MTMTE. Terra. Bushi

[dens_extra_pups]

Drift: *outside, next to where the Lost Light is parked. Is practicing her non-weapons forms before everybody else can be up and about in the morning. Terra is quiet in the morning, and nobody has disturbed her since she started her warm-up*

black bot: *spots the motion in the quiet square and goes to investigate. Is surprised to see the markings on the sword the white bot is wearing on their back, and curious about where they got it* *strides over and cheerfully hails the bot* Hey, Bushi, do you know how to use that big stick?

Drift: *looks up from contemplating what weapons form she wants to practice* "Bushi", huh? *yes, she did spend some time in Japan, and even downloaded a language pack* I take it you know what "Bushi" means? *small grin*

black bot: *answering grin is friendly and cheerful* "Fighting Knight." *golden eyes twinkle* Or are you just holding the stick for a friend?

Drift: *chuckles* It's another word for samurai... And the sword is mine. I do know how to use it.

black bot: *perks and then reaches back and pulls out a sword with similar markings, but of a different style, then holds it so that the white bot can see it*

Drift: *blinks* Were you part of the Circle of Light as well?

black bot: My teacher was. But he never told me much about it. *turns his sword and studies it*

Drift: *slight frown* How long ago was he part of the Circle?

black bot: *shakes his head slowly* I can't tell you that. I don't know.

Drift: Then it was before I joined... *small nod* *taking a chance* What forms do you know?

black bot: *grin returns, and then he's bowing and flashing into motion, his every move full of controlled power and grace as he teases her to join him in the dance*

Drift: *bows politely and will join the bot in the dance, graceful and focused as she moves*

black bot: *moves with much more ease than his burly chest would suggest. His feet barely seem to touch the ground as he answers move for move. Grin is softer now. It's clear that he loves what he's doing*

Drift: *there are moments when it seems as though she's hovering as she moves through the forms with practiced ease. She's relaxed and calm, and is clearly enjoying herself*

black bot: *very subtle shift in his stance indicates that he's inviting her to change from weaving their moves together to sparring*

Drift: *smoothly transitions from weaving moves together to sparring. Will keep some attention on the other's movements, some on her own reactions, and the rest on her surroundings*

black bot: *smile growing as he tests the strengths and weaknesses of the stranger, and gently and carefully corrects one form without a word*

Drift: *accepts the guidance without complaint, is also testing the skill of the black bot*

black bot: *checks himself as he sees her face crease with confusion, and smoothly returns to what he's already found that she knows. Then once more sees the confusion when he introduces something that he's learned is essential, and so, by gentle movement of sword he starts teaching her the basics of it*

Drift: *quietly breaks the silence* What is this form called?

black bot: *voice mellow* Flying serpent. *short head jerk absently indicates the robotic life forms flying overhead with the fluffy wyvrns and other creatures*

Drift: Ah... *small nod. Likes the form as a transition form much better than the form she'd been using*

black bot: *teaches her a little more, and then shifts to something else that she doesn't know, his movements offering her the basic moves of this smooth, strange defence form*

Drift: *just a little clumsy as she learns. There's enough similarities to what she's already familiar with that she can keep up, somewhat*

black bot: *endlessly patient as he repeats the first few moves over and over, trying to program them into the white bot's body memory so that she can then concentrate on smoothing them out and speeding them up*

Drift: *optics a bit bright as she processes the new data and commits it to her memory. Her movements begin to smooth out as a result*

black bot: *continues working, knowing that the form is intricate and difficult till it becomes a part of one. But then, suddenly, he slows so that his pupil will not be knocked off balance, and then steps back and puts his sword to rest*

Drift: *recognizes the signal to end the sparring session, will bow politely* Thank you, Bushi.

Bushi: *grins that friendly and gentle grin as he bows in reply* The world is waking up. We shouldn't be waving blades to disturb it. *glances toward a cheerful tussle on the ramp of the strangeworld ship*

Drift: *blinks and looks toward the ship, sheathing her sword for the moment*

Nightstrike: *has got Whirl down and is bapping her as she giggles and wriggles*

Whirl: *cheerful cussing as she tries to get up*

Bushi: *watches, smiling, but makes no move to disrupt what he recognizes as a tender bonding moment*

Drift: *very soft chuckle* Nightstrike has Whirl wrapped around her little digit... *looks to the black bot* What was that last form called?

Bushi: *smile vanishes and is replaced by surprise* Ah... I've never named it!

Drift: *blinks* You came up with the form? *very surprised*

Bushi: I did. It was needed against some of the soldiers that my unit used to meet in battle.

Drift: *soft, surprised hum*

Bushi: *another glance over at that happy little bot mauling the bigger one on the ramp*

Drift: *looks that way* Is something wrong, Bushi?

Bushi: *turns his grin back to her* No. I was just wondering why the sparklet's so little. Is she alright?

Drift: Nightstrike? She's fine. Docbot said she's healthy and strong.

Bushi: Alright. *tilts his head slightly and offers his hand* What should I call you? And may I ask if you've fuelled yet?

Drift: *as she reaches for the offered hand* My designation is Drift. I had a quick energy shot before I came out to do my forms... But I could go for something a bit longer lasting.

Bushi: *fingers gently close around hers* How about Marauder in oil?

Drift: *small smile* I've heard that's pretty good. Haven't tried it yet, though.

Bushi: *kindly squeeze for her hand, and then he lets go and steps back before transforming into a beautiful black horse* May I offer you a ride?

Drift: *blink!* S-sure. *though she's not certain about how to get onto your back, Bushi*

Bushi: *turns* Right behind my neck. Then squeeze my shoulders with your legs.

Drift: A-Alright. *will move to carefully climb onto Bushi's back, gently squeezing his shoulders with her legs once she's seated*

Bushi: *takes a careful step forward*

Drift: *trying not to tense up, will lean forward slightly*

Bushi: *deep voice is soft with reassurance* I won't let you fall. Just hold on with your knees. *another step*

Drift: *circulates air for a few moments, before doing as instructed*

Bushi: *steps again, and then nods* Good. You have a good grip.

Drift: *very soft chuckle* Thanks... Guess having bigger legs than most girls helps.

Bushi: Bigger legs? *ears perk*

Drift: *nod* The Prime used to call me 'Thunder Thighs', back before we found out I'm a girl. Compared to most 'bots, I do have bigger thighs.

Bushi: *points with his nose to a lady cop on the edge of the square* *his meaning is clear. Compared to the robust Quadriate women, Drift is slender and tiny*

Drift: *chuckles* Okay, compared to most of the bots on the Lost Light.

Bushi: *soft chuckle, then peeks back at her* Take out your swords and do Sun in the Morning.

Drift: *will do so, working on keeping her balance all the while*

Bushi: *starts forward at a smooth and easy walk*

Drift: *focused on the familiar form, remembering the time she made Minimus Ambus, back when he was Ultra Magnus, yell by practicing while perched on the highest point of the hull of the Lost Light*

Bushi: *speeds up gradually and smoothly, till he's cantering down the street as swords wave to either side of him*

Drift: *focused and in a near meditative state as she transitions to Wind from the South by way of Flying Serpent*

Bushi: Down the busy streets. The horse flies through the morning.

Drift: My swords light his way.


((Co-written with random_xtras))