Video 2 (Backdated to the 12th)

[toiletseat_girl]

[the video opens on an awkward looking teenage girl, sitting cross-legged on a bed, wearing a tank top and a pair of shorts. she's holding a sheathed sword in her lap.

finally, she speaks]

Okay. I'm looking for someone to teach me how to fight. Fist-fighting, martial arts, swordfighting, guns, I don't care. I'm just sick of everyone else fighting my battles for me.

I guess that's about it. Just--lemme know if you can help. Thanks.

Comments

[hotspurred]

[Rather than tell her, this time Henry simply uses his left forearm to knock her wrist and block the next attack as it comes towards him.]

All right. That is how one strikes well. With full strength, followed through. Now sheathe your dagger and we shall cover cover one means of blocking before I end this lesson.

[He puts his own dagger away.]

[toiletseat_girl]

[she's surprised at the ease he uses to block the attack, but intrigued at the same time. She wants to do that, too.

she nods] All right, I can do that.

[she puts her dagger in a sheathe attached to her belt and listens attentively]

[hotspurred]

[Henry turns his right hand palm up, fingers straight, and mimics the strike he just taught George at half-speed, lightly tapping the side of her neck.]

I will do this. You need only displace my strike as it comes by pushing the back of your forearm against my wrist. Use the full strength of your body in this too.

[He demonstrates what he means with his left arm, turning his hips and using his core to give power and stability to the block.]

Prepare yourself.

[And he'll bring his right hand in a slow strike at her again.]

[toiletseat_girl]

[she watches carefully and makes mental notes about what he's doing and saying. he makes it look and sound easy (but he's got years of experience and practical use of such tactics), but she knows that actually blocking will be harder than it looks and sounds.

she figures if worse comes to worst, that's what Reaper healing is for]

I'm ready.

[and she brings her left hand up, using not just her hand, but her entire body to block]

[hotspurred]

Excellent.

[And he'll do it nine more times, before he stops. Reaching up to his own neck, he unbuckles his gorget then removes it, baring his throat.]

This will be our last exercise. I shall strike at you. You must block my strike, then strike at me. Turn you palm up and use the side of your hand, as I did. The motion should remain the same as before. All right?

[And he'll strike at her, a little faster than before, but still ready to pull the blow.]

[toiletseat_girl]

Thanks.

[and she blocks him with increasing confidence each time. not that she's getting cocky, but she's feeling more like she knows what she's doing]

So a back and forth thing? All right, sounds good. And, uh. Thank you. For the help.

[she blocks the strike, then turns to strike at him. she's moving well, clearly feeling more comfortable in her own skin]

[hotspurred]

[He blocks her strike, then strikes back, and says:]

You are welcome.

[He's certainly noticed that she's applying herself much better, compared to how she begun this lesson.]

Have confidence that you are capable of more than you presently give.

[He doesn't mean to suggest that she's not giving enough — he simply believes that everyone can give more if they have the ambition to be better. He's never been one for merely settling.]

[toiletseat_girl]

[she blocks his strike with an ease and grace that would surprise her if she was watching herself from a distance.

and she's a slacker most of the time, but when there's something she really wants, she applies herself to it. and she wants to not be helpless the next time something like the Null attacks]

That's gonna be the hard part. I've always had--issues with confidence.

[when you grow up feeling like (and occasionally being treated like) a failure to your parents, it can be hard to develop confidence]

[hotspurred]

Why?

[Henry is the opposite, by nature as well as nurture; hubris is his flaw. His brow furrows at her admittance.]

You determine your own worthiness. [He tells her fiercely, meaning to encourage her.] And you hold power over your faults. Know that you can conquer aught that troubles you.

[toiletseat_girl]

...I dunno. I never really had any friends and my parents weren't exactly supportive.

[George always saw herself as average, at best. not particularly good or bad, just. . . average.

she listens, a little wide-eyed. she's heard this before, but not from a very skilled near total stranger who she just met. she can't dismiss what he says as just trying to make her feel better] I, um. Okay? [she nods, feeling a little more confident] Okay. I can do that.

[hotspurred]

Good.

[He smiles, then steps back.]

Next time we shall move onto plays. You did well today, George.

[toiletseat_girl]

[she's not blushing, she's not blushing, she's not--fuck it, she's blushing with pride]

That sounds great. I'm really looking forward to it.