15409/More Fighting, Less Fencing

More Fighting, Less Fencing
Date of Scene:	18 July 2023
Location:	Danger Room
Synopsis:	Kurt and Kitty square off with swords in the Danger Room, each fighting with their own particular style. Dinner is on the line.
Cast of Characters:	Kitty Pryde, Kurt Wagner

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Kitty Pryde has posed:
The training simulation was a new one that Kitty had been worked on. One of the fighting simulations, this one was specially designed to allow people to fight with a variety of weapons without actually hurting each other. The swords, arrows, and other weaponry were hard light technology. Programmed to cushion any blows to nothing much worse than paintball. A bit of a sting, but otherwise letting people practice without having to hold back.

And Kitty had grabbed someone in particular for the program's maiden voyage. Though Kurt's style of swordplay differs from Kitty's ninjutsu training, the times they've done swashbuckling scenarios in the Danger Room had left her wanting to cross swords with him like this.

She shows up, wearing ninja clothing though with her head uncovered. A pair of swords, one shorter than the other, are crossed over her back as she walks into the room after starting the program running.

Kurt Wagner has posed:
Never let it be said that Kurt is not up for a little friendly sparring. Swords might not seem like the most practical sorts of weapons in this day and age -- and really, they aren't -- but not everyone out there can teleport all around people, around a room, and further, a half dozen times in a matter of seconds. It sort of changes the complexion of things. It is a great equalizer in most fights.

Besides, battling with swords is just /cool/. And a whole lot of fun.

While the fuzzy blue elf might have the reflexes, the agility to make a fairly good ninja, he doesn't have the training. Though there is always time to pick up new skills right? In the meantime however he too shows up to the Danger Room to test out Kitty's latest -- and possibly greatest -- creation in appropriate attire. There's no ninja attire here though, no. It's loose, colorful slacks of a vibrante red, a poofy white shirt with billowing collar spilled open with lace ruffles and an old fashioned Tricorn hat with gold trim and a jaunty red feather perched right in the middle, threatening to dangle down in front of his face.

Flashing a grin to his sparing partner, Kurt practically races over to check out the weapon selection, swiftly conjuring up a long, thing blade with an elaborate silver filagree handle. A rapier of course, his usual weapon of choice, though any sort of proper fencing sword is equally favored. "This should be fun," he says with that toothy grin, golden eyes glinting merrily as he turns back towards Kitty.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty Pryde grins as Kurt came dressed for the occasion in the outfit that brings their swashbuckling diversions to mind. "I sometimes I wish I'd retained the full level of skill from Ogun," she comments as she walks over into main part of the holographic room, which for this fight has been made to look like an old fashioned home in Japan. In fact it's actually the dojo where Logan trained her after freeing her from Ogun. "Though that would probably come with the memories of being raised by him. So, ah... what Logan did to train me back up after breaking me of it is enough to be happy with," she says.

Kitty draws a straight bladed short sword. The ninjato has a square guard to it, and is a good, quick blade if with more of a cutting edge than the rapier that Kurt has. "Loser buys the winner dinner somewhere in town?" she offers as she gets herself into a well-balanced, ready stance.

Kurt Wagner has posed:
So much of Kurt's own training in the sport of swords has either been informal, or picked up in actual combat situations in the field. His love of old, black and white adventure moves shines through in the overly flamboyant technique he tends to favor, his reflexes -- and more then his fair share of God given talent -- carrying him through.

Of course having access to the Danger Room to hone those talents against skilled opponents -- real and imagined -- certainly helps more then a little too.

Swishing that sword in front of him a few times experimentally, learning it's balance point and getting used to the grip, the fuzzy blue elf idly bounces from foot to foot, limbering up until he feels prepared, flashing that easy smile that comes so readily to those otherwise demonic-esque features. "That seems fair enough. I could use a good meal. Something not microwaved," he teases, bringing his own weapon sweeping up into that classic en garde position in front of him.

"Though I would have also just settled for answering that most basic, most essential question. Who would win in a fight; pirates or ninas?"

Kitty Pryde has posed:
"Yeah, I figured if you won you wouldn't want to be subjected to my cooking," Kitty says with a grin. The girl whose mother makes such awesome baked goods for care packages, obviously didn't pick up her mother's cooking skills. One reason Kitty usually sticks to cereal, or take out.

