Working off Breakfast (Open)

[Price]

A few hours after his early morning breakfast, Price had found himself back on Arcane Academy campus. He had headed up to, and subsequently found for the first time, his dorm room, which had graciously had all of his things moved into it by Academy attendants. The bags and suitcases were laying about neatly in his room, he would have to unpack and fix everything up later. At that point, however, he was feeling a little full, and knew there was only one thing worth doing on a full stomach.

Working it off with a little intensive training.

Quickly changing into a loose pair of black basketball shorts and a tight white tanktop, which he would likely remove later anyway, Price, after checking the map of the Academy they had given him upon his move up here, made his way to the so-called Training Grounds. Price was really rather impressed by the variety he found here. It seemed that, through some sort of magical means, he was sure, the place could simulate multiple types of environments, and people were simply calling up training dummies at will, or changing their immediate surroundings. Price shrugged, and figured he could at least give it a try.

"Uhh... gimme a... tumbling mat?" he said, rather hesitantly. He was still quite unaccustomed to all this magical stuff, and had no idea exactly how to get things to work around here. Suddenly, much to his surprise, in fact, the ground beneath him raised a bit, and there it was under his feet, a simple black tumbling mat. Price smirked and gave a half-shrug with his left shoulder, kicking off his shoes and socks and setting them to the side before he began his routine.

After going through the necessary prerequisite stretches, Price began his forms, starting simply, or at least simply for him, at the first-level black belt forms, and gradually molding each higher-level kata together into one super-kata, before taking a break to breathe and rest, before doing the same thing over again, only this time for his Kung-Fu forms. After going through the continuous succession of forms, Price took another moment to breathe, wondering offhandedly if anyone else was up for a little one-on-one training.

After all, the best way to learn about something was to immerse one's self in it, and Price planned on doing just that with the magical community. Thus, he hoped someone would come around and want to train or spar with him, if only just to show them that all those fancy-schmancy powers were nothing compared to a well-trained body. He smirked at the thought and began basic tumbles, more for fun and to kill time than anything.

[Ziare]

It was late morning and Ziare had not been to the training grounds in some time. She didn't have space to work out all her summons in her room or just around the campus she really needed room to do that in. And thus was the reason she decided to come to the training ground.

She walked down the area through the training grounds looking in briefly in the different areas as she passed them. She was curious as to who was practicing what. But when she stumbled upon a man doing martial arts. Leaning against the door frame she smiled gently as she watched him move through his forms. Ziare was dressed in a soft white sweater that hugged her curves gently and a pair of dark blue jeans.

"Quite the talent." she said softly as she stepped into the room with a smile on her face.

She leaned against the wall of his training area and her long blonde hair fell down to her knees as she watched him train. He was definatly talented and she was definatly intrigued.

[Price]

Coming up from a simple forward somersault, Price immediately vaulted into the air, turning a back handspring and turning the momentum gained from it into a tight back flip. Setting up on one end of the mat, he then took a short running start, turning a cartwheel, another handspring, and back into a backflip, then two more back handsprings before running out of momentum and landing nimbly on his two feet. Letting out a long, whistling breath, Price had worked up quite a bit of a sweat, and reached for the bag he'd brought along with him, pulling off his shirt and tossing it in, and retrieving a towel. As he did so, however, he noticed that he had a visitor. Leaning in the doorframe, casually checking out his little inadvertant one-man show, was a very pretty girl, long blonde hair, azure blue eyes, and a soft voice complimenting his skills.

"Heh, you haven't seen nothin' yet, babe," he said with a smirk. "That's just a warmup, if anyone who even thinks they can fight were to step up and challenge me, then you'd really see talent."

Price shrugged and sat down on the mat, wondering what this girl was all about. Curiosity finally overtaking him, he spoke out to her. "So, whatcha out at the training grounds for? Not just to ogle all the pretty boys are ya?"

[Ziare]

Ziare smiled at the boy when he finally noticed she was there and he sat down on the mat talking to her. She wondered if he was really that good or if he just thought he was. Yet, she said nothing for the moment as he asked her why she was there.

She stepped over to him walking slowly and sitting down on the mat a few feet away she looked over at him for a few moments. He was rather cute, if she was in the market however she wasn't and so it really didn't matter.

"I was actually here to train but I saw your dance here and thought to watch for a moment." she said with a shrug. "You are obviously talented but do you really have the skills to back up such strong words?"

