>Please don't take offense, but it sounds like the IDS is truly the
>sham organization (I'm at a loss for a better word) it was originally
>created to be (as it came into being solely to provide Utena an excuse
>to carry live steel in public). For all you've described the group
>members doing, well, they certainly don't need to belong to the IDS or
>any other organization to do that. They may have created "a venue for
>weapons artists of all different styles and traditions to test
>themselves against one another, to face diverse opponents in a
>freestyle contest", but it seems to me that that's just on paper. It's
>a shame that the members, as described above or seen in the stories to
>date, don't seem to be interested in taking advantage of the
>opportunity they have.

For one thing, who says they aren't?

No, they don't train together in any uniform or organized sense. No, they don't compete in tournaments or the like (yet). However, they -do- socialize, and they -do- spar, and on rare occasions they duel.

If this seems like a sham to you, consider: Kate was, technically, walking around outlaw with her concealed blade. Utena wanted to wear a blade openly. The only outlet available to either was controlled by someone who despides them both. This is why the Duellists were formed; not so that they -would- fight together every meeting, but that they -could- fight if they chose to do so. Nobody is taking that choice away from them, either by prohibiting or mandating their activity.

Redneck

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