Fight Night (Open)

[Zuka]

September 20th


Now this was a fun night out, the smell of blood, sweat and stale cigar smoke in the air; crowds of people hooting and cheering loudly as they watched people beat each other senseless. Republic City had a lot when it came to entertainment but nothing was ever as good as the underground scene. Underground clubs…underground gambling thanks to yours truly which was always popular and then there was the underground fighting rings. Unsanctioned, no holds bard fight to the (sometimes) death fights.

Underground fighting was nothing new, all over the three nations you could find this but what was different about the Republic City fights is that it didn’t discriminate. Bender or non bender, chi blocker what have you it didn’t matter, if you were willing and if you put on a good enough show to make the club some money then you could fight and with some wounds still fresh from the Equalist take over many people used this as a way to settle old scores. This was the best place to do it too, there was no law here other than money and the fights were on neutral land with the only way in being through criminal connections.  The old factory that the fights took place in were guarded by some of the best and with so many police officers in the pockets of the various Triads the fights had never been raided.  It was really the perfect set up.

Many people passed through here looking to settle things but, people like her however used this place to scout potential talent.

Sadly this was one gambling area that Zuka didn't have her claws into..yet but it still provided her with lots of benefits. Triads used these fights to look for new blood, new muscle and this is where Zuka had met one of her more ferocious Doll members Mai at. Mai had proven to be a good investment, the woman was brutal, efficient and did what she was told and recently Zuka had thoughts of expanding her business and thought she could use a few more like her and thankfully tonight’s venue looked to be promising.

The first few fights of the night were a bunch of Terra and Kai goons looking to settle some things in the ring. It was a pretty common occurrence to see Triad members step into the ring, with this being common ground it was the one place they could beat the snot out of each other with no consequence. Usually they were good fights but what the people really came here to see and what they paid money for were the prize fights. The underground fight scene had its champions and they held open fights to anyone willing to go toe to toe with them, all they mostly ever got was a bunch of over cocky kids that thought they were tough but every now and then a real fighter would step up. Rumor was, tonight was going to be one of those nights.

Zuka moved through the crowd of gawkers that crowded themselves around the fighting ring and made her way to the upper level catwalks. Sure, the ring side was good if you wanted get rained on in blood and sweat but to really see what moves the fighters had Zuka found it was better to get a view from above. Less people and better vantage point in her opinion. Climbing the metal stairs Zuka found a empty space once she reached the catwalks and posted herself up against the railing, leaning forward slightly and letting her forearms hang over while she watched the fight that was taking place below.

The main event wasn't slated to start till a little later and right now the ring was full of Triad muscle. It was mildly entertaining but Zuka had come here to see something better. The champion of the ring was a ex Equalist chi blocker, the man was fast and brutal when it came to his attacks. No one had managed to last more than three rounds with the guy and the blocker had reigned as champion for weeks. Naturally a Equalist opponent brought a lot of attention and benders were lining up for their chance to get a crack at this guy. Personally....Zuka's money was on the Chi Blocker which was why she had placed a twenty thousand yuan bet on him to win. Did she feel conflicted about betting on a chi blocker to win? Maybe a little but money was money and she could deal with her guilt when she was walking away a richer woman.

Looking down at the ring Zuka winced a little as she watched a boulder collide with the side of the Agni Kai's firebenders head and as the firebender dropped like a sack. Ouch. That was going to leave a mark if the guy was even alive after that. While the Kais dragged their unconscious friend away Zuka looked around at her fellow onlookers, spotting a few familiar faces in the crowd.

[Arya]

It was always the same scene at the fighting rings, and it was one that Arya had gotten used to seeing. Many nights she had spent here to eavesdrop and gather her information when she had gotten into the underground of Republic City. The ring was a great recruiting ground for clients, as well as a meeting place for those who wanted to request her help in their triad schemes. Being a center for gossip, it was easy to figure out who needed what and know of whatever conflicts were going on that she needed to avoid getting caught in the middle. All in all, it served its purpose for her exceptionally well.

