[whatever he starts to say, it's interrupted as stardust settles around them and they'll both experience a memory of trying to convince a sassy lost child to clean himself up in the stupidest way possible.]
[his smile is there, warm and fond as he thinks about it, even if there's something melancholy about his expression.]
He was a good kid, even if he definitely had an attitude. His parents weren't in the picture anymore, so... I'd like to think we took good care of him.
[ well, maybe they had a different answer, but. there's a shower of stardust, and:
The first thing you see is a young child rushing directly for you, yelling, "DIE!" at the top of his lungs. Despite being so small, the child's killing intent is intense, and he moves with a lot of speed, the (wooden) blade in his hand nearly a blur. Clearly, he may be young, but he's a natural talent.
None of this is really unfamiliar to you. You're calm if a little exasperated, muttering to yourself, "Do you have to say die? This is training...", as the child approaches you. Your posture doesn't change; you keep your hands behind your back, on your own training weapon.
Effortlessly, you dodges a powerful swipe with the weapon at your chin. The child yells and immediately strikes at you again, and you keep talking. "Yesterday, you were acting strange with the other students. Did you get into another fight?"
"They started it by teasing me!" the child says, loudly - interrupting himself with a "ha!" noise as he tries for another slice at you, as you dodge out of the way with no trouble. You are utterly at peace, utterly calm; your foot plants on the ground, and with one effortless turn, you're behind the child, and you give him a poke right between the shoulders with the training weapon, dropping him to the ground. The child yelps, surprised.
You scold him, but it's lightly. "You are my disciple. That sort of reckless violence isn't allowed here."
"...I didn't want him to go after me first," the child mutters, petulant, wiping his mouth as he rolls back over and up to a sitting position, staring at his sword.
You sigh. "In a nearly inevitable situation like that, if you just exercise violence, you're no better than a street brawler. The definition of justice is not always to swing your fist, first, but to do so when the time is right."
You look over your disciple - dusty, frowning, but staring up at you like you hold all the secrets to the world, and can't help but feel a little bit of exasperated fondness, as you offer him your hand.
"Why?" he asks, taking it.
"That is one of the reasons that I brought you here." you reply, quietly, brushing the dirt off of his robes once he's up, fussing a bit over them to make sure he's alright. "You have so much potential, if you'll just listen and learn."
...ah. Well. That was more than you really wanted to say. You shake your head, rising up to a standing position. "...well, preaching aside. Take up your wooden sword. Again. "
And as you look over your shoulder, you smile at him. "Will you stay a simple target, for those guys to bully you? Or will you grow your stamina, so you'll never lose again?"
The young disciple stares up at you. He looks...stunned, maybe by being believed in, maybe by the lesson, maybe both. You're never really sure what goes on in that head of his, and it's a long moment before he responds. "...I'm going to keep learning." he says, "Until I get good enough to beat you."
"Ah?" Amusement lights the little noise you make in response - because what a cheeky child your disciple is. You can't help it.
"I'm not as interested in my swordsmanship!" the child proclaims, foolishly, loudly, very suddenly, as he throws his wooden sword to the side and takes up a fighting pose. "Let's fight with our fists!"
Your mouth twitches, and for a moment, you're overwhelmed with pride. Your disciple is a fool, but... his potential is beyond even anything you've ever really imagined. He wants to fight, because he truly wants to grow stronger.
"Very good. Let's, then." you start, setting your sword back in your belt, and then add, warmly, "And if you lose to me, then we'll spend double time on sword form training, tomorrow."
The child roars and throws himself at you, and you chuckle a little to yourself. You'll be working him hard on his sword training, tomorrow.
...orion steps back a bit as the memory ends, but, doesn't say much beyond that. ]
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... yes. [ they clear their throat a bit, a little embarrassed. ]
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You did ask. [ ... and then, after a beat, a little gentler: ] ...Of course.
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[whatever he starts to say, it's interrupted as stardust settles around them and they'll both experience a memory of trying to convince a sassy lost child to clean himself up in the stupidest way possible.]
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orion's quiet for a moment as it finishes - just, sort of taking in what they've seen. well. heard?
and after a moment, they say: ]
... It sounded like effective parenting, to me.
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[his smile is there, warm and fond as he thinks about it, even if there's something melancholy about his expression.]
He was a good kid, even if he definitely had an attitude. His parents weren't in the picture anymore, so... I'd like to think we took good care of him.
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[ they say a little ruefully, folding their hands in front of themselves. ]
... but it does sound that way.
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[curious, as he tilts his head.]
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[ well, maybe they had a different answer, but. there's a shower of stardust, and:
...orion steps back a bit as the memory ends, but, doesn't say much beyond that. ]
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...Did you train a lot of people, before you started working here?
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they're quiet, for a longer moment, thinking. ]
... No, not really.
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[ they nod, a little stiffly. ]
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[apart from the beginning where they screamed die, but you know.]
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... maybe.
[ and then shift a little awkwardly, glancing away. ]
A handful, at least.
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Yeah, for sure. It seemed like you really got through to him towards the end, there, though.
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[ they say, after a moment, reaching up and rubbing the back of their neck. ]
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How so?
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[ ... ]
...fraught with contention, depending on the situation. From either side, I suppose.