you think by now that i would know
not to play with fire if i don't wanna get burned

it was another boring day, and he couldn't stand the nose it brought. which was none at all. Oberon needed something to do, and fast. he walks toward the Pit, knowing it was a good place as any to start some trouble. stifling a yawn, he rolls his eyes back and forth, trying to find someone to have a match with. this place was different than the other one he fought at, but no matter.

"oi!" he calls out, letting a subtle roar echo from his chest "anyone down for a scrap?!" Oberon was still quite new to these lands. the amount of other lions he knew he could count on one paw. one fucking paw. the Pit was not known to him, but... well, it looked like a good place to actually do a bit of brawling. he glances around again, spotting someone approach. good. it was about time. her dark coat was soothing to look at among the bright colors of summer.

he wears an easy smile. "hey there, ma'am" he drawls with a happy tune "you look strong" he did want to get stronger "like, oodles of strong!" his eyes roamed her scars with approval "would you like a quick little fight?"

"he speaks"

code by corvus

@Jewel

[OOC: Participate in a spar/fight]

Jewel had indeed been lurking the pit, and let her gaze roam his form before she would rise from where she had been lounging on one of the rocky outcroppings that surrounded the pit. "I wouldn't mind.. but if you're interested - perhaps we could sweeten the pot a little?" The ebony queen had been out here to scout for potential warriors to join the Cove, after all.

With her own litter on the way - and potentially a few others.. if she didn't miss her guess.. she would want to make sure that they were well protected. And part of doing that was to make sure that they had ample warriors willing to fight to protect those within the lands.

---

"Speech"

Code by corvus. Manip by scarf

you think by now that i would know
not to play with fire if i don't wanna get burned

"well, well" he muses, chuckling. a salmon pink tongue swipes from his lips, licking his jaws idly "now that's the best thing I've heard all day" a bet? he could stand that. Oberon had nothing else going for him outside of sparse encounters. she belonged to a pride, from the smell of her. "what did you have in mind?" because he wouldn't do it if he didn't want to. the ebony woman had no power over him.

as much as pride lions wanted to believe they could boss rogues around... he didn't peg her much for that type. Oberon relaxed his stance, seeing that they were going to talk a bit first. he tips his head to better listen, willing the woman to go on. she seemed serious, so it might be that. something serious. boring. at least sweeten the deal properly.

"he speaks"

code by corvus

@Jewel

"You're here looking for a fight.. Someone to test themselves against your skills." She let her gaze roam the lions form, her expression considering - he lacked scars. It didnt mean he wasn't a fighter - but it meant he may have just gotten lucky enough that he didn't have to fight for long enough to gain said scars. Ears shifted, and the queen would give a languid stretch of her limbs. "It just so happens that I'm in search of a few warriors for my pride.. We have plenty of healers and hunters, but we are lacking in the battle department."

Jewel would let her gaze return to the lion. "How do you feel about a little wager? We fight... if I win - you join the Cove for a while. Help us out with our defenses until we get a little stronger.. and I'll keep scrapping with you, help you get stronger to until you can beat me... if you win - well.. I'll just scrap with you whenever you want - no strings attached." She knew it was a longshot - but the lioness didn't seem to mind.. It sure beat the normal 'spars' she often partook in. Something to lose..something to gain.. It worked for her.

---

"Speech"

Code by corvus. Manip by scarf

you think by now that i would know
not to play with fire if i don't wanna get burned

oh, so she was a queen? good to know. he chuckles at her words, not dismissing them but amused by them. she needed warriors? he didn't... think he was worthy enough to be called one, but whatever. "you should know" Oberon replies back to the woman "I'm training myself to take a pride" not her pride though. he doubted he'd be backed by the original members if he beat her in a fight. and he wanted his people to be happy, not forced "though if I was to be trained by you, I'd consider us allies. even friends. I wouldn't touch your community and you'd gain an alliance in return."

he made it clear he wasn't gunning for the woman. nor her pretty little pride. "so first chance I get, I'm challenging someone" the man nodded "strings or not" if he was to join the Cove for a bit, if he lost, he would not consider it a bad thing. he'd have this lady to teach him moves. but he made it quite clear again - even if he wasn't released from the Cove, he'd be gunning for someone in time. he tils his head to her. "I'll accept your terms if you accept mine?" he thought they were reasonable enough to a queen. but you never know. you just never do.

"he speaks"

code by corvus

@Jewel

The lion spoke of wanting a pride and she didn't blink - many would want lands of their own these days. Jewel would nod her skull towards the male. "That sounds fine. I will just ask that when you are ready to take a pride, you shed the title of Caladan - should you be part of our pride. We are allied with many of the prides in these lands.. and I won't have our people put at risk should you fail your endeavors."

Jewel stepped into the circle more securely and gave herself a shake, a grin touching her lips as she watched the lion. Assessing, gauging his form to see what might need to be addressed. He had said he was wanting to learn, and she would be more than happy to teach him what she knew. Perhaps - if she held the loyalty of the lion, it would ensure that the Cove would have another ally cemented in place should he rise to power.