Tonight however, she was serving the purpose for the main reason the ring operated; fighting. Out of all the times she had visited the old factory, she hadn’t ever participated in one of the battles herself. She didn’t have a grudge against anyone that ran so deep that she wanted to settle it there. It was one of her rules that she remained neutral with the triads so that she wouldn’t end up in some of these situations. However, that rule didn’t apply to her old Equalist comrades who were still, apparently, bitter over her treachery.

Like it was her fault that she was a bender, but choosing not to be purified by Amon the moment she had found out had probably sealed her fate. Since the Platinum Fist had discovered her, she had run into a few of them who wanted to deal with her themselves. She’d handled it herself and chose to not think about it too much, knowing that they weren’t about to send the whole triad after her. They were just overly ambitious ex-Equalists that thought they could prove a point, when to Arya there was really nothing to prove.

It was the same case with this so called “Champion” of the ring. She knew who he was; he had been ruthless when she’d known him and from what she’d seen the description still applied. Arya took great care in remaining inconspicuous around the ring, but when one Triple Threat had opened his mouth to the wrong person, the ex-Equalist had approached her with every intent to challenge her to a fight. It should have been the other way around, but Arya didn’t care much for how things were supposed to go. With too many people around to say no she had accepted, and the fight had been scheduled.

She liked to keep her abilities to herself rather than showcase them so outwardly to a crowd, but the fact that she didn’t give herself away so easily would help. Arya entered the factory that night after a long day of meeting with some triad bosses, and she’d made her way to the ring. She was dressed in blacks and grays that didn’t make her stand out, and she had pulled a hood over her head to help hide her features. Not like anyone would stop to question her; there were all sorts of people that came to the ring, and some dressed stranger than she ever did.

It was crowded and hot, and the yelling and jeering was the only music ever played. Arya didn’t spend much time on the bottom floor. After she’d talked to a few different people (there was no reason to not talk business even if she was fighting) she made her way out of the main hub and up to the catwalks. Her fight wasn’t until later, and she wanted to be a bit disconnected from the chaos until that time came. She made her way up to the catwalks, and a few people moved aside for her to get through; she had taken care of a debt for them yesterday so their politeness was nothing but acknowledgement of her accomplishment. Taking a place beside another woman she leaned her arms against the metal railing, peering down just as an Agni Kai was taken out, rather roughly.

“Ouch,” she muttered, though there was no sign of empathy for the fallen Kai. “He always was cocky, though.”

[Zuka]

Zuka briefly glanced at the woman that had joined her on the railing and heard her comment which caused a exhale of air from her nose in a slight chuckle. "They all are." Zuka's view on the Agni Kais was...skewed. They had their difference and that was putting it lightly but sh agreed that all of them were cocky and none was more than the Kai's leader.

The thought of Han put a bad taste in her mouth and her scars left behind from his lightning strike began to ache slightly. He had done a fine job in making sure she would never forget him, there would always be a permanent reminder and she hated it, it was like he had branded her.

Zuka had toyed with the idea of challenging him in the ring, let everyone else see how he failed in comparison to her but...as much as beating him bloody in front of all their 'colleges' Zuka knew that wouldn't be enough, she would want him dead and that wasn't something two leaders should do here. That was better saved for the street, away from prying eyes.

But, she was getting off track here....

"But at least they are good for entertainment." she said absently, figuring the girl could reply if she wanted.

[Arya]

Arya raised her head slightly at the other woman’s voice. When she’d spoken it had been more to herself, so she hadn’t expected any response to her comment. Not that she minded conversation; it passed the time a little faster. She agreed with the woman as well; the Kais were a proud, overly arrogant bunch. Doing business with them wasn’t always pleasant for her, but they paid well and quickly so long as she was timely with her end of the bargain.

“They have their uses,” Arya agreed, this time verbally. “They have to have at least one redeeming quality, I suppose.”

