daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

[He wonders the same thing. That if it came down to it, could he really do her any real harm? How he would be torn between wanting to help her, and not wanting to hurt the most precious thing in his life. He turns this over in his head, but already he know the compromise in which he’ll offer her.]

I swear I will, as long as you promise me one thing. If you come away with any injuries, you will let me heal them; that part is non-negotiable.

[she debates this in her head, trying to not let on to him that she wants to keep the pain – that it would be something else to think about than this anger. but if she says no, then he’ll likely want to stop her – he won’t fight her, and she’d be left without a choice. so she takes a breath and nods.]

I’ll let you do that. Weapons or no weapons?

[Her agreeing to his compromise seems to ease the smallest amount of tension in his shoulders, though it’s barely noticeable. It’s a small mode of comfort — knowing that if she does come away hurt, she can’t argue against him using his magic to heal any wounds.]

If you want something more challenging, I would suggest weapons. [He’s remembered how to fight with a sword; not so much with his bare hands.] Though what would you intend on using?

And we would have to find a place to do this away from prying [judgmental] eyes.

There's enough space nearer the woods. And I....don't have a sword, but I have a pipe.

[the same one she'd used to beat down monsters in August. it's still hers - actually in the trunk of her car. one never knew, at this point.]

[A sword versus a pipe. Somehow that seems rather… lopsided, he thinks, but if she had no qualms against it, he’d humor her. And if she decided, at the last minute, that she wanted to fight hand-to-hand, he would do that for her as well.]

A pipe hurts just as much as a sword, and you’ve been known to swing it with fervor before. [That is a keen understatement.] We’ll go to the woods, then. It isn’t that long of a drive out.

[And he’s right, it won’t take them long to get there. There’s usually very little need for anyone to make their way out to such a remote area, and yet — eventually — here they are. The emptiness of the woods, the perfect backdrop against anyone wanting to vent frustration, in the form of a fight.]

[there's something achingly familiar when she picks back up the pipe - she wishes it was a blade, but beggars can't be choosers when it comes to objects that they could use as weapons. Retrospec wasn't sending her mysterious swords in the mail, so she made do. and no one finding them meant she didn't have to pretend this was all in fun - she could rip open her heart, if need be.]

You sure you're up for this, my dear?

[light but sincere - if he changed his mind, she wouldn't blame him.]

Of course, my love.

[Light but sincere reflected in turn, teasing to inject levity in the tension that exists in both.

After shrugging off his coat (he knows by now that range of movement will be helpful), Ardyn summons his weapon, appearing in shattered crystal-like magic that she should be used to seeing by now. He grips it tight.]

Don't hold back, now. Ladies first.

[she doesn't need more than that, her grip tightening on the pipe and her rushing in for a strike, feinting left before swinging it around right. the force with which she'll meet him is enough to say she's not playing around like she might be - that she means it when she says for real. at least her strength is only that of a human, though she remembers something of fighting, and any playful expression dies.

this will help. it has to.]

[Ardyn remembers the practical use of his sword, the motions coming to him so very naturally, based on muscle memory alone. Ingrained in his head, so much that he's often thought that the other him must've used it quite often, or carried many years of experience with him. Either way, it allows him to see that feint and to not fall for it. He brings his sword up at an angle, blocking that swing of the pipe and feeling the force of the vibrations shake the bones of his wrist as a result.

No, it's quite obvious that she's not messing around. That his dearest Grell is very serious about this fight, with zero intent to hold back. He isn't surprised by this, but he is surprised by her eagerness, by the serious way she strikes at him like she intends to break bone. Rushing in without much regard, whereas Ardyn would've at least given a moment or two of consideration of when and where to attack.

That's the difference between them, it seems. He at least will play at caution, and wonder how far it'll take him if she continues to swing at him with that kind of enthusiasm.

He pushes forward with his blade, hoping to undo her balance and put some space between them. She has the advantage with such a short weapon this close.]

[her offense has always been stronger than her defense, and she steps back, giving him that space and time to react. but she still doesn't stop, this time aiming high.

never towards his face, though. she'd never do that to him. and if she has to pull back at the last second then she will. but for now, she trusts him to react in time. to parry what's more or less her frustrations gotten out in the open. but that same frustration can be her weakness - her undoing, in being too hasty.]

[He can parry it, or he can dodge away, scooting back just enough so that the pipe barely misses a shoulder. He opts for the latter, and the pipe whiffs right past him.

Despite himself, he has to grin. Neither of them are in a particularly humorous mood, what with the tension of everything that's happened recently coiled up within them, but he finds he can't help himself from making a remark. Maybe it's just in his nature, though he'd never be snide with Grell. Only teasing, however keen this teasing happens to be today.]

So eager!

[But honestly, that eagerness can lead to recklessness, which is something he should be... concerned about, but right now, he's not supposed to hold back. He's supposed to take advantage of it, isn't he?

Ardyn prods with his words a bit more, perhaps trying to get her to move again and leave herself open.]

Next time you may actually hit me, dearest one.

I intend to!

[provocations work enough to get her to step forward, and he has the advantage in weapon length. still, if she can step under his guard, there might be the chance, yet there's still an opening on her side. if he swings before she can kick out and try to take away one of his legs, then he'll have the upper hand.]

[The provocation works, something that he once again notes that he should talk to her about later, in case in a more serious situation someone decides to take advantage of her very enthusiastic way of fighting.

But for now, that someone will be him. He moves as quickly as he can, attempting to swing his blade at that opening. He's timed it just right so that he swings before she meets his leg with her heel, and while the healer part of him hopes that she manages to dodge, the part that promised not hold back (or hold back just enough) dictates his movements.]

RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

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