Swordfights Prohibited In Manhattan

Swordfights Prohibited In Manhattan
Date of Scene:	18 November 2012
Location:	Manhattan - Central Park
Synopsis:	Auron and Riku meet in Central Park and get a little needed sword practice in. Sadly, this draws more attention than either one of them expects.
Cast of Characters:	Auron, Riku

---

Riku has posed:
Skip, skip. SPLASH.

Pause.

Skip, Skip, Skip, SPLASH!

Riku took another stone from the shore, looking out across the surface of the small lake. It was getting colder at night, the trees turning colors and beginning to drop their leaves in thick droves. A storm had come and past, leaving the ground moist and the leaves soggy and silent except for sneakers shuffling across them. He weighed the rock in one hand, shaking his head. "Damnit." he cursed softly, flinging the rock to skip across the water. He paced back and forth slowly and with deliberation, the movements like an animal trapped in an invisible cage. He sighed and muttered quietly to himself, slamming an open hand into a half closed fist every so often to release some irritation. Finally he gestured at the lake dismissively, a sword flashing into existance between one beat and the next. "Okay." he lets out all the pent up frustration out in one breath. He needed some practice. He'd been slacking off and moping of late, and he needed to regain some clarity. It had always worked before-- but he wasn't sure about it now. He wasn't sure about a lot of things.

Riku drew himself into a waiting stance, sweeping through the first few variations of the very first pattern. "Focus."

Slash. Slash. Cut. Block. Kick. Spin. Block. Slash. Riku took in a deep breath, closing his eyes and letting his control relax just a little bit. Enough for a faint heat mirage to bake off him as he moves through the movements of his father's kata.

Auron has posed:
Camouflage is important! It didn't matter in Dream Zanarkand, because that was an idyllic existence. And also because he was raising Jecht's son. Either way, Auron wasn't questioned. Here? Completely different matter. He's already been looked at funny -- and detained (THANK YOU MORGAN!) -- for looking like a cosplayer on the loose from his convention.

So as he has been the last couple of times he's visited this city, Auron's in a more modern outfit. Yuna's probably asleep in the hotel at this hour. It might be coincidental, but Auron has come here to clear his head as well.

There's so much going on. The shattering of the worlds. The back-and-forth in Manhattan -- who should he trust? The safety of the city and its people is more important than just a simple difference of opinion. Manipulative or not, protecting the city is in everyone's best interests.

However, there's something that shakes Auron out of his thoughts. The sight of someone practicing. With a sword. In a modern world that seems to prefer guns and things that can kill from afar. It's an interesting enough of a sight that he stops, to watch.

So, should Riku turn his way in the process of his kata, he may see an older fellow with a missing eye, short ponytail and sunglasses, in a burgundy shirt, matching blazer and slacks, heavy boots, with a trench coat over it. Oddly, the coat is closed, and his left arm is tucked alongside his midriff instead of being in the sleeve.

And that tucked arm may not be all that's strange bout this older fellow....

Riku has posed:
Riku comes to the end of his kata. He's seen-- something, several times but he isn't going to stop unless he reaches the end or he has to take a defensive action. He doesn't open his eyes just yet. He tilts his head in their direction, eyebrows raising as he stares at the light somewhere nearby. It wasn't cohesive. A multi-hued smear of light like he has become more or less accustomed to seeing. It is more like watching a cloud of fireflies-- but he amends that quickly as he continues to watch.

The light is more like burning coals. The outer most edges are twisted and decayed, almost ash. It's only deeper in that the light still burns inbetween the cracks. Riku lowers the sword, opening his eyes and pulling the darkness back inside him. The heat mirage vanishes as he looks towards the man in the trench coat. He takes in a deep breath, and finds nothing in him to judge anymore. There is even a sort of faint relief because the light is so strange and fragmentary there is no pull of hunger or want.

