video

[dragon_blossom]

[ Marina's sitting on her bed, laptop on her crossed legs, making the video a little wobbly. The wall behind her has some popular band poster or another - she rotates the spot above her bed fairly often - and she looks relaxed. More than she usually does when Numbers stuff is involved, at least.

She drums her fingers on the laptop. ]

Anyone here have a sword?

[ Very serious about this. ]

Other me had a sword, and Anais has a sword here, and other her had a sword back there. I figure I can get an echopulsething if I like, grab a real sword? Or learn how to use it? I'm not just crazy thinking that, right?

[ Actually looking for Echoes is new for her too. ]

So, I guess what I'm saying is, if anyone would like to help? Um, promise I won't, like, get myself hurt either, okay? Thanks. You're great.

At least you guys with swords.

Comments

[dragon_blossom]

[ Marina launches her ultimate attack - screaming and swinging wildly at Owen's head. ]

[mysteltinn]

[He barely blocks the barrage of attacks with his arm- and fuck that hurts oh god]

H-hey! -twap- No above the shoulders, no below the -twaptwap- belt! Calm your roll!!

[dragon_blossom]

[ Calming, Marina pauses after a few wild swings, and stares straight at Owen. ]

...so those are the rules?

[mysteltinn]

I THOUGHT THAT WAS KINDA A GIVEN, YEAH!

[dragon_blossom]

What the hell do I know about your nerd games!?

[mysteltinn]

This has more to do with, ya know, common decency, then rules.

[dragon_blossom]

You already said we won't get concussions.

[mysteltinn]

Yeah, but it'd still hurt!

...and I don't gotta explain why no below the belt, right?

[dragon_blossom]

I'll save that for if you really offend me then.

[ She steps back, waving her sword around. ]

[mysteltinn]

Okay! Gonna come at you again, so try and hit me!

[This time less surprise, so hopefully less screaming and flailing]

[dragon_blossom]

[ Definitely less screaming and flailing, though now it's just some awkward, hesitant swings to try and get around Owen's weapon. ]

[mysteltinn]

[While Owen certainly has no REAL skills, he does have a bit more experience hitting things with foam covered pipes, so she's really not hard to block.

He finally tries giving her a firm hit to the arm, just to get an idea of how hard he can or can't go. Regardless of his boasts he doesn't wanna be a jerk]

Come on! Be aggressive! Your past self wouldn't worry about attacking, right?

[dragon_blossom]

[ Marina's defenses are quite frankly pretty bad, and she frowns as he whacks her on the arm.

Huffing, she steps back, and lunges in with a thrust - ]

Like thi....s?

[ And then her eyes snap wide open... ]

[mysteltinn]

[She hits him right in the chest, hard, and he huffs to catch his lost breath, clutching at the spot. The cushioning of the weapon means at worst it's a bruise, thankfully]

Yeah, there ya g-... whoa, you okay?

[dragon_blossom]

[ Marina shakes her head, and steps back, holding her sword out. ]

...yeah. Just got a funny feeling.

Sure got you though.

[mysteltinn]

Heh, yep! We're one for one now... not counting the head bashing.

So I've been thinking. These pulses, like, I got one recently. Other then my first one?

[He holds up his right hand, a woman's signet ring on his finger]

But it was while I was... er... getting kinda emotional. I think these things are like, spiritual DNA? Like, just playing out the motions might not be enough, ya gotta FEEL it like old-you did. So I'm gonna come at you and not stop till I hit you. Hard. Gotta get your heart going 'till you at least feel a LITTLE bit like I'm actually gonna hurt you, kay?

[dragon_blossom]

You earned it.

[ Something DOES feel strange about the sword in her hand, though. ]

Spiritual DNA sounds like a load of bullshit, but making me feel like I did... I guess it makes sense more than anything. I got my magic protecting someone just like Umi did in her life.

[mysteltinn]

Hey, it makes perfect sense! I mean, it's like past-us are the parents of our current souls. Or I guess if you're not into that kinda romantic wording- our genetic memories or something. How's that really different from having green eyes or being able to do that weird... tongue thing?

[dragon_blossom]

Because it's not... I mean, it's souls. Those are pretty different from genetics, at least as far as I know - I've had biology in school and I've been to Sunday school, though I think everyone at church would flip the fuck out over this.

[mysteltinn]

Yeah man, you can't bring religion into this, that's just a headache. We can argue theology all day but let's hit each other instead!

[AND WITH THAT CHARGING AGAIN, EVEN YELLING CUZ THAT'S WHAT WARRIORS DO YEAH]

[dragon_blossom]

R-right, that's...

[ A lot more fun? But now she's really under a lot of pressure, yelping as she narrowly avoids getting hit again and again - until something shifts in her stance, eyes going wide like they had a moment ago, and she twists her wrist to knock his sword far off course. ]

[mysteltinn]

Whoa!

[He's surprised, but the experiment would be a loss if he stops, so he keeps up the pressure... leaving himself wide open]

[dragon_blossom]

[ Suddenly, it's all starting to make sense. That opening would've slipped by her not a minute or two ago, but now it's like a neon sign going HIT ME I'M STUPID and Marina can't help but bring her sword around, slashing across Owen's midsection. ]

[mysteltinn]

[He grunts, stumbling away, belly aching from the hit.

That's... unexpected. Does that mean it's working? He assumes so... but he can't help the sting to his pride, and instead of backing off like a smart human being he comes at her again- too open, too slow, too clumsy]

[dragon_blossom]

[ At this point, she's too caught up in the momentum of the fight to think very hard about the strangeness - and it feels right. Like remembering the lyrics to a favorite song, like thinking about a nostalgic food.

Marina dodges away, footwork shifting, and knocks at his sword, waiting for an opening to hit him in the shoulder as well. ]