The Beast And the Gentleman

Shujaa had healed enough from his last near obliteration to step back onto the arena stone. With a scuff of feet and a scrape of protracted claws on his feet, he walked along the length of the tunnel leading towards the daylight. In his right hand, a meaty looking stone mallet with one side crudely chipped to a point, the other side rounder. It was for tenderising his opponent, which he waited on with the handle of the hammer resting against one broad shoulder. He flexed his fingers around the leather wrapping at weapon's base as his left hand hung by his side, but ended with a fist. The savage was in dire need of releasing some tension - the aggressive kind - he only hoped whatever injuries he gained would not render him useless for long! The Tether had issued him with life-preserving armour, just enough to prevent his heart shooting out his chest with a well-placed blow, lucky lion!

Ailuin wore only a pair of sackcloth pants. Revealing every trim lean muscle in his body as he sauntered his way through the portcullis after the slave that had been randomly hired for exercise and thrown in with his request for a fight. Mismatched eyes as crystals glimmered and sheened in the afternoon, clearly seen. Tall erect ears flicked up as black and white fur sheened with clear signs of good grooming habits. Nose twitched as he smelled the male over and looked him over. Tribal. A inch of difference in height, but far more muscular then himself. Likely then, by his calculations to be a even match no doubt. Though perhaps he might have an edge in his intellect, noticing of course, the weapon he carried, Ailuin would walk right up to the lion and offer a hand to grasp the mans forearm, was most tribal customs from the area he grew up in, anyway, showing forth manners. "Do me a favor, and please do not strike in any extremeities of my own person and I will show you the same." >>courteousy." was offered to the slave. And although Ailuin noticed, it didn't make him think any less of the man standing before him. Anyone would have to be blind to not deduce that the white lion before him wasn't a fighter. With that spoken, his belt unclipped two batons that seemed to in fact, match the crystals on his head. Twirling them both around, he'd shift to widen his stance and crouched slightly. Eyes zoned in on the chest, tail swaying side to side as he clearly, was ready.

Shujaa narrowed his eyes slightly when he was approached, digits gripping tighter around his neanderthal weapon as his tail flicked with his agitation. The tip of it was ridiculously large, rattling like a snake with bones and beads braided into the hair. His hacked mane was similar, the man rubbed in blood and dirt as though to emphasise the threat in those bright, piercing stare. "I strike where the fuck I want." He said flatly, but he would humour the man with some sort of handshake, despite his savage nature and upbringing. He was fresh meat in the arena, and often let his ego get ahead of him, if his gob didn't get him slain first! When Ailuin crouched to his stance, Shujaa quickly lashed out with a golf-club, uppercut swing of his hammer to the underside of the underside of the Gemhound's chin. Showmanship would come later, maybe, over a drink...perhaps.

"As you wish then, but I do not take the blame for your damage if I mutilate you then." was mentioned as a clear sharp tone. Ailuin was more than just standing there, however despite appearances. His eyes were WATCHING his opponent with a sharp observant stoic gaze. Even as he replied to his request, Ailuin was still pleased that the brute showed some form of mannerisms, when approached with the proper greeting of course. When that club swung upwards, as Ailuin much expected due it's position, it would be the only logical swing to get off quickly, his baton proved it's worth as it slammed crystal and steel against wood. Thudding uselessly in his own attack, Ailuin soon enough ducked forward and slammed his baton towards the lions ankle. He had clearly disagreed with no low blows to disable, so Ailuin would thusly go for it with little care if he disabled the lion or not. At least he wasn't seeking to rip out his guts onto the arena floor...unlike his opponent. [Single]

Shujaa wrinkled his nose with silent frustration when his weapon was heavily tossed aside, his tail whipping around to balance the weight of the stone as his feet found their purchase on the arena floor. It wouldn't be the first time his guts painted the stone, and it wouldn't be the last. Shu' knew all manners, whatever little he held, went straight out the window as soon as he stepped under that archway. The lion let out an angered growl when Ailuin went low, very low and caused the feline to jump, receiving a cut just beneath the vestigial toe towards the heel of his foot. How rude. On the descent, Shu' tried to play whack-a-mole with the Arkaine, aiming his club for the spot between his shoulderblades as he regained his stance from his crouch.

