1 blood 1 fall to 1 fall

b. I'm more inclined to believe he's trying to draw you in than that you got lucky. And if you did, no need to push that luck.

Don't bother apologizing, for now. The only apology he needs at the moment is that you didn't take the chance to run him through.

>>556099
Dammit Growen stop losing!

B, but with the mindset of C.

B and C.

Back away slowly and apologize for the accidental crotch shot.

Mention if he admits how he really feels then you would do the same.

Suggestion 2014/01/09(Thu)14:53 No. 556211 ID: df41f8
File 138930803254.png - (11.36KB , 800x600 , 33.png )

"I didn't mean to do that." I stand all the way up and back away.
"Uhhhhgmgg." Growen rolls over.
"But they invented cups for a reason," I say, "and I don't think you're as hurt as you look."

"Aw, fuck you, Corsair." Growen pushes from the floor, plants his spear, and flows like black ink into an acrobatic polevaulting kick.

It's fancy and everything, but my spear's already coming up to meet him.
"Yes! Stryza!" I can hear Aeschu screeching in the crowd. "That's the way!"

[a] Try to get his leg with the hook-edge and bleed him.
[b] Try to hook his leg and send him crashing back to the floor.
[c] Try to sidestep his kick then attack when he's out of position.

>>556211
The fucking comes later, Growen!

B.

A or B. Go for which ever one has the best chance of success.

Taunt him a bit. Ask if he is ready to admit his true feelings or if he is to afraid to.

I want to say a D of smack dat spear out from under him. Leave him REALLY helpless before you.
But as that sadly is not an option?
C-he's already in motion, he won't be able to stop himself I think.

>>556211
"You wish."
A

A

Suggestion 2014/01/09(Thu)16:05 No. 556223 ID: df41f8
File 138931234997.png - (11.66KB , 800x600 , 34.png )

"Not before you've earned it!"
I catch the leg between the hook-blade and the pommel and twist.
The edge rakes a long gash along his leg, and I'm rewarded with the sight of blood

a split second before his foot hits my face. Ow.

Growen hits the floor as I stagger backward, a hand to my lip. It comes away red.
We've both drawn blood.
My head is spinning. If Growen's chipped a tooth his ass is grass.

"My plan all along." Growen gets shakily to his feet. "Hah. Oof."

[a] You've got the advantage in footwork now. Move quick and keep him on his toes.
[b] But you've also cut his arm. His upper body's weakened. Go all-out and overpower him.
[c] You're stunned and dizzy. Stay back and on your proven defense while your head clears.
[d] _______

c
"tell the truth or i will end this, and your dream dies."

Hey, no psychological warfare.
Score is
Growen: 1/3 bled, 1/6 down.
Stryza: 2/3 bled, 2/6 down.

Warn him that you're one bleed away from winning. Consider using the blunt side of your spear from here on and staying away from anywhere that could draw blood from blunt force. Alternatively, consider forfeiting the fight right here and now to be safe. That would be option D.

Hey, does anything in your laws say "to the victor go the spoils" or something?

Suggestion 2014/01/09(Thu)17:54 No. 556238 ID: df41f8
File 138931887873.png - (61.97KB , 800x600 , 35.png )

"You're one bleed away." I step away, grounding myself and trying to clear out the stars around my head. "Tell the truth, and admit you love me, or I'm ending this."

"No!"
Growen is on his feet again in an instant. He attacks like a man possessed.
I've never seen him move this fast. Even with all of Aeschu's training, I can barely keep up with him.
"I did not--" says Growen. "Work for years--" His spear slams past my guard and carves a gash into my cheek. "To lose you now!"

[a] Focus. Block and riposte. Aeschu has taught you how to deal with this.
[b] Sweep his legs out. He's distraught. He'll never notice you.
[c] Give in and take another hit.
[d] Try to disengage and get some distance on him.
[e] Tell him you love him.
[f] __________

a

"a liar doesn't deserve me"

>>556238
Ha! That's more like it! 2/3 bleeds for him now! I'm interested in A or B, but just be careful you don't bleed him.

Point out that it doesn't matter what drives him in his conquest. Can you not seek to possess that which you love?

A. You trained hard for this and he is wildly lashing out now. Focus and get him on the defensive.

You could have had me already if you would just admit why you wanted me. But I am not going to lose to a coward who does not even have the strength to tell me how he feels.

A. & E. 'But I love you.'

Suggestion 2014/01/09(Thu)22:29 No. 556320 ID: df41f8
File 138933535956.png - (5.22KB , 800x600 , 36.png )

I lock eye contact with Aeschu for a moment.

