Extra Lessons, Extra Bruises [Attn: Marla]

[Damien]

Danos al' Sheen

Danos entered the Warder Yard late one morning, and wasn't surprised to see Dax Gaidin finishing up with another batch of students. The Gaidin had recently taught Danos the basics of Unarmed fighting, and Danos had come to regard those lessons with a fondness. Helps I had a decent knack for it, plus as the bruises fade, the memory sweetens, thought Danos with a grin to himself.

The Gaidin just finished up with the punches, and Danos could see a few of the students quickly take to the lesson. A few he winced when he saw the wild swings and half hearted attempts, and he flushed when he wondered if he had appeared as inept at first.

As Danos let the students file past him, he waved to Dax Gaidin, "A moment please Dax Gaidin. I was hoping to obtain that spar you had mentioned after my final lesson. I am practicing with my friend over there," said Danos as he waved towards the wooden practice dummy, "But I would like to sharpen my skills further before long."

[Sunny]

Dakson Torellion

Dax waved his latest class away, blowing a sharp breath through his lips in irritation. Some classes were certainly better than others; that one seemed to have attracted a high ratio of the type of student he struggled to connect with. Entitled, angry, or apathetic...he doubted any of them would make it through the class, let alone their Survival Test. Light help me, he thought as he tightened the laces on one of the soft bracers he wore on his forearms.

He looked up when he heard a voice, and smiled when he realized who approached. Danos had done quite well in his class, and he had enjoyed watching the other man work to improve himself since. It seemed he would like to spar with something other than the dummy; Dax’s blue eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Certainly,” he agreed. He turned his attention to the two Drin’far’ji who had walked up behind Danos. “Clear these away,” he said calmly, indicating the dummies used for his class. “Let’s go over there,” he continued, waving to a clear section of the Yards.

“Is there a specific area or skill you would like to work on while we spar?” The Tairen asked, grabbing his chin in one hand and shoving it to the side to crack his neck.

[Damien]

Danos

Danos pursed his lips in thought as he followed Dax Gaidin to the clear section of Yard where they would spar. He knew he had worked hard and done well in the class, but he had not thought much beyond keeping his skills sharp. As he stretched and warmed up his muscles, he could see a few Gaidin walking the Yard, their fancloaks making them appear and disappear, as they followed Aes Sedai through the Grey Tower.

Seeing them galvanized a desire in Danos, and he stated, "I am learning some of the sword, and in my time here at the Tower I have stated to Master Darrow that it is my desire, and fate I believe, to serve as a bonded Gaidin. To that end I would endeavour to perfect and improve my attacks, and any advice or skills that would defend another. I believe a strong understanding of what you teach would allow me to protect an Aes Sedai at times when my large sword or cloak should I earn one would give me away. One does not stare to long at a man in craftsman's clothes and bare hands after all," said Danos with the ghost of a feral smile on his lips. He could well imagine some of the lordlings that had come to the Grey Tower, discounting any man who did not bear steel on his hips.

[Sunny]

Dax listened to the younger man's thoughts in silence, blue eyes betraying none of his own thoughts when the Andoran mentioned bonding. He shook his head, giving the man a curious glance. "You do not have to bond to be Gaidin, you know," he commented. "There are plenty who do not bond, and find worthy things to do with their lives." As far as the rest of the Tower knew or cared, Dakson Torellion had no interest in bonding- ever. It was wholly ironic how wrong their perception truly was. Silently he reached along the bond toward Katrie, and his lover responded with a ripple of interest tinged with gold. Burn my soul, I hate being separated.

He turned his attention back to the Drin'far'ji before him. "You are right, however. There are times when a sword would be unwelcome or inappropriate, and knowing how to use your body to best effect could mean the difference between life and death for your charge. I should warn you that if you train long enough you will eventually hit a point where you can't hide the fact that you are a fighter no matter how dirty your clothes are." His eyes twinkled merrily.

"As we spar, if I see ways that you could improve your attack or defense, I will point them out," he said, shifting his body into a modification of the basic defense stance he taught all his students. "No holds barred," he added thoughtfully. "Let's see what you've got."

He waited until Danos was ready, then began to circle. A moment later he darted forward, feinting low and to the left, then high from the right, his eyes steady on his student-turned-opponent.

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OOC: Arright, so Dax is a Blademaster (which was the intent from the start, that's why he was wearing bracers *cough*) Just as in the class, he won't cause Danos unnecessary damage, but he's not going to go easy on him, either. If Danos makes a mistake he will take advantage of the mistake, then show Danos what he did wrong and how to do it right next time.

Hopefully that gives you some ideas for filler in your posts.

[Damien]

Danos

Danos listened when Dax Gaidin explained to him the plan for this spar. After having taught Avyra a few brief moves, Danos was glad for an opponent where he could cut his teeth as his Uncle had used to call it.