"Good Evening." he says softly, breaking the silence after a minute or so of contemplating whether he will say anything or not. It's late night and it's pretty dark in this part of the park with lamp posts still a little ways distant, but he doesn't seem to notice this. He looks straight at Auron as if it were the middle of the day.

Auron has posed:
No defensive action should be necessary, at least not in defense from Auron. He's not intending to harm the young man performing the kata. He's actually watching -- looking at form, strengths, weaknesses, analyzing the movements with the eye of a fellow swordsman. With his years of training, he should be able to recognize cohesive patterns in the young man's movements.

Riku may not be the only one who doesn't appear to have a lot of problems seeing. The man in the trench coat has a pair of sunglasses on, but seems to look straight at Riku without much trouble. This is, in fact, a ruse; he /is/ having some problems seeing the young man, but he can hear him. To the greeting, Auron offers a nod. "...Good evening," he returns calmly.

A pause then... and he tilts his head a little. "...There aren't many who use swords in this city," he observes. And then, after another pause, "...You use it well."

Riku has posed:
The style is somewhat ecclectic, as though a single core style has been added to and adapted from over a long time. Riku pulls himself together, settling into the beginning of the second cycle. "There aren't many quiet places in this city.

So I take my practice where I can get it." he turns away from the man, fingers spasming on the hilt as the uncertainty and doubt rises up from the depths again almost the instant he stops moving. "Are you a swordsmen as well?" he starts the second combination. A few short, utilitarian strikes. This series is much more practical than the last set which was more fluid and extravagent. In fact that is the unifying theme of the movements. Nothing truely flashy. Everything with a purpose.

A disarming slash. A kick to the knee of an invisible opponent. A sliding dodge to the side, shoulders and head following in a fluid arc. A stunning strike with the hilt of the blade. The movements are slightly hesitant, as if by being observed he was not completely focused on what he was doing and trying to focus instead of actually just letting it happen is jarring his timing and his power.

Auron has posed:
That's certainly true, there aren't many quiet places in the city. In fact 'quiet' seems like an unknown word in this 'city that never sleeps', as he's heard it called. He understands the need for practice when one can take it. The question draws a nod. "...I am," he replies simply. Quiet acknowledgement. No puffing up while telling of his long time in practice, no touting of what degree in his school he had achieved, no mention of the legendary master who taught him.

None of the telltale signs of a braggart.

He quiets then, as the young man begins another series of movements. Efficiency of movement seems the flavor of this series. Auron can likely see the hesitation, and as a result does not interrupt or disturb Riku. He's used to watching life pass by, after all.

Riku has posed:
"Then give me a hand here, if you would." A smile creeps up the side of his face as he ends the next combination, opening his eyes again to look towards Auron with a look of amused challenge. "Unless you have something better to do." he takes in a deep breath, resting the sword on his shoulder as he looks to Auron. He thinks about what he just said and chuckles faintly with chagrin. Man-- it would be nice to do something as normal as practice.

The thought made him wonder where Sora was, and he follows that thought to it's natural conclusion. Sora appeared, and was chased by the heartless, and then vanished. Do the math. Riku closes his eyes, shoulders sagging a little. "No. I'm sorry, I guess I wasn't thinking. It's stupid to ask." he turns away from Auron again, pacing slowly across the trodden over grass to begin the next cycle.

It wasn't helping him, but he had too much energy to work off still. No use in staring at a ceiling and trying to sleep yet.

Auron has posed:
Perhaps Auron understands. There's something in his gaze as he looks to the young man. Thoughtfulness. And a little sadness. Not pity, though. The redacted request is considered, and a quiet chuckle is given to the challenge. As Riku turns to him with that sword upon a shoulder, the brow of Auron's visible eye quirks in an amused fashion. The half-smile is visible as he's missing his collar at that moment.

