[SE] [Training] hit like a girl

I take everything seriously,

The 'interview' (interrogation) had gone worse than he'd been expecting. Instead of accepting his testimony and the written reports of the witnesses, they'd chosen to ignore everything. If he didn't know any better, he'd think they'd been doing it on purpose just for an excuse to throw some punches at the chained-up drunkard. But what kind of people did that?! Fighting was supposed to be to defend people, not get some sick joy out of causing others pain. Sure, the man hadn't made the best choices, but he should be put on trial not tortured.

He needed some air. Or he might say, or do, something he'd regret. 

Taking a deep breath, Zavien stepped out of the Needle onto the street. The fresh sunlight on his face immediately had his eyes closing and he paused a moment to absorb the heat, wishing it to evaporate his negative emotions. Yet all it did was cause him to crash into someone, jostling his steps and disrupting his attempts at regulation. His initial desire was to lash out in anger. He even opened his eyes with a prepared glare, his jaw clenched to keep from saying some choice words, a growl slipping past. 

Then every impulsive response vanished from his lips, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. Before him stood Flora. And he'd just tumbled into her. 

Reaching out his arm, he was prepared to steady her if needed as he mumbled apologies under his breath. "Sorry." and "Didn't see you." along with "My fault." and "I apologize." The usual blush that would have lit his face didn't come up, his frustration still too fresh to leave much room for the polite emotion, but he still had the good sense to look regretful.

Zavien

but I also take it lighthearted to recognize I can't control it.

flora

Flora, who'd just finished a light jog around the city, was likely a bit at fault for not looking where she was going. With her head half down in order to try and wrangle her long curls into a messy ponytail, she'd stepped up onto the sidewalk without so much as a glance, which was precisely when she crashed into the dragoon. While she shouldn't have been surprised to see Zavien here, especially so close to the Needle, despite having only met him once the anger on his face looked misplaced and awkward; a sudden storm cloud when you'd been expecting nothing but bright blue skies.

"That's what you always say." Flora laughs, her arms loosening somewhat from where she'd instinctively reached out to steady herself against him. Parting from him if only because her run (and the heat) had caused a sheen of sweat to build up on her golden skin, the queen planted her hands comfortably on her hips as her aqua eyes scoured Zavien's face for some indication of where the tension she saw in his shoulders and jaw had come from.

"Bad day?"

We need love, But all we want is danger
We team up, Then switch sides like a record changer

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

I take everything seriously,

Flora's laugh helps convince him to push the anger aside, sighing loudly as if to expel the frustrations from his body. He doesn't comment on her assessment, giving a small half smile that does more for his mood than anything else. Once it cracks his features, the weight shifts enough to let him meet her gaze. Despite the sweat glistening on her skin, the Torchline Queen looks radiant, the liquid only accentuating her golden skin and dazzling blue eyes. It makes it hard to stay angry in her presence, especially as he considers how his own expression must look. 

But then she's bringing back his work and the grey cloud is crashing over him all over again. Groaning, Zavien runs a hand through his hair, the golden strands sticking up at all angles. "Is it that obvious?" It's almost a plea for her to deny it, but he knows that what he'd been forced to witness was written all over his face. The immorality. The injustice. The disgust. He wants to charge back inside to smack some sense into those idiots. 

As if to keep himself from doing just that, Zavien starts pacing, channeling the anger. "It's just so stupid. What they're doing isn't helpful. It isn't good. It isn't right! They have what they need and they don't care!" Throwing a hand up towards the building he shakes his head. "And I can't do anything to stop it!" He spins around to continue his rant, ready to ramble about the inadequacy of their justice system, how corrupt it'd become in recent times, how becoming a Dragoon hadn't allowed him to fix any of that. 

Yet, when he meets Flora's face again, he reigns in his temper. He doesn't want to scare her or give her a reason to leave. She's just an innocent bystander that caught him in a rare state of anger. She may not seem easily frightened, but it doesn't sit well with him, and Zavien takes another moment to close his eyes, forcing a slow breath as he gathers his thoughts. He raises a hand as a show of his rallying restraint. "I'm sorry you had to see me this way. I just needed to get out for a few minutes."

Zavien

but I also take it lighthearted to recognize I can't control it.

flora

Of course it isn't nice to laugh at someone who's clearly upset, but as Flora's aqua gaze roves over the deep lines furrowing Zavien's brow or the way his lips have been pulled into a thin line, she can't help but laugh softly. Not at him, of course, but simply because the emotions looked so out of place on a face she'd only ever seen look rather boyish. "Kinda? You look like you stood in line all morning at a shop only to be told that they were out of ice cream right when it was your turn." No part of Zavien actually seemed as though his troubles were that lighthearted, but the pair didn't exactly know one another well enough for Flora to feel comfortable needling him for more information.

Even as he spoke in clipped sentences and fractured explanations, the queen found herself utterly without context for his frustrations. Sure, she might have put two and two together with him being a dragoon and being stood outside of the Needle, but instead of trying to decipher the crux of his anger, instead, the queen slipped her arm around his and tugged him alongside her. "Come on, I know what you need." She says by way of dismissing his apology, before heading toward one of the greenspaces where a vendor had conveniently set up a faux-boxing ring.

