Closed [Fighter's pit] One mercenary, One knight. Trouble time!

[Revy Hiroe]

Even if the guy told her to calm down, she couldn't. She wanted to stay calm, be able to throw names at him, but the memory of Twinblades both shut her mouth and made her shudder from fear. If she had a blade within hand's reach, she wouldn't be feeling this fear, at least not as much as she was now. Why couldn't she just calm down? She was safe here in Syliras. Well, as safe as she could be with a 'knight' next to her. The moment he let go of his hold on her, she seemed to calm down a little. Her shivering stopped and her memories of the night with that bandit died down again. Yet she still didn't look at the knight, instead she pulled in her legs. Her left leg seemed to have recuperated from that blow by now, or at least enough for her to be able to move it again. She sort of huddled against her knees, trying to make herself as small as she could. The moment Markus asked his question, Revy only tried to make herself smaller. Fear still had a strong grip on her, yet that very same fear made her answer as well. "Please don't rape me, please don't hit me.", she started saying softly, barely hearable. She kept repeating this over and over again. Why couldn't she snap out of it? Why did the touch of a man still send her nto such a state? Why couldn't she just leave this behind her, like with her family's death?

[Markus Andres]

The peculiar criminal and warrior woman looked to calm down a little when his hand moved from her arm. Aversion to being touched. The position she placed herself in, reminiscent of a similar position that a former girlfriend of his had placed her in when he had gotten too close. Had sparked memories that she did not wish to relive. Markus had been powerless for too long back then, unable to snap her out of the misery. See a woman he loved put into that state had been a horrifying experience. One he did not wish to relive. Especially not with a stranger like Revy. Markus still pushed on, trying to snap her out of it with the question. Sharp enough that she might focus on him. A knight. Honourable man of the gods. Not some brigand trying to satisfy some carnal urge.

It worked entirely the opposite way and Markus reeled from her words. Stepped away from the woman and raised his arms in self defence, a shield between her words and himself. Markus felt the anger boil in him. How dared she even think that he would do something like that? He was a knight. Sworn to the Windoak, sworn to the good gods. And she dared think he would rape her and attack a defenceless woman? He might do the latter if she kept up with such words. He felt his right hand clench tightly and return to his side as he observed the woman. Words repeated. Rape. Assault. Rape. - Markus felt the anger reach boiling point and before he could try and calm himself his patience burst.

"What the PETCH are you talking about?" Came the response when he could no longer keep it down. "I am a knight! Not some low life mercenary!" His voice was sharp with anger. "Don't insult my honour by thinking a knight would do such a foul deplorable deed." His breath quick and ragged as he had a finger pointed at the woman. Anger against fear. Probably not the brightest idea, but he didn't care. People shouldn't think he would ever petching rape anyone. "So snap out of it and get the petch on your feet, Revy." The anger was unlined with authority as a sergeant. "Become the woman I saw a moment ago. Proud and petching not afraid of standing up for herself. Not a mewling and snivelling coward on the ground afraid of her own shadow." Insults came easily when Markus was angry. Something he hated, for insults was the bane of all negotiation. Through his anger he might provoke the woman to get back on her feet. Get in touch with her own anger and let the anger drive away her fear. Almost any emotion was better than fear. Markus looked intimidating when furious. Covered in plate armour and the usual kindness hidden behind a wall of anger. Dark green emerald eyes lit with a fire like when she had first insulted him.

Where is Rachel when I need her. A simple touch and she could have fixed this.

[Revy Hiroe]

The moment Markus started to shout at Revy, she just froze completely. She couldn't utter a word, move a muscle or even turn her eyes. Her self-preservation had kicked in and to stay as safe as she could, she had to listen. It was crucial for survival to always listen to what people told you, when you were captured. She had to find that out the hard way with Twinblade, back at that bandit camp. However, the moment he started about mercenaries being deplorable, she couldn't seem to hold her anger. She took pride in being a mercenary, protecting those who payed for it. Yet this guy was insulting the whole profession. The rest of his words didn't register, or at least didn't seem to affect her. The words about lowlife mercenaries just kept echoing in her head. "Oi.. did you just call every merc deplorable, you petching knight? Did you just insult my job?", she started to say. She didn't look at the guy, not yet. However, as she started to talk more, she slowly raised her head, "You know, I don't care what you call me, as long as you don't insult the job I have been practicing for longer then you have lived. I take pride in being one, I take pride in having a good reputation, even amongst mercenaries. I ain't abandoning a contract when the going gets tough. I ain't one of those mercs who sells their swords to darn bandits. I honor a contract up 'till I complete it and receive payment. I haven't failed many. Especially the past seasons." Oh she was angry alright. She was gonna make sure that guy wasn't gonna insult every merc like that again. "Can you say the same? Can you honestly tell me you didn't abandon a lost cause? Can you say that you fought to the bitter end to protect someone, only to fail and get enslaved, raped and... worse. With the final words of her, tears started to roll along her cheeks, yet she kept her gaze strongly locked onto that knight in front of her.

