Footloose and Fancy Free [Training][Open]

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Although the girl had been 'gentle with him', Theo was getting exhausted due to nerves and all manner of sweaty. When the dance came to a halt by the insistence of Nina, Theo was so pleased and took the moment to catch his breath. Nina pulled him to the side after coupling the new guy with the girl, Thanks, he managed a smile.

But wait, the dynamic changed! Theo had thought he and Nina would just stand off to the side and watch, if mother permitted such a thing, but no Nina wanted to dance with him. She guided his hand to her waist and to the small of her back while holding his other, Wait what are you doing?, he looked up into her face with wide eyes. Before he knew what happened next their feet were moving slowly around the floor. A little unsure and awkward at first, but Theo let Nina lead until he had the movement and rhythm of the music, before he took a firmer hold on her waist pulling her closer to take control.

Whether it was a growing sense of confidence with each passing moment or Nina's presence that had Theo more relaxed, but either way he began to enjoy the moment and find his feet. He could feel the swaying of Nina's body and matched her, and then getting brave he raised his arm taking Nina's hand up and twirled her. He watched her movement intently to flow with her and they continued in unison for the rest of the waltz until mother would call for attention once more.

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[member="Nina Heavenshield"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Walking around the room observing the Padawans, Coci the variances in them all. Her children assumed her greatly but more so she was happy to see their caring for one another, the protection given to the other. Zak seemed into it, maybe a little too much and wonder how Ryn was feeling about it all. But there are friendships forming between them all, the nature of dance to do so. Orihime had show great skill and talent with the feet as they all did to their levels and she hoped that they had learned the benefits of this, although this lesson has begun with a strong element of fun, it was time to get to business.

"Indeed it is Zak, so let us proceed to the next part of this lesson", Coci turned off the waltz music and moved to the center of the room. "Take up your sabers and form a line .. make sure to give plenty of space between you and the persons next to you".

Walking over to the bench, Coci picked up her lightsaber and checked the settings. "Make sure you have a low setting please". She positioned herself away from them before igniting her purple blade and stood in Stance. "Now I would like you to watch and when you are ready .. you are to join in as best you can, please do not concern yourselves with the form of the blade so much, concentrate on the feet. Slow and deliberate movements, imagine you standing opposite an invisible foe who mirrors your moves. I don't wish to see anyone showing off, if so I will ask you to move to the side and sit down. Now we shall start".

Coci's demonstration begun, each step she took placed with precision, her arms raised and began the form. (first part of the video below with the sword work)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP71sHZWn7U​

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[member="Zak Dymo"] | [member="Nina Heavenshield"] | [member="Ryn'Dhal"] | [member="Aston Jacobs"] | [member="Orihime Ike"]​

 

[Ryn'Dhal]

Zak, while his effort was good, and appreciated, only managed to ease the flare-up in the muscles around the shattered rib, and perhaps get a couple of the shards of bone to slip back into their rightful place. But, the masked padawan had spent plenty of time healing the wound the slug round had left in him, and sadly the shattered bone just wasn't quick enough to mend.

His own smile was returned to Zak, though he felt the sensation of being ill at-ease coming from the young Nautolan. Before they'd move into the next phase of the lesson, he'd kneel down and whisper to his smaller friend. "Thank you for trying. But, some wounds, even the Force can't hurry along as swiftly as we'd like." A golden eye would wink to Zak, before rising again, and moving away to give the other students ample room.

He'd watch Master Coci for a few moments, before realizing that his cloak would be a nuisance during this leg of the lesson. Moving off to the side of the room, he'd carefully remove his mask and cloak, revealing his feline features; long ears, twitching every which-way to gather as much information of his surroundings as possible, large, slit-pupil golden eyes, and even sharp fangs that showed as he grinned to Zak as he'd likely react to the sight. Beneath the robes he wore a simple short sleeve tunic (which showed just a few of his myriad maze of scars, the tips of which were poking only a few inches out the arm-holes, down his arms), loose trousers, soft training shoes, and a twin pair of lightsaber hilts, one on each hip.

