Private Twice the Height

[Colette]

Eshan had been an experience. From the cultural one to the martial one, it was a society that whilst she disagreed with also had a fascinating history and world view. Where Colette believed in fighting for survival, they quite literally fought in the name of survival and just about everything. It was stupid, but it also sort of made sense given where it all came from.

Part of her figured she probably should have brought her apprentice for this, but she had chosen to bring Aris instead as a way to bridge the gap between them. After all, last time the two of them had done something like this together it hadn't exactly been by choice and it had left both of them soaked in sewage, and when phrased like that it really felt like no surprise to her that out of all her adopted siblings he was the one that she was the most distant with.

But that changed today. The trip was over, the first few steps of bridging the admittedly small gap between them was underway and now they just had to kill time while their take-off slot opened. It would take a while.

"Hey." Colette said and nudged Aris with her elbow. "Wanna see if we managed to learn anything while we were here?"

Her lips curled into a grin. "Bet I can take you down in three."

Aris Noble

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris slow turned as he heard the challenge. He'd been standing there, calm as ever, listening as she spoke. Eshan was.. Interesting. Not overly so for Aris, though that probably was more a dismissal of the culture in favor of his own. Epicanthic pride, perhaps. He pushed that down enough to make sure he learned what he could from the Echani, but there was always the subtle judgement he held over it.

But to be elbowed and challenged by Colette? His usually, incredibly, calm expression shifted to a small little grin.

"They couldn't, what makes you think you can?"

Colette

 

[Colette]

Aris Noble

The bait was taken. Colette's grin split her lips wide open to expose her teeth in a mischievous laugh as she stepped in front of her brother, hands on her hips.

"Oh they couldn't do it because they were afraid of hitting below the-..." Belt. Colette's head tilted up just slightly to get back to eye contact. "Well, I guess they were afraid to hit at just regular height."

With that said she began to excitedly jump up and down, throw her arms a little to waken them up and step back into the ring.

"And, sadly for you, that just means twice the fall."

 

[Aris Noble]

"They should've, if they wanted to win." He was weak there, despite all his strength. Why not aim for a weak point of someone they couldn't bring down otherwise? It was inefficient to not, though a part of Aris understood that warrior's pride wouldn't care for it. Still, they lost. He smirked in turn though, following Colette towards the room before stretching himself. Just a bit, a roll of the shoulders, stretch of the arms, so on.

"You'd have to be able to take me down, you know."

Colette

 

[Colette]

Aris Noble

"I think they were more worried about tourist ratings…" Colette quipped back and got into position across from her brother. "So, just a regular fight. Careful not to hurt each other too badly, y'know, all that usual stuff that would keep Val from getting mad at either of us."

"So hey, don't worry. I'll take you down in three..."

"Two…"

Aaaand Colette skipped one to try and hook her foot against the back of Aris' knee and give a firm tug.

"One-go!"

 

[Aris Noble]

"Right right. Can't hurt you too bad." Aris chuckled just a little, lifting his hands some as he relaxed into one of the stances he saw from the Enchani. As much as he didn't care for them, it was important to learn. Mostly to make sure he beat them outright.

Then, she cheated. He blinked as she lunged before the one, but it didn't stop him in turn. As she brought her kick around for his knee, he braced for the impact. It wouldn't do much, he knew. The tug though, that was different. The sharp pull near broke his stance, but he was quick to bring a fist right around to catch her if she tried to take advantage of his stumble.

Colette

 

[Colette]

Aris Noble

Yep, she sure did! Although technically given that the rules they had established was just 'careful not to hurt each other too bad' and 'the usual stuff that would upset mother' there really was no cheating at all. Aris had let Colette control the rules of engagement and she made him pay for it, simple as that.

Naturally she would follow it up with the punch that—

Clever boy. He remembered that part, huh?

"Well, crap." Colette grinned as her brother caught her hand. "I was hoping you'd missed that part. Being too tall and all."

 

[Aris Noble]

"You get used to fighting down when everyone else is shorter." He flashed a ghost of a grin before he swung his arm around. There was nothing refined or clever about what came next. With his sister's wrist in his hand, the best option was just to throw her away. It'd give him a moment to at least rebalance and change the pace for his better.

Colette

 

[Colette]

Aris Noble

And then he would- yep. Colette regained her balance and chuckled.

"Oh please." She said and shook her head. "Only reason I'm not punching down when fighting you and going for your softest spot is because Valery is probably expecting you to give her just as many grandkids as she'll have kids, y'know."

Colette started to circle.

"Just imagine it." She grinned. "All those… Tiny little Aris-es. Crying for papa, giggling to little butterflies…"

Aaand she kicked him in the knee again.

 

[Aris Noble]

Tiny little Aris-es?

It was exceedingly rare for emotion to get the better of Aris. From the day he first woke up in that tube he was taught how not to let emotion affect him. That he was beyond such things like feelings. Spending time with his family, with Valery Noble especially. With his friends. With Zaiya Ceti . He'd learned what emotion was, that he liked having feelings.

His whole mind shut down though. That wasn't the type of thing he thought Colette would say, or that he was even ready to think about. In a flash he was on the ground, staring blankly up at the ceiling.

"Nnnoooooo. No. Don't say things like that."

Colette