Ciara's Debut: Veteran vs Veteran (for psychopatrick88)

Ciara grimaced in pain as Rose stamped down on her leg and forced her left arm into the hammerlock. She had definitely been in tougher scrapes than this during fights, but it was always painful (both figuratively and literally) to be reminded that she was better at absorbing impacts than enduring certain locks. But even despite her position, Ciara eked out some words of banter as she tried to push backwards against Rose and struggled to free her arm.

"Nngh...You should know... why sometimes even-ugh... even why I prefer topless... ONE," she suddenly strained against Rose with greater force, "I've been in a few matches and spars that went on for QUITE some time, and-nnh-I doubt wearing a corset... would do anything for my endurance... and two... Agh... when the going gets nice and sweaty, I don't have to worry... about bollocks like this... when others can't grab on to me as well."

Ciara knew straining against a lock like this, particularly with one of her legs pinned, wasn't going to accomplish much of anything, but the military girl had other plans.

"Still, haven't popped my top, and I'm not mackerel-slick yet... so..."

Ciara suddenly went limp and slumped forwards, hoping to catch Rose off guard, then suddenly reared up and threw a swift backhand behind her. Chances are it would strike her target's chest or upper body instead of the head, but its success was of secondary importance. Her right fist snapped backwards to avoid being grabbed like her left, then it flashed back over Ciara's shoulder and grabbed a big fistful of Rose's corset.

"I'll have to go with THIS."

Letting out a sharp yell with her effort and enduring the pain in her left arm, Ciara yanked Rose forward while thrusting her head backwards with impressive force, aiming to strike her opponent in the chest or stomach with the back of her skull.

Rose smirks a little as Ciara reasons with her on this topic, and talked about how endurance would do anything for her endurance. "I think it's kind of like weighted training.." She replied, growling as she strained against her, and tried to keep the arm wrenched tighter.

"And there's no way in hell I'm ever going topless." She snerked, and would stomp down hard on Ciara's calf as she tries to escape. It was then that Ciara suddenly went limp. She tried to fall with her to gain control of her arm once again, and instead she ended up getting a backhand across the face. "Gh!" She gasped, then felt it grabbing ahold of her corset, and coughed as Ciara slammed her head back hard into her gut, and let go of Ciara, left wheezing a little. "Guh..."

Ciara fell forward as her arm and leg were freed from Rose's grip, and she exhaled in relief, rising steadily to her feet as she tested her shoulder for any significant strain. There was definitely a sharp pain and palpable stiffness, yet that discomfort was already fading quickly. She turned quickly, though she knew Rose was still recovering, she couldn't be too careful, and she rotated her left arm to loosen the muscles as she walked towards her opponent. Limbering up was vital for any fight, particularly against an opponent like Rose.

"You hit hard and you're plenty quick and painful with your grabs and locks," Ciara complemented, "but if you try to pull a submission grab on someone like me early on in a fight, you'd better be ready for me to struggle like hell."

Rose's back was to the ring now, but Ciara didn't seek to take advantage, walking forward until she stood alongside her opponent.

"Come on, Rose, that exchange was enough proof for me. I want our feet to be on the canvas before we start slamming each other to the ground. I may even enjoy taking hits, but I don't relish breaking my fall on the cold, hard concrete."

Throwing a knowing look at Rose, Ciara grabbed the lowest rope, then hauled herself up, between the ropes and into the ring, taking a deep breath, turning and extending a hand for Rose as well. Now they could let loose, but the even the hardened, raven-haired soldier didn't want to give the ferocious ex-bounty hunter an excuse to go after her post-match.

Rose took a step backwards while dealing with Ciara's blow, and felt her back touching against something. She felt back for a moment, and ended up grabbing... a rope? It was the ring. She could tell without taking her eyes off her opponent

She snerked as Ciara complimented her, and watches as she stepped towards her, stepping out of the way while raising her fists, not letting her guard down for a second. She watched as Ciara climbed into the ring, and grumbled to herself before dropping her stance to climb in after the Spec Op.

