[1v1] Mountains and Molehills (Jove/Herryk)

[Grey Dragon]

Jove was spending far too much time at the gym.

It was clear that he had grown comfortable in the giant building since his first year, where he had thought about skipping classes and staying out of the way. He had struggled in that gym, avoided it, and worried about being chastised by it's teacher. But a lot had changed since he was a naive little snot. He had seen what they were up against, and realized it had to be more than learning and educating himself. He had to fight.

And since the trip to the haunted house, that's what he had done. Even now as he paced the floor, eagerly awaiting his next opponent, he walked with a trace of a limp, and had he a reason to snarl the missing teeth would be very evident. But the bumps and bruises couldn't keep his spirit down, and he always came back the next day for a new opponent. Assuming he could find one who would actually fight him in his natural form!

After all, he wasn't even sure today's challenger would bring himself to make it...

((Set before the appearance of the Hunters, and the Horsemen being taken captive? =3))  

[bipolar bee]

Herryk was still trying to think of ways that he could get out of this.

After rationalizing with himself and failing, Herryk had changed tactics. He'd tried to convince himself that sparring with Jove would be good because Herryk could hold back where others might not feel the need to. Herryk would take great care in not harming the little fluffpup where others might see Jove as a weak target. All of these justifications had failed.

Now Herryk found himself at the doors of the gym. Perhaps he could claim illness, or a strained muscle, or ... Herryk grunted. No, Herryk knew that Jove wasn't stupid. Small, fluffy, yes. Stupid? Hardly.

Slipping into the gym as quietly as he could, Herryk caught sight of Jove. The limp was obvious and it worried Herryk. It didn't matter. Jove was agile and quick as Herryk had already witnessed, where Herryk was big and lumbering. The draugr hoped that it would be enough. He wouldn't insult Jove by not giving his all in this fight. With a final sigh, Herryk moved forward, a grin plastered to his face.

"Jove!"  

[Grey Dragon]

Deep down Jove knew Herryk might give him a hard time over this battle. He was hoping with all his little heart that the larger boil would fight him, give him a fierce, challengingly large opponent to practice against. Jove wanted to battle with as many different students as possible so he could be better prepared for anything those hunters might throw at them! But he worried that Herryk might not show up, or that he would try to talk the pup out of it. Despite his giant appearance, the boil was really gentle at heart, at least when it came to littler things. And Jove was about as little as they got.

So when Herryk entered through the far doors, a smile on his face, Jove's entire countenance brightened quite literally. His curled little tail gave a wag, and he pranced as well as his sore left side would allow. He had something special planned, that might just make Herryk feel less awkward.

The pup bared his teeny needle teeth, some missing and some in various states of being regrown, and then suddenly he was no longer the tiny fluffypup Herryk had come to fawn over. Instead he was past knee height, his fur a pure, glowing white with just as much volume. It flowed around him and wisped off towards the tips, giving him an even more ghostly look. It took extra effort, yes, but Jove needed practice in that area as well.

He dropped into a playful puppy stance, as though asking "Are you ready?"

((Rolling for initiative!

Edit: Your move, Mr. Bond!))  

[bipolar bee]

Keep calm, Herryk. Keep calm.

Okay he was going to have an anxiety attack right here, right now. RIGHT HERE. RIGHT NOW. How could he even think to fight the fluffpup? How could he bring himself to do this? Herryk didn't know. Herryk didn't want to do it. And now look at Jove, so sweet and little, staring at Herryk like he wanted to play. Couldn't Herryk just throw a ball? Couldn't they just play tag or hide and seek or something else equally adorable?

Why this? Herryk wasn't ready. He wanted to pick that sweet little fluffpup up and hold him to his chest and just feed Jove spookies all day for the rest of their lives. However, Herryk was not expecting the fluffpup to change the way he looked. It was pretty impressive and yet... Herryk knew they all needed to grow stronger. They needed to be ready for the hunters. It was life or death -- or worse.

Lifting his brows, Herryk sighed. How could he say no to Jove? Holding back would only make the fluffpup feel as if Herryk didn't think he could take a hit.  

[bipolar bee]

"Alright, Jove, alright." Herryk looked more than a little resigned. He would start off a little easy and then maybe they could work up to something else other than ... poking harshly, which is just what Herryk forced himself to do.

Reaching out with a broad finger, Herryk dug it (gently) against Jove's side. He looked like he was going to cry the entire time, and yet he forced himself to do it. It was painful to watch, but if the fluffpup wanted a fight, well.. he might get one. Maybe. Herryk wasn't making any promises.