She's up in the balcony, her arms crossed.

I think of her face under the helmet, the long strips of flesh peeled away and the pale bone underneath.

Suggestion 2014/01/09(Thu)22:29 No. 556321 ID: df41f8
File 138933537261.png - (10.76KB , 800x600 , 37.png )

I catch one of Growen's lashing stabs and twist, hard.
The spears clash, grind, and tighten together. I pull on mine, hard, and his comes with it, propelled by his momentum.
The spear-arm comes a split second later, and I grab it and bend it back, hard enough that the bone nearly comes out the socket. My foot sweeps out and slam's Growen's off the ground.

He hits the floor. His spear hits about ten feet away from us.

Suggestion 2014/01/09(Thu)22:29 No. 556322 ID: df41f8
File 138933537803.png - (8.11KB , 800x600 , 38.png )

"Say it now."

It's like we're in the practice room, again, but there's no escaping it now for either of us.

My spear is inches from his eye. "Tell me you love me. Or I'll fucking kill you."

"Okay! Yes! I love you! Okay?" Growen spits the word out of his mouth like a hot coal. "Of course I love you. I've idolized you since creche. All I've ever done was to impress you enough that you'd take me! And then when it was clear you wouldn't, I spent half a decade getting good enough to take you! I love love love love love you, Stryza! Fuck!"


The arena is entirely silent. Two-score corsairs watch and say not a word. You could hear a bubble-polyp burst.


[a] Kill him.
[b] Take his eye.
[c] Draw blood again and win.
[d] Cut your own thumb.

A or C

D! D! D! Reverse your spear, let him take grab the end and D!

d
"i won the fight, being honest won me"

"I am a Corsair. And I will not be bested by you, nor by tradition."

[D]

"Did you try just ASKING?"

"Idiot."

D.

Ask him if it was so hard to admit. Tell him although it took awhile he did manage to impress you.

C or D. I think he would make you a nice husband if you want him. If you throw the fight he gets you but it was your decision in the end and no one will look down on you for it.

Up to you though. At this point if you take the fall your pride is intact. So ask yourself one last time what you want. Its your heart and your life on the line.

>>556331
Agreed. But add in 'dumbass'.

Suggestion 2014/01/09(Thu)23:16 No. 556340 ID: df41f8
File 138933818844.png - (7.94KB , 800x600 , 39.png )

"Idiot."
I plant my spear on the ground.
"You have never beaten me, and you'll never beat me. Ever. Not in speed, or in looks, or at raiding, or at drinking, and never, ever, ever in combat. Why do you think I'd let you beat me in something so simple as making me bleed, worm?"

I flick my forefinger up and slice it open on the hookblade.

Suggestion 2014/01/09(Thu)23:16 No. 556341 ID: df41f8
File 138933820185.png - (9.31KB , 800x600 , 40.png )

"Oops," I say. Growen's eyes widen. "Clumsy fuckin' me."

Suggestion 2014/01/09(Thu)23:17 No. 556342 ID: df41f8
File 138933823578.png - (6.55KB , 800x600 , 41.png )

"Enough."
The Matchmaker's smooth, deep voice overpowers the suddenly raucous crowd. I can't tell if they're pissed off or loving it or what.
"The duel is over. Stryza has bled three times. Growen has won his claim. He and Stryza are married."

The arena's quiet all over again.

"And now, if I may be so bold as to depart from protocol, Stryza," says the Matchmaker. Their emotions remain entirely unreadable. "Have you anything to say for yourself?"

"i love this big galoot too, and we will get the biggest horde anyone has ever seen."

I did not let myself be defeated, and I took what I wanted. What else is there for a corsair to say?

i suppose you could say "i wanted him too, but he challenged me first, so the only way to have him was to lose, but it would be on my terms."

>>556342
"More than one way to get what you want."

Suggestion 2014/01/10(Fri)01:05 No. 556355 ID: df41f8
File 138934471263.png - (8.51KB , 800x600 , 42.png )

"Corsairs take what they want," I say. "And I want him. We are going to have a massive hoard and a brace of incredibly strong and savage kids."

Suggestion 2014/01/10(Fri)01:05 No. 556357 ID: df41f8
File 138934473524.png - (11.18KB , 800x600 , 44.png )

"--So fuck tradition, fuck matchmaking, and fuck whoever says otherwise. I didn't lose and I got what I wanted. What else is there for a corsair to say?"

