14028/Fencing Lessons 2

Fencing Lessons 2
Date of Scene:	11 February 2023
Location:	Danger Room
Synopsis:	Another set of fencing lessons; Franklin teaches Rahne a few tricks, and Marie manages to best Tabitha! You know, practice.
Cast of Characters:	Rahne Sinclair, Tabitha Smith, Franklin Richards, Marie-Ange Colbert

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Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Charles is waiting. Rahne is also there, though she's mostly come early in order do put on the fencing gear. She's still working on it, but there is an awful lot of gear for fencing.

"Good afternoon! Welcome, to those who have had lessons before you can get ready. Franklin, it's wonderful to have you with us. Please, if you can, tell us if you've fenced and if so at what level?"

He smiles to Marie as well, knowing that she had a rough lesson last time. "Those of you who aren't new, please gear up and set up for practice. I want to see you pairing off today. That will mean using weapons you may not prefer, but we need to learn them all."

Tabitha Smith has posed:
Tabby busted out the fencing gear herself, though she has been making mental notes to get something a bit less drab than the whites of the usual uniforms. Protective gear doesn't have to be boring after all.

Even tradesmen wear a lot of stuff that's bright and flourescent for visibility.

But for now she just wears what she has, at least it fits after some extra bindings and judicious use of smaller sports bras.

There's a pick of each of the weapons and setting them aside so she can remember which ones fit her. It wasn't just picking a weapon. Some had differing lengths to fit body sizes, hilts and grips for hands. It's a lot like pocking gold clubs. You gitta try and get the right size or the swing is all wrong. "There we go! Even worn kevlar under all this. Less stabby of the Tabby!" she states and beams a smile.

Franklin Richards has posed:
Sitting cross legged listening Franklin was there though he had seen better days. He had bruises on him, and his eye was black though he moved fine enough so most must be superficial. He hadn't been home for days, heck he had bearly returned to eath though what is the first thing he does. If you guess fistfight goons in Gotham with some kind of mutated Puma you would be correcty. Though as he is mentioned he smile a bit as if distracted though looks up at the Professor. "I umm.. " he thinks about it for a second. 72 days and tweleve hours of practice he answers specifically as it was how much time his parents had put into that skill before they figured it was best to try something different. His clothes were the standard Fantastic four gear, but his jacket was torn, and the bill of the hat shaved as if cut, though the rest seem fine as he just smiles "I would say just leaving Begininer but have not done it in a while." he answers specifically.

He looks at the others stand as he wasn't sure if he was being talked to there as he was new here.. technically.. so perhaps it was to the others. Looking around a bit akwarkdly he watchers the others though he is happy to do it. This was quiet to him, and he did enjoy his breaks so he was happy as he waited patiently for instructions to follow.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
Like Rahne, Marie showed up early, because of course she did -- being prompt and maybe a little over-enthusiastic for things was just the redhead's way, and it meant that she had time to get her gear on, including the red bow on the back of her helmet that made her stand out from the crowd a bit.

It seems that Tabby isn't the only one trying to 'not be boring'.

"I am ready for the challenge, Professor." Marie responds; she hasn't selected a weapon yet, but got enough of a feel for the three tools of the sport that she's in a good enough place to let whoever she's partnered with choose their blade, first. Plus, it means she doesn't have to make the decision. Win-win!

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Charles doesn't rush anyone, he never rushes when it comes to training. "Tabitha, you truly do not need kevlar beneath the training outfit. Rahne, would you step forward with a foil for a moment please? I wish to do a demonstration before we begin."

Rahne steps away from Marie, where she'd been standing, and nods. She picks up a foil, bumping hips with Tabitha, and then waves to Franklin a bit. Then, she steps up to Charles. Unarmored, in his wheelchair.

"Stab me if you would please, Rahne. In the chest." Rahne, of course, pauses. But Charles smiles. "It's safe. I wish to show exactly how safe, for everyone's comfort."

Rahne nods, then steps into her stance. Then, she leans forward and...pokes the Headmaster with a sword.

It touches, then bends. And it keeps bending. Against just normal cloth, it won't penetrate. It bends a LOT.

When Rahne retreats, he smiles wider. "The armor is for form, with the lighter weapons. An epee can be slightly more dangerous, and a sabre much more so. Choose your weapons to match your mindset."

