Friendly Sparring Match? We'll See...(SG)

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)]Iris's shift at the bar was crazy tonight; well, it wasn't too much different from any other night, except that this was the woman's first night working the bar since she'd made that mistake that earned her a shiny crutch and a ripped open left calf. But Iris was not one to be held down. In fact, as soon as she was well enough to hobble on her crutch, the woman insisted on going back to her regular duties. Which is how she wound up bartending on one good leg. Her crutch was propped up behind her, and she rested her weight on the bar whenever necessary, her hurt leg rarely touching the ground. However, the night was starting to slow and wind down; thank Arceus. That was a lot harder than she'd expected. Then again Iris wasn't much of a thinker when it came to her own well being. As she started wiping down the bar to the best of her ability, it hit her that her poor Pokemon hadn't gotten much time out since her accident, especially Knight and Bishop. "Hey," she called to Alex, waving her over. "C'mere a sec? I need to ask you something." Ohdear what was Iris planning? [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/alextabletry4.png);width:525;height:400;,bTable][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=style,border:0 black none;][scrolly:h(286),w(246),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:82px;margin-left:253px;margin-bottom:19px;color:106620;)]Alex gave a sigh as she finished clearing off a table. Really, it was nice of Iris to help out. A poor economy tended to help their industry, so it wasn't like anyone was hurting for the hours, and she knew they appreciated the days off but... Damn did she have to insist on working when she could barely get from one end of the bar to the other? Her lack of mobility had increased Alex's work load quite a bit, and while it was like.. just drastic or anything, and most of the stuff was her job anyway, it was nice just having the peace of mind she could ask for someone else to help get this or watch that a second. She hadn't taken her break that evening for fear that a brawl would break out as soon as she turned her back, and... Black Knight or no she sometimes questioned Iris's ability to handle that sort of thing on her own when she wasn't severely handicapped. Well.. It was almost closing time now at least. As the young 'man' turned around, she caught Iris calling her. Alex blinked a moment even as a mild sense of dread passed over her. Please don't tell me I forgot something.. "Huh? ..Yeah, sec." She quickly carried the tray of glasses she was holding to the back to set down before heading back to half-lean on the customer's side of the bar. "Sup?" [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)]Iris waited patiently for Alex to come over; part of her was regretting what she was about to do. For some reason, Iris felt some vague...tension between the two of them that she just couldn't quite place, and it made it sort of uncomfortable for the woman to even talk to Alex. But hey, Iris wasn't one to be swayed by a little discomfort. When Alex came over, Iris dropped her voice a little, despite the fact that the bar was emptying. "First, I appreciate the help. I may be crippled, but I can't stand doing nothing. But the important part. See, my Pokemon haven't gotten proper exercise since I got hurt. I was wondering if you'd like to have a little sparring match after the shift tonight?" Her eyes were unwavering, and the woman had a light, albeit somewhat forced smile on her face. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/alextabletry4.png);width:525;height:400;,bTable][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=style,border:0 black none;][scrolly:h(286),w(246),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:82px;margin-left:253px;margin-bottom:19px;color:106620;)]Alex found herself slightly taken aback by the offer at first. A sparring match? Really? "...Er, I really don't-" Of course, it quickly hit her: she really needed some training too. More specifically, she really needed to evolve Moonfire and maybe that hybrid she'd won when she went to the festival. Blue eh... she should evolve by happiness but maybe she'd enjoy the battle? On the one hand, Alex really did just want to go home and crash on her couch. Fuck trying to even make it to the bed. On the other? ... Fuck sleep, this was a chance to train her Pokemon and let off a little steam, in a few different ways. Of course, she'd still beat to a pulp anyone who ever injured Iris like this again, but she was allowed to pick at her in whatever way if she wanted. "Eh, why not," she corrected herself. "Lemme get the rest of these tables and stuff while you get those last guys on their way." She nodded then toward two tables on one side of the bar with a few people at each. [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)]Iris heaved a silent sigh of relief at the man's answer. Though she had to raise an eyebrow at how he started to answer, but that was really no big deal, right? But whatever Iris felt didn't really matter; she knew they were both Black Knights, and that meant Iris would kill for Alex if the need arose. "Sounds like an idea," she finally replied, nodding her head. "I have a few things to finish up, myself. But I'll meet up with ya afterwards" The purple-haired woman flashed a smile before going back to cleaning the bar. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/alextabletry4.png);width:525;height:400;,bTable][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=style,border:0 black none;][scrolly:h(286),w(246),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:82px;margin-left:253px;margin-bottom:19px;color:106620;)]"I don't care where ya go butcha can't stay here!" Alex yelled some twenty minutes later as she shoved the last (very drunk) man out of the bar. Truth be told, the action brought a small sense of giddy satisfaction to the knight. She'd always wanted to do that, but that was usually the bartender's job, not the bus boy's.. Well~ |D Nothing wrong with offering to help out her poor crippled friend, right? X3 Heee~ Locking the door to the outside only, she headed back over to Iris. "That should do," she half-sighed, not allowing herself to show the real smile that had brought. Guys were too cool to be giddy, after all. "So where did ya wanna do this?" They could head out back or into the street. That battle center place whose name escaped her might still be open. Or maybe they could head to like... a park or something? Just as long as it wasn't too out of the way Alex was fine with whatever. [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)]Iris had to chuckle slightly when Alex kicked the last patron out of the bar. All other things aside, he was kind of cute--but he was still no Lyall, by no means; not to her, anyway. But then again Iris had a one-track mind when it came to who she wanted to be with; those sluts who changed partners more than they changed clothes could burn in hell, for all she cared. "All's squared away on my end." Iris stopped, thinking a moment about where this battle could happen. "We could go to the park, maybe. It's lit well enough, and it's bound to be empty this time of night." She flashed a more genuine smile as she picked up her crutch, putting it under her arm and began to hobble out from her position behind the bar. "Thanks for bearing with me tonight though. I just can't sit and do nothing when there's work to be done. Think of a way and I can make it up to ya. Besides, I won't be crippled forever; just a few weeks." [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/alextabletry4.png);width:525;height:400;,bTable][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=style,border:0 black none;][scrolly:h(286),w(246),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:82px;margin-left:253px;margin-bottom:19px;color:106620;)]Think of a way? A singing Back off Lyall forever~ danced through her mind, accompanied by an eyeroll and a very slight hint of a grimace of equal parts amusement and bitterness. Or breast reduction. That'd work. Alex was not insecure about her body. If anything, being literally flat-chested instead of just as close as she was would make things rather more convenient most of the time. She knew she could find a guy if she tried, and really usually didn't even care that much. But seriously. When Miss Morning Star's breasts could do more damage than her mace, it kind of became an issue. Alex mentally scoffed/snorted wondering if perhaps Iris would be in a bit better condition right now if she could actually move efficiently. ... A moment later, she suddenly lunge-flinched and had to pause a second in her effort to suppress a rather harder laugh; for a second she'd gotten the mental image of them possibly stopping a bullet. God that was just... X'3 Ah man. Well, on the bright side, they were very distracting. Even to Alex. Yet another reason she was annoyed, but at least if she was ever caught looking- really, it was hard not to, especially when the woman apparently couldn't even always see fit to wear a bra dammit- at least it helped in being a convincing straight guy~ \(^o^)/ Rather than voice any of these thoughts, however, she just forced herself to calm down from the hysterically disturbing thought from before and shrugged. "Nah. Knights're brothers, right?" Oh wait. She wasn't. Because she wasn't a real knight. Which didn't bother Alex at all for anyone else in their ranks but seriously how had Lyall chosen her over Alex as his second? She would never understand even if she knew, and never mind if Alex had never shown any interest in leadership and probably wouldn't be that fond of it anyway. "Park sounds fine to me. ...Lead the way?" she almost-teased a bit darkly. [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)] "Or sister, in