she's a rebel and a runner, she's a signal turning green (backdated to 12/14)

[theresalwayshope]

Allison couldn't remember the last time she'd been so nervous. Well...she could remember, but it was more than a little traumatic to even try.

This was a lot different from being abducted from the gas station and left in an abandoned house to free herself. Survival was a motivator, sure, but as she finished her morning jog in Petros Park, heading for the amphitheater where she agreed to meet Athos for her first lesson in swordplay, she felt like something more was at stake.

She wanted him to like her, for one. It felt like maybe she was making progress, but she was impatient, waiting for him to understand that she was sincere: she loved her uncles. He was part of them, she understood that...how could she not love him by default?

Give it time. she reminded herself as she reached the amphitheater, slowing her pace as she scanned the area for signs of Athos. Seeing none, she checked her watch and realized she was about fifteen minutes early.

So much for patience.

Smiling to herself, she started to do some stretches to stay loose while she waited. She'd worn her usual running gear of leggings and a sports bra, but added a hoodie to stay warm. Truthfully, she wasn't sure what to wear for a sword lesson, but figured she couldn't go wrong dressing to exercise. As she stretched, she found herself wondering how they dressed to train in the garrison back in Paris. There was a lot she didn't know about their lives back home, things she couldn't read about in the Dumas books or even the history books...

With a start that left her breathless and smiling as she rose from a stretch, she realized she was learning swordplay from the same man that probably taught D'artagnan how to fight like a Musketeer...the man who probably showed her uncles the best of what he knew.

And today, it was her turn to start.

The sudden rush of emotion that filled her chest made her eyes burn, a sense of being connected to something greater than eve her family legacy...greater than even the Alpha or the legacy of justice Jason once represented...she liked to tease Aramis and Porthos that she was a Musketeer by blood, but this sort of made it true. Trained like her forefathers, trained by her forefathers...

Still grinning, Allison dropped down to sit on the ground so she could spread her legs out and touch her head to her knee in a slow, luxurious stretch.

She could wait to earn Athos' respect. She was an Argent, and the progeny of Musketeer blood. The family name might have been tarnished over the centuries, but if Athos ever thought her a worthy person to befriend...maybe it was all in her own head, but that would be enough to restore her good name.

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[somepoorsoul]

At the appointed time, neither a minute early nor a minute late, Athos appears at the edge of the amphitheater and strides to where Allison sits upon the ground, folded double as she stretches. Wearing most of the uniform he arrived in, he also carries two dull-edged practice foils he was able to acquire; while he would have greatly preferred his own blade, learning swordplay requires learning to lose, and he did no actually wish to cut the girl to ribbons.

At the very least, he would like to pound a few lessons into her first. She is teachable, he has begun to realize, and that has done more to soften his opinion of her than most anything else, including Aramis’ pleas. Allison Argent may be a cocky slip of a girl, but she listens. He can work with that, and with any luck, give her another skill that can keep her safe.

And swordplay is easier to teach than good sense.

“Mam’selle,” he drawls as he approaches. “Good morning."

[theresalwayshope]

Lifting her gaze at the sound of his voice, Allison smiled even as she hastily got to her feet, graceful but hurried.

"Bonjour, Monsieur Athos!" she greeted him brightly, dusting off the back of her leggings before moving to stand before him, not quite at attention, but with picture perfect posture. She noted the two foils in his hands, and felt her fingers itch to wrap around the handle of one. It was stupid, but she'd subconsciously been a little unsure he'd show, or that he wouldn't be serious about training her.

Encouraged, she rubbed her hands together briskly, then slid them into the pockets of her hoodie.

"I can't wait to get started." she admitted eagerly. "I warmed up with some stretches...don't want to pull anything while we work, but I wasn't really sure how to prepare."

True to his judgment of her nature, she looked to him expectantly, waiting for his direction.

"Where do we begin?"

[somepoorsoul]

She is alert and prepared - as much as any teacher could ask for in a student. Athos looks her over, but finding nothing particularly wanting, nods faintly. Even a dull blade can be painful against skin, and she will end this lesson with her share of bruises, but that is sure to help her learn. And in time, if she is as keen as she claims to be, she might inflict one or two on him.

“If you free prepared, then we can start.” The morning winter air is just cold enough that his breath makes clouds, but the chill will not plague them for long. Athos offers the hilt of one of the blades to Allison, and then turns the other over in his hands, taking the moment to get a feel for it.

“Have you used a sword at all?” The girl is familiar with so many forms of weaponry, Athos would not be surprised if she had at least held one before.

[theresalwayshope]

"Broadswords, mostly." she explained as she accepted the foil, matching him as she tested its weight and turned away, swinging it with the kind of broad, heavy strokes that backed up her statement and were ill suited to a more precise weapon. "My training favored practicality over elegance...can't slice a werewolf in two with a rapier or foil."

Facing him again, she held her foil at her side, shaking off the bitterness that thoughts of her grandfather brought.

"Elegance is something I pursue alone." she went on, taking a deep breath before dropping her gaze to inspect her sword again. "Without it...this isn't a calling, it's an excuse to hurt people."

[somepoorsoul]

Frankly, Athos is impressed that the lithe young woman could hold a broadsword at all. It’s a rather less elegant weapon - and much less effective - but at least she has some foundation, and he will not be required to begin from scratch.

“Don’t forget, no matter how fine the rapier might look, it is still a tool for hurting people. Its grace is only a facade.” When she raises her blade the slightest amount, he abruptly crosses his sword with hers, largely to see how she will react. “How does it feel?"

[theresalwayshope]

Allison acts reflexively when his blade crosses hers: she allows the weight of his blade to force hers down, then steps back to free her weapon without having it forced from her hand and levels the point of her foil at him, eyes widening just a little with mild surprise. When she realizes an attack isn't imminent, that he was merely testing her reaction, she lowers her weapon and considers the question seriously.

"Light, like my bow." she replied. "And my bow's not that light. Broadswords are heavier than I'm used to, but the ring daggers I've been working with for a while have to swing. I'm used to something with at least a little heft to it for that reason."

[somepoorsoul]

Athos’ faint smile doesn’t show warmth so much as a mild satisfaction, pleased that his instincts about her were correct. He has seen her speed before, and her skills have translated well, if imperfectly, to this new weapon. He will have something to work with, at least.

“Good.” He takes a few steps back to create some distance between them, twisting the wrist of his sword hand, still finding the foil’s balance, then stills and stands at attention with his sword at the ready. “Let’s see what you can do, then. Try to make a hit."