[FIN]Chance Encounters (Rennal, Hong, open)

[Merik Dragmire]

"A conscience will get you killed as surely as a knife through the heart because if you let your conscience think for you, you aren't thinking at all. For instance you look at me and you think it would be dishonorable to attack because you have a sword whereas I am unarmed. But you know nothing about me and what I can do armed or unarmed..." the Gerudo said as he suddenly dashed forward, seeming to have just blinked from his original position to scant inches in front of Rennal, and punched at the lad's gut, and though it would still hurt Merik put a lot of effort into making it as weak a hit as possible.

[Rennal]

Rennal's training instincts kicked in immediately as he recalled his tutor's words: Never be caught off guard. Remain alert, do the dance of the sword whenever someone calls you upon it, even if he forces it. If you come unprepared, prepare to die. Beforehand, his tutor had caught him offguard, and it nearly cost him his head had his tutor not held back. He was never caught offguard again.

Rennal put his right palm in the way of Merik's hand and grabbed it with as much strength as he had, and twisted as hard as he could right away. His eyes darted around for any other sign that Merik would attack. And kept his other palm firmly on his sword should Merik decide to sparr anyways.

[Merik Dragmire]

"Not bad lad, not bad. Few have the reflexes to keep up when I want to move, though I'll admit I was a bit slower than I should have been...too much time at sea I suppose." Merik mused as he flexed his true strength and broke free easily, taking a couple steps away to let the boy relax a little. "However you're relying too much on what your eyes can see to dictate your actions. I punched and you blocked with your hand, you didn't consider for a second that I might have a weapon you didn't know about that could have just stabbed through your hand and into your guts. You have to consider all possibilities in the split second that you react to an attacker."

[Rennal]

Rennal soaked up the knowledge as he did back then. He took his left hand off his sword, and replaced it with his right hand. He gazed intently at Merik, letting his words settle. He nodded. Then he asked a ludicrous question. "Your bright red hair and your tanned skin means you're Gerudo. And if I learned correctly, one like you is only born once every century," he said. His eyes betrayed his piercing determination.

Just from the way he spoke, he recalled his tutor back at home. They were similar in many ways, but his tutor spoke as if swordplay was a dance. In a way it was, since your footwork had to be perfect for it to work. But not only was it a dance, he said that Rennal had to appear as a shadow. He was truly dedicated to the way of the blade. He saw it in Merik, and it made him admire the Gerudo King. So, without even thinking, he blurted, "I want to be your student."

[Merik Dragmire]

"I'm a few different Kings but I can't deny that "Gerudo King" is one of them." the Pirate replied after Rennal mentioned it. After the lad finished his request, Merik could help but start laughing.

"Unfortunately for you I don't take students. You sign up for my crew and you can get training from some of the best Pirates sailing the seas, Gerudo and otherwise. It's very rare that I teach anyone personally and when it happens its usually never more than a single lesson..." he stopped laughing and his expression grew serious once more. "I've got no problems with you joining up but if you do just know that the time will come, sooner than later, when you are going to have to kill and if the Knights ever take us in it'll be counted as cold-blooded murder. Could you accept that Iadar?"

[Rennal]

Rennal nodded, feeling a chance for himself open up. The Hylian Knights have been searching for him for goddesses knows how long, but they wouldn't expect to look in a band of pirates. And maybe, just maybe, he could see Jarreth again, if they return to his home by chance. He realized he'd have to harden up, but that wasn't anything he couldn't handle. After all, he had been making his way here for a long time, and he hadn't gotten caught yet.

Then he looked straight into Merik's eyes. "You know I'll never stop trying to be your student." It was true. Once Rennal wanted something, he stopped at nothing to get it.

[Merik Dragmire]

"'You can't always get what you want' I can never remember who said it but truer words were never spoken. Now the Defiant is docked at a hidden port on the far side of the desert unloading some supplies for my people still out there and it'll probably be a week before we're ready to set sail again. So go and clear up whatever business you have to. I'll be travelling all over the area over the next few days so if you wind up finished early set up camp on the edge of the desert and I'll grab you before heading in. Understood?" Merik said as he extended his hand to the young man.

[Rennal]

Rennal hesitated for a beat. What if he didn't have the talent for this? What if he was too uneducated? What if. What if. What if. He could hear his mothr telling him that he wouldn't be good at it, that he'd just get himself thrown overboard. He shrugged it off, took his hand off his sword, and grasped Merik's hand. "Understood."

[Merik Dragmire]

Merik gave the lad's hand a good shake and then released him.

"Excellent. Well now you can stay or go, for the moment your time is your own. I've got to finish my business with the very patient young lady." he said before adding in an undertone so as not to heard by her. "For some reason she's thinking she has to beat me in a match to gain a place in the crew, it never ceases to amaze me the length that some people think they have to go to to get in."

[Rennal]

Rennal chuckled. "Maybe it's because you're too good to be true, they feel that they have to prove themselves." His laugh turned to nervous as he realized without a doubt, that he was one of those people. Not to Merik, maybe, but to himself. He had everything to prove that he wasn't everything his mother told him he was. And he would prove that, being part of the crew.

Then he remembered - Lake Hylia. "Damn, I realize I DO have somewhere to go. I have a week, right? I'll be sure to be back by then, I'm going to Lake Hylia to see the crazy doctor there." He saluted Merik. "I'll be back on time!"

As he rushed off, sword and bag in hand, his boots leaving heavy footprints in the sand, he wondered how in the world he was going to avoid the Hylian Knights until then. They had a tendency to show up just when he didn't want them to.

[EXIT]

OoC: How did I do? =P

[Merik Dragmire]

Merik watched his newest recruit run off for Lake Hylia with a light chuckle.

"Damn kid's got no idea what he's getting into." he said as he turned to face the young woman behind him and was shocked to find her gone. "Now where did she disappear off to?"

After a fruitless search for the missing woman the Gerudo shrugged, redressed and played the Serenade of Sands on his flute. A few seconds later when Desertfury formed before him he climbed into the saddle and rode off inland.

[Exit and finish]

[Azler Wilder]

This thread has been Officially Finished!

Merik and Rennal received a 20 Rupee Finisher Reward!

Hong, unfortunately, didn't post enough, and didn't make an official exit, thus couldn't recieve the reward.

Thank you~