One Two Punch (open)

[Mordred Le Fey]

He grinned at her as she took a defensive stance, quickly taking in her position and scanning for any weak spots. "You tell me, he's your brother." He smirked, before feinting left and then swinging right, grabbing her arm and twisting her around so she had her back to him and bringing his other arm around her neck in a loose hold. He held her there for a minute before releasing her.

"Come on, think about it." He said, stepping backwards and dropping his hands to his sides. "What do you know about him? How can you work things to your advantage?"

[Gwyn Locksley]

Yes, her brother, not that she needed the reminder of that. Scoffing in disgust, she didn't have time to react and before she knew it Mordred had her in a hold, her back to his check. Damn it! She didn't struggle, he'd gotten her fair and square, but she was seething. Seething at herself for letting herself get taken so easily.

Stepping away quickly when he released her, she turned back to face him, clearly keyed up and angry. “I don't know him, and I don't want to,” she replied, but even in this state she could see the logic behind Mordred's words. Richard probably knew everything about her and her family, and the only way she could truly best him was to find something deep to get at. “I know he was taken as a baby and raised by Vaisey. He was very well trained,” it hurt her to admit it, but Richard was very good, “and likely has been conditioned to hate my father his whole life.” Her father. Hers.

[Mordred Le Fey]

He shrugged, smirking at her. "Keep your enemies close, Gwyn, that's all I'm saying." He began to unwrap his hands. "Not sure today's your day for hand to hand." He grinned at her.

"You've just got to figure out his weak spots if you want to best him. So sounds like your dad is probably one - he's gotta have some messed up issues around that. Plus he's been trained as a bad guy, so maybe you've just got to play dirty." It seemed so simple to Mordred, but Mordred had never had a problem playing dirty when required. He knew not everyone was so happy with that strategy.

[Gwyn Locksley]

Her eyes flashed when Mordred started unwrapping his hands. She wanted to insist they fight again, and again, until she won, but even in anger she knew better than that. She knew she had a slim chance of beating Mordred on a good day, and this angry and distracted even she could admit she didn't stand a chance. At least to herself. Begrudgingly.

Right, she just had to get some more information, and... play dirty. “I'm not sure I know how,” she admitted. Honour was so important to her that fighting dirty just wasn't her style. This wasn't a battle, though, this was something more, something deeper that she couldn't fight with fists or swords. Maybe Mordred was on to something, and to best Richard she would have to become unpredictable. If Richard thought he knew her she would have to prove him wrong.

[Mordred Le Fey]

"Oh, well I can definitely help you there." He grinned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Playing dirty just happens to be my specialty." He winked at her.

"You've just got to let go of that pesky little thing you have called honour." He said with a shrug. "He's obviously not going to tell you anything, or let you close, so find someone he will. Get someone to go double agent for you. Never fails." He watched her, leaning back against the wall and smirking. "Come on Gwyn, I know you've got it in you to play dirty." He said, letting his eyes roam up and down. "Everyone's got the ability, if they just dig deep enough."

[Gwyn Locksley]

The more Mordred talked, the more Gwyn felt this gnawing in her stomach. She saw the logic in what he was saying, and she couldn't deny that it was tempting, but could she really stoop so low? Richard was raised by Vaisey, so surely he knew little about honour, and here Mordred was telling her to throw hers away to get to her brother.

Her parents had raised her better than that.

“I can't,” she said, a bit reluctantly before straightening her back and standing taller. When she spoke again it was with full conviction. “Without honour the win would be worthless. I cannot best him by changing who I am, I would only be hurting myself and giving him power. If I am to best him it will be my way, because I am truly better.” Grabbing her things she headed for the door. “But thanks for the session, Mordred.” Even if she hadn't taken his advice, it had been very helpful. It had helped her realise to what lengths she would and wouldn't go.

[Mordred Le Fey]

He couldn't help but sigh a little, disappointed at her refusal. He'd been looking forward to seeing another side of Gwyn, perhaps even be the one to bring that side out of her a little, but he should have known that she was too decent to nurture thoughts like his for long. It was something he'd always admired in her, something he himself would never be - it would never be long before his thoughts and plans and schemes shifted back into the shadows. His mother hadn't raised him better than that.

As she reached the door he shrugged, smiling at her. "Any time, Gwyn." He said, smiling at her and giving her a mock salute. "You know where to find me if you change your mind about playing dirty though." He winked at her.

{fin?}