Camp Willow - New Saber Trainer in Town
Characters: Hallow, Philio
Location: Camp Willow; Main Grounds, Outside the Messhall
Hallow is frustrated. The Abbey being taken over is one thing, having to wait rather than marching straight in is just plain aggravating. She hasn't smiled or stopped working in a couple of weeks. Currently she's somewhere between a morning helping make arrows, training, drilling the fighters and actually having lunch, when she plans to read reports. She's got a nice pile of them under her arm and she's headed for the mess hall, it's quieter than the tavern.
Philio has been hard at work too. Having to show the refugees where things are, 5 katrillion times a day. Doing work-work. Than having to help around the camp with things that need to be done. Such as. Helping in the Mess. The savage otters that seem to flock to danger. The less then talkative Bipolor others. And being a nurse in the infirm (which he doesn't mind so much) Its been a very trying week. But. Unlike the Skip. Phil cant stop smiling for some reason. Its odd. He walks toward the mess hall as well. Almost going to bump into the Skip, "Holy balls!" he falls on his butt in shock of it all.
Hallow is practically impossible to surprise when she's on high alert and spending so much time training, still, she could do with being less distracted as though she hears Phil coming and there's a little bit of her brain filing away the presence of someone on a collision course, the rest of her mind is drawing up a mental map of the abbey and finding ways to break in again. She snaps out of it when she hears Phil shout of course, calmly blinking as she stops to look down at him. Her brows raise slightly in question before she offers a paw to pull him back up again "Alright there Phil?"
Philio ergs and grunts as he landed on a small rock. Sticking out his paw and getting hauled to his feet with relative ease. He sighs as he rubs the dirt from his buttocks, "Yeah. Im alright... Damn rocks. Only thing hurt was my pride and dignity..." he sighs. Its obvious that the fisher otter is now equipped with his saber. Laced across his back. Been carrying it around recently. Just in case. Had no need for it before now. That smile is still there as he nods toward the mess, "Heading for lunch?" he asks quietly.
Hallow hasn't even been seen without her sabre in seasons, rumour has it she even wears it around the house but aside from her son she's not had many in her house who could prove it "Can always rebuild pride and dignity and if it helps I don't think many saw you. Aye lunch" she shifts her reports "And more work. Taking a break as well?"
Philio chuckles lightly, "They have gone beyond repair Skip. Best let them die and bury them." He hums as looks at the papers. Course. When has Phil ever seen her without papers, "Oi... Work." he sighs, "You can say that im taking a break. Its more that i escaped... I have worked. With fishing... And helping around... I haven't even had time for my mate... I havent seen her in two days" The Horror!. He then blinks and nods, "Hoping she is at the mess hall before im roped back onto the boat. If not... Food is alright i guess. You?"
It's like the sabre, Hallow's just not complete without a mess of weapons and a pile of paperwork. She raises her eyebrows "Am I hoping my mate will be waiting in the mess hall or were you asking for comparison of working days?" she's too tired to smirk but there's humour there. She starts to move again, seeing as they're both going to the same place they may as well walk and talk.
Philio snorts a bit. And would smile. If it wasn't already plastered all over his face, "Heh... Nah. Im just seeing if you were having lunch. Or just headed this way for some reason... I already know you probably haven't has sleep in weeks...Been so busy..." Its the Skippers duty after all. Its just the invasion came at a very awkward time in Phils life. He is sure it has damaged others as well. SO, he walks along beside her. His arms crossed in front of him. As he thinks about all what is going on. He's mostly just tired. He rubs at a new scar on his arm. But thats only habit nowadays.
Hallow nods slowly as she walks. It's the biggest break she's got all day, she's not in too much of a hurry to actually get to the mess hall "Yes, got to keep eating though I did plan to work through it, no rest during war time. Well, still get a few hours sleep, it's not like we've been attacked in the camp yet and so far things are stable"
Philio nods a bit in return as they turn a corner, "Ah. Well. I wont bother you to much while you eat/work." he then hums at the next part, "Aye. Not yet. But giving the way some of the otters have been acting. Its almost like they WANT to have the vermin attack" he shakes his head, "Its pitiful. Really. Speaking of which" he looks toward Hallow, "Do we have an Saber trainers?" Yay for random question.
Hallow hehs at the word pitiful "Oh I understand them. It's been peaceful around here for a very long time, it's nice but a lot of them are warriors or just very bored guards. Or just plain don't like vermin and need to release a little energy" she pauses again to give him a look "You know I remember being asked exactly that years ago. I use a sabre, probably the most experienced sabre fighter at the moment. You're looking to learn?"
