Constance’s Broken Bones for Broken Homes tournament
Date: 2025-06-29 19:53
(Constance’s Broken Bones for Broken Homes tournament)
[Sun Jun 29 2025]
At a stretch of beach near a small shop
The narrow beach unfurls just beyond the back steps, a strip of coarse sand and bleached shells framed by scattered driftwood and low dunes. Sea oats bow in the breeze, their stalks whispering beneath the salt-stung wind that carries the tang of brine and old kelp. The tide is close now, brushing the shore in slow, sighing waves that leave lace-edged foam on the packed earth. Farther out, the ocean glints like burnished glass under a pale sky, and gulls drift in lazy spirals overhead, their cries echoing faintly against the storefronts. A few flat rocks near the edge of the shop’s wooden platform serve as makeshift seats, sun-warmed and worn smooth by generations of quiet watchers.
It is dusk/span>/span76F(24C) degrees, and the sky is partly covered by dark grey clouds. The mist is heaviest At Panama and Woodcrest/span>/spanChara looks around saying over to Constance “I’ll be right back. A thought just came to mind…”
Kai wanders out through the back door and gives a wave to the little gathering of people, “Hey,” he greets and upnods Hannes.
Hannes lifts a hand away from his knee, which he seems to be gently massaging, to return Kai’s upnod. “Yo.” before he shifts in place at his seat on the rocks, getting a bit more comfortable for what’s soon to be.
Kai wanders over to Hannes and stands in front of the man, “I’m Kai, who’re you?” he wonders with a light tilt of his head and a little grin.
Chara steps back inside offering a thick stack of cash to Constance
Hannes answers Kai, looking up from his seat on the rocks, leaning back on the palms of his hands to crane his neck up just enough to match eyes. “Name’s Hannes. Howzit?”
“Not bad, you know, a lot of things going on today so it’s a lot,” Kai nods to Hannes and gives a wave to Desmond, “Hey Dezy,” he greets the fellow with a chipper grin.
Constance nods smiling to Chara.
Constance says “Okay, so who wants to fight?“
Constance says “Doesn’t matter if you get your ass kicked. It’s for charity.“
Desmond mouths ‘Dezy’ at Kai with a squint as he stands there hands in coat pockets. “Sorry. I’m disadvantaged and never got your name.”, he murmured as he stepped just a bit closer to the man.
Chara hands it over “Should draw in some more fights for the pot.” she says moving over to the side
Meridith waves a hand. “I’m in. But uh, super flat fucking broke so…well. I can pay an iron price eh?”
Constance says “I’ll just count Chara’s contribution as yours.“
Kai shakes his head at Constance, “I’m just here to watch, I suck at fighting,” he says and looks to Desmond, “Oh it’s Kai!” he tells the man with that same chipper grin, “How’ve you been?” he wonders to the man with a lift of his brows.
Kai pulls a few bills from his pocket, “I’ll pay for Meri,” he tells Constance, handing the cash over, offering Meridith a little waggle of his brows.
Desmond shrugs both his shoulders and looks towards the ring with the polar opposite of a chipper grin. “If I knew how to throw fists I would be joining sort of mood.”, he answers dryly.
Constance says “Well, how you gonna learn without ever trying?“
Meridith rolls her shoulders and grins. “I can be Kai’s champion, then.”
Desmond says “Psh. Maybe I should.“
Constance says “What was your name again? If you want to join I gotta mark it on my list thing.“
Constance says “If anyone wants to fight, line up..“
Desmond looks to Kai and responds, “Name’s Dezzy,”, amusedly.
Constance says “Alright, Dezzy it is.“
Desmond says “Who do I pay?“
Constance says “Me. “
Kai gives a firm nod to Desmond in agreement and slips his hands into his hoodie pocket, grinning a bit as he looks from the man to Constance and Meridith, “At least it isn’t so crazy hot today. Still hot, but… not boil an egg on the ground hot.”
Hannes taps his knee, swinging the leg off the adjacent rock he’s sitting on to rest a boot against the sand, putting some of his weight on it as if he’s testing the joint. “I could if there’s not enough fighters. For charity, isit?”
Constance says “Broken bones for Broken Homes. The charity part goes to orphans.“
“I could fight too… not going to be much of a show at all though.” Chara says as she lingers near the edges of the fighting ring. Looking around at everyone else who showed up.
Desmond bobs his head in acknowledgement of Chara’s point. “It is karaoke rules I imagine.”
