Back to "Normal" || Charlie

[Deleted]

ooc: hope this was okay! ic: 670 tag: charlie mack-jolly credit to oblivion with your heart of s t o n e

with the return of the quest team came the return of a normal training schedule. first cohort training had never been a walk in the park, but edmund had gotten used to it over time. the forty-eight hour drills were probably something he'd have to do once or twice in order for it to become normal to him again, but other than that, his stamina and strenghth were in tact. he hadn't stopped his core training just because they were on a freaking mission. sure, he had been able to have a fair bit more of recreational time (since he didn't have the forge or armory to attend to) but he kept himself in check. besides, even if he did come back (which he obviously had), he doubted that jolly or ashby would give him a break. he didn't want one, at any rate; he had to keep busy. forget going into the forge. all he had now was fighting and training. felicity and josh were in the infirmary and he was doing no good just pacing back and forth day in and day out, lurking by his bush and hoping against hope that he'd get his courage sorted out and walk in without a problem. plane carving wasn't even working. heck, he had even cut himself a few times while working on one. yup, edmund simons of the first cohort was slipping. too on edge to do anything; forget sleeping, going into the forge, or staying still. his adhd had gotten worse than ever. six months of being in the real world. five demigods together for all that time. monsters to be attracted was a certainty. constantly not knowing whether they'd be attacked or not had taken its toll. it had left him wired beyond imagination. it was beyond fair to say that he hadn't gotten a good sleep since coming back. heck, when had he ever? however, since coming back from the quest, he particularly didn't want to go to sleep. if he even shut his eyes, he saw things. the few hours in the ruins supplied him with enough material to have nightmares for the rest of his life. biggest fear and greatest desire. old wounds getting reopened, getting burned, a reawakening of his ptsd. that didn't make for a sound sleeping edmund. he couldn't think too much either for fear his thoughts would turn there. seeing your greatest fear and seeing what could have been. a combination that was great for creating nightmares and wrecking morale. no, he couldn't think on it or dream on it. he couldn't afford to. this was the legion. he was in the first cohort and a war was coming and he had to train like hell. back to being edmund war machine, i'm fine, i feel nothing simons. he curled his left fist, the burn on his palm spiking in pain. edmund did his best to ignore it, did the best he could to ignore remembering how he got it, before slashing his sword at the dummy infront of him. a minute later it was decapitated and limbless, with its body attached to the end of edmund's blade. for a moment, the simple dummy turned into a savage, monster like dog. they were back. they had found them again. edmund stepped backwards slightly, expecting to feel josh's back, but it wasn't there. where was he? a ghost pain began beating in edmund's left arm, where the dog had sunken its teeth in... he twisted his sword as much as he could before kicking the mannequin off. the mannequin. not dog. not dog. josh wasn't there. josh was in the infirmary. edmund wasn't lost. he was in the field of mars. he was training so he wouldn't remember things like this. this wasn't working. what was wrong with him stupid... idiotic... out of complete impulsively, he kicked the head of the dummy in frustration. his eyes tracked its flight for a yard or so, completely unaware that he had begun to shake.

[Deleted]

Things had changed around camp. Was she worried that the little puke ball Simmons wouldn't return from the quest? Yes. Would she ever admit to it out loud? No. But Charlie believed with her whole heart that he would be fine. Edmund was a member of the first cohort, you didn't get that way by being a little wuss. While the son of Vulcan, or whomever he associated or disassociated himself with, was pretty abrasive and a little rude with no respect for the chain of command, he was strong. Most children of Vulcan were strong. Emotionally challenged, but strong. She knew that he would make well of his training, but when she had heard that the questers were back and a few of them had been taken to the infirmary, she couldn't help but worry for the little pain in the podex that she loved to harass so much. Charlie knew that Edmund had issues, his dealing with them was a bit less than Roman in her opinion, but everyone was different. Not everyone was really cut out for this lifestyle. Children of Mars and of the war deities seemed to adapt to the life and times of being a soldier. The other children not so much. Charlie wanted to check up on Edmund, much to the latter dismay and probably annoyance, but it was hard to keep tabs on that boy when he was a functioning member of the legion. She could only wonder what it would be like now.

