Jakem’s Den of Wonder: Bet and Brawl!
Date: 2025-07-20 16:20
(Jakem’s Den of Wonder: Bet and Brawl!)
[Sun Jul 20 2025]
Bone Caged 31S30t29a90g84e
39At the center of this room is an enormous stone platform, the surface of which is smoothed 40granite with paint of two 27con28cen29tri65c ci64rcl63es in a blended purple41. The most notable characteristic of the stage, however are the facade of bones41 around it, forming bars as if the keep those on stage inside during their ‘performances’.
Beneath the stage are long wooden benches for those attending the perfromers. Two sets of benches form 8 rows, with an aisle down the center, creating seating for over a hundred people if they squeeze in. Those lucky enough to sit on the ends have access to a stone half-pillars that can be used as a table to hold snacks or drinks.
It is about 65/bF(18C) degrees. The mist is heaviest At King and Woodcrest/span>/spanWhat emerges are two creatures. On one side is a carnivorous plant upon a thick, flexible stem. Its maw has a long line of shark tooth like teeth that snap and gash at the audience with a threatening roar.
On the other side is a small humanoid… thing. About three feet tall, it seems to be made entirely of dirt and clay. Its head has no eyes and no nose, but it does have a giant metal mouth, that clacks with a whining noise.
Genevieve peers at each of the creatures in turn and then hands Jakem $20, “Twenty on the vinetrap please.”
Those in the audience begin shouting at Jakem, throwing their bets in.
It’s sad, really, how Hester flinches at the heel-check, flabby arms flapping in a scramble for defense. “Tch, you could at least not be rude about it,” she mutters in her turn away, deliberately making a show dusting off the bandages on her back before she settles there like a Jabba the Hutt, but grumpier. “Miss Esme,” she huffs like the sourest grape in the cluster, with a glance at Esme. “D-do you have a lighter, please?” Her fist comes out again, rolling and rolling a crumpled cigarette.
A random audience member in the benches. “Should have told my dentist to sponsor this match…”
“I’m not sure there’s a way into the mirror tower but we could try and see.” Genevieve mentions to Arachne, “I should really plan an event at the castle some time though, like a ball or something could be fun. Or paintball in the giant’s graveyard…” She speculates.
Jakem collects a few bets from the audience, grinning and tucking the money into various envelopes, one labeled Vine and the other Mouth. “Plant’s a popular pick tonight folks.”
The carnivorous plant’s head swishes this way and that as it gnashes its razor sharp teeth.
The little metal dirtclod’s head moves in the direction of the loudest sounds in the room.
“The vine’s got the reach.” Genevieve explains to Jakem authoritatively.
Jakem nods as he tucks the bills away “A’right, we’ve got our bets I hope, let’s get on with the action!”
“May your foliage bristle with potential.” Derek muses after handing off his bet, an errant expression towards the plant monster with a slight smirk.
Jakem smirks and nods to Genevieve “That’s what my blackberries said to my hedgeclippers.”
“Paintball in the giant’s graveyard would be an excellent way for stress relief,” Arachne gives her vote to Genevieve as she moves to put her money in with Jakem. “Fifty on the vinetrap as wel.”
Jakem pauses, nodding to Arachne as he retrieves the envelope.
“And no kidding, Jakem, I think looking at these two fighters, the plant is *clearly* angrier right now, but I don’t know – there’s something about the little golem that makes me think this is going to be quite a fight to see,” Viviana says, her voice amplified but her demeanor leaning in towards Jakem.
The plant is indeed angry as its maw opens and shuts with deadly intent.
The dirtclod kneels, senses keen.
“He’s made of dirt, plant your seeds in him like nature intended!” Genevieve calls down in advice to the vinetrap.
Jakem hops down from the bleachers, and does a leap up to the front of the very much locked and sealed cage, standing on a platform in front of it. “All right, it looks like the plant’s a clear crowd favorite. Something about the color green maybe, given the preferences for our mudasa last event!” he banters with Viviana. “But let’s release the chains and find out whether the crowd’s got a good nose for victory!”
Cristal giggles at Genevieve. “Naughty!”
“Everyone knows grass is super effective versus ground. Fifty on the plant,” Kai tells Jakem with a laugh.
August lets loose a long wolf whistle without moving at all from where and how he sits, heel on the back of Hester’s head, “Grab that overgrown ivy by the stem and snap it in half!” His heckling, comes with a few forced bobs of Hester’s head, courtesy of his little, gentle stomp, but otherwise, he crosses his legs the other way, shoes on her shoulder from his upper-class row.
Arachne smirks faintly at Genevieve, shaking her head.
“A garden hath no fury like a plant scorned.” Derek muses dryly of the vine, applauding softly for the plant.
Jakem waves to Kai “Toss it up! I’ll stick it in my envelope.”
Orla creeps in, glancing around before disappearing into a mass of benches.
Jakem turns to the creatures and motions for a stage hand to release the chains…
Jakem uses a mic (metal mouth): 40Me41tal Mo36uth/i>/span[Aggressive Strike, Beats: Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span>/spanViviana uses a mic (vinetrap): Vine Trap/span>/span[Aggressive Strike, Beats: Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span>/spanJakem uses a mic (metal mouth): 40Me41tal Mo36uth/i>/span[Counter, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Lunging Blow]/span>/spanCristal cheers for the dirtmano!
“Well don’t just eat its dirt!” Genevieve yells down in frustration at the vinetrap.
“Oooo, looks like our malicious metal mouth – in spite of being a ground-type – might be outthinking the vicious vinetrap’s aggression!” Viviana says, leaning against one of the spires of the bone cage dextrously, at a vantage point where she can look down at the fighters. “I think that metal mouth might be a little smarter than it is letting on!” Viviana croons.
