xp_logs | Manuel & Doug

Manuel teaches Doug the art of swordsmanship. They talk business of the Hellfire club.

"It is in posture that you will find is your best attack and your best defence. The sword should be an extension of your body, not something to hack at things with." Manuel leaned on his cane, leaning forward slightly behind Doug, pressing his hand into Doug's lower back to force him into a stance that would help him better in a fight. "You slouch too much. If you are going to sit in a chair all day long, try and maintain a sitting up position without the backing of the chair to assist you." It wasn't nearly as bad as he explained, however this gave Manuel a focus, something to take his mind off his powers. Doug was emotional numbing at the worst of times.

Doug grunted, a noise of slight frustration at Manuel's teaching. He'd figured himself okay with a sword, but that was Asgardian broadsword, a two-handed weapon that was as much blunt instrument to break bones as edged weapon to cut with. Considering you physically -couldn't- use two hands on a rapier, he had to relearn practically from scratch. He'd defeated Fabian Cortez in their duel at Tesla's tower, but he'd been running on Cortez's power enhancement at the time, and he'd practically been able to see the other man's moves before they were made. He might not have that luxury next time, so he'd decided to seek Manuel out for instruction. Besides, he was unsure of the protocols of the Hellfire Club, and it seemed like a useful skill to have.

His frustrations mimicked Doug's and in his attempt to subdue it, Manuel’s instructions became harder in tone. He was not meaning to but his powers latched onto that frustration and reeled him in. It coursed through his body uncomfortably and every time it surged in Doug, it surged in Manuel. If keeping his temper on hold was difficult, maintaining a normal posture and not gripping his cane until his arm shook was near impossible. He needed this work out physical and concerning powers, despite not being able to move around much. He could instruct and thus, prevention would be had through the kiss of their practicing swords. He also needed more control than what his shielding technique alone could provide.

"Here, this is not the correct way. Fix your hand," Manuel asked of his student only what he was asked himself when he was taught by only what money would buy. "Like this," his hand covered Doug's and he fixed the fingers, the wrist and his hand closed over Doug's firming it tightly in place before releasing it.

The brisk businesslike tone actually helped settle Doug, as it was reminiscent of his martial arts training, and while Manuel was very little like Master Lee, once he put himself in the same mindset, the frustration began to drain away. It was a completely new set of reflexes and reactions he was trying to learn, and as much as he felt like a complete neophyte, expanding his repertoire of abilities would do nothing but help him in the long term, considering his line of work. He worked awkwardly through the exercises Manuel directed him through.

Abandoning Doug to his own struggle with his posture, Manuel walked around in front of him and picked his weapon off the floor. It could hardly be called a weapon. At the end of the point was a ball and the foil bent and flexed under any pressure. He held at the ready and stepped forward. "I am... rusty," and his cane could only be the crutch that it was. "And my fault is in my inability to walk properly without aid. This will benefit me as much as it does you."

He simply did not wait and lunged a mock attack before drawing back. It was difficult, he could not bounce on the balls of his feet to confuse Doug, but mostly had to stay in one spot.

Doug hung back, guarding himself and not falling into the trap of the feint. He concentrated as hard as he could, watching for that instant of commitment to an actual attack. Manuel was hard to read at the best of times, probably due to how closely related his empathy and awareness of his own emotions was tied into his body language.

"Good," he commented, noticing Doug's restrain. The tip of Manuel's weapon brushed Doug's twice before he walked forward. His attack would be seen and he tried to conceal it. "Naturally, you would not be using a sword in a fight, however, I think it will be beneficial to know different styles. Does Marie-Ange know that you enjoy toying with swords?"

Oh, the double entendres that could be made from that remark. "Marie-Ange doesn't seem to have any problems with how I handle my...sword," he remarked, his sword flickering back and forth to defend. "For that matter, she has one of her own."

"Parry to the left. Do not pay so much attention to what my hands are doing, but rather, my body language." Manuel mocked a lunge again as best as he could and for a few seconds, he was driving Doug backwards.

"I am herding you," he pointed out before he almost didn't block a blow. Pausing in midfight, he turned his head. "Very good, though you are lacking luster in your play." Manuel lowered his sword. "I need to stop a moment." He was well aware that he was breathing heavily and Doug had barely broken out in a sweat.

Doug grounded his sword and stretched. While Manuel was clearly exerting himself physically, Doug's exertions were more cerebral, the mental aspect of fencing. The physical came fairly easy to him, his body in good shape from his martial arts. He nodded at Manuel, giving him time to recover and saying nothing, almost acting as though he didn't see what Manuel would see as a weakness.