Meridith says “Duel with weapons or a brawl?“
Constance says “Depends on what the two people who want to fight agree to.“
Desmond says “I can’t very well stab her can I.“
Constance says “I could fight with my hands while someone tries to stab me, sure.“
Constance says “That sounds fairer.“
Constance says “So Chara, Meridith, Hannes, Dezzy?“
Meridith says “Chara. Pick. Brawl or duel.“
Constance says “I’ll match Chara against Dezzy since they’re both beginners.“
Meridith says “D’awww “
Constance says “And Meridith can fight Hannes.“
Meridith says “I wanted an easy win. Heh. Hannes. Duel or brawl.“
Hannes curls his lips into a wolfish grin, still testing his knee. “Ja, nee.. I’m disabled, you see?” he muses playfully, before his shoulders roll in a shrug towards Meridith. “I’d prefer a duel, but I don’t have a weapon on me, so brawl it’s gotta be, eh?”
Constance says “Go easy on the poor guy, Merry. I’m matching you with him cause there ain’t anyone else here.“
Meridith says “Ah! Come on, don’t let him sand bag that much, who knows how it’ll go“
Meridith giggles soft and gestures, stepping into the ring, weapons aside for the moment
Chara gives a nod turning to watch the fight with her arms crossed.
Constance says “Chara, Dezzy, you can do yours while they fight or watch theirs, I’m not too picky.“
Hannes reaches within the pocket of his pants before taking out a strip of white cloth, probably the result of an old t-shirt being shredded into some form of bandage. He wraps it tightly around his left knee, with a soldier’s knot, and then stands up from his seat at the rocks.
Desmond unbuttons the first few buttons of his shirt and his cuffs, before taking out a knife and fiddling with it. “Weapon, no weapon?”, he asks of Hannes as he follows her into the ring.
Desmond unbuttons the first few buttons of his shirt and his cuffs, before taking out a knife and fiddling with it. “Weapon, no weapon?”, he asks of Meridith as he follows her into the ring.
“No weapon, of course, it’s a brawl. And I’m not looking to have to heal for too long. For fun, yeah? Not holding back but I’m not looking to hurt anybody.” Meridith hops on her feet, getting pumped up.
Chara pulls out a switchblade looking over to Desmond “I’m fine with either. I’ll heal up just fine.”
“I’ve got a spare knife if you know how to use one,” Kai offers Desmond with a little grin.
Constance crosses her arms, smiling as she proctors the makeshift fights out on the beach.
Desmond half-grins momentarily to Chara before pocketing his knife. “Just a brawl, unfortunately. And since I have no idea what I am doing.” He then awkwardly hunches over into some facsimile of a fighting stance, hands raised up with open palms at Meridith. “Come at me.” (no idea what the commands are/how this works so lol)
Chara isnt sure if she are doing rp fight or spar and quick combat
(@me : Did you set offense (list of stats) defense (list of stats) and a vulnerability one or more?)
Meridith is doing an RPG fight with Desmond she thinks?
Meridith(RP*)
Meridith starts things off with a quick spring off her back leg. She’s no martial arts expert, she doesn’t have superhuman strength, but she is surprisingly strong for her size and shockingly quick. Her jab comes lightning quick off the follow through and swings straight towards him. On offense her strength seems to be her speed and agility, with a decent bit of strength. On the defense? Well, probably pretty close to the same. Still, she’s gauging out her opponent right now, all smiles. Not taking it too seriously.
Cadalie makes her way in through the door placidly, tucking her phone in a pocket as she regards the showing.
Hannes tightens the makeshift bandage around his knee before stepping out of the ring, seemingly with the intent to watch Desmond and Meridith go at it, now finding a place -just- outside the line of the ring to sit down on the sand, one leg extended out, the other drawn close to his chest.
Kai pulls a hand from his hoodie pocket to give Cadalie a two-fingered salute, then slips it back into his pocket as he watches Meridith and someone fight while Chara and Desmond fight separately.
Kai pulls a hand from his hoodie pocket to give Cadalie a two-fingered salute, then slips it back into his pocket as he watches Meridith and Hannes fight while Chara and Desmond fight separately.
Constance nods to Cadalie as Cadalie enters, turning her attention back to Desmond and Meridith fighting in the ring.
Desmond is of course struck past his weak guard directly in the neck – the man is nothing lithe, a suit, really was supposed to be here for a watch – and he stumbles back. Still, the way his body goes tense, how he breathes, would spell out -some- form of conditioning. He breathes out a load of something from his nose, steps forward, and counters with a jab of his own towards Meridith
Hannes shoots a look over at Cadalie, an eyebrow raising up curiously, though he doesn’t stare, likely out of respect. As the blows start coming in, his eyes instead return back to the fight.
Chara gives a wave over to Cadalie as she watches the fight
Desmond seems to be aiming that jab towards the stomach, for some reason, as his feet shift awkwardly… never wear leather shoes in a fight, people
Meridith winces painfully. The first jab made it past, brushing his neck and chin. She shifts back, dancing light on her feet as he launches a jab. It leaves an opening and he exploits it with a strike her stomach. She lets out a sharp gasp of breath, briefly winded, but giggles playfully as she staggers back and keeps her guard up, catching her breath.
