A Break Between Rounds (Blake)

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey was dipping in and out of the crowd after Blake's fight, looking for her partner amidst the mass of warriors.  It had been a good fight with literally an explosive end, but in the end, he'd been the one left standing.

The little blonde ducked to the side of the crowd, heedless of her torn and bloodied shirt as she continued looking.

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Name: Squad Training
Requirements: Assigned a Squad
Job: It's time to get the squad together and hash out our problems. Be they in the field or with each other personally.
Bonus: Fight each other, discuss problems, and grow together or apart.
Payout: +5 exp, +$250

[Blake Oleander]

Blake was still in a state of undress, his shirt and pants shredded to rags from the blasts and the bones that had ripped through his flesh. Though his wounds were healed now, and his limbs felt like they were back to full strength. It was curious, those little flowers. They would be a valuable crop to grow back home. Something to help his people stand on their own feet.

He'd glance to the side, seeing a familiar flash of blonde hair weaving her way through the crowd toward him. He'd not say anything, but he'd slow his pace down to let her pass him or catch up. Whichever it was that she was doing.

[Bailey Oleander]

Bailey perked at the sight of him, slowing her pace to match his when she got close enough, falling in line beside him. Much like her, his clothing remained damaged, which meant that he was hardly covered at all. Her gaze distinctly went up and remained upward with the realization of how litle was there after his bone armor.

"Congratulations on your victory."

[Blake Oleander]

He'd grunt in acknowledgment of her praise. Glancing back at her, noting her clothing was less damaged than his. He assumed that it meant she had a less explosive of a finish. And if she had watched his fight, that meant hers had been over quickly. Very quickly.

"You too"?

Asking if she had won as well.

[Bailey Oleander]

"Mhmm." She nodded at his question, tucking some of the hair back behind her ear. "The energy cube was an interesting touch."

[Blake Oleander]

"Gaudy."

It distracted from the fight itself. It was supposed to be a clash of skills. He saw little need to alter the backdrop of it. The fight should be enough. He could get behind the value of the walls, however, in preventing Qi explosions from harming spectators. But beyond that. It felt wasteful.

"Ready for round two?"

[Bailey Oleander]

She chuckled at his response to his disdain.

"They were useful, but I guess they wanted to make a show of it, too." She remembered the announcer declaring the fight was being broadcast live and wondered if it had been for all the fights. "I think they were just as interested in entertainment as a show of skill." Maybe more.

"Yes." At the mention of round two, she nodded. "I wonder who else will make it?"

[Blake Oleander]

"Eric and Krane I suspect."

Both were powerful warriors.

[Bailey Oleander]

"I think Krane might," she agreed with a nod, lips pressing together momentarily as her tongue slid across them, suddenly dry.

"Ah, that's right." She sighed. "Eric was disqualified. Turns out he's the Earth Dragon." She eyed Blake as he spoke, knowing how he felt about a challenge, but also Dragons were, as the announcer had put it, inter-territorial war flags. "They decided to show the fight to everyone that they could."

[Blake Oleander]

"So?"

He didn't see the problem.

[Bailey Oleander]

She giggled softly. Such a silly question.

"So he's the Earth Dragon, or so they broadcast the fight?"

[Blake Oleander]

"Yes."

The fight was just as fair when the mask was taken off as it was before it was. It was the same man.

[Bailey Oleander]

"They don't want to risk inter-territory war, Blake," she explained patiently. "He was under the name of someone else before. They couldn't ignore who he was when he came out. Now everyone who saw it knows he apparently was never dead."

[Blake Oleander]

"I don't see how it would cause a war. It's a tournament for goodwill. And he is not bound by the sanctions. He's famous for not being part of the Accords, unlike the other two Elders."

He shook his head. People were just dumb.

[Bailey Oleander]

"It may also have been for show. Or a precaution." She shrugged. "I don't know. I imagine it's part of whatever show they want to let people see." She paused a moment in thought.

"Well, maybe...but I could be wrong." She hook her head.

"Dragons are still Dragons. People probably are afraid. If he's not part of the accords, what's to hold him back?"