The Training Yard

[Marie]

"Um. You ever thought about unarmed combat?"

[The Stranger]

"Yes," Finn said simply.

[Marie]

"Have you learned anything about it? If you have, you could show me. No knives and cloaks."

[The Stranger]

"Well, everything I learned was in relation to getting ready to deploy the blade. I'm no expert. I wouldn't want to teach you wrong." Finn said.

[Marie]

"Of course not. But can you be sure you'll have a blade with you every time?"

[The Stranger]

"No. It's still useful without it," Finn said. "although there's no reason not to have a blade with you all the time." He pointed out.

[Marie]

"What if a Faceless man came after you in the bath? Would you really have a blade to hand then?" She teased.

[The Stranger]

Finn laughed, "Interrupt me in the bath some time, and find out for yourself."

[Marie]

Though she'd said she wasn't a giggler, she giggled now.

"I was only teasing," she said, embarrassed. "But still, I think it would be something worth knowing. Blades break, remember."

[The Stranger]

"I know," Finn replied, "I told you I'm studying it, didn't I?" he said, rolling his eyes and sticking out his tongue.

[Marie]

Mariya laughed.

"Maybe we could each each other the things we know?" She suggested.

[The Stranger]

Finn nodded, "I'm happy to show you, but not here. You were already complaining that people might get the wrong idea, and that was when I had a wooden knife at your throat."

[Marie]

"Oh. The knife wasn't the reason," she said. "And I wasn't complaining, exactly. I just...it doesn't matter. But we can do it somewhere else, if you prefer."

[The Stranger]

"Yes," Finn said, "Somewhere else, another time."

[Marie]

"Good. For now, would you be willing to take up a practice sword and try to strike me. I need to work on defending myself."