Madelyn, Kurt - Saturday morning

[x-madelyn.livejournal.com]

Kurt gives Madelyn a lesson in swordplay. No, not that sort of swordplay, the one with the actual swords. Religion and faith come up as topics of choice, as does the wave of romance hitting the mansion.



Eyes narrowed in concentration, Madelyn considered her target, and stepped forward, bringing the sword forward in a short thrust. She was wearing a pair of loose sweat pants and a tank top, the swords practice ones with no edges and dull points , her hair hanging in a heavy braid down her back, and she was enjoying herself immensely. Kurt easily blocked the thrust, and she clumsily batted away his return strike.

He grinned at her, also having fun, but lowered his sword. "Time for a break, I think. You are doing very well, for a beginner."

Arming sweat from her forehead, Madelyn nodded and grinned. "Thanks. All that pool makes for decent hand-eye coordination. It's a lot more work than I realised, though - you make it look so easy."

"Many years of practice", he replied with a mischievous grin. "It is not exactly hard to learn, but it does take time and work. Just ask Clarice sometime how much she trains."

"Oh, I know how much she does - we try and juggle fencing with her medlab time and still leave her a social life." Crossing over to the benches lining the gym wall, Madelyn carefully lay her sword down before picking up her water bottle. "Although if the journals are anything to go by, I'd say she's managing that fairly well too."

Kurt moved to join her, with a quick teleported detour to put his sword back in the rack for now. "She certainly seems to be. I have to say, I never would have predicted Clarice and Shiro, but to judge by the bouncing, it makes her very happy."

"Well, it's either Shiro or sugar, but judging from the goofy expression on her face lately, I think it's the former." Madelyn chuckled, her expression affectionate. "As strange as it seems, I think they'll be good for each other. Spring must definitely be on the way, with all the hormones going around. Everyone's getting goofy with it."

He chuckled a little. "No bad thing, of course. After all the stress this house has seen in recent months, more happiness will be very welcome, whatever its source."

"Oh, definitely not. Happiness is always a very good thing," Madelyn agreed. "Still, it does make me wonder when the little monkeys will be opening their betting pool again."

"They probably already have", he answered cheerfully. "Do you think they still believe we do not know about it?"

"We're mere adults, and teachers at that," Madelyn told him with a grin. "Of course they believe we don't know about it."

"And who are we to destroy their illusions?" he replied, laughing. "It is only harmless fun for them, anyway."

"As long as they don't decide to nudge non-existent things along," Madelyn said wryly. "So, you learned swordplay as part of your act in the circus?"

He nodded, enthusiastic as ever on that subject. "Yes, it was part of what I did, the trapeze work being the other part. My brother and I used to spar in the ring, put on displays of skill."

"I wish I could have seen it - from what I've seen you do, it must have been very impressive," Madelyn said. "Any chance your brother might visit some day? You two could put on a show, impress the kids."

"...I actually had not thought of that. He is kept very busy, a lot of the time, but I am sure we could arrange something. I will have to ask him, when we next speak."

"I think the kids would like that, although you may hear grumbling from Shiro about it not being proper sword fighting without the actual violence and bloodshed." Madelyn wrinkled her nose a little. "But I'd enjoy it."

He grinned, pleased by that last comment. "Then if Stefan has the time to spare for a visit, I shall let you know."

"I'd like that, meeting your family. You've told me so much about them, it's like I almost know them." Putting the water bottle down for now, Madelyn paused, before giving Kurt a considering look. "Do you mind if I ask you a personal question, Kurt?"

He tilted his head curiously, wondering what she wanted to know. "Please, ask away."

"Your family, they're not Catholic... they're not even Christian, are they? So how did you... what led you to become a Catholic? To have such a strong faith as yours?" She blushed a little. "I'm sorry if that sounds rude at all."

He shook his head quickly. "It does not, I promise. It is a fair question." He paused, putting together an answer. "I suppose what appealed to me most and first about the faith was the idea that there is a plan. That nothing happens without reason. When I was... twelve or thirteen, I met the priest who came to the camp to say Mass for those in the circus who wished it. I did not often speak to those who came in from outside, but this time he saw me by chance and called me over, and we spoke for a long time. I still write to him, every so often."

"It's something we all need, to faith there is a plan, that all that happens makes sense..." Madelyn tilted her head at him, nodding for him to go on. "So speaking to that priest gave you an idea of that sort of faith?"

"Yes", he agreed simply. "I was just coming to the age where I was not only aware that I was different - that knowledge came long before, of course - but starting to wonder why. My family shielded me for as long as they could from those who would... object to my differences, but they could not forever. Father Pieter told me that day that there was a reason for it, for all of it, though I might never know what it was."

Madelyn nodded, and then reached out and touched the scars along his arm lightly. "And these? What made you start doing that?"

"They are my... penance", he answered slowly, unsure how to explain it well enough that she'd understand, more than he'd already told her.

She left it at that, feeling she'd overstepped her bounds a bit with that last question. As much as she understood the concept of sin and penance, she found it hard to believe Kurt had that many sins to atone for. "Well, I'm rested now - how about you? Ready for the next lesson?" she asked instead, changing the subject away from difficult places.

He smiled, with a hint of gratitude in it for the change of subject, and reached for his sword again. "I am if you are."