thecapitol | Imperfection is unacceptable.

Who: Azula and you
What: Daily Training is the key to perfection.
Where: The Tribute Center Training Hall.
When: Week six.
Notes: Azula is not a gentle instructor so who knows?

Azula had been working extra hard to make up for Enjolras refusing to do his job. It infuriated her in a way that made her consider not taking her medication.

Just...cutting loose on him a little. It would make her feel so much better.

But for now she would settle on seeing improvement in her team. Any improvement if possible. They had won the last round but she could only claim credit when in reality it was looking more and more like dumb luck.

Well luck could not be trusted. Luck was for the hopeful and optimistic just as bad luck was for the lazy and cynical. No a real warrior made her own luck.

And so here today she waited for each of her tributes to make their arrival so that she could improve the odds of their victory.

With enough training, the odds would be in their favor soon enough.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's certainly one of the more intimate weapons. [He muses, you have to get considerably close to make any real damage, but with more control one stab could be fatal.] I suppose a lot of people prefer to keep their distance.

[He hums in thought at the illusion of choice, but he already knows what he's more interested.]

I'm in the mood for something new. I'd rather cover more bases than build on the one, for now.

[Her lips curl, a cobra's smile]

Very well.

[Drawing further down the table she picks up a bo-staff and throws it through the air to him in a tall slow arc. As soon as he has it in hand she's rushed him and taking a swing for his legs. Another test?]

[His expression will momentarily emulate a deer-in-the-headlights look, but he doesn't falter in catching his staff and bringing it back toward himself defensively.

When she comes at him, he'll hop backward in a sprightly manner, not at all deterred by the aggressive assault. He's thrilled, really, but he's trying to be reserved in his enjoyment. He'll remain on the defensive side, making no move to attack her once he's rebuffed her, he's obviously waiting for her to come at him again.]

[The crack of their staffs connecting sends vibrations through the training weapons to sting at the hands. If it bothers her she doesn't show it as she gracefully withdraws from his block to strike higher from the same side, and predicting he might block again she moves fluidly into a strike from the other side, spinning the weapon to make it harder for him to follow.]

With a longer weapon like this it behooves you to be more aware of the sense of space between you and your opponent. As well as the strength of the material it is made of."

[It's not a sting he's accustomed to, but he can brush it off easy enough. The unpleasant tingle on his palms isn't intense enough to distract him from the literal barrage of woman that is Azula.

He's fast on his feet and his reflexes are sound, he can fumble to block her as she tries to trick him. She's both difficult and easy to read. She wears so much on her sleeve, but it's so intense that it's hard to follow. The block is clumsy, but he'll steady himself quickly enough.

He'll nod in acknowledgement at her words, trying to push his weight into his block so he can better close the distance between them]

[The superior weight serves him well and they draw close enough that he can catch a hint of Azula's perfume before she draws back her staff and thrusts it suddenly at his stomach hard.]

You're watching the weapon, watch my eyes. You're a smart boy you should be able to read your opponents eyes.

[Except that Azula's eyes only reflected back the noise in her head. So many thoughts buzzing through her slightly fractured psyche that it distracted her eyes enough they were unable to portray emotion properly. All that came across at the moment was a smug superiority that all royalty was likely familiar with.

[When he smells that perfume, it feels like a sweet, momentary victory for him, but he knows it won't be that easy. He might have battle experience, but she's credited with an entirely different sort of skill set, he hadn't gone into this expecting to be the brilliant pupil who would quickly out-do her.

That said, he hadn't quite expected the staff to hit his stomach, the force and surprise is enough to knock him to the ground momentarily. He takes that brief moment to take her advice, lifting his seemingly expressive, earnest hazel eyes up to search hers curiously before using the staff to haul himself up.]

Here I thought you were a woman who prided herself on being unreadable. [He muses aloud, circling her cautiously with his staff raised in defense. He heeds her advice, keeping his eyes trained on hers as he awaits a sign.]

[She's spinning her staff lightly from hand to hand now]

Well it wouldn't do you any good if I didn't train you how to read the eyes of others now would it?

[But to prove her point without changing her expression in the slightest, nor without even really looking at it she swings to rap him on the top of the head. Hard enough to sting but not completely daze him if it lands]

I'm listening if you have any point- Argh! [He isn't quick enough to dodge from that one. He knows he ought to be more attentive around Azula, but he keeps letting his curiosity get the better of him.

He grumbles, raising his hand to rub at his head dejectedly.] Point taken.

[An amused smirk, he's learning.]

The head is a delicate place. It would serve you well to always protect it from impact. Even something as simple as a well placed punch could cause you brain damage.

[Another graceful sweep of the staff to strike at his side.]

Imagine spending days, possibly weeks shuffling around a deadly arena knowing that you are not thinking clearly or to the best of your abilities and being unable to do a thing about it. A constant head ache, difficulty managing simple tasks of co-ordination or memory. All the while knowing that you should be capable of so much more. But because of a lucky strike to your skull you simply can't.

[There were recordings of tributes suffering in such a fashion. Brain damage was one of Azula's least favorite ways for a tribute to die if only because of her own mind being damaged not too long ago]

Imperfection is unacceptable.

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