I’ve read a lot of fics, have seen many shows, and have watched many movies that are completely inaccurate when it comes to sparring. NOW, i know it’s fiction, and I greatly enjoy it nonetheless, but I would like to share a few things with you, as a person who trains in Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA). There are a few general things in this, as well as stuff more focused to a certain european weapon. (this is all Historical European stuff, obviously if you’re writing for a different region, this probably won’t apply that much.)
SPARRING
-you don’t practice with real sharp swords. Never. It’s incredibly dangerous, especially since sparring is trying to practice your killing/injuring skills. In older times, you would use wood, maybe wrapped in leather or canvas to practice. Today, you use weighted nylon swords/weapons, and you usually wear a mask while doing so. Steel is and was an option, but the blade will be completely dull, and the tip will be bent over itself.
-It’s practically impossible to knock someone off their feet while sparring, unless you are hooking your foot or weapon behind their leg. It’s hard to push back and cause someone to fall, since they can just retreat back a bit.
-YOU. DON’T. SPEND. HOURS. SPARRING. ESPECIALLY WITHOUT A BREAK. It’s exhausting, the most people usually go is 10 minutes before they have a break. During Training, you only spar for about 2-5 minutes before stopping and having a rest.
-You try your hardest never to cross your feet. It’s dangerous and it unbalances you. Your opponent can take advantage of you easily.
-Usually, you want to strike your opponent with the last ¼ of your blade, basically just the tip and a little below. That’s the sharpest point, and you get the most force behind it.
-Swords aren’t super heavy. Stop the giant, huge, I-can-barely-lift-this trope. Longswords are usually 3lbs. It’s not heavy when you pick it up. However, it gets heavy when you’re holding it up above your head for a while. Swords were not made to be heavy, especially since you would have to hold them up in battle for sometimes hours.
-It’s incredibly hard to engage in witty banter and such. You are constantly moving and trying to strike your opponent. Since it’s fiction, you can do what you want, but just know that trying to have a conversation while sparring is like trying to have one while running. It tires you out even more, and usually just comes out breathless and wheezy.
-Swords are not lightsabers. You cannot try and hurt someone with just any part of your blade. It will just annoy your opponent. Now, for sparring, you will want to focus on hitting your opponent with the edge of your blade, and you won’t really ever be trying to hit someone with the flat of your blade.
-In sparring, you will get hit. And get bruises. I count five from just 2 days ago. (Also reminder that bruises don’t form for 1-3 days.) If you happened to get a hard thrust to the ribs, they will probably fracture. It happens. I haven’t had it personally, but those who’ve trained longer have. The worst injury I’ve gotten is a bruise on my chest that didn’t fade for nearly a month.
-Grip!!! You don’t clutch your sword super tight. No. It limits movement. My instructor taught me to hold firmly with the thumb, pointer, and middle finger, and use the other two as more guiding fingers. You swing your sword with your wrist, not a big giant arm movement. That is tiring and slow.
I will be focusing on using a one handed sword in this next bit, specifically a Scottish Regimental Broadsword. A basic sword to build off of.
-FOOTWORK. It’s not a super complicated series of perfectly planned out steps. It just isn’t. With Regimental Broadsword (which is what I will focus on, since it’s what I’ve trained with most), you have to have a good base (rear-weighted stance, front foot pointed at your opponent, back foot turned sideways), and then once you have that, you just have to move around and try not to get hit.
-Slipping. (Continuation of footwork). With a rear-weighted stance, the goal is to be able to move the front foot anywhere. You should actually be able to keep your front foot an inch off the ground without having to adjust your back foot. Slipping is when this comes in handy. If your opponent takes a swing at your front leg, you should be able to just slip it back to go next to your other foot, and swing your sword up to get your opponents head. Slipping is really important.
-Advance and Retreat (other continuation of footwork). While moving forward or back, you always want to feel the ground with a heel-toe movement, so you can tell if there are rocks or branches and such. Advancing, you want to move your front leg first. Retreating, your back leg.
-Traversing (last continuation of footwork)(maybe). Transversing is basically advancing in on your opponent in a circular motion. You’re trying to get close and personal. Reminder to not cross your feet. You will loose balance and probably end up getting whacked with a sword. Traversing is a spiral motion sort of. Your opponent can avoid getting trapped If they do it as well.
I will probably come back and add more soon, because there’s more I know, but can’t remember at the moment.
Person B: “If you could choose to spend the rest of your life in any place, where would it be?”
Person A: “I’d choose to spend it right here with you in this bed. You’re warm and safe and the feeling I get when you’re around is something I’ve never experienced before.”
