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[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

// mafioso

TEXT • AUDIO • VIDEO • ACTION

XIMILIA

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[hikae]

[ The tanto was a, relatively fresh acquisition for Majima, at this point in his life. It lied well in his hand, easily concealed, and the craftsmanship itself was nothing bad either. He would never guess it was going to accompany him through many years to come. But then, Majima didn't expect to live all that much longer either.

So it made sense to play around— Even if he risked indeed, getting hurt ]

Can't learn to be a good dancer, without missin' the beat a few times—hah! [ The answer was planned to be longer, but Zhao was fast, so witty banter has been forgone for defense. Just as he noticed the guards in Gyeongje used the open fan to expertly catch the claws and blades and misdirect them or used the fans as a shield— he can't use it to cast spells as they did, but everything else? Oh, he was so going to still those vibes.

Then there was also that guy in Camellia's Grove that fought with two fans— plenty of sources to pull the inspiration from.

He dodged the downward slash, almost reflexively but the follow-up was when metal met metal. The fan was good at blocking, catching a blade like a sai— but then go from defense to offense? Majima lets the breathing moment happen, that's how the sparring is supposed to look like, right? Testing moves, trying a different approach, not really hurting each other, that looks bad on the file. But with how Zhao moved, carried himself Majima was wanting to test themselves against each other for real.

Wonder how long could he keep up being polite? ]

Nice start. And fast— [ It was his turn, a spin around to change his position, like in a breaker fight that launched into a butterfly kick full of flourish and followed up by wide swing with the fan, not even meant to actually connect with the defensive sword, but to obscure the low kick that followed ]

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

Speak for yourself-

[Zhao partially muttered as he was too busy dodging Majima's counter and follow-up to reply to the banter properly. Least not yet.

The spin was quick, the butterfly kick a beauty, and the swing of the fan a perfect accompaniment. It was like watching a dance of deadly precision. Zhao had little time to think much less get out of the way.

Which proved to be a better tactic than parrying as the low kick came in next. That he did end up blocking because the reaction was so last minute he had no other choice. It hit his knee as he brought up a leg to block and sent him stumbling backwards.

But while he was knocked off balance he didn't let that mean the next attack would be easy to get off. Zhao kept his eyes on his opponent, carefully gazing everywhere at once rather than focusing on one part. That was a good way to get caught off guard again. The sweeping fan made it harder. Zhao admired Majima for the deceptive attack hidden by the fans sweeping blow. It was a good use of the weapon.]

Have you been practicing?

[With the fan, he meant, specifically. He had to wonder.

In the meantime, he eventually found his footing and spun around to get out of attack range for a second. Nothing more as he was moving forward once again on the attack. No point in letting Majima have the upper hand so early on.

He stepped forward with a flourish of his sword but the quick flickers were meant as distraction as his opposite hand pushed outward from the chest into a hard palm strike. He followed that up with a diagonal slash of the sword and some quick foot-work that immediately performed a spin of his own as he flourished another slash, this one with some bite from the kinetic potential of the spin.]