Alucard just flat out decides to ignore the attempt to sliiiide out of their arrangement. Instead he holds his sword lightly, considering the question. And the fact that Hilda holding that axe just looks right.]
Hilda gives Alucard a long, weary stare as she hefts the axe over her shoulder. She can't tell if no training exercise is a better or worse scenario. Steve always had a plan for their training sessions and while there was some uniformity to those sessions, it was purposefully not the same by design because she had a distinct feeling that Steve had wizened up to the fact that if he did that, she'd be bored and sweaty. A dangerous combination than just one or the other, really.
The last time she had picked up her axe had been in the mountains attempting to track down the taken Summoned. She'd had to clean the blood and gore off of its blade until there had been no trace of it left and that had been such a chore. She isn't used to going so long without picking one up but it immediately feels familiar in her hands. Is she supposed to feel good about that?
Before she can think too long about it she dashes towards him, hands gripping the haft and taking a swing towards his legs that she expects him to counter. ]
[Alucard waits patiently for Hilda to decide what her first move will be. He's not thinking of this as training with drills and repeated actions. No uniformity. This is just a fight between friends, which means friends don't hold back their stupid vampire tricks.
Which is to say that where Alucard is one moment when Hilda swings towards his legs that...
...he's behind her, his left hand grabbing onto her right shoulder with the intent to throw her off balance.]
[ It wasn't like she was going for a swing with intent, but instead of the clash of metal, she's met with air. When she realizes that Alucard has appeared behind her instead she staggers forward due to all her forward momentum. Years of grappling practice tells her that she could grab a hold of his wrist but for that she'd have to drop her axe. And frankly, a wrestling match sounds far less appealing than sparring.
She stumbles forward before turning around to look at him. Hilda doesn't go so far as to stomp her feet but the spirit of it is there in her voice. ]
That's not fair! How am I supposed to spar with you if you're just going to use your vampire skills?
[ Her Crest might be able to help with some of that but it had clearly been too fast for it to comprehend. ]
How are you going to fight non-humans if you don't practice?
[But he takes the point. Literally. True enough, Hilda's poke in the chest bounces right off, but that's fine. His tits are strong.
Alucard takes a few steps back at that point, considering Hilda, her weapon, and her balance. Then in a (human speed) flash, he's moving to slash at her left side, feet moving deftly over the ground.]
I don't know maybe I could charm them? All the non-humans I've met do far adore me. [ She flashes him a grin. ] Present company included.
[ Strong and lovely to look at. At least she's got a view while she's sparring. It's another small saving grace.
There's more to add to the quippy return but it's put on pause for Alucard advancing on her. She reads the motion, moving her axe down to parry before it gets anywhere close to her side. A ting rings out as metal meets metal and she shoves it away, before shifting her grip effortlessly to bring her axe down towards his right shoulder. ]
That or I wouldn't be alone with a non-human and someone else would fight them for me.
[Hilda has a point about present company, but there's no time to respond. Her movements are well practiced, and Alucard disengages his sword as quickly as he can. Before her axe can find his shoulder though, Alucard pivots so that his back is to Hilda, his sword swiping low at her legs where her axe pointedly is not.
It is also a little flourishy movement that lets him turn and face her again properly. Is he showing off? Yes. But he's not using vampire speed, so there.]
Your luck is good, but I wouldn't count on it 100% of the time.
[ Hilda feels her Crest thrum as Alucard turns, and she does a small jump backwards, only getting the barest nick from his sword. She should be annoyed, but she isn't because even she could tell there was no harm done.
The showmanship is met with a raised eyebrow, an amused glimmer in her eyes. But she pouts, pulling out her doe eyes. ]
No? You're saying you wouldn't protect me with your impressive swordsmanship and vampire abilities?
[ Her hands shift a little lower down the haft. The next strike is aimed for his chest – but instead of swinging overhead she uses her height to her advantage swinging from below instead. ]
[It is a different question, one that's a reminder of certain cult related shenanigans earlier in the year.
Either way, Alucard actually doesn't dodge the attack from below. He welcomes it, and he places his right hand against his own blade to hold it parallel, meeting the axe and beginning to use his own strength to force it downwards, injury to his own hand be damned.]
[ She senses that in the question he asks but she doesn't respond immediately, eyes widened slightly at the disregard to his own hand. The strength she is using is no where near what she'd use in a real fight, and while he may be a vampire and could probably heal quickly, that doesn't mean she wants to cause any actually harm.