Ciara was already leaning against the ropes opposite of where Rose climbed in, glancing around the gym a little from her elevated position and getting a feel for the ring, particularly the traction on the canvas. She stretched and loosened her arm and leg muscles a little, then refocused her attention on the ex-bounty hunter.

"Before we continue, Rose, I want to know what you think about this whole situation with the Era of Hell. I'm personally rather neutral about the whole deal, but I sure as hell don't like most of them and I've got a whole bunch of friends that insist on actively protecting whatever the hell they feel like protecting in the AFW. You know how the moralists always are, never practical."

She got off the ropes, walking towards Rose and into the center of the ring.

"You're rather a lone wolf, Rose. I appreciate that, but it means there's no one to back you up if shit goes straight to hell. To my knowledge, Sarah's a top member in the Era of Hell, and if the organization views you as a threat, you might get Sarah and a bunch of the other members on your ass. At the same time. One-on-one, I can already tell you'd hold your own, but that can take you only so far against a screwed-up alliance like the Era."

Rather sheepishly, Ciara scratched the back of her head.

"Y'know, not really my place to ask you any of this, so I'll just offer you something instead. If you're ever in trouble and it's too much for you to handle, me and my friends will be there to back you up. That sit well with you? Even a lone wolf thrives when it's got a loose pack looking out for it from time to time."

Rose looked over at her for a moment. "Heh.. If I cross paths with this Sarah Gatt bitch one day, I'll be sure to kick her ass." She replied as Ciara asked her first question, and then watched as she walked towards the center of the ring.

She listened to what she said after, and considered her offer for a moment. "Hmph... you've dealt with women like me in the past, haven't you?" She asked, sounding a bit annoyed that.. well.. this girl wasn't annoying her, even though she was offering her help. The way she offered her assistance was so disarming that she couldn't possibly take it as an insult to her abilities. That didn't mean she was attached to the idea though.

She grumbled to herself, and took off her hat, placing it on the turnbuckle. "I suppose no person is truly an island..." She muttered. That was all Ciara was going to get out of Rose. if she didn't take that as accepting her offer, it was no skin off her back.

"Talking's really boring me though.. I'm lookin to put your ass down for the count." She said, raising her fists up again, and staring Ciara down quietly.

Ciara grinned as Rose warmed to the idea. She wasn't so hard-assed as Lysandra that she'd try and get a straight-up confirmation (and probably associated paperwork) out of a fellow veteran, particularly someone with Rose's reputation. Besides, this loose alliance with the woman was unexpected, an additional connection that even Lysandra hadn't even planned for, so the heiress wouldn't really have the right to complain.

"Well, that's all the sappy bullshit out of the way, anyways. But bored of talking? I thought you talked with your fists all the time," the soldier girl quipped, indirectly signaling that their fight was no longer on hold.

Assuming her guard in a loose boxing stance, Ciara advanced slowly on Rose, keeping her eyes locked on the other girl the entire time. She'd suddenly push off and dart into close range, firing off a swift left towards Rose's face and following up with a right hook to the ribs.

Rose snerked at Ciara, and kept her fists up as Ciara moved in towards her. She quickly ducked under the blow aimed for her face, and would try to hammer a left into her waist the same time she took a right to the ribs. "Gh!"

She took a step away, but then moved back in to try for a forearm to Ciara's head in retaliation.

Ciara winced and breathed sharply through her teeth as their two strikes crossed and nailed each other in the side. Inwardly though, she smiled. Attritional exchange... trading blows was her area of expertise.

She took a step in closer, allowing Rose to swing. The forearm thudded into her head, elicting a sharp grunt from the military girl, right as she threw her right fist in a swift uppercut, aiming to hit her opponent right on the chin.

Rose saw her successfully nailing her with a forearm to the forehead, but then she gets nails with a fierce uppercut to the chin. Her head flies up upon contact, "Gh!!" She takes a step back from Ciara, only to get enough distance to fire a kick aimed up into her gut.

She had to admit, this was entertaining, trading blow for blow with this woman. She wondered how long they could both keep it up.