<JETMODE> *It's sunny out at the training grounds, but not as hot as it could be. Most of the trainees, however, have managed to work up a pretty fair sweat by now. Genoa and Whisper are taking part in the flurry of activity as well, sparring. Genoa's been determined to make up for the time she lost in the dungeons.

<JETMODE> *Genoa is using the sword she picked up down underground, attempting to get used to it before she has to use it in an actual battle.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper dances backwards, twirling her twin daggers as she narrowly avoids Genoa's sword swing. She's panting a little, though she still smirks easily as she takes a defensive stance. "You're slow, Genoa! And that great lunk you use as a blade is a bit big for you, if you ask me."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *falls back slightly, adjusting her grip* Hrmph. Let's see you use a weapon perfectly on your first go at it! *she dashes in, trying for a swing to Whisper's left*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper parries the swing with both her daggers, taking a step backwards and bracing herself as she pushes against Genoa's blade, trying to shove her back a bit.

<JETMODE> *Ah, but Genoa has the height advantage. She bears down heavily, pushing back with her weight. "It's not as if -- I didn't try using a different blade."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Oh, of course -- *she suddenly unlocks her daggers from Genoa's sword and ducks to the side* -- but that sword has a habit of following you around like a lost puppy, doesn't it? *she backflips away lightly.

<JETMODE> *Genoa turns a stumble into an easy sidestep, turning to face Whisper and dropping into a defensive stance. "Something like that. I left it at home once the last time one of my teachers made an issue of it."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper starts circling slowly, grinning. "And then I heard it broke one of her desks. My, I bet she made a real issue out of THAT, didn't she?" She darts in toward Genoa's side, aiming low with one dagger and bringing the other up toward the back of Genoa's neck.

<JETMODE> *Genoa parries the low thrust with her sword and arcs away from the high one, dodging it by an inch. "Oops," she remarks. "But at least she didn't argue with me about carrying it around anymore."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper lunges again, crossing her daggers and thrusting at Genoa's throat. "Indeed. It must get rather annoying, having it pop up out of thin air like that all the time."

<JETMODE> *Genoa sweeps the sword up to block her, locking their blades again. Unfortunately, she doesn't have the advantage this time, as the daggers hit so high. "Only if I forget to bring it along. At least it doesn't argue with me when I leave it alone to bathe."

<TIAMAT> *The two face of for a few moments, pushing back and forth and neither backing down in the slightest. Then, from around the side of the Arena behind Whisper -- that is, in the direction Genoa's facing -- comes a troop of Arena guards escourting Cardinal David Pacheco through the training grounds with none other than Baron Teal in the lead.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper snorts at Genoa's remark, straining to push her back. "Well, that's a relief."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> One of life's small mercies -- *her gaze flicks over when she hears the guards coming, but instead of flicking back to Whisper, it stays fixed on Teal*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper notes her opponent's sudden distraction and uses the opportunity to give a great shove up and forward against Genoa's blade.

<JETMODE> *Genoa snaps back to the fight in time to see it coming, but not nearly fast enough to prevent a startled yelp and an unceremonious fall onto her rump. Her sword clatters to the ground next to her, and she swears.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper smirks a little smugly at her, then glances over her shoulder to see what had caught Genoa's attention enough to distract her so much from the battle. She spies the guards, her gaze immediately fixing on Teal, who's talking rapidly to Pacheco, and she raises her eyebrow in amusement as she turns back to Genoa.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Well, well, well. Got our eye on the captain of the guards now, do we?

<JETMODE> *Genoa's gaze suddenly snaps back to Whisper -- it had been drifting again. "WHAT?!"

<TIAMAT> *Whisper can hardly contain a gleeful chuckle. "Don't think I didn't see you looking, my dear Genoa!"

<JETMODE> *Genoa fumbles for her sword, keeping her gaze firmly under control. "I -- I don't know what you're talking about!" She gets back to her feet, cheeks now red with more than just exertion.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper grins a little wickedly. "Mm hmm, of course you don't. Let me think, now...a week wandering around an underground cavern with him..." She glances back over her shoulder at him. "And you know, he really isn't that bad looking, either."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *goes pale, then red again* Shut up and spar! *she lunges in a bit haphazardly, put off balance by the verbal assault*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper turns back just in time to duck the swing, circling around Genoa before she can turn and hitting her shoulder lightly with the hilt of one of her daggers. "Tag," she grins, "you're it."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *grumbles*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper and Genoa continue sparring for a while until both are fairly worn out. Teal and his regiment disappeared through the training grounds shortly after they appeared and haven't been seen since.

