ToC:Triam Akovin VS Ashin Varanin

[Cassus Akovin]

@[member="Ashin Varanin"]

Ohhh, now that was interesting. Ashin was playing into her gambling game. She was right, in all technicality Ashin didn't have to follow, and in all likelihood the Rattatak Queens would declare the non-pursuer over the flee-er the victor. Thus as Varanin had predicted, Akovin did her thing and assessed her advantages, the odds she could play here. She needed wiggle room, a way to convince them that she deserved to win, another chance at the fight, not something that definitely made sure one of them died.

Every living thing could be sure of one thing, everyone wanted to live. Ashin and Triam were no different, and so far this fight meant that one of them was bound to die in one way or another by one of their hands... but maybe not. Surrender was also acceptable, but how do you convince an opponent with all the cards that they were beaten? You had to make one hell of a convincing bluff.

She offered one of two things: shoot, or don't shoot. If you shoot, you may or may not be able to. If you don't, well, you lose the game.

Akovin, did not like to lose... alone.

She only technically had half a hand, with it being so burned an all, thus it was easy to assume half the strength. Of course on a gun that usually didn't matter, but with a Jedi, even that could be hindered. If it was truly, then the Jedi's concentration was on the trigger alone, and whether or not pressure was applied. In her mind, if she pressed the trigger and nothing happened, Akovin's spirit would realize her loss.

...

"Kark that." She threw it at the Jedi. Whether or not it hit her didn't matter. Wherever it fell it clattered with an eerie echo. There was a moment of silence before she broke it with a renewed clarity and determination.

"How 'bout we make a deal, I like deals, probably even more than I like gambling like you just picked up on, which by the way, was pretty perceptive. I like intelligent people." She began to walk towards Ashin, well, strutting with a limp more like. She nodded her head up and her helmet retracted obediently, revealing the beat up face full of resolve. She struggled to remove her chest piece, but managed it in pieces.

"How about," She plucked her belt off and discarded it beside her, "You drop your sword." Thigh plates, "And we punch each other in the face?" Shin guards, "No weapons, no gimmicks, pure aggression. The loser surrenders, since neither one of us wants to die to day, and... if I'll be honest, because I like you." She tried to wink with a swollen eye, face to face with Ashin. Up went the dukes, with Triam Akovin wearing a singed up, yet soaked tank top.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Triam Akovin"]

Ashin looked down at herself, and her plain spacer's clothes. No secondary weapon, no armor, nothing. Winterlight hit the floor with a clang. She had about three inches and twenty pounds on Akovin, but that probably wasn't enough. Akovin was younger, had more energy maybe.

"I don't do pure aggression. But if you want to hit me, hit me. No Force gimmicks, on my honor."

She brought up her hands, palms out, fingers before her eyes, arms relaxed. Her left foot took the forward position, but it was a loose, noncommittal stance, not the power stances she'd employed on Rattatak.

 

[Cassus Akovin]

"That's a shame, I have a sneaking suspicion you'd be mighty good at it." She took a moment to decide just exactly where she wanted to hit Ashin, and which arm to use. Unfortunately for Ashin, mechanical hands couldn't so simply be removed, and that was her dominant hand. With the amount of respect that was radiating from Ashin in allowing her this very rare privilege, she almost felt guilty that she was considering a really nerf herder thing to do.

But damn it would hurt a lot if she tried to use her burned hand, so then she had to take her own advice to Ashin: break herself... or heal herself. Machines were near-instantly repairable given the resources, hands were not. She kinda needed her hand, and her metal one wouldn't hurt if she punched Ashin with it.

It was like she was exerting any ludicrous extra strength with it, it wasn't that kinda hand, but it would be ridiculously unforgiving. Fine then, she'd be a little bit of an nerf herder, but maybe she could choose a place that it wouldn't be so scarring. A metal punch to the face wasn't ideal, considering how that might damage her, and make Triam feel guilty.

The stomach then, no bones in the way and no outwardly visible damage unless she decided to become a nudist, which wasn't likely. The shot was right there too, with Ashin being slightly taller than she was, even with her defensive hands. Decided on it then, she went for it.

Her metal hand was her right, and she was in a right foot lead. It wasn't an ideal stance for a right uppercut, but there was a quick idea. She'd step forward with a left jab (though it would be non-committal; a feign), before she threw a right cross directed for beyond the gut. Her right foot pivoted as she decided to plow through Ashin, giving her the strongest punch that could be given in her stance.

@[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Triam Akovin"]

Option one was move, but her knee prevented that. Option two was use the Force, but her word prevented that. Option three was a powerful downward block that smashed into a prosthetic wrist a second too late to keep that apparently metal hand from crashing into Ashin's gut.

Youth. Youth and speed. Ashin took a stumbling step back; her right leg buckled under her. She puked without ceremony, as much seawater as the contents of her stomach. Down on one knee, her hand closed around Winterlight's hilt.

"Take the win, kid," she said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She retched again, then hawked and spat to get the taste out of her mouth. "You fething earned it. Oh, and I watched a couple fight films. Vulpesen Torrewhatnot loves his grenade spam and his throwing knives. Watch out for that."

Her shoulders sagged in relaxation for the first time in a good while. "Yeah, you've got this one. Nice work, Akovin."

 

[Cassus Akovin]

@[member="Ashin Varanin"]

It felt a bit dishonorable but Triam couldn't help but feel only a little bit repulsed by her opponent's -friend's, she corrected- retching. She was however, as one should be, a little proud of herself to have accomplished such an astounding feat. There were of course factors that contributed to her victory of course, but it was a feat nonetheless. Even if she didn't become Champion of the Cauldron, which now more than ever was in her sights, she could still get away with saying she faced an infamous Jedi Master head on and beat her. She appreciated her friends advice, though she felt at this point adequately prepared for just about everything.

"I don't think I'll ever find an opponent quite like you again Ashin, if either of us are to have the others honor, I am indebted to you. Learned a lot today." She stretched out her partially functional hand to help Ashin up if she accepted it. "I appreciate your advice, it means a lot to me... but to be honest, I don't think this Vulps guy is going to give me anything like you did. I don't think I've ever really fought anyone until now, so I hope this is a good omen for the future. Who knows? Maybe next time we could fight next to each other, rather than into each other. Either way, it will be a memorable occurrence." She smiled as best she could. If she was able to, she wanted to help Ashin to her shuttle out of here. Akovin may have earned a win, but Ashin earned her respect... which was a very exclusive club indeed.