futurology | video | username: pearl

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video | username: pearl

[Pearl was a little apprehensive at first to go ahead about this. But when she thought about it, this would be beneficial to many people here. Especially for people who were not used to missions, or even fighting for that matter.

Swallowing hard, Pearl lifts her head and sets her 'communicator' on a rock in the outskirts of the city. Out of harm's way. Once it was perfect, she starts.]

Greetings everyone of ALASTAIR. My name is Pearl, and I wanted to offer my assistance.

[In her hand, it looks to be a sword, held confidently. She bows in greeting to the jewel, shifting awkwardly. This was so different than what she's used to. Heck, she didn't know if it was even working.

Behind her, another 'Pearl' comes up behind her, with a sword as well, about to strike her over the head with it. But in one swift movement, the opposing Pearl falls to the ground, flickering. Pearl lowers her arm, the sword having penetrated the hologram, which fizzles out of existence altogether.]

I have experience when it comes to swordsmanship, and as well as experience with the use of a spear. I wanted to gather if there would be any interest for some training. We all come from many different backgrounds, myself included. I want to make sure everyone has a chance to defend themselves.

For now, I'm gauging interest. Also, if anyone else is interested in hosting some training as well. I don't... mean to be the 'head' of any group. I merely wish to help where I can. This would help immensely for what might be on the horizon for us.

If anyone has any questions, please let me know. And if you wish to speak to me in person, I'm just on the outskirts here.

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Gilgamesh.

[She nods in greeting but is taken aback by his comment.]

Pardon?

I thought you were simply something pretty to look at. I did not know you could hold your own in this way.

[And to his credit, he does sound genuinely apologetic. For once.]

I will face you again. Properly, this time. Respectfully, in the name of training.

[HA HA. If only you knew Gilgamesh. Her true origins were just that. But she wasn't just any Pearl. She wanted to prove she was just that. Something other than 'just a pearl'.]

I'm more than willing to give it another shot.

[Gilgamesh brightens visibly. Appears almost childlike in his glee, happy to have that bit of awkwardness glossed over.]

Excellent! Shall I come find you? I know just the sort of sword you might like...

[She shouldn't be surprised by that. After all, she did see a sample of his collection just a few days ago. The Gem nods.]

Of course you may. And I'd love to see what kind of sword you'll bring.

I'll be right over!

[Like this, he sounds a fraction of his age... treasure really did bring out the child in him at times.

Gilgamesh does not delay. He heads to the outskirts, as she described, and looks a little different from before—more youthful and adventurous, wearing only the bottom half of his armor. Over his shoulder he's swung a magnificent sword, forged of a fantastic metal that glows all the colors of the rainbow. Something to impress even a Gem.

Gilgamesh waves at Pearl and trots on over with pep in his step.]

There you are! I must say, you're doing something rather noble for the good of everyone. Though some of us need it less than others.

[No comment as to who. He grins, and the awkwardness from before seems to have disappeared outright, as he steps closer.]

I will gauge your lessons, then. What have you to teach me?

[Pearl turns to hear footsteps in the darkness and smiles, recognizing that blond hair. But he looks much more energetic, different from the sulking man she had seen a few days ago, over a little scratch. Since then, Pearl was able to sew up her clothing and the wound was healing.

Pearl opens her mouth to speak before her eyes glue themselves to the blade he has. The torches reflect light off it's brilliant surface, all of those colors... so elegant. When Gilgamesh speaks, it finally snaps her out of her daze. Pearl shrugs her shoulders]

I'm sure someone else would have offered the same thing eventually.

[The Gem nods and holds up her own sword, which looks plain in comparison to King of Heroes' own.]

First, I'd like to see how far along you are in your own training. I can only assume you have had much of it due to these wars you've spoke of before. After that, we can assess the next steps to take.

You're far too modest.

[As opposed to others who were not in the slightest. Gilgamesh does have to think for a moment on what training really meant to him; he was certainly a special case and he'd have to be careful not to simply overwhelm her like before. Practice could only carry you so far.

Gilgamesh backs up a few steps and presents his style—slashes here, slices there, all in a strange blend of fluid and frenzied. They are not the steps of a swordsman but rather those of a higher being who fought on a higher level. Powerful, but not exactly practiced. Strong, but not exactly solid, at least as far as basic mechanics went.

