I flinched.
[ Apropos of nothing, this is just a message Ellis gets one evening. It sounds a little like Tony is answering a question no one asked. ]
[ Apropos of nothing, this is just a message Ellis gets one evening. It sounds a little like Tony is answering a question no one asked. ]
Yep.
There was a rift, and it was only me and another shard-bearer, and you need more than one to close one of those bad boys. Had to show up and I didn't.
You ever had that? I mean, of course not, right.
There was a rift, and it was only me and another shard-bearer, and you need more than one to close one of those bad boys. Had to show up and I didn't.
You ever had that? I mean, of course not, right.
Mm.
[ His tone makes that a 'no'. ]
Freak development bailed us out. Baudin was talking about it on the crystals, dunno if you tuned in. And if she'd chosen some other time to do something unprecedented, I don't know. Could have been bad.
I don't know if it's just 'cause I'm here or what but it's not me. I'm not that guy.
[ His tone makes that a 'no'. ]
Freak development bailed us out. Baudin was talking about it on the crystals, dunno if you tuned in. And if she'd chosen some other time to do something unprecedented, I don't know. Could have been bad.
I don't know if it's just 'cause I'm here or what but it's not me. I'm not that guy.
[ Unseen through the crystal, Tony half-smiles at the qualifier to this first thing. Relatable content. ]
And how do you do that, chief?
[ That sounds more specific -- does an Ellis do that, rather than any figurative person who might freeze up when the going gets tough. ]
And how do you do that, chief?
[ That sounds more specific -- does an Ellis do that, rather than any figurative person who might freeze up when the going gets tough. ]
[ That induces a weird pang outta nowhere that Tony doesn't appreciate. (Outta nowhere, as if feeling homesick and missing the people who were in your life is somehow unwarranted in this circumstance. Gross, though.) ]
Okay. Hey, thanks for volunteering.
Okay. Hey, thanks for volunteering.
[ That feels like it should be followed up by a real thanks instead of, like, A Line That Dimly Implies The Real Thing But With Extra Deniability, and Tony hesitates over that contemplation before it's dragged to the mental recycle bin. ]
Yeah, you kind of remind me about someone I guess. Tell you about it when it gets extra maudlin sometime.
Yeah, you kind of remind me about someone I guess. Tell you about it when it gets extra maudlin sometime.
[The yard is all slate gray and miserable in the early mornings, and the chill is sharp enough to keep most otherwise willing hands tucked up in their beds for as long as possible. It leaves the pair of them plenty of room in which to work.
--Of which they've done plenty of already this morning, moving through simple forms of the parrying dagger at fourth and half speed. de Ricart is quite nimble with his left hand, producing the ugly blade from his belt with the deft flick of a wrist. Here is a block, here is how to twist the wrist to lock an opponents blade with the quillion. Here is how to redirect its momentum to turn a strike or twist the weapon away from your enemy's hand.
Its simple, and requires very little in the way of conversation except for sometimes:]
Let your shoulder fall more easily. Again.
--Of which they've done plenty of already this morning, moving through simple forms of the parrying dagger at fourth and half speed. de Ricart is quite nimble with his left hand, producing the ugly blade from his belt with the deft flick of a wrist. Here is a block, here is how to twist the wrist to lock an opponents blade with the quillion. Here is how to redirect its momentum to turn a strike or twist the weapon away from your enemy's hand.
Its simple, and requires very little in the way of conversation except for sometimes:]
Let your shoulder fall more easily. Again.
[He's very spare with the fine silvered rapier throughout - plays mostly off the parrying dagger, which is good because it's what they're here for. Even still, it's an odd way of fighting. What swordsman uses his long blade to redirect, and his off hand dagger to strike?]
Your hand is attached to your arm.
[Which might almost be a joke; he's as mild in this as he is walking Ellis through the combination. Laissez faire about--]
What happened to it? To your fingers.
Your hand is attached to your arm.
[Which might almost be a joke; he's as mild in this as he is walking Ellis through the combination. Laissez faire about--]
What happened to it? To your fingers.
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