Jakem looks over the crowd “Oh, the folks aren’t happy about that. Looks like you can’t underestimate the little guy. Or maybe that’s exactly what’s happening tonight. But our devouring plant ate out of this yet! He’s still got some sap in him, aint he folks?”
Derek groans. “Come on, plant.” he mumbles, crossing his arms as he fidgets his feet on the bench before him, possibly bumping someone if they happened to be on the lower rung before him.
Hester tries to watch the fight peacefully, she truly does. However, even after class hours, she’s forced to agree with the President. Nod-nod. Nod-nod-nod. Nod. One done out by each kick of August’s shoe. Her nostrils flare first and she, with a shaky hand really trying to maintain self-control, caaarefully pushes her glasses up. In place of her lips is but a straight line, hammered flat by diminishing patience. And now there’s a foot on her -shoulder-, too. The fattie rolls eyes and tries to inch forward in her seat, to at least not have those dirty sneakers touching her.
The dirtclod makes the first move, lunging at the vine plant, aiming a punch for its bulbous head! The carnivorous plant dodges just in time and snaps its maw at the humanoid of clay, but the two are over eager, both missing their intended targets, trading spaces in the fighting arena.
The vine plant goes for another bite, its maw snapping dangerously as it lunges once more at the dirtclod, intent on a meal this day. But right before the plant can make contact, the dirtclod stands still, looking weak and ill before suddenly it’s mouth opens and a volley of pebbles and dirt vomits out right into the mouth of the plant!
With its mouth stuffed with stones and dirt, the plant’s once dangerous head, falls to the ground, where it lays twitching, trying to get the horrid substance out of its mouth.
Jakem nods over to Viviana “And it seems like I should probably keep feeding him coffee grounds despite the complaints. He really turned that tummy trouble to his advantage didn’t he?”
Lola has snatches Matias by the hand the moment they pulled up in front of The Den, linking her fingers with his tightly, not romantically, but more like the toothy cage of a venus fly trap’s mouth- and he is a fly. Not quite at a sprint, but certainly moving fast, she guides the professor into the space with an eager expression, her eyes all wide with familiarity and wonder as the colors and the lights wash over them both. “This is it!” she announces excitedly, stopping just before the bone cage and guiding him, eager and a bit too fast, up into a spot in the benches where they can view the action from afar.
“I always bet on the fungoids,” she whispers to him conspiratorially, though likely anyone could have guessed as much if they knew her. She waves at Sophie, then Jenny, then Hester and finally Kai before sitting herself down and dragging Matias along with her. “Here we go! These are so fun to watch. You’ll love it,” she insists, before pointing across at Jakem. “That’s my friend Jakem, he’ll probably be the announcer. Hi Jakem!!” she calls out, waving a hand eagerly in the air, though it’s easily missed in the midst of the crowd. She’s soft-spoken after all, even when shouting.
Jakem uses a mic (metal mouth): 40Me41tal Mo36uth/i>/span[Counter, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Lunging Blow]/span>/spanViviana uses a mic (vinetrap): Vine Trap/span>/span[Lunging Blow, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span>/spanWhen the betting window opened, Esme put money on the vine plant immediately and then readily settled in to watch the fight, passing her lighter to Hester when it was asked for.
“It’s just doing the same move over and over again.” Genevieve whines about the metal mouth as it continues to dominate her chosen critter.
Jakem tsks as the Vine Trap goes down under the weight of the massive quantity of pebbles peppered in with prodigious amounts of coffee grounds. “Reminds me of my Eddy strategy. That’s cheap.” he bellows at the confused midget.
For Hester’s benefit, August’s legs are pulled down from the back of her shoulder, and set down – so he can stand up, put a hand on the back of the next row and stare hard at the sudden grasp of victory so close when the metal-mouth counters, strikes at the lunging vine, and he grins for it, “That’s it! That’s my guy, vomit on it!”
Viviana groans, “How many coffee grounds did you *feed* that dirtclod, Jakem! It’s *still* spitting dirt at that poor vinetrap. But look – I think that vinetrap is trying something – is it growing?” Viviana says, leaning forward, her blue braid hanging over the arena as she perches precariously above the proceedings on one of the bone spires.
The vine trap manages to vomit out the rest of that horrible substance, stones and mud falling from its maw. It grows itself larger, and larger, and LARGER, its leaves and thorns longer, all aimed at the dirtclod!
The dirtclod stands still, looking strange again, almost ill, as it opens its mouth and projectiles a volley of pebbles and dirt with enough force to counter the vine trap, the velocity of the projectiles knocking the plant over!
“This is like when someone in a fighting game just ankle kicks over and over again.” Genevieve complains.
Sophie looks over and gives someone a wave before offering a smile to Matias, “Hey Proff!”
Sophie looks over and gives Eeloa a wave before offering a smile to Matias, “Hey Proff!”
“And down the plant goes, buried under a mountain of pebbles and coffee grounds!” Viviana says, her voice pitching up with excitement, the maniac smile on her lips, perfect teeth and all, not dimming for one moment.
“Low parry.” Derek advises after Genevieve, then looking to the plant, crossing his arms, grumbling. “Come onnnnnn.” he complains of the plant’s performance, looking dissatisfied.
“Damnit!” Esme laments as the vine trap goes down. “I really had ah good feelin’ bout the plant too.”
Jakem looks over to Viviana “Ope, careful there, they like to tug on hair. And eat it sometimes.” he says, guarding his own do before he turns to the crowd. “And there you go folks. I think we all learned a valuable gardening tip today.”
He does not go into detail on what that might be. “Victory goes to… The Maulin’ Metal Mouth!”
“Get the plant off the stage before it gets eaten.” he says to the reluctant, and somewhat bandaged stagehand.
