Brat Pack Battle Royale! [Open to Brat Pack members]

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Hylocereus"]

From anyone else, it would have been downright creepy. Anyone who'd trained in grappling had learned to get past the awkward aspects of genuinely close combat -- and to recognize when someone else couldn't get past it. But she had a good sense of his emotional state, and it wasn't...triumphant, dominating, squicky, anything. He was just embarrassed, training, and interested in...something else. Something unconnected with her.

She rolled onto her side and curled up, because that was what you did, and practicing the motions was always good. She knew he would sense discomfort and wary interest in what he had to say. And in the end, an important part of hertraining was being able to balance telempathy, guesswork about your opponent's state of mind, and actual technique.

"Alright," she said, "talk at me. Mind getting off first?"

 

[Kaili Talith]

Kaili took the first step into the ring. [member="John Hunt"] had been summoned and John Hunt had stepped forward. This was not a game, this was serious business. It was a spar set to further both kids’ abilities with a saber. It was practice and if Kai didn’t take practice serious you could bet she was sparring with someone special.

That someone being her brother, but that was not the case this time.

She held the saber firmly in both hands. Feet at shoulder-width. Determination in both mind and form. Kaili took a deep breath. She could do this, she could beat this boy and call it a day. The only question was how fast it’d be and how soon she could acquire a new target.

She eyed her opponent up and down. “Go ahead. Show me what you’ve got.”

 

[Hylocereus]

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

“I can’t get off,” Hylo said reluctantly. He really didn’t want to beat his friend, or hurt her. Instinctively he let his hand reach out towards her head putting his palm to rest where he had kicked through her block. “How will you learn if I just get up?” He poked at her defense a few times frowning. She wasn’t getting out of this if he didn’t want to. Not unless she caught him off guard. Well time to reset. Scrunching his face he added, “So I got a deal….” I don’t know about the glowsticks… He hoped telepathy wouldn’t make her uncomfortable. “So you teach me about that… and I will teach you Sholan Kha, the dances of my people?”

And with that he plopped over laying down on his back to the side of Mara inviting her to continue the match on the ground or attempt to restart as a stand up fight.

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Kaili Talith"]

John Hunt had been summoned and John Hunt had stepped forward.

And so the boy stepped up to the fray of battle, in his mind he could already see the crowd going wild at the sight of their two most favorable champions. Roses were thrown, girls trying to run up the stages but held back by the security personnel, here and there came mentions of the glory that would shine down upon both of them.

Champions of the Arena.

Cobalt blue eyes sized up his opponent and he saluted her with his own training blade, in reality… Johnny wasn’t really all that good with his saber, but he had one thing that set him apart from most other kids on his age.

I know what you want, before you even know it yourself.

“Ladies first.” John would state, waiting until she came to him.

 

[Kaili Talith]

An eyebrow perked up to question the boy. Maybe he was too afraid to go first, or maybe he was just afraid of getting beat by a girl. In the end it didn’t matter. she happily obliged and helped herself to the first attack like an addict in a candy store.

Her blade was raised in front of her and Kaili took a step forward. Her arms softened up in anticipation and her heartbeat sped up in excitement. She loved this part, the clashing of blades and that slight knockback as the two beams impacted upon each other. She raised her blade, but if the boy knew his form then he knew what was coming. She was broadcasting it like any amateur would.

Not that she would admit to anyone that she was anything like an amateur.

A swing from her right running down a diagonal sought to knock [member="John Hunt"] from his shoulder to his waist. Taking a second step forward she left him no time to breathe and promptly proceeded with another diagonal running from her left to her right.

The little girl wasn’t gonna mess around. She wanted to win.

Just, you know, she wasn’t the best at her stuff yet.

 

[Micah Talith]

[member="Ellifain Verrona"]. [member="Mira Gyndar"]

Exit the perch he did!

