The Hard Fought Victories (Open)

[John A. Downing]

John didn't really care about challenging individuals. Instead, he just put himself in an open slot. If someone joined, they joined. Out in the plain grass fields, he removed his jacket, unbuttoning the top of his white dress shirt. His sword stayed on his hip as he rolled up his sleeves. His stomach was still a little sore from his fight with the Earth Dragon, but he expected nothing less and the medical capabilities of this place were astounding.

"Bodies built with brick and mortar..."

He mumbled under his breath, around the cigarette he had in his mouth. Clenching his fists, he wondered who would show, the large male pulling a flask from inside his jacket and taking a swig of the booze contained inside. Not too much- he'd lost twice since coming to this place. Best to try and stop the three-peat.

[Allison Kazim]

Allison rubbed the back of her neck as she eyed the open challenge. It was still bizarre to her that they would set up something as impersonal as this, but apparently that's how Cabal worked. Maybe she should expect it from a less civilized Territory, though apparently it worked well enough to make them a strong defender against most who turned their sights on 260. She wasn't even really sure why she was looking at this when she could be studying, or something else. And yet, here she was, pulling her hair up in a bun and heading out to the training field. Perhaps because she wanted to test herself a little further before unlocking her next spell.

So she found herself present for a man smoking in the distance. Another brick wall of a human being, though not as tall as Caelan had been, for which her neck was grateful since it was still a little.

"Greetings. I take it you are Mr. Downing?"

[John A. Downing]

He turned toward her, removing the smoke and dropping it onto the grass.

"I am. You my partner?"

He stepped on the cig and twisted his foot into it, taking another sip of his flask before putting the cap on and tossing it onto the ground next to his jacket. He then drew his sword.

"I suppose we should get started. Best of luck."

He'd rush forward, his right hand bringing up the sword to slash from left to right (His left to right, her right to left), like a backhand but with the sword. She had weapons of her own, he assumed, and the security system, so they would likely protect them both from deadly blows.

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[Allison Kazim]

At least he had the decency to put out the cigarette, though she could easily imagine him lighting it back up when they were done like he hadn't missed a beat.

"For the moment," she agreed, raising a brow as he took another drink from his flask. He didn't seem inebriated, but it seemed foolish to do so right before a fight. "My name is Allison Kazim."

Which was about all she got before he drew his sword and started the battle. She drew her own blade, the deep blue glinting in the sunlight. Drawing her blade to block the blow, his blade meeting with her own as she deflected it from its original course. The blade cut through fabric and skin, though not as deep as it could have. He was faster than he looked; she would need to work on that.

She'd pivot to her left with the motion, testing his reflexes as she slashed at his side!

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Attack: 14

[John A. Downing]

As she shifted with the parry, he gave the smallest smile of pleasure. No Qi, no enhanced energies. Just a straight sword fight with someone who looked capable of handling a blade. Shifting his feet, his blade altered course to slide with her strike as he blocked it, redirecting the force of her sword so it would slide past him to his right, hopefully forcing her to overextend as he'd lurch forward to attempt a left handed straight punch right for the nose.

If it hit, her head would hopefully whip back and eyes would water, which would allow the punching hand to slide behind his back to draw his second weapon- a bowie knife. He'd attempt to cut her sword forearm, severing her ability to even hold a blade. If the blade made contact, however, it would simply cause blunt force pain as the edge was dulled by the security.

This would cause him to scowl at both the missed opportunity and lack of swords being able to do damage he needed.

Whatever the case, he'd dart three steps back and re sheath his knife.

"Swords can't cut here?"

[Allison Kazim]

The blade pushed her aside as she stepped to keep her balance, turning to face him and recover from the slight loss of balance. It meant giving him a potential opening to take advantage of, but it also meant being able to see clearly as they fought and have fewer surprises. The inner critic in teh back of her mind suggested otherwise, especially when his knife came out to play, as well.

She drew her blade across her body in a defensive position at his confusion, the knife barely scratching the skin. This, she was used to. Her previous partner had also been surprised. Did nobody consider lookign into this beforehand? Really?

"Indeed. The safety requirements here allow for a fight, but not to the potential death." A single shrug of her shoulder. "I understand it prevents preemptive loss of newer recruits."

[John A. Downing]

"That sounds inane."

Standing, he shook his head.

"No blades, then. No point. Hand to hand?"

She had no reason to accept, and if she rejected his suggestion he'd continue the fight but it seemed rather pointless. How could you understand war if you couldn't cut and hurt others? That was the nature of the battle. If she agreed, he'd slide his sword into its holster (giggity) and rush toward her, intent to throw a left cross once within range.

[Allison Kazim]

"Everyone has to start somewhere, I suppose." She shrugged. "Better to learn to walk before you run or hurt yourself with your weapon."

What was it with these primitive people tossing weapons aside for brawling the first chance they got?! At least she tried to retrieve her weapon and use it before acting like it was useless. She frowned for a moment, considering the change in pace. He would have a distinct advantage, it seemed, and she disliked the idea, but if this was the most common occurrence, she would have to learn to adapt.

