He'd fought, since Nergui, but that didn't mean he had it all together -- and so he wasn't quite ready, when Zeke landed his first blow, was left blinking and then shifting into more serious weapon.
Ever's instinct was to swing back, so he started to do so, before catching himself and bringing both parts of his weapon up at once to block what would follow. It was wobbly, but then it would settle, Ever shaking his head a bit. "I'm sure I'll give in to the urge to smack you eventually..."
There was the briefest pause after that first hit landed, a critical second where Zeke gauged the other man's reaction -- possibly it wouldn't even be noticed -- but as stiletto and sheath both came up he released the breath he'd taken, relaxing into with am almost lazy smile. Tired, perhaps, but worn well.
"You should," he baited, snapping in for an almost casual backhanded swing that brought the length of one handle against the hardened form of the sheath in Ever's hand. "You're fun when you go all sassy."
Possibly he was being a little obnoxious, but he was sleep deprieved enough to think he was being funny, and maybe. Just maybe. He'd get a smile from the Life.
HP: 40 DMG: 2 CHG: 2/3
and be blue
Beejoux
Wrathful Demigod
Offline
and be blue rolled 1 8-sided dice:
1Total: 1 (1-8)
"Sassy?" It came out slow and dry, as this time Ever easily deflected Zeke's blow to one side, shoulders raised in a brief shrug. He was amused, at least, trying to wrap his mind around that adjective applied to himself. At least it made him smile, readjusting his posture.
That dry question was met with the brightest of s**t-eating grins, one that didn't so much as waver as the swing of his ax was deflected and knocked aside. He rallied quickly. "You've got your moments." He could certainly be a pain in the a**, sarcastic. Submissive or not, he managed to keep the Mist on his toes, and that's what kept the man coming back for more.
Advancing forward, he took another quick swing, the edge of his ax skimming across Ever's shield along his arm.
HP: 40 DMG: 3 CHG: 3/3
and be blue
Beejoux
Wrathful Demigod
Offline
and be blue rolled 1 8-sided dice:
2Total: 2 (1-8)
"My moments, but sassy?" He shook his head as he tried to roll away from the blow, and didn't quite pull it off. Ever shrugged, though, the ax only skidding along his arm and then away again, and smiled down at Zeke: back to a comfortable defensive position.
Aurburn brows wiggled at sassy. Curling up in Ever's bed for a few hours would have been nice, but this was proving to be pretty fun. "Pain in the a**, more like."
He moved in for another attack, but, distracted, the sharp edge of his ax caught nothing but air at Ever's side.
{Would it be too much to ask that you take your training seriously?}
You are such a killjoy, Laggy. Live a little.
The valkyrie grumbled through his mind, giving a mental shove.
HP: 40 DMG: zip CHG: idek, I forgot to look.
and be blue
Beejoux
Wrathful Demigod
Offline
and be blue rolled 3 4-sided dice:
2, 2, 1Total: 5 (3-12)
"Not usually, but it could be arranged." This was more like how they were supposed to be: idly somewhere between taunting and flirting, Ever swinging out at Zeke just because he could. His charge evaporated into nothing, none of that bleeding-out sensation to distract his opponent, but he didn't seem bothered. This, at least, wasn't serious business.
"That can be fun, now and then."
HP: 44/50 Charge: 0/3 DEF: 0
beejoux
Tier Two: Dice: 3d4 First Dice: xxxxx 1-2: Miss xxxxx 3-4: Success! Second Dice: xxxxx 1: Target suffers 2 damage for [third dice] rounds. xxxxx 2-3: Target suffers 3 damage for [third dice] rounds. xxxxx 4: Target suffers 4 damage for [third dice] rounds. Third Dice: xxxxx Determines how many turns the effect lasts. Potential Max Damage: 16
Ezekiel blinked at the other man, brows raising as he wondered curiously if Ever's flirtatious banter was just that, or an actual offer, or perhaps request. Hard to say, given the Life had not, so far, shown much of a desire to shake up the arrangement they'd forged together. Buttons were pushed, requests made, but there had always been a rather firm line.
If Ever had wanted to jump on the offensive -- beyond the swipe of a charge that tingled over his skin but did not in fact carry any strong or lingering effects -- This would have been the moment, Zeke momentarily distracted as he considered those loaded words.
With a tilt of his head he was moving forward, though instead of a swipe of blade there was a loop of chain as Zeke tried to catch one of Ever's arms so he could tug him closer, grin up at him. "Is that something you want?" For Zeke at least it wasn't a light offer to make. He'd always been the one in charge with other men.