"Hey!" He'd protest, his body fluidly moving from his sitting position to a sudden rise and jump up to the next branch above him -- getting him beside the newest companion and her candy -- a wry grin still pasted on his youthful features

"Don't mind if I do!" Hed say in thanks to the offer of candy. The pink one would do. It was muja berry flavored and he was pretty secure in himself to be ok with pink.

His dad did have a pink saber for the longest before he gave it to Aela. If his dad can sport pink, so could he!

With a smug saunter, he plopped himself beside Elliefain, a friendly impish light in his bright orange eyes.

"Hey there, fluttershy. " he'd start digging into the candy package then gestured in mild teasing to the girl on the ground with a graffiti gun.

"I think the Tincan is a bit rusty eh?"

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Kaili Talith"]

Sadly she was fighting an amateur too which meant that John didn’t pick up on those obvious signals radiated by her.

Which was not to say that he didn’t know exactly what she was doing, because he did know. Blame the mind of a Zeltron who was fully primed on reading her intent, so when swung from her right down a diagonal to hit Hunt from shoulder to waist… and would find John no longer being there.

As her blade moved up, Hunt was already on the move, full with grace he evaded the saber which flashed through the air inches away from his face, and he was about to snap the saber into her stomach and end the glorious fight once and for all.

But then he got hit by a particular thought.

Do droids have to wonder about the same ‘stuff’ mother spoke of?

That made John stumble and fall on his face, part laughing hysterically, part embarassed like nothing else.

 

[Kaili Talith]

Her attack was deflected, she was wide open but rather than taking a hit she found the boy rolling around in the floor laughing. Her shoulders slumped down as she looked around for whatever it was that was so hilarious. It was just them and the others, there was absolutely nothing around that could contribute to a laughter like that.

Furrowing her brows she raised her blade once more. In a swift thrust she set out to impale the boy with her training sword. Except, it was rather blunt. Still, Kaili applied as much force as she could muster in order to knock the laughter right out of [member="John Hunt"]’s stomach.

“Get up!” It was an order. “Keep your mind on the matter at hand!”

She allowed her opponent the time he needed to get up.

“Now shut up and take a swing at me.”

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Kaili Talith"]

Still vastly attuned to the spiritual well being of his opponent, John felt her annoyance and the intent of an attack a few moments before it was actually executed, it didn’t matter how funny and equally embarrassing that particular thought had been… getting stabbed in the stomach wouldn’t do in a glorious battle such as this one.

He spun around, the saber hitting him on the shoulder instead of the stomach, which hurt like oef! But perhaps it would be worth it, because while she was busy hitting him with her saber? His leg would shoot out and try to kick her body from under her.

If she would fall, he would grapple her next.

Then we will see who ain’t paying attention!

 

[The End Narrator]

Mira rolled her eyes and jumped down from her perch - landing in with a soft thud and in a crouching position. She'd take only a moment to glance up at [member="Micah Talith"] before turning to the ground and begin drawing something unique - perhaps even comical. It would be the Kowakian Monkey-lizard but with the face of Micah - especially his unique colored eyes. She'd attach a muja berry to one hand and have him scratching his head with the other before adding in a background of people laughing and throwing credit chits - a unique drawing that took only a matter of moments to draw up on the flat rock surface below. The nice thing about Yavin IV was all the ruins and the many surfaces that would provide for a great canvas - especially when it came to making fun of someone like Micah.

She'd stand up slowly and examine her work before looking up to the tree where he fled to. "Hey! Monkey-lizard! I made sure to put your face down here so in case you get lost we can all refer back to this and be sure to know what we're looking for!" She yelled up at him before turning away, mumbling. "Cause you're on my home world and I'd love nothing more than to feed you to the Howlers..." She made her way behind those who were training before finding a wall to lean against.

It was then she'd remove her helmet and shake her head - exposing a tightly wound ponytail. She'd set her helmet down and unravel her hair and shake it loose with a heavy sigh before sitting down next to the helmet - Her garnet colored eyes would resume watching the others with mild curiosity. She'd especially watch [member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"] and [member="Hylocereus"].

