To Reforge A Destiny

[Lightman]

Madeline didn’t have to hear what Hiroyuki said right there, but he could imagine there would be many obscenities said while she locked in the leg knot. It was quite the hold to lock in, only finding out after someone told her that there was something better than the figure-four leg lock. Said moment came from her time in a small league in the Mediterranean that showcased a lot of erotic fighting, which would make this story too long to recall.

Still, regardless of whether you did or didn’t get put into this particular hold, the Englishwoman knew of the danger that came with any leg lock. Once it fully locked in, the damage was already occurring, and injuring the legs was particularly dangerous. Considering this is a spar and not a full-on fight, Madeline didn’t go too far with the torquing of that left leg. Enough that Hiroyuki had some options. Either be a hero and fight on or tap out. No spar was worth carrying on while your limbs were still in danger, and if Madeline was ruthless, she would just wrench that hold even more, and Hiroyuki wouldn’t be able to speak in a whisper.

Hiroyuki chose the former option instead of the latter, and Madeline wouldn’t be surprised. What was more surprising was the ashen-haired sparring partner opting to tear apart the connection of the ankles, which Madeline couldn’t fight against. The brunette would sit up, rising from her side to sitting upright, so that she could observe what Hiroyuki was planning to do there. Instead of having the hand grip under the leg, Madeline shifted to a gable grip, while his ankle remained under that armpit. A little adjustment, but it allowed the woman to assess and follow Hiroyuki. Despite being tempted to, Madeline decided not to give pointers and instructions. She wanted to see how much the man knew and what to do in certain situations, even if this was more advanced than usual. Then again, Hiroyuki was not a beginner. And she assumed that it would be very insulting for Madeline to micromanage while coaching.

He’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions without her coaching him throughout it all.

In truth, the English Rose expected a heel hook, an Achilles hold or even a toe hold if he was so inclined to be a dick. She wouldn’t put it past this one if her assumptions were true about him. To her surprise, Hiroyuki just…left it as that. Her brow furrowed slightly, nonplussed that he decided to abandon all the work he started on the legs. It didn’t leave him in a better position, considering she would just re-entwine those ankles together and apply the hold as usual. It seemed like a waste.

Then came the attempt to smash his fist into Madeline’s body. A better option compared to unlocking the ankles, and as soon as that right fist landed on that abdomen, Madeline gasped. “Ghh-!” The new position would mean that part of the blow would slightly catch her right forearm, but it did tag her taut tummy, regardless. And that’s not to say about the power of that blow. One blow to the gut was bad enough, but she would have to do something as more began to arrive.

Madeline would let go…of her hands. Noticing Hiroyuki’s grip on her outer elbow, the brunette’s right hand would latch at the wrist of the ashen-haired man. Hiroyuki had to lean forward to get a shot at that abdomen, and Madeline sought to use it to her advantage as she pulled him even closer, her left hand seeking to cup the side of his neck. The sudden closeness of the two would subsequently trap his left leg between her belly and her left thigh, keeping the effects of the leg knot, while her other hand looked to meet with the other, getting a good grip and pulling the two closer, seeking to add stress to the spine and the legs.

“Don’t be a hero…” Madeline would whisper. And yes, she didn’t miss the pun of the word “hero”.

[TheLoneWanderer]

Contrary to the English Rose's assessment, Hiroyuki had not saw a point in a counter-lock considering she had a headstart with the knot. Hence the alternative move. And it worked! That is until the next exchange came. He despised dealing with leg locks in the first place, and Madeline had not been greedy enough to attempt another submission. Thin, lithe fingers cupped his neck, all ten locking together as she pulled him inside her space. She undid the leg lock, only halfway, and now he had to solve another issue: the pressure crushing his left leg inward while his right leg had been spared. He took some solace in the fact his multiple hits had his partner breathing in lowercase for a second.

Hiro's thigh yearned for release, as the entire leg throbbed and pulsed. His host was not cruel. She offered him release, slowly closing the distance until their foreheads meshed together. He wasted his time on a rebuttal, coming out as a harsher whisper. To at least slow it down, Hiroyuki’s left hand moved down to jab between the flesh of her knee and his own and pull upward.

