RWBY: Legacies

Settling In

Settling In...

A few days have passed since initiation and despite how early it is, bright lights illuminate the Beacon gym as two people approach the combat mats. One wears simple jogging shorts and a t-shirt, the other a hooded vest and hot shorts, each glad about the lack of company as they stretch and warm-up; it's too early for most of the other students at Beacon.

"Alright, rule one, if you fall outside the circle or I pin you, I win." Theodore tells Eliza as they step onto the mat. "Rule two, no semblances and if you tap then you're out." He continues, picking up two water bottles and tossing her one. "Rule three... no shoes on the mat." He takes a swig from his water as Eliza promptly removes her trainers.

"Let's see what you can do city boy." Eliza sighs happily, her back popping in multiple places as she stretches her arms over her head. She used to hate having to get up so early, especially just for training, but it became routine as an apprentice under Tusk in Vacuo.

"By all means, show me how it's done wild child." Theodore quips in response. He hears her chuckle as he rolls his shoulders. Growing up with his mother, he has never been a stranger to early mornings and enjoys the peace that comes before the break of dawn.

Eliza smirks as she ties her hair up into a tight ponytail. "Oh, I will. Now, let's get some blood pumping." She watches Theodore and they step into the ring and get into a combat stance before slowly circling each other. Theodore smiles. "What's with the glare Goodwitch?" She asks coyly, grinning back, bouncing on the balls of her feet gently.

"I'm assessing your weaknesses." Theodore responds, looking her up and down. He can't be sure how she might act or react, but he knows from their short time together that such a simple jibe will fuel the flames. He doesn't need to wait long; she lunges towards him with a wide punch, which he easily redirects; Eliza swiftly moving to avoid his counterstrike.

Theodore dodges and blocks a few more of her punches before delivering another one of his own. Her attacks are raw and untamed but have unmistakable technique in them, even if that technique is lacking in his eyes. His blows are sharp and precise. After suffering a few gentle taps to the torso Eliza backs off slightly, she feints low with her right and tries to drive her left fist under his chin.

"Too slow." He taunts.

To her annoyance, he manages to move his head out of the way and covers his stomach from her feint. Without hesitation she kicks him in the shin, trying to knock him off balance, but he recovers too quickly and kicks her away. She lunges at him again, but he twists around her attack, driving his elbow into her side and earning a grunt of pain from her. She is starting to read him now and he has done exactly what she expected; she gives as good as she gets by driving her knee into his stomach. He stumbles back.

He smirks then leaps in, knocking her guard away with a roundhouse kick before quickly dropping down and sweeping her legs from under her. His expectation of her crashing onto the mat is cut short however as she flips back into the fall, landing on her palms and then pushing off to flip back onto her feet again.

"Bet your mother never taught you anything like that." She beams cockily.

"Maybe not, but she taught me to always know where I'm standing." He tells her. Eliza looks down to see herself on the threshold of the ring but Theodore dashes forward and pushes her out before she has time to move. He raises one eyebrow and smiles smugly.

Eliza growls but takes his outstretched hand, shaking off her limbs as he walks away.

"You're good," he tells her, inadvertently rubbing salt in the wound. "Impressive recovery. Round two?"