In The Name of Love

~Limberry~

"Nonsense. I made you my second in command, didn't I? This isn't much greater of a step."
============================
~Lesalia~

*Euryale writes down Girly Flowers.*

"I can't wait to see the face of the first guy I beat."

<You shouldn't be so conceited. Even the mighty flame-spewing peak of Bervenia will eventually be eroded away by the wind.>

*A slight young man with long, black hair & a small ponytail in the back signs up after her, as Ramiel. He's a full head shorter than her. Euryale just shrugs.*

"It's all in good fun, right?"

"I think you misunderstand my meaning," Zac said, "I find shields to be a bit of a distraction in battle, and they make it hard to steal things. I'm not saying it isn't an amazing shield, and once again, I'm honored beyond words by your generosity, but a shield, no matter how useful, works counter to the way I operate in battle."

--

"Whatever," The guy says.

Mortal looks for the stairs the guy was talking about before. When she finds them she grabs Euryale's hand, "I think it is this way."

--

Noct is playing blackjack, and would be doing well, but Sab is standing over her shoulder, and doesn't know the meaning of a pokerface.

~Limberry~

"...Oh."

*The two soldiers exchange glances.*

"Then...I guess it will just have to sit in some display case, collecting dust."
==================================
~Lesalia~

*They follow.*

"So...I'm Euryale, what's your actual name?"

<I signed up with it.>

"Really? That's a funny name."

<Yes, I suppose it is. Thank you, I'm glad you appreciate it.>

Zac rubbed the back of his neck again, "I'm sorry to disappoint you..."

--

Mortal looked back at the boy, "Oh, hi, I'm sorry, I didn't notice you down there. Are you going to be fighting too?"

--

Noct decides to play something even more luck based instead after realizing that Sab was a tell. She is now playing craps.

~Limberry~

"Whatever. Let's just stop talking about it."

*She sighs, turning to the ninja.*

"You're dismissed. Mother will handle Eagrose for the time being, I have to go to Zeltennia."

*She turns back to the samurai & holds out her hands, allowing him to place a bright white katana in her hands. He then sets to work securing the armor to her.*
===================================
~Lesalia~

<Yes. Though I hope I don't have to go up against Girly Flower-Lover. That one sounds tough.>

"Are you making fun of me?"

<Not at all.>

Zac felt bad.

--

"Do you know how this works," Mortal asked, "Is it like a tournament, or do we just fight at random for money, like in boxing?"

~Lesalia~

<The former. Half of the combatants draw from the names of the other half, to determine whom they're fighting.>

*They reach a poorly lit basement area with a roped off "ring" of dirt.*
======================================
~Limberry~

*As he should! Once the ceremony was over, Lilith adjusted her equipment to where she wanted it, taking the unused Genji Equipment with her, just in case. She then heads off for her mother's room.*

"Sounds good," Mortal said.

As if on cue a guy with a hat full of paper comes in, "Draw a name." And so everyone did.

--

Zac follows along.

~Lesalia~

*Mortal gets "The Dragon," Euryale gets "Tyler," & Ramiel gets "Skullsplitter."*

<How very charming.>
=================================
~Limberry~

*Lilith pretty much just tells Binah that they're going to Zeltennia, she's in charge while they're away, & not to worry. While Binah's telling them to be careful, Lilith writes up a paper to make it official.*

The guy with the hat writes down all the match-ups then leaves, explaining that the announcer would call them down when their fight was ready. At about this time spectators begin to come down the steps, and make their way over to a small desk to make bets, now that they know the fights. Noct is among them, putting down 5000 gil on Mortal and Euryale each, who, understandably, are listed with shitty odds to win.

--

Zac waited until Lilith left the room before looking back at Binah. "Binah, may I have a word with you quickly?" Zac asked.

~Limberry~

*Binah looks over his shoulder.*

Binah<I need to have a quick word with your friend, I'll send him to catch up with you momentarily.>

L"But--"

*Binah shuts the door.*

Binah<You rejected the shield, didn't you?>
====================================
~Lesalia~

*Mortal's fight is upThe Dragon turns out to be a muscular man with black hair done in a bowl cut & 3 vertical scars on his chest.*

Zac looked a bit ashamed, "I was honored by the offer, but I wouldn't have used it, so it would have been a waste..." Zac looked at Binah, "I made Lilith upset, and I feel horrible. Do you think there is a way I could cheer her up again?"

