PIPE WRENCH FIGHT [Open]

[unrecovered]

Who: Wash and anyone who wants to join
Where: Network and fighting ring
When: Early November, a few days before the Akvos world jump
Rating: TBD depending on thread content
What: Wash starts the Circle's first fight club. Kind of.

[This will be poster's choice - I'll put the network invitation in Wash's toplevel, but the long and short of it is, he'll be holding combat training for those who want to learn how to fight, and those who want to help teach are open as well. Feel free to make toplevels learning and/or teaching, and let me know if you need anything more or want prompt ideas!]

Comments

[dipolar]

(that was a fucking mistake and zero's smile's what tips him off. he's been fighting these obsessors for both halves of his life — both natural and unnatural — and dealing with their hunger for just as long. so hei's up before she finishes speaking, shucking his dagger from the wood of the step and throwing himself back into an arch.

the sword, in turn, skims the fabric of his shirt.

gritting bared teeth, hei kicks his leg into a followthrough, a blurring swing of his foot aimed at the tip of her chin. whether it hits or not doesn't make a difference to him; it'll give him time to flip back. away from her and her sword.)

Didn't you hear a damn thing I said?

[intoningly]

[ The heel of his foot just barely makes contact with her chin, the force of it is enough to make her grit her teeth and snap her head back. But she seems unbothered by it, pressing forward like cutting him down is a matter of life and death. ]

Heard it, thought about it– decided I don't care about it!

[ Her voice is almost sing-song in the way she says it. She catapults herself into the air, descending on him like she's been dropped from the sky. Every part of her itches to hear the pleasant screech of metal against metal. ]

For a guy who could barely manage to take a raincheck on being murdered, you sure seem pretty eager to defend yourself.

[dipolar]

(it's a game for her. hei despises it, feeling the anger that simmers beneath his veil of calm bubble and spit in his gut.

you know nothing.

hei gives her what she wants, that delightful clang of two blades clashing and it's loud enough to turn heads from down in the ring. they're the spectacle now and he hates that too, it shows in his eyes as he holds her sword back from his face with his dagger and flexes into it with a strong shove to dislodge her.)

I won't be taken down — (whipping his dagger forward in a slash at her chest.) — by this alone.

(if he had his true abilities, this might already be over. barring any interruption from her own and her moves don't read like any human's. that'd be a battle of attrition too. there's nothing to do except fight on.)

[intoningly]

[ She meets the blade aimed at her chest with her sword– only barely dodging the other. He snips off a few strands of her hair as she jerks to the side, but she doesn't pay attention to that or any attention they might have brought upon themselves. ]

I really hate it when men lie to me, you know.

[ She pushes all of her weight onto her sword, against his blade, forcing it back so she can jump backwards and away. ]

You said you wanted to die.

[ She tilts her head, sneering– like she's looking down at him even though he's taller than her. She runs at him again, feints with her sword and throws her prosthetic arm in a punch. ]

What the fuck gives!

[dipolar]

I didn't lie about that.

(true— dying is the only thing he's ever wanted this desperately.

but. hei takes the punch dead-on, head whipping to the side from the impact of it. he feels... good. it stings, the pain that forces him to roll his jaw and look back at her through a piecemeal fringe. he feels alive.

inviting her in this close was purposeful, jerking into a grab for her prosthesis' wrist.)

But I'd rather live than die at the hands of someone unworthy. (that's not what he sacrificed his life for, what he trained for. he still has one last person to protect.

teeth clenching, he flips the knife in his opposite hand and aims the blunt end in a jab at her stomach.)

[intoningly]

[ He could have dodged if he wanted to– she can tell as much. But he doesn't, and his eyes are suddenly bright, some indication of life greater than a pulse and beating heart.

The only indication of her surprise when he grabs her is how her eyes widen. The smile on her face does not fade– just grows sharper and more cruel.

Is there any point in dodging his blade? She won't die– perhaps that's why he'd met her blow head on. ]

Good luck finding someone who is worthy to do the job!

[ Her sword falls from her hand, clatters nosily on the stands.

She grabs his blade with her bare hands, hissing silently as it cuts her skin. ]

And since we're on the subject– 

[ Her grip around the blade grows stronger, blood staining her hands and dripping between their feet. ]

– who the fuck says you're worthy of the privilege?

[dipolar]

(it was supposed to be a winding strike, it wasn't supposed to cut. but she grabs it, then squeezes it and lets the blood soak her fingers. what a damn fool.

hei stares at it, feeling nothing.

when did he stop caring? how long ago was it? thirteen, fourteen years?)

I'm not, but that's just how it has to be. (a sharp twist, the edge of the blade biting further into her hand.) We're done here. Let go, now, or I'll cut your fingers off.

[intoningly]

[ She feels the warm, searing feeling of split flesh and hot blood. That's still new, still not something she's used to even after months of being here.

The adrenaline has her pupils blown wide like a feral animal. She holds his gaze for a moment longer, smile wicked.

And then she lets go. ]

Still need these for now.

[ She wiggles her fingers in an almost playful wave, blood flicking specks onto both of them. ]

But you can try again some other time, big boy.

[dipolar]

(hei stares at her as the blood flecks his face, eyes narrowing.)

Then get the hell away from me and rest up for our next meeting.

(this is apparently the only language she speaks. gO TO CHURCH)

Got it? Back off.