"Any tips you have will be appreciated Dax Gaidin," said Danos eagerly as he circled the teacher and allowed the time to settle his movements and awaken muscles. Looking at Dax Gaidin, Danos could see the man's balance, his eyes watching cooly as Danos moved through the sands.

Danos knew from past classes that Dax Gaidin would not attack first, preferring to allow his students to do so, and so Danos quickly considered his options.

He punched forward with his left hand, a quick darting jab that was as much feint as it was attack. As Dax Gaidin quickly swept the move aside, Danos was again reminded of the man's speed. Knowing that, and having seen a move he had expected would come quickly, Danos once again settled into his footwork, and pressed forward, this time with two quick jabs, left then right as he hoped to settle Dax onto his heels and gain the mobility advantage.

The Master responded with simply ignoring the first punch, as if in the split second he had decided the move was an obvious feint, and so the second punch was quickly swept aside without slowing the Gaidin down. Danos circled his opponent once more, his mind racing as he considered his options, he knew he could not beat a man of Dax Gaidin's caliber with the speed he lacked, and so he commited himself to a rougher style. It's like I told Avyra, the bear and the hounds. I cannot be a hound in this fight, so perhaps I embrace the bear thought Danos as he brought his elbows in closer and prepared.

This time, rather than a feint, Danos pressed forward as fast as he could, using the movement of his feet to snap forward with a leg strike from his right side, aimed for Dax's midriff. As he pressed forward with the attack, he commited to another attack from the right, this time a driving elbow, brought up to his shoulders then driven downward with all the force he could muster by twisting his core into the movement. His left hand he allowed to float by his own midriff, a guard in case of an uppercut which he knew would work well given their difference in heights

OOC: Perfect thanks. Dax is going to like Danos I think, one dirty fighter to an aspiring one.

[Sunny]

Dax floated in the ko'di. His eyes flickered from Danos' shoulders, to his feet, to his eyes, to his fists; he watched, calculated, and considered every twinge of muscle, every twitch of movement, even as his own feet took him in to strike, arms up to defend, then back out. The more he grew into his skill, the more he appreciated why so many warriors called fighting a dance. If you knew the steps, you didn't get hurt. If you didn't know the steps... He watched Danos critically, lips pursed, as they circled one another like preying cats. If you don't know the steps, then you fall.

He curled his left arm in front of him to catch the Andoran's downward blow on the fleshy part of his bent elbow, but rather than stepping away, he shoved back with all of his strength, his arm snapping straight and the side of his hand stopping just short of crashing into his opponent's neck. His other hand grabbed the taller man's wrist and pulled his arm up and to the side. He waited a pause, nodded, then stepped away, hands back up defensively.

"Strength and speed are important," he said, parrying a jab from Dnaos. "And so is the ability to do something entirely unexpected. The logical response to your attack would have been to simply step away, but I knew I had the strength to do something else." He stepped to the side suddenly, his fists driving toward Danos' face as his foot slid rapidly forward to attempt to hook behind the younger man's ankles. Would he see it? If he did, excellent. If not, well. Easy enough to spin away.

[Damien]

Danos

Danos tried to follow the other man's moves when he performed
the grapple, the speed and strength of the block and pushback catching him by surprise. Dax took the blow upon his elbow, and suddenly Danos found his arm grasped and held out straight.

"There's a time for strength, and a time for doing something unexpected," said Dax as he explained to Danos why he had chosen to remain in place rather than moving away.

Light he's like iron thought Danos as Dax separated from him. He accepted the advice for how it was meant, knowing the gap in their skills allowed no pride as a quick jab was blocked. He had come to the Grey Tower knowing he knew little, but as he watched Dax Gaidin's movements, he could see the strength in each muscle, the grace and balance.

As the two men moved over the sands, Danos could see Dax again dart in and out, footwork moving him in perfect balance and precision. Danos was able to stop two testing jabs, using his arms to push the blows aside. He attempted a grapple such as they had practiced, but as soon as he had grabbed Dax's wrists, the other man twisted his wrist violently and broke free.

Dax Gaidin quickly moved to his side, darting in quickly, forcing Danos backwards and onto his heels as he twisted to meet the new direction of Dax's attack.

The other man pressed forward with a flurry of attacks directed at his face, and Danos planted his feet and brought his right arm up, catching one punch with just enough strength to stop the blow short. The other arm swept one blow to the side, which Dax Gaidin instantly countered by pulling his arm back and again striking forward, and Danos could feel the power as he attempted to stop the punch's force with an awkward guard.

OOC: Bigger they are, figured Danos would have a take the hit and weather it stance. No way he saw the foot to my mind

[Sunny]

Dax gradually increased his speed, watching for the limits of Danos’ traiing and practice. Aha. There. And there. Danos faltered, and fell back into a defensive posture, his forearms catching the brunt of the Tairen’s attack, his feet carrying him rapidly to the side- and yet not, Dax noticed with some amusement, backward and out of reach of the blows.

