[Coliseum] Rehearsal [Almech]

[Ifran]

88th Fall, 511 A.V. They had told him to await a man by the name of Almech, and so Ifran stood in the salle, stretching his long limbs into limberness, twinned bronze khopeshes already in hand and balanced. The Coliseum was a place that fostered showmanship, and so his sword-dancing would involve many shifts in grip. He was lucky to have six hands to choose from. Were he Jamoura, he might also use his feet, but that was a different sort of freak show than the Alvads wanted. But such a show had as much to do with the capabilities of his opponent as with his own. In such a dance as they would have, it was a partnership rather than a struggle, though some in the Coliseum would rather the show be more real than not. Ifran preferred choreography, else he might be forced to kill in self-defense, which gave him no moral qualms, but was unforgivably messy.

[Almech]

Almech entered quietly and peered at the six armed man "I take it you're my partner for the little show in winter?" he asked, he'd seen two armed men, and even a four armed man. Almech never once saw a man with six arms, surprisingly enough he'd never seen a man wield two blades in such a way as this man "I have no idea what choreographed combat means, and the only creativity i have is creating holes in people's bodies, care to help?". He said this in a way that may have made him come off as a snob, but really, he was just annoyed with Shale, the bastard, he truly enjoyed watching Almech suffer. He couldn't have just thrown him into a life and death situation like he did every other time, Almech felt at home when in battle, it was one of the only things that really comforted him. Perhaps this was Shale's way of telling Almech he's become too comfortable, Almech grinded his teeth as he thought of this, he kept from curling his lip, which was a chore. He didn't want Ifran thinking that his aggression was aimed at him, Almech took in Ifran's scent, it was kind of musky, which wasn't surprising, the man had 6 armpits. Almech sneezed, the man's scent was strong, that wasn't the only thing though, the robe he wore had been sitting out, collecting dust for the last few days, his armor though, he made sure it was polished and clean.

[Ifran]

Ifran sniffed. He thought he smelled dog, but it appeared it was only a heterochromatic man with a bit of an attitude. An attitude was no problem; Ifran had one himself. "Choreography elevates the fight from the instinctual expression of violence to a composition of violent art." He shrugged eloquently, quite the sight in a six-armed man. "But if we are to fight, it were best to know how each other moves and reacts. Shall we?" His wrists twisted, arms swinging into a neutral guard even as his knees bent into a wider stance better befitting a fight with two khopeshes as opposed to one only.

[Almech]

Almech didn't understand what Ifran was talking about, he only understood the 'violent art' part, so they were going to rehearse a battle it seemed, Almech wasn't against the idea. He put his hands up, open palm, his right hand extended about halfway and in front of his face, his other hand was near his heart and his arm was extended until about equal to his right elbow. He wasn't sure what to expect from a dual wielding opponent, Almech himself only used one, bit it required both hands, although, he saw no reason to bring his scythe today. He somewhat liked this idea now, he assumed they'd essentially only be fighting at or around half strength, it was much easier to just go all out, so this would turn out to be an effective form of training. you had to learn to control yourself in order to be a strong fighter, holding back would make him more in tune with himself, he imagined he would learn something about himself on this day. His feet shifted, his right foot about 3 foot lengths away from his left, he twisted his feet in either direction, getting a good rooting on the ground beneath him. It was then he lurched foward like a spring, his right arm extended, sending his palm straight towards the eypharian's face, he wondered how this six armed man would react, although he didn't worry, his arms and legs were completely armored, he didn't imagine this man would try to stab him in the gut or something, regardless, His reflexes were at 100% even if his attacking was not.

[Ifran]

Such a dance as this generally began at one third speed, but Ifran was ready, and showed a remarkable limberness in the long arch of his back, and stamina in holding it there as his two bronze khopeshes came scissoring back in slow motion. Safety was the goal here, and a show that would impress onlookers, and at least seem to be in earnest. The Alvads knew all about seeming with Ionu patronizing their city. In that, perhaps they would appreciate a showcase more than a true bloodsport, but Ifran was not sure how much faith he had in the civilization of humanity.

[Almech]

Almech was impressed with Ifran's dexterity when he bent back, evading his palm strike and sending his own blow as he did so, Almech drew back, his weight shifting. He pulled his palm back and rose the other up with it. Catching the blades gently with fingers, he ran his fingers down them, applying just enough force to keep them from cutting him, that was part of the act afterall right? precision of movements in a fluid fasion, Almech took another step back. The blades had crossed eachother and Almech could hear the wind move from the strike and felt a very light breeze on his face, he opened his mouth unknowlingly, with his dog grin, with his tongue hanging out and a look in his eye like they were playing a game. He turned his body slightly left side face Ifran, and swung his right arm backwards and above his head, then he pivoted his arm and swung it down in a backhand, but was only a distraction from the fact the his right arm was swinging down soon after his left, carrying it's and his right arm's momentum. It was a flat solid palm, his fingers half bent and cocked back, fingertips pointing down, like a swipe from his paw, he was sure Ifran could avoid this, he did it for flash and finnesse.

[Ifran]

Almech's reaction was perfectly acceptable, and with their movements slowed down, he was able to take in the feint as well as the actual attack, responding with a more elaborate evasion and riposte than he might have in an actual fight. As such, his response was flashier, more impressive, or it would be when they had decided upon a fight choreography and had worked up to full speed. His khopeshes would flash and this opponent's natural grace would impress the onlookers. They would weave an illusion without Ionu's help, a fight that was all planned out, all pretend, but still fought in deadly earnest despite the lack of desire to hurt one another. Ifran's smile was small, more of a smirk, but it invited his opponent into their little conspiracy. Let the audience believe they were both after blood. The trick would be on them, and these two would laugh all the way to the bank.

[Almech]

Almech laughed slightly as the "battle" became more interesting, his blow to the headed was evaded eligantly, just as Almech's attack was about to his the Eypharian stepped back and within the same fluid motion turned on a dime while slicing upwards with one of his Khopeshs, Almech brought his other arm out as he twisted his body to guard with an equally impressive display of dexterity, simply by seeing Ifran's last movements, he predicted his method of rataliation and responded meeting Ifran's khopesh with the side of his vambrace. The sound of bronze on bronze clanged and echoed through the rooom for a moment and stopped Almech could tell he was getting excited as his scent start to have a haze of adrenaline within it.

Getting carried away Almech sped, he lunged forward with one foot sending his palm soaring through the air toward's the eypharian's stirnum, his hands and arms were armored completely, so as long as he kept one arm near he could keep a good guard. He took his back leg after his first strike and sent it flying into the air aiming to make contact to Ifan's head with his armored shin, Almech was getting too excited, Ifran would probably have to tell him to calm down. Unless he wanted to get some practice in with 100% of both of their strength, which in the beginning Almech assumed wouldn't happen until the actual "fight" in the coliseum.

[Ifran]

As Almech increased the tempo of their little dance, Ifran kept time. There was some training there, but mostly what he had was natural ability, speed, and strength. Ifran had training. While the speed was still lessened, he fought with both khopeshes, which would impress the audiences. One blade would catch on the man's vambrace, the other hooking behind his leg to pull him off balance, but only so far before Ifran had to move to get out of his way. When Almech began to push things, one of his khopeshes was held back, the entirety of his focus singling one just one blade, which was easier to do. A slow grin spread over his face, feral and amused. His opponent seemed to be gradually taking things more seriously, but Ifran was just dancing. It could be a deadly dance -- that bronze blade could steal Almech's life in the right situation -- but it was a dance. He said nothing to slow the other down, wanting to see what he was capable even as he let what control he had slip. Ifran maintained control. Going on the offensive, he made an overhand strike that was blocked, then another, also blocked, before he spun around, his khopesh coming in from the side.

[Almech]

Almech was truly enjoying himself, battle excited him, it was when he felt the most alive, so naturally, he was well on his way to getting carried away in this battle, he was an animal after all. He was a predator on top of it, so he instinctually put forth effort to keep himself at his physical peak. This Ifran was an impressive fighter, matching Almechs speed instantly, A Khopesh knocked his first blow out of the way, and as he went for the kick he got hooked from behind the knee, he fell to his back, but pulled his legs toward his chest, rolling back onto his feet, he was in a scrimmage position like in football, his feet digging into the ground, holding himself up with one arm. A Khopesh came at him from above, he hopped in the air kicking the blade away. He moved his arm as his body spun, luckily it was in the right position, deflecting another strike.

Then another attack came, as the eypharian spun, Almech had almost no time to evade, he sucked in his stomach simultaneously stepping back. His robe was cut open and he felt a very light amount of blood slowly run down his stomach. Naturally when he had stepped back his arms both flung up in the air, so when the blade was no longer a threat at the moment one arm swung down building momentum as it came back up aiming an uppercut for Ifran's jaw with his right hand, he spun his body to the left and with his left hand aiming a slash with his claws at his opponent's chest. Immediately after would come another hop, throwing up his right light as a fake before his left knee came up to hit him in his face.

oocLet me know if i should edit