[Open] En Garde!

[winged_knight]

WHO: Wing and anyone
WHERE: One of the larger lower platforms in Vector's Quadrant.
WHEN: Now (Wing personally practices twice a week, anyone may join/visit.)
WHAT: Melee sparring sessions, hand-to-hand and weapons combat. Anyone may watch, participate, receive or offer instruction. Technique discussion welcome as well.
WARNINGS: None yet.

Just enough light from Prima's quadrant touches the network of crystal cables crisscrossing Vector's domain that they turn slightly golden. One wide hanging bridge connects the main approach to one of many large platforms, Vector's tower standing vigil farther behind it. The platform has little in the way of walls, barriers or guard rails, but it is quite large with ample room for several groups to occupy should they choose to. There's a section near the middle, bare except for a large ring on the ground formed from bits of rope and cable knotted together. There's what appears to be a makeshift sparring dummy constructed of various bits of junk nearby.

The knight begins with a warm-up kata, slow and measured with empty and open hands, his movements pushing and pulling with a grace something his size and made of metal would not be expected to have. The warm up eventually transitions into faster flowing movements, punctuated by stronger, tighter fisted and more aggressive movements. Finally it escalates to drawn weapons, their plasma charge singing in the air as the blades move around the jet's body in a combative type of dance.

In several centuries of study and practice, Wing has mastered several forms of martial combat. Offensive and defensive stances, evades, holds, throws, parries, feints, disengages, missile deflects, but most importantly, incapacitates. Using knowledge precisely and intentionally applied to debilitate but not kill one's opponent was a key element to upholding the Circle of Light's philosophy.

All this, and yet Wing has had opportunity to apply but a small portion of it in true combat.

It's time now to expand that into practical application and test it in a much more informal setting. Wing seeks to expand the breadth of his experience while offering a vast knowledge base teachable to others.

Comments

[winged_knight]

He has to smile, because Drift's dedication is beautiful. "Do it for yourself, not just for me."

Wing is not much better. He realizes now, that in their previous time together they did lots of talking, with words about the past, and with actions about values and choices.

Here, this, is talk of the future. One they're shaping. A future together. It strikes him so profoundly there's a bright glint in his optics.

"It's a place to start, you could always learn new things, styles, techniques that don't involve lethality. But beyond that there's a whole world of options. You have lots of time and freedom to discover them."

He cocks his head, curious, "Is there anything you've always wanted to do and couldn't?"

[sword_redemption]

But...everything Drift has done since Crystal City has been for you, Wing. Even meeting Autobots had been trying to fulfill that promise he'd made to Wing to free the captives.

"I don't...I mean, all I've ever done is try to survive." He grins. "Now I just want to make the world better, somehow." So...uh, right. How does he do that, Wing?

Oh GOD if Wing only knew.....

[winged_knight]

Wing would be honored that he's become such a symbol in Drift's life. He only hopes he can live up to that responsibility.

"I know. But there's the opportunity to do more than survive now. It's not out of your grasp to try to thrive. There are still challenges, but there's less keeping you down now than ever before." He smiles, because he really does want to see Drift happy and thriving. 

"The world is a pretty big place, start with what you can reach. One person at a time if you have to."

[sword_redemption]

"Right now, though, we need to survive first. Shelter, supplies, things like that." He's trying to be practical: years of starving in the gutters still remind him that one can't live unless one has some security.

He tries a shy smile. One person? Does he get to pick? Because right now, Wing is pretty reachable....

[winged_knight]

"Yes. Yes, you're right," It's one of those ways Drift is good for Wing. As high as he likes to fly, sometimes he needs a grounding element. "In general though, we're doing pretty good yes?"

It could be anyone. But Drift is here, smiling at him. And that smile is the greatest of rewards, because to Wing it's a rare and beautiful thing. It reflects back at Drift with all of Wing's light. Grinning, he adds, "Familiar territory is not a bad place to start."

[sword_redemption]

"We are. So far. But we needed this, in a way." He needed this. Something to see Wing in action when he could stop and really take it in.

No, it couldn't be anyone, not to Drift. "It's more than familiar. I owe you, Wing."

[winged_knight]

"Yes, I think we did." Seeing Drift so far into his future, like a sudden flash forward, had been dizzying at first. But now, it feels like a gift. "I'd love for this to become a regular thing, the sparring and weapons practice."

A soft laugh as he ducks his head briefly. It's both humility and a bit of evasion, because he wants to assign interesting connotations to 'familiar' and 'territory.'

"Just knowing that it's meant so much to you. That alone is a great reward."