[ his response at first is a kind smile before focusing his attention back on the wooden pole/test target. though the reverberations from contact make his arm throb, it doesn't hurt any more or less than trying to cut through thick steel--- armor or robotics. as he lashes out one finally time, he lets out a sigh as he then stabs his weapon into the ground and then shakes his head: mostly to loosen those stray hairs, try to cool down as quickly as possible. ]

Thanks! Appreciate it. [ and once he's gotten a chance to size up what she looks like, one of the corners of his lips rise slightly higher than the other. ] I still fight. Don't think I'll ever stop, but that's okay. As long as it doesn't keep me from my destination, you know?

[ wherever that destination happens to be. ]

And it never hurts to practice. You don't wanna be caught flat-footed, out in the open, and no way out but to knock some people down!