coexistent | ic contact;

[it's improvement, and roxas notices that, so he'll give her an encouraging smile. she can keep hitting, he'll hold steady while she tries to figure this part out in a way that works best for her.]

[ She's definitely learning, even if it's not as fast as she'd like. Roxas is patient with her, which is really all she can ask for, but after a few minutes-- Mary huffs under her breath. ]

I can't break your guard... is that what it's called?

Yeah, that's what it's called.

[he's still encouraging, at least.] It'll be easier once you get used to swinging. It's about... a balance between how hard you hit and how fast you swing. I think that's the best way to explain it.

...

So I have to hit as hard and fast as I can?

[ He didn't say that, Mary. ]

No... not exactly. It's more like, you need know when to hit really hard and when to hit really fast.

[kind... of. a teacher, he is not.]

Um... how do I know?

[ SHE HAS NO IDEA. Does the opponent give signals?? ]

Here... just try it. Hit a little harder, and a little faster.

[he'll demonstrate, even if it's going to probably be a bit forced.]

O-okay...

[ She'll just trickle some additional strength into her next swing. Not that it's much, but it's a little more at least. ]

Okay, good. Now, try to do that three or four times without stopping.

[he thinks she can handle that much.]

[ He sure has a lot of faith in her. But Mary nods, focusing on that. Strength... three or four times, without stopping. Okay.

She'll manage three! ]

[three is good, and on the third hit, he'll purposely drop his guard as if he'd really had his guard broken.

it's happened enough times, he knows what it's supposed to look like.]

...! It's different...?

[ she's not sure how to say 'your guard changed', but she's definitely noticed. ]

Yeah. You see how when you hit a bunch of times, it doesn't give me a chance to fight back? You can't stay defending forever, so that's how my guard gets broken.

[he's trying to explain it in simple terms but he's also struggling to put it into words at all. this is stuff he knows innately; nobody has ever really taught him the specifics.]

[ we can't all be as magically awesome as you, Roxas!!

But Mary nods slowly, committing it to memory. ]

So you want to hit them hard and fast enough that they'll stop guarding... I get it.