Hilda doesn't hold the axe there for long. Instead she lets it fall before pivoting back to make space and changing direction. Her voice is bright, light, with none of the gravity the question alludes to. ]
Then I guess I'll have to come save you. Or else our story will end tragically, I guess.
[ Her axe comes back down, aiming this time for the wrist of his sword hand. ]
[The instant the axe falls, Alucard lets go of his own sword. In a moment, everything is healed. If there was any pain involved, he doesn't show it.]
I'll admit, you charging into a fight would create a few heart palpitations.
[Adrian "I am weak for partners that could break me" Tepes in a nutshell. Because Hilda swooping in suddenly with an axe is hot. Sorry.
What Alucard had intended to do was to force Hilda's axe down, then step on it and leap over her to get a nice surprise strike in. But that's not what happens. Instead, the minute that she swipes for his sword hand, he throws the blade upwards and steps back, confident that the momentum of the strike will carry Hilda through and permit him to catch the blade.
Which he'll use vampire speed for, but only for flavor.]
How about we just don't speak that into existence, hm? I feel like that's just asking for trouble in Abraxas.
[ It's a whine, but a whine with a mildly flustered blush all the same. She doesn't want to come blazing in to be anyone's hero or saviour. Sparring privately? Fine. But someone's life in the balance had been far too much work, far too much responsibility for her. The kidnappings had proven that much.
Okay, she hadn't been expecting him to throw his stupid sword into the air. Hilda's eyes follow it for only a brief moment before darting back down to him (training had been more effective on her than she otherwise claimed). She has to wonder what he's doing but she isn't going to stop - not with all this momentum.
So she does follow through on the strike - but bends her knees closet to the ground, changing the trajectory of her swing in an attempt to hook the back of her axe around his calf so she can tug him down. ]
Fair point.[They don't need another kidnapping adventure.
Alucard takes the fall. Lands flat on his back, sword clattering beside him. It is the easiest thing in the world to roll over towards it and rebound, aware that Hilda is at a three quarter angle from him now. He rushes, swiping for her mid section.]
You don't think we have anything to worry about that sort of thing anymore, do you?
[ The last several words are part gasp as she hollows out her stomach as if that would somehow stop the sword from what would definitely be a killing blow. Her axe is too low to the ground to block it but she has to do something – her cowardice practically demands it.
The downside(?) to being her brother's sister is that she had the misfortune to pick up grappling skills too. If you aren't in a position to stop the blade with yours, try to disarm them instead, Hilda.
She tries a risky move – twisting her body to let the blade pass through a gap in her arm as she reaches to try and trap his arm so he can't move it.
Which would also effectively mean dropping her own axe and pulling him close into an embrace. ]
I'm living in perpetual paranoia about it, honestly.
[His greatest fear happened again, he's never letting it go.
Alucard is a fan of using whatever one has at their disposal. It is why he'll shift forms in a fight if that's what it takes to get him out of a tight spot. He's all set to do just that when Hilda tries trapping his arm, because honestly. It's a good move. Enough to force him to stop and either call this much a draw or find a less animal based way out of the situation.
Embrace it is, even if Alucard totally ruins it with:] I could turn into bats right now, you know.
That's why you were so worried when we found you in the desert, wasn't it?
[ There's a gentle sympathy in her voice when she asks him. It's easier out of context to forget the state of him when they found him in the caves. She thinks him invincible, fearless, in some ways. It brings him down to a relatable level - not that she puts him up on a pedestal or anything. At least not as of late since getting to know him.
She realizes belatedly how close they are. It would be absolutely a little romantic - had it not been for that line. Her expression falls a little flat but the momentum she's still got pushes them several steps backwards, pressing into him. ]
Doesn't that fall under the vampire category? Can't we just have something nice like a little hug?
[ It transitions into more than a hug. Her feet trip over themselves, pitching her and her weight forward. ]
I was having flashbacks to what happened back home, yes.
[There's no point denying it, especially since Hilda knows the full truth of the situation there.
This is really getting quite ridiculous, and rather in defeat of the purpose of sparring.]
I'm fairly certain that in a fight, I'd have pushed you away or otherwise found a way to turn this into a fight with both of our weapons scattered to the wi--
[Hilda doesn't weigh that much, even with an axe. The problem is that it is unexpected. So Alucard takes both their weight and--
--okay, the angles are wild because his lips are definitely against Hilda's.
For a second time.