"That is... an unimpeachable sentiment," says the Matchmaker, sounding for the first time vaguely impressed. "Has anyone complaint enough to face Stryza? Speak now or forever hold your cowardly tongue."

Everyone watches expectantly. No one dares to say anything.

"Then I believe this ceremonial duel is finished." The Matchmaker pushes themself from the banister and straightens.
The ship suddenly groans and rocks to the left.
"And unless I am very much mistaken," says the Matchmaker, "the Tyrant Star hunts again."

Suggestion 2014/01/10(Fri)01:05 No. 556358 ID: df41f8
File 138934475573.png - (7.96KB , 800x600 , 45.png )

A ragged cheer goes up from the crowd as Corsairs take to their feet and stampede from the arena, ready for conflict and conquest.

The Tyrant Star is tearing its wicked way across the razor skies of Daranarache again, chasing another doomed schooner or hamstrung frigate.

As people leave, I'm given several handshakes, one hug, and a death stare from a fat corsair named Rivia, which I return twice as hard and send her scurrying away to the gunwales.

"You impressed me there, Growen." I pull Growen to his feet. "If it's any consolation."
"It is."
"And I love you too, dumbass."
"You do?"
"I do."
"Really?"
"Yes, really, Growen, what do you want? I'm a Corsair, not a poet."
"You're one screaming black hell of a corsair, Stryza."
"You know it. Stick with me, boy." I kiss him again. "We'll conquer the world and look beautiful doing it."
"Well, maybe I will. You can knock them over with your nose."
"Shut the fuck up, darling."

I look toward the door. It widens and warps before the outpouring of black-clad hellions.

[a] Drag your husband along and join the raid.
[b] Both of you are war-wounded and tired. Skipping one more raid won't kill you. It's time to get some rest and enjoy your prize.

A. What better start for your wedding night?

B. You've both done enough fighting today to earn some sexytime with the hubby

>>556358
a. fight as a pair!

A. It has been entirely too long since either of you went raiding.

wait didn't you dislocate his shoulder?

B. You're both already hurt and need time to recover. Taking time to regain your balance worked for you in the fight just now, right?

a. it's time he started getting that hoard going again.

Suggestion 2014/01/10(Fri)12:14 No. 556422 ID: df41f8
File 138938487628.png - (4.97KB , 800x600 , 46.png )

I pick up Growen's spear and throw it to him.
"Come on, Lover Boy. Time to prove you still remember how to raid."
"I've forgotten more than you'll ever know."
"Good. Well then remember it, watch my ass when we're fighting, and we'll get a shitton of loot as Corsairs should, and we'll kill like twenty people, and then when it's over I am taking the longest shower of my life, and then we're going back to my cabin." I lean in and whisper in his ear. "And then you can do anything you want to me."
"Anything?"
"Anything."

Suggestion 2014/01/10(Fri)12:14 No. 556423 ID: df41f8
File 138938489189.png - (8.37KB , 800x600 , 47.png )

"You fought like a warrior, Stryza," says Aeschu, finally coming down from the balcony.
I turn from the groom and give her a short bow. "You taught me how."
"Maybe I did." A hint of pride crawls its way into Aeschu's voice. "You didn't have it in you the whole time, is for sure."
"If you badmouth my wife too much, I'll have to kill you, Aeschu," says Growen. "I think that's a rule."
"We're Corsairs," says Aeschu. "Stryza just demonstrated we have no rules." She stalks from the room. "I'll see you two in the breach. Good hunting."

"How's your speararm feel?" I ask Growen.
"Hungry," says Growen. "I've had it with trying to stab things that can defend themselves well."
"Then let's get out there and you can show me if you raid as good as you kiss."

Suggestion 2014/01/10(Fri)12:14 No. 556424 ID: df41f8
File 138938489764.png - (6.70KB , 800x600 , 48.png )

With the crack and groan of metallic tendons, the Tyrant Star's jaws close around its prey.
The panicking defenders marshal a resistance on their vessel's bloodslick deck. They try to pry the thickening bridges of ichor and steel from their gunwales.

But it's too late.

From within the Tyrant Star's guts, a piercing, joyous cry of battle thrills through the night.

The Tyrant Star End Suggestion 2014/01/10(Fri)12:15 No. 556425 ID: df41f8
File 138938491170.png - (21.75KB , 800x600 , 49.png )

And in the center of the first wave, carving and screeching our way through the disintegrating defenses, moving like shadows and killing like poetry, my husband and I begin our honeymoon.

Can you afford a nosejob yet?