Jakem’s Fight Night at the Den! And an Unveiling(???)
Date: 2025-08-09 21:33
(Jakem’s Fight Night at the Den! And an Unveiling(???))
[Sat Aug 9 2025]
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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 60/span/span>15C) degrees. The mist is heaviest At Thornberry and Franklin/span
Jakem calls out “Well I hope everyone enjoyed the movies, because it’s time for some more realistic displays my friends. We’ll give it five minutes for folks to wander in, and then we’ll begin in force!”
Esme flicks a few more buttons, turning on some extra lights near the stage in preparation.
Eloa lifts her hand to wave at Annabelle, “Ola Anna. Eloa just came from helping your friend Celery.”
Dovie waves to Noel.
Emerging from the depths, the bowels if you will, of the Den’s darkened underbelly, Jakem yells down to someone below “Let’s get this started. Got the contestants on the platforms, and lets get this show on the road!”
There’s some muffled shouts back from below before Jakem calls back “No, not on the road, we’re showing here. Just put ’em on the platforms.”
Obadiah looks up from his phone, “I think we may get bloody. I hope we do. Do you think they take credit on the bets or do we have to use cash?”
Esme briefly leaves the stage to give Dovie some bills and snag a kiss on Gabriel’s cheek before she settles back in at the special effect booth.
Noel slips in along the benches, flashing Dovie a faint smile with a slap-reddened face, a handprint marring his pretty features in bright pink on the left hand side. Someone got him good, for better or for worse, and he takes a seat nearby, leaning in to murmur, “Bonjour, mademoiselle, how are you this evening? And vous monsieur, Obie, so handsome as always, good to see you both!” His smile is as bright as always, and he hugs his nighttime robe about himself gingerly, turning his eyes towards Eloa next with a little laugh. “Oh, non, you are quite fine. I was nervous about being seen in a thrift shop, but mon pockets required a cheap set of gym clothes until ma more expensive wear is returned to me, oui? It was not as bad as I have been told, your shop is plus pleasant mademoiselle Eloa.” That being said his pretty hazel eyes shift towards Gabriel when he walks in, a faint smile offered and a dip of his head in greeting. “Monsieur Hawkins, welcome.
Jakem turns to the crowd, mic in hand “Welcome one and all to the third showing of the Den of Wonders Fight Nights! I hope you’ve picked your favorites, because we’ve got quite a spectacle prepared for you. You watched this fiendish duo down the fiercest the Den has to offer, the twin fungal terrors have made a return to take on the Mooing Mauler! Is this fight a bit slanted? Our brutal bovine is unimpressed!”
“Put your hands together for our contestants!” He pulls a level and two platforms raise.
As Jakem starts getting things in order, the stage lights start moving in a showy pattern, like they’re prepping the crowd for a highly anticipated entrance. Each contestant is spotlighted as they’re introduced with exciting and thematic beats playing.
Gabriel smiles at Esme’s little cheek kiss then offers a wave to Eloa and Noel as they greet him, “Hello you two. Apologies, slightly distracted tonight but couldn’t miss the fights.” then he settles in on the benches with everyone else.
Dovie waits, excited for the betting to begin.
Jakem hops down from the stage, mic in hand “All right, new arrivals, people who haven’t seen how this works. The odds are on the wall. I’m gonna be collecting any bets you want to make, and the payout will be at the end of the match! We take cash, and we’ll take credit, but if you’re using credit be very sure to say so. You tell me how much you’re betting and on which team, then hand or transfer me the amount!”
The fungal warriors hold up their spears with eager, but indecipherable shouts. The way they jab those spears in the Minotaurs direction seems telling though. They’re ready for this fight.
The Minotaur huffs and stamps its feet on the ground, bringing its giant hands together in a closed fist vs open palm situation, not intimidated in the slightest by these two tiny-to-him mushrooms.
Jakem moves into the row of benches calling out “What do you, can the Mauler overcome the odds and rake in the prize, or will the Fungal terrors take the match?”
Jakem says, calling out to the stage hand at the boards, “Fifty on the Mauler from our lovely audience member here. That’s quite the payout isn’t it? Do I have any other takers? We’ll take bets down to five dollars if you’re wallet’s light, don’t be shy!“
Jakem nods to Gabriel “Clearly a man who knows his wise investments. Just last week these blokes downed a manticore, sure money sure money.” he says, taking the fifty. “Do I have any other wagers?”
Obadiah looks to Jakem, “Have you posted the pay outs or is this even money? What’s the vig?”
“Um Five on the Moo winning.” Eloa calls out to Jakem, ducking her head shyly.
Jakem nods with a crooked smile to someone “A brave chica we got here, almost as brave as our bovine! Five dollars on the Mauler.”
Jakem nods with a crooked smile to Eloa “A brave chica we got here, almost as brave as our bovine! Five dollars on the Mauler.”
Obadiah says “Mr Moo isn’t favored to win… Alrigt well that’s fine.“
Obadiah pats Dovie on the thigh, “We’re gonna let Jesus take the wheel on this one.”
Jakem calls out as he reaches the end of the row “Any last bets before we begin? Looks like the contestants are rearing to go!”
Jakem gives one last look over the bench, then hops down, heading towards the stage, bellowing numbers and rough descriptions of the folks on the bench to the stage hand managing the board. “Well the odds manager favored the twins, but looks like the crowd’s willing to put money on the Mauler! Let’s see how this shakes out.”