HP: 30/30
Damage: 1  

[Grey Dragon]

Jove didn't flinch or yip or do anything a hurt little pup would do. He sat down. And proceeded to give Herryk the most nonplussed stare ever. Really? A poke? This fight might be harder than he expected, in a different way than expected. How could he show Herryk that he wasn't a little porcelain figure that had to be treated delicately?

The pup growled, and gave the larger boil a n** in the shin.

HP: 29/30
Damage: 1  

[bipolar bee]

"Ouch! Jove!" Herryk looked like he was about to scold one of his foxfires for a brief moment before he realized who he was talking to. He closed his mouth so quickly that his teeth clattered together. His brows did draw together, though, and a little frown creased his forehead.

"Fine! Herryk will fight. Herryk won't like it, but he will fight. It is good practice, yes?"

On that final word, Herryk dipped down and shot out a foot. It was a solid enough hit, and Herryk cringed. He couldn't help it.

HP: 29/30
Damage: 3  

[Grey Dragon]

It looked like Herryk was finally getting it! Jove's tail wagged, and he was about to nod in agreement when he was solidly booted a couple feet across the floor. Now THAT was more like it!

The not-so-little pup bounced back to his feet immediately and lunged, the greater height allowing him to sink his sharp little teeth into Herryk's thigh. He knew the larger size came with a drawback, it was still not as nimble as his most natural form, and it was definitely going to drain his energy faster. But he doubted Herryk would bring himself to strike at all had Jove fought in his tiny puppy form.

HP: 26/30
Damage: 4  

[bipolar bee]

Herryk bellowed in agony when those sharp little teeth made their way into his thigh. He wasn't wearing any pants! Those teeth went right into the flesh of his body, right through the skin and holy JACK that hurt!

Herryk tried to scruff Jove but the pain was distracting him. No matter how he tried there was just no way that he could tug the fluffy pup off of his leg -- besides, Herryk had no doubt that ripping the pup off of his leg would hurt even more than just letting Jove hang there until he decided to let go on his own terms.

"JOVE HAS SHARP TEETH."

Yes, and they HURT.

HP: 25/30
Damage: Miss!  

[Grey Dragon]

It didn't take long for Jove to reach the letting-go point, especially when Herryk let out a loud shout. It was enough for the pup to let go and bounce back in shock, his eyes wide, ears flat. Perhaps Herryk wasn't the only one afraid of really doing some harm, for a second Jove wore a guilty-looking Bad Dog expression.

HP: 26/30
Damage: Miss!  

[bipolar bee]

Herryk rubbed his thigh with one hand while shaking a finger at Jove with the other.

"Bad pup! Bad! Ouuuch. Jove bites hurt! Herryk was not expecting Jove to have so many teeth!"

It helped, though, for Jove to be in his natural form. It helped Herryk to see that his fluffypup friend could take care of himself, to see that Jove could bring the pain if he needed to.

"Now, try and bite Herryk again!"

HP: 25/30
Damage: Miss!  

[Grey Dragon]

Jove's fluffy ears flattened back, and even as a larger, more menacing ghostly hound he could still cower just as easily as ever. His fluffy tail tucked between his legs as he was scolded, and he ducked his head in his very best "I will try harder to be a good dog..." expression.

The pup might have been a second year student, and growing to be a rather scary one at that, but there were many tame dog traits he still carried with him from his life before becoming a ghost, and his un-life before becoming a student. A strong reaction to scolding just happened to be one of them. He didn't want to be a Bad Dog!

Instead of making another attempt at attacking, he simply cowered in hurt confusion.

HP: 26/30
Damage: 0  

[bipolar bee]

Herryk didn't like to see such an expression upon the face of his littlest fluffpup friend, and so Herryk merely crouched down and tilted his head to the side.

"Herryk is sorry," he said quietly, "Jove did a good job biting Herryk. A very good job. It was Herryk's fault that he was bitten." Herryk rose to his feet and backed up a short distance, spreading his feet in a wide stance.

"Now," Herryk gestured with both hands, indicating that he wanted Jove to attack again. "Show Herryk how strong Jove has gotten. Good pup, come on, then!"

HP: 25/30
Damage: --

Grey Dragon

 

[Grey Dragon]

Jove's good ear slowly turned forward, and then he shook himself. It was as though he was trying to shake free those doubts, shaking off the puppy feelings and puppy instincts so he could be a student once again. What if it had been a hunter saying Bad Dog? Would he have cowered and cringed for that?

Nope. He would have bitten them again anyway!

Jove leaped forward again, this time dashing past Herryk an chomping hard on his calf muscle. He knew it was harder to attack an enemy when they weren't in front of you, and would try to take advantage of this!

HP: 26/30
Damage: 4

pinchmonster

 

[Grey Dragon]

((Oops, hit quote instead of edit. XD;; ))