@talesofruneterra:
Jack ignored the glare he received from Graves, as well as the muttered insult. Was this intentional? No, not really. At least, not on Jack’s part. Slaw fought here on occasion, and Graves just happened to land on The King’s Court looking for work. Maybe it was fate or karma; the will of the Bearded Lady or even some sadistic demon that tonight’s combatants had ample reason to hate each other. Either way, it made for a more entertaining show.
“Now then, you all know the rules. No weapons, no poison, no magic. You got a bone to pick? Pick it with the other guy! Fighters, to the middle!” The crowd roared again, and Jack raised his hand while looking at both combatants. “Let tonight’s event… Begin!” Jack brought his arm down in a vertical slice, signaling that all remaining boundaries had been cut.
Slaw grinned and took up his fighting stance. He swayed back and forth, almost mockingly, his arms up in a position that would make it hard to aim for his face. Much as he wanted to beat down Graves here and now, Slaw knew well enough that his build was better for fighting defensively, forcing his opponents to attack first and break their own guard.
Graves was more determined now that he was up against someone who had it out for him, and especially when that someone used to run with that bastard on the sea.
He would come to the center rolling his shoulders and slightly bouncing both to calm nerves and get excited, almost like taking and upper and a downer. His stance was pitiful as well, unbalanced and arms at chest level. Malcolm knew very well in this ‘fair’ fight there would be ample opportunity for his shit to get rocked and he much preferred his usual setting where he could use surroundings to his advantage, or even be fortunate enough for the other to have their guard not quite up yet for a sucker punch or two.
His eyes met Slaw’s and he spit to the side. Jack’s hand swung down. Go time.
Graves thought he might be able to catch the other off guard still, immediately rushing at the other with a jab, jab, body, hook, body, jab, bearing teeth and yelling trying to break their defense, exerting too much energy for the start of the match. Though if it worked, it might be shorter than he expected.











