Trails and Tribute-lations [Mia]

[yumi222]

Mia looked across back to the gates as the woman she’d came across earlier came back out to meet her, Mia’s position getting a little lax for a moment, hands on her hips as she rose to a fuller stand, cheeky little smirk, as ever, plastered on her features as she eyed the girl up and down without shame. The weapon planted down was a nice touch in some ways, but this kind of stuff was what she took issue with. Why be all dramatic about this? The two of them were bound to fight but here she was stabbing her sword into the ground like some big decleration. Eh, whatevs.~ It’d be fun all the same taking her down a peg…~ “It’s not exactly something I want on my resume but…” She glanced around, the young students starting to get up to their feet, and shrugging. “I held back.~ No permanent damage. Promise.~”

Mia crossed her arms and let the kids retreat, raising her gaze back towards the woman standing guard while they ran back inside, leaning back a little as she wondered what approach she’d take from here, or if she’d even bother to face her like she was hoping. “So er… “ She eventually let out, turning a little more side on to her and opening her arms as she asked- “You next then?~”

[Jess]

My, my, now this seems lively, doesn't it~?

Held back…? Something about the steely stare and cool composure that Miss Edwards carried seeming to relax for a moment as Mia admitted she had held back against the gate guards, while they certainly seemed to be in a bad way all the same the young swordswoman did not feel like the blonde was lacking for sincerity with her confession, and for a moment was left to wonder if she was a little less barbarous than the initial impression she had offered.
“I should hope so, they’re only boys?” Letting out a slightly sharp breath when she addressed the issue however, while there seemed a dash of charity in the thinking of this belligerent blonde ultimately all she had done was show the most common decency, and that was something that their replacement did not think should cloud her judgement too much. There were no prizes for meeting the minimum moral standard, was there?

“That… Depends on you.” Despite that not looking to escalate the situation more than it already had been, though Ellie was proud of the art of the sword and showed little love for how this stranger had besmirched what she cherished, at the same time it felt rather lacking for gallantry to go looking for a fight. Chivalry placed her higher than a hot-tempered thug, didn’t it?
“The master is away on business, and the other students are only novices.” Clarifying the situation because of that and making no effort to conceal the fact that in her mind there was little in the way of achievement to be found at in a battle here, perhaps in part she hoped to appeal to that hint of civility that the fair femme had shown before in confessing that the challenge which could be offered here would be none too impressive, and seemed to suspect from that boastful manner that she was more interested in achievement than outright cruelty.

“I am just a guest in this dojo, and not much more than a novice myself…” Not feeling enough of a fool to even say that she could offer much in the way of opposition either but certainly having confidence that she would have more than the lads and lasses who trained here, the black beauty set herself apart from a common braggart with the humility she treated her own abilities, and spread little deception as she confessed that she was still just a rookie when it came to her own skills.
“However, if you insist on tarnishing the place, then I shall be your foe, yes…!” Not about to let that stop her standing up for what she believed in and so pulling the wooden weapon she held between herself and the golden girl who threatened her current lodging, if the moment called for it then she would be happy to show that her kindness was not concealing a weakness in spirt, and yet still she hoped not to. Not because she feared a fight or even losing it, but more because this kind of squabbling seemed so pointless when there was good to be done in the world…

	Ellie Edwards	### words
	@tag, Casual Combatant

[yumi222]

Mia listened to her little explanation, borderline speech as far as Mia’s lacking attention span was concerned, but ultimately it boiled down to the idea that this lass was the best fight she was gonna get from the dojo today. Mia shrugged, pushing her coat off finally and folding it up with a calm casualness about the act, tossing the folded square onto the ground a foot to the side before looking back to the woman before her, idly cracking her knuckles, as her fingertips seemed to glisten oddly as the sunlight hit them. Far more than sweat should allow.

“Tarnishing the dojo? Not on my to do list. Well, not in the physical sense at least.~” She gave a cheeky shrug before starting to stride towards the woman before her, a firm exhale as she loosened up her shoulders. “But I am lookin’ for a fight. Whether we do that out here or in there… well I ain’t one to complain. Though don’t go baming the uneven footin’ when you lose.~”

Mia seemed briefly like she was going to shift into a battle ready position, but she didn’t want words to get in the way of a potential challenge here. She threw her arms back, an eruptive force sprouting from her palms, launching her towards the sword trained lass with her legs coiled in ready for a flying drop kick.