Cadalie forces a smile around to everyone, something that comes more genuine as fists hit bodies to bruise and sputter, these vessels of nerves and responses that turn physical force into the signal of pain. Her lips part for a call-out, something to throw from crowd to ring, but she doesn’t land on it yet.
Meridith launches forward now with more energy and momentum, one strike, too, a jab, she feigns left and dances right, another jab. Strikes lightning quick, like little bee stings exploring his guard and stamina and whether or not he can find an opening amidst her blitz-like assault, stealing the momentum back
Chara shivers giving a smile as she watches. Which seems to grow a little bit wider with every hit that lands on the pair.
Kai glances down at his phone and quietly walks backward with a slight turn of his head to watch where he’s going, Irish goodbying the fights.
Desmond had to step back from his awkward position, head swivelling around, gaze having to follow Meridith’s movements… it’s really too much for the sarariman, and he’s hit directly in the shoulder, staggering him back some more still.
“So.” Cadalie wanders over to Constance in the sort of political thriller aside with her hands clasped below her, looking at blood sport spectacle. A couple of nuns encouraging violence, what a world. “How’s the goin’ been so far? A few new faces, I see-” She gives a flap of her hand over to Hannes.
Desmond knits his brows and digs his leather-shoe clad feet as much as he can down into the sand before he stumble-dashes towards the blitzing Meridith with another jab of his own, bit of a primal yell and all.
Meridith looks like she might be running into a bit of fatigue. Strikes abound, even making contact takes a bit out of her. She growls low and stumbles back as he dashes her. He’s got a lot more weight under him, and it’s all she can do to clinch and avoid being bullrushed.
Hannes clucks his tongue as he watches the fight proceed, eyes narrowed, a wince crossing his features as he watches the suited sarariman get beatdown, and this time outside of the boardroom. There’s a brief twitch in his features as he glances over at Cadalie once again, keenly aware of being pointed at, but all he does is upnod the nun. Perhaps he’s also keenly aware that nuns are not to be messed with.
Meridith uses Desmond bullrush against him. Dexterity is key as she twists and writhes her way around the man, getting a finger lock long enough to disorient his stance to avoid breaking the finger and twisting herself behind him, doing her best to angle and maneuver herself out of reach, trying to force him off balance and secure a wrist lock behind him.
Desmond is well and duly wristlocked, as his footwork is about as dextrous as a drunken sloth’s and he didn’t get away in time… if there was any chance of that at all given Meridith’s fleet of feet. His other hand actualy goes up and starts slapping at his shoulder socket, like one of those wrestling matches…
Chara turns briefly away from the fight asking Cadalie “Hey, how have things been?”
Hannes lets out a low whistle at the display of speed displayed in the ring, biting down on his lower lip as Desmond sacrifices himself for the sake of orphans and charity.
Desmond awkwardly attempts to slide one of his feet between Meridith’s and attempts to actually slowly tries to put his weight down on it, accelerating her sensation of pain, perhaps giving him enough of a break to slip out of her hold.
Cadalie’s posture nearly rebounds like a basketball from the spectacle in front of her to walk over and address Chara as she watches a poor businessman brawl in the sand. “Oh, they go, I suppose. I just came from the Sons’ dart-game, see? Had a terribly sad conversation with a man running out of time to make his mark on the world.”
Meridith hits the ground -hard-. She’s lacking the height and size to make up for the moment as he eventually breaks her hold and sends her to the matt.
Meridith hits the ground and rolls kicking up sand into the air around her, which she explodes out of like a rocket, using momentum and surprise to ram into his side and drive him to the ground. She’s being -mostly- honorable about this after all. Not entirely.
Hannes cups his hands around his mouth to give a shout for Desmond. “Come on, brudda. You crunched the numbers, now crunch those ribs!” he yells, in jest more than anything else, sitting back on his palms on the sand with a wolfish grin etched over his features as he’s thoroughly entertained.
Constance nods to Cadalie. “They do go,” she comments, quietly. “I’m pleased we got SOME violence going on.”
Chara covers her face as she lets out a laugh at Hannes’s comment saying over to Cadalie “Oh.. I don’t think i’ve really ever talked with someone from the sons. What does that mean to make his mark on the world…?”
“He was Vigil.” Cadalie elaborates as an aside, the taste of that word one of mourning. “It means hurting folks and genocide dressed up in collars and chips.” Her tone remains educational, as if it the topic is a soon to be dead history written in a forgotten book.
Desmond is driven into and with full -slightly honorable- gusto accompanied with an audible, gaspy ‘oof’ as he’s driven back onto his ass on the sand. He cranes his neck back and side-eyes Hannes, and with a loud HAH, scrambles right back onto his feet an starts to circle Meridith for a beat, crunching more of those numbers…
Desmond apparently seems to have spotted some advantage that isn’t there, squints, and attempts to banzai-run – with a croak to his voice as a cherry on top – hands outstretched to try and grasp at Meridith’s arms and perform his own wrist-lock, looking to use his entire weight to disable and eventually pin her down!