Matias is not ready to gnaw off his own arm today and so is led a little to fast into the establishment and within sight of the bone cage. There is a curious expression as he looks down at the fantastical creatures with a *huh* before Lola begins to give him the low down. By the end of it his attention goves to someone and then to the row of quite a few familiar faces. He lifts his free hand to wave to Sophie and then nod to Jenny with only a sidelong glance at Kai. “Are these from off world or spirits manifesting from arcanists?” he wonders to Lola as she finds the seats and he simply plops down on a bench next to where ever she does. En route he spies Arachne who gets a quarter-bow.
Matias is not ready to gnaw off his own arm today and so is led a little to fast into the establishment and within sight of the bone cage. There is a curious expression as he looks down at the fantastical creatures with a *huh* before Lola begins to give him the low down. By the end of it his attention goves to Jakem and then to the row of quite a few familiar faces. He lifts his free hand to wave to Sophie and then nod to Jenny with only a sidelong glance at Kai. “Are these from off world or spirits manifesting from arcanists?” he wonders to Lola as she finds the seats and he simply plops down on a bench next to where ever she does. En route he spies Arachne who gets a quarter-bow.
Cristal fist pumps. “Fuck yahhhhh!!”
Kai gazes down at his phone, his expression tight, his brows pressed together as he considers something, completely zoned out from the fight, despite the bet he placed. After several seconds he takes a breath and taps the screen a single time and tucks it away, his lips quirking just a bit at the sides as his gaze lifts, notes Matias and Lola, gives an upnod to both and turns his gaze to the fight to see how it’s going, his expression relaxing into a full grin, even after his chosen winner, well, doesn’t, “Damn.”
Lost in the excitement of the matches, and her phone as she is, it takes Arachne a short while to notice that bow of deferment from Matias. The corners of her mouth upturn in subtle acknowledgement before she turns her gaze back to the cages. “Well, there goes our luck,” she sighs to Genevieve and Derek.
Cristal takes her money and stuffs it into her bikini top, out of sight.
Genevieve sighs dramatically, “Can’t rely on anyone these days.” She laments.
Jakem dolls out some of the cash he took in with a wink “Congrats August, you do seem to pick a lot of winners.” he nods over to Cristal “And hope this makes up for the money you lost at the casino last week.”
“Thank you kindly,” August folds the bills in half, dips his head towards Jakem, and slips it all into his pocket. “Nearly doubled my money.” And back to his seat he goes, dropping with a heavy, satisfied thud.
Cristal frowns at Jakem. “Told ya not to mention the casino!!”
Sophie totally meant Lola not Eloa.
Esme whispers something to Hester as she tries to light the cigarette, a bit of amusement in her expression before she straightens up focus on what the next fight will be.
“Indeed.” Derek murmurs with knit brows after Arachne, crossing his arms. “Well, at least it’s a good show.” He stifles a yawn, before kicking back and relaxing once more.
Lola missed any emotes she may have been tagged in.
As Viviana comes back into view there is some polite if off-time applause for the woman from Matias on the benches
Hester gives Esme the mix of a self-loathing grimace and a grin, bobbing a nod her way. “Sorry. Ehm, yeah, I’ll just..” Lighter and cigarette lifted a tad, then it’s back to more intense concentration to get it burning. With the audience not going quite as wild in between matches, she manages to cup a hand over the thing. A few small clouds of smoke make her eyes water. Coughing, she backs her head away from it, fanning the stuff, to slip the lighter back to Esme then.
Jakem does some managerial yelling at stage hands beneath the stage, popping up well outside the reach of the cage. “All right folks, here we go! The fight you’ve all been waiting for! We’ve got a double team this time around. We’ve managed to find two fungoids … Willing … to fight a manticore. Will their teamwork win the day, or will the manticore have a mushroom sandwhich?”
Viviana comes down after a brief break for the stagehands to tidy up the stage. “I was downstairs just now, and I think we have a good match coming up. That manticore seems to be *extra* upset today. What have you been feeding *that* one, Jakem? Or did you forget?” Viviana says with a grin. “And we just saw strategy beat viciousness just a few minutes ago, so maybe we can’t bet just on that.”
The fungoids are identical. Both sport spears that are jabbed in different directions with aggressive intent, their movements spilling a cloud of dustlike spores around the immediate area that float in the air like snow for a moment before staining the ground around them.
Jakem regards Viviana skeptically “Thirty seven lower kicks in a row isn’t strategy.” he grumbles back before turning to the crowd “And as my ravishing associate suggests, the manticore has not eaten.”
With the next match announced, Esme is peeling off some cash again, “Alright, these fungal fuckers better not disappoint me!” She insists to the fates-that-be. She sends off some money to Jakem for the bet, taking her lighter back from Hester. She takes the opportunity to get out her own cigarette to light up after with a practiced ease.
The manticore prowls around in a circle, roaring. The sound of its roar is intense as its scorpion like tail swishes around angrily. The creature is clearly irritated.
Jakem calls out as he hops down from the stage “All right, while Viv introduces our fighters, let’s get the crow’d opinion. What are the bets?”
Cristal throws money at Jakem. “Fiddy onna manti!”
Genevieve lifts a little in her seat to peer down at the Manticore and the Fungoids. “I’ve learned my lesson betting on plant things, fifty on the Manticore.” She declares.
Esme says “Fifty on the mushrooms! “
“Two hundred on the duo fungoids.” Matias calls out from the benches
“Forty on the manticore,” Arachne takes her betting leads from Genevieve, passing an envelope down to be handed to Jakem.
Viviana flourishes her hand, hopping in front of the stage, dangerously close to scorpion tail range. “The hungry, the vicious… manticore! We couldn’t just put it against one mushroom, so gaze upon the twin fungal terrors! They’ll grow on you, if you give ’em a chance,” Viviana says, wiggling her fingernails into the air as she flashes a brilliant, perfect smile, and hops off the stage.