That's actually a novelty in and of itself, and the thought occupies Alucard's brain enough that he falls down on the ground entirely, aware that Hilda's being dragged along via momentum.]
Well I don't see you doing that. Holding onto you like this is exhausting! If you're going to do something shouldn't you be doing it -
[ It doesn't even occur to her that he won't stop their fall because, vampire. But she's cut off, not by the surprise that they were in fact falling, but because his lips were on hers.
The weight of gravity practically presses her lips to his. Her eyes widen and just as they hit the ground, she has just enough common sense to flatten her hands against his back pressing them even closer. She pulls back a hair's breadth, eyes still wide like saucers, brain just white noise but all too aware about his aversion to physical intimacy. ]
[Hilda you can't say no vampire nonsense and then expect vampire nonsense!
They've both made it weird now. Alucard for breaking the fall by just taking the fall, Hilda being a good friend and well aware that Alucard and physical intimacy is something he's still working on getting through. What it results in is the dhampir just staring at Hilda, wide eyed and not wanting to shove her off but absolutely feeling awkward about the situation and--
--he tries to focus on the thing they're supposed to be doing.]
[ * No vampire nonsense unless it means it could save them from this exact scenario.
Despite being clearly flustered she lets out a tittering laugh. ]
I'm sorry – yeah, a draw sounds good.
[ She has the sense to scramble off of him, righting herself. When she's up on her feet she extends a hand out to him to help pull him up. By the time he's on his feet, she's smiling like nothing had ever happened. That's the best way to address it, right? ]
Did you want to go again? Or maybe it's food time?
[THERE WAS NO FINE PRINT IN THAT CONVERSATION cut a dhampir a break Hilda!!!]
Best out of five?
[At least he didn't offer to be up for as many rounds as she was as i almost typed. Alucard takes the offered hand, happy to totally ignore what just happened. And vowing that Jaskier is soooooo not finding out.]
One skirmish does not count as a sparring session.
[ You should have looked closer and read the fine print before clicking accept on the terms and conditions, sorry!
Hilda can't help the immediate look of incredulousness on her face at his suggestion. ]
Best of five? Why not best of three or something?
[ Regardless of what they decide to land on, it’s clear by the end that she’s tiring. Months of not properly training and keeping up her stamina with a weapon in her hand shows. Objectively however, it’s clear that her body still remembers what she’s supposed to do and the axe still feels like an unfortunate extension of herself. The last round sees her splayed out on her back staring up at the sky. Her chest heaves and she can feel a bead of sweat begin to form in her hairline and trickle down her forehead.
The feel of it only spurs the whine that wrenches from her lips. ]
I’m exhausted, please tell me it’s dinner time now.
[It probably isn't a surprise that Alucard looks fairly put together in spite of the length of time they've spent romping about. There's a little sweat that means his shirt clings to his chest, but he's not panting. Not falling over. Nothing seems to remotely bother him, he might as well have gone for a walk in the park.
His sword is sheathed, and Alucard offers Hilda a hand up.]
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Alucard just flat out decides to ignore the attempt to sliiiide out of their arrangement. Instead he holds his sword lightly, considering the question. And the fact that Hilda holding that axe just looks right.]
Move to attack me. We'll take it from there.
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Hilda gives Alucard a long, weary stare as she hefts the axe over her shoulder. She can't tell if no training exercise is a better or worse scenario. Steve always had a plan for their training sessions and while there was some uniformity to those sessions, it was purposefully not the same by design because she had a distinct feeling that Steve had wizened up to the fact that if he did that, she'd be bored and sweaty. A dangerous combination than just one or the other, really.
The last time she had picked up her axe had been in the mountains attempting to track down the taken Summoned. She'd had to clean the blood and gore off of its blade until there had been no trace of it left and that had been such a chore. She isn't used to going so long without picking one up but it immediately feels familiar in her hands. Is she supposed to feel good about that?
Before she can think too long about it she dashes towards him, hands gripping the haft and taking a swing towards his legs that she expects him to counter. ]
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Which is to say that where Alucard is one moment when Hilda swings towards his legs that...
...he's behind her, his left hand grabbing onto her right shoulder with the intent to throw her off balance.]
Over here.
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[ It wasn't like she was going for a swing with intent, but instead of the clash of metal, she's met with air. When she realizes that Alucard has appeared behind her instead she staggers forward due to all her forward momentum. Years of grappling practice tells her that she could grab a hold of his wrist but for that she'd have to drop her axe. And frankly, a wrestling match sounds far less appealing than sparring.
