Private Dancing the Razor’s Edge

[Braze]

TAGS: Lily Decoria

In the quiet of the training room, Braze had crafted a space tailored for focus and precision. The floor was smooth and slightly reflective, lit only by the soft glow of ceiling lights casting long shadows across the room. Around him stood an array of candles, their wicks unlit and each topped with a delicate durasteel ball bearing instead of flames. These formed a wide circle that framed a tightrope stretched taut across the room.

Braze's attire was simple and practical: fitted training garb that allowed him freedom of movement, a dark sleeveless tunic with a utility belt strapped around his waist, where small tools for training and balance were neatly tucked away. His feet were wrapped in flexible, lightweight boots to grip the tightrope without hindrance.

The lightsaber whip rested in his hand, unignited. The long, metal cord that made up its core hung loosely, its deadly potential held back for now. Braze had chosen caution, avoiding the danger he'd faced before when training alone with the wild and unpredictable weapon. His posture was steady as he took his first step onto the tightrope, each movement slow and precise.

With a flick of his wrist, the whip cracked the air, its sharp sound cutting through the silence. He aimed at the small ball bearings perched on the candles, the Force guiding his actions, ensuring that no flick of the whip disturbed the delicate setup. His breathing remained measured, his concentration fixed entirely on the task at hand. Though he hadn't yet risked a blindfold, the challenge of mastering the lightsaber whip while maintaining balance on the rope tested his skill and focus to the limit.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Jedi Temple, Training Room
Attire: Jedi Outfit
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (Concealed)
Tag: Braze

Lily was working on training her core, doing muscle training and keeping her composure in high stress environments. She was trying to keep to as practical training as she could. It was important for her to understand the stress and potential weaknesses in her body and fighting capabilities when in a highly stressful situation. She had been training most of the morning with her martial skills in hand to hand combat, keeping it very traditional but she felt that leaning into her Echani training could give her a better outcome than attempting to match Sith in the Lightsaber forms of combat.

She was working out in her Jedi attire and could feel herself working a sweat even in the very open and light Jedi attire she donned to suit her Echani comfort. Breathing in deeply, she finished a series of exercises and rolled her shoulders, stretching herself a bit and grabbed a bottle of water to hydrate herself. It had been a tough day of training but she had been pleased with her efforts, she was still learning plenty every time she trained and she was still growing in the Force the more that she pushed herself.

Deciding to take a break, see what others were getting up to, Lily was eager to see what others would get up to and she was wanting to see how they fought. While fighting droids and doing drills was good, the best experience and time was when one could fight another person. Those were the times that she had the most fun. Stepping outside, she could feel the slightly cooler air in the hallway and started to watch others train. Some were doing basic drills, others were practising their forms and movements.

One was doing something she had not seen before. Watching Braze, she was curious, he seemed to be training with a whip, not a traditional look of a Jedi Lightsaber but most certainly one she had read about and studied, when deciding how she wanted her Lightsaber to be. The setting that he had placed himself in was definitely unique, working the precision and balance of the weapon. It was definitely admirable and she was impressed to see someone else so dedicated to their training.

When he was at a point of his training not too busy, "hey, I don't wish to presume, but are you also Echani?" While pale skin and white hair was stereotypical for Echani, she knew that other near human types were capable of having similar appearances.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Lily Decoria

​

Braze panted lightly from exertion, pausing as someone's voice broke through the silence. He lowered the hilt he had been gripping, letting it rest by his side. Slowly, he pivoted on his heel, his pale jade green eyes landing on the woman. Oh... He thought he recognized her. Right, Ko Vuto always got butterflies around her. The memory made him smirk faintly. He hadn't met her in person yet.

"Mmmmaaaybe a little~?" he responded playfully, his voice relaxed. "My dad was Echani, and my mom... well, she was something else." He tilted his head slightly as he studied her. "You're Lily, right~?"