Kai glances at Esme and then on Genevieve, he hmmms and taps his chin lightly, “Fifty on the manticore!” he calls to Jakem and tosses up his cash.
Jakem lets out a low whistle to Matias. “All right, bets paid up front friend!”
Genevieve points to the pacing Manticore. “You see the way it’s pacing, that’s winner energy.” She claims confidently.
Cristal bobs her head at Genevieve. “Gonna gree there!”
“I know when to quit betting,” August shakes his head, slowly folds his arms and lets his legs cross as he abstains from this match. “The Manticore is going to lose, anyway.” It’s dismissal in his tone, as if he’s decided it, quite boldly, that the starved and ferocious mob is no match for the dual fungoids.
“Twenty on the fungoids!!” Lola cheers happily, turning to Matias and asking: “Would you like to- o-o-oh…” Her voice fails, and suddenly her own bet seems minuscule in the light of his, living in its shadow, and clearing her throat with a redness to her scarred face, she folds her money into Jakem’s palm and repeats, far more quietly: “Twen… Twenty on the funoids… Ahem.
Jakem calls up to Viviana “Looks like the audience is evenly divided this time!”
While the wild world of nicotine gives her a minty welcome, Hester abstains from the betting. Money a more serious matter than her lungs, so it seems.
Matias tippity tappity and then looking up from his phone to Jakem, “We good?”
Jakem nods to Matias “Yeap, got you and the red-head’s notification. We’re good.”
The manticore roars at the audience in the stands while the fungoid twins continue their spear jabbing warm up.
Jakem sticks the money away into envelopes each labeled, then writes an IOU for the bank transfers and sticks them in their appropriate places. “All right folks, let’s get on to the match!”
Jakem hops up onto the stage with a lunge of his lanky frame, whipping about to face the crowds “Are we ready?” He asks. Rhetorical, because he turns to the very unready stagehands “Release the chains!”
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (fungoid): Fungoid: [Counter, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Lunging Blow]/span>/spanJakem uses an announcer’s mic (fungoid): Fungoid [Aggressive Strike, Beats: Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span>/spanViviana uses a mic (manticore): 35Man34tic33ore/b>/b[Maneuvering Blow, Beats: Careful Strike, Counter, Powerful Blow]/span>/spanMatias tucks the phone away into his blazers breast pocket an leans back to look aside at Lola after she passes off her bet. “How have the fungoids done in the past?” he inquires to Lola and briefly looks down the bench seating towards the rest of the crowd before adjusting his spectacles, already slipping down off his nose.
Hester startles back when the manticore takes flight, coughing up a cloud she’d been holding in just her mouth. That’s how you do it, right?
“Told you,” August answers quite lazily, when the fungoids lash out just as well as they get, maybe even worse.
“I have no idea who got the better end of that exchange.” Genevieve admits.
cheers. “Yes Mannie, you’re definitely winning, eat them!” Genevieve calls out encouragement.
Once the chains of the three creatures are released, many things happen all at once. Namely, the two fungoids charge with their spears towards the manticore, one of the fungoids leaving a dust of spores in its wake. The manticore, not to be outdone, uses its wings to launch itself at the two and injures the first fungoid creature, which allows for the second fungoid to stab its spear into the someone’ flank. The manicore roars in pain while the first fungoid bleeds purple liquid from its wounds.
Once the chains of the three creatures are released, many things happen all at once. Namely, the two fungoids charge with their spears towards the manticore, one of the fungoids leaving a dust of spores in its wake. The manticore, not to be outdone, uses its wings to launch itself at the two and injures the first fungoid creature, which allows for the second fungoid to stab its spear into the manicore’s flank. The manicore roars in pain while the first fungoid bleeds purple liquid from its wounds.
“Bring it home, manticore! Make me some money back,” Arachne yells down from the stands.
“EAT EM FOR DINNER!” Cristal screams.
“You show that manticore what for!!” Esme hollers to the fungoids contrary to some of the others in the crowd!
“TAKE DOWN THAT MANTICORE!” Jenny shouts
Jakem looks over the crowd “This one’s gonna be tight. One of the mushrooms is already injured, but it looks like the manticore isn’t faring much better! This may well hinge on a noble sacrifice for our brave shrooms.”
“… Well…” Lola says quietly, hesitantly, to Matias as it looks like the twins are off to a bad start, whiffing their first attack. “They uhm… They lose… Last time they lost,” she announces, grasping a bit of her golden hair and twirling it nervously around a finger. “But… But- BUT!” she clarifies. “It’s because stinky old Jakem put one poor fungoid up against a big old smelly minotaur! That wasn’t fair!!” she insists, jabbing an accusatory finger in Jakem’s direction. Then that second twin comes in to carve a rump roast from the manticore, and she leaps up eagerly, pumping a fist in the air. “Go fungus friendsss!!” she cheers.
(announce fix, sorry) “… Well…” Lola says quietly, hesitantly, to Matias as it looks like the twins are off to a bad start, whiffing their first attack. “They uhm… They lose… Last time they lost,” she announces, grasping a bit of her golden hair and twirling it nervously around a finger. “But… But- BUT!” she clarifies. “It’s because stinky old Jakem put one poor fungoid up against a big old smelly minotaur! That wasn’t fair!!” she insists, jabbing an accusatory finger in Jakem’s direction. Then that second twin comes in to carve a rump roast from the manticore, and she leaps up eagerly, pumping a fist in the air. “Go fungus friendsss!!” she cheers.
Jakem shakes his head “Listen to that beast roar though. I think that manticore is going to need your support to finish this! Can I hear a cheer? Anyone got some rah rah in you? Our cheerleader couldn’t make it, so maybe one of you have something to show?”