my case," she teased, not knowing what exactly was going through Alex's mind. Though it made the woman feel weird; she'd apologized, and thanked him twice, and got no acknowledgement of it whatsoever. To Iris, that was not only weird, but disrespectful, and thus fed her suspicion that maybe Alex had something against her. No matter; she'd just have to be careful. Not that she didn't trust Alex, but something made Iris a bit...uneasy. Also, that 'joke' seemed a little dark to Iris, though she forced a laugh anyway. Hobbling to the door on her crutch, she used her free hand to fish a key from her purse. Then, she opened the door, putting the key in and locking it so as to close the bar after they shut it back. "You'll find I'm not completely useless on one leg," she said, half teasing, half serious. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/alextabletry4.png);width:525;height:400;,bTable][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=style,border:0 black none;][scrolly:h(286),w(246),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:82px;margin-left:253px;margin-bottom:19px;color:106620;)]Ironically, Alex had been trying to force some form of acknowledgement, and letting Iris know the apology wasn't needed even though in truth she'd rather she just have stayed home for a few weeks. That's what the 'nah' had referred to. But of course, as far as she knew it had been taken as it was meant, and all was right (enough at least) with the world. At her comment, though, Alex gave a rather legitimate if self-deprecating laugh. "Obviously," she teased herself now. "I certainly can't run the bar like that. I'd say you've already proven you're still functional enough." Not to be trying to go all-out, but to get by at least. Which was good. Had she been hurt too much worse, Alex may still be hunting down anyone even vaguely involved in targeting their Black Knights. [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)]Iris hobbled her way to the park; luckily it wasn't too far from the bar. Looking back at Alex, she flashed a genuine, half-flirty grin. Of course it was only a small fraction of the flirty grins she shot Lyall, but still, a grin was a grin. Yes, she was sort of off-hand flirting with him, but it was at a level she flirted with most guys. Her main interest was obviously one specific man. "Didn't become who I am today by being the type to roll over and quit at the first sign of trouble," she replied. "Besides, using a crutch gives me another weapon in a pinch." She winked, as the park came into view in the distance. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/alextabletry4.png);width:525;height:400;,bTable][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=style,border:0 black none;][scrolly:h(286),w(246),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:82px;margin-left:253px;margin-bottom:19px;color:106620;)]Alex burst into a near-fit at that comment, barely resisting stopping and doubling over outright at the mental image of Iris beating some drunk with a crutch. "Ah man," she managed through her laughter. If she'd noticed the flirting at all, it had been completely forgotten already. Once she managed to calm a bit, though she was still grinning from ear to ear and chuckling a bit, she offered, "Tell ya what. Promise not to use it in the bar and I'll fit you a mace head to screw on the end of that~" It was.. mostly a joke, of course, but if Iris took to it and would get the materials, Alex technically could, probably. 'Mace' might end up more equal to 'hammer' than 'ball with spikes all over it', as her skills in metallurgy weren't that great, but she did have some. Apparently all knights were supposed to be able to know how to forge their own blades if needed. ...Apparently they also taught this to the kids way more than older squires and shit but... who was she to question? (That or perhaps they'd cut that program when funds started failing? Well, whatever.) She was definitely serious about the in-the-bar thing, though. Because somehow, some way, no matter how many other people worked in the bar, Alex would end up being the one to have to clean up after that. [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)]Iris rolled her eyes slightly at Alex's fit of laughter. "You act as if I was joking," she teased lightly. "Although, I have to hold the crutch with my gun-hand, my knife-throwing is just as good in both. And I tend not to spill blood in the bar, Dear. You work hard enough as it is." Iris flashed a grin; was she telling the truth, or flirting again? Honestly, it was a mixture of both. "What I'd like to do though. I read this novel once; Western. The, I guess you'd say villain, had a crutch, and he rigged a shotgun into it. Or I could rig a sword into it, and put the end back on. Either way who'd expect to be killed with a crutch?" Those purple eyes sparkled, showing Iris was really considering having a weapon made out of that thing. [/scrolly]