[Jess]

My, my, now this seems lively, doesn't it~?

A fight? Brutish waste of time…! Certainly not impressed by the continuing intent of her new enemy to cause trouble around the place, Ellie dismissed the stubbornness of the blonde to cling to her barbarism with a sigh of exasperation, and squeezed her weapon into her grip more tightly in order to ready herself to answer their apparently challenger with more than just words.
I will do what I must! The breathing of the beauty deepening as she readied herself for a conflict which now seemed unavoidable, whatever part of the girl had hoped that even this scruffy soul might listen to reason seemed to quieten down as she focused, and prepared herself for what she anticipated would be a challenge.

An odd stance…? Bewildered for a moment then when the fairer femme pulled her hands back behind herself and left to wonder for a fraction of a second if her opposition was trying to bait her into action, Miss Edwards remained steadfast in her effort even if she did feel a note of confidence in her ability to cover the distance between them with her swiftness, and as the air seemed to erupt was glad she did so. Never in a million years expecting their ‘visitor’ to launch into battle with what sounded like the crash of thunder but having no time to digest that fact as she found her foe being flung toward her by it, all that she could do was beat her lashes once and rely on reflex for what followed, but thankfully they were well-honed for what came next.

A kick…! Practised in fencing long before she ever had the chance to swing a katana and perhaps this grounding she had in the swifter style showing in her reaction to what followed, while Ellie hadn’t attained any level of strength which would allow her to perform a knockout blow right from the get go she did have quickness and freeness of form enough that she turned on her heel and was able to step around what amounted to a foot-driven thrust, and did so with a sense of style which showed the polish of the eastern arts as well.
And counter! Pulling her weapon high after all in a kata honed so well that she did so as much as through muscle memory as anything else, the bamboo blade of the black beauty shot high as she stepped to the side and spun herself around, and then lashed out like a wheeling whip to clap at the back of her enemy, or anything else which was currently within the reach of this swift and strident strut…

	Ellie Edwards	### words
	@tag, Casual Combatant

[yumi222]

Mia’s world ran in slow motion as she realized the satisfying sensation of her toned muscles impacting with something wasn’t coming to her, her red eyes flickering open with a confused gaze between her natural blinks as she realized what was happening, the sly little swords woman actually having the speed to move out of the way despite her ‘surprising’ entrance it seemed. Dipping to the side with a spin to her and using Mia’s own momentum against her to come around at her from the back. Mia had thrown so much into her forward momentum she didn’t have the capacity to throw herself off to the side or even further up, there was a flicker of a eruption to try and just get further ahead, which did reduce the impact to her back somewhat due to relative velocity, but she did ultimately end up crashing into a tumble, seeming to be quite adept at managing a crash as she soon found her way to the tips of her toes, low to the ground with her hands clutching the earth to slow her momentum to a halt.

“Damn… you’re quicker than the little ones I’ll give ya that luv.~”

Not about to go down easy, Mia reared up like a feline ready to pounce, hips raised, front lowered, before springing up in a leap, slamming her palms with another eruption to give herself an effective double jump, trying to spring board herself over the woman entirely and get behind her, landing side on at her back, and bracing one arm as the other fired it’s eruption towards her back between the shoulder blades.

[Jess]

My, my, now this seems lively, doesn't it~?

Moves like a cat… Perhaps a dash of disappointed to see the tip of her shinai sail through the air as she swiped at her enemy, while the weapon was designed to ensure that a target would be hit only by a bracing clap and perhaps little more than a bruise from a strike it still felt like it would have been satisfying to deliver a blow all the same, not least because it felt like the arrogant attitude of the girl meant she was due a caning or two.
Or a monkey? For the moment focusing on the almost animalistic manner in which her rival seemed to move however, there seemed no greater contrast between the pair than the refined and steady manner in which Ellie herself seemed to compose herself and the sprawling and springing nature of the blonde, and stood to make the fight far less predictable than the typical sparring duel between sword masters.

Those blasts are quite problematic! Nothing seeming to change the game quite like the way in which those eruptions from the mitts of the wilder fighter seemed to however, the lashes of the lass with the timber in hand fluttered a little as her challenger seemed to deploy that destructive force to manoeuvre herself to the back of the black haired beauty, while Miss Edwards didn’t have the kind of agility necessary to interrupt such an action she was still lighting quick and ready to respond to what followed. However, she did have to acknowledge that the airborne ability and explosive tendency was pushing her hard already and prompting her to respond with a little of her best.