His gaze lingered, sizing her up. Though they both hailed from Echani lineage, the differences between them were clear. Braze was smaller, with a slender build and not much obvious muscle. He figured their approaches to combat would be just as different. Lily's muscular frame hinted at strength—she probably packed a punch. He hadn't seen her fight, but he could imagine she was a heavy hitter.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Jedi Temple, Training Room
Attire: Jedi Outfit
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (Concealed)
Tag: Braze

Lily had tried to make friends with a lot of the Padawans that started around the same time as herself. One of those included, Ko. To say they were anything more than friends was fairly out there since Ko had made no attempts to show further interest and Lily was not seeking anything more than friendship currently. Learning that this Padawan was partly Echani gave some inclination about his fighting capabilities as well as providing an understanding as to why he was seemingly more unorthodox in combat compared to other Jedi.

"Seems you have heard of me. Hopefully only good things." While on appearances Lily was pure power and nothing else, she was still Echani, she was still flexible, graceful and still light on her feet. She just presented herself in one way to ensure that others got an incorrect assessment of her before they challenged her to any combat.

Studying Braze, she could tell he was still benefitting from Echani genes in combat and she never doubted that he was likely going to use his small stature and speed to outpace her, she just also knew that she held years over him in fighting experience and training. If they had been a similar age, she could see the threat he would pose to her in fighting capabilities, but right now, she had trained longer and just as hard, if not harder to ensure she was representing the very best that Eshan had to offer.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Lily Decoria

"Only that you're pretty nice... and nice and pretty," Braze chirped, a playful gleam in his eyes. "Seems my friend wasn't lying." He offered a sly grin as he carefully stepped back on the wire, turning sideways with a slight wobble. His hand expertly coiled the metal section of his whip, the motion fluid and casual.

"I haven't met many other Echani besides Valor lately..." His voice trailed, curiosity creeping in. "Are you any good with the whip by chance?"

He attached the whip to a unique belt clip holster designed specifically for it, then crouched down for a moment. "I've been working through Fallo's Cadences, trying to do them blindfolded on the tightrope. I figured if I was having trouble with the whip this might help sharpen my accuracy with the whip specifically," Braze explained, a hint of determination in his tone.

He glanced up, taking note of Lily's current appearance. "You look like you've been up to something too," he added, his sharp gaze assessing her with genuine interest.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Jedi Temple, Training Room
Attire: Jedi Outfit
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (Concealed)
Tag: Braze

From what Braze was saying, there seemed to be a concern that Lily need to bring up, if her appearance was the only thing he was discussing with others then she had allowed their friendship to surpass what she was comfortable with. "Well hopefully, you heard more about me than simply what I looked like." Lily stated, it was clear that she wasn't seeking validation of her attractiveness, she could find that easily at a cantina from what she heard, she needed to know that other Jedi saw as a fighter.

"The whips isn't my speciality but I have some experience with it. Mostly from a defensive position." It was important to accept her limitations in front of another Jedi and she was not perfect when it came to the various ways a Jedi could fight.

Understanding the approach that Braze was trying to make with the manoeuvre, "that makes sense but have you understood what it means to use a Lightsaber whip, besides it is different enough to unsettle most people?" Lily was attempt to cut to what was the core of using such a technique, it was merely beyond looking cool or being different.

A person needed to understand why there was a difference. Even Echani were oblivious to why there were so many stances in Jedi combat. So understanding the meaning helped master a form much faster. That was her stance at least.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Lily Decoria

Braze stood up and stretched, a playful smile on his face. "Haven't really spoken much about you... just that you're the Echani lady who kicked his ass. Something about breaking his knees or something like that." He chuckled. "I asked him what you looked like, and he said something like... you were the prettiest Echani he'd ever met. But then he added, 'we all look the same,' and, well, I kinda took offense at that. It's like, how's someone else gonna be prettier than me?" Braze teased, flipping his Padawan braid over his shoulder in an overly dramatic gesture. Braze's face and hands had scars on them that became more apaprant when he hoppd off teh wire and came closer to Lily. He certainly obsessed over training and took on intensive regiments that were mor eoften than not too much for him. He was bad at pulling back hence Jasper Kai'el 's rule sbaout enforced rest days. It was probobly why he didn't have muscle mass too.

"Honestly, I only remember it in passing. It's not like I gossip about other Padawans and Knights all that much." Braze squinted a little, trying to recall anything else Ko might have mentioned about her, but he drew a blank. He wasn't too worried, though; feelings and impressions tended to guide his actions more than specific details. What he did know was that Lily could be summed up as an Echani with good looks—and who could put a serious hurting on someone. That much seemed to fit the picture he had.

