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

[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!!*]