For now Noel does not partake in the betting, a few bills in his left hand that he keeps lain across his lap, right leg crossed over left as he turns his gaze from Gabriel to the mushrooms. “A curious choice,” he decides, ticking his gaze between now the twin toadstools and the minotaur. “Surely this Mooing Mauler will crush them both with one swing?” he inquires not only of the glacial-eyed male, but the crowd in-general, his hazel eyes staring out into the arena with slightly more intense concentration, appraising both mushrooms and minotaur with newfound curiosity.
As if to emphasize this point, there’s a bit more indistinct growls and garbled noises as if the fungal terrors and the Minotaur are trading jabs and taunts, ready to have a go at each other.
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (fungoid): Fungoid [Aggressive Strike, Beats: Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span First throwing its spear then charging as it emits spores from its many orafices, the fungoid launches an all out attack!
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (fungoid): Fungoid: [Counter, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Lunging Blow]/span As the opponent draws near the fungoid releases a cloud of spores, lashing out with it’s spear as it retreats.
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (minotaur): Minotaur [Aggressive Strike, Beats: Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span The minotaur lets out a snort and makes for a horned headbutt against its opponent.
Gabriel remarks to Noel as the fight begins, “The big one hits hard, but it can get bogged down trying to deal with two at once. And the little mushrooms aren’t complete pushovers if they get on top of you in groups.”
winces as the second fungoid counters the Minotaur’s headbutt. “Come on ya fuck,” Obadiah says letting his accent slip into the conversation.
“Strength in numbers, I suppose,” Noel agrees with Gabriel, watching as the minotaur and Brother One get locked in a stalemate, but Brother Two capitalizes on this, going in to fill the minotaur’s face with a thick cloud of spores.
Jakem watches on as the beasts clash, calling out to the crowd “Oh, bad start for the Mauler. Are two mushrooms too many? What does the crowd say? Come now, the Mauler needs your support, your cheers will spur him forward! Though your boos may well cause his confidence to falter.” He bellows. “You and you alone can sway this match with your voices my friend! Let’s hear it!”
Leaning back as the cloud of spores rise up from the cage, Eloa covers her mouth with her hand, “Um… is that safe for us to breath in?” She asks given well.. the cage isn’t exactly air tight.
As soon as the fight starts, the Fungoids are moving as one unit. The first one throws its spear out at the Minotaur, stabbing it in the thigh while a trail of fungal spores follows in its wake. Perhaps bolstered by its fellow Fungoids spores, the second Fungoid also emits them, bringing its spear up just in time to catch the minotaur’s headbutt!
The minotaur roars as the first spear catches its thigh and growls when it tries to headbutt the other Fungoid, only to catch more spear instead. The Minotaur and Fungoid stumble back from each other in the clash.
The Minotaur attempts to rally back while the Fungoids regroup
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (fungoid): Fungoid [Aggressive Strike, Beats: Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span With a gargling cry of desperation, the fungoid lowers its spear and charges its opponent.
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (fungoid): Fungoid: [Careful Strike, Beats: Counter, Powerful Blow]/span The Fungoid leverages the range of its spear to try to stab its opponent from afar.
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (minotaur): Minotaur [Awesome Power, Beats: All]/span A deafening 26B27e228l27l26o27w/i>Dovie cheers for the minotaur!!
Obadiah claps his hands excitedly as Moo makes some noise and gets the upper hand for the round!
Jakem watches on as the beasts clash, calling out to the crowd “Oh, bad start for the Mauler. Are two mushrooms too many? What does the crowd say? Come now, the Mauler needs your support, your cheers will spur him forward! Though your boos may well cause his confidence to falter.” He bellows. “You and you alone can sway this match with your voices my friend! Let’s hear it!”
Jakem had forgotten to announce that last round.
Obadiah forgives Jakem.
Taking advantage of the Fungoid’s need to briefly communicate with each other, the Minotaur charges forward. A defeaning bellow fills the room, drowning out the charging cries of the Fungoids as they realize too late what’s happening and try to get an attack together. Those massive fists each collide with the Fungoids, sending them sprawling even as a fine layer of dust and debris from the rafters begins to rain down – disturbed by the bellowing Minotaur.
Jakem whistles appreciatively, looking up to the rafters as debris falls “Hmm, should probably pay off my bribes to the building inspectors a little early this month.” he comments before bringing the mic to his lips to bellow “And your cheers have rallied the Mauler, bringing him within a hair’s breath of victory! But can he keep it up? Let’s hear it from the crowds!”
Gabriel boos loudly at the large bovine creature and his roar, cheering for the fungal friends instead.
Recoiling a little at the violence, Eloa hides her face against Annabelle’s shoulder when the fungoids go in with their spears again. She whimpers as the ceiling starts to shake and pieces start to fall.
Esme looks disappointed in her Fungoids getting clobbered even though she didn’t bet on them this time around, or bet on anyone. There’s a grin though as Gabriel boos for the minotaur.
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (fungoid): Fungoid: [Counter, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Lunging Blow]/span As the opponent makes its move the fungoid lets out a piercing shreak and hurls its spear.
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (fungoid): Fungoid [Aggressive Strike, Beats: Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span With a gargling cry of desperation, the fungoid lowers its spear and charges its opponent.
Jakem uses an announcer’s mic (minotaur): Minotaur [Aggressive Strike, Beats: Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span The minotaur lets out a snort and makes for a horned headbutt against its opponent.
The Fungoids are down but not out! Clouds of spores were released in their knockback which has the Minotaur facing some unintended consequences! He’s caught up in a sort of coughing, sneezing, trying not to claw his own eyes out fit which gives the duo plenty of time to get back on their feet.
