En Garde! [Open]

[Ariste Stark]

[Holodeck]

"Are you ready?"

Slipping the mask over her head, Ariste tapped on the black mesh for good measure, before slipping into her stance.
"Ready." She murmured. The second the other holo-person confirmed he was ready, the round started. Shifting her weight back, her eyes scanned him, picking up every little tell that he gave off. Retreating a few step, she gripped her foil, bouncing in place and waiting for the hologram to strike first.

Scattering backwards at the first strike, she countered by lunging forward, only to hear the satisfying clink of metal against metal. Another lunge brought her close enough to jab the tip of the blade into the man's chest. It only hit pure padding, though, as Vladimir backed off, realizing he was hit.

"Computer, freeze program." Ariste barked, voice muffled until she tugged her headgear off, shaking her hair out. Running her hand through the frizzy mess in vain, she balanced her sword against her leg for a moment so she could hold her mask. "Computer, raise difficulty level to advanced." She finally continued, untangling her fingers from her hair, and moving to loosely shove her mask back on, grabbing the hilt of the foil again. She didn't know how much longer the others would be; she'd invited whomever was interested to come join her, whether they wanted to practice or wanted to learn. But until anyone arrived, she would work up a sweat with her pre-programmed instructor, warm herself up so she didn't make a fool of herself.
Her little swordfight on the Athena had reminded her of her old love for fencing. So she'd decided to pick it up again, never knew when it would come in handy, and plus it was good exercise. God knew if she wasn't working on her robots, she was doing some sort of workout - fencing, boxing, kickboxing, or karate. Her energetic nature clearly showed through in her activities, as well as her fiery temper and love for beating things up.

Tucking her hair up, she instinctively ran her thumb over the scar left on her arm from the fight, feeling the material press against it. Shrugging it off, Ariste picked up her weapon, flipping her mask down, she muttered a quick 'computer, resume program'. Flashing a grin at Vladimir, she slipped back into En Garde, right foot forward and knees bent. Tightening her grip around the foil, she lifted it to point it at the hologram, squaring her shoulders.

"Ready?"

[James A. Hawke]

[Holodeck]

Hawke entered the room as he interrupted a training exercise.  He observed  Stark practicing.

"Ohh, I'm sorry to interrupt your training"  James said

He looked at the fencing and then responded "Ummm...what grip do you use?  You look like you are using a French Grip"  He mentioned.

[Ariste Stark]

[Holodeck]

Ariste didn't notice the door opening, nor someone standing behind her, as she lunged at the hologram, keeping her form tight and her guard up. When he spoke, however, she twisted around, and felt the jab of the foil in the back of her suit. "Computer, freeze program." She ordered, ignoring her loss because of her attention being diverted.

"Oh no, it's alright. You aren't interrupting anything majorly important." She assured him, pulling her mask off and tucking it under her arm. "Yeah, French grip. Do you fence?" She was curious about how he had noticed that right off the bat. It wasn't often you met someone who knew anything about fencing. It was an ancient sport, but one well-recorded for years and years, an ever-surviving descendant of sword fighting.

Resting her sword on her shoulder, she quirked a brow at James, nodding toward the frozen holoperson behind her. "You can give it a go if you want."

[James A. Hawke]

[Holodeck]

Ariste didn't notice the door opening, nor someone standing behind her, as she lunged at the hologram, keeping her form tight and her guard up. When he spoke, however, she twisted around, and felt the jab of the foil in the back of her suit. "Computer, freeze program." She ordered, ignoring her loss because of her attention being diverted.

"Oh no, it's alright. You aren't interrupting anything majorly important." She assured him, pulling her mask off and tucking it under her arm. "Yeah, French grip. Do you fence?" She was curious about how he had noticed that right off the bat. It wasn't often you met someone who knew anything about fencing. It was an ancient sport, but one well-recorded for years and years, an ever-surviving descendant of sword fighting.

Resting her sword on her shoulder, she quirked a brow at James, nodding toward the frozen holoperson behind her. "You can give it a go if you want."

James stood and watched he calmly responded "A little bit of fencing...I was more a Tennis player, but I did some fencing on my day, I am more a fan of the Vizconti grp, so I like to flick"

"I am always up for a challenge"  James said

"Computer, give me a Fencing Outfit, blade with Vizconti grip"  James ordered

Almost instantly, he appeared with a traditional white outfit.  A Helmet appeared into his left hand.  He began walking into the fencing strip and inquired the rules.  "So what rules or style do you want to play, Foil, Epee or Saber?"

He began stretching his legs a little "My dad insistent for lessons, he wanted to be a proper gentleman"

He waited for the answer to the style and then saluted Ariste with the blade.

[Ariste Stark]

"Oooh, Tennis. I love watching it, but my coordination for that is horrible." Scoffing, she stepped back, bowing deeply and motioning for him to take his stance.

"I was practicing my Foil, although I've done a bit of Saber as well." Ordering the computer to remove the Hologram, she herself decided to step onto the strip instead, poising the mask over her head but not pulling it down yet.
"My mother was the exact opposite. She wanted me to take proper etiquette, and learn how to ballroom dance, and all that fancy stuff. We would always get invited to fancy parties, so I could never been seen in my greasers and a tee-shirt." Rolling her eyes, she fastened her mask, picking up her 'sword'. "My father wanted me to take fencing though, because he thought I would enjoy it. Turns out, I did." She gave a cheeky grin from behind the mesh. Slipping into the proper stance, she relaxed her shoulders and sharpened her eye to watch for every little twitch of a movement.
"Ready?"