[Markus Andres]

The woman froze. Markus didn't care as he pressed on. Fallon had also frozen and become more distant as he had tried to lure her out of her personal Hai, no doubt Revy would be the same. But Markus was trying a very different method. Very different. From calm and sweetly to loud and angry approach. The trigger surprised Markus. Not that he called her a coward. No, when the woman responded to him, it was his insult of mercenaries, the description of her job. Markus' eyes sparked with anger as she retorted, didn't like that she called him a petching knight, but he didn't move to strike the woman or scold her for the remark. For honestly he was glad to see she had snapped out of it. But she best watch her tongue or Markus would be forced to act on her words.

"Yes, I did." Markus answered her rhetorical question, truthfully letting him vent a little more anger. But she was quick to continue her wrath. Words spoken quickly and she soon faced the knight as she rose to defend her profession. The double standard that she could insult every single knight ~ every righteous defender of peace and justice, while he could not insult a rag tag bunch of misfits whose only goal in life was to acquire gold. Though this one seemed to have a pride in what she did for gold. Markus could only imagine what pride she would take in working for the knights. But he couldn't even bring his thoughts down that lane without being reminded of her haughty attitude. It pissed him off. Claimed to have been a mercenary for longer than he had lived, a lie no doubt, unless the woman was much much older than she appeared. Revy continued, spoke of failures: Markus had countless. The loss of the blacksmith last season. Savitaire missing. Of standing to the bitter end to protect someone: Memory of Imass flashed through his mind. If that strange thing, he had met in fall, was to believe, the man had been enslaved to Rhysol in Ravok. He had failed the proud knight. The memory of Fallon. Taken, by four men~ his mind firmly rejected the memory and took a solemn pride in the revenge that had been taken by him and Kreig. Those combined memories, his most grievous failures in recent times. Markus let out a long annoyed sigh. So many bloody failures on his behalf. When he had been inadequate to protect those he cared about. Failed in his duty. But I am still fighting. Markus reminded himself. The prideful anger that glared back at Revy as they saw whe tears that rolled down Revy's cheeks surprised the knight. There was so much emotion put into her words. His memories were him failing other people, her... she had experienced it personally. - If she took such pride in being a mercenary... Why had she never chosen a different profession... where her contributions might matter more.

"Oh. So I can't insult the glorious and always honourable mercenaries of Mizahar, for they're untouchable, but you get to air your foul and mistaken insults of the knights? I have never fought for a lost cause, I fight for the knights. A true cause, only cause worth fighting for! But I have lost friends and comrades to war. I have seen people enslaved unable to do shyke about it. I have fought in battles where the losses were innumerable and so far beyond my control that only the blessed Yahal saved my life. I have seen friends injured, traumatized, crippled." Markus responded, voice sombre and calm, but there was a certain edge to his tone. One that did not want to be interrupted. But it grew sharp. Very sharp as he continued. ”All because they fought and fight for a cause, an ideal that I refuse to think can be lost. Never will I give in to the idea that Rhysol and his wretched kind might win in this world. Lord Yahal would not let something like that happen, Tyveth would not let such an injustice stand.” There was a sharp exhale of air as his eyes narrowed on Revy and Markus knew that he still had an issue to adress. Did not care that she cried. He was a knight, best act like one and get the point across.

"We do not fight because of a promise of gold or fame. We fight because this petched up world demands us to shed our blood and offer our lives in order to keep what little we have safe. To keep the peace, restore order and justice. And as long as you only fight for gold, Revy, you will be nothing more than a merc doing the dirty work for the rich. Honourable or not." Markus took a deep breath. Spoken more than he had liked. Vented his frustrations. Retorted to the woman who had prior to this heated exchange been frozen in her own trauma.

[Revy Hiroe]

The moment that guy started to retort, Revy wanted to interrupt him, but something in his voice made her unable to. Even though he was twisting her words, she found it impossible to retort. She felt driven into a corner. She knew he was mostly right. Most mercenaries weren't honorable, yet that didn't mean he could just go and insult every single one of them. And the reason why she insulted the knights like that was because they had failed to protect even their own darn prison and that road. Maybe he had seen his fair share of misfortune, yet he hadn't been the target of that. Apparently only those close to him had been the target of it. He shouldn't make light of it, not the way he did. It felt just utterly horrible when it happened to you and you couldn't do anything about it. The feeling of being that powerless was just devastating. She nearly broke back in that bandit camp, because of that fear of being powerless. The ex-mercenary didn't want to think about it, remember it or even be reminded of it in any way possible. She had to close that like she did with the death of her parents. And then he started about how 'noble' the knights were. Perhaps they did fight for the right cause, but one could only fight for something like that IF they didn't have to worry about food and shelter. "I fought to survive. I fought for mizas yes. Did I think that everything I did was honorable? No, I didn't. To this day I still dread to relive the nightmares I had no more then three seasons ago. To this day I still hate having to have cut so many lives short. But I don't regret it, for I'm still alive. I've been fighting ever since seeing my ninth winter. Not once did I regret the choices I made. I will keep fighting for mizas if that's what it'll take to stay alive.", she said rather calm. "Nowadays I have another reason to stay alive. I have to protect my girl. I want to protect her. One woman I love I couldn't protect, she went her own way. But I will protect Sayren. I SHALL protect Sayren and I'll go to whatever length it'll take me.", the woman stated confidently. "Despite that I lost to you today, I'll continue to improve. I'll continue to prove that I am worthy of Myri's mark. I won't let anything happen to those I care about if I can help it. I don't try, I just DO it. If that's deplorable, then so be it. I don't care." She didn't want to retort on his other comments, because it would just be a name calling fest. Honestly she was just getting tired. She noticed that she was starting to voice her real feelings about her job. She hated it and at the same time she loved it. She loved the fights, the combat, the adrenalin. She hated the fact that with nearly every contract she had to kill people, people that might've been good people driven into a corner. She hated that she might've killed people like that, yet she had to because she had been under contract.

[Markus Andres]

The sergeant frowned as he looked at the mercenary respond to him. Claim that she only fought to survive. Markus knew of plenty other ways to survive without shedding blood for gold. Listened to her as she spoke of nightmares. A point where Markus could relate to her, he also had his fair share of restless nights where his days in Zeltiva and Syliras haunted him. But he had learnt to accept those as a small burden to pay for his current life. Dark emerald eyes narrowed on the mercenary who seemed to have been pulled out of her involuntary stasis completely. Her speech animated and alive. Emotional and informative. Markus knew only of Syliran and Zeltivan life. That of sailors and knights. Mercenaries had always seemed beneath the honourable knights. Fighting for gold and corrupt people seeking to further advance their own goals. Mercenaries had always appearad selfish and brutish to the young sergeant. If they had the ability to fight for gold, they also had the ability to fight for honour and peace. But she had fought since her ninth winter. Since she had been nine year olds. Markus had been a brat and a bully in Zeltiva in those days, more accustomed to black mailing and goading people into pulling pranks and teasing punks with him.

To his surprise, the self-centered reasons for fighting shifted in Revy. Spoke of a different woman, a Sayren. A woman she loved. Markus raised a brow a little confused. My girl could have meant a daughter, but he quickly discarded that thought when she said 'woman' after. Unless Revy had had her at an extremely early age or was far older than Markus estimated her, it was not a daughter. A sister? Friend? My girl... Markus' thoughts led him to Kendall and the possibility of a same-sex relationship. A lover? The tone would indicate it, the need to protect her likewise. Markus was not sure how he felt about same-sex couples. Only once had he been confronted directly with the issue and then he had reacted in a way that made him feel a little ashamed. But those had been different days. Markus eyes widened a little at the indirect revelation and he tried to hide the surprise. Had not realized that Revy was in to females.

”Hmm.”