As with everything else, Gilgamesh seems to just do whatever he wants and adapts it as his form. Brilliant to witness, if a little strange.]

[Pearl rests the tip of her sword in the ground while she rests her hands on the pommel. She tilts her head, watching him show his style. The torches around them tremble and twitch at the waves of wind created by Gilgamesh's blade.

She does furrow her brow as she watches. He had the main idea, but everything around the edges? It was rough. All of those weapons she saw a few days ago. Perhaps he knew how to wield each of them, but never truly had the time to sit down and assess a single weapon for what it was worth. At least he had the fundamentals.

Her elbow rests on the pommel as she claps her hands with a gentle smile.]

Very good! Powerful movements. It really suits you, Gilgamesh.

[Pearl has the right of it. Gilgamesh enjoyed the advantage of numbers and absolute strength; he never had need for accuracy or adeptness when his Gate proved sufficient in mowing down whatever stood in his way. He's no swordsman nor a specialist by any means, only a peerless Servant who dispatched his foes with extreme prejudice.

Despite that massive ego of his, Gilgamesh appears to recognize Pearl has a deeper opinion on the matter and acknowledges its worth. He nods his head in recognition of her praise and steps forward again, looking particularly eager.]

Surely you've more to say than that. Do not worry; I shall accept your criticism without judgment. I will allow it.

Well..

[She rubs her chin.]

You have massive strength behind your swings. But sometimes too much strength could be your downfall. If you force yourself too much, and the opponent retaliates, the cooldown from your swing could leave you vulnerable. Using just enough strength is best to take fown your opponent.

[Pearl lifts her sword and twirld her other hand in the air dismissively.] Then again, that's just my opinion! I mean, I'm sure you have plenty of battle tactics under your belt. There's bound to be a few hundred things I could learn from you. If not, thousands!

[Being a King of Heroes and all that, he'a probably had much more experience than Pearl had. Facing down numerous enemies.]

[It's not really much of a criticism, is it? Even now, she's being kind and flattering him. It brings a small smile to his face and dulls his usually sharp tongue to something softer.]

I value your feedback, Pearl. It does matter.

[You matter. He stops just short of confessing as much. Who could ever look down upon such a pretty pearl? Woe be to the one he ever catches in the act and all the bloody pieces they will leave in, as all treasure was beautiful in his eyes.

Gilgamesh lifts his sword, too, and taps it against Pearl's.]

Then, I will exercise more caution this time. If you might show me...

[The tapping of metal causes Pearl to bristle. Settling herself into reality. Right. He wished to try again. And how could she say no to a formidable opponent? A king of all people.

Pearl nods and twirls her sword once in her hand, taking a few steps back to get some distance between them. She rests her other hand around the handle of the sword, taking on a battle stance.]

Very well, then.

[With a soft grunt, she dashes forward, soft and light on her feet. She brings one arm back, sword in hand, and aims for a downward slash across his chest.]

[Immediately, the pace has been differently from before. She takes him seriously; he treats her much the same. When she comes, he braces his heels into the ground and blocks the attack. He holds her there for a moment, and for a moment there is the hint of a flirtatious smile on his face, there and gone again in the space of a blink.]

Good.

[And with a push of his arm, he sends her back, then spins in place for a slash aimed at whatever opening he's created. But he's more mindful of force, applying just enough, and even if she were to get hit it would only cause a slight scratch rather than a gaping wound.

Still, he'd rather avoid anything serious. She cannot heal as he can. Treasure remained delicate.]

[She sees that smile and honestly it catches her off guard. The push sends her flying back a few yards. But she digs the back of her heels in the ground. She lifts her head just in time to bring her sword up to parry his attack. And she smiles. Just enough force. He's a quick learner.

The Gem pushes off Gilgamesh's sword, to send herself back before she bends doen low. She spins into the air, twirling almost before she brings her sword down towards the King of Heroes head.

She wasn't trying to really hurt him. She merely wished to push the limits. Just a little.]

[She's stubborn. Of course, he'd known that from the start, but he chuckles to see it at work here. It is a pretty smile for a pretty Gem, and when next she comes, there's playfulness in his movements; the tips of their blade meet and he swivels on his heel. He dances with her. He honors their battle with grace and fluid steps, with smoothness and agility inherent to the Archer class.

