high_seas | Preparing for War

You've more patience than I had. Fortunately I also had a great teacher. That's it. A little faster now.

[meets Natsuno's strikes for a moment]

Smart lad, you've got that right. Depends on the gun, depends on the sword, depends on what they've got and what you've got and how many.

From a tactical standpoint that's a logical conclusion. Especially if you've played chess. They teach it that way, you know. There are pawns and bishops and knights and queens, each with their own roles and moves. Keep it straight. There you go. Up. Lunge. Lunge again. Very nice.

What do you think? Is it an accurate analogy?

[He nods a little bit in acknowledgement, doing his best to keep his mind focused on his movement, but distracting him actually makes him move a little more fluidly, a more natural way of defending himself.]

It makes sense, if I bring a sword and they have a gun, theoretically they would probably win. It's a saying in fact, don't bring a knife to a gunfight.

[He nods a little bit.] I know of chess, we play a game that's similar called shougi. It's accurate when you think of a tactical set up for a battle, but the only difference is, I don't think we should be willing to sacrifice the pawns to protect the king. Which here, I suppose would be Ace, and I don't think he'd appreciate it.

[Thatch actually chuckles at those words. Almost laughs-- his grin is bright anyway.]

That's exactly it, don't bring a knife to a gunfight and don't sacrifice a pawn for the king. Let's work on your guard.

[and he begins advancing in slow movements, designed to show Natsuno his openings and trying to get him to move the best way to defend them]

Chess and shogi are good if you're a marine. Good if you're fighting a marines. Know how they think. Hold it out a bit more or you'll strain your wrist. There you go. But we're pirates. Pirates fighting pirates. The strange things of the sea. We make ourselves pawns, bishops, knights, twisted abberations of all three. We fight with our hearts and passion to protect those we love be it mate or captain or captain who would be king.

If you're going to lead any man into battle as a pirate you have to think of where they would most like to be. Who would prefer to run and who would stand and who you have to drag away from the line. We're not naval commanders who choose who live and die but it's we who throw ourselves into the line of fire for another's sake.

[he begins to pick up speed. Still slow but allowing Natsuno less time to think]

Do you understand what I'm saying, lad?

[As he has less time to think, his movements are a little rougher. He's still defending, they're just a lot less textbook.]

I understand what you mean. That's the problem with chess, you're always sacrificing pieces for the greater good, and I'd rather not lose anyone else if we can help it. Even if they come back.

[He lets out a breath, almost like a chuckle.]

I think a lot of this crew is the last type, the kind of people you'd have to drag away from the line. Considering this upcoming fight, there's not going to be many of us willing to back off.

[smart lad really when it came to it. He slows a bit until Natsuno smoothes again but doesn't let him stop and doesn't break the attack]

Exactly. We have some cool heads to be sure. But when the people we love have been hurt we tend to go a little insane. For Marco, Namur and I, the need for revenge runs cold through our veins--but we're old and wise enough to keep our heads when it counts. Ace couldn't keep his head no matter how old he's gotten...

But you can be cold. Calculating, aye? You know what it means to die. [more than once probably. He presses the attack now, faster, just on the edge of Natsuno being able to keep up]

So I'm counting on you to be the one to pull those from the line that need it. We're keeping everyone alive, aye? No more sacrifices to that bitch. [sparks fly as he knocks Natsuno's blade to the side and gives him just enough time to protect his throat, blades meeting with a crash]

Can you do that?

[It's a bit more of a struggle as Thatch pushes him to the limits of his skill, but he manages and for that he can hold a little bit of pride.

He does know what it means to die, he's painfully aware of it.

Natsuno at the moment is far from cold, but he is calculating. As much as he would love to storm in there and be someone who attacks mercilessly like Ikki, or Ace, because she really really deserves it, it isn't his style. If it was, without a doubt he'd have died long before arriving there.

There's a moment's hesitation, but it would be unwise to think of it as fear or trepidation, it's more a passing thought of wondering if he could in fact pull someone away physically, because in all likelihood that's what it would take. He nods.]

I can do that. No one else needs to be sacrificed.

Good.

[Thatch slows down, eventually easing Natsuno into stopping and slowly pushing his blade aside.]

For now, let's work on offense rather than defense. I'm going to teach you to go in hard and then get the hell out of there.

Remember we're trying to get as many people back out as we can, so you don't have time for heroics or self-sacrifice.

[He blinks a little at stopping and he runs his sleeve over his forehead. He takes a few deeper breaths, but he's still alright physically.]

I don't know if I'm the heroic type. Self-sacrificing...I can't deny that, that was my plan for Tatsumi. This isn't a suicide mission though, I have to make it back out.

[He pushes his hair out of his eyes.]

Alright, going in hard and getting out fast. I'm planning on using my powers for this. [Even if he's never really practiced with them.] It's a logical plan for a rescue mission. You're not concerned about stopping the threat?

[well enough. So long as he understands what's going into it right now he can work out his intents for the other thing himself. Aside from that, it seems he's grown stronger. Thatch can see it in little things and big things and is somewhat proud in spite of himself.]

You're not concerned with stopping the threat. If the time comes and we need every hand we can get, we'll call you to stand against the threat with us. But for now you're just making sure people survive.

[he slides one sword away]

Now, watch me.

[and he does a slow series of movements. Once. Twice. Three times. Making sure Natsuno's eyes are on him. Then stops]

Now you try.

[Although Natsuno came here a mess, he's a little bit less of a mess, even if he can't entirely let go of everything. Not yet. He's making progress however.]

I understand.

[As much as he would like to take a run at the witch, he's not the best person more than likely. There are much more skilled people on this crew.

Natsuno watches Thatch, his eyes following the movements without much trouble. He's concentrating, something he's familiar with.

With a deep breath, he does his best to mimic what he's seen. It's not exactly right, but it's his first try.]

[Thatch continues to work with him patiently, the same sequence until he has it right more often than he has it wrong]

Now practice that movement a hundred times a day. It doesn't have to be all at once but make sure it gets done. We're working on a time crunch here.

[and he smiles a bit, trying to make the time thing a joke]

[Natsuno is attentive and he works hard, more often then not. He nods a little bit.]

I haven't asked Riku how much I should practice his, but I can add that, no problem.

[The joke goes a bit over his head, but he offers a slight smile to Thatch.]

Then you'll do fine.

[if he doesn't freeze up when confronted with the reality. But he'll be okay regardless. Thatch slides his swords away]

I'm going to go take watch. [he gestures vaguely up at the crow's nest] If you have questions, you know where to find me, aye?

[That's a concern of Natsuno's but for some reason Ace doesn't think it will be a problem. There's no way to tell until the time comes however.]

Thank you for your instruction.

[He bows politely. Thatch has given him a lot to think about and a lot to practice.]

[he nods and gives Natsuno a small salute before making his way up the mast]

Preparing for War

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