forum Hear me out, anyone up for a Selection based rp? (10/14 spots taken)

Started March 01, 2019 by @gracehustle

tune

"Nice to meet you Beatrice," Zaera looked at the wheelchair the girl was sitting on, "Can I ask why you are sitting in a wheelchair? You don't have to answer."

Beatrice blushed, looking away in embarrassment. "I, um. I sort of… fell out of a window? I hurt my ankle, and the q - er, the medics insisted I don't try to walk on it."

"Oh dear," Zaera commented, "Those balconies are quite dangerous. I'm glad nothing's broken."

Beatrice smiled thinly. "The balconies aren't really what's dangerous. I - it's more of me who's a danger to myself," she said thoughtfully.

Sonia wasn’t sure what to do. Should she follow the maids to her room, or see if she could sneak after the Prince, and see where the training rink was. Finally, she sighed and followed the maids to her room before changing into something simple and easy to wear, and heading out to explore.

Talin arrived out in the gardens just in time, his trainer already waiting there impatiently, “Sorry I’m late, can we make this a quick lesson?”
His trainer, a wiry man who obviously knew what he was doing, answered with a sigh, “If you make it good, and beat me in a round, yes.” With that, he tossed a fencing blade towards him along with a mask to protect his face.

Sonia heard voices and moved quietly towards them. Soon, she found herself near the rink. She hid behind a doorway when she noticed that the Prince and an old man were already there. Shit. Would hey notice her? She shrunk into the shadows.

He sighed and put on the protective mask, flicking around the blade for a moment and taking a few steps away from his teacher, “Anything you want me to work on?” He asked.
“Always Prince, there’s always something you can work on.” His teacher put on his mask as well and picked up his own blade, doing a few practice swipes, “Try fixing your technique for when you’re attacking towards someone’s legs, I noticed it wasn’t the best last time.

Tilting her head, Sonia listened. She could learn from this, she realized. Maybe coming here was a good idea, because even if she didn’t get Selected, she could still fight well.

Talin nodded and got into a ready position, waiting for his teacher to make the first move. He held the blade in his right hand as they started, his teacher coming towards him with a quick leap and slashing towards his chest. With that, they were off, the prince focusing on attacking and trying to get a good hit, while his teacher shouted ways he could fix and correct everything from his balance to his attacks while still keeping Talin from getting any hits in.

Focusing too much on getting a hit, Sonia noted. He should try to go for the surprise attack, or a feint. Something the old man wouldn’t expect. Then she blushed. She shouldn’t be correcting his techniques. Maybe he was doing it that way for a reason. And left side defense is a bit weak.

They spared for a few minutes before Talin made his first actual attack. He jumped forward and feigned a swipe for his chest before flicking the blade down towards his legs to try to get a successful hit in. His teacher smiled as he easily blocked the attack to his chest, barely blocking the one to his legs before fighting back against the prince harder, not giving him much time between attacks to get his own attacks in.

Sonia blinked. It was as though he read her mind… kind of. She watched the old man with curious eyes. The way he fought… he was good. Maybe even better than Thomas, which was a strange thought.

“You’re getting better Prince, though you must have another trick up your sleeve,” His teacher said as Talin once again forced an attack though didn’t even get close to getting a hit in.
“Possibly,” He grumbled as he jumped back from his teachers blade and quickly blocked another hit.

Sonia smothered a grin. Was he seriously grumbling while fighting? The Queen has said that he hated this class, but Sonia had thought that she was joking.

A sparkle of amusement appeared in his teachers eye and he fought back slightly harder, knowing how Talin was going to attack next though he decided to let him get the hit in so his lessons could be done.

The prince pushed another attack before seizing his chance to get a hit. He again swiped towards his chest before spinning around his back quickly and barely tapping his blade against his teachers back, not wanting to hurt him.

He was expecting that, Sonia realized.

“Ha!” Talin grinned and stepped away from his teacher, “I won!” He took off his mask and set down his blade, putting his hands behind his head, “Though a lesson right after a meal probably wasn’t the best choice.”
His teacher chuckled and picked up the prince’s blade and mask, “Maybe you did, maybe you were just allowed to win. Either way, you’re free to go anytime Prince, don’t forget we have a lesson in two days either.”

Sonia stayed. She wanted to ask if the trainer could teach her… but maybe after the Prince left.

Talin nodded and went over to his trainer, patting him on the shoulder in thanks, “I’ll see you then Evan, we’ll most likely have time for a few rounds then.” He took a step towards the door and nodded one last time towards his teacher before heading out the door, ready to freshen up and start focusing on this selection

His teacher smiled and shook his head, moving to put the supplies away. He kept his blade out though, flicking it and practicing as he started leaving.

Before she could reflect on what a dumb idea this was, Sonia stepped from her hiding place. “Excuse me,” she called out. “Do you teach others, or just the Prince?”

This is a stupid idea, she thought.

Evan spun to face the girl, blade already pointed at her before he lowered it slowly, “I teach others, but I’m not open for lessons right now, my schedule is already full.” He looked over the girl before realizing he was talking to one of the selected, “Oh, sorry miss, I didn’t realize you were one of the selected, sorry for my rudeness.”

Sonia jumped back as his blade swung at her. Shit. She gave a small smile. “You’re okay. I was just wondering if you could teach me some tricks. I noticed that you’re good, even better than my instructor, and I wanted to know where you learned it. I’ve never seen a technique quite like it.” She stared at the ground, her face red. “And please, call me Sonia. I hate the respect I get here. I’m not used to it.”

A smile twitched at his lips at the compliment, and he thought for a moment, “I may be able to teach you a few of my tricks, mis- Sonia. Though, I’ll correct you now, most of my techniques I taught myself, I didn’t learn from anyone.”

Beatrice smiled thinly. "The balconies aren't really what's dangerous. I - it's more of me who's a danger to myself," she said thoughtfully.

"It's more amusing to blame inanimate objects," Zaera said with a laugh, "But if you insist on saying you are, then I won't stop you."