[Backdated to January 16th; OPEN]

[not_apriest]

Who: Aramis and ANYONE
Where: A makeshift training room of sorts
When: Morning, January 16th
What: Aramis is training; the last few events have made it obvious he should stay sharp.
Rating: PG; will update if required


He'd discarded his doublet, chemise and boots on the floor near the far wall. Sword in one hand, dagger in the other, he moved through the room, cutting swathes through invisible enemies as he practiced various forms. He was focused on what he was doing; he might not notice a visitor immediately.

Comments

[ex_alighthouse135]

Elizabeth waited at the door, but peeked inside to watch him fetch his shirt and put it on. Something about watching the fabric swish onto his skin made her face burn with warmth. Ahem!

"You must have been practicing very hard." Not to notice her at first, she means.

[not_apriest]

"It's a craft that demands focus to improve," he told her. He glanced over. "It's a very disciplined art."

[ex_alighthouse135]

"Oh yes, I'm sure it is!" Though he seems to do it with such ease.

"Do you really think I can learn something like that?"

[not_apriest]

"Certainly. I don't expect you jump immediately to advanced technique, but you could develop a basic proficiency."

[ex_alighthouse135]

The idea is sort of exciting. She often imagined what it would be like to live in those books instead of her tower.

"How did you learn?"

[not_apriest]

"I had several teachers," he told her. "The first was at school."

Young men were encouraged to take up some means of battle.

"But I took to it well, so I continued to study."

[ex_alighthouse135]

"You seem like a natural. Not that I'd ever wish you to get into a fight, but I can't help but think it would be thrilling to see you fight a band of ruffians."

She would probably swoon on the spot. Or so she thinks. She dislikes violence more than she realizes at this point. In her own world, watching DeWitt kill a bunch of men sent her running away incredibly upset.

[not_apriest]

A bit of a smile and he looks over at her. "Ruffians tend to run when faced with a Musketeer. As well they should. D'Artagnan, on the other hand, decided when he met us that he could face all three of us."

[ex_alighthouse135]

Elizabeth is familiar with that part of the tale. She smiles though, hoping he'll tell her more. Hearing it from the Musketeer himself is so much better than books.

"That's quite cocky of him. What happened?"

[not_apriest]

"Porthos rather hoped Athos would dispatch him quickly so we could adjourn for lunch, but we were interrupted." A bit of aa wry smile. "Sadly we may never know how warranted his claims were."

[ex_alighthouse135]

"Porthos." She says his name a bit wistfully.

"I wish I could meet him."

Seeing all of the friends together would be like a dream come true! Not to mention, she knows Aramis must miss him.

[not_apriest]

"Mmm. I think you'd like him. He takes things rather more lightly than the rest of us," Aramis told her.

She wasn't wrong, though. They were...unbalanced without the third of their company. D'Artagnan made a fine addition to the group, but not a replacement.

[ex_alighthouse135]

She's amused by his assessment of his friend. "I suppose someone has to."

With a smile, she wraps her arms around one of his own. "We should try to take things more lightly in his absence."

[not_apriest]

He smiles at her. "Perhaps easier said than done, but a noble goal. One, I expect, he'd appreciate."

[ex_alighthouse135]

"One day, we might all return home. Then you'll see him again."

Though she doesn't like to think on that much. In part because of the place she came from and in part because she wouldn't be able to see her friends again. She wouldn't see Aramis again.

[not_apriest]

He looks down at her as they walk. "Or perhap he'll wind up here and you'll have to put up with the lot of us."

[ex_alighthouse135]

"I wouldn't mind that at all."

They should be able to get her a blade now. Perhaps it's time for the lessons to begin. Though she isn't sure she'll be any good at it. She'll probably look foolish in front of him.

[not_apriest]

He glances into what he's pretty sure is an empty room, stepping inside to head to the closet.

He opens the door, taking a light, ornate rapier from inside. He tests the weight of it in his hand, then hands it to her.

"This should work better for you. Let's go back to the training room."

[ex_alighthouse135]

"Oh, it's very pretty."

She accepts the rapier, uncertain of how quite to hold it. All of that will likely be covered in the lesson. With a nod, she follows him back to the training room.

[not_apriest]

"Then it's a fitting weapon for you," he tells her.

When they reach the training room again, he gestures for her to precede him, then steps alongside her.

He draws his own sword, demonstrating the grip. "Hold it like this. Not too tight."

[ex_alighthouse135]

She recognizes the compliment and it makes her blush. Once they're back in the training room she observes his stance and tries to mimic the grip.

"Like this?" She thinks she has it right, but having never held a sword, she can't say it feels entirely natural.

[not_apriest]

He sheathes his own sword for a moment and adjusts her grip slightly. "Like that. But make sure you don't lock up your wrist." He draws his sword again. "You need the movement." He demonstrates by making a deft figure eight with his blade, then looks to her to imitate it.

[ex_alighthouse135]

She observes what he does and nods. When she's expected to imitate she feels a bit nervous, but she's willing to try. She makes the figure, though it's not as swift and certainly not as smooth as his own movements.

"You make it looks so easy. Like you were born with a sword in your hand."

[not_apriest]

"I was a great deal younger than you are when I first picked up a blade," he told her. He demonstrated again. "You're doing well. Practice."

[ex_alighthouse135]

"If I manage to stick someone it'll be a miracle. Though I'd rather not stick someone at all."

She practices the maneuver again, still going slow for fear she'll actually drop the blade.