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video † looking for duel

[video]

[The man on the screen is a bit tall, if the camera angle is any indication. He is dressed in a tight navy uniform and a cape. Someone please tell him that Halloween isn't for another month.

He has a rather frightening stare, though. Maybe... tell him next time.]

I require a sparring partner. I use a sword and shield, but you can use whatever you're comfortable with. I know some magic as well.

[A pause.]

Meet me in District 2, in the small park at [intersection].

[He shuts the feed off after an awkward silence.]

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[Give a curious teen free reign to play with a computer all he wants, especially after seeing other people using one, and see if he doesn't pick a few things up. He's by no means proficient, but he's at least at a point now where he can respond to people if he wants (and when he bothers to check these things). And hey, no risk of crashing into a mountain if he doesn't get it right! Always a plus for practicing!

Speaking of practicing, a look flashes across his face when Kratos asks about his training. You know that look. It's the look of a student whose teacher just asked if he studied for a test. Or did his homework. Or anything. That look, like a deer caught in a hunter's sights, the one that says 'aw crap.']

Well, uh... a little? [Quick, damage control, how can he make this sound not so bad?] I haven't sparred with anyone, but I've done a little by myself.

[Not a lie. For a few days after he'd challenged Zack, Lloyd had gone through a few routines so he'd be ready in case Zack found a sword fairly soon. But no word from Zack meant that his resolve to practice was soon distracted by all the other things there were to do.

Quick, subject change.]

What about you?

Hmph.

[It's hard to tell if Kratos is satisfied with this answer. Most likely not, but that's Kratos for you.]

We both could use the practice, I suppose. [And there he goes, dodging questions again.]

[Lloyd normally hates when Kratos dodges his questions like that. Does he have any idea how frustrating that is? This time, though, he's willing to let it slide, mostly because it means leaving behind the awkward admission that he's been slacking off.]

Right. Yeah. So, uh, you'll still be there if I'm there in half an hour?

[They've both been slacking, to be honest. Which is why Kratos changed the subject change.]

Yes. I plan to train until nightfall.

[He'd invite Lloyd to stay but he's not sure Lloyd's attention span is up for that.]

[Lloyd's attention span or his body. Training with Kratos can be taxing, especially if he's at all out of practice or out of shape. Lloyd tries not to make a face at the idea of training that long, though some of his feelings probably still leak out. Even so...]

I'll be there soon.

[With a mixture of feelings, he turns the call off before heading out to the park. Training with Kratos... Can they really just pick up where they left off?

Guess he's about to find out. It doesn't take him the whole half hour to get there, and soon enough he's passing by the swings. He scans the park, trying to spot the other man.]

[Kratos is easy enough to find. There isn't a lot here, and he's made a nice spot to sit in the grass. With the way his head is tilted, he almost appears to be asleep.

Then there's a flicker of movement, the tightening of his hand on his sword. He gets to his feet and waits for Lloyd to approach.]

[There he is. Sitting in the grass just a little farther on, and he's... sleeping? Oh, come on, it didn't take Lloyd that long to make his way over here.

But then Kratos rises to his feet, dispelling any notion that he'd been asleep before Lloyd has a chance to say anything about it. Lloyd slows, then comes to a halt a few feet away.]

...Kratos.

[Though he doesn't look it, Kratos feels old as he faces Lloyd across the relatively small expanse of grass. It's like nothing's changed at all.]

You came.

[Unlike the last time they fought like this, Kratos feels... happy. Relieved, even. His mask slips enough to allow a smile.]

Are you ready?

[He... smiled? Just because Lloyd showed up? Kratos never smiles!]

I... Yeah. I said I would, right?

[Kratos should know him well enough to know that he wouldn't break his word if he can help it.

Oh, right, they're here to spar. Lloyd hastily tries to shake the strangeness of Kratos's smile off, drawing his swords and falling into a stance that's as ready as he can get.]

O-of course. I'm ready if you are!

[Lloyd never looks ready. Even when he was angry, Kratos could easily pick at least three places where he was wide open. He doesn't say anything to that effect, not yet.]

Very well. Let's begin.

[It feels like a lesson, like any other, but Kratos is the one who starts. He feints to the right, trying to distract Lloyd and tag him on the left shoulder, one of the oldest tricks in the book.

A book he probably wrote himself.]

[The distraction half-works. The possibility that it might be just a feint crosses Lloyd's mind, but he can't bring himself to disregard a threat like that, especially not from Kratos. He compromises, parrying with just one blade. It's a gamble, and he knows it, because if Kratos is putting any real force behind the blow, Lloyd's not as good at blocking with just one arm.

But this leaves his other blade free, and while Kratos's blade is (hopefully) occupied, Lloyd brings his other sword around to strike at his potentially vulnerable side.]

[No dice. Kratos meets Lloyd's counter with his buckler, shrugging off the attack. He pulls his sword out of the parry, quickly reversing it and trying to hit Lloyd in the stomach with the pommel.

So much for going easy.]

[Lloyd may not be in Kratos's league yet, but he's not that shoddy with his swordwork, either. Otherwise he would have long since been dead against a Desian or a monster somewhere. He shifts his stance quickly, twisting his body sharply to avoid the blow. The move leaves him at the risk of being off balance, but a sword slicing up at Kratos's stomach should keep him from taking advantage.

No, he's not about to go easy on Kratos either.]

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