xp_logs | Manuel & Doug early morning

After Emma's email, Manuel and Doug get together, stepping up their practice to prepare Doug.

"And they will challenge you to a member of the Black Court. You must show you can defend your queen and defeat the champion of Shaw's choosing. Either it will be your sword or a sword Emma has fashioned for you. Either way, it is very real and you should be wary of your opponent." Manuel walked an arch, a light broadsword in hand as he judged the distance between Doug and himself.

They had real weapons in hand, not the practicing type and it was with careful skill that he wielded his own, while walking with his cane. "Remember, I am heavily burdened, the Black Court member will not be." They had trained but it was not enough. Doug was efficient but not nearly enough to survive a skilled blow to the neck or any other soft part of his body.

Approaching Doug, he paused, turning and stepping back. His cane mocked his leg and he was careful to match his strides to the stick that hindered him. Turning again, he moved to strike Doug in the side of the neck, forcing him back a pace.

Manuel's assessment of Doug's skill and hesitance with a blade was relatively true for the light fencing weapons they had been using in their sessions. But with the heft of his Asgardian broadsword in his hands, Doug was much quicker and at home. The step backwards and what seemed to be a hasty parry turned into a pirouette as he dropped low to cut at Manuel's feet.

Manuel compensated, stepping back a pace for footing and the steel in his hand vibrated up his arm at the block to his heel. He twisted the weapons together, parting them away from him and advanced again. His stamina was better now that he was swimming everyday and he did not exhaust as quickly as he had before.

Swinging inwards, he looked to cut into a bicep and ducked down, just at the moment when Doug's blade bit into his, steel sliding down to their right before breaking away again.

The broadswords clashed together again and again, a richer, more bell-like set of tones than when they had fenced together. Despite the heavier swords they wielded, the speed of their strikes was not all that diminished from their previous bout. Manuel's stamina wasn't the only one returning, as Doug remembered the jibe from North in their sparring session.

The pair advanced and retreated across the room, Doug using a series of two-handed slashes to the head and neck, looking to take advantage of the fact that Manuel was forced into using a single hand.

Manuel compensated with his balance where he faltered with his strength, moving lightly in his steps. The two handed blows were harder on him, deflecting making it impossible without having to move to some degree to avoid being hit. He avoided the one to his neck and moved his blade down. Instead of cutting into Doug's blade, he turned his broadsword at the last minute directing a slap to the calf with the flat of his blade and withdrew.

"That was your arrogance making you into an amputee," he quipped.

Doug raised his sword to acknowledge the touch, stepping back to a ready position. When Manuel did the same, they began again. Doug continued to press the advantage Manuel's cane gave him, keeping the fight mobile and pressing attacks to the Spaniard's feet and two-handed strikes to the body. They clashed back and forth, and this time it was Doug cocking his head and grinning after slapping Manuel's flank with the flat of his blade.

"That--" Manuel hissed through his teeth, drawing up again. "--was good. There may be hope for you yet."

Doug simply cocked his head farther and swept his blade back to a ready position. "En garde!"