Open Post: La savate et le chausson

[futaille]

Much to his satisfaction, Grantaire has been able to keep up with many of his hobbies unabated during his time at the mansion. Not all of them, though, mostly because they were ones he'd go to specific spots for, and with those spots not being here in addition to an abundance of his other hobbies, they more or less fell by the wayside.

However, a recent chat with Dionysus has reminded him that he has very much neglected his 'hitting things' level. Although he didn't find a crash test dummy, the thought being on his mind ended up in him stumbling upon a small gym tucked away, complete with some equipment including a standing punching bag.

So he's discarded his waistcoat and cravat over a bench and is practicing his savate¹.

¹French kickboxing! During R's time it was basically for streetfighting, and just beginning to get formalized, but there are some cool vintage videos on youtube (Here and here) to give the... vibe.

Comments

[futaille]

"What, are you offering?"

[futaille]

"You could have hidden talents!"

[futaille]

"Doesn't it just?"

[sagramore]

"I could, but I don't."

[futaille]

"Or at least not that particular hidden talent, I suppose."

[sagramore]

"What other hidden talents dost thou imagine I have?"

[futaille]

"If it's hidden well enough, I wouldn't be able to imagine. Can you juggle?"

[sagramore]

"No! That would be a good one, though."

[futaille]

"Let me think.... No, I know you can do that... that too.... I know you can't do that yet... All right, how about whittling?"

[lightbearinglord]

Like many before him, Lan Wangji has been drawn by the rhythmic sound of Grantaire's hands and feet making contact with the bag. It doesn't have the sound of combat -- that is a messier thing, scrambled and uneven. But it is unusual enough to interest him.

Characteristically, he doesn't say anything. He only stands in the doorway and watches, sharp-eyed in his observation of Grantaire's technique.

[futaille]

It takes a while before he notices Lan Wangji at all. He eventually steps away from the bag to grab a drink of water and happens to see him at the door. "Oh! Hello!"

[lightbearinglord]

Now that he has been noticed, Lan Wangji does bow, brief but respectful with it. "Young master Grantaire." He glances toward the punching bag, then back to Grantaire. "I was unaware you practiced hand-to-hand combat."

[futaille]

"Oh. Yes." He grabs his water bottle and takes a drink. "It makes sense that you wouldn't know, though, because this is the first I've practiced here, anyway."

[kadewest]

"Sure, if you don't mind that I'm wildly out of practice."

[futaille]

He laughs. "So am I, so we're even."

[sagramore]

"No! That would be useful, though. Actually, I have an idea -- thou shouldst teach me a talent from thine own time that no one would suspect, so I can surprise everyone."

[futaille]

"Huh. Let me think. I'm not sure of any talents I have that you don't."

[kadewest]

"The last time I fought with any regularity," Kade say, conversationally, as he comes the rest of the way into the room, "I was the thirteen-year-old general of one of the armies for the fairy Court of the Rainbow Princess."

[sagramore]

"I just saw one."

[futaille]

Grantaire thinks that over for a moment. "You might be slightly more out of practice than I am."

[futaille]

"Oh. Does that even count? I would have thought you know how to hit people."

[sagramore]

"I know how to hit people in mine own way. Teach me thine."

[futaille]

He laughs a little. "Fair. Although I suppose savate is a bit more kicking than hitting."

[sagramore]

"Even better. I'm painfully lacking in kicking knowledge."

[futaille]

"Then I shall make you the terror of shins everywhere."