En garde, prêts, allez - Fencing Conversations

Posted on Thu Jul 3rd, 2025 @ 12:16am by Lieutenant Endymion Tox & Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii

1,758 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: Rec Center | USS Ontario

::ON::

Apprehensively pacing the empty space within the room, Yiv tugged the glove of his outfit on tighter. He was utterly convinced that despite the replicator assuring him that this was exactly the size he needed, the right-hand glove was slightly off.

It didn't particularly help that he was sticking to his self-made promise to try out new and different things as often as possible while Percy was ... away. Yiv wanted plenty to talk about when recording his holo-messages, and for when they got their all-too-rare live connections back to the Federation's core.

This collar is damned tight too, he groused, tugging at the white jacket. The foil though, he swished it around in front of his face, quietly delighted at the sound that it made as it cut through the air, the foil I like.

Yiv continued to pace as he waited for an opponent to free themselves up.

Tox needed to work out some...frustrations. It had been an interesting day. He'd expected a holo opponent but he'd showed up the same time as the man he'd recognized as his XO. "Well! I don't often had a real person to spar with!" He held out his hand. "Endymion Tox. Head Nurse. Newly transferred, still in shock."

'Ah, Tox-in-shock, a pleasure to meet you,' Yiv extended his free hand and shook the nurse's. 'I hope you're settling in well, and that the outfit is recreational, not retributional?' He mentioned nothing about the conversation he had had with the Admiral the day before.

Tox froze, his eyes widened and for the second time since coming on the ship he threw his head back and laughed with his whole soul. After a few minutes he wiped the tear from his eyes. "Oh Gods! Is everyone on this ship funny, and eerily good looking? First a cute and grumpy doctor whose cheek's you wanna pinch and say awww then a handsome funny XO who knows how to fence." He took the XO's hand and shook it. "I am indeed settling in and finding the crew to be...amazing. As for Fencing it's a passion, so the outfit is a way to work out stress and it makes me look fabulous."

'I don't know about handsome, or actually know how to fence, but I'll accept funny,' Yiv replied with a genuine smile. 'I'm here to learn something new, get out of my comfort zone and pass the time until ... well. No need to go into that. I'm here to blow off some steam as well.'

He grinned. "I happen to be a great teacher. If you need one I am available."

'By all means Mister Tox, it would be a pleasure to be in the hands of an expert,' Yiv replied with a glint in his eye. 'Just remember I am but a beginner.'

He laughed. "We all were at one point. And I only took up the sport cause the person I'm in...I care about mentioned that they like it. We all have fencing origin stories." He motioned to the small sparing space. "Okay so what have you learned so far in researching this sport?"

Drawing himself up proudly, Yiv motioned to his outfit, 'you wear this.' He swished his weapon from side to side, 'you use this to hit the opposition in the chest, and you pull ridiculous poses.' The Efrosian smiled, 'it seems simple enough.' He cleared his throat, 'I see that we both took up the sport for a similar reason, to be closer to the person we 'care' for.'

He smiled and shook his head. "Ah then let's get it right." He laughed again. "Ridiculous poses aside!" He studied the man. "Okay. Well you know some of the basics but there is a lot more to it. I have a program where the computer plays ref and caller so let's learn some words. Do you know French by chance?"

'I don't I'm afraid. Not much call for French in my neck of the woods,' Yiv flashed a disarming smile, 'I hope that won't be too much of an impediment?'

"Not at all. Going to teach you a few things." He pointed to the long white strip. "That is called a Piste. It is the area where the fencers fence. They assume a starting point in each of their corners. To get the two ready to fence the ref calls En garde. It tells them to get ready. The ref will call Prêts telling the two to get ready and when they hear Allez the go. When a point is scored the ref will call Halt to stop the bout." He looked over. "So far okay? We stand on the Piste, wait for the Ref to call En garde, Prêts , Allez. When he hear Halt, we stop."

'So we can't move from our starting positions until we hear Allez?' Yiv clarified as he swished the weapon around experimentally once more, and trying to tie his tongue around the unfamiliar language.

"Indeed. Until then you hold your stance. Keep your feet shoulder length apart. You want one foot at the front to your opponent and the other, the back foot, perpendicular." He demonstrated. "Remember to bend your knees and push your feet flat against the Mat like this." He took on the post holding the foil at ready position. He straightened waiting for the XO to do the same.

