Training Area~

~Xavier
I swing my trident, cutting through the shadows.

Sammy~
While he was distracted dealing with the shadows I take my chances and attack him head on aiming to knock his trident out of his hands and ultimately win.

~Xavier
I parry with the base of the trident, swinging it up underneath her while also sweeping my left leg out under her.

Sammy~
I was too focused on the trident to notice his leg and I fall down my scythe falling against my arm

~Xavier
"Not bad," I say, offering her a hand up. "You have good fighting skills, but you rely on the same tactics. Bones and shadows, it doesn't matter, but you have to keep it dynamic. Always changing. Try using two things at once - if you would've attacked and had your shadows attack, I would've had to block your attack, which would've left me open to the shadows. You're also a bit too reliant on your powers, which isn't a bad thing in any case - they're a key part of fighting many battles. But you should definitely train more with a scythe if you can. If you're well-rounded in both areas, it's easier to combine attacks and synergize them in order to easily overpower your opponent. Does that help?"

Sam~
"Yeah" I say with a small smile, "Good fight" I say wiping some sweat off my forehead "I guess I'm a bit rusty still"

~Xavier
"I just have more muscle since I'm older. You're a really good fighter, though. I think you were holding back. But hey, I won't complain," I say, smiling. "Still, even though you're a good fighter, you should definitely train often to keep in shape. That's the only reason I'm any good with this thing," I say, referring to my trident. "I have to admit though, you seem like a natural. Have you been at camp long?"

Sam~
"Eight years total" I say, "I was away working for my dad for 2 years though"

~Xavier
"That explains it. I've only been here four years, but after going through what I went through before coming here, I knew I had to be able to defend myself. So I've been training at least once or twice a week to keep improving. I know we're safe in here, but when there's things like gods and monsters out there, I don't really feel that safe. What did you do for your dad?"

Sam~
I nod looking at him nervously, "Weird, stupid stuff mostly" I say vaguely knowing better than to get into details

~Xavier
"That's cool," I say simply. "Well, I guess I'll see you around. Nice catching up with you, Sam."

Sam~
"You too" I say as I head back to start taking off my gear

Falerina-
I destroy a few dummies, tearing through them with a knife and my fists. It was quite funny, because I wasn't even angry as I usually am when I come here. I wasn't sure what the exact word to describe was I was feeling was. I'd say a phantasmagoria of boredom and loneliness?

Anyways, I was here. And I was cutting some mannequins. I slammed my dainty elbow into the face of one, and then launched a swift knife at it's torso-- piercing it quickly. I let the knife fly for a second, before waving my hand and having it disappear/teleport into my pocket.

Sitting down on the dusty ground, I observe the sky above me, twirling the knife that was just in my pocket in between my ring and middle finger.

-Mat-

Mat watched the girl tearing into the dummies. Her technique was good--vicious and unrelenting, the sort of thing he used to see back home. In street fighting, it was kill or be killed, with no room for hesitation. Most of the kids here didn't get it, especially the younger ones. They held back too much, left themselves open, tried copying shit they'd seen in movies. It was funny. The street fighting, the bullshit, all of it was from Hollywood, one layer masking the other like ice on a deep, deadly lake. That was why Mat had come to the arena that day, for icebreaking. He had come to teach a class.

Mat had been a combat instructor for a full year now. He'd started when he became a counselor, after Annemarie... Yeah. She'd been a good counselor, and Mat did his best to follow her example. His class met every day at 2:00 sharp. But that was a ways off yet. For now, he had time, enough to get in a little training of his own.

He walked over to the girl. "Nice fighting," he said. "Care for a spar?"

Falerina-
I turned to see a man walking towards me. Standing up quickly, dusting my shirt, I turn to face him. I'd most likely seen him before, he looked quite familiar. "I suppose that would be a bit fun. As long as i'm allowed to use my knives, I shall join you," I said.

-Mat-

"Knives sound fine," Mat said. He unbuckled his sword and took a pair of daggers from the weapons rack at the edge of the training area. "Not to insult your skills, but I wouldn't want an unfair advantage with the reach, and Crocea Mors is a bit lethal for a training bout." He turned and raised his knives to a guard position. "Ready when you are."

Falerina-
I observe the sword, Crocea Mors? The Crocea Mors. Once he set it aside I felt a bit relieved internally, "I see," I comment on the daggers.

"One other question. Am I allowed to use my err-- powers?"

-Mat-

"It's up to you," Mat said. "But you should know I won't be using mine. Most of what I can do isn't good in a fight, and the other thing... That's not for training bouts either. So, yeah, you could use your powers, but what kind of win would that be?" He grinned and beckoned with his dagger. "Go ahead. Ladies first."

Falerina-
I shake my head, "I'll let you take first move, after all, you were the one who suggested the spar match."

-Mat-

"If the lady insists..." Mat took a hesitating step forward, then feinted at Falerina's shoulder, testing her defenses, ready with his other dagger if she opened herself up to block him. The technique had worked well for him in the past. The sunglasses that protected others from his cursed gaze also made him harder to read in a fight. "It's Falerina, right? I think I've seen you at some of the counselors' meetings."

Falerina-
I remain still, not bothered the slightest by his feint attack. Finding a small gap, I reply.

"Yes. I'm the current representative for Deimos." I said, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I have definitely seen this man before. His name was...err- Mat. Yeah. It was Mat. I am going to guess he's a counselor and based on his appearance he looks like that of Hades. Maybe.

Hmm.

I ponder for a split second, studying his form and his starting technique.

-Mat-

Mat sidestepped, brushing aside Falerina's knife to force her guard open, and slipped his second dagger into her breached defenses, pressing close. The move left him open, but with luck his opponent would be too busy defending to strike. Besides, he suspected she had more practice with knives than he did anyway. If he was going to win, it'd have to be on his own terms.

Falerina-
She manages to grin. He had already breached her defenses. She heaves an inaudible sigh, using h r forearm to push the knife away. There's another attack coming. She swiftly bends back and executed a back handspring, landing a notably far distance away. Then, she tossed a few of her knives in his direction , knowing that he'd most likely find a way to block or dodge them. However with her abilities she could easily reclaim them.

-Mat-

As soon as Mat saw the knives leave Falerina's hand, he knew the only way he was avoiding them was if he broke a few promises. So he fell backwards, into the depths of his own high noon shadow, and disappeared while the knives sailed uselessly overhead.

Shadow travel wasn't Mat's favorite way to move. It was imprecise, sometimes dangerously so, and the further you went with it the more it took out of you. For short hops, however, to somewhere you could actually see, it was accurate to within about a meter and only felt like being punched in the gut by Muhammad Ali. Mat's jaunt landed him just behind Falerina, pale and in a cold sweat. This time, he didn't bother with knives. As he'd suspected, he was outmatched there. Instead, he wrapped Falerina in a bear hug, pinning her arms and using his greater strength and mass to drive her to the ground.

Falerina-
I jump a little when I am pulled into a bear hug. Shit. I am driven onto the floor, but still holding my ground. If I ended up winning it would be a huge victory. I summon a few knives into my hand, stabbing in a fluent but kinda crazy method just hoping to land an attack.