Scene #9457: The Struggle for Top

Owner	Pose
Foundation Scions	It's becoming somewhat more normal, for the first time in around eight years, that Sonetto and Matilda actually spend time around one another- which is an absolute and unprecedented win in Matilda's books, especially that it is something they must engage with as roughly-equivalent peers- practicing Fixer work amongst the Trídéag Association. With the late-summer weather of the City, it's hard to justify not utilizing the outdoor training zones of the headquarters campus, strongly preferable at least by Matilda, who is otherwise spending too many hours in a day cooped up in offices and library nooks, when she fundamentally is built to wander around in the grass and dirt. Sunshine, humid air, and a wider possibility for an audience are all factors that make it a fundamentally different environment than indoors, the latter, however, barely counts for Matilda considering the usual locus that her embarrassment relies upon- "Sonetto!" Matilda says, red-faced from having, for the third or fourth time already this practice session, missed an imperfection in her practice of guards and strikes for long enough to be chastised by the chief investigator. Slightly out of breath from frustration, "I- I have had an epiphany that has been weighing on my mind (and distracting me from perfecting actions)! I think, in the name of proper efficacy of study, we must in fact establish competitive stakes!" She's totally saying this because of her errors being pointed out. She's totally saying this because competitive wagers with a crush have a unique appeal. She's totally saying this because she's completely owned and a competitive weirdo off the bat. "So, I, challenge you! We are to duel for-" Matilda pauses, mid huff and puff, her voice still embarrassed-squeaky, to think what an appropriate axis of wager Sonetto might actually agree to- 'your assignment to be transferred from the Timekeeper's assistant to mine' is, obviously, too much (should Matilda ever win), every avenue she's tried, back at the SPDM, along the lines of 'owing the winner a meal at the cafeteria' has not resulted in any shared time or conversation when Matilda (shockingly) lost (nor did either of them pay for food then), so what would work? Matilda, desperate, and holding her practice sword outstretched overdramatically towards her practice partner, "The right for the bed position of 'top', here in the Trídéag dormitories!" What could she possibly mean by this? "On your mark, I will say, en garde!"
Timekeeper	It's easy to understand why Matilda would be taking the time away from her (two!) other jobs in order to exercise a skill that's largely irrelevant to her actual duties, outside on another world. But for Sonetto, it's an uncharacteristically bold voyage outside of her walled garden, one that can't even be justified by claiming that class-- an impossibly alluring temptation-- is being held. But the reason is actually quite simple: Sonetto has been studying. Not only is Sonetto here to practice the guards and striking techniques that Lilian taught recently, but in her off time, she's picked up more from who knows where, and her studies in the courtyard are rigorous to absurdity. She's brought with her-- officially requisitioned, accessory to physical training regimines-- a camcorder and tripod, set up so that she can record and critique her own form in reference to stacks of printed out diagrams she's brought with her, presumably rather than having Matilda critique her at all. Thus, Sonetto takes the role of teacher for both of them, pointing out each time Matilda stumbles or instructing her to stay in place for some sixty seconds for Sonetto to scrutinize her from head to toe. It's overbearing, certainly, but Matilda is for once getting the deskmate treatment that had only ever been Vertin's privilege before, and it's hard to argue that her advice isn't helpful. Hair tied into two braids, banded together at the bottom, Sonetto pants from the exertion of having been out here for some time. Jacket shed some time ago, she's been slashing with the waster at the bamboo stalk, brought down from the gym upstairs, and she's pleased with herself to see a clean cut before it rots away. Her time has mostly been spent alternating between that and long stretches of holding still in guards, because, she hasn't been taught to do anything else even if she's added more guards to her arsenal. "I think, in the name of proper efficacy of study, we must in fact establish competitive stakes!" "Mmm?" Sonetto tilts her head at Matilda, catching her breath. She tucks stray orange hair behind her ear with one hand, replenishing from a (Field Agent Association standard loadout) water bottle. "Ah, are you interested in asking the Director to create a formal exam on the intricacies and uses of each guard for us to be compared on? I have also thought about requesting that from her to ensure that my knowledge is all up to expectations." But no! She means a physical kind of competition! Sonetto screws the top of the water bottle back on and places it to the side, looking at Matilda in mild shock. "A duel? Do you believe that is wise...?" Well, Sonetto did equip the vital-points training armor that's available to grab from the gym, in order to properly accustom herself to weight and mobility, like with the scabbard on her hip. "Also, I do not have a preference for the position in beds between us, Matilda. I have not even slept here with you...? I can adjust for whatever position is your less-favored, if you would rather be on the top." But, mysteriously, she nods anyways. Sonetto shifts her grip on her sword, eyes lighting up determinedly. She slides her dominant foot back, blade pointed behind and leading thumb braced against the crossguard of the sword. "However, a practical demonstration of each of our abilities is only appropriate! I would also like to know where I stand in my education at this point!" On her stance, she remarks, before stepping forwards into a thrust, "Posta di coda longa-- a defensive guard, quick to shift between others to begin or respond to an engagement. En garde, Matilda."