The Fungoids lower their spears and charge forward! One of them throws their spear and manages to catch the Minotaur in the shoulder, sending it staggering backward. The Minotaur tries to shift momentum and surge ahead but instead gets tripped up by the second Fungoid stabbing its spear into his lower leg.
The Minotaur lets out another roar as it goes sprawling to the ground of the stage and the Fungoids jump ontop of it in a victory dance of sorts, knowing they’ve bested the beast before they clambor to retrieve their spears.
Jakem shakes his head morosely “The poor Mauler just couldn’t keep it up. When a resounding dissapointment for some. What a profitable victory for others.” he says with a wink to the stands.
“All right folks, who’s ready for your payouts? And then we’ll get on to the next match.”
Obadiah elbows Gabriel when he boos his Moo-cifer and then starts to pout when the second fungoid gets a blow in ending the match. “Boo.”
Jakem hops down from the stage as stagehands coral the fungoids away from the minotaur and back into their pens, approaching Gabriel.
Gabriel sticks his tongue out at Obadiah and Dovie both before turning to Jakem, “I know winners when I see them.”
Dovie hisses towards the fungoids. “Booo!”
Jakem approaches Gabriel, dolling out a wad of bills. “You do indeed it seems, lets see if your luck holds my friend.”
Obadiah says “Do you want to win, or do you want to let Fate have her way with us?“
Obadiah says “Gladiator “
Gabriel looks rather chuffed as he collects his winnings and slips them into a pocket.
Dovie glares at Gabriel.
Gabriel bounces his brows at Dovie and sticks out his tongue again.
Dovie sticks her tongue back out at Gabriel brattily.
“I should be in the hospital.” Annabelle decides of the corpse on stage, pushing upright with a shiver of her leg- extracting herself from the bench.
Once the contestants have been coralled back into their respective pens, Jakem waits a bit, calling down “Come on, Gilgamesh is ready to go. Where’s the Manticore? What, no he just ate. Don’t feed him again…” he belows down into the pit.
After a few moments “Don’t worry, he won’t bite. I promise you, he probably ate!”
He rolls his eyes “Fine. Just one though.” He turns to the crowd “Are you ready for the penultimate match of the night folks, featuring our debuting gladiator Gilgamesh the Demonborn versus the fearsome.. Manticore!”
Dovie digs for the cash in her purse, holding it up. “Betting on the gladiator!”
Jakem pulls on a lever, the manticore’s platform alone rising as the gladiator steps up onto the stage of his own power and volition.
A cheer rises up from the crowd as the fighters take the stage, the spotlights highlighting them respectively. Gilgamesh steps into place holding his trident and net up with a powerful. “This Manticore’s no match for me!” He growls, encouraging the crowd some in his actions.
The Manticore comes into view, pacing and growling, swishing its scorpial-like tail in a threatening manner at the gladiator.
Jakem hops down from the stage “All right, who wants to win a few bucks. This match is a bit more even, so for those with a keen eye, you stand to make a pretty penny. What’s the crowd think?”
Jakem bellows across the crowd, unnecessarily perhaps as he’s right there now “We’ve got some confidence in our newcomer. Fifty on Gilgamesh. Oh, but here we have our previous victor from the benches. You say the manticore will emerge victorious?”
Hurrying inside, Jasper quickly waves a hand and turns to walk at the bench where Eloa is and takes a seat.
Eloa waves at Jasper and seems relieved to find someone else to cower behind given her first shield is gone!
Obadiah grins broadly
Dovie glares at Gabriel with a huff.
Jakem sweeps across the bench, looking to the various audience members “And do I have any one else that dares with the dollar, deigning to hope for their favored combatant? What say you my lovely audience?” he bellows into his mic.
“Sometimes I wonder if he was Fae before he was turned,” Obadiah says with a squint. “I am pretty sure Essy has a little fae in her. Or trickster god.”
Dovie turns to Noel. “Are you betting this time?”
“Non,” Noel replies to Dovie after watching the end of the first bloodsport, turning his slap-marked face to look at her with a chuckle and a smile, waving a hand through the air. “I am going to bet on le finale, if I bet at all. I do so love a mystery, non?
Gabriel informs Obadiah, “I was not fae, but I was and am an asshole.”
Jakem nods to Noel with a crooked smile “You won’t be dissapointed, the last match will certainly be the most… Passionate display.”
Dovie nods at Noel. “That’s fair, I am excited to see what the mystery is…”
Obadiah nods to Gabriel, “I will have you know, that Arachne believes me to be a morally flexible asshole who uses being fae as an excuse. I don’t know that I am inclined to argue.”
Jakem looks aghast at Obadiah “I assure you my friend, Arachne knows not of what she speaks. You are more than a mere asshole, you represent the entirety to greatest extent!” he says supportively… into his mic.
“But Obie’s astonishing presence aside, do I have any final bets before we close out? Aha! Another bet on the manticore. Easy money, bet on the most poisonous combatant. What could go wrong?”
Dovie asks Obadiah randomly. “Do you think selling lobster rolls for $50 is too much? Because it’s really high quality lobster…”
Jakem finds the end of the bench, calling out “And last call, last call for bets?” he bellows.
Jakem hops down from the benches, bounding up to the stage in a single leap/step and turning to face the audience. “Then let’s get the show on the road, but without the road.” he says with a dark look to one of the stagehands. “Release the contestants!”
Jakem uses a mic (gladiator): 15Gladiator: [Maneuvering Blow, Beats: Careful Strike, Counter, Powerful Blow]/span Using his left hand to sweep the net at his opponent as an offbalancing distraction, the gladiator hops to the side and strikes!
