Private Tier 1 Sparring Freak

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Coruscant
Outfit: Gym Attire
Tag: Orion Pavond

"I won't do it, not again!"

A voice called out as a group gathered around a sparring room. There were mumblings amongst the group of someone apparently refusing to train against another Padawan. Something about the fight being too tough.

"But we've only sparred the once. If we do it again, then you might fare better, since you had the time to learn my fighting style?" A feminine voice called out, a genuine hope that things would be better and that her opponent would show some skills that would demonstrate that they were progressing.

"No! I won't! You left me with bruises that lasted for weeks on end! My Master thought I fought a Sith Lord or a rancor of some kind!" The male voice exclaimed and then a tall, quite muscular male Twi'lek stormed out of the room. Pushing through the crowd and basically fleeing the scene. As the group leered into the room, they saw Lily standing there with a disappointed look on her face.

She had been hoping for another fun few hours of sparring like she had the last time. Tying her hair into a ponytail, she let out a disappointed sigh that showed how saddened she had been by the fact that the match had been called off. She didn't think that she had caused that many bruises or bruises that severe. And she got as good as she gave, having a few bruises and even a cut lip by the end of the match. Lily just healed in the medical bay, ensuring there was no scars and reported to her Master that she was just a little sore from training. It had been no harm in Lily's mind and she was eager to see how much he had improved this time around.

Looking to the group studying her now after the commotion, Lily looked over, "any of you wish to spar with me today?"

 

[Orion Pavond]

CORUSCANT - NEW JEDI ORDER TMPLE - TRAINING RING
Lily Decoria

Wiping the sweat from his brow with a small towel, Orion took a drink from his bottle of water as he took a lazy walk along the training halls. The sound of hustling and bustling in a single area caught his attention, a small group of Padawans. Raising an eyebrow as he took another sip through a straw, Orion sidestepped next to the crowd huddled around a training room doorway. Hearing the commotion, Orion quickly shifted and backstepped out the way of the upset Twi'lek. Now with both eyebrows raised and a smirk slowly forming, Orion peered over the shoulders of the Padawans to see an Echani woman.

Interesting species. Orion had read up on them and interacted with a few before. Although, he never understand the finer details of their culture. Maybe this would be his chance to finally understand.

And this was who everyone was afraid of? Orion's mind quickly flashed to the Twi'lek's complaints. If the man could not handle the more rough and tumble type of training, maybe he should stick to being a Consular. Not that there was anything with the rank, but it was a little less physically intensive and a bit more cerebral. Perhaps that is where the man's talents lied.

Pushing through the crowd, Orion took another—particularly loud—sip through his straw before giving a small half-wave at the Echani woman. His demeanor relaxed at first up until he stopped drinking. Then, his posture straightened as he used the force to float his drink and the towels aside.

"Pavond. Orion Pavond," Orion introduced himself before he followed up with a singular yet crucial declaration. The statement rang loud and clear for both the Echani woman and the crowd to understand.

"And I challenge you to a traditional Echani sparring match, as per your people's traditions."

Not a single measure of hesitation in his voice. Unlike the Twi'lek, the idea of sparring with the woman or the consequences of such a bout did not frighten Orion, and it translated well into every step as he took his position across the training ring, opposite of the Echani woman.

Shifting his legs and arms into position, Orion gently opened and closed his hands before gently resting them with palms open. His eyes rested not on the woman's mouth or face or any other body part except the muscles of her arms and legs, briefly glancing at her eyes. Then, he started bouncing a little on the balls of his feet to a simply rhythm.

This sparring match had his full attention. And there was little to be held back here, short of not trying to kill the woman. After all, he had not only a crowd to impress but also the very opponent he was to fight against. He always performed better under pressure.

"Ready when you are."

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Coruscant
Outfit: Gym Attire
Tag: Orion Pavond

Lily saw the next person who was stepping up to fight her. She watched and nodded her head when he challenged her in the traditional manner. She was curious to see what this Mirialan would be able to do in a fight. "Understand that this means, no Force, no technology and we spar till one of us taps out." Lily stated, while some knew that Echani traditional combat was intense, it was not intense for the reason that many realised since they were not always aware of the strictness that came with Echani fighting. And she had met few Jedi who could keep up without some benefits from the Force.

