fandomhigh | Hitting Things With Big, Sharp Sticks; Friday, Third Period [07/12].

The training space that Gladio had set up in the danger shop for his class was large, and a little on the fancier side, bringing to mind some of the training spaces at the citadel, the wide open spaces under a very, very tall domed ceiling (needed lots of vertical space, really, for teleporting and lancers like Iggy), flanked by large marble columns running along the length of the room. There were a few practice dummies, of course, some mats, and a rack of weapons waiting, most of them massive in size, some taller even than Gladio himself, but several smaller (but no less ridiculous) ones as well.

And he stood at the center of all of it with a big grin on his face and his hands on his hips as he waited for everyone to file in.

"Hey, guys," he started, "and welcome to Hitting Things With Big, Sharp Sticks, which is just fancy way of saying this class is all about swords. Especially big swords, because I'm a big guy and I like a big sword to match," yes, that grin showed that he knew exactly how that sounded, "and I wanna teach you guys how to handle those big heavy swords yourself."

Yup, that, too.

"Now, today," he said, "we're going to keep things pretty simple. I'd like to start with some introductions: name, any weapon handling experience, any battle experience, maybe what you're hoping to get out of the class. And then you're going to go ahead and try and find a sword that you feel comfortable with; I'm not expecting anyone to be wielding a big greatsword like I'm using toting around, although if that's your style, even better. But nothing wrong with starting out where you feel the most comfortable, and then we'll work up to it. Once you've got a sword that feels pretty good, we're going to go over some basics on how to use them, we'll talk about whether or not what you've picked is the right fit and how you can tell, and then we'll go over some of the fundamental swings involved.

"I've also got some bamboo training swords that aren't danger shop generated," he gestured toward those, "so you can take one home to practice in your off time, if you want. It's not required, but I highly recommended it if you really want to take what you're learning during class and have it stick in any useful way.

"So, with that said," he clapped his hands together, "introductions! While others are going, take some time to stretch out and warm up if you haven't already, because this class is definitely going to be a work-out, especially for those arms! Who wants to get started?"

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"Illyana Rasputin," Yana said simply. "I've got about a decade of combat training under my belt, but swords are not my preferred weapon."

She held out a hand, and her Soul Staff materialized, glinting wickedly sharp. "This is part of me, and it tends to be my first impulse if weapons are required. But my old combat teacher would be...disappointed," Cat would legit murder her if she wasn't already dead "--on how I've neglected my sword and knives training for the past few years. So here I am."

Huh. Spiritual weapon. Gray hadn't seen one of those in a hot minute. Don't mind him surreptitiously trying to get a better look at it.

The Soul Staff stood at twice Illyana's height, almost seeming to absorb the light around it rather than reflect it. The strange glaive-like section at the top appearing to twist one moment, and be flat the next.

Yana was expecting stares -- she had just generated a weapon out of thin air -- so it took her a bit to notice Gray's interest.

"Look as much as you want," she said wryly. "--but if you're magic-based, do not touch."

Gray didn't know if he qualified as 'magic-based,' but he assured her, "Wasn't planning on it." He knew basic etiquette around spiritual weapons even if he didn't have one, thanks.

Whatever the heck it was, it didn't look like celestial steel like an angel's spiritual weapons, so he wasn't that worried about it.

Gray may have considered Illyana's weapon surreptitiously, but Gladio couldn't help regarding it somewhat wistfully.

Gods, he missed being able to summon his weapons.

Little did he know that here Igs was going to get all the fun there later tonight!

"Well," he allowed, giving her a faint smile and deciding just to be glad at least someone got to enjoy that kind of magic, "always good to keep your skills honest and your options open for anything. It'll be good to get some of that rust off."

"There shouldn't be too much rust on my general combat skills," Yana drawled. "What is the term? Bar fights are my 'favored terrain?'"

The nice part about being a teleporter is that no matter how many bars she got banned from, Illyana could always find more.

"Not much in the way of swords, plenty of found weaponry."

Hitting Things With Big, Sharp Sticks; Friday, Third Period [07/12].

Re: Introductions - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/12.

Re: Introductions - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/12.

Re: Introductions - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/12.

Re: Introductions - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/12.

Re: Introductions - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/12.

Re: Introductions - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/12.