Chapter Text
“Here it is!” Lace said with joy, arms wide open.
A fencing training room Lace was trained in. Quite a large room, Hornet thought, makes sense. It was very dim due to the lights outside going dim and they were very little platforms in the room. “Hm.” she hummed.
“Come get in, get in.” Lace commanded softly. She was thrilled and filled with excitement to fence with Hornet. Though, Hornet isn’t too fond of the activity. She really doesn’t see why fencers would fight for no real reason. Fighting in her viewpoint was a serious thing, and should be used for protection, self defense, and hunting. But she knew Lace really enjoyed it, so she decided to give it a shot.
Hornet looked over to the side to see helmets hanging on racks with swords besides them. “Uh...Shouldn’t we wear any armor for this? There’s equipment over here.” She questioned.
“I have my own,” Lace answered. “Though, I don’t usually wear it all the time when I’m practicing alone. If you want to wear any armor over there, you can.”
She didn’t, though. She has fought many foes before without protection. Wearing armor just for ‘practice’ would be rather pointless. “Though, if I were you, I wouldn’t use your needle for this.” Lace noted, putting down her pack with her armor inside.
“Why not?” Hornet asked.
“Your needle is a little too...I guess powerful for this. I suggest using any of the swords over there just so your weapon doesn’t do anything funny. Don’t worry, though, I’m not using my pin, either.” Lace explained.
Hornet let out a soft huff and placed her needle against the wall. She went over to see what sword was the closest to her needle while Lace was putting on her armor. Hornet chose a Sabre sword, and she examined the blade. “God this thing is thin.” She whispered to herself.
“Hornet!” Lace called.
“Hm?”
She turned to see that Lace was dressed in gilded gold, yet light armor. She wore fancy, swirly cups for the horns of her hat, a chestplate and shoulder pads, gloves, and boots.
“Ta-da!” Lace said as she did a little twirl. “What do you think? Safe enough?”
Hornet always thought Lace looked gorgeous in gold. It really made her stand out and it suited her, too. It was one of Lace’s favorite colors as well. “Hmph, cute.” She answered with a small smirk. Lace let out a giggle before going over to the swords to grab one of them. She chose the Epee, her favorite. “Ready?” she asked. “Yeah.” Hornet answered.
They went over to one of the platforms and stood side by side. “I’m sure you’re aware of some of the bare basics of fencing, no?” Lace questioned. “I think so?” Hornet answered, but not so sure about it.
“You know, like lunging, parrying, riposteing, simple stuff,”
“Oh, yeah yeah.”
“Do you know how to coupe?”
“Coupe?”
Lace took a deep breath, now seeing where she can start. “Ok, so,” she said as she walked over to face Hornet. “The coupe, which is also called the cut-over, is a simple, quick movement where you lift your point above your opponent’s point so that your weapon arm can extend to threaten your opponent.” she explained. “So, uh… hold your blade up for me.”
Hornet held up her blade, but not really any position or anything. Lace backed up so she could raise hers. “So, if I were to see an opposite side, I would cut over like this,” Lace then hovered her blade to the other side of Hornet’s. “And I would thrust my blade at my opponent like this.” She then lightly thrusted the point of her sword towards Hornet’s chest. She pulled back, “That’s pretty much it, actually. Just cut over, beat, and thrust.”
“Ooh ok,” Hornet responded while nodding. “Are you familiar with that move or is it new to you?” Lace asked her.
“It’s new,” Hornet answered. “It looks rather simple compared to the things I have been taught before.” She kept imitating a cut-over as if there was a blade in front of her as she spoke.
“Why not give it a go on me, hm?” Lace suggested while positioning herself and raising her blade. Hornet nodded and tried to copy Lace’s stance.
She performed another cut-over, lightly tapped Lace’s blade with hers, and thrusted it towards Lace’s chestplate. “Like that?” She spoke.
“Yeah, like that!” Lace answered. “Can you perform another for me?”
“Sure,” Hornet said softly. But before she could even end her cut-over, Lace then tried to block her thrust, leading their swords to push and pull against each other and dragging Hornet a little closer to Lace. Their swords freed themselves, but Hornet was still, to then look up at Lace, who then grinned and giggled.
“Eh-What was that for?! What move was that?!” Hornet stuttered. Lace continued to giggle.
“I don’t know! I just thought you’d do something you knew how to do.”
Hornet brought herself back up to then try and hack at Lace with her sword, but Lace blocked her attack. Hornet pushed herself against her sword, which as well pushed and pinned Lace into the wall.
“Is this something?” Hornet said, yet not 100% sure as to where she was going with this.
Lace smirked, “You’re a fast learner.”
“How so?”
“I never seen you do something like this before.”
She wasn’t wrong. Hornet barely pinned anyone down and was up close in their face. Odd, she thought to herself. She hummed, allowing Lace to take an advantage to push her off. Lace went around her and raise her blade at her once more.
“Shall we continue or do you have more tricks up your sleeve?” Lace said with a smirk.
Hornet giggled softly, also raising her blade. “Guess we’ll have to find out.”
Lace grinned wider, knowing the fun that was coming their way.