"You know the fights that matter would not c-care."

Compared to his normal tone, Hiro sounded futile and pleading spliced with an undertone of anger at the pain. He did not want to tap out so EASILY. Call it a matter of pride in his work and the fact he would not get the chance to submit if the other person did not respect it like Madeline did. As his body recoiled away from Madeline with a shiver and a spasm, Hiro's back bent outward while his face settled down past Maddy's jaw. His head rested on its side against her collarbone, with the thrum of her heart pounding in his cranium as well as the single thought of how he was going to get out of this unfamiliar position. He secretly hoped Madeline let him think his way out of the problem.

Giving Madeline the swat she wanted against her hip? Of course. So long as she gives him no other option, he is exhausted, moves are too risky, etc. He cannot help but feel as though he should hold himself up to a higher class than crumbling at a wo(man's) touch.

After exchanging which hands gripped the flesh of her back-knee, the ashen-haired man grabbed her left heel using his left palm, snatching it up for a strong PULL if allowed. The goal here was to slide her foot back across his stomach and curl his knees back under his butt in the position of a supplicant. In the case of being allowed to follow through, Hiro did not bother fighting her grip on his neck. He even helped her along by pulling at her hips with both hands and driving his head deeper into her chest to get English on her back. There, he attempts to lower his right forearm, supported by his left palm locking with the other, to press into her throat and the arteries enclosed at the sides. A basic strangle, with the flaw of Hiroyuki leaning too deep into the right direction due to finally stretching each leg out with a stinging "POP" as he lay on top. The younger fighter could be mean and use his elbow but this is smoother and left him able to look at himself in the mirror given he would not have injured Madeline's throat.

Still, the Rose managed to color his face a nice shade like her namesake from his own exertion, stress, and the (oddly nice) point-blank contact without even choking him yet.

Hiro chose to worry about the legs at his midline whenever they bit into his back.

[Lightman]

For a brief moment, emerald eyes would dart towards Senji sitting outside, a passing glance to acknowledge his existence in this whole affair before focusing on Hiroyuki’s struggles. No doubt the redhead would be studying as this continued, though Madeline would assume that he wished he was getting in on the action as well. The Englishwoman remembered his eagerness, fervently showing a burning desire to extract something meaningful from this meeting. The brunette would make sure that he gets his share as soon as she’s done with the ashen-haired man.

All hope isn’t lost for the Dragon, especially since Madeline made an effort to leave a few spots for testing how he can handle certain problems. Madeline hadn’t resorted to using strikes yet, even though she knew she could, as per Hiroyuki’s permission. There was just something more satisfying about getting someone all knotted up like this, manipulating limbs, bending joints to your will. Debilitating adversaries and torquing their limbs into unnatural positions. Sure, she could add a few punches of her own so that the Dragon had more to worry about. She could even slip her deft fingers into more…delicate spots. But just for this moment, she wanted something different, something pure, like grappling. Doing it with a woman was one thing. But doing it with a man…

The English Rose pulled on his neck, keeping things with steady pressure on his legs and spine. She didn’t fully pull with all of her might, enough to guarantee its effectiveness with the Love Knot. She chuckled, audible enough that only Hiro could hear, considering the two were so close, Madeline holding onto him like a dear lover. The Briton gave Hiro an out, a chance for him to escape, a reminder that this is only a spar and can yield at any time. It seemed innocent enough, but Madeline was curious to see what choice he would take. Was he the type to care about his health, choosing to keep himself well to fight another day? Or would he fight through it, his mind not broken to accept defeat until he cannot fight against it? Whichever path he wished to go, the Englishwoman would be gracious to allow him the chance to decide and figure things out.

Slowly, Hiroyuki’s body advanced, glacial in its strength, now beginning to overwhelm Madeline’s balance. The English Rose would get her answer. Her shoulders tensed as her back neared the floor but the rest of her limbs were already moving independently, proprioception alone calculating and determining their positioning in relation to the tangle of legs they had trapped. His breaths over her shoulder, his eyes unable to see the slow-motion strategy unfurling beneath. Yet his plan had succeeded, nonetheless; her knee dislodged itself from the knotty morass, yet he focused not on ensnaring it turn but now, pinning her onto her back. “Mmmh!... Good, that’s good...” Madeline would praise his quick thinking; turning what was a very tricky position into a choke and pressing into the hold is genuinely clever… but she’s too prideful to reward him too much. She played along, leaning back, letting him take command... and keeping a pulse of the way his legs slipped away as the weakened grip on the legs signalled a surrendering of the leg game somewhat. She needed just one of them, feeling his stomach shift and hitch against her leg.

