voidtreckerexpress | Late Kazoo sparring

Who: Lan Xichen and open
Where: Gym car
When: Second half of Kazoo
What: Xichen is training a little too hard and is open to sparring
Warnings: Potential controlled violence, potential mo dao zu shi / the untamed spoilers

Lan Xichen... has not been doing well after Meng Yao's broadcasted question. He is aware that it was not meant in any way badly, but that doesn't mean it didn't hit in all the wrong ways, all things that he has leaned about the man Meng Yao grew into considered.

And then, when they talked...

Xichen would be a fool to misunderstand. And he is not sure what is more complicated - that he can't outright cut those desires off while being honest, or than he knows he can't properly return them, either, and that might lead to Meng Yao sliding down a bad path all over again.

He knows nothing.

And he is just angry enough that the usual quiet - or music-accompanied - meditation just doesn't do. So he end sup in the gym car often enough, with one of the wooden practice swords, training for probably far longer than seems reasonable. It's very different from when he was reduced in age, too - though he is more skilled, too. He can definitely make sure nobody is seriously hurt in sparring.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Ah... different sects have different styles of swordsmanship, so it would not be difficult to not have seen quite his. And..." Xichen gave a small head-shake, the edges of his forehead ribbon fluttering lightly along with his hair. Even though it had been weeks since he'd regained it, the feeling of it was comfort.

"I have not used my sword to fight since arriving here. It just felt good to practice it for a little while."

After a moment's consideration.

"Do you fight?"

Better than assuming either way.

"I see. I suppose it would be if you have practiced for a while."

He nodded. "Well, sort of. I know how to fence. It's a different style than that. Less slashing and more stabbing and a much thinner blade. It's usually used more for sport than serious fighting now..."

Except for the one time he actually was fighting someone and got stabbed in the side, but that was something else.

"I'd be interested in learning at some point."

Xichen hummed softly.

"I can teach the forms without trouble, but there is an element to them which comes from spiritual energy, and it might not be possible to master them without it. Teaching that... would require more of a commitment than the swordwork, although the two of them can complement each other..."

The young man was not nearly young enough for this to be likely to be easy, but Xichen had come to realize that few things were impossible. But the young man was also more than old enough to make his own choices, with enough information.

"Learning the forms is fine. I don't know that I need to be able to use spiritual energy. Just knowing more techniques would be good. If you think I should try, I certainly would. Never hurts to try, right?"

He's fairly easygoing at least. He was going to expect miracles, but knowing more would be nice.

"Of course, so long as you are aware the potential will not be reached like this." And he could always change his mind, but Xichen was not going to bring that up.

"Could you show me a few moves - a few series of actions from the style that you are already familiar with? Fencing, you called it?"

For all Xichen made it look light and effortless, the Lan style was rather demanding, and he wanted to know where they were starting from.

"I understand," Quatre said with a smile. He had a feeling if he decided to try and train with spiritual energy, he always could later.

"Oh sure. I'd be happy to show you."

And Quatre would pick the closest sword to what a fencing saber would be, which is still way off for and begins to run through the moves. It is certainly not what Xichen would be used to in terms of swordsmanship.

Xichen watched carefully, trying to understand the underlying principle rather than decide it was one thing or another, though it did not take too long for his eyebrows to twitch slightly. He could... see why the youth had called it used more for sport than fighting.

"You have done well in learning the moves, though... they do not seem created with the thought of taking on an enemy much stronger than yourself. But I think we can work with the speed inherent in your art, to fortify and extend it." Beat. "Unless you would prefer to start from the very beginning?"

He was not saying that lightly. The differences were great enough that it would truly be back to building the foundation.

"Thank you. Yeah... it might make more sense if there was someone was doing it with me, but there are probably far more rules than traditional sword fighting." And a lot more armor so you didn't stab your opponent in the face or something like that.

"I'd be fine with starting from the beginning. Learn this to the best of my abilities. That way I know I am doing it right."

Xichen blinked, then huffed a soft sound that was actual surprised amusement at the idea of 'more rules' than the 4019 of his sect. Of course not all of those, or even most, were about the swordwork, but...

They still had to comply with all of them while fighting.

"Of course. Then... this is the first move, look carefully." For all his familiarity, Xichen knew how to break it down, but the first time had to be demonstrated it motion.

Don't worry. Quatre will learn. Also given the rules of advancing and retreating, it probably seemed like there were more at the moment.

Quatre watched with great interest observing everything that Xichen was doing. "Oh, I see." And after observing, he was going to try it too with the sword that he had.

Late Kazoo sparring

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