Foundation Scions	'Ah, are you interested in asking the Director to create a formal exam on the intricacies and uses of each guard for us to be compared on?' Without missing a single beat, "Well- of course, such was my first thought, but I assumed it too obvious to highlight! And, er, it is not immediately actionable, and so... my idea is superior, in fact!" She said this one was hers, too. Matilda hmphs, taking the free moment of not actually holding a form to fix her silly side-ponytail, kept as-normal despite being in her own exercise outfit of that funny romper. Truly, the camcorder footage of the two would amount to an incoherent, absurdist arthouse short film- weirdly-styled girls, with weird attitudes, practicing antiquated swordwork in a corporate-modern backdrop? It's like there should be low, discordant flute music as background noise to it all and a grainy static-filter. 'A duel? Do you believe that is wise...?' "Of course it is wise! I, in fact, have already had cause to find myself in the dangerous midst of combat, on behalf of the Association, such a thing as a practice duel is no improper a training method even at this early point in our martial education! Either of us could face such danger!" Surely, that's what Sonetto meant, right? And not that it couldn't be fair for Matilda to fight her? Surely. 'I have not even slept here with you...?' "Hah- then clearly you should weigh the tantalizing prize of getting to, with the clearly-preferable positioning, should you win!" Matilda will not be responding to Sonetto just conceding which bunk Matilda can have- it wouldn't be fairly-won from her otherwise! Matilda, also, hasn't actually slept at the dormitory, here, but... 'However, a practical demonstration of each of our abilities is only appropriate!' Yes! Yes!! "Of course- en gard, Sonetto-!" She's already said it herself, but she's forgotten. Matilda stops gesturing dramatically with the still-heavy waster, and instead takes up the First Guard She'd Been Taught, Which She Fucked Up And Thus Will Obsess About Doing Better, 'Posta Breve' in the same scheme Sonetto is using. Matilda actually gets to the 45-degree, and gets- (with a last-second adjustment) -properly low, and yet- 'Posta di coda longa--' No! No!! Matilda was still getting ready, she had her guard pretty down-pat, and now Sonetto's sending a thrust? Matilda moves, first, just with the blade, out to the side in a pitiful attempt to actually bat Sonetto's thrust out of the way, and more or less condemning herself to take a bonk right in the shoulder, before trying to twist into a rudimentary strike from a quick-reset of her own guard. Little shoulder bonks don't count as a fight loss, because neither of them said what meant they'd be at a victory! "Hah-! Position Court-" Matilda! You can't just go translating things because they aren't in French! That's so lame!! "Good for, well, hm, most everything, as I now demonstrate!"
Timekeeper	Sonetto's thought process during combat is methodical and legato, keyframes and the flow between on the beats of invisible rhythms. With arcanum, she's heavily dependent on the joining of ritual motion and spoken incantations, so why should swordfighting be any different? Purity and clarity, to declare yourself in each movement as if printed on a poster to educate on the form you take-- there's a reason why her favored stance for casting has one arm folded behind her back. So when she lands the high thrust to Matilda's shoulder, it's perfect. When she reaches for the next, natural stroke, she finds... that she doesn't know it! There's been brief instruction on the responses to take to any given attack in combat, and emphasis on the necessity of chaining guards and attacks together, but the interstitial motion isn't something she's familiar with! "Hah-! Position Court-" "Ah-?" Confused by Matilda's linguistically-altered declaration of her own action, Sonetto instinctively tries to side-step out of line with the thrust. Her sword lags behind, awkwardly unfamiliar with what followthrough is meant to happen, and mostly by reactively retracting to a guard does she end up accidentally brushing her blade against Matilda's and sending it off-center. It still hits her, but right on the armor, almost as if it was on purpose. Sonetto twists the sword around, raising it beside her head parallel with the ground, a step and a half out of reach of Matilda. "Posta di Fenestra-- ideal for testing guards or misleading your opponent by quickly swapping between offense and defense. Easy to move around in, as well." She catches her breath for a moment, and then adds, 208,"'Position Court'...? I am not familiar...?") Sonetto rotates her shoulders, slowly enough to obviously broadcast what she's doing-- but it's necessary, in order to ensure proper form! In a single fluid motion, she shifts to-- "Posta di Falcone,"-- and brings the sword down, angled from the outside with a step towards Matilda to swing towards her non-dominant side. Then a follow-up step half-again the distance narrows her profile again, sword up in front of her back in Posta Breve. "It is true, as the Director said-- we should be prepared to complete assignments in the City without using arcanum at all. The Field Agent Administration has positited similar restrictions before, either to better incorporate with the human field agents, or as a demonstration of basic proficiency without crutches. It would be disappointing if I were to allow myself to falter in learning those techniques here! And so-!" Another cut, but only halfway to the longest point: implementing one of the few chained motions she knows, Sonetto switches the energy of the cut up with another step, bringing the momentum straight forwards in a low jab.
Foundation Scions	'Posta di Fenestra--' "Stop doing that at once-!" Matilda interjects, as Sonetto meticulously explains her reasoning for what she's doing- with a pause to actually respond by changing her own guard- blatantly copying Sonetto by also adopting Posta di Fenestra (she can't just turn around and call it 'Position de la fenêtre', that would be too blatantly similar. Such is the curse of romance languages.) 'I am not familiar...?' IMMEDIATELY sidetracked, "Mm-hm! You would not be- as I have said, I have, of course, valuable insights and a talent to excel in all things-" That isn't an explanation, but this still counts as Matilda kind of just lying. "Ah-hem, but as I was saying! It is- patronizing, quite simply, to explain such things as we fight! (It is also unrealistic!) We both know fully well-" Matilda loves lying, she's still doing her best, "-The intricacies and utility of such things, you- you, for my sake, do not have to make it so much easAÏE-" Sonetto's follow-up guard change, and the complex action of... looping a transition into a strike? Can you do that? Wow... catches Matilda ill-prepared! Copying Sonetto means, with each of their blades held to their right-side, Matilda's left side is more open! As that, so happens, to be the side Sonetto is aiming for, as Matilda is, in fact, right-handed (she has to be right about all things of course), that gives her extra work in trying to respond to the attack! Matilda is an innate natural at the scramblesome nature of triangle-step strike avoiding behaviors, but that carries her only out of the way of that strike, towards Sonetto's own left side in a circling pattern- her adopting Posta Breve again doesn't give Matilda the room to just step away, she'd have to go back, which- Mid consideration there's a bit of a thwack, practice blade on practice blade as a frantic, incorrect motion knocks her own sword into Sonetto's first follow-up cut, and then the looming dread of, because of how clumsy it was, allowing Sonetto to again connect with such a simple thrust- sparring armor takes it, but Matilda feels it still, and Matilda feels it, still! Frustrated, Matilda barely adjusts back to a similar Posta Breve- truly, whatever Matilda tries to rename it to, it's just that -and, side to side, takes a few frantic little chops! Just imagine Sonetto is a stalk of bamboo, with long, coppery braids, and those sophisticated grey eyes, and- No, focus! Sword time! 'It is true, as the Director said-- we should be prepared to complete assignments in the City without using arcanum at all.' "Hm! Yes, I barely had to resort to any in dire straits on the mission previous-" She hid in a cabin the times she wasn't using arcanum, "But, it is certain I will attain enough mastery in order to lower that to 'none', yes! And then, I raise it back up to become all the more impressive!" She's daydreaming in a duel with her crush. Truly, Matilda has more levels of whimsical wistfulness and layers of cope than anyone else could ever. "You- Investigator Sonetto, you should bear witness to the whole of such a rise to excellence and stardom! With you as a loyal 'practice partner', you will have a better vantage than most any, mm-hmm!" Matilda is on camera saying this.
Timekeeper	"Stop doing that at once-!" "Stop... my attack? I cannot do that." Sonetto misunderstands, shaking her head as she feels out a different way of recovering from an attack, trying to follow what movements feel physiologically natural without losing momentum. Combat training in the Foundation, even if it's not physical combat, does involve awareness of your body's motions, so she can get an extra good grade if she figures out how to apply that! "If you would like to concede the duel, then please state so clearly and unambiguously. Otherwise, we shall continue until the stopping point defined by the Foundatiom Combat Training Guidelines." She just assumes Matilda knows what those are by now. She challenged her to a duel! "It is- patronizing, quite simply, to explain such things as we fight!" Sonetto's eyes widen slightly. "That is what you meant? I did not think it would be patronizing. We are students together, not enemies, and I was speaking out loud for my own benefit as well. Awareness of each moment in a battle is a skill that can and must be practiced." Sonetto adds, without an audible trace of malice, "If I were interested in making this fight easier for you, I would give you advice on how to place your feet and how to respond to engagements. But I am not confident enough in my ability to do that in motion. Still, if you would rather I not...." Sonetto pulls her sword back to cover, blocking an overhead chop, and then into Posta Longa to tilt the point of the sword down and catch Matilda's attempt at adjusting with the sword further down... something that looks quite proficient, but leaves Sonetto having done absolutely nothing in return and basically just standing still. There's no evidence that Sonetto's feeling particularly tired or bruised-up yet, but she also can't quite figure out how to be mobile enough to exert herself. Also, she can't not talk. She'll just change subjects. "I am certain that with the Director as a mentor, a diligent student will become excellent in time. The best vantage point to observe is side by side, so that we can each compare to each other for starting learning at the same time, isn't it?" Sonetto doesn't really take note of Matilda's declaration of her as 'loyal' to her. It's just good to be loyal! This is a compliment, to Sonetto. Really, the longer this goes on, the more it becomes clear that Sonetto is doing the equivalent of Italian fencing kata. Like a child who reads too much and only knows pronounciations from books, her repetition of the purpose of each guard out loud was pretty clearly because none of them are actually intuitive in how they're used, only in what they look like. She's relatively more athletic than Matilda, but the downwards-point jab that comes out of her Posta Longa is more because that's what she read out of a book that's six hundred years old than it is because it makes sense to do. "I wonder if, perhaps, it would be appropriate to train with Terra all'Amore soon... disarmed, of course. The modifications to the sword that I have read from the manual seem fairly similar to the weaponry that Laplace produces for Zeno, so I believe I understand its capabilities."
