[center][h2][color=#008b8b]Fionn MacKerracher[/color][/h2][/center]
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[quote=@VitaVitaAR]
The spectral falcon seemed to take some effort to reform from its cleaving as the falconer regarded Fionn, its head at a curious tilt. Whatever alien thoughts passed through its head judged Fionn as worthy, or perhaps necessary, to engage; the avian knight shrugged back the cloak of feathers to reveal its thus-far hidden weapons: in one hand, a serviceable rapier, and in the other… a plethora of knives? No; a gauntleted claw, its long talons each a heavy blade.

Without the element of surprise, it seemed the falconer was instead relying on speed and, unexpectedly, fencing technique as it thrust forwards.
[/quote]

[color=#008b8b][i]Interesting pairing.[/i][/color]

Luckily, it was a match-up that Fionn enjoyed practicing against, and with Lilia's presence, had only grown more familiar with. Even before accounting for the size difference, the falconer's choice of armament gave it a reach advantage. The weights were similar, leverage went in his favour just as reach went in its favour. As was often his method, he just had to get within the twisted being's reach. The clawed gauntlet could complicate that, but after years as a mercenary and then his time as a knight, tricks like that weren't enough to surprise him anymore.

He brought the black blade across his body, catching the thrust and pushing it to the side, keeping his point forward to ward off any opportunistic rush the whole while. Dealing with a rapier at distance, it was best to play its game against it—constrain the blade, use the geometry to your advantage, and never release the threat. Trying to beat it aside at the tip would only get him skewered, all the balance being back in the falconer's hand leaving it able to quickly move its blade out of the way.

The tip of the rapier twirled around his own blade, trying to regain the center. Fionn mirrored the [i]cavazione,[/i] too quick to give a good opening. The timing would have to be nearly perfect if he wanted to get in close, to try and force the points completely off-line and make use of any of the strengths his weapon carried over the enemy's. One option of many.

He could bait a thrust, slap it aside with one gauntleted hand as he mirrored the thrust with another.

Grasp the blade entirely and force the falconer to rely on its claws as they moved for an outright grapple.

Direct a thrust towards some non-lethal, hopefully not [i]crippling[/i] part of his body; he doubted the mail would really stop the needle-like blade, but if it was bound by his armor and flesh both, he knew he could gain the upper hand rapidly. He'd get an earful about it later from a multitude of the others, but it could be worth it if none of the other options looked better.

No doubt similar thoughts were going through the alien mind of the creature before him, as they sat in the bind, looking at each other over the blades of their swords. [color=#008b8b]"Could always make it easy, like,"[/color] he joked, as unconcerned with the threat of looming death as he had been rushing to duel the Golden Boars' commander after having to cut his way to the man through an entire battlefield. [color=#008b8b]"You'll come back the next time this hunt goes on, aye? Just let me have your head, then, take a little break!"[/color]