"Uh..." Kiro zoned out for a moment before blinking back into reality. "S-sure..." he said. Perhaps it was better that he didn't think too hard about what apparently had just happened. He was surprised Raven was managing to hold it together so well. If Kiro had acquired a whole new sense, he was pretty sure he'd be in some sort of hysterical state about it. He'd probably end up appearing like one of those homeless drug-users, stumbling around in a babbling stupor. He was impressed by the emotional control Raven was displaying.
And still a little weirded out that Lilith could somehow managed to make this happen in the first place.
Kiro's stance faltered. All that aside, Lilith was now watching him. And that suddenly made him feel a bit awkward about the whole thing, given he desperately wanted to impress her. He was also a little uncertain about the fact that the first thing Raven was going to watch was him practice with a weapon he had less experience with. There was a great potential for embarrassment. "W-well uh..."
Kiro awkwardly got back into position and began slowly turning the staff in a wave like motion, making small, fluid circles with each end in an alternating pattern. It took him a few moments to work up the courage to start moving beyond that. That, and he was trying to work out where to actually start. The staff was a whole different animal to a sword, and Kiro's stance was one which much favoured the latter. He pointed the staff forward like it was a blade, then began a few horizontal sweeps based on swordsmanship movements, which seemed a little inefficient and awkward with a staff involved. Little by little, he was picking up in confidence, and the last swing in the sequence had him spinning his entire body with the momentum of the staff, lunging the weapon forward and dropping into a crouch - not too dissimilar to something he had seen in a martial arts movie, albeit with less expertise.
A little self-conscious about the fact that he had a lot of work to do with the weapon, he then shifted into attempting something a little less useful in combat and a little more show-off-ish in general. In two smooth arm movements, he completely shifted the staff so that it was now mostly extended behind him, then, he angled that end downward and hopped back. Sure enough, the butt of the staff jammed into the ground; and his last step in the reverse movement had him leaving the ground in an inhumanly springy leap. He found his body swinging in an arc that allowed him to fully stretch out beyond the staff, as he shuffled his pivot point further up the shaft until he was supporting himself on the opposite end to that which was on the ground. His movement came to a stop when he was directly positioned vertically above the staff, suspended upside-down, one hand still on the weapon, outstretched and balancing precariously. And then he flipped himself back around.
Kiro's trajectory did not take him back toward the ground. Rather, he swung himself round toward the staff itself, carefully balancing the weapon upright. His prehensile feet clasped the shaft of the weapon as they came into contact with it, and Kiro shifted his grip so that he was now fully the right way up, holding on with both feet and one arm, the other arm outstretched for balance. From here, he slid down the length of the staff, then stepped off it, swinging it around behind him as he hopped onto the ground, ending with the weapon outstretched once again ahead of him, held in both hands, a swift swing of his tail adding an extra flourish.
And still a little weirded out that Lilith could somehow managed to make this happen in the first place.
Kiro's stance faltered. All that aside, Lilith was now watching him. And that suddenly made him feel a bit awkward about the whole thing, given he desperately wanted to impress her. He was also a little uncertain about the fact that the first thing Raven was going to watch was him practice with a weapon he had less experience with. There was a great potential for embarrassment. "W-well uh..."
Kiro awkwardly got back into position and began slowly turning the staff in a wave like motion, making small, fluid circles with each end in an alternating pattern. It took him a few moments to work up the courage to start moving beyond that. That, and he was trying to work out where to actually start. The staff was a whole different animal to a sword, and Kiro's stance was one which much favoured the latter. He pointed the staff forward like it was a blade, then began a few horizontal sweeps based on swordsmanship movements, which seemed a little inefficient and awkward with a staff involved. Little by little, he was picking up in confidence, and the last swing in the sequence had him spinning his entire body with the momentum of the staff, lunging the weapon forward and dropping into a crouch - not too dissimilar to something he had seen in a martial arts movie, albeit with less expertise.
A little self-conscious about the fact that he had a lot of work to do with the weapon, he then shifted into attempting something a little less useful in combat and a little more show-off-ish in general. In two smooth arm movements, he completely shifted the staff so that it was now mostly extended behind him, then, he angled that end downward and hopped back. Sure enough, the butt of the staff jammed into the ground; and his last step in the reverse movement had him leaving the ground in an inhumanly springy leap. He found his body swinging in an arc that allowed him to fully stretch out beyond the staff, as he shuffled his pivot point further up the shaft until he was supporting himself on the opposite end to that which was on the ground. His movement came to a stop when he was directly positioned vertically above the staff, suspended upside-down, one hand still on the weapon, outstretched and balancing precariously. And then he flipped himself back around.
