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[smokeandglasses]

@shitwaitno

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August TDM - Action

[virtuesignal]

[The moment staffers shoved Concord into the fighting ring, it was over for the man. He wasn't about to move on to anything else. Having a chance to fight wasn't something Concord was going to pass up on. He's not interested in the sexual elements some are getting into, he just wants to be violent. Work out the excess aggression this place is building up in him. It's not war, but it's something close to it, a microcosm. That would have to do.

While he has extraordinary strength and stamina for such things, it literally turns into days worth of fighting. Concord can heal through most injury, but he's still looking battered from so much persistent combat.

Nobody seems to be able to stop him, though. Even the high ranks don't trust he'd take a fall and they're not going to risk getting knocked the fuck out. People really are waiting with rapt attention over who, if anybody, will finally take Concord out of the fight.]

[smokeandglasses]

[The gamblers are in for a surprise, because one hell of a challenger is about to step into the ring. He's a good foot shorter than Concord and at least half of his weight if not less. Though Ali is fairly average as far as men go, he looks comically small compared to Concord.

Most of those gambling up in the stands figure it's an easy victory for Concord, but a few with careful eyes notice Ali's scrunched up browline and crossed arms and make a risky bet. With that posture, Ali is no normal competitor, and the few that pick up on that are about to get filthy rich.

It's only after the bell rings, signaling the start of the match, that Ali finally speaks up:]

So this is where you've been for the last two days?

[Possibly longer as well. "Two days" is just how long Ali has noticed Concord's absence.]

[virtuesignal]

[Concord is cracking his bruised and cracked knuckles before he realizes his new opponent... is someone he'd never throw a punch at. No matter what. Ali does look cute like this, stripped down from his usual professionalism. No suit and tie allowed in the arena, after all. Oiled up is also nice on him, his build so sleek and- wait, what is Concord doing again-?]

... four days.

[Terrible correction to make. He lumbers closer to Ali, sucking blood off his teeth to swallow before reaching him. Concord's aware he's about to be scolded into submission, may as well accept his fate with dignity.]

[smokeandglasses]

Four days! Four! And not a single message! Did you even check your messages in that time?

[There are indeed about 20 messages from Ali, which go from a normal "hey what are you up to" to concerned then to angry.

He does not even flinch as Concord comes closer. The fans in the stands are cheering, but Ali is paying no mind to them at all. His focus is on Concord and Concord alone.]

Have you even eaten in all that time? Slept? Don't think I missed that blood on your lips either!

[virtuesignal]

[Goes to show the haze Concord has been in for the last few days, completely caught up in fighting without any thought to when he should stop.

His expression buckles immediately. Ali is, like, actually quite mad at him! He hates that-! It hurts his troubled heart(s)-]

Listen here- You know I can handle myself-

[he's not going to stand any chance in the face of Ali yelling him down]

[smokeandglasses]

[Hell has no fury like a dragon's anger, it burns as hot as their flames do. Ali might be tiny in size, but his flame is just as large as any dragon's.]

I know you can handle yourself in war. That doesn't mean you should do that all the time! You need sleep and food, just like every other living creature!

[He takes a step in and points a finger directly at Concord.]

You are going to bed. Now. And I'll fight you myself if I have to, don't think I won't!

[He will too, he means it.]

[virtuesignal]

This ain't- nothing like a real war- [Concord won't take a step back and lose ground, but he will lean away as Ali steps into him, scolding him with passion. Hot, tempting passion. The audience goes quiet and Concord swallows nothing but a knot formed in his throat from seeing Ali all worked up on his behalf.

The threat that Ali would fight him over this settles it, though. Concord would never lay a hand on Ali in that way. The unicorn is too softhearted, truly, because it's not even from a concern that the dragon is delicate. Concord knows full well how damn durable Ali is, how tough.

It's Concord who is weak, melts at the dragon's whims- but his pride says Ali does still need to knock him down,]

I reckon you need to topple me over for that. [it wouldn't be difficult, Ali knows full well he could flick Concord dead center of his forehead where his horn was sealed and he'd stagger. Or be more cruel and jab a couple fingers to his scar, lord knows he deserves it to knock some sense into him.

Third would be pulling his hair. That's always an easy get for Ali and Ali alone.]

[smokeandglasses]

[Ali will be honorable enough to not pull Concord's hair or poke him in his scar. Instead, he suddenly pounces at the man, grabbing for Concord's midsection to drag him to the ground. He will topple Concord without prodding his weaknesses, Ali has that much honor at least.]

[virtuesignal]

[Ali simply springs at him, much to the cheering of the crowd. A wiser man might shove him away or grapple him or anything but what Concord does, which is catch him in a bearish hug. He does stagger backwards as he tries to get a decent hold on the slippery dragon in his arms- lifting him right off the ground for his trouble. Which does makes Concord whinny out a laugh-]

Ali-! I reckon that's enough-! [is it, though? Has he actually gone down from it? Or does he just have his arms full of precious cargo now?]

[smokeandglasses]

[He damn near slips right out of Concord's arms due to the oil, and when he tries to grab on tightly his arms slip on Concord's skin too.]

...I have to pin you to win.

[Which is why he's trying (and probably failing) to sweep Concord's legs out from under him.]