“Oooo, I think you’re going to have to capture another fungal warrior – or wait for a new one to spore, right?” Viviana says, sitting off to the side for this one, but looking at the ongoing fight with a wide-eyed look of interest, that wide smile not stopping for a minute. “A noble manticore’s lunch, maybe,” she says, sticking her tongue out towards Jakem with a wink at what he says.
Jakem nods to Viviana “Not to worry. Apparently fungi can reproduce either sexually or asexually. I looked it up last night when I was figuring out survival chances.” he explains to Viviana. “But it’s not over yet!” He says, turning to the ongoing fight.
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (fungoid): Fungoid: [Counter, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Lunging Blow]/span>/spanMatias makes another quiet *ah* sound his slate-grey eyes behind spectacles looking back to the bone pit. Tilting his head to the side slightly as one of the fungal warriors has its cap in the manticore’s maw as it were. “Two on one and starving, I think it was a safe bet.”
Viviana uses a mic (manticore): 35Man34tic33ore/b>/b[Lunging Blow, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span>/spanGenevieve’s lip half curls as if into a sneer for a second before the expression vanishes and she goes back to watching the fight. “Two on one does seem to be a big advantage…” She admits.
“No we told you to eat them!” Genevieve calls down in frustration at the Manticore.
“Maybe it just likes to play with its food, so there’s still time to turn this around,” Arachne holds onto fleeting hope while Genevieve calls out her frustration.
Esme half jumps out of her seat in excitement, “Yes! Take that! Teamwork makes tha fuckin’. Dream. Work!” She drops back down into her seat, laughing before she takes a hit off her cigarette.
Hester is already twisting a pinky in her ear at all the hollering and hooting. She takes a good long look across the benches when a familiar voice shines through – Lola. The ginger just shakes her head and snorts quietly to herself, like that one’s loyalty for the fungoids was to be expected. Ash is tapped from her cigarette obsessive-compulsively, scared to get any on her.
The first fungoid manages to hop away, its wound still oozing purple liquid that spills onto the ground. As if in sync, the two fungoids heft up their spears, throwing at the very same time with the intent to harm the manticore. The manicore’s tail whips in the air, sending barbs of poison towards the fungoids, but the two manager to roll away just in time as their spears strike true! Each spear pins each of the manticore’s wings, pinning it to the wall of the arena where it roars in pain.
As the spears fly a hand comes up to his face Matias and mumbles “They have backup weapons, yes? They did not just throw it at manitcore with its tail?” his clear disappointment despite the devestating outcome.
Jakem shakes his head “Such a mighty beast, and the winner of our last event hands down. Alas, it’s hard to be ganged up on. Let’s get some crowd reactions while I do the payouts. And stay tuned folks, we got our last match coming up!”
Viviana straightens up. “I think that’s the second time we’ve seen strategy outwit viciousness, Jakem, it looks like they got it!” Viviana says, looking to the beast as it was pinned to the side of the wall.
“Oh is not, to the death.” Matias seems shocked
Cristal mourns, wailing. “NOO!! MY MONEY!”
“I knew they wouldn’t let me down!” Esme grins
“Yeah! Mushroom power.” Jenny cheers as the fungoids win
“I must be cursed.” Genevieve complains as she loses again.
Esme gives Jenny a thumbs up for being mushroom-betting twins
Jakem moves about the benches, consulting his notes and giving payouts, nearly emptying both envelopes of bets.
“Well. I’m poor again,” Kai announces to no one in particular and slouches down on the bench, “Fuuuuuck gambling,” he decides and folds his arms over his chest.
Sophie giggles quietly as she watches the proceedings, happily on her own as she observes and relaxes in the benches.
“I mean, the manticore probably would’ve won if it was fighting a couple of reanimated steaks,” Hester croaks to nobody in particular, giving her menthol cigarette an accusatory look.
Esme snickers at Hester
Esme snickers at Hester’s comment, in agreement.
As quietly as he can, Preston makes his way into the Caged Stage, late and not all that fashionable – just sitting down wherever he can that has room.
Matias confirms the payout on his phone and then does some tapping before tucking it back again with some applause as the announcers take back to the stage, “As far as field trips go, this was surprising.” he informs Lola in an aside.
Cristal grumbles. “Now I wanna eat mushrooms and steak,” she complains.
“One more round! Make them fight one more round!!” Lola calls out, cupping her hands around her mouth even as she receives her winnings, a look of frustration upon her face as the fight ends so quickly, perhaps she wanted more of a bang? “Cowards! My people crave the blood of our enemiessss!” she whines, then sinks back down to the benches grouchily. Such a sore winner!
Jakem calls out to the stage “All right folks, this is the very last match of the night. If you want a last ditched chance to make your money back, this is your chance! If you don’t feel you’ve gotten enough from me, well here’s your chance to take more. We’ve got the fearsome minotaur, against the griffon. Odds just barely in the minotaur’s favor.”
Wow, people agreeing with Hester. The pudgy student smiles a little and immediately tries to hollow her fat cheeks, lest she seem too happy about that. The attempt to act ‘cool’ makes her cigarette the main protagonist.
Jakem turns to the remaining stagehands, giving a nod before he pulls the lever.
Genevieve raises slightly in her seat to study the beasts. “My mistake last time was betting on a winged creature in an indoor arena.” She decides, “Fifty on the Minotaur for me.”
Cristal yells at Jakem, throwing cash at him, “Fiddy on the Griffo!”
“The Minotaur better not win,” Preston exhales sharpyl, grimacing.
Jakem turns back to the crowd as the minotaur rises from the depths “Now you may remember that the minotaur was defeated handily last time. But not worry, we’ve got him doused on all sorts of errr, healing cocktails and he’s back in fighting action and ready for some chicken!”
