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[Oh, thank goodness. It doesn't seem like she minds. Adelaide waves back, shifting where she stands.]

I'm Adelaide.

[And then, because it seems necessary.]

I probably - won't be a very good partner? I'm pretty new to all this fighting stuff.

It's okay! Everyone has to start somewhere, right?

[Nana approaches Adelaid, a little closer, and then she extends a hand out to shake.]

Is there anything I should know? I can use my Flame and be a lot faster, hit harder, take bigger hits, but--um. I also don't have to, if it's easier.

Yeah, you're right.

[She shakes Nana's hand with a laugh.]

And that- that might be perfect, honestly? I'm not sure I can, um, control myself very well yet. I just developed this all pretty recently.

Control yourself? Ah, so you can--do some extra strength, or... something?

[Nana nods. She might leap to the wrong conclusion. For Nana... fighting is something you do all or nothing in. She assumes Adelaide must mean that she'll use her power.

Which means Nana should, too. She takes a couple of steps back, and then swings her katana up, one-handed, to salute Adelaide.]

I can keep up. I've learned to control it pretty well. Don't worry, okay?

Yeah, basically - and I'm not really good at, you know, not using it accidentally.

[Which makes her sound really incompetent. But she is, isn't she? She's stronger, faster, than she ever could have hoped to be before, and she hasn't learned how to reign herself back.

It's not a matter of turning it on, after all.

But she takes a breath to steady herself, raising her own sword. This...is definitely some sort of idea.]

I'll try not to.

[And with that, she hesitates, before dashing forward to take a swing at Nana.]

[The comment makes Nana wonder what her powers are. Some sort of Flame that enhances her strength, maybe? She nods, though. There isn't any judgment. It helps that part of her Flame involves making stage sets; the first time she fell through a dramatically appearing bridge because it was flimsy did away with any judging Nana would do for someone's powers.

She readies herself. Her eyes are on Adelaide's sword. And when she moves, Nana swings her own up -- with such force that she parries with a loud CLACK! It bounces back, and then she steps in, launching a quick slash of her own practice weapon.]

Not bad...!

[It's a Mystery - but not one she's been very good at keeping, so far.

The clack surprises Adelaide, but not enough that it truly throws her off. She doesn't try to go for the parry, though - instead jumping back, out of the way of the blade. She adjusts her grip on her sword, biting her lip.]

Realy?!

[Don't sound so surprised, geez. She readies to launch another attack, movements abruptly faster than they were before. This is what she means when she doesn't know how to control herself - she much faster than before, and she swings with much more force than the first time.]

Y-Yes! You were quite strong, actually! [The form might need some work, Nana thinks. She can help her with that later, though. She's forced to stay on the defensive -- she thought it might be easy.

And Adelaide is moving fast. Nana has to draw on her Flame to even keep up with her. She does, though, twisting on her foot, and raises her weapon. It's barely in time.

And the force of the blow?

That slams her back across the training room. Nana slams into the padded wall, but she gets into it. She bicycle kicks off, then comes down towards Adelaide from above. Her sword swings back, in both hands, and she chops it down for Adelaide. Both her swords, tucked into her things in a corner, are glowing as she draws on her Flame.]

Hyaaaa!

Good?! [She sounds...not at all sure of herself.

In fact, she's even more nervous now. She doesn't want to hurt Nana, and she's afraid she'll manage to do it even with the girl using her Flame. She gasps as Nana flies back from the hit, distracted.

She's not quite able to react in time - she can't jump backwards again, and she doesn't quite manage to raise her sword to block it properly. The wooden blade slams into her arm, but...nothing seems to happen. Her arm doesn't seem to break - there's no crack of bone, and it doesn't even move with the force of the impact.

Adelaide hisses, but it - it doesn't even seem to hurt that much, as she switches her sword between her hands and swings back, the sloppiest of any attempt. She's probably going to miss Nana entirely.]

Ah--sorry! [Nana yelps it out as her sword comes down. She expected Adelaide to block; she expected literally anything else. She expects, briefly, to break her arm or at least end the fight with a bad bruise. There is a spike of guilt; a flash of intense self-recrimination, for almost hurting someone.