"I am obviously more out of practice than I thought," he commented. "I can see why Emma choose you and not me. You are physically more capable now." It took a great deal of self control to admit that small part of him, though where he thought he would be bitter to admit it, Manuel now fell in with his own resolve to not hold that grudge any longer.

"Ah, but the Bishop is closer to the Queen than the Knight," Doug offered with a half-smile. "Besides," he continued, "from what I understand of the courts, the Bishops are generally expected to be more...subtle than the Knights. Whereas I'm just expected to be more of a blunt object, I think."

"You have subtly that you do not realize you have. However, I believe that if you walked into a fight with a sword, that would not be very subtle and it would likely get you shot, therefore, I do not suggest this. It is merely an art to have this skill and trains you to be aware of your body, not the blunt object you hold in your hand."

"Each task has its proper tool," Doug noted. He would certainly not bring a sword to a gun fight, but there were times when a gun was not appropriate. Manuel was a rather proficient instructor, which surprised Doug, given how prickly he remembered the Spaniard being when they were students.

"True. However, in this day and age, I do not feel a sword would be appropriate at all unless it was your power or you were caught in a battle without a weapon, but a sword was handy. And that may very well happen if you cross a Hellfire member within his or her home. Many of them are fond collectors of exquisite weaponry. Which leads me to my next question, have you discussed anything with Emma concerning the position in the HFC?"

"Not exactly," Doug replied. "Between her business and her desire to play things close to her chest, she has told me very little about what will be expected of me as Knight."

"She will inform you soon enough. A meeting between us is necessary to pick the White Court up. My trip to Spain was the beginning of that. I would assume that she may very well send you somewhere to do the same or give you another task and see if you can fulfill your position through trial and error. Or she may simply do it by other means. Emma will not wait for long. You should be emailing her yourself or she may catch you off guard and send you a plane ticket."

Doug nodded. "I'd planned on discussing things with her already, but I certainly don't welcome being caught off guard with a plane ticket." That was Jubilee when her overlarge mouth got her in trouble with Pete or Emma or Remy. Doug liked to be able to plan ahead and not get sent coach to Eastern Outer Bumfuck.

"Adrienne is interested in joining the White Court, however I am unsure if she has spoken to her sister about it. I cannot see Emma saying no to her own flesh and blood." With the suitable break, Manuel resumed his posture, saluting in a gesture that did the simple task of asking if Doug was ready. "Is there anyone you would consider for the White Court that you know of?"

Doug snorted. "Perhaps funnily enough, Marie-Ange," he replied. "Not because she is my girlfriend, but because she can be quite ruthless and calculating. Sometimes I think she is trying to become some strange mixture of Emma and Pete."

"I do not believe anyone would be able to become like Emma and as for Pete," Manuel soured. "I shall say nothing as I have no kind words for that particular man. You should not insult your girlfriend's intelligence. She is very smart and though I do believe she would do well in the White Court, would you honest consider that? Marie-Ange has a sword that could dethrone you." He meant that in every sense of the word.

Doug shrugged diffidently. "I'm not the sort to feel my masculinity is threatened by my girlfriend being tough," he said. "We don't have that kind of a relationship." While they'd had the screaming breakup because of the shaky ground their initial relationship had been built on, it now stood on a bedrock of trust and equality that was not easily disturbed.

"She is not without her weight, I am sure. Speaking of weight, Valentia dropped one of those books on my foot the other day. Aside from making my limp worse that day, they have been very useful. Thank you for sending them. I am interested in how much you know about sign language as it would be not only her you would be teaching."

Doug winced. Dropping a book on his foot hurt quite a bit, he could only imagine how it would feel to Manuel given his limp. "American Sign Language I'm fluent in from using it with Artie and Miles, but I'm still working on Spanish sign. I figured it would be useful to have both, given your background." It was interesting, noting the differences and similarities between the various types of sign. They were all beautiful in a visual way that the spoken word could not match.

"I believe having two languages to learn at the same time is only more confusing. For her and myself. If she can make the cross over from speaking Spanish to signing English, my job is half way complete. However, we require a teacher that has more time than twice a week. The more she uses it, the more she will retain. I do not believe you have this time, do you?"

"Mm, you have a point," Doug murmured thoughtfully. "Still, I'm willing to help you practice when I do have the time, at least."

"Perhaps one day a week and I will discuss the rest of the week with Dr. Samson. Enough talk though. I am ready," regarded Doug from where he stood. "However I may have to look into getting a license for a gun. I am a better teacher with swords now than I am at engaging in the sport."