Charon (ferrydriver) wrote in mythopoeics, @ 2012-05-25 19:19:00 |
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Current mood: | blank |
8.
Standing in the arena, a shield on one arm and a sword in his hand, Charon glared at his opponent. He couldn't remember ever having seen the man until coming here, but that didn't bother him. What did bother him was that this would be a fight to the death, and not the type of death that Thanatos governed. Much as Charon loved his family, he knew how the Keres could be, and wasn't thrilled at the prospect of them dragging him off. Therefore, he'd have to win.
Waiting for the sign to begin the fight, he studied the man standing opposite him. A little taller, and definitely on the thin side, there was nothing about Osiris that gave Charon any reason to worry. The sword the other man was holding was where his concern lay. Glancing down at his feet, Charon knew that he had to be vicious if he wanted to survive, and he most certainly didn't want to be the one leaving in a body bag.
With that in mind, as soon as the signal was given the ferryman was in motion. Swinging his sword at waist-level, he tried to get the first hit.
~*~
This wasn't personal, Osiris had been reassuring himself with that tired mantra in mental preparation of the fight since it was arranged. It was an unfortunate way to meet, sword gripped tightly in hand and ready to take the blood and life of somebody who was no more eager than himself- a man who had his own reasons for wanting to survive. This wasn't about revenge or pride, or even a fear of his own death, and Osiris would have readily allowed himself to be overtaken by his opponent if it weren't for not wanting to let his family down... again. He was fighting for them. Fighting to prove that he wasn't so fragile, that they didn't have to worry about his wellbeing.
Unwilling to surrender this time, Osiris blocked Charon's first swing, automatically falling to the defensive as he planned. Even if he cared little about what happened to himself, there were those who did. Hades made that much clear to him, and it was a cruel irony that he was now facing one of Hades' own.
As a father, he had to face that same pain with his own sons pitted against each other in the arena only a couple days prior. As a son, he had to witness the death of his father only the day before. And even as a God of Death, knowing (hoping) that these tasteless slaughters were only temporary, they left him uneasy. He had rolled over and played dead before, and even the brother who butchered him warned him not to get himself killed at somebody else's hand. But even out of self-preservation, Osiris refused to abandon his principals, determined to keep the fight clean and fair. There were plenty of swings he could take at Charon, to strike back and possibly do some non-vital damage, but Osiris preferred to save his energy for now while avoiding taking too many blows.
~*~
There was no time for elaborate thinking, which was good because if given the chance Charon's methodical nature could be his undoing. He knew that he was better on the attack than on the defensive, since the man controlling the fight typically fared better, but he couldn't keep this up for long. If the situation was different, if death wasn't on the line, Charon wondered if Osiris might be someone who he could get along with. He didn't have many friends due to his gruff demeanor, but this was neither the time nor the place for such considerations. This was life or death, and losing meant becoming just another number.
His family was out there, probably in the stands. His brothers, sister, mother, and even the woman who he thought of as a friend -- and possibly more. She owned him, this time around, or her rich husband did. Same difference. Charon was slightly thankful that he and Mary weren't man and wife this time around, since he wouldn't want her to shed a tear if he died. It was bad enough Hemera might.
Thinking of Hemera, of Hypnos, Thanatos, Nyx, and especially of Mary brought out a ferocity in Charon he hadn't realised existed. It spurred him onward, making him fight harder and swing his blade with more vigor. He was lacking finesse, the holes in his stance glaring and easy to penetrate, but he was too caught up in the moment and wanting to survive to care. He didn't know Osiris from a crack on the ground, his opponent being just another face in the crowd, but one of them wouldn't be walking out of here and Charon didn't want the casualty to be him.
~*~
Like himself, it was obvious that the man he faced was no warrior in either body or spirit, but he respected Charon's determination to win even as he calmly held off the brunt of his fervid attacks. If Charon managed to take his life in the arena, Osiris would hold no bitterness, glad it at least wasn't somebody who took twisted joy out of doing so. Set would have to get over it, and he wondered if his brother was even watching, criticizing his every lost opportunity to strike back, but he didn't allow that thought to compromise his focus. Osiris never cared about being flashy or impressive, only effective.
Suffering various minor injuries without having even attempted to deal any of his own, Osiris offered Charon a pained but congratulatory smile that came off more as a wince after a nasty swipe of the sword made it past his guard. He couldn't allow this to go on too much longer if he hoped to turn things to his advantage, or else the blood loss would get the best of him, but for now the pain he could easily push through.
It wasn't even until the previous week that Osiris had compared and realized what an obvious height and weight disadvantage he had amongst the other gladiators. Even against Charon, perhaps the only man slightly shorter than himself involved in the battles, it was obvious he wasn't going to win any fight through brute strength. What Osiris did have, and what his strategy relied on was his stamina and calculated patience, taking Horus' advice seriously. If he lived, and Osiris was beginning to see a glimmer of hope as his opponent's technique began to fall sloppy in his desperation, Osiris would have to speak to his son. The all-too-fresh death of Anubis wasn't easy for him, and he could only imagine how much self-blame Horus was facing after the denied call for mercy.
A misstep was the only opening Osiris needed when he finally decided he couldn't delay any longer, no hesitation or holding back as he struck at Charon with a brutal blow, trying to force his opponent to the ground.
~*~
That one misstep and the way Osiris capitalized on it forced Charon to hastily correct his stance, stumbling to his knees under the unexpected onslaught. His own energy was mostly spent, allowing him just enough to attempt to parry the next few blows but certainly not enough to withstand the calculated efforts of an opponent who clearly had a tactical advantage.
From his place on the ground, nearly on his back by this point, Charon refused to yield. He would not beg for mercy; as a son of Nyx he would welcome this death with the knowledge that he did everything he could to prevent it. Meeting Osiris' eyes, he was all but pleading for a swift end to this farce.
~*~
Instinctively understanding that Charon didn't want this drawn out any longer than he did, Osiris silently vowed to somehow make it up to the other man, though uncertain of when or how. Not allowing any doubts of what came next, Osiris granted Charon's final unspoken wish and delivered the killing blow without faltering. It was a hollow victory, and Osiris dropped his shield and sword to the bloodied ground as soon as they were no longer of use. At least it was over. For now.