---

"Speech"

Code by corvus. Manip by scarf

you think by now that i would know
not to play with fire if i don't wanna get burned

"I agree."

it made no sense for her to risk the safety of her pride and her members for his ego. and he'd be shedding his chains to the Cove when he was ready. win-win, if you ask him. Oberon prowls around the woman in a half-circle, his eyes taking in the many scars she bore again. he had none that marred his pretty features. maybe that was a sign he was not ready any time soon. but he didn't even bat an eye at starting their dance.

it'd be disrespectin' the woman if he asked permission to lead. they set their terms, so all he had to do was start. he could do that. Oberon's tail swayed in balance, and he pinned his ears against his skull. this was not a spar, this was a fight for freedom. blood could be drawn. but no maims - he wasn't risking his features for this. En garde! he said in his mind, rushing the woman.

they were both of medium height and stance. he had to be smart about this, cause she certainly had more experience. Oberon flashes out a left paw at her right cheek, meeting her at an arch. though his paws were unsheathed, he didn't have intent to really harm her. the ghost of a grin was on his features - finally, something fun to do! some real risk!

"he speaks"

code by corvus

Oberon vs. @Jewel
FOR DOMINANCE
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 18 + 1 + 3 + 6

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 12 + 10 + 6 + 17

[OOC: Teach someone a defense/protective move 1/2] And, with terms set, they were off. Jewel grinned at the lion, shifting easily into her defensive position, ears flattening against her skull. Lips were curled as she waited for his move - and he didn't make her wait long. Tails shifted at her hips before she noted through a narrow-eyed gaze that the lion was swinging towards her face. She would attempt to turn her head to her right and attempt to snap her jaws over his left wrist. Jewel wasn't trying to injure the lion, but she was here to win. To also show him that there were many things he had to learn. She would attempt to lift her left front paw and try to swing it at his right front limb, claws extended. Jewel was aiming at the front of his right leg, trying to rake from above his ankle down to his foot. "If you're going to swing out with your feet, make sure you defend your other feet.. Or you are at risk of becoming unbalanced." She wasn't usually one to talk in the middle of a battle, but Jewel knew that this was an opportune time to start to teach the young lion. She knew that speaking in a battle often caused distraction, but she wasn't going to let him walk away without having learned something. "Jewel" -vs- "Oberon" -for- "Dominance" Round 1 -of- 3 Hits: Rolling 6d20: 6 + 20 + 15 + 3 + 1 + 5 Dodges: Rolling 5d20: 9 + 2 + 1 + 17 + 10 ""

Table coding by Jolee

you think by now that i would know
not to play with fire if i don't wanna get burned

"huh?" he looks momentarily shook she would begin teaching him - no strings attached. his lips split into a grin as her claws raked his leg and her jaws grabbed his paw. Oberon retaliated quickly enough for someone that was already screaming pain! despite the awkward angle, he tries to yank his paw free of her teeth and attempts to shoulder her. she speaks though, loosening her hold on his paw so there was that. she couldn't mumble her instructions and he found it pretty easy to slip out - if allowed.

"what happened" he grunts, shoving his shoulder into her side "to letting me lose first?" he laughs breathlessly, the pricking needles on his leg already beginning to redden slightly. this was a fight for his continual freedom, and Oberon was gladdened she had wagered it. if he managed to make her spin away from him via the shove, he'd follow up. the man tries to back his limbs out of her reach as he swings again. this time, he attempts to do as she instructed him though.

if he had yanked his paw free, he'd use the same one as before. smarting or not, he'd aim for upside her head. his other limbs are pushed backward, trying to be out of her reach. "better?"

"he speaks"

code by corvus

Oberon vs. @Jewel
FOR DOMINANCE
Round 2 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 5 + 13 + 20 + 16 + 15

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 1 + 9 + 6 + 17

1/2 learn something from another about your trade - barbarian - 5 exp
0/2 complete a spar - 5 exp

The lion's paw removed itself from her muzzle and she grinned, shrugging her shoulders forward around the same time that he would burst forward, shoving his shoulder into her. Jewel - though smaller than the other male, braced and felt the impact. She knew that it would leave one hell of a bruise across her hide, but she didn't mind. He would shuffle out of the way, leaning his weight forward as he tried to slap her again with that same left paw. Ears would pin to her skull before she let instinct do the talking. The subtle shifting of the air - picked up by her whiskers and the tips of her fur.. The way he would move. Jewel was prepared, and when the beast swung, she once more attempted to snap her jaws against his attacking limb. Her right front leg would also attempt to lift at the same time, trying to trap his attacking leg between her claws and her fangs. "Jewel" -vs- "Oberon" -for- "Dominance" Round 2 -of- 3 Hits: Rolling 6d20: 12 + 2 + 16 + 6 + 3 + 17 Dodges: Rolling 5d20: 14 + 18 + 11 + 19 + 1 ""

Table coding by Jolee