It wasn’t like he could actually tell if she was correct. Zeke avoided physical confrontation. If he was adept at reading the people around them, he used those skills to steer clear of such a situation in the first place. Fear, though – that he was quite attuned to. She noticed the little things, provided an explanation he hadn’t asked for but was pleased she gave. There was a building thrill in her voice, the awakening of old spirit. Tatyana sounded confident. Focused.
He leaned back a little when the fight began in earnest. Half Oriena’s debt had been from having Ilya, the club’s healer, using his girls to mend her barman’s ravaged neck after Kasun had gone full beast. And the victim had been a supposed friend. Kasun was feral, and though the bars were thick, Zeke also knew this one had escaped before. Besides, the flying blood and spittle were distasteful. Brutal was right.
He let Tatyana watch the carnage a moment longer, before he leaned close again and asked: “And how would you beat him?”
Xander didn't really watch the current fight down in the ring. Though he glanced down when some of the reactions around him were grimaces and shocks. Apparently the brutality was new to them. At places like this Xander expected it to be bloody and gory. It was afterall no holds barred. But those were the people Xander wasn't after.
He watched a pair. She looked like she'd seen better days even if she was dressed well, Xander could see something in her, there was a bit of fight, and her aura shimmered with the power of those that could channel. He hated watching them. He did too as a matter of fact. Storms rolled around his head, but there was shadows and power in his aura that lay outside of his gift. Xander wondered what he might have seen if he didn't have the gift, would that still be the case?
He didn't try to listen in, he wasn't close and he didn't stare. The aura's alone made him look away almost immediately, but he glanced back now and again as he watched the rest of the crowd.
There were some with money dangling from their auras. Others had that healthy glow of power. But Xander wasn't really sure what he was looking for in a new persona, something different than Kristian was all he was after. Kristian had too many "friends". Which meant he'd make more enemies in the long run. He didn't want that.
It was a bloody fight to say the least. Tatyana had heard of Almaz, but seeing it now, she realized the place was no holds barred. This is what drew people here: brutality and carnage. There was something almost comforting with that. Tatyana had felt like this place was almost a church to violence. It kind of was.
Tatyana smiled at Zeke’s question. ”Well if I met Kasun on the street, the winning move is not to play,” she said, her tone not one of fear but of pragmatism.
She turned back to the fight, her eyes watching with a discerning gaze. She as pretty sure Zeke wasn’t asking about a street fight. He was asking what she would do here, and that filled her a bit with pride. She’d really like to fight here.
After a moment of silence she continued. ”But hypothetically…if I was in this situation here. Stuck with Kasun in a cage that wasn’t to be unlocked until one of us couldn’t get up. Well - I’d play to my strengths and against his weaknesses. If possible - turn my weaknesses into strenghths and his strengths to weaknesses.” she had been watching and evaluating. Her dad had taught her that, and the habit still remained.
”His biggest advantage over me is he’s bigger and stronger. Speed is my advantage, bith for defense and offense. He’s slower - at least slower than me. That can keep me out of his range. The trick is getting a hit and then getting out it time. It also looks like Kasun is used to winning and winning fast,” she said, looking at the carnage. The fight was moving fast. ”Likely means our boy has less stamina. He’s not used to a drawn out fight. Primarily, I’d go on the defensive. Stretch the fight out - allow him to tire himself. Like most big, muscular men, he puts a significant amount of energy into power. His style is not conducive to a drawn out fight. Likely will get him frustrated and frustrated fighters make stupid mistakes. Exhibit A…” she gestured to the fighter currently getting his ass handed to him.”[/color]
She paused a bit, catching her breath. She was getting excited. It had been a long time since she had talked about this. ”His advantage - size - can be used against him. Im smaller - meeting him head on is just plain stupid. So I redirect instead of block. His momentum is hard to stop because of his mass, so when I move out of the way - it keeps going - setting him off balance. It’s when I make my strikes and then retreat. His attacks and keeping up tire him - exacerbating the situation. It’s a game of patience fighting someone bigger and stronger than you. Not the most exciting at the beginning, but at the end it is. Audiences love an underdog. Still - it would be a hard fight. Even then I might not win - but you don’t lose until you can’t stand up.” she leaned in to whisper conspiratorially. ”And once I figure out how to use my power consistently- there’s another tool I can use.”
She leaned back, getting comfortable and, realizing she hadn’t ever spoken so much to Zeke, she let out a chuckle. ”Im sorry - I’m talking your ear off. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to talk about stuff like this.” she faced him and gave him a smile. ”Thank you - and thank you for bringing me here.” she turned back as Kasun hit his opponent. Had she been in his shoes she’d still be in better shape than that. She was certain. She wasn’t sure she’d win - but she’d have lasted longer and fought smarter. Her mind went back to the word sponsor. Maybe she could find one. Maybe she could ask Zeke.
He half stifled a giggle when she repeated exactly what had gone through his own head. Not that she made it sound like a joke so much as pure pragmatism.
Her actual explanation, well… he wasn’t that interested – what he wanted was to give her the stage, just for a moment. To let that little bit of thrill build up in her chest, remind her there was a person under all the anonymity of survival and homelessness. One that Zeke reminded her existed – allowed to exist.
He flinched a couple times, though only minimally, as the brutality in the cage continued. The crowd surged and moved around them, the noise rising with every smack of flesh. Anticipation was like hunger in the air. The chaos didn’t bother him, just the violence, but it made it easier to pay attention to her instead. He grinned widely when she leaned in and whispered about the power she was still learning to control. So she didn’t mind fighting dirty.
He waved a tattooed hand to brush off her apology, magnanimous rather than irritated. Zeke never minded the thanks even if he didn’t always acknowledge it – and he’d soon correct its absence. “Shame we’ll never know where your tactics would get you. Further than this guy, I’m sure.” He flicked a finger, but didn’t move his eyes from her. His gaze was intense, suddenly thoughtful. “The coin gets you a single boon, but I like your nerve. And I know you’re good for a little debt, Taty. If you wanted a little something extra, as a favour. I have some friends here.”
Tatyana went back to watching the fight. It was coming to a close. Kasun was going to win this one. it was certain by this point, but still the crowd was enjoying it. People were attracted to brutality. Not everyone was, but the people who regulated here would. Whenever Zeke would talk, though, she'd turn her head to pay attention to what he was saying. She couldn't ignore him. It would just be plain rude - especially given what he had done for her already.
She actually noticed that he flinched a couple of times. It seemed strange to her, but again, she knew not everyone liked violence. It just reinforced that he brought her here because she would like it. The entire experience was making Tatyana feel more human than she'd felt since before her father had died, and a fire began to kindle within her again.
When Zeke mentioned that it would be a shame that they'd never get to see her test her theories and would be better than the guy currently facing Kasun, she gave a smile and was about to respond when he continued. Something softened in her eyes as he called her "Taty." No one, not even her father, had called her that. Her father had always called her by a different nickname, but this had a similar effect: a term of endearment, and it made her feel wanted and needed. It was a foreign feeling now. She hadn't felt that in years. In reality, that was all she had wanted from Konstantin.
Zeke continued and she thought she understood what he was saying. She'd been wanting to ask about it and still wondered if that is why he was brought her. Tatyana turned her gaze back up to the fight and for the first time, she really imagined herself up there. She could do this. She wanted to do this.
She turned back to Zeke, her gaze serious. "Are you saying that you'd help me find a sponsor if that's what I wanted. Because I do want that."