Philio nods a bit, "Im quite happy with peace and prosperity, thank you very much." His mates is already giving him a run for his money enough as it is, "I don't want Vermin coming around here and... Doing stuff..." Its a beast he can put it without cursing. He sighs and then laughs, "Learn? I already know how to use a saber... You taught me, Remember?" it was a long ole time ago. Saber was the only weapon he was good, even great at. He then says, "I was wondering. As you are busy... That i could teach some of the younger ones... For a bit more coin of course. Take some of the load off you."
Hallow squints ahead, searching her memory. She taught him? Chalk another blank spot into the memory "Suppose I've taught half the camp in a lot of weapons, it gets easy to lose track. Were you good? Or more importantly, are you still good?"
Philio was taught back in a class when he was just a wee lad. With a bunch of other otters. He barely got through other weapons. But for saber. He was exemplary at it. Which most others just down right failed at. So. He cant help but grin when the Skip asks, "You said i was one of the best... And..." he hums, "I might need a refresher. I haven't used it since my coming of age. But i think im ready. I need the extra money... For" he blinks as he doesn't think he told her yet, "Oh... for me and my mate... Were getting married"
Hallow is once more unsurprised but she still thinks it's a good thing "Good for you both, do tell me when and where when you've decided. Refresher. Well, no time like the present" she bends down to scoop up a rock and put it on top of her reports, leaving them on the ground. She has free time, she may as well see to it while she can "Teaching is a lot different to learning of course. So, tell me, the correct method to hold a sabre?"
Philio nods a bit, "We will. Haven't decided much on it after i asked... Still need her to move in with me" A reason why he wants to see her so much. he then blinks, "Ummm... Right now?" he glances toward the distant hall before nodding slowly. This might be the best time for a while, "Ummm... Okay..." he draws his blade from behind him, "First you move into position..." he remembers. Going into a half stance. And he places his free paw on his hip, "Then. Using your... Finger and thumb, grip the handle where the basket meets it. Then curve the rest of your fingers lightly around the rest of the handle..."
The first of many critical looks comes as Hallow steps forwards to closely look at her paw, even walking round him to look from the other side before she steps back to look at the stance. She's giving nothing away so far. After a few very long seconds she draws her sword and purposefully holds it a little wrong "Alright, simple movements then, teach"
Philio nods a bit as he starts, "Okay. First, the step... The step forward" he grips the sword a bit tighter as he steps lightly forward. Using his front foot first then creeping up with the second foot. Keeping his blade level and slightly tilted toward the otters center. He nods as he motions for his 'student' to do a similar motion. But he does notice the wrong grip. He hums a bit as he says, thinking that this might be a trap, "Wait... Hold on... Your gripping that wrong..." he moves his blade to his second paw as he taps her claw, "Only grip it with your thumb and finger..." noticing that she has her middle claw also gripped tightly. He hopes he was right. True its been awhile. But he knows how to teach.
Everything's a trap when Hallow's testing beasts. She glances at her paw and readjusts without a word though before nodding at him and straightening up, letting her sword drop to her side. She gestures to him "Carry on, show me the rest of the basics" she's not going to mimic him all the way through.
Philio nods a bit and continues to show the moves, "Alright..." he goes back in position he was in before pointing out the grip. He nods and gulps a bit nervously, "Okay. Then step back..." he steps back. Its much quicker then the step forward and without dragging his paws, "Next. The side steps..." he moves to the left and right in a circular motion around a imaginary target. He had a bit of trouble as he touches his leg when moving his feet. But he maintains his stance, "Then the next one is..." he blinks, "The Horizontal slash... Which you use with your wrist. Not with your whole arm..." he moves his wrist and his forearm from his bad side to straight in front of him. It makes a whooshing sound as he does.
Hallow watches him closely. Movements, stances, even his words, all being judged and evaluated. Until the last part. Whoosh and she moves, suddenly going to clash swords with his, taking up a fighting stance opposite him as she calmly speaks "And think fast"
Philio doesn't like being judged! Maybe this was a bad idea. NO! He thinks. Its for your mate. So you can have a nice wedding and life. For her. He nods as he goes to watch her. Or, as he blinks quickly, having hands on evaluation. Having his sword knocked off from his position. He gulps as he says, "Right... That too..." he moves his sword back. Clashing it back against hers. Yep. Bad idea.
Hallow holds her sword ready for the clash "A little confidence Phil" she says as she rotates her sabre, attempting to disarm him right then. Clearly not going to go easy on him "You're teaching these otters how to fight, not just a few movements. You want the job you'll have to beat me for it"
Philio blinks a bit as he gulps once more. Tightening his grip on the sword and digging his pads into the dirt, "Confidence..." he mutters. Before the more skilled otter tries to disarm him. Phil is ready for something like that, and uses all his all claws to keep hold onto it. Then using the momentum of the sword he swings it around and aims low at the opposing blade. Going to slam it. To instead reverberate the blade out of her paw. He got that from fancy book learning. He is willing to do it for the money.