That was proving to be an interesting match.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Laura Na'Varro"]

Aela simply didn't move.

She stood tall, her back straight, her lightsaber thrumming, and her eyes set on Laura.

It seemed like she was a statue. Standing perfectly still and waiting, her muscles loose and her hands ready to flick forward and counter anything that might happen. Bright orange eyes followed Laura as she got closer and closer, gaze simply sitting on her. There was no ill-will or intent to what they were doing of course, but Aela's stare was almost...scary.

There was no lack of intimidation in her gaze.

 

[Laura Na'Varro]

[member="Aela Talith"]

Laura stopped abruptly. It appeared Aela wasn't going to move, and just walking into her would achieve nothing except making her completely defenseless. She analysed the situation ... she was well inside the older girl's guard, like, well inside. They could both strike each other easily. Aela's orange eyes burned into Laura with an unsettling gaze ... the younger girl swallowed, then matched her gaze with a more curious one of her own. The older girl surely was unorthodox.

Would she attack or wouldn't she?

How much could she get away with?

Eventually, she decided that she was going to force Aela to fight. Otherwise, it would just be a mind game, and there was a dejarik board inside the Praxeum for that.

Her left hand, held close her waist, contorted as she channeled her connection to the Force. Her intention was to take advantage of Aela's one handed grip. Seizing the hilt of her blade with as much of her meagre Force power as she could muster, she attempted to violently rotate the blade out of Aela's grasp, pushing the top of the hilt down on her thumb to attempt to create enough Force and leverage to loosen the older girl's hold on it and pop it loose. At the very least, it would create a distraction. Most likely it would create a dilemma. Meanwhile, Laura quickly shuffled, bringing her left foot around to the right and setting it as the back foot, before making a half-step forward on her right and making a quick thrust with her weapon, aiming to take it past Aela's while she struggled for control and give the older girl a nice burn right on her solar plexus.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Hylocereus"]

"Kid, you got serious boundary issues. When I say get off me, you get off me. Or we don't spar anymore." Her blood was up. She stood as fast as she ever had. "I'll take your deal, I'll teach you if you teach me, but you gotta smarten the feth up. Gooooods." The worst part was, Zeltron telempathy didn't lie: he really didn't get it. Didn't mean anything by it. Not the touching, not the staying on top of her, not using pheromones, not the kissing-to-say-hello. "How can you be this-"

Naive. She didn't say it. Didn't want to cross more lines than she already had. Perhaps too late, she walled herself off as best she could, but he'd been doing the telempathy thing a lot longer than her. For someone raised in the grounded, blue-collar, grit-and-engine-grease world of the Wardens, a Sylphe aristo was just...a bit much. Was this what her mother, her first mother, had been like?

Her jaw knotted. This is your friend. He's a moron, but he's your friend, and you can smarten him up. "What you want to learn?"

 

[Hylocereus]

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

Hylo sat up from his position and looked around. “I’m in bounds….” he said with a frown. That was until he touched her mind. He knew then what she was speaking of and could hear a whisper of his thoughts. It wasn’t that he was trying to invade her mind, or that he wanted to snoop so much as natural instinct to question. Sorrow flooded forth from him as he considered the whispered words for a moment. Under the sorrow, the remorse, was something more. There was a current of happiness though. Regardless of how the girl felt she was his friend.

A broad smile formed on his face and a flower perked up in his hair. He wrinkled his face in a sort of half frown looking up towards the top of his head. Boys weren’t supposed to have flowers in their hair. How embarrassing.

“I shall teach you to dance, and you can teach me swording!” he said excited heading over to Mara. He pulled out a training saber and deftly made a poor imitation of proper stance shuffling back and forth thrusting the blade...

 

[Ellifain Eden]

[member="Micah Talith"] [member="Mira Gyndar"]

Impish-light matched impish-light in lime-green eyes. She giggled, still perfectly content to have the feeling of blood rushing to her head. As she giggled, the tree branch that she now shared with orange-eyes seemed to giggle in response. Little flowers began to bloom near the area they shared.

