Call Out Meme: Version 4.0

[oathshackledbird]

Edit:  As with the others, this one is starting to get big so I am closing it to new threads now.  Please post all new threads here!  As always feel free to continue any threads that are still on going.
Have a new "Call Me Out" to break in since the old one is starting to get big again!




【the ❝CALL ME OUT❞ meme】 IV
a roleplay meme to inspire muses.

♛ refer to the list above for active muses. ♛ post "calling" one of them out — you can do so by putting their name journal in the subject line! (I have too many Lancers to just go by name! X.x ) ♛ can be informal/formal/comment spam/crosscanon/explicit/whatever tickles your fancy! ♛ feel free to make up a scenario at the start, or wait to see where things go. meme code.

Comments

[beforetights]

[He nods and grabs another bunch of dishes. After stuffing them in the cupboard, he closes the door.]

Now we're all done. Come on! Training time!

[thepursued]

[Diarmuid smiles, nodding in agreement.]

You are correct. What do you want to practice with today? Your spear or your sword?

[beforetights]

Hm...how about the sword? We've been training with the spear a lot lately!

[thepursued]

Sword it is. Give me a moment to get my things and dress and we can go out. Get your sword and meet me at the door.

[It doesn't take Diarmuid long to get dressed for the day and gather his weapons--one from the kitchen where he had left it after realizing there was no intruder and one from the bedroom--and soon he is at the door ready to go.]

Do you have everything you will need?

[beforetights]

[By the time Diarmuid finishes getting his weapons, Cu Chulainn has picked up the practice swords that Diarmuid had left with him after they had both come back into the city.]

Yeah, I'm ready now!

[He hold up the swords.]

I wanna try to dual wield like you today! Is that alright?

[thepursued]

It is, but you have to remember what I told you.

[Diarmuid opens the door and waves for his brother to go out it before closing it behind them.]

Duel-wielding takes twice the concentration that wielding just one weapon does. You have to make sure you don't let yourself be distracted.

[beforetights]

I'll make sure. I'll focus very hard and do as you do.

[Still holding the swords, he starts hopping down the stairs two steps at a time.]

[thepursued]

Good make sure you do. I don't want you to get hurt. And speaking of getting hurt...

[He frowns at the hopping.]

Walk the steps one by one, brother. If you fall on the way out, we can't practice.

[beforetights]

[He looks over at Diarmuid.]

Don't worry. My balance is pretty good now because of all the training.

[On his next hop, he doesn't exactly land correctly. He wobbles and almost falls on his face, but pulls back at the last second so he just squats on the stairs instead.]

See?

[thepursued]

[Automatically, Diarmuid reaches out to catch his brother, but pulls back when Cu Chulainn manages to stop himself from falling.]

That is very good, but that doesn't mean the next time you will be able to stop yourself. You shouldn't tempt fate. A knight can't be a knight if he is hurt from falling on his own weapon.

[beforetights]

...

[He pouts, embarrassed.]

I'll go slower...

[And indeed, he doesn't jump anymore.]

[thepursued]

Thank you, brother.

[Diarmuid falls beside him, putting an arm around the boy's shoulders once they are off the stairs.]

You did so much hard work this morning, I would hate for you to get hurt and then not be able to get your reward.

[beforetights]

Yeah, that's true. I hate being hurt.

[Even worse than being sick, since he was rarely ill, except for some warp-spasm induced pains.]

I don't wanna just lie around while everyone else is having fun.

[He leans a bit toward Diarmuid as he walks.]

[thepursued]

Exactly.

[Diarmuid gives his brother a squeeze before letting his arm drop away.]

So...how much do you think you have learned about duel-wielding from watching me? Are we diving right in or shall I show you some things first?

[beforetights]

Hm...I think I wanna see you show me some more things! Your moves are so much smoother than mine, after all!

[thepursued]

I think I can do that.

[There is pride in Diarmuid's eyes as he speaks. Not that long ago, his brother would have just rushed into attacking whether or not he was really ready to do so. Now he is showing more restraint. Just one more sign of how he is growing as a knight.]

What kind of move do you want to see? Something defensive or something offensive?

[beforetights]

Defensive! I know a lot about attack, but I don't know as much about defense!

[Most of the time, he just follows the route of having offense be the best defense. But he figures he should have some defensive moves too. Just like Diarmuid.]

[thepursued]

[Diarmuid gives his brother another proud look, glad to see the boy is finally realizing that defense is just as important--if not more so--than attack.]

Defensive moves are best shown when someone is actually attacking you. It can be hard to see exactly how things flow otherwise.

[He readies his swords and then beckons to his brother.]

Attack me, but try to watch what I do when I block the attack, okay? Don't really worry about trying to get passed my guard.

[beforetights]

Okay!

[He takes a deep breath, and then swings one of his swords at Diarmuid's face.]

[thepursued]

[Diarmuid easily blocks the swing with the shorter of his two swords, while at the same time swinging the larger in under his brother's sword. If this was a real fight and the blows meant to kill, that swing--if not blocked--likely would cut the boy in two. As it is, Diarmuid stops the blow a good distance from his brother to instruct.]

You know the flow of battle just as well as I do. Each blocked attack leaves an opening for another attack. Block, attack, block, attack. The flow doesn't change no matter if you are using one weapon, a weapon and a shield, or two weapons. That is why one of the most important parts of defense is knowing how to change it into attack.

Use your second sword to block my attack now, brother. Don't try to move the one I currently have in block--you don't have time and it should be the weapon that will move to attack once you block my current one anyway.

[beforetights]

[He brings his other sword up, so it's flat is facing Diarmuid's blade.]

Like this?

[thepursued]

Yes, good! Now, while your opponent is distracted because you blocked his attack, you need to quickly attack yourself. Keep your other blade where it is so that my weapon and arm are tied up, but drop your other weapon and try to get in between my two. Do you understand what I'm asking you to do?

[beforetights]

I think so!

[He pulls his first sword down and makes a stabbing motion with it at Diarmuid.]

Was that good?

[thepursued]

Very good! However, we aren't done. I wouldn't be showing you a very good defense if I let that get through.

[Diarmuid quickly shifts his smaller sword again to block his brother's strike. As he blocks, he also pushes back to put some distance between himself and his 'opponent.']

Something you have to watch out for is allowing your weapons to become too entangled with those of your opponent. You won't be able to defend or attack if you can't move your weapons.

[beforetights]

I got it!

[He holds up both his swords.]

What do I do now? Do I attack again?