bravenewworld | Fourth Snapshot

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Fourth Snapshot | Video

[The smiling, cheery photographer does not appear to be in right now. What the feed gets is someone who is tired, frazzled, and angry.]

I'm glad to see that it looks like everyone made it out of that mess alive. I don't- I don't really know what to make of what we saw down there, but I can say this: I'm not really fond of a bunch of Gods that would put kids through something like that. That was bullshit.

[There's a pause while he tries to get himself under control.]

I need a drink. I need ten drinks. I'm going to go get ten drinks. Someone tell me if there's a place in town that has good drinks.

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Before or after your ten drinks?

[You know since those were going to be a thing.]

I'm not in any hurry to master the drunken arts. [HE'S GOING TO BE IN FOR SUCH A SURPRISE.]

We could do it before. I'm going to meet Taki later for drinks.

Fine by me. [Work will keep, he's just going to have to stay later.]

Let's take this outside the city limits.

[He feels a little bad wanting to drag Thorin out for something like this but man does he need to punch something to get it out. He appreciates that Thorin indulges him.]

Sure thing. I'll meet you by the gate?

Yes. I'll be there soon.

[He doesn't say so, but Thorin can use a chance to blow off some steam as well. Sparring just isn't usually his method of choice.]

[Hayato, for all his dedication to searching for the truth and wielding his camera and his words for justice, was a still a hot-blooded punk who grew up on the streets. He doesn't care for violence, but there's something terribly cathartic about getting the shit kicked out of you until you couldn't stand. With Thorin, he didn't have to hold back.]

[He's on time, waiting by the gate when Thorin gets there.

[Not a lot of people have to hold back with Thorin. And while he's never fallen in love with fighting for its own sake the way some people do, that doesn't mean he can't appreciate it.

Thorin doesn't keep Hayato waiting long, shows up still dressed in work clothes that smell like smoke and metal, sleeves rolled up, showing some of the dark blue scales that cover him in patches where scars should be.
And he doesn't stop, just nods for him to follow and keeps walking. They'll want to be somewhat out of sight, at least - as usual, they won't want to be drawing the guards' attention. It might be a friendly spar, but it might not look the part.]

[Which is good, because Hayato always feels oddly exposed when displaying any of that strength he got from being Enhanced. He didn't tell people about it- he barely told anyone he was an earthkin. The less eyes on him, the better.]

[He head after him without a word, keeping an eye out for a good patch of open area for them to use.]

[It's not too far. There's a clear spot nicely sheltered from view that their previous fights have helped make a bit bigger already. Thorin doesn't exactly have words, and isn't the type to need to fill the silence in the meantime. They both just want to vent, after all.

By the time he's stepping onto the clearing, the way he moves has completely shifted from his relaxed everyday posture. He's walking into a fight, and it shows - this is a soldier Hayato will be able to recognize.

And then he turns a careful eye on his Enhanced friend and waits, bracing himself for just about anything.]

Go on.

[Hayato's posture doesn't change much right at first, but there's an obvious shift to the way he holds himself. He watches Thorin as he gets into place.]

[He was never formerly trained. He learned how to fight growing up as a means of survival. The only thing he'd ever had to combat training had been from Thorin over these last few weeks while he helped with his abilities and it's clear the difference it's made.]

[He raises his hands for a moment, a split second stance before he's darting after him, right arm swinging a fist in Thorin's direction.]

[Thorin has been fighting almost as long as he's been able to walk, even if particularly formal training came much later.

Experience lets him react without thinking. He steps into Hayato's charge instead of away, grabbing the young man's right as it comes. And then he turns, needing little force to fling his opponent forward by his own momentum. Then he rushes him, faster than a man his size has any right to be. If he gets to close the distance, it'll be with a wide right hook aimed for whatever part of Hayato's torso happens to be in its path.]

[He didn't think Thorin would take his first hit, by any means. He's sparred off him enough times to expect a counter of some kind. He is flung forward but he lets himself twist as he is.]

[Thorin manages to close the distance, but Hayato puts up his right arm up to block the hit. The force of it probably knocks him straight to the ground with his already gained momentum, but that was still better than taking the brunt of that hit to the side.]

[He's not down long, rolling to get back to his feet and to brace for any further assault.]

[Thorin doesn't hold back much, keeps pressing his advantage, so as soon as Hayato rolls and gets up he's in range again. He's not really thinking about his movements. But he does think about his aim and about the strength he uses, knowing what he can inflict in someone weaker than he is.

The left uppercut is aimed at Hayato's stomach rather than his chin for that reason. As durable as he is, there are chances he doesn't want to take.]

[Hayato would have honestly welcomed him to not hold back. He wants to feel the pain, he wants to feel something other than the muted sensation he gets now after he's been altered. He got a taste of it in those caverns, however brief, and he already misses it.]

[Thorin makes his mark, this time Hayato wasn't fast enough to dodge out of the way. However, he grins for half a second, grabbing Thorin's fist while it's still making contact with his gut and then throws his whole weight into flipping the larger man over him.]

[That grin speaks of a quality Thorin lacks, but it's familiar all the same. And then there's a split second of surprise on the soldier's face before he braces himself for the impact. Perhaps even he still underestimates Hayato's strength, despite knowing.

The landing drives the air from his lungs, but he immediately gets to his feet again, or tries to, and while his guard is up, he doesn't retreat as he does. Too used to being able to handle anything. Too little regard for his own wellbeing.]

[It's like he looks it. Once he's successful flipping him over, he takes a single step back. His hand is on his stomach for a moment before he falls back into a defensive stance. He doesn't rush just yet.]

[His grin has mostly faded.]

[That, to Thorin, seems like a mistake. He makes note of it, if it does go on to bite Hayato later. In a serious fight, backing away from a downed opponent without even trying to finish the job is foolish. But now isn't the time to remark on it.

This time when he steps he does swing for the young man's face, a right hook, but he'll avoid getting grabbed again if he can help it.]

[It would have been a terrible thing to do in a real fight, but a lot of why he didn't pursue is because this was a spar. And because he was still pretty uncertain of his own strength. Would that have been too much?]

[He ducks to avoid that right, swinging his own right towards Thorin's mid-section.]

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Fourth Snapshot | Video

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