((For Jelani))

[1stmacleod]

After his last time in the Nexus, Connor's looking a little worse for wear again. After a brief respite, he's back to sleeping badly. Sometimes he dreams he can see a himself in happy family gatherings, but he's always standing outside the window, in the cold or worse. He usually wakes himself beating his fists against dream-glass.

He really doesn't have anywhere else to go, though, except here and back to his own world. So he lurks. He's found one of the edge places, where Nexus dissolves into a patch of wilderness. So he sits, and gives the crowds a brooding stare, watching from the outside yet again.

Comments

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

"Light, for us both." He looks sheepish, and switches the katana to his left hand so he can shake out his arm. "I don't think I'm as strong as I used to be."

[jelani.livejournal.com]

"Maybe ya should tag along on my daily routine." Still grinning she goes to get her bundled up swords, getting ready to leave for the day. "I'll whip ya inta shape in no time."

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

"Heh. An old man like me wouldn't be in the way?" He's curious, but he's not sure he's physically up to it. The katana is tucked away in his coat, which is all the preparation he's got. She's the one carrying an entire armoury.

[jelani.livejournal.com]

No, the armory is at home, in her basement.

"Naah, I'd prob'ly be harder on me than on you. Usual routine is morning run, weights an' beating up the ol' punchin' bag an hour or so after dinner, an' dance or some kinda tai chi-ish thing later in th' evenin'. An' acrobatics when I feel like it." Yes, she likes working out.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

"I've never been very good at dancing." He deadpans. At his peak, though, he's a dangerous man to go for a morning run with.

[jelani.livejournal.com]

"I love it. Particularly when there's fire involved." There's a definite memory popping up in her head, and she can't help but to smile. And, there's even a hint of a blush there. "Plus, it's good fer coordination."

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

One eyebrow rises. "...I'd dance around a lot too, if I was on fire." There's the faint hint of a smirk in his expression. "My coordination's fine, I'm just not a dancer." He's proven himself on the first part of that already.

[jelani.livejournal.com]

She'd smack him for that if she didn't have her hands full of swords. "Not

on

fire, dumbass.

With

fire." No, she's obviously not above calling her teacher a dumbass. She's grinning, though, so she can't be all that serious.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

"I'll take that out of you, next lesson." He grins back, and he'll probably have forgotten by then anyway. "And you picked me for a teacher, so what does that say about you? Anyway, how do you dance with fire?"

[jelani.livejournal.com]

"With style!" She winks, laughing. "An' watch it, or I might never show ya." Not like she's ever showed many. Only one. She's one of those who usually dances alone.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

Connor rolls his eyes, but he's willing to take an evasive answer, for now. "Sure lass. Go on and find yourself a new practice sword." He's in a better mood, but tired and in need of a shower.

[jelani.livejournal.com]

"Will do!" She shifts the bundle over to her shoulder, and taking care not to smack Connor in the face with it she hops in to give him a quick hug. And then she's off. "See ya later, teach!" She calls over her shoulder, waving as she goes.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

He's got good reflexes in a fight, but he doesn't see the hug coming, and he's left standing there looking sheepish and awkward. He smiles after her, though. It's good to have a student again.