[IC, open to all] Thor Fight Club

[pirateangelbaby]

It's a beautiful spring day in the Nexus, rolling green hills boasting bright splashes of color where flowers have blossomed in all their glory, birds singing in trees sheltered with new green growth, and the sun is shining merrily through puffy white clouds, the breeze only a little on the cool side.

In one of the flatter fields out towards the Wilds, however, things are not quite so peaceful at the moment.

There's an enormous rough ring marked out with scorch marks in the grass, large enough to rival the gladiator arena on Sakaar, and on the edge of the ring there's a cloth laid out with a small variety of weapons that look... well, very second-hand, to put it mildly. But enough to give a good selection of swords or axes or hammers, with a shield or two for protective options.

Thor stands to one side, checking his armor to make sure it's securely fitted before battle, training session or not, and can't quite chase away the grin on his face in favor of a more serious, kingly expression that he probably should be wearing. Learning to compensate for his missing eye is a matter of life and death, probably, whether his or someone else's, but he can't help but feel excited to face something other than a half-assed training dummy shoved into the corner of the cargo hold.

Right, then, who's up for a little sparring with the god of thunder?

Comments

[royalraptor]

"Princess!" She was incredibly excited, enough so that she reared up, stubby little arms out to let out an incredibly excited scraw of birdlike glee, feathers all but standing on end.

That's right she is Appropriately Terrifying!

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor takes her hand and gives it a firm shake, used to moderating his strength so he doesn't crush a human's more delicate frame until he feels the solid strength in her grip, and his grin broadens. "I am Thor, of Asgard," he answers, mirroring her own style of introduction. "What's your preference? Swords only, no magic?" It's the most basic set of rules for a friendly match, but he's flexible. Can't afford not to be, in his line of work, and he could use a variety of scenarios to help work out his little depth perception problem.

[pirateangelbaby]

It's all entirely reasonable rules for Thor, and he nods in agreement. "No magic, no deliberate bloodshed." Though he can't help but wonder if that'll hinder Aslan's combat prowess more than himself, given that the Lion won't be allowed to use teeth or claws, but then, Thor has neither either.

He steps into the ring, bare-handed, already assessing the best places to strike at the giant cat for maximum effect. The mane, besides being magnificent to look at, is a thick shield against throat strikes but might be useful as a handhold in a close quarters grapple. Or perhaps attempting to pin the legs, although having to control four powerful limbs is going to be a challenge.

Either way, he is more than prepared to give it his best shot, and when Aslan signals his readiness, Thor does not hesitate to close the distance, though his first strike doesn't quite connect, misjudging just how close to the Lion he is. He follows it up quickly with a second hand-strike, though, testing his opponent's reactions as much as his own sense of orientation on the battlefield. Better to get a good idea of his foe's skill before the battle begins in earnest, both of them testing the other for weaknesses.

Thor's biggest weakness is also his most obvious one, the missing eye giving him a massive blind spot on his right side. He's aware of it enough to stay moving, however, circling and sidestepping to keep Aslan in his field of view as best he can.

[pirateangelbaby]

In a more deadly fight, giving away a weakness like that would be valuable intel indeed. Since this isn't even close to being that serious, it's also important to know how to not cripple a friendly opponent, and Thor eyes the bony crest on the dinosaur's head, wondering at how fragile it must be. Best not to hit it at all, then, if he can avoid it.

"Then no weapons on mine," he agrees, turning his back to the small array of weapons and stepping into the ring empty-handed. "What's your name, friend? Mine is Thor."

[piranhaplant]

A potted plant hops into the arena and takes a few snaps at the air, making a lunge with its pot - its equivalent of a friendly "come and get me" gesture. The Piranha Plant wants to fight, even if the fight won't last very long. Thor looks like an interesting opponent.

It waits in the center of the arena for its opponent to approach. This could be an interesting experience for both of them.

[doublecrestedlizard]

In more deadly circumstances, dinosaurs don't give away details about their weaknesses, but oftentimes they're common knowledge. Ankylosaurs' underbellies, spinosaurs' sails, dilophosaurs' crests. While it's not as relevant as it was back when dinosaurs were more wild, it's still important to know in a friendly fight so nobody gets seriously hurt.

