District One Tournament Day Two: Missingno vs Earnest

Your last match had been called for time, though you hadn’t minded it. The boy you fought seemed capable enough, and if his heart had been in it, might’ve been able to take you down. You should’ve liked to have found him after the tournament was said and done, as you felt that you had more in common than most boys you’d come across. Though you did hope he took to heart that there was more to the world than what their fights represented. But then that would be his journey to unpack, unless he let you join along.

The second day came, and you checked the tournament board to find the name Earnest scrawled underneath your own. The boy was related to a victor as well, though you weren’t sure how much so. There seemed to be so many established families in one. At least you were unrelated, untitled, and at the present, uninterested in drawing much attention for your matches. The only match that would truly matter would be the final match. The rest of these would lead to an eventual end.

As you entered the room containing the ring holding your glaive and stared over at the boy, you tried to pinpoint where it might be best to strike. He wasn’t quite the brute you’d faced yesterday, but then, that might have demanded a different strategy. You still offered the same smile and gentle nod, along with a wish for a battle devoid of either taking things personally.

“Best of luck,” You offered. “Ready?”

You were a man of few words, anyway.

[Rith attacks Valerian with his glaive]
CqcEbIS88hglaive
[result:13024 -- Deep Gash on Left Forearm -- 8.0 damage (Glaive)]

25/25

And to you.

The words came out just as you sank your glaive into his forearm. Strange. As long as you’d lived in district one, it felt as though you’d come across more young men who thought throwing hands and puffing out their chests made them into something. Not like the boy from yesterday and the one today, who seemed to have some sort of actual courtesy toward their opponents. You pull back just as soon as you’ve landed a blow and offer another nod. You wouldn’t say it’s pride that fills you now, but you do appreciate your hard work has paid off.

You’ve got moves.

Oh – he’s not like boys that you knew at all, offering a compliment, too. You don’t blush, but you grin from ear to ear in a stupid way for a boy fighting in what was supposed to be a very-serious-tournament. Right, you had to pay more attention, especially as he started toward you with his spear. He angled close but you turned hard to bring your polearm up in a parry. It was close, but not enough to have done any damage.

“You like to dance?” You would describe it as a pinprick of electricity that ran down your chest and out through your arms. It was – the moment when things seem to fall more into place, where confidence met your abilities, and you became certain. When your feet could move in time and your blade would find its mark. “I guess I’m leading then.”

You wouldn’t have minded dancing with this boy, or the one from the day before. You supposed that meant you weren’t picky enough.

“Try to follow, if you can."

[Rith attacks Valerian with his glaive]
v4YWu1|X27glaive
[result:13074 -- Shallow Cut on Left Bicep -- 3.5 damage(Glaive)]

25/25

Your strike wasn’t as true as the first, but you didn’t mind. Slow and steady could still down an opponent, so long as you kept moving along.

And if I can’t? The boy seemed curious, at least aiming to be a willing partner in this waltz. Keep up I mean. Would you still want to dance with me?

No one had ever asked you such a thing before, and for a second, you were struck too dumb to reply. If he couldn’t keep up, then he’d be tagged out of the tournament. But you weren’t sure that was really what he had been asking. You preferred to think that there were subtleties here, especially with a boy like this, that didn’t quite exist on the sparring floor of your gym back home. Even as his blade ran across your chest because of this distraction, you didn’t so much as flinch, too caught up in the thought.

You’d two-step or foxtrot through this battle, just as you did when you were close enough to that feeling. The moment when all of what you’d been taught was put to use and it wasn’t just rote response or having to close your eyes to think up a better combination. No, this was improvisation, where you could move forward and back with him, sometimes left and part to the right, forward, striking when it mattered.

“If you want me to,” You say then, “I don’t mind the company. It’s better than being alone, isn’t it? Even if one of us has to lose. It’s more fun this way.” You smile again. “Dancing.”

[Rith attacks Valerian with his glaive]
D|Cw9S1PEQglaive
[result:13186 -- Shallow Cut on Chest -- 4.0 damage (Glaive)]

21/25