Shake it Up (Eric)

[Bailey Oleander]

It felt right to have the sun showing bright in the sky that morning.  A chance to absorb some form of warmth, to bring the earth back to life, and to find something to focus on other than the fact that the negotiations with Prota and Cabal had things feeling...rocky...at the campus.  As it was, Bailey was more than happy to break free from it for a bit, much as she had with Arianna the day before.  After sending out priority mail back home to look into trade negotiations, she'd taken her time in coming back to take care of things.

And now, it was like coming back home in its own way.  With no one else on her squad and no word from Eric, she found herself debating if she should snag Rhona for a sparring match, or try someone else.  She was out of the infirmary, so it was time to keep moving forward before she fell further behind.  But her friend had still left her feeling jarred after their last conversation in the infirmary.

'Maybe someone else then,' she decided as Cabal came into sight, 'to change it up.'  Someone she wouldn't know what to expect from.

__________

Name: Ability?
Requirements: 10 Def
Job: Get hit by an ability
Bonus: Get hit by an ability that does 20 worth of dmg or more.
Payout: +1 exp

[Mathew Amtrum]

Eric was waiting for her, unbidden at the gates of Cabal. As usual, he was dressed impeccably well. Suit freshly pressed and his hair the image of order and neatness. His arms were loosely folded over his chest as he leaned against the gate for Bailey to return. Upon seeing her he'd push himself up from his guard post and begin walking toward and passed her.

"You want your training, follow me now."

He'd keep walking. He didn't need to look back to know if she was following. But if he was going to do it, he was going to do it his way. Not the cabal way. And she'd need to make her choice now, because he wasn't waiting.

[Bailey Oleander]

Eric's form caught her attention as he came into view, leaning against the gate as if he had all the time in the world. She wondered for a moment if he was looking for her, but figured it could be anything. She straightened when he did, attention perking up as he advised her it was now or never for her training and started walking away.

She already had her escrima sticks with her, so it was a good a time as any. She followed after him, wondering what she should expect considering their last fight.

"Where are we going?" she'd ask after a short while.

[Mathew Amtrum]

"Somewhere that no one will hear you scream."

He left it cryptic on purpose. This was her chance to turn back. Because he would be leading her away from Cabal and into the woods away from where they would run into anyone. There was a small meadow that he knew of, a peaceful place. It had a nice relaxing energy to it, and he was going to taint it with either her blood or his. Such was the path he walked, and the one that she stood at the start of.

[Bailey Oleander]

It worked.

Bailey's pace hitched, staring at him for a moment as the cryptic words sank into her mind, teasing a warning that told her now was her chance to turn back. She could still find another way to do things, to walk a different path. Only, the path she had taken so far wasn't working. What had she done with it? Every time she turned around, she was called weak, the flaws pointed out. The struggle with knowing that she would likely never match her partner, to defend what needed to be protected.

That one step, one moment. So many thoughts.

One swallow against a suddenly dry, sandpaper throat before she continued to follow after him.

"I see."

[Mathew Amtrum]

"This is your chance to ask questions before we arrive."

He'd continue, not bothering to look back at her. Today she would need to earn that privilege among others. If this was what she wanted to do, then she would find a way to do it. His job was going to be to force her to make her choices. He couldn't make her do anything other than dying.

[Bailey Oleander]

She continued to follow into the wooded area, little red riding hood after the big bad wolf. It was pretty, peaceful. Bailey was surprised she hadn't come across it sooner, but then, she'd spent most of her time on Cabal grounds.

"What is expected of me today?" Since she had no idea what he wanted to focus on, other than the fact she was probably going to have a rough time with whatever he intended.

[Mathew Amtrum]

"To either kill me or bleed out on the ground where no one will find your body."

[Bailey Oleander]

A small frown as he continued to look ahead, warning her with threats of death. His, or hers, with no Cabal security to protect her from dying. Clearly, he meant business. She continued to follow, making it clear she was serious, too.

"Any restrictions?"

[Mathew Amtrum]

"Nope."

[Bailey Oleander]

"Understood."

[Mathew Amtrum]

He'd keep leading her deeper into the forest, they were nearing the meadow.

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey had no more questions to ask! She figured that would cover all she would need for training.

[Mathew Amtrum]

They would eventually make it to the meadow and Eric would slowly start taking off his jacket. Taking time to neatly fold it, his back turned to Bailey as he'd prepare himself.

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey would prepare herself, drawing her escrima sticks in preparation, hair already pulled back. She expected him to turn, to lunch or throw rocks at her like before, and prepared for that attack so she could move as needed.