Jakem uses a mic (manticore): 35Man34tic33ore/b>[Maneuvering Blow, Beats: Careful Strike, Counter, Powerful Blow]/span Drawing back on its haunches, the manticore pounces at its opponent, using its wings to carry it a tremendous distance.
Jakem uses a mic (gladiator): 15Gladiator: [Lunging Blow, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Careful Strike, Maneuvering Blow]/span Gripping the trident near the base, he lunges at his opponent with a reaching thrust.
“You had me at passion,” Noel assures Jakem, his unusualy but lovely hazel eyes glinting with amusement before he turns to nod at Dovie in agreement, holding his robe closely about his chest, concealing his fragile collarbones more thoroughly. He’s curious, perhaps even eager for this next match to be over with quickly so that he can have his mystery match.
Dovie cheers eagerly as the Gladiator comes out strong! “Win us that money!!” she eggs on.
“She has her moments,” Obadiah agrees with Gabriel before commenting to Dovie, “Nah. If people don’t want to pay for it, they wont. Plus that is only like two milk, right?” He flashes a side eye back to Gabriel at the milk comment, a barely suppressed grin before cheering for the Manti-core!
“True to his name, Gilgamesh will not be bested by a sheep in lion’s clothing! The manticore may have poison, but this demonborn’s spirit is for battle!” Jakem bellows. “But surely and enthusiastic audience can turn the tide, bestowing the morale of your enthusiastic cheers… or devastating boos, you alone can bring this match to a close my friends!”
The fight begins! Gilgamesh assumes a defensive stance as the Manticore comes out charging, whipping around with it’s tail to try and stab the Demonborn. The tail gets caught deftly by His trident, putting a few more steps of distance between himself and the Manticore.
Undeterred, the Manticore swivels and surges forward with a powerful push of its wings to try and pounce on the man only to have Gilgamesh take advantage of the opening and at jab the tough hide of the Manitcore’s underbelly, causing the creature to fall back with a screech!
Dovie brightens up at Obadiah, “You’re right! That’s only like two milk, so smart, darling.” She hugs Obadiah and turns her attention back to the fight.
Jakem uses a mic (gladiator): 15Gladiator: [Maneuvering Blow, Beats: Careful Strike, Counter, Powerful Blow]/span Using his left hand to sweep the net at his opponent as an offbalancing distraction, the gladiator hops to the side and strikes!
Jakem uses a mic (manticore): 35Man34tic33ore/b>[Powerful Blow, Beats: Aggressive Strike, Counter, Lunging Blow]/span Rearing back on its hind legs, the manticore bears down on its opponent with both front claws.
Gabriel boos loudly at the gladiator, “Go on and die! Let the poison take you out you worthless thing!” then there’s a gasp, “Noo!”
Dovie jumps up in her seat, clapping up a storm as she cheers on the gladiator. “Yes! Yes! YES!!!!”
Gabriel glares hatefully at the gladiator and starts feeling around his pockets for something.
“Don’t you dare cheat, Gabriel Hawkins!” Dovie hisses at Gabriel, her eyes narrowed.
“You can do it, manticore!” Jasper calls out towards the manticore while his hand clenches into a fist.
“If he cheats, I will just cheat back,” Obadiah assures Dovie, already reaching down the front of his shirt for something.
Dovie eyes both Gabriel and Obadiah suspiciously as the two men search for… things.
Gabriel has a pistol halfway out of his pocket when Dovie calls him out, “Me? Cheat?! How dare you.”
Obadiah sees it is Gabriel’s pistol lowers his hand, letting prism fall against his chest without saying a thing to anyone.
Gilgamesh and the Manticore seem to be evenly matched, trading several more blows that merely serve to make the other angrier that they can’t get a hit! Thinking he’s got the perfect moment to make himself an opening, the warrior feints a movement with the net in his left hand just as the Manticore is rearing up for its own attack.
The Manticore slashes downward with its claws at Gilgamesh, but its aim is a little off from the movement of the net in its periphreal vision. Gilgamesh uses this to his advantage, side stepping and stabbing the manticore in its side and shoving it off to another part of the stage.
The Manticore screeches again as it slides across even as Gilgamesh is letting out a victory cheer. “I will not be bested by these beasts!”
Jakem shakes his head “What a first showing folks, Gilgamesh barely broke a sweat besting our most powerful beast.” he grins “Riding high on your horse are you Gilgy? Well not to worry, one of these days Stacy will be all grown up and we’ll get you a proper challenge. In the mean time, let’s get to paying out your fan club.” He tells the mighty bronzed, and obviously oiled man.
Jakem turns from the cages as the manticore’s defeated and battered form is herded back to its pen, approaching the stands.
Obadiah says “Not that I cheat. I would never cheat. Of course.“
Dovie pats Obadiah on the back, “Of course they are,” she says, supportively.
Jakem hands over a small pile of bills to Dovie, and then goes about paying out a few of the other smaller betters. “All right folks. Let’s get things sorted on stage, and then it’s time to unveil or mystery guests!”
“Damn you, Gilgamesh!” Jasper hollers with a defeated look. “You’re as cocky as your namesake.”
Obadiah nods to Dovie, “Agreed. Let’s see who it is and then we will figure out who to bet on.”
Dovie squints. “Is that a…”
This time there’s no bellowing, no platforms, no levers. Instead, a gilded box is opened, and two dolls are extracted and placed upon the stage. A giant screen comes down from the rafters, magnifying what’s on stage.
