| Scene Listing | || | Scene Schedule | || | Scene Schedule RSS |
| No title. |
| (2013-04-06 - 2013-04-06) |
| No description. |
| Ramza Beoulve | Back at the camp, the Braves were still acting as a lively bunch, with a rousing encore of Black Betty being played for the fourth time. Will apparently did only know one song. One of the waxing moons was nearly full, shining down upon the world with pale argent luminiscence. Perhaps it was foolish to presume that she'd be here, by the stream that they normally trained by. Tonight, however, he felt the fool, and didn't hesitate in approaching. It might have suprised him to learn that she was in fact exactly where he thought she'd be. He was still unarmored, but carrying their training swords. In addition to he one she'd given him, and he'd made one himself. It was shorter, and cruder but still well made enough that it didn't seem as though it'd break or splinter easily. When he arrived, he only stated a short phrase as explanation. "I promised you the last dance, didn't I?" He decided not to elaborate further upon it, as he'd let his actions be his apology. He'd hold the longer training blade in his left hand, the shorter in his right hand. And then he readied himself, with his left hand at a high guard, and his right at a lower guard, closer to his waist. "No magic on my part, but let's not hold back, otherwise." He knew he'd likely regret those words, but even so, it felt like this was the right way to apologize to her. |
| Artemis Eurus | Indeed, Artemis is where he thought she would be. She is somewhat surprised however that he has followed her here and brought his blades. She was sitting by the edge of the water when he arrived, and does not immediately turn. Indeed, she makes great effort to hide her face. If Ramza finds this behavior strange, he need only to look down to see that her mask is clutched in her hand. At his words, she laughs lightly. "I see. I will need a moment," she says, reaching up to begin re-tying her mask beneath her hair, if not interrupted. "Did you bring my practice blade as well then?" she asks, finally turning once her mask in in place. |
| Ramza Beoulve | Ramza doesn't find her behavior strange at all. He'd already heard her explanation for the mask, and respected it at face value. Pardon the pun. He certainly didn't interrupt her Perhaps to give her a hint as to what was coming being a fair sort, he'd stomp down a single foot, and the soil beneath the blade would shift, bringing it over to her gradually. "I did." Once she'd picked it up and seemed as if she were ready, he actually wouldn't wait to circle her, or take in her measure. He'd done so many times, all that was required now was the application. The two wooden blades were weaved with a sort of easy grace, and Artemis might wonder why he didn't use this style more often. The long blade remained at the high guard, allowing him to make full use of its range from a variety of angles. The shorter blade was used more to parry, but if she ever got tied up on the longer sword, he'd thrust with it instead. He added a few twists and pirouettes into the style that seemed rather natural, rather than gratuitous. Something else that Artemis might notice, is that he seemed even /stronger/ wielding two blades than he ever had wielding one blade with two hands, something that might seem unusual to the swordswoman. While he couldn't match her strength, he wasn't being dominated by it either. He'd go through the motions for a time, seeing how she adjusted to the style, and then suddenly she felt a trickle of water at her feet. A moment later, her feet sank into the newly created mud. Ramza, being a dabbler at Geomancy, hand't exactly shown her that he could do this before. And then he'd try to press in at her. Since they weren't holding back, he expected one of two reactions, either a telekinetic burst from her in which he'd be thrown off balance as well, and for that reason he ducked down lower, bracing himself. But he also expected that she might try to /blink/. And for that reason, he held the shorter blade back, ready to immediately turn to either the side or back and parry if need be. |
| Artemis Eurus | Artemis reached to take her sword, knowing just by his tone and the purposeful gravitas of his movements that this fight would be different. She observes that he holds two weapons, a skill she can do as well though she prefers one sword to two. Interesting. A small smile curves as she rushes into the attack, her mind slipping into the void where she places herself when in battle, her body reacting on instinct and training, free of distraction. Though his strikes are quicker and more numerous, Artemis parries most of them. Some glances her, but Artemis is tough, brutally conditioned, and she won't let a little pain distract her. When her feet are suddenly stuck in mud however, that's a bit of a surprise. Oh, tricksy time is it? Artemis blinks out of the mud with that small clap of muted thunder, rushing not forward to charge Ramza, which he may expect, put reappearing behind him to bring her katana down hard toward his knees before she dances back into a graceful crane stance, ready to guard against his next attacks. "You are on edge," she comments, her voice distant. |
| Ramza Beoulve | Interesting thing about Ramza. He'd actually fought teleporters before, including another member in his company. So when she charges, he starts rolling in another direction changing the hard slam on the back of his knees into a light tap by changing up his angle. And when while he was rolling, he'd reach out with a finger to touch the ground. With his chi, he reached into the earth, and the ground began to erupt in a line shaped shockwave towards her. He'd immediately get up, in his previous stance, with a grin plastered on his expression. He didn't expect that the attack would hit a teleporter after all. "Am I?" He stated this quite casually. "Are you sure you're not deflecting?" |
