Petie Xenos (blindgreek) wrote in tiberiusswann, @ 2010-09-21 21:49:00 |
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Entry tags: | dee, petie |
Saturday August 9, 2008
Who: Dee and Petie
What: Sparing
Where: Gym
When: noonish
Rating: PG-13
Petie was in recovery mode. The date the night before had not been a good one like she had hoped. It was awkward and filled with chit chat, nervous laughter, and she could tell he wasn't looking at her when she talked. Hell it felt like he didn't even want to be there! Taking that as her cue to throw in the towel with Tiger, she felt slightly stupid and pissed. She hadn't gotten much sleep feeling restless, so she went to the gym, hoping to find a punching bag to just wail on. Sure she had proper training, but letting loose and just hitting something in anyway possible. Getting there in her work out gear, a black tank top over a sports bra and workout shorts in her running sneakers, she found the stereo, as it was too quiet for her to see, flipped it on for some station that seemed to be hip hop and got to work on a near by punching bag just going at it.
Dezaray had gone out for a run earlier that morning. The damned campus was practically deserted for a school. Apparently it never occurred to anyone that the school wouldn't lose money if classes were offered during the summer as well. At least then it'd give students who arrived mid year or during the summer, like her, a place to start and possibly catch up. As it was, it'd been nearly a month since she'd arrived and Dee hadn't met anyone. At least the solitude was welcome. It gave her a chance to think over how the hell she could find her partner. Not to mention, she didn't have to worry about blowing her cover when there weren't people around.
Heading to the gym, still slightly sweaty from her five mile run, Dee wanted to hit the punching bags a bit. No one had really responded to her request for a sparring partner, so she was on her own. Loud music was the first thing that greeted her when she opened the door and Dee nodded her head to the beat, silently mouthing the words as she headed back to the punching bags. Seemed like she wasn't alone after all. "Morning," she called, not sure if she was heard over the music.
Petie ignored the music really, it was more for the fact that there was a constant sound and she needed that. Well the music wasn't half bad. Taking a breather from pummeling the bag, she heard the door open. Holding the bag so it would stop swinging, she looked over panting and sweating slightly and waved with a nod before going back to her bag and getting her bottle of water for a quick shot to wet her mouth again. "Morning," she called back before going back to the bag. She was fading fast though. She hadn't kept up with her routine like she had before instead laying around and taking it easy. Well a few weeks of that hadn't done her any good.
Giving up on the bag she wiped her brow before turning back to the person that just came in. "You wouldn't happen to spare would you?" She asked, knowing she'd get aching muscles later, but she needed to work her whole body instead of just her arms if she was going to get back in the swing of things.
Dee had just slid a dollar into the machine, getting her own bottle of water when the girl spoke. "Yeah, I do." Picking up the bottle, she twisted off the cap, drinking about a third down before she paused to breathe. Turning to lean against the machine, idly playing with the bottle now that the cap was back on, Dee sized up the other woman. Fit, easy on the eyes but not beautiful in any classic sense. Quickly and with years of practice, Dee was able to pick out all the vulnerable spots and calculate exactly how to hit to both maim and kill. Shaking her head slightly, she pushed off the drink machine and moved forward. Old habits were hard to break, but she wasn't here to hurt anyone. Just to learn and regain control. Beside, a few rounds of easy sparring would be fun.
All Petie could see of the other was an outline in green with a background of black. She couldn't see her eyes sizing her up, see her calculating. Just that outline. "Cool, wanna have a few rounds before I regret asking?" She asked chuckling slightly as she moved away from the bags and over to the open mat. The one thing she had done right this time around at least was that she had stretched before doing anything and she was grateful. Doing a few quick ones just to keep from cramping up, she shook out her arms and legs waiting on the other to come over.
Dee nodded, setting her bottle to the side and wiping her slightly damp hands on the thighs of her yoga pants. Her stomach was open, a bright red sports bra the only thing covering her top half. Her hair was bound up in a high ponytail, keeping the main of thick wavy locks off her neck.
This would be excellent practice. Neither was aware of the other's styles and since they were about the same in stature, it would be a relatively fair workout. Moving to the mat, Dee took up her position, not needing to stretch. She wanted to feel the burn.
Being blind and in martial arts was something that you had to work at. It was twice as difficult than if you could see. Thankfully, Petie had a bit of help with her power and as soon as the other woman hit the mat she was bowing, as was customary for her if she were to spar. After all it wasn't like they were actually fighting to live or anything.
After the quick bow, she was back up and in her fighting stance. Feet spread, fists up ready to either strike or block. Petie was suddenly remembering why she had liked to do this so much in the first place.
