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(from here)
Hythlodaeus arrives the next day to the location Nina sent him, smiling to see her.
"'Tis good to see you again, my friend. Now then, I am eager to begin!"
Eager to get his ass kicked? Well, yes. He won't learn anything otherwise!
Hythlodaeus arrives the next day to the location Nina sent him, smiling to see her.
"'Tis good to see you again, my friend. Now then, I am eager to begin!"
Eager to get his ass kicked? Well, yes. He won't learn anything otherwise!
Nina arrived with, perhaps unsurprisingly at this point, a few more bruises and wounds than she had the last time he saw her. Nasty bruises on her neck that looked too akin to bitemarks even after she tried to heal them; bandages over her chest and wrists and hands (though the latter was not terribly unusual, given her style of fighting), and a few other spots that looked like she had gotten into a hell of a brawl recently.
"I appreciate the enthusiasm, I guess." She chuckled. "Tell me how much you know about fighting."
"I appreciate the enthusiasm, I guess." She chuckled. "Tell me how much you know about fighting."
Hythlodaeus looks over the bruises and sighs, amused. Of course Nina looks beat up, he wouldn't expect much else at this point. It's a charm point.
"Unfortunately, all I know of fist fighting is that it likely hurts to be punched."
And this is going to hurt, he realises, because there's no way he's not getting beaten up here. But again... he needs to learn.
"I have never been in a brawl in my life."
"Unfortunately, all I know of fist fighting is that it likely hurts to be punched."
And this is going to hurt, he realises, because there's no way he's not getting beaten up here. But again... he needs to learn.
"I have never been in a brawl in my life."
[Jesus Christ. "Define human". As if people haven't been trying and failing to do that for millennia. Hythlodaeus looks human enough.]
It would probably be more efficient to discuss what you do call yourselves, instead. The definition of humanity can be quite nebulous.
It would probably be more efficient to discuss what you do call yourselves, instead. The definition of humanity can be quite nebulous.
"Our arguments were often solved through debate! We built the Hall of Rhetoric just to allow for more formal debate, and discussions could last for many hours. But eventually, most walked away content. Plus, you must understand that my people were not fighters. We wielded powerful magicks, yes, but for the most part we were not made for combat."
Just because Hythlodaeus could have blown up a building here doesn't mean he'd want to! Indeed, he hates fighting. But he knows he needs to protect himself somehow, and the people he cares for besides.
Just because Hythlodaeus could have blown up a building here doesn't mean he'd want to! Indeed, he hates fighting. But he knows he needs to protect himself somehow, and the people he cares for besides.
He gives her a somewhat sheepish smile at that.
"I've never had to take a punch well, so no. How exactly do I do that? Is there a trick to it or do I simply have to be good at handling pain?"
Pain isn't really his forte. He won't cry or anything, but he's probably not going to handle it entirely gracefully.
"I've never had to take a punch well, so no. How exactly do I do that? Is there a trick to it or do I simply have to be good at handling pain?"
Pain isn't really his forte. He won't cry or anything, but he's probably not going to handle it entirely gracefully.
Imagine having such privilege. Nina is almost jealous.
She cracked her knuckles. "You ever hear of 'rolling with the punches?' Could be taken literally, because that's exactly what you want to do."
A beat. "I won't aim for your pretty face, for whatever that helps."
She cracked her knuckles. "You ever hear of 'rolling with the punches?' Could be taken literally, because that's exactly what you want to do."
A beat. "I won't aim for your pretty face, for whatever that helps."
"So I simply just have to... take them and get on with it, I suppose."
He shakes his head.
"Nobody else is going to afford me such luxury. I don't particularly want to be punched in the face but I won't learn to take it if you avoid doing so."
It makes the most practical sense to him. Learn to take it now, not when it may matter a lot more.
He shakes his head.
"Nobody else is going to afford me such luxury. I don't particularly want to be punched in the face but I won't learn to take it if you avoid doing so."