"Yeah... I thought so," he nodded, referring back to their conversation on combat. "It is more difficult to learn effectively, which might explain why I haven't run into many skilled whip practitioners."

He hopped down from his perch, his movements light but deliberate. "I'm not sure I follow exactly what you mean about using the whip. I'm working on a personal project to study different weapons and forms, to broaden my understanding of lightsaber combat as a whole. I feel that to truly counter a weapon, you need to understand it—how it's used, how the wielder thinks. And to do that, I've got to learn each weapon myself. I make each one for this project. I guess you could say I'm trying to become a weapons master, to improve my combat experience and prowess. There's knowledge you can only get from doing, right? And once I've learned that, maybe I can apply it elsewhere. I don't like being caught off guard and an 'exotic' weapon could do just that. They behave differntly when they are shaped differntly and are used in unique ways."

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Jedi Temple, Training Room
Attire: Jedi Outfit
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (Concealed)
Tag: Braze

Lily listened and it sounded like Ko Vuto from the words and mention of her strike to his knee. It was interesting to know she was being talked about amongst other Padawans, "strange, you say you barely remember it but provide quite a bit of detail on the conversation." Lily mused as she tilted her head, she was not sure what to think about the kid, he was a lot younger than she was and held a lot more confidence and attitude than she had at that age. But, Lily also knew she had been raised initially to be more stoic since she was meant to be prim and proper.

"There are also a number of limitations that many are not keen on attempting to overcome." Each style of combat had limitations and strengths, while learning to overcome them sounded easy, it took a lot of effort. Lily selected the current styles of Lightsaber combat because she wanted a strong base to then branch out.

She moved a little in the room, looking around the room, "trying to learn and master as many weapons as you can is good approach." Lily thought about it and there were many approaches one could take, "however, doesn't mean you will always be prepared for what someone can do with a weapon and you have to be cautious about not becoming a very shallow lake." Spreading too thin in an attempt to cover as many weapons as possible but then struggling to deal with someone who has solely focused on a singular weapon and mastering it to a level that covered their weaknesses.

"But perhaps it might be better to spar and communicate in the traditional sense?" Lily suggested, she had not sparred another Echani in a while and was interested in doing so once again.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Lily Decoria

"What can I say... I'm a detail-oriented person." Braze listened as she echoed warnings he'd already heard from others—their concerns. He wasn't oblivious; he understood what they meant. But his drive to develop himself, to hone his skills in a way that made sense to him, surpassed those worries. He never abandoned one discipline entirely to master another. Instead, he created cycles and refreshers to keep his muscle memory sharp.

"That could be fun... but I might be a little out of practice," he said, recalling his sparring sessions with Aris Noble . Braze had always been adept at reading people's movements, studying them intently. When he said he was detail-oriented, he meant it. From a young age, he observed older Padawans during their sparring matches, absorbing every technique, and constantly challenging himself and others. He thrived on pushing himself into the proverbial lion's den—always seeking the next challenge.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Jedi Temple, Training Room
Attire: Jedi Outfit
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (Concealed)
Tag: Braze

"Being detail oriented is good." Lily stated, she was not too dissimilar herself and she preferred learning lots of details than something vague or left to interpretation.

Stepping more into the training room, she crossed her arms against herself and looked over to Braze, "out of practice?" It seemed like a foreign concept to Lily that someone, especially an Echani, would allow themselves to be out of practiced when it came to sparring with other people. She did not say it with judgement, more curiosity on why someone would allow that to happen. "Well, getting some practice in as much as possible is good. I regularly train with others, even if they hate sparring with me."

She knew that some did not enjoy sparring with Lily because she refused to hold back, she gave everything she had into a fight. That often meant she was leaving a fight with a victory or pushing someone to their limits. Either was considered a win for the Padawan. She dreaded the day that came where she could not make an opponent sweat.

"Do you want to spar with points in mind? Or spar more traditionally in Echani way?" It would be the first time since joining the Jedi that Lily would be able to spar with someone else who could communicate as Echani should. However, she was not going to force that option if Braze was more comfortable with another path.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Lily Decoria

"I haven't sparred with another Echani since Lothal," Braze offered, his voice holding a subtle note of nostalgia. He glanced over at Lily, his brow furrowing slightly as he continued, "Communication; I may not be as good at that—at least not the way we Echani are supposed to be."