“Welcome one and all to the unveiling of the Wondrous Dolls! Dolls invested with a life and will of their own, and today, though they’ve shared a box for the better part of a week, getting to know one another, growing closer, they will enter the cage as enemies! Two enter, one leaves. Then shortly after the other will leave because they’re quite hard to make.” Jakem bellows from the stage as the screen magnifies the doll’s antics.
Dovie gazes up at the screen, curious.
Obadiah squints at between the dolls, “They look familiar but yes, I think the Ging.” He reaches up and ruffles Dovie’s ginger locks. “Jake is funny. I like his sense of humor.”
“Ayy, it’s a mini Kai,” Jasper says upon seeing the dolls. “He got turned into a marketable plush. I’m betting on the ginger one though.”
Covering her face with her hands until the actual fighters are out of the rink, Eloa finally seems to see something she’s happy to watch! Doll fighting. She sends off a text and waves at Annabelle as the woman comes back.
Dovie squints at the dolls. “If that’s mini Kai, who is the other one?”
“Since everyone beting on the ginger.. Eloa will bet on the mini Kai.” Eloa calls out to Jakem as she sits inbetween Jasper and Annabelle.
Annabelle takes off her helmet, skating in with abandon, hands pocketed into her hoodie. She scrapes up behind Eloa rather than sit down, staying on the board.
“I bet upon le messenger, mon ami!” Noel calls out, throwing bills in the air in Jakem’s direction.
Gabriel hands Jakem some money, “I’m betting on the messenger doll.”
Obadiah says “Blueprints? Probably mini Hester then.“
“Well I don’t know any other smart Sons…” Obadiah stops himself short and coughs into his fist. “Could be Esme. Esme is very smart. But she is blond.”
The gilded box opens with some fan fare of sound affects. The dolls walk out, first the messenger doll then the ginger one. The ginger one is waving its blue-print holding hand, speaking indistinctly to the messenger in an annoyed tone. The messenger laughs and points with the ginger’s frustration. They both look around the stage and the messenger waves to the crowd in a lazy way before the dolls are focusing on each other again with about five paces between them.
Jakem jumps down from the stage, approaching the benches “We’ve got the crowd worked up today. And it sounds like they’re split down the middle, just like our odds-calculator. That’s right, according to our dear Gepetto, this match is a toss up, and anyone’s game!”
Gabriel lifts a brow at Obadiah and asks, “Esme is blonde?”
Obadiah blinks at Gabriel then leans in to whisper something to him
Jakem says, calling up to the stands, “Has anyone not given me their bets yet? Last calls before the fight of dolls, my friends.“
“So anyone can be made as living marketable dolls,” Jasper says, watching the dolls with a scrunch of his nose.
“I have no muney, huney.” Annabelle pouts to Jakem, lips squarely pressed out. She wrinkles her nose, and the expression falls off.
Gabriel nods knowingly to Obadiah.
Jakem grins to Annabelle “Quite all right. Eloa, Noel, and the man with blood and no haircut, what were your bets?” He calls out as he passes throught he benches.
“Not Alice. Alice is Order. I am going back to Hester,” Obadiah says with a nod.
Dovie nods to Obadiah. “The patch might be a clue.”
Jakem nods to Jasper, finding the bet “Ah, my mistake, yes here it is.”
Now Noel is happily watching the action, reminding Jakem in passing, “I bet upon le messenger, mon ami,” lifting a hand in the air and waving it about, crossing right leg over left once more. He smiles faintly, then lowers that arm to instead straighten out and pat over his robe so that it rests smoothly upon his thighs.
Jakem jots down a few more bets with a nod, glancing back towards the stage, eyeing it. Eventually he starts calling out numbers and rough descriptions to a stage hand “That’s right, get it down again in case I lose the paper.” he calls over.
Turning he looks over the benches “Well I think I’ve got all the bets, so let’s get this under way! As I mentioned, this match will be best 3 out of 5, as opposed to our usual 2 out of 3.”
Jakem hops up onto the stage before turning to the crowd. “And let’s begin! Remove the separator, and let’s see how fiery these porcelain roomates can get!”
Noel pauses for a moment, then shoots out a text, tapping vibrantly at his phone as he takes his eyes off of the action for a moment or two.
Jakem uses a messenger doll/span: Kai [E]Task[Beats B, D, G, I, L] The doll drops to the ground, doing an impressive set of pushups, before finding a heavy object to curl a few times.
Jakem uses a 02gin66ger-08hai72red cloth doll/span/i>66Hester [C]Aggression[Beats E, D, J, I, N] A look of anger crosses the doll’s face as it suddenly lashes out with a clenched fist.
Annabelle lets out a choked laugh, shoulders bucking into a fist as the messenger doll puts itself in a firm space to get curb-stomped.
“Come on you ginger Potato!” Obadiah is going with it before telling Dovie, “I don’t think Kai knows how to do most things.”
When the bell rings, the Messenger Doll starts doing some jumping jacks and then it gets down and starts doing pushups! A little clumsy just because it’s, well, a doll but still impressive! All the while it’s speaking in that unintelligble language but the tone is taunting.
The Ginger Doll is having none of it. It lets out an annoyed huff and lumbers over to the ‘working out’ Messenger and starts whacking him (mostly harmlessly) on the head with the blueprints!
Esme lets out a laugh at the sight from her spot in the effects booth while she does things to help spotlight the fight.