Person B: *Is now flustered and red* “I- I meant a city.. but y- yeah. Yeah, that works.”
blindfolding your date, leading them to a wonderful surprise
beautiful picnic in the garden
taking photographs of each other
dancing under the stars
sleep under the stars, roast marshmallows and stargaze
visit museums (could be art, archeology, dinosaurs, human evolution, space)
a standard date, dinner and a movie
drive-in movie date, dinner at a fast-food place at one a.m.
playing mini golf or some other type of sport
going to an amusement park, sharing a kiss in the alley
going to a food truck festival
cooking or baking class! alternatively, cooking together at home
asking your “friend” to be your plus-one to another friend’s wedding
visit an antique book story, choose books for each other to read
a date spent cruising around town, visiting small shops, resting your legs at a quiet, cozy little café, holding hands over the table
exploring old castles, monuments, tourist attractions
breakfast dates
watching the sunset or sunrise
going for a midnight drive
doing an activity you’re both terrible at, for a good old laugh
playing video/board games together
writing each other love letters
recreating your first/favorite date
building a snowman, having a snowball fight
going to a pumpkin patch, choosing the perfect pumpkin, decorating for halloween together. alternatively, decorating for christmas
go to an escape room
make a time capsule
visit a haunted house
meet each other in a bar, assume new identities, and try to pick each other up
“ you captured my heart like the bandit you swore you’d protect me from. “
“ how do i push you out when your soul is so closely intertwined with mine? “
“ it’s true what they say, you know. love can last forever. “
“ love is not capable of surviving in an environment that welcomes its destruction. “
“ but for love, you need to learn to let go. yes, there’s always a risk, but you need to be ready for that. “
“ love is eternal. it doesn’t just go away. “
“ you broke my heart. “ “ and you broke my spirit. “
“ i will always love you. “ “ even when i don’t deserve it? “
“ this love, is it really worth it? “ “ it will always be worth it. “
“ love is an open game. and cheaters never fail. “
“ you think love is eternal. it’s not. thank god it’s not. “
“ love’s a pretty fragile line, you know. so you better tread lightly. “
“ does your heart really ignite when you’re with me? does it come alive? “
“ you bend and you break until someone decides it’s not worth it anymore. “
“ love isn’t the antidote. it’s what got you sick in the first place. “
“ even the wicked witch found love. “
“ love is either a blessing, or a curse. “
“ not everyone is capable of being loved. “ “ that doesn’t make them any less important. “
“ there’s people out there who would kill for love. some who would live for it, too. “
“ the second you start chasing, you’ve already lost. “
“ you can’t turn your back on someone you love, no matter how much you want to. “
“ you know romeo and juliet, don’t you? they were said to be true love. “ “ and look what happened. “
“ love’s destructive. it forces its away into your bloodstream, barricading your soul until there’s nothing left. “
“ i don’t wish to fall for anyone. “ then what do you wish for? “ “ i wish to fall in love with myself. “
“ love isn’t always the solution. “ “ but it’s part of the equation. “
“ my love for you inspires me to do bad things. really bad things. things that no human should ever speak of. “
“ that’s how strong their love was. it could practically overcome anything. until the day it couldn’t. “
“ you can’t just stop loving someone. especially not when they’re all you think about when you’re alone. “
“ love does last forever. just not in the way you think it does. “
“ my heart is forever indisposed. “
“ i fucking despise the feeling of being in love. “
“ you brought me back to life. “ “ and you tore mine away from me. “
UNREQUITED, FALSE ASSUMPTIONS & PINING PROMPTS
TO EACH OTHER
❝ i love you. and i know you don’t feel that way about me and that’s okay i just. i wanted to get to say it at least once. ❞
❝ what are you talking about— of course i love you? ❞
❝ but i do love you. i always have. i just thought you didn’t feel that way so i never said anything. ❞
❝ look i…i do care about you. a lot. and i wish i could love you that way. i really do but i just, i’ve never seen you like that. ❞
❝ …you love me? ❞
❝ why didn’t you ever say anything? ❞
❝ i did! i loved you. and i thought you didn’t feel that way so i moved on. i’m with someone now. why…why did you wait so long? ❞
❝ why did you wait so long to tell me how you feel? ❞
❝ i love you! okay? i’ve been so fucking in love with you for longer than i can remember. ❞
❝ you should have told me how you felt. ❞
❝ actually i…there was a little while there where i had this horrible crush on you. if i’d known this was how you were feeling i would’ve gone for it. ❞
❝ please don’t say it. i know you don’t love me. i don’t expect you to, but just. don’t make me have to hear you say it. ❞