Meridith yelps! He’s quick and manages to seize her limb and she squeals, flailing desperately but unable to make it loose.
Chara makes a face over to Cadalie as Vigil is mentioned “Oh.. glad he isn’t makin’ his damn mark then.”
Hannes continues his cheerleading from the sidelines, a devil’s advocate, his loyalty shifting like a snake as this time the shout comes for Meridith as Meridith’s arm is seized up. “Turn him from a businessman into a bruise-nessman!”
Desmond trips right forward onto Meridith and buries her form into the sand with him on top elbow-first like Randy Savage, only exponentially more awkwardly and red not with drug enhancement but embarassment. He’s panting hard and sweaty past his shirt but, apparently, he’s won.
“It’s not his fault.” Cadalie laughs, she has to. Demonic comedy and salvation throb from the bruises of those in front of her, in too good of a mood to bring more than philosophical ire. “I am not a good enough role model to show him otherwise. All are ignorant before wisdom, and before truth, is the recognition that we never are.
Desmond says “How the fuck did I pull that off…“
Constance says “Oh, fuck. A bruisenessman. I love that.“
Constance says “Fantastic job! Dezzy will be moving on to round two!“
Constance says “Chara, you and Hannes are up next.“
Constance says “Then the winner of that fights Dezzy for the money.“
Meridith oophs and sits up. Rubbing her face. She grins over at Desmond and extends a hand.
Cadalie moves into the ring and jostles Meridith with a bounce in her step, snickering. “Kept your head?” She supposes to Desmond.
Chara give a nod as she steps into the ring motioning over Hannes with a wide smile on her face “Lets do this then.”
Desmond rolls over and stumbles to his feet, smirking momentarily – but only for a moment – at Cadalie, groaning and wobbling about, but not enough to not offer Meridith a hand to get up with. “Eh. Head’s the only reason I pulled that shit off I imagine, Sister.”
Meridith says “Good scrap, Hannes. Next time I won’t be holdin’ back on account of your supposed handicap, eh?“
Meridith giggles playfully as she shakes off the fight and clambors to her feet.
Hannes stands up from his seat at the sidelines, beginning to undo the straps of his kevlar vest, letting it drop onto the sand with a POMF. “Might as well.” he muses, then after a moment of thought, strips off his wifebeater as well to leave it in the pile.
Desmond says “I’m Desmond…“
Constance says “Damn! “
Constance says “THrowing off the shirt! Scars like that, now I’m scared for Chara. Keheheh.“
Desmond whistles at Hannes as he de-shirts himself. “How many swords you reckon made those scars?”
Cadalie looks at the damage collected between the two, eyes fluttering as she landsd on Desmond “…Well, don’t go fighting to death now, mister. You look like you’ve been hurled through a river.”
Chara stares at Hannes then looks to Constance “I can take a pretty good beating..”
Desmond waves a hand about at Cadalie like a fart travelled between them. “Oh I am fine. I’ve never quite felt more ALIVE. Actually.”, he mentions, as he watches.
Hannes taps his knee and steps over into the ring, a hitch in his step. “I’m not the man I used to be.” he states simply, tightening the strip of white around his knee — tight enough to make it hurt, and he grits his teeth.
Chara squares up to Hannes taking a deep breath before she lunges. Not really trying to push Hannes forward but trying to awkwardly grapple the man.
Meridith stretches out a bit and steps out of the arena. She puts an arm around Cadalie and leans there. Sweaty. Sandy. Gross.
Hannes just stands in place as Chara attempts the grapple — and he takes it standing, though the intensity of even just keeping on his feet leads to a grimace in his features as he grits his teeth, that bad knee shaking, but it does manage to hold.
Cadalie is a pillar of support, not quite immovable but darned close as she uses the pain in front of her for her own reprieve of mood.
Desmond looks up at Meridith, scoffing at her current countenance. “Never got your name… honored opponent of mine. I am Desmond.” (how do I pay people money?)
Meridith says “Ah! Yeah, uh. Meridith!“
Hannes opts to remain in the grapple, clearly having had -some- training. Bracing himself on his right knee, the healthy one, he instead tries to use his body weight to throw Chara off balance, bad leg attempting to hook behind hers right at the knee to try to knock her down into the sand. An eyebrow does raise with the attempt though, perhaps surprised by how steadfast Chara is.
Desmond wags his eyebrows at Meridith. Once.
Desmond says “Mayhap I should train self-defense in full now. Especially in a town like this.“
Meridith says “Yeah, what’s up?“
Meridith says “Not a bad idea, Desmond. Though you got some chops already.“
Cadalie looks over at Desmond, brows quirked in a tiny scoff of question. “How long you been here, Desmond?”
