or deceitful about that one."
She waves it off again, glancing between the sword and chariot a moment, but not commenting further. "And for the record, bizarre attacks at range or not, I did win that second bout all the same. But as you both say- much to learn in both win and loss. And, well... indeed, the martial arts are alive and well in great forks. But not many of them quite proved the challenge I was after as competitors- hence opening my own. Attract those like myself." |
| Ignis | "Hmm.." Ignis considers them both thoughtfully, arms folded once again and body braced casually against the tree. He looks from them back towards the chariot, the horses and his own a little distance furter before finally gesturing absently once again.
"It's a daiklaive." he remarks, matter of factly and open concernnig it. "..One of some sentimental value and history. There may come a time when I can say more but I think it's enough to say that, nor should it be too surprsing given our location and things that we are discussing." His smile is mildly rueful for a few seconds before his attitude and mood perks up again and he nods towards Misa, "Congratulations on your victory then. Well earned, from the sounds of it and as our friend, Elena, has said..you've probably learned much." He considers the matter more and then says, "If what you truly seek are challengers then...setting a dojo up seems a long term and roundabout way to go about it. If you are skilled enough to face those with enchanted armor and strange martial arts then perhas you're simpl8y not stating your challenge to others loudly enough..?" |
| Nine Roads Alani | At Ignis' admission, 'Elena' gives Misa a sidelong look, expecting to exchange glances. She then replies to Ignis in her driest tone of voice.
"Well. That was...blithe. I know the Wyld Hunt don't just traipse into the city and all, but this far outside of town, don't you think you should...I don't know...be more careful?" She grins. "Though if I could see an -Exalted- fight, that'd be worth the price of admission by itself." There's something about that last sentence...she's not lying, per se, but something is slightly off. She gives Ignis a one-eyebrow-raised look. "I get the impression Misa is not looking to challenge everyone anyway...just the right people." She chuckles. "Problem of course being how to tell." |
| Misa | "Well, I do not know if you have noticed, Ignis," Misa says with a smirk. "But I am not a -loud- person." Indeed, she's incredibly soft of voice, lacking assertion almost entirely, simply quiet by nature.
"And... I suppose you are correct. I suppose in the interests of disclosure, and solidarity with Ignis here, and I suppose my mentor encouraging me to take more risks in general... I did not win against a supernatural martial artist by being precisely mortal -myself-. Though I've no daiklaves about to hint at that more subtly, admittedly, and I am quite attached to my perfectly normal sword. So, yes, perhaps. The right people. And perhaps, students here might serve to filter them somewhat as well, as part of the recompense for teaching." |
| Ignis | "Yes, I've noticed." responds Ignis to Misa, his response ringing with bemusement. He listens to her, nodding his head thoughtfully before turning his attention towards Elena and a look of mild surprise crosses his face to join with his bemused expression.
"..Still...isn't that something of a leap of logic to assume that because I carry a daiklaive I should be concerned about a Wyld Hunt? Instead, is not the fact that I seem to not be concerned..telling in and of iteslf? It need not be that I am simply being careless you know. Perhaps I just have no cause to be afraid or think they should come for me? All I said was that I carried a daiklaive. Nothing more. Although.." He rubs his jaw and quirks his mouth in thought as he studies Elena, "You don't seem particularly alarmed or concerned, either way. In fact..there aren't many who would -desire- to see Exalted do battle from anywhere but a safe distance..." |
| Nine Roads Alani | At this, 'Elena' just looks a little sad and a little frustrated at Ignis. She sighs deeply, but thinks better before actually challenging him on his prowess. Instead, she looks at Misa, nodding slowly. "Both of you, huh. Makes me -really- want to try my hand against you two sometime. Not together." She chuckles despite herself.