"We're going to put these on, and you're going to let it all out." Flora explains, gesturing toward several pairs of gloves and sparring-pads.

We need love, But all we want is danger
We team up, Then switch sides like a record changer

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

I take everything seriously,

The comparison of his emotions makes Zavien want to object, especially as it minimizes the suffering of another human being. His mouth opens, shocked and offended and completely serious as he says, "I would never be too late for ice cream. I have a guy for that." Maurice knew he came by for his weekly fix of lemon sherbert and saved him a bowl every time. The idea of him being this upset even if he had run out is outlandish. But as he vents, he wishes it were as simple as making more ice cream. 

At least Flora doesn't take off at his outburst. Instead, she grabs him arm and starts guiding him away from the source of his troubles. The familiarity surprises him, yet he doesn't stop her, eager for something to get his mind off his frustrations. Zavien is pleased to see the pop-up boxing ring, agreeing that maybe some physical exersion might help work out his negative energy. "Good idea." Without prompting, he pays the man for a set of gloves and steps inside the ring, strapping them tightly into place. 

Then the specifics of her suggestion process in his brain. "Wait. You want me to fight you." The words are out before he can think about how they might be construed. He doesn't mean for it to sound offensive, and he definitely isn't doubting her skills. Gods knew there were plenty of women who'd left him bruised, but most of those had been with weapons. How was he supposed to put his hands on her?

Zavien stands in the middle of the ring, his face scrunched with obvious conflict as he debates whether Flora is being serious. He fidgets with the gloves, his head tilted just enough for him to look endearing and unthreatening. Only the vendor seems to recognize the terrible error the Dragoon just made.

Zavien

but I also take it lighthearted to recognize I can't control it.

flora

'You know, I'm not surprised to hear that." Flora laughs, thinking very little of the way she wrapped her arms around one of his, tucking herself against Zavien's side. Pulling away only as they approach the ring, the queen reaches for a pair of gloves as well, but instead of putting them on she drops them nearby and picks up a pair of blockers instead. Zavien seemed like he needed to blow off some steam, and while she did want to work on her aim, she thought maybe the dragoon could benefit from throwing a few punches first.

"Yeah, what's wrong with that? You chicken?" Dressed in her running clothes, if Zavien cared to look at all, he'd notice that Flora's curves weren't based on mere skin and bone. The queen worked hard for the figure she so casually flaunted, maintaining it through much more than just a healthy diet alone.

Seeing his indecision begin to compete with the lines of frustration on his face, the queen laughs softly under her breath as she raises her hands. "Listen, I know we're in Stormbreak, but as Torchline's queen, I'm ordering you to hit me." So saying, she waggles her forearms slightly, moving the thick pads attached to each arm.

We need love, But all we want is danger
We team up, Then switch sides like a record changer

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

I take everything seriously,

Watching the queen put on a set of pads, Zavien shuffles his feet. "Not exactly..." He doesn't elaborate that although he fully expects to land on his butt against the fit woman (he had noticed after all), he doesn't like the idea of his fists coming in contact with her body. It reminds him too much of the domestic violence he's observed in the Silk Houses. Women being beaten for nothing more than the fact that they were considered easy targets. At least with weapons there's visible evidence that it's a fight between two warriors, a buffer to focus on, a means of balancing the usually uneven odds. Without that, it was just him trying to get his hands on her. 

His mind races with thoughts of how to convince her otherwise, but Flora seems set on things, even going so far as to order him to fight her. Despite the mixing emotions, Zavien lets out a soft, airy laugh. She may not be his queen, but the word 'order' is like a trigger, tightening his spine to obey. He's already in the ring. She's already wearing the pads. Maybe he can try to focus on just keeping the contact between the gloves and pads. Right?

With his reluctant decision made, he nods his head, his brow still scrunched in uncertainty. "Okay... but I draw the line at grappling. This is boxing only." His legs part in a fighting stance, if somewhat relaxed. Raising his hands, he prepares for Flora to initiate. "Ladies first."

Zavien

but I also take it lighthearted to recognize I can't control it.

flora

Watching him shift and straighten, his reluctance apparently having taken a back seat to his sense of obligation to follow orders, Flora playfully rolls her eyes and lifts her arms. "I already have the pads on, so it's you first." She chuckles. She'd come to expect nothing but politeness from the dragoon, but it would be silly for them to swap gloves for pads at this point just for the sake of chivalry.

Stretching out one of her hands, she boops one of his raised fists in emphasis, before drawing her arms back tight against her chest where her body would be able to absorb the force of his blows. "I'm stronger than I look." She reassures him. "And I'm not going to be able to get better at this unless I practice, so.."

Make with the punching.

We need love, But all we want is danger
We team up, Then switch sides like a record changer

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

I take everything seriously,

As much as Zavien would like to argue and insist that they maintain chivalrous expectations, Flora has a point. She's stubborn and he doesn't have all day. They'll eventually be expecting him back at the Needle to continue the questioning. Which means, he has to throw the first punch. 

