Scene #7581: Sword Through The Throat

Owner	Pose
Guzma	The Shrine of Adversity room Guzma's set up is currently a rose garden, with a large circular arena. The stands have a few Reserved Seats, premium ones, and otherwise is completely private. It's a perfect place for a duel. Guzma has a katana. It's immaculate, probably bought straight from Japan with his Dorado Black Card, and he's practicing...spearing it forward. He has no skill with a sword whatsoever. Hopefully, Cantio comes soon.
Cantio	It doesn't take long after Guzma's summons for Cantio to show up in his section of the Shrine of Adversity. Coincidentally enough, she had been in another section practicing something of her own: Smashing the shit out of rocks! With her brain. Or whatever brain equivalent she's got in there with a certain Concord member's gifted powers of telekinesis. She shows up looking not quite at her Sunday best, instead wearing a sleeveless track suit with her hair tied up behind her head. Everything still her usual Cadenza-white and purple, of course. "Hello, Guzma! Have you been waiting long?" She sounds a bit worn out, as though she's been at it for a while.* "Is that a new weapon? Oh, were you looking for pointers? Mister Izou or even Mister Joestar might be more suited for this sort of thing, but they might be a little too advanced if you haven't used one before..." Roughly three hours for whoever's been stalking her.
Guzma	If anyone's in the audience, they can tell, either physically or psychically, that Guzma is Incredibly Nervous. When Cantio arrives, in her gym outfit, worked out, and tells him that someone else might be better, he gets more nervous. But, he points the sword. "You're the only one! I'm going to spear you in the throat! Because I've got things to say! So grab your sword!" And then, anyone with an ounce of sense (read: not Cantio, probably) understands the score Immediately, because this is reminiscent of an earlier incident someone else did. There must be a reason Guzma involved Izou, right?
Cantio	Briefly, Cantio's expression mimics that of her drones: Blank, staring straight ahead, slightly open-mouthed as if about to say something while also not being able to say anything intelligible at all. It takes a while after he says that before she snaps out of it, laughing in good humor while completely missing the implications of all of this. "Oh? Sure, a hands on demonstration should be fine. That's the easiest way to learn for some people, so...!" She reaches into her pocket, and out comes the big dumb-actually it's a fairly normally sized sword. It's still made of that slightly translucent and plastic-looking material, but it's not stupid anime-sized like the ones she usually uses. Cantio flicks the sword out to her side, turns so her left side is facing Guzma, and then she raises her weapon level with her shoulder while keeping the tip pointed towards him. "I'm ready whenever you are!"
Captain Flint	Flint and Silver enter shortly after. Flint's wearing a black longcoat woven in 18th century fashion, with a white loose-fitting, open-collared shirt, grey breeches and simple black boots. A red sash serves as his belt and the means by which his pistol--an anachronistic M1911--is held ready. Silver is a touch more colorful, with a green longcoat, white shirt, earth-colored breeches and a well-worn leather shoe. His prosthesis' primitive design bothers him little, and the same may be said for the crutch he uses in tandem with it. Both men carry swords, each suited to their personal liking. Flint's is a cutlass with an unusual guard like a cage, and faintly visible filigree along the blade. Silver's looks like some kind of officer's saber. "You know, you could just say those things," Silver dryly calls to Guzma. He's started growing a beard, since the last time they met. "Usually, the spearing comes after the talking." Flint snorts. "Only if you know what to say."
Brooklynn Bailey	Brook has decided to look in on this because it sounds weird. The moment she arrives, she narrows her eyes, until something clicks into place. Then, she literally nearly loses it, before sitting down somewhere in the audience to watch how this unfolds. Of course, Silver and Flint nearly make her lose her shit the moment they comment. This is entirely too heartwarming (in a weird way) but also so incredibly awkward that the chosen of charity is barely able to contain herself. Of course, it looks like Cantio is approaching this seriously, which steals some of the humor. She wonders if Cantio is actually aware of it. To which she considers and thinks 'Nah'. However, Brooklynn has decided to watch it. She is not sure why, but something in her feels incredibly attached to watching something like this happen. For good or ill.
Persephone Kore	Space guts itself, everts, and deposits the entire Queen in Veils in the stands. Persephone teleports out of its cockpit and into the palm of its hand; it lowers her down with reverent grace, depositing her cross-legged into one of the reserved chairs right next to Flint and Silver, and then dematerializes itself to leave only me! behind. She waves cheerily at the two 'combatants'- it's so impossible to pick a favorite! I love you both!- and then glances over at Flint and Silver, still smiling, to butt into their conversation as if she'd been there all along. "Don't bully them too much, John! I mean, I'm not one to talk, but... feelings that pure deserve to be protected, right?"
