Public Channel - Day 146

[manycharms]

Uh, hello. This is Marinette. I know everyone's still recovering from the weird other world stuff that happened and all.

I guess I was just wondering if anyone here knew how to use a sword? Like, a real sword, for battle.

[She knows that a really weird thing to ask, but explaining it would just take so much time...]

So... Let me know!

Comments

[chronosynthesis]

I know how to fight with a blade. Are you seeking to learn for the sake of defending yourself, or...? [Well, if the defense team was as small as it appeared to be, Syrlya assumes there's no need to train anyone as soldiers.]

[anti_nonsense]

[Marinette? Rita remembers her...]

You're looking to practice sword-fighting?

[Come to think of it, she was using a sword when they first met... but then, that wasn't really the same Marinette.]

[stillwinningthehardway]

I've had some training with 'real blades', but my focus hasn't exactly been on a normal sword.

[tacosgay]

Uh, kind of? I mean... yeah, I can use a sword, but it's not exactly a specialty of mine or anything. What the hell are you up to over there, huh?

[manycharms]

Yes.

It seems traveling between dimensions can be more dangerous than I thought.

[She feels like she should have realized it a lot sooner, but she'd had other things to worry about.]

If something happened to me here before I could go back home I'd never forgive myself.

[manycharms]

[The voice is familiar, though it takes her a few moments to place it.]

Rita.

More like learn to sword fight really...

Before a few weeks ago I'd never even used one.

[manycharms]

What do you mean?

[manycharms]

Mostly curious I guess.

That just seems like the kind of thing that could come in handy around here.

[anti_nonsense]

Really? I thought you were...

[...already pretty good at it, because she's mixing this Marinette up with the other one. She has to remind herself that this is technically a different person, even if they're similar.]

...Never mind. So those few weeks inspired you to pick it up, or something?

[tacosgay]

Yeah, okay, that's fair enough. Well, I may not be a swordplay master or anything, but if you ever wanna give magic a shot, hit me up, maybe I can give you some sage advice.

[chronosynthesis]

[Depending how bad it could be, it probably wouldn't matter if she forgave herself or not. He doesn't say that, though.]

If that's the case, I would be willing to teach you to the best of my ability. I have never had a tutor before, but it is largely about memorizing movement and strength.

[A pause.] I assume if there is a training course there is training equipment...?

[stillwinningthehardway]

My blade isn't a bar of sharpened metal, so a lot of things have to be different.

[amusicaladventure]

I don't but I guarantee I can fake it well enough to help you learn for real!

[manycharms]

Mm, I'm not sure to be honest. I wasn't here for long before all that happened.

[All that being Portland, in this case. She felt like whatever she had learned about the carnival in her first few days were by now long forgotten.]

Maybe we should ask.

[But who would they ask? Was someone specific in charge of things like that?]

[chronosynthesis]

I presume that is something handled by the Nightrider or Warden, so if I do not see any by the area I will ask one of them.

Otherwise, there is enough forest to find a couple very big sticks. [Whatever works, honestly.] Do you have any combat experience as it is? Even a tendency to find yourself in scuffles.

[manycharms]

[She questions the big stick logic, but he knows more than she does. Still the question of experience has her frowning. If someone else from her world wasn't here, she would answer without hesitation, but she didn't want Adrien of all people thinking of her as some brute.]

Uh... Do hazy memories of a life that didn't really exist count?

[manycharms]

What kind of blade is it?

[She sounds very confused.]

[manycharms]

Magic? Is that really something just anyone can learn to do?

[manycharms]

Um... I'm not so sure that would work.

[chronosynthesis]

[Sometimes you have to improvise. A lot.

A pause while he considers that.] If they did not exist, then I will say that is a 'no'. No matter! It would be best to start with basic form and strength building, anyway.

[Syrlya really only knows how to do one of those things.]

[tacosgay]

Well, yeah, that's how I got into it. I mean, it's not easy, it's fuckin' magic, but you can definitely learn some cantrips, at least, if you want to.

[manycharms]

[She actually winces at the word 'fuck.' It's not like she hasn't heard it before, but she isn't used to having it used in casual conversation. Plus, there were kids even younger than her around here. Was that kind of thing okay to say over the radio? She pushes those thoughts to the side though, not wanting to start any kind of argument.]

Well, what's hard about it?

[manycharms]

Right...

[She doesn't really know what that means, but apparently this guy was really willing to teach her. Could she do this? Did she really want to do this?]

Okay. Where should we meet and when?

[tacosgay]

It's, uhhh... it's kinda hard to explain, if you've never tried it. You've got to be able to kind of... feel it out, and focus to kind of shape it how you need, you know?

[manycharms]

[She wrinkles her nose as she tries to make sense of that. Feel it out and shape it? Shape what? Was magic some kind of feeling or a literal substance one could feel? Or perhaps he meant it metaphorically. The only experience she had with magic was as her alter ego, and even then she was never really touching or commanding it. If she could though...]

...I want to learn it. Would you teach me?