Lay of the Land [John]

[Delilah A. Black]

((OOC: To take place after the events of "Gas is Over-Rated" ))

"AGAIN!"

Grunting, Nick darted in, aiming two jabs, a cross and a hook for his commanding officer. Standing with her feet firmly planted on the ground and her hands behind her back, Delilah's body flowed like water around the skin-heads punches, dodging them effortlessly. Or so it would seem.

It took far more effort to roll her body than it looked as she swiveled her hips and jerked her head in minute amounts to the left and the right. The timing was crucial, the amount she moved just as much. Too much to the left and she would open herself up for a kidney shot. Too much momentum would pull her off balance and open her up to a counter. Her art was a delicate blend of finesse and stamina, both of which Delilah was not short on.

But she was already sporting a little cut just above her brow where she took a sneaky Club-fist from Nigel (he stepped inwards when the two 'fighters' were supposed to be rooted in place) and a bruise on her shoulder from a feint from Sergei. There was also a little dried blood under her nose from where Cain had already popped her one, when she was instructing no less. Embarrassing, but lesson learned, at any rate. It was good her team could keep her on her toes.

Delilah had lost track of the time at this point, but assumed that she had been going at this for the last two and a half hours or so and was just starting to feel winded. Nick landed a neat hit to her solar plexus that drove the wind from her lungs, but she managed to twist out of the way of his upper cut. This would continue until Nick made a mistake for Delilah to exploit.

That was the basis of the whole excersize; see how long you could go without fucking up. It was also immensely frustrating to be targeting something that wasn't there the next second, like shadow boxing, only your shadow taunts you.

After twenty straight minutes of dodging and weaving, Delilah saw it. just as Nick over-shot his jab to her face she came in, ducking under his guard and slamming her palm into his chest.

"GLLAAACK"

He stumbled back, but still managed to keep his hands up this time, which was a good sign. The 'whack-you-upside-the-head-if-you-drop-'em' plan was working. But he was too slow to recover, and a well aimed hook kick to the back of his knee took his leg out from under him and sent him crashing to the ground.

Letting out a long breath, Delilah pushed her sweat dampened bangs off her brow. "Time?"

"Thirty-three minutes, forty eight seconds," Sergei piped up immediately.

"Not bad, not bad," she bent at the waist, offering the coughing, scrawny man her hand. He took it gratefully as she helped him to his feet. "Better than your last time by five minutes."

"Four minutes and tventy six seconds, to be exact.'

"THANK you, Sergei."

"Uh, Del?"

She scooped her towel up off the ground, blotting the sheen of sweat from her face, neck, and chest. "What?"

"I think someone's here to see you..."

She looked over at the burly Irishman with a raised eyebrow, then followed the jerk of his thumb to the bleachers.

[John Nemo]

Johns eyes were closed as he leaned back, elbows resting on the bleachers behind him. His face was turned upward, hat beside him casually. He took a deep breath. For some reason, being in places this made him nostalgic for home, restless. Like something was caught on the wind that stirred a familiarity he didn't know existed. Turning his eyes back to the combatants who were enjoying their exercise not a moment ago, he notice the dark haired woman he had come here for dabbing the sweat off her body.

He bit his lip a moment, a twinkle coming to his eye as the corners of his mouth drew up slightly.

Damn. Dat ass.

Was a shame she was getting rid of the sweat. He liked it. Though he couldn't argue with the clean up process either.

Picking up his hat, he leaned forward, holding it by the top center with his right hand, while his left hand messed with the inner velvet of it. As/if she approached, he would grin, showing off a full set a of pearly whites, the corners of his eyes crinkling only slightly. He gestured with the hat at what she was doing just a moment ago.

"Weeell. Yeh got some moves on ya. Whered yeh learn teh fight like that?"

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah blinked as her eyes fixed on John, noted his casual stance, how he stared at her so openly.

Behind her, Birch and Talon elbowed those around them, wiggling their eyebrows suggestively. Nigel sneered and rolled his eyes...typical women, slutty without even trying. Heather stared openly at the handsome, blonde man with the cowboy hat, brown eyes wide.

Delilah shot them a glare and they quieted, only to start up again as she turned her back and walked towards John. She returned his smile easily enough, placing a hand on her hips as she draped the towel over her shoulder.

"Weeell. Yeh got some moves on ya. Whered yeh learn teh fight like that?"

She shrugged nonchalantly, "Oh, you know, fighting in high school, ninjutsu instructors, the apocalypse. Take your pick." She looked him up and down, then up again. Damn, he was tall. Delilah wasn't exactly short, but big guys like him always had a way of making her look down right dainty by comparison.