HP: 40 DMG: herp CHG: 3/3
and be blue
Beejoux
Wrathful Demigod
Offline
and be blue rolled 1 8-sided dice:
4Total: 4 (1-8)
"If I say yes, are you going to keep missing?" It came with a laugh, a slow rise of both chin and eyebrows, a definite challenge: both of his weapons raised in a careful sort of defense.
"....if I go into details, will you throw yourself on your own weapon?" A pause, and then he grinned. "Or, I guess, mine."
More than mere banter, it seemed. That thoughtful look remained, but the challenge had a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It grew wider at the idea of him throwing a spar, specifically if that loss resulted in a willing relinquish of power. He might, if it meant he got what he wanted, but did he want this?
It wasn't a hard no, as it might have been a few months prior. And that in itself was surprising.
Pale eyes narrowed, and he was adjusting his grip on his weapons as he looked up at Ever. It might not be a no, but if this was something the Life legitimately wanted to explore, Zeke was going to make him work for it. "It's not in me forfeit." Lunging, he brought one ax up in a quick swipe aimed across one bony hip.
"You want control? You can have it," he crooned, snapping teeth near the other man's jaw as he came in close, before jumping back again. "If you can take it." Challenge accepted, and countered.
HP: 40 DMG: 4 CHG: 3/3
and be blue
Beejoux
Wrathful Demigod
Offline
and be blue rolled 2 10-sided dice:
10, 6Total: 16 (2-20)
This was meant to be a defense practice, and yet -- something about Zeke's tone, somewhere between teasing and honest, made Ever c**k his head and, without any real warning, slash out. It was satisfying: blade cutting deep into Zeke's shield. And it was good, because if he'd missed, it would have been really embarrassing.
"s**t-" The curse was cut off with a sharp hiss of pain as Ever tore through his shield, and it was a strong enough blow, even as a first hit, that Zeke suspected it'd linger in the form of an angry bruise low on the side of his ribs. Brows went up, a question in hazel eyes as as a shadow of a smile ticked into being. It looked like Ever had accepted the challenge. This should be interesting.
"How do you figure?" He mused, Lagertha looking large in his mind. He had a charge, he needed to use it, she was very nearly screaming it at him.
The runes on the blades of either ax blazed. He swung, but a twinge at his side threw off his aim, and the rush of blasting wind tore into the ground at Ever's feet. Enough to ruffle messy hair as it dispersed, but woefully harmless, and ultimately disappointing.
HP: 30 DMG: Zeke why do you suck today? Do you want your a** kicked? You must... CHG: 0/3 | 1/2
and be blue
Beejoux
Wrathful Demigod
Offline
and be blue rolled 2 10-sided dice:
7, 3Total: 10 (2-20)
Ever fought down a laugh as charge missed: the humor in Zeke's misfired confidence, not in the actual failure. He could practically feel the fizzling spirits as the attack dissipated and he leaned in to give Zeke another thwack -- this time, the sheath against the back of his knees, with a solid sound.
"You can say if it's too much. I'll go back to defense. I'm flexible."
Hazel eyes were narrowed as he straightened from the hit on the leg. "Oh no, by all means, carry on." He sounded annoyed, but there was a certain edge to his voice, a twitch of lips, that betrayed it all. He knew Ever was stronger, faster, he had never expected to win.
It was, actually, quite interesting seeing him show off that strength. Different, not in ability, but intent. Zeke had never known the Life to want any shred of real control. It threw him.
He lunged again, but ax blades scrapped against sheath and chain. Out matched, and just a little distracted by his own inner thoughts. As well as the valkyrie screaming in his head.
HP: 26 DMG: sigh CHG: double sigh
and be blue
Beejoux
Wrathful Demigod
Offline
and be blue rolled 2 4-sided dice:
2, 3Total: 5 (2-8)
"Drag you out of your comfort zone?" There was a pause, Ever drawing a breath -- and then nothing happened. His charge dissipated with no apparent affect, other than a brightening in his eyes, an edge of something excited, perhaps, as his attention settled on Zeke. He raised both eyebrows, challenging, as if he'd manufactured this just to give the other man a little chance to strike out and, maybe, catch up.
HP: 44/50 Charge: 0/3 DAM: 0
beejoux
Third Tier: Dice: 2d4 First Dice: indicates how many turns the effect will last, starting with your next regular attack. xxxxx1: 1 Turn xxxxx2-3: 2 Turns xxxxx4: 3 Turns Second Dice: represents how much health you steal per hit. xxxxx1: 0% (Absorb no health) xxxxx2: 50% (divide your damage by 2) xxxxx3-4: 75% (multiply your damage by .75)