“I’ll abstain from this round, but I’m starting to think betting opposite of you is the way to go,” Arachne tels Genevieve when she peers down at the cages.
Esme peels off some money to pass to Jakem, “Mooing Mauler, make me proud! Fifty down!”
The minotaur is loosened from its chains. Standing around seven feet tall, it hits its chest and bellows loud, hefting a battleaxe in its otner hand.
Viviana clambers up onto the stage, this time to climb higher on the bone spires – same as in the first match, to get a birds eye view – somewhat, on the event. “How many of these healing cocktails use methamphetamines, Jakem?” Viviana says, a wicked grin dancing on her lips as she looks between the two creatures. “He looks like he’s ready to make up for the last defeat!”
“Nonsense.” Genevieve dismisses Arachne with a wave of her hand, “I’m just you know, getting my eye in. I out of practice predicting pokemon battles.” She claims.
Jenny looks down at her cash before shrugging saying to Jakem “Fifty on the Minotaur!”
Genevieve studies the Minotaur hefting the axe. “If it uses tools does that make this all kind of slavery?” She wonders.
“I won’t. I won’t do it,” Kai tells himself and lifts both hands, slapping himself quite hard on both of his cheeks at the same time, “No more betting,” he drops his hands back to his phone.
Jakem shrugs to Genevieve as if the answer to that question isn’t even academic for him, collecting money.” Bull man’s popular today.
“Same, same,” Hester nods lightly at Cristal, careful not to hit anybody with her lit menthol. The back of her seat is checked again for feet before the squinting sally slouches more comfortably against it again.
“I can load you fifty bucks.” Genevieve offers Kai innocently.
Lola turns to look at Matias, leaning over to the side to peek at how many winnings he’s earned, if he counts them, but otherwise she is curious and conspiratorial, asking: “Are you going to bet again? Should I bet again? No.. I don’t have that much money, I won’t bet again,” she decides, shaking her head firmly with her arms crossed over her chest. Unfortunately, however, she has tasted victory, and that makes resistance… Hard.
The chimera stalks around, its eagle beaked head letting out a sharp cry as the lion tail swishes on the ground, impatiently, its wings batting a bit.
Derek shrugs to Genevieve. “Who knows?” he mumbles, his green eyes drifting down to the minotaur with idle curiosity.
“No!” Kai replies to Genevieve with a laugh, “Quit it! I have enough self destructive shit, I don’t need to be broke too,” he grins.
Jakem moves around the benches, calling up to someone “I think the crowd’s pretty unsure on this one. I don’t blame them, but the bull man is our clear favorite so far.”
“You’re already broke.” Derek adds helpfully after Kai with dry amusement.
Jakem moves around the benches, calling up to Viviana “I think the crowd’s pretty unsure on this one. I don’t blame them, but the bull man is our clear favorite so far.”
Kai glances at Derek, dpesn’t smile the man’s way and instead looks back to the stage, though his attention is split between that and his phone.
Esme mumbles,apropos of nothing, “Minotaur better fuckin’ win.”
“I think everyone likes an underdog, Jak,” Viviana says, leaning forward over one of the bone spires that takes on a more horizontal tilt, perched above the arena. “Or underbull, as the case may be right?” she says, flashing her smile back at him, and the crowd.
Matias counts off his winnings and when Lola leans in there is a remark “One and done, have the most fun.” the sage wisdom of something that mildly rhyhmes, “Besides do you not have a shop to pay for?” he wonders to Lola
Jakem chuckles “Not this time. Our minotaur was our appraiser’s pick for this fight, and it seems like the crowd agrees.”
“So.. if you cook that, would it taste like chicken or something else?” Hester idly wonders, sizing up the winged beast from its KFC parts to the savannah section. Something makes her straighten up, looking around real quick. Her temple is given a press instead, whatever caught her attention dismissed with a headshake.
Sophie says “Do we have another meeting planned at all? “
“Fine fine.” Genevieve agrees with Kai, “But you should still decide who you would have bet on so if they win you can feel dumb about it later.”
With no more bets incoming, Jakem jumps down from the makeshift bleachers.
“Hmmmm minotaur, cause… seems like intelligence is winning so far,” Kai decides with a firm nod to Genevieve.
“Theta dec-” Derek begins, before squinting, his eyes drifting back to the stage after Cristal with a roll of his shoulders.
“Now you’re making me root for the griffon, Jakem,” Viviana says. “But we’ll see – we’ve had two fights that was viciousness versus strategy, and viciousness lost every time. Now we got ferocity versus…” Viviana sticks her tongue out of the corner of her lips, looking at the chimera. “… adaptability?”
Jakem calls to the remaining stagehands “All right, get ready to release the creatures! Let’s see if House Griffondor is as lame as most of our audience seems to think>”
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (minotaur): Minotaur [Powerful Blow, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Counter, Lunging Blow]/span>/spanEsme watches intently as the fight starts
Viviana uses a mic (griffon): 55G53r49i87f80f79o78n/i>/b[Powerful Blow, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Counter, Lunging Blow]/span>/spanJakem uses an announcer’s mic (minotaur): Minotaur [Counter, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Lunging Blow]/span>/spanViviana uses a mic (griffon): 55G53r49i87f80f79o78n/i>/b[Careful Strike, Beats: Counter, Powerful Blow]/span>/span“Come on Minnie, cut yourself a chicken wing for dinner!” Genevieve calls out to the Minotaur, “No, watch your face, watch your face!”
“Booo!” Esme calls out as the Griffon seems to momentarily get an upperhand.
As the Minotaur begins to lose, for now, Preston perks up, sitting forward excitedly.
The minotaur hefts its axe in its hands and charges the griffon, swinging back and forth. The griffon launches straight at its opponent, catching the axe handle in its beak. The two struggle for superiority. With a gleam in its eye, the griffon lets go of the axe to attempt a quick dirty peck at the minotaur’s face, but the minotaur is too fast, a hooved kick hurtling the griffon away a few feet as it sqwuaks in surprise!