Desmond pants once and rolls his eyes upwards, crunching numbers. “… a day.”
Chara is not by means strong. Or trained in hand to hand. She is like some possessed chipmunk trying to poorly grapple the man to the ground. The hook Hannes thros easily knocks her down to the sand. Letting out an oof as air escapes her lungs
Desmond says “I am aware of the nature of New Haven. Before I am asked.“
Meridith says “Was beacon street, downtown.“
Cadalie nods slowly, looking down at the injury with lidded eyes. “..Isn’t it funny? Those that come here are missing something. Broken down by the world and seeking the means to build up again. I can see why the locals say it’s like Vegas.”
Chara seems to notice Hannes’s poor balance. She furrows her brows as she rolls to the side, attempting to hook one of hannes’s legs with her own to bring him to the ground. And hopefully not ontop of her. The whole time there is just this wide smile plastered on her face despite being brought down to the ground.
Desmond scoffs lightly as he sits there making shapes in the sand with his legs. Much as he can tired, anyway. “Maybe. It is a hard requirement to adapt to this little town though, indeed. Maybe…”, he ponders, scratching at his chin. “… a sword. Yes.”
Desmond says “I sound absurd.“
Meridith says “Oh no, is he kind of a -normie-?“
Desmond scoffs loudly!
Desmond says “… yes.“
“A normie.” Cadalie repeats with a lift of her eyebrows, leaning in as if she hadn’t quite heard. To the ring, she calls, “CHARA! GET YOUR ASS UP OFF THE GROUND UNLESS YOU GONNA WRESTLE THEM THIGHS AROUND HIS NECK!”
Hannes blows out some air through his lips as Chara hooks her legs around his own. Having fully expected it, but not fast enough to avoid it, he takes the fall and twists out of the way just in time to avoid crashing down into Chara, instead taking it on his shoulder onto his side with a grunt, sand sticking all over him, thanks to the sticky sheet of sweat forming on his body with the exertion.
Desmond says “Wrestle them thighs around them thighs.“
Meridith says “Use your thighs!“
Desmond nods in agreement.
Constance says “400 dollars, then.“
Constance says “Which means the winner gets 300 bucks.“
Meridith looks at Cadalie. “Like, a normal person, like, an everyday joe. A guy who doesn’t already have a sword.”
Hannes grunts as he scrambles on the sand, surprisingly quick this time around. His bruised shoulder is driven into Chara’s torso to keep her from bridging up, while one arm snakes around her neck in a loose seatbelt grip — though it’s clear that it’s not as tight as it could be, whether that’s intentional or not. The other is posted on the sand for balance, and his hips keep low to avoid giving her space to regain her balance. One knee pins her thigh, preventing her thighs from being wrapped around his neck or anywhere else for now. It’s a firm hold, but not crushing, leaving just enough room for Chara to slip out if timed right.
Meridith says “Natural, sure, probably.“
Desmond says “I am supposed to be here for a job. I am supposed to not know a damn thing about glowing demigods.“
Desmond says “But here we ARE!“
Desmond grumbles like Muttley.
Chara lets out a sharp puff of air as Hannes’s shoulder divers into her. The wind being knocked out of her lungs from the weight. The sand underneath her shifts as she squirms. One hand presses uselessly against his posted arm while the other reaches for the wrist near her neck. skirt covered legs kicking wildly as she tries to find leverage
Constance says “They’re gonna be finding sand in so many places after this.“
Cadalie stares at Desmond overlong, the idle curiousness giving way to the weariness of a late night. She holds a simper and looks back at an awkward up-skirt of Chara. “..Supposed to be, mmm. What keeps you here, then?”
CharaChara grits her teeth, her legs still kicking for purchase as she writhes beneath Hannes. With a sudden twist of her torso, she throws a wild elbow up toward his ribsnot with much power, more defiance than damage. It’s awkward and off-angle, barely more than a nudge against solid muscle, but the effort is there. She sputters out, her breath still catching in her throat “W-whats your routine? Fuck.”
Meridith peers at Chara. She leans forward, studying the battle, the technique the form, the garments. She leans back and looks to Cadalie. “Worth a bargain to Satan?” she wonders, about sand.
Desmond looks up at Cadalie flatly. “… would it be odd for me to say I find this new world I’ve bren dumped unceremoniously in, exponentially more interesting than the world I left?”
Desmond says “I bet Satan is real, too.“
Desmond says “Hopefully, dragons.“
Desmond nods to himself.
Cadalie shrugs to Meridith’s question, grimacing. but corrects Desmond not so, “There’s a few Satans.”
Cadalie says “It’s a popular name of power, invented first by man, and utilized overtime in order to encapsulate and feed off of those pre-dispositions.“
Cadalie turns to Desmond with a a held tongue, eyes narrowed. “Sorry, what? More interesting, I’m not so sure.”