“The fact that I don’t see this ‘fight’ mattering much to me is what’s saving you here. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to move those legs right now.”

Her window of opportunity was small, but her serpentine limbs were used to sneaking into small spaces. In a calculated, coordinated attack, all four of Madeline's limbs made their advance. The first was the forearm and head. She yanked his head one last time, releasing in the hopes it might slingshot back like a released rubber band, and quickly seized his wrist, aiming to yank it over his shoulder and reach around with her free hand to seize it from the opposite side.

The next part was trickier; her feet would shoot forth, aiming to jam themselves between thigh and calf, right at the back of the kneecap before pulling forward. As they did so, she’d try to jerk her whole body back and extend the seized leg to split his legs vertically. Her own would be pulling it upwards, dragging it upwards as they crossed - one over the other, trapping the leg between as her arms crossed over his head.

Spoiler

“But do keep trying, though. You make some good faces.” Her eyes would again glance towards the redhead spectating. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

[TheLoneWanderer]

Senji wants a lot of things. He wants friends. The hope that allowed him to persist had not been crushed into dust yet. He wants tomorrow to mean MORE than today. He wants this whole shitshow of a hand he was holding to have some kind of meaning he has yet to understand. This required patience and he still had much of that to give. So, he waited his turn at the wheel and took to observing while his gaze moved steadily along the events of their exchange but grew more frantic whenever his brother was troubled.

Hiroyuki felt similar to being covered in molasses. These speedster-types grated his nerves even if he wasn't a slow, hulking brute.

"There is a benefit of being smaller. I could interrupt someone's progress easier.", he responded as her last verbal barb sunk into a warm reception. Although, a smaller build meant less resistance to heavy blows. From his days of receiving techniques, you had to see the perception of intent and see further into the course of the battle than your opponent. Especially in a fight to survive. He had no precognition like the gods of old, but he did have enough intelligence to make it this far into the halls of LAW. As Madeline laid back beneath him, he continued to crank the forearm choke. However, English was proving resilient. All those muscles are not just for show, he mused to himself.

Hiroyuki's hair, despite the owner's lack of whining and crying, was beginning to get beat around by the merciless grappling which sent straightened locks flying this way and that. Her deft fingers dug into the scalp, unrelenting in the grip on his head, until she suddenly let go, sending his head backward due to Hiroyuki's natural inclination to engage in a tug of war for his head. This unguarded movement made his arm slide off to push on the floor as Madeline shifted off to her right. He could see it now: the most logical transition.

{"She's going for my back???"]

At the same time, her feet squeezed his right knee and dragged it underneath his belly and further forward. She grabbed a wrist next, pulling it over his nape to make space of her legs. Having fell for the bait by considering the most sound conclusion, Hiroyuki reached above his back to grab her nearest wrist before pulling at it to rip her fingers from his wrist. This left his neck open, allowing her legs to ensnare his neck and lonely leg. Hiroyuki let go of her wrist, even if he was successful in the grab, and turned his attention to correcting his posture by instinct. The cruel reality was that he could not stretch his spine back out so easily, due to the knee-ankle combination working in unison to restrict his movements. A Triangle variation that was all too new but maintained the same snapping pressure. Leaning credit to the pit of syrup allegory, Hiro had been slowed to a crawl's pace right into a uncomfortable position. His agonized femur wanted to unseat from his pelvis if she could crank it even deeper into the "too late to tap" category. The hot, sparking pain that fused with the dull pounding of blood behind his eyes made Hiroyuki want to heave up the contents of his compressed stomach.

Senji, on the other hand, perked up at Madeline speaking to him. The question itself compelled him to nod his head.