Guzma	Cantio readies her sword. She still doesn't realize the score. Guzma takes a breath, and then rushes forward, moving to swipe, swing, and finally, try and impale the sword straight through her throat. He is absolutely lousy with a sword and Cantio wins the fight no matter how hard she tries, unless she purposely throws. Mid-swipe, though, he does shout out. "You're smart! And funny! And cute! And a great leader! And someone who tries their best, and is stronger than they think they are! I'm glad to have you as my friend, but...!" He'll probably not get to finish that before Cantio reversals.
Cantio	It appears they have an audience! Without hearing them and only being able to barely see them, Cantio greets the gathered group with a brief wave, but her attention is soon back on the fight! Or 'fight', since she hasn't quite realized what's going on yet. The string of compliments puts her on the back foot briefly, complete with mild flushing of the cheeks, but... Well. The difference in skill is much too vast too even for that to compensate for. She takes a softer approach, at least, aiming to disarm rather than actually cutting or stabbing into anything despite their presence in the Shrine rather than somewhere Guzma could seriously get injured even by an errant cut. "That's an... Interesting... Strategy? Uh." How else can she put this gently? Furrowing her brow, Cantio mulls over other potential ways to let him down easily. "I mean, it'd probably work better on someone from your gang than... Anybody, but mental attacks can be valuable sometimes!" She chuckles again, then holds a hand out to offer him some assistance getting back up. "But if you really want to learn this, we'll have to start with the basics. Let's see your stance again." She's definitely not getting it yet.
Guzma	The sword goes flying as Guzma's disarmed. He drops to the knee, and is lifted up by Cantio's hand. But he doesn't let go. "You don't get it, do you?" "I see you more as a friend. I want to be more than friends. That's why I brought you here. That's why...I came to tell you I want to go on dates! DInner, movie, whatever! I like you, Cantio!" And then, he pauses. She might still not understand. "Romantically!"
Captain Flint	Silver wheels around. "Oh! You must be Persephone Kore," he says. She must be, to have known his name. Perhaps that presence, tugging at the back of his mind, is her. He extends a hand towards her. "It's good to finally meet you in person," he says somewhat nervously, smiling all the same. "Mr. Silver is quick to joke," explains Flint with a smile. "But it's only because he likes them both. Those feelings--I believe we both agree they ought to be protected. Perhaps even nurtured," notes the captain with a small smile. "There, see?" he asks, with a nod towards Guzma. "Our trainer friend has found his gumption, it seems."
Brooklynn Bailey	"I think he went for advice from someone who uh...has about as much luck as he does," Brooklynn says towards the group in the stands. Just simply giggling to herself on this entire situation. It's cute! She is totally for this sort of thing, but she wonders if Cantio gets it? Also isn't she a robot or something? Now it just gets more interesting for her, as she seems to lean forward as the situation gets a bit more open. Will Cantio get it? 'I'm rooting for you Guzma' She finally decides. To the Captain, she nods, "Seems so...I wonder how it will go."
Cantio	Once again, that blank drone-like stare returns, and it takes Cantio considerably longer to process what she's hearing enough to even get a verbal response out. "Wh.. Whuh? Uh. Wait, so that's... Not a mental...? Strategy.. How. Fight sword. You..." On the plus side, she's not running away screaming. It just takes her another chunk of time before her words actually start stringing together into normal sentences again, although her face is considerably more flushed than before. "So you... But... Wh-what about the rest of your gang? Aren't they more... Suitable?" She clears her throat, sounding and looking troubled about something that becomes clearer as she keeps going. "Or... Most of the other members of the Concord, even. I mean... There's so many more competent people that could actually give you that kind of attention. And they're human, even. Er. Most of them, anyway."
Persephone Kore	Persephone claps her hands together in childlike delight at the awkward, stilted confession of love. Shouting from the stands would be rude, wouldn't it? But you're so brave, Guzma! I believe in you. I hope you know that, one way or another. It's easy to be nervous around her, but hard to stay nervous, as Silver quickly discovers: her beatific smile, warm and easy handshake, and gentle presence gradually sandpaper down any sharp-edged feelings. "It's good to meet you too! You're a really wonderful person, I can tell." She turns her smile on Flint a moment later, no less sunny, and nods. "I'm not really completely sure- love is a complicated thing!- but I have a hunch, anyway, that this is going to turn out alright."