Kitty gives the sword a little twirl. It's kind of like how Obi-wan handles his sword in Star Wars. Yes, she practiced that, because of him. "Start out with no powers?" she suggests. "And later if we want to add them in, we can."

She moves forward nearer to Kurt, and checks to make sure he's ready. And then she advances, Kitty's sword slashing in and out, moving quickly. But mostly just feeling the blue-furred mutant out to start with.

Kurt Wagner has posed:
The grin that flashes over the fuzzy blue elf's features suggests that she might be right in that particular assessment, though no such critique passes his lips, those golden eyes simply gleaming with mischief. "I am sure that any meal you prepared would be entirely suitable," he says oh so diplomatically. "But sometimes it is simply nice to escape the confines of the mansion."

His own skills in the art of cooking are probably a little better. When does not grow up in a circus without picking up all sorts of important life skills as everyone helps out a little with everything, no matter what one's specific talent might be. Still, such meals that he perfected are more aimmed at feeding a large number of people quickly, efficiently and as economically as possible, rather then any sort of fine dinning experience.

At her display of prowess, Kurt's eyes glint even more, corners of his mouth tugged upwards and he claps the flat of that thin blade against the palm of his free, oversized hand. "That seems like a reasonable limitation. We can see how things progress," he agrees without hesitation.

Then the tip of his rapier is back up in that starting position, free hand tucked back against his hip as he shuffles a few steps forward and flicks that light blade out towards her, an opening and chance to cross swords.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty lets out a little laugh. "Didn't say suitable for what," she says of her cooking, flashing Kurt a grin. She blocks his rapier the follows up with a slash towards his ribs, but one that is more about feeling out his skill and abilities still rather than trying to score a hit. To see how he reacts.

"We shouldn't need to pull our blows. The room should take care of keeping us safe. Though it'll sting a bit, and enough it might hamper briefly so we face some consequences of a hit. Shouldn't actually bruise though," Kitty says as the pair maneuver around the room, rapier and ninjato thrusting and parrying.

Up above, Lockheed is settled on the sill of the viewing window. He's managed to get his paws on the bag of Cheesiepoofs and digs his snout in to get a mouthful and scarf them down while he watches.

Kurt Wagner has posed:
"I am the very soul of discretion. I would certainly not clarify such a comment," Kurt agrees with an answering grin, feet lightly dancing over the floor. So much of good swordplay is down there, in the footwork rather then sheer strength of arm. And while Kitty's blade might be a little heavier then his own, it is hardly a hulking broadsword or hand a half sword where he would have little counter but sheer reflex.

Instead the fuzzy blue elf answers the clang of metal with another clear ring as that thin blade flicks downward, catching the edge of the ninjato and parrying it aside. The opening exchange makes him smile, even the song of metal against metal seems to appeal to the indigo-furred mutant.

"Good to know. Old habits I suppose," he conceeds to his low key opening, his blade giving a little twirl in front of him, a little circle in the air before he lunges in again, the tip of that rapier flicking about the fringes of her defenses instead of veering towards her center mass.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty has a smile on her face as the pair meet swords. The gradual feeling out starts to give way towards actual blows meant to penetrate Kurt's guard, though still being conservative in not taking too many risks yet. Though of course Kitty is used to phasing defensively, she's fighting as if the rapier is truly capable of sticking her in ways most unpleasant!

"We should do another pirate ship Danger Room simulation," she comments in a moment their footwork takes them far enough from each other she can get the comment in before their swords meet again. "The last one was fun."

She moves to the attack. There aren't a lot of daring moves in her ninjutsu style. It's meant to be effective, even ruthlessly so. The Star Wars flare just a bit added by the girl before the fight started, but now she's just fighting with staid determination.

Kurt Wagner has posed:
While the swordplay might be meant as training, even as a challenge given that there is a dinner riding on it, the grin never faddes from Kurt's features as the very different swords meet again and again in something akin to the most elaborate sort of dance, each move provoking and equal and opposing one from the other combatant. Some people might prefer quiet meditation, but for the fuzzy blue elf few other things can drain the stress of a day away quite like a good ol' fashioned sword fight.