Cute. Dee had never had a partner bow to her before, but she wasn't one to be rude. She returned the gesture with a nod of her head, never taking her eyes off the other. Already she could feel her heart pounding from excitement. Something new and unpredictable compared to the easily guessed swinging of a bag.
Bringing her own fists up, balancing on the balls of her feet, Dee started to circle the mat, looking for an opening, a way to duck under her guard.
Keeping her feet always moving and always aware of each other she watched the other woman carefully. Of course it didn't even really look like her eyes were focusing on the other, more like they were just there for looks. Carefully and patiently she bided her time and if both of them didn't strike soon, she would.
Of course she got a bit impatient waiting for that right moment and caught just a sliver of an opening and took it striking out with her right hand. It was like a game of chess. You always had to be three steps ahead or you wouldn't win the fight.
Dee didn't know that Petie was blind, hell, she didn't even know the girl's name, but she knew that eyes were a give away. They almost always shifted right before the strike. Seeing the shift, she sidestepped, coming in closer to Petie and lashing out with a fist towards her stomach.
Twisting just enough to feel the other's punch, Petie grunted as she switched up her footing quickly. A few more steps and she was behind Dee and ducked down quickly to kick out her legs from under her.
Dee didn't mind going down on the ground, but she grunted when she connected with the mat. She wasn't expecting quite a slick move from this new girl. Curling up her top leg, Dee kicked out, aiming for Petie's chest to shove her back. Normally, she'd go for the face and nose, but she wasn't trying to break her new partner's face. At least with the chest, she'd only be bruised and shoved back. Rolling to her back, she flipped up, grateful once again for the martial arts training provided to her by her boss.
Catching the foot as it went at her chest, she took the blow, but mostly to her hands instead of her chest. Rolling backwards, she stopped herself in a crouch then shot herself back up to her feet. The upside to taking dance and martial arts was that they worked together quite well together. Grunting as she went with the flow, and shot a leg out to swing quickly and connect with the other woman's back.
Dee was on her feet moments before Petie came to hers and saw the foot being flipped out towards her. Knowing she didn't have enough time to dodge, she did the next best thing and blocked. One arm came up to take the brunt of the blow - definitely leaving a bruise later - while her other hand wrapped around the ankle, tugging forward to pull Petie off balance. Dee's own sneaker-shod foot came up to try and catch Petie in the stomach.
Groaning as her stomach took a blow, Petie twisted with the kick and got her footing back to her original position, panting and sweating a bit more. The other woman was good and she appreciated it too. Especially since the other had no clue that she was probably blind. She was thankful too, that meant she wasn't taking it easy on her. "You're good," she smiled slightly. "How long have you been training?" She asked as the circling started again.
Dee dropped the ankle and danced back, getting her body back into position. They'd only been sparring a short while but she could already feel familiar muscles burning and the sweat drip down her spine. She loved it.
Circling around the mat with her, Dee returned the smile. "Professionally, about ten years." She'd been fighting on the streets when she was young. You couldn't grow up in the Bronx and avoid that, but the agency was what gave her the more intense training in several areas. "You're really good yourself." Checking the awareness of the other girl, Dee feinted a step back, trying to draw her in.
"Same here, started when I was 19," she said giving her age away. Not like it was a big deal to her. Though before the accident and losing her eyesight she hadn't really been in any fights save for the wrestling matches between her and her sister. Sometimes being a twin wasn't fun and in that annoyance they turned on each other.
Not that it was anything serious, mostly sibling rough housing. "Thanks, I do try," she quipped playfully. She knew she had maybe half an hour left in her if things kept up. Foregoing her exercises had taken it's toll on her and she was regretting it, but having fun at the same time.
Dee had been part of the wrestling team in high school, and a member of a rather cut-throat group of cut-ups. In the city, it was either beat, or be beaten and Dezaray made sure to come out with few scars.
"You alright to keep going?" She'd noticed the sweating, tense muscles and didn't want to wear out her partner just yet. Trying to draw her back into Dee's reach hadn't worked, so she waited for an opening.
"Yep, just kicking myself for not staying up on routine is all," she smirked slightly as he hair fell into her eyes slightly, not that it mattered, she could still see clearly around it. "Never taking more than a day or two off again, I've gone soft," she said refusing to give up right then.
Keeping her chess game intact, she figured the other was actually more adept and practiced a bit more than she had even when she was training every day. While Petie was very fluid in her movements, the other was like a front line warrior, just facing off but still careful to keep her opponent in front of her. Maybe it was time to change it up a bit. Ducking down and tumbling, she went to throw Dee off with a full front assault, popping up with jabs and kicks furiously fast and nearly all at once.