This dinosaur is more lightly built than the Indoraptor, roughly the same length but half the height. "My name is Professor Drom Thornax. I am a Dilophosaurus, and a professor of paleobiology in my home universe. I specialize in early reptiles."

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor laughs, both because he absolutely could take her barehanded if allowed to use his lightning, and because that smile is so very Sif that for a moment it's as if she'd never lost her memories at all, reminding him of the days when they would take turns trouncing each other in the training yard.

As for Thor, his hand still longs for a hammer, but not just any hammer will do. A sword is better for now - familiar enough, but not as beloved, letting him focus far more on readjusting to the flow of combat than on his weapon. He might be rustier if not for the few hours of practice he's managed down in the cargo hold of the Statesman, his muscle memory recalling old lessons and patterns, and he shifts into a stance to mirror hers, raising his eyebrows in challenge.

"By all means," he answers, and lunges forward to strike.

The first few blows are more cautious, experimental, gauging his reach and her responses, and finding them both to be slightly off from what he recalls. His own weakness stands out to him more, however, having to swiftly guess how far he has to reach to meet her blade and sometimes guessing wrong. Though what he lacks in accuracy, he makes up for in persistence, striking again as soon as he knows he's missed.

[octopuslips]

"I don't have any magic," she answers. And that's... technically true. Her eyes flick to the the collection, spotting several bladed implements. "But I guess I should come clean about weapons."

Alita's still salty that Nova had incorporated her beloved Damascus blade into her new body, but she'll grudgingly admit that it does afford easier access. She lifts her arms and gives a flick of her hands. Two blades of a beautiful patterned metal literally form from her forearms.

"You're organic, right?" He certainly seems to all appearances to be.

[ineednohelp]

An Asgardian prince is accidentally passing by. Curiously, currently he seems to be suffering from really bad posture problems, so he tries to sneak by unnoticed by anybody, anybody at all, especially anybody who might ever tell his younger Brother, and so, he doesn't immediately notice the older Asgardian.

He's muttering something to himself, about some damned overpriced lying shopkeepers. But then, at the sounds of weapon swinging, he immediately goes alert and pauses - and then sits down to watch, once he sees what's going on. An Asgardian fighting practice, excellent!

[milaje]

Okoye is new to the Nexus, and while she's kept meticulous track of where and how she entered, she's got some time to explore before she leaves again. She's a bright figure, even against the blooming hills and sunny sky behind her, a blaze of red and gold in her uniform, outlined in intricately crafted leather. The general sternness of her expression has kept most people at bay, possibly coupled with the spearlike weapon at her side, but evidently she managed to soften up enough to do some shopping. When she comes to lean her hip against a fence at one end of the ring, she's got a Starbucks cup in her free hand.

She eyes Thor appraisingly from a distance, and he's definitely a powerful-looking specimen. For all that, she'd be inclined to assume he's just a regular old beefy white guy, except she's privy to nearly all the intelligence their war dogs bring in, and she's seen photographs of every appearance he's made on the planet to date.

"So," she calls out in greeting after a moment, "you're a god, ah? What are you doing playing around here?"

You're supposed to be in America somewhere, breaking things, my dude. If you've run out of crises, she's pretty sure she can find you one.

[liverfree]

Bro hugs for the win. He gets a thump in return before Prometheus steps back so he can get another look at Thor. "Yes, you did, but I am grateful for it. The storm was a punishment that no one should have been forced to endure."

The Titan is as vibrant as always, but even he is still recovering. Witnessing the darker side of humanity is never fun, and knowing that a powerful enemy was able to slip into the Nexus and take advantage of the storm has him worried about the Nexus's future.

But these are concerns for another time. "So your solution is to take on all challengers in a sparring competition?" He laughs. "I love it! Let's go for a round, friend. Weapons or no weapons? May I change size, or is that against the rules?"