Franklin Richards has posed:
Franklin unfolds his legs actually streching first, as he knew the first rule if you had time though he had learned it a different way, After a bit of streaching and watching the demostration he finally stands and looks at the weapons. He did have his knuckles in his pocket but that would be cheating to use tech, and the point was to pick something you were not usually good at. "Ah.." Franklin says as he spots what looks like an old Foil that has been past his day. He picks it up and whispers.,. "Hello Friend." as he swipes then through the air. He didn't know the blade, but him and it were going to see what they remembered so hoped he wasn't as rusty as the sword appeared to be though how he found one like that might be a mystery.

He turns and with the blade down looks around a bit, and grins. "In the movies there are stairs and a pole to swing on after you have tossed your weapon," and pactices some of his old forms.

The shots are percise, but slower when he stabs into the air it is always the same place in the ai, but his stance was wrong at times, and the air did not hit back so he did have quite a few faults as well. He was fine letting the others fight it out for who fought who, and would stand there by himself practicing. The more time he had to practice, he figured the more time he had to knock off the rust.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
"Professor, last time, Evan hit me with a saber and with a little super strength. My ribs still ache. This is like just extra padding. Turn pointy force and distribute it into blunt force I can take a lot of blunt force." she reassures.

They've mostly all seen how much blunt force, blast force trauma she can handle. This is actually pretty clever for her.

The demonstration gets a grin and an eyeroll. "They make these things for unpowered humans. Safe for them, but there's limits and I'm nothing if not a magnet for hilarity ensuing!" she adds. She does however warm up with a few of the drills that were taught in the past.

Gotta limber up for sparring.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
"If it helps... I do not think any of us here today have super strength, Tabitha?" Marie offers helpfully. Not that she's entirely sure who has super strength and who doesn't at the school -- Jimmy comes to mind, but she hasn't seen him around in a while... Evan, of course, but he's not here today. At least not yet!

Glancing around, it looks like Rahne and Franklin are both holding foils; this time around, Marie decides she'll pick up an epee... swishing it around in a controlled and generally safe manner. Getting a feel for the weight of it, and the way the guard cups her gripping fist. A little practice for what may be coming soon enough.


Franklin gets a bit of an odd look, but mercifully it can't be seen from behind the mask. "I think the stairs and chandeliers come in a later class... this is only lesson two, Monsieur Richards!"

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
"I apologize for that, Miss Tabitha," Charles says firmly. "I should have had more control of the class. Perhaps we should keep sabre fighting to the experienced classes. It does lend to some rather energetic uses. Epees or foils then, and please, choose a partner, everyone."

He's seen that Franklin and Rahne have both chosen foils, though admittedly Rahne was following direction. It will do for now. "This is not entirely the second lesson, miss Colbert. Several students have taken it upon themselves to approach me for private lessons. Which are always welcome, in an art which takes so much effort as this."

Then, he waves to the starting locations. "Tabitha, would you and Miss Colbert line up? I'd like to see us actually fence this time. Rahne, Franklin, the same please."

Franklin Richards has posed:
Franklin raises an eyebrow, "Oh we are alowed to use powers?" he asks with a grin. "I had thought you wanted a fair fight." he adds as they mention super-strength, and the lack of it. "If you wish I could, but you would never hit me so I would suggest just normal this time." and looks over at Marie giving her a nod as since he can't see her face just takes her seriously as if there is a later class that had such a thing. He considered that though did not think he was good enough for that yet.

If he was actually going to spar he put on the protective gear that was there as though flexable you really could poke an eye out with this thing so no Kevlar, but a base covering was taken for the face, and eyes. As he is directed to he takes a spot, and smiles waving a hand to Rahne to the other spot. He had a bit of an idea but wasn't going to go easy on her as he wouldn't on anyone as you don't learn that way.

So as they take their marks Franklin takes a pose that he had been tought.. Arm behind back crouched just a bit, and as soon as they said go he was going to lunge in. Of course he wouldn't be trying to hit hard, as he was always tought it was a 'point' and not a real strike, though the locations were serious targets such as heart, head, etc, but all he had to do was tap it not try to shove the weapon through the targer.

So as soon as go is said, he would lunge, and this time much faster as this was really one of the first things you learn.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
There's a smile at Marie-Ange when she and Tabitha are paired up and the blonde matches epees with the redheaded Precog. "Remember it's kinda more like boxing. You've probably seen all the stuff I'm gonna do ahead of time. So if you get me, that's what I'm blaming it on and not because I suck!"

Getting into position Tabby, not wearinfg her glasses because they get inm the way of the helmet and mask and make thing uncomfortable lines up and does the standard vertically held blade against the chest salute.

