6th Transmission, Stopping to smell the Kibo...[Video/Action]

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke Skywalker has had an eventful few weeks, what with Anakin arriving, and breaking the news to his father about his rather dark future, not to mention the New Feather cycle. He'd patrolled the woods for newcomers, and spent many afternoons introducing himself to and attempting to help New Feathers get adjusted to life in Luceti. Not to mention the recent the blank...day from the last weekend.

That was beginning to be a common theme, blank days in his memory, and it was starting to be more than mildly disconcerting. Luke was genuinely starting to get angry at having his mind wiped by the Malnosso. To alleviate some of this, Luke decided that today would probably be an excellent day for exercise, and perhaps finding someone to train with. He'd talked to some people in the past about working on Jedi philosophy, martial training, and even meditative practice but due to the New Feather cycle, Anakin, and the confusion regarding the attack on the Battle Dome things had just not worked out.

He sends out a message to the village in Video form during the morning, before stepping outside to begin his own practice]

Good morning Luceti. I trust this morning finds you all well. I have a bit of a request. I would like to find someone to help me train today. Its been a while since I've had anyone to spar with, and equally as long since I've had an exercise partner. If anyone is interested, please contact me. I will be around Community House Five, so if you'd prefer, please stop by.

Moreover, if anyone is interested, I feel like today is a fine day for a hike and would love company.

[After his morning, he heads about his business in the village, stopping by the shops to pick up a few odds and ends like nutrient bars, a travelling pack, and some canteens.

Following this, he begins to make preparations for a rather lengthy hike, planning on heading out into the woods and just walking until he feels like its time to turn around. Why? Because he knows that he needs to relax and take time to smell the Kibo. Even if there aren't any Kibo flowers here. All the little things are starting to build up, and he can ill afford a tantrum of his own, having just prevented Anakin's explosion the previous week.

Its a fine spring day, and he does hope that someone will join him on his walk]

(OOC: Feel free to grab Luke pretty much anywhere. In the morning, in town, over the journal, before his hike, out on his walk, or really whatever you want.)

Comments

[Voice]

[daisy023]

You know I'm ready for it!

[Sounds... More outspoken than usual.]

((OOC: Current AU.))

[Voice]

[thefinaljedi]

Great, Daisy. Bring your wooden weapon, and lets meet downstairs in an hour or so?

[Voice]

[daisy023]

Yes, Luke!

[She shows up a little early, too... More than usual, anyway. There's more energy in her.

The sword she picked for practice is a wooden longsword she is already practicing its' weight and reach with.]

[Voice]

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke arrives a few moments later, dropping down the last flight of stairs with a Force-slowed hop over the railing. He's carrying what appears to be a wooden lightsaber, as well as a long quarterstaff]

Good morning. I hope you're doing well.

[Voice]

[daisy023]

Yeah. [And she's quick to notice both weapons, but the quarterstaff gets a longer look.] So you'll try to fight off my range? I knew I should've taken a claymore.

[Voice]

[thefinaljedi]

No, I need to practice close fighting with a staff, and you are so much taller than I am.

[He laughs]

[Voice]

[daisy023]

That will still be a hard fight, Luke.

[Some teasing, but well-intentioned.]

Which fighting styles do you know? Most I've taken were for short swords.

[Voice]

[thefinaljedi]

Mostly things you've probably never heard of, but swords primarily. Staff fighting isn't common, but its something I feel I should improve with.

[He smiles and holds up the wooden lightsaber]

Shall we start?

[Voice]

[daisy023]

[The different fighting styles don't surprise her. Many cultures in Earth develop in different manners.

She brings out her own training weapon in a stance -- with her height, she has to lower the blade to make use of her range.]

I'm ready.

[Voice]

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke starts with a small, almost playful swipe, angling his blade to come in to the right. Its not enough to leave him exposed, just a testing strike]

[Action]

[daisy023]

[Even with only light experience with longswords, she easily notices the gesture, choosing to play along for a second in slow strikes either of them would easily parry or dodge.

For the first few seconds, she behaves this way -- until she jolts forward with more strikes.]

