Log View

Source	Contents
Serene Herald	It's a cool day, the kind with a clear blue sky that offers no shelter from the breeze, even as the sun has already risen. And as people stir and come to work, a man in nicely warm clothes--mostly dark gray and deep purple, but with green tassles--comes towards the dojo, knocking at the gate and waiting for admittance. He seems fairly plain...except he has a reaper daiklaive at his back, pommel-stone and hilt showing over his left shoulder.
Misa	It seems the closest thing to a gate here is an archway that used to serve as the threshold of shrine grounds- the place is... old, and worn down. Once, it was a shrine to a minor river god. Now, that god having long since abandoned their post, Misa has taken it over. It's been cleaned up, sure, but... has seen better days. An open dirt training ground sits before a raised stone platform, atop which on one side is a small structure. The platform has plenty of room for sparring and small groups of practice motions... the structure could maybe hold one small duel and a few small side rooms for, perhaps, one person to sleep and cook and store items. A woman with the look of Lookshy about her stands before a small outdoor stove, preparing some kind of kettle or such idly. Several racks of wood-and-reed training weapons dot the edges of the training ground, and she herself appears to currently have a pair of short, actual swords resting against the side of the stove. She turns at the knocking against the arch, brow risen slightly. She tilts her head, then nods, gesturing simply for the man to approach. She's quite quiet, all told, and perhaps a little unassuming and withdrawn for a supposed blademaster.
Serene Herald	The man makes his way and and gives a courteous nod. "Good morning," he says. "I am being of called Perfect Question, and have been hearing that a most excellent mistress of the sword is after being here. True, this is?" While the accent is somewhat strange, the grammar is definitely foreign.
Misa	A quiet moment from Misa as she considers the look of the man, and she takes two cups rather than one from a small outdoor cabinet on the far side of the stove from Question, and pours some lightly green liquid from her preparation. One is offered forward as she sips from the other, contemplative. "Some might say as much of me- what brings you to seek such a person out?" she asks- her voice is quiet, almost to the point of being annoying to listen to, honestly.
Serene Herald	Question taps the hilt of his sword. "I am one who is of enjoying precision, and seeking to be better. Some skill I am having, but to have more always could. So, to learn from am I, if you amenable are." He takes the cup and then sips from it, slowly, savoring the taste. "Not to prove myself better. Not a challenge this is. But just as young scholars seek me out to teach them--and the best ask to learn /how/ to learn--so seek I you out."
Misa	"... Quite the blade," Misa comments in mild tones, tilting her head to glance over the man's shoulder. "I seem to get some number of surprises with my visitors of late. Should I expect you to be another of those?" she adds, fairly blunt despite the tendencies of her voice and manner. She glances down at her plain swords, and then turns to one of the weapon racks. "And, well. I might wish to see what you are already capable of, as a starting point."
Serene Herald	"Of course, and thank you. As for surprises? It depends on what you expect. I am of being a tyro in basic forms, but have studied an art this uses. However...far better training weapons to use, yes? This blade to draw I am loathe, except in dire need." He goes to the racks as well, to take a wooden, or common steel, daiklaive. "Which wish you to see? Basic skill, or a martial art?"
Misa	A quirk of the brow at the term 'tyro' from Misa, and she steps to one of the racks to pick up a pair of light wood-and-reed 'weapons'. She turns about, studying the man's posture for a moment. "I practice a multitude of styles myself. I generally request people show me whatever they feel most comfortable and capable with," she explains, whirling the 'blades' around lazily to adjust to the differing heft from an actual sword.
Serene Herald	Question nods, and draws the balanced wooden weapon, before shifting his stance slightly. It is a stance that seems to be not quite offensive or defensive...almost like a riposte or counterpunch stance of some sort. "If you are having the knowledge of oth/er styles that I can use my weapon with, I would grateful be."
Misa	Misa takes a moment, looking at the man's stance and then back to his weapon before she quite simply states; "Three." She considers him, then angles one of her 'blades' forward and holds the other back, close to her torso. She exhales slowly, stance adjusting as she takes a similarly defensive stance- albeit of a wildly different style. She seems to favour her left hand, but nothing about this pose suggests the weapon in her right hand will be any less of a concern.
Serene Herald	Question comes closer, blade in his left hand, as he waits a moment, drawing back...and then a sudden lunge forward, legs pushing, arms extending. A simple, if clean strike towards the abdomen.
Misa	Misa's response is swift- her forward blade tips downward instead, catching the offending weapon mid-thrust and twisting the strike away, while the off-blade flashes forth and swipes upwards to send Question's weapon up along her first one and fully up and away from striking her. It's almost dance-like, her motion, including the vaguely sinuous way they wind their way back to her readied stance. "A fair approach- let me see more. I am not certain I recognize your stancework. I should like to learn a little, here," she comments, tones still mild despite the situation.
Serene Herald	"An old Style this is being. Have been hearing it called after grief," the man says. "It little does now. To any foe who is fresh or merely tired, little effect. It...widens the gap between one's peak and one's current measure of strength." He flexes his wrists, making his own blade go in small circles. And this time, a thrust at her left side--but a feint! Most of the way ther, he twists and draws to his left and down, to strike at her right leg.
Misa	"You are capable at it," Misa comments, crossing the blades beside her to intercept Question's weapon between them. She flicks her wrists with that- she's not notably strong, but something about the angle leverages enough to force the man back a moment. "Very capable. I would wager your biggest issue, in this moment, is my style's more immediate benefits in the moment before wounding, and sheer speed. Most opponents I should think you would be faring quite well again," she explains, spinning the blades to a reverse grip and taking an alternate version of that defensive stance, hands directly in front of her with one blade crossing before her midsection, the other pointing forward.