There was a self-aware shrug in his posture, his arms loosening up as he mulled over her words. Braze tilted his head at her, a quirked brow accompanying his curious smile. "They hate sparring with you? That doesn't sound like a good sign." He chirped, though there was no edge of mockery. Just genuine surprise. "If they can't appreciate being pushed to their limits, maybe they're not as interested in growing. You'd think any warrior would welcome that challenge."

There was a faint glint in his eye, something akin to admiration. He knew the kind of dedication it took to be relentless in sparring, never really pulling punches, always pushing for more. In some ways, he resonated with that, although his approach might be different.

"Points don't matter to me," Braze added without hesitation, as if the very concept of keeping score seemed irrelevant to the purity of the experience. He reached for his weapons belt, unfastening it with fluid movements, setting it aside with careful precision, almost reverence.

As he stepped into the open arena, his demeanor shifted. There was a lightness to his steps, but a readiness in his posture, the way his shoulders squared off. He turned to face Lily with an easy smile and a hint of excitement brewing in his eyes. Bringing his fist to his open hand, he gave her a formal bow, his head dipping respectfully, acknowledging her as an equal.

"I don't mind losing," he murmured after a moment of silence. "As long as I learn something from it." He straightened up, eyes locked onto hers. "Let's see what you've got."

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Jedi Temple, Training Room
Attire: Jedi Outfit
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (Concealed)
Tag: Braze

She nodded her head, it was good of Braze to be up front on the difficulties he might face in the more traditional style of combat and communication for their people, "I understand, it can be tough when there aren't people around to help encourage that way of talking and fighting." Lily had her own issues, mostly the levels of homesickness she felt due to the fact she couldn't communicate in the ways she had learned from a toddler.

"Well, some do not wish to face the limitations of their abilities, especially when it is coming from someone younger and in some cases less experienced." Lily shrugged, it was something that didn't bother her too much and she assumed that Braze had dealt with similar people, ones who were not prepared for someone in their early teens to outmatch them. "Some believe that growth can only come from those that are stronger than them, or do not realise that those on equal footing or ranked below them are not necessarily weaker than them."

Understanding Braze's view on points, she respected the choice. Lily saw points more as the number of times she failed to defend herself from death, it was a way to assess her chances of survival and how far she needed to progress to survive better and better. Setting her Lightsabers aside, revealing the one that was strapped high to her thigh, placing it to one side. Lily cracked her knuckles and entered the open arena. "Wishing to always learn is good. Especially since Echani combat is all about learning new things about one another."

While Braze looked light on his feet and held an air of gracefulness, Lily took a stronger, more solid stance. Displaying her pure natural strength in the moment, she was holding back the flexibility and grace she held from her time as a dancer. Something to surprise Braze with, for now, she moved forward and struck forward with swift, strong punches.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Lily Decoria

Braze smoothly stepped back, his body moving with fluidity into a low back stance. His feet planted firmly yet lightly, giving him balance and flexibility. His weight shifted effortlessly, preparing him to spring forward or retreat as the battle dictated. His right fist chambered high by his side, coiled and ready, while his left hand moved forward, fingers splayed in a delicate, weaving motion—the "threading fingers," a technique that allowed for both defense and subtle counterattacks.

The stance spoke volumes about Braze's duality—part graceful, part deadly warrior. His movements, though seemingly defensive, were calculated, waiting for the perfect opportunity to exploit even the smallest opening in Lily's approach.

His jade-green eyes, scanned Lily's posture. He could feel her power, the raw strength she exuded. But Braze wasn't rattled. He had faced more brutal attacks and more seasoned opponents in his relentless training. What mattered to him now was learning.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Jedi Temple, Training Room
Attire: Jedi Outfit
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (Concealed)
Tag: Braze

She had assessed the initial approach of Braze correctly for now. He was moving with graceful, agile flexibility. Leaning into acrobatic skills over any attempts to try and match Lily in strength. It was a smart move, and a logical one, one that Lily was able to predict even without reading the movements of his body. For now, Lily was testing the defences, curious to see how well he could fight and how well he match her burst of speed when it came to her attacks. Never keeping her own defence down and demonstrating the almost foresight-like ability of her people to read attacks incoming and defend herself.

