gracefuldahlia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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spira_rp2013-10-30 01:13 am
gracefuldahlia) wrote in spira_rp2013-10-30 01:13 am
Entry tags:
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.
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.
no subject
It would be interesting to see what this new ability of his was, especially if he found it necessary to keep it from everybody else. Khamja was a dangerous collection of people to be associated with. That said, even if Marluxia was looking to re-master an ability he had apparently lost during the transition from their old lives to the one they had now on Spira, he was no weaker for it than he was before his decision to reclaim it.
Marluxia was still a capable Mage, even if he had to re-learn ... whatever this was, Lumi knew that. That meant that, as well as the temporary vulnerability of re-acquainting himself with an old skill, something that should be apparent only on the training field, he wanted to keep the nature of the ability he sought to regain from Khamja for other reasons.
"I will keep my silence," he said.
Marluxia being targeted by them for one reason or another would be almost as detrimental to his own position within the Clan as it would be to Marluxia's. He was curious about his reasoning, but he opted not to ask, nor to speculate.
no subject
Marluxia was forced to be the first to do so. That fact made him uncomfortable. If Lumi really wished, he could destroy Marluxia at his weakest, and Lumi was, when they sparred, inevitably going to see such opportunities.
That was, realistically speaking, the greater threat than Lumi running his mouth off. It was a pleasant change from working with Larxene.
"You have my gratitude," he said.
Still no question about what he was training, too, Marluxia noticed. Lumi's disinterest likely stemmed from a number of factors, one of them being that he'd see for himself anyway, and another being Lumi's well justified self confidence.
"You and Zexion are the only ones who currently know about this," Marluxia explained, quietly. "Zexion developed the technique, and has agreed to share the knowledge," Marluxia smirked faintly once more. Zexion was in need of allies, and Marluxia had found an opening, but protecting this information was in both their best interests. "The rest of the former Organisation are capable of it, but only Saix has thus far been witnessed making use of it." Which had been lucky for Marluxia. "Hopefully it will remain that way for some time." Time enough for Marluxia to master it himself, but should they run into any current members of Xigbar's reassembled Thirteenth Order, it would be best if the use of it did not come as a surprise to Lumi.
no subject
It didn't escape Lumi that Marluxia and Zexion, the new Ryoka, had been in discussion. That was certainly interesting, for it meant that Marluxia had made an ally of an old enemy. It was a turn out for the books, especially given what he knew about Organization XIII's past, but it was not something that he would openly concern himself with. Zexion would have to be careful, since Marluxia already had two allies, albeit one more trustworthy than the other, and Marluxia would have little reason to be wary around Zexion. It was an alliance of convenience that worked more in Marluxia's favour than otherwise.
Even so, it was an alliance that he would have to keep in mind. Post-Organization XIII politics weren't his main concern, but it would not do to forget that Marluxia's safety, and potentially his own, could be compromised, depending how things went. Still, he had a more immediate concern -- Marluxia's request.
"Will I require a weapon?" He asked, moving back onto the more pressing issue.
He had no idea what type of technique it was, but he had the ability to competently use a range of weapons, so it was prudent to ask.
no subject
He'd probably be unfamiliar with the style of combat, then, but Lumi was very adaptable in that regard, and at any rate, would not be at the disadvantage.
"Something which can defend against a bladed weapon," he said. Lumi was adept with numerous weapons, but some of them would be less suited to this task than others, "As well as attack." Up to now, Marluxia had concentrated on magical attacks; Lumi would need to know that was not the intention here.
no subject
That came as something of a relief. A bladed weapon he could deal with. Magic, less so. He nodded. Guns, while his preferred weapon, had an annoying tendency to run out of ammunition when you relied on them for long periods of time. As such, he felt it necessary to carry a back-up weapon or three, a sword among them. A sword, though not his favourite option, did afford him more reach than a dagger, and had more heft than a razor, if a less keen cutting edge.
A guaranteed sharp bite to the blade, thankfully, wouldn't be an issue in a training session.