AUDIENCE: YONA

[retellers]

Comments

[retellers]

You won't get out of practice if you rest a few days. That's not how that works. [ :/ ] If you want to survive in battle, you have to know when to retreat to heal. Can't brute force every fight.

[dawnblushed]

[what if she WANTS to brute force every fight]

...well, maybe. But I'd still feel a little better if I got to practice some.

[retellers]

[ ... they sigh. ]

Fine. Let's go get a branch and see what your form is like.

[dawnblushed]

[score!!

anyway, time to make a beeline for the forest. yona wastes absolutely no time in finding a branch that is both low enough for her to grab onto and thin enough for her to snap, and once she gets a good grip on it, she spins around and holds it like it's a sword.

her stance is actually pretty good! but she had a really good teacher, so that's not surprising.]

[retellers]

Not bad.

[ they do actually sound approving. they don't take a branch for themselves, though, simply shift their stance. ]

But let's see how you do in action. Try and hit me.

[dawnblushed]

[this icon has the wrong weapon but whatever

yona nods, and lunges forward to strike with the branch! she's pretty quick on her feet (thanks hak), but she's also not the world's fastest fighter, either. i have no idea what wolf's combat skill is like help me out here mods.]

[retellers]

[ i am going to give you a clue and the clue is: very good. which is to say they have no problem dodging at all, though their arms flex like they're holding back a reflex to strike back. ]

Not bad. [ they repeat the sentiment? ] You got powers back home, or is this how you normally fight?

[ they're. apparently trying to assess her! ]

[dawnblushed]

[good for wolf! she kind of wishes they would strike back if only so that she could keep practicing, but they did say they weren't allowed to harm the participants, so...]

I don't have any powers - I'm just human.

[...well. technically speaking, yeah. she's not a dragon, she's just a reincarnation of one.]

[retellers]

[ wow, give them a second. ]

Alright. That makes it easier. [ they bend to the ground and grab a handful of pebbles? ] Think you could block these with your branch?

[dawnblushed]

I can try!

[BRING IT ON.]

[retellers]

Don't get it.

[ they throw the first pebble a little loosely-- like trying to see what Yona will do. Or if she'll manage in the first place. ]

[dawnblushed]

[THWACK.

i rolled a natural 20 for this, so not only does she hit the pebble, but she sends it flying. home run!]

[retellers]

[ ah. they actually have to dodge that as she hits it back, but... ]

Good, but a sword's not the same as a bat or a stick. If you're blocking a hit from a projectile, you have to take the impact with it.

[ they throw it a little faster this time. is the branch even thick enough for what they're describing. it's fine. ]

[dawnblushed]

[it absolutely is not.

the pebble hits the top of the branch, but since it's not that thick, it bounces up and yona has to duck to avoid getting smacked in the face. oopsie.]

[retellers]

[ ah... ]

... Maybe we get a bigger stick.

[ they do look a little sheepish there. ]

[dawnblushed]

[yona's just. giggling.]

That's probably a good idea.

[retellers]

[ they raise a hand to rub the back of their neck... ]

... But you get the idea. Right?

[dawnblushed]

I do. Thank you, for training with me.

[retellers]

No problem. Fighting's...something I'm good at. As far as what you guys could ask, that's not so bad.

[dawnblushed]

If I ask you to do something you don't like, just tell me, okay? I know you have to come when I ask, but I don't want you to hate it.

[retellers]

I don't do things I don't want to. [ firmly? ] Even whatever this is, I agreed to.

[dawnblushed]

...okay, but... you said since you're my Leader, you have to come when I call you, right? If you ever don't want to come, but you have to because of the Realm, just say "I don't want to be here" when you arrive and you can go.

[retellers]

Not like I've got anything better to do. [ but they tilt their head a little, giving an air of observing yona pensively ] If I ever do, though, I'll text you so when you ask. That work?

[dawnblushed]

Sure, that works.

[she smiles! that sounds better to her than them just having to show up whenever she's like "hey get over here".]

[retellers]

[ they nod ... ... ... ... and seem to realize they can't just stand in the forest in silence forever, so: ]

What are you fighting for?

[ this is not great small talk. ]