She stumbles forward before turning around to look at him. Hilda doesn't go so far as to stomp her feet but the spirit of it is there in her voice. ]
That's not fair! How am I supposed to spar with you if you're just going to use your vampire skills?
[ Her Crest might be able to help with some of that but it had clearly been too fast for it to comprehend. ]
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[He's smiling. He looks smug. He is being very, very rude about it and absolutely does not care.
But he does take the point.]
But if you insist.
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I didn't think it needed saying.
[ She gives him a strong poke in the chest that is probably unlikely to do anything before stepping back to create space between them again. ]
You come at me this time.
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[But he takes the point. Literally. True enough, Hilda's poke in the chest bounces right off, but that's fine. His tits are strong.
Alucard takes a few steps back at that point, considering Hilda, her weapon, and her balance. Then in a (human speed) flash, he's moving to slash at her left side, feet moving deftly over the ground.]
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[ Strong and lovely to look at. At least she's got a view while she's sparring. It's another small saving grace.
There's more to add to the quippy return but it's put on pause for Alucard advancing on her. She reads the motion, moving her axe down to parry before it gets anywhere close to her side. A ting rings out as metal meets metal and she shoves it away, before shifting her grip effortlessly to bring her axe down towards his right shoulder. ]
That or I wouldn't be alone with a non-human and someone else would fight them for me.
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It is also a little flourishy movement that lets him turn and face her again properly. Is he showing off? Yes. But he's not using vampire speed, so there.]
Your luck is good, but I wouldn't count on it 100% of the time.
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The showmanship is met with a raised eyebrow, an amused glimmer in her eyes. But she pouts, pulling out her doe eyes. ]
No? You're saying you wouldn't protect me with your impressive swordsmanship and vampire abilities?
[ Her hands shift a little lower down the haft. The next strike is aimed for his chest – but instead of swinging overhead she uses her height to her advantage swinging from below instead. ]
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[It is a different question, one that's a reminder of certain cult related shenanigans earlier in the year.
Either way, Alucard actually doesn't dodge the attack from below. He welcomes it, and he places his right hand against his own blade to hold it parallel, meeting the axe and beginning to use his own strength to force it downwards, injury to his own hand be damned.]
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Hilda doesn't hold the axe there for long. Instead she lets it fall before pivoting back to make space and changing direction. Her voice is bright, light, with none of the gravity the question alludes to. ]
Then I guess I'll have to come save you. Or else our story will end tragically, I guess.
[ Her axe comes back down, aiming this time for the wrist of his sword hand. ]
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I'll admit, you charging into a fight would create a few heart palpitations.
[Adrian "I am weak for partners that could break me" Tepes in a nutshell. Because Hilda swooping in suddenly with an axe is hot. Sorry.
What Alucard had intended to do was to force Hilda's axe down, then step on it and leap over her to get a nice surprise strike in. But that's not what happens. Instead, the minute that she swipes for his sword hand, he throws the blade upwards and steps back, confident that the momentum of the strike will carry Hilda through and permit him to catch the blade.
Which he'll use vampire speed for, but only for flavor.]
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[ It's a whine, but a whine with a mildly flustered blush all the same. She doesn't want to come blazing in to be anyone's hero or saviour. Sparring privately? Fine. But someone's life in the balance had been far too much work, far too much responsibility for her. The kidnappings had proven that much.
Okay, she hadn't been expecting him to throw his stupid sword into the air. Hilda's eyes follow it for only a brief moment before darting back down to him (training had been more effective on her than she otherwise claimed). She has to wonder what he's doing but she isn't going to stop - not with all this momentum.
So she does follow through on the strike - but bends her knees closet to the ground, changing the trajectory of her swing in an attempt to hook the back of her axe around his calf so she can tug him down. ]
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Alucard takes the fall. Lands flat on his back, sword clattering beside him. It is the easiest thing in the world to roll over towards it and rebound, aware that Hilda is at a three quarter angle from him now. He rushes, swiping for her mid section.]
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[ The last several words are part gasp as she hollows out her stomach as if that would somehow stop the sword from what would definitely be a killing blow. Her axe is too low to the ground to block it but she has to do something – her cowardice practically demands it.
The downside(?) to being her brother's sister is that she had the misfortune to pick up grappling skills too. If you aren't in a position to stop the blade with yours, try to disarm them instead, Hilda.
She tries a risky move – twisting her body to let the blade pass through a gap in her arm as she reaches to try and trap his arm so he can't move it.