Of course Dee fought more like a warrior. She'd been on the front lines so many times, it was second nature to her. It was actually more of a challenge for her to fight one on one than it was in a group. Just like it was difficult to keep from actually hurting her partner. In the field, she fought to kill, or at the least, put out of commission. So she was curbing herself and trying to fight as a human would, not using her abilities. Projecting a null space around a vampire or lycan minimized their strength and made it more of a fair fight.
The change in pace was unexpected but not unwelcome. Working to block the blows, Dee shot out her own fist, needing to hit something until she could back out of range and regroup. She felt a fist connect with her shoulder while a flying ankle caught her thigh. She was going to be sore later and appreciated it.
A few punches and kicks were grazes, but he felt a handful hit their marks and she continued till she was hit with a punch in the shoulder knocking her off balance a bit before taking a step back. Sure she'd be sore after this, but it would be welcome. Something different than sitting around like a 15 year old pining for a stupid boy that didn't even like her, but sure liked her sculptures.
A new rush came with thinking of Tiger and how she kind of hated him a bit before she came Dee again wanting to keep the exchange of blows constant to just work instead of circle around and around till they bore each other to death.
Dee saw the other woman's face tense as Petie attacked. Turning, she grabbed the brunette's wrist, twisting to flip her over. Even before Petie was flat on her back, Dee was crouched down, her knee pressed gently against the woman's throat. Normally, she'd work to cut off breathing, but that wouldn't be nice to a decent fighter.
Breathing heavy, Dee smiled before she started laughing, dropping back to the mat herself, stomach heaving. "Oh man, that was fun."
Laying there, defeated, Petie didn't hold it against the other woman, she was done anyways and it didn't bother her one bit to lose to someone who was better. Being let go, she kept laying there, laughing a bit with the other. "Oh yeah, been a damn long time since I was able to spar with anyone. I miss it, though I probably would have been more of a challenge had I not been a fat ass and just laid around for the past few weeks," she grinned.
"Name's Petra Xenos, but everyone calls me Petie," she said holding her hand out to the other from her position on the floor. "I don't think I've seen you around here before," she said before laughing. "Okay I take that back since I haven't seen ANYONE around here," she chuckled.
Dezaray turned her head. "For someone out of practice, you're still really good." Grabbing the hand with the one closest, she shook awkwardly. Okay, so she wasn't feeling like getting up just yet. Oh well. "Dezaray Monroe, though you can call me Dee." Dropping her hand, she sighed, a smile still on her face. "I got here about a month ago, but I haven't seen anyone either."
"Thanks, I got lazy when I got here," Petie explained. "I started when I was 19 after a car accident," she explained. "As for me not seeing anyone, it was a bad joke," she chuckled. "I'm blind so I haven't seen anyone at all for nearly 10 years so, I kind of have an excuse. Though not really. I've met. . . Maybe one person, but he's. . . Yeah. Anyways, wanna keep this up for a while maybe? Be sparing partners?"
Dee shifted to her side, checking out Petie. Now that was something unexpected. "Blind? So how'd you manage to fight me so well?" Giving a nod, which she realized after a moment that Petie wouldn't be able to see, she added, "Yeah, actually. I would like that. I need to stay in practice."
"Yeah," she chuckled. "It's part of my powers. Kind of like echo location," Petie said pointing to the stereo that was still playing. "So long as there's noise, I'm able to see outlines of things, some slight depth perception too, but only enough to let me know when to avoid something. I've had it for about 10 years now since my accident so I've gotten used to it." Grinning she nodded. "Cool, I need something to do and hitting punching bags only gives me so much practice."
"Ah," Dee nodded. Since it was part of her powers, that meant she could negate it. Briefly, she wondered just how well Petie would do in a not-so-fair fight. "Have you ever fought without using it?" At least she was asking.
"Yep, when I first got it and couldn't really control it. Took me about a year or so, but I was able to get it down," she nodded. "It's been a while, but it's kind of like riding a bike," she chuckled. "I'd probably be really wobbly and it'd have to be quiet or else I'm screwed, but I could do it. Possibly."
Dee nodded. "If you wanted to practice, I could possibly help with that." Not to mention, it would be great practice for her. Aside from working on controlling herself, it would offer the chance to focus on the fight and maintaining the field.
"Cool, that's be awesome," Petie said sitting up after catching her breath and cooling off a few minutes. "So what's your power, if you don't mind me asking," she said turning to the other like she could see her plain as day like everyone else.
