[That polite, friendly demeanor of Dimitri's vanishes as he sinks into a defensive stance. He puts some distance between them as he slowly circles Kazuma, studying his body and the way he chooses to move and shift his stance to prevent Dimitri from getting behind him. Dimitri very much gives off the impression of the lion his class was named for, an apex predator sizing up a challenger, cautious due to a healthy sense of respect and not fear. Every bit the beast Felix accuses him of being.
It doesn't take him longer than a minute to decide that Kazuma is more than a hobbyist. There's an ease of movement there that can only come from long hours of training; when the motions have been practiced to the point that they're instinctive. Dimitri's movements are the same — he's been trained in combat since he could walk and he's fought for his life more times than he can count.
Kazuma has a superior size and a larger range, something Dimitri doesn't have to contend with that often. Thankfully, it isn't entirely unfamiliar. Dedue is a good deal larger than Dimitri is, and they've grappled before. With this much of a difference between them, Dimitri will have to be patient and wait for Kazuma to make the first move. If he doesn't use the momentum of Kazuma's movements against him, he's unlikely to be able to knock him down without a weapon.]
no subject
It doesn't take him longer than a minute to decide that Kazuma is more than a hobbyist. There's an ease of movement there that can only come from long hours of training; when the motions have been practiced to the point that they're instinctive. Dimitri's movements are the same — he's been trained in combat since he could walk and he's fought for his life more times than he can count.
Kazuma has a superior size and a larger range, something Dimitri doesn't have to contend with that often. Thankfully, it isn't entirely unfamiliar. Dedue is a good deal larger than Dimitri is, and they've grappled before. With this much of a difference between them, Dimitri will have to be patient and wait for Kazuma to make the first move. If he doesn't use the momentum of Kazuma's movements against him, he's unlikely to be able to knock him down without a weapon.]