Dovie wonders to those seated nearby. “I wonder how they animated these…”
Eloa giggles a little as the someone doll is smashed, “Poor Kai…”
Eloa giggles a little as the Kai doll is smashed, “Poor Kai…”
Jakem bellows into his mic “And Hest…. errr, the ginger giant takes the first round, but don’t count our messenger boy out just yet. Surely he can pull himself together with a rally! All he needs is the support of our exuberant audience!”
“You go girl!” Dovie cheers at the ginger doll. “Gingers unite!”
Jakem uses a 02gin66ger-08hai72red cloth doll/span/i>66Hester [D]Reach[Beats A, B, F, G, K] The doll picks up the nearest object it can lift and hucks it at the target.
Jakem uses a messenger doll/span: Kai [D]Reach[Beats A, B, F, G, K] The doll picks up the nearest object it can lift and hucks it at the target.
Jakem uses a 02gin66ger-08hai72red cloth doll/span/i>66Hester [B]Counter[Beats A, C, K, H, M] The doll bides their time, preparing to counter any aggression with a quick strike.
Jakem uses a messenger doll/span: Kai [E]Task[Beats B, D, G, I, L] The doll drops to the ground, doing an impressive set of pushups, before finding a heavy object to curl a few times.
“Kai, the real you is mostly useless, but perhaps you may find redemption in le doll by winning me ma money back, non?” Noel cheers after shooting out that text, clapping his hands together once, then twice, a vibrant grin writ across his face.
Eloa giggles, “The kai doll is showing off.” She lifts her phone to take a picture.
“How else is he going to impress Sophie and Tessa at the same time? Have to build up that stamina,” Obadiah says to Dovie, waving his hand to Matias when he walks in as well.
Brightening as she spots Matias, Eloa wraps her arms around his arm when he finally makes his way in to sit, leaning up to press a kiss on his cheek before resting her head against his shoulder. “It’s one one..” She tells him as the Kai doll does more push ups.
Matias arrives at the tail end of the bloodsports with a tired expression and one hand going to remove his glasses and rub his knuckle against his eyes before putting them on again to scan the crowd. There is a distracted wave to Obadiah and Dovie before he is set upon by Eloa there is a surprised, “Oh? And who did you bet on?” with a look back towards the rows and then down to the fighting pit.
“Does seem like it,” Jasper giggles towards Eloa while he watches the messenger doll do another pushup.
As Ginger turns to walk away, satisfied with the blueprint lashing, Messenger jumps up from the pushups, retrieving the knight doll and hucking it at her. It lightly bops against her back, making her turn around and huck the doll right back at him! She takes up a defensive sort of posture while they are still clearly arguing – though the Messenger is more amused by the whole exchange than anything. Then he drops down to start doing pushups again, but this time he’s curling the knight doll in one arm while he does.
The Ginger Doll flops down on to her butt with a defeated huff and her mannerisms can somewhat convey the idea: “Watching you is exhausting”
Obadiah says “Y Cubed. “
“Uh Buck’s girlfriend the yoga person.” Eloa calls out to Dovie before turning back to Matias, “EVeryone bet on Hester so Eloa bet on Kai.”
Jakem tsks “An it’s all tied up, this could be anybodies fight, assuming our ginger ginger can find it in herself to get up again and finish the match!”
Jakem uses a 02gin66ger-08hai72red cloth doll/span/i>66Hester [D]Embarass[Beats A, B, F, G, K] The doll provides an academic assessment of the failings of her target.
Jakem uses a messenger doll/span: Kai [B]Charm[Beats A, C, K, H, M] With a cutting remark, the doll points out a flaw in some poor soul with an amused smirk.
“I suppose Ashford does like you and Flanagan does not.” Matias says in a distracted brazilian accented voice as the shenanigans of the look-alike dolls seems to claim his tired attention.
Noel visibly brightens when Matias enters the arena and finds himself a seat amongst the benches, a hand almost lifting to greet him when Eloa snags hold of his arm. This causes the French whore’s hand to pause midway, fingers curling as the female Latina kisses the male on his cheek, and after a beat, he decides to remain silent.
Giving Matias a look of protest, Eloa shakes her head, “That is not actually why but everyone else was voting for the ginger! So Eloa always go for underdog.” Smiling a little, Eloa rubs her cheek against Matias’s shoulder and leans in to him, resting against him seeming content.
Feeling victorious, Messenger gets back to his feet and points at Ginger while saying something in a mocking tone, then puts his hands on his hips. Whatever he said seems to get Ginger riled again because she rolls back up to her feet and starts laying into Messenger verbally while using her hands as if she’s listing off several things. She also manages to pull a report card with a bit ‘F’ on it out from somewehre…@line
After the first few listed items, Messenger’s confidence seems to falter a moment and then he bows his head, momentarily subdued.
Feeling victorious, Messenger gets back to his feet and points at Ginger while saying something in a mocking tone, then puts his hands on his hips. Whatever he said seems to get Ginger riled again because she rolls back up to her feet and starts laying into Messenger verbally while using her hands as if she’s listing off several things. She also manages to pull a report card with a bit ‘F’ on it out from somewhere…
After the first few listed items, Messenger’s confidence seems to falter a moment and then he bows his head, momentarily subdued.
Dovie laughs, “Oh my god! The report card!!!” She cackles.
Jakem gapes at the screen in awe “That was absolutely brutal. I’m sorry folks, I didn’t warn you how devastating things could get here at the Den of Wonder. These matches are not for the faint of heart.” he says, turning to the audience. “Looks like our ginger haired giant has the messenger on the ropes. Will he turn it around?”
