[1v1] Semblance of Control (Chaya & Hollandaise)

[The Semblance of Unity]

After the strange, wrath-inducing mist in that underground cavern, Hollandaise had felt strange. While she couldn't deny she took a certain amount of pride in the fact that she had defeated three creeple, there was shame, and a lingering unease. She had not been entirely in control of her body but instead forced to rage, to an undeniable fight. It was thing to win on her own terms, or even to lose on her own terms, and another thing altogether to be under the influence of something else.

To combat the strange, almost creepy-crawling feeling she was left, Hollandaise had decided the only solution was to fight again. But, while in control, more or less. Hollandaise often went to the gymnasium to pick out sparring partners, but she wanted someone... Well, there were few creeple she would call out to the gymnasium and even fewer whom she would trust. Chaya was one of them.

She had alluded to the events in the cavern vaguely, trying to explain her unease, and asked him to meet her here. Plus, she reasoned, it would be interesting to see how his new body worked, if there was any difference. She didn't think there would be, but it would still be fun. So now, she waited, feet dangling over the edge of the bleachers. She kicked idly at a dust mote.

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Chaya didn't mind fighting. It was exercise, and often it was fun, as long as you weren't badly outmatched, because that was not much fun at all. Holly was definitely stronger than he was, but he didn't feel nervous about fighting her. She wouldn't hurt him. Anyway, she wanted help working on fighting, and he could give her that help, and when she wanted help from him, he wasn't going to say no.

He showed up in the gym mostly on time, dressed to fight in loose pants and a sleeveless shirt, barefoot, pelt draped over his shoulders and his claws tied on. He didn't think he should change shape for this, at least not at first, because since this was fighting practice Holly should practice against creeple forms as well as natural forms, so he'd need his claws too. "Holly, hi, I'm here," he shouted, bouncing on the balls of his feet and waving enthusiastically to her.

The Semblance of Unity

 

[The Semblance of Unity]

Chaya was always easy to spot in a crowd. Or perhaps not spot, but hear. Hollandaise smiled and slid over to him. His bright personality often made her feel lighter in some ways, made her feel warm. But she also wanted.... maybe... No, that was an odd thought, surely just brought on by her unsettled self. She shook her head, hair bouncing in loops tied behind each ear. It was not the most practical style for sparring, but Hollandaise supposed that sometimes a fight would not be a practical time. Her hairstyle was a decision on her part, a piece of regaining control.

"Chaya! Hello - thank you for coming." She stood, arms akimbo, almost leaning in for a hug - but would that be strange in the gymnasium before a fight? So she held off, settling for giving his pelt a small tug. "Ah - do you want to go first? I want to continue until we wear out."

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"Of course I came!" Chaya seemed to have no such compunctions about whether hugging before a fight was weird, and went straight for it, wrapping his arms around Holly and squeezing her happily. "You said come help so I did." He snuffled at her hair before letting go of her, his ears tilting.  

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"Go first? Uh, okay." He backed off a little, ears and tail flicking as he thought about it. But if she wanted to learn to fight effectively that made sense, right? Because probably if you were going to fight dangerous things, a lot of the time you had to expect to be attacked first, and so you should figure you should defend yourself, so if he was playing like he was really a threat then he should attack first and try to surprise her, even. Was it even possible to surprise someone who'd asked you to attack her?

He could try. Suddenly, without warning, he jumped forward, hooking his fingers into the clawed gauntlet to drive a hard, stinging strike at her side.

HP: 30/30
Dmg: 5  

[The Semblance of Unity]

Hollandaise had expected Chaya to hit so hard and she stumbled back. Perhaps she should have expected, she thought. Chaya was energetic and passionate and things trees typically were not. Perhaps her disorganized mind had something to do with why she missed fairly spectacularly when she lunged at him.

"Ah, good hit, Chaya. Do it again?"

HP: 35/40
DMG: 0  

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He had managed to surprise her, and maybe a little more than he'd meant to. "Are you okay?" Chaya asked anxiously as Holly stumbled, then remembered he was supposed to be a threat and bared a fang half-heartedly.

When she lunged at him, he jumped back reflexively, lashing out in return, but his balance felt a little off, and he had to take an extra step to recover. His claws hit nothing but air, and his ears flipped back with embarrassment. "I'm trying," he assured her.

