CLOSED ♔ GIRL, I KNOW THE WOODS LOOK DARK

[slay]

{ lost girls ♔ tilly and the wall }

WHO || Buffy Summers & Myrilandel de Tanos
WHAT || Buffy teaches Myri some sweet moves
WHERE || Knights HQ, Training Area
WHEN || August 5
HOW || Prose

She hadn't pulled weapons from the racks, but Buffy had done some prep work of the sparring space they'd claimed as their own by getting pads out just in case it turned out Myri packed more of a punch than she appeared to. Truth be told, Buffy wasn't anticipating that much, but it'd prove to be a motivator.

"You know," she pointed out, pushing the pads up against the wall and wrapping tape around her knuckles. "I feel compelled to mention that Fred's usually the go-to guy for the training business. Or, Kat." A beat. "For anything but firearms, anyway." Except, Kat wasn't her knight anymore. Right. Myri was gonna be all full-knight gal, just like Spike.

She kept forgetting she was being left behind. Her expression grew a little distant at that, then she just looked down at her hands again, putting more attention the wrapping and soldiering onward.

"I mean, I'm happy to do it, I just. They might know more than I do." After all, super strength couldn't really be taught.

Comments

[witchwoman]

Myri caught the staff with exceptional grace (nat 20 dex check! woo!) and tested the weight of it in her hands. She watched the way Buffy held it and mirrored it as best as she could. This felt better than the gun they had issued her anyway. At least this was a weapon that didn't feel foreign in her hands. She'd seen these a thousand times in her life, after all.

"True... and I may have to. It isn't as though I can discretely carry this around New Orleans or Chicago."

[slay]

"Which is really too bad," Buffy commented in thoughtful agreement, looking down at the staff. It was the same issue she'd found with swords. Better to go unarmed than to be unable to conceal that you were armed, and considering she wasn't keen on the gun option … Well, it was lucky she was good with her hands.

She moved to stand opposite Myri, squaring her stance, holding the staff in front of her.

"When I swing," she indicated a swing overhead and to the left, "you block like this." She braced her hands a good distance apart on the staff and held it up to the same side in a sharp, decisive gesture that would catch the overhead swing of hers. "We're gonna practice a series of blocks first."

[witchwoman]

Myri moved her hands to grip further apart and threw up a practice block just after Buffy. Again, this was a weapon she had witnessed, so now it was just using practical application of that knowledge. She nodded her acknowledgement to their next section of lessens and took her best defensive stance.

For as foreign as it was to learn how to defend herself (and even fight back), Myri felt good about this so far.

"Ready."

[slay]

At first, she demonstrated the blocks again more thoroughly -- first high blocks, then mid-range blocks, then low ones, repeated over to help Myri get the rhythm of it through mimicking. Then, when she was sure Myri had an idea of what to do, Buffy began to swing her bow staff to meet the blocks in sharp but easy-going hits that made loud cracking noises of hard wood against hard wood (attack 24, dmg 6 - sadly this is without her strength bonuses even added i THOUGHT IT'D BE SUBDUAL ENOUGH).

[witchwoman]

Miming a block and actually attempting to stop a blow are two entirely different things. Myri learned that the hard way once Buffy's staff came in contact with her body. The hit wasn't enough to stagger her, but she was certainly awake now. She adjusted her footing and took a breath.

"Again." She wasn't going to stop until she felt like she could do this in the field. The people they encountered out there wouldn't wait for her to think about how and what she was doing. She knew how ruthless it could be and this time, she wasn't going to be the doe-eyed girl who stood helpless while the war waged.

[slay]

Buffy jerked the staff back quickly when she realized it'd beaten Myri's reaction time to make the block, concern washing through her expression. But, when her eyes met with Myri's determination, she softened, considering, and then nodded.

She raised the staff again and took another swing (atk 19, dmg 3).

[witchwoman]

She moved slightly quicker to block the next hit, but misjudged exactly where Buffy was aiming. The blow landed, but didn't hurt quite as much as the last one. She wasn't sure if she was improving or if Buffy was trying to help her out. She didn't command that they continue this time, just stood ready and expected it.

[slay]

Myri seemed more prepared for this hit, so Buffy didn't hesitate to raise the staff and take another blow, aimed for a similar block. This time, she swung downward more slowly, making it easy to block (atk 8).

[witchwoman]

The sound of wood hitting wood is surprising to her. She stops, looking at the successful block as if it's a foreign concept.

"I did it?" Her arms relax slowly, not caring that it's obvious that Buffy isn't come at her as she would an enemy. "I did it." She smiles wide.

[slay]

A grin steadily spreads over Buffy's face as Myri seems to figure out her success. She lowers her staff, moving it to one hand so she can clap the other on Myri's shoulder.

"You did," she affirms, "You're doing great." Her thumb rubs reassuringly before she drops her hand away, taking the staff up again. "Keep it up." She readied her weapon again and nodded for Myri to go back to starting position.

They continued to proceed through a series of blocks of different sorts, and each time Myri seemed to work up to getting it, Buffy would allow her a few shots of practice, then move onto the next block. When she'd helped Myri compile it all together into a combo of quick blocks against Buffy's assailing hits that tested all the blocks she'd learned in one movement, she took a moment, lowering her staff and letting out a short, almost labored breath as she smiled.

"Good. You're doing really good. Think you're ready to switch it up? You know. I block, you attack?"

[witchwoman]

She was sweating and breathing heavily by the time Buffy paused, so all she did to answer was nod. Trying to attack was something she knew she'd have to do out in the real world. She couldn't just defend herself. She'd have to fight back as well. Her first attack was a solid attempt, but fell short of actually landing (Attack: 15). The second attack was more sluggish, which was probably due to feeling defeated at the first one failing (attack 8).