Hannes lets out a playful ‘oof’ as Chara’s elbow makes contact. The glancing blow earns a crooked grin, that wolfish smile creeping up on his lips again as the struggle seems to change him somewhat, the pain in his knee subsiding for anyone that may be observing as the man appears more animated, more enthusiastic. Sand keeps clinging to his pale sweaty skin as he keeps one arm braced against the ground, muscles tense. His breath comes steady, chest heaving, eyes locked on Chara, ready like a taut line for Chara’s next move. “Routine? It’s mostly a combination of get hit, get dirty, and look -good- doing it.”
Desmond puts his hands on his hips, while still sat on his ass on the sand. “So. Multiple demon lords. Each with their own army, desires, ambitions. I am sure, competing with each other, competing with our Earth. No? That fact, alone… well, it is more interesting to me.”
Desmond says “I was told angels existed as well, and they don’t really care.“
Desmond squints at Cadalie at this.
grimaces. “Angels exist, they’re just very very lame.” Meridith explains to Desmond.
“They only care.” Cadalie informs gravely as she watches Chara down in the ring. “The ones with wings are single-minded if they are collared, and horribly caustic and impulsive if they are not.”
Desmond purses his lips. “You look like a Nun. Do you serve God? Is He, their creator? Makes sense if angels are His pets.”
Meridith…begins to giggle madly
“You share a whole lotta concepts.” Cadalie supposes down to Desmond, pausing his answer to share a smile with Meridith that doesn’t really leave her own face. “God?’ Which one? Yahweh, Zeus? The former is dead.”
Meridith says “Well…nobody wields his concept.“
Hannes shifts his grip, now wrapping both legs around Chara’s lower body. In a cruel twist of fate, it’s his thighs that end up wrapped around Chara’s hips, much to the detriment of the spectators’ wishes. He locks his boots around the front, restricting Chara’s movement while the arm around Chara’s throat holds firm. “Gotcha.”
Cadalie meant their* but none shall know.
Desmond says “Yahweh’s DEAD?“
Desmond says “How the Hell has this world not collapsed into oblivion!?“
Desmond says “Maybe it already has.“
The words from someone else’s mouth makes Cadalie quiet.
Chara’s hands flail once more at Hannes’s arms, her legs bucking under the sudden pressure from him. But the movement is quickly sapped of energy. Her breathing grows shallow, her head tilting back with a wheezing “U-uncle!”. One hand tapping against Hannes’s side.
Constance says “Honestly, completely unexpected. The two guys I’ve never seen before in my life are gonna go at it for the money.“
Meridith shakes her head. “YAHWEH is not the Monad.”
Constance says “I was expecting to keep the prize money in-house. Awwwwwwwww.“
Constance says “Anyway, you caught your breath, Dezzy? You’re up against Hannes next if so.“
Desmond says “God is dead. It is irrelevant if I am ready or not. “
Desmond stands and brushes himself off.
Meridith giggles at Desmond. “Oh please, you let one Satanist tell you god is dead and unravel?” She looks to Cadalie. “Cute.”
Constance says “The reason you’re so distressed is because you have a misunderstanding of what or who God *was* to die in the first place.“
“Mmm.” Cadalie hums more to the sound of Meridith’s voice than its words, staring off down the beach.
Hannes lets go of Chara immediately at that tap, rolling away on the sand onto his knees, catching his breath. As the adrenaline dies down, that grimace crosses his features again, yet he ignores it to walk over to Chara to offer a hand up, limping. “Good tussle. I enjoyed it.”
Chara lets out a heavy cough as she comes to despite the circumstances. Her face still has that wide grin plastered onto it. Its even wider than anything. She giggles looking over to Hannes’s “Fuck, that was terrifying!” she says in an all too cheery voice. Before turning over to Desmond a blush growing “I am not a pet.” taking Hannes’s hand to climb to her feet “Thanks.”
Cadalie says “There is a theory that he is merely hopelessly scattered if that is more convenient to you.“
Desmond says “You’re an ANGEL??“
Desmond says “Where are your wings.“
Desmond circles Chara neurotically, seeking.
Meridith wags a finger at Desmond. “Settle down, spark. Angel-born. Demon-born. Alike, of but not.”
Constance says “It is!“
Constance says “Finals are about to happen between two guys I never saw before today.“
Desmond scowls at Meridith. “Angel-BORN do not count. I speak of the majestic, winged warriors with flaming swords. Sent down to purge us all for our absurdity.”
Constance says “I’m not sure any creatures of that strength have made it to this City Between yet. But maybe someday.“
Meridith grimaces. “Connie, I know you like a good fight but let’s not overdo it.”