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor looks rather good, all things considered. Sure, he's down a few pounds thanks to lean ratios in recent weeks, but it's hard to tell with Asgardians and Thor in particular. He's also traded his battered gladiatorialized leathers for a new all-black set of king's armor, though he's left off the cape and sleeves for now, given the casual nature of today's challenge.

He, too, has some darker concerns on his mind, but there's little that Thor can do about it at the immediate moment, and he's been starved for proper exercise, so battle it is. The suggestion that Prometheus might take his proper size puts an eager grin on the king's face. "It's been, hmm, seven months since I fought a giant, I think? I can't let myself get rusty, now can I." He'd made short work of Surtur, of course, but he'd still had Mjolnir then, and both eyes besides. "As the challenger, I leave the choice of weapons up to you," he adds, though it's less to be gracious and more because he wants to be surprised.

[pirateangelbaby]

Granted, Thor does cut a slightly different silhouette than he has in everything Earth's media has broadcast of him, but a haircut and an eyepatch doesn't help hide those biceps and how they fit into his armor. The fact that he's used lightning to burn out the edges of his circle is kind of a dead giveaway, too.

Her call catches his attention, and while he doesn't recognize her at all, Thor is very used to being recognized himself. Comes with the territory when you're royalty, as well as being an Avenger, if the multitude of selfies he's participated in are any indication. She doesn't look like his typical fan, however; the leather and the spear stand out like beacons, and despite the casual position she's taken at the edge of the ring, he can tell from the way that she stands that she knows how to use them. She reminds him of the Valkyrie, to some extent.

"Training," he calls back, tightening the final strap on his vambrace as he turns to face her direction. "Gotta keep the skills sharp, you never know when you might need them, you know? Besides, it's a beautiful day." He might have something to do with that, too; it's hard to find people to fight you when it's storming out, no matter how exhilarating Thor finds it.

[milaje]

His silhouette is distinctive, his facial features just as much so (even without the one eye), but the style of armor and the scorched grass do help solidify the conclusion she's made.

She doesn't expect to be recognized. That would actually be bad; god or not, he's not Wakandan and the less outsiders know of the inner workings of her country, the better. If King T'Challa wants to introduce them to the Westerners, well enough, but you're not meant to know someone before you've been introduced.

"And do you always train alone?" She has a small smile, just for a moment. "On such a beautiful day?"

She falls back into a more serious countenance as she approaches him, peering curiously at the weapons he's got on the ground behind him. Not guns. Good. There is no elegance at all in a gun.

Her bearing is a blend of dancer, general, and queen. Back straight, head high, shoulders back. She looks like she could take flight like a bird or spring like a cat at any second. "Where I come from, we train in groups."

The Dora Milaje is a sisterhood, in a way. They can each stand their ground alone, but they're at their best when they're fighting fluidly together.

[liverfree]

"It's been longer for me since I've been a giant, so I'd say we're even." He'll let himself take on some additional size if it helps break up a fight, but he hasn't gone full Titan in a long time. The human world simply cannot accommodate a person of that height, not to mention it would completely blow his cover.

Scratching his beard, he considers the option of weapons on the side of the ring. "I don't feel like heading back to my studio to retrieve my sword and shield, and the selection you have will look silly at my true height. So no weapons, then."

If Thor wants to talk tactics later, Prometheus can recommend the best strategies that involve weapons, but this is more about having fun than anything.

[thewiselion]

While Thor was studying Aslan, the Lion was studying his opponent. The missing eye is obvious. But there are other obvious things too. Like how heavy the other man, and how he would go down hard if struck just right. And that armor might be worn for protection, but it too will impede movement.

Aslan is a Lion. And this means he has all the blessings of the Giant Cat. And so he is very quick on his fight. Dodging out of the way, he Thor attempts his first strike. And moving quickly to the Thor's side, to avoid that second hand-strike.

Aslan uses his weight to slam up against Thor from that blind spot, trying to get him off balance for a second. And aims two quick clawless strikes of his paws at the other man.

that should have been "rations" not "ratios," whoops

[pirateangelbaby]

"No weapons," Thor agrees, smiling broadly. Sure, under more serious circumstances it might be a bad idea to try unarmed grappling with a giant, but the lack of any real danger and the challenge it presents are more than enough to keep Thor's interest. "No magic either, besides your... size-changing thing."