Elli + the force = nature preternatural stuff.

"What does shutterfly mean?" Button-nose crinkled as she gazed up at Micah, though her eyes traced the other girl, below. She popped a green-candy in her mouth as she watched the other girl go.

It tasted like grass; she ate it anyway.

"I think you made her so angry she forgot about candy." The observation was suddenly solemn for the pointy-eared girl.

 

[Kaili Talith]

A hit for the shoulder was still a hit and Kai could settle for that. Her guard dropped, her legs were swept from underneath her and before she knew it she was trapped in a grapple between Prettyboy McGee and herself. A tiring ordeal but she liked to think she was on top of the situation.

“Get off me!” She called out.

With as much force as she could muster she arched her back and her arms tensed up. If he knew what was coming he would do his best to stop that but she was in no mood for it. The push was thrown in [member="John Hunt"]’s direction aiming to toss him straight up into the air or at the very least get him off of her. This was a saber spar, or at least so she had thought at first. He was violating the one principle she wanted to uphold.

No touching unless with sabers.

“You're supposed to take a swing at me, John!” She panted. “With a saber!”

 

[Micah Talith]

[member="Ellifain Verrona"] [member="Mira Gyndar"]


"She didn't get my nose right!" he'd cry, pointing at the image with devilish merriment. Another chuckle came forth.

"Mmm... maybe next time."

Micah watched the Mandolorian armor clad kid walk away with heavy amusement. A snerk came next as he would dig into the candy. At least, until rather curious things started to happen. Like the sudden blooming of flowers and shoots.

Huh, curious.

Bright orange eyes would latch upon the upsidedown pixie. The crooked grin grew wider, "Fluttershy? Oh, just a character in a story. My mum says that they are kinda like Ghostlings, just smaller and --" he'd point to the growth of a small purple flower. "Prone to more nature kinda stuff."

He would then look at her curiously, "So are you like Hylo?" he'd ask, considering that Hylo was this Selphie Zelosian mix. He began to shake the yummy muja flavored pink powder into his mouth.

"A'hm Micah."

 

[Ellifain Eden]

[member="Micah Talith"]

"I dunno," she looked from the painting and squinted up at Micah then raised one hand with her thumb up as if blotting out half his face from her vantage-point. "The nose is pretty close." She giggled, that same impish-glint in her ethereal gaze.

Swinging herself up, she straddled the branch she shared with Micah and faced him. The sudden light-headedness made her sway slightly on her perch but if she had any concern for falling, she didn't show it. "Ghostlings! Ooooooooh, sounds fun."

The ghostlings better like candy.

Small-shoulders shrugged as her fingers gingerly touched one of the lavender flowers that sprouted up. Another laugh escaped her throat, like the sound of a gurgling mountain, stream. "What's a Hylo?"

"I'm Elli."

 

[Micah Talith]

[member="Ellifain Verrona"]


His mouth was now bright pink. Not that he particularly, cared. At her question, Micah would swivel his head. After searching for a bit, he spotted Hylo and Mara mid spar.

He would gesture over at their direction."Dhat's Hylo." he'd talk over putting more candy in his mouth. So her name was Elli? He was busy for the next few seconds wiping the rest of the candy powder from his mouth.

"You gonna spar?"

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Hylocereus"]

Her irritation faded as, despite herself, she giggled. Freaking Hylo was, in every way that mattered, a puppy. That realization took the edge off. Smirking in a good-natured sort of way, she reached for her distant lightfoil. The elegant little weapon flicked across the intervening space to her grip and flared into silver light. She saluted crisply, conscious that she might have to play nice. Boys' egos could be so fragile, and Hylo seemed to live for approval sometimes. No humiliating utter smackdown, then.

"Alrighty then," she said. "What...uh, swording skills have you been taught? Do you know any of the forms, or it it more of a formal whatnot?"