BP Manticore

Some took well to the Order’s military service, others were clearly more suited for the Order’s civil arm. Corporal Tsukasa Ikari was clearly not truly military material. It wasn’t his slightly below average height or build, there were plenty of scrawny scrappers suited the military. Ikari met the bare minimum skills set for magic and combat skill. He performed adequately in battle and elsewhere.  But Corporal Najwa could tell, and that was the real problem for her. The Manticore breathed deeply as she watched Tsukasa sparring with a soldier. She was downwind from the match, of course. She found the taste and smell of him delightful. Motes of the Corporal’s sweat and emotions sailed on the wind. Her tail tended to steadily drip when around him.

Tsukasa’s sparring partner only made things worse for her, in several ways. Captain Barrande was skilled enough to fight powerful mamono to a standstill, as everyone in the platoon knew. The Captain didn’t shirk in combat, and kept his sword covered in ichor. He even made time for his Officers and NCOs. Barrande sparred with at least one daily, like clockwork. It showed in his lean body’s blurred movement. Tsukasa should’ve died more than a dozen times over by now, and the Corporal clearly knew it. The Captain was like that, if he found a defense inadequate, he’d probe it repeatedly –  as if he was giving a chance to develop a counter. Najwa glanced to the side, at the blonde Lizardman standing beside her. Sgt. Ismene Theodorou tended to watch the Captain’s sparring when she could. Nawja could tell the other mamono was at least as aroused as she was.

No accounting for taste, thought the Manticore, as enjoyed the sight of the Corporal who was a continuously twitchy mess of nervousness and fear-reek. Tsukasa was always like that. No degree of his actual competence seemed to settle the man very much. Najwa’s insides throbbed with mild hunger and desire at the thought. It was like he was made for her. A niggling feeling of discomfort prodded Najwa. The instinctual worry that the Lizardman Sgt. was stalking her meat nagged at her. Logically, she knew it was nonsense. Corporal Tsukasa may have had adequate combat skills, but there was no way that’d he’d be able to challenge the Lizardman. As if sensing her Najwa’s thoughts, the blonde spoke in her normal slightly too formal way.
“Corporal Tsukasa Ikari is an adequate warrior.”, said Sgt Theodorou as she watched the sparring match, filling the air with the musk of her arousal. Najwa narrowed her brown eyes at the Lizardman, she didn’t like where the blonde was going with this.

“He reeks of fear all of the time. He’s hardly much of a warrior. Look at how he stumbles around.”, said the Manticore as her insides twisted in anxiety, she didn’t need more competition for the twitchy Corporal. This was apparently the wrong thing to say, for Theodorou actually turned away from the match, ear-frills extending. The Sgt’s yellow eyed glare was unrelenting, and Najwa regretted her words instantly.
“His fear doesn’t interfere with his duties, martial or otherwise. I would’ve though you could appreciate how noble fighting in the face of terror is. It would be intolerable for Corporal Ikari to be unappreciated.  Don’t you agree, Corporal Awir?”, said Sgt. Ismene Theodorou, with an edge to her voice.

Najwa glared back, as her insides clenched. Even her instinctual impulses could tell that the short Lizardman was more than a match for her. Najwa’s taller height wouldn’t matter when facing someone who made the Captain sweat heavily during their sparring match. Not to mention, the chain of command frowned on internecine duels among soldiers. The thought of the Captain sparring blossomed into an idea.

“Sorry Sgt. I misspoke. I meant to say that he tries his best, but when put side by side against the Captain… I didn’t mean to insult him.”, said Najwa, not elaborating on which of them exactly that she wouldn’t want to insult. Theodorou’s eyes softened fractionally, but she still frowned.

“There’s still the matter of appreciation for the brave Corporal.”, said the Lizardman. Najwa smiled and glanced at the formerly sparring soldiers. Both were now sitting and drinking water – only Tsukasa seemed to need it. The short skinny man was dripping with sweat.