Battle Banquet

[Deleted]

(ooc: September 8th. Open to all in Syrenne's class. Sinbad can jump in, too. Everyone taking the class should already be there, so don't have anyone just walk into the class room like they weren't there unless you want them to be late. Sinbad can arrive late if he sees fit.)

"All right, you lot. Listen up, 'cos I'm only gonna tell you this once. This isn't the sort of class where you can jus' wave your sword around like some numpty. There's an art to it, and I'm gonna teach it to you."

Syrenne wasn't the typical sort of teacher. Tattooed arms, a sort of casual air about her, not all that much clothing covering her upper body... By all accounts, Syrenne didn't look like she should be teaching. What she lacked in class she made up for in skill. The fact that she held a sword in both hands should have said that much about her in a heartbeat. The redhead looked across the practice gymnasium and gave a light toss of her head. This lot of kids really didn't look that skilled, but she supposed that was why she was teaching them. Did they have what it took to be sword fighters, though? That was the question. Syrenne wasn't so certain. Some of the kids in her class didn't even look that much older than Yurick was. And they expected the kids to actually fight each other?

"You. How much experience have you got with a sword?" Syrenne asked. She pointed to a random student and posed the question. Really, she didn't care who it was. The thing that mattered was that she wanted to use this particular student as an example. Someone to demonstrate the proper sword wielding techniques with. Whether or not they really could hold their own against her was the last thing on her mind. Syrenne had started, and she wasn't about to take back the question she'd asked.

[Kurama]

Kurama stood at the front of the gathered students. Normally for such gatherings he would place himself toward the back, however, it seemed that most of the other students had gotten there before him so he was forced to stand to the front. He honestly wasn't entirely sure how he would do in such a class. Sure the fox had had his fair share of fights in the past, but none required him to wield a sword. Actually that would be a lie, Kurama had wielded a blade in the past, a few short years before against his friend Hiei. Who would honestly do far better in this class than the kitsune himself. Kurama doubted, however, that the fire demon would ever consider attending unless it meant taking Kurama back home with him.

The youko heaved a sigh, before looking up as the teacher began to speak. Had he not been well over three thousand years old, Kurama would have said that this woman was beyond unfit to be a teacher. However, Kurama was nearing his four thousandth year and in that time he’d met up with plenty of people who hardly looked like they belonged in the setting they were in. Kurama himself would hardly look like he fitted there were he in his true form.

The kitsune had turned his gaze away from the teacher to take in his surroundings when the woman asked someone a question, it took him a moment longer to realize said someone was him. “Oh, hardly any at all I’m afraid,” he answered, looking up to let his emerald gaze meet her own. “However, I am sure it will be quite enough to ‘hold my own’, if you will.” His voice carried the slightest hint of a challenge.

[Chihiro]

[ooc: Clumsy Chihiro taking sword class is a go!]

This was not a good idea! Nope, no sir. Why would anyone give him this class?! He was not physically strong at all, what made the teachers or the headmaster think he could handle a sword?! He would probably fall on the blade at the first chance he had in the battlefield and save his opponent the trouble of taking him down. Nope nope. It wasn't a good thing, Chihiro stood awkwardly with the other student here, wrinkling his skirt as he did so. Maybe this wasn't the best outfit to wear when out in sword fighting class but truly Chihiro wasn't thinking at the moment.

(i will add Logy in after i get his app approved and Sinbad shall arrive late!)

[Deleted]

A smirk formed on Syrenne's face at Kurama's words. This one almost reminded her of Lowell with that level of confidence. If he was that set on proving that he could hold his own against her this early in the game, she was set to try and prove him wrong. On the other hand... Was it really worth it? Syrenne actually was considering not messing with Kurama this time and instead picking a different student to demonstrate with. So far, though, no one else was really standing out to her. ...Or she could make things more interesting. Yes, that seemed like the best idea.

"Fair enough, love. If you think you can hold your own against me, step forward," Syrenne said. Her attention shifted back to the class and frowned at the sight of Chihiro. He was scrawny, didn't look all that strong, and... Wearing a skirt. The hell was she looking at right there? Was that a dude in a skirt, or a girl? She didn't have a particular problem with either of the possibilities, but still it was worth raising an eyebrow at. Syrenne had her own idea of where this demonstration would go once she got her sights on another student.

