Training in the Arena (Matsu)

[Rex Maxus]

Rex was recently informed of a new job, to train someone and give them what knowledge he had about fighting. He had sent this unidentified trainee a holomessage with the coordinates to the arena in which they'd be training. Walking into the arena, he was approached by 6 training droids. He ordered them to stand by for orders. Rex ordered one to duel him, the droid picked up a vibrosword and began its assault. Rex easily parried the blows, trying to waste some time before his new student arrived

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

Matsu knew she was in need of hand-to-hand. She was a nasty scrapper, a girl who went for eyes and ears and hair, anything to get purchase and destroy. So she sought someone who could help her and after asking around she'd been told of someone who could arrange a session with a one [member="Rex Maxus"].

She had received the coordinates from the man the day before and arrived on time, her hair pulled in to a tight bun on top of her head and a short knife tucked in to a homemade holster at her waist.

She had made it clear to the man who'd arranged the meeting that she knew next to nothing of formal fighting techniques so Maxus would not be expecting much. She had the will - and she had the lack of remorse it would take to cut a man down - but even still, as she walked in to the arena and saw who she assumed was her teacher she wondered if that particular message had been passed on. He was muscled, tall, and battling a droid with ease. She took stock of her surroundings, looking for anything she might use to her advantage later on before closing the distance between herself and the dueling pair. She waited until the match had drawn to a close, already studying Maxus' form against the droid. "Rex Maxus? I'm Matsu," she said, not offering a hand.

He didn't seem like one for handshakes.

 

[Rex Maxus]

Rex noticed a woman walking to him and ended the duel rather quickly, grabbing the droid's arm which held its sword as he tripped it and firmly planted his vibrosword in the sand beside its head. Walking over to his new student, he smiled. "Yes, I'm Rex. Nice to meet you Matsu." As he said this, he held a hand out. She didn't seem like the hand shaking type, but Rex was much too friendly to not offer one. "What weapons have you brought to train with?" he asked, walking back to where the droid had fallen and picking his sword up

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

Looks could be deceiving - she should know that after all. But when he turned, extending his hand in a friendly offering she was still surprised. She relaxed slightly, returning the friendliness and shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you too," she returned, watching him move off to retrieve his sword.

"Myself and a knife," she said, raising her shirt slowly to show the thing's hilt, worried that maybe she'd missed part of the message that said bring weapons. She was a bit short on credits - she got by mostly on favors and persuasion, neither of which would work in an arena - and didn't have much to spar with. But she was good with the knife, and hoped to be even better. She'd even developed the ability to get a little fancy with some throws and spins, but she was sure [member="Rex Maxus"] had tricks far more complex up his sleeve. She was willing for any help and suddenly felt a wash of gratitude that he seemed so willing to show her a few things.

 

[Rex Maxus]

"Ah, a knife. The most basic of all weapons." Rex sheathed his sword and reached into his boot, pulling out a vibroblade. He motioned for a couple droids to step up to Matsu. "Well, show me what you already know." Rex watched her intently to decide what skill level she was at before he could teach her. The droids were unarmed, each in a fighting stance, as if it was a fist fight. One swung at Matsu, attempting to deliver a punch to her abdomen

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

She squared off with the droid, a hint of unease in her stomach though she wouldn't let it stop her. She had never fought against something that wasn't flesh and blood and she wasn't sure of the amount of force it would take or even if a knife would work against them. So instead she went with hand-to-hand, using her natural speed and smallness to move outside of the punch, one hand moving to the joint of the droid between forearm and upperarm, attempting to bend the arm and take away leverage while with one leg planted, she swung the other to hook around the droid's leg, attempting to ground it.

She had the right idea but no finesse - a mean little beast that could become a monster with the right training.

[member="Rex Maxus"]

 

[Rex Maxus]

Rex watched intently, watching her sloppy movements. He saw potential, with lack of training. She had the potential to be great, Rex would just need to help her realize it. He stepped forward, raising a hand. The droids backed off and one stepped up to Rex. "use their movements against them, let them defeat themselves" he said as a droid swung at his head and he dodged, grabbing the forearm and stepping behind the droid, twisting the arm
[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

When she watched him, she saw power. She saw ease, as if each and every muscle moved of its own accord and without thought. It made her jealous, but that was okay – it would make her work even harder to master his lessons.

It made sense, once spoken, that with her small stature and light weight that she would be no match in brute strength for many opponents. But use their movement against them? Alright…

She was still pondering that when another of the droids almost caught her by surprise, swinging at her lower back as if shooting for a kidney. She spun, grabbing the arm as she had watched [member="Rex Maxus"] perform so deftly, pulling the droid’s arm behind it with success. Less grace than her teacher, but success.

She looked to him, an eyebrow raised in question – good?

 

[Rex Maxus]

Rex chuckled as he watched his student perform what he had taught her. "good, after doing that a few hundred times as I have, it will be second nature" he said with a wink. It was a good choice to not use a knife, they were metal droids after all. "now do it to me" he said as he swung at her cheek with all of his strength and accuracy, fear was the greatest teacher.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

Now, do it to me.

She hadn't been expecting it and had about two seconds to prepare. The sharp movement scared her and made her angry, rage an instinctual emotion as she ducked and reached out for [member="Rex Maxus"]' arm, scrabbling for purchase on his skin to try and yank his arm back.

Once she was free of him, narrowly missing having her entire face smashed in, she turned on him. Her face held a hint of rage in every feature, as if he'd flipped some switch and in truth perhaps he had. She had to remind herself he'd been nothing but nice, that her anger was more instinct than necessary, trying to take deep breaths and forget she had a knife at her side. At least in regards to him.