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[futurarex]

[somewhere out beyond the city there begins the shakiest video post ever. it's clear that whoever handles this device is not accustomed to using anything like it--but eventually, it rights itself, with some muttering and swearing, and then hello, there's Arthur, in his full armor, standing in the barren outlands. there's a smudge of dirt and blood on his forehead, but otherwise he's very clean and presentable and princely (all indignity of technological unfamiliarity aside).]

I am Prince Arthur of Camelot, recently brought to this place. I do not take kindly to being pressed into service, but as our captors have said, they have no choice in our being here. [yeah right. even with his princeface on, he sneers a little at that. but.]

If we take what we have been told as truth--that there is a force that threatens all of our kingdoms--then our way is clear. We are not united, but this threat gives us common cause. [though the way his mouth tightens when he says that indicates how very not pleased he is by that.] I am not content to wait to be told what to do when my kingdom is threatened. So it falls then to us, to organize ourselves. The training sessions that this Initiative provides--I have found them to be wanting, yet they can be used to our purposes, should we chose to.

But we must first know what strength is ours, and what weapons we have been given. No force can be organized without this information. And if this United Earth presumes to steal resources from our kingdoms, we must know what it is that they would look to steal, so we can better protect against these threats when the time comes. And it had best come soon.

I have set the task of collecting this information to my servant, Merlin, wherever the idiot's gotten off to. He will ask each of you in turn, or else you may come to him.

[and you will answer, that's the message here, and with an imperious nod, he reaches to--fumble around with the device again, and the rest of this is muttering.]

Damn-- thing--

Comments

[alwaysforhim]

I wasn't hacking it apart, I was training. On a dummy, yes, but only because I didn't have someone else to practice on.

[futurarex]

I suppose the effort is a good start, given your usual laziness. But as you're here--

[and he draws his sword. so casual!]

[alwaysforhim]

Ah.

[With a bit of a pinched expression, he draws his own sword and holds it ready (he remembers that much, at least).]

[futurarex]

Don't look so excited, Merlin. I realize this is a rare opportunity, training with me--it's a bit wasted on you, but--

[He uses his sword to push up on Merlin's, bringing it up higher.]

We'll make the best of it. Stronger grip.

[alwaysforhim]

[He scowls a little-- but he also does as Arthur commands, gripping it a bit tighter.]

For once, I think I'd like if you asked me if I'd like to do something.

[futurarex]

You would like to do this. I already know that, as I witnessed your sad attempts at earlier practice. Parry first, like this--

[And he takes a half step back to demonstrate, and gives Merlin a sharp nod.]

Go on.

[alwaysforhim]

[He copies the action as best he can-- and he's honestly not bad at it, thanks to previous lessons from Arthur himself. He's certainly no knight, but it's a good parry.]

[futurarex]

[not bad, that's about the highest compliment to expect. and it might be a good sign that Arthur's already thinking it so soon. it's not as if he actually thinks Merlin is quite as useless as he's always going on about--just mostly that useless.

but he doesn't say that compliment aloud, he only nods, and takes another half step back, hefting his sword in his hand.]

When I step forward, step back and catch the blow.

[and he does precisely that, slowly swinging his sword down in an overhead strike.]

[alwaysforhim]

[Arthur moves slowly, but he needn't have-- almost automatically, Merlin slows time a little, giving himself plenty of time to comprehend the instruction and follow it to the letter. Step back, right, and bring his sword up a bit more-- and he parries the blow quite neatly, holding Arthur at bay for a few seconds.

But the side-effect of that, of course, is that to Arthur, Merlin will have moved shockingly fast. Oh, well. He's lithe enough, surely it's understandable he has a turn of speed about him.]

[futurarex]

Merlin!

[because one second he's a few steps away and the next-- That wasn't just a turn of speed, that was lighting-quick movement, which is something Arthur never would have expected from clumsy oafish Merlin--]

What the hell was that!