Guzma	Guzma pulls his hand away from Cantio's as she starts making arguments. "My gang are my family. Plumeria's like my sister. I could never date any of them. And the others in the Concord..." "None of them are you. I don't care if you're human or not! I like you! I liked you knowing you weren't human! And you're competent!" Guzma steps over to his sword, picking it up and sheathing it, clumsily, and then steps back to her. "If you're gonna reject me, do it with your heart, not your doubting brain! Show me your true feelings! Because if you honestly don't think it'll work out, or don't like me that way, or I made a mistake, I'll accept that, no question. I won't hold a grudge, or stop being your friend." "But if you like me too, be honest with yourself! I don't care how far you're gonna go, or what you're gonna do, or how busy you are back at home. Because I like you, and you deserve to be happy."
Cantio	"Really? But you're not related to each other. Unless..." Cantio murmurs, sounding confused yet somewhat understanding at the latter end of that. It helps distract her for a moment, but not long enough as Guzma brings their focus right back to his earnest confession. Before she can throw in more half-hearted protests, however, he hits her right in the gut with that appeal to her heart rather than her brain. It puts her right on the back foot again, and trying to make any sense of her own feelings has her remaining stock still for several moments. "I... I like you, too, Guzma. As a..." Wait. Does this sound like a rejection? What if he takes what she's saying the wrong way? What if... "... Gut." She repeats that to herself, almost chanting it as she stomps her foot repeatedly. She's psyching herself up, going steadily faster and practically yelling "gut" at herself for a solid half minute before finally snapping her head back up to face Guzma. "I like you, too! As a friend and as a person!" Cantio's trembling, but it seems that she's managing to push through whatever inhibitions were holding her back (at least for now). "You've grown a lot since the first time I met you! And I want to see more of that! But I..." She's slowing down, possibly losing some of her nerve already. "If I keep doing what I've been doing, I might... I'll probably keep messing up. And I might do things that'd be unforgivable! Things that I've already... That someone like you shouldn't have to put up with. You deserves better than this. Is that..." Cantio swallows hard, breathing in slowly again to try and calm her trembling while she looks back up at Guzma. "Are you really okay with that?"
Guzma	Guzma, confidently, assuredly, having thought this through enough to know where Cantio's going, answers. "I don't care what you do. I would kill for Staren, and we didn't really like each other last we met. For you..." "I'd walk through Hell and back."
Cantio	Cantio almost looks taken aback by Guzma's direct answer, finally coming to the realization that perhaps her logic isn't the best way to answer this matter of the heart. She bites her lip as she stares right at him, still trembling a bit while reaching up to her face and... Realizing she's wearing a sleeveless outfit today. Regardless, she wipes her eyes off, shifting into a still-shaky smile afterwards despite the burning sensation in her eyes.* "Then... I'll make sure the way through is clear. I-it wouldn't be right if I just went there myself, right?" *It's only partially from crying. It's mostly from adding forearm sweat to her eyes.
Guzma	As Cantio lets her heart find the answer, and decides to give it a try, Guzma takes a second, affirms that, and then gives a broad, bright smile. The most genuine smile from him she's ever seen. Not smug or snarky. Just happy. "Yeah! I'll, uh, call you later, try and make a date. For now..." He gestures to the sword. "I should probably figure out what I'm going to do with this. The smith said no refunds. You...do what you need to do." He's not going to call out her arm sweat eyes. That's rude.
Cantio	Finally calming her (heart) down, Cantio manages an awkward chuckle that's equal parts happiness and pain. Thankfully, the pain is purely physical, and she's still able to catch glimpses of Guzma's expression while nodding lightly. "S-sure thing! That's... Oh. Um. Yeah, that.. Wait, was this because of that thing Izou mentioned? The..." She makes light thrusting motions with her hands in-between dabbing at her eyes. "I didn't think that would actually work ever... Kind of. Maybe he's not as unlucky as he thinks..."
Guzma	"No, he's not." And Guzma, with that same smile, moves to shut down the simulation of the rose garden arena and start walking away, because his emotions are exploding and also Cantio is kinda a mess and needs her time. In the end, love can bloom on the battlefield, even if this was actually a simulation and they were just sparring.