Watch It (open)

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Now the split, that was an impressive bit of work, especially on command like that. Karmine stopped for a moment to admire her grace and form on that, and then jumped to the side to dodge her legs. He followed that with an uproarious laugh.

"Don't give up easy now do yah?" He said with a smile. "Good! Good! Make's it interestin!"

"Now dun expect me to go easy just cause ya are down there, it'd be a grave insult, plus arrogance has been the downfall of many a great warrior."

He punctuated this point with a higher thrust, aiming towards her throat. If it looked like it would connect, he'd stop it, but he aimed that high so even if she rose, it would still hit.

[morg]

"S**t!"

As far as Morgan saw it, she only had three options. She could stay there, and get her throat skewered by a well-aimed stab. She could roll, and keep rolling while Karmine kept stabbing, or she could rise, and take the stab somewhere else.

So Morgan tried to smack Karmine's blade with hers as she rose. This directed his stab into her stomach, which still hurt, and would've resulted in a horrible wound. Fortunately, the weapons were blunted. Still, it stung to have her stomach jabbed by a rapier.

She flicked her rapier down now, hoping to stab at Karmine's extended arm. As she did, she also side-stepped, wanting to get the rapier's point out of her gut.

"I thought you were a gentlemen, aren't they supposed to be all chivalrous?" she teased, eyes flashing to Karmine.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

The blade clipped into Karmine's arm, leaving a slight slash mark on the fabric there. She then jumped rather dexterously to the side, taking a defensive stance.

"A gentlemen? Always! But I dun think ya really wanted tha gentlemen me, afta all, what would ya learn by fightin' someone who treats ya like glass? But then again, what are ya learnin' now? I'd think not ta rely on ya gift so much, there are people who know how ta fight it, like me."

He pulled back and brandished his sword, bringing it up to his face. "Come at me then, let tha real lesson begin!"

[morg]

Hearing her fault pegged so well unsettled Morgan slightly. She knew full well that relying solely on her Gift was the biggest issue here. She had to learn to work with it, instead of having it work her. Still, how Karmine had been able to peg it so easily was beyond her. Apparently he was as good at his job as everyone said he was.

"I'm not stupid," she spat. Morgan pulled back a step, again bringing her weapon into a defensive position, "I've practiced fighting too, you know. Just don't have nearly as many years as you do. Still, I know enough not to go charging in."

She smirked confidently over the blade of her rapier, "I'm clearly more of a reactionary fighter."

Despite her words, Morgan still edged a step closer, relaxing her guard. In fact, she left a various obvious gap in her torso. Wide open. Easy to hit. Tempting.

Probably obvious too, but Morgan was hoping to goad him.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"Tis true, tis true." Karmine said. "Your body may be ahead a ya brain, but that dun mean you can't use em well. But see, tha key to beating someone with your gift, is ta act in a way they likely haven't seen 'fore."

Karmine charged Morgan, sword to the side like a bull. And just when he was inside blade range he changed the charge into a slide, sweeping between her legs. He attempted to knock one out as he went through, but either way would work fine, because now he was on his feet behind her.

"Jus gotta keep ya guessin."

[morg]

True, you had to act in a way they hadn't seen before, and then hope you could out react them.

Morgan had anticipated the charge, had actually set it up for him to charge, and snapped her rapier forward in a slash that would have hurt Karmine a good deal, had he actually been there for it. Unfortunately for Morgan, Karmine was currently on the ground, lashing out. His leg connected with hers even as she danced out of the way, and she nearly tumbled. Morgan did manage to catch herself, and even twisted to face Karmine. The point of connection did throb slightly though, and it irritated Morgan. She knew better than to give in to emotion though.

"Nice shot," she quipped, "but you know, two can play at your game."

Morgan kept her eyes on Karmine, and lashed out quickly with her rapier, stepping in slightly as she aimed for his forearm.