Day 65 [video]

[burnburnburn]

[Dilandau's out in the grassy land near the beach, sweating from a recent bout of intensive exercise]

Have you finally stopped apologising now? [He doesn't hide the curl of his lip that shows how little he thinks of such gestures] I need a sparring partner, so if any of you demons have a sword and know how to use it, tell me. I start working at dawn.

[He pauses, narrowing his eyes]

And I don't want any of you to start telling me swords don't exist in your worlds too. I'm sick of hearing about how alien you all are.

Comments

<3

[burnburnburn]

[The increasing struggle is whetting Dilandau's competitive streak, making him push harder and faster in an attempt to break through Wallie's defences, stretching himself to his limit. There's no room to worry about where they are or why they're there while the battle is raging and Dilandau loves it.

And then he miscalculates by a fraction and fails to properly deflect one of Wallie's strikes. He curses loudly as his knees buckle under the force of the blow. There's a moment of cold-sweat terror while he's holding off the blow as he realises he's vulnerable if Wallie decides to dispatch him then and there]

[reluctantsword]

[It would be a lie to say that there's no urge in him to finish the fight in a very fatal way, to take that killing blow. Shonsu would have in a heartbeat. Wallie would never forgive himself if he did.

For a moment he holds steady, breathing hard. Wallie pulls back, and a fraction of himself is returning in the smile on his face: easy going, relaxed, friendly. He sheathes his sword, and offers Dilandau a hand to help him up.]

You know a thing or two, then.

[burnburnburn]

[Dilandau ignores his hand and stands himself, sheathing his sword in a fluid motion. He knows that's meant to be a compliment, but given the situation it feels belittling. He frowns]

A thing or two? I'm the youngest squadron leader in the four armies and I earned that rank.

[reluctantsword]

I'll believe it.

[It's the sort of history that reminds him of Shonsu, and of the sort of background he's heard second hand about him. But, he has to remind himself, that doesn't mean Dilandau shares anything else with Shonsu. Wallie certainly hopes not.]

It's nice being able to spar with someone and not hold back. Wouldn't mind doing it again some time, if you're interested.

[burnburnburn]

We're going to be doing it again until the day I beat you.

[He smiles, less fiercely than when they were fighting but still a hint of that aggressive eagerness]

It's rare I find someone who can put up such a challenge. Those tattoos of yours aren't just for decoration, are they?

[reluctantsword]

You're welcome to try.

[And he does welcome it; the exercise is good, and he'll take whatever he can when it comes to keeping Shonsu at bay.]

And no, they aren't. They mark me as a swordsman of the seventh, and highest, rank. Few reach it, let alone so young.

[There's absolutely zero pride in it: it wasn't him, and Wallie himself is the farthest thing from a swordsman that there ever was.]

It wasn't me, exactly. I said I woke up as someone else, I think. He was the swordsman. I've just... inherited things.