❝ i’ve loved you for so long…i don’t remember what it was like to not be in love with you. ❞
❝ i can’t say no to you. and it’s just not fair. ❞
❝ please, don’t be cruel. i love you. like really love you. so if i’m just some passing curiosity for you…don’t. don’t say anything at all. ❞
❝ you don’t get it. i want the whole package with you. i don’t wanna be some fling you forget about in a few months. ❞
❝ do you know how long i’ve waited for you? ❞
❝ i don’t need you to love me back. i just want you to be able to accept that this is how i feel. ❞
❝ why did you think i wouldn’t love you back? ❞
❝ will you just slow down a minute! i’m trying to tell you i love you too. ❞
❝ i wouldn’t have been messing around with anyone else if i knew about this sooner. ❞
❝ will you stop crying so i can kiss you already? ❞
❝ honestly i’d never thought about it…i just need time to think it over. ❞
❝ i hadn’t ever taken the time to think about it. but…that doesn’t mean i couldn’t love you. ❞
❝ i just need to know. do you love me? or have i just been making this all in my head? ❞
❝ i love you. please don’t say anything yet. you don’t need to say anything. ❞
❝ no— they weren’t lying. i do. i love you. but i didn’t want you to find out like that. i didn’t want you find out at all, actually. ❞
❝ look can you just forget about it? okay? yeah i’m in love with you. big deal. it happens. ❞
❝ yes i love you. i’ll get over it. ❞
❝ are you…are you really over me? cause, that’d actually really suck because i’m not over you. ❞
❝ look, i know you love me. but you shouldn’t. ❞
❝ you are far too good to love someone like me. you’ll find someone better. ❞
TO/FROM A THIRD PARTY
❝ if that’s how you feel about them why not just say it? take a chance. wouldn’t you rather know one way or the other? ❞
❝ this whole time i didn’t see them…i didn’t see what was right in front of me and now it might be too late. ❞
❝ i love them so much it hurts. ❞
❝ love shouldn’t hurt this much. this whole thing is just consuming you in a way that isn’t healthy. ❞
❝ you either need to make a move or let them go. ❞
❝ this isn’t good for you. you can’t keep pouring yourself into someone who doesn’t even know you exist. ❞
❝ you do see how they look at you, right? ❞
❝ don’t you realize they’ve been in love with you for years? ❞
❝ they love you, dumbass. ❞
❝ look i’m so fed up with everyone knowing you two love each other except you. go kiss them or shut the fuck up about it. ❞
❝ just take a chance. you might be surprised. ❞
ACTIONS/SCENARIOS
[ CONFESSION ] for sender to interrupt receiver’s confession of love by kissing them.
[ CONFESSED ] for receiver to interrupt sender’s confession of love by kissing them.
[ STOP ] for sender to try and walk away, afraid they’re going to get their heart broken but receiver grabs their wrist and pulls them back in for a kiss.
[ STOPPING ] for receiver to try and walk away, afraid they’re going to get their heart broken but sender grabs their wrist and pulls them back in for a kiss.
[ CONFRONTING ] for receiver to confront sender after a third party told receiver that sender is in love with them.
[ DRAMATICS ] for a near death experience to drive receiver to confess their feelings to sender.
[ SEE ] for receiver to be hurt and realize sender loves them because of the way they’re taking care of them.
[ EAVESDROP ] for receiver to overhear a conversation where sender talks about their feelings for them.
[ HUSH ] for sender to ramble about their feelings and how they know it isn’t requited only for receiver to put a hand over their mouth so they’ll be quiet long enough for them to explain they love them too.
[ AWAKEN ] for receiver to not think they feel the same way but realize after a simple hookup with sender that they’re in love with them to.
[ CASUAL ] for sender to want to sleep with receiver to get it out of their system. but receiver winds up catching feelings to because of it.
[ TENSION ] for muses who have been pining for each other to finally have sex for the first time.
[ BREAK ] sender can’t take it anymore and kisses receiver out of nowhere.
[ FREE ] receiver can’t take it anymore and kisses sender out of nowhere.
[ TRY ] sender has confessed their feelings and receiver tries kissing them to see how they feel.
[ TRYING ] receiver has confessed their feelings and sender tries kissing them to see how they feel.
Person A: “Did none of you, think this was a bad idea?!”
Person B: “Oh no, we all did. We just decided to do it anyway.”
“you?! why are you here?!”
“can’t believe i’m stuck here with you.”
“just stay away from me, okay?”
“shut up and mind your business.”
“wow. you suck at this.”
“i hate you.” “no you don’t.”
“you know you love me.”
“listen, let’s just get this over with, okay?”
“don’t touch me with your filthy hands.”
“why did i have to end up partnered with you of all people?”
“listen, just let me do all the work, okay? i’d rather not have you ruin everything.”
“stop acting like i wanted to be paired with you!”
“why do you hate me so much?”