Charlie worried about Felicity, her former best friend. She wondered if the daughter of Pluto was still mad at her. She hated that they had left like that. Parting words as an argument was always the worst things. Children of Pluto were so notorious for holding grudges. She hadn't visited Felicity in the infirmary yet. For once in her life, Charlie was scared for her friend. Felicity hadn't been right in the head for the longest time before she left, but Felicity was still her friend. She wanted to help her, do something that could make a difference in her friends life. But for now, she wasn't allowed to see her. She had heard from Gabriel that there were guards posted out side of Felicity's room. Not that it would stop her if she really wanted to. But she shoved the though aside as she sheathed her sword as she stood in the armory. She needed a new helmet, the other hadn't come back from Ronan just yet. The poor centurion had been busy with taking control of the forge and becoming centurion of the fifth at the same time. She had faith in him. He was the best choice for the job after all. Next to Josh, but there were some nasty rumors floating around that something had happened to him on the quest. The thought made her shudder. She liked Josh a lot. He was such a sweetheart, he didn't deserve to have what happened to him. That was if the rumors were true at any rate. Charlie didn't put much stock in what those nasty daughters of venus and fama said.

She walked out to the field of Mars, the cohort had the afternoon off, but there were many that she saw still training and honing their skills. War was coming and there was little anyone could do to stem the tide. Charlie had been busy training during the scheduled free time. There were those that still liked to goof off but it was after all, a requirement that they have some free time, but most others in the cohort were smart to use the time to train. Suddenly a head of a dummy went sailing past her with quite some force. Charlie whipped her head, turning it in the direction that it came from. Ahh, it was Simmons. Seemingly he seemed fine despite the fact that he wasn't trying to skive off training or in the forge. She held her helmet under her arm, watching him for a few moments before her brain started to analyze his fighting technique. She shook her head. “Simmons, all those months away and your form still needs work.” She said in a neutral tone. Of course she was happy to see him but she didn't let the irritation of his forms quality get in the way of talking to him without getting totally angry. So long as he wasn't a Meerkat trying to crawl up her jeans, she didn't feel the need to pop his head off and put it in her pocket.

[Deleted]

ic: 774 tag: charlie mack-jolly credit to oblivion heart of s t o n e

Edmund's hand twitched, frustrated. He took a breath and stopped shaking, trying to get his act back together. His mind was playing tricks on him and his body was betraying him. The combination was a little more than he could deal with at the moment. At long last, his emotional linked to physical system was revolting after being suppressed for so long. He supposed that this was what people called "the straw that broke the camel's back" so to say. Edmund never addressed his emotional state, so his body decided to address it for him: betraying every single feeling, up and down the emotional spectrum, that Ed always had guarded under lock and key. Jolly had called it emotional constipation, but it was honestly the only way Ed could function in the Legion. Say he was fine, have a stony face, and solider on. He didn't care if that was "Roman-y" or not; it was the way he coped with post-fire and Legion life. His therapist had said that everyone learned to adapt in different ways to traumatic changes; well, this was Edmund's. Now it was bordering on his usual methods, plus train until you pass out, don't go into the forge, don't go to sleep, and barely open your mouth. Rumors flew quickly; it was easy to see who was standing and who was bedded in the infirmary from the quest team, it was better not to give anything fuel. If anyone was looking for a story, confirmation, or refutation, it wasn't coming from him. He had skipped the infirmary visit entirely on purpose. Then again, what was new there? He had gotten burned on his hand and ankle, and had gotten a few canine teeth stuck in his arm, but he could administer first aid to himself. He was fine. The sickness after shadow traveling had been expected, and at least the migraines had eased to a stop after they got out of the ruins. Beyond that, a tweezer and some ambrosia and he was all good to go. They'd throb from time to time, but they were wounds, they were expected to do that. Besides, he had gotten a lot worse during training and during his house fire. At least his ankle and palm weren't fourth degree burned. He could still feel them, and that was the first sign that his nerves were okay. Felicity and Josh were a different story. Besides, he didn't see the point in him going into the infirmary when they needed the medical attention so much more. Moreover, all Edmund would do (if shoved in there) is panic. Bottom line: it would be in everybody's interest that he not go in there. Josh was in there because of him. Stupid Rogers. If he knew that was going to happen, Edmund would have reversed roles. Let the two Mercury's lock pick. Ethan got it fine enough. Why did they have to fight monsters WHILE trying to pick the lock? Wouldn't it have been easier to try to get rid of the monster first, with all five of them, and THEN get the trunk open? Besides, the stupid relic was gone now. Edmund had detached himself from camp news. He wanted nothing more to do with the freaking thing they had labored over six months for. He felt his injured hand curl around his auxiliary knife. When the stupid son of Sandwiches got out of the infirmary, Edmund was going to strangle him himself. At the sound of a voice, Edmund whipped around and pointed his blade at the offender. His brain didn't even fully register the voice or the words and meaning behind it. It was only after his sword was pointed and he was full out defensive that he realized it was his co-centurion. Another mental hit on the back of his head. Gods, he was too wired to be around people. "Jolly," he muttered, lowering his arm. Last time he had seen her, she was dead in his pile of ashes. The next time he had seen her, she was alive and happy. They were...friends. She was happy with Felicity, happy with Mors. They had all been normal. Stupid hallucinations raising his... was that what hope felt like? He refocused himself back on his centurion. Yates had already told him that the second cohort centurion had died when he had abrasively asked if either of his had. Her last comment that had sailed over his head, but he could bet all the sleep that he hadn't had that it had been something about critiquing his fighting technique. He gave a numb nod of acknowledgment, no need to deny it. Whatever... everything he did was wrong anyway.