[virtuesignal]

That's right. Well. Timber... [Concord's done fighting it, Ali is just too much for him to hope to stand up to. Much to the bafflement of the crowd as Concord simply goes down, toppling backwards into the dust of the pit with Ali held safely over top of him.

Literally taking the fall, but for Ali, he'd do so any time of any day.]

[smokeandglasses]

[They fall to the ground, and even though Ali ends up on top of Concord and protected from the fall by him he still goes 'oof'. But, much to the bafflement of everyone, Ali is actually the victor.

A handful of people are screaming in joy, but otherwise it's quiet enough for Ali to speak quietly to Concord:]

Will you come with me now?

[virtuesignal]

Yes, Ali. You win.

[He'll be obedient, that's that rules, right? Even if he's the ""higher rank"" and supposed to win this, Ali will always triumph over him. That's just the rules. Their particular, peculiar rules...

Concord's considered pinned by the judges, who are not subtle in telling Ali he should "take his prize, for the crowd to witness!"

Which goes right over Concord's head for what that means. He's just realizing how damn battered and tired he is. Phew. Ali is right again, he needed to stop already,]

[smokeandglasses]

[From here.]

[Ali will move to sit up too, so he can see the jewelry. It's beautiful, but it is absolutely not what he would have expected of Olivine. Don't mind him, he's staring a bit.]

So nipple piercings and a bellybutton piercing? Don't tell me you have others hidden elsewhere too.

Rip captcha, thank you for the message ♡

[massochism]

[rest assured, Ali, he doesn't mind the staring at all. But he does have a little clarification to make, of course—]

Ah, the one in my belly isn't a piercing—it's part of my body. [lowering a hand, he gently presses on the skin near that particular peridot to show how it stretches just beneath the decorative metal trimming.]

Oh... I don't know if I would call it hiding, but my tongue is also pierced? I had it done when I first arrived here.

[It's a simple task to stick his tongue out to let Ali get a good look at it, a little greenish-blue stone capping a simple bar.]

np np!

[smokeandglasses]

[Okay, the tongue is cool too, but he is absolutely fascinated by this jewel that is part of Olivine's body. How does that even work???]

If it's not too improper to ask, how did you gain a gemstone like that? Were you born with it?

[massochism]

Mm, I'm happy to share what I can. I was born with it, yes—it doesn't happen often, and it isn't really known why it does. It is known to be a symbol related to keeping our world's balance, though.

[laughing a little sheepishly, he tips his head.]

That is, where I'm from, we have elemental altars that keep our land healthy. With the gemstone, it seems we're able to purify those altars. Mm, there's a much longer story to explain it, but it might be confusing...

[or uninteresting, honestly. He doesn't know how much Ali might want to learn.]

[smokeandglasses]

[Honestly Ali does find it interesting, but he won't pry right now. That can be a discussion for later, when they become better friends.

He does have a question though.]

Does it being in your belly button make it difficult to purify the altars?

[He's picturing Olivine having to press himself against an altar so that the stone is touching it. So impractical.]

[massochism]

[that... is not the question he expected. he giggles then, shaking his head.]

No, not at all. I think I was a little vague—the gemstone itself isn't what we use to regulate the altars. It's more of a... confirmation of our relation to the situation.

[resting his hand on the gemstone for a moment, he considers how much to talk about in this conversation.]

In part, it connects us to Eiden, and allows us the ability to use our essence—ah, our life energy, if that makes sense—to resonate with the altars themselves.

[smokeandglasses]

Huh...

[It makes sense at least. More people involved makes for better chances at success, and it sounds like Olivine at least is confident in how this works.]

I wonder why gemstones though...My power manifests through a tattoo, for example. So there must be differences between the magic systems?

[massochism]

Mm. Magic itself isn't limited to those who are clan members, in Klein. In fact, even those who possess very little essence can still learn some magic... to be honest, there are still several things we don't really know about the gemstones.

But what we do know is that they mark the contract holders intended to help the Grand Sorcerer—so, for people like myself who were born with them, it means that the original holder... ah... ceased existing before the contract was fulfilled.

[smokeandglasses]

[It's probably rude to keep asking, but Ali finds this discussion absolutely fascinating. He's always been interested in other magic systems, wanting to thoroughly learn about them and come to understand them.]

Oh, so was the original holder an ancestor of yours?

[massochism]

[maybe it is, but he's lucky in that Olivine likes to share information. Although...]

I'm... not really sure, actually. I don't think so, but it's not impossible, either. I suppose Rei might know better than I do.

[smokeandglasses]

If he's the expert on such things then I will have yo contact him. But in the meantime-

[He pulls off his shirt and turns around so Olivine can see his back. A pair of intricate dragon wings are tattooed into the skin there, covering most of his upper back.]

This is where my power comes from.

[massochism]

He's— [how does he explain Rei...] certainly more knowledgeable than I am when it comes to the origins of our contracts, yes. He's a little unusual, but he means well.

[Olivine holds so much affection for his angry wet cat man. But his attention definitely shifts when Ali removes his shirt, reaching to gently trace the tattoo. That part reminds him of Dante a little, though even then the concept is different.]

I see... is it something about the ink, or did the ink appear with the power?

[Honestly, he wouldn't think twice about asking even if they hadn't just been going on about magic in his own world. Nerd problems.]