tushanshu | Aux armes, citoyens (Video)

[Enjolras has looked better, certainly, though he's about as polished and as formal as he usually is, clad in his new light grey linen coat and waistcoat, even a loose cravat despite the heat. He's certainly sweating for the effort, all the same, his hair showing definite curled frizz that escapes its braid. There's also something about him that looks tireder than usual, but still, his expression is friendly enough as the vid feed starts.]

A great number of things have lately come to my attention, but among the most important is the fact that I must, that it is imperative for me to find activities of a less solitary nature than I've had since our return from...our return from war.

For a long time, it occurred to me that putting aside all reminders of it were the better way but I think, instead, that something active, some way of keeping my most relevant skills fresh, perhaps bettering, them, will be of more benefit here in the long run, and could help me socially as well. If I might train with...

That is to say, I wish to improve my ability with a blade. I fence in the foil discipline, and trained a little in it here, before the war, and can pick up an epee as needed, provided you are not freakishly tall [There's a wink to show it's a joke]. Is there anyone here who might be willing to go a few rounds with me, either for simple exercise, or, perhaps, if we suit and you find that you have things to teach me, for lessons of a sort?

Do please let me know, it may be nice to find action that I might do something with and about again, action I can control I... [That's enough for now, he realizes, breaking off with a little abrupt wave of his hand.]

Anyway, please do let me know.

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[Enjolras has to laugh at that.]

This place DOES have a way of turning standards on its head.

And, yes, I did. Iskierka and Temeraire, from the same world where they were part of a flying navy, nearly. They served as something of a flying ship. Iskierka was...perhaps my best friend, here, the best I made at least.

[And he's looking very proud and fond as he speaks of her.]

We'd formed a flying corps with them during the war ourselves. For a brief while. They did not manage to see much battle, but we prepared and drilled a fair bit. I was one of Iskierka's lieutenants. Shortlived as it was, it was rewarding. Worth the destroyed clothes and smell of sulfur in the air. She does love setting things on fire and gaining Capitol.

Temeraire was quieter, more thoughtful and a bit more of a strategist. We had many an amazing conversation of politics in his world and others, things that might be changed. He wanted to help dragons gain full equality under their law. I hope he's managing to do it now he's gotten home.

I even know someone who would love to join us. China? Are you listening?

[Of course she is.]

The gentleman hardly seemed to lack for partners.

[So innocent. So earnest.]

You intend to make a threesome of this, then?

THAT would be especially enjoyable.

[Of course, he's blushing at the implication there, so better he didn't switch back to video.]

I do believe that it depends on who is taking whom before we quite define it, though.

[No implication there. Of course not.]

We can define whatever needs to be defined after we start. The important thing is that we start.

[Did implications go over his head, or...?]

Do try and be gentle with him, China.

[... Nope.]

Gentle? ...that does rather depend on who's taking whom, as he says, does it not?

[China no.]

I suppose the particulars can wait until we're in the flesh. Will this afternoon do, or tomorrow?

Truly amazing!

It goes to show that even if you think there is nothing left in the world that can surprise you, there are still such remarkable wonders.

I do hope you get to meet your friends again. They sound like truly wonderful people.

If you had a weapon of a similar weight, you could parry, but that's not smart with a lighter weapon. On the other hand, it's easier to move your blade fast when it's light.

Well, not unless you can afford replacing the equipment often. And even then.

[Not a wonderful plan, anyway.]

Ah, MUCH easier. AND to block other attacks as well. I've had the tricks and speed come in handy, even if a broken table leg is rather different to a foil.

I believe you each have the right of it. Both that we should start soon, and that things do depend on...quite a few parameters, perhaps even equipment...choices and the like.

Any time to start would suit my schedule well enough.

I'm busy this afternoon, so tomorrow will have to do. Do either of you know where Bakura's dojo is?

It IS rather like that, yes. Especially here. Half of the things I've come across...I never would have dared to hope.

And perhaps. There have been people who've returned before.

[...perhaps it's for the best Skulduggery dropped the thread.]

I do.

[He probably won't even try to remove her from it. They'd been getting along so well last they saw each other.]

Tomorrow afternoon, then. How lovely this ought to be.

It is not a terrible place to return to. The comaraderie between people here is inspiring.

We do seem to have pulled together well enough.

[He has to smile, thinking of that.]

Suppose that IS adversity for you.

And so do I.

I will look forward to it.

Bonds formed in fire do tend to be the strongest. Even so, the people here are truly admirable.

That they do. We do have something special...something strange, but special, I agree.

Is it really so strange?

Well, in circumstance of being here, and less the rest.

Ah- yes. The colliding of worlds is a bit strange.

[She smiled back, shaking her head.]

A little, yes.

[It didn't bother her, though. Not any more than it usually did whenever she thought of not knowing things. She would learn. Eventually.]

I can't say for certain what you might have been like in those times....I'm not even sure how much you've changed since you've been here, because you've always seemed...better...at it than me. Always.

[From the eyes of a child. The memories of a twelve year old girl.]

[The dojo isn't empty when Skulduggery arrives the next afternoon. He doesn't come here very often, which is probably why that fact surprises him. Then again, with the Chihuelans arriving the very next month, maybe it is abnormally busy. Maybe individual kedan are deciding that learning how to defend themselves takes priority.

It means they'll have an audience, which gives Skulduggery pause only because it's been three hundred years since he last fought anyone while possessing lungs, muscles, and a heartbeat.]

Ah, well. Not so terribly important as all of that.

[At least in that reference point, anyway. The rest of the revolution, well, there'll be time to go over what matters there. And it's not necessarily the points that people might expect. Still, nothing too immediate there, anyway.]

Better? At being here?

[Enjolras is blinking at that because it's not what he'd have considered at all. And well, it's pretty untrue.]

I just got really lucky and had friends to show me how it was done here for the first several months. I don't know that I could do it myself. I'm not as brave as some people.

I was amazed to learn so many existed, and of still more the longer that I'm here.

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Aux armes, citoyens (Video)

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