Lily was fighting as best she could to demonstrate what an Echani warrior in their prime should be like.

Never downplaying Braze and his abilities, her high guard was her respect for his own abilities and making sure to assess where his strengths laid. A solid defence was good, but being permanently on the backfoot, that was dangerous ground to surround in her own mind. For now she focused on speeding up her attacks, her muscles working faster and harder. She was not using the Force but her explosive speed was something that seemed inhuman, it merely came from years of training.

She was born a fighter and Lily was revealing that her strength was not the only deadly part of her. She was fast, insanely fast for someone with her raw natural strength. It meant that she wasn't just using her fists to strike at Braze, her kicks were coming into play and aiming for his sides. With enough power behind them to knock the wind out of him if given the chance. Lily was fluid in her movements and expressing the many years of hardship and training she put herself through to become the fighter she was today.

It was something she was born with, it was something she fought for, even as someone who was born noble and with wealth. Lily fought to be the strongest and she gave it her all every time she fought.

 

[Braze]

​

TAGS: Lily Decoria

True Saber combat is not a contest of strength. It's a conversation. To engage in this dialogue, to truly understand the essence of saber dueling, is to listen as much as you speak. To observe the silent pauses, to anticipate the unspoken thoughts, and to reply not with arrogance, but with precision and respect.
​

Such was Braze's philosophy. Hand to hand would be no different

Braze moved with grace, each of Lily's strikes absorbed and redirected rather than resisted. Meeting her strength head-on would be futile, and such was not his way. His movements were fluid, almost serene, embodying the principle of soft yielding. He allowed her momentum to fuel his own, stepping just out of reach and guiding her attacks away like water flowing around a stone. Despite her explosive bursts of speed, Braze's own agility, honed to impressive levels, allowed him to more than just keep up. His movements were fast, sharp, and precise, always adapting to the shifting tempo of their clash.

Each motion was an extension of the harmony of form and flow, his body moving in concert with hers, never static, always adapting. He remained acutely aware of the space around him, invoking the Controlling Space, Flowing Water technique. His focus wasn't just on her strikes but on the energy surrounding them, reading her rhythm and anticipating the slightest shift in her stance. His Circle of Awareness expanded beyond mere defense; it was a living, dynamic thing, keeping him grounded while navigating her relentless assault.

In the brief pauses between her explosive bursts, Braze seized the opportunities presented by the Paradox of the Defensive Offense. His counters were subtle but precise, never aggressive, but always timed to turn her momentum into an opening for his own strike. Every movement was a conversation—a dialogue of wills—and in this dialogue, Braze was determined to speak with speed and control, rather than force.

Braze's combat style was a distinctive blend of several martial arts disciplines. At its core, his movements were fluid and graceful, honed through years of training to anticipate and read his opponents strikes. He reacted quickly to every subtle shift in her body language, staying one step ahead and predicting her attacks before they landed.

His speed and precision allowed him to counter Lily's rapid movements, reacting immediately to her explosive attacks while maintaining control. Every strike he delivered was quick and calculated, ensuring he kept pace with her impressive speed.

When it came to Lily's strength, Braze relied on techniques that focused on defensive maneuvers, joint locks, and throws. He redirected her momentum, using her own power against her rather than meeting it with brute force. Whenever Lily pressed too hard, Braze deflected her attacks or shifted her weight, always moving, never allowing himself to be pinned down.

There was a playful edge to Braze's movements, a subtle teasing woven into every dodge and counter. His actions seemed to dare Lily, almost inviting her to push herself harder, to go for something more challenging. It wasn't mockery, but rather a test—an unspoken invitation for her to break through his defenses and take the fight to the next level. His light-footed agility and occasional grin hinted at a deeper understanding of the battle, as if each move was a playful nudge, coaxing her to show even more of her strength and skill.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Jedi Temple, Training Room
Attire: Jedi Outfit
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (Concealed)
Tag: Braze

It was the first time in a while that Lily could see a myriad of fighting techniques being combined in quick succession and blended seamlessly into one another. Lily was impressed and it certainly showed the skills that the younger Padawan held even at his current age. She was keen to see how he would be when he was her age. It was always interesting to see how someone grew up and changed, adapted and grew in their skills over the years. For that reason, Lily was always keen to see how she would progress.

