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[crackedreflection]

[MT, for quite possibly the first time most people have seen her, looks downright apologetic as she flickers onto the mirror screen. She... also looks a bit banged up. More than a bit, really.

Where has she been these past few weeks, exactly?]

Uh. Hey, everyone. I... probably owe you all an explanation for just vanishing like that.

After the whole fiasco with my fist mission—sorry Lyds, BJ, that one's still my fault—and how my "brilliant idea" completely failed to work out, I got.

Frustrated.

And decided that because obviously it was everyone else's fault that things went wrong, I had to fix things by myself.

Soooo I went into the bayou.

By myself.

Yeah.

But hey! I'm a toy and practically indestructible so... at least I'm not dead? Ha.

Hahahaha...

Anyways, I obviously got back, and I'm. In my room right now. Have been for a few days, really, I just conked out for like... forty-eight hours straight.

Er. Sorry for locking the door, Beej.

ANYWAYS! How have you been doing while I was, er, gone?

[MT is obviously exhausted and looks like she needs a shower, but... at least she's learned a lesson? Maybe?]

Comments

[crackedreflection]

Not much, unless you want to spar with the metal girl. I'm feeling a bit punchy today.

[Working through all her issues through violence has always worked for MT, why would it stop now? Ha. Ha ha ha.]

[voidalviera]

...

Sure. Where would you like to meet?

[Rice knows that working out her emotions physically helps a lot. She’s certainly not going to prevent someone else from doing so.]

[crackedreflection]

Kingdom training grounds. The garden. See you there.

Network >> Action

[voidalviera]

[Rice nods in affirmation before putting her 3M away. There's a clink of a sword and the sound of her shuffling before the feed cuts out completely.]

The Voidsent takes as little time as she can to make it to the training grounds as she can while still walking. She doesn't want to keep MT waiting or to make her feel like she wasn't coming. Her sword is mounted on her back, but she doesn't plan on using it unless MT really wants her too. She arrives at the gardens and shrugs off her weapon, leaning it up against a bench.

[crackedreflection]

[MT arrives a few minutes later, hunched over with her hands in her pockets as she ducks into the garden. She looks... different. And not just in the "trauma makes you a different person" way. MT actually has hair now, a full three inches of bristly metal atop her head. She's a solid half-inch taller now, too.

Wordlessly, she takes her place across from Rice and puts up her dukes, waiting for her to make the first move.]

[voidalviera]

Rice would comment on how MT has apparently 'Grown', but she things that right now isn't the time for talking... apart from one thing.

"You must tell me when to stop if you feel we're going too far, do you understand?"

[crackedreflection]

MT nods curtly, face unreadable.

Then she lunges at Rice, fist pulled back for a wild, untrained haymaker.

Oh, dear. This will... probably be distressingly easy.

[voidalviera]

Ah.

The Viera has to keep her face blank as she sees the punch telegraphed practically before it even starts. Truely, she's seen better form from untrained Pugilists; but that's not why she's here.

MT needs something to hit and hit hard. She's used to that.

Instead of dodging like is instinct Rice braces her arms in a blocking cross, square with MT's fist.

Her arm strikes forward out of habit, knocking MT's arm out of the way with force and pushing her back.

[crackedreflection]

MT has power, at least. Tense, corded muscle built up from carefully mimicking poses, then exercised during her months on the train and training in the Kingdoms. It's impressive for a girl her age and size.

The fact that she's made of metal doesn't hurt either. Or rather, it does. A lot.

She doesn't relent, slowly picking up momentum with her punches until she's going much faster... although nothing like some of the martial artists Rice has seen. If somebody taught her properly, MT could be a real heavy hitter.

[voidalviera]

It's clear that MT has a lot of aggression built up, and although no stance or form to talk of, she could easily fight in the sand pits of Ul'dah.

Rice almost speaks, to explain what MT should do in order to make the fight easier on herself, how she should be standing- but she quickly realises that words have no place here. Not right now.

Instead, she shifts her own stance to an offensive one instead of the defensive bulwark she's used to being. This isn't her area of expertise without a sword, but she's partied with enough Pugilists to know the basics.

Instead of catching MT's hits head on, she starts to deflect them. There's still contact, still the satisfaction of hitting something, but not what it could be.

And then she starts to point out the openings in her opponents form. Jabs to her side where her arms are wide, a palm to the chest as she pulls her fist back to launch, sliding her foot to widen MT's stance involuntarily and catching her off-balance.

[crackedreflection]

Credit where credit is due: MT learns quickly. A few moments after her hits stop connecting, MT narrows her eyes and... well, she doesn't check her aggression, but she channels it, making more of an effort to actually try and get past Rice's guard rather than just blindly lash out at her.

And when Rice executes a brutally efficient takedown with on MT with that combo of hers, she falls flat on the ground... and wastes no time in getting back up, snarling (though not in anger, it just seems to be MT's default response when she's in a fight) and reining back on the offense to try and block at least some of Rice's blows.

[voidalviera]

The tables have turned, and Rice grins as MT clearly picks up what she's putting down.

The Knight starts to test her foe's defences, seeing the strength of MT's stance, her footwork, her attacks.

Eventually, when she's satisfied with how MT holds herself, she starts to open up her own stance, subtly showing her opponent where to take advantages like she had just done.

[crackedreflection]

If there's one thing MT is good at (unfortunately), it's mimicking people. She starts unconsciously mirroring Rice's stance and adding the Knight's technique to her own near-unchecked aggression. It's like fighting a mirror match.

The moment MT sees an opening, she goes for it with vicious strength; her reaction time is probably her best asset outside of her sheer, unrelenting rage. At least she has enough presence of mind to try to not do any permanent damage, although she'll probably leave some nasty bruises.

[voidalviera]

Rice takes the hit to the ribs with surprising camaraderie, barely wincing though she certainly feels the pain. There's a solid 'thunk' and a beat of stillness as Rice exhales slowly, controlling her response.

"That was good," she says, slowly straightening up, breathing a little heavier than normal and clearly disengaging from the fight, for now at least.

"You learn quickly," she smiles, and goes around to hold her side. She's going to need some ice for that!