Taking his position once again, he'd will one of his sabers, Balance, to drift from his hip into his outstretched hand. Ensuring it, and Order, were both set to their lowest possible setting, he'd observe Master Coci's movements, before igniting his blade with the customary snap-hiss, promptly emulating Master Coci's movements, mirroring her motions for a bit to get an idea of what she was wanting them to do.

Upon realizing what her intent was, he shifted his motions, instead performing his Soresu orbits, incorporating mock-blocks and mock-parries, deflecting an invisible opponents strikes in a calm, concise manner. He'd hoped this was what she was looking for, as he'd look to her, ears oriented directly at Master Coci, as he paused for feedback.

[member="Zak Dymo"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Nina Heavenshield"] | [member="Orihime Ike"] | [member="Aston Jacobs"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

Orihime looked at the one leave and go with his sister as she shrugged and lifting her arm up sniffed her armpit. "Nope smells like a spring." She looked at the one they had left her with and offered a haphazard smile while seeing the master say it was time for them to do footwork and she focused. Her pupils dilating as she watched and took the saber off her hip letting the force resonate in the crystals that made up the hilt. It extended to regular saber length without activating the emitters looking like a staff and the force empowering from her mother gave it a rosy glow when the molecular compression showed the shiny metal. Her eyes though were wide and unblinking as Orihime followed each movement and waited until it was their turn to follow and she went to work. Recalling and focusing as the memory enhancement told her what to do and her muscles were moving to preform as she remained aware of the others but blocked them out.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Finally!

The dance had ended and mother had moved the lesson to a more productive element as far as Theo was concerned. He did not understand why the need for the dance lessons in the first place save for making him uncomfortable. He let go of Nina and smiled moving away to find his own place once more. It was now he realised he was breathing again and a long puff of air issued from his lungs.

Not that he did not love Nina or anything like that, but still he had not wished for the closeness the dance demanded. He gave her a quick flash of a look just in case he had indirectly hurt her feelings and if needed he would make amends.

His saber set a the lower setting ignited, the white blade filling his sight. His eyes traveled along the full length from the carved hilt to the tip of the blade fizzling in the air. He watched his mother move with a tilt to the head, it was the first time Theo had seen his mother use a saber, her saber and the purple blade blurred before them as she moved with grace around the room. Mother was simply, mother. But before him now is the master and he watched with growing awe as it had always been about father.

Without realising it, Theo began to copy the movements with as much grace as an bantha but it was a start.

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[member="Nina Heavenshield"] | [member="Orihime Ike"] | [member="Ryn'Dhal"] | [member="Zak Dymo"] | [member="Aston Jacobs"]​

 

[Nina Heavenshield]

When Théo immediately stepped away from her as soon as the music stopped, Nina let out an inwards giggle. He'd done nothing to hurt her feelings; she knew full well he had felt uncomfortable dancing with her, even if it only lasted for a few minutes. Tormenting her brother herself was far more preferrable to watching someone else torment him, after all, and he did look so cute when all flustered and worked up. It reminded her of him as a toddler, when he'd shy away from so many of her attempts to dote on him.

As they all lined up and brandished their lightsabers, Nina switched hers on using the lowest setting and marvelled once more at the sunny hue of her Jedi weapon. To her it was akin to a beacon of hope, like the sun breaking through the clouds on a rainy day. Her brother's saber was more akin to moonlight; pure and eager, like the one wielding it. Watching her mother perform the various moves made her think her paint brush, dancing lightly across the canvas. It made things easier for her to process and interpret, and soon she found herself mimicking Coci's movements as best she could, albeit with her own touch of soft motions of a painter. Her feet just sort of followed suit.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Orihime Ike"] | [member="Ryn'Dhal"] | [member="Zak Dymo"] | [member="Aston Jacobs"]​