Her eyes watching as Braze moved and countered her strikes, she could tell he was being fluid and he was trying to goad her into revealing more of her skills. It was nothing sinister in the attempt and she respected his desires to see what she truly held in her potential. There was much she was still not saying with her body and the fighting techniques she was utilising but there was much she did not know of Braze. Lily did not wish to push too far and cause an injury or end the match prematurely.

She was eager to learn as much as she could about Braze during their duel as he was clearly trying to learn about her and learn from her.

However, she allowed her form to adapt, to switch from the rigid, aggressive fighting since Braze was focusing so much on his defensive stature. She turned his attempts to counter and weaken her stance into an opportunity. Lily became more fluid, a small display of her flexibility and grace as she countered the attempts from Braze. Her strikes turning from hard punches that would cause him to lose his breath or get knocked back, they were precise blows to trigger pressure points and weaken his limbs.

Lily was aiming to weaken his body and prevent it from being able to block and defend itself. It was also revealing her understanding of the body and how to effectively disable someone temporarily. Not doing any serious damage to the body but stun it enough to weaken it's ability to defend. Lily was also moving to be more fluid and graceful, her body weight never placed too out of balanced while fighting. Her time spent learning ballet and dancing actively to grant her increased flexibility and freedom of movement was slowly revealing itself.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Lily Decoria

Braze's steps were light, almost playful, as he circled Lily with the fluid grace of a seasoned Makashi duelist. His footwork was precise, every crescent step an elegant maneuver designed to create distance and make her second-guess her approach. His movements were deliberate yet teasing, as if daring her to close the gap, only to slip away at the last moment.

His expression shifted subtly—a quick glance up and down, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The way he danced just outside her reach, never fully committing to an attack, sent a clear message: he wasn't taking her seriously. His body language was all mockery and provocation, as if her strikes weren't worth his effort to block.

As he pivoted away from her next advance, his eyes narrowed, a glint of challenge flashing across his face. His stance opened slightly, a flourish of his hand signaling her to come closer, daring her to press forward. Yet, there was no urgency, no strain—just an effortless display of control, as though her attacks were no more than a game to him.

Every move Braze made, every sidestep, every disengagement, spoke louder than words. He was taunting her without saying a thing, a predator toying with its prey, his calm fluidity and mocking gestures meant to rattle her focus and draw out frustration.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Jedi Temple, Training Room
Attire: Jedi Outfit
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (Concealed)
Tag: Braze

The attempts to get under her skin by Braze were very clear and she was stoic in response. Not rising to such bait, there was no need to and it did nothing but surrender her talents to mindless rage. That would only serve the interests of Braze and she was far too experienced to be fooled into such simple acts. Instead Lily remained focused on her attacks, she wasn't daring to overextend herself, nor was she going to leave herself open for attack. Breathing in deeply, her movements were precise, sharp and moving as fast, adapting to the movements of Braze attempting to dance his way out of the strikes.

There was only so much one could exert themselves. Lily focused on maintaining her stamina for as long as possible. Short bursts and measured strikes, let Braze dance as much as he wanted. Run around in attempts to frustrate her, she had no problem with that. His body would wear down, it would slow as it could not keep such speed going on forever. That was when Lily would shift into a far more aggressive style. For now, she was just demonstrating her ability to be sharp, to keep him shifting.

Lily could see the temptations of attempting to lull Braze into a farce of her succumbing to fictitious frustrations, however, her ability to deceive was not especially high and she was not someone who was keen on deceiving in a duel. Especially since she was learning plenty from Braze's tactics. He was attempting to goad her in a manner that would only work with those whose ego was fragile. Lily knew how to to ensure Braze was forced to keep shifting, to expend as much energy as he could while she was reserving her own.

Therefore, why did she have to worry. This was a fight she felt in the control of, Braze was not attacking and therefore, she could guide him to the path that secured her victory. All she did was maintain her composure, adopt Djem So to display more aggressive, attack orientated mindset and awaited for Braze to tire, even slightly.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Lily Decoria

Braze's smile widened as he sensed Lily's refusal to take the bait. His eyes gleamed with mischief, but beneath the playful exterior lay the deep focus of a warrior honed by relentless discipline. He recognized her precision, the sharpness of her movements, and the control she maintained over her emotions. It was clear Lily wasn't the type to fall into a simple trap, and Braze respected that—but it didn't deter him.

