Log: Kurt and Sarah, Sunday evening

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Kurt and Sarah talk after one of their fencing lessons together, and Kurt comes up with a suggestion that Sarah absolutely loves.


Exhausted after her lesson, Sarah wiped some sweat off of her forehead, leaning against a nearby wall as she did so. "I think I'm getting better, I'm definitely getting a good work out." She'd been training with Kurt for awhile now, taking fencing lessons with him, and while she was far from good at it she'd like to think she'd picked up a few things. It was certain that she was much better off than before she'd had any lessons at all at any rate.

"You are definitely making progress", he agreed. "It is really mostly a matter of going over the moves over and over until you no longer need to think about them."

She nodded at Kurt, still a little short of breath from exertion. "Practice, practice, practice, right?" There were still lots of times she had to think about what move came next, or where her feet should move after a certain parry or thrust, but there were some things she had down pat. "Thanks again for the lessons, I really am enjoying them."

"Exactly", Kurt said with a nod in return. "I am glad you are - there would be little point in continuing if you were not having fun."

Sarah smiled at him. "It's great exercise, and really useful too, especially for someone like me who doesn't have much going for them in the way of, you know." She shrugged, not sure how to put it. "Abilities." There were other lessons in self defence and whatnot that she had been taking, but her fencing lessons especially made her feel like she was acquiring useful skills for the future.

Kurt tilted his head at her. "For self-defence, you mean? I think your powers are quite impressive, but perhaps not for that, no."

"Yeah, I mean, I love them, don't get me wrong." She was getting more and more confident with her abilities and getting used to using them, and even though she still had so much to learn about using them Sarah was pretty sure she wouldn't change them even if she could. "It's just nice to be able to look out for yourself if you have to, I guess."

"I understand." He smiled. "I had a big brother to defend me all through my childhood, and even I felt the need to learn to fight for myself eventually."

"It's about independence, I think. Though I know I've got lots of friends here who'll help out when needed, but it's a self confidence thing." That was something she'd needed to work on, and still did, but these lessons were helping with that. Not to mention her previous awkwardness around physical mutations; between spending time with Kurt and her friendship with Yvette, it was something she hoped was now well behind her.

"This is true. And there can be no guarantee those friends will always be with you when you may need it. It is best to know how to look after yourself."

"That's what I was thinking, yes." She smiled at Kurt, her breathing pretty much back to normal again. "Not that I plan on doing a lot of fighting, but you never know when trouble will come looking for you, I suppose." Hopefully not very often just the same.

"Especially for mutants", he said lightly. "Though of course, no one would know in your case unless you choose to tell them. Even your powers are unobtrusive."

"It's true, I'm lucky that way, I guess." Realizing what she said and hoping it wasn't misconstrued, Sarah tried to back it up. "I mean, not that I think you or anyone like you is unlucky, or that that's a bad thing!"

"No, no." He waved his hand in acknowledgment. "I know you did not mean it badly. It is luck, from a certain point of view."

"It could be, kinda." Sarah was relieved that she hadn't offended her teacher, or at least he wasn't showing it if he had been. "Being prepared is a good just the same, mutant or not, so I'm glad I have such a good teacher to help me with that."

"That is what we are all here for", Kurt said with a nod. "And thank you. You have also been going to Lex and Callisto's self-defence class, yes?"

She nodded. "You're welcome! Yes sir, they've been very helpful too. I guess I just like fencing a little more, no offense to either of them." She'd learned a lot from them as well but fencing was so much more fun.

"Everyone has their preferences." He smiled. "Perhaps when you have learned some more, you could even join a team, or enter competitions."

Her eyes lit up at that. "Oh wow, really, you think so?" She knew that wouldn't be any time soon, of course, but the thought was kind of intriguing.

"Of course!" he assured her. "It might even help advance your training, along the line, to have sparring partners who are not me."

"It would give me new opponents with different styles and such to work with, yeah. Hmm." She smiled, very fond of the idea now. "I'd love that, sir. Something to work towards, I guess."

Kurt smiled back. "Then I will see about arranging it in due course. As you say, it can be a goal, and everyone needs those."

"Awesome, I can't wait!" She clapped her hands together, excited to have a new goal to work towards now. "Thanks Mr. Sefton, I really appreciate this!" Sarah couldn't wait for next week's lesson now!