XI

[punsofiron]

[ANOTHER shade fight? This time Cambot's watching from a safe distance as Iron Liz and her shadow swordfight on the weapons deck. It looks like the fight isn't going as well though; Liz is still sporting the injuries she sustained dealing with Minako's shade, but it looks like this one roughed her up quite a bit too. And damn if that's not a scary-looking sword it's using, either.

As it stands, Liz is pinned against the wall, barely holding off the shade's sword with her own. The shade is looming over her, way too close to her face, whispering. Whatever it's saying is clearly affecting Liz as her face darkens, until finally she can't take it anymore, snarling through her teeth.]

Shut. Up.

[With that she harshly boots the shade in the knee, to which there is a sickening crack as it falls forward. This gives Liz the chance to drive both swords down on her shade, who poofs into dust, the Frostmourne replica falling to the floor.

Slowly Liz eases back against the wall, dropping her weapons and catching her breath, and Cambot dares to get closer. She looks worse for the wear and seems to even be visibly shaking, and she doesn't even acknowledge Cambot, running her hands through her hair.]

Comments

[punsofiron]

[She presses herself back against the wall, watching him. Her eyes narrow; she knows exactly where she dropped those swords and is ready to grab for them.]

[milliondollarpipes]

[Yeah, he knows that too. He smirks, blowing a cloud of smoke in her face. Go on, he dares you.]

[punsofiron]

[UGH. And she recoils from that, wrinkling her nose.]

Get that shit out of my face! [That compels her to instead drive her fist at him.]

[milliondollarpipes]

[Ah, that's more like it. He catches her attempt at a punch, twisting her wrist painfully, and mouths words for the first time.] That the best you got, kid?

[punsofiron]

[Liz grits her teeth as the shade pulls her arm behind her back, freezing a moment lest she injure her wrist further in a struggle. She may not hear what he's saying, but she knows he's mocking her. It doesn't take her long to make her next move, snapping her head backwards into his face.]

[milliondollarpipes]

[The shade takes the hit, gritting its teeth in pain and rage as its grip on Liz's wrist releases. About a second later, though, there's an angry fist heading for her shoulder...oh, is that her wounded shoulder? It is? Tough luck.]

[punsofiron]

Ngh! [She staggers away, gripping her shoulder. Yeah, looks like that blow plus the strain on her arm agitated the wound enough to draw some blood. Liz scowls, trying to duck past the shade for a sword and get out of the way as fast as possible.]

[milliondollarpipes]

[He moves into her path, using his superior size to block her and drive her up against the wall instead, pinning her there.] Please. You think he doesn't know how to break an arm or two?

[punsofiron]

[Stars flash before Liz's eyes for a second as she slams into the wall, and she struggles for a second before figuring out she's fully pinned. His stance even flattened her legs against the wall; she can't even kick him. She growls as she reads the shade's lips.]

I'm sure he does, but unlike you it's not my arms I'd be worried about.

[And she spits in his face.]

[milliondollarpipes]

[The shade's face twitches in disgust, and with a quick motion he backhands Liz across the face.] Stupid little broad...

[He stalks to her side, probably to aim a kick to her ribs, when he suddenly looks up instead, distracted.]

[milliondollarpipes]

Hey, Iron, you still -

[milliondollarpipes]

[Harvey stops in the doorway, just staring at the whole scene for a second.]

[milliondollarpipes]

You bastard - !

[He charges forward, his initial swing with the bat missing entirely. It served its purpose, though; the shade's backed off of Liz and circled around. He's also picked up one of her swords now. Apparently style isn't everything.]

[punsofiron]

[Liz pushes herself up, shaking her head, ears still ringing from the slap. She fumbles for the other sword and staggers to her feet, noting Harvey with a relieved smile.]

Little late to the party, aren't you?

[milliondollarpipes]

[He reaches out a hand to steady her, even as he's glaring his double down.] Someone forgot to invite me.

[The shade sneers something and makes a feint towards Liz with his sword, which Harvey bats away.] Shaddup.

[punsofiron]

Must've got lost in the mail.

[And she swings at the shade.]

[milliondollarpipes]

[The shade blocks her swing. Unfortunately, this leaves it open for Harvey bashing it across the back of the knees, and down it goes.]

[punsofiron]

[And that leaves Liz a nice, clear shot to stab the shade in the gut. Quite forcefully. That's for slapping her, asshole.]

[milliondollarpipes]

[Teamwork! The shade twitches a little, looking like it's trying to say something else, before unceremoniously poofing.]

'Bout time. I've been lookin' all over for that thing. [Harvey picks up the dropped sword, and is returning it to Liz when he notices the blood on her shoulder.] Ah, hell, kid. How bad is it? [Have a handkerchief, it's good for soaking up blood.]

[punsofiron]

[Yeah yeah, she knows this trick.]

Not as bad as when I first got it. It's nothing, really.

[Physically, at any rate.]

[milliondollarpipes]

Mmm-hmm. [Yeah, he's never seen anyone try to pull this before.]

Come on, kid, let's get outta here. I got bandages and booze in my room.

[punsofiron]

Booze sounds really good right now.

[milliondollarpipes]

[He smiles a little, wryly.] Thought it might.

[Luckily, his room isn't too far off. He keeps an eye on her as they walk - he saw that moment of unsteadiness before. The room, when they arrive, turns out to be pretty spartan, but he wasn't making up the booze part; he pours out two shot glasses and hands Liz one.]