spira_rp | I know it's a shame

It had not been hard to see how long it would have taken to devise a way to call on his scythe without Zexion's assistance. Marluxia had been better placed than others to learn, since mist manipulation and chakra control were already a part of his repertoire, but the process had still been slow at times, and frustrating. Zexion had guided where he could, and Marluxia had made sure not to let his frustration with the rate of progress show.

The first time he'd succeeded, and Graceful Dahlia had taken her familiar form and weight in his hand, there had been... comfort. It had felt as though a missing item had been returned to its proper place.

It had lasted a frustratingly short spell, and further practice had lengthened the time Marluxia could maintain the weapon by mere seconds. He required, according to Zexion, a sparring partner. Someone Marluxia could trust to push him in a fight, and help Marluxia train his control of the scythe under more trying circumstances.

He'd known the moment would come, of course, and it made Marluxia wary. The only person he could consider for such a role was Lumi, and Lumi was....

Marluxia did not like admitting his own weaknesses, but Lumi was in a league somewhat above Marluxia when it came to physical combat. They acted as partners, and Lumi was the closest thing to a partner that Marluxia had on Spira, but Lumi was the stronger. In some ways it was like having Larxene assist; Lumi was very much his own agent, who worked with Marluxia for his own purposes, but Lumi was more dangerous than Larxene because Larxene had been simple. Simple was not something that applied to Lumi, and Marluxia afforded Lumi the careful respect adopted by one who swims with sharks, which anyone who associated with Khamja did.

When it came time to bite the bullet, Marluxia ensured they were not in the Palace, or otherwise in range of anyone from Khamja. Though he was distantly aware that L likely had spies no matter where they went, L was not a problem. Aizen, Gin, and even Kuja, however, were not to become aware that Marluxia was currently at a disadvantage compared to the Order's members, or that he currently bore any difficulties. He was too strong to acknowledge a weakness, unlike Kadaj, who was too weak to be a real problem. Khamja was a dangerous place to occupy any of the intervening ground between those two points, and so Marluxia did not want the fact he was training in something to become public knowledge.

They'd gone on a journey to deal with a mark which, for them at least, would pose no real danger. It was in the Travel Agency, away from civilisation centres, and the Palace, that Marluxia had made mention of his need of a sparring partner to Lumi. Lumi could, if the mood so took him, erase Marluxia when he was vulnerable in such a session. Marluxia knew that, and yet Lumi was the only one Marluxia even trusted halfway. He was, at least, reasonably sure that Lumi would not take the opportunity to end him.

"It would require you to hold back," he said, knowing that holding back was something Lumi was more than capable of, but it was something Marluxia thought needed to be stressed. He wasn't sure if Lumi might realise how much he may have to hold back, although the possibility of sustaining injury was something Marluxia had made his peace with. "When it comes to combat prowess, I am good, but you are better," though he wasn't fond of admitting that, either, but Marluxia's advantage, up to now, had been in the magical aspects of combat, "and I require you to push me, but likely not yourself."

He hadn't told Lumi what ability he was trying to practice, as yet. That information need only come if Lumi seemed amenable to the idea of helping Marluxia train at all.

Threaded | Flat

Lumi had not given Marluxia's decision to go after a relatively easy Mark much thought. The Palace was, for many people, claustrophobic. It was large, yet underground. Granted, the building had some rather sprawling grounds attached, but even they were sealed within a canopy of rock and soil. A garden within a room, while still a garden, was nonetheless enclosed, even with a false sky above it.

He didn't mind being closed in. In fact, he preferred it. He did not suffer anxiety at the idea of open spaces, but he was more than accustomed to being trapped within a familiar set of walls for an extended stretch. Marluxia was not the same and it would not have been the first time that they had taken off on some small-time excursion in search of a Mark far beneath them, simply to get out of the Palace for a while without suspicion. They also always went as a pair, purely to give the impression of a united front, an inseparable partnership. Neither believed that Khamja were above trying to separate them to weaken them, for they were Ryoka both. Divide and conquer, as it were.

Marluxia had been unusually distracted during this trip. It was a subtle difference in his usual demeanour, but Lumi had not missed it. He had, however, not asked about it. They were partners, work partners. Marluxia's life was his own and Lumi was not given to inquiring as to his state of mind. His suspicions, however, were confirmed in the Travel Agency.

"You require a sparring partner," Lumi said, low and quiet, after listening to his request. Marluxia was ... nervous. That was understandable. "Very well."

Lumi hadn't voiced any further questions about what Marluxia intended, and Marluxia was disinclined to discuss unnecessary details. In any event, what Marluxia intended would be more easily demonstrated than discussed.

They'd come out of the way to spar. It wasn't unusual for two hunters, even less unusual for two people engaged in a hunt, and the local wildlife would not be an issue. The area was already clear, and with Lumi in the mix, it was likely to stay that way.

It may take several sessions, Marluxia knew. It had taken time to get this far, and would take more time still to get further. He hoped it would not take too long. He'd prefer not to require multiple journeys away from the Palace and the people therein or things may start to look suspicious; like he was trying to get away from the Palace. Permanent residence away from the Palace was in their long term best interests, but even that would result in close monitoring, and would be of no help with this. Best to throw everything at it and progress quickly; it would make life simpler in the long run, draining as it would be for now.

"Shall I dispense with the preamble and simply show you what I am training?" He asked, looking at Lumi when they were both satisfied that their location was suitable. The demonstration would answer more questions than words, after all.

His chakra was running hazardously low. It had taken little more than concentration to form Graceful Dahlia at first, but now it was growing harder. It had taken longer to form the scythe this time, and the previous effort had lost form faster.

He was tiring, but had forced himself to keep going a little longer. He didn't expect he'd be able to continue once the scythe lost its form again.

He defended against another strike from Lumi. He was doing more defending and less attacking now, too, finding less openings he could exploit.

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