| Artemis Eurus | Artemis can't do this teleport thing all the live long day you know. It isn't the only trick in her bag. When the ground begins to erupt toward her, Artemis simply leaps to the side and runs back at Ramza, her practice sword flashing high, then low in careful, well timed arcs. He would parry, that was good. The jolting vibrations of the impacts feels good at it rattles up her arms. "No, I am pretty sure that I am not. I have said I forgive you for the slight, your reasoning was sound," she informs him, looking toward the ground. "Heh...." she remarks, wondering if he is trying to prove something or if he thinks this is what she needs. |
| Ramza Beoulve | And so he'd continue to weave the blades together with practiced grace. Parrying at times, at other times he'd allow her a glancing blow as a feint for him to try for a more sound hit. Faram, was she strong! Even enhancing his arms with his Chi, he still couldn't keep up with her strength, he could only prevent himself from buckling under the pressure. He'd feint and then she'd feel a gust of wind at her back, another attempt to throw her just /slightly/ off balance, before he'd press his advantage. The gust was no stronger than her going /easy/ on him with a telekinetic strike in an earlier spar. He couldn't actually whip up the winds all that much harder than that. He wasn't really a fantastic Geomancer. And then she'd notice with the hand holding his short blade where his grip loosened on his sword just slightly before relinquishing it to the ground. It was perhaps a dead giveaway for what was coming next. Cocking back his wrist, he was tossing a smaller wooden stick from up the sleeve of his tunic right at her, before he'd try to scoop up his offhand from the ground again in a smooth motion. "So you did, but I offered you the Last Dance, regardless." He'd manage a sheepish smile. "Mayhaps the fool thinks that you'd prefer this sort of dancing to a waltz." |
| Artemis Eurus | Artemis was very strong. She too uses her chi to make herself more powerful, channeling it into every strike with the ease of long practice. She knows her sword perfectly, more familiar with it than any lover she's had. Telling. The breeze he creates sends her back just a hair, but sometimes that is all one needs. She leans backward, taking a glancing blow, turning this dodge into a smooth backflip. She lands in a crouch, stands, and narrows in on the stick he'd just launched from his sleeve. Her katana a flash of moonlight glinting off steel as she brings it up and parts the stick, flying past her now in two pieces. "I did tell you as much Ramza. You only promised the last dance to me because Margaux goaded you into it. Perhaps you thought me offended or jealous? She certainly seems to think you want to court me, but she is mistaken, is she not?" she asks, not pressing the attack this time. She wants to watch him carefully for his answer. |
| Ramza Beoulve | This caused him to pause in his step, relaxing his stance. He wasn't blushing, but he seemed more confused than anything else. After a time, he'd walk over to the stream, setting down both training blades as he took a drink from the icy waters, before splashing them on his face. Doing this with his chi always fatigued him quickly, which is perhaps why he didn't do it frequently in any sort of a practical battle. He picked up both blades again before he stood up again faced her. He did at least try to answer honestly. "I don't know." A deep breath, before he tried to give her a more complete answer. "We barely know each other. I consider you a friend, and want to remain your friend. I don't want that to change if I courted you and.. turned out to be what you didn't want. As for courtship? I.. I don't know if we'd have the same expectations from it. I'm not condemning who you are, but I think you'd want to move more swiftly than I think I could.." Another deep breath, this truly wasn't an easy question for him to answer. "You're everything I am looking for, I just don't..." Maybe he really just was a huge craven when it came to the subject matter. "...I don't want to hurt you, by being another disappointment." |
| Artemis Eurus | The masked warrior faces him, her hand on her practice sword, though the tip rests against the ground. Finally, some honesty. This, she can understand. Artemis is clearly listening to him, but she is silent for a long while, simply watching, the wheels in her mind turning. Artemis drives her blade into the muddy ground. "That was honest. That was good. It is alright not to know," she replies, walking toward him now until she is closer, a respectable distance for friends. "I know I am not an easy person to deal with, and I have put you into a very difficult situation. I did warn you...but you couldn't have been prepared. But it is not all me, Ramza. You are ignorant to the effect you have on people, and that is very dangerous. You show up, a white knight wanting to protect, trying to make everyone feel special. I've spent so much time alone and I'm a mess. I won't deny it. But you must realize that you can't go around being so....kind and what not, blindly, and not break hearts. You need to know this." Then, she laughs. "We barely know each other? We've barely been out of each others sight in weeks. We train together every morning. I have told you things I have told none other and you claim not to know me?" |
| Ramza Beoulve | Now he was blushing, a little. "I don't think you're a particularly difficult person to deal with, Artemis." And now on the effect he had on people. From the blank look he gave her, its rather obvious that he didn't know. "I.. don't see myself as a white knight at all, Artemis. I just thought that I was trying to do what was right. I do want to protect, and I do want everyone to feel special, because I feel that everyone /should/ feel that way. What is life, if you can't feel good about yourself? Sometimes a kind word is all it takes to brighten a person's day, but I'm never dishonest with my compassion." He seemed taken aback by the news. "You truly think that I'm breaking hearts by acting this way?" It never had even crossed his mind that if he were in a relationship with someone else, that he /might/ just have to be a little more reserved with his kindness. In a way, that felt rather devastating to him. And then bewilderment. "I suppose.. I didn't think that you hadn't told anyone else, and I thought.. I thought perhaps there was so much more that you might share about yourself, that you would offer in time. I don't know what I thought, really." |