Dee sat up as well, crossing her legs and lifting her hands to redo her ponytail. Part of her hair had come down during the match and it was too hot to leave it all down. Plus she was sweaty and gross. A shower was definitely called for soon. "I'm a projective null." While fixing her hair, she waited for the inevitable question.
"Oh that's where you pretty much make other people's powers useless," Petie nodded in understanding. "Cool, so I'm guessing you'd just take away my power to see like Batgirl that way you can practice with your power then? Sounds like a plan."
Dee dropped her hands and blinked, but that was the only indication of her surprise. Seriously? Someone actually knew what the hell she could do? For once it was nice not to have to explain herself. "Yeah, pretty much." Taking a breath, she focused. "Kinda like this." Since Petie knew what she could do, she probably wouldn't be too surprised. Concentrating, Dee created a shield around Petie. There was no way anyone could see it, but Dee knew it was there, muting Petie's powers.
There was no real way to tell that Dee was surprised. Petie couldn't really see features all that well. When Dee put up the shield, Petie blinked a few times, everything going black. "Wow," she giggled. "That's pretty cool, good thing I still know how to work without my powers though," she said nodding. "You should use it to fuck with people around it, bet it would be a riot," she grinned, ever a bit mischievous.
Dee nodded, dropping the void. "Oh yeah. Ever seen a lycan not able to shift? Or being able to swallow a demon's fire blast with no marks?" She'd freaked out more than her fair share over the years. It hadn't really crossed her mind to screw with people around the campus, but maybe she would. It'd be fun if nothing else.
"Bet the lycan looked constipated," she snickered. "Just sitting there all focused and trying to shift but can't," she said making a face and grunting noises like a frustrated bulldog. Laughing, which felt good to do, to joke around with someone again, she grinned. "Aw, that was probably a pretty light show, though."
Dee grinned and laughed. "Oh my god, yeah. And then when he couldn't, he tried to growl at me and ended up in this huge coughing fit!" Bouncing lightly on the mat, mostly from the joy that came from girl talk, she giggled. "It was pretty. That demon looked freaked and screamed when I shifted my void to him."
"He actually growled!?" Petie laughed grinning. She had a loud boisterous laugh that made people look and laugh too even if they have no clue what's going on. She was all about laughing and having a good time. " 'Oh no run!' " She laughed imitating the demon. "Like people running from a volcano," she snickered.
Dee nearly fell over on the mat she was laughing so much. Back at work, this was considered serious. She wrote up a report, keeping all humor and emotion from it, turned it in and concentrated on the next case. Here, she could talk about the parts that made her smile, laugh and giggle at night. "He did! Or at least he tried too. He couldn't get his throat to work right for it. And the demon! Ohmygod, I've never seen anyone run so fast." Of course, they caught the guy anyways, but still.
"Oh God, that sounds like something a little kid would do. That does not sound threatening at all," she laughed. "Grrrrr," she said making a 'growling face' and making her hands into claws before laughing again. "Run demon run!" Petie cried as if she were yelling for Forrest Gump. "Like the goddamn road runner!"
Dee was giggling furiously, nearly clutching her stomach from laughing so much. "It was great! So fucking funny." Flopping back to her back, she stared up at the ceiling, letting her giggles slowly subside. This was more fun than she thought it would be.
"We should hang out for the day," Petie said giggling a bit still. "Just like go get cleaned up and get some lunch or something and just hang out. I'd say watch movies, but that's kind of useless with me," she laughed. "Maybe we should play charades instead," she cackled. It was always easy for her to make fun of herself, because she could do it in a way where she wasn't putting herself down, but still being able to have a laugh.
Dee smiled, coming to her feet. "Sure. That sounds like fun. I'm up for pretty much anything since I've been so bored recently." Moving quickly, she walked over to grab her bottle of water, drinking down another third before turning back. "Wanna shower up and meet in the common room in a bit?"
"Sounds like a plan stan," Petie said standing up, her power to see back once more as she stepped over to the stereo and flipping the switch for the music to turn off. It left a ringing in her ears with the sudden silence, but thankfully she'd stayed close to her bag. Clicking her tongue a few times, she found it along with her cane and grabbed it up before chugging down some of her water.
Dee smiled. "Alright then, I'll see you in a little while." Part of her wanted to wait and make sure that Petie made it to the dorms safely, but that was silly. The woman obviously had a system, and had proven she could fight well. There was no reason for Dezaray Monroe to stick around to protect her. Making herself turn, she left the building, finishing off her water on the way to the dorms