[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

[sword_redemption]

"I know you know." A slight sullenness in his tone that he fights. "But it doesn't mean I shouldn't say it. I need to. To say it to your face." It's the least he could do.

And it's all he is able to say, as Wing throws his arms around him. He almost flinches back--his mind screaming that this isn't real, this isn't really happening as much as he wants it to, and that if it was, he wasn't worthy--but then tilts forward, his own hands awkward and hesitant around Wing's waist.

[winged_knight]

Wing's hand slides a little more tightly over Drift's backplate. He tucks his head in near the white audial. "Say whatever you need. I'll listen."

The embrace is the best way he can think to forgive, when words don't feel as adequate as they should. So he lets his actions speak for him, his presence searching, reaching, hoping for healing for them both. Mistakes had been made, bad things had happened, but Wing knew Drift had done everything in his power to make things right. All Wing wanted now was for them both to find some happiness.

[sword_redemption]

Drift pulls himself out of it, abruptly. He has no right, whatever Wing might say. He forfeited any right to Wing ages ago, and more than that, he had no right to make his wants Wing's burden.

He releases the jet, reluctantly, a smile that's almost on the edge of tears on his face. "Swords," he manages, barely audible over the hum of his cooling fans.

[winged_knight]

There's a moment of stillness, confusion bordering on disbelief, and then he withdraws, shrinking almost tangibly. 

"I-I'm sorry. I...overstepped." Wing ducks his head, an attempt to hide the flash of shame and regret, a tinge of pain at the rejection. He should know better than to push the boundaries, it was one of his failings.  

"Right. Swords." Wing steps away, reading his weapons again and turning 180 to put distance between them again, using the moment to marshal his fortitude and regain his composure. 

[sword_redemption]

"You didn't." Almost a whine of want, his hand reaching toward Wing even though he knew letting the jet go was for the best. The look of rejection on Wing's face burned worse than the Red Rust.

"Wing. I just..." No. NO explanation would make it better. Wing was out of Drift's league and he'd had no right to touch him at all. Better to let the moment pass, so at least he could hold to the beautiful memory.

He nods, bracing himself, redrawing his swords. "I...uh I've tried to learn."

[winged_knight]

The sound tugs at his spark and Wing stops, taking in those words, a balm soothing his pain down to an familiar ache. 

But the confusion remains, and he looks back, casting his optics around Drift, searching, hopeful, wanting the rest of that statement but not knowing if he had the right to ask. So an offer instead, same as before. "I'll listen. Anytime. You want..."

The hint of a smile, because the other swordmech has learned a fair amount as far Wing could tell. "You're bright Drift, you've figured out most of the basics already for what I can see." 

[sword_redemption]

"I know." And that makes it worse somehow, that the mech Drift has most offended was the most patient with him.

He shrugs off the compliment. "Only thing I've ever been good at: violence. I'm at least trying to use it right this time. " Like you, he almost adds.

[winged_knight]

Wing nods. It's not much but he'll take it. "I want to be here for you."

Wing just wants to know, to understand Drift and his trials, his experiences both old and new. It was the stuff of friendship, which Wing wanted to claim regardless of what else they might become.

"It's true." The part about Drift being bright. It'd just been applied in very narrow fields. "You are. And I'm glad to see it. Maybe there's other things you're good at, you just don't know because you haven't had the opportunity to try."

[sword_redemption]

"I want...the same. I promise I won't let you down this time." Not if he can help it.

He's forgotten entirely about sparring, the weapons loose in his hands. "I'd...I don't even know where to start. Except this."

[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."