<JETMODE> *As they finish a set of passes, Genoa lets her sword drop with an exhausted sigh. "I'm just about done in for the day, pet. What do you say?"

<JETMODE> *Just for reference, she is not wearing a skirt for this. Trousers and a reinforced tunic with sturdy boots. Her hair is probably in a thick braid, a bit more managable on the battlefield than her usual style.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper leans back against a fence post, breathing heavily. "I'd just about have to agree with you, dearest. Truce?" She smirks.

<JETMODE> *Genoa drags a damp cloth across her forehead and takes a deep, cleansing breath. "For now." Her mouth twitches slightly.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper sheathes her daggers and lets her hair down -- she had put it up in a ponytail to keep out of her eyes. She takes a deep breath and starts for the steps, glancing back over at Genoa. "Shall we?"

<JETMODE> <Genoa> Of course. *she drops her sword into a sling-like sheath across her back -- the only convenient way she could figure out to carry it*

<JETMODE> *She trots after Whisper, tossing the cloth aside.

<TIAMAT> *The Blue Heron, being on the sixth floor, is a bit of a walk from the training ground. Whisper pauses at the top of the steps on the fourth floor to catch her breath. "Someone needs to figure out how to install a teleportation system in here ..."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> Haa, agreed. *drops her hands to her knees, slouching a little* Especially after a workout like that.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, having been leaning against the wall with her eyes half-closed, looks up just in time to see Teal walking briskly around the corner toward the stairs -- and right into Genoa. He bumps into her suddenly, giving a surprised "Oh!" and nearly knocking her down the steps ... except he manages to catch her wrist before she falls and pulls her back up quickly.

<JETMODE> *Genoa yelps, stumbling, and manages to regain her balance before she tumbles forward right into him. "Watch where you're --" She breaks off when she realizes who she's talking to. "-- ah."

<TIAMAT> *Teal had been busy attempting to ask if she's okay until he hears Genoa's voice and he, too, realizes who he's talking to. He stares at her for a moment, hand still clutched gently around her wrist. "My ... apologies."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, by the way, is quietly watching with growing amusement.

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *voice suddenly hoarse* Ah.. It's quite all right.. Baron.

<TIAMAT> *There's a rather long and very awkward pause, then finally Teal clears his throat rather loudly and suddenly releases Genoa's hand. ".. Miss Rivermarch." He nods slightly and slips past her and down the steps hurriedly.

<JETMODE> *Genoa stands there blankly for a moment, looking dazed -- possibly hurt -- and staring at her hand.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper studies her for a moment, then snorts softly. "Don't know what I'm talking about, indeed."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *gives a jerk, having forgotten Whisper was there* Y-you -- it wasn't --

<TIAMAT> *Whisper grins at her a little. "He can't have gotten far, you know, if you'd like to run down there and talk to him--"

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *shrilly* Don't you dare! Don't even think about it! *she looks genuinely distressed, in fact*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks a little apologetic. "Sorry."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *somewhat shaken* I.. no.. I -- I'm sorry. Can we just .. go back to the inn?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper nods and goes over to Genoa, taking her arm gently in both of hers and smirking a little, though she doesn't say anything.

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *noting the smirk, mumbles defensively* It's.. it's not funny.

<TIAMAT> *Her smirk broadens a bit. "Of course it isn't." She pats Genoa's arm. "Why don't you just admit it?"

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *shortly* What would it matter either way?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper shrugs a bit. "It's not a crime to be interested in someone."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *drily* You'd be surprised.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper glances at her knowingly. "You might be, as well."

<JETMODE> *Genoa gives her a long look, then resumes staring at the floor. "The only surprises I've gotten lately have been unpleasant, so you'll have to forgive me if I hope not."

<JETMODE> *She attempts to pass this off as a joke, but it falls rather flat.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper leads the way through the Heron and back to their room. "If you insist. But that could always change, you know."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> Perhaps. *glances up* You want to bathe first, or are you going to let me?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper smirks at her again. "You go on ahead, dearest, if you're so eager."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *sniffs* I will never fail to appreciate a bath again, Whisper, believe me.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Oh, I know, Genoa. I know.

<JETMODE> *Genoa manages a chuckle and hurries to the bathroom, dropping the sword on the table as she goes.