Jakem uses a messenger doll/span: Kai [B]Charm[Beats A, C, K, H, M] With a cutting remark, the doll points out a flaw in some poor soul with an amused smirk.
Jakem uses a 02gin66ger-08hai72red cloth doll/span/i>66Hester [D]Embarass[Beats A, B, F, G, K] The doll provides an academic assessment of the failings of her target.
“Oh no Hester’s report card.” Eloa giggles at little but doesn’t seem to be too upset the doll she bet on is losing as she hangs off of Matias’s arm.
Matias remains leaning forward on the bench watching and then gives Eloa a sidelong look as she leans into his side. “I cannot tell if bout is scripted or just a very accurate depictiong of their interactions.” he says in a tired sounding baritone of a voice, extricating his arm he reaches up and gives Eloa’s hair a tousle before moving to pat her back with the same hand. “I believe the payout on six to one is also worth hoping for… unless they do payouts different here.” and there is a look to the left and right of those that might be sat nearby for confirmation.
Matias says, looking down the row, “Where? Oh…“
“She broke him in half with that report card!” Jasper exclaims as the ginger doll embarasses the messenger.
“The payout list is there…” Eloa points to the payout chart at the same time as Dovie, “Is pretty good payout to be honest looks like. But Eloa bet five on the moo and it lost… Eloa didn’t realize there would be so much… violence. These dolls are much more fun though.” Eloa ducks her head a little at the hair toussle, nuzzling Matias’s shoulder before glancing up behind herself at Annabelle, “Think Anna much prefers these dolls too. Should be robot and doll fights..”
While looking for the posting on how payouts work Matias finds one sign and then looks around for the other there is a spying of Noel some small distance back. Lifting his hand up in silent acknowledgement, the latino man peers back for a moment before the next bought of action from the cage draws him back forward. “Fifty to seventy so fifty that’s not the best especially if everyone bet against.”
Kai rushes into the Den, hand in hand with Sophie and heads for the row of benches where he sits down beside her.
“Ooo, me and Derek fighting,” Kai tells Sophie as he mistakes the identity of the ginger-haired doll.
“It’s not Derek! We think it’s Hester,” Dovie tells Kai.
Ginger stuffs the report card away and crosses her arms, but then manages to look like she feels bad about what she’s just done with how sad Messenger looks! She starts to make an attempt at comforting him or apologizing maybe while Messenger starts to apologize too. Unfortunately for Ginger, it was a trap!
Messenger’s frown turns into another bright grin as he says something with a smart-ass tone and then takes off running on those little legs. Ginger starts chasing after him at an almost comedically slower pace, shouting after him but also slowing down to a stop almost like she’s panting as the Messenger clears a fair clip.
Messenger realizes that Ginger’s stopped chasing him and turns around, looking victorious again. He starts to stroll back over, maybe to gloat, but it seems like Ginger has one more trick up her sleeve.
She unfurls the blueprint and starts lecturing Messenger on the schematics within the blueprint and probably how he doesn’t know anything about anything when it comes to wharever is on it. Messenger doesn’t look sad this time as she talks though, instead he just looks bewildered and confused.
The final blow comes in the form of Ginger rolling up the blueprint with a huff and a final annoyed look as Messenger stumbles back a couple steps and flops down onto the ground cross-eyed. If this was a cartoon he’d have little birds and such dizzying around his head.
Kai bursts out laughing, “But we aren’t in the same… nevermind,” he shakes his head and gives a wave to Annabelle. He looks back to the show and quiets down, his eyes bright and his zipper still down as he watches the show, leaning against Sophie, some of his hair clinging to his sweaty forehead and cheeks.
Jakem bellows “And there you have it folks, our very first ever match of the reverse titans. The ginger giant has bested the meager messenger in a battle that will surely live on for the ages!” he says with expansive hand movements as he gestures over the crowd “But know that these dolls are powered by the enthusiasm of the people around them, so it is truly our ginger’s fanclub that has crowned this week’s hero!”
“Payouts will be forthcoming.”
Dovie claps. “Amazing show!”
Obadiah gives Sophie a wave when she shows up just at the last minute
Kai claps for the show, “Adorable!” he laughs again and loops his arm around Sophie’s waist, squeezing her up against his side.
Jakem bounds down from the stage to return to the benches “And congratulations to our winners. To our losers, I say better luck next time. And feel free to come down to Wondrous Dolls where we have all sorts of dolls, ready to be brought to life and ensla… turned into pets of your very own!”
“Woohoo!” Jasper cheers towards the ginger doll.
Sophie snickers and gives Obadiah a wave, before her hand snakes over zip Kai’s pants up, “Shit, the doll has the Kai swagger down pat.”
Now that the fight is over, Ginger extends a hand to help Messenger back to his feet and they make their way back to their gilded box!
Noel offers Matias a rather weak smile when he looks back at him, not meeting the man’s slate-gray eyes with his own hazels, and once the battle is done, he sighs softly in frustration and gives a small pout. “Non… Kai has cost me my money this evening. I should have known better,” says the effeminate male, uncrossing his legs and tucking his ankles together for a time before rising to stand. He gently brushes his hands over his robe, ensuring it covers at least half of his pallid, slender thighs before his eyes tick towards the exit point, and stepping through the benches he starts to head in that direction.
Esme laughs as she eases back up to her feet with the fights winding down, setting things up at the booth into their default vibe modes so she can make her way back to the benches.
Matias begins to rise up as some others prepare to leave post bout, tucking his hands into his pockets he comments, “It seems Ashford was not the big winner I had hoped. Fifty percent is no bad.” then turns to watch the exit and departures.
