Masyaf - Sunny Days (Open)

OOC Message~:

The sun shined down upon the mountainous region of the perfect Holy Land...perhaps it wasn't all holy in the years of the third crusade, the battles of religion and conflicted opinions.
It was no place for an Englishman- But an Norman Keek was no mere Englishmen. He had never seen his native lands- and spent his entire life here; Masyaf.
While the flowers rose up to greet the sun, children ran past adults with large smiles, mothers care-taking and washing while the men were working or speaking to one another in perfect harmony.
Not everyone in this town was white-robed and hooded. A fact that Norman liked to keep close to his heart....it gave him more reason to defend this land.
Currently, Norman was sat cross legged on an extremely thin stone wall, chewing an apple, having a watchful eye over the people.
It wasn't a rare sight....rather common. Norman kept his friends close.

{What will today's fate bring?} the foreign assassin thought to himself, looking at his half eaten apple.

A few weeks after the events of "A Bit of a Run-in"...

Akilah has finally had a full recovery of her shoulder and is now able to use her arm with ease. Something she was glad about when she got the news. At the moment, she was busy in the courtyard, observing the various combat maneuvers. Her hood was down, allowing her hair to flow. She was one of the few female Assassins here in Masyaf. She was proud of that, though. As there are brothers, there are sisters. Sure, that time of the month stops her from doing field work but it really doesn't stop her from taking time to think of various strategies. Fierce at work, soft as felt on break; making her an all around socialite.

Norman looked up in wonder at the sky, thoughtful and looking dreamily at exotic birds flying overhead. The world never ceased to amaze him.
{I might see England one day} Norman's thought clouded him. {Maybe if I train well enough, I'll be able to!}
Looking down from his dream trance, he was faced with a grey robed man whom looked very much in need of new clothes. "Spa-Spare a few coins, sir..?" the old beggar asked in his native tongue. It took a moment for Norman to process what he just said before holding out a few joins with a painted smile on his face, hopping off the wall, throwing the seeds of the apple away.
He begun his hike up the hill into Masyaf Castle.

Entering, he almost right away saw the training going on and approached with his hands by his sides. He didn't look like someone who was going to help, nor someone who was going to cause trouble; an odd sight, since most would simply judge someone before they even got there.
He gave a small wave to the female Assassin.
Why? ...Kindness, perhaps. It wasn't anything but a mere wave, but there was meaning behind all Norman's actions. His skin tone would be extremely different from everyone else, being English as he was.
He leaned against a wall, not too far away, now also watching, hoping he might learn a thing or two. A few other Assassin's whom were watching from a distance at another angle would chuckle and giggle like idiots at him, thinking he was up to no good.

At the corner of her eye, a fellow Assassin gave a wave. His skin was different but the color didn't matter to her. One shouldn't be quick to judge. Akilah returned the greeting with a hand on her heart and a bow as a sign of respect along with a warm smile. As the other began to head off to watch, she heard a few chuckles and giggles nearby. She didn't know why but she did know it was a distraction. Akilah made a "settle down" gesture to the giggling Assassins in a way that should tell them to focus on the training.

{This....Technique seems rather ... extreme.}
His eyes widened a little watching what appeared to be a mix of agility and attacks; it was very hard for his mind to focus on the movements when they moved so quickly. Even if someone was there explaining it, to Norman, the only way to learn is through physical activity.
At least...that's how he and his father fought and learnt.
As a baby would learn by watching others walk, it too shall walk. Birds would fly and fish would swim.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he sighed at the negative thought.
{Cheerful, thoughts! Cheerful! ...If I have a problem, speak up!}
Blinking at his own thoughts, he gave it a short consideration. It didn't take long for him to speak up, just a few more minutes of watching the motions over and over, until he finally felt confident with himself that he could try something as extreme at this out.
"May I try this technique with a physical attempt?" Norman asked with a soft tone, his accent coming through even when he speaks their language. It was extremely difficult to conceal such an accent, so in the end, he just gave up. "I would rather learn from a thousand failures in training then a single failure ending my life, I hope you understand~"

"A wise choice. But I'm not the one in charge of today's training. You should go ask the one who is." Akilah turned to look at the combat trainer to help give direction. She didn't really mind the accent slip. As long as the sentence cam across, things were okay.

{Not in charge of todays? So she will be in charge in the future, or was in the past? I knew she looked like a commanding figure..}
Norman smiled and gave a small nod, walking forward and breathing out. The mentor heard him the first time and gave a brief nod of understanding, allowing him to take the attacking pose. He backed off, the mentor, Norman taking his place.
Before him was a very agile Assassin, perhaps much faster then he was. But he wasn't prepared to lose a chance of training. He lowered down, getting stance closer to the floor.
The "opponent" nodded.
Norman, swift on his feet, charged at the Assassin with great speed, his blade out behind him, exactly as showed...he leaped into the air to take him down, quite different from Norman's own tactic of "longsword swish swish stab."
Laughter followed from surrounding Assassins.
His opponent simply ducked, for Norman wasn't fast enough; his face landing down in the dirt. Even the mentor smirked, but it was only to be expected. Didn't stop the others from laughing.
The Englishman banged hit fist against the floor.
"Bugger" he spoke in English.