Kiro's trajectory did not take him back toward the ground. Rather, he swung himself round toward the staff itself, carefully balancing the weapon upright. His prehensile feet clasped the shaft of the weapon as they came into contact with it, and Kiro shifted his grip so that he was now fully the right way up, holding on with both feet and one arm, the other arm outstretched for balance. From here, he slid down the length of the staff, then stepped off it, swinging it around behind him as he hopped onto the ground, ending with the weapon outstretched once again ahead of him, held in both hands, a swift swing of his tail adding an extra flourish.
Clapped impressed and walked over "Well done Kit... that was an amazing display for your first attempt" Smiled ever so slightly and messed up Kiro's hair petting him like he was still a child (which he is... still)
Raven was awfully stunned and confused. Staring at Kiro even after the little show ended. "What people can do that?" She asked amazed. "How? I usually can't even run without falling on my face!" She marveled at Kiro's dexterity and skill even with a new weapon.
The black-haired girl scrambled to her feet as she'd sat down part way through. "That was amazing! Teach me how to do cool stuff like that too! Please?" She begged exitedly.
The black-haired girl scrambled to her feet as she'd sat down part way through. "That was amazing! Teach me how to do cool stuff like that too! Please?" She begged exitedly.
Kiro reached behind his head to tug at his hair bashfully. From Lilith's praise to Raven's excitement, it was somewhat overwhelming, and his cheeks were turning a little pink. A serious expression overtook his face as he attempted to act cool and unbothered, his body language tensing as he stood rigid, turning his head to one side and glancing at the others through the corner of his eye.
"My individuality lets me jump higher and faster than normal people," he said to Raven. Though in truth, his manoeuvre had been fairly simple in terms of physical capability, its complexity entirely in balance instead, and the associated skills therein. "A normal human could probably do what I did then though... maybe... but it would take a lot more practice than even I had... and I have had a lot of practice at jumping."
Though what Kiro didn't realise was that during the last couple of years, his jump height and running speed had increased at a rate faster than one might expect if he matured by human standards. Whilst his individuality was fairly basic compared to flashy powers and super-agility, with enough training he had the capacity for exponential growth. From the slow perspective of a growing child, he barely noticed this fact.
"I don't think I would be a good teacher though... things that seem easy to me are usually harder for others... unless they're super powerful or have individualities like mine..." Kiro continued. "I would probably just end up accidentally getting you hurt from expecting you to be able to do things that turn out to be too hard."
Appearances of indifference aside, Kiro cared for Raven's well-being. He didn't want to be a reason she had gotten hurt. Especially given he had seen plenty of humans with permanent injuries from falls that he would survive with little problem.
"My individuality lets me jump higher and faster than normal people," he said to Raven. Though in truth, his manoeuvre had been fairly simple in terms of physical capability, its complexity entirely in balance instead, and the associated skills therein. "A normal human could probably do what I did then though... maybe... but it would take a lot more practice than even I had... and I have had a lot of practice at jumping."
Though what Kiro didn't realise was that during the last couple of years, his jump height and running speed had increased at a rate faster than one might expect if he matured by human standards. Whilst his individuality was fairly basic compared to flashy powers and super-agility, with enough training he had the capacity for exponential growth. From the slow perspective of a growing child, he barely noticed this fact.
"I don't think I would be a good teacher though... things that seem easy to me are usually harder for others... unless they're super powerful or have individualities like mine..." Kiro continued. "I would probably just end up accidentally getting you hurt from expecting you to be able to do things that turn out to be too hard."
Appearances of indifference aside, Kiro cared for Raven's well-being. He didn't want to be a reason she had gotten hurt. Especially given he had seen plenty of humans with permanent injuries from falls that he would survive with little problem.
hmm, Raven if you want to learn a style to fight with a weapon I can help. Any ideas on what sort of weapon you might like to learn? I suggest something with defensive capabilities and something that utilizes your new-found animal sight" Smiled ever so slightly and hugged Kiro "You are growing fast Little Monkey and I am very impressed with you"
"Well if I learn to wield anything it would certainly be my cane. All magic and such consumes energy so either me or the animals with tire out if I use this sight for too long. I have my cane with me always so if I just learn to use it for defense even when I can't see it would be at least something," Raven thought aloud. Her intelligence working to think of what she could learn with the best outcome. "Not I add I'm definitely too weak to brandish a sword or anything of the sort."
'There are always knives. They can be used for both offense and defense.' Immediately Raven shook her head at Shad's suggestion in her head. "I don't wish to risk cutting myself learning them. I'm blind Shad. I'd only find which way is which if I'm seeing like I am now or find myself on the wrong end. Which could end badly."
'.... You got me.'