Would explain a lot... His ego fed him. For some reason he felt the woman was being extremely selfish in choosing her sexuality. He couldn't put words to the feeling, but other than that it didn't bother him. Confidently stating she would get better. Also revealed she carried the mark of Myri. That in turn explained why she had been so petching quick. Markus had a member of his wing who carried the same mark. Often had he wondered if the woman found it ironic to be both marked by the god of peace and the goddess of war. But he had kept those thoughts to himself. His gaze fell on the sword he had forced from her hand. She will need more training if she is to protect people. Though not with the blade – there she is already formidable. Markus gaze turned to the shield she had rid herself of in the heat of the battle. An odd and unorthodox manouvre. But it had seemed as if the shield had slowed her down. But the assessment of her abilities ended there as she had struck a chord in the knight. Looking at the woman in a new light. Great fighter. But not a common mercenary, or not any longer.

”There is nothing deplorable about protecting those you care about. And even if it was, then everyone who ever loved someone is deplorable.” The knight chuckled at the ridicolous thought. But the chuckle gave way for a more serious look at the mercenary. The strength in her voice and the attitude was still there. But she did show something else, commitment, loyalty, honour. She might have made a good knight, he couldn't tell, if only she did not hate them so much. He would have to talk to her a little longer. Probe her for information. After all, she had been convicted of a crime against the knights. Couldn't possibly look good on her resume, nor his if he suggested she should join as a squire. Indecision. Markus pushed it aside and eyes softened as he looked at the mercenary.

”Doesn't it feel better?” Markus finally asked. ”To fight for someone other than yourself?” Markus finger gently drummed against his chin. A strange habit he had picked up recently and when he noticed it he stopped and folded his arms in front of him. ”It helps me at least. To know that I fight and kill for the right reasons.” Markus admitted. ”I can still remember the first man I killed. I can picture his ice blue eyes as they stare at me wide-eyed. Confused and in pain as he realize he got ticks left before Dira took him away.” Markus told before he paused briefly. The image. The silent shock and outrage painted clearly on the bandits face in his mind. ”An image that will haunt me to the end of my days.” Markus hated that story. For there were so many more aspects about it that revulsed him. But those sides of the story Revy had no need to hear. No one ever needed to hear the full story again. It would go to the grave with him. ”He had been a bandit. Scum of the earth son of a shyke who got what he deserved. Still, the image haunts me. Knowing that I helped save people from him, helps me sleep easier at night.” Markus said pursing his lips a little. Eyes were distant as he was still trapped in the memory of the man's face as the Bastard tore through him and ended his worthless life.

”For what it is worth Revy, I am glad you have found someone besides yourself to fight for.”

[Revy Hiroe]

The comments of this knight weren't as bad as they were before. Perhaps he wasn't such a bad guy. Maybe has was a little sensible.... for a guy. If he had answered differently, she would've just upped and left there right at that moment. But he didn't and she had to give him credit for that... although a little. But his next question confused her a little. It didn't feel better to fight for someone then to fight for yourself. At least, it didn't before. However now she didn't get the same satisfaction when she was just fighting for herself. It felt just so... bland. Perhaps it did give her a better feeling, but she just didn't recognize it as such. The only thing that mattered to her was being able to have fun, feel good about what she was doing and protecting Sayren from harm was one of those things. What the knight said next wasn't really what bothered the ex-mercenary. Killing people wasn't the problem itself. The problem was that on multiple occasions she had to kill people who were only trying to protect themselves. Killing a bandit or two was easy and she had no qualms whatsoever about that. Yet killing someone, who was trying to feed his family, was something else. Shadows of their family seemed to have been haunting her for a long time and that's what her problem was. "It ain't really the problem of killin' ya know. It's more that on some occasions there were things that I just wasn't sure of if it was what I shudda been doin'. It's those shadows that 'ave been hauntin' me fer a while.", she said, now completely given up on holding back her sunberthian accent. "Killin' a bandit or two ain't no biggie. Killin' people who try to feed their family thru crime is. I 'ave been in that situation right after I lost me family. So... well.... I know at least that I'm quittin' that kinda lifestyle. I need some stability if I am to protect Say. The only thing is, I 'ave been a mercenary me whole life, so I dunno anything but fightin'."

[Markus Andres]

When combat started, Markus often lost all sense of pity and guilt for his acts. Useless emotions in a fight for life and death. It made killing the enemy much easier. But he knew he only killed people who deserved it. Those who wronged the laws of Syliras and the good gods. It was necessary to keep the peace of the city. Markus was a little worried she had no qualms with killing. Not because he wasn't used to people like that, but rather he feared he would one day himself lose the pity once the killing had been done. That he might look back and not care that he had just slain a human being. Numb to the carnage. He knew they were criminals, death was what they deserved, but he hated to do it still. He did not understand their need to take from others what they could build themselves. Selfish pieces of scum. Right fist clenched and he took a deep breath. Pushed aside the anger. If only Revy was capable of standing and fighting. He could use to vent his anger again.