Clapping her hands as the dolls duke it out, Eloa waves at Sophie and Kai as they come in before turning head to lean up, whispering something against Matias’s ear close enough for her lips to brush the helix. Getting up when he does, Eloa hooks his arm as she gives the others a wave, especially Jasper and Annabelle. “Okay see you guys later!”
“You’re still have a chance next time,” Jasper turns to tell Noel, giving him a small smile.
“Oop, thank you,” Kai tells Sophie when she corrects his wardrobe malfunction, he gives an apologetic grin to Noel and Matias, “Sorry, I’m more of a lover slash researcher than a fighter, or whatever that was,” he snickers and turns his head to kiss Sophie on the cheek.
Matias notes some of the students about and nods to Jasper and spying the infamous Kai himself lifts a hand from his pocket temporarily to greet him and Sophie and then Annabelle. “Yes let us go to the bar and let me call Hale for the meeting.”
“Burpees! But only when I can’t get to my home gym,” Kai tells Dovie, waggling his brows, “They’re harder and better.”
Jakem continues his sales pitch “Now of course, once you purchase a Wondrous Doll, just call 7100105 to have it programmed with it’s own distinct personality and possibly fighting style based on the people they… ahem, based on their own innate qualities that are not in any way legally similar to any people living or dead in New Haven.”
Annabelle doesn’t love the name, ‘Hale,’ some of the bright-eyed adoration of the even diminish, and she mutters, “Oh. Have fun.”
Kai murmurs to Sophie, “I’m getting so fat. But I’m almost there. Like… seven more pounds and I should be at my goal. I might go a little over to make sure there’s a little more muscle before I start cutting,” he lifts his hoodie to prod at a little softness around his waist, revealing a tattoo around his navel, before he drops the hoodie back into place.
Dovie nods and squeezes Obadiah’s hand. “Shall we?” She glances over to Gabriel. “Did you win?”
Sophie gives Matias a happy wave, “Hey Proff!”
Gabriel sticks his tongue out again at Dovie and leaves his answer at that before he turns to Esme, “Lovely effects, babe.”
Kai gives a wave to Derek, “Hey big D! always happy to see you.”
Dovie smirks at Gabriel, openly gloating.
Jakem calls out to Esme “Thanks for the help tonight, oh and the ginger doll was great. Looks like your doll beat mine.”
“Hello, Kai.” Derek intones softly to Kai as he assumes a bench, giving an idle little glance to Dovie as he lifts a hand to wiggle his fingers in greeting, then to various others about.
Esme grins as she slips an arm around Gabriel and turns that grin toward Jakem, “The messenger one was too! There’s always next time.” She laughs softly but then grimaces as it aggravates an internal wound. “Was a ton ah fun t’ watch an’ help. Hit me up any time.”
Dovie waves to Derek.
“I suppose,” Obadiah says before glancing to Esme, “Where are you two ending up tonight?”
Obadiah says “I kind of want to sponsor an Obie Doll….“
Esme steals a kiss from Gabriel after. “Mm, I’m fine with wherever.”
Gabriel returns that kiss and leans up against Esme, “I’m also fine with whatever.”
Jakem smirks to Obadiah “You should check out the designs we have on sale. They’re just down the road from here.”
Sophie comments to Obadiah, “You should totally get an Octo-doll done.”
Esme says “I second that, everyone should go look at the dolls!“
Obadiah mimes flipping a coin in the air and catching it. “We’ll go to Dovie’s.”
Obadiah says “where are the dolls?“
Kai nods in agreement even as he texts away, he asks Sophie, “Let’s get your car and then if you aren’t too tired, check out the dolls? Otherwise we can do it tomorrow or sometime.”
“A personalized Derek Doll would be neat.” Derek supposes with a lift of his shoulders, then adding, “Though I do have one of the originals as a gift; a little performer.”
Esme says “Wondrous Dolls! 98 Sycamore Avenue“
Sophie stretches, “Where are the dolls?”
Jakem nods “Should be about two blocks down.”
Jakem nods to Annabelle “You want me to let you in the house?”
Obadiah makes a note of the address, before flicking his eyes to Sophie and Kai before back to Dovie, “Your place?”
Dovie nods at Obadiah.
Kai looks to Obadiah and Dovie, giving the pair a two-fingered salute.
Kai nods to Sophie and stands up, offering her a hand, a little grin on his lips, “Sorry we missed the event,” he tells Jakem, “It looked fun,” he waves at Derek and someone and Jasper and heads for the door.
Kai nods to Sophie and stands up, offering her a hand, a little grin on his lips, “Sorry we missed the event,” he tells Jakem, “It looked fun,” he waves at Derek and Jasper and heads for the door.
Sophie gives Jakem a happy wave, “What I saw, was amazing.”
Jakem nods to Kai “There’ll be plenty more, don’t fret.” he says with a grand grin. He nods to Sophie “We’ll have plenty more interesting sorts of matches with… Dolls of note in the future.”
Sophie takes Kai’s hand, “I like it. It’s a neat idea. Doll’s are easy to watch die.”
Derek hums, giving Jakem an upnod. “Sorry I missed the show.” he supposes, before adding, “I’m sure there’ll be more to look forward to in due time.” with a little upcurl of his lips, tilting his head at his latter statement. “…Intriguing.” he supposes.
Jakem nods, lifting a hand “I got some cleanup to do in the back, but feel free to hang about and enjoy the refreshrments. See you all next time I hope!”