And then enormous surprise, as she seems unaffected.] ...Amazing..!

[She does manage to quickly step aside, the sloppy swing flying well past her.] I'm okay, don't lose focus! I'm amazed you could take that hit!

[That's one good thing about all of this - she's much sturdier than she was before. It takes a lot more to even try hurting her.]

Me too. [She laughs, a little dazed, before nodding once.] I haven't done a lot of fighting since getting this.

[Clearly she means her Flame - clearly - not anything else that could be to blame for this.] But here goes-!

[She pulls herself together, swinging for her again.]

I didn't, either... not until coming here! [She's forcing down some concern. It's something she doesn't like to admit to. Better to look cool. Calm. In control.

She mostly manages that. She doesn't quite blink at the Flame being... more than a Flame, even if she wonders--

Nope, no wondering. She parries, and she gets driven back again, though not as far. Nana rushes, then, and she swings her sword down with two rapid-fire slashes, trying to test Adelaide's defenses.]

Was it like that for you?

[Adelaide's fast, but she's not as on guard as she should be. She only barely manages to block the first of the slashes, the second one managing to sneak by.

She's annoyed that it happens, a flash of irritation crossing her face. Not at Nana, but at herself. She feels like she should be better than this, even though this is her first time really picking up a sword and fighting.]

Yeah- [She's not going to beat herself up forever, deciding to focus more on going on the defenses now. Let Nana come to her, and then focus on trying to land her own hits.] This place kind of changed everything for me, you know?

[Nana nods her head. She spots the flash of frustration. She considers, for a second, if she should say anything at all. Yes, she decides, they're here to help each other get better.] Keep the sword a little further from your body. It gives you more reach.

[And then Nana does an only slightly belayed two-handed slash; enough time to incorporate the advice if she wants.]

Mm-hm. Being here certainly made me see the world differently... [Like that it's ending. But good things, too.]

[She's not expecting the advice - she's not sure why, exactly. It's not like they're competing seriously, and they're all here for the same purpose.

And it's not bad advice. Adelaide holds the sword further, giving her more time to block the incoming slash.]

Thanks. [Nana gets a tiny grin for her effort.] Everything's so different that sometimes, it doesn't really feel real.

[Before, she never would have thought she'd need to learn how to wield a sword.]

[Nana flashes her a smile back. Her sword is parried, and she steps back. Then, Nana comes in again, stepping up closer -- and swings straight up with a one-handed slash, done in an uppercut style.

Try something new for her to block, she thinks.]

Mm-hm. I know what you mean. Like it's part of a story... when did you first come here?

[Oh, she's not expecting that. She does manage to block it, though, and she feels pretty proud of herself.

She knows she's not anywhere near good, but she can tell she's already getting better.]

I've only been here since February, hah. It feels like it's hardly been any time at all.

[Nana smiles when she manages to block it. She steps back -- enough time for Adelaide to counter strike if she wants -- and then steps in again, with another slash.]

Oh, so very recently... did you, ah, develop your powers around then too?

Yeah - [She does go for the counter swing, and she's quicker to block Nana's next slash.] So it's been a crazy couple months.

[Nana just manages to side step. It's a near thing; she's also quick to do another strike, this one also two-handed and with extra force behind it.]

How've you been adjusting?

Honestly? [She blocks it, but only just. The force is more than she was expecting, and she nearly loses grip on her sword.]

I have no idea.

[Yeah. Nana slows down, lowering her weapon a little. Adelaide's distracted and maybe they should be talking for a bit, not talking and fighting.]

It's a lot to take in, isn't it?

[Adelaide takes that as a sign for a break, and she lowers her sword with an apologetic smile.]

Just a bit. I'd thought I'd get used to it, but I...haven't, yet.

[Nana rests her wooden practice sword on her shoulder, shaking her head. Nothing to apologize for.]

It's okay. It was a lot for me to take in, too. I didn't know any of... this? All of this? That any of it was possible until it suddenly was, and then I was here.

[She'll apologize anyways!]

Yeah, that's...that's the craziest part, I think? Just how sudden everything is. I went for years thinking stuff like this was just made up, and now I know it's real and I'm right in the thick of it.

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SORRY I have been sick D:

it's ok!!

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