Nodding his assent, Zavien reluctantly raises his fists to his face, the gloves almost brushing his face, smelling of leather and sweat. He makes sure she's ready, letting out a tense laugh at the bop of the pads before loosing a deep breath. Then he attacks. His first punch is only a fraction of his speed and strength, but it's a test to gauge how far he can push it. This is a warmup, a moment to feel each other out. So when his left arm strikes out, he makes sure it goes directly towards the pad, his foot stepping out to support the form.

Zavien

but I also take it lighthearted to recognize I can't control it.

flora

Though Flora has absolutely no experience doing this, she's certainly watched Koa the dragoons spar and train enough to have some feel for what it is she's meant to do. So, though the way she blocks and absorbs the blow is a little clunky, the queen is able to tense her stomach muscles and relax her shoulders. It's a bit thrilling, actually, and she wonders if this is why so many of the dragoons spend hours upon hours training.

"Come on, you can hit harder than that!" Flora trills encouragingly, poking her head out from behind the pads and flashing Zavien a bright smile. "Just think about what had you all riled up earlier and let it out. I can take it."

We need love, But all we want is danger
We team up, Then switch sides like a record changer

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

I take everything seriously,

Compared to the limited time Zavien's trained with the Dragoons so far, he thinks Flora does a pretty good job at absorbing the impact. He's tempted to return her cheeky smile, the excitement infectious, but her goading is enough to make him flinch. Part of him wants to argue, citing her obvious inexperience with the pads and her being a queen (and a woman) and him being bigger and his emotions being heightened and a million other reasons, yet Zavien realizes that he needs this. The first punch had taken a bit of the itch away, but his body screams to move. And Flora doesn't look like someone who will take 'no' as an answer. 

Sighing in defeat, he levels her with a serious, pleading look. "Fine. But please let me know if I need to back off." His expression isn't demeaning, just sincere concern that he might accidentally hurt her.

He shakes out his shoulders before tightening each muscle, taking off the metaphorical gloves before lunging forward for a hard strike with his right arm. Just as she instructed, his thoughts go to the idiots in the tower, beating on a defenseless man. The rage returns in full force, bringing a steely expression to his face, his eyes deepening to a dangerous shade of green. The outside world drifts away, leaving only him and Flora, circling each other in the ring. Yet he doesn't see the queen, he is only picturing each blow wracking the man's body, leaving trails of blood and bruises that are completely undeserved. Not waiting for her response to his first punch, Zavien reaches out with his left fist to follow.

Zavien

but I also take it lighthearted to recognize I can't control it.

flora

The shit-eating smile falls away from the queen's lips as she nods sincerely, her aqua eyes meeting Zavien's. "I promise." It's said with all the respect of a vow; what few pieces of the dragoon she'd managed to carve out told her that he likely wouldn't take well to hurting her, even if it was just an accident.

With that settled between them, Flora holds up the blockers, her feet hip-width apart and her balance shifted forward onto her toes. In what feels like a split second she watches shadows darken the dragoon's features, carving deep lines of frustration across his forehead and steeling his jaw. As Zavien throws his first punch the queen is surprised by the force of it. Luckily the pads absorb the worst of it, but she's still shoved back a few inches and the grunt that leaves her lips is anything but ladylike. As he follows it up with another, the queen begins to figure out how best to move into and against the blows so that she won't seem like such a static target.

"Again," She whispers, peeping out from behind the pads if only to reassure him that she was alright.

We need love, But all we want is danger
We team up, Then switch sides like a record changer

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

I take everything seriously,

Keeping in mind her sincerity, Zavien allowed himself to relax into the exercise, his speed and force increasing to push out the frustrations. When Flora takes his punch like a champ, absorbing the impact with only a slight shift in her stance, he doesn't press the advantage. Despite his haze of emotions, he won't capitalize on her stumbles. 

When she rights herself and gives him a reassuring look, he takes that as encouragement to step up his game. His next volley is faster, his fists punching in quick succession. He tries to ignore the fact that Flora is the one behind the pads, focusing on keeping contact with the padding to prevent any injury. Zavien pretends that they're the idiots' faces as he pounds away at them. A few 1121s and a 212 followed by a 1221 had him already feeling better, but he still wanted more. His remembrance of his opponent faded away and her threw a random left hook, shifting his body into the swing as if he was striking out against the injustice itself.

Zavien

but I also take it lighthearted to recognize I can't control it.

flora

Where it was getting easier and easier to absorb the predictable blows—the thrum of energy almost began to sound a touch musical as Zavien really settled into a rhythm—the sudden left hook has Flora staggering sideways, the pads lifting to properly defend against further blows as instinct takes over. "Hey," she calls out, her voice stern but not upset. "You're blowing off steam, not trying to get your metaphorical revenge, remember?" Peeing her face out from behind the pads once again, the queen raises her eyebrows. If it was the case that Zavien really needed to let loose, she wasn't going to be the sparring partner for him, though there were plenty of dragoons around who could likely step in quite seamlessly.

"Come on, another round and then it's my turn."

We need love, But all we want is danger
We team up, Then switch sides like a record changer

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!