Misunderstood Roommates. (Ximal)

[Balcex Joltspear]

Spring 41st, 513AV
Safe Haven Hostel

Balcex room wasn't necessarily messy, but it was definitely not been use in a while, as cobwebs had formed and he had felt the few spiders crawl over him the past few days he'd been sleeping. The dust was the worse problem, anything he touched would respond by leaving large dust clumps on his finger tips which he would then have to find a non-dusty spot in the room to wipe them onto. Needless to say, he had spent quite a few hours playing pass the dust clump with two halfs of his room like it was some kind of skillfull competition within which the winner would be rewarded by large sums of money. He had been eyeing up another room from the get go, though. He never saw anyone enter or leave, which gave him reason to doubt anybody was actually using it. Perhaps the Vysia women just had a natural distaste for him for whatever reason. Perhaps she was saving that room for a lover. In either case, he would speculate and philosophize some other time.

Balcex looked to see that all was clear before carrying his possessions over to the room, and convieniently plonking them onto the bed before placing himself beside them. He rested for a short while, removing his cloak and laying his back on the bed. It definitely felt comfortable enough. The room lacked dust, and cobwebs, and nothing felt ... Unused, like they did in his original room. Yes, this will do nicely he thought to himself, rather pleased to find the room empty and yet much more homely than his other one. It definitely felt like a place worth staying in. He started unpacking, but left his provisions in the bag. It was a small shame that he was completely oblivious to the stuff that were underneath the bed, neatly packed away, even worse would be the person that was coming, expecting an early nap, a break from his normal routine.

OOCsorry it was a bit short, it'll pick up as we go.

[Ximal]

Xi headed back to the hostel wandering down the walkways towards the free-standing building in the middle of nyka. Xi Brought his hand up still clad in it's steel coating. His finger tips lightly brushing the bristles of his still regrowing close trimmed beard. Xi heaved out a heavy sigh as his head pounded, the worst thing was that he felt like he wouldn't get any respite, he had a large weight strapped onto his shoulder mentally at least and now he was just heading back to the hostel for a break from his natural routine, a day hauling stone at the nykan quarries had drained him quite heavily. Xi pushed on the door to the hostel his body weight folliwing his had and the door flying open like it'd just been kicked by some moron with a bad case of the drunk. Still Xi clambered in wavein it off towards vysia. "You giant...Amelias was here earlier, and she asked me to tell you that she was taking ana away from the hostel for a bit..." Xi smirked and nodded in thanks to vysia. "Thank you vysia...And i'd much appreciate it if you just called me, Xi." She gave him a half leer and a half sneer. "You'll remain "giant" to me, until you do something that prooves you worthy of me calling you your name." Xi sighed and shook his head ligthly, he wasn't ion the mood for this or quite awake enough to deal with it. Xi clambered up the stairs to his room which often remained empty during the times he didn't use it. but that was between the hours of a bell before dawn and a bell after midnight. For once though he needed to use it for a bit longer than usual. Xi pressed his hand onto the door and already could tell something was wrong. He could hear shuffling on the inside of the door. Thief...Or worse ana...Xi pressed into the handle slowly before in one motion swinging the door open and yelling out loudly. "Ana get the petch out of my roo-" Xi's eyes instead of clasping hold of ana, caught hold of something else another man in his room...Possibly a joke of zands for her continuously questioning his "preferences" With that Xi could feel a vein of irritation bulging in the back of his left hand. "Excuse me mate, but what in the holy shyke are you doing in my room? ...On second thought, why the petch are you unpacking your crap in my room? Y'know what I don't care just get the shyke out." Xi took a slow breath and could feel his headache lurching forth more. Xi rolled his hand into a fist beneath his cloak.

[Balcex Joltspear]

* * * * *

Misunderstandings can oft be the cause of almost all the interpersonal problems in life and perhaps had Balcex known this, He would be more likely to react differently. He smiled and blinked at the intruder that had entered his room, quite intrusively, in fact; the intruder seemed to have no manners to speak of as he was already shouting, rambling about some such person named Ana. Perhaps he's drunk, or worse delusional. His mind pointed in it's typical matter-of-factly way. Balcex was quick to respond, simply stating the obvious. "I'm not this Ana," quickly followed by a rather inquisitive statement, "Are you drunk?"

This was likely to not go as well as he would like, as the man seemed to be of a rude manner, and seemed intent on having the empty room for himself. This fact gave Balcex a brilliant Idea. "You must be new here, this is my room, I think you'll find your room is that one." Balcex said, raising a finger to point past Balcex to the degrading room on the opposite side of the hostel. His smile was growing as he felt he had come up with the ultimate ruse. Why move into this room and not kindly show this man his room, which is my old room, but he doesn't know that. I must be the most KIND fellow in Nyka to him right now, him being drunk, or incompetent, or whatever it is that befouls him today. It was a win-win situation to him, he got the better room AND had the oppurtunity to get the profusely swearing man out of his hair and into the dust.

Once he had pointed he looked down, and went back to his toils of unpacking. Huffing as he unpacked the last item. He felt like the man was still there and when he looked up, he found the Heavy built man was still in the doorway.

"What? I told you were you're room is? Are we going to have a problem? Maybe you can get away with pushing people to do you're willing elsewhere and with others, but you aren't going to do it with me. Understand?" His smile turned into a full sized grin, bearing his slightly yellowed teeth and could be construed as almost cocky if someone were in the right temperment to think so. The situation still hadn't dawned on him that this man might actually be using this room. He layed a hand on the hilt of his sword, just to be on the safe side, he really could care less about Vysia's rules if this man advanced on him, he would defend himself as needed.

[Ximal]

Xi watched the man in the room...Xi's fingers slowly puling at him...He should just punch him in the face and toss him and his shyke out...Xi gave him a glance that spoke quite fervently. "No interloper, i'm not drunk, however you are in my room, and quite obviously your not ana...after all she's five feet nothing, oh and female...The clue is in the name." Xi sighed and watched the man try to pass off the circumstance of the events, calling Xi the new one there. What was it with everyone treating him like an idiot after all he wasn't a complete moron, despite his immense size and the fact everyone thought he was thick as pig-muck. Xi held a steady tone and held an even steadier temper. as the man tried to bass off that Xi's room was the one across the hall. Xi spoke out agian his words now chilling and hard. "No i think you'll find this is the room i've had here since the fifth of spring so i'd d like you sto stop unpacking your crap and get out of my room before i toss you out the petching window." Xi had small fortune in golden miza's hidden beneath that bed and he'd be dammed if he was letting some interloper find them and think himself lucky that he found his fortune in the middle of an already owned room. Xi almost wanted to hit him at that point almost raising his voice before, the ban turned to start to have a go at him for still being there. Thinking that Xi was being the brute here, and maybe he was but it was because this ignorant jackass had stolen away into his room. Then the bit which pushed him over the edge was the moment, he heard the word..."understand" like he was so thick he couldn't comprehended what the man was saying. Though the man's next mannerisms told Xi everything he needed to know...This guy was the one used to getting his way, trying to palm off all his faults onto others to make-up for his own inept qualities. Xi breathed out his next words as he watched the man place his hand on his sword. Xi glanced at bals sword hand and flicked his dark black blue eye's onto bal. Watching the smile grow. "Are you really sure you want to fight me over a room. Rather than just walk out ? Fine your choice." Xi let bal leave the room before following him down stairs and outside, Xi was already a little tired and as such didn't want to waste his time with idiots like this. As they stepped outside the hostel Xi simply said three words as they faced each other. "Whenever you're ready."

[Balcex Joltspear]

Balcex merely looked at the Hulking shape his head slightly tilted. "It's odd to say that this room is yours when it has been quite empty, for quite some time." Balcex was hardly made with a lack of brain cells, and he could already feel the smile emenating more and more, the toothy grin becoming something far wider; his facial muscles were starting to hurt from the increased stretching as the grin began to extend into something so strange it looked partially psychotic. He was hardly in the mood to deal with such a nuisance, but he figured he wouldn't have peace of mind until this bullying harbour of meat would exit his newly found room and leave his presence, preferrably for his entire stay in Nyka. Such was his irritability on the lack of quality of his old room.

"If you're asking for a fight, I'll happily do so, I'd prefer to not harm you, but I'll do as is needed." Spoke Balcex, as he stood, grasping the base of the sword's cloth covered steel blade with his right hand, and moving past with fierce lithe grace, as if he was already fighting the man, even in his steps past him and outside to battle. He stepped down the stairs to Vysia's desk, Vysia wasn't there, probably clearing up one area or another. He passed through the door to the outside. The wind was giving only ths slightest breeze, but enough to provide a small noise as he turned and faced his opponent.

Only then did he start to feel the tendrils of intimidation spread through his skin and into his soul; The tendrils the instilled fear into the hearts of both sides of a war when a battle was to be fought. The same tendrils that produced paranoia into the hearts of theives and murderers alike. The tendrils that caused the smirk from Balcex. Yes, the fear pushed into him hard, and caused him a moments thought that there could have been a much better option. Perhaps he shouldn't have gone through with this, but it was too late for that.

"Whenever you're ready"

The words although small, gave the go ahead. Balcex left the cloth wrapping on the blade, happy that it was tied securely enough. He didn't want to leave the man in tatters, and he was fairly sure that he could if it came down to it. Overconfidence seemed to be a staple of those who never fought a true fight. Overconfidence would leave Balcex with some very well taught lessons.

"Then let's begin" Balcex agreed, seperating his feet as he did so. His left foot positioned slightly forward at shoulders length while his right foot was slightly back, His left hand gripped the hilt of his cloth covered blade, kept at an angle, the tip pointing downwards, level with his knee. Balcex did not charge, that was a fool's game; He merely closed in with slow well positioned steps, circling his opponent carefully as he did so.

At the last minute he leapt forward with a downward slash, only a small distance ahead of the tip of the blade swung towards Ximal's left shoulder. Balcex's arm was slightly bent and the swing was slower than his actual speed. He was only doing as he remembered his father mentioning. 'Test your opponent's strength and keep the distance at first.' His father's words emanated into his mind in a millisecond, allowing his clockwork rhythm though hours of training and decisive muscle memory to spread and envolop him into his structured fighting method.

[Ximal]

Xi slowed his breathing, his mind focusing on the task at hand, he would have to dispatch the pan calmly and quickly. people who used weapons always seemed to have an air of superiority spearing and seeping over them a glorification of their own abilities, knowing that with but a single well placed cut of their blade they could end someone's existence. Xi took a deep breath and heard the man before him speak slowly seeming to love the sound of his own voice a little too much. Xi stayed calm though not moving his stance already active, his basic stance for people who had not earned his true stance. "Formless" the stance he used the most commonly it offered the same protective benefit as standing well normally as well as the same offensive benefit. However Xi was used to throwing some dangerous attack from having no basic stance at all. Xi rolled his hands into fist's beneath his cloak watching the man before him slowly begin to circle him. Was he with some skill ? If so then this might turn out to be in bal's favour. Xi let his eye's wash over the man circling him letting the man try to flank him. Xi's mind never wandered and his eye's stayed focused on the target before him. And then as the fighter circled to his left hand side. He's going to try a flanking attack isn't he...But what's with his slow speed, is he trying to calculate my skill level? Or is he just playing it cautiously? Either way he'd better hope he's got some skill to back up his bravado. Xi's thoughts were abruptly confirmed when he saw the man leap towards him. Looking at his blade and his boy...He's aiming for my shoulder...Well i suppose i should try and play him at his won game. If he want's to test my skill i should test his. Let's see if i can end this within one hit. Then maybe i can finally go and take a nap in gods dammed peace. Xi watched the bladed come closer and closer to his shoulder and his arm rose in similar time with the blade. The steel guard on Xi's forearm blocked the blow as Xi shifted the angle of his arm letting the blade run down his steel vambrace and then he lent his body back using the man's own forward momentum to help him follow up with a sharp angular blow to the temple. Liable to knock the guy out in one. Is he as good as he thinks he is ? If it was me...I'd probably try to get out of the way by dodging backwards rearing my head up and out of the way, and follow up with a knee to the midriff...But that's how i'd follow this assault up...I wonder how he will? Xi's eye's were now curious, he had begun it think about the fights and how others would react to them other than just fighting for the sake of winning...Or fighting for the sheer sake of survival.

[Balcex Joltspear]

'...What do you think when I say a sword is an extension of the arm...'

'...It's true, without a hand or a wrist or an arm, how would one fight with a sword?...'

'...You are wrong, boy. A sword is a weapon for combat, one would be foolhardy to think otherwise. If a sword is in your hand and an opponent is in front of you, your own body and soul is at stake remember this...'

* * * * *

Balcex's sword clanked against the steel vambrace before sliding downwards and as Ximal's elbow came to attempt a connection, Balcex lowered himself back with his left knee, placing a hand onto the surface ground. His blade followed along, and once free from the gauntlet was held into position across his chest and midriff, defending him from any assualts from above. Meanwhile his right leg instinctively kicked out at Ximal's Knee, heel extended for greater impact. Whether he would miss or hit, Balcex would lift his hand while simultaneously kicking his leg out and up so as to extend his distance from Ximal far enough for him to stand without any retaliation at the exact time.

The hulking giant's skill had already proven equal if not better than Balcex's. Balcex had already had to show his quicker motions along with his ability to escape dangerous incoming problems. This made Balcex nervous to say the least and so he decided to stall if only for a moment. He kept his blade low with his left foot in front of the right as before but instead of moving spoke.

"My name is Balcex, and despite the circumstances, I'd rather prefer to fight someone who knows who I am then fight someone who might win and never be able to tell the story." Balcex smiled casually this time as he remembered he had broken one of his father's bigger rules. Never release your guard, even to talk. Despite the harsh beatings he used to get, he rather liked to talk, it suited him more. He left a pause for a response before beginning his assualt this time, carefully and quickly stepping his left foot across his right as he circled to the right of his opponent. This time he wouldn't slow his strike, He swung heavy but quick with a crossbody strike from left to right around the belt level, keeping his opponent at the tip of his blade. If the strike hit, it would hit hard.

But this was not to be his only movement, for as he struck he swiveled his left foot back and his right foot forward and twisted the blade with his wrist to strike again with a crossbody strike in opposite direction, this time swinging his arm around to aim an Elbow at Ximal's chin, recreating the attack that Ximal had before. He was hoping that the cross body strikes would provide an ample resource to create a suprise attack to the chin, given that the man's height advantage would make him crouch lower to block the belt level attacks effectively.

[Ximal]

Interesting. So he's an aerial fighter. Xi watched the other man jolt backwards hyper extending himself for a short time to allow him to dodge and sail out of Xi's attacking range. Or at least the initial range of Xi's forth coming elbow strike. Xi held his hands in place watched the man leap backwards using his own momentum to yet again leap out of fighting range and try to attain an upper hand. But he'd already given away his skill levels. Xi on the other hand had kept his won level hidden keeping his stance empty and open, and deflecting an attack like that with barely any view of it. Xi also noticed the ow semi flying man try to land a strike against his knee. But obviously the man who'd been evading hadn't factored in his own backwards momentum as as the kick came through XI moved his leg less than a millimetre and the kick missed completely. Xi sighed slowly as the man before him began speaking, introducing himself and ordaining himself as a very "proficient" fighter. Xi rolled his hand and brought them both back beneath his cloak. Xi kept his guard as he listened to the man who had introduced himself as balcex. Xi shook his head lightly and lowered his hood from around his head, now letting his features be seen for the first time. Xi then watched the man before him smile an obvious tell that he was going to strike. This guy...Is he playing with me ? Thinking he can win through his marginal skill alone? Xi watched the blade come through and Xi brought his left arm forwards lightly to have the steel along the back of his arm take the full impact of the blow from the sword. But it turned out that Xi's been paying too much attention to just the sword arm as the blow came through and collided with his jaw. Was that...My attack just then ?Xi left his black hair fall around the red scarf like headband he now wore the hair masking the fact the blow had done little more to him than split Xi's lip a little. A small trail fo blood now running down his mouth and across his chin lightly. XI let his eye's now lift from the ground and leer into bal's face. Xi brought his steel clat left hand up to wipe the trail of blood from his face. Now The intimidation poured off of Xi like a thick fog of fear, forcing a large berth around the pair of fighters to become much wider. "I think...You may be deserving of a little more credit than i gave you...After all you copied me..." Xi lifted his black blue eye's up the look of coldness now glareing at bal like a cut sapphire. Xi used the closeness of bal to his advantage. closing the gap between them with a simple turn of his foot drawing his body closer to bals as his right arm snapped out still not at full power but with enough force to hurt or if bal was really unlucky fracture something. He hit me with a move he copied from me...Good. Means it works and he just dodged it y the skin of his teeth. Xi brought the full weight of his right arm to bear as he brought his fist firmly towards ball's stomach. Xi then would follow up y further closing the gap and bringing his left hand up towards bal's right kidney. If neither hit then xi would use the escape artists skill against him. Xi would used his backwards momentum to add to Xi's force and literally sweep this bastard off his feet. A firm blow to bal's right leg from a kick of Xi's left. possibly enough power hidden behind it to send the jackass spinning in mid air. Again if it hit. Right if he escapes he's probably going to try another copy of a move of mine and if he does i'll be ready with my counter move...Shadow purple. If not then i'll relieve him of his weapon with Virgin white...Either way he's not going to walk away from this scot free.

[Balcex Joltspear]

'...Suprises work only once, so always make the suprise different...'

'...In a battle never be afraid of using any applicable means to cause pain, surrounding yourself in a bubble of pride only seeks to get you killed by less noble means...'

* * * * *

Words of training and wisdom still seemed to emanate in his mind, always continuing to provide him with a stream of movement, a stream of tactics that would move freely as the situation desired. Balcex was glad the hit connected and the man gave his words quickly and efficiently, acknowledging Balcex at least a little more than he had got when he spoke of Ximal's skill. Perhaps it was just he had misinterpreted Balcex's words. Perhaps he wanted to see more before answering. Either way he smirked with approval of the man's words. [i]Perhaps you did, but I may have done the same Balcex thought as the intimidation skyrocketed, and despite the adrenaline only increased when things were truly heating up, Balcex felt his heart skip in fear of the blasphemous man.

The punch skyrocketed to his abdomen was predictable, and as such, Balcex merely sidestepped, leaving his arm high to fully dodge the attack. That was until the kidney shot connected. Balcex hadn't expected the speed of the impact but a muscle memory reaction made him roll with the blow, following the direction of the blow and sidestepping once again. The impact caused all amounts of pain but Balcex felt safe enough to continue. he wouldn't stop unless he was left completely useless, that was hard to do if one had hands, or legs, or knees. as a forethought, Balcex was rather glad he had his studded vest on, that could have caused broken bones and internal bleeding surely. That was faster than before. How quick is he? A man that size should not be quick... His mind wandered in a split second, pondering the man's size and speed; All the while Balcex made the most simple of attacks. He raised his left knee to impact into the man's groin at full pelt, whether it made the connection or not, the man wouldn't be able to follow through as Balcex would hop back right after, whether the hit was dodged or not.

Once far enough to reassess the situation, Balcex hopped on the balls of his feet as he spoke "Your rather quick." His opinion was said aloud, but this time he didn't smile. He wanted to win, and his opponent was getting tougher every minute. Balcex was growing tired as he was trying to get his breathing to slow so he could continue, his body wasn't built for the heavy exertion he had to do within this battle, and the longer it went the more he was running out of steam.

Balcex twisted the blade in his hand and began circling to the right, in the same typical stance, on foot over lapping the other, at the last minute he swung at tip length, across from the right to the left, he hoped the opponent would be fooled into thinking that Balcex would try a similar stunt as before, using the same attack, but instead he lowered his whole body and stabbed at the man's inner thigh, He hoped the weird attack would give another opening, or at least a problem, how could one fight someone so far and so low, when they are both a tall and not quite at arm's distance.

[Ximal]

Xi watched the man again dodge his frontal strike. Now Xi's engine was beginning to roar into life. Xi's eye's watched the man before him, Xi rolled his shoulder as he watched the man try to knee him in the groin, Xi simply responded in a greeting fashion his right arm came down against the man's leg, hard. Hard enough seemingly to make the man recoil and retreat for space. Three words signalled what Xi already knew, he was waking up. the statement about Xi's speed was right he'd increased, subconsciously yes but he was still acting like he had before, in his mind his speed and strength were the same but they were coming off faster. And noticeably harder. Xi took a slow breath and let his eye's latch onto bal's moments he wasn't going to get caught off guard again. Dont even think about it. I'm watching your every movement. "Little bit of advice, surprise attacks only work once. And only once. Xi rolled his arm watching bal attempting to circle him again. Circling to Xi's right hand this time. Go on, try it... let's see how this assault ends shall we ? i'm expecting a slash or a stab, but i don't know where...Where are you going to aim that blade ? The man before him took a swing at Xi';s side this time xi stepped back a small amount using his body to read the man's movement's seemingly leaving himself open due to his formless stance. Then came what Xi had expected. Te thrust. But the angle was odd, to Xi's inner thigh. Xi waited for the man to get close and then spun his body. letting the sword pass by across Xi's prior standing point letting the blade pierce nothing but thin air. Using bal's still forward moving momentum Xi took it upon himself to educate the man as to who and or what he was fighting. With bal's body so low a punch would have been useless so Xi tried something else. Bringing a steel plated knee up sharply and hardly towards bal's face. Using that as a forwards propelling force. Even if the attack missed it's true intent was to get bal to dodge so Xi could respond. Then Xi would use his many battle s to his advantage. Xi lowered himself as his knee came back down and in a single sweeping motion let his arm out stretch and aim for bal's throat. Intending seemingly to remove his head from his shoulders with his forearm, but no this was not the case. Instead Xi brought his whole weight into his motion and then as bal would either get hit or try to dodge Xi's right elbow would swing either back or a cross as the case needed to land a sharp stinging elbow to bal's rear collar bone, or his sternum.