[alwaysforhim]

[A beat-- and then, with a little grin:]

Reflexes? I don't know, sire, perhaps I have some sort of hidden talent for this sort of thing.

[And he ought to be more nervous than he is-- but really, it's not as if he hasn't done this sort of thing before. Arthur's never suspected, why would he now?]

[futurarex]

Since when?

[and he actually isn't suspicious because it's Merlin. this is precisely the sort of things that go on around Merlin. he's a weird little fellow who attracts weirdness and there's probably some explanation for it, something to do with, oh, the pub most likely. never mind that there isn't a pub here; Arthur doesn't actually think it's to do with the pub. the pub is just a default Merlin excuse/reason for strangeness.

well, one of. if there's ever a reason for his strangeness.

he stares at Merlin dryly, as his surprise recedes.]

And why don't you ever show that much hustle when there's chores to be done?

[alwaysforhim]

It's only to do with swords, clearly.

[He gives him a winning smile.]

Are we going to go again?

[futurarex]

If it's to do with swords, I suppose you'll be quicker to polish the swords later, won't you.

[he gives Merlin a lingering look--but only for a beat longer. all this sorcery is playing tricks on him, that's what this is. instead, he hefts his sword.]

Go again. Slowly, if you please. Repetition of movement is the best way to get it into you, especially with your thick skull.

[alwaysforhim]

There's really no need to insult me all the time, you know.

[He hefts the sword up again, his smile fading as he concentrates. Slower, right, he can do that; he doesn't need to slow time now that he's got the hang of this.]

Right-- ready?

[futurarex]

Isn't there?

[but that's a rhetorical question Gunter. he hefts his sword again, and his step back this time is far more purposeful.]

Again. Move backwards as I move forwards, and don't trip-- [and he steps for Merlin again, swinging his sword in an overhand blow.]

[alwaysforhim]

[He responds quickly again, but it's ordinary human quickness, because he's getting the hang of this, and he's enjoying this-- and he grins, though his arms ache already.]

[futurarex]

[Merlin is actually a little quicker to pick up on this than maybe was expected, which is... weirdly cheering. if there's one thing Arthur can appreciates, it's someone that knows his way around a sword, and Merlin's always struck him as rather useless in that respect. but apparently not!

he moves him across for a few meters, and then stops, with a nod.]

Better than I thought. But you'll need to keep at it. [that's something like praise, right???] Now show me how you'd attack. Slowly again, please, I want to keep both of my arms--

[alwaysforhim]

[Arthur's praise-- grudging and a bit back-handed though it is-- makes Merlin smile grow quite a bit, and so it's rather cheerfully he lifts his sword.

And-- attacking, right, he remembers how to do a basic attack. He hefts the sword up, bringing to a fairly decent (fairly decent) offensive position and striking it slowly down.]

[futurarex]

[he snorts, sinking back to easily absorb that fairly decent strike.]

Oh, come on, now, Merlin, don't disappoint me. After you were doing so well. Put something into it--

[alwaysforhim]

You said softly!

[But he draws his arm back, narrowing his eyes as he focuses-- and then brings the sword down, finesse exchanged for blunt strength.]

[futurarex]

Better!

[and he might actually be smiling, slightly--he steps back to take another blow from Merlin, to give him a chance to practice--and then he steps back once more, but this time, he shoves up, pushing Merlin's sword from his.]

[alwaysforhim]

[But he's getting the hang of this now; with a little grin he yanks his sword back, pulling it away from Arthur's-- and then forward again, with as much force as he can muster, trying to slip past his lord's defenses--]

[futurarex]

[he jumps back, avoiding that slash--but only just, and he's quite pleased now. it's certainly better progress than he expected, especially so quickly, and he sinks back, ready to defend once more should Merlin try another attack.]

So you're not completely useless at something, anyway, well done!

[alwaysforhim]

Why is it--

[He sets his sword down instead, panting a little in exertion.]

Why is that-- that whenever you compliment me, it's inevitably-- inevitably an insult as well?