thearena | (no subject)

Who| Cuthbert and Kain, Cuthbert and Marius, Cuthbert and YOU
What| Violence, violence and possibly violence
Where| Mostly fourth floor
When| Week 4
Warnings/Notes| Violence!

Cuthbert stalked on his own looking for fresh prey. He hadn't been in a good mood for a bit, hunger and a lack of anything productive to do had started to get to him. He was just full of the impotent anger of youth and stress all rolled up into six feet of Gunslinger minus the gun. It won't take much to get him riled up and by the time he ran across Kain he was already itching for some action.

After his run in with Kain earlier, Cuthbert was less in the mood for action, but still more aware of his surroundings than he really wanted to be. This time the edge was more of the short fused sort and he was jumping at shadows. He had stopped to catch his breath and his bearings in the dark shadowy corners of one of the halls and that was where he caught sight of Marius.

He had seen the other man in passing, but didn't know his name or anything more about him. Still, after a round of fighting that accomplished little and may have cost him energy and tactical advantage, Cuthbert was eager to make up for it. He waited until he could control the quick beating of his heart and snuck closer. If he wasn't careful, however, the glint from the edge of his knife would catch one of the display lights and he would be a lot less stealthy than he thought.

Everywhere Cuthbert went (with or without his two sidekicks) he moved carefully and quietly. He had died so badly in the last arena and he swore to himself he wouldn't let the same thing happen again. More than wanting to hunt down and kill everything in his path, Cuthbert was attempting to gather information and maybe scare a few people away from their supplies.

This was primarily accomplished by getting as close as he could and shining his flashlight into their eyes before running toward them and attempting to knock the wind out of them. It might not be the most successful strategy he'd ever come up with.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The change had been disturbingly fast, after using that mask. All of that repressed anger, that darkness that he held inside him, suddenly became too loud to ignore. Kain had desperately tried to remove the mask, to pretty horrific results, a lot of pain, and some scars where it had stubbornly refused to come off. What a price to pay, for having a restoration of his powers for a brief time. He wanted more, but he also didn't know if he could take it.

As it was, the whole experience left him emotionally unstable. While before, he'd been holding back, only fighting in defense, now he was very much on the prowl, looking to satisfy those impulses to fight. It didn't take long before he heard someone approaching, not too far off. While he'd have liked to grab another mask to bring on his powers again, there didn't seem to be time. Nor was it ideal, fighting indoors like this with the spear he'd grabbed from one of the displays. He'd have to make do.

"About time I had a challenge." He didn't care who the other person was at this point, which district they were fighting for, he just needed to let out this building rage. In some ways, he was still unsettled by giving up so much control to this darker side. But as he settled into an attacking stance, he was more than ready to give in.

Cuthbert sized up his opponent quickly. He didn't seem to be anything to really be afraid of, and while Bert wasn't all that familiar with him (he couldn't even recall this stranger's name) but what mattered was he wanted the same thing Cuthbert did right then. Which was to cause trouble and FIGHT. As soon as he heard Kain speak he sped toward him, flashlight in one hand and the other held wide to balance him.

Bert went into this fight with less intent to kill than he usually had, but he would take any advantage he could.

Kain wasn't too familiar with him either, which at least made this battle far easier to manage. Sometimes, when he got in this state of mind, he ended up... reverting, a little, to that person he hated most. The one who would backstab a friend as easily as an enemy. But right now, he could just fight and unleash this aggression without a second thought.

He lashed out with his spear in a swift, steady thrust as Bert came at him.

Bert had more than enough experience dodging jabs, but he was lacking in a longer ranged weapon of his own so he has to stick to dodging and weaving for now. Occasionally he would strike out with his flashlight, aiming for his shoulders and lower. He wanted to deal a good bracing body blow so even if they both walked away from it this stranger would remember him.

But to get that close, Bert had to take a few hits of his own.

Perhaps at the very beginning of this, in his best condition, Kain would have been able to better dodge those blows, but the weeks in the arena had taken their toll. So unfortunately for him, at least a couple of the strikes hit- one to his shoulder, another lower one to his ribs, both hard enough to bruise. He moaned and took in a sharp breath at that lower hit, forcing himself to keep fighting through the pain. It wouldn't be the first time he'd fought wounded.

He kept up his repeat stabbing, moving the spear in various motions, jabbing, thrusting, sweeping widely with it, grunting in pain when he aggravated that shoulder. What he lacked in stamina at the moment, he would try to make up with skill: this was a weapon he was clearly used to using. Who knew how long he could keep this up?

Cuthbert didn't have the kind of energy he thought he did either. The blows were getting fewer and further between with more and more panting thrown in. He was taking more hits than he wanted and starting to retreat more between flurries of activity.

If he wanted to walk away from this Bert would have to stop soon, or find something to distract Kain long enough for him to get away.

It wasn't looking too good on Kain's side, either. If he kept this up... if he kept this up too long, it was possible he wouldn't make it. It was also possible he would defeat his opponent, instead, and walk away from this.

He tried again to make another hit, but found himself gasping in pain soon after, stumbling back a bit as he tried to gather his strength. So much for assuming this might be an easy fight.

Normally Bert would have taken the advantage of his opponent backing off to finish him, but he was too tired now to make a clean kill and he was worried he would end up too hurt in the process to go on.

"Not bad. Not bad at all. What say you we call this a draw?"

Kain is in a very similar situation, and as much as he's still fighting the urge to keep going, to fight and stab and destroy... he just can't, at the moment. He needs to gather his strength and remember his overall plan: just survive. He doesn't want this to be the end. Not yet, if he can help it.

"I'd be willing to do that... this time."

Any fight you can walk away from is generally a good one as far as Cuthbert is concerned. He nods and backs away a few steps, slow and keeping Kain in front of him. He doesn't want to turn his back on the other man yet, it's still too dangerous.

"Then we're agreed. Next time you will not be so lucky."

"I look forward to it... but I won't be the one who falls."

This was a challenge if Kain ever heard one, and one that he intended to see through in the future. He could never back down from this, not now. He'd do the honorable thing and keep backing away for now... but the next battle, it seemed clear that someone wouldn't walk away.