The length of his sword slides along the length of hers, and he pushes back again. Pushes forward, aims for her weapon rather than for her. Quick strikes. Elegant blows. He mimics her own style and takes to it well, gaining speed with every slice.]

[Pearl was used to brute tactics. Amethyst and Garney had a brash way going about fighting, and Pearl was used to such things. But when someone, besides her own holograms, match her pace. It was a different experience. Challenging almost.

Pearl does get pushed back, and she sees the sword coming in once more. She actually makes a running start for his sword's movements, to match them with her own. Responding to his 'lead' in this dance of theirs. Pearl twirls and tries to strike at different angles.]

You're catching on!

[She says, smiling through her movements.]

[Gilgamesh lives for the challenge, for pushing boundaries. Pearl has found a fair match in this regard; when she runs, he runs, too, and every strike at every angle is met with its equivalent. He has no doubts he could brutalize her if he so pleased, that he could summon forth a surge of strength to overcome her, but that isn't the point here.

No, what they were making here was art. The art of battle, of fair play. Step left, duck right. Aim up, block down. They are an admirable sight and even if her sword is plain, even if she is plain, he thinks her lovely all the same.

Gilgamesh grins and takes a daring swipe, just shy of her legs.]

It seems I have an excellent teacher to thank for that.

[She matches his every movement, her smile growing more confident, even feeling herself try different tactics, only to be met equally. A stalemate of sorts, but it has her adrenaline skyrocketing. Pearl carves into the air elegantly with slight flicks of the wrist, long strokes with her arms, meeting his blade with her own each time. A bit of sweat appears on her brow even as she continues.

Her eyes widen as his sword reaches out for her legs. Misjudging the distance, she hops backwards, to gain a bit of distance between them, and twirls on the tip of her foot, balancing effortlessly before she rests her feet both flat on the ground.]

Oh please, I haven't done much. [She's a little out of breath, rubbing the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. She sighs, almost dreamily.] I haven't had a duel like this in a long time.

[Who knew a mere pearl could match him this way? Of course, he'd argued from the start she wasn't just a pearl. Every gem had a unique cut and its own special shape, just as all treasure had its own appeal. And it is appealing, watching her twist and turn and dance with him. They could go on like for quite a while.

They could, or Gilgamesh could make it decidedly more interesting. He surges forward again, but this time his opposite hand makes a grab for her waist. It is not threatening, quite the opposite, dipping her low and bending her back as the tip of his blade lies poised at her throat as if to take her life. Not that it would.

He has only a boyish wink to offer her by the end, by way of apology.]

Does this mean I win?

[A+ Charisma strikes again.]

[That was. Very unexpected.

Pearl dips back, to avoid the blade but realizes her back is being supported and she looks up at Gilgamesh with wide eyes. She swallows, her neck almost nicking the blade before she lifts her free hand to gently edge the blade down and away from her neck. Her face has a bright blue hue to it, but she tries to brush it off, frowning.]

I wouldn't say that. This was a teaching session after all!

We can consider it... a draw. Yes.

A draw.

[Gilgamesh looks prepared to argue the point, but then thinks better of it and lets her go with a laugh. He stands back again, sword disappearing and hands clasping behind his back, and appears the very pinnacle of innocence. Just a handsome young man engaged in nothing surreptitious at all.

But Pearl should know by now it's very much a ruse. This man was only ever up to mischief.]

I shall accept that. Thank you for the lesson, Pearl.

[For her, a little bow of his head. He'll remember this.]

[Pearl stands up straight and dusts herself off with a small huff, her bright blue blush fading gradually. She steals a glance up at Gilgamesh before she dismisses her own sword, straightening out the non existent creases in her shirt.]

What was all that flattery for, hm?

Flattery?

[Cue poker face. And when you're 5,000 years dead, you've got time to make it a good one.]

I'm not certain I understand...

You know exactly what I mean!

[She bristles visibly and jabs a finger in his direction.]

What you did at the end there! I... It--! [It was something she wasn't used to. then again, she could be making a big deal out of nothing. She crosses her arms stubbornly and looks down at the oh so interesting ground, dimly lit by the torches nearby.]

Nevermind.

video | username: pearl

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