DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Modern/Historical DUC: Durham University Campus Destination Durham - Friday

Emma

She nods at Ian, accepting his dinner decision. When Miranda hugged her, Emma hugged back. Today was going well, and hopefully better than well for Henri later tonight!

As Skye bolstered Miranda's esteem, she discretely gave her friend a thumbs up.

"And I don't root and toot for anyone less than awesome... so you all must be amazing!"

Miranda giggles. She likes these people.

The group leave the shop with their hired costumes feeling much more prepared for the evening. They head for their accommodation to leave their costumes safe. Levon, Skye and Miranda also grab their gear and head for the gym's changing rooms, one for guys, one for gals.

[OOC Is everyone else going to watch or do you have other plans?)

There is tiered seating on either side of the gym which is already laid out with mats.

Emma will watch!

{Skye}

Coming out of the changing room, Skye felt good to be back in her go. It was a way to maintain focus and a calm mindset. She had kept with the traditional white, though had started to play with the idea of switching up to black for competition. A little style and badassery. Though that gave her an idea for fun in practice today. Levon had been goading her all day. Rather than fall for it, she simply needed to get him riled up. She'd play defense until then.

Skye waved at her friends watching in the stands and then began to do some light stretching. It wasn't long before Levon and Miranda joined her on the mats. "Stretch. Kata. Then light sparring?" Skye took over - though both she and Levon were equals in the dojo.

Ian

He put his things away and then headed to join the others to watch, taking a seat next to Emma and wait for their friends to come out.

"Been to one of these before?" he asked.

Henri

After dropping off his costume in his room, he will casually walk over to the gym while also familiarizing himself with the campus. Entering the gym he scans the seating areas to find Ian and Emma already here.
With a small wave of his right hand he says to both, "Hey guys! Anything started yet?"

Levon

He changed quickly at the gym and immediately started stretching and warming up. Soon he was on the mat with Skye and Miranda. Skye was already giving orders, which he was fine with. He was going to concentrate on practicing all his moves, kicks and punches. He never concentrated on what others would do, his focus was totally on the precision of his actions.

When he was ready, he bowed at Skye first to invite her to spar with him. The way he figured it, Miranda would benefit by watching the two of them first. He knew Skye well but had never sparred with Miranda and he was curious to see how she fought.

Once Skye rose from her bow and raised her arms to fight he moved in with a few jabs and a roundhouse kick to the side of her head. She would be ready for the first blows. It was just starting.

{Skye}

Levon had already focused in and was calm. That was great, but meant she'd need to change tactics. His first moves were testing his range and her basic responses. She weaved through the jabs and ducked under the roundhouse. His biggest advantage over her was his length. Her best moves were going to be quick and to the side with her counters.

As she ducked, she took an underneath swipe to his standing leg with hers as she spun to the side. It wasn't meant to bring him down - just off balance to look for a stronger advantage.

Levon

He let his guard down for a moment and Skye unleashed a new move. Good for her! She decoyed a roundhouse and he didn't notice her sweep. That landed him on his rump but also focused him. It wouldn't happen again. After he got to his feet, he wouldn't drop again. In the second round Levon landed several punches and kicks and put Skye on the defensive and he ended up with the win. The rubber match was a good one but it ended with Skye on her back with Levon on top of her. He had taken advantage of his size and strength to put her there and felt a little like a cheater for doing that. It was an advantage of genetics not skill. As he held her down, his face mere inches from hers, he whispered, "Aren't you happy I ate some tic tacs?" before releasing her and offering her his hand.

(Skye)

"Minty fresh," she grimaced as she accepted his hand and lift up. It had been fun, but she felt her advantages giving way as he pressed close in to her.

"Again." Skye challenged Levon. This time she hoped to surprise him with aggressively cutting the distance between them first. She landed a quick punch to the side and went for the grapple take down.

Thwump! Thump!

She wasn't sure if the counter punch or the floor hit her first. Fortunately the expletive came out more as a frustrated growl than what Skye said. She sat there a moment then had to laugh.

"Poor choice there!" She pouted playfully and looked up at the well-built man. "Now don't get smug - you still have to beat the boys team. I'll have more chances at you, my friend."

Levon
"I'm counting on it," he said. "Yeah, that guy Guy looks like he'll put up a good fight, but you never know until you're on the mat with someone." Levon grabbed a towel, wiped the first bead of sweat from his forehead and said, "Let's see that sweep of yours. I need to work on my footwork to counter that move."

