sheep_game | (no subject)

I thought you would.

[chin tilted in obvious excitement]

Meet me out back when we're done here.

[in like ten minutes]

I'll see you there.

[he will spend that whole 10 minutes trying very hard to play it cool even though this is now the only thing he can think about]

[. . . cute. . .]

[anyway! about ten minutes later, after he's made his announcement and the team has dispersed, Lupin makes his way for the barn entrance]

[very purposefully bumping shoulders with Loki as he goes]

[sees it coming and bumps back a little :> ]

[once they are outside:]

What would you say to a bit of a wager?

[has already flipped his combat dagger from where it sits snugly in his belt, balancing the blade on one finger]

I'm listening.

Something like... the loser has to perform a task for the winner.

[. . . that seems very dangerous. . . what would Loki even ask him to do. . . knowing him, he'd be all smug about it, too]

[. . .]

[he likes it]

Are you sure you want to hand me a metaphorical blank check?

I'm not handing you anything.

[flips out his own knife with a little twirl]

[twirls the knife in his hand so he's holding the handle now, blade parallel with his arm]

That's what you think.

You're exactly right. It is what I think.

[takes a step closer, knife at the ready]

But just thinking it doesn't make it true. . .!

[he's the first to take a strike, darting forward like a bullet shot from the gun, his blade glinting in the sunlight as he slices forward at Loki's chest. a pretty safe strike, to start things off. he knows it'll be blocked]

[and so it is! Loki parries and ducks, trying to weave around and slash at his arm. nothing that would cause too much damage or slow him down. not even his right arm! they are clearly still doing knife foreplay here]

[DON'T]

[CALL HIM OUT!!!]

[ducking out of the way of that slash, though it catches the edge of his sleeve, slicing into fabric and nothing more. the knife once again flips in his hand, blade pointing forward this time, and he lunges-- it's a stab!!]

[but only at Loki's shoulder, just in case]

[leaping back; quick enough to avoid a deep cut, but not so quickly as to entirely avoid being nicked. some blood is drawn]

[naturally, he responds to this by cackling and swinging his knife]

[a little blood is fine! wouldn't be the first time. probably won't be the last. it'll all be healed afterwards, anyway]

[Lupin is still close, so it's much harder to dodge the swing of that knife. but he does his best to pivot on his heel and spin away. it's enough for him to avoid the brunt of the attack, but the blade does cut a thin line across his cheek]

[ignoring the pain, Lupin follows through in the momentum of his pivot, spinning around in an attempt to bring his elbow down hard against the back of Loki's shoulders]

[pauses just slightly too long, entranced by even just the brief sight of Lupin with that lovely scratch on his face, and takes the full brunt of the attack]

Edited 2023-08-01 03:38 (UTC)

[LOKI!!]

[not pushing his advantage, even though he could, even though Loki would probably like that, because he isn't quite ready for the fight to end just yet. so he hops back a few steps, still brandishing his weapon, brows raised]

Don't get distracted!

Don't hold back!

[lunging now, purely reactive]

I'm not--

[. . . except he kind of was, just for a second there, by not pressing his advantage. he know Loki would catch it; that was his mistake. with a huff he lifts his knife to block instead of dodging, ready to meet Loki head-on]

I'm not going to!

[blade meets blade, and Loki throws his weight into his]

[rocks back with the blow, digging his heels into the ground to prevent himself from being knocked off guard. his features twist in to a sharp grin, eyes flashing. from up close, Loki can see just how brilliantly he's lighting up in the face of a challenge]

Fine!

[. . . and he shoves, throwing his weight against Loki in return, trying to knock him off balance to create an opening]

[he was expecting that, and he digs in himself, banking on winning through raw physical strength]

[but it isn't as easy as he had hoped. he can feel his grip starting to falter]

[and any sign of weakness is practically a death knell in a competition like this one]

[Lupin's gaze is sharp. as soon as Loki falters, he moves, surging forward with another burst of strength. but at the same time—]

[he hooks one foot around Loki’s ankle and tries to trip him]

[tries to step back, but not fast enough. he doesn't go all the way down, but he stumbles, leaving a big opening]

[and this time, Lupin takes advantage of that opening!]

[he whirls around on his heel, aiming a firm kick against Loki's chest, trying to send him flying into the wall of the barn]