[Price]

Was this girl kidding? She had to be kidding, right? Had NO ONE in this damned Academy seen him in action? Shaking his head, Price looked up at the girl. He seriously couldn't believe, he'd been here all morning and yet no one seemed to realize just who was walking through their halls. Finally working together the words to voice his outrage, Price spoke out to the girl.

"Alright, babe, if you even have to ASK that question, then I'm already dealing with a lost cause. To put it simply, yes. Yes I do. And if you're so 'curious' that you feel the need to bring out such strong accusations, maybe you're out for something more than just a little observation? If you think you can take this, babe, then please, by all means, just say so and we can go a few rounds."

Normally, even the cocky Price wouldn't be so bold as to openly challenge a girl who was simply asking questions and not outwardly asking to fight. Sure, he knew that some females were just as dangerous and competitive as men in the martial arts world, and assumed it was the same here, but still, it always seemed so out of line. However, this girl, whether she had meant to or not, had just insulted his pride, and Price wasn't about to take that lying down.

[Ziare]

Ziare's brows raised as he spoke and she couldn't help but chuckle. She didn't mean to seem to really laugh at him or anything but it was funny how insulted he seemed that she didn't know who he was. She hadn't been out that often lately. But this guy was something else. Over here seeming offended that she didn't know who he was. Well, did it matter?

"Well, I'll take you on buddy. I'm not afraid of some boy trying to beat me." she said with a shrug nonchalantly.

And that was the truth she just looked at him. She even went so far as to lay down on the mat just relaxing next to him. She didn't care who he was or even what his title was if he had one. Plus titles really didn't matter here in Arcane. It was a magic school regardless if you were the prince or if you were just a student it didn't matter. You were all here to study magic.

[Price]

"Feh, sorry if I sound demeaning, but I don't think you're worth my time."

Price looked over at the beauty who had laid down on the mat next to him. Certainly, she was a looker, and looked decently fit from where he stood, but he knew that sweaters could hide the truth, and, in all honesty, Price had been in the martial arts game long enough to just know a fellow martial artist by the feel. Perhaps it was Chi, and he had been attuned enough to his own to notice others, but Price wasn't sure. All he knew was that something was definitely coming off from this girl, but it wasn't anything HE knew, that was for sure. Shrugging this fact off as unimportant, Price continued his little diatribe.

"I mean, look, I'm a fighter, born and bred... and you just don't look like you could keep up. I guess... if you really want to, we could have a little practice fight or something, but don't get too down if I'm way out of your league, alright?"

Price looked over at her and smirked despite himself. It seemed that, throughout it all, that same cocky nature inside him just could not be quelled.

[Ziare]

Ziare smiled at the boy. Not worth his time hmm? Well that was fine. She sat up and patted him on the back as she stood. She straightened out her jeans and her sweater. He was obviously new if he didn't know who she was. The only summoner at Arcane now and it was her specialty.

"Lets do it then. Come on. Show me what you have then. If you are this great fighter I would like to see it." she said.

She stood there waiting for him. He had no idea what he was getting himself into. Perhaps he was good but perhaps he would learn not to underestimate the magically talented at this school. She almost wanted to laugh but that would give her away. So she waited.

[Price]

Oh, she just DIDN'T.

Patronizing Price like that was not without it's price, no pun intended, and the teenaged boy stood up as well, listening to her quiet, subtle taunts. They were hidden, indeed, but they were taunts regardless, Price had played enough mind games in his past to know that for sure. He stood directly across from the girl and eyed her as he spoke again.

"Alright, alright, I see what's up. If you're the one feelin' so good about this, then take the leap. I'm here, you're there, you want to see what I've got? Then come at me. Give me your BEST shot. Just don't cry when it's nowhere near enough."

Price smirked, and rolled his neck around, popping the joints. He then rolled his shoulders to loosen them up and began to bounce on his heels, not even bothering to assume a proper fighting stance. It was time to see just what this girl was thinking, getting into a fight with the World Champion.

[Ziare]

The boy got up off the mat and the challenge was on. She walked to her given place allowing him to give the orders. She was going to win he didn't know what he was up against and so she didn't care if he was Mr. High and Mighty right now or not.

She took her place and listened as he told her to make the first move. She nodded and grinned. She no longer had to even try to summon it just came when she needed it to channeling the summons out.

"Ready?" she asked with a smile. "Lets do this then, oh and please, don't cry when you lose."