He did not slow, curious to see what the man would do when truly pressed. There were those who would break away and complaint about being pressed too sharpy and then there were those who would brave it out and keep trying despite the odds. It seemed the Drin’far’ji belonged to the later type…perhaps more stubbornly than most.

After another quick series of blows, Dax fell back, giving Danos a moment to collect himself. “I like that you do not give up,” he said approvingly as he made a purposely soft attack on Danos’ right side. “When the time comes, that desire to keep going could mean the difference between life and death for your bondmate, if you get one.” The younger man had blocked the attack, as expected, then turned, counter attacking with an upper hook and a sharp jab at his gut. Dax rolled his arm up as if to cover, then simply twisted to the side, evading the second attack entirely.

He shifted his feet, turned, and faced the gray-clad man once more, lifting one hand to run it through unruly black hair that had worked its way loose of its tie.

[Damien]

Danos

Danos watched as Dax Gaidin lifted one hand, running it through his black hair to remove it from his face. The hair that had worked loose was the only sign that Danos had engaged the man at all.
Still he would have made even shorter work of me before my lessons, thought Danos to himself as he took an extra moment to allow the breath to fill his lungs, and quiet the burn in some of his muscles.

He knew that Dax Gaidin was renowned as one of the best in the yard when it came to fighting with his body, and having felt the power in his fists and arms he could see why. As he resumed the guard stance, Danos realized that he would have little chance of scoring a hit on Dax as it stood. He moves like a weasel hunting a snake, all weaving and strikes at the exact moment, Danos mused as he circled with the other man once more.

Danos could see from the cool, aloof gaze that Dax Gaidin had assumed the Ko’di, and knew that his own relative experience with the Void would not allow him to hold it through the spar. Another thing to practice he thought as he blocked out all the distractions and committed his mind to the spar.

Danos engaged with Dax, throwing two quick punches and a kick that twisted his hip before his long foot lunged forward hoping to strike Dax Gaidin’s knee. The other man moved as always, twisting his torso, a single shifting foot creating the precise distance needed to allow Danos’ kick to glide off with little power. Danos could feel a vague notion building in the back of his mind.

“I like that you do not give up,” Dax Gaidin had commented approvingly when Danos had showed he was willing to take a blow when it was needed. Danos knew with a certainty that it would again be required; there was no way to close the gap in their skills without a sacrifice of pain and possibly blood.

Almost without thought, Danos tightened his fists, pulling his arms closer to his side and upwards to protect his face. He knew from the sword forms that a downward blow would often generate more force, especially with his height difference. Remembering how Dax Gaidin had blocked the blow with his elbow the last time, Danos pressed forward, his feet shifting with all the speed he could muster.

As he swung his right hand in a sweeping punch, Danos committed himself to the strike. Unlike last time, he kept his attacks quick and clean, striking with his right fist as he aimed the blow for Dax’s shoulder. Hoping the man would bring his shoulder up to block, Danos waited for the moment of impact, before twisting his torso in upon itself to bring his left knee up and striking. While his hands reached out hoping to find a purchase on the other man’s clothes that would enable him to bind the Gaidin, slowing him and letting Danos continue to press his advantage.

[Sunny]

Dax covered from the right hook, catching the blow solidly on his left arm. He let himself turn slightly to absorb the impact, then swung his hips backward, his right arm dropping to catch Dano's knee against his side. He hooked his arm around the man's thigh and yanked back and upward, rotating back to drag the Andoran off his feet. Danos scrambled for purchase and then fell; watching him, Dax remembered the time he himself had fallen for that trick, and found himself chuckling. Even as he laughed, the Drin'far'ji's hands wrapped in his shirt, yanking him downward with his weight.

The two men stared at each other for a breath, and then Dax yanked himself free with a twist of his shoulders, stepping back and spreading his hands palm outward to show he was done. Then he offered his hand to Danos. "You did very well," he said with a grin. "You have tenacity and you have a good grasp of the patterns of attack. I also saw improvement in your speed after my first comment, which is good."

He adjusted the laces on his bracers as he spoke, resettling them against his skin where they would best conceal the marks he had no desire for anyone to see. He gave the younger man a considering look. "Practice obtaining and staying within the ko'di," he said. "Once you are able to wear that like a cloak at any given time, you will see an improvement in all areas of training." Simple truth, that. He had scoffed at the Void, had insisted he did not need it….and then Malina had shown him the error of his ways. Perhaps Danos would figure it out faster than he had.

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OOC: I am swamped and you have more than hit the word count necessary for another point in Unarmed, so I'm going to call it. One more post of 200 from you, and you should be set. It was fun to spar with you!