Constance says “I mean, you ever hear that classic song, Merry?“
Constance says “GRAB YOUR AK-47, SHOOT THE CLOUDS, HIT JESUS, STRAP HIM TO A BULL. JESUS RODEO, DEAD JESUS RODEO. DRINK POWERTHIRST or something like that.“
Chara gives a nod to Desmond just flashing this smile over to him “Yeah! I’m also known as a god slave. Lovely title I know!” she says with this cheery sarcasm.
Hannes offers a shrug at Constance, helping Chara up to her feet and stepping back with a nod. “I’ve been here for less than five hours. Worse ways to make first impressions.”
Meridith giggles. “I haven’t!” She insists of Constance.
Desmond puts his hands on his hips and snorts at Chara. “Collared angels are slaves to Gods then is what I am assuming-” He stops and squints over at some spot before him, and mouths an ‘oh’. “… that is beautiful.”, he murmurs.
Desmond wanders off into the ring, brows knitted, and would wait for Hannes to get ready as he pondersz
Desmond says “… so what manner of creature was Jesus of Nazareth? Vampire probably. Rose again from a coffin or what ever.“
Meridith so-so’s. “Lots of ways to die and come back.”
Constance shuffles over to Meridith to show her some videos on her phone.
Desmond chuckles quietly. “Wild, wild world.”
Hannes runs a hand through the saffron strands of his sweat-slick hair, brushing them away from his eyes. He notes to Desmond idly, “Demons, angels, the scent is always off. They may walk this world, but they ain’t part of it. Not wholly.”
Meridith leans over to Constance, giggling along as she basks in the glory of twenty year old memes.
Constance says “There, that’s the context…now this one…“
“Moses was human.” Cadalie offers to the conversation, shifting uncomfortably. “Who knows? Jesus was salvation to all of us gentiles. It’s hard to say if Yahweh had anything to do with his image after the Jews. Jesus might well have been human and ascended as a ghost eidolon for all the difference it makes.”
Constance says “When God gives you lemons, you FIND A NEW GOD. “
Chara stares over to Constance “Why not make them into combustible lemons and burn his house down?”
“Because he deserves to rest.” Cadalie answers Chara quietly.
Desmond bobs his head at Cadalie ponderously. “Mm. It’s more likely Jesus transposed himself as a messiah without Yahweh’s notice or care. There is no way a vengeful war god would become compassionate and forgiving at the flip of a page.”
Desmond shrugs it off. “We should fight for now though. No? Whenever you wish,”, he offers to Hannes.
“What would you know?” Cadalie blinks dryly to Desmond. “You just got here. Every moment of existence leads to termination, suffering and corruption. We are born in blood and die in filth. The time in between is suffering and illusory pleasures. I hope you find your way back, because you have landed in a world quite cruel.”
With that happy note, the Pontifex Cadalie straightens her robes, grinning like a skull, and makes off for whatever awaits her.
Hannes tuts at the exchange between Cadalie and Desmond, before favoring his healthy leg once again. “I am always ready.”
Desmond snorts lightly at the sister’s statement as he ambles pained-ly towards his position. “The world was always cruel,”, he murmurs, before turning about and raising fisticuffs at someone
Desmond snorts lightly at the sister’s statement as he ambles pained-ly towards his position. “The world was always cruel,”, he murmurs, before turning about and raising fisticuffs at Hannes.
Desmond says, what are the offense and defense stats? theres no list, ““
Chara stifles a yawn “I.. really need to pass out. Congrats to whoever is the new rich victor.” she says giving a wave to the group
Desmond says “Bye Angel.“
Hannes steps forward, bouncing on his boots to throw a standard boxer’s hook forward towards Desmond’s shoulder. Rather than commit to the strike, however, it seems the intention is to test the waters and in turn Desmond out. “It is a little concerning I’m going against -the- bruisenessman..”
Meridith watches the matches hawk-like post videos. She studies form and movements.
Desmond stumbles back from Hannes, though with less of an awkward expression from before. Still, his brows are knitted hard as he tenses up, missing being hit just by a bit, but still without any proper footwork. “Psh. Buy me a drink or cigarettes later when you win,”, he murmurs, before putting one shaky foot forward for putting force behind a weak, unmuscled, jab towards Hannes chest.
Desmond seems to not be aiming for any particular weakness, also testing the water, but his legs wobble a bit as he does.
Jenny sends off a few texts on her phone as she steps in “Dang, I really missed out on a big payday. Could’ve totally wolfed out and won that.” she grumbles giving a wave to Constance “Hey Sis Connie.” she says giving a grin as she steps up to watch the fight between the two “So uh… crippled champion and bruisenessman?”
Constance says “Yeah, just look at them.“
Hannes steps into Desmond’s punch, not bothering to step out of the way and tanking it — not that there’s much to tank, but he takes it on the pectoral anyway. “You might need some after finding out all about Yahweh and angels and demons.” he muses playfully, fists held up, watching Desmond.
Meridith shrugs and looks over at Jenny. “They’re going at it. It’s a decent scrap.”