Braze's movements shifted, adopting a more fluid form. His body flowed like water, each transition smooth, turning evasion into attack and defense into subtle offense. He moved with her strikes, yielding to and redirecting the energy. She was waiting for him to tire, conserving energy—but Braze wasn't relying purely on speed. He drew from his own wellspring of control, understanding the ebb and flow of battle, creating a rhythm where there was none before.

He spun to her side in a swift motion, launching a series of seemingly erratic strikes. They weren't meant to overpower her, but to push against her control, to introduce unpredictability. The unpredictability itself was a test—one that would strain her focus if she wasn't careful.

Braze's energy in the fight was relentless, almost unnerving in its intensity. He moved with the tenacity of a small, vicious pup—constantly darting, constantly pressing. His body, lean and wiry, lacked the bulk of heavy muscle, but there was a definition in his lithe frame that spoke of countless hours spent pushing his limits. It wasn't the size or power of his strikes that was overwhelming, but the sheer number of them, delivered with precision and speed.

He had trained to use tremendous amounts of the Force for extended periods, and his seemingly boundless energy wasn't just a result of skill. His fast metabolism burned through calories like fuel in a speeder, and though his form was sleek and small, his movements carried an unexpected weight behind them. It was the paradox of his physique—lithe, almost deceptively delicate, yet packed with explosive power.

He moved again, quicker this time, a blur of fists and feet. Even though he wasn't bulking up like others his age, it didn't matter. His speed, stamina, and ferocity made him a force that couldn't be ignored.

Braze continued as he came around her side, his movements quick and fluid, almost as if displaying the idea that;

Control was an illusion. What we really do is adapt.

His strikes were erratic, unpredictable, but deliberately so, designed to test and tease her focus.

Control might be Lily's game but what happens when the rules change?

There was no frustration in his movements, only a playful yet deliberate challenge—one that could shift in a blink, just as he expected her to shift as well. Braze knew she was waiting for him to tire, but he wasn't making the mistake of exhausting himself.

Would she see it? Would she adapt in time?

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Jedi Temple, Training Room
Attire: Jedi Outfit
Equipment: Cross guard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (Concealed)
Tag: Braze

When Braze realised his tactic wasn't working, he changed and adapted into something new. Something that Lily could respect, it was important to demonstrate the ability to change when the circumstance required. Being rigid was leaving yourself to be countered and crushed, Lily knew it was more important to adapt and she was more than keen to see what Braze was going to demonstrate in what he could do.

It was clear that they were very similar in how they approached training, even if their combat styles were varied and went in very different directions. She had also spent years improving her stamina, ensuring that if there was one thing she could do, Lily was going to outlast an opponent. It was why Lily pushed herself so hard on Jakku in the blistering heat. If she could fight for an hour or more there without tiring too much, then in a cooler climate, Lily could last twice that long without breaking a sweat.

This was a game of cat and mouse, it was just figuring out which one was truly the cat in the game. Braze held the confidence and body language of someone believing they were the predator toying with their prey. But Lily was assured she was simply letting Braze guide her to a point of entrapment for him.

When Braze switched to fast attacks, Lily wasn't caught off guard at all. Her focus was reading his body, seeing every tense muscle and she saw the switch in tension moments before he enacted his plan. She moved to be fluid, dancing and gliding through the air with practised elegance. She had trained in ballet from a young age and used that training to dance around the attacks. Mimicking his taunts of the attacks from Braze were not worthy of blocking.

There wasn't true control, there was guidance. One could be guided to an outcome. As with a dance, one leads and the other follows. It is learning how to limit the reactions of an opponent to control those ensured you could guide the person to the outcome you wanted.

Lily knew she could draw the aggressive side of Braze, see his attacks. She held back how limber and fluid her body could move to demonstrate it in this precise moment. Lily also planned to organise herself to have the ability to not just dance away from the attacks but to throw out less rigid punches, ones that a person could slap away but also get frustrated by since they were serious in their intention to cause harm. It was her time to test how calm Braze could remain facing a tactic similar to what he used.