"Enough! Enough!" Akilah exclaimed over the laughter. "One mustn't be quick to judge! Even if he is a foreigner, he is still a BROTHER. Show some respect to your fellow Assassin and accept him like if he was of our ethnicity! If you can't accept that, then you might as well be asking for a civil war!"

Laughter died down before dying entirely. That did the job.
Standing, Norman really didn't know what to say, dusting off his sleeve before giving her a small nod in thanks, quite speechless. The other bickered a little. One or two waltz off.
Breathing out, the "opponent" nodded to the Englishman again and Norman sighed.
Sprinting at the Assassin once again, the ground slammed with noise every step he made, leaping into the air, blade appearing, Norman failing, falling...thud.
He got a little closer this time, but that was just about it.
"Again" the smirking mentor, whom was most interested in the sudden speech from Akilah, said clearly.
Getting up quicker this time, Norman grunted and rubbed his shoulder, not exactly pleased with himself. A sister just had to speak up for him. Why couldn't he speak up himself? Was he a coward? Did he get a laugh out of his failure also? The cycle began again when the opponent nodded.
It was destined to keep happening and happening.
Norman kept failing, the same way each time. The whole running up on someone and stabbing them with a hidden blade when they could clearly see you made no sense to him; so his body didn't make sense of it either. It may have been common knowledge to the Assassin's that this Englishman was a longsword wielder, just like his father. If he was to use the hidden blade, he would use it when hidden. But running up on someone?
That's a longsword's job.

Leave it to the fierce tactician to settle things down. She returned the small nod with another small nod and a smile that spoke with respect. Akilah was known to be aggressive when the others weren't really in order. With a moment like this, no one really expected her to be the one who really supported those of different skins. But even something this small could spark something quite large. Akilah is aware of that and knows how to plan ahead. She watched the Englishman practice the technique various times. He may end up failing but, like he said, failing in training is much more better than failing in battle and losing his life.

Falling to the floor for what appears the 100th time, he got up, dusting whatever dirt that didn't stick to him off then grunted, becoming slowly more uncalm.
He looked over the smirking mentor. "Mentor" he said slowly. "Surely if a foe was stood where my brother is stood now, it would be much easier to attack with a more larger weapon?"
The mentor nodded. "Indeed, but what happens when you are unarmed or disarmed?"
Norman had to admit, for a grinning arse, he was a clever mentor. Fiercely, he charged once more, not letting up, at his brother. Sprinting, ground shaking, blade out, leaping-
The Englishman landed, but not on the floor; on his brother, blade out, inches away from his neck. Breathing out, he stood up, the blade went back in. He held an arm out, which was grabbed and pulled his brother up.
"Got there in the end, didn't I?"

After the mentor was done, shortly after a thousand attempts of Norman failing, the technique was shown a different way...making what Norman just did pointless.
The sun was still shining down on the mountain, and when the mentor walked off, the Englishman slowly approached the female and gave a small smile, putting a hand on his heart and doing the little funny bow~ At least it was funny in Norman's mind.
"I wish to thank you~...If you'll allow me. Don't know why I didn't stand up for myself...forgive me for allowing you to take that place for me. . .you...really didn't have to."

"When one isn't able, another should play the part. When it comes from me, one should lend an ear. Just from one person like you would have small effect. Even if you did try to have a say in it all, they would still continue. An endless cycle. To have reinforcement to back you up is a wise choice when it comes to morale." Akilah gently patted the other's shoulder in understanding. After that, she gestured a handshake with the same hand. A proper introduction is in order. "Akilah Samara."

"Leo--Norman Keek. My name is Norman Keek" he assures, shaking her hand gently with a growing smile. "I am of English breed...though I've never seen my homeland. I hope one day to travel there on a quest of sorts, but one can dream; and so I have been for thirty-seven years."
He chuckled and leaned against the stone with one shoulder. "I am the very definition of one endless cycle, Madame Samara~"

"I see... So it is a matter of discrimination when it comes to you. My apologies that you have to go through this." Akilah gave Norman a warm smile once more, giving some empathy. "When I first joined the Assassins, many were judging me because of my gender. I understand that my breasts can get in the way but that doesn't stop me. Just a few days after my initiation, I was given a task to kill a Templar scout to prevent any of our plans from reaching the enemy. I succeeded in the task , leaving my fellow brothers in disbelief. A week after, I was told to formulate a route through a temple so that a few Assassins would reach their destination. One seemed to disagree so I ended up giving him a rather... Open lecture. That kept him quiet before they headed out. I'm afraid I was loud during that speech that I'm sure my voice has reach the Assassins outside of the study. After that, they were silent." Oh Akilah. You managed to keep Altair's mouth shut before that one mission? Bravo! Wait, YOU were the one that planned the path through Solomon's Temple?! Must have been Malik's suggestion to go to you. Bravo again!

