An odd foundation

[petal_storm]

Who: Orchid, Magnus, any?
When: About a month after she arrived injured at the spa.
What: A grand re-opening.

The invitation was beautifully written on actual paper, delivered in an actual envelope and with hand illustrated margins showing thorny vines, sands, and battle grounds. A true piece of archaic penmanship likely courtesy of Orchid and it added a touch of high end grandeur to an open invite. And 'open' meant 'anyone who wishes to experience an evening of mingling and new, far more interesting definition of spectator combat'. The spa likely recieved the widest invitation, as it included any employee (or owner) thereof and any date they wished to bring.

A subtle way to demand Markux's presence, but also allow his old pet, Poppy, to attend.

After all Poppy had to miss being properly assured of his place instead of being a mere 'employee'. Such a disappointment that really. He'd had high hopes for Poppy's ability to crack Markux's facade. Ah well, he could still provide opportunity to reassure the boy of his place in life.

There was comfort in having a role after all, Orchid assured him of such, though she was quite capable enough to replace many less efficient (and caring) people he'd employed prior. It truly was something else to his comfort and entertainments to have a creature that adored him and put his pleasures paramount. Money couldn't buy a dedication like that.

Regardless, the upcoming reopening of the arena in C was the talk of the town, and a hell of a conversational topic in the spa as well. 'High dress' was the listed code, though all other amenities, from food and drink, to 'mild' drugs were provided sans charge. Tonight was an exhibition after all, a way to display WHY they should return and spend money betting later.

Magnus himself was dressed in simple, dark green silk tunic and pants; Orchid was his ornamentation wearing delicate gold chains and stones only in a wash of light and glitter over purple skin as they greeted people and mingled out of the pristine sands. It was the largest area for a party of course, but there were several raised platforms showcasing some of the intended lineup, and more empty ones for patrons to add fighters to later.

Comments

[code_jaeger]

Jeager did find them a room and some silk ties yes.

[petal_storm]

There was a lot of speculative and amused looks as they left, yes, how not? And he did make sure to mark Jaeger up a bit, bruises and bites to show off while fighting...

[code_jaeger]

“It was sexy yes. He would have purred but he was trying NOT to end up full dragon here.

[petal_storm]

Hey, if it looked like 'discipline' marks but felt like hungry mate with an excuse to bite him several times well...

...yeah.

He did remember to get a different outfit from the hover for Jaeger to fight in though? His first match was against one of the arena fighters and it was random weapon roll, first to draw blood!

The roll came up...whips?

[code_jaeger]

It was a good thing Jeager knew how they worked then yes. He resisted the urge to bow to his opponent before they started. That didn’t seem to be a custom here.

[petal_storm]

No, not a custom, and past the first round the matches all relied on skill more than anything else, usually to first blood, though knockout, and outside a progressively smaller ring were added as well.

The Shark woke and snarled his way into the semi-finals, only to be paired against Orchid. An opportunity to enrage him, repeatedly in an interesting show of agility and getting the opponent to stop thinking and rush in rages until he was out. Whatever she was planning, well, it involved Shark wanting revenge it seemed.

[code_jaeger]

Jeager enjoyed that yes. Absolutely.

Working his way up was fun and a good test of the skills he’d spent his life gathering. Plus he liked showing off for his mates. It was a very dragon method of courtship yes.

[petal_storm]

The last round before final fight Orchid was paired with an older, lean man that the crowd murmured about. Seemed he had been Magnus's personal security for decades, but was...retiring to the arena?

She came our sans chains and jewels, just a long solk sash knotted at her waist, and two long, wicked blades held along her firearms. He echoed her, stripped to the waist and matching blades. To say betting got heated as the lightning fast strikes flew was...an understatement. Eventually she faltered just enough to get scored along a rib and they both froze perfectly in place to prevent further damages.

She was out, but the man was smiling proudly at her!

[code_jaeger]

::Looks like I won’t have to fight her after all.:: Jeager noted waiting at the sidelines to learn what the final match was going to be.

[petal_storm]

::Might have been on purpose,:: Rial admitted. ::That stumble seemed...a touch odd with the rest if the movements.:: Maybe so the man could save face?

[code_jaeger]

::Hmmm… so what’s the play here?::

[petal_storm]

::We play it straight, defeat him if you can, but not by too large a margin? You're not trying to establish as a main fighter here so...::

[code_jaeger]

::Alright.:: he nodded smiling when the man walked by. “I guess it’s you and me then.”

[petal_storm]

The man smiled, faint scars across his arms, "as finalist I think we get to hash out terms between us. Preferences?"

[code_jaeger]

“How many weapons are you proficient with?” Jeager asked.

[petal_storm]

"Most bladed types honestly, though I don't think polearms or spears would work well for this."

[code_jaeger]

“Would knives work then?” He grinned. “To first blood? Could set up obstacles be a bit of a hunt?”

[petal_storm]

"Hmmm, yes, that's workable, I'll go talk to Orchid about obstacles," he chuckled. "Dual weild or single?"

[code_jaeger]

“I’m good with hidden knives on the field.” He grinned teeth sharper for a second.

[petal_storm]

"I see," he mused, giving Jaeger a heavily weighted look.

[code_jaeger]

“Hmmm?” Had he said something wrong?

[petal_storm]

"You're an odd duck for an arena," he chuckled. "It will take a bit of setup I suggest you get refreshments while you wait."

[code_jaeger]

“It seemed fun to sign up. I don’t usually run in arenas. My training has been for my security company. One of my sparring partners and I play “tag” with weapons as drills.”

[petal_storm]

He nodded, "you move like military with solo training," he admitted. "Security is better than merc here so no complaint."

[code_jaeger]

“Military..?” He blinked.