[CLOSED]

[claritatis]

Who: Ignis Scientia & Noctis Lucis Caelum
What: A little sparring, just to keep themselves sharp
Where: An empty building in the city
When: Early March, before they head out into the desert
Warnings: Boys Being Extra

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You should know, I have no intentions of going easy on you.

[It had not taken much persuasion for Ignis to agree to this. In truth, it was likely that they both needed to blow off a little steam, and what better way to do it than this? Sparring against someone so trusted, who knew his moves and feints so well was just the kind of challenge that Ignis needed to keep his mind sharp. There were others here who could offer a diversion, but it was a diversion at its best and nothing compared with the fluid simplicity of battling his closest friend.

Ignis smiles as he speaks, nudging his spectacles up with the tip of his middle finger. There's a gentle kind of mischief dancing in his eyes, echoed in the upturned tilt of the corner of his mouth, and the daggers appear in his hands with the tell-tale shower of soft blue sparks. For now, he doesn't press any kind of elemental damage into them, but spins them deftly between his fingers.

Bringing both hands up, he flexes his fingers along the hilts of the daggers and drops into a defensive posture.]

Shall we begin, your highness?

Comments

[nascere]

Same here, Specs.

[ Noctis tells him breezily, sauntering over. This is what he needs -- this is the catharsis he's been searching for. In the midst of all the madness and the heartache, a sparring session is the perfect remedy to everything that's coiled up inside of him, things that are still so difficult to say. It's fortunate, then, that a heart-to-heart is the last thing needed for a session like this, and Noctis is looking forward to pitting himself against Ignis again to keep his skills sharp, the way they always had before.

There are no daemons here to fight against, but this place comes with its own bestiary of monsters, and it wouldn't do to take it easy. More importantly, discovering new ways of fighting right beside Ignis is one of his favorite things aside from fishing, sleeping, gaming -- ah, you get the idea.

So he grins, a glimpse of the old cockiness in his eyes as he closes his hand around the hilt of his sword, summoned from the armiger in a similar flare of blue sparks. The weight is welcome in his hands, and he contemplates him. ]

Wait, what's the parameters?

[claritatis]

[That sparring against him would fall into the same category as something that Noctis enjoys so much as sleeping would no doubt have drawn some manner of witty quip from the royal retainer, but the fact of it is that he knows his friend enjoys this as much as he does, and that very enjoyment had been the source of the near-mutual suggestion to set this up.

It's good to see that spark in Noct's eyes. The prince has looked far too melancholy the past weeks, for good enough reason, but Ignis has always been more than willing to turn the world upside down just to see him smile.]

Fair play. [Ignis suggests, after a moment of consideration.] No hits below the belt or above the knee, no striking from behind, and no diving or feigning injury.

[With a small flick of his fingers against the dagger hilts, the blades burst into flame.]

Anything to add?

[nascere]

[ It's almost like they're back in the old days again (even if it's not so long ago). Better, brighter days, and watching Ignis like this, sleek and skilled, moving like he knows exactly what Noctis will do next, the two of them circling each other -- well, that is a kind of blessing, isn't it?

There's something lighter in Ignis' eyes, too; or maybe he's just imagining things, and a smile comes easier to him (it always comes easy when Ignis is involved), and he offers a graceful shrug in response, clearly interested in the proposition. Fair play, and nothing else. ]

Yeah. [ He tells him playfully, for the first time in a long while, he feels almost like himself again. Ignis is here, whole and safe, and they're about to get into a good, long fight session. They'll sharpen their skills with each other, and who knows, discover more linked moves they could use when they return home. ] You forgot about writing a concession speech. For when you lose.

[claritatis]

[Ignis laughs, and despite the faint sarcasm laced through it the sound is undeniably warm as he carefully circles his friend, eyes keen on every one of his movements.]

Ah, [He says, the light in his eyes turning into a sharp glint that speaks a challenge without any words at all. Since the two of them have been old enough to pick up weapons, they've been training, and since they were proficient enough to not kill each other they've been sparring partners. Fair play, to them, may not appear to be fair to others. They have their own ways of striking each other that could easily cause harm to someone unprepared. To someone who didn't know their moves as well as they did.]

That would be a tremendous oversight, if I had any intentions of losing.

[This is how it always is with them. The boasting and gentle jibes.

Ignis darts forwards. The first strike feints left, but drops from the right, a swift sweep with both daggers trailing fire.]

[nascere]

[ Anyone else would have balked, perhaps, but not them. They've fought side by side for so long that Noctis is automatically attuned to his friend. Sensing what he'll do next is second nature, and he's more than ready when Ignis strikes.

From there on it is a lively, dangerous dance, both of them going all out but knowing the other can handle it, thriving on the challenge that this presents. This is when Noctis can let go, thrusting and parrying with a swiftness and a deadly grace quite like Ignis' own. There are no words that can describe his relief and delight that Ignis is fighting with him like this, just as strong, quick and talented as he was before.

This is reassuring, this is what he's needed all along, and he strikes back, launching into another round, his sword brought up to parry and shield, and he darts forward to strike. ]

Huh, I'm surprised you're keeping up!

[ No, no he isn't. Noctis just likes to play with him, and that quip is enough of a hint that his more mischievous nature is back, at least, in a small measure. ]

[claritatis]

[It's bright and energetic, and just what Ignis has been missing in those months that passed without his friend at his side. He catches and dodges Noctis' strikes, his movements fluid, graceful, anticipating each move and each swing of the blade towards him. A misjudgement would mean injury, or worse, but there's the trust there too. The confidence that no matter what, that blade won't touch him that has nothing to do with his faith in his own ability.

It is his faith, simply, that Noctis will not hurt him.

The other man jibes him and he scoffs, the sharp hah! he lets out sounding like a taunt. He brings the daggers together in front of him, drawing them apart covered not in fire but a crackling electricity.]

Well I would hate to disappoint you! [He shoots back, and in the next moment is a blur of movement, the daggers granting something almost like warping as he flanks Noctis and moves in for another strike.]