Fight Night [Almaz]

[Tatyana]

Tatyana looked at herself in the mirror, and even as she smiled, she felt a twinge of sadness. It had been a long time since she hadn't seen at least some layer of dirt on her face.  Her hair was braided and newly trimmed - by a professional no less, and the last time she had looked at herself, she had been more gaunt than she was now.  A couple days of regular eating had brought some life back to her. Even her clothing was near - she wore a nice pair of black slacks and a light blue button up blouse.  She hadn't dressed like this in a long time it reminded her of when her dad was still around and it felt like a lifetime ago.

The change was courtesy of Zeke, who had decided for some reason to take her to a club.  Tatyana had asked no more, and Zeke hadn't offered more, but he had told her where to go and when to go there.  At his insistence, she was given new clothing fit for the location, was instructed to get a new hair cut, and to bathe appropriately.  The clothing felt odd - felt clean.  She felt clean.  She also felt pretty. It had been a long time since she had even wondered at whether or not she was attractive, but as she gazed in the mirror she could see it. Appearance had never been a big thing for her, but for some reason she now appreciated it, even if she wouldn't flaunt it.

Tatyana left the bathroom and headed out heading to the location that Zeke had given her.  She found a line outside of the club and a bouncer was letting people in or denying entry. Inwardly she was grateful.  This wasn't Nebasa's Gate nor was it any club owned by the Vasilievs.  She waited in line until she got to the bouncer. He stopped her.

"My name is Tatyana - I'm supposed to meet Zeke here," another instruction from Zeke.

The bouncer looked at a list and then nodded, allowing her entry into the club. She entered to find lavishly decorated bar. This was where she was told to meet Zeke.  Looking around see she a descending staircase.  Patrons met with each other and talked.  Tatyana was familiar enough to know that in some cases, business was being conducted.  That business was one of hers.  A few patrons looked at her, some appearing to question her appearance here and others appearing to check her out.  It confirmed to her that she was looking attractive now.  Tatyana didn't see Zeke, so she went up to the bar and sat at a place where she could see the entrance. She would wait for Zeke to arrive.

[Ezekiel]

Zeke wasn’t strictly on time, which was by intention. He wanted to leave Tatyana vulnerable and out of her element in this new environment, give her time for the ghosts to stir and haunt her with memories of the life she had lived before – and how it no longer fit so easily around her shell. Those little cracks would make her all the more pleased to see him. Not that he doubted her willingness to please at all; this little game was all for his own pleasure.

Almaz was not a side of his life that intersected much with his work at the church. It wasn’t hidden away; rather, it was just that one rarely had any benefit for the other. The clientele here was rich or dangerous and often both, a far cry from the desperation of the undercity’s rejects. But all people craved the high Zeke offered, no matter where they came from. At this club, they also relied on drugs for the fighters; to blunt their pain, to bulk them up. Sometimes to send them into senseless frenzy. He peddled in other things too, but none of that had any bearing on tonight.

It was because of his connections that he did not arrive from the main entrance, where Tatyana’s attention was intently fixed from her perch at the topside bar. She looked young without the dirt and threadbare clothing, and he watched the way others glanced in her direction. Everything about her appearance tonight was contrived from Zeke’s generosity. A creature of his making.

He took his time, observing her from the shadows, before he drew close enough to be noticed. Zeke himself did not look so different to usual, beyond that the cut of his dark clothing was expensive. It still draped his slender frame like a kiss of darkness. “Tatyana.” He said her name like possession, a velvety net of safety. Zeke was on her side, after all. He leaned against the bar beside her, and flashed a tattooed hand to summon service.

[Tatyana]

Tatyana waited and the longer she waited the more insecure she became. This place reminded her of the Vasiliev Christmas party. People were talking and laughing. They were making business deals and alliances. Men were looking at her the way the man who had asked her to dance looked at her. It was surreal - a return to the time before her fall - to the time when the fall had started.

Tatyana’s hand opened and closed in nervousness, not caused by the lack of drugs in her system. She hadn’t taken her pill today. She felt like Zeke wouldn’t like that. This felt different - like in some way she was representing him. After all, he had cared enough about her appearance to get her the outfit and to stress her need to bathe.

Finally she saw him come in. He hadn’t come in the main entrance like she had expected. Her smile as he approached was one of gratitude. He spoke only her name in greeting, reminiscent of the way he had spoken her name when they had met; a primal call that claimed ownership even if she didn’t understand that.

”Zeke,” she said in imitation of his greeting, but she said his name with a twinge of awe and gratefulness. ”Its good to see you. Thanks for the clothes, haircut, and shower. I feel…clean.”

It was such a simple thing - cleanliness - but it felt foreign to her. Still she liked it. Zeke had raised his hand for service, but she didn’t order anything or ask for anything. It wasn’t her place to. I haven’t been to a place like this in a long time. Not since…” her voice trailed off. She didn’t want to talk about the Vasilievs.

[Ezekiel]

It was easy to make someone grateful for necessities when they had nothing. Tatyana looked at him like he was an anchor in an uncertain world, and he only grinned in answer. Zeke was generous with his time at the church, but few received the sort of individual attention she did. Of course, few could be of use the same way she could.

He ordered her a water without asking what she might want. Her discomfort was palpable in the way she looked around the bar while they waited; Zeke would dispel those lingering ghosts, but only while he accounted himself as saviour from them. The youngest Vasiliev boy peddled Paragon’s drugs up in that lofty casino she was so scarred by, and perhaps one day Tatyana would serve better as a sacrifice than an investment. But until that time, by Zeke’s side was the safest place to be.