"So. You ready?"

[John Nemo]

"I assume yeh mean teh fight ya?"

He whistled a little to signify his slight uneasiness about taking her on.

"I thought so. But I'm not too keen on gettin' mah ass handed to me by uh woman bout ten years youngern' me."

He stood, tossing his hat back down before shrugging his jacket off his broad shoulders. Underneath was a loose sweater that didn't cling to his frame, though you could tell he was very powerfully built. He pushed up his sleeves about the elbow, revealing his farmers tan as he started walking down the bleachers.

"Then again, don't reckon I ever walked away from a fight before. Guess I shouldn' start now."

He would let her lead the way, to the center of the room, probably. Unless, of course, she didn't mean to fight him at all, in which case most of the above would be a moot point, at which point, this author will take it up from there.

[Delilah A. Black]

"I assume yeh mean teh fight ya?"

Delilah blinked. Wat.

"I thought so. But I'm not too keen on gettin' mah ass handed to me by uh woman bout ten years youngern' me. Then again, don't reckon I ever walked away from a fight before. Guess I shouldn' start now."

She looked up at him with a curious expression as he walked down the bleachers towards her, arms of his sweater rolled up to the elbows. He...was willing to fight her? Behind her, the men and woman she had just sparred with looked on eagerly, hoping for a show.

Chuckling, Delilah shook her head, "'Fraid that wasn't quite what I was getting at, but good to know. Might have to test that theory out later."

"IN BEEEEED."

Delilah's head snapped around to give a wide-eyed glare to Birch, but Talon got to it first, cuffing the blonde giggling man upside the head hard enough to knock him forward. She turned back to John, a slight look of aggravation on her face.

"...AFTER I show you around the territory, of course," she continued as though they hadn't been interrupted. "Get a feel for the area before you set your mind on settling with us. Sound good?"

[John Nemo]

He had already shrugged, grabbed his coat, and was walking back when he heard the individual call from below in regards to what she was going to show him. He laughed as the fellow was pitched forward by the smack upside his head, pulling on his coat and topping his head with his hat as he said nothing about it.

But...man, if only that were the kind of territory he would be wandering today.

Ah well.

Perhaps they would work up enough of a sweat later to...well...work up a sweat after. He was sure this... brilliant combatant female was just as... creative in the bedroom.

He would follow Delilah, gripping the brim of his hat and nodding at the group, giving a little wink to the female who seemed unable to take her eyes off him. Damn- she was gorgeous too. Were all Crows this good lookin'? Kuz if so, sign him up!

He glanced around them as they walked, his eyes resting more than once on the rather perfect shaped behind leading the way.

"So, about the whole...settlin' in. Yeh said yer sort of a resistance group- care teh explain?"

[Delilah A. Black]

She nodded as he stepped off the bleachers and she turned to lead the way. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Heather blushing furiously when John looked her way, followed closely by Cain's jealous scowl. Delilah chuckled to herself, scooping a bag off the ground as they walked out.

"Cain, Heather, you two keep an eye on Oliver 'til I get back, okay? The rest of you, routine number eight on the weights for the next two hours. Understood?"

They all echoed variations of 'yes ma'am' except for Nigel, who glowered at his CO's back.

Ignoring the large black man, she led the way out. Delilah was wearing her usual gear: her grey tank top, cargo pants and combat boots. As well as two of her three knives, the tanto and the pocket knife. The only unusual addition was the sack thrown over her shoulder.

"So, about the whole...settlin' in. Yeh said yer sort of a resistance group- care teh explain?"

She looked back at him just as his eyes flicked back upwards. Raising an eyebrow, she chose to say nothing that. "We are a resistance group," she amended. "Up until recently, we didn't do as much fighting or attacking Barker directly as we probably should have. We focused on the people, getting everyone the necessities, providing food, gaining a source of power to generate homes and our base with. Cultivating the land, becoming self-sufficient. Showing them that there was a way other than Barker, you know?"

She turned a corner, leading him down the cement hallways to the main entrance and outside into the fresh, salty air. Pausing for a moment, Decided to go right and then work her way around. "Freedom is our defining principle. From oppression, from fear, from stagnation. No one should ever be afraid to live, to fight back and take the reins of their lives."

Delilah looked over her shoulder at John, smiling. "That's what we do. We protect the freedom of the people." She would pause to see if he had any questions.