[Action]

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke almost lazily parries each of Daisy's attacks, but when she picks up the tempo, he finds himself doing the same. The yard is filled with the clacking sound of wood. Luke gives no ground, and instead uses his smaller size to give him more control, stepping forward to make it more awkward for Daisy.

At one point, he swaps his defensive stance for a more aggressive one, spinning around to one side to dodge a strike and taking a swipe at Daisy's more exposed flank.]

[Action]

[daisy023]

[The Spartan notices this. Luke's using his lower height as an advantage. What surprises her is how fast he is -- as fast as her, if not more.

She has to change this. As Luke turns more aggressive, she tries to adopt more defensive movements to push him back and retreat a little to regain her range -- and should that succeed, keep her stance spread in an offensive to keep him at bay.]

[Action]

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke shifts forms, changing his strikes from the blocky Shi-Cho to the faster, acrobatic Ataru form. He flows from strike to strike like its namesake, a hawkbat. His sword moves with a liquid fluidity, and his feet barely ever touch the ground. He's not going to let her regain footing, and instead of being pushed back, he shifts to the side, keeping his positioning.]

[Action]

[daisy023]

[She tries to change her tactics, and adopt more offensive movements. He is as swift as her, and for once her size keeps being a disadvantage as she tries to solidify her stance.

Her movements with her wooden blade turn more horizontal in an attempt to push him back and prevent him the advantage of a mobile position.]

[Action]

[thefinaljedi]

[And true to the Ataru's namesake, Luke lets himself be pushed back, only to leap over Daisy with a Force-enhanced leap that carries him well out of her sword's reach. Before she can react he taps her gently on the shoulder with his sword]

Gotcha.

[Action]

[daisy023]

[... Huh. She didn't expect him to be able to move like she could.

Calmly, she steps back, lowering her blade.]

Are we using all of our powers, now, Luke?

[Action]

[thefinaljedi]

No. I'm just staying true to form. Ataru, the lightsaber form I'm in is known as the Way of the Hawkbat. Without acrobatics, I can't properly use the form.

Though, if you were holding back on my account...? Would you like to have a full-powered spar?

[Action]

[daisy023]

[She smiles a little. It's opponents like these the ones she likes to fight with.

It's a little harder to move like that outside of the MJOLNIR and at half her power, but it's good practice.]

Sometimes I would hold back even on my trainers.

[Marines, in her mind -- not Helljumpers.]

[Action]

[thefinaljedi]

Then don't hold back, Daisy. I assure you, I can keep up. Though if you are truly worried, we could always go to the Battle Dome. The failsafes there should stop any serious injury.

[He's serious. He doesn't want her to hold back]

[Action]

[daisy023]

[It's what she wants. She is very happy to hear this.]

It's alright, sir.

[Before she takes her stance back, though, she puts her hands together and closes her eyes for a few seconds. Once finished, she takes a combat stance now with clarity of mind.]

[Action]

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke nods and takes a combat stance as well, this time holding his weapon in his signature style of Shii-Cho, the Way of the Krayt Dragon. It is open, inviting, even. Would Daisy attack the apparent vulnerability?]

Please, give me everything you have. I will do the same.

[Action]

[daisy023]

[At the very least, she is learning not to underestimate Luke. But she will be more agressive.

She tries a feint -- before bolting around his apparent weakness and trying to assault to push him back.]

[Action]

[thefinaljedi]

[When he said he's not holding back either, he meant it. This time, he allows the Force to guide his hands, deftly blunting her assault with a riposte, before counterattacking a flurry of blows. His onslaught is increased in speed and tempo by the Force, not giving Daisy a chance to attack]

[Action]

[daisy023]

[He is very good. It's this sort of adversaries what she yearns for.

She sends a few rushes of wind to divert the path of Luke's weapon and aid her own -- Valvalis and Kipinn's gift, but even his movements seem to work not against the wind, but with them.

It all tells her she still has much to learn, and to become stronger.

In a rush, she stops using the air in her movements -- and attempts to aid herself in bolting to his side with a sudden rush of wind. Should it succeed, she would assault him in the same manner as he tried to do earlier.]