[1v1] Protection is Important (Soren and Bao Yu) [FIN]

[ramenli]

A satisfying crunch filled the air as the skin split, and Soren grinned. The apple was a good one, but then again he had a knack for figuring out which apple would be the best of the bushel. He was merely taking a break from practicing, skin glistening as he had worked up a slight lather, and there was no better break to take than to munch on an apple. Or two. Dozen. He finished it off, the scarce remains that barely constituted a core tossed aside, and picked up his shirt from where he had left it to wipe off his face. It was time for laundry anyway.

He turned back toward the practice dummies, about ready to go at it again, when he caught sight of a familiar mare. One he did not know well per say, but her sister was another story. He had never seen Bao Yu in action though, and he wondered if she was properly able to take care of herself in battle. His assumption was yes, but he would rather that Lifen's sister be safe and well practiced than not, so he turned toward her and lifted a hand before letting his voice boom out. "Bao Yu! Spar with me."

Saint Sergio

 

[Bronze Coffee]

She had been just wandering around, jotting things into a book, when she glanced up and realized she had no idea where she was. Bao Yu simple arched a brow and tilted her head looking around for some kind of marker. During her glancing about, she spotted Soren in all his glistening glory eating an apple. Now, before, with their first meeting, she had noticed how handsome he was, but not the muscles on him, not really. She was more worried about his relationship to her sister. Seeing how that had been harmless enough, she let it go and chalked him up as one of her many.. Ah, how was it phrased? Baby birds? Yes, that's it. Soren was one of Lifen's baby birds.

Then she was called to to spar, and red eyes narrowed a little. "Really, Soren? You want me to spar? Think you can take me?" Her words came with a teasing tone before she put her book down in, what she deemed, was a safe place.

ramenli

 

[ramenli]

Even though he was essentially off the market, for the time being at least, Soren could not resist her opening that she had left unguarded for him. He let a slight smirk play across his lips and he casually let his eyes drift over her. "With mares I take what is given," he replied.

It was easy enough to take a position opposite of her, getting into a defensive position. Sure, his shirt was off and leaving his chest unprotected, but he had left his gauntlet on for practice, and it was that arm he positioned closest to her, ready for whatever strike she might begin with, eyes searching to see where her first attack might come from.

Saint Sergio

 

[Bronze Coffee]

Bao Yu gave a little hum and a chuckle at his expression, almost posing for him when she noticed his eyes giving her a once over. It was short lived and she shifted then, rolling up her sleeves, eyes narrowing at him as she got serious. The short horsewoman didn't even bother taking off her glasses; she did need them to see. Taking a deep breath, she let it out in a careful exhale before taking her own defensive stance.

Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, she thought it best to test him. So, she charged, her left arm swinging out, seeing his reaction time. It was aimed at his shoulder, rather than his head.

HP: 40/40
Attack: 3 - 6= -3

ramenli

 

[ramenli]

With Soren's bulk it was sometimes easy to underestimate his speed, and if the Conquest mare did not intend to go all out on him she was going to learn that he was faster than she might expect. The trial attack was easy enough for him to block, and that almost worried him. Hopefully this was misleading, a mere test, or else he was going to have plenty to work on in order to ensure her safety. He could not leave Lifen's sister to her own devices if this was the result.

He worried slightly about seriously harming the mare, so while she was still close and it was difficult to get his full force into a swing he aimed a hit to her side. "Come on." It almost seemed as if he was urging her to hit him, to hurt him, but really, he was not that kind of stallion.

HP: 40
Damage: 4  

[Bronze Coffee]

s**t, she'd missed. She was really out of practice with this sparing business. A scholar she was, not a fighter. That was evident in the way she didn't block the attack that landed on her side and sent her skidding until she tripped and landed on her hip, using her hands to catch herself before her head hit the ground.

His words caught her attention and she got up without even dusting herself and just attempted to swing with her right hand this time. At this point she didn't even know if she was still testing or not. His words weren't going to cause her any anger. He took his training serious and was trying to get her to take this more serious than she was. This attack would miss and more than likely she would leave herself open for another hit from him.

HP: 36
Damage: Miss  

[ramenli]

He wasn't expecting his hit to move her as much as it did, but until she tripped it was probably better that she moved with the blow. But with her second flailing attempt at an attack forced him to realize two things. One, that she didn't seem to know how to fight. Two: that it was his job to change that.