--

Noctab are basically in the front row, cheering Mortal on. Mortal looked at the Dragon with a bit of confusion, "I expected you to be... taller."

~Limberry~

Binah<Difficult to say. You would have to meet a similar symbolic deed that, in her eyes, equaled that of using the Genji Shield. This is no simple feat, only the most elite of nobles should scarce expect to receive such a treasure in their entire lifetimes. You might just have to wait for her to get over it.>
=====================================
~Lesalia~

*Euryale opts to watch quietly for now.*

<You can trash talk, but it appears as though this isn't the first fight you've lost.>

*He points to his right eye. Euryale flips him off.*

Zac let out a sigh, "I had thought as much myself, but I hate to think that I'll just be in her shit list-- pardon my language, for the foreseeable future. I really like her, I never wanted to insult her..."

--

"Rude! I wasn't even trash-- You have scars too!" Mortal furrows her brow and throws a right cross at his smug, Asian-y face.

~Lesalia~

*Seeing her running towards him, he dodges the punch.*

<It's road rash.>

*He raises a fist to punch her back.*
===================================
~Limberry~

"Unfortunately, there isn't much that I can do about it."

"I suppose so," Zac bowed, "Thank you for your time, and words of wisdom. I shouldn't keep Lilith waiting too much longer." Zac began heading towards the door, "Have an excellent day."

--

"Road rash, does that exist yet?" Mortal asked, getting punched for her questioning apparently. Mortal counter attacked with two punches, then attacked with two of her own punches.

Sab kind of fidgeted, "That looked like it hurt."

~Limberry~

*Binah bows slightly as he's on his way out.*

"So what was that about?"
==================================
~Lesalia~

"You show him, Mortal! Maybe he'll get some new scars!"

*The Dragon is punched to shit, so he aims a kick at her ribs.*

"Oh, nothing," Zac said, "So, where to next?"

--

Mortal sidesteps the kick and retaliates with a kick of her own. Kicking with all her might at the leg that the Dragon left on the ground. Should that work the way she wants, sending him to the ground in a kind of split, she punches him in the back of the head.

~Limberry~

"Zeltennia. Like I already said."
===============================
~Lesalia~

*It didn't quite work out, in the sense that Mortal was still kicked, but he still fell down, & still got punched in the back of the head. Not quite down yet, he kicks backwards at her ribs again, like a horse. By now, the crowd is eerily quiet, except for the 3 girls cheering for Mortal. Euryale wolf whistles.*

Mortal grabs him by the ankles when he tries to donkey kick her, spreads his legs, and punts his balls somewhere into his throat.

--

"Right, I just thought you might have had something else to take care of here first," Zac said. He stretched a bit before saying, "Well, seems like we're on the road again."

~Lesalia~

*A guy in a blue knight outfit jumps into the ring, grabs Mortal under the arms, & pulls her away. He then lets go & holds up a finger in her face.*

<Illegal move, no crotch shots. That's one strike, missy.>

*The Dragon gets up & wipes blood from a cut near his mouth.*
=========================================
~Limberry~

"So it seems."

*While they're passing through Lake Poescas, they encounter a Red Dragon, 2 Living Bones, & a Minotaur on the salt flats.*

"The guy was going to tell me about the rules, but then the other guy told him to shut up..." Mortal said. She then walks back into the ring, "I'm sorry."

--

Zac shoots the dragon with an arm shot.

~Lesalia~

<One: Do not talk about Fight Club. Two: Do NOT talk about Fight Club. Three: No women in Fight Club. I'm...guessing that rule doesn't apply to this situation? Anyway, four: No shots below the belt, no weapons, no magic, everything else is fair game.>
=======================================
~Limberry~

*The dragon looks at him judgmentally. The other monsters all charge forward.*

Zac shoots the dragon in the leg as well.

--

Mortal waits for The Dragon to make the first move.

~Limberry~

*The dragon continues to stare at him judgmentally. By this time, the Living Bones are in range, so they both get Aqua Soul'd.*
===================================
~Lesalia~

*He circles around her, gradually getting closer.*