[He can hear that implication clear as day, but hardly takes offense to it. It's the point he was trying to make, and she latched onto it without any further prompting on his part.]
Good, because being clever about how you attack is the only way to gain the advantage when you're otherwise at the disadvantage -- physically, or in terms of abilities.
[Magical, superpowered, or otherwise. He holds up his hands, which she's seen as scarred and weak before.]
You know me well enough to know that these are useless. So, since you have nothing to throw at me here, let me see you attack me yourself. However you like.
[clever, right...and against someone who's a much more experienced fighter than herself. there's not a wrong answer, she knows, but it still feels like a test, like he's evaluating her. in that case, she can only do her best to make a decent mark.
it's clumsy, the way she steps in to try to hit him with her right hand, but she switches before it gets too close to her left, hoping to catch him off guard. her guard's far too open, but the effort is there, trying to be confusing, to be smart about what they're going to do.]
[It is a test, but only marginally. It’s not as though he hasn’t been in that exact position—of not having any experience—but his own trials and tribulations were sometimes literally do-or-die. It makes sense to hammer some practice into her before she faces her own such instance; it would be a shame to lose one of their own, much less one devoted and entrenched in the medical practices that keep otherworlders safe and healthy.
Her misdirection is the right idea, but sloppily executed, and Stephen can read her intent before she approaches. Still, he raises a forearm to block, the force reverberating up to his wrist. It does hurt, a little.]
That’s the right idea. But your body language is giving everything away. Here, let me show you.
[And he does. And he shows her other stances, reveals the schools of thought the sorcerers taught him when it came to offense and defense, favoring precision of technique over the application of brute force. Time passes. It’s enough to have broken a sweat, and Stephen eventually calls the session to an end for now, rubbing the moisture from his brow.]
[it's a far different style from all the thoughts she's had, but it makes sense, like gears in a clockwork fitting their teeth together. she gives her all after that initial hesitation, definitely breathing hard, her forehead shining from exertion, but she never asks to stop. no, that would be counter productive to the exercise.
catching her breath with her hands on her knees, she looks over to him, feeling at once painfully aware of her own inadequacies but also that more determined to fight them.]
It's something, at the very least. Thank you for your instruction, Dr. Strange.
You're very welcome. [He drops his hands to his side, flexing his fingers a little.] Though it's instruction wasted if you're not going to promise to keep it up. Like I said before, there are plenty here who'd be willing to teach you, but if you wanted to schedule a time for us to continue our sessions, I could adjust my schedule accordingly.
[And it wouldn't be just for her benefit, but for his own. He feels utterly inadequate, at times, without his magic. Some physical bolstering would assuage it, if only a little.]
If you're offering, then I'll make that schedule. I admit I'm a fan of your teaching style, and our department will be glad enough to know we're taking breaks.
[workaholics know each other all too well. straightening back up, for all the physical work, she does feel somehow lighter.]
And it would be the best way for you to see that your tutelage isn't being illspent.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Good, because being clever about how you attack is the only way to gain the advantage when you're otherwise at the disadvantage -- physically, or in terms of abilities.
[Magical, superpowered, or otherwise. He holds up his hands, which she's seen as scarred and weak before.]
You know me well enough to know that these are useless. So, since you have nothing to throw at me here, let me see you attack me yourself. However you like.
no subject
it's clumsy, the way she steps in to try to hit him with her right hand, but she switches before it gets too close to her left, hoping to catch him off guard. her guard's far too open, but the effort is there, trying to be confusing, to be smart about what they're going to do.]
no subject
Her misdirection is the right idea, but sloppily executed, and Stephen can read her intent before she approaches. Still, he raises a forearm to block, the force reverberating up to his wrist. It does hurt, a little.]
That’s the right idea. But your body language is giving everything away. Here, let me show you.
[And he does. And he shows her other stances, reveals the schools of thought the sorcerers taught him when it came to offense and defense, favoring precision of technique over the application of brute force. Time passes. It’s enough to have broken a sweat, and Stephen eventually calls the session to an end for now, rubbing the moisture from his brow.]
Not too bad, Doctor Dyer. It’s a good start.
no subject
catching her breath with her hands on her knees, she looks over to him, feeling at once painfully aware of her own inadequacies but also that more determined to fight them.]
It's something, at the very least. Thank you for your instruction, Dr. Strange.
no subject
[And it wouldn't be just for her benefit, but for his own. He feels utterly inadequate, at times, without his magic. Some physical bolstering would assuage it, if only a little.]
no subject
[workaholics know each other all too well. straightening back up, for all the physical work, she does feel somehow lighter.]
And it would be the best way for you to see that your tutelage isn't being illspent.
no subject
[It’s a joke, of course. (Except when it isn’t.)]
Consider it done. Guess you’re my new student, Doctor.