HP: 30
Dmg: nope  

[The Semblance of Unity]

She laughed briefly, the sound creaking out of her. "You are not scary, Chaya!" But neither was she. Perhaps if she ever changed into her natural form, she might seem ominous or startling, but now, she was just a chubby ghoul with a lot of leaves.

Hollandaise concentrated for a moment, and her bracelet glowed. The glow traveled down her hand, sharpening her fingertips. With a sudden burst of movement, she slashed at Chaya.


HP: 35/40
DMG: 3+2=5

Black Sands

For two turns, add +2 damage (to normal attack rolls only). Usable once per battle.

 

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"I know," he replied, a little sadly, and wagged his tail once to show that he wasn't that sad. "I'll learn!" he added optimistically.

The glowing bracelet made his ears perk up interestedly, and he forgot to guard himself. "What's tha - ow! ... Cool, does it make it hurt more?" he asked, rubbing the spot on his chest that the claws had slashed across.

HP: 25
Dmg: nope

the semblance of unity

 

[The Semblance of Unity]

"I think so. I was told it amplifies fear, makes it stronger for a small period. I bought it!" And she leapt at him, fear-made claws outstretched.


HP: 35/40
DMG: 8+2=10

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Chaya was caught off guard, and they went down in a tumble of limbs and bodies; had he breathed in the way some creatures did, it would have been knocked out of him when he hit the ground. He did yelp, and twisted under her to kick upward and squirm loose, rolling to one side, where he crouched with one hand splayed on the ground, grinning delightedly, his eyes lit with a faint red glow. "That was awesome!"

HP: 15
Dmg: 3

The Semblance Of Unity

 

[The Semblance of Unity]

With a breathless creak, she was up again. Hollandaise met Chaya's grin with one of her own - not as exuberant, perhaps, but no less delighted. His knee had caught her side and she touched it gently. Not too awful.

"I want to show you something else," she said, and concentrated. Thorns began to push out of her skin, all of her skin, rising upwards into sharp barbs. She hissed as the places where her skin touched itself were stabbed and rubbed raw. There was always a drawback. But still, she threw herself at Chaya, arms outstretched. Her goal was to get as much skin contact as possible,


HP: 32/40 - 11 = 21/40
DMG: 20

used gambler's chance

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[prolixity]

Chaya watched with attentive interest as Holly grew thorns, her skin erupting into vicious, sharp points. It was fascinating, and when he breathed in, he could smell it, a rich smell that was red and green twined together, sap and earth and blood, her blood. The scent was distracting, and he didn't even try to dodge.

Thorns dug into him as she embraced him, digging deep into the ectoplasmic Fear that made him solid, and he yelped softly, startled. Thorns, so many thorns, and all at once. It hadn't looked like it would be this dangerous, and when he tried to pull back, the thorns dug and ripped, and he felt himself begin to dissolve. A small and panicked yip protested his dissipation, and then he was no longer there.

HP: -5 oops

The Semblance of Unity

 

[The Semblance of Unity]

Hollandaise embraced him fiercely, a part of her enjoying the surprise on his face. It felt nice to be underestimated, in a way, and - Oh. Oh, no. With a small yelp, Chaya disappeared from her arms and too late, she opened them jerkily, thorns retracting. They lay there, shifting under skin before stilling, waiting. They were as much a part of her as her leaves.

There was a moment where Hollandaise simply did not react. Chaya had been here and now he was not. Slowly, the realization dawned on her. She had not meant... she would not have.... she.... She messed up. She had dissipated Chaya, of all creeple. Guilt swam over her in a wave, apprehension, too. What if he hated her for this? She whirled, not bothering to clean the small streaks of her own dried blood from her arms.

Hollandaise ran to the nurse's office, because that was where she had been when that hunter caused her to dissipate. But she hesitated at the door, face twisting, unsure whether to enter or not. "C-chaya?" she called out in a small voice.

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"Holly!" Chaya called back cheerfully. "Come in, I'm almost done, I just have to finish a form!" True to his word, he was sitting in a chair and diligently writing; he signed the bottom of the sheet and hopped up, looking none the worse for wear, his tail waving happily. "That was awesome, it was a really strong attack!"

The Semblance of Unity