'There are always knives. They can be used for both offense and defense.' Immediately Raven shook her head at Shad's suggestion in her head. "I don't wish to risk cutting myself learning them. I'm blind Shad. I'd only find which way is which if I'm seeing like I am now or find myself on the wrong end. Which could end badly."
'.... You got me.'
Kiro glanced down at the ground, embarrassed at having been called 'little monkey' in front of Raven. He went stiff and awkward as he was hugged, his grasp on the staff preventing him from his usual protests. He started squirming as the hug continued, then wandered off a few paces when he was released, making sure he had enough space to start swinging the staff around, albeit in a more basic manner this time, just to get a feel for how it felt in motion. It was partly a continuation of practice, partly an attempt to avoid any further embarrassment, especially now Raven could apparently see how Lilith was treating him.
Laughed softly and petted her hair "Well that is because your energy reserves are a tad low. Tell me what more of your Raven powers do you know about? Have you considered full merging with your familiar?"
If Raven had noticed, which she did, she didn’t comment on it. Instead pretended as if not to hear or really take into mind anything that happened.
“Fully merging? How would that even work, plus is don’t wish to rid my familiars of their freedom. That would be ridiculous! I still want them to do as they please.”
“Fully merging? How would that even work, plus is don’t wish to rid my familiars of their freedom. That would be ridiculous! I still want them to do as they please.”
Mmm no I meant merging for any infiltration, transportation or combat purposes" Sat down on the log again and yawned tiredly
Erez was finally back from a mission, which had taken him an unfortunately long time. He had hoped to have been back home hours ago, but at least he hadn’t gotten hurt. “I’m back!” He said with a small grin as he arrived, going quiet as not to interfere with their conversation.
Hello beautiful" Smirked and walked over to Erez, picked him up and gives a kiss "Yes ... we will continue this is the morning kids... we are heading to bed" Tossed Erez over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carried him inside ... for stuffs
Lilith Nerull wrote:
Hello beautiful" Smirked and walked over to Erez, picked him up and gives a kiss "Yes ... we will continue this is the morning kids... we are heading to bed" Tossed Erez over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carried him inside ... for stuffs
Somewhere far away, Xylar felt that familiar loathing and sorrow yet again, another reminder of what he’d lost...still, he continued with his plans.
(Apologies: I just had to add that in here.)
(ouch ... Alex with the sadness o.o)
A surprised yelp escaped his mouth as he was hoisted in the air, his face reddening a little. “Guess I’m going to bed, then.” He said with a small shrug, not resisting as he was carried into the house.
<<This content has been deleted due to ... age restrictions on details>>
For a moment Raven watched. Then she looked to Kiro again and asked, “Are you going to stay out here and keep practicing? I sense it’s getting late we should both go back inside.”
Kiro stopped and lowered one end of the staff to the ground, wrapping his tail around the weapon, as well as grabbing hold of it with one foot and leaning on it in a manner that allowed him to sway back and forth a little. With the hand that was still holding onto it, he brought the upper end of the staff over to his cheek and glanced over at Raven.
"I suppose we should go back..." he said, mostly so as not to make Raven want to stay outside with him. No doubt darkness didn't mean much to her blindness - at least that used to be the case - but it was still a less safe time. Kiro knew that all too well from his time on the streets. Though this place was far safer than the streets, he still couldn't help but feel the need to look over his shoulder under such conditions. Bad guys liked coming out at night where there were less people around and more hiding places. "Alright." He gestured for Raven to go first, figuring she might appreciate the newfound opportunity to take the lead without as much difficulty.
"I suppose we should go back..." he said, mostly so as not to make Raven want to stay outside with him. No doubt darkness didn't mean much to her blindness - at least that used to be the case - but it was still a less safe time. Kiro knew that all too well from his time on the streets. Though this place was far safer than the streets, he still couldn't help but feel the need to look over his shoulder under such conditions. Bad guys liked coming out at night where there were less people around and more hiding places. "Alright." He gestured for Raven to go first, figuring she might appreciate the newfound opportunity to take the lead without as much difficulty.
Raven narrowed her eyes and puffed out her cheeks in Kiro's direction. She got to her feet and retorted, "Well if you don't wanna you don't have to. I was just saying." The blind girl shrugged and turned around. Taking her walking stick and heading back inside.
Kiro paused in following, trying to work out what the attitude was all about. Unable to really work out it out, he then started following her inside, holding the staff over his shoulder lazily. "You were right," he said loudly enough for Raven to hear. "It doesn't matter if I want to. It matters if I should." Words Kiro lived by - except when he didn't. More accurately, they were words he thought he lived by. There were many things that he did that he really shouldn't - such as bite people who tried to touch him when he didn't want it.