She pauses, listening carefully to Ignis--clearly taking him more seriously than before...not at the revelation of him being Exalted, but when he started paying extra attention to her. "Ignis, if they know who you are and they think they can take you, they -will- come for you. Everyone knows that, I thought. And they don't come in ones and twos, either, so hey...don't think that just 'cause you can whoop one Dragon-Blood means you're safe." She looks wryly amused at Ignis' last comment. "No, I -do- want to see them from pretty close up. Not right in my face, you understand. Just a stone's throw away." She beams in amusement. |
| Misa | "And in fairness to Elena here, they'll take an interest in most any exalt in one fashion or another, be it to eliminate or... well, I would have said take before the Empress for an offer of employment, but I suppose it would be heads of the great houses now, no?" Misa notes, brow rising as she shrugs a little. "I have never known the realm to discriminate, nor Lookshy which you may be able to guess at my familiarity with."
"Though he has a point, with the wanting to see the fight that close. Then again, if you're interested in the match, and charioteering so fast... perhaps just a daredevil sort of attitude?" She smirks a little at that, decidedly unsubtly not meaning that literally. |
| Ignis | "That's not...that's not what I meant." responds Ignis, looking surprised and now actually thrown off. "I meant..why would you assume.."
HIs jovialness drains now, replaced by a sudden sharpness and piercing gaze. He straightens up abit more. "I would not in nearly the same exact breath speak of being humbled and needing to not underestimate others while then following it up with implying that I could take an entire wyld hunt. My comment was more to the point of why do -you- assume anything about my precise nature and what that might mean as it relates to the wyld hunt." He does seem to listen to Misa and is forced to nod his head in thought..though begrudingly. Then.. "Perahps, then, let's continue to be more open and frank. Surely no harm in doing so." he says to Misa before letting his smile return, "I think its clear our friend here is no mere curious mortal. Not even a daredevil. Not with the confidence they speak on these matters." |
| Nine Roads Alani | "Oh, whatever else you may think of me, Ignis, I -am- a daredevil. Very much so. I didn't ride here knowing I'd have -this- conversation, you know? I expected a little sparring match, some fun, that was it."
All at once, 'Elena's' face goes from jovial to focused to just...immensely sad, all at once, a look that just doesn't belong on someone who looks as young as she does--early twenties, at most. "I didn't assume anything, Ignis. You told me you had a daiklave, which it's pretty obvious you do. Not just anyone can lug those things around, you know. See how you told me more than you thought you did? You told me at least not mortal, to my face. No assumptions required." Her inflection is a bit different now, too...more professional. But also trained. It's pretty obvious her casual speech is her natural way of speaking and this is learned. "As for curious mortals..." She sighs deeply and looks Ignis in the eyes. "Are you sure about this? I'm not your enemy, if that's what you're wondering. But the question is not what you can learn today. "It's what you'll remember tomorrow." |
| Misa | "And for what it is worth, all I did was comment on a large sword and let the rest play out," Misa confesses, palms up once again. "Perhaps underhanded of me. My apologies."
She pauses, and there's a shift in her own face as Elena comments on memory. Curious. Analytical. Sizing the woman up anew, really. "It's quite odd you should say that. I have this curious gap in my memory where the person who struck me without striking me should be. And I have someone I know telling me I should be very, very wary of trusting someone who leaves holes of memory of that sort. Now, I am not one to jump directly to conclusions or assume someone is a threat, but given your tone and that context, I have... difficulty assuming coincidence. Care to elaborate?" |
| Ignis | "When the phrase 'Wyld Hunt' is mentioned..it's easy to assume the worse.." admits Ignis, seemingly satisfied by Elena's response and Misa's comment as well. At least..most of Elena's response. There is some visible confusion at her very last comment and as Misa speaks again he glances to her and frowns, pondering her words before continuing.
"...I did admit to it being a Daiklaive, yes. There's just..a few steps to take before one thinks of someone that needs to be ducking from the Wyld Hunt but both of you are wise. Being this close to Great Forks I should have explained more but..in the end, nothing you said was wrong, Elena. However, I am inclined to be curious as well concerning your cryptic words there. That's rather specific..." |
| Nine Roads Alani | "Look," 'Elena' murmurs. "I could bluster, or just -leave-, but I'm starting to suspect something else is going on here." She chuckles again, still quite wry. "I had a most auspicious meeting in my future, after all. I could be thinking of someone else, but...I tend to doubt it. So." She sighs deeply, and then just seems to...relax...all at once.
