Sequence 03

[maestro_ezio]

Who: maestro_ezio and open!
What: Bare-knuckle boxing and sparring, what could possibly go wrong?
When: About an hour or so after this post
Where: Training rooms.
Warnings: Violence, blood, punching, manly bonding, potentially a lot of half-naked guys? (Ezio's a given here).

Comments

[missthewoman]

Irene had been quite intrigued by the gentilissimo's request for a place to fist fight. And for all that she might rather place a bet on a fight, she knew that she had best exercise herself. Besides, she knew Ezio to be capable of much more specular things, and she wanted to learn them.

So she came to the gymnasium dressed in her 'walking' clothes - trousers and a loose blouse, all the better for moving around in. A smile played on her lips as she watched him punch a bag - he had not seen her since he had handed over the artifacts to 'Nitsa', and she wondered how he would take the realization that she'd been in disguise.

Content to watch him for the moment (for he was quite enjoyable to watch,) she leaned in the door frame and waited for a moment to make her presence known.
If he didn't notice her first, as she wagered he might.

[maestro_ezio]

Ezio had gotten caught up with the punching bag for a few moments, lost in the rhythm, the quick punches he threw and the occasional kick. He stopped for a moment's respite, breathing deeply to catch his breath, when he sensed someone was watching him. A woman stood at the door, a very beautiful one at that.

And vaguely familiar.

"Are you looking for someone?"

[missthewoman]

Ah, but she loved hearing his Italian. Not that it made any difference in understanding, thanks to the babel fish (however that worked), but she still enjoyed hearing, and speaking, other languages. She wanted to speak Italian in return, but for now she stayed with English.

"I was looking for you, dear," she said, taking her Guide out of her pocket by way of explanation. She then entered the room and set the thing aside. Turning back she gave him a most confident smile. "I might not put up much of a challenge in brute force, but I hoped you might still practice with me."

[maestro_ezio]

That smile... he knew it from somewhere. But he kept the thought silent. "Brute force is only one way to fight. I would be honored to practice with you." Ezio bowed his head slightly, as he did often, with a grin. "You have practiced before, I take it."

[missthewoman]

Walking towards a firm mat that seemed to be just the thing for the purpose of cushioning falls during practice, she bent down to unlace her boots.

"I have. Not as diligently as I practice some other things, perhaps, but it is enough."

Boots off, she stands and walks out onto the mat, her smile now inviting, her posture straight but relaxed, as if she were about to take a casual stroll down the street. "I do hope I can evade you at least once."

[maestro_ezio]

He walked to stand across from her, throwing off his boots next to the mat. "Ladies first," he said to her as he rotated his right wrist, seemingly relaxed as well. But all the same, he did not stand completely relaxed. His knees were slightly bent, his weight balancing on the balls of his feet. He'd be able to break into a jump or a dodge much quicker this way.

[missthewoman]

He was quite prepared for her attack, wasn't he! Running him over with a considering gaze, she fixed her eyes on his, then walked slowly towards him.
He seemed too much of a professional to fall for a slight distraction, and there was little chance that she could actually fell him, but the odds being against her had never stopped her before.

Pausing just out of arm's reach, she winked and smiled seductively. Then in a flash she advanced upon him, darting in low to sweep one leg behind his to knock him off balance, and use her momentum to knock him down, shouldering into his chest.

(At least, that was the plan.)

[maestro_ezio]

Ezio was able to dodge the sweep by jumping back a bit, but he was not so lucky with the second attack. It was not necessarily a powerful attack, but it was a very well-aimed one. For a moment, he lost his breath.

She was much better than he had imagined. With her back still turned, he made for her wrist, bringing her closer and attempted to strike her underneath her chin with a flat upturned. palm

[missthewoman]

This was all so much easier with a knife or the short life-preserver club she often carried.

Caught up against Ezio and feeling him shift as he brought his other hand up to strike, she suddenly went completely and heavily limp, slumping forward. His hand would still hit, but probably not her face. (Should have asked him to leave the face - she still had one more performance tonight.)

[maestro_ezio]

"What the...!" His hand did indeed connect, but his arm immediately shot out to catch her as she fell forward. Ezio's arm wrapped lightly around her waist.

That was a surprise for him.

[missthewoman]

If that was a surprise, that was the idea.

With his grip on her loosened and his arm conveniently around her waist she got her feet under her, tucked in her head and rolled forward a couple times so she could be out of reach.

Rising to a crouch she grinned. She had said that she would like to evade him once.

[maestro_ezio]

Ezio grinned back at her as he took several steps backward. But what could he do while she was crouched?

He ran towards her, dropping to his feet at the very last moment and attempted a quick, clean sweep to kick out her ankles.

[missthewoman]

Surprised that he would run straight at her while she was crouched, by the time she'd worked out what he was up to it was too late. She went to the ground awkwardly, not quite in a position to roll away. She hurried to gain her feet again before he followed up-

[maestro_ezio]

He had intended to pin her wrists down to keep her grounded, but found himself needing to regain proper footing since she had already recovered. Ezio closed the space between them with a jump and made to strike her shoulders with his right hand.

[missthewoman]

Her determined frown was altered by eyes widening in surprise as the man jumped at her. From seeing a bit of how he had fought on the rooftop perhaps she should have expected such a move, but having it happen to you is quite different from rationalizing about it.

Her step back and partial turn to evade was more instinct than anything, her arms rising defensively even as his hand clipped her shoulder.

[maestro_ezio]

Ezio turned in the opposite direction to her with a swift spin. He made note of her moves, mostly on the defensive and reactive to his attacks. If he could perhaps push her into actually attacking him...

For now, he aimed a chop at her back, quick but not entirely full of force.