Face Of Your Enemy (Chen Zhen)

[Shen Pei (Tuvlan)]

Blades Of Life & Death

The situation was not the usual. Rather, it was a case honorable testings between the might of Ma Teng and Yuan Shao. Of course, with all of it said and done, the situation was more comparable to a life-or-death situation of a gladiator, Ma Teng and Yuan Shao's amiability almost assured.

A formality of sorts, to celebrate a new friendship?

Perhaps... at the leisurely loss of life, purely for entertainment. Of course, as was and is in the days of China, sword play was a wonderful mannerism in which warriors could show the extent of their training and the grace of a tool whose origins and purpose of creation was exclusively for killing.

So then, the arena was set with a stone floor. Good for gripping the feet on, better for smashing the head of a foe into. The grip of the feet allowed for better utilization of the pivoting of the hips, which meant more power overall in most fighting styles. Walls stood up about ten feet high of smoothed out marble, to prevent the "entertainers" from being able to climb up to the audience to kill them. There were intricately carved wooden doors on opposite ends of each other. What was most curious about this setting, however...

...Was the small table at the center. On it were two knives, obviously meant for the "entertainers" to utilize. Archers were posted to make sure that both knives were not obtained by one person, as this would make for dishonorable "play."

Worse still: The knives' blades were both only three inches long. While it was enough to kill, this would indeed mean that the combatants would indeed be getting in each other's faces for an intimate killing.

So began the duel of entertainment. And thus began a duel of "honor."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Shen Pei watched as the brilliant light from the outside shone in wonderfully as the guard opened the door for him. For obvious reasons, the guard nodded at him, with a smile that only spoke "good luck" at the Inspector of Yuan Shao. Smiling in gratitude, Shen Pei took a single step into the otherwise beautiful killing field.

The stone felt wonderful under his shoes' feet. A soft wind played on his face. And indeed, he was dressed in a mannerism befitting the occasion. His shoes were of finely woven grass for extra grip on the floor, his robe pants a pure white, baggy about the thighs, but just perfectly fitting enough about the waist. He wore a simple leather shirt with long sleeves which would be easy to cut into, but also allow for quick movements of his arms and shoulders. Easy enough to tear through, if need be. Easier still to take off, should (or rather, when the fight would come to the climax.

Walking to the center was surreal at best. While it was sad that one of two men would die here, perhaps, Shen Pei thought, perhaps this was a nice place, a nice day to die.

Patiently, Shen Pei waited by the table, not grabbing his knife as an audience watched in silence from above.

"...So..." Shen Pei smiled, closing his eyes.

[Chen Zen]

Only being a new officer for the lord Ma Teng and already he was charged with protecting the honor of the men of the north west. Zen had heard very little of the man he was about to do battle with but he had heard of the man's lord. Yuan Shao seemed very strong and ambitious to say the least. Two men of the north lands doing battle to see who is the strongest. Zen hadn't been this excited in a long long time.

The doors opened to the arena and Zen walked slowly in and glanced about. He looked towards the crowd and towards the archers who were ready to strike if the time came. Even though Zen was still young he was not fearful of death in the lightest bit. If he was to die he would see so many friendly faces once again as he entered the heavens. However even though Zen wasn't afraid to die he wasn't ready to die. Today would not be the day he would be to die.

Upon his body was a leather shirt with no sleeves attached. His muscular arms were without any restriction as to decrease his movement. At his waist and below was a pair of leather pants which were once able to reach to his ankles but had been cut up to his knees to provide more movement opportunities. His long hair which usually is free to dance in the wind had been tied back into a pony tail behind his head.

He walked briskly over towards the table that his opponent sat at. Zen scanned him as much as time allowed him. He searched for as many weak points as he could come across. Anything he could find could be used as a weapon to win this battle. Having not known much about this man Zen was unsure of any physical problems of sorts or any tendencies so his appearance was all he could work with until the battle began.

He slowly sat down at the table and rested elbows upon the table and layed his head into the palms of his hand. "Are you ready for some entertainment?"

[Shen Pei (Tuvlan)]

OOC: SO LATE. Sorry, I have no excuses.

Rushed Post Is Rushed

...His opponent gathered close, getting himself ready, assessing Shen Pei. Shen Pei himself smiled with a dandy step to his eye, as he proferred for his opponent to get his weapon. Shen Pei would wait until the fellow drew his weapon before getting his own, the small little blade of a knife it was. Afterwards, Shen would nod before stepping back, not quite yet getting into a stance...

"To what name do I have the honor of this dance?"

[Chen Zen]

Still with his eyes focused on his opponent he had a feeling this man would wait for Zen to act first. "My name is Chen Zen. May the heavens watch over you during and after the battle."

Reaching forward, Zen's fingers worked their way around the hilt of the dagger. Taking in the texture of it while still gazing forward at his enemy. He lifted up the dagger from the table and slowly made a few steps backward getting ready for the battle before him. His life was on the line but he will make sure that he is the one to leave this battle alive.

"shall we begin?" he said with a light grin as he moved into a stance while holding the dagger seemingly backwards with the blade curving back on the outside of his arm pointed inward towards him.

[Shen Pei (Tuvlan)]

OOC: Due to Rule #7, I can no longer do what I had originally intended to. However, I can make it feel just as bad. Please enjoy. =D!?

ROMANCE OF THE THREE INCHES

SUDDENLY, WHIPPING OFF ALL OF HIS CLOTHES, CHIN XIAO REVEALED HIS SLEIGHT OF HAND---HIS "DAGGER" WAS ALREADY WELL WITHIN HIS GRASP.

However, Shen Pei's stance was a very strange one. Holding the dagger upright in what would be described as an otherwise dangerous defensive stance, the blade pointed up at a forty-five degree angle... the hilt hugged his tightly wrapped crotch.

...Seeing as how, of course, there was obviously underwear cloth wrapped about. OBVIOUSLY.

"I am Shen Pei and do not be fooled. I am an adept of the 'Snake Stance'..."

The dreaded knife-based "Snake Stance."

Infamous for suddenly stretching out to full length, with the wielder's guidance, stretching and twisting the blade in various forms, before returning to the otherwise hard-to-defend starting stance.

"...I am as ready to begin as my 'Snake' is ready to bite you. In the mouth."

"Sexually."

There was no ill will meant, of course.

Only longing lusting MANGAYLOVE entertainment to be had.