Hallow takes the blow to her sword and it shakes but she grips onto it more firmly, actually stopping it by drawing it back to place her free paw on it. A second later and she's pushing forwards, going to slash again and again in a quick diagonal up to down motion.
Philio grins a bit. As hey. It worked better than expected. Though he knew it wasn't gonna end right then and there. She is the skipper after all. He uses the bit of free time to get his stance back and to press the attack. Placing his blade horizontally forward and up, he blocks her first come back. Twisting his blade sharply now trying to do the same thing. She first tried on him.
Hallow twists her sword back against his, going to lock them together and forcefully push both swords down and out to one side, should that work she'd use the opportunity to throw a punch at his head.
Philio grunts as. That hurts like hell! He grunts loudly before his sword is knocked to one side... And... Oh my gosh! Here comes a fist. Phil uses his younger skills to duck quickly down and going to throw a punch at her stomach. He wasn't going to fight like this. But. If this is part of the training. He is gonna have to learn by hitting apparently.
Hallow used to be faster, she might have dodged that entirely once but this time she still gets a glancing blow as she's quickly moving out the way. She gets a little distance between them again before dropping back into stance. She's thinking carefully though and after a moment straightens up, going to sheath her sabre.
Philio is a bit surprised when he does make contact. Oh snap! HE JUST HIT THE SKIPPER! Hope that doesn't come back to haunt him. So he is a bit dazed when she moves back. Going back to his stance. Its obvious he is prepared for more. And... When the skip sheaths her blade. He keep his out. Must be a trap. Has to be. He blinks a bit and gulps, "Is... Is that it?" he asks. A bit confused.
Hallow still looks like she's considering things and she doesn't answer his question yet, doesn't even reply for a minute until she finally asks "And how much would you be looking for from this extra job?"
Philio blinks a bit more... Going to sheath his blade slowly. Must be over now. He hopes. He then gulps a bit as he says, "For a few hours of training... As well as the fishing. I would like my normal pay... Plus" He nods a bit, "A half extra..." he nods a bit more.
Hallow squints her way through a little mental maths. It's a question of paying him or doing it herself for basically free "...Yeah alright" evaluation over. She's looking less judgemental and stoops to pick her reports back up again.
Philio is still blinking away. Wait what? She said what? Did she just agree. Okay. Something is wrong here. He gulps as he Looks REALLY confused and he asks, "Wait what... Really? I mean. Thanks Skip. I promise i wont let you down!" Hoorah for nice things! He steps forward and salutes, "Thanks Skip! Really. Thank you." now for the questions as they continue toward the mess once more, "Ummm... What do i do?" he asks.
Hallow raises a brow at the salute, she's looking vaguely amused at his question too "Well that installs me with so much confidence. Stop by the training grounds early tomorrow, you can take half of the lot I'm teaching and we'll see how things go"
Philio is a little bouncy. Odd again. But its Phil. So it happens a lot more often then not, "Sorry. Just... Not sure of what to do..." he nods, "Okay. That i can do." he gulps a bit. Oh my god. He is a trainer now. WHAT WAS HE THINKING! But he is doing it for his mate. So it makes everything better, "Okay. Is there anything i need to bring?"
Hallow folds her arms over her reports, watching him panicking and not helping in the slightest, most fun she's had in days "Well, yourself, sword could be useful, I advise clothes. You don't have to make your own training dummy or anything though, we've got plenty"
Philio nods a bit as he gulps, "Okay... Okay. Clothes. Sword... And myself..." he nods. He feels a bit better now. Though he is still freaking out. He smiles and says, "Thank you. Again. Here. Want any help?" he points at the reports.
Hallow glances to the reports before shaking his head "Nah, half of it won't be much but all Skipper business. Thanks anyway. You go ahead and see if you can find Kassle, pass on the good news"
Philio nods and smiles. And what a smile it is. It would extend all the way to the sky if it wasn't attached to his face, "Oh... Okay. See yah Skipper!!" he pretty much runs into mess hall yelling, "Kassle! Where are you!? Where are you hiding!?" There is a bit of talking. Then the sound of Kass yelling in surprise as Phil tackles her and pints her to the ground. Its too bad she was holding a bunch of dishes at the time.
Hallow opens her mouth to shout a good bye, just the yelling making her pause. She abandons all thought of it and flinches at the sound of breaking plates. A shake of her head and she turns back, deciding maybe the tavern will be the quieter place for lunch after all.
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