Post by Sam Kelley on May 26, 2009 1:32:32 GMT -5
Sam flinched as D’rorah’s sword impacted his shoulder, the focus on his own movements impeding his awareness of her. He allowed himself a small grin and accompanying laugh at both the gesture and the words that accompanied it. ”What can I say? You’re my own perfect brand of abuse. As for my constant chatter and constantly turning mind, I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m told that they’re an acquired taste and it looks as though you’re stuck with me for awhile now.” That amused expression remained on Sam’s face as he moved through the stances that he had begun committing to memory, unable to resist a small jab back at the older girl. They were a curious pairing, finding an obvious common ground when it came to physical training but an absolute disaster on the personality front. Surely they would be the undoing of each other.
He offered her a nod of understanding at mention of her skill. Despite what many might assume given the boys outgoing and competitive personality, he understood and respect humility. It was an important truth that he had learned through the years in sports. It was one thing to be confident and assured, but another thing entirely to feel invincible. Just as he demonstrated in the games he played and as D’rorah now showed, he certainly wouldn’t head down that doomed road when it came to combat. ”Fair enough, he remarked, seeing no reason to expound on the topic. The only thing that Sam really cared about was that he had a good teacher and the answer that she provided seemed to suggest as much.
As D’rorah announced the armed training portion of this lesson, Sam met gaze for a few seconds before offering a relenting nod. In the gap of time he could feel the urge to challenge her on the issue for the sheer entertainment value, but his mind quickly vetoed the notion. He had taken his play time with the girl, but now was coming the time to be serious. Her words forced him to recall the earlier blow to the head that he had given himself and even though nothing bad had come of it, he knew all too well that he had lost control of a blade that was razor sharp. In truth, he was probably lucky that the flat of the blade connected instead of the refined edge, the boy silently admitted.
With the katana in hand, Sam followed her lead with pristine focus and obedience, determined to truly learn. He immediately realized the use of the movement and acknowledged its usefulness. Where as many might peg the Gryffindor as an overanxious and reckless person that would want to rush into hacking at his foes, he understood the importance of reliable defense before offense, football had solidified that lesson well enough over the years. Sam may have been a lot of things, but he wasn’t stupid, he was able to admit that others could possess greater talent than he, he could transfer lessons learned in one area of life and apply them to other areas, and he could learn from mistakes made by himself and others.
With the most basic of blocking maneuvers learned, but far from mastered, Sam seemed pleased enough as she drew their session to a close. It had gone better than he imagined it would, having not only gotten on decently well with the girl and showing that he was fit enough to keep up with her. The Gryffindor wasn’t fooling himself to think that he had earned the respect of the girl, but such things would come in time.
After reciprocating the courteous bow, Sam back away to a nearby wall where he replaced the sword in its sheath and sat down. He drew his knees up to his chest and leaned against the wall to watch D’rorah train. She had bid him a good day, seeming to dismiss the lad, but he had no intention of leaving. ”I’m up for making a habit of morning training, but in the interest of life, we may want to take that run a bit easier some days.” He chuckled slightly as he shifted a bit to get comfortable. ”And if you don’t mind, I’d like to stay and observe. I promise to be quiet.”
He stayed for multiple reasons, the greatest of which being that he wished to see the goal of his training. While D’rorah had not claimed to be the best, she was certainly well trained and experienced and watching her now would give him a goal to work towards. He also wished to see what he would eventually learn, believing that understanding how the most basic lessons would later be applied in more complex things could only help his progress. Finally, he simply wanted to see her perform. At some point a day would come when the two would train together as opponents and just as in the sports he loved so much, learning the style and inclination of the enemy had to be valuable.
In silence he watched her train, his observant mind catching on to instances when the simple defensive tactic he learned today might be applicable.
He offered her a nod of understanding at mention of her skill. Despite what many might assume given the boys outgoing and competitive personality, he understood and respect humility. It was an important truth that he had learned through the years in sports. It was one thing to be confident and assured, but another thing entirely to feel invincible. Just as he demonstrated in the games he played and as D’rorah now showed, he certainly wouldn’t head down that doomed road when it came to combat. ”Fair enough, he remarked, seeing no reason to expound on the topic. The only thing that Sam really cared about was that he had a good teacher and the answer that she provided seemed to suggest as much.
As D’rorah announced the armed training portion of this lesson, Sam met gaze for a few seconds before offering a relenting nod. In the gap of time he could feel the urge to challenge her on the issue for the sheer entertainment value, but his mind quickly vetoed the notion. He had taken his play time with the girl, but now was coming the time to be serious. Her words forced him to recall the earlier blow to the head that he had given himself and even though nothing bad had come of it, he knew all too well that he had lost control of a blade that was razor sharp. In truth, he was probably lucky that the flat of the blade connected instead of the refined edge, the boy silently admitted.
With the katana in hand, Sam followed her lead with pristine focus and obedience, determined to truly learn. He immediately realized the use of the movement and acknowledged its usefulness. Where as many might peg the Gryffindor as an overanxious and reckless person that would want to rush into hacking at his foes, he understood the importance of reliable defense before offense, football had solidified that lesson well enough over the years. Sam may have been a lot of things, but he wasn’t stupid, he was able to admit that others could possess greater talent than he, he could transfer lessons learned in one area of life and apply them to other areas, and he could learn from mistakes made by himself and others.
With the most basic of blocking maneuvers learned, but far from mastered, Sam seemed pleased enough as she drew their session to a close. It had gone better than he imagined it would, having not only gotten on decently well with the girl and showing that he was fit enough to keep up with her. The Gryffindor wasn’t fooling himself to think that he had earned the respect of the girl, but such things would come in time.
After reciprocating the courteous bow, Sam back away to a nearby wall where he replaced the sword in its sheath and sat down. He drew his knees up to his chest and leaned against the wall to watch D’rorah train. She had bid him a good day, seeming to dismiss the lad, but he had no intention of leaving. ”I’m up for making a habit of morning training, but in the interest of life, we may want to take that run a bit easier some days.” He chuckled slightly as he shifted a bit to get comfortable. ”And if you don’t mind, I’d like to stay and observe. I promise to be quiet.”
He stayed for multiple reasons, the greatest of which being that he wished to see the goal of his training. While D’rorah had not claimed to be the best, she was certainly well trained and experienced and watching her now would give him a goal to work towards. He also wished to see what he would eventually learn, believing that understanding how the most basic lessons would later be applied in more complex things could only help his progress. Finally, he simply wanted to see her perform. At some point a day would come when the two would train together as opponents and just as in the sports he loved so much, learning the style and inclination of the enemy had to be valuable.
In silence he watched her train, his observant mind catching on to instances when the simple defensive tactic he learned today might be applicable.