Not all days are fun and games.

[not_heavens_adam]

Who: Johnny Rayflo and You
When: Evening
Where: The forest
Style: Whatever you want~
Status: OPEN /o/

[If one were to wander through the forest they might just find a man, shirt unbuttoned and shoeless, in a clearing with a thin saber in one hand. Artfully, almost like a dance, he twists and turns, swinging the blade about with the skill of a knight captain from days gone by.

To those who know the vampire, the serious expression may be one that seems unnatural considering his usual, smiling, face.

Johnny is lost in his own mind, thoughts spinning wildly and out of control as his body goes through familiar patterns.

Will you watch? Join? or interrupt? Whether he'd admit it or not...he could use the distraction.]

Comments

[bufudine]

[ Serph is still fairly new to Vatheon, so he's taking the time to know the city better. Normally he would send scouts, but with only Cielo and himself here, he has to do some of the legwork, too. It's not an unpleasant thing.

But when he happens upon a stranger practising out in the forest, he can't help but put all that aside for a moment and watches him. Serph hasn't had many opportunities to see a melee weapon at work, and when he had, it had been at the pointy end of it, so he's intrigued. He doesn't hide his presence, but he doesn't announce it, either. ]

[not_heavens_adam]

[At first, he doesn't notice the new smell in the air and Johnny continues the practice a little longer. His thoughts flash from Charley to Crowley to Jacob and then to every face he's met since arriving here almost six months ago.

Six months...

He missteps and his blade catches in the bark of a nearby tree. That provides enough of a jolt to bring him back to reality and he catches the new scent, a small smirk returning to his face.]

I hope you enjoyed the show...

[bufudine]

[ Ah, over already? There had been a kind of grace he's never seen before in the man's movements that he found fascinating to watch.

Serph gives the stranger a small nod in affirmation. He had. ]

You're very good.

[ ... not that he actually knows very much about swordplay, but he thinks the stranger would be very good at using that weapon despite the obvious slip in focus near the end. ]

[not_heavens_adam]

[For just a moment the smirk turns into a genuine smile and he pulls the blade from the tree.]

Thank you. It's been a while since I've actually practiced.

Usually I notice when people get near enough...I was distracted. What's your name~?

[bufudine]

[ Serph gives a small nod of understanding. He knows how distractions can take a toll on one's awareness of their surroundings. It's almost instinct to want to ease this stranger's troubles, to find out why he's so distracted, but Serph also understands that they're strangers, so he doesn't press an enquiry. But he will listen, if they feel like sharing. ]

Serph. Yours?

[angelphones]

[Katsu's been practicing with his weapon, too - but in secret, where he can't hurt anyone. He doesn't want to cause something like... what happened before... to happen again.]

[So that's why he's in the forest, but the feeling of... something strange... makes him perk up slightly, and he walks in that direction, stopping when he can see Johnny.]

[He doesn't want to startle him, so he'll just wait.]

[not_heavens_adam]

[Johnny doesn't notice him at first, too lost in his own thoughts and the whirlwind there, so he continues the dance.

Too many faces and too much emotion finally catch up to him and they cause him to falter, abruptly ending the practice with a slight stumble that causes him to fall against a tree in his moment of lost balance.

He sighs and stays against the tree, dropping the sword into the grass. Then he smells him.]

A rather sad show, I'm afraid. I apologize it wasn't one of my better ones~

[angelphones]

[He smiles a little at Johnny, not saying anything for a moment, before walking closer to him and picking up the sword, handing it to him.]

It's all right. We all make mistakes.

[not_heavens_adam]

[He takes the sword with a smile and gives another, smaller, sigh.]

Yes, I suppose so. That would be the human side of me, I guess. [Although, officially, he didn't count as human at all...but he liked to think he did.],/small>

What're you doing out here?

[angelphones]

That's not a bad thing... or a bad side.

[He shifts, showing his sword hanging by his side.]

I came out to practice.

[the_demonmaid]

[Hm? A unique weapon... She stopped, watching him]

[not_heavens_adam]

[He continues his practice, although, the unique scent he now catches tells him he's no longer alone in this clearing. Still, he doesn't acknowledge her until he's finished a few more patterns and then lets the dance end just as gracefully as it had been performed.]

You can come out now, fair maiden~

[the_demonmaid]

You're very skilled. [She walked towards him, a small flicker of surprise in her face]

[not_heavens_adam]

[He offers a small smile and leans the blade against a nearby tree.]

Thank you. It's something I learned far too long ago...but it's like learning another language; if you don't practice it, you'll lose it.

[the_demonmaid]

I suppose so.

[She tilted her head, looking at him.] Lack of horns, quite interesting.

[nos_servabit]

[There's no warning, no rustle of the leaves, no change in the shadows, and yet Jacob is suddenly standing to the side, as if he's always been there. A small black chocobo stands behind him, peering over the spectacle curiously.]

Practicing, Johnny?

[not_heavens_adam]

[He hadn't heard him and the scent was so familiar to him that, at first, it didn't even register past everything else that was rushing through his head. However, the voice startled him and the dance stopped, just as gracefully, with his blade held out before him, pointed at Jacob.

After an unneeded sigh he recognized the other man and instantly felt bad about threatening him like that. Johnny tilted the blade back to the ground and tried for a smile, though it was a little shaky.]

Jacob...I'm sorry; I didn't notice you.

[nos_servabit]

[When the blade points at him, Jacob doesn't even blink an eye- the chocobo, however, startled by the sudden stop of movement, jumps back slightly, letting out a surprised noise.]

That's alright. I was just waiting for you to finish...I didn't want to disturb you.

[not_heavens_adam]

You aren't disturbing me. I've been in this clearing for too long anyway...

[He glances at the creature behind Jacob and his smile grows a little.]

Who's your friend?

[nos_servabit]

Oh, her?

[He looks over at the chocobo, smiling warmly at it as it chirps happily.]

This is Ma'at. I got her not too long ago from Lea. She's quite the clever little chocobo.

[ex_fintastic398]

[ Letting her feet lead her, Feferi has managed to wander into the forest, and consequently get herself a little lost. She stops when she spots movement and comes into sight of another living being. A human? Well, at least it looks like what she's come to know to be a human. She wanders in a little closer, hands laced behind her back. ]

What are you doing?

[not_heavens_adam]

[The distinct smell of this 'species other than human' caught up to him and he knew she was close, but he didn't know how close till she said something and his movements froze, momentarily surprised by the interruption.]

...I'm practicing. A knight should always ensure his form is in check or it could mean his life the next time he fights.

[ex_fintastic398]

Sounds reasonable. You don't have to stop for my sake though! As long as you don't mind me watching.

[not_heavens_adam]

Hmm~ I don't mind at all.

[He went back the practice, but in a more controlled and easy pace than before.]

Have you ever practiced with a sword before?

[ex_fintastic398]

I've never even held one before!

[ For her part, Feferi is trying to stay very much out of the way, even if her curiosity urges her to get closer. ]

You look like you've been practicing a lot though.