Sparring session for Nick

[1stmacleod]

For some reason, Connor never expected the holidays to be this hard. Thanksgiving passed by without much notice, he's never really celebrated that, but Christmas has had him on a private roller coaster. One minute he's blissfully happy to have a home and a woman he's in love with who loves him back, even knowing the truth of what he is, the next minute he's remembering holidays with John and Rachel and even Brenda and he just wants to go bury himself in a dark corner with a bottle of whiskey. All the scotch he's been given as gifts is going at a distressing rate. It's not even New Year's yet, and then it'll be his birthday soon after that, which he just hopes nobody will notice at all...

Just a few days after, and he's pacing, resisting the urge to crack open the next bottle. He needs a distraction. He needs to get out. He needs something to do.

The message that comes on Nick's pinpoint is typical Connor, brief and brusque and to the point.
Want to spar?
There's coordinates attached, and he's got the sense to have picked somewhere it's night. Connor's waiting in a grassy field on a quiet world he ran across in a Nexus guidebook. There's an almost full moon that gives him enough light to see by, and it's not the dead of winter, here, so he can stand around in t-shirt and jeans and sneakers without freezing his ass off. He swings the katana slowly, working his way through kata. There's a couple of rapiers and a western broadsword on the ground nearby... and a bottle of scotch, because his willpower gave out already.

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[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

Nick is practicing in his loft when he gets the message. He smiles, amused at the timing, and replies quickly.
Sure. Be there in ten minutes.
He collects the two swords he'd brought out to spar with, leaving the third and oldest behind for now. He checks that the doors are locked and then leaves.

When he appears, his eyes easily adjust to the low light easily as he watches Connor's kata silently. He pulls off his coat as it's pleasantly warm, and drapes it over an arm as he holds his rapier in one hand, and a crusader's sword in the other.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

Connor doesn't say anything or even look at him right away, but something about his manner says he's noticed the arrival. He finishes out the kata, kneeling, and gives Nick an absent nod. The bottle of scotch by his other swords is only a quarter empty, and he looks steady.

"...Hey."

[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

Nick takes in the details, and he nods, the smile on his face fading slightly. It's obvious Connor isn't in high spirits.

"Hey." Now that Connor's finished, he walks over to him, and looks at the other swords, before setting down his extra on top of his coat, and keeps the rapier in hand.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

He'd better get used to it, because Connor's had a pretty moody temperament most of his life. After a moment he stands though, katana held at his left side like a samurai. It's habit.

"I can start out with another rapier, if you want...?" His tone is calm enough, friendly in his gruff way.

[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

"If you wouldn't mind. I'm a little more out of practice than I thought. It's been a while." He smiles shyly as he straps the blade to his hips.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

"So you are scared of me?" He grins a little, but there's something tired around his eyes. The katana is traded for a rapier, and he feels out the weight of it experimentally.

[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps I am." Nick smiles back, and unsheathes the rapier, giving it a quick flick. It has been so long since he'd had an opponent, and having talked to Connor, he's pretty certain he's outmatched by the fact of recent experience. "After all, I'd be a fool not to acknowledge the fact you have more recent experience than I do."

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

Connor looks just a little amused, but he's serious when he asks, "What's off limits? I mean, I'll try not to cut you up..." But just in case, it's always good to know if there's something he really, really shouldn't do.

[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

Nick appreciates that Connor asks, even if it is a bit personal, it's better for everyone. He assumes it's in case they get a little into it, since they are both immortals, after all. He may still be smiling, but he answers, perfectly serious.

"The heart and the neck. And you?"

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

"...Just the neck." He nods, making a mental note to try to avoid thrusts to the main body. "I feel pain as much as the next guy, but... if you do manage to cut me up a little, don't worry about it." He grins. "I'm not worried about it." That's practically an insult, and he moves back from the swords and booze to a clear area where they'll have plenty of room.

[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

"And I feel pain a little less, so I think it works out for both of us." Nick smiles at Connor's insult and stays paired up with him as they move into open area, his sword is lowered but he's clearly ready for a fight with how he's carrying himself.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

It's their first match, so Connor gives a mild salute and takes up a proper stance. He even waits to let Nick make the first move, although that also gives him the chance to assess his opponent.