“i’ve hated you since we were kids.”
“go away. i don’t wanna be seen around you.”
“god, this is why i hate you.”
“get out. you weren’t invited.”
“can you just pretend that you like me?”
“my friends always said you were terrible.”
“we belong to different types of people, okay?”
“don’t waste your breath talking to me.”
“hey-,” “shut up.” “i haven’t even said anything yet!”
“ha! you’re so stupid!”
“you’re such an asshole!”
“aww, are you gonna cry?”
“you’re sickening.”
“because i’m jealous of you!”
“i hate people like you.”
“please. we could never be a thing.”
“me? with them? you must be joking.”
“they hate me, and i don’t know why.”
A: Do you have a gun ? I need a gun .
B: ...Why do you need a gun?
A: There's a tarantula on the wall.
“ it’s just a room with a bed. “
“ i can’t wait to spend the night with you. “
“ don’t hog the blanket. “
“ there’s only one pillow... “
“ are you sure you’re okay with this? “
“ why don’t you take the pillow? “
“ you can always sleep on the couch. “
“ the couch isn’t comfortable, but if you’d rather have me there… “
“ let’s not make a big deal out of this. “
“ it’s just for sleeping, right? “
“ it’s cold. “ “ c'mere. my arms are warmer. “
“ this is just…. ridiculous. “
“ of course there’s only one bed. “
“ at least it’s a king sized one. “
“ you can’t seriously sleep on the floor. “
“ we can share a bed. “
“ this isn’t so bad. it’s quite cozy, actually. “
“ come on, we’ve been through worse. “
“ maybe we can cuddle? you know, seeing as we’re already here... “
“ what side are you taking? “
“ it’s only weird if you make it weird. “
“ things could always be worse. “ “ i guess you're right. “
“ this is awkward. “
“ it’s not like we have to talk. “
“ you’re on my side! “
“ stay on your side, or so help me god, i will set this bed on fire. “
“ your feet are cold, move them! “
“ please, don’t snore… “
“ you’re snoring. it’s cute/it's annoying. “
Prompt ~ !
A: I wanna kiss you...
B: well, what's stopping you ?
A: hmm... nothing.. , They smile and lean in and kiss B .
WRITING PROMPTS TO EMBARRASS YOUR OC. Pt 1
A bunch of ideas for you to make your OC want to crawl into a hole and die of embarrassment because we writers are loving bullies. Hehe ~
They break a chair or fence they're sitting on.
He says something inappropriate ,not realizing his microphone is still on .
She breaks a glass or spills a drink .
He tripped on his shoe lace and fell face first into her chest .
Her period starts early and she bleeds through her clothes.
He congratulates a woman on her pregnancy. She's not pregnant.
She accidentally hugs or hits the butt of a stranger , mistaking him for her brother/ best friend or significant other .
He was only pretending to know about something and someone asks a very detailed question about it.
She/ He entered the wrong washroom.
She walked out of the washroom with toilet paper sticking to her clothes.
She walked into a pole / wall.
Someone reads their private letter or diary entry out aloud in a group.
She faints / gets sick at the worst possible time.
They wore their clothes inside out or backwards ( or both ) .
An unflattering or compromising video or photo of her is widely distributed.
A family member brings up something private in front of her friends or crush.
They walked in on someone changing.
She's caught talking to herself when she thought she was alone.
He farts loudly while taking part in a group conversation .
She's underdressed or overdressed or wearing something inappropriate for the occasion .
They take a bite of something that was meant for decoration.
He's been calling someone the wrong name for weeks.
She's gone to the wrong classroom, business meeting or funeral.
They accidentally sent something that was supposed to be deleted to someone .
Her crush discovered her love for him in the worst ,most embarrassing way .
They said something private or personal to their sibling or best friend and realized someone else was in earshot.
She got mad at him for ignoring her greetings all the time when in fact he was actually deaf.
She cooked food for the party and everyone had food poisoning or diarrhoea.
He wore two different shoes or socks to the occasion.
He faked illness to stay with her but she found out .
She complained about her annoying boss to someone who turned out to be related to said boss.
They got drunk and sent an embarrassing video / calls/ texts to their ex / crush / boss etc
He sent something inappropriate or something meant to be private to a group chat.
She was caught dancing in her underwear when she thought she was alone.
He forgot to turn off the camera and was caught doing something really inappropriate or embarrassing.
He lost a bet and had to wear something very odd/ embarrassing/ inappropriate for an important event .
She arrived at the wrong time for the dinner or occasion .
He was rude to someone who turned out to be of higher authority/ social status as himself .
They tripped and fell face first into the trash .
His parent became a teacher at their school and keeps exposing private things to their mates or tutors.