A Challenge | un: vainglorious (video)

[erