The Park, Thursday Afternoon

[uncertain_dume]

Normally, Kanan made his way out here on Fridays for this thing. Or, at least, he did now that he was giving Tip self-defense lessons using a pair of sticks and a lot of determination. But this week was different. Of course it was. This week was different because anybody could show up tomorrow. Tip probably had company on the way, and the last time the island did this whole thing with the visitors, he'd had Mara giving him desperate looks over at Luke's while Darth kriffing Vader sat there looking all intimidating.

So if anybody thought there was a chance in hell that he'd be doing anything even vaguely resembling soresu in public while there were guests here, they had another think coming.

This week was different in another way, mind. Instead of a pair of sticks that Tip had foraged out of the bushes, he had something he'd picked up on the mainland the other day; a pair of bamboo shinai, mostly for the improved balance over the sticks, and at least in part because they didn't have the same curve on them that the other training swords all seemed to have.

So sue him, he was used to working with a blade with a very particular shape to it.

So that was what he had in hand today while he was running through old, familiar patterns in the park, early enough that he could go through them a few times before Tip arrived. Partly to get a feel for the new weapon, partly because he still kind of appreciated having a little time to train on his own first, too.

[OOC: Open!]

Comments

[what_the_shock]

Okay, so apparently Sunday Guy was into swords. Even though he was from a galaxy with routine space travel. So that was a thing?

Miguel stopped to watch.

[uncertain_dume]

Sunday Guy wasn't just 'into swords,' he was moving with an ease that suggested that he not only knew what he was doing with one, he'd put it to practical use in the past. And he was doing it with a level speed and agility that were just a touch above baseline human.

He was holding himself back.

He was also well aware of his audience, though he didn't see much reason to be concerned about Saturday Guy stopping to watch for a bit. He finished working through his patterns before lowering the sword and looking Miguel's way, giving him a little nod in greeting.

[what_the_shock]

Miguel nodded back and waved. "So, why a sword?" he asked. "I'm guessing a place with spaceships and such has distance weapons, so there must be a reason. Honor? Artistry? You like a challenge?"

Hey, he'd fought Stark-Fujikawa's specialist; he knew how deadly swords could be even in a high-tech society. But there was still probably a reason.

[uncertain_dume]

"Tradition," Kanan replied, shrugging his shoulders. "I grew up knowing how to use one, put it away for a few years, and then picked it up again when I came to the island. I know my way around a blaster just as well, don't worry."

As could be evidenced by the ever-present one at his hip.

There was a lightsaber on his other hip, mind. In one piece today, just in case. It wouldn't be there tomorrow, but for now it was a nice, familiar weight on his belt.

[what_the_shock]

Miguel nodded again. Tradition made sense. "No offense," he assured Kanan, "just curious. So are you enhanced, or...if you don't mind my asking," he hurried to add.

[uncertain_dume]

"Oh, no. I'm just really, really good," Kanan replied, spreading his hands and grinning.

He was also not above bragging a little. And besides, there was a difference between having enhancements and being Force sensitive.

[what_the_shock]

Miguel grinned. "Modest, too."

Said the pot to the kettle.

[uncertain_dume]

"Modesty was also a part of my upbringing," Kanan said breezily.

It was true enough.

[what_the_shock]

"I'm so sorry; what a terrible burden," Miguel said, deadpan.

That was one thing he hadn't been brought up to.

[uncertain_dume]

"You've got no idea."

He really, really didn't.

Kanan shrugged and set the sword to the side, making his way over to the bottles of water he had sitting by the bench.

You're from a place where people do the enhancement thing too, huh? Genetic or cybernetic?

[what_the_shock]

Yeah, sorry, Kanan; he really didn't.

"Cybernetic, mostly," Miguel answered, following him over. "I was working on the genetic."

[uncertain_dume]

"I've seen a bit of both put to use back home," Kanan noted. "Cyborgs and clones, mostly. Not much in the way of genetically modifying already living people, but maybe I was just lucky."

Considering the way his history with cyborgs and clones had gone, he figured he was very lucky indeed.

[what_the_shock]

"Cyborgs are pretty normal, at least for corporate raiders," Miguel said. "We were looking into modifying people, but we hadn't even worked up to much animal experimentation yet. Until my boss decided to jump straight to humans."

Because that was a totally normal thing, Tyler.

"Apparently I wasn't going fast enough."

[intotheout]

"I dunno," Tip said as she walked up, her foraged stick slung over her shoulder. "I think I like the glowing one better. Though I guess that does make it less likely you'll accidentally start a wild fire. . . ."

You could tell she was getting pretty comfortable with Kanan when she started teasing him before she even said hello.

[uncertain_dume]

"Knowing my luck, it'll be this thing I start the fire with," Kanan quipped back, then grinned her way. "Catch."

That would be Kanan throwing a bamboo sword at you, Tip.

[intotheout]

Tip let out a faint squeak, dropping her stick and very much fumbling that catch.

Oh well. That was why she was training, right?

"I hope you're not expecting me to start a fire with it. I wouldn't know where to start."

[uncertain_dume]

"If you manage to figure out how to do that, I'll buy you a pizza," Kanan said, because... sure, that seemed like incentive enough. "Mostly I'll be happy if you just swing it around a bit. How does it feel in your hand?"

He was making his way over to pick up the other one, himself.

[intotheout]

"Like an extra fancy stick," Tip said. She held the practice sword in both hands the way he'd shown her with her old stick. "Only . . . weirdly kinda lighter?"

That was what balance did, honey.

[uncertain_dume]

"You don't have to compensate for knots and twigs," Kanan replied easily. "Plus I'm pretty sure bamboo is a lighter material to begin with."

He gave his a twirl in one hand before settling it in both and grinning a little.

"So, I'll let you pick this week," he continued. "Stances, strikes, drills, or a little light sparring to get you warmed up?"

He didn't figure she was ready for an actual spar, but it would be interesting to see how she put what she'd already learned to use, soon.

[intotheout]

"Sparring?!" Tip clearly didn't think she was up to sparring at all yet, either.

She possibly would claim not to be ready for it even well after she actually was.

"Let's do some . . . strikes." Stances were boring, and drills made her think of boot camp.

[uncertain_dume]

"Strikes it is, then," Kanan replied, nodding and stepping up to stand in front of her. "Do you remember how I was moving when we were going over blocking, before?"

[intotheout]

Tip nodded slowly. "Yes. Mostly. Kinda?"

She had mostly been paying attention to it so as to block it, after all.

"I can definitely try it, anyway."

[uncertain_dume]

"Give it a shot," Kanan replied, nodding. "I'll correct you as we go."

He held up his sword and offered her a grin.

"Two pizzas if you can hit me."

Somehow he figured that was less likely at the moment than starting a fire.

[intotheout]

"See, now you just sound arrogant." Not wrong, mind you. Just arrogant. Tip took a moment to make sure she had her stance right, adjusting her grip on the unfamiliar sword and bending her knees in a way that was just starting not to make her thighs ache.

Progress!

She bit her lip a little, frowning fiercely in concentration, and took a swing towards Kanan's ribs. (She'd've gone for the shoulder, but, you know. He was tall.)

[uncertain_dume]

"I never claimed not to be arrogant," Kanan replied, shifting easily to block the swing. "But I've been doing this a lot longer than you have."

And had an unfair advantage or two.

"Good swing," he added. "Might not want to bite your lip like that once we get into actual sparring, though. You might lose it that way."