While it's possible the titan could take a few hits from Thor's particular brand of elemental fury, he's not exactly used to regulating it to non-lethal types of current, and given Prometheus' history with thunder gods it seems only polite to refrain from using it against him anyway.

With no need to select a weapon, Thor moves more fully into the confines of the sparring ring he's made, loosening up his muscles in preparation for the fight.

[pirateangelbaby]

That's an awful lot of words the Allspeak doesn't know what to do with, although some of it sounds like Midgardian 'science' to him. The title of professor, certainly, sounds like one that they would use. "Well then, professor, prepare yourself. I don't plan to go easy on you."

[pirateangelbaby]

"A few rules, first." If the Indoraptor hasn't sparred before, Thor wants to make sure they both agree on what is and isn't allowed, especially with the Asgardian fighting with a handicap. "We try to avoid as much bloodshed as possible. If it happens anyway, the wounded one may call for a respite. We stay within the circle, as well; moving out of bounds is a loss." Which shouldn't be a problem, given how large of an area he's marked out, even for a creature of Indoraptor's size. "I won't use my lightning on you, but everything else is fair game. Agreed?"

[pirateangelbaby]

Oh, how appropriate. Thor laughs, and kneels down to regard her quite seriously. "Well met, then, Princess. Today, you fight the king of Asgard. Come, show me your skill."

It's a damn good thing he hadn't intended to take today's training a hundred percent seriously, because he's not sure he could keep a straight face if he'd meant to treat this adorable ball of feathers as a formidable opponent. As it is, he certainly doesn't feel like he's wasting his time; this is bound to be entertaining, if nothing else.

[pirateangelbaby]

It would be a much neater trick if it didn't remind Thor of Hela and her incredibly annoying tendency to sprout blades at the slightest provocation, not to mention Loki's habit of producing twin daggers out of nowhere. Why all of his siblings are so stab-happy, Thor may never know. In any case, it was a blade something like that which claimed his eye, and the remaining one studies her blades intensely.

Well. Not exactly like Hela's, but similar enough.

"Last I checked," he answers, a note of lightness in his voice. "You're not, I take it." Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor remembers a potted plant something like this had been on the Yule tables, all those months ago. Perhaps the same one? He hadn't realized it was quite so mobile, and he eyes the strange little creature with amused thoughtfulness.

"You think yourself a match for me?" he calls out to the plant.

[royalraptor]

Princess has no idea that Thor is taking this anything less than seriously. Stance easing somewhat as she jogged back a few steps with a low 'woo' stopping to turn and consider her opponent, toeclaws scratching consideringly at the ground.

Not that she took long to decide on a line of attack, charging at the Asgardian, head lowering to drive all 60 pounds of her feathered self into his abdomen in a truly impressive headbutt with a screeched out battle-cry.

Take that!

[truthqueen]

Diana certainly sensed that he was stronger than the average bear, and that handshake helped to convince her of it, something pleased flickering in her gaze. She'd start off testing of course, but if she was lucky, she'd be able to cut loose a little here.

"I've no magic to use myself, but I don't mind it being used." She wasn't immune, even to lightning, but she was rather resistant to it, so saw the idea of magic involved as a interesting challenge more than anything.

"Shall we fight to ring out, or pinned for three?" Both were fairly common, and she didn't mind either. It was all in good fun after all.

[pirateangelbaby]

"Oh, not always," he replies with a shrug, watching her take an interest in his admittedly small arsenal and belatedly hoping she isn't going to judge the craftsmanship; after centuries of wielding Mjolnir and little else, Thor has high standards for his weapons, and these... do not quite meet those standards. But he can hardly afford to be picky now, especially not for a friendly spar.

"I do prefer targets that fight me back," Thor adds, and while she looks human enough to his eye, that doesn't mean there's nothing he might learn from her. Especially if she's used to group tactics; he's had a fair amount of practice during his time with the Avengers, synergizing his skills with theirs, but a good deal of his experience on the field of battle still comes from fighting alone. "Or at least move around a bit."