[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

Nick gives a proper salute to Connor in return and takes up a stance that could use a little work, but his handwork seems in order at least. He takes a moment to study Connor, but there's not much to work on until they begin, and so he starts with a lunge to test his own speed and Connor's ability to parry.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

Connor parries so easily it looks like an afterthought, sliding sideways. He's fast, and confident but not overly so. He doesn't use any more strength than he has to, though. Nick will have to make another try, because Connor's still playing defense.

[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

Nick's going to have his work cut out for him. He keeps moving at least, rather than standing still, as he watches silently.

Then he moves again, this time fully committing as he makes a slash at Connor, driving his weight behind it.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

Connor's head tilts a little, and he makes a turning whirl away at the last, mostly because he's noticed how much force is behind that move. It's very definitely an Eastern technique, the way he flows away from the blows instead of meeting force with force. Of course, he also aims a nice whack for Nick in passing, hoping to hit him in the backside.

[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

Nick has enough wherewithal to notice the incoming blow and turns, still taking it, but managing to deflect it a little, at least. He chuckles as he backs off from Connor to give himself room.

"I feel like a boy, again. This is shameful." He approaches again, this time with more tact, and putting out quick attacks, more like a proper fencer.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

"Sorry? I could try something more from the Italian schools..." His eyes have been a flat grey, analytical, face blank, but now he flashes a brief grin. Connor has learned proper fencing, in Vienna, and he's out of practice at that, His stance shifts while Nick's coming at him and he starts making parries and ripostes in a style that's not too far from Nick's. He's still very fast and light on his feet, and his expression's gone blank again. Like most serious fighters, his brain just seems to slide into battle mode automatically. Anything he might land is just a light touch though. Either he's not very strong at all, or he's being careful not to put much force into his attacks.

[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

"I get the feeling you're enjoying this." He makes a few more quick jabs and backs off as Connor makes another touch. His pride is starting to hurt, though he's laughing through it. He figures it's his turn to play defense, and he circles Connor slowly, waiting.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

"I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't enjoy it..." A smile flickers again and he keeps moving, waiting too, at least for a minute. "Anyway, I haven't had a fight with another immortal in months. I don't want to get rusty." And then he lunges in low with an attack, which he figures is pretty obvious since he waited until he was done talking.

[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

Nick barely dodges, it's a bit inelegant but suffices for that one opportunity. Nick puts more space between them, giving himself a mental break.

"True, and I would not have agreed if I didn't." He raises his blade again, ready for another round as he approaches to within lunging distance. He's determined to make a touch. He was never a star pupil, but he was an adequate fighter in his time; he only hopes the skills have not been completely lost.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

Connor's never really given points for elegance anyway. He keeps moving, waiting and watching, but giving Nick the break. Hopefully that won't make him feel too much like Connor's just going easy on him.

He's watching Nick's face, the determination and the spacing. He's not sure he wants to let Nick get a hit in just to boost his confidence though. When he parries, he's noticed Nick's stronger than he is.

[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

Nick goes on the offense again, feinting high, then going for the lower body. His face set in determination, he's starting to take this sparring more seriously now.

[1stmacleod.livejournal.com]

Connor's had a poker face from the beginning, but Nick's shift in attitude is easy to read. Not that there was ever a moment Connor didn't take it seriously, because he's too paranoid not to. The minute the other guy has a blade in his hand, it's time to be cautious, and Nick showed up carrying it.

The footing's not ideal in the grassy field, though. Connor dances away from the blade, stepping very close to Nick for just a second and then away to the side, and right into a small gopher hole. He goes down and manages to roll a little, but it's clumsy.

[det-debrabant.livejournal.com]

It's an unfortunate turn for Connor, one which Nick is clearly willing to take advantage of as he stalks toward him, even while the other recovers. He swings the blade toward Connor, minding his strength, seeing as the other immortal has only placed touches, but done no harm.