She turned her head more to get a look at who she was talking to. The woman was very familiar to her; Arya had seen her walking around the ring on different occasions, but they’d never spoken to one another. It took a few more moments for her to connect her with a name, and then Arya recalled who she was; Zuka. In fact, it was one of the Kais who had pointed her out a while ago, saying that she had some history with their triad. Arya hadn’t asked what that meant, but had pocketed the information in case the need to know it arose.

Of course, the main thing to know was that Zuka led the Dolls; a triad that the firebender had heard about but never gotten involved with. It was hard to not know anything at all about the Dolls; she’d heard plenty of their accomplishments and the grievances other triads had towards them. They were a successful bunch, possibly gotten lucky, but more likely they had worked their tails off to get to where they were now, Zuka included.

“Wouldn’t bet on them winning a fight any time soon, though,” Arya noted. “After one of their best lost in the prize fight a couple weeks ago, I can imagine that morale is at an all time low.”

[Zuka]

“They have their uses,”

'Debatable" Zuka said quietly to herself. Her opinion of the Agni Kais would never again be a good one but she didn't have to broadcast that right now, you never know who was around or where someones loyalty lie and she didn't feel like stepping into that ring tonight because of her mouth. She noticed the girl look her way but Zuka was busy watching the fights below to break her gaze and look back at her.


“Wouldn’t bet on them winning a fight any time soon, though, After one of their best lost in the prize fight a couple weeks ago, I can imagine that morale is at an all time low.”

She laughed at that, it had been entertaining to see one of their best go down so easily. The guy had tried but no one was a match for that chi blocker "That's what they get for thinking they can beat the champion. He's gone 15 rounds undefeated, no way someone from the Agni Kais was going to win that fight." No one had even gotten close to bringing the champion down, sure, a few had managed to get a few good hits in but it was quickly over after that. "Almost a shame, If he keeps winning like that people are going to be too afraid to step into the ring." She was still confidante that her 20,000 yuan bet was a good one but before long no one would be making anything if the guy chi blocker winning.

[Arya]

Fifteen rounds. The guy had to have set a record if he hadn’t broken one already. That kind of skill was entertaining to watch, and admired by many. Arya had had a front row seat to seeing him fight plenty of times, and even when she was an up and coming Equalist she had studied his movements and abilities to try and apply them to herself. There had been a few occasions where he had even trained her. At least she knew what exactly she was getting herself into. 

“He’s good,” she admitted, gazing down at the ring. “One of the best this place has probably seen in a long time. I don’t know that a member of any triad will defeat him.”

Not good enough to defy Amon, she reminded herself. One of the best, but not the best. Telling herself that made it sound more possible for her to defeat him when the time came. Most of the people that had challenged him were arrogant, thinking that in their youth they could become a champion against someone with years of experience and training. To no surprise, they had been handed a lesson they wouldn't soon forget. In her case, she knew inside information that would work in her favor, and she planned to use it.

“I think it will be the opposite,” Arya replied to Zuka’s theory. “He’s undefeatable. That will make more people of a higher caliber eager to fight him. It would make the fights more interesting that way, and the bets would be more intense.”

She lifted her head, looking around at the people who were also watching the fights. “A bet that I assume most people have gotten too comfortable in making.”

[Zuka]

Zuka stopped her watching and turned to look at the girl "You seem pretty sure of that. The girl besides her looked out of place among the brutal fighting and cheering that was going on below them. She seemed young, thou that could just be her appearance and Zuka had been around long enough to know that you never judge a person solely on how they look at first glance. "What makes you so sure that anyone will step up to him if this continues?" The fighting ring might be in a pickle if no one could beat him and if the time ever came that someone did who would want to go up against the person that took down the reigning champ? That was part of the reason why Zuka didn't stick her hands in the fighting business. With gambling there was always things that could go wrong but it was easier to stack the odds in her favor than it was to do with relying on people not to have a change of heart in the middle of a match.