But instead of giving up, Myri took a step back, regrouped and came down harder (attack 21, which I think I saw on her sheet should hit?).

[slay]

Buffy raises her staff to block, but she doesn't move quick enough because she didn't expect Myri to gather herself into an attack that hastily. It catches her in the shoulder (roll damage pls?), but she stays steady (balance 24) with her feet planted. She releases one hand's grip on the staff and moves it to rub at her injured shoulder, surprised.

"Good hit."

[witchwoman]

(damage: 4)

Myri wasn't expecting to land the hit, so much so that it actually scared her a little to feel the contact of flesh against the staff. She stopped and stepped back, blinking as she processed what had just happened.

It only lasted a moment, though, before her confusion switched over to pain. The shock of it caused her drop the staff, reaching up to her own shoulder as her gift tugged at her to heal, letting her know where the problem was located in the most obvious way.

[slay]

Myri's sympathy pains caused Buffy to step forward, dropping her staff, reaching out to cover Myri's hand with her own and fixing her with a look of concern and worry.

"You okay? What's going on?"

[witchwoman]

As soon as Buffy's within reach, she reached out and touched the shoulder she had struck, releasing her gift (healed 5 hp). Once that's done, she felt much better and brought her gaze to Buffy's.

"Sometimes with my gift... I feel it when others are hurt. It's how I knew you were shot when we were at Rafael's. It's... stronger when it's someone I care about. It's part of the reason I never really learned to fight. Hurting other people is difficult for me."

[slay]

"Getting that," Buffy murmured with a nod, looking down at her hand to consider the warmth that went through it as Myri healed her. The pain was quickly subsiding, courtesy of it. "Fighting only does so much good when you heal someone right after you hit them," she pointed out grimly. "Are you sure this is something you want to do? If it's gonna be painful for you… I'm just not sure that's an instinct we should work on quashing."

[witchwoman]

"I don't have to heal them. There have been times when I... couldn't, even though I wanted to. And it only hurts a little." She knew that she wasn't pleading her case very well, wasn't explaining why she wanted to do this. But she managed to bluff about the pain decently (Bluff 21). Apparently when she was protecting those she cared about, it came easier.

"Fighting will never be my first instinct, but when we're out there, I need to be able to help you- all of you. I can't just... stand back and watch."

[slay]

Decently would have worked out better if Buffy didn't know her so well - but seeing as she did, she saw right through it (sense motive 29 oops). She sighed, letting her staff drop to the ground in a clear message that this training session was over.

"You do help. Myri, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. You've saved my life - more times than I can count. And the last thing I want is for you to start throwing yourself in the thick of it and hurting yourself - or worse. If there's no other choice, you're right. You should know what to do. But, please. Don't choose this road."

[witchwoman]

Myri didn't drop her staff, but did turn to hold it more like a walking stick, leaning on it slightly as the conversation turned more serious. She had wondered if something like this might happen, if her gift might get in the way of her learning to fight. Still, she already felt a bit more capable of picking up a weapon and using it against an enemy.

"I'll be careful." She promised, with so much sincerity she was near to bursting. "I'm sorry if you're upset with me for wanting to learn. I've only..." She paused, trying to think of how to word it. "I've only just found a family. I want to be able to fight to keep it."

[slay]

Buffy's gut twisted with sympathy and affection at Myri's words. Her instinct was to step forward and pull her in for a hug, but she resisted - not least of all because they'd both done their share of sweating in the past half hour. Her expression did, however, soften considerably, and she reached out to put a hand on Myri's arm.

"I'm not upset. I understand why you want to, but you have to understand that there are other ways to protect your family. Your gift is one of those ways. No one on our team can do what you do. Nobody."

[witchwoman]

She thought on that, thinking about the resources of the castle and the other Knights.

"Perhaps I could request assistance from someone else with healing gifts. I may be able to harness my magical abilities more firmly." She hadn't had true instruction on her witchwoman skills since she was a child of six. Everything beyond that was instinct and survival. But Buffy was right. Her magic gave them a specific advantage. Maybe instead of focusing on learning new things, she could focus on honing her current skills.

[slay]

"Not a bad plan," Buffy said after some consideration. "They might have similar problems, have learned how to work around them to use their powers without getting the backlash of the empathy." She folded her arms over her chest. "Unfortunately, not a department I've got a lot of experience in."

[witchwoman]

"I wouldn't mind picking up our lessons once I have a better idea what's going on with my magic?" She was hopeful to not close the door on this, especially now that she knew she could actually hit someone when she tried!

"But for now, I think we can put it aside. I appreciate you taking the time to train with me."

[slay]

"Anytime." A beat. "I mean it. I just … wish there was something I could do about the magic bits." Buffy's brow furrowed, and she looked vaguely distressed by it. Magic was just so far outside her realm; she didn't understand any of it.

[witchwoman]

"If it helps at all, I barely understand it myself." She admitted with a small smile. "I was so small when I started to learn. By the time I was old enough to know how to ask the questions, I was on my own. Believe me, there were days where I wished I hadn't learned at all."

[slay]

"Yeah, well, I hope you don't have too many of those anymore. Questions or not, I'm glad you did." She gave a warm smile, one full of gratitude. Not a day went by that it escaped her that Myri had saved her life several times over.

[witchwoman]

She couldn't help but laugh then. "No, I think I have found the true reason for my gifts. I was meant to come here, I think. Nowhere has ever felt more like home."

[slay]

Buffy's expression swelled, and she stepped closer, pulling Myri into a hug. She was sweating and probably smelled anything but pine fresh, but she couldn't help herself. She was right. The castle was home, and this was their family.

[witchwoman]

Myri didn't mind the sweaty hug. She dropped the staff and wrapped her arms tightly around Buffy. After all those years of running, she knew where she belonged.