Stubborn problems always require a shift in paradigm.

[praiseandglory]

Porthos was nothing if not stubborn, and he refused to let this transformation keep him down. With no specific deadline to look forward to, he felt that he had no choice but to train, until he regained, even in this body, at least a modicum of skill at what he usually did best: fighting. It didn't help that the breeches he'd secured for himself in this form were a lot tighter than anything he was used to, but he was learning to move about in them well enough.

Much more troubling by far was the weight of his broadsword. The Schiavona was much too heavy for his current strength, but it was all he had to practice, and so he found himself outside in the gardens, going through the basic motions of swordfighting as if he were only getting to know it, hoping that repetition would help. But in this body, not only was his sword too heavy, but his balance was off, and even his very style was wrong for someone who could no longer fight like a force of nature.

Fifteen minutes into his exercises already found his oversized shirt sticking to his back with sweat, and after stumbling through yet another move that should've been easy, he pulled off the kerchief he wore over his hair and threw it aside in a show of temper, planting his sword down in the soft damp soil and looking about as frustrated with himself as a not-a-lady Musketeer could get.

Which was, apparently, a lot.

Comments

Urgh, the typos. So sorry!

[averygoodshot]

"You weren't useless," Aramis reminds him. "Only just a bit caught off guard." He takes back his sword, slipping it onto the scabbard, then he hands Porthos his back. "You can't tell me you were truly worried?"

[praiseandglory]

"You didn't have to relearn how to walk, Aramis," Porthos retorts with raised eyebrows, and holds his hand out for the wine. Swordplay is incredibly thirsty work.

[averygoodshot]

"To walk? What cod possibly be so different as to affect how you walk?" Aramis asks, brow raised, curious and teasing all at once, to see what Porthos will say, even as he hands back the wine.

[praiseandglory]

"I've no idea," Porthos answers honestly, and takes a drink of wine. He really doesn't; he just knows that putting one foot in front of the other was exceptionally difficult, at first. "You wouldn't think the change of height would affect things that much, but I have to stand completely differently, now."

[averygoodshot]

"I suppose you are a bit more front-heavy than you were," says Aramis, which is a confession that he had looked at Porthos's breasts like this. Surely, he can't be blamed.

[praiseandglory]

"I will work on my punches next," Porthos warns him with raised eyebrows, pointing at him with the hand around the neck of the bottle, but he is remarkably unbothered by the implied confession. He's looked at his breasts, too, and he surely can't be blamed for it either. Honestly, if he was going to be bothered about it, he wouldn't still be wearing his shirt, although he keeps his breasts bandaged under it. He has no idea how women do it, and they're not even all that big.

[averygoodshot]

Porthos in a corset might be the very end of Aramis. It's for the best they don't talk more about that. "You would punch me for saying you make a handsome woman?"

[praiseandglory]

"Is that what you were saying? You might want to work on that," Porthos remarks. "And I thought you were supposed to be a master at compliments." Teasing each other is the best way they have to communicate, and honestly, a few days ago - hell, a few hours ago, before this - Porthos might have punched Aramis for calling him a woman, whether handsome or otherwise. But he feels too much like himself again to mind, now, and isn't that a welcome relief.

[averygoodshot]

He is decidedly more relaxed and for that, Aramis is most glad. "A dark-hued beauty, the likes I have rarely seen," he amends with a wide smile.

[praiseandglory]

Porthos supposes he only has himself to blame for Aramis taking his words literally. He points at him with the bottle again, but he doesn't sound quite as menacing as he wishes when he tells his friend to, "Shut it, Aramis."

[averygoodshot]

Oh, now that only serves to goad Aramis on; he grins wider. "A woman sure to make any man discard his honor with nary a thought to the consequences, a woman -"

[praiseandglory]

The cork goes back into the bottle of wine and it's abandoned on the ground right before Porthos unbuckles his scabbard (swords get in the way of brawls). Then Porthos lunges for Aramis, aiming to wrap his arms around his midsection and use his momentum (if, sadly, not his weight) to carry him to the ground - or, at least, interrupt the litany of compliments he has no business receiving from his friend. He is, of course, grinning as he does so; it's hardly the first time they settle some teasing with a good brawl.