Though... when the young man's mood seems to take an abrupt downturn, the smile fades from the Guardian's expression. He wasn't thinking? Auron has an comment to that. "...An old friend of mine taught me something." His voice is fond as he says this. "...That the words spoken without thought are the most honest words one can speak." Jecht was always speaking -- and acting! -- without thinking. But in the end, his heart was usually in the right place, even if his efforts were occasionally misguided.

Besides that? "...Honestly... I could use the practice, too." And for the same reason, too... though Auron would have know way of knowing this. Practicing would be a stroke of normalcy for him, something he hasn't been able to really enjoy for ten years. And had not done since leaving the Dream with Tidus. And /that/ makes him think about the young man he was supposed to take care of. The young man who was now missing, and Fayth only knew where he was.

He voices this in part, leaving out mentions of Tidus. He says instead, "...It's been... a while."

Riku has posed:
Riku snorts faintly. "If that's true, then it must be very wearing to be around someone who tells the truth all the time because he doesn't think from the instant he opens his fool mouth to the last." he shakes his head, strolling across the grass as he takes in a deep lungful of the night air.

"Come on." he gestures Auron forwards as he takes the blade from his shoulder and pulls it and himself into a defensive crouch. "Let's see if we can knock some rust off, shall we?"

Auron has posed:
"It was," Auron replies, almost immediately, when Riku mentions how wearing it must have been. "He got us into /so/ much trouble." But nonetheless, that fond tone is there again. From the way he's talking, this friend of his is not around anymore. Which makes sense; the friend would probably be with him if he was still around.

Riku gestures for Auron to come forward, and the Samurai chuckles. It's probably going to look weird, him sparring in a business suit. But it shouldn't slow him down; he's got his good shoes on. That trench coat, though... that's another story.

He pauses, to pull at the band holding that coat closed, and quickly sheds it and his blazer. But not before retrieving his Katana from inside the coat. Somewhere. A nearby park bench will play coatrack for now. No stealing his coat, either hobos. He /will/ come after it.

And to the mention of knocking some rust off? Auron chuckles. "Thank you." Once he's got his sword, he steps forward as indicated. His location will give him enough space to move, but not enough that he can be blindsided too much. Once he's chosen his location, he will stance. He lifts the sword to his right shoulder, shifts his right foot back, and lowers his center of balance by bending his knees slightly.

His is a very stable, earth-centered stance. Openings? Well, his missing right eye will present itself as a glaring weakness right from the off. Of course, he may be /expecting/ that, too.

Riku has posed:
"You have /no/ idea." Acknowledging the man Auron was talking about but also that they are talking about two separate but apparently similar people. Riku smiles faintly at the memory, but it slips away into a deceptively idle concentration.

He relaxes, lowering the sword until the point starts to droop towards the ground. He takes a few idle steps in a semi-circle around Auron, not seeming to be paying much attention but the experience swordsman can probably see through the ploy to the calculating feint that it is

. A deception meant to throw the unwary off their guard. He slid forwards, slicing a testing blow up very high at head height but the blow itself is a feint.

An overextended ploy as he plants his feet and suddenly collapses, his knees giving way as he rolls across the ground followed by a tight and controlled spring back to his feet that he tries to use to get slightly behind Auron and within his guard, the hilt of the sword lashes out towards Auron's ribs.

Auron has posed:
The acknowledgement draws a chuckle from Auron. Ah, so the young man knew the downside of having a friend dominated largely by his impulses. Poor fellow. But there's no time for chatting on that subject. The young man is starting his attack. Indeed, Auron can reocgnize that he's being sized up, analyzed for openings. He's not relaxing his guard.

And it's a good thing he doesn't, as that strike comes at him. That high strike he makes an attempt to block... but it's a feint. He sees it perhaps a second too late. The hilt strike does indeed land -- Auron's not exactly what one would call speedy. The strike prompts a quiet grunt of pain, and a wince. Clearly it hurt.