Foundation Scions	'Stop... my attack? I cannot do that.' "That is not what I meant- though it would be most helpful, actually!" 'If you would like to concede the duel, then please state so clearly and unambiguously.' "Hmph! I would most certainly, not, like to do that!" 'Otherwise, we shall continue until the stopping point defined by the Foundatiom Combat Training Guidelines.' "Of course- as would be expected! And, just to ascertain- non, ce n'est pas correct... To ensure that you understand the guidelines, please recite them, quickly-now!" 'I did not think it would be patronizing.' "It- it is not! That was a test, to distract and disorient! Please pay better attention, Sonetto! Ah-hem. Surely, my skin would be thicker than to be upset at that! (And it is perhaps quite helpful, actually...)" 'I would give you advice on how to place your feet and how to respond to engagements.' "Hm! Surely an affirmation of what I am already doing correctly would not make it 'easier', but even so, it would be unnecessary, except afterwards, once I have clearly won!" Or after she's lost, she'll need it either way. 'The best vantage point to observe is side by side, so that we can each compare to each other for starting learning at the same time, isn't it?' "Eh? Yes, I think! Huh?" Matilda, dazed by having to talk, think, move, and ensure she's doing any of those correctly (she isn't), has fully lost exactly what Sonetto was meaning, or that she was responding to her response to her, and- well, mostly the way she's talking just sounds really nice, because 'side by side' has to be a positive thing to say always, still! Wow! Imagine. Unfortunately for Matilda, apparently a six-hundred year old book has it pretty right that that motion can work from that guard- Matilda takes it in the stomach, thankful for sparring gear for reducing still a decent bit of what ought to be a rough hit. She lets out a little wheezing noise, as air gets pushed out by a reactionary tense-up. "Ow-w, merde!" If Matilda just always curses in French, it can't be foul language, because it's such a graceful and romantic one, actually! And the people who'd scold her for it don't often speak anything but English. Perhaps it's in Matilda's advantage that, despite studying some of the same books- Matilda, simply has not memorized perfectly what goes to what! She's simply operating on pretty-good ideas, because this wasn't a pre-arranged fight for her to actually memorize for, and she hasn't had the time and effort (and motivation of fighting Sonetto to prove she's better and worth spending time with) before- what that means is Sonetto still has to analyze and guess at what Matilda's doing. Yay! Too bad that it would help Matilda more if she did, so she'd know what Sonetto would do. Hm... It worked to distract Sonetto slightly by ~~translating~~ introducing unfamiliar guards! Matilda can always lie! "Ah-hah! Position Mega-extraordinaire, useful in long, gigantic chopping motions, of course!" Matilda, obviously, blatantly, moves from Posta Breve right into a mirrored Posta Longa, and executes a painfully basic arm-extending chest-height thrust, after taking a flutter of quick steps right into Sonetto's reach. That doesnt' require moving her core a lot right now, and it kind of hurts! She doesn't want to! Again, this is on camcorder. Matilda is going to die if she has to watch the replay. Perhaps both of them should be embarrassed.
Timekeeper	"That is not what I meant- though it would be most helpful, actually!" "It would not. You wouldn't be able to learn that way." Sonetto insists, dead serious. "To ensure that you understand the guidelines, please recite them, quickly-now!" "Okay," Sonetto readily agrees. She was in posta di fenestra, which is almost the same as having her hand raised, so to be called on for a rote answer is the most normal thing in the world! It's hard to tell whether just taking Matilda's excuse and magnaminously going along with it, but... the number of times she's done that is vanishingly low, so, maybe it's easy to tell. "A combat training drill is to be concluded under any one or more of these circumstances: firstly, after five minutes since engagement, which I have been counting and will verify on the camcorder tape to ensure no fight-altering hits were landed after that time. Secondly, if blood loss in excess of three milliliters per second occurs, or if consciousness is lost by either or both parties. Thirdly, in the event that any arcane skill causes damage beyond the bounds of the training... which does not apply in our case." That's, like, a lot of blood to be losing. Thankfully, Sonetto's got healing magic! "That was a test, to distract and disorient! Please pay better attention, Sonetto!" Sonetto nods, bringing her posture back into posta breve, right before murdering Matilda on the spot. "I see. You are rather underhanded, are you not, Matilda? Then I will have to double my concentration in order to achieve victory." There's a brief twitch when Matilda flinches and swears from being hit, like Sonetto intuitively understands that there's a way to follow up on that moment and decisively close out the fight. She just doesn't really know what it is! And that's sort of scary! So just to be careful, she steps back again, allowing Matilda to regain her breath while resetting to a posta di coda longa. What seems to come most naturally to Sonetto in swordfighting is defense, only attacking when she's either really confident in it, or if it feels like she's supposed to do it as the next step of the kata, which would be a downside if Matilda wasn't an unskilled enough opponent that she could be worn down by that.