OOC Note:

He blinked. "Bloody 'ell..."
Norman rubbed the back of his head, falling silent for a time. What could he possibly say to that? Even saying 'congratulations' made him sound like a fool. Perhaps saying 'wow' was not needed; his face gave away that he was a bit surprised.
"That's....Quite an achievement.." he said slowly, quickly making up a sentence to follow on. "..So you are an able fighter and planner....Would you care to duel to show me what you say is not a work of fantasy?~"
It was a genuine question, Norman had a calm smile as always. Though his weaponry was slightly different then every other Assassin....that longsword sheathed on his belt looked quite out the ordinary, it was more of a Templar weapon if anything.

"Very well." Akilah took out her sword from the sheath on her back and began to walk towards the training ring. She turned her head to Norman and added, "Shall we?" It's been a while since she was challenged to a duel. And it's good that it's going on at home. Outside of Masyaf and the two would be on a run.

The Englishman hopped into the arena and smiled at her, unsheathing his longsword. It was the size of half his own body, shining steel reflected the sun onto the ground. "We shall indeed~"
Taking a step forward, he held his own sword vertical in a defense, he draws closer to her with a calm smile and focusing eyes. It was clear 37 odd years of swordplay would pay off. Not many people are blessed to keep fighting that long...but as he said, it's just an endless cycle with him.
"Knives and darts don't get far sometimes. So they tell me to come in. With armour and sword."

"A foreign yet useful concept to consider. An advantage to have you here in the Brotherhood as you have unfamiliar yet interesting ways of fighting taught from your land of heritage."
Akilah thought quick yet steadily to find a way to break his defense. She could use her free arm to attempt to swat the arm away, she could attempt to break the defense with her sword by swinging it, sliding it along the other sword, and when the other falls back attempt to strike, or she could go for a weak spot like the legs. Akilah decided with the second option to keep things fair. She had the look on her face that says "Take it easy to start off. As we go on, we will advance in strategy."

"Not-Nothing foreign about ...
His words were cut off by a rather quick and powerful attempt on his weaker spots; his knees, his elbows, his shoulders. There was flaws with this. For now, he had no armour on, but it was clear from his movements that he normally does. . .for he swung slower then he should have, and for someone swinging slow, they are bloody fast defense strikes.
When blades went to his feet, his sword swung down, blocking all possible ways of stabbing or swinging...when his sword was rendered useless, he'd jump back and avoid the strike all together.
His shoulders and elbows? Raising his sword and clashing both blades together made a good sight for a tiny crowd they had, though the cycle had it that Norman would always make a better defense if she continued attacking the way she did.
"...Armour and longsword, Lady Samara~ Just that one fights with art and beauty while the other rushes in and thinks later, see?~"
Everytime he said her name, it seemed, he'd pick out a different formality.

There was a stalemate at this point. How will she make the strike? She had an idea, the next counter she would do, she will spin around to end up behind Norman and strike from behind and before he has time to react she can grab his arm and throw him to the ground! It may not work be she'll try. She's always been a novice at combat to the point even where she had Malik teach her with his only arm. Although the fact that he still works well with only one arm is admirable, he does have points. But back to Norman. "But there will be those who fight both ways! You must always consider both sides of the story before you finish the book!"

"I was never much of a reader!" He laughed.
Norman didn't expect this attack; it came as a surprise to him, but while his mind would easily be occupied, his body was never so often put on hold.
He wouldn't be able to turn; there was no time...the sword was heavy enough. Instead, it was so much easier to dive forward, roll and twist, facing her again with a calm smile.
"Clever~ But my weakness isn't speed. The game is- you need to figure out my weakness to defeat me~ If not, you shall be fighting a wall of steel, not flesh and blood."

"And perhaps you will learn from your weakness." She was thinking of it the entire battle. Was it the combat? The movements? Maybe it's the stance. His legs were free. Akilah had one more plan. Go for a leg sweep, grab the ankles, and toss him to the ground. "One's roots must always hold the trunk." The plan went into action.

"...Grah!"
His only weakness, when not using bows, arrows, throwing knives ... his stance. When in armour, there wasn't a problem! No one can attack through a thick sheet of steel; he'd cut their heads off first! But this was different. She attacked and his sight looked into the blue sky, his feet feeling no surface..
Then he hit the ground with a large 'thud', saying nothing, making no sound.
After a few seconds, he did make the lame "ow."
"I would clap but my hand is crushed under the weight of my obese body" he chuckled...Norman was far from fat, though.

And with that, Akilah sheathed her sword and lent a hand to help him up. "You still did well, brother. But you still have room for improvement." So does she, but not at the moment. A duel has been won and she has already learned enough from this for today.

"If 37 years of fighting doesn't do me justice, I don't know what will, Miss Samara." Taking her hand softly, he was pulled up. He smiled and put a hand over his heart and did a little funny bow (it never looked right when he did it) in thanks after being lifted up.
"If you ever need aid, don't hesitate to call upon me. I'm the biggest distraction a Templar will ever see before someone drives a knife in the back of his head."
He gave a small sigh, as if he never wished to say that...or even imagine the sight in his mind.