Where did Elena go? She stepped out, clearly, and this stranger stands before you, a blonde girl you all have never seen before. Or have you? She walks over to her chariot, caressing one of the carved wooden sides thoughtfully. With a soft air-sucking sound, it collapses in on itself all at once, becoming a well-wrought wooden wheel, which she lifts up onto her shoulders with no real apparent effort. She looks at Ignis and Misa quietly, intently, but her voice has that casual, farm girl accent again. "Sometimes, Misa, when the curtain is peeled back for you, you realize that asking if something is coincidence is frankly ridiculous. No such thing. I'm the third one of mine you ran into in the past couple -weeks-? And you remembered that you forgot something? Destiny has a plan for you." She grins. And so do I, now. Call me Nine Roads Alani. And this time, I -insist- that we spar." |
| Misa | Misa's a reserved person- but not incredibly guileful, truth be told. It's fairly clear that the sudden shift in... personhood by Elena... Alani... whomever, both surprises and somewhat confuses the woman.
When the mention of a challenge comes up however, she refocuses. "Well, very well then. A moment," she says simply, eyes sliding between a couple of the racks of practice weapons- before she steps over to one, picking up a pair of blunt training weapons- curved metal wrapped in reeds, designed to smart and sting fairly sharply, but not really deal any proper harm without especial effort. Still probably don't want to take a hard swing to the nose. "I will not pretend to know precisely what that quirk in my memory means, or what that implies for you beyond this... disguise? Swapping of self? But a sword against a... wheel, I suppose. That is straightforward enough to disregard all that for now." |
| Ignis | Ignis's response is more outwardly reserved as he simply inclines his head..but he's no less confused and...perhaps a touch concerned as well as his eyes narrow ever so slightly and his thoughts begin to trace over the strange steps that this entire encounter has been taking.
As Misa moves to oblige the challenge he nods his head in deference. It is her dojo after all and this mystery of lost memory and uncertain identities began with her and is being reinforced by Alani's words so this is her duel to accept. "Very well. I am anticipating seeing quite the spectacle and perhaps the answer to a few raised questions. Well met Nine Roads Alani. I suppose then that this is the 'real' you?" |
| Nine Roads Alani | Now, Alani is still grinning. She's almost back in her element for a bit, after the furtive hemming and hawing of the past few minutes. She's clearly no master manipulator either...but just as clearly, one who is in a position where she needed to at least try to do just that.
At Ignis' question, she just gives him a tiny, but heartfelt smile, and she doesn't bother to respond. Really, does she need to? For Misa, she offers a relaxed grin and easily spins her wheel down near her feet, back up to her left arm, and holds both arms out straight, head down. She rolls the wheel down one arm, over her shoulders, and up the other arm before catching it, swinging it back down, and holding it in both hands. "Not to worry, Misa. Take your time and we'll begin when you're ready. I'll keep things relatively friendly too. Like I said, spar, not fight. Nobody asked me to do this, by the way. I'm just intensely curious where I stand and what I need to improve, and sometimes it's tough to find people closer to my skill, you know?" And with that, she hoists the wheel up and over her head, settling into a loose, relaxed stance. |
| Misa | Misa's response is simple and, for the most part, straightforward. The practice blades whirl in her hands, landing reverse-gripped as she shifts her shoulders back, partly stretching and partly adjusting stance.
A moment after, they whirl again, coming forward in a standard grip again- one held low and far in front of her, the other raised and close to her chest. She shifts her weight forward just slightly, settling into one of the stances from one of the styles she purports to practice and impart at this dojo. |
| Nine Roads Alani | Still grinning from before they set to begin, Alani starts to lope forward, then burst into an all-out run. She springboards forward like an acrobat, almost lightly touching the ground with her fingertips before launching herself, wheel first, at Misa.
Her style is flamboyant, acrobatic, and aerial, and it's something a martial artist may have seen before... Once her strike hits or not, Alani springboards again, either off of Misa or off the ground to soar straight upwards. |
| Nine Roads Alani | As Alani had leapt at Misa the first time, she vaulted a good ten feet straight into the air, just outside of melee range, towards the sun. Even shining as it is, it doesn't overshadow the wide grin on her face. Alani is clearly enjoying this. Instead of coming back down herself, though, she launches the wheel at Misa with some force.
