Beloved Duty(Desmond & Jonathan)

[Devon]

Desmond Chase was in the Beloved's training room, sharpening his weapons as well as his skills. He usually spent a lot of time here, as many hours as he could to stay out of his own home. Training helped him relieve stress and the duties he held as a knight helped to keep him focused. Desmond looked over his weapons, a hidden blade he kept attached to his wrist, throwing knives, a shortsword and a longsword. Picking up the longsword he wanted to the practice square and began working on his technique.

[Kender Bard]

While in the middle of his practice, Desmond was able to hear the sound of someone trying to approach. Jonathan wasn't good at stealth nor had he bothered to practice but he was curious how close he could get before Desmond heard him.

[Devon]

Desmond didn't bother to turn around, instead he stopped what he was doing and called out. "Do you need help or anything?"

[Kender Bard]

"Ah, I should have known I wouldn't have been able to take a Beloved by surprise," Jonathan said ruefully and walked more boldly up towards Desmond. "My name is Jonathan. I was wondering if you'd care for a spar."

[Devon]

Desmond smirked at the man and observed him to see if he was worth sparring at all. Jonathan seemed to have the build of a fighter at least, so Desmond would give him a chance. "I can't speak on behalf of the other Beloved, but I make stealth my specialty." Desmond put away his sword and went to fetch two wooden swords to use, tossing one to Jonathan he asked, "Are weapons fine with you or would you prefer hand to hand?"

[Kender Bard]

"I prefer weapons actually," Jonathan admitted as he hefted the sword and shifted his balance slightly. "I'm terrible at hand to hand. I don't have the body for brute strength and just don't practice my holds and throws enough to be competent at that."

[Devon]

((You just ninja'd the hell out of me with that post))
Desmond nodded and replied, "I've worked with my hands plenty enough, but I still prefer having a sword in my hand. Before we begin, I'm Desmond by the way."

[Kender Bard]

((Lol.. by the way Jonathan already introduced himself. It's Desmond who hasn't said his name.))

[Devon]

((Modified))

[Kender Bard]

Jonathan saluted with his mock sword and replied, "On your guard, then, Desmond." Rather than wait for the assassin to make the first strike, Jonathan launched into an immediate offense, bringing his sword down in a power slice at Desmond - he wanted to see how strongly Desmond could defend himself against a brutish frontal attack.

[Devon]

Desmond supported his sword with both of his hands and pushed back against Jonathan's strike. The Beloved Knight smirked and took a small step back before lunging forward with a swing at Jonathan's torso.

[Kender Bard]

Jonathan decided to display that he was more than some brute with a sword and elegantly parried the swing, then flicked his sword up up in an arc towards Desmond's face. Were they using live steel, such a repartee would do nothing more than leave a scratch should it hit; it was, generally, either an insulting counter or a way to draw first blood in a duel without committing serious injury.

[Devon]

Desmond smiled, he was definitely enjoying himself. Leaning his head back he managed to escape the worst of the damage, though there was a red line above his nose. Desmond brought his wooden sword in a downward slash at Jonathan and followed through, intending to ram his shoulder into Jonathan.

[Kender Bard]

Jonathan grunted at the action and staggered back a few steps, chuckling as he regained his balance. "Ah so you don't fight like a nobleman! All right - no holds bar here then." He seemed to grow fiercely pleased. He had not yet hit his 'stride' that made him fearsome to behold, and nor was he likely in a mere spar. "Have at you then. You're a man of worthy skill - my estimation of you rises!"

[Devon]

"I am barely a noble as it is, but that is something I'd only fully share with someone I felt was capable in combat," Desmond replied. Gripping his sword, he lunged at Jonathan with a flurry of attacks, his blade swung from left to right aiming to push Jonathan back, with a look of pure joy on his face Desmond lunged forward with his wooden blade.