"As you wish." She sheathed her blade with a slight, sharp nod. She would let him come to her at his own pace, dropping to kick out his left knee from the side and send the man to the ground.

She felt uncivilized already.

[John A. Downing]

As she kicked out, he simply lifted his leg, checking the kick. Just after she made contact with his shin he'd throw out a front kick for her midsection while she was still down low. He frowned at the damage her kick did- she was stronger than she appeared to be.

He'd wait for her to return to her feet and press her attack before acting. Best to see how this wild card functioned!

[Allison Kazim]

Stronger than she looked and about as balanced as he might expect, the kick connected and was countered with one of his own. She saw his counter and tried to dodge, but speed and experience were on his side as his foot collided with her ribs. She grunted and pushed herself up as he waited for her to return, eye twitching at the pain but little else.

Her green eyes flicked over him thoughtfully as he stood ready. Another one who preferred counters, it seemed. Her stance mirrored his own, going defensive for a moment to see what he would do if she didn't rush him.

[John A. Downing]

John was anything but a defensive fighter. Calculated, but definitely not defensive. As she stood and mimicked his pose he'd take the reins, moving forward at a measured pace, he'd throw a right uppercut followed by a straight left punch.

The old one/two combo.

"Not used to throwing hands, are we?"

[Allison Kazim]

"I believe I consented to this fight." In other words, "No", but try getting her to admit that would take more than a casual observation and hit to her pride.

Ali tried considering this fight as a sword fight with much shorter blades, but that did nothing. The principles were the same somewhat, but he had the distinct advantage of a longer reach. Nevermind that there would not be time to try and translate what she knew into what could work for what she did not.

She raised an arm , pushing his first attack to the side as she would to deflect an incoming blade, but the second punch collided as she tried to throw one of her own. It was less mirroring his actions and more trying to maintain the flow while he spoke in a language she iddn't understand. The second punch woudl land, bruising her cheek and face as she stepped into his guard to throw a punch in return and slam her foot on his instep!

[John A. Downing]

As she did so, her stomp hampering his mobility, his upper body would simply shift to the side before he threw his head forward, her fist passing over his shoulder as he would try and headbutt her in the face.

"I like your tenacity. Stop the fight."

He'd keep his stance.

"Copy me."

Hands in their semi-boxing position, he'd keep his feet planted and start ducking and shifting his torso from side to side, arms rising and lowering according to how he shifted, legs doing the same. He wasn't attacking anymore- he was showing her something.

[Allison Kazim]

Regardless of the compliment, the last thing she expected was for him to tell her to stop the fight. She stepped back with teh words, gaze flicking over him warily again, expecting a trap or for him to call for a joke. usually those who charged right into battle didn't, but she hardly could say much about the people here that was consistent. Instead, he was offering to show her how to improve? She blinked, taking a couple moments to set aside caution and try what he suggested since it matched how he had been standing before.

She adjusted the position of her arms to match his, noting the difference in how she'd held them before already, elbows closer to her body as he shifted with teh weight of his forward foot. It was a repetition, his body shifting with his movements in a loop that provided balance and consistency. The tact, she could understand.

Barbarians. And yet, despite that, she watched him, taking in the precision he used before copying them.

She would never write home about this. Ever.

[John A. Downing]

"Good."

He stopped, gesturing for her to continue as he watched her posture. Bringing his left hand up, he pointed at his sternum.

"We call this the center line. All attacks with hands run down this center. In a straight fight, your eyes can track the torso, head and even legs as long as you focus on the chest or stomach. Old school. In this place, people have powers so you have to be adaptable to that and understand you won't always get to keep your focus here, but you never know when this might come in handy."

Bringing his hands back up, he'd throw a left into the air, then a right, then an uppercut.

"See how the body moves? You can't keep focus on one area, you have to watch them all and the center line lets you do that. Couple that with your movement, and you could stand with a blade at your back, capable of dodging and striking at the same time. When you throw a bunch, always be a point or two ahead. When you punched at my head I shifted to the side and gave you a headbutt. Accept it- and know that I could no longer see your hand. You could have grabbed the back of my head, negating my reach, and kept me close for an elbow strike or headbutt of your own."

He would hold up a hand for her to stop. The girl would probably start feeling intense burn in the stomach, back and legs from doing that so many times.

"Practice makes perfect, and being good with your Qi or a sword isn't enough. You have to be ready for anything- even people who can turn your powers off, or take your weapons. Now, I'm gonna try and hit you. Using just that stance and movement, and the center line, I want you to avoid me."

Stepping forward, his hands would come up, Aaron combo-ing the fuck out of her. Left jab, right jab, left uppercut, right hook. With just that movement, she should be capable of keeping track of his movements without a hitch. Even if he tagged her, it wouldn't hurt too bad, since he wasn't putting force but instead speed behind it.