Fencing Club

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the first meeting of the fencing club, or the place where we train you to fight off the next invasion of the undead forces. Edward was unable to be here tonight, so I hope that he is off hunting for equipment for those who do not have their own.

I suppose that everyone has been instructed in different styles of swordfighting, so adjustments will have to be made. Suit up and find a partner to practice some basic back-and-forth sparring with. And endeavor not to wound your partner; it would be better to save that for the next wave of supernatural attackers.

Comments

[addams-daughter.livejournal.com]

Wednesday had been pleased to find the fencing club resurrected and arrived in good time, a bag of gear over one shoulder. Quietly and efficiently dressing, she withdrew a sabre and found a place to practice lunges until more people arrived.

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

That's an impressive sabre, and good form in your attacks. Have you have much previous experience?

[addams-daughter.livejournal.com]

"My father is an avid duelist." Wednesday lowered her blade and turned to face him. "My brother and I trained regularly."

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

My father thought fencing would be good for my education. If only he'd learned to do it too, perhaps he wouldn't have died so easily.

*salutes her with his épée and lowers it to face her*

En garde.

[addams-daughter.livejournal.com]

"En garde." Wednesday returned the salute and, appropriately enough, brought up her guard.

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

*Hamlet starts with a mid-range attack to test Wednesday's reaction time*

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie appears with his cutlass slung over his shoulder in its scabbard, looking somewhat uncomfortable. He lays it carefully on a chair and looks around, hoping someone may have spare fencing equipment for him to use.

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Welcome. It's good to see a new face. We have some protective apparel set out by the rigging I'm told is supposed to be a "pyramid" of some kind. Would you prefer to use your cutlass, or would you care to borrow one of my foils until Edward can scrounge up some proper supplies?

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

"I think I would prefer to borrow a foil. All the swordfighting I know is a rather brute hack-and-bash style, and I'd prefer not to endanger anyone with an edged blade at this point."

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Fair enough.

*hands Archie the foil, keeping the heavier épée for himself*

The idea of classical fencing is to keep your opponent at a distance so that they can't get a hit on you while you try to get a hit on them. Just get a feel for the weight in your hand and try to keep facing me from a distance of about six feet as I move around.

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie takes the foil and hefts it experimentally, trying to find the balance; it's definitely a far cry from the shorter, broad-bladed cutlass that he's used to. He faces Hamlet, trying to shade his moves.

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Aim for the mid-point in the middle of my chest. Foils are all about thrusting and parrying. Just practice the footwork of going back and forth.

...there's no way to teach fencing without making it sound like a euphemism for something else, is there?

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie's eyes go wide for a moment, and he turns very, very red with the effort of not bursting out into hysterical laughter. "Try commanding a gun crew in the heat of a ship-to-ship engagement," he chokes out after a moment. "Thrusting dripping swabs, powder cartridges, and balls down red-hot cannon barrels . . ."

Still red-faced and chuckling, he takes a few awkward, experimental steps.

[OOC: *ded*]

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

"Did I mention," he adds with a grin, "that if you rush the process too much, the balls will explode?"

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

*Coughs to conceal a laugh and tries to ignore the red spreading across his cheeks. It's not good for his emo rep.*

Luckily with fencing, the thrusts only drip if you've been going at it for awhile, and there's little chance of exploding balls. There's always the chance that the foil might penetrate your protection, however.


[OOC: *is loving all this*]

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

As he hefts the foil, Archie isn't even bothering to hide his evil grin now. "This is much longer, yet lighter, than I'm used to. I believe I can keep it up for longer than I usually can."

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

*salutes Archie with his foil*

Let's have at it then. I warn you that I have been mainly trained in rapier fighting, so my thrusts might be a bit strong for you to handle at first.

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

[OOC: ZOMG. *ded* This is cracking me up, but I'm too tired to come up with a good enough response. Will try and pick it up in the morning.]