Ailuin certainly felt the whack and appreciated the thud sound from his crystal baton tipped in the light blue that certainly matched his crystals. One that indeed, a lotus flower pattern across his back between shoulder blades. Ailuin knew he'd go for there, a curt smile rose on his face, ears fell back as he looked up to him and winked at him. Rolling forward just in the nick of the time to avoid the blow entirely, only to swing one baton at his lower knee, right behind the kneecap to make the male FALL onto his feet. No doubt if he pulled it off, he'd have the next attack in mind. Baton to patella, the other one that is, striking the opposite direction of the second one. Was he...trying to break his kneecap? Perhaps thats what the tribal brute got for saying he'd strike where he pleased...Ailuin certainly didn't know mercy. [Double Attack]

Shujaa really should stop his ego escaping, but he knew nothing else - he was a powerful warrior, one so powerful they had to capture him to fight here, that was his excuse and he was sticking to it. While Ailuin worked around the lion's lower limbs, the feline hot-footed it around the canine with sounds of growled agitation and snapping jaws. Fortunately he stepped away from the blow to the back of his knee, but the donk to the front would cause the limb to jerk, turning numb and making the brute hop for a moment. Well, at least his reflexes worked! That would welt later. The Arkaine was nimble, Shu' would give him that, so rather than attacking from above, he swung in towards Ail's side, aiming for his ribcage with more force intended than a tickle.

Ailuin mismatched eyes were dancing as the man hopped around on his feet, brushing off his pants from the dirt while he waited momentarily, for the man to regain his wits about him. Clearly, he wasn't going to attack while he weakened his opponent. It was obvious then, that Ailuin had honor where most, as he knew on this isle, had none. But that didn't matter to him, he would stick to his morals. Ailuin fully expected the swing to go upwards again. But he was wrong, and error was certainly his absolute clearly thrill and excitement even as his baton jutted down to try and block the attack, only for it to go woofing through the air and his own stick slamming into his side. Blue...bright cyan blue blood coated the weapon as Ailuin yelped, unable to help it as he felt the sheer force of it FLINGING him aside and onto the ground to end in a roll to his side. Panting as he pushed up. >>Ailuin simply checked over the wound to make sure it wasn't going to hurt anything too bad. Nope. Good. Then he'd run straight back towards danger with a gleam of excitement in those dual-toned eyes. By the way, he moved smoothly, it was clear despite the hard strike that had left quite the gouge, there were no broken bones, remarkably. Ailuin would aim his baton this time, towards the brute's face, feinting as if going to his side only to jerk it up last second, dancing out of his way once more when he was done, skidding in that perfect fighter stance as if it was only natural to him. [Single Attack]

Shujaa stared at his weapon and the blue blood on it. Boy, he really hit that cocaine hard last night...Shaking his head and rattling the beads in his hair to regain focus, he heads straight for Ailuin despite the Arkaine heading for him. Right into the fray of it. He was either stupid or brave, he'd leave the spectators to decide which. With a blow to his cheek opening a red slice on creamy fur, the lion snarled with saliva stringing between canines, framing the bronze stud piercings through the meat of his tongue. He retaliated with a couple of wild swings, the first aiming for the opposite side of the Arkaine's injury, followed by the second slamming down towards the canine's thigh-bone to try and snap it beneath his club. [Double]

Ailuin did notice as he charged head on at Ailuin afterwards, that he was heading for the opposite side of his injury. The slash hit its mark, it was a long object and with equal reach between opponents with such a big mighty weapon, hard to dodge it all. Slashing open his other wound thusly, with a deep laceration that went from side to side and followed the rib. Despite it, Ailuin simply retained his stoic facade and simply twirled around to avoid the aim for his thigh bone, while his batons both swung up and to the side of his head with a aim that would hopefully cause the brute to be momentarily dazed. With his blood leaking out like this, he needed it to be over soon, or he would lose. Not that LOSING was such a bad thing in his book, he had learned a lot about this man just by fighting him, after all. So in a way, still a win for him. That excitable gleam in those mis matched eyes telling all the enjoyment he was getting from said fight. [Single attack]

 Shujaa chased down Ailuin with his caveman club and despite missing the man's leg, he was seeking more...blue. With a whack to the side of his head, there was the sound of ringing in one round ear and the lion gave a grunt and a stumble where he was put off balance for a moment. He would feel that one in the morning. In fact, he was feeling it now, his eyes blinking to focus on his opponent as the tunnel vision widened, his brain thoroughly rung like a bell within his skull. There was frustration on his face and a panting on his breath as the flexible Arkaine weaved around him. The primitive beast wrapped both his hands around the club, turning it for the rounder, blunted end to try and create some blunt-force trauma, rather than ripping flesh from bone. Hauling it around, Shu' walloped the hammer down and out, aiming for the target of the canine's navel in some savage game of pink belly!

