Time To Think

[Celephai]

There was a general silence from Celephai, followed by a low groan.

"You want me to prove my capabilities? You want me to... complete a test to know if I have the capacity to complete your requests? Very well, what is it you wish me to do?"

She had a hunch, but there was always the possibility she was wrong.

[Margrett]

She smirked confidently.

Beat me in a fair fight.

She leaned forward a little, putting her arms on her knees.

If you don't mind fighting for no reward.

She realized she was going back on what she said at the ring, sort of, but that was for money. This was for fun.

[Celephai]

Cel stirred slightly.

"Your rules?"

Her tone was expectant, heavy, but with a hint of vicious happiness.

[Margrett]

Whatever we're used to. My armor and weapon versus whatever it is you have.

She leaned back, stretching her arms out.

If you think that's fair.

[Celephai]

Celephai drifted gently on the surface of the water, her expression thoughtful.

"...When should this take place?"

[Margrett]

She looked around.

Right now, if you want. Here is good.

She slid off the log and bobbed over to the shore where her clothes were.

[Celephai]

Celephai glided through the water to an area of particularly dense shrubbery, wherein she reached under a bush and pulled out her favorite cloak. Margrett was going to be wearing armor, so a fast attack from an unexpected angle would be critical to success. Cel was only skilled in hand-to-hand combat, so it would be vital to disarm the shade.

She strode over toward Margrett, patiently waiting until her opponent was ready.

[Margrett]

There was a moment of silence as Margrett put on her clothes and strapped on her armor. She cracked her neck and hefted her hammer to her shoulder. She looked at Celephai a moment before speaking.

Ready?

[Celephai]

The Elder Thing nodded slowly.

"You may make the first strike."

Celephai was confident. Chaos was free-form, unconstrained by law or doctrine, it could bend and flex itself into many myriad shapes. Cel decided that she would seek the openings in-between Margrett's attacks, and from there, disarm her. Then the advantage would be her's... the only issue remained: how to pry the war-hammer from Margrett's grasp?

[Margrett]

Margrett nodded, and shot forward. She knew that her hammer gave the edge, and swinging wildly would only let her opponent get it from her grasp easier. For now she held it backwards, the butt end of it flying towards Cel's jaw and Marg's shoulder heading into the elder thing's chest, trying to unbalance and knock her over.

[Celephai]

Celephai saw the tensing of muscles, the surge of energy as Margrett's body shifted forward, charging toward the abomination. One does not bear the brunt of the bull's strength, but rather waits for the animal to trip itself.

She moved inward to Margrett, just barely slipping past the armored guard. A tentacle reached for a fastening on the side of her armor, hopefully it was weak enough to unsnap, and create an opening for future attacks.

[Margrett]

Her cuirass was held on by two buckles on Marg's right side. Cel undid one of them deftly as Marg moved past her. The shade growled a bit a and turned on her heel, the grip on her hammer shifting and preserving her momentum, swinging it back around towards Celephai's waist.

[Celephai]

Cel rolled with the impact of the war hammer, but unfortunately wasn't fast enough to avoid it altogether. She stumbled back, her tail quickly tapping the ground to help her regain balance. The elder thing then leaped into the trees, using what cover she could to try getting behind Margrett before hanging down from a branch and unfastening the other buckle on her cuirass.

[Margrett]

As she felt the elder thing try and undo her armor, she stood still, bracing her feet and moving her hammer into one hand. She shrugged out of the armor with a tiny movement of her shoulders, letting it slip off her body and clank to the ground. He kept her head low but faced the trees.

Sneaky. If you wanted to touch you could have asked.

[Celephai]

Celephai retreated into the thick brush, moving deftly between the trees.

"Perhaps I just wanted you to... open up a little. I didn't want anything to get between us..."

Now that the torso armor was gone, it would be much easier to grapple the shade. Cel shot from the cover of the trees, flying toward Margrett with intent to pin her to the ground. Weaponry would be useless in those close quarters.