Jenny looks back down to her phone as it keeps buzzing. Her mood visibly souring.
Hannes shifts his eyes over Desmond, from head to toe, and then his gaze settles on Desmond’s chest instead. A heartbeat, then two, and suddenly he lunges forward during the window in between Desmond’s breathing, just as Desmond is about to inhale. Another hook follows, this time into the middle of Desmond’s sternum. It’s not as rough as it could be, yet it strikes with a *thump!*. Yet, there’s a faint grimace in his features, and a grunt of pain escapes his lips.
Desmond is smacked right on the chest and blown back and onto his ass, the sand unable to friction him to a stop, off-balance and exploited as he was. “Damnable-“, he exclaims, as he very awkwardly scrambles forward and tries to lunge and chop-block &Hannes off his feet. Guy probably watched 90s wrestling or something.
Desmond his scramble his wobbly, awkward, shifting from left, to right, up and down, like Gollum, without a sense of straight – but he does catch the ‘crippled champion’ right on the shin – which will very probably, hurt.
Hannes sucks in a sharp breath through his teeth as the gremlin-man’s strike does end up catching him in the shin, and pain lances up his leg, nerves on fire. He grits his teeth, twisting his hips and bouncing back, though his leg almost gives out, and he ends up hopping backwards instead. “Dirty.” he notes, though it’s clearly in jest if the wolfish grin on his lips is anything to go by.
Meridith applauds and cheers for Desmond and Hannes. “Woo! Fucking get ’em! Kick his ass!” Who she means…! Who knows.
Hannes does something rather unexpected this time — and he puts all his body weight on his busted knee, snapping out a low kick with his shin aimed at Desmond’s calm to knock him off balance before the gremlin-man can stand up. Following up immediately, he leans forward, using the pain still coursing through his leg, now intensified due to his erratic strike, to open-palm shove Desmond on the middle of his chest, trying to send him sprawling back into the sand.
Desmond wasn’t thrown off his lunge as much as he was counter-momentum’d by Hannes open palm strike, the poor salaryman becoming slave to the rules of inertia and not only being stopped dead in his tracks but also, once again, being knocked slightly off-kilter and back onto his ass. The scowl is gone, though, and he simply wipes some spit off his mouth. “If it ain’t dirty you ain’t trying. Isn’t that how it goes? So on dirty no fair fi-” He rushed once more for another chop block, on the same exact shin!
Desmond connects with his broad shoulder this time – a low tackle, with all the force he can muster, but wow, really, the SAME move?
Hannes barely has time to brace before Desmond slams into the same battered shin, sending another bolt of agony up his leg before he can recover. He snarls through gritted teeth, staggering sideways and dropping to one knee with a grimace, though his eyes remain watching Desmond even from his position on the floor, hands set in the sand, like an Olympian about to launch off. “Son of a..”
Hannes curls his lips into a grin that flashes way too many teeth, something feral glinting in his eyes as he launches forward from his spot, fingers digging into the sand for traction, muscles flexing like coiled steel. The pounce sends him arcing through the air like a beast, right into Desmond, sending him crashing into the salaryman and into the sand with a thud, one hand braced across Desmond’s chest, putting his weight on top of Desmond’s abdomen to keep the man pinned down.
Desmond is GORED in gory-without-blood fashion, taken down without question and driven right into the sand like a snapping twig in the face of such unrelenting force. Still, he sounds like Palpatine laughing in between heavy, breathy pants, a fish out of water gulping up air and expending it in expressions of glee. “You- win- !!!”, he manages to exclaim, as he lays there, enjoying the sand.
Meridith cheers and pumps her fist. “Good fight!”
Hannes twists off Desmond, offering a hand to help Desmond up, stumbling on his feet. “Not bad for a bruisenessman.”
Jenny puts her phone away briefly to give a brief applause. She asks over to Constance “You gonna do this stuff regularly?”
Desmond takes the hand and stumbles to his feet … and then, wobbles and sit right back down into the sand, laughing. “WELL. Well. You, will have to. Teach me these moves. But. With a sword. Yes.”
Constance says “Oh, shit.“
Constance says “Nice. “
Desmond says “What is nice.“
Constance says “That we have a winner.“
Desmond claps his hands, loudly, once.
Desmond says “Nice. “
Constance offers Hannes three crisp Benjamins as a victory prize.
Hannes collapses in the middle of the ring on his ass, resting his leg after all that. “Once this heals up.” he muses, accepting the crisp bills and tucking them in the waistband of his pants, then reaches for the discarded wifebeater he had left on the sand, giving it a few whacks to get all that sand off.
Hannes offers a thumbs up over at Constance. “Dankie.”
Constance says “Alright, gotta go donate the rest to, uh, orphans. See you guys around, thanks ofr competing!“
Desmond says “Fare well.“