Ailuin this time even as Shujaa showed clear disorientation due to his discombobulation, Ailuin continued on with his attack, boldly stepping in with speed and precision as if he was a blade himself. Cutting in to slam a baton on the brutes chin, swinging at an upwards angle while the other baton was waiting for his own attack. Seeing both hands clamp down on the handle of his lucille, it was more then easy to guess where it would go. Baton would deftly thusly, intercept and strongly, surprisingly despite the major weight difference, stop the attack. It was all of course, for Ailuin, a matter of knowing what angle to place the blow to direct it elsewhere. Leaving his attack to slam down into the dust, creating quite the cloud for the spectators all while his baton hopefully, was swung at that point and allowed him to step back again, surveying his opponents new injuries. Quickly, it seemed, trying to determine the next attack should be.

 Shujaa's beautiful, grouchy, frowning face was taking the brunt of his injuries. With a clotted cut on his cheek, a bump on the hacked part of his hair and now another cut up his chin, threatening to open the piercing through his bottom lip. He was once again knocked backwards a step, his tail tugging the tuft around to act as a balance while his core tensed and the lion took in a few deep breaths, starting to visibly, physically tire. He stilled, catching himself and adjusting his footing in a learned lesson from the other, he bounced his weight on bent knees and tense thighs before the muscles flexed and he lashed out, this time heading right down, almost to the ground to try and sweep the Arkaine's feet out from under him.

 Ailuin would indeed admit that the lion was quite in its own way, regal looking. But that face was certainly not seeing better days whence in the arena with him. Ailuins tail wagged, eyes sharply taking in his movements. He noticed the tail tugging, and that's when he realized where the beast kept his balance. Intriguing. What would happen if he stepped on it, he wondered? Stoic face when the brute paused, Ailuin looking over at the crowd as his long fluffy tail twitched. "Need a moment?" was asked, ear flicking back to a relaxed position. They flicked up when they heard the shift of his feet, sharp eyes catching the stance. Cunningly, he ducked forward and off to the side, aiming to slam his foot on the brutes tail as the baton with a jerk of shoulder and arm and back shoot of foot, would aim yet another blow towards the chin, clearly intending to knock him out cold, and maybe onto his back this time.

 Shujaa would probably go for the throat if Ailuin found it right to step on his tail. Not that he would get there - he'd likely trip over his own limbs before reaching the canine. He gave a grunt when he was asked if he needed a moment. He would if he was banged on the noggin again! He reminded himself then to ask for a helmet next time he was being thrown out onto the arena floor. With another bump to the underside of his chin, Shujaa snapped a bite at the baton. Fortunately, scar-thinned skin did not break this time, but it would not stop a bruise forming underneath light fur. He shook his head like a dog out the bath, smearing red across his cheek with the back of his left hand. Thighs quivered, breath stilled and Shujaa stepped back to strike out at arm's length, looking to disarm Ailuin's grasp of his baton by walloping his wrist, just so the Arkaine would just stop hitting him on the head!!

Ailuin the grunt in reply had Ailuin nodding, licking his chops as his batons twirled, glinting and shimmering before he tucked them under his armpits, tail tick-tocking casually side to side, as if he wasn't bleeding out, tongue lolling out as he panted and waited, looking all about the stands. Ears flicked up at the snapping jaws. "I wouldn't." was advised to the feline as it clearly wanted to bite down on it. Such a crystalline hardened object would likely break teeth or shatter rather than shatter itself. Stepping in once more as he shook his head like he was trying to shake off the bruising, purposefully bursting forward with his foot and snapping his hip to kick that foot solidly into the chest of the one inch shorter lion, hoping to slam him onto his back from sheer exhaustion. All while his baton of course, casually bopped away that larger much more destructive weapon aside once more with impressive aim and just the right angle to deflect.

 Shujaa was ready for his bed - or rather, he was ready for someone else's bed. Fortunately teeth did not chomp onto the baton, but the threat was there! Wiggling his stiffening jaw, he grit his molars with a tense of the muscle as the Arkaine came for him again, this time with a foot! He snatched his left hand out and grabbed it, fingers digging into the underside before giving a quick tickle to make his opponent draw the limb back. Admittedly, the lion was enjoying himself...a little, going by the smirk on his face. Right hand tightened, something he seemed to do every time he was about to use his club, and this time was no different. With the Arkaine a leg's length away, Shu' thrust his club out and down on extended arm, aiming front and centre towards the canine's breastbone to play the drum of his chest.