"Yeah, Madeline---...they were quite funny when we played games as children. Hmhm.", he dryly laughed from his throat at the memory from years prior as it was clearer in his mind than Hiroyuki's. His insistence on using "weaker" characters in previous-generation fighting games only made Senji laugh harder whenever the choice backfired on him. Though, Hiro had enough control of his temper to not throw the controller at the big-screen television.

After an ill-timed groan from Hiroyuki, whether from the choke or his embarrassment at being teased back, the older sibling tried to plant each foot on the ground and push down with his legs to take a painfully slow stand at getting back on his feet which would probably leave Madeline hanging from her uke like a Christmas ornament. His hands had took to slipping off her shins over and over due to the sweat build up, while he worked on the choice between swatting her legs in surrender or adapting to the new submission.

[Lightman]

Madeline felt relaxed, although Hiroyuki wouldn’t have been able to notice considering she’s applying a deft squeeze and a harsh pull on the joints of the Dragon. A reverse triangle choke was common in the worlds of BJJ and MMA, albeit many would opt for the more ubiquitous variations. Such a thing was rare, but this was even more so. Although this was a spar that tested their martial prowess, Madeline couldn’t help but add some theatrical flair. Securing the opponent’s body to her whim with a relaxed yet focused demeanour. Hiro would have noticed that Madeline knew exactly how to handle a hold like the Reverse Cryangle from the delicate, yet unyielding grip of her hands and placing her legs.

The Englishwoman watched the visible strain of her sparring partner, seeing him struggle against the choke. Eyes squeezed shut, lips pressed tightly together, revealing both discomfort and concentration, a sign of his determination to escape. His hand positioning and attempts to pull away suggest that he’s still vying for freedom. Credit where it’s due, Hiroyuki is not the type of person to give up easily.

Admirable, yet it also brings some concerns for the long term.

The intense, reversed orientation forced the Dragon into a vulnerable state, body twisted and compressed into an awkward position that minimises leverage and freedom of movement. “Oh, were they?” Madeline carried on with the conversation as if she wasn’t cutting off both the air supply and blood flow to the brain. “Tell me more, you can’t leave me hanging like this.” It served to delve deep into the background of the boys. The English Rose could sense that Senji was feeling a tad bit left out, so she allowed him to palaver. A way to get involved with the action. Excluding the being-trapped-in-a-near-inescapable-hold part.

Hiroyuki, as established, was not a quitter. As soon as Madeline felt the man shifting into a... standing position, though the term itself is rather loose, given the position he’s in. He’s standing, but not as how a human would stand, but like a crab. The brunette looked at him quizzically before looking at Senji as if he was also with her in Hiroyuki’s attempt. Regardless of the compressed, contorted posture that he’s in, the ashen-haired man fights on. Which would have been amusing, had it been the first move that Madeline applied on him.

Then again, a Reverse Cryangle as your first hold is questionable as well.

"Stubborn one, aren't you?" Madeline spoke. The once steady pressure turned to an unyielding crush, bringing all the power of the choke to bear. What was once just a task of immobilisation turned into simply turning his lights off and quelling any type of resistance from the stubborn serpent. "But if this was a real fight, then..."

[TheLoneWanderer]

Hiroyuki did not notice her kicking back with a metaphorical iced tea in hand. Indeed, he was too busy fighting off the deep choke. Hiroyuki's feet were unsteady on the mat, and the trapped leg was unable to bend properly. Denied again. He was familiar with most holds, but his grappling was not as adept as Madeline's on paper. His neck further compressed into itself, her legs shrinking the space she allowed his neck. No more room.

Senji tilted his chin up at the question. An olive branch. She extended one to him. Usually, Senji was less adept due to the age difference between the two. Hiroyuki had a more developed brain at the time, so he could comprehend concepts and instructions better whenever they first started up a playthrough. But she offered him an entrance. He chose to not waste it via rejection. Just as long as he did not say too much...compromising information. He took a few seconds to decide on the story. There were quite a lot thanks to the gift of a 'silver spoon', and Senji remembered playing a lot of racing games or beat-em-ups due to their simpler controls if he was by himself. However, when regarding Hiro, there was encounter that stuck out amongst their shared hobbies.