| Artemis Eurus | Artemis watches the range of emotions that pass over him in waves, her features and his eyes giving away so much of his heart and mind. Was she ever so transparent? She doesn't think so. She can never remember being so innocent. Artemis shakes her head slowly. "Ramza, I am not saying you have broken anyone's heart...but I want you to be aware of the possibility. I....have been unfair to you. Do not stop being kind Ramza, but know a woman will want to know you hold her in esteem above all others." "Heh, there are many things you do not know about me, many memories and shaping moments....but do you need to know all of those things to know if--" Artemis pauses, then just groans. This is much easier without words. Artemis steps forward and takes Ramza by the collar of his shirt, drawing so close he would feel her hot breath on his mouth. If he does not draw away, she kisses him. |
| Ramza Beoulve | He'd nod shallowly at her words. "I would try to hold them in such high esteem that they would feel set apart from others. I just can't imagine not being able to show the same kindness that I do right now unto others." And then perhaps the most innocent question that she'd heard from him yet. "Do, do women really get that jealous over kindness to other women?" He'd continue nodding with her as she spoke more of herself. "No, I suppose I dno't, I just need to know my own he.." When she grabbed his collar, he actually thought that she meant to pummel him, for saying or doing something wrong. Imagine his suprise when she draws in even closer and places her lips against his. His eyes opening instantly from the shock Being his /FIRST KISS EVER/ that wasn't say one on the cheek from a female family member or friend, he had little idea what he was supposed to do, so at first he's stiff. She might have interpreted that as meaning it was unwelcome, except that he seems to instinctually know what to do from thenceforth, as he wraps both his arms around her in an embrace, relaxing into her caress, and just allowing the moment to take its course. Then came the confusion of an inexperienced youth. Should he just continue to kiss her? Should he try to talk with her about it? He had no idea. |
| Artemis Eurus | Artemis feels him stiffen, but she'd given him plenty of time to pull away if that was what he desired. He doesn't, and so she doesn't either, eventually feeling him relax and loose his anxiety to the moment. Instinct kicks in, and she believes as she feels his arms wrap around her that this was not unwelcome. She sighs gently through her nose, her body leaning in toward him as every movement becomes more languid, more seductive. She knows this is his first. She had best make it memorable. Thus she loosens her grip on his shirt to snake her up and around to take him by the back of the neck, deepening the kiss as her tongue flits out from between her lips to gently brush his. Then, she steps back. "Words are often insufficient," she says, a touch breathless. |
| Ramza Beoulve | Well that answered that. He felt her body leaning against his, he even vaguely felt his forehead brush against her mask as the moment became more serious. For his part, his embrace around her had tightened even further, but he still had no idea what to do. When her tongue flitted in between his lips, he was suprised yet again, and wondered if he should reciprocate. Then she took a step back. So many thoughts went through his mind at that moment. She was so beautiful. How much more beautiful might she be without the mask on? Was that what a kiss supposed to be like? Was he horrible at it? He must be, it was his first kiss. Was he in love? He didn't know the answers to any of the first few questions. As to whether he was in love? He thought he might be, yes. He'd have to give the matter far more consideration. /Later/. Right now, he was staring at a ravishing lady, as if his eyes were truly seeing her beauty for the first time. What should he say? He was breathless, and a touch weak in the knees. He didn't think it was due to the fatigue from earlier, was it? Taking several long, deep breaths, he would finally manage to speak a single word. "Artemis.." And that was it, he couldn't think of anything to say other than her name for this moment. Maybe words really were insufficient. |
| Artemis Eurus | Artemis smiles, likely with satisfaction. It was good to know she could still have that effect on a man. Artemis' thoughts are far more simple. She wanted to kiss him, so she did. He enjoyed it, as did she. They were undeniably attracted to each other. That would make at least some part of this less difficult. Questions were answered. However, down the line? Things are likely to get very, very complicated. But life was short, was it not? The loss of so many worlds to darkness proved that much. For now, Artemis simply smiles, reaching up to brush her thumb over his cheek. "There, that is a question answered, isn't it?" she asks, then turns and begins to pick up the practice blades. "We should return to camp I think. You seem tired." |
| Ramza Beoulve | He was at least smiling, but he still seemed nervous, bashful. And then she brushed a thumb across his cheek. "I..I think I.." And then he stops, maybe its best just not to speak until he had time to collect his thoughts. He'd help her in picking up the training swords, just nodding in acquiescence to the suggestion that he's tired, as they headed back to camp. |