eachdraidh | video; both courts

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video; both courts

Are the women in this world and your own given as much opportunity to defend themselves as the men?

[ she doesn't wait for any answers, giving a humorless snort of laughter at the locket before continuing. it's not a directly related addition to her question, but it's certainly on the same train of thought: ]

Ridiculous that those already holding power are given the privilege of training to the highest levels of their skills, but those most in need of it are left to rely on the protection of others.

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Sort of. The opportunity is there, at least. Only some take advantage of it.

[Like his fiancee, who can take down men twice her size.]

Do you feel like you're being denied training here?

I've not asked. Maybe only a few new training partners I haven't yet met. My current one and I might need a change of pace.

[ her lips twitch. ]

What sort of weapons are you training on?

[Castle, despite being from 2014, is not that bad with a sword. He's not quite sure if he's good enough to train someone else, but he wants to try to help if he can.]

Hand-to-hand, mostly, since it's more helpful for my usual opponent. I've finally begun practicing with blindfolds or my hands bound. I've knowledge enough with a sword. Target practice for knives and bows in the dark if I'm bored, but I know I never miss. And I've just learned how to shoot a pistol.

[ her frustration and her questions come from a slightly different place than people might be assuming...! ]

[Apparently so. Castle doesn't seem to get it. Typical male.]

It sounds like you've had the ability to do some training at least. More than most people, honestly. My fiancee is excellent in hand-to-hand combat, though she's not here so that's not much help. And yes, pistols are very useful. Have you been able to use them outside of the Station?

[ katsa visibly perks up at the mention of his fiancee. interesting! ]

Yes. It fired well enough in the Caer Scima Ward, though I think I'll stick to bows. They're quieter and easier to load, and they can kill just the same.

[ she leans in a little ]

Your fiancee. Where did she learn combat? Are your skills the same?

Interesting. I'll have to look into that.

[He would be much more comfortable if he were able to use a pistol here. Granted whatever pistol it is is probably an extremely early prototype, but he knows he's better with a gun than a bow.]

My fiancee is a police officer. Kind of a soldier who helps keep the peace among citizens where I come from. [Castle knows not everyone has heard of the police.] She was trained for her job, and though I help her with her job, I'm not actually an officer, so no, I don't have the same training as her.

That's unusual. [ she tilts her head, thinking about this. ] And especially that you sound so comfortable with it. I hope to get a chance to meet her and ask more about what she does in her position.

What about you, though? If you've not the training, how do you help?

I like you to meet her too... though I'm torn about wanting her here.

[Being without Kate is like having a permanent pit in his stomach, but he doesn't know if she deserves to be stuck here too.]

I'm very comfortable with what she does. It's pretty attractive, actually. She's done some training with me and I've done some training with a sword. I'm moderately good at it.

[ Katsa claps a hand over her mouth—and fails completely at holding back and stifling her laughter. She'll take a moment to recover. Of all the things she never expected... ]

I've not met many men like you, but I like you just as much as any other. And I like her, too.

[Castle wonders what he's said that's funny and just kind of smiles along.]

Do the men where you come from not find strong women appealing?

Hm. Giddon proposed to me knowing what I am, but he expected that I would want to rely on his protection, bear his children, when I can outduel him with a toothpick to his sword. [ she's going to hold this grudge against him forever. ] The idea is appealing more than the reality, I imagine, of a woman who truly wishes to hold her own. Most women don't get the chance to be so in the same sense, for me to have any idea of what men find appealing beyond the size of their lands; though of course I know a few men who care otherwise.

[ small smile. there's at least one specific exception. ]

And what is it that you are?

[Some men don't mind a princess that can save herself. Castle has been around strong women his whole life, and overall finds them to be more appealing partners - in all senses of that word - than men.]

[ sigh. katsa brings the locket closer to her face, to the mismatched colors of her eyes: right eye blue, left eye green. no one's yet to tell her heterochromia isn't impossible anywhere else, and though the colors are a little brighter than most natural eyes hers still aren't nearly as strange as other gracelings' can be. ]

King Randa's lady Graceling, or I was at the time. His thug. A Graced fighter, though my true Grace comes at any threat to my survival, not just fighting. A woman who made it known she never intended marriage nor children. A bad sort of wife on all counts.

[Now that the video is closer, her mismatched eyes become obvious. It's uncommon in his world but not unheard of.]

It sounds like you've had quite a bit of training then.

[ shrug. ]

A Grace needs to be trained and controlled. And I like to find something new that will challenge me when I can.

So... it's mostly that you're looking for some kind of advanced training?

And nobody here has offered that to you?

[ another laugh, but no more malicious than the one before. katsa's smiling. ]

That's not it—I've more than enough training. I'm looking to teach.

Ohhh. [Thank you. He gets it now.] Do you feel like you're not able to have students here? Or does nobody want to be your student?

It's not that. [ she tilts her head, thinking. ] I hadn't really thought much to offer before, though I do the same at home. But those I've seen who have been doing the asking have been mostly women, even those raised around weapons and forges. I know well enough in my own home how rare it is to let a woman realize the full potential of her strength.

But I wouldn't limit anyone who wanted to learn. Have you been able to access all the things you need here, as well?

Honestly, a lot of what I want here I can't get. My world is a lot like The Station. [That's probably the easiest way to describe it.] But as far as opportunities, yeah. I think women in a lot of worlds are raised to believe that they should be the protected, not the protectors.

But not your fiancee. She looks after you.

We look after each other. There are other forms of protection besides physical.

[He's obviously more than willing to protect her physically if he needs to, though she can usually take care of herself.]

...Yes. [ she agrees easily enough, despite some distance in her response. it's clear she's thinking about something ] Protection you can provide for each other that the other might be able to give in return or might not, but with each other you're safe. And to refuse it would be arrogance.

Well. That I'm glad you both have.

Thank you. And I hope that you have someone chasing after you if you're as selfless as Kate is.

[She's come to see the value of herself and her life much more as the two of them have been together. She's less likely to do completely reckless things.]