[John Nemo]

John said nothing as she spoke. It all sounded good...almost too good. At least for him. He took off his hat and scratched the back of his head as the continued on, clearing his throat after she had finished.

"I love theh theory. And I'd love teh help. But... Ha... Im not exactly theh type people look to fer hope. And my way of takin' care of Barkers men don't inspire anyone. In fact, if civilians got a look at me...? Well."

He put his hat back on his head. Stopping, he would wait until she turned to look at him.

"I know who and what I am, miss. And I don't think I could let mahself drag your lot down, or divert yeh from yer righteous cause."

A smirk.

"That's not teh say I'd disagree with checkin' out yer fine liqour establishments or... Testin' theories in- what did that other fella say? 'Bed'?"

He laughed as he glanced at a Crow walking by, ignoring the odd look he got from him. He didnt give a damn what anyone thought- life was short, and she was gorgeous. If they couldn't stand a bit of harmless flirting...? Well, they should probably see a doctor about removing the stick from their asses.

[Delilah A. Black]

"I love theh theory. And I'd love teh help. But... Ha... Im not exactly theh type people look to fer hope. And my way of takin' care of Barkers men don't inspire anyone. In fact, if civilians got a look at me...? Well."

Hearing his footsteps come to a stop behind her, Delilah turned, pivoting to look at the big man. Her eyebrows came together a little at his demeanor. He was...different now. Almost sheepish. But not ashamed.

"I know who and what I am, miss. And I don't think I could let mahself drag your lot down, or divert yeh from yer righteous cause.

"That's not teh say I'd disagree with checkin' out yer fine liqour establishments or... Testin' theories in- what did that other fella say? 'Bed'?"

Red immediately bloomed on her cheeks at his forwardness and her eyes dropped from his own and to a spot on his chest. dammitdammitdammitdammitdammit...why did this sort of thing always earn the same reaction from her? She was DELILAH BLACK, not some fourteen year old prepubescent who was still dreaming about her first kiss!

In spite of herself, she chuckled, lifting a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose. Damn. Her whole face was warm. No way he would miss her reaction. "...You shouldn't underestimate yourself," she said after a moment, lowering her hand (and still half smiling). "You might be surprised in the sort that people find hope in."

She turned and started off again, motioning for him to follow, "And while we'e on the subject, i know of a man who might be against the testing of such theories." A pause. "Though we do make our own vodka."

[John Nemo]

He flicked up the brim of his hat as she blushed, clasping his hands behind his back and leaning forward to put his eyes back in the path of her gaze, grinning before giving her a little wink. As she spoke, however, he stood up straight, smile slowly vanishing.

No one found hope in him.

He disgusted most warriors, let alone civilians. He couldnt begin to explain his reasonings for such actions, nor would he want to. He turned his eyes away from her to look out among the population, all mirth now gone from his face. Her words...irritated him. He didnt know why. Maybe some part of him wished he could be the type people found hope in. He walked over to the left and leaned his forearms on a fence surrounding a small park, where kids were playing.

"You'd have people find hope in me?"

He laughed bitterly.

"Teh hear tales of 'The Lion' and the many enemies he has slain? Bring hope with theh idea one man can make such a difference? And what happens when someone learns theh truth? About a sandy haired demon that nails still livin' soldiers to walls? Who don't meet men in battle, honerable, but instead in more likeleh teh stick one in the back while he's takinuh piss?"

He put his hands on the wall, turning to look at Delilah.

"Yeh really want someone like me? I don' take to orders very well, and I don't hold to theh rules of war- in my experience, we are all little badgers, tryin' teh swallow an ox whole. I ain't interested in meetin' men in battle or showin' whose dick is bigger when it comes to combat. I kill men who wear theh sashuh Barkers. Thats what yer people will idolize- noddah warrior, a soldier- a killer. You really want that?"

[Delilah A. Black]

"Yes. I do."

Delilah had patiently listened to him talk, impressed. He knew who he was and made no assertions to the contrary. She walked up to the fence, lacing her fingers through the links in the fence and watching the children with a small, wistful smile.

"There is nothing noble about combat. Perhaps I misled you in that." she let out a slow breath, "We aren't heroes. My team, the ones you met in that bar, are no-goods, people no one wanted to train into soldiers because they were 'problems'. Racist, sexist, drug dealers, murders, thieves...who knows what else they've done. I wanted them because of that."

She turned her face slightly to look up at him. "They knew they weren't 'good' people, so they didn't conform to societies idea of good. I took them because they would never try to be anything less than what they were. And now they are the elites of our army.