Yiv studied Tox carefully, then gingerly aped his stance. 'Like this you mean?' he said eventually, trying to keep the bounce in his knees as he adopted the unfamiliar stance. The Efrosian found himself pushing his off-arm out and up in order to balance himself.

"Perfect!" Tox said. "I have a feeling you will pick up fencing quick and I can tell you that honestly it's a great sport!" He grinned. "Shall we try a few lunges with the practice dummies?"

'Ah, now lunges I am good at,' Yiv replied with a grin, 'these legs didn't build themselves, you know.' He motioned at the Trill, 'lead on.'

Tox lead them to two practice dummies. He took on the ready pose and then showed Yiv how to lunge tapping the dummy on the head. "Okay now you try."

Yiv nodded, and dutifully performed a few lunges, managing to catch the head a few times, before he looked to the nurse, and nodding he got the gist of the movement, if not to perfect finesse.

"Now then while you practice your form and admi...I mean criticize you mercilessly as the expert here. You said earlier that you were getting outside the comfort zone until... Shall we revisit?"

'Ah yes,' Yiv said, completing another lunge, hitting the ear of the dummy. Frowning he readied himself again, 'I'm not hugely fond of sports. I mostly like sedentary hobbies beyond what Starfleet requires for me to by physically fit. And this seems like a way of ... mindlessly passing the time.'

"It can be! It really can. What are you avoiding that you mindlessly need to pass time?"

Flashing him a look, Yiv wondered why so many people had taken an interest in his life recently. Charitably it could be perceived as his circle of friendship widening. The cynic in him noted that it could just be nosiness. 'Passing the time seems the straightest line to get from the past to the future, and closer to when I'd like to be.'

He smiled, 'my partner has taken a ... leave of absence, and I'm eager to be reunited with him. Ever felt that way? Like the days are a little duller without a beloved around?'

Tox smiled. "Every damn day for the last fifteen years!" Tox have a little happy dance. "I LOVE to hear people are in love. Leave of absence? I won't pry but I hope that your partner is okay." Tox lunged at his practice dummy scoring a hit on the top of the head. "Ugh...I get a twitch before I lunge. I hate that tell." He sighed and then turned to his new friend. "So then we're trying new things until your partner is back. A accept the challenge."

'An activity buddy will be appreciated,' Yiv laughed, 'we'll both be on even footing if its things we won't have done before rather than being taught.'

"Ohhhh I like that idea. I've always said I have to get out there and try something new as well." Tox smiled. "So then. When is your partner due back from their leave of absence?"

'I'm not sure,' Yiv replied with a lightness he didn't feel. 'It's an open-ended leave at the moment. 'So,' he said, by way of changing the subject, 'you were assigned to the Ontario voluntarily?'

"Well when they come back you'll have loads of stories to tell them about all the things you tried." He smiled at the XO. Tox could feel when something was off and the XO, didn't want to talk about this. He'd let it drop. For now.

"Not really. I loved my previous ship. Apparently, at least from what my CO said, some Admiral decided that I needed to be transferred here. At first I was...angry, upset. But it is what it is. I chose a life in Starfleet, where ever the space winds blow that's where I'll be. So here I am. The Captain and XO, and even the CMO fought but this Admiral was too big to fight so here I am." He shrugged. "I must have upset him somewhere along the way I guess."

'I'm surprised an Admiral would reach out to interfere like that,' Yiv replied neutrally, the penny dropping as to who Tox was. 'Though transfers are a reality in Starfleet, you'd hope to do your duty tour first.' Taking the stance, Yiv practiced another few lunges again. Satisfied he turned to the nurse, 'what's next?'

He shrugged. "Who knows why admirals do what they do." He paused. "Alright a few more moves and then lunch. You up for that?"

'That sounds quite agreeable,' Yiv replied, dropping his pose and standing normally. 'Your choice of venue.'

Tox laughed. "Venue my choice? You are taking risks, but, challenge accepted!"

::OFF::

Commander Yivliphe Ra-Gruvloveii
Executive Officer
USS Ontario

&

Lieutenant Endymion Tox
Head Nurse
USS Ontario

 

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