“Uro…” Not wasting time turning herself around to face her enemy or not initially at least, instead she drew the ‘blade’ into her hand as if she was gripping it in her hilt for a second, and then launched a gyroscopic counterstrike which would swat at anything within her swords reach around her.
“Maru~!” The one advantage she was given with the weapon she had in her grip being the extension of reach which she held over the feistier femme, she delivered a swinging swipe in a circle with as much speed as she was able with a training weapon, even if it was perhaps not as pronounced in its pace as if she was using a proper sword that was. Though one supposed she would have to make do with what she had, right?

	Ellie Edwards	### words
	@tag, Casual Combatant

[yumi222]

Mia’s blast in her hand, aimed at the swordswoman’s back, had still been ‘revving up’ so to speak as she made her move. Faint crackles ready to ignite the moment enough nitroglycerin seeped out of her hand, a wild smile on her face, eager to see her attack land, but much like last time it seemed the swordswoman’s training had put some sharp reaction times into her, as just as quickly as Mia was sure her attack would land, she was now looking into the eyes of the swordswoman, a wooden blade coming to her side and aiming for her waist. She lifted her arm purposely and locked it down and around it as the attack hit, licking her heels down into the rough dirty of the trodden path and thankful for it’s friction, absorbing the blow, and locking her hand under and around the false blade, her breath a little labored, the wind definitely knocked out of her from that shot, but, with a bold grin, raising her hand again, sparks flickering off the pours in her palm.

“Think that’s checkmate luv’~”

Before the swordswoman would have the time to pull her blade from Mia’s rough and quite tight grasp, or think to abandon it, Mia would turn around her hand, and knock the bridge of her nose with the backs of a pair of fingers.

“You win. Nice one.~ Fuckin’ smarts though. Woof.~” Without qualm or fanfair, Mia released the held ‘blade’ and immediately began to bend to the other direction, as if stretching out the spot about to bruise and wincing as she did. “Oof… gonna be wearing that mark for a good week or so… Hahahah…!~” Still extremely light hearted about the whole bout, she rubbed her side with the opposite arm, offering her now free hand out to shake. “Nice move though. Real blade woulda sliced right through me!~ Definitely put yerself at some risk there too! Major respect.~”

[Jess]

My, my, now this seems lively, doesn't it~?

I got her!? Throwing in one of her best moves but still feeling a sense of surprise in how she pulled it off, Miss Edwards ferocity did not ebb at the sound of her shinai smacking into the side of her challenger, especially with how the blonde seemed to seize her weapon in turn and try to hold it back, and readied herself for a follow up in order to continue the bout with determination in her gaze. Or did, at least, until mia offered her surrender.
She’s yielding? Unexpected… Perhaps of all the things that the lass could have done this feeling like the least likely, the hostility which was apparently in the gaze of the girl vanished as her long lashes fluttered in surprise at the news that such a belligerent character had quickly and decisively offered up the duel to her, and as such for a moment she couldn’t quite believe the moment.

“You… Think so?” For that reason the warrior woman only feeling more confused and conflicted about the clash which had occurred between the pair of them, and especially so when it seemed that her former foe saw fit to compliment her skill as well, Ellie looked toward the woman in a state of disbelief as she brough her ‘weapon’ to rest by tucking it into her grasp at her hip, and questioned the praise she received as her befuddlement continued.
“I’ve been in a few fights, but compared to proper masters, my ability isn’t much?” Bowled over by what had occurred and perhaps responding reflexively because of that, the raven once more demonstrated a sense of humility as she brought a comparison between herself and those she felt were far more skilled than she, hinting toward perhaps a feeling of inferiority which was born from the absence of experience and training regardless of what she had achieved.

“That um… We get a lot of knocks around here, so we have some salves?” None too proud of what she had done after all and even in light of the heat in their exchange perhaps still feeling a bit bad for unleashing her weapon on an unarmed foe, the eyeline of the ebony haired enchantress drifted toward the spot which she had struck mia, and as she couldn’t help but feel a bit bad for leaving this challenge unharmed while she guessed that the wound of the battling blonde would smart for some time.
“I could share them, if you promise to behave yourself?” For that reason and also because she felt that the fair femme might have been more than just a barbarous fight junkie due to how ready her concession had been there seeming to show a little bit of kindness as well, even though she was sure that the other students might have felt strange about treating the harm which had come to someone who had roughed their brethren up, ultimately she guessed the master would approve. After all, this wouldn’t have been the first time the place had welcomed a rowdy former challenger, eh?