[averygoodshot]

Oof. Aramis lands with a thud even as he laughs. Of course brawling with a woman - which now Porthos is - has different boundaries, and he makes sure not to grab any delicate bits. Pushing Porthos onto his back, he works to pin his wrists. "Learn to take a compliment," he taunts, still chuckling.

[praiseandglory]

"I'll give you nary a thought," Porthos protests, unable to completely stifle his grin as he does so, and it is a lot more difficult to get out from under someone when you weigh so much less than them, he is now finding out, much to his chagrin. His wrists can't escape Aramis forever, and the buck of his hips are useless at throwing him off so far.

So he stops fighting and just lies there, hoping to lure Aramis into a sense of safety and throw him off then. Of course, in a real fight, he'd have simply opted for a headbutt, but even he wouldn't go there for a friendly brawl. "See? Everything's impossible in this body," he states, to add to the pretense that he is giving up.

[averygoodshot]

Ah, Porthos, you found Aramis's weak spot, his veritable Achilles heel; chivalry. Even for Porthos. He loosens his hold then and arches a victorious brow. "Soon, you shall be asking me to help you win in a brawl in this form."

[praiseandglory]

Porthos pretends to be considering that and, before his play-acting has any chance of cracking, makes his move. He frees his hands and pushes with everything he has to roll them both so he finds himself on top of Aramis instead, pinning his wrists and grinning down at him. "What was that?"

He's very aware that his lightness means he probably won't keep Aramis there for very long, but he's very proud of himself in the meantime all the same.

[averygoodshot]

Ah. Very clever. Aramis lets himself be pinned for a long moment before he says, "and is this how you shall win over all your suitors? By sheer force?"

[praiseandglory]

For that, Aramis does deserve a punch, and Porthos sits back, letting go of his wrist to land a relatively soft one in his stomach (soft because he wants it to be, not because his strength fails him yet again), before standing back up. "I'd have better taste than the likes of you," he retorts as he heads back for the wine, and takes a long, happy drink before holding the bottle out to Aramis. A peace offering, so to speak, if Aramis will shut up about such things. Porthos is certainly not in the market for suitors, and never intends to be.

[averygoodshot]

Still grinng, Aramis heaves himself to his feet and takes the proffered bottle, drinking deeply before asking, "and what is so wrong with the likes of me?" After all, the ladies of Paris seem to like him. Not to mention the Queen.

[praiseandglory]

"You don't know when to shut your mouth, for one thing," Porthos replies, straightening his shirt when he notices how askew it is from their quick roll on the ground.

[averygoodshot]

Ahem. See? And Aramis said nothing. Chivalry! "First you insult my compliments, then you tell me to shut it," he retorts. "Do make up your mind before you begin to more resemble the form you take."

He's already laughing as he rolls away defensively.

[praiseandglory]

Porthos uses the scabbard he's just picked up off the ground to swat at his friend's side, laughing. It's an effort, the sword being so heavy, but he manages it. "I really don't see what any of those many women see in you."

[averygoodshot]

"Yes, you do," Aramis retorts as he pushes himself to sitting. "You just don't wish to admit it. But even you find me charming."

[praiseandglory]

"Lies," Porthos replies, but he's still grinning as he buckles the scabbard back around his waist, then holds a hand out to Aramis to help him up. He normally wouldn't think twice about it, but he does this time, as he holds his hand out - if only to remind himself that he's going to have to shift his weight very differently to pull it off.

[averygoodshot]

"You'll have to confess that the next time you're in Church," Aramis answers, taking the hand but not giving Porthos most of his weight. "And you say you've been without me how long here?"