Serene Herald	"I quite agree. But as I said--this I expect, you better than I to be." Question smiles slightly, his own blade angled slightly up. "Through your guard I think I cannot get, so other ways I would have to find. Wish you me to try again?" He doesn't seem disheartened or angry about the lack of apparent success.
Misa	"It is not many who can- though juding by that sword you wear, would I be correct to wager you have not quite brought your all to bear?" Misa questions, brow raising. "Though I could perhaps test your own defenses, if you like. Though sometime I would like to hear more of this style of yours- perhaps spar against it again. And, well... I think at this juncture, you would wish to either train for sheer speed and deftness in some fashion, or perhaps take up another style, based on what I see. And if I am correct in my thoughts... you may have potential for all three. Though one of those would require a second blade- and another strongly encourage."
Serene Herald	"A single blade. Precision and speed are what I focus on, if you please. And no, I have not brought all I have to bear--much requires one to already be hurt. But more is locked within the sword. Use it well, I can, but to use it here, now..." He shakes his head. "This is a friendly meeting. How we first do things. If you insist, I shall use it. Otherwise, I am content with this. And, yes, if you wish to learn this style...I may trade teaching for teaching. Otherwise...silver and some jade have I."
Misa	"I will learn of most anything- and truth be told, if past experience is anything to go by, I am certain I would pick some up simply facing it over time," says Misa, shrugging slightly. She tosses the practice blades to the side, landing semi-roughly back upon a rack. She takes a moment to consider- before apparently deciding she does not care about potential consequences- and in a small, modest flash of pink, gold, and violet light, a well-made (if mundane) slashing sword appears, held by the scabbard just by the opening thereof in her right hand. It almost seems to fit there more naturally than an empty hand. It is a Lookshyan style of slashing blade with a guard styled after an orchid, although a particularly savvy eye might notice the Prasadi imagery along the scabbard. "The first style I learned, and still that which feels most natural. Speed, precision, and intense internal focus are the watchwords of its practice, the drawing strikes perhaps the calling card."
Serene Herald	"Ah...this will be a sight to see." Question lowers his practice blade until it almost touches the ground, then goes to put it back at the rack. he steps back, still within his Form, as he watches. "This have I heard of, but never to study could I, I think." Still, he narrows his eyes and watches quite intently.
Misa	"Looking for a demonstration, then?" Misa asks, looking quizzically at the man. "I have heard it referred to by may names- my teacher preferred the simple appellation of Single Point- ideatic of the focus upon the edge of one's blade the style demands. It is... showy, so perhaps indeed you have seen it. Dates back some time, I imagine it exists in many parts of Creation by this juncture."
Serene Herald	"I have heard my style is of ancient times, before even the Primordials had been triumphed over. And many know it throughout Creation. 'Violet Sorrows', is how I heard it called.. But yes? Single Point...it..." He thinks a moment, "The unity of focus, purpose...that appeals to me, on a philosophical level. Perhaps I am too much the scholar..." He smiles, "And yes, I would like to see a demonstration draw."
Misa	A nod from Misa, and a pause for a moment. She goes... quite still. Detached- perhaps aloof, even. She simply takes a deep breath- and then there's a sudden burst of activity. Her eyes flick to the copse of trees adjoining the training ground, and then she... vanishes, it seems. Moving faster than a mortal eye might follow, one settles back upon her with blade now drawn, on the far side of a mid-sized tree, crouching down behind it. And as she slowly sheathes the slashing blade- mundane though it is- the tree topples over, sliced cleanly through the trunk.
Serene Herald	His eyes might catch the motion, o not, but he does not seem surprised by it. The felling of the tree, now /that/ gets his attention. "Well! That is...a rare delight!" His eyes are wide, and instead of the somber, sober look normally on his face, there is open brightness instead. "Yes, that sort of thing would work well with this.. Very much." He bows deeply, and then stands straight, "I am thanking you for this marvellous display of skill!"
Misa	"I will warn," says Misa as she stands again, turning about with a light motion. "There is little... restraint, to this style. There is a reason I do not oft use it for sparring or testing as before. It is very much practiced with the intent to kill- or at least quite severely overwhelm. You say you do not draw your blade save in dire situations. That sort of attitude will serve you well, in this case," she explains, still quiet but decidedly serious as she walks back onto the dirt patch that acts as the training yard.
Serene Herald	"True, very true. It is..." He pauses a moment, searching for words. "You want to have the /correct/ action. This requires thought and temperment. Often times, is being of restraint, while other times, a loss of restraint--but not precision--to attain the goals desired. But always with precision, so that what is done is precisely what is desired." Serious again, somber, even with a bit of a smile still remaining. "After all, if I am of ending another, but with wrongness--motive, method, or more--it is of being a beginning for me, but such beginning is of the holding the seeds of mine own ending." Philosophers. Scholars.
Misa	"I followed... some portion of that," Misa admits, with a small, wry smile. "I simply mean not to take things lightly- I am not much for... flowery language or such. Pragmatism, I think is the word sometimes." She steps up the short stairs to the stone platform, the slashing blade banished once more. "I can teach you, if you like. Though do keep in mind what I said of speed- it will only behoove you all the more, with this form I have shown." "For now? I might suggest finishing your tea, and taking a moment to settle in the space. I suspect you will become familiar in short order."