"All right, how about you? Think you could hold your own up here?"

She'd pointed to another student, thankfully saving Chihiro from the possibility of being humiliated on the first day of class.

[Sinbad]

[and come in late Sinbad shall!]

Sinbad hadn't really wanted to teach at all. In fact, he didn't want to be here at all. It was all that woman Marina's fault anyways. He could have been sleeping or stealing, but no...he had go and do something "useful and helpful to others" for a change. No one seemed to realize that Sinbad did things for himself, not others. Oh well, as he walked to where the class was. He took in the arena. It was perfect environment for the class, at least that much could be said.

And then he got a look at the two students. Only two? Was this really the best they could do? At least one of them looked like a strong male, and then eyes fell on Chihiro. Oh hell no.

'Are they serious? No way, this girl thinks she can be a swordfighter?' Chihiro looked like she would get beaten in a second. That wasn't going to be good. Marina was a good fighter and he could see that the fellow teacher in front of him looked well-built to teach. But Chihiro, who looked like she belonged in a charms school. No. No no. This wouldn't do at all.

For now he would just wait and see if there was anyone else that could be worth being a sword-fighter. Seeing as that the woman was doing a good-job already Sinbad thought it would be a good chance to take it easy and relax.

[Kurama]

Kurama’s gaze darkened slightly, a flash of gold hidden quickly once more by crystal green. He saw the very brief hesitation in Syrenne’s expression, and had he still been the ruthless bandit he had been in his prime he wouldn't have made a second thought before seizing the moment. However, Kurama was no longer the cruel thief he once was, his life as a human had changed him. That still hadn't stopped his trained eye, but for now he had no need to use it.

“With pleasure,” when he spoke, his voice was smooth and calm. He sounded more like he was attending a book reading session than getting ready to possibly face off in a sword fight. He stepped forward to place himself by the female teacher, his own gaze scanning over the class for a moment. He hadn't failed to notice Chihiro, however, the young girl seemed more attuned for a library than for a combat training class. Still, Kurama’s eyes had briefly swept over the girl, but didn't linger long. He looked up when Syrenne spoke up again, and turned his attention to the student in question.

“Please, don’t be shy. Trust me, my bark is far worse than my bite,” the Kitsune couldn't help the chuckle that left him at his own hidden joke, still for the moment the statement held truth.

[Squint]

He was NOT sorry he was late.

After all if this was the true fencing teacher, he's be her star pupil. So he strolled in, skull bone sword on his hilt, with a swagger that said he was number one and everyone should know it. He was about a foot and half tall, much shorter than everyone but he didn't care. So long as they didn't call him cute or bunny. But he realized quickly that might happen. After all he WAS the only animal in the class. He snorted, pushing past the red haired student who was speaking.

"Sparring huh? You ready?! You ready, pal?" He sped quickly, hopping up slightly. "Don't let my size fool ya! I'm top notch! C'mon! Who's ready to spar? Who's ready to take me on?"

[Tidus]

"All right, how about you? Think you could hold your own up here?"

"Who, me?"

Tidus looked around him, but since no-one else seemed to be hurrying to respond, the answer to his question was an obvious one. He was definitely the one the teacher had singled out. The blitzer ran a hand around the back of his collar, mind briefly flashing back to the moment in Zanarkand when Auron had thrust the sword - a gift from Jecht, he had called it - into his hand as they fought their way through the Sinspawn. Though he'd used a weapon before, once or twice, Tidus had struggled to find the blade's balance initially before he'd grown accustomed to it.

"I haven't fought another person before," he replied with a shrug, bristling slightly at what felt to him like condescension from the red-haired male. Even if he'd been thinking of bowing out of the challenge before, he sure wasn't now. "But I've used a sword against creatures, so I can handle it okay," he hurried to add, leaping forward to face Kurama. There was something about the guy that Tidus wasn't especially keen on, though the blond kept that thought to himself.

He drew his weapon - the red-and-silver bladed sword that had apparently been left for him by his old man - and slipped into his typical fighting stance; facing his opponent side-on, his knees slightly bent and the sword held just behind him in a one-handed grip. He didn't make an initial move in case Syrenne had some last-minute instruction for them, but still kept both eyes fixed firmly on his sparring partner. The Blitz ace was determined not to be caught off-guard.