Markus listened intently as Revy revealed aspects of herself that Markus had not realized existed in the woman. The accent did bother him. He had heard it before. Plenty of times. But most pointedly in Sunberth when he had been a part of the Sahovan Campaign. He didn't like that accent. Had always bothered him. Perhaps it was the associated implication that the person was from a lawless city governed by self-interest and greed. Though the woman did touch a soft spot. Markus cleared his mind of the darkness and the confusion and chaos that had been in that darkness during the storm. Cleared his memory of those fateful days. Another thing he buried deep. To talk about killing, why did he start this subject. He hated talking about previous battles that ended in bloodshed.

"It is a shame. But it is the unfortunate necessity of preserving the law. They broke it, thus the punishment has to come." Markus spoke. As much to himself as Revy. "Doesn't make that bit easier though." He admitted. Didn't change the fact he would uphold the law. Duty before honour. "Syliras has stability. Unless you break the law, again, or do something reckless. You will be safe here. Safe to figure out what you want to do with your life."

Markus observed the mercenary for a couple of ticks. The fact that she had spoken about actually killing those who turned to crime out of desperation. And the honest emotion he seemed to pick up from her voice as she spoke told him he could trust her words.

"And as much as I will probably regret this later, you should swing by the recruitment office. You're a talented warrior. Syliras could use your talents to keep its citizens safe." The cat was out of the bag. But she would probably dismiss his offer. After all, her hostile tone and dismissal of him, a sergeant knight, told volumes about her relationship with the knights. "And you might be able to help others avoid the incident you mentioned in the Tank."

[Revy Hiroe]

The recommendation of this knight kind of surprised the woman. His reasoning was sound and everything, but she was still hesitant. Yet she wasn't as opposed to the idea as the thought she would be. It presented a nice opportunity for her to break away from the mercenary life. "Maybe I'll take you up on that offer. It sounds rather attractive.", she replied. She had started to collect all of her armor pieces, putting them back on. She didn't have any other means of getting it back to her room otherwise. Despite the weight, it was comfortable armor. The form fitting that had been done, was making it feel a lot lighter then it actually was. It also allowed her to put it on much faster then armor that hadn't been form fitted. Eventually she went to pick up her shield and glaive again. "I'll be off. I might see you again.", she said a lot calmer, almost friendly. "Weird guy. But not so bad for a knight. At least he is a bit understanding. Unfortunately cant say that about all of them." she thought to herself as she left the training's area.

oocSorry about the LONG delay! I completely forgot about this thread. This'll be my last post.

[Markus Andres]

Markus was pleased to see that Revy considered his offer rather than dismissing it without giving it any thought. She was savvy with the sword and the knights could use them on their side. If she proved loyal to the ideals of Syliras and her hot temper did not crush his aspirations of her becoming a capable knight one day. The physique was there - the mind he was not sure. She had honour, she claimed, and he did not disagree. Only time would tell. He would have to check in once he returned from Zeltiva and see if she was doing okay within the order. Or if she even joined at all. Still, one could hope.

"Sounds good. Give it a night's rest and don't rush into the decision." He was a terrible recruitment officer. At least his superiors recognized this. But he couldn't let people decide haphazardly. Such things had led to Savitaire and Fallon leaving before they completed their training. For a brief moment he thought of the two and wondered why it couldn't have been the living weapon Ball who could have left of the squires he had liked. He dismissed the thought and curiously watched Revy apply her armour. She certainly knew how to put it on, which for the lady-chasing knight Markus happened to be on occasion was a negative aspect of her abilities. The speed with which her attractive curves were hidden under plates of steel. But he did not complain, he wasn't interested in her in that manner.

"Hmm, yes. I'll see you around. I'll be heading for Zeltiva in a couple of days, so might be a good while before we bump into one another. Take care, Revy." Markus said. Happy that he had found a worthy opponent in his nightly restlessness. At least she wasn't opposed to Syliras and for the right gold could be persuaded to fight for them even if she didn't join the knights. Markus was very quick to dismiss that thought entirely.

Won't rely on mercs for our safety. - The sergeant thought as he moved to leave the training area as well. Perhaps now slumber could consume him and the knight could sleep.