“You’re with me now,” he interjected into her trailing silence. It was as simple as that. Security, shelter. So long as she played her part, of course, but he doubted she’d see it as exploitation. From what he’d seen outside the church, and what she’d said to him about challenge, she was likely to enjoy the work. Though tonight was just about realising the possibility, not setting her to that work. Ultimately she had to be the one to ask to step into the ring.

He downed his own drink. She could take the water with her. In the close chaos of downstairs, a far cry from the pretense of gentility in the topside bar, she might need the respite. When he moved he expected her to follow. 

The narrow staircase was lit only by the neon glow of the steps, and a chill rode the air as they descended. It was only as they neared the bottom that Zeke glanced half over his shoulder with a devil’s grin, “Welcome to Almaz.”

[Tatyana]

Zeke ordered her a water, but at first she did not pay attention to it. Her mind was on his simple statement. She was with him now. The Vasilievs didn't matter. She was with Zeke and that did. It was an odd feeling for Tatyana. For the first time in two years, Tatyana felt like she belonged somewhere. It brought with it feelings of safety and security. She would be okay now.

She grabbed the water and followed Zeke. He didn't command her to follow, but he didn't need to. For one she felt safer in his presence and for another he brought her here for a reason. Tatyana had asked for purpose, and Zeke had never revealed to her what that purpose was. He also had been completely quiet as to his reason for bringing her here. Perhaps he wanted to reintroduce her to the life of fine living. She doubted that. Zeke had said he thought she'd enjoy this place, and as they descended the narrow staircase, she contemplated this. She had no idea where he was leading her, yet she was okay with it. There was an anticipation with the increasing chill in the neon lights of the staircase, and Tatyana tried to reach for her magic, but found it wasn't there. She had practiced with it, but sometimes, it just wasn't there.

Then he turned and grinned at her. The name of the club rang in her ears. Almaz. She had heard of the club. Her father had told her of it, although he had never taken her. At some point he was going to, but that had never happened. As they reached the bottom of the staircase, Tatyana looked around. Various cages and fighting rings with ringside tables dotted the underground portion of the club. Her eyes widened in amazement.

"You brought me to see the fights," Tatyana's voice was in awe, even as it was twinged with sadness. This would have been a great thing for her to do with her father.

Still she was glad to be here with Zeke, and the awe overshadowed the sadness of her father's loss. In many ways she was overwhelmed by his care of her. Tatyana hadn't known what to expect, but it hadn't been this. She found herself having a slight smile on her face. "I...I don't know what to say." she finally spoke, her voice filled with gratitude.

[Ezekiel]

Zeke enjoyed her reaction, and even in the low lights he made sure to see all of it; from the widening of her eyes to the brief sheen of emotion she bottled along with her nerves. He smiled down at her, apparently pleased to have brought her some joy. Deprived people were so easy to please, and they generally required little in the way of actual effort. Sasha was largely the same: content with scraps because their lives had been so shitty up until the point Zeke let them take shelter under his wings. Not that he was disingenuous, just self aware of his own manipulations. He considered himself somewhat expert in weighing the worth of a soul.

He let her soak it in for a moment; the charged atmosphere, the sensory overload, and the fainter roar of more distant audiences. Like a modern colosseum.

Afterwards he began to weave them through. Further in they would find the pits and cages surrounded with seats and platforms for viewing, some public and some more privately intimate. But here, all around them, bright holoscreens depicted the various odds and fighter stats. Zeke pointed up, where the combatants were enshrined like heroes.

“Do you have a particular poison? They cater to most. Who do you want to see?”

[Tatyana]

Tatyana was overwhelmed. She had never seen anything like this before. Of course she had been to professional fights before. Her father had taken her often to see them - ranging everywhere from staged wrestling to MMA tournaments. But this place. It had an almost reverent nature to it - like a church dedicated to violence. Her eyes didn't stay in one place for long as she tried to take in the whole place. There were so many fighters with all sorts of skills.

She took a drink of her water while her open hand flexed open and closed in anticipation, and it partially covered the slight tremor in her hand. It had been some time since she had taken her pill. She wasn't too worried about it. She was pretty sure this place could keep her distracted for now. She almost felt herself going into her own prefight routine. There was an energy here that she loved. The fighters getting ready. The fans finding seats to cheer on their favorites. Unsurprisingly, betting was happening too. Tatyana had never really placed bets before. She had been too young, but occasionally her father had asked her who she would have. She was familiar with the process, and the odds made sense to her.

But she wasn't interested in gambling. It wasn't like she had anything to gamble with either. When Zeke began to speak she turned to face him. Not only had he brought her here, but he was letting her choose what they watched. She wasn't sure she deserved this. She hadn't done anything for Zeke - nothing except give her a coin. Yet had had taken her in, given her some new clothes. He paid for her to get a haircut and gave her access to a shower. She had no idea why. She was just a street urchin. Perhaps he saw something in her that she didn't see herself.

Tatyana nodded at him, letting him know she understood and turned to look at the various boards with the fighters on them. This was her first time here. She wanted it to be a spectacular one. You never forgot your first time.She looked and realized some of them could use magic like her. That was pretty cool, but she wasn't so much interested in that. She wanted some more down to earth - something more like what she was used to, but still something thrilling.

She kept looking, but her eyes kept going back to one fighter. His look and his posture seemed very primal even feral. A tangled nest of dark hair surrounded fierce features and a copper colored face. He wore a black beard and was built with solid muscle. But what kept bringing Tatyana back to him was his eyes. They gleamed with an animalistic golden glow. Tatyana looked at his name.

Kasun...I want to see Kasun." she said, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice.