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

[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.