He was not sure if Madeline here was a connoisseur of entertainment in her youth so he imagined it would be better to break it down into simpler parts like a teacher usually taught a subject. They were barely past the name stage and now she was their 'acting master', in any case. Better to be direct and avoid doing anything that could be perceived as wrong or not in his intentions. "---I remember---we played a game where he insisted on the usage of a small knight in shining armor during our rounds against each other. As you can imagine, that did not go well for him when I used this metallic man, wrapped up in green, who was taller but didn't get hit so easily (references Arthur from the niche Ghosts 'n Goblins vs the Marvel vs Capcom's depiction of Doctor Doom. Perhaps you may be familiar with Doom's infamous FOOTDIVE, members of the audience). It's like what you are doing to Hiroyuki now!---The fight of David and Goliath, without the...jubilant ending."

Senji added in a jovial volume before it descended to a sour note on the fantasy of the giant crushing David into fertilizer. The way he spoke about it in a such an airy and enamored tone. It was something special to him with his eyes sparkling in the delight. An adoration of peace. It was a treasured memory then, remained tight to his heart now, and he was actively working towards replicating that with what he wanted here. He was hooked on that desire which brought pleasures beyond his wildest dreams, but with the caveat of making sure the primal need did not get in his way. To avoid losing himself in it, like many men and women here had. But that was his own battle to fight, and Hiroyuki could not beat it for him.

At the older brother's end, Hiroyuki thoughts swam between the warmth of the memory and the scorching heat of being trapped by Madeline's coils. This made him do a manful shudder, bucking his back and driving Madeline between him and the ground. Regardless of the introspection, he was surrounded by a overwhelming restraint on all sides. The stuffy yet maintained gym, even if they had carved out a private corner for themselves. The limbs clutching him close. The sheen of sweat on her arms and leaking through his outfit if not having collected from hers. He felt so trapped by it all, until Madeline felt the familiar 'TAP TAP TAP' on her shin to indicate submission, after she upped the pressure to crush him.

If she let him go, Hiroyuki flopped onto his back to soothe the spinning world using the back of his hand at his forehead, coughing from the torturous choke. Now...she could play with Senji while HIro recovered his senses for the next round with her.

"Aside from training with my masters or preparatory school, we always played together~. Maybe you could come along and visit our 'home' later."

Senji counted up on his fingers twice, mostly out of habit for an easy reference when listing.

"IF you stay around long enough..."

Hiro added, muttering it from his position on the floor.

[Lightman]

It was all inevitable. The only thing the brunette had to do was wait. It certainly wouldn’t be too long now that she’s going full force with the hold. Hiroyuki has given admirable resistance, but admittedly, the Englishwoman brought that advanced stuff for the Dragon. None would have an answer to something like a Cryangle, after all.

Madeline felt the rhythmic tap-tap-tap of Hiroyuki’s submission reverberate through her shin, signalling his capitulation. A smirk curled on her lips as she released her hold, her legs gracefully unfurling from around his neck. She rose to her feet, a slight sheen of sweat glistening on her skin as she stood over him, towering in something resembling victory. However, this is still an assessment, not the final in the ADCC. So she operated as such.

“Good effort, Hiro,” she said with a teasing lilt, her voice carrying both praise and playful mockery. “However…thinking brute strength will help you against that...”

She did not finish that sentence, choosing to shake her head. Madeline observed him with a mixture of satisfaction and anticipation. She knew he’d come back for another round—his pride wouldn’t allow him to sit this one out for long.

Turning her attention to Senji, she cocked an eyebrow, intrigued by his nostalgic recounting of their shared memories. The way he spoke about their gaming past, drawing parallels between those digital battles and the one she’d just won, brought a flicker of amusement to her sharp features.

“You two must’ve had quite the rivalry growing up,” the English Rose remarked, folding her arms across her chest. Her voice was casual, but her sharp eyes scanned Senji for any sign of unease or hesitation. She wasn’t just observing him; she was assessing him, as was her nature in and out of the gym.

Senji’s animated description of their gaming escapades elicited a faint chuckle from Madeline. “David and Goliath, huh?” she said, rolling her shoulders to shake off the residual tension from the advanced chokehold. “I think your brother would argue he’s not that mismatched against me. Isn’t that right, Hiroyuki?”