[Deleted]

Charlie could hear the sound of clicking and clashing of metal on metal as in the distance other people sparred. It was almost calming. The sounds of battle was something that was comforting, she could even hear the distant and faint sounds of her old kung fu studio in the back of her mind. The times were easier, simpler even. But being a military brat, there was always the threat of war looming over her. There was always a chance that her mother could be called off to war. There was always that chance that she would never come back from a year deployment. She was lucky to have her grandparents to care for her, but it was always scary. She wanted to be like her mother, be someone that could defend others that needed it. Quests were a lot like war. There was always that chance that you wouldn't come back, that you would die. Charlie had braced herself for that little chance that Josh, or Lyn, or Felicity or even Edmund might not come back. Did it scare her? Yes. Was life going to stop, was war going on hold just because someone she cared about died? No. Things would go on. Charlie would be sad that one of her friends died, but she would train till she passed out from depression. Maybe she would talk to Robin about it. She needed to make it a point to go see the son of Venus in New Rome. There was other things she would need to do first.

It seemed like Edmund wasn't expecting her, or anyone for that matter, as she found the tip of a sword in her face. Charlie batted it aside with the tip of her own blade and knocked it downward. Charlie didn't know much about emotions, but there seemed to be a mix of them in her own mind as well as the younger male standing in front of her. Or it would at least seem like that. “Spar with me.” She stated, throwing her shield aside as she put her helmet on and brought her sword up with the tip pointed at his chest. Her stance was light but grounded, ease of movement was what she went for. She gave the blade a twirl. The way she used her words, Edmund could argue all he wanted against having a spar with her, but combat would be inevitable. She looked at him expectantly. “I heard you skipped out on the infirmary again. You should know better. But I'm not gonna make you go, not that you'd listen to me anyways.” Charlie had been to the infirmary to check on little Lyn and Josh. One of the nurses had asked her where to find the wayward son of vulcan, but charlie had little to no clue. Members of the First Cohort didn't go to the infirmary barring the loss of limb or other extremity, you didn't get to be the best by being a wuss. Just rub some dirt in it and go on about your way.

Charlie watched, waiting. She wanted to see the changes that happened in Edmund. Quests, combat, near death situations could change a person. It was always for the better or the worse. The only thing that you could guarantee was that there was no true way to tell until you fought them or saw them at their worst. Edmund had always been on the rather explosive side, but now she wanted to see what she would have to deal with, other than the obvious insubordination and abrasiveness that was Edmund Simmons. He wasn't going to have much of a choice if she had any say in it, Charlie charged forward quickly, her blade moving in a blur as she quickly swapped it from her right hand to her left, bringing it down in an arching swing before changing direction in midswing to go across his midsection. Charlie could only hope that he hadn't forgotten his training, but she could probably bet that he wouldn't have let it go to hell because he went on a quest. A quest would have tested his combat skills and pushed his emotional state to something that Charlie could only compare to things that had happened to her in life. “Glad you are back, Simmons. I'd hate to find a new punching bag.” She smirked as she made another swing at him. “Just remember, if I couldn't pick at you, it'd mean I didn't like you.”