Hey, his experience growing up was somewhat unique!

"That might be worth it. It's been awhile," he agrees with a smile, swishing that rapier back and forth in front of him defensively. "Being out on the water with the breeze and sound of creaking boards and fluttering sails is almost as good as the clang of metal," he adds lightly.

Increasingly as the swordfight goes on Kurt grows a little more bolder, those darting attacks to the outside of Kitty's defenses zeroing in, the light slashes giving away to more riposte's and counter thrusts, aimming for her torso instead of her limbs until he overextends just a little with the last, her counter slash catching him across the ribs.

Giving a little grunt as the sensation registers home, Kurt straightens a little gingerly before he straightens, grin slipping back into place. "It would seem that you have gotten the best of me," he conceeds, holding a hand to those same ribs, the feel of the blow only slowly melting away.

"Seems like I'm going to owe you a dinner."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
If the opening had come earlier Kitty might have thought it a trap. But having felt like she had a feel for their abilities, when Kurt's blade overextends, she pivots into the opening to slice the ninjato across her teammate's torso.

She moves forward with the slice, forcing him to turn to keep facing her. But Kitty doesn't launch the follow up meant to take advantage of an opponent still distracted by a wound. Cut quickly and give no reprieve, the training might tell her. But then she doesn't use the training to kill as intended, even if it was for real.

"Well, you can pick a spot," she tells him. "And if you want German, you know a Polish Jew isn't going to say no to it," Kitty adds with a grin for Kurt as she lowers her blade.

Kurt Wagner has posed:
that twinge in his ribs is quickly fading as promised -- no bruise and more importantly, no blood -- to mark it's passing. Though there is a faint tingle still present, a little reminder that he might have gotten just a little overexuberant in his attempts to score a hit.

Still, it's hard not to be in a good mood and while that grin might have a slightly rueful caste to it, the fuzzy blue elf still seems to be in his unflagging good spirits. "It seems that I am going to have to practice a little more if I want to keep my claim to most deadly swordsperson on the team," he teases. "Though at least your program gives a much better vehicle to do that," he admits, sliding that hard-light construct back into it's sheath at his side and running a hand over the top of his head. "And makes it all the more important to get running those swashbuckling programs," he adds, eyes dancing.

Kurt laughs at her suggestion and he nods. "You make an excellent point. It's still months until Oktoberfest rolls around and who else will so readily be willing to indulge me in the delicacies of the homeland," he teases wryly. "It seems that schnitzel and bratwurst are definitely on the menu!"

Kitty Pryde has posed:
The female ninja slides the ninjato back into its sheath. "Next time if you want we can go at it with two swords each," she says, resting a hand on the second hilt that sticks up over her other shoulder. "And we can set it on a ship as well," she adds with a quick grin for her friend.

Kitty Pryde glances up towards the control room. "Lockheed!" she calls out. The dragon's head pops up out of the bag of cheesypuffs. His entire snout has turned from purple to orangish from the cheese residue from the purloined snacks.

Kitty lets out a sigh and facepalms. "You're going to sleep by the open window after eating all of those," she says, waggling a finger up towards the dragon up above. She looks back to Kurt, shaking her head. "Want to poof us up to the control room and I'll shut her down?" she asks.

Kurt Wagner has posed:
"Ahhhh, home field advantage and a chance to redeem my swashbuckling kin everywhere. How can I possibly refuse?" the fuzzy blue elf asks lightly, mischief lighting in those solid yellow orbs once more, rolling his shoulders and bounces lightly from foot to foot once more, his own little cooldown ritual that's not so different if he were trying a more acrobatic sort of exercise session.

His gaze follows Kitty's up to the control room where Lockheed is getting into just the right amount of trouble, that orange dusting of cheesy flakes bringing a grin to Kurt's features. "You may have won the battle Kitty, but me thinks you may have lost the war this particular day," Kurt says with a low, rich laugh.

Then, reaching out he lays one of those hands on her shoulder. That quite but tell-tale *bamf* sounds around them, the pair swallowed up in a cloud of inky black mist before reappearing in the control center above to turn off the program.

And for Kitty to find someway to tame her unruly companion. Yeah, good luck with that.