~ Tнє Pαяα∂σχ Hσυѕє ~ now back to regularly scheduled chaos

</div>Sol | PIT FIGHT | mintedstar/fur Iceclaw |

"I got six," said Sol with a triumphant grin, knowing six cheese crackers would surely bait him into a fight.  "Still in the package, too.  Not moldy or anything."

She paused when Myrnin mentioned what he was betting in return, and thought about that for a moment, aware that she didn't know what he actually had on him.  "I dunno, food.  Or a knife.  Whatever you got.  And you better be ready to hand it over, cause I'm totally gonna kick your butt," she added, a confident swagger to her tone.

"Okay, on three," she said, planting her feet and raising her fists again.  "One...two...three...START!"

(Same aaa :') They're really precious and I'm loving this so much)

It seemed like Zuko's world didn't have the normal animals she knew, but was full of all kinds of hybrids. That itself was an interesting concept. How would these animals have evolved to grow into such strange mixes of otherwise nonrelated species?
The description of turtleducks even sounded like a perfect mix of the two.
"I guess my world is pretty boring then. When it comes to normal animals at least."

Scarlet wasn't very surprised that it was his favorite. It somehow made sense. The image of the 'tough' boy feeding little duck-like animals got a chuckle out of her though.

"I've got a little animal myself! A fennix! They're similar to foxes but have yellow markings and they breathe fire" the Novakid explained. "I guess they're typically classified as monsters though."

She guessed that talking about his beach home wasn't such a great thing to talk about. Zuko got pretty quiet and Scarlet assumed he must be missing it a lot. The topic of volleyball excited her though.
"I think I've heard of that! It's a human sport and they used to have big matches on their home planet. They seemed to have big matches for everything, now that I think about it..." she pondered before quickly snapping out of her thoughts again.
"My parents never really liked those competetive games though. They were all about being 'peaceful and dignified' so they never let us watch it or play, at least when they were around" the Novakid added playfully.

"So you're something like a bounty hunter?" Scarlet questioned. What else would someone his age be doing on a ship to find an old man?
"I do a little bit of that myself, tracking down wanted criminals and fighting off monsters that some village people don't want to get rid of themselves. It's more of a part-time job though." 

She was glad he seemed to be relaxing a little more, opening up instead of turning away. The Novakid once again felt the urge to ask him about that scar, but once again stopped herself. Her parents had raised her better than that. It would be way more rewarding if he just told her himself, without having to pry it out of him.

Scarlet once again felt herself captivated by the fire bursting to life within his hand. She had always been fond of it and couldn't help envy Zuko a little for his abilities.
Pondering over his words, she just stared at the flame for a moment before speaking.
"Well, isn't it? I use torches to light my way all the time. It might be a bit primitive, but practical nonetheless. I sometimes use my weapons to light the way too."
The Novakid stared at her boomerang that still laid next to her on the couch, before picking it up. "This old thing would be very handy as well once I upgrade it. The scorched cores I gathered would probably spend some additional light too, despite looking awesome, of course."

Kaladin watched Hector for a moment through narrowed eyes, making sure he hadn’t hit too hard. He didn’t know how well Hector was able to get a hit – this was as much about fighting as it was figuring out his opponent. Hector’s form was near perfect, Kaladin noted with no small degree of respect. He was the kind of man Kaladin would have loved to have on his squad. He wasn’t the type of man that would be fighting these pointless skirmishes, though. Men like Hector were found on the Shattered Plains. Something glittered in Kaladin’s eyes as he raised an arm to block Hector’s strikes, managing to only deflect one of the two.
He gave a soft grunt, then came back at Hector with a strong punch at his left shoulder.

Nico followed Kelsier’s gaze towards the fight. It was interesting, how different the next pair fought. Interesting, how they spent most of the fight closer to each other, exchanging blows instead of evading each other and trying to show off like Kelsier and Nico had. They had learned to fight in very different ways, it seemed. Kelsier and Nico were both used to being alone and being outnumbered, having to fight people that were stronger and faster than they were. It seemed the newcomer and Hector were both more used to one on one combat – or at least having other people with them to back them up so they only had to focus on one enemy at a time.
“What do you mean?” Nico asked after a moment, tilting his head just a little. He tried to run over what he had said. He didn’t think he had said anything bad… “I was just trash talking… Oh.” His brow creased, and he stared at the ground for a long moment.
“Was it what I said about you knowing me better than that?” He frowned a little bit, not quite looking at Kelsier. “I just thought…” he sighed. They were really going to talk about this now, weren’t they? “Gods, I overstepped, didn’t I?” he leaned his arms against the barrier, burying his forehead on them. They hadn’t even really talked about being friends, hadn’t made that distinction, and though Nico didn’t think Kelsier hated him anymore… maybe he was reading too much into this. Maybe they really were just acquaintances, maybe Kelsier didn’t think he knew him. He breathed out, lifting his head again.
He hadn’t yet realized what he’d said. It had happened in the heat of the moment, a thought he hadn’t really meant to give voice to, hadn’t… hadn’t realized he’d said out loud.

