Atop the Illusions

[Marius Valdemar]

Once again he felt his attack parried, directed around and shaped like some potter's clay upon a wheel. It was only slightly frustrating; he bore no ill will against his friend. Like he had realized before, he did not actually want to hit him, he only wanted a distraction from the depression. It was working wonderfully so far. "A dance huh?" Marius replied with a mirthful smile after he had regained his feet from the spin. "Awright then Mr. Six-arms. We'll dance." Abruptly Marius ran forward at him, his body tucked down in a tackle. However, when he reached the Eypharian, he did not attempt to hit him with his shoulder, claw, or any other part of his body. Instead he changed direction at the last moment, stumbling a little in his ineptitude, but managed to take a hold around Ifran's back. His other hand shot out to grab one of the curved swords by the blade and held tight, the gauntlet protecting his hand from damage. He clung there, one arm around Ifran's midsection and the other trying to stay on the blade and tugging, testing his grip. An out of breath laugh sounded from the boy, loud as he pleased.

[Ifran]

Ifran laughed too. "Well done, little monkey," he approved, then dropped to one knee, the pillar of muscle that was his body rippling under Marius in an attempt to throw him over his shoulder, which would require he let go of the khopesh to protect himself from the ground. This part of the dance was done a bit faster than the rest, the better to keep Marius on his toes. Ifran would not be in Alvadas forever, and unless Marius decided to follow him, he would not be able to keep an eye out for him.