As she does so, Alani uses the recoil from her throw to do a backflip in midair, landing a moment later a few feet in front of Misa, well within melee range. As she lands, she holds out her hand and the wheel ricochets off of Misa, a tree stump, and one of the stone walls, before landing neatly back in Alani's hand. "You're good, Misa. C'mon and prove it!" |
| Misa | The series of quick blows from an unusual angle... seem to catch Misa off-guard. Which might be considered odd, given the speed with which she moves to defend against them. Nonetheless, the thrown strike breaks her footing, and she does slightly stumble- but recovers well enough to not be truly struck, just glanced by the wheel enough to send it aside while losing her surety.
It's... probably not entirely this situation, but her eyeing of that wheel and dour expression might suggest some irritation in some manner. But her settling her footing again does not last long- in a blur of motion she springs forward as Alani comes down from her aerial position- she herself twists into a flip, the swords whirling around again as she makes her way behind Alani, stabbing from either direction with the two weapons from a back-to-back position. |
| Ignis | Well...it's safe to say he wasn't expecting -that-.
Ignis had his arms folded and one hand against his chin in a thoughtful and studious sort of stance when this whole scenario began. When Nine Alani leapt ten feet skywards and sent her wheel flying..his eyes widened and his stance shifts to bring both hands down to his waist. An eyebrow arcs slightly as he tracks the movements of the two combatants. His eyes flickering back and forth and settling onto Misa as she darts forward in a haze of speed to whirl her counter attack in faster then mortal sight could hope to keep up with. It's all breathtakingly sudden and swift as is the nature of the Exalted when they do battle. |
| Nine Roads Alani | Clearly, that Misa girl is fast as lightning.
The moment Alani landed, the Solar was on her--and not even from the front, but from behind! Alani dives forward in a roll, and you'd think that would be -easier- carrying a wheel, but it's awkward. She clambers to her feet only a few feet away, though, and the grin still hasn't left her face. This time, as she lunges in again, it's with a completely different result in mind. She springs forward and down again, hands on the wheel, the wheel a springboard against the dirt, but she flips up and over it to come at Misa feet first...not in a kick, but in an attempt to trap Misa's head between her legs and bear her down into the dirt. |
| Misa | Despite facing fully away from Alani, Misa seems perfectly content to listen, and catch sights out of the corner of her eye with her head turned slightly.
She whirls as Alani leaps, swords returning to standard grip yet again. Her right flashes out, snaking in front of one of Alani's knees and behind the other and twisting- just enough to throw of Alani's angle of approach. She turns herself away from the altered angle, steering clear of the attempt to take her to the ground- and continues the spin, accelerating to follow that up with an arcing swing opposing Alani's motion with her dominant left, married with the right swinging up from below. |
| Nine Roads Alani | Alani's attempt to catch Misa in a throw might end up costing her very, very dearly indeed.
When she failed to catch Misa's head between her thighs, she flipped right past, helped along by Misa's deft movement and a push along the way. As she swings both swords, Alani's yellow eyes widen as she might have been cut into thirds had this been a duel to the death. Instead, she manages to Limbo past the sword coming from above, but she gets caught in the back of the knees by the one coming up from below. It's not enough to put her down for the count, but for the first time in this fight she's on the back foot as she does yet another handspring, cartwheeling back to her feet with her wheel in front of her. While she still looks exhilarated, and somewhat happy for being in the fight, she's not quite so giddy as before. |
| Misa | Misa, admittedly, still doesn't look entirely pleased with herself. One of her dull practice blades comes to rest a moment next to her head, pointed forward- the other hovers near her waist, pointed backwards.
She moves slower this time, intentionally altering her pace as she steps forward- the swords begin to whirl around each other before her, before a sudden sharp step forward turns Misa into a spinning strike that takes her sliding fully past Alani. |
| Ignis | Ignis continues to attempt to raise the art of stoically observing a duel to the level of an artform...and fails utterly at doing so. He just doesn't have much of a poker face, so to speak, for this sort of thing. If he's impressed..he's impressed.