This was how they trained. When something worked for one of them, they worked with the other on how to defend that. It worked both ways. Skye was smaller but used speed and leverage to her advantage. She was a good person to train with.

Miranda

She is almost reluctant to make the suggestion. The last thing she wants is to show herself up, especially with Henri watching. But she does need the practice. Only way to get better, especially against more skilled opponents.

"When you have recovered Skye, maybe we could have a go?"

She mouths to Henri. 'Wish me luck'

My Harding

Mr Harding seems content to let them sort themselves out.

"And I can take on Levon. We might be physically more matched."

He grins at Levon, knowing he would likely have to work hard to beat him. Levon was his best fighter and he had high hopes for him in the competition.

Emma

She watched intently, not exactly seeing the appeal, but definitely appreciating the techniques. Emma had started her self defense training, but this group took it too a whole new level.

Henri

He waves at Miranda with a smile and says, "You got it Miranda! Kick some ass."

Watching Levon and Skye's fight, he is doubly impressed with both of their skills in martial arts, clapping for both at the end of each of their bouts.

[ooc: are fighters from the other colleges sparring on different mats at the same time?]

You guys seem to be the only group although there is another two guys engaged in a practice session.

{Skye}

She'd brushed herself off and straightened the gi as Mr. Harding suggested the next rounds. Skye smiled at Miranda - adding, "We must always be ready, right?"

Skye made her way to the mat and bowed opposite of her teammate. "Osu." Immediately, she struck an aggressive grappling move to test Miranda's strength and reactions.

Miranda tightens her belt, bows and takes a defensive stand but is not ready for the ferocity of Skye's attack. She finds herself flat on her back. She smiles ruefully and clambers to her feet, determined to do better.

[OOC Second bout is more even but Skye's experience will win the day, third bout is closer still but Skye will prevail.]

{Skye}

Perhaps she was fighting aggressively to release a bit of energy, but Skye hoped that it would inspire some new tactical thoughts with Miranda. The girl was definitely getting better and after the final bout Skye reached down to help the lesser experienced fighter up to her feet.

"Love it! You almost had me in that last one." The American smiled enthusiastically. "Most women won't fight that intensely for competition - but can you see where you can pivot between the aggression and the patience? You picked up on the sweep I gave Levon and countered brilliantly. Excellent." Skye stood back and bowed.

Miranda grins at Skye, accepting the hand up and the compliment.

"You make me try harder."

She laughs.

"Long way to go but I feel I'm making progress. Thanks."

She looks over at Henri to see if he was watching.

Henri

He was indeed watching with high interest to see who would win between Miranda and Skye. While Henri does not know how scoring works for these fights, seeing Miranda being knocked down in each bout leaves him feeling slightly defeated too.
Still not wanting to show it, he says with a thumbs up to her, "Hey Miranda, good fight! You got some wicked moves there!"

Henri will get up from his spot in the bleachers When it seems that both are finished, and will walk over to Miranda and Skye. Henri remembers something about not wearing footwear on the sparing mats in the few gyms he has been in, so he will stop short of actually stepping on the mat and will ask in a more conversational level, "You ok Miranda? Can I get you anything?"

All the while he is silently thinking to himself that he is a dead man if he ever pisses her off after watching her fight.

Miranda grins at him, pleased with his compliments.

"Oh I'm not in Skye's league, far from it but the best way to improve is to go against stronger opponents."

She glances behind Henri, looking at a couple of guys in the stands that had sat behind their group.

"I need to grab a shower and change. There was a coffee machine in the foyer where we came in. A tea, no sugar would be great."

[OOC Once Neptune surfaces, maybe some rolls for his bout with Mr Harding?]

{Skye}

It was cute to watch Henri and Miranda. It made Skye's heart pang a little bit. She really wanted to fall in love, it had just been so hard over the last few months. So lot's of falling in and out of lust.

**Get out of your head, girl!** She shook it off and looked around - catching sight of and wondering who the guys were in the stands that Miranda saw. Skye probably needed a shower too, but found a spot next to Em to watch the final bout between Levon and Mr. Harding.

As Skye looks into the stands, she sees two young men, one wearing a gi.



The young man sitting beside him is wearing jeans and a plain Tshirt but he does look similar. Maybe brothers?

Both men are looking around rather than watching the competitors. Perhaps waiting for others?