It wouldn’t be a proper spar if either of them pulled punches. It wouldn’t be particularly honorable of them either. Kaladin respected Hector enough that he was willing to hit him as hard as he could.
Kaladin’s eyes narrowed just a little bit at the force on his arm, planting his feet so he couldn’t be overturned. With his free hand he took a swing at Hector’s side, aiming for the spot where he’d gotten his first punch in. Look for your enemy’s weaknesses. That was what he told new recruits, after they had survived at least one battle with him. Hector didn’t seem to have obvious weaknesses, but that didn’t mean Kaladin couldn’t create one.

Kelsier | Pit Room | strider

They had come to understand each other, come to have this ease between them, and the very last thing Kelsier wanted to do was break that here, in this room, right after their first spar. They’d had fun, they’d really had fun and everything felt so fragile now, like one wrong word would smash it all.
He wanted to take it back, this conversation. He almost wished Nico hadn’t asked what had thrown him off. Then they could have pretended they didn’t need to talk for a little bit longer...or forever, maybe. No, he wouldn’t have wanted to ignore it forever, he knew that, but he did wish they didn’t have to talk about it right this second. Then again...he might feel that way about every second.
He saw the moment Nico realized. Saw the expression on his face. Out loud...did that mean he’d been thinking it? Had he only thought of it because of what Kel had said? He didn’t know, he didn’t know enough to know what Nico meant, didn’t know enough to navigate this difficult terrain.
Nico wasn’t looking at him. Was that because he didn’t want to see proof that Kelsier had meant those words?
Or because he did?
Kelsier breathed out, trying not to get wrapped up in his thoughts. That wouldn’t help anything. He needed to focus on what Nico wanted here, not himself. He needed to stop being selfish for two seconds and pay attention to someone else.
His heart stopped at the question.
There it was. Out there, in the open. And Kelsier had to answer, he couldn’t walk away from this, not this time.
Dammit. He wasn’t good at this. He really wasn’t good at this.
“You know I can’t lie to you,” he said after a long pause, his voice very quiet, almost lost in the sounds of the room. He didn’t look at Nico. “You know I won’t lie, especially not about...”
He didn’t look at Nico. It was the sort of not looking that said every muscle in his body was screaming in protest. Which he pointedly ignored.
He breathed.
“Yeah, Nico,” he said finally. “I meant it.”
There it was. The thing that could end this. He’d overstepped, screwed up, and now Nico was going to tell him to back off and he was going to listen, because he would not be another painful thing in Nico’s life. He refused to be another person who hurt this kid.

Nico closed his eyes. He knew that there was a certain ease between them, something that had happened in all the rooms they had been in together that led them… to this. To whatever this was between them, this comfort. He had let himself fall asleep on Kelsier. That didn’t come out of nowhere. So what were they doing? Where were they going with this? Nico frowned, desperately wishing for some easy way out of this. Some way in which Kelsier cared about him the way he said, and Nico wouldn’t have to tell him that it was a bad idea. Some way in which Nico didn’t have to be afraid of getting a family and then immediately dying on them.
Kelsier had hesitated, he’d looked startled, looked like Nico’s words had been just as much of a blow as the direct hits had been. Did that mean he didn’t want to believe it was true? Did that mean that the words… had been wrong, had been upsetting? Nico was probably thinking about this too much. He couldn’t know what Kelsier had meant until Kelsier actually told him.
He couldn’t help the nervous glance he cast in Kelsier’s direction. Couldn’t help but note the way Kelsier’s face tightened, the way he wasn’t looking at him. He wanted to back out of the conversation, wanted to say ‘oh never mind, it doesn’t matter, let’s just… not talk about this ever again.’ But he couldn’t. This needed to happen, even if he didn’t want it to.
Nico looked away, tensing himself as he waited to hear that Kelsier hadn’t meant it. That they weren’t that close, that it was weird that Nico thought they could be. That it was probably better if they took some time apart. No… no, if the answer was that he didn’t mean it, then they would just keep going like they had been. Just… maybe a little bit further apart. He wasn’t going to lose Kelsier over this.
“Oh.” The word escaped him in a rush, like he’d been holding his breath and finally let himself breathe out. He stared at the fight for a few long moments, brow creasing as he tried to figure out what to say.
He stayed silent, instead letting his body act for him. He turned, throwing his arms around Kelsier and burying his face in his mistcloak. It wasn’t an answer, but it was the best he could give.