[Deleted]

ic: 714 tag: charlie-mack jolly credit to oblivion heart of s t o n e

Jolly was probably disappointed that Edmund had come back in one piece. Being the annoying pain in her side that he was, he was surprised that she wasn't trying to send him into the Underworld herself. They had always had a standoffish relationship, minus that one night where she had stuck up for him. Honestly, why did people do that? He could look after himself, he didn't need other people. He didn't.... didn't. Other people certainly didn't need him. Why prolong his presence on earth? No one should have been sticking up for him or protecting him... if he couldn't look after himself after all this time, he didn't deserve to still be living. No one to count on but yourself, and even Ed's self trust was faulty these days. He couldn't trust himself to be around people right now; it was like he had no control over his hyperactive muscles anymore. Out there it could've helped. It could've saved his neck. Here? Here he could unintentionally hurt another camper. Even though that thought haunted him, it couldn't prevent him from continuing training. All he had to do was fight through this, learn how to control himself more. He didn't have to be watching his (and the other quest members') backs 24/7 anymore. He didn't, but he couldn't help the biting urge that he had to anyway, and the guilt that he wasn't doing it. Edmund allowed Jolly to bat his sword out of the way. Gods, he had almost attacked her with no pretenses. Okay, fine, besides her being an annoying pain his his podex, he shouldn't have been outright attacking her. His bad. Frustration zapped through him, making his free hand curl in and out, twitching against his leg. Stupid emotions. Stupid frustration. Why did this have to be so complicated? Before, he had been fine, but now.... it all felt so... complicated, and he wasn't ready for it. He looked up at his co-centurion. Spar with her. Not a request, an order. Edmund had been expecting it. He gave her a curt nod and took a defensive stance, raising his sword against her once again. A slight smirk slid across his face. "Right about that," he muttered. He'd accept sparring with her no problem, but no way in hell was she going to force him to go into the infirmary. He had a bite from an odd looking monster and burns. Nothing self administered tweezers and gauze couldn't fix. As for the burns... at least they hadn't been 4th degree. He could feel the pain, which was good. That meant the nerves were still there, unlike on the back of his calves. He wouldn't feel pain if someone struck him in a particular spot, and there lay the double edged sword. Both good and bad? No pain. Strictly bad? The possibility of him not knowing he had been struck and bleeding out as a result. If anything, Edmund felt like this was Charlie's reevaluation of him as a solider. Fair enough. He had been away a while, time to see if he was still up to first cohort standard. Once again, he got a horrible feeling in his gut. The guilt that he should've taken on the monsters with Felicity and made Josh pick the locks. Rogers would be able to suck up a headache. Edmund would've been able to suck up possibly dying without anyone caring. Edmund jumped sideways as Jolly charged at him, thrusting out his sword and trying to get a hit at her leg as her momentum carried her forward. Her blade was suddenly in her non dominant hand and coming at him from a different angle. He took his sword and swung it up, twisting it sideways, even though the burn protested. Edmund Simons, seven years later and once again trying to disarm Jolly while avoiding getting degutted by her blade. He narrowed his eyes at her slightly as she begun talking, her blade once again coming close to him. He swiped to block and then aimed a slash at her opposite sword on. "Right," he muttered, voice flat, face unreadable. She was just saying these things to distract him. A war tactic, and nothing more.

[Deleted]

Okay there had been a lot of things going on here at camp. With all of the crap, Edmund had probably heard of it upon his return. The Venus girls were notorious gossips and news tended to travel fast amongst the teenage population that provided the majority of the population a this particular camp. Edmund was probably super dissapointed that she hadn't kicked the bucket just yet. Or he was probably a bit miffed at the thought that both she and Ashby were here to keep making his pathetic life miserable. This was quite the strange relationship, her and edmund. Boy did she ever want to kill Cupid for that stupid little stunt that he pulled last year around this time. Oh if there was ever a way to skin a god alive, she was going to find out how. Though to be completely honest, it wasn't nearly as bad as she thought it would be. Charlie would never admit to it or out loud, but it wasn't that bad. Edmund was a pain in the ass, but he was her soldier and she was responsible for him. That kid brother she wanted but didn't realize how much of a jerk he could be.