Which would also effectively mean dropping her own axe and pulling him close into an embrace. ]
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[His greatest fear happened again, he's never letting it go.
Alucard is a fan of using whatever one has at their disposal. It is why he'll shift forms in a fight if that's what it takes to get him out of a tight spot. He's all set to do just that when Hilda tries trapping his arm, because honestly. It's a good move. Enough to force him to stop and either call this much a draw or find a less animal based way out of the situation.
Embrace it is, even if Alucard totally ruins it with:] I could turn into bats right now, you know.
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[ There's a gentle sympathy in her voice when she asks him. It's easier out of context to forget the state of him when they found him in the caves. She thinks him invincible, fearless, in some ways. It brings him down to a relatable level - not that she puts him up on a pedestal or anything. At least not as of late since getting to know him.
She realizes belatedly how close they are. It would be absolutely a little romantic - had it not been for that line. Her expression falls a little flat but the momentum she's still got pushes them several steps backwards, pressing into him. ]
Doesn't that fall under the vampire category? Can't we just have something nice like a little hug?
[ It transitions into more than a hug. Her feet trip over themselves, pitching her and her weight forward. ]
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[There's no point denying it, especially since Hilda knows the full truth of the situation there.
This is really getting quite ridiculous, and rather in defeat of the purpose of sparring.]
I'm fairly certain that in a fight, I'd have pushed you away or otherwise found a way to turn this into a fight with both of our weapons scattered to the wi--
[Hilda doesn't weigh that much, even with an axe. The problem is that it is unexpected. So Alucard takes both their weight and--
--okay, the angles are wild because his lips are definitely against Hilda's.
For a second time.
That's actually a novelty in and of itself, and the thought occupies Alucard's brain enough that he falls down on the ground entirely, aware that Hilda's being dragged along via momentum.]
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[ It doesn't even occur to her that he won't stop their fall because, vampire. But she's cut off, not by the surprise that they were in fact falling, but because his lips were on hers.
The weight of gravity practically presses her lips to his. Her eyes widen and just as they hit the ground, she has just enough common sense to flatten her hands against his back pressing them even closer. She pulls back a hair's breadth, eyes still wide like saucers, brain just white noise but all too aware about his aversion to physical intimacy. ]
Oh – uhm.
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They've both made it weird now. Alucard for breaking the fall by just taking the fall, Hilda being a good friend and well aware that Alucard and physical intimacy is something he's still working on getting through. What it results in is the dhampir just staring at Hilda, wide eyed and not wanting to shove her off but absolutely feeling awkward about the situation and--
--he tries to focus on the thing they're supposed to be doing.]
I think this is a draw?
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Despite being clearly flustered she lets out a tittering laugh. ]
I'm sorry – yeah, a draw sounds good.
[ She has the sense to scramble off of him, righting herself. When she's up on her feet she extends a hand out to him to help pull him up. By the time he's on his feet, she's smiling like nothing had ever happened. That's the best way to address it, right? ]
Did you want to go again? Or maybe it's food time?
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Best out of five?
[At least he didn't offer to be up for as many rounds as she was
as i almost typed. Alucard takes the offered hand, happy to totally ignore what just happened. And vowing that Jaskier is soooooo not finding out.]One skirmish does not count as a sparring session.
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but it does let us handwave further fighting]no subject
Hilda can't help the immediate look of incredulousness on her face at his suggestion. ]
Best of five? Why not best of three or something?
[ Regardless of what they decide to land on, it’s clear by the end that she’s tiring. Months of not properly training and keeping up her stamina with a weapon in her hand shows. Objectively however, it’s clear that her body still remembers what she’s supposed to do and the axe still feels like an unfortunate extension of herself. The last round sees her splayed out on her back staring up at the sky. Her chest heaves and she can feel a bead of sweat begin to form in her hairline and trickle down her forehead.
The feel of it only spurs the whine that wrenches from her lips. ]
I’m exhausted, please tell me it’s dinner time now.
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[It probably isn't a surprise that Alucard looks fairly put together in spite of the length of time they've spent romping about. There's a little sweat that means his shirt clings to his chest, but he's not panting. Not falling over. Nothing seems to remotely bother him, he might as well have gone for a walk in the park.
His sword is sheathed, and Alucard offers Hilda a hand up.]
I'll even carry your axe for you.
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no html tags cat is hogging my arm..........
Is the cat Hilda
she is some days
yes good
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do we want to try and wrap this soon before the event?
I think we can call it here.