un: drenched kitten of heated purrs, audio

[jeoha]

[ There's a pause, as he remembers how to use the magic, and then his voice comes through - crisp, low, commanding. He has his Prince voice on and he doesn't even notice. ]

You must go for the head. Decapitation is best, if you can manage it. Caving in the skull second best. Slice open the throat, third. No fancy footwork, no finesse. Your first priority is to keep yourself from harm, so only go for the kill that you know you can take. If you can't take it, escape.

[ He pauses, breathes. ]

We have been told to kill them, if we can. If you cannot, come to me. I will teach you how to fight.

We do not have the luxury of being ignorant.

Comments

un: undaunted snake in lonely gardens

[descendency]

Shirt on or off, kitten?

he's so sadly used to being called kitten now...

[jeoha]

The more protection you have between you and their teeth, the better.

it's been like one day

[descendency]

No, during the lessons you're offering. Do you do them shirt on or off?

I'm trying to decide if I'll bother.

[jeoha]

[ The heaviest sigh. ]

Which would mean you would actually come and learn something?

[descendency]

Oh, kitten. I'm offended you have to ask.

[jeoha]

[ I lied. That wasn't the heaviest sigh. This one is. ]

Mingyu. This is important. You are comfortable now, but how comfortable will you be when they come to force us to move?

[descendency]

I'm never comfortable. I'd be a little more comfortable coming to lessons if you made the appropriate accommodations, however......

[ you can definitely hear the smug grin in his voice. ]

[handmaiden of unsheathed swords] audio posted:

[darkeststars]

Good advice.

[ His voice goes a little more dry ]

From what I've witnessed, explosives don't seem remiss either.

un: heart-fluttering... hummingbird

[downswing]

Footwork is efficiency. Finesse dignity.

We kill with honour.

[jeoha]

When you can afford to be heard.

I am not sure we have that luxury, either.

[jeoha]

There is no dignity when it comes to the infected.

Honour is ensuring you aren’t bitten, that you aren’t turned to feast on your friends.

[jeoha]

Will you come if I do so?

[ You make him so tired Mingyu, but he prefers you to not be undead. ]

[darkeststars]

Fair enough. We certainly may be smack in the middle of civilian territory, and occupied at that, but -- still sometimes one must work with the methods at hand.

You're a fighter, then? [ Noting down another among his mental tally of the refugees. ]

forever written

[downswing]

These creatures propagate so?

[jeoha]

Yes. Some of them do.

Some are made by men without morals, who kill and then resurrect them before the corpse can rot, to set them upon their enemies.

Or oppress their people.

Some— if one eats the flesh of a man who had been infected, or bitten, it creates a new breed. The creatures they turn into spread the plague rather than simply rendering you dead.

I cannot say which these are. But a bite wound is lethal in any case.

[downswing]

And so, you released them.

[jeoha]

Survival comes first, yes. But gun powder is precious, so use it wisely.

[ A pause. What a strange thought. What was he now? Not a prince. But what did that leave? ]

I am not a soldier.

But dire situations teach quickly.

[descendency]

[ you were already tired, don't blame your existential exhaustion on him. he's the most interesting thing to happen to you since the whole zombie plague mess. ]

With you being so sweet to me? How could I not?

[jeoha]

[ A deep sigh. ]

Unwittingly, yes.

Thus it falls to me to attempt to undo what I have done.

[jeoha]

[ Just because it is true, you don’t have to say it.

He nods, unseen, and sounds relieved. ]

Good. Do you know how to wield a sword?

[darkeststars]

[ 'Gun powder', interesting. He's learning all sorts of historical terms in this strange place. ]

Truer words were never spoken.

I am not quite a soldier, but the very next thing to it. If any of our number need practice with the sword, I suppose I might assist a bit, should you find your hands full.

[ It's been a few years since he touched something besides a lightsaber, but good to keep his hand in at fighting with something that has more heft to it. ]

[downswing]

Costly error.

[jeoha]

[ He nods, realizes he can’t be seen, and then says: ] Thank you.

I am unsure how many will need instruction, but extra hands are always helpful.

How may I address you?

[jeoha]

Yes. But not one I could have easily avoided. I could not leave living men behind.

Assumptions always bring the costliest mistakes. I will own mine.

[descendency]

I have a knife?