But it is probably here that Riku learns Auron's true strength in battle. He's a tank -- despite the clear signs that it hurt, he only stumbles a few steps before recovering. And also redirecting his momentum. From sideways away from the strike, forward and in a circle, to try to swat at Riku's leg with the flat of his sword. He's not trying to hurt the young man, after all.

Riku has posed:
Riku tries to avoid the strike but still is tagged, his balance is shot as the blow lands. His own style however is going with an attack and using it to his advantage. He tries to minimize the impact of the stinging blow as his knee buckles. He falls to one knee, using one hand to anchor himself as he lashesout with a kick to sweep Auron's feet out from under him.

Auron has posed:
That sweeping blow swings towards him, and Auron manages to get /one/ foot out of the way of it. But it still lands, right on his ankle. Ow! He's not taken completely down by the strike, but he does need to plant his sword into the ground to avoid toppling or wobbling.

He's taking a page from Riku's book here, it seems, going with the strike that threatens to topple him over forward. But it's into an open-palmed strike at Riku's chest. Not directly at the center, mind. With the power backing it -- 'fa jin', it might be called here -- he might do serious damage, and he's not looking to do that. He's just looking to get some distance to recover his balance.

Riku has posed:
Riku brings up his hands in an 'X' a moment too late, catapulted backwards by the force of the strike. He slides across the ground, the wind knocked out of him. He shakes his head back and forth, starting to chuckle very softly under his breath as he coughs to get breath back into his lungs.

He leans up on one elbow, a pleased smile on his face despite the coughing. "What.." he struggles back onto his feet still smiling. "You think I'm some sort of push over?" he rests the sword on his shoulder again, shifting his stance to be a defensive one.

"I think you'll be sadly mistaken. Let's try that again."

Auron has posed:
"...Well, if I managed to 'push' you 'over'...." Auron doesn't bother finishing the thought; it's probably understood. Besides he's only teasing, anyway. There's a bit of a smile on his face too. Not a smirk. A smile. However small it is, only half-curving just the corner of his lips, it at least reaches his remaining eye.

Ah, a defensive stance. This means, presumably, that Riku would like Auron to make the first move. A bit of the impulsive young man he used to be shines through here. And from his own stance, the Samurai darts forward. It looks like he's going to aim a strike with the flat of his sword to Riku's side.

Except at the last possible moment, he redirects the momentum of the strike, letting the sword turn in his hand and drop. And this means that instead of the flat heading for Riku's side, the pommel is aimed at Riku's solar plexus. Looks like Auron's getting serious!

Riku has posed:
"Stuff it, old man." Riku grumbles in what seems to be a ritual response. The sword in his hand starts to rise in response when the momentum changes.

His defensive stance puts him at a speed disadvantage so again he lets his knees buckle, falling backwards away from the strike that still manages to graze him part enough to stun.

As he lands on his back, his legs come up towards Auron's chest, kicking hard like a mule to stun the swordsman and push him away as Riku bounces back onto his feet.

Auron has posed:
Auron takes a moment to chuckle quietly about the grumbled response from Riku. He was used to sass from the younger set; it kept him on his toes! On the bright side for Riku, even slowed down by his defensive stance, the young man's probably will faster than Auron. Speed is not his strong suit.

Auron is solid enough to make a really effective platform for stuff like, oh, bouncing off him. The mule kick also forces a grunt of surprise and pain out of his lungs, on a startled and sudden huff of breath out of his lungs. It is also quite effective at its intended aim, sending Auron back with a look of surprise on his face.

He stumbles and drops to a knee, though the panting one might expect is absent. "...Didn't see that coming," he admits, with a smirk. Riku will get time to recover, at least, before Auron stands again. But Riku may also notice a wince when Auron stands, one he tries to suppress, and the movement is a smidge slower.

Riku has posed:
"Well.. I suppose that's only to be expected." Riku teases, starting to circle his opponent, lashing out every few steps with another testing slash. Low. High.

He changes them up, all of them aimed to be stinging blows.