"Think about your moves," he barked, "Don't just swing and hope." He took a step back from the mare. "Pick your target." Soren was staring rather pointedly at...well, it might look as if he was staring at her boobs, but his eyes were actually boring into her stomach. "Curl your fist like this." He demonstrated as he spoke before drawing back his arm. "Follow through with the hit." Again he demonstrated, taking a quick step forward and unleashing his punch, belatedly realizing it was his gauntleted hand.

"For King of the Wind's sake mare! Dodge!"

HP: 40
Damage: 7  

[Bronze Coffee]

No, no, no, this wasn't her forte. She wasn't going to keep doing this with him. Jack, damn it, this wasn't something she did a lot, so this was her actually trying. Maybe. A little. Was she trying? She didn't even know. She knew the basics of fighting! She read about them, but applying them was something completely foreign to her.

And then something was coming at her and she tried to jump back in time, only to be clipped in the shoulder by something hard and painful. This cause Bao Yu to yelp out, the gauntlet tearing the sleeve of her top and cut into her skin. Rude. He was so rude! Wincing in pain as she steadied herself, Bao Yu turned to examine the cut and just lunged forward. She tightened her fist like he'd shown her and aimed a punch for his chest. Why? It was lower than his face and she was short.

HP: 29
Damage: 1  

[ramenli]

Wow hey I can't roll.  

[ramenli]

This punch actually landed, and Soren felt it. It didn't really hurt, a light sting, but in comparison it was great improvement, and he nodded his approval.

"Now work on dodging," he instructed. "Look where your opponent is looking. Many give themselves away." He moved a bit slower than usual, aiming another hit at her, but not fully holding back. It wouldn't help if he went too easy on her.

HP: 39
Damage: 3  

[Bronze Coffee]

Dodging should be easy for her. She wasn't' the one built like a stupid barn or a brick house. Stupid stallion. Okay that was mean, and she mentally apologized for the mental insult, but still. She was getting more annoyed than anything with Soren right now. It should be completely clear to the stallion that she wasn't the fighting type and that not everyone was. Then again, stallions were very one track minded, so if it wasn't mating it was something else wasn't it? His other track seemed to be fighting.

So, attempting to focus her annoyance in her attack like she read about, Bao Yu aimed a kick for between his legs. No one ever said she couldn't fight dirty. Besides, he'd left himself wide open for it. But when that happened, his punch clipped that already wounded shoulder and made it sting, so the kick kind of went a bit off center.

HP: 26
Damage: 5  

[ramenli]

Her kick wasn't quite as off center as she might have thought, and she was certainly using the element of surprise. He was not expecting it, and he barely had time to realize what was happening before she knocked his voice up an octave.

His unarmored hand immediately went down to cup himself as he hunched over slightly. He would be fine, it wasn't a full attack, but still.

Mares.

On the other hand he had to respect her dirty tactics. But he would get her for that. Oh he would. His eyes narrowed at her.

In a minute.

HP: 34
Damage: HOLDING HIMSELF  

[Bronze Coffee]

Well, she knew that had to hurt, but she actually couldn't stop her shoulders from shaking when she stiffled her laughter. Hearing him go up that high was just amusing. Still, she moved over to him to make sure he was alright and squatted down to pat his cheek. Of course, she had nails and probably ended up nicking him with them by accident.

"I won't do that again. I ...was annoyed." That was as close to an apology as he was getting.

HP: 26
Damage: 1 (lovetap)  

[ramenli]

To make matters worse she was trying to coddle him, and Soren wasn't in the mood for that.

He wasn't really in the mood for anything, and even if he was he would take a several minutes to recover.

He quickly reached up and grabbed at her wrist with one massive paw of a hand, squeezing lightly, mostly to stop the nails, but also in an attempt to get his voice to lower so he could offer more advice. "Don't show pity. They'll exploit you."

HP: 33
Damage: 2  

[Bronze Coffee]

The squeeze of her hand made her squirm and just pulled away, holding her fingers to her chest, sighing slowly. Okay, that hurt. Her fingers were sore now. There was a pout on her lips but she rolled her eyes at his words. It wasn't like they were really fighting.

"Yes, Sören," she murmured softly. So, she stood up and held her hand out for him. "The least I can do is offer you help up, hm?"

HP: 24
Damage: Miss