He had swung at her without much provocation. Any other time that would have been grounds for a real ass whoopin, forgive the southern interjection, but Charlie knew that look that he had. It was the same look that her mom had after coming home for a long deployment. Maybe that was one of the reasons that Charlie felt the need to look after this wayward son of Vulcan. There was just a hint of her own mother that she saw in him. It wasn't a bad thing, but it wasn't something she liked to be reminded of every day. There was a lot of something in Edmund, after all of these years, she couldn't decide if it was a good something or bad something. She had to give him props. She had seen stronger soldiers then him come back from quests near suicidal. Though there wasn't much to tell, Edmund was like stone, he never changed. To a degree, that was something that could be either good or bad. You couldn't ever see many cracks in the rock till it was too late and the rock fractured. But she had to give it to the Vulcan children, while they were a bit antisocial and had a problem with functioning, they made for some of the strongest soldiers and master craftsmen.

Charlie's eyes darted to his extrematies, making sure that they returned to his center of mass, his torso, before moving again. It was easy to predict an opponants moves by making sure to keep an eye on the torso. She moved her feet, quickly as she dodged inside of his manuver to swing at her leg, keeping on the balls of her feet. There was that disarming move she had once drilled into her cohort till they could do it in their sleep. A good move, but just not good enough. Charlie parried the attack as she flipped the sword over and tried to bring the hilt crashing down on his head, or his collar bone, she wasn't picky at this moment. She moved in close, not wanting to give him the advantage of reach. It didn't matter to her, long ranged or close combat, Charlie was proficient with either. It almost brought back memories of being in martial arts when she was smaller. Oh how the times were so less complicated. “Not bad Simmons, you're still pretty quick.”

[Deleted]

ooc: lol you'd think i'd be good with fight posts by now >.> ic: 578 tag: charlie mack-jolly credit to oblivion heart of s t o n e

Edmund would never say it out loud, but since coming back to camp, he had been forced to find certain grounding things. His entire six months had been up in the air; not knowing whether he'd wake up to a monster, someone screaming, or someone dying. Then they actually went into the ruins and their lives flipped upside down. Fears and hopes and dreams came crashing down everywhere. All the things he had seen had been proving impossible to shape; they became fuel for nightmares and even day dreams if he let his mind wander too much. When he came back, all he wanted was some stability. That stability would be the structure of Camp. He was a civilian now, kind of; he was a solider who needed to train, but he was't in a war zone anymore. This was a protected camp. A camp that had a specific hierarchy with specific people here and in charge. When he had come back, it had all changed. There were new trees, a new chain of command, and new deaths. Usually, he could use himself as a stabilizing force, but this time, it wasn't working nearly as well as before. Instead, he had started to find it through the little things that had stayed the same at Camp. It came through little things. Saying he was fine, acting like a machine or stone figure; trying to act as a stabilizing force for himself even though he knew (in part) that he'd fail. The small things that had started to help him came in the forms of the river, Felicity's tree, and buildings. Heck, even Ashby and Jolly still being head of first, even though he'd rather die before admitting it. Catching up about the going ons of Camp had been way too easy. Maybe a bit too easy. With Venus kids all over the place, gossip wasn't a shortage they needed to worry about. No matter how much he hated grape vines about people, event grape vining was usually accurate. Smith was dead and rumors about their quest had already been flying at 150 miles per hour. Although, since the majority of camp hadn't been on the quest themselves, Edmund tended to tune those out. They were all probably wrong anyways. He had to deal with people staring and whispering again though, but whatever. He had numbed himself of that when he was a kid. Besides, not like they were going to get anything out of him. They'd never understand. No one would. No one but himself and the other quest members. You never understood anything until you went through it yourself. For Edmund, it included a gigantic adrenaline crash (even though he was always hyped up on in; camp training adrenaline was different from we-may-die-at-any-given-moment adrenaline) and trying not to go on hyper alert every single time he saw bush move or heard an odd noise. Maybe that was why he was craving for a fight sometimes. Craving for a fight or something equally as reckless or dangerous. Well, he wanted dangerous, and a fight with Jolly would certainly provide that. His sword was deflected away from a disarm, and nearly a second later, Edmund's arms were up, trying to prevent a hilt of a sword from coming crashing down on him. He took all his weight and pushed to the side, feeling something hard run down the side of his face before lashing out and kicking at Charlie's stomach.

