[The katana was not generally a good idea, no. There is no archetype that Sephiroth is more adept in, no sword that he prefers to use more than Masamune — that much is obvious even to those who don’t know him that well, because there had not been a moment even in Aefenglom where he considered using a different kind of blade.
But he’s interested; he’s met others who can fight with the balance and precision needed to wield a katana with interesting results properly, and he has never seen Cloud raise anything less than hulking in his direction — this should be enlightening, in its own way. The way a SOLDIER finds excitement in a fight that isn’t the usual, that isn’t just another instance of the same that he can end in a few seconds flat.
The other man can read his opponent, at least, knowing that Sephiroth’s stance has invited the first move. And so his eyes fix onto the first foot forward, the directional weight in which Cloud shifts himself, and knows that he’s coming in left. A wise move, one that would be considered his less dominant side if Sephiroth had a less dominant side, and Sephiroth shifts to the side to avoid the bite of Cloud’s katana in his side.
The difference is already clear: when they fought last, his wings had gotten in the way, just unstable and unbalanced things at his back. Now, they seem to temper his balance, flaring out as though to fine-tune his stance and grant him more steadiness than before, which allows Sephiroth to feint backward with a heavy flap of black feathers, then lunge forward with Masamune. A straight, horizontal thrust towards Cloud’s center.
Easy to block with the large flat of an oversized blade. A katana? It’ll require a tad more footwork, and he wants to see Cloud dance dodge it.]
[dancedodge he does, and it's not exactly an elegant motion. He wasn't exactly expecting to hit Sephiroth with such a simple move. Of course not- if he had, he'd have likely dropped his own katana in confusion- he expected Sephiroth to feint, but he hadn't expected the benefit his wings now gave him.
Whereas he planned to make another strike- at his legs, most likely- in the direction of which he expected Sephiroth to move to, he's forced to adjust. Mainly because the added momentum that flap of the other's wings gave him meant what while he indeed moved in the direction Cloud expected, he moved far farther than what he had any expectation of.
He's still just as fast, though. While that planned blow to his legs doesn't come, it's... actually probably a good thing. Because Sephiroth's follow-up is giving him more problems than the usual. Sephiroth's follow up is always problematic. It's not like the man's in the habit of moving wastefully, or that he even makes mistakes. It's more...
...Well, a problem of his own making, this sword and all. Whereas, yes, Cloud does have a strength that could be considered SOLDIER standard, and yes- he can and does move while holding colossal greatswords as easily as most would move while holding something lighter, it's more a fact that he'd normally defend against something like that with parries and outright blocks. He can't here.
So. It's all he can do to outright dodge- lurching to the side in a light roll. He wasn't clipped. Nothing hurts, so he wasn't clipped. He's on his feet instantly, taking a bounding leap toward the other man, thin blade held above his head, in both hands.]
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no subject
But he’s interested; he’s met others who can fight with the balance and precision needed to wield a katana with interesting results properly, and he has never seen Cloud raise anything less than hulking in his direction — this should be enlightening, in its own way. The way a SOLDIER finds excitement in a fight that isn’t the usual, that isn’t just another instance of the same that he can end in a few seconds flat.
The other man can read his opponent, at least, knowing that Sephiroth’s stance has invited the first move. And so his eyes fix onto the first foot forward, the directional weight in which Cloud shifts himself, and knows that he’s coming in left. A wise move, one that would be considered his less dominant side if Sephiroth had a less dominant side, and Sephiroth shifts to the side to avoid the bite of Cloud’s katana in his side.
The difference is already clear: when they fought last, his wings had gotten in the way, just unstable and unbalanced things at his back. Now, they seem to temper his balance, flaring out as though to fine-tune his stance and grant him more steadiness than before, which allows Sephiroth to feint backward with a heavy flap of black feathers, then lunge forward with Masamune. A straight, horizontal thrust towards Cloud’s center.
Easy to block with the large flat of an oversized blade. A katana? It’ll require a tad more footwork, and he wants to see Cloud
dancedodge it.]no subject
dancedodge he does, and it's not exactly an elegant motion. He wasn't exactly expecting to hit Sephiroth with such a simple move. Of course not- if he had, he'd have likely dropped his own katana in confusion- he expected Sephiroth to feint, but he hadn't expected the benefit his wings now gave him.Whereas he planned to make another strike- at his legs, most likely- in the direction of which he expected Sephiroth to move to, he's forced to adjust. Mainly because the added momentum that flap of the other's wings gave him meant what while he indeed moved in the direction Cloud expected, he moved far farther than what he had any expectation of.
He's still just as fast, though. While that planned blow to his legs doesn't come, it's... actually probably a good thing. Because Sephiroth's follow-up is giving him more problems than the usual. Sephiroth's follow up is always problematic. It's not like the man's in the habit of moving wastefully, or that he even makes mistakes. It's more...
...Well, a problem of his own making, this sword and all. Whereas, yes, Cloud does have a strength that could be considered SOLDIER standard, and yes- he can and does move while holding colossal greatswords as easily as most would move while holding something lighter, it's more a fact that he'd normally defend against something like that with parries and outright blocks. He can't here.
So.
It's all he can do to outright dodge- lurching to the side in a light roll. He wasn't clipped. Nothing hurts, so he wasn't clipped. He's on his feet instantly, taking a bounding leap toward the other man, thin blade held above his head, in both hands.]