It makes the most practical sense to him. Learn to take it now, not when it may matter a lot more.
"Your funeral."
Which was a great thing to say right before launching into an attack. Nina actually slowed her steps for him to keep up, punching hard into his ribs and chest and his head (though she did hold back a little for the latter), her onslaught merciless and done between commands. Block! Arms up! Step left, etc. A very in depth and painful self defense class.
Which was a great thing to say right before launching into an attack. Nina actually slowed her steps for him to keep up, punching hard into his ribs and chest and his head (though she did hold back a little for the latter), her onslaught merciless and done between commands. Block! Arms up! Step left, etc. A very in depth and painful self defense class.
To say he was underprepared would be an understatement- and his best approximation of doing as he's told is, at first, just him covering his face and yelping. He seems to realise halfway through that she's actually shouting instructions, and fumbles through the steps but ultimately ends up backing off, holding out a hand for mercy.
"Ah- wait! Wait, I'm... I need a moment, if you would."
His nose is bleeding already and his stomach hurts, but he's not on the floor yet and perhaps that's the best he could have hoped for.
"Ah- wait! Wait, I'm... I need a moment, if you would."
His nose is bleeding already and his stomach hurts, but he's not on the floor yet and perhaps that's the best he could have hoped for.
Hythlodaeus knows she's more than ready to hit him more, so he makes sure he's actually somewhat prepared before saying as much. He wipes his nose and groans, hands on his knees briefly as he takes a few deep breaths through his mouth.
"I... yes, you're just... very fast."
Keeping up with her is difficult, but he'll try his hardest.
"I... yes, you're just... very fast."
Keeping up with her is difficult, but he'll try his hardest.
"No, I'm just... very fast." To the point she wasn't even sure what was normal for an average person at this point.
She did make a point of trying to slow herself, moving at a more human speed — still fast and coming in hard with her punches, but he might have a chance to block the second time around.
She did make a point of trying to slow herself, moving at a more human speed — still fast and coming in hard with her punches, but he might have a chance to block the second time around.
He can't say he's having an amazing time being punched but as long as he mostly protects his face he can handle the others slightly better. He marvels at her speed and strength though, even if he can only grunt before his body decides it's had quite enough and his legs give out. Panting and groaning, he lifts a hand in silent surrender.
"Alas, you've thoroughly beaten me..."
On his knees, he still manages to smile up at her. His face is swollen and his nose is still bleeding but there's wonder in his eyes.
"You're so very strong. It's truly incredible."
"Alas, you've thoroughly beaten me..."
On his knees, he still manages to smile up at her. His face is swollen and his nose is still bleeding but there's wonder in his eyes.
"You're so very strong. It's truly incredible."
"Did you learn anything, or did I just kick your ass?" She chuckled, kneeling down and placing her hand on his back. Her basic healing from her potion would soothe the minor wounds, at least.
"Thanks, I know. Don't discredit yourself though — you were up a lot longer than I thought you might be with your inexperience. You're tough."
"Thanks, I know. Don't discredit yourself though — you were up a lot longer than I thought you might be with your inexperience. You're tough."
"I learned that I don't want to get on your bad side," he laughs, finding the humour in it at least. "But thank you. Perhaps if we do this again, I will have ruminated on what you've taught me and can apply it to a fight."
He doesn't expect it to end much differently to this but he has to try.
He doesn't expect it to end much differently to this but he has to try.
[Hythlodaeus opens the door cheerfully, looking down at his friend with a smile.]
Come in, come in! What troubles you? We can discuss it over some tea.
[Ushering her in, he shuts the door behind her and leads her to the kitchen, where there's a small table and four chairs tucked beneath it.]
Make yourself comfortable.
Come in, come in! What troubles you? We can discuss it over some tea.
[Ushering her in, he shuts the door behind her and leads her to the kitchen, where there's a small table and four chairs tucked beneath it.]
Make yourself comfortable.
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