She wondered if Hiroyuki would respond to that, though no doubt his pride is too bruised to fully engage.

Madeline’s smirk widened as she stepped closer to Senji, tilting her head slightly as she regarded him. “So, what about you, Senji? Do you fancy your chances against me? Or would you rather keep reminiscing about victories in the digital arena?”

Her tone was light, almost inviting, but the challenge was unmistakable. She enjoyed seeing how people reacted when pushed, whether on the mat or in conversation.

“No need to feel afraid. Besides, Hiroyuki has already warmed up the mat for you~.”

With that, Madeline began a slow, deliberate stretch, her movements fluid and precise as she prepared for the next round. She was a predator in her element, fully aware of the control she held and revelling in it.

“Well. Whichever one it may be, I'm ready to go, if you are,” she said, stepping back and giving Hiro room to recover. Her voice softened, though her words still carried an edge. “Take your time, if you need to.”

[TheLoneWanderer]

"The both of you should remember that David won that fight, aside from your fantasies."

Hiroyuki remarked in such a sly fashion. The grin of cheshire marked his features, but it quickly subsided in favor of a neutral grimace at his throat stinging. She could really pour on the pressure. A blind man could see the effectiveness of her coils, but being within them was another manner entirely. He scooted back on his butt, while rubbing at his neck to soothe it from the cryangle in question. Nowhere near enough to bruise. Credit to Madeline for such a wonderful mercy. Still, he'd faltered in the last minute and suffered the consequences. Despite it being a spar, he had brought up the scenario of this being a 'real fight' where Senji would've had an incapacitated teammate when the Cryangle worked its magic.

"Not exactly---father didn't train us separately. It was completely equal, you see..."

Senji softly shot the harshness of such a suggestion down. They were a team, as in progress as they had been during the first tag-team handicap arrangement together, but still a unit. Besides, it had been a long while since they seriously fought each other. An event for some other time. For now, he could not rip his eyes away from the woman of the hour without conscious effort. The notion of their disparity from Madeline drew a thumbs-up from Hiroyuki, still believing himself to be years ahead of the state of being an ant beneath her heel. He had shuffled himself against the padded wall by this point, about a dozen feet or so away from the nearest corner.

The redhead, on the other hand, took her invitation into consideration. Yet, the choice was already made from the moment he stepped foot into this gym.

He stepped towards the slightly taller fighter in a steady, quick stride. Eager to make up for lost time, it looked like.


"Mold me, for I am but clay in your hands, 'master'."

Senji returned the challenge with one of his own. Although, he consciously leaned on the sugary tone of voice to add some emphasis to his declaration. Airy and unrestrained, reigned in by the manful vocals, especially at the ending word. Senji pushed his fists into a southpaw stance, as he was left handed. The blackened hoodie shuffled around, revealing the interconnection where his taunt stomach was concealed underneath and where the leggings met the top. Judging by the aforementioned tone, he lacked fear. Without a reason, why should he be scared and quivering at his senior?

That did not mean he was arrogant. The process of reforging his mind smoothed out that error in thinking. He would not beat Madeline just because he wanted to so badly in this journey for an equilibrium. Based on the round Senji just saw, the redhead boy must approach her in a certain way. A certain piece of advice from his second teacher, Huan Lei, pierced into his plan. Do not let her get outside your left hand. That, and as Senji surmised, use grapples as a backup due to Maddy's odd proficiency with hellish holds.

Senji's gaze rolled along her stretching body, perhaps shifting into a linger on the mid-line for a second to take it all in, before he moved into the jaguar's mouth. Senji closed the distance in a painfully slow time, curling his knees in when he got into arm's reach. Senji shot for a high-up tackle where she wouldn't snag him in a nasty sprawl. If he could get his overhooks wrapped around her armpits, then Senji got to work by pushing his chest into Madeline to drive her defenseless back into the leftmost corner of their space using the aide of his stomping heels. To lay a dense pressure early, while having an abundance of stamina to spare, Senji recoiled his left hand from her hooked arm to work that stomach of hers with short jabs.

THWACK

THWACK

THWACK

All this, while leaning his shoulder into her collarbone so she would remained pinned for his explosive start against the imaginary facsimile of a cage!