[James A. Hawke]

"Oooh, Tennis. I love watching it, but my coordination for that is horrible." Scoffing, she stepped back, bowing deeply and motioning for him to take his stance.

"I was practicing my Foil, although I've done a bit of Saber as well." Ordering the computer to remove the Hologram, she herself decided to step onto the strip instead, poising the mask over her head but not pulling it down yet.
"My mother was the exact opposite. She wanted me to take proper etiquette, and learn how to ballroom dance, and all that fancy stuff. We would always get invited to fancy parties, so I could never been seen in my greasers and a tee-shirt." Rolling her eyes, she fastened her mask, picking up her 'sword'. "My father wanted me to take fencing though, because he thought I would enjoy it. Turns out, I did." She gave a cheeky grin from behind the mesh. Slipping into the proper stance, she relaxed her shoulders and sharpened her eye to watch for every little twitch of a movement.
"Ready?"

James smiled as he listed to Ariste he responded with a kind tone "Yeah...I was going Pro, but I was an arrogant prick at the time and ...well that's for another story"

He approached the replicated foil and began holding it.  The weight was a little off than his custom blade but he would still flick around her shoulder if need to .   As she said her story James could not help but smile.  "It's seem like your family and mine should get together, looks like it would be interesting"

He placed his mask on his head and gave a big smile behind his mesh.  He placed his blade in the on guard position and placed himself on the fencing stance.  He looked at her for a second and decided.  He was going to go on the offensive first.

"Yeah, I'm ready"  James said.

[Ariste Stark]

There was a moment's break, before Ariste signaled to begin. She was immediately on the defensive, unsure of James' skill level or technique. She would hang back for a bit, see what her opponent would do, before hopefully going in for a strike.

Holding her blade close, Ariste dared him to lunge forward, as she prepared to retreat. Judging by his personality, he probably played his hands cautiously yet expertly and sneakily, unlike her normally boisterous and overpowering attitude, brute forcing her way through a challenge.
After a moment, Ariste dared to advance, and pulled her arm away from her body a bit, holding it more offensively. As if puffing up like a cat, to prove she wasn't a coward. Something about her actions taunted 'try me', as she narrowed her eyes at James.

[James A. Hawke]

There was a moment's break, before Ariste signaled to begin. She was immediately on the defensive, unsure of James' skill level or technique. She would hang back for a bit, see what her opponent would do, before hopefully going in for a strike.

Holding her blade close, Ariste dared him to lunge forward, as she prepared to retreat. Judging by his personality, he probably played his hands cautiously yet expertly and sneakily, unlike her normally boisterous and overpowering attitude, brute forcing her way through a challenge.
After a moment, Ariste dared to advance, and pulled her arm away from her body a bit, holding it more offensively. As if puffing up like a cat, to prove she wasn't a coward. Something about her actions taunted 'try me', as she narrowed her eyes at James.

James began the match as he looked at Aiste.  He first took a half step back to make sure he had distance to her.  From he initial stance and the way she retreated, James figured or guessed she was a defensive player.

The Commander, did not know what to make or her level of skill to.  He figured she was daring him to attack in order for her to do a read in his situation.  A Standard move and sometimes predictable, instead of opting with a standard beat attack and then go for the kill, James did something more daring or dangerous.

Using his blade he opted to attack her blade instead.  With all his speed, he tried to make contact with her blade, the next moves where in his muscle memory, James tried to attack the inside of her right area.  Using his blade he engaged and tried to trap with a semi circular motion or a binding move.  If successful he would try and get close to her as possible.    The move would have been called a binding 6, he would wait to see if her skill level was enough to counter it by resisting the urge to fight him but instead speeding the process and reset her blade in alignment while he was doing the half circle motion.

Most people were not used to fencer's that broke the cardinal rule of keeping distance.

"I bet you din't see that coming"  James said with a slight smirk on his face.

[Ariste Stark]

Ariste's eyes followed James' every movement, wary of the fact she didn't know her opponent. At least, not yet she didn't.
For a few moments they were both quiet, keeping their distances. Neither made a motion for the other, and Ariste simply waited for him to move first.

When he did, she jerked her blade to block, only to find he had never been aiming for her at the first place. Retreating quickly upon this realization, she just barely dodged a nick from his blade. Even so, he was far too close for comfort, and not letting up.
In a heartbeat, she had decided whether to attack or defend - the urge to attack while he was poised was great, but she would be leaving herself wide open. He already had his arm extended, he only needed to lunge to catch her while she was open. So instead she retreated to the edge of the mat, deflecting his rapidly spinning foil and internally hissing at cornering herself. She would just have to chase him back into his own territory in these next few moves.

Narrowing her eyes in mock-anger, she pouted slightly at him. "Aggressive player, I like it. Most people are too reserved to give me a run for my money." She responded, instead of confirming the fact that she hadn't been expecting it. Not in the slightest.

It was in the middle of that comment that that she advanced quickly, leading with her blade, twisted so that she could move it with only her wrist, instead of wasting precious time using her entire arm. But she wasn't attacking, per-se. If he would attack, she would swing her blade downwards to knock his away, then lunge for his right shoulder, leaving it up to whoever was quicker with their blade. Advancing, while still defending rather than attacking, a unique mix.
If he didn't attack though, she would simply chase him backward, gaining herself some ground. She couldn't let herself be pushed to the end of the mat, where she had no chance of retreating if he attacked again.