We are at war, John. And we aren't so noble as you might think. We don't do what is good because it is good, but because it is necessary."

Tentatively, she reached out and lightly placed an oil blackened palm on his forearm, eyes looking directly up at his with fire burning behind them.

"These people have lost much because of the war. What they want is someone who will prevent them from losing everything else. Whatever they believe, a soldier is a killer with a cause."

She took a moment to consider her next words, unsure of how they would react. "...I know what Barker did to your family. I know that's why you..do what you do." there wasn't really a word for his brand of revenge. "No matter your means, that is honour. You are doing right by yourself, and whether or not you realize it, doing right by the people who would otherwise be doomed by Barker's rule.

"Why wouldn't I want the sort of man who would do what is necessary, rather than what is 'conventionally' right?"

Why not indeed...

[John Nemo]

John stared at her as she spoke. She seemed... Commited to that ideal. To defeating Barker and making the world a better place. He was not commited to that. He was commited to taking lives. His obsession. He killed for the sake of killing- to fill a hole in his chest. No amount of killing did that for him, of course. But he tried, and he would always try. As she placed her hand on his arm, he gave a curious frown.

Then, her words stabbed at him.

His eyes darkened as the shadow of his hat fell over them. A flashing light came over them as he reached out with his other hand, grabbing her wrist and removing it from his arm. He held onto it for a moment as he spoke.

"Don't ever pretend teh guess at what I think er feel, girl."

His grip tightened a moment.

"And never mention mah family to me again."

He would release her arm almost gently before turning away, fists clenched for half a seond before he relaxed them.

"Alrigh'. I suppose that, so long as yer goals remain so...idealistic, i can stand teh be a part of yeh. But i'll work under you alone- hopefully in more ways than one, eh?"

Another laugh as he tried to lighten the mood once more.

[Delilah A. Black]

She let him grasp her wrist and pull it away from his arm, eyes not wavering from the dark flashes she could see beneath his hat. It made her hackles stand on end as she felt the demon beneath the surface bear it's fangs at her words.

"Don't ever pretend teh guess at what I think er feel, girl.

A frown darkened her expression. 'Pretend'?

Then his grip tightened and her nostrils flared slightly in response. Intent, the determination to murder to hurt, was very present in this one.

"And never mention mah family to me again."

She let her arm drop as he released it, and just like that, the intent was gone, as was the darkness in his eyes.

""Alrigh'. I suppose that, so long as yer goals remain so...idealistic, i can stand teh be a part of yeh. But i'll work under you alone- hopefully in more ways than one, eh?"

Delilah managed to return his smirk, but she was still...disconcerted by his words. Despite his warning, she wanted to press the subject, find out more about him. What Barker had done to him and his family.

Still thinking to herself, she started walking away from the fence, headed West and towards the beaches of their territory.

"You would make a good Tengu," she admitted as she walked briskly. "And I've seen what you can do first hand...against a bunch of no-rate Barker goons."

As her feet hit the sand, Delilah pulled her knives from her tool belt and tossed them aside. Staring at the water for a moment, as if reminiscing, she turned, standing with her hands at her sides to face him.

"Now I want to see what you do with someone who is stronger than you."

She straightened her spine, leveling a look at the much taller man. The sun reflected off the white, ropelike scars that adorned her arms, hiding her corded muscles. "Please. Go ahead."

[John Nemo]

John followed, and as she stated she had seen him attack a couple of Barker nothijgs, he grinned, and was already removing his jacket when she turned around. He kicked off his boots, crouching as he took off his hat. He set it gently on his coat, removed his wallet and did the same before rubbing his hand over his hair, tosseling it a little. He stood and walked forward, stretching one arm across his chest, before doing the next.

"Alrigh' then. I suppose we can dance a little."

He brought out both hands to either side of the back of her neck, interlocking them there. He would pull on that clinch and throw up knees into her stomach, attempting to damage her core from the start.

[Delilah A. Black]

He grasped either side of her neck, his large hands nearly encompassing the side of her face, pulling her close to clinch up. He started firing off knees into her stomach, sending a shock through her body as each connected. Well well, this is a nice surprise. He was watching me for longer than i thought...he knows where I'm strongest.

After the fourth knee in her gut, Delilah twisted her hips to the side, letting his powerful strike shoot past her, even as her head and shoulders were still in his grip. Her lead leg came up, aiming to kick the big man hard in the stomach and dislodge his hold on on her, and potentially send him flying.

If this were successful, she would follow him immediately, coming up beside him, placing a firm palm on his head and slamming him into the sand.