And the two ladies are quite impressive. "Yes..I think I have some questions.." he muses thoughtfully as his eyes dart back and forth, working to keep up with the lightning speed and acrobatic movements. |
| Nine Roads Alani | She might as well be called No Roads Alani at this point! Alani looks for any opportunity to get away, and actually starts to do another quick handspring, but there's just no way she can get more than a couple feet from Misa before she lunges in again to strike from in front, from behind, all around. Alani is usually the one dancing around her opponent, but this dance partner has smoother moves indeed.
She's at least grinning again, though, despite still being on the back foot. Fighting is a puzzle, a challenge, and what she's best at--a test of athletics. Fighting her is like running down a swarm of angry wasps, sometimes. |
| Misa | Smoother in style, perhaps, but Misa's motions are staccato, starting and stopping with superhuman suddenness.
She all but appears before Alani's final avenue of escape, and is remarkably still... for a bare heartbeat. She explodes forth, seeming to move multiple directions at once. From some four different directions it seems she comes, her blades moving in a dizzying dance of what might otherwise be steel, almost forming walls closing in on the other woman. A final thrusting strike resolves Misa into a single figure, gliding past to the other side of her opponent- this time, limned in a thin corona of violet, red, and golden light. |
| Nine Roads Alani | Is her moniker now Negative Roads Alani? Misa has gone from There to Where? to Anywhere...and now she's Everywhere, or at least it seems. Her last strike is the one Alani can't quite get away from, her extreme athleticism at last failing her as instead of springing out of the way, she barely interposes her wheel over her, kneeling, as Misa's sword slams into it and sends the blonde sprawling into the dirt.
As Alani gets up on one knee, she's scraped a bit, but she was already dusty...just more so now. She lets out a huge exhale, clearly disappointed, and leans forward using the wheel to bear her weight. "Whoo. Man. I yield. I thought I was fast, but clearly I have a lot further to go." |
| Misa | Misa stands straight as Alani speaks, turning the swords over in a much slower, lazier motion to slide them through the sash around her waist on either side for the moment.
"I would not be so quick to dismiss myself, were I you. Sheer luck kept me from simply being defeated in the first moment of this contest. I must take more care when opponents come with such... exotic and potent armaments and armour, the past days have taught me. You say yield, and yet- I would suggest instead we consider it a draw." She turns, finally, the soft nimbus of solar light settling in about her in almost... gentle fashion. And indeed, when she turns, it is the symbol of the Dawn shining through the heavy bangs that cover her forehead. "You are an exceedingly capable opponent, Alani. I am fortunate to have had this opportunity." She brings her hands up, one hand wrapped loosely around the other fist, in a polite sort of salute for the end of the match. |
| Ignis | "She's right. Your assessment of yourself isn't necessarily fair." adds Ignis, smiling slightly as his arms are once more folded and his hand returned to his chin in a sort of thinkers pose.
"You -are- fast. Blisteringly so. Our hostess, on the other hand.. seems to have a talent and a school of combat that would make lightning itself jealous." He looks over towards Misa, observing the soft halo of gold about her body and the symbol of the Dawn upon her brow. "Well done, to you both. At first I was disappointed at having to observe but I don't think I could have asked for anything better than witnessing you both in your element." |
| Nine Roads Alani | Setting the wheel down to lean against her left leg, Alani rests one fist in the opposite open palm and offers a firm, practiced salute in reply to Misa.
"A draw it is, then. I'm honored to have crossed weapons with you." She grins at Ignis. "Perhaps I'll challenge you and that sword of yours someday. But for now, I'd better go." She chuckles again, and with a practiced flick of the wrist, sends her wheel rolling a few steps away from her. "My horses are only so patient with me, I find." And sure enough, the wheel ripples and expands, becoming the same chariot from before, complete with the two same horses. Given how un-bothered they are by this, there has to be something special about the pair of them beyond just the chariot. Alani seems utterly unconcerned about the Solar anima as she looks at both Ignis and Misa. "It's nice to have met ya both. Don't be strangers, now!" She hops on the chariot, leaving with slightly less frantic speed compared to her arrival. But not by much. |