Jakem shakes his head “It is not Hufflepuff’s time to shine it appears.” he says with a crooked grin, turning to the audience “The Griffon is holding strong, folks. Maybe the minotaur just needs a little support from his fans. he’s had it hard these past few weeks. First manticore poison and now lion…eagle… beak-claws?” he says as the griffon seems to be fighting almost equally with both halves of its body.
With an angered screech, the griffon dives at the minotaur again, this time rendering a deep cut on the minotaur’s face. The minotaur tries to kick it away again, but is too injured. Almost losing a grip on its axe, the minotaur stumbles backwards, clutching its wound.
“COME ON! YOU GOT THIS!” Jenny yells out at the minotaur
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (minotaur): Minotaur [Aggressive Strike, Beats: Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span>/span“WHAT AN OPENING!” Viviana shouts, as the two creatures clash with the powerful series of initial blows. And when the griffon sneaks that peck past the guard, Viviana stands up a little bit straighter, her braid dangling.
Viviana uses a mic (griffon): 55G53r49i87f80f79o78n/i>/b[Aggressive Strike, Beats: Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span>/spanJakem uses an announcer’s mic (minotaur): Minotaur [Aggressive Strike, Beats: Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span>/spanJakem uses an announcer’s mic (minotaur): Minotaur [Aggressive Strike, Beats: Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span>/spanViviana uses a mic (griffon): 55G53r49i87f80f79o78n/i>/b[Careful Strike, Beats: Counter, Powerful Blow]/span>/spanEsme is on the edge of her seat as the Griffon and Minotaur have their fearsome face off
Jakem frowns a bit “I’m not sure about this whole ‘clever strategy’ bit. That looked like the same thing over and over until it worked.” he says.
“Yes lets fucking go!” Genevieve calls out as the Minotaur gets the upper hand.
The minotaur and the griffon exchange an intense set of blows. Talons, horns, and grapples ensue as the two are locked in deadly combat. Finally when the griffon attempts a headbutt, the minotaur grabs the griffon by its feathered scalp, its fingers finally finding purchase and throws the creature into the wall!!
Cristal mourns. “MY MONEY!!”
“WOO!” Esme calls out as the griffon is thrown aside.
Jakem shakes his head dourly as the bird struggles to recover, turning to the crowd “Looks like the crowd’s enthusiasm for their money is beating the birds best hopes of beheading its brother in arms.”
“Don’t let him off the wall!” Genevieve yells down in advice to the Minotaur.
“Let’s goo!!” Arachne joins the blood-thirsty cries of the masses.
Viviana, on top of the bone spires overlooking the arena, one could almost see her shake up there with the force of the creatures blows. “INCREDIBLE!” Viviana shouts as the creatures hammer each other with blow after aggressive blow, until the big form of the griffon smashes against the side of the wall. “THEY’RE OUT FOR BLOOD, and they’re gonna get it!”
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (minotaur): Minotaur [Lunging Blow, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span>/spanViviana uses a mic (griffon): 55G53r49i87f80f79o78n/i>/b[Powerful Blow, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Counter, Lunging Blow]/span>/spanCristal looks relieved when the two start fighting again.
There’s a look of shock on Lola’s face as Matias’ cash becomes her cash, and her mouth opens slightly, searching for words that don’t come. Instead she takes his advice, falling silent and offering him a drink from that pink-filled fishbowl with dual straws, hard to tell which one belonged to whom anymore. “You’re right… Let’s just enjoy the show,” she chirps to him, scooting a bit closer to the Professor and then dipping her hand down into a secondary bowl, plucking a golden-brown wonton from within. Then another. Then another. Then another. This fight isn’t going to stop until there’s a death in the arena, it seems! She tugs at Matias’s sleeve, antsy, eager, excited, wide-eyed. “Look look look look!!!!” she squeals excitedly.
Emboldened by the pain it has caused the griffon, the minotaur lunges at its prey, the blade of its axe thrust forward as it attempts a killing blow. But the griffon manages to recover and faster than a blink, its hind legs lash out, the talons gripping the axe, breaking it in half as it forces the bladed half into the minotaur. The minotaur belows with pain, falling to the ground. Alive, but bleeding.
Genevieve’s shoulder’s slump. “You coulda been a contender Minnie!” She calls down in disappointment.
Hester jumps in her seat when the beast bashing grows violent, the rest of her cigarette falling – to be lost to the stomping of feet by others on the same row. “Ohhhno.. okay..” Not her business anymore. Back to the fight she looks, pity in her eyes instead.
“Nooo!” Jenny yells out dramatically as the minotaur falls
“You should never bet on a Minotaur,” Preston replies to Genevieve. And then he’s clapping. “GOOD WORK!”
“Nooo Minnie! You were so close!” Esme joins in the disappointment.
Jakem shakes his head sorrowfully “That axe cost a fortune.” he sighs “At least the Mauler lives to fight another day.” he declares.
“OHHHHH!” Viviana calls out, hopping down off of the bone spire and onto the floor again. “Gotta put something else in the healing mixes this time, Jakem. Maybe a little something extra,” Viviana says.
Arachne is immediately upon her feet when the griffon disarms the minotaur and impales the creature on its own blade. “YEEES!!” she screams, throwing her fist into the air. “KILLING BLOW! KILLING BLOW!”
Jakem turns to the ground, bellowing into his mic “Well folks there you have it, our last and final round fought with a ferorcity here-to-fore unseen amongst the gladiators of our little galla!”
Cristal stands up bounces in the stands. “FUCK YAH!!!”
Jakem speaks quietly aside to Viviana, though he doesn’t quite cover his mic properly “I already did. Might have to up his dosage.”