It was all about the language one could display with their movements and body. She had yet found someone who could match her in that precise element so far but she was curious to see what Orion could do.

Stretching her limbs, Lily closed her eyes and blocked out the crowd, she was not here fighting for others to spectate. She had been challenged, not asked to instruct a class, her mindset was focused on the person she was going to fight. Where he was likely the strongest, which she was hazarding a guess would be raw strength. He was bigger than Lily was, and while she worked hard on her impressive natural strength, she knew that there were limitations to what she could do.

Lily didn't say another word, there was not a need to speak now. If he truly wished for an Echani fight then he should be able to see that she was ready to fight. Her body moved forward with measured, trained steps. There was a gracefulness to her movements that was more akin to a dancer than a hard fighter. She moved sharp and fast as she struck towards Orion, testing his defences and seeing how he would handle her natural sharp speed in attacks.

 

[Orion Pavond]

CORUSCANT - NEW JEDI ORDER TMPLE - TRAINING RING
Lily Decoria

This was it. A small nod from Orion followed as he understood exactly the parameters of what this fight would entail. His eyes closed for a moment. No Force. A little tricky, if only because he had trained his use to be akin to second-nature. But he also trained to use it as a tool he should only call upon when necessary and nothing more, nothing less. So, it was far easier to unlearn his habits in this way than it might have been another.

His eyes opened again. In time to watch how she studied him, even if it appeared she was simply stretching. There were thoughts. Plans of attack being made. And Orion would have a few moments before and during her initial attack to figure out exactly what she had planned for him. Winning or losing, there was little difference to him. Although, he tended to prefer winning.

But maybe losing this spar would prove to be far more beneficial in the long run. See, he did not completely understand the Echani culture when it came to battle. This was his chance to truly understand, yes. But it was also his chance to see how far he could push that inherent ability to read a person's body language, a person's every move, and if it could be overwhelmed. If a sensory overload could be done.

And, if it could, it would prove an effective strategy in combating or, even more importantly, tricking others like her. If the tricks of the trade when it came to deception could also deceive an Echani.

No better way to find out than right now.

As the Echani woman struck, Orion adjusted his stance as he leaned in closer to her in the moments in-between, not blinking for a moment as he met her agility with his own. He did not shy away from her strike nor from her, but instead rose up to meet the challenge. Lily's strike found itself riposted as his hand met her wrist with jarring force. The counter proved itself enough to push her attack away from her intended strike zone while also giving enough pain that may make her rethink her current strategy. An Echani fought with gracefulness not for beauty but for efficiency, for speed. Something he needed to match while applying his tricks of the trade.

Now was the time for the feint. Echani fighters did read body language. But there had to be a pattern, an instinctual part. Amateurs and pros alike used similar tactics or strategies when fighting. So, if everyone fought the same, it would be rather easy to predict attacks. It would simply be a series of permutations that the Echani had the key for.

So, what if Orion fought differently than most people? What if he went against conventions?

This idea implanted itself since the beginning of the fight and instinctually came to fruition. Orion was an . . . expert of bio-feedback tricks and body language. So, instead of driving an attack of his own, Orion feinted as he raised a hand against her, almost striking for her throat to dissuade her from relying solely on her speed.

Orion instead attempted to strike at the arm of his opponent, an unconventional and worthless attack unless he wished to weaken the bones and muscles of her arms. Bruise them, so to speak. A singular strike before preparing to block another onslaught of attacks as he backed away. Another mistake. Keeping his distance was one thing, but backstepping too much could prove its own problem.

That and he should have kept up the offense. Defense was fine, but the more one attacked, the more likely they would win a fight. With one strike, a fight could be ended. With one strike, a life could be taken. A strike that missed was no real loss, except for the creation of an opening.

But if one missed to defend one strike, then it was over. Defense was a far riskier game and required far more discipline than offense.

All to say, Orion kept making mistake after mistake. All in an effort to test his hypothesis and see if he could confuse the girl. He needed one sign, one piece of body language from her in turn.

If this battle was truly a conversation, Orion had sent the equivalent of a confusing piece of text. Now it was time for Decoria to return her response in kind.