She didn't even move. The tatoo on her back no longer made her scream in pain as she was way too used to it now as Armenius came out. The giant dragon was as tall as a two story building his scales ruby red were gleaming in the light. His fire blue eyes stared down at the little man that thought he was so good.

"Check mate" Armenius's voice boomed.

[Price]

"Ho...ly.... shit."

Price stared up at the huge dragon with nothing short of wonder and amazement filling his eyes. Sure, he'd taken on some big guys in the past, but those were, of course, still guys. This thing had scales, burning eyes, and a voice that sounded like it could topple mountains. Price inhaled, a long, deep breath, and let it out, still unmoving. Man. From the looks of things, he was boned. I mean, that thing was HUGE. Shaking his head, however, Price just showed that he wasn't just cocky, he was determined.

"Alright, yeah. Big ass dragon, I get it. Hey... dragon, you can talk, so... let me ask you this... if I hit you... will you be hurt?"

In all honesty, Price was pretty scared, and rightfully so. However, true to his nature, he played it off as best he could, even if that meant doing something as seemingly absurd as talking to this dragon.

[Ziare]

Ziare watched with a smile on her face as this boy reacted as most would especially cocky in nature, when a dragon appears on the scene. She just loved this. It was great to see the great fighter humbled by something.

"Armenius is the name boy!" the voice boomed across the space and Ziare just leaned against the wall watching. "And you can only hurt me if you can find a weakness, good luck."

Just to make a point Armenius turned to the side and let out a huge burst of flame to the side of the boy. He would not be singed only heated to the point that he may sweat a bit before Armenius chuckled, playing the great evil bad dragon he could be if only Zi would let him. Which she rarely did. Party pooper.

Down boy, you're supposed to scare not kill.

I didn't touch him.

Watch it or I'll unsummon you so fast..

Fine.

[Price]

"A weakness? Hah, that'll be-"

Price was cut off from his boasting as a blowtorch must have gone off from the dragon's mouth, sending a huge burst of flame. The heat rolled off of Price's skin, giving him that instantly gross feeling that one gets when standing in front of a campfire for too long. He shook his head violently, trying to shake the feeling from him, before looking back up at the big guy.

"Alright, 'Armenius', you want me to find a weakness, eh? Sounds like fun, you're on. And YOU," he said, pointing back to the girl as he hopped backwards to put some more space between himself and the dragon, "I bet you just think this is funnier than anything, don't you?!"

Price shook his head, in mock-disgust, but then turned back to the giant dragon standing before him.

"Alright, dragon, give me what you got."

Price readied himself, coiling upon himself slightly, ready to spring into action upon Armenius's opening move. The whole time, however, the only thing running through Price's head went something like this: 'I can't believe I'm doing this oh my God I am so about to be dead here where's Lucky when I need her?!?!'

[Ziare]

Zi couldn't help but smile. She was indeed enjoying it. Who wouldn't. The boy had assumed that he was getting an easy fight and he wasn't. She still leaned against the wall letting him play with her best arsenal but not her only one.

Armenius chuckled as smoke blew across the boy. Foolish youth was too cocky. Probably needed to be crispified.

"So would you like original or extra crispy?" Ziare asked with a grin.

Armenius didn't wait as he blew flame but using his tongue the flame went on both sides of the boy this time instead of one. Had he been wearing a shirt it would have at least smoked for now though he would get very clamy and sweaty. While the flame was raging his long tail whipped around and hit him right in the knees knocking him down the fire stopping mere seconds before he would fall through it. Armenius chuckled.

[Price]

"Alright, let's GO!"

Price either ignored or wasn't paying attention to the girl's cute little comment, his coiled self springing to action as soon as the fire raged forth on both side of him. He leapt forward, diving into a neat somersault roll as he did so, narrowly avoiding the tail as it thrashed into the spot where he once stood only moments before.

Not wasting any time, Price let the momentum from his roll carry him back up into a standing position. Almost as soon as he had however, he leapt again, this time up into Armenius, and off to the side as well, reaching his arms around to hang over his back and swinging his legs up over as well. Price had found himself on the lower back of the dragon he was fighting.

"Now what, dragon? Feel like telling me your weak spot yet?"

With that quick jibe, Price wrapped his arms and legs around the dragon as best he could and began to shimmy himself up, heading towards the top of the head. He hadn't the slightest clue where this 'weak spot' was situated, but he figured, at least, he could start from the top.