Matthew stalks in late, but he’s here to see the aftermath it seems.
Cristal bounces excitedly, exclaiming to Derek. “Der Der! I’m rich like ya now!!!”
Matias claims the large fishbowl with a mysterious drink within and just uses both straws to take an extra large sip from it, leaving Lola to wolf down on mexican wontons. As the fight ends with the axe shattering and a competitor bleeding out on the ground. He looks back to Arachne and then confesses to those nearby, “A death match a month, a tleast.” the blood lust in the crowd apparently ubiquitous. Then to Lola, “Alright Lovelace, who -would- you have bet on be honest.”
“Alright, I’m going to scoot before there’s a crush for the exit.” Genevieve declares, “Enjoy my money whoever won.” She adds, giving a general little wave and slipping out.
Derek looks up to Arachne with curiosity, then to the minotaur on the field with a broadening grin, clenching his fists in anticipation of more blood still with sudden intrigue.
With the fighting over, Esme is still relatively pleased that she’s up on her winnings at the end of the day. She sends a few texts and starts to slip out herself. Irish goodbye style.
Jakem bellows now “And that folks, is our show. Feel free to stop by the bar for some refreshments to ease your sorrows or celebrate your victories!”
“How did you do with your bets?” Arachne turns to ask Derek and someone as her excitement simmers down, smoothing her fingers lightly through her hair as she gathers her bag, preparing to leave. “I’ve broke even with everything, I believe.”
Viviana stands up by the stage, and makes a flourishing gesture towards Jakem, before she strides to the trapdoor, and hikes it open once more. Another flourishing gesture with her hands. “I hope you enjoyed the show!” she calls.
Cristal cheers for Viviana and Jakem.
Jenny looks down at her phone “I should probably grab that real fast…”
Hester still stares at the arena with a troubled dark in her eyes. But nothing more keeps her here. Hands plant on either side of her bench, and she’s rising like she’d sat for a hundred years. The Irish goodbye sure is in style these days.
“Good show.” August flicks a drop of blood from the back of his hand, and slowly moves to stand. His jacket is fixed, and he’s already pulling out a pack of smokes after while drifting through the rows to leave them. A few bucks richer, August disappears towards the exit with a slight stretch of his shoulders, and a dip of his hands into his pockets.
Derek then looks over to Cristal with mild curiosity. “I’m sure we’d be able to provide advisory services for a reasonable fee.” he muses evenly, though he adds, “I’m not technically qualified to provide specific financial advise as of yet, in any event. ‘Officially’.” He gives an easy shrug, then clearing his throat.
Derek clears his throat, promptly rising before he moves to depart.
Lola smirks at Matias when he asks that question, but she keeps her tone even, lies not needed here as she replies, waving a wonton about in front of his face playfully, like she might offer him a bite, and then stuffing it between her own teeth, chewing languidly and with a grin. “The griffon,” she declares. “Only because last time, the minotaur beat up the fungaloid…. It was upsetting to watch,” she mumbles, looking away with a wince at the memory.
Kai stands up and wanders out of the room, rubbing at his eye as he goes.
Orla drags herself out the corner of the benches, equally ignoring Matias, because why the fuck not.
Viviana strides out of the mysterious underbelly of the place, tapping on her phone briefly. Glancing up at the gathered, Viviana flashes a pretty smile. “Great drinks here too,” Viviana says. “I go for the elven drink, myself.”
Matias considers Viviana from the bench seating beside Lola, “Are you buying this time?” he wonders aloud in a wry baritone of a voice.
Jakem brushes off some… residue that seems to have made it all over his clothes. “Thanks all for coming.” he says as he examples a ripped part of his jeans. “You all were a great audience.”
Matthew walks in, his eyes settling on Lola whom he makes his way towards, awaiting a polite distance until he’s grabbed her attention.
“Fffff…” Viviana starts to say to Matias, but moderates her speech with great difficulty, as she was still in the vicinity of the show. And she was a professional when she wanted to be. “Not this time!” Viviana says with a bright smile. “You won a lot of money off of me that time, so… I hope you managed to win even more!” Viviana says.
Constance says “Sorry. Been…zoning out a bit. So much happening at once.“
“Two hundred dollars on the fungoids.” Matias replies innocently to Viviana with a dip of his head, “Thanks for telling me about your show.” and then turns his attention back to his companion and peers quizzically at Matthew as well.
Jakem nods over to Lola “Oh, I heard you had a shop? Do you sell some of those potions there?” he calls over.
Matthew catches Matias’ attention and offers the man a small dip of the head, a smile settled into his features. “Matias, right?” he asks, “I think we’ve met in passing but can’t recall ever exchanging words.”
“It’s not my show,” Viviana says to Matias. “I was just promoting it,” Viviana says with a flashing grin. “Jakem and the hardworking stablehands and people really are the masterminds behind this thing,” Viviana says. When the attention drifts, Viviana seemed happy to drift along too, although Viviana wiggles her hand to Matthew in passing.
Matthew glances towards the exiting woman, calling out, “Later, Viv!”
“We can go to the bar, just for a little while, then I have to go, really!” Lola insists, though soon after she notices the approach of Matthew, and she grins at him. “Hi, sir,” she says sweetly, rising to her feet with recognition of his expectant gaze. “I actually have something to show you anyways-” she starts, falling in beside him and dipping her head, then giving Matias an apologetic look. “I uhmm… I’ll only be a moment, sorry. I’ve been helping Mister Matthew with something important,” she explains.
“We have, the court.” Matias confirms to Matthew before taking a moment and putting face to name, “Mathhew, one of the famous ones right?”
Jakem smirks a bit at something clearly going on mostly in his own head, then gives a wave “Well I’m gonna go collapse in my bed. Enjoy the day folks!”