He is starting to breathe a little harder himself, looking somewhat knocked about and not quite in sync with his own moments. The smile, however hasn't left his face.

There is a calculating expression behind that smile, and he tests Auron's defenses a little harder now. Bringing more serious exchanges of swordplay into focus. "I never caught your name."

Auron has posed:
Riku will note that Auron will allow him to get on his left all he likes, but that right side? Nope. Anytime Riku makes like he's going to end up over there, Auron will turn to face him, so he doesn't end up on his blind side. It seems a rather instinctive movement, but still smooth.

Hopefully Riku's slashes aren't meant to actually damage him. Or he may be explaining to Yuna a cut or two in his outfit! Thankfully, she was raised in Besaid, and they're expert clothiers, so she should be able to fix it.

Surprisingly not all of the blows are blocked. The low slash he actually /meets/ with the metal part of his boot, raising his foot /into/ the strike. Might draw some sparks. A high strike he may duck down to dodge. And as the question is asked, he'll smirk. "...Auron," he offers. "You?" Then he makes a tensing strike of his own. He waits for a high strike he can duck down under, and then he'll aim for a pommel strike to Riku's underarm.

Riku has posed:
No clothing was harmed in the making of this swordfight. Apparently, the boy has enough control to turn the blade so that the slashes are more 'slaps' than anything else. Riku does not have the required speed to beat himself at the speed game though.

He steps into another attack just as the high strike is ducked under, and both his own momentum and Auron's crunch into the sensitive flesh. Riku is bent over by the strike, staggering back a step or two to try to instinctively get out of range.

He slaps a hand over the injured forearm, "Riku." is the answer he forces out through grit teeth, chuckling faintly to himself. "Good shot." he nods slowly, trying not to groan as he shifts the sword to his other hand, the arm somewhat numbed.

Auron has posed:
"Pleased to meet you," Auron replies, with a chuckle. The irony of introducing themselves in a sword-fight isn't lost on him -- he felt he knew the young man enough to spar with him, but didn't get his name first. Isn't that slightly putting the chocobo before the horse? Auron pauses then, as the shot is complimented. "Thank you," he offers in return. "You're not too bad yourself. Are you self-taught, or --?"

Something interrupts him -- the sound of sirens. Not just in the city. But /close/, as if they're in the park itself! He frowns, and tilts his head a little. Before Riku can use that momentary loss of concentration to strike, Auron notes, "...Police." Pause, and he listens, trying to track the movements. "...Sounds like they're coming this way."

He looks to Riku, straightening. "...We'd better make ourselves scarce. The thought of several more hours in a precinct isn't exactly appealing to me. I imagine the same is true of you." He does spare the time to nod, though. "...You are very skilled, wherever you learned."

Riku has posed:
Riku starts to shrug, not possibly thinking that the sirens were anything important or that they could be for them.

They hadn't been bothering anyone. Riku eventually just gives into a snort of disgust. The sword vanishes from his hand like a curl of smoke. "Manhattan." he says with derision, which seems to be everything that he needs to say on the topic other than rolling his eyes up at the sky.

"I guess we'll pick this up later." he waves, winces a bit as his arm twinges. He bolts away from the sound of the sirens into the nearby trees, planning to simply warp back to his room once he's broken line of sight. Not in the mood for a merry chase at this time.

Auron has posed:
Auron nods as Riku turns. "...Take care," he notes, just before Riku runs out of his line of sight. He doesn't bother hiding the sword any more than wrapping it in his coat for the time being. There will be time to get himself in order when he's not in danger of getting arrested.

Sadly, Auron does not have the benefit of teleportation. But he /is/ good at getting lost in a big city. Dream Zanarkand was pretty darn big, after all. And he has a good sense of direction. He'll be gone from the scene, and good and lost (to the authorities, anyway) in the alleyways of Manhattan before he can be caught.

Just like a ghost.