[lady-jessica-bg.livejournal.com]

(ooc: *chokes with laughter*)

[brandnew-world.livejournal.com]

[OOC: *DED!!*]

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

*wanders in, one sword slung over her back, a couple of spares carried under her arm*

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

*raises eyebrow*

That's quite a collection. Would you mind sharing the extras with anyone who might be in need of a sword?

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

*grins*

That's why I brought them.

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Hey! Can I borrow one of those from you, please?

The lightsaber's pretty kick-ass but it's not great sparring against, well, anything that isn't another lightsaber.

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

Sure.

*sizes up Anakin before selecting a sword*

This one should do you.

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

*gives it a few practice swings*

This is very different than a lightsaber. Heavier. More balanced.

*gives a few more practice swings*

I like it.

Need a partner?

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

*grins*

Think you're up for it?

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

*rolls his shoulders as a warm-up, assumes starting position*

I've been told I'm very good at this, so I'll give it my best shot.

*raises an eyebrow*

Ready?

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

Always.

*starts circling slowly looking for an opening*

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

*smiles, lunges towards Callisto in a way Obi-Wan always referred to as "too showy, Anakin"*

[OOC: OMG, me either. Too bad this isn't Barbossa. We could just be all "swash, swash, buckle, buckle" about it. *looks up fencing on Wikipedia*: Okay, I lunge, you parry and riposte (attack back, but a fancy word). Shower, rinse, repeat.]

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

*side stepping, Callisto blocks and parries Anakin's lunge*

You're telegraphing, dearie.

*Callisto attempts an attack of her own on the backswing*

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

*blocks it easily*

Getting used to the feel of the blade, darling.

*spins, swings the blade at her legs*

[OOC: works for me. I'm figuring they're probably about equal on this anyway, with Anakin at a slight disadvantage by not knowing how an actual sword works.]

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

*with a short bark of laughter, Callisto jumps straight up as Anakin's blade slashes the air underfoot, moving into an overhand swing as she lands*

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

*rolls under her blade, ending up on the opposite side of the mat, comes up sword ready*

This is too much fun to be allowed on school property.

*advances forward with a huge grin on his face*

Exactly what I needed today.

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

*carefully backing up, Callisto makes a "come hither gesture" with her free hand*

I always say, you can never have too much fun!

*abruptly rushes Anakin, aiming a slash across his torso*

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

*leaps up, front tucks over the sword and Callisto*

*turns around, mimics her "come hither" gesture*

I'll have to look into that philosophy.

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

*spinning around to keep Anakin in her line of sight Callisto chuckles*

Now you? You're good.

*advancing, she starts slowly weaving her blade in an almost hypnotic pattern*

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

You're not half-bad yourself.

*keeps his attention between Callisto's blade and her eyes to see which way she's going to go*

[OOC: Bedtime for me--continue tomorrow? Anakin could use the workout :)]

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

*Alanna stretches her sore arm in the back, careful to keep Lightning mostly out of sight*

[valehero.livejournal.com]

Isaac wanders in and looks around, sword strapped on his back, and smiles with a nod.

[lady-jessica-bg.livejournal.com]

I've never fenced before, but I've had some small training with blades and have trained reflexes. *takes a foil* Well, en garde (I believe that is what is said here?)

[valehero.livejournal.com]

Isaac glances over and eyes the foil. That's a rather small sword to be fighting with... he thinks to himself. He sighs and holds a palm over towards the supply rack. As rings of energy pulse over his body, a foil floats over to him and his takes the handle in hand, then assumes his defensive stance with a nod.

[lady-jessica-bg.livejournal.com]

Jessica tries for a light swipe, to test his reflexes.

[valehero.livejournal.com]

With a quick movement, he brings the sword to the side to block it, then twists the handle around and over, swinging towards the girl.

[lady-jessica-bg.livejournal.com]

She dodges the blade and attacks, aiming for the unprotected area around his torso.

She thinks, somewhat pointlessly, "They always say killing with the point is artless, but I've never understood why."

[valehero.livejournal.com]

A quick twist of the wrist, and the blade just turns in time to guard his torso, another twist, and it whirls to strike at her upper arm. This is pointless... He thinks.