[Deleted]

Charlie didn't know what exactly to say about the choice the gods made when they chose the members of the quest. Felicity hadn't exactly been friendly with the gods, no, she was pretty much set in her ways and her opinion about the gods. Edmund here was the same way. He openly antagonized her father, Lord Pluto, who knew how many others he had provoked. He even had the balls to throw a dagger at Lord Pluto. One of the big three, Charlie didn't know if that was real courage and gusto or if it was just pure stupidity. Maybe it was a little of both. You had to have a good bit of courage and a little bit of stupidity here these days. It was needed these days and you had to have resolve. It was going to be a trying time ahead. She thought about little Lyn going on that quest. She hadn't even been here for long, but needless to say, that particular group, they probably needed all the luck they could get. The adorable and fluffy headed girl, Charlie wouldn't have chosen her even if they needed luck. Lyn needed a chance to be a little girl. Then there was Josh and Ethan. The two mercury boys. Both were smart as a whip and they knew what they were doing. Josh was her friend, she cared about him and hoped that he was alright.

Camp just didn't seem right without the people in it. Even the seeming obscenities that seemed to come from Edmunds mouth. His lurking demeanor was missed. Not that he would admit to caring. Hell not that Charlie would ever admit that she missed the miscreant. Ronan was a good man, but the forge just didn't seem right without the grouchy guy. Edmunds constant tinkering, his one word sentences, they all were factors that made this guy who he was. A grouchy son of Vulcan, whether he wanted to admit it or not. From the stories that Charlie had read and heard of the god of the forge, Edmund wasn't too far off.

Edmund had deflected her disarm, good. It was a blatent and obvious move and if you couldn't deflect it, well needless to say he would have been drilling it for a couple of hours till it was back in his limbs as a reflex. Charlie's eyes never left his torso, it was easy to predict the moves of your opponant by watching the torso. She saw the kick to her stomach, she spun along the inside of his leg, moving in closer. Probably a little too close for comfort to some people. But she learned from Kung Fu all those years ago, being in close discouraged the use of legs. Though if she wanted mid distance fighting, she's happily grab a spear and see how much he wanted to kick then. "Your ripost needs a little bit more work, but on the whole not bad." She said as she thrusted her blade at him. After the blade thrust, she flipped it upwards, spinning around him till she was at his back. Charlie moved quickly, catching her sword and bringing it in a slash across Edmund's back.

[Deleted]

ooc: watching narnia gave me muse ^_^ ic: 522 tag: charlie-mack jolly credit to oblivion like toy soldiers

out of all people the gods picked for the quest, he had to be included? the gods knew how much he hated them. knew how much he resented them. he had attacked pluto, shouted at mars, had insulted every single one of them whenever he had the chance. sure, he had gotten a shrunken rib for his troubles after all the animal transformations, but it had been worth it. he got to keep the rib without surgery and speak his mind blatantly. win win situation. what did they think dragging him on the quest team would accomplish? try to get him to see their point of view? create some sympathy? some form of thanks for getting chosen? if any of that had been their intention, they had failed. what good had he been, anyway? fat load of help. anyone could've taken his place and it could've worked out fine. better, even. they had two mercury kids. they could've done the locks. ethan had managed fine. if he could've done it, so could rogers. quest, camp... whatever, he was no help at either place. what was even the point of being anywhere? all he was doing here was training. he couldn't even bring himself to go into the forge. not after what happened in the ruins. after being away for so long, edmund had some adjusting to do. the sudden bareness of felicity's tree; the change command chain; all the lives and deaths that had happened since they had left. and what had they been doing? kicking around in england trying to look for a freaking relic. needle in a haystack. a job that lasted a little less than six hours. all for what? nothing. the blasted thing was gone. all of what they had gone through... for nothing. for freaking nothing. what good had it been? what was the point? why the freak had they been chosen to go on a fricken suicide mission when it would all go to waste? all in vain?! edmund took a stabilizing breath. his heart rate was getting close to where it went when he stepped inside the infirmary. he clenched his burned hand in a fist, commanding himself to shut down. this place could go on fine...it had done so for six months. there had been no good-byes on his part when he had left for the quest. no one to say good bye to. no one who would even care if he died. whatever. if they had wished him dead, then he'd just proven to be yet another form of disappointment. charlie moved in closer. usually, edmund hated close contact, but if it was during a fight, he was oddly okay with it. he gave a curt nod as charlie gave a criticism. there was always something he could improve on. always. and he didn't mind. improving himself was the only way he'd get better. edmund knocked her blade to the side as she went for another thrust at him. then she went towards his back; he turned with her and swung his sword to parry her, then aimed a blow at her shoulder.