[He can handle that and without further word he shifts his rapier in a guard position, standard and traditional. He cocks his head to the side, a challenging look in place.]
Is this the part where we settle in a stand-off then? [After all, he assumes that Dante's the one who can't fight just yet.]
[He pushes off the balls of his feet, arm twisting slightly as he brings the blade down in an overhand stroke. He's expecting Luke to block it (after all, he did wait for him to be in a guard position!), so he's prepared to shift into a backhand, cutting attack before following with a third strike coming up from the bottom. He isn't moving at full speed--after all, this is supposed to be a spar and he expects that he'll take Luke off-guard just by nature of the fact that apparently he can fight--but neither is he going super-slowly. Sure, he might catch Luke off guard, but he also expects that Luke's fast enough to respond in turn, too.
Of course, he's also using his rapier as one would a full-sized sword, not the point-based offence that fencing focuses on, and in spite of the fact that he can feel his muscle memory guiding him, he's still not exactly certain of his motions. Oops?]
[ Warks aren't a sound she associates with happiness, but she'll try. She takes a few hairties from her pocket and gathers her hair into a high ponytail. ]
If if bites my fingers, you'll take responsibility.
[ So that's done, but she's still using him like a human shield. ]
Yeah, yeah, sure. Let's get closer, so you can reach.
[And he's taking a step closer to the chocobo, whether she's following or not. Your shield is moving, Yuuko!
Once he's close enough, Dante's trying to look at the chocobo closely. He's heard something about horses not being able to see directly in front of them; maybe chocobos are the same? Maybe they should try petting it from the side...?]
Try patting it on the neck. I'll keep him busy up front so you don't have to worry.
[And just like that, Dante's reaching out to try and pat the chocobo where its head meets its neck, keeping its focus more on him. Please don't bite him, little chocobo...]
that is true anya is very lucky that way but i hope that i do not have to say goodbye to the people who look after me i would like to repay them for a long time there is a lot of thanks to feel and give
[ Thanks for cooperating, Dante. If he hadn't moved, they'd have been stuck there forever...
Okay. Yuuko eyes the chocobo with extreme caution. She won't let it grab her hair, she's determined but who's to say it won't happen again? Her red eyes seem to glare daggers at the chocobo as she approaches from the side. A hand tentatively hovers in the air, testing the waters and hoping the chocobo doesn't jolt.
It doesn't.
In fact, it attempts to nuzzle against Dante's cheek. Yuuko's startled by this, of course, squeaking and stepping aside as yellow feathers ruffle and flap in enthusiasm. She hasn't realized this yet, though. ]
[It's like he'd told Dave. It's all about instinct, and the moment Dante comes at him Luke's rotating the rapier in his wrist and blocking, bouncing back and moving in for a strike. Like Dante, it's obvious suddenly he's not using his rapier in the "right way" given he's swinging in a slash-and-hack kind of way, unleashed and not as tight and controlled as fencing. He has no desires or goals to actually hurt Dante, but he's definitely not letting up either.
Strangely, they both seem to be a little uncertain and yet skilled enough to put up a good fight.]
Now who the hell trained you before this? [Luke, stop talking.]
[He's not expecting the sudden attempt at nuzzling up against him. Dante takes a step back himself in surprise, looking down at the chocobo as it goes for the next best target and rubs the front of its head against his chest. Then he's looking at Yuuko, just as startled as she is.]
I guess it's friendly.
Come on, your turn. Just be confident. I'm pretty sure you'll be all right.
[And just to be sure, he's going to reach out for the chocobo's neck again, patting it gingerly as it nuzzles against him. Gooooood birdie.]
[He lets his body take over, his instincts and his memories guiding his movements. There's something that feels more right about fighting with Luke, much more natural than when he and Sorey had sparred, or when Vera had tried to teach him the basics of fencing. Luke's using a style that's more similar to his own, and Dante can't help but grin in elation as they continue.]
Nobody trained me.
[But at the end of the day, even uncertain as they both are, Luke's still got experience on his side. Dante springs backwards to get out of reach of one particularly good attack, his blade coming up in his own guard position now as he explains.]
Once people started experiencing things like their eye colors or hair color changing, it got me thinking. If Anya suddenly learned how to speak Russian overnight, maybe we can learn the skills the people in our memories are using. The other me was able to fight, so...
[He shrugs, even though his expression still shows how pleased he is. He figures Luke can connect the dots from there!]
[ You can't just tell a girl with zero self-esteem to be confident!! Gosh!!!
Yuuko laughs sheepishly, wondering if it's even worth it to try. She had wanted to feed the chocobos too, but this setback was proving that to be rather difficult. (She's also making a mountain out of a molehill, but eh.) ]
I'm pretty sure it likes only you! Ahaha...
[ But she reaches out. And touches its neck. It's soft... Almost like cotton. ]
[The chocobo pulls its face back from Dante, stretching its neck upwards as Yuuko's hand brushes against the downy feathers of its neck. It lets out a cheerful "kweh!" as it turns its attention to her, flapping its wings up slightly. Dante blinks, his attention immediately going to Yuuko to see how she's doing, but the chocobo seems only to be pleased at getting attention from the both of them, swaying back and forth on its feet.]
Hey, I didn't make it dance.
[And is it... whistling through its beak? It might be!]
[Even when Dante guards, it's natural for Luke to follow, the blade in hand slicing through the air with a strange sort of ease. He has experience backing him, but also practice with this new style he's obtained recently. He's been training someone here, so it's also natural for him to keep going and goad Dante into striking back.]
Don't go around calling it another you, all right? That just makes us sound like dopplegangers. [But he definitely gets it.] ...whoever that fake was used to train kids and teach them how to fight. Guess those skills got passed to me, too.
oh but it is sweet when dante is sappy i think my face is warm but more than that my heart feels very full thank you for saying that if i can help anyone then i am happy
[It'll work--Dante will take the bait, following Luke's lead and shifting into another combination strike. But his expression is one of mixed concentration and bemusement at Luke's words, and his attention is split.]
A fake me...?
[Except that's not right, is it? Ever since talking with Ardyn about these memories, he's been holding on to that idea of reincarnation, of an explanation for why this is all going on. It makes more sense than anything else, right?]
Why are you calling them fakes?
[If one of them is a fake, he's not so sure it wouldn't be the copy that came afterward. It's this thought, more than anything else, that throws him off his guard, taking a bad swing that leaves his side exposed.]
[to be fair blushing is her natural reaction to receiving praise]
then i will do my best ! and also tell dante what i think which is that your words were very sweet thank you for them style should not matter if you make other people happy
[spoilers he cares a lot about making other people happy]
there are certain types of people in this world, anya. you might be able to get away with the whole earnest optimistic type but i sure don't so let me stay in my wheelhouse, all right? that's all
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