fifteen ► live through

[gentleidealist]

[dictated]

[Lloyd's tone is decidedly different today-- quiet and intense on the edges. It's appropriate for someone who is, well, grieving.]

If anyone needs some woodwork done, I'm open. [He really needs something to keep his hands occupied...] I'll consider requests for other materials, depending on what it is. Prices are negotiable. Just let me know what you want and we'll talk about it.

-----

[Filtered to Zelos]

Hey, are you too busy for a spar?

[Maybe if he trains to exhaustion, he'll stop looking down to make sure there isn't a dead body laying in his arms.]

Comments

[gentleidealist]

You're the one throwing fireballs around!

[Lloyd neatly jumps over the shockwave-- and keeps running. Goddamn that EX-skill that makes him run like a twink. He's closing the gap fast and taking advantage of it. His swords sing as he lunges forward with enough force to summon a gale of wind-- should it connect, anyway.]

[wilder]

I had faith in your dodging! ♥

[It does! He was focused so much on dodging the swords, he didn't anticipate the gale of wind until it's too late so he's knocked back! Quickly trying to get up though! ]

[gentleidealist]

Ha!

[An opening is an opening. He moves in, attempting to pin Zelos down with his swords-- but this leaves him wide around his middle. It's risky, but Lloyd isn't exactly going for the Tactical Leader title right now.]

[wilder]

[Yeah Zelos will let himself get pinned up above]

[So he can use his legs to kick and push right in that unexposed middle section in order to throw Lloyd off him]

[gentleidealist]

[HE WAS SO CLOSE-- but then that counter. Lloyd rolls when he hits the ground and gets back onto his feet, swords ready.

He's panting a little, though. Maybe he's finally getting toward the end of his ENDLESS ANGER toward this establishment.]

[wilder]

[Zelos sure hopes so, this is getting a bit close for comfort. He's jumping back to his own feet and catches his own breath before charging at him, moving to the side at the last second as he swings out his blade down near the stomach]

[gentleidealist]

[Sparks accompany the crash of metal as Lloyd meets Zelos halfway through the swing. Both of his swords are behind it, and he uses that to his advantage. He digs in and pushes forward, trying to undo the parry and, in the process, send Zelos staggering backward.]

[wilder]

[He holds onto the parry for a little while, but yes the disadvantage of holding it only with one hand while Lloyd gets to use both is one that is pushing him back. He starts to stagger and leaps back, moving his own position into a defensive one because he can guess Lloyd will charge again]

[gentleidealist]

[True to form, Lloyd gives chase. His intention is to get Zelos airborne and under his control, a task that will likely fail. But he's going to try because it's damn good practice. As soon as he gets close enough, he launches into a bladed combo reminiscent of his earlier Tiger Blade-- an upward slash and a downward slash-- but he spins, trying to fit in a couple more slashes toward Zelos' midsection.]

[wilder]

[Getting Zelos under your control? Many have tried, none have really succeeded. But that's a pretty new move, so he's thrown off by it, and while he's able to block it with his shield to evade getting slashed up, the sheer force sends him flying]

[gentleidealist]

[Hey, he's flying. This might be a good time to close the gap with another Tempest sword spin.

Still, his anger's burning out fast. It may not seem like a long fight, but they're both powered up with Exspheres, and it takes a lot of energy when you're running on RAGE.]

[wilder]

[Zelos is an extremely talented fighter, there was no denying that. But there was one fatal flaw to his fighting, one that always made him fall behind people like Lloyd and Kratos. There was a part he always held back, no matter how much sense it would make to go all out in some situations. At this point, it bordered on subconscious that he did this- there was simply too much resentment in the way.]

[Right now? It's clear that Lloyd is content on air fighting. Any angel could take simple control of this by using their wings - that's elementary logic honestly. But he doesn't. Instead he attempts to recover in the air on his own, but without the wings he simply can't do it fast or gracefully enough to evade that fast spin in midair.]

[So it's a hit. He manages to avoid being hit in any vital spots - instead the shoulder and arm get cut. The force of the hit causes him to go flying the ground, back slamming against the dirt with some profanity]

[gentleidealist]

[Lloyd lands gracefully, and that's when he realizes his arms feel heavy. Sadly, it's too late for Zelos. Lloyd's drawn the first blood. He pauses for a brief moment, concerned, and then he walks over and offers a hand up.]

Sorry about that. You okay?

[wilder]

[He sits up, glancing at his shoulder. Fortunately it's fixable with his magic so he'll get spared needing to see the Professor. ]

Nothing I can't fix!

[He smirks at Lloyd and snickers before taking his hand to pull himself up]

But jeez, where'd you get that move? You've been cheating on me or something?

[gentleidealist]

[FFFFFFF. Lloyd has half a mind to drop Zelos at that remark.]

Oh please. I went on another journey to collect Exspheres, so I've had a lot of time to practice. Having trouble keeping up?

[wilder]

[And yet you don't. He's discreetly glancing at his friend to see if at least...if his mood has improved at all]

Oh right right, I forgot you're a bit ahead of me. [he snorts] Please, I kept up with you just fine.

[gentleidealist]

[A little, yeah. He's tired, but not to the point where he's cranky. He just doesn't have any rage left. Maybe if someone he really hated showed up, but even then he'd try to talk them down first.

Anyway. He takes a few steps back and draws his swords again, resuming his lazy battle position.]

You up for a bit more?

[wilder]

[The rage gone alone makes him relieved. The guy sounds more like the normal Lloyd he knows. ]

[An amused noise and he concentrates, the area around him glowing white before he snaps his fingers and heals up his shoulder and arm. He rotates the shoulder a couple time to make sure it's alright. Well enough for a spar. That done, he moves into battle position]

Bring it on! I haven't given up on my tomato-filled lunch!

[gentleidealist]

Ugh! There's no way I'm letting that happen! [I HATE YOU AND ALL THE BANDS YOU LIKE, ZELOS.

Anyway, Lloyd is on the offensive again. He doesn't go for the shoulder he just hit, but he is moving in for a string of diagonal slashes-- always intent on combos.]

[wilder]

[an obnxious laugh] Oh c'mon! Doesn't pasta covered in homemade tomato sauce sound delicious?

[That should rile you up. But he's ready for him, and moves to parry the slashes, shoving his weight against the parry in hopes to throw him off balance]

[gentleidealist]

Hell no! [Lloyd resists a shiver as they clash. For a minute, it looks like he's going to give-- but then something in him shifts, and he digs in and pushes back. He utilizes both swords in an attempt to shatter the parry, clearly his training.

He's not going off his anger now. He's focused and ready to win.]

[wilder]

[He simply laughs more at that. Zelos can feel the shift in Lloyd's force, the transition from blind anger to actual swordsmanship. The smirk on his face grows a bit more genuine, even if he knows this is going to be a harder match.]

[This place has soften him up anyway, he could use the work out. ]

[The shattering will work as Zelos jumps back away from Lloyd. He's quickly performing magic before Lloyd closes the distance, the area around him glowing brown before several rocks pick up from the ground between them and go flying at Lloyd]