She clearly has an opinion about that, one that'd be fairly dangerous for the people in question if they were here right now.

    "Well, she is. And teaching you individual moves isn't a very good way of closing the gap; she'd like to teach you some katas."

He shrugs again. "Yeah, sure. Why not?"

And so she teaches him katas. She has a defensive style in mind that she thinks will mesh well with his current habits, but it's too advanced to jump right into; she demonstrates it anyway, briefly, and then goes through the katas that lead up to it.

Ira applies himself to what she shows him, and can certainly see the benefits of the style she's suggesting. He seems wary when he makes mistakes, like he's waiting for repercussions.

None are forthcoming; she's very patient about going over each section until he's got it.

    "You'll be ready to try the Fasuna style when you can do these without having to think about it - a few weeks, maybe, if you can practice every day. It's fine if it takes longer, though, she knows you're busy."

He nods. "I'll do what I can." (And there's a quiet resolution there.)

    "Is there anything else you'd like to do today?"

"Not with this. We should probably go ask Ant about schools."

That's fine with her.

Well. Ira doesn't seem particularly inclined to make conversation on the walk back. Unless Deskyl or DZ has something to say?

    "You really have done well with everything, she says. You would have been a good Sith, if you were a Sith."

He smiles a little at that, almost shy. "This is one of the things I can do. Even if I'm- missing parts. Like defence."

Deskyl nods, some of her earlier annoyance at whoever trained him showing up again in her body language.

    "That's not your fault, of course. You should have been trained better. And you've done very well with what you do know."

"Haven't really had a choice."

    "Yes, that happens. It doesn't make your accomplishments any less your own, though."

He's quiet for a moment. "Thanks," he mumbles.

    "Sith don't have very much choice, either. They don't have many laws, but that's one of them: people who can learn to be Sith are rare, and when they're found, the Sith who finds them has to either train them themselves, or send them to Korriban to be trained. She wanted it - she was young, and didn't understand what it would be like - but it wouldn't have mattered if she didn't."

Ira nods slowly. "I sometimes think that the Slayers the Council didn't find were the lucky ones. Didn't have to put up with the bullshit."

"Oh?"

"The Council keep a pretty tight reign on their Slayers, have pretty set ways they think things should be done. Fighting alone, that kinda thing. And if you survive till your eighteen birthday, well. They take away everything that makes you a Slayer and drop a Master vampire on you. Supposed to prove you can fight with more than just your strength. Pretty much just a death sentence. A few years or freedom, or a few years on a leash? I'd take the freedom."

     "What the fuck."

"Pretty much my feelings. If you have specific questions I can try to explain, but I stopped trying to understand how the Council's minds worked once we ran."

    "It would take a lot for that to make sense. Even if you're replaceable - if they don't care at all about individual slayers as people - you're still an important strategic resource; they did put effort into training you, and they have to find the new slayer and bring them on board. They shouldn't want to throw that effort away."

"I think they're worried that if they let a Slayer get to the point where they're legally an adult they'll lose any control they have." He shrugs. "That's just how it was."

    "It's still idiotic, she says."

    "She wants to know if they still exist, and if you want to do anything about it if they do."