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Post by Finnerator Rudderbow on Dec 5, 2007 15:25:53 GMT -5
You guys know the drill. I haven't determined an ending date so... how about whenever I feel like spontaneously stopping the spar.
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Post by Linx Exotic on Dec 6, 2007 19:28:26 GMT -5
Linx seemed to have entered early... His opponent, he didn't know who it was so he had prepared for the fiercest of enemies. In one paw was clutched his resharpened cobalt alloy rake sword, being his sole weapon for this match.
Preceding his arrival, Linx had thoroughly cleaned everything off for the battle--- His weapon, his clothing, even his fur. A lot of time that could have gone into practicing ended up going into getting all the dirt and grime off his blade. Might as well be good and refreshed for his fight against...?
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Post by Auric Ashtongue on Dec 6, 2007 21:03:26 GMT -5
Auric was standing in the ring beside Linx, whom he assumed was there for support. Auric had not been following the other matches either. "Hey, honey whiskers... seen the other guy yet? Hope it's not that badger. He'd take forever..."
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Post by Linx Exotic on Dec 6, 2007 21:05:59 GMT -5
"Wait, what? You're a contestant?" Linx forgot he was one for a moment, simply surprised that Auric was participating. Although it had occurred to him that Auric might get pretty high up it didn't ever cross the mouse's mind that... They were supposed to fight one another now. This was one ludicrous situation. "Looks like I'm the other guy."
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Post by Auric Ashtongue on Dec 6, 2007 21:13:02 GMT -5
"What...? Wow... actually, that's perfect. Now we win the prize either way." As if honor and glory could possibly have been motives...
"Soo... loser cooks and cleans for the next week?" He was already taking a stance, drawing his scimitar. (Obviously assuming this all takes place back when Auric had a workind swordarm.)
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Post by Linx Exotic on Dec 6, 2007 21:16:57 GMT -5
"...Cooks and cleans what?" Linx watched Auric draw his sword rather somberly. There was no way he would do this. For one thing, the way Linx fought, Auric would end up getting hurt even if the pine marten ended up victorious. For another, Auric was... Auric. A pine marten corsair, yes, but Auric nonetheless. Way to bolster the absolute asininity of this situation... Linx had his sword drawn already, but now...
The sword's handle bounced once off the ground, then the blade dully clattered to a complete stop. Linx watched its motion, and eventual lack thereof, with surrendering eyes. "I hate tournaments."
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Post by Auric Ashtongue on Dec 6, 2007 21:33:12 GMT -5
Auric responded with explcit disappointmemt. "Oh, come on... I've just defeated half a dozen otters to get here, including Fishrudder... yeah, it pleases my ego to see my final opponent surrender before the first blow... but I was looking forward to this fight so much."
The pine marten sighed... though it was true that Auric's fighting style would pose a major problem for Linx. Linx might emerge victorious... but at what cost? Also it was Linx... an innovative warrior, yes, but Linx nonetheless. If something went wrong, where would Auric stay?
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Post by Linx Exotic on Dec 6, 2007 21:41:01 GMT -5
"I don't..." Linx still refused to make eye contact. He swallowed, still gazing intently at his rake sword sitting on the dirt. "...Care." Once he made up his mind about something there wasn't any going back, and the same applied for this situation. Linx felt far too much of this arbitrary, accursed affection towards Auric to so much as scratch him with a single claw in the name of hurting him. It seemed to only apply when they were out here with weapons intended to kill in their paws and... This was one big headache-supplier.
"I am not going to attempt to hurt you. I am not going to pick up that sword while this match is still in place, I am not going to strike out at you. That's what matters." He did his best to make it clear that a fight with Auric was beyond unwelcome. If Auric was going to just take a slash at him anyway... Linx didn't plan to even give in to his reflexes and dodge. He'd rather bleed to death.
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Post by Auric Ashtongue on Dec 6, 2007 21:49:17 GMT -5
Auric found himself deeply touched by this display of concern for his well-being. Noone had ever really done anything like this for him, ever. Not even his mother, probably.