Timekeeper	"Ah-hah! Position Mega-extraordinaire, useful in long, gigantic chopping motions, of course!" "Ah-?! I do not know that one! Are you certain that you do not mean a Posta di Donna or perhaps a Posta di Falcone--?!" Sonetto is predictably extremely convinced that Matilda's error was in her naming and not her declaration of intent, so her sword comes up into an overhead cover. However, in her confusion, she also automatically steps back, in-line with the thrust, but just barely within Matilda's reach. The point of Matilda's sword reaches Sonetto's chest with the force of a mild push, extended at its full length without Matilda wanting to lunge forwards to close it out. Sonetto quietly goes "Ow," and then looks down at what is clearly not a chop of any kind. Hastily, she brings her own sword down, deflecting the thrust and naturally falling into a posta breve, waggling the point at Matilda like an aggrieved finger. "Underhanded! Is that the best foundation to build your education on?" Surely it can't be a better foundation to take one hand off of your hilt and put that fist to your chest like Sonetto does after that. "It seems that I have a duty as your training partner, to do more than simply duel you for practice in swordplay's forms and movements. You lack honor, Matilda Bouanich, and resorting to such underhanded tricks will not serve you well in the future. I will defeat you properly, and from there, you will come to understand the error in your conduct." "Posta di Coda Longa-- if you understand the rotational center of your sword, then an attack can be levied with reasonable speed from many different positions." Sonetto can still only attack in turn-based kata, but this one's coming from a new direction-- upwards, and from the outside and below! It's been more than five minutes at this point.
Foundation Scions	Matilda forgets that she had been feigning awareness of the guidelines, and as such, mutters out, "Is that not an exceptionally large amount of blood..? Per second... how is that measured on the spot- no matter! Yes, that sounds correct, Investigator Sonetto! Our proceeding here is, thusly, quite rigidly to stick to such, erm, reasonable-sounding rules! How many minutes has it been, exactly..?" 'I see. You are rather underhanded, are you not, Matilda?' Squeaky, "I am anything but-! My- my actions are purely for the accurate simulation of such dangers!" 'Underhanded! Is that the best foundation to build your education on?' "A-as I clarified previously, this is an aid I am providing for your education! Surely, in your experience as a Field Investigator you have seen such to be true!" Maybe Matilda believes this, by how much she's had to emphasize it for her case- but it is, still, a desperate image-saving fib. "Please do not wag your sword at me! There are others whom you should wag implements of harm towards, miscreants who- who are utterly nothing like the well-regarded, kind, and benevolent Matilda Bouanich!" In effect, Matilda has been kind of disarmed- she doesn't want to strike again, while Sonetto is addressing this, because she'd get another round of 'underhanded' thrown her way! No way, nope! Not gonna happen. Instead, she just sits there, in a rigid (and actually quite correct, if not useful) Posta Breve, waiting. She's getting better at some of it, really! Application is just a long-shot at this stage! Perhaps her inaction is just defensiveness? (it isn't). 'You lack honor, Matilda Bouanich,' "O-of course I do not! I exude honor- the Bouanich family is highly esteemed in all manners of proper respect, not only in skill and success in their trades, but in trustworthiness and honor!" Matilda will get squeakier and more drawn-out in her defense of her image literally every single time it is chipped at, more blatantly desperate than the last. Sonetto may in fact be doing a bit- Matilda cannot afford that possibility, however! She has to think she's cool, and if honorable means cool, she has to be that!! She's so not that! Cool and honorable people sit there in a single guard for a while, not acting, and throwing up verbal defenses for their own character! 'I will defeat you properly, and from there, you will come to understand the error in your conduct.' "IAmMostHighlyEsteemedByFriendsAndFamilyAlike!" Shrill and fast-speaking, Matilda shuts her eyes, such that her expression can better fit the tantrum-esque assertation that she Is cool and Is respected and respectable and Does have friends (Matilda loves to lie)- doing that in what is still a swordfight proves to be a very bad idea!! Matilda only even sees that Sonetto is striking too late to do anything about it- partly because of the new direction, partly just because of having to distract herself with her own cope. She takes the strike quite squarely on her chin, and immediately crumples to the floor, discombobulated by it. A "Wuh..?" escapes her lips, and it's pretty clear that the fight would have been decided with that- but, unfortunately, it has been more than five minutes.