Ailuin wasn't at all ready for bed. Despite the very fun combat that invigorated his brain all the more, Ailuin did notice, however, the fact that his hand shot out and grasped the foot he tried to kick him with. Well, that's what you get when you try strength vs brawn. Staggered and certainly not expecting this result, Ailuin sneered and muzzle for once went hellwards at the tickling of his foot. "Do stop, please." Ah, that's how you get on his nerves. Affection. When his right hand tightened, Ailuin lifted a hand. "Now surely you see how this is quite unfair?" was asked to him, ears pricking up with mismatched eyes widening as he held out a hand to clearly implore a little of mercy being shown. But his left foot wasn't retracted in time, causing the bat to swing right upon its mark if a little bit off due to Ailuin trying to twist out of the blow, stumbling as his blue blood stained the floor once more. >> hands dug into the sand, brows furrowing as he huffed, glaring down at the tail that still swayed of his opponent. "One moment, please." he pleaded to the lion, feigning and acting quite masterfully as if grievously wounded. Which in truth, the fact that the stake had slammed up and near his very lifethorn, it certainly was PAINFUL and it was a large gouge when he pulled it free. Despite, Ailuins blue blood running from his jaws, he had to test his theory. He waited for the lion to pause. Only to suddenly LUNGE full body towards his tail. Baton aimed to smash down on it to pin it only to step on it after. He had played unfair, so back to him it seemed.

Shujaa had really never seen blue blood before. He was starting to wonder if this was just a hallucination, that he wasn't actually fighting but instead taken on some trip where canines bled blue and bitch-smacked him about with a chakra crystal. He was foolish, or perhaps had enough morsels of kindness in him to wait when asked, he did not know if he had caused a grave wound, what with the blueberry juice and all. What the lion did know, was that his tail was being aimed for, and more particularly the ropey part sprouting from his butt. He flung it out the way of the lunging Arkaine, slapping him - very softly - in the face with the oversized tuft in the process. Shu' frowned, flicking the thing behind him as he grave a soft grunt. His tail was his treasure! Rolling the club's handle on his knuckles, Shu' regained his grasp and bollocked it down towards the back of Ailuin's head, hoping to turn out the lights on this fight.

 Ailuin it certainly wasn't, although with the pain it was to BREATHE right now, evident by how that flashing crystal in the center of his chest that he had aimed for, was rapidly going a mile a minute, there was a lot of pain. It would certainly take him WEEKS to recover, even with the aid of Tasair, his good adopted brother and healer. Whereas Shujaa, would certainly recover in three days or less. With a spat on the ground after his attempt for his tail, but Ailuin was definitely pleasantly surprised the lion had in fact, given into his request, he rolled off to the side as the bat slammed into the ground near him, eyes widening at the impact it still carried. Causing a dust to stir. He soon enough kicked the dirt into Shujaas eyes, and once more went to slam that baton on the tail mid-dust cloud forming around them. Hoping that the felines eyes weren't as sharp as they appeared.

Shujaa panted for his breath, holding the handle of his club as he inhaled deep into the breath of his chest. No time for that, as dust was flung at his face and it caused his eyes to narrow. Years of desert dust storms had grown the lion's lashes luxuriously long and dense, meaning the dirt was no match against the protective barricade. It still delayed him somewhat, receiving a whack to his tail which got his attention and put him in the direction of the Arkaine. Shu' was getting quite frustrated now, and it meant his attacks were becoming less fluid, and certainly less planned. He threw his weight around then, jumping for the Arkaine in a pounce with club held horizontally to shove it right at the front of the man's throat to try and choke a damn submission out of him.

Ailuin would have possibly had more time to recover, had not his wounds been so grievous to react to a lunging lion at it's already downed prey. He was already, after all, on all fours, and definitely bleeding heavy in three areas where he had been gouged. Panting as his eyes narrowed when his club succesfully hit the tail, mismatched eyes twinkling mischievously when the Lion went to face the rattling gasping for breath Arkaine, only to yelp with widened eyes as he lunged at him. Arms gripped each handle, trying to fight it but far too weakened from the blood loss. Feet kicked out from underneath him, trying to clearly gain the upper hand once more. Only to slowly but surely, lax. Yep, out cold. The victor was Shujaa. The wily Arkaine was down for the count!

 Shujaa's knuckles were tight around his club's handle, but not as tight as his locked arms forced it against his throat. His teeth grit, his body shoved and when the kicking behind him went weak and eventually limp, the lion released his grasp with his hands up, above his head. It seemed he was finally taking in some form of training, as his wrists were immediately secured for his transport back to the Underhall where he could lick his wounds and suffer a three-day post-chakra comedown. Boy his head thumped something awful. Looking down at his opponent, he tilted his head, blue now staining white fur alongside red and brown, making the lion look like some work of art. "Rest well." He muttered, getting tugged along by the chain between his wrists as medics arrived to scoop the Arkaine from the sand. Now...where was his roast chicken?!