Unfortunately, Auric wanted a competition and he was gonna have it somehow... "Okay, no blades. Alright, how about staves? Can't get cut with a staff. Some bruises, maybe a bump in the head. Hardly dangerous. Just a harmless stick with a little weight to it. What do you say?"
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Post by Linx Exotic on Dec 6, 2007 21:57:05 GMT -5
"That's not what matters." Linx realized that Auric wanted to compete and now it was creating some turmoil inside him over what to do for his benefit. However, whatever enjoyment the pine marten could get from a bludgeon spar, Linx had it ruled out. This corsair's safety ranked far above this corsair's entertainment for obvious reasons, and his answer was still adamant. On the outside, at any rate. "For one thing, I've killed many a beast with staves... For another, I am not going to do that because I'm not about to let myself... Win."
The way he said that ended up sounding a bit odd. But Linx knew that winning meant decommissioning Auric, which staves would simply slow the progress of and probably make it even more painful for Linx to inflict any damage. How odd it was that after a simple emotional bond... Well, far from simple, but an emotional bond, Linx was outright refusing to hurt someone he'd otherwise kill without hesitation.
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Post by Auric Ashtongue on Dec 6, 2007 22:08:40 GMT -5
He raised an eyebrow. "I've already defeated Fishrudder today. And I've defeated Archon in one move before. Aren't you being just a tad overconfident?"
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Post by Linx Exotic on Dec 6, 2007 22:13:48 GMT -5
"Let me guess... You'll expect me to say no and then you can ask me to prove it. Chances are I've probably got too much confidence on me, being the big weapons designer and all... And even if I lose, which is, now that I think about it, likely enough, it would be far from painless for you. And not that nice, consensual kind of pain, rather, the kind of pain you regret sustaining weeks afterwards." The kind of pain Linx was nowhere near prepared to inflict on Auric. He was making eye contact now, disregarding his discarded weapon. There was no reason not to, seeing as everything he said was not only true but he wasn't even thinking about the words coming out of his mouth. They just formed from what he was feeling inside... Even he couldn't really get a grasp on his thoughts. Something refused to fit with violence directed from him to this... Pine marten/corsair/fort member/lover of his.
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Post by Auric Ashtongue on Dec 6, 2007 22:32:57 GMT -5
Auric was getting more and more frustrated. He had been waiting for this match for hours and he had worked hard. He didn't even cheat to get this far. Auric was proud of it, proud that he had fought fairly and won. "You know, I entered this match to prove I could take care of myself. To prove that I wasn't just another vermin taking advantage of others. I wanted to show YOU that I was capable and worthy and skilled. I wanted you to see what I can do. And now you're suddenly treating me like a child. Yes, I'll get hurt. It's a bloody tournament!! You know how many cuts I took from that bloody otter assassin?! It doesn't matter how many, because I entered that match assuming I'd get hurt. Why should THIS match be any different? Please... I wanted you to know you could believe in me. Don't just make this entire contest a waste of my time..."
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Post by Linx Exotic on Dec 6, 2007 22:41:13 GMT -5
"This one's different because I'm involved. And as much as I appreciate your slinging words around... Auric, you're slinging words around, like 'waste of my time' and 'believe in me'... Funny, we're sorta fighting, just with words..." Linx sighed resignedly. He hated making these one-or-the-other decisions, especially when they were so... Pivotal. "I don't know about you but I wouldn't get any satisfaction from decking you. If anything I'd feel extremely regretful in the short term, and self-destructive in the long term. I didn't ask to get in a match with you and if I had a choice, which I do, I'd resign right now. You've fought this much, sustained however many cuts it takes to disregard mentioning exact numbers, and sorry if my unwillingness to smash you in the jaw equates to not believing in you."
What a rant. Linx sighed again and rubbed his eyes. This was grounds to never again get in a tournament, let alone one with Auric anywhere in it.
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Post by Auric Ashtongue on Dec 6, 2007 22:53:16 GMT -5
Auric growled, "Fine!! Hand me the most depressing victory I've ever had!!" He finally sheathed his swords, utterly dejected. If Auric was a proud warrior, he'd be complaining about the dishonour of the situation. Instead, as an honorless pirate in love, Linx's decision cut straight to his heart... it was beginning to show in his eyes.
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