Shade | PIT fight | @/des mostly

Shade kept half an eye on the two new fighters stepping into the ring, mostly watching Nico and Kelsier's exchange. Though she couldn't and wasn't terribly keen to hear anything, it was curious to see how the interaction went, especially after the fight they'd just had. She had to wonder what the context was, but, well... Sighing, she looked back to the ring. Not her business, not her place, and she opted not to be invasive on it since it seemed pretty personal. "Ten gold, hm? Do you even have gold?" she inquired, smirking cheekily at him and giving a low chuckle. "Alright, fifteen on the other one then." 

| Hector | PIT FIGHT | with Kaladin IN THE PIT |

Kaladin's balance was good- he was too steady to be pulled off course. Hector let go of his arm and brought his hands back up in front of himself defensively as Kaladin swung with his other arm- there was no chance to dodge, so he brought up his arm to block. Kaladin's blow glance off his arm and still connected- with the punch he'd landed earlier probably forming a bruise, it stung. Kaladin's strategy was sound, and Hector made a mental note to be ready to block another blow there. Switching up his strategy, he swept a leg out, attempting to knock Kaladin off balance again.

Pit Fight | Shadepelt15

Hook scoffed, “Course I’ve got gold,” he said with a grin. Of course, it was pocketed in the coat he’d discarded across the ring, but he figured that would be an issue for later. He cocked his eyebrow at her raise, answering with a mockingly defensive; “fine.”
“Bastard doesn’t stand a shot anyways,” he muttered with a light shrug, pulling confidence for the blinker he was betting on straight out his ass. “He’s pinned in defense,” he pointed out as he watched her wager get pushed back, his focus flicking back and forth from the actual fight and the side commentary he had with her.

</div>Myrnin | Pit Fight | <Raintalon> Iceclaw

Six cheese crackers worked for him. Though he did note, "Mold adds flavor."
Still. Six crackers were six crackers.
And anyway. He probably had something. She probably didn't want blood. But he probably had something.
Eh, he was down, why not.
The vampire aimed for the legs. Small children, they moved fast and were usually pretty jumpy. Best to make sure she couldn't jump around then.

Kaladin gave a small, triumphant smile as his blow made contact, watching Hector all the while. His eyes widened a little in surprise as Hector leg moved, and he very nearly lost his balance as it connected. He stumbled forwards a few steps, trying to catch himself. It took longer to recover than he would have liked – he’d have to be more careful about watching his legs. The good thing about sparring was it reminded him where his weaknesses were – what he needed to work on.
He turned to face Hector, moving forward again with a punch aimed at Hector’s stomach. He anticipated Hector would try to dodge – it would help to know which side he tended to dodge towards.

| Hector | PIT FIGHT | with Kaladin IN THE PIT |

Hector took note of how long it took Kaladin to recover and made a mental note to try to knock him off balance again if he got the chance. It seemed that the both of them were less agile than the previous two who had fought- jumps in the air and high kicks were not featured in this fight. Just two soldiers slugging it out.

Hector sidestepped to the left- he was right handed, so it put him in a better position to strike out. He returned a jab with his right hand, once again sacrificing full power for quickness, aiming at Kaladin's face. Anticipating that he would be distracted with blocking or dodging, he moved forwards to ram into the other man with his shoulder- he may have been tall but he was also lanky compared to Hector's broader build, and Hector hoped to knock him down or wind him.

Hook | Pit Fight | @/shade

“The House always blinks me in with the important things,” he insisted, pointing at her with the top of his flask. He was trying to watch the fight more intently now that he had a side to root for, but Shade easily distracted him every time she spoke. “Aye, he’ll need to quickly as well - ah - there he goes. You do have a point,” he stopped watching the tactical movements of the brawl and instead studied the wardrobe. “They look miserably uncomfortable,” he agreed offhandedly, “It’s not even sacrificed for much; a bit lackluster, the both of them.”
He glanced past her as he caught glance of Myrnin getting attacked by some kid. Taking a quick drink he nudged Shade to notice them as well. “Impatient mother[oops]ers.” He commented with a smirk. “Another fifteen there, that kid’s gonna stomp on him.”