(meh)

[Arya]

“Why would anyone capable of taking him down jump in so early? Why waste the time unless you have something to prove?” Arya certainly never intended to fight him in the ring, mainly because she didn’t want to. Wasting her time with gambling and fighting hadn’t been her interest, but she had been roped into it. In this case, she did have something to prove, and that was why she had accepted the challenge. Otherwise she'd be among those who didn't feel it necessary to showcase their abilities all for the sake of someone's bet. 

“Anyone worth going up against him would know that this is not a fight that can be won with dumb luck. They would be smart to study him until they have him figured out, and then challenge him.” Yes, lots of people would be lining up for the fight, giving the time to get a clear idea of how to approach the fight. There would be plenty of opportunities to take notes and find out the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent. That, Arya believed, was the smartest way of going up against someone with a skill asset like the current champion.

She pulled her gaze from the arena below and looked to Zuka, “In the meantime, people not worth it are becoming discouraged, the champion is getting cockier each round, and the bets get steeper. It's the best time to show up and put him in his place. Makes everything more interesting. And before you know it, the cycle will start all over again."

[Zuka]

"You seem to have this all figured out." The girl had done her homework and Zuka wondered to what end. Was she here betting herself? Did she have a stake in this and planted her own fighter? Or was she fighting herself? Just by looking at her she didn't seem like she would be too much of a threat but Zuka knew from her own experience that you dont judge someone just on how they look alone. But it had stirred her interest and she wanted to know "How long have you been watching him?" A lot of people had a grudge against the Chi Blockers and maybe this girl had lost someone in Amons short deadly reign of terror.

[Arya]

That was a bit of a complicated question to answer, at least in a few words. She’d known this champion for years, and she’d watched him fight so many times that it didn’t faze her to see it anymore. Most times back in the day she had observed him to try and learn new skills, and she had simply reapplied that way of watching to present day. Arya gave a small shrug, “A long time. I’ve known who he was before he even stepped in the ring for the first time. As far as I can tell, he’s only gotten better.”

Simple enough, and if there were more questions she didn’t mind answering them. Arya didn’t want to be super open about how she knew him, only because it wasn’t worth it to explain. Soon the entire ring would know the ground that they stood on, and that was all that mattered. Opposing sides fighting to win; it was all the information she felt necessary for anyone to know for the moment.

Again she shrugged, “But everyone has their weaknesses, even him.”

[Zuka]

"Hmm" Zuka said outloud as she thought over what was presented in front of her, she had a lot riding on this match, had put a hefty bet on the Chi Blocker to win but now after talking to this girl and hearing what she had to say she was starting to second guess her choice. Zuka turned slightly and looked more at Arya and thought for a moment before finally speaking "What do you get out of him losing? Everyone here stands to gain or lose a few yuans but you...you have something more."

(meh, short)

[Arya]

Did she get anything material? No, not really. Zuka was right, money was not her incentive to be here this night and step into the ring. This triad leader was receptive, actually listening instead of brushing her off as just a girl with ambitions. It was a little odd for Arya, who was so used to staying in the shadows or only associating with people she worked for. Zuka was wise to listen, and her intrigue only added to Arya’s willingness to share.

“If anything, it’ll prove a point,” she answered. That was why she was here, in the end. She was ready to defend her capabilities, and quite honestly she’d get a good bit of satisfaction out of fighting someone who saw her as nothing more than an impure, unskilled traitor. “His loss will send a message that I hope will reach certain people. Since he’s made such a name for himself, I’m sure that his loss will only be to my benefit.”

[Zuka]

"Hmm' Zuka said in thought as she leaned against the railing once more and looked out at the fighting ring below "sending a message to dangerous people, you must have something important to prove." This girl was picking a fight with the Platinum Fist triad and even if they were small Zuka wouldn't do that lightly. What they lacked in numbers right now they were growing and they were motivated, not to mention their ranks were filled with ex equalist. No, not even she would go up against them if she had the choice. "Well, good luck to you. I hope your as good as you say because I would like to see him get knocked down a few pegs." Whatever happened this was going to turn out to be a good match. At least she hoped, Zuka would hate for this girl to be all talk like so many of the others had been.