	Ellie Edwards	### words
	@tag, Casual Combatant

[yumi222]

“Oh hells yeah. Gal like you? Didn’t expect you to pack the muscle for it if I’m honest, but I can hardly complain about a well deserved butt whoopin.~” She chimed with a flash of a grin, wheezing a chuckle for a moment before feeling a wince through her injured side, staggering back a step and purposely falling back to her rear, reaching across her waist to continue rubbing the sore spot, just letting the pain sink in a little and register. Damn, she really was gonna be feeling that one for a good while. Note to self, never try and grab an actual blade like that!~

“Really? Damn… wonder who the fuck taught those ‘masters’ I beat the crap out of. Fucker’s barely seemed to hold themselves together once I started dartin’ around!~” Admittadly the people she’d fought previously had been rather… young, and rowdy. They could be seen by someone with a trained eye as impersonators looking to make a quick bit of coin off people who didn’t know any better and paid for their lessons, leaving Mia with the wrong impression of the art form. She still felt on some level fighting with your fists and, in her case, powers to an extent, was far more ‘real’. More ‘Serious’, but after that blow, she could see the benefits of the more refined elements of the art.

“But if your masters above you… well. I guess I’m lucky I picked a day they’re not here!~” Even with a throbbing pain they just seemed to smile through it, and when offered some aid here, she’d be an idiot not to take it, holding out a hand, the one on her wounded side to be helped up to her feet. “Yeah yeah. I’ve been beaten. I don’t get a rematch till tomorrow at the soonest. Y’all got nothin’ to fear.~”

Assuming her hand was grabbed, she’d give an exaggerated cry of pain as the arm on her injured side was tugged, then giggle if it got a reaction. “Sorry, couldn’t resist. ‘Ere I got myself.” She shifted and used her good arm to hoist herself back up, still unsure if it was best to tilt into, or away from the forming bruise. “Shit’s that staff thing made of by the way? Usually when the other island’s guys hit me with one the damn thing shatters. Hard to take the fight seriously when that happens.”

[Jess]

My, my, now this seems lively, doesn't it~?

“Hmmmmmm, honestly… I expected you to be a worse ‘loser’ than this?” Still rather surprised by how upbeat and relaxed the blonde seemed to have become in her defeat, the sable swordsman showed more of her straightforwardness as she stated this with a sense of openness which might have appeared a little blunt, but ultimately was aimed more toward admitting that she might have taken the wrong impression of the girl now that she saw this side of her.
“Well, the family of the master here comes from Wano itself? It probably gives them an edge…?” Feeling a little curious about her contests thus far given how the feisty femme spoke of her achievements in them, Ellie had to admit that she had never ranked her skill above that of a dojo master before this or had reason to do so, though offered at least one reason for this dojo being a cut above what their challenger had apparently grown used to, and perhaps her own admiration for the culture she espoused as well.

“Though… I’m not sure he would have given in to the challenge, he’s not as impulsive as I am?” Only able to speculate on how the leader of this one would respond to having Mia lay down a challenge to him, his easy-going and measured manner made her think he wouldn’t have given into the bait as she had done or would have found a way to talk his enemy out of a pointless fight, since he seems the sort to only raise a weapon for a cause which really seemed worth it. Pride and esteem were of little concern to a figure more interested in life and limb, right?
“One challenge a day, huh?” Reassured by her guest’s promise to behave, though Miss Edwards felt a little intimidated by the idea of potentially battling her again tomorrow, the persistence in her attitude seem to spark an idea she considers suggesting as she offered out her hand to help her apparent rival to her feet.

“Nothing special, just an ordinary training weapon really…?” For the moment however feeling a lingering reluctance however and wanting to get a fuller and hopefully fairer understanding of their ‘guest’ before she let loose a suggestion to stay, instead she confirms that there wasn’t much remarkable about the weapon she used, in contrast to the one she had left behind in her room, toward which she would gesture the girl to follow her once she was steady on her feet.
“Though, I’ll admit, the fervour of the fight might have meant I put all my weight behind it?” Guessing that any real ‘sting’ in it came from the strength she levied behind her stroke, she had to admit that the fast pace and explosions let her get carried away, and that only makes her feel a little more guilt for the bruise she had bestowed upon the blonde as well…

	Ellie Edwards	### words
	@tag, Casual Combatant