Ariadne chuckled
"Oh. i dunno.....a nice combat bruise might look nice for us, and give us a bit more of a good reputation as warriors "
She was smiling in a way that made it hard to know if she was serious or not.

"Right that might be a thing on Earth but not here. Pretty Princess here please." Jade said back teasingly.

Fenton raises the other eyebrow at Jade’s splish, splash, his expression blank. But he nods (more approvingly) at Ari’s answer, and Jon gets more of blankness as he describes his wishes.

At Jade's request, he... well, first he listens to the interplay between the three royal cousins.

And then he says, "Hmm. A few simple rules. One... Do what I ask of you. I do not say 'without question.' You may question me at any time, but I may choose not to answer until after you have made the attempt... Two... No flirting during lessons. Three... No gambling, either. Pitting your skill and your luck against another is gamble enough."

"As for bruises, noted. But I do not think you need be concerned about that today, milady. Now spread out. Are you ready? What I want you to do is - "

OOC: Fenton's going to have you do some exercises on your own and make adjustments that way. That's right, we're entering sports training montage territory. And we're going to roll stuff, wee.

Let's have you all roll Strength, and I'll letcha know what that means for doing the exercises. There probably won't be an XP gain here.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:16, Wed 24 Mar 2021.

15:55, Today: Jade rolled 5 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,1.  Strength check.

"Ow ow ow ow..."

...Jade doesn’t stick to task. Maybe she gets distracted or maybe she wants to show the weaponsmaster that she really does know her stuff or maybe she starts with the exercise but then slips into an old routine. Whyever it happens, instead of performing the exercise Fenton asked her, she almost perfectly—graceful as only somebody of the royal lineage can be—executes another, more difficult exercise.

Eventually, he stops her, shaking his head. “No, milady. That isn’t what I asked you to do and it does not show me what I need to see. When you are ready to try again, try again. If you don't feel like following instruction today, you may sit out.”

Feel free to try again, Jade! No additional penalty.

Ariadne smiled briefly at the rules about flirting, but didn't bother to point out the obvious.  She nodded at the rest,  not having a particular problem with any of it.

She started her workout

OOC: 17:16, Today: Ariadne rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 4,3.  Strength .
17:16, Today: Jade 

Jade stops a moment nods slowly. As if the embarrassment might kill her. She composes herself the way she might before singing. Closed eyes more focus then she had before. When she opened her eyes she began. Being reprimanded reminded her of long ago in her duties as a maid. The sting of it she tried to hide from her cousins through grace.




16:16, Today: Jade rolled 11 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,6.  Strength check.

Jon nods accepting the rules and the rebuke.  He takes his place so that he can see the other three in the room.  He sets down the staff and removes the shield. He stretches a little bit and then begins as instructed.

OOC: 20:05, Today: Jon rolled 9 using 2d6+2 ((6,1)).  Strength

Fenton corrects Ariadne’s grip once or twice. The new grip feels awkward at first throwing her line off—but as she goes through the exercises, as she throws herself into the sheer physicality of the work, she can feel new power flowing through her arm, can feel the beginning of a business-like surety. As she goes through her workout, she can feel herself pushing. . . Perhaps because she's also aware, as she works, that this feels Real.

And it's all to good effect. Fenton, after watching Ariadne for a little while, gives her a different exercise to go through and rather than adjusting her grip this time he merely says, "Good."

. . . And then he moves on to Jon . . .

No, first he makes sure to study Jade, now that she's applying herself. He does not say anything, but he nods slightly.

Jade, however, feels like she's found a good rhythm and a steady balance, and though it is work, now that she's in it there's something of a beautiful dance to it.

Now he moves on to Jon.

First, Fenton tells Jon to move to another spot. "Don't concern yourself with them right now, milord," he tells the prince.

Then he watches, frowning, and Jon knows he doesn't start out as strongly as usual, and the harder he tries to focus, the harder it IS to focus. Fenton asks Jon a few mild questions, pointing out that he is favoring one leg over the other. A determined young man, he manages to rule himself. . .

. . . And he feels himself beginning to rise to his (own?) expectations, as if he just needed to struggle through before reaching that mental space where worries drop away and there's really only this moment where the weapon is just an extention of one's will and he is in sync.

--

Fenton keeps them at this for quite a while.

(Roll your Constitution for me, y'all.)

Jon is definitely feel the burn.
~I definitely have let my training go.~ he thinks to himself.


OOC: 20:49, Today: Jon rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,3.  Constitution

19:35, Today: Jade rolled 5 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 4,2.  Constitution.



Jade tries to fight through any fatigue though. She is aware of some soreness in her muscles.

Ariadne responded well to Fenton's directions,  finding the man neither condescending nor patronizing,  unlike other male trainers she'd endured in Hollywood.   Of course,  the Hollywood personal training scene was overly populated with meatheads arrogant men who spent  their formative years as high school bullies.  Despite being a more "primitive" society,  Amber, it seemed,  was beyond that..  At least this time.

Thus distracted,  Ari might have pushed herself more than she should have.

OOC : .06:11, Today: Ariadne rolled 5 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,3.  Constitution

Apparently the entire royal contingent is about to collapse.

The three scions of Oberon's line are all impressive individuals. They keep up with the exercise long after their muscles begin to rebel, long after lesser mortals would be gasping for air, hearts fit to bursting...

But they are wearying, they are flagging. They can feel themselves tired. Good tired, but tired nonetheless.

Fenton hmms and stops them, then gives them a couple minutes breather while he demonstrates the next thing he wants them to do (and he is very, very good... economy of motion, a spare but forceful poetry to each 'move,' sturdy as ever any oak was...). Then they get a couple of minutes before the next exercise to talk amongst themselves while he confers with a guardsman out in the hall...

