Nightshift 37: Soccer/Recreational Field

[pleading-ngri.livejournal.com]

[from here.]

Since the recreational field was quiet tonight, Phoenix found himself pausing briefly between doors, glancing up at the sky. It was what the sky looked like on television, pitch blackness interrupted by bright points of starlight, which was what really made him stop in the first place, really. He'd spent his entire life in Los Angeles. He didn't expect anything from the night sky but a dark, dusky rose, dotted with perhaps five valiant stars, assorted satellites, and the blinking slow-motion of airplanes coming and going from LAX. Seeing the sky the way he'd always known it was supposed to look pulled at him strangely. There wasn't supposed to be a single thing about this place that was beautiful, but there were the stars, cold and twinkling and completely unfamiliar.

He turned away abruptly, walking quickly for the next door before he could stare any longer. This wasn't the time to get caught up in things like that.

[to here.]

Comments

[high-prosecutor.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/521884.html?view=43058332#t43058332)]

The area seemed clear, and while the night was chilly, it wasn't too chilly to continue with their plan. Edgeworth nodded to Kunzite, taking a few steps back. "I'll leave this to you."

[vessavana.livejournal.com]

Kunzite bowed, taking the sword from Edgeworth and inspecting it in the moonlight. As he expected, it was far lighter than what he was used to, but nevertheless the practice he had with such a weapon quickly returned to him. He smiled as he made a few gentle swipes in front of him, marveling at the near-perfect hum from the blade's cutting through the air. After a few poignant thrusts, the swordsman finished with a brief flourish, bringing the rapier upright in front of his body before returning it respectfully to its owner.

"The rapier is, in many respects, a gentleman's weapon," Kunzite finally spoke. "Unlike the blade with which I am accustomed to fighting, this weapon is best suited for civilians, but even amongst soldiers it is known for its prominence in duels. Luckily for you and your injury, wielding this blade will not strain your shoulder to disastrous degrees, but you must nevertheless be willing to accept that some aggravation may occur."

[high-prosecutor.livejournal.com]

Miles watched every movement carefully, trying to memorize the pattern of the motions, the forward-and-back movements, and the steps with which each was taken. He wished he had a video camera, actually, and a means with which to play the footage back, just to move along with them, practicing on his own.

He smiled as took the rapier back, clearly impressed by that display of swordsmanship, then nodded in response. "Very impressive work. And I'll keep that in mind, regarding the injury. I'm prepared to take the risk of further injury, if it means I'll be better equipped against the night's dangers."

With that, he took a few steps forward, trying to mimic what he'd seen a moment ago. The injury from two nights ago protested with a bit of pain, but he clenched his teeth against it before ending the sequence.

[vessavana.livejournal.com]

"I apologize for my flourishing with the weapon," Kunzite chuckled, watching as Edgeworth apparently attempted to copy his motions from memory alone. Withdrawing the baseball bat from his sack, the swordsman gripped the heavy end and took an awkward fencer's stance "I merely hoped to re-acclimate myself to the decidedly different stances required when using it; though it is no rapier in of itself, this 'bat' shall serve as a suitable demonstrative tool.

"As you observed, the power of the rapier comes not from strong, sideways blows, but from swift, almost delicate, swiping motions." Kunzite stepped forward, lounging once before repeating his earlier motions. "The power of the rapier lies in the extremely sharp point; once you have removed the opponent's method of attack using your sword, you strike" - here he jabbed forward with the bat, the flat bottom pushing quickly into the air in front of him - "and hope to do some injury. Now, repeat." Kunzite's mind quickly flashed back to a similar swordsmanship lesson he'd given Master Endymion, but just as suddenly he shook his head angrily, dispelling the vision.

[high-prosecutor.livejournal.com]

"Quite all right," Edgeworth said, shaking off the slight embarrassment. He nodded, taking a similar stance as Kunzite had. Right. I can do this.

He loosened his muscles a bit, then pointed the rapier forward. Repeating the part about the swift motions, he made several of them into the air, then ended with a swift jab. "In that manner?"

[vessavana.livejournal.com]

"Precisely," Kunzite nodded, repeating the mannerisms a few more times. "As with all swords, a rapier is an extension of your arm. The motions should feel natural, as if your own arm were performing them on their own." Looking down at the bat now, Kunzite sighed, then let out a hearty laugh. "I apologize for being so ill-equipped; otherwise I would give you a proper lesson in dueling, but for now my words and mannerisms will have to do."

[high-prosecutor.livejournal.com]

"That's quite all right," Edgeworth said, after repeating the movements a few more times himself, each time making slight adjustments to his technique. It was beginning to feel more natural to him - even as the shoulder injury was starting to ache once again - but he didn't want to learn to compensate for an injury that wouldn't always be there.

After a few last attempts, he smiled, breathing hard as he moved the sword down and into its sheath. "Thank you. We'll have to arrange that dueling lesson in the future, but for now, I do appreciate it."