Again Asterion's instincts seemed good, if the baser of them had done him a disservice at the beginning of their encounter. He wisely chose to be wary of Raymond's hindquarters even when the red stallion wasn't preparing to attack, though it was more than a little tempting to remind him just how far the deadly blade could reach.
Perhaps some other time. The bay was coming for him and he was ready.
The trajectory itself was cause for puzzlement, as any number of attacks could be initiated from such an angle, but Raymond didn't have time to debate the likelihood of one target or another. His brain cried out only for the impending collision that their respective vectors promised. He reined in his reaction as long as he could - perhaps part of a second, but in bullet time it felt like an entire life-age - until the need to respond outweighed the desire to know for sure. If he waited to know what Asterion had planned, he would be learning it by virtue of victimhood. Better to expect him to try throwing his weight around.
At once committed, the copper stallion tucked his head down and away, pivoting mainly on his hindquarters to avoid stressing his bruised chest. Since Asterion had been approaching diagonally from the rear, it did not take much course correction to bring the two stallions parallel. Asterion ricocheted off the broad plane of his shoulder, but with both of them now in lockstep the contact required only minimal bracing to shrug off with no ill effects, and Raymond drifted out only a few inches as a result.
It was fortunate that Asterion had chosen to body check him. Raymond had been mostly blind in the defense, and had he tried at anything else - a planted hoof, perhaps, or his undefended ribs - Raymond would not even have an accurate shot with his blade in retaliation.
But the battle, then, was finished. Raymond drew to a halt, a thin film of sweat turning his flesh a rich dark bronze, and tipped his tail blade downward for a beat before allowing it to settle into its customary loose arc - a rendari gesture signifying a game well played. He huffed against the tightness building in his chest where Asterion had struck him.
I'm glad you're here, the star-marked boy said, and Raymond's smile was dark with the promise of a coming storm. The sky, of course (bright, clear, edging on now toward evening) took no notice; not all storms are weather.
"Excellent; but we'll talk about that blink reflex," he replied. Never had a statement made so chipperly sounded so threatening.
And with that, he turned with Asterion back toward Terrastella.
Raymond.
and at his feet they'll cast their golden crowns
when the man comes around
and at his feet they'll cast their golden crowns
when the man comes around
Summary: Raymond circled around from his previous attack, and when he saw that Asterion was on a collision course with his shoulder pivoted far enough away to bring the two of them parallel. Asterion still brushed against his shoulder, but the contact was minimal due to the change in angle.
Attack Used: 0
Attack(s) Left: 0
Block Used: 1
Block(s) Left: 0
Item(s) Used: None
Response Deadline: 05/05/2018
Tags: @Asterion, @