OOC: Okay, guys. Feel free to post wildly the way you do during this "break," but also gimme another Strength roll unless your character is going to ask to sit out of the next workout. -1 penalty.

"That wasn't so bad. We have to be able to defend ourselves after all. I would feel silly though asking Master Fenton to teach me Parasol techniques for defense."

A smile played across her lips as she said it though.

*smiles* "I have been thinking about it since you mentioned it.  I have some ideas, but I need to get a parasol first to try out some of my ideas." He looks over at Ari and then Jade "I definitely think he is a good choice and this is the right course for us to improve.  I haven't worked out like this since my ranger training days." Jon is relaxed and happy, which comes across in his tone and general vibe his giving off.


OOC: 15:10, Today: Jon rolled 13 using 2d6+1 ((6,6)). Sheesh.  by the power of Greyskull!

Ariadne paused to catch her breath as she listened to her cousins.   She nodded and smiled
"I think I've been getting a little lazy on Earth.  Success and fame has made me soft.   Hopefully it'll be easy to get back into the swing of training "

OOC:17:31, Today: Ariadne rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,4.  Strength

Jade rejoined the others when they started back up. She was a bit amazed at Jon he certainly caught his breath in that little while. She herself pushed herself not wanting to be done quite yet.

Come on Jade you can do this.



17:20, Today: Jade rolled 5 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 5,1.  Strength now with -1 to fatigue.

He beams a smile at Jade and Ari "Ballad is probably gonna hate this." he gives a mirthful laugh "But I think she'll also benefit once she comes around."

He sits down for a minute while waiting for Fenton to return.  "I hope we can get Lance to join.  We should also find companions for when each of us have to go solo, so that we are never left alone in the field.  Rain has a nephew Rory, I was going to hire him as one of our companions."

(I'll give y'all results of that last round of Strength rolls/narrate the Second Wave of Exercises after you've had some back and forth, unless you don't want to wait. Justlemmeknow!)

Ariadne raised an eyebrow in amused skepticism
"You're hiring 'a companion'?  That sounds weirdly like needing to hire friends.  Reminds me of some of the sadder celebrities i met in Hollywood. "

She shrugged
'Though i suppose some mercenaries or bodyguards isn't the worst idea, because of the grey jerks out there "

"Why do you think Ballad would hate this ?" Jade glanced over.

"I don't know how much Odile would enjoy this. She is wonderful and helpful but this would be asking even more of her."

*chuckles* "Not friends, well not at first at least.  But, yes trustworthy types of Mercenaries or Guard.  I used companion, because there is no telling how long we could be out in the field.  So I would want someone, I can trust and feel comfortable talking to."

Jon nodes to Jade "Rules, timetables, etc.  You know at first she will chafe under it, fight it. But if we can get her to stay with it, I think she will come around." he looks thoughtful as his eyes get a far away look and his face relaxes for a moment before he speaks "Ballad strikes me as person who values their freedom and individuality.  Not to the detriment of others, but likes to push rules and expectations to see how far she can go.  Fenton is pretty strict, so that will probably rub her the wrong way at first."

"She will get to spend time with us though. How can she possibly turn that opportunity down ? It will be like going to school together at least a little bit."

Ariadne chuckled
"Going to School may not be the exciting draw you think it is, depending on our school experiences. "

Speaking of school. . .  Fenton returns! The second round of exercises get under way!

Ariadne finds that she keeps going back to old muscle memory bad habits, even though she knows better, now, even though Fenton only gently corrects her stance or posture or grip again. . . and this exercise involves some light engagement from Fenton, testing out Ariadne’s defenses. Ariadne is used to being able to hold her own, but it’s hard this time around, and she slips up a few times. She knows it’s not her best work, although at least she can feel where she’s going wrong and her muscles burn. Once she comes in too hard, and it's a piece of brutal elegance to behold, though it overbalances her after. . .

She is very tired.

“You will improve,” Fenton says.

Jade, as she goes through the drills, has a similar experience to Ariadne. . . except she gets distracted once or twice by what’s going on elsewhere and it causes her to slip up. She has to self-correct frequently, and when she doesn’t, Fenton gently reminds her . . . and this exercise involves some light engagement from Fenton, testing our Jade’s defenses. She feels herself hard-pressed, but perhaps it’s some consolation that Fenton was trained by Benedict. Citizens of Amber can be fairly mythic too, after all, even if they’re resigned to second string. . . Once she loses her grip on her rapier (her skirts get in the way, maybe because she's not used to fighting in open air with such a voluminous wardrobe), but manages to catch it with her off-hand. It almost looks intentional. . . to someone who wasn't skilled, she might've been able to get away with it.

She is very tired.

“You will be better,” Fenton says.

Jon feels… does very well, as if the exhaustion he’s feeling has only sharpened him. He feels . . . at home. He looks it, too—a study in perfection. This exercise involves some light engagement from Fenton, testing out Jon’s defenses . . . and although Jon feels he must stay alert, he neatly and expertly meets every testing little thing Fenton throws at him, and even causes the man to look a touch tired himself.

“Hmm,” Fenton says. He's breathing more rapidly. “Very good,” he says, inducing jealousy in all other new recruits who’ve trained under Fenton—who is sparing with his praise.

After this latest go ‘round, Fenton says, mildly, “Do miladies and milord wish to go through one more drill?” He does not sound as though he’ll judge them if they decry, but they might wonder whether this is special treatment in spite of his earlier claim that they won’t get any.