Then drops into the En Guarde stance.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
Professor Xavier definitely has Marie's attention, here, the redhead turning to face their club leader. "I... did not realize that was an option. Should it be no trouble, I shall have to pursue such an avenue myself. In order to catch up!" Granted, she's getting a fair share of physical training in lately. Personalized tutelage from the Black Panther himself, group lessons with the Amazons, the fencing club meets and of course, the standard training that all Xavier's students get! Eventually, she's going to be quite the force.

"More like boxing?" Marie replies, blinking a bit beneath the mask. "...but I have never boxed..." Granted, the amount of fencing that the French girl's done has been limited to practice drills, rather than actual sparring... and a lot of watching. But, again, she's among friends here... and Tabby's high on that list.

Mimicking the blonde's motions, she too makes her way to the line and salutes her partner, then moves into position herself. Ready -- as she'll ever be -- for battle!

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Rahne herself lines up against Franklin. She can tell that he's had more experience than she has, but to be fair last time she was up against Illyana Rasputin. NOT BETTER. So, she salutes, because that's just manners, then enters En Guarde.

And Franklin lands a touch, almost before she can move. Illyana at least gave her the chance to think. She frowns, then salutes him again and tries to shake it off. Luckily this isn't a fight, it's practice. She's been on the losing end before, in sparring.

Deep breath, and she's ready for another. This time she tries to parry, the motion that Charles taught her last night.

"Begin," Charles says. But he makes a note to ensure that Marie and Tabitha get some of his time. He does enjoy teaching, there's just not always enough time in the day.

Franklin Richards has posed:
Franklin looks and smiles with a nod, as he gets back into stance he looks at her after he scores a quick point. It looks like he is about to do it again though he stops, and other then face her he faces to the side. With his back foot he puts it down sideways, and pushes it down as if he were trying to get the best grip, and with his other leg he just taps the ground lightly to show most his weight is on the kick-off leg. He looks at her with a nod as he isn't sure he can talk with the mask on though hopes she is getting he is showing her how to do what he just did.

As still facing sideways away from the other two of course he bends his knees a little, not to crouching, but enough to keep them limber before he stops, he pushes off with his back-leg, and shifts his weight to the front as the gravity pulling helps make it faster, as he extends his arm out finishing the strike,, but it is the full lunge shown out in steps. Turning to face her he waves with his free hand for her to try it as he gets back into his stance.

Of course if she doesn't he will put a strike out there for her to block, as he is just trying to show her another way as well not get in the way of her training.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
Lot of things Tabby plays close to her chest. One of them is just how much ability as a fighter she has. She trains alot. At the school, the Themysciran Embassy. Why?

She a Genoshan survivor. She's an abuse survivor.

This lets her survive more. While she is far from a master at anything. she's gotten pretty damn good so when she and Marie start, the exchange of blades makes for a lot of clanks and clinks as metal strikes against metal and cardio workouts begin.

still there are openings on occasion and Marie might be able to capitalise while Tabby is not completely attentive. she still has to filter out things like distractions and psychic noise.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
"I promise, there will be no spoilers!" Marie promises just before the command to begin. Of course there'd be no spoilers, because her precognition only works with the use of her tarot cards... and she didn't consult them for the outcome of the match.

It was practice, afterall. It was meant in order to get better, winning or losing didn't matter.

Marie strikes! Steel meets steel, again and again. She's not being overly aggressive, but she's committing to each thrust. Driving forward. Making every effort to score a point... but while Tabby might have those lapses of attention, Marie doesn't quite have the killer instinct to see the opening. She's striking, but she's not quite able to capitalize and score the first point. Not yet, at least. So far, it's a draw!

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
The difference between the two matches couldn't be more pronounced. Franklin's teaching pace on the patient Rahne, versus the metal on metal controlled chaos between Marie and Tabitha. There's more art to what the latter are doing, and the girls show their experience in real combat.

After a moment though, Charles steps in with Franklin and Rahne. "You can practice form at a later time. This is about developing the reflexes against live opponents. Don't stop every point, just move and fight!"

That's part of why a teacher is there. Rahne will learn the basic form later, it's not anyone else's job to show her.

Which is his right, he can pick the pace. Rahne, however, just follows orders silently, clearly not enjoying the class yet. She steps in, trying to get past Franklin's guard with what is probably a slopply lunge, but she follows it with a retreat and then begins to move.

Relax, breathe. Relax and breathe.

Franklin Richards has posed:
Franklin listens and nods, he takes his mask off noding to the Professor, "I see.." he says as he looks at the other two. Turning to look at Rahne he nods, "My apologies," putting the helmet back on. He steps back into position as she lunges, and he nods at her with a smile as it does hit as Franklin isn't trying to knock her down a peg after she at least tried what she was shown. Though he does swing up matching her blade to try to hold it there, he grinned a bit not going back into his stance.

She hade thought about it and she had found an answer, as she would swing it didn't give him the chance to reach his stance, and it made him chuckle just a little. He gives a muffled, "Maybe a beginner, but you are not paniced." he says though maybe a bit muffled under the mask it sounded like he was smiling. He steps side-ways to let the pressure of his side of the swords pressed together though stepping has too moved him into a wierd position off balance.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
How much of the sparring Tabby controls versus how much she's actually trying to just keep her head above water. Only she and the Professor actually know. Tabby's good, but she has limits. And conforming to a style instead of just going for it is a challenge in and of itself.  

The urgeto improvise kinda hitting the current need to follow pesky rules and a few looks of frustration mount on Tabby's features through the fencing mask. "You're doing great Marie! Soon you might even be able to keep up with Illyana!" the benchmark for swordspersonship.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
They say that practice makes perfect. Practice makes permanent. "You are too, Tabitha! I cannot strike past your blade!" Marie declares -- though that doesn't stop her from trying. It's true; conforming to a style with set attacks and defenses didn't leave a lot of room for improvisation. It leaves plenty of room for predictability, though, and for one who can see the future... even if she didn't take a peek this time, that does create an opportunity.

So when she happens to see a familiar pattern of blows lining up, Marie alters her own move, zigging instead of zagging, and /that/ manages to take her past Tabby's defenses for a quick jab! Upon realizing she made contact, though... she gets a little too excited. Jumping in place, blade to the sky. A wide open target for Tabby to counter right back.

Learning is a process. It doesn't happen overnight, or without failures, afterall.

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Charles allows them to spar til they tire. Which, given the stamina of the participants, is a considerable while. However, they do tire eventually. When each are sweating, he steps in. It's different for each, but he's watching closely.

"Well done. Please, everyone walk a moment. Calm the bodies, calm the minds. Then we'll step into basic drill for a few minutes before we wrap up."

Rahne? She salutes Franklin tiredly, then removes her helmet. She looks like she's got a light in her eyes, like she's learned and done well. "Thanks," she says to him. Treat your sparring partners with respect. They're your lifeline.

Tabitha Smith has posed:
This is what happens when even small experience meets prcognition. Marie kind of might have known how things were going and following through on seeing the future is knowing when what you aw is happening at that moment.

So that's how she manages to finally score that hit and gets a change to hoot a small victory. Tabby just chuckling as she kind of expects to always lose at these things. "I think the touchdown dance can wait till Sunday, Marie. The Amazons would have a blade at your neck for leaving yourself open." she points out and giggles. "Here it'd just get the Professor's disappoint gaze if I did that! So unsporting!" she'd have totally done it if it was one of the more fighty inclined residents and students.

She might however need additional energy burning later on, but that's what the danger room and a cold shower is for.

Franklin Richards has posed:
Tires from sparring with his partner as they have practiced for a while he also nods to her as he takes his head guard off, "Of course." and nods to her as he quietly goes to return his foil. "You did well, Keep thinking while you fight and you will do well with any weapon." he nods to her does streches again to cool off taking off what protection gear he had put on. Standing he nods to her "You want a water?" he asks Rhane as he starts heading out to grab one for himself. He tilts his head and smiles, "Can we have water in here?" as he didn't want to be the one that spilled his drink, and messed up the danger room.

As he is passing the other two he does ask them as well as a cold drink after a good practice is one of the finer things in life or at least he thought. He doesn't say much else as he heads out, as he had now needed to get some drinks, and figure out if he was going to go back to the tower, or crash another night in Gotham. He sighed as he enjoyed his time like this, but it always ended and then it was back to work.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
Victories are the kind of thing that don't come around as often as Marie would like. More often than not, she's on the losing end of these things... but this time around, she won, and it (probably) wasn't just a friend letting her win! This was a confidence boost, and the kind of thing she needed.

The same with Tabby's gentle chiding. Blade lowers, head lowers as well. "I, ah... I am sorry, Tabitha, I was truly not expecting to win our bout., but you are right."

Granted, treating it like mortal combaylt would be taking it too far in the other direction, so finding that balance was important. Franklin gets a nod to the offer of a drink, and a polite thanks when he returned with it. Right now, though? The girl was coming down from the combined adrenaline high of combat /and/ victory.