A sharp ache of pain shot through the slope of his neck, right where it connected with the broad plane of his shoulder. He winced, that shoulder dropping just a hair, the pain a surprising amount for what he had assumed would be a glancing blow. It wouldn't stop his advance but it would weaken any blows he threw from that side for a few ticks, or at least he assumed that would be the case. He wasn't at all skilled enough to know how his body would respond when faced with these sorts of situations.
His thought process seemed to give him an advantage, in a sense. He had learned that this was the case when it came to a spar, but had also learned that it would be very different if they were in a more serious situation. Instincts would kick in if they were ever thrust into a scenario like that, and Matthew had no doubt that Fallon's instincts were far superior to his own. His logical attacks and his firm grasp on what he could and could not do were all fine and dandy, but it was amazing what the human body could do in a moment of thoughtless primal instinct. He did not possess that primal instinct. He also refused to acquire it.
The blow struck, not feeling solid at all. He felt her flesh sink inwards underneath his knuckles and she staggered a hair, though her hand was upon him and giving him a little shove backwards. The air around them had changed though, something that caused Matthew to glance up at her for a brief moment. Ah, they were stopping. He quickly nodded, immediately standing straight and letting his arms fall to his side. He went from an aggressive stance to a completely passive one incredibly quickly, unblinking in his steady and intense stare. His level of fitness compared to her own was on display now, his stomach and chest heaving as he silently gulped in breaths of air. A sheen of sweat decorated his brow, revealing that the Harlot was actually quite tired from their relatively short spar. While he certainly had a vast well of stamina within him, it certainly did not come into play when his body had to make movements as unfamilar as these. No, he was much more used to a completely different sort of movement.
Her helpful words came out and he focused, listening intently. He nodded at her words, absorbing them and understanding them. At her final questions, he slowly gave a shake of his head, understanding that he had eaten up quite a bit of her time as well. "I have nothing to ask." He most certainly did, but he was making an attempt to be polite. "Thank you for your time. You are welcome to take a nap with me, if you wish." It was an incredibly casual offer, like normal, Matthew apparently not thinking it was a big deal at all. He had noticed her yawn and he was quite tired himself.
If she accepted, the sleeping back was hers and she would find the Harlot soon dozing off inches away from her on the bare floor. If she did not, unless she demanded his departure, then she would soon find him dozing off within the confines of the very same sleeping bag.
His thought process seemed to give him an advantage, in a sense. He had learned that this was the case when it came to a spar, but had also learned that it would be very different if they were in a more serious situation. Instincts would kick in if they were ever thrust into a scenario like that, and Matthew had no doubt that Fallon's instincts were far superior to his own. His logical attacks and his firm grasp on what he could and could not do were all fine and dandy, but it was amazing what the human body could do in a moment of thoughtless primal instinct. He did not possess that primal instinct. He also refused to acquire it.
The blow struck, not feeling solid at all. He felt her flesh sink inwards underneath his knuckles and she staggered a hair, though her hand was upon him and giving him a little shove backwards. The air around them had changed though, something that caused Matthew to glance up at her for a brief moment. Ah, they were stopping. He quickly nodded, immediately standing straight and letting his arms fall to his side. He went from an aggressive stance to a completely passive one incredibly quickly, unblinking in his steady and intense stare. His level of fitness compared to her own was on display now, his stomach and chest heaving as he silently gulped in breaths of air. A sheen of sweat decorated his brow, revealing that the Harlot was actually quite tired from their relatively short spar. While he certainly had a vast well of stamina within him, it certainly did not come into play when his body had to make movements as unfamilar as these. No, he was much more used to a completely different sort of movement.
Her helpful words came out and he focused, listening intently. He nodded at her words, absorbing them and understanding them. At her final questions, he slowly gave a shake of his head, understanding that he had eaten up quite a bit of her time as well. "I have nothing to ask." He most certainly did, but he was making an attempt to be polite. "Thank you for your time. You are welcome to take a nap with me, if you wish." It was an incredibly casual offer, like normal, Matthew apparently not thinking it was a big deal at all. He had noticed her yawn and he was quite tired himself.
If she accepted, the sleeping back was hers and she would find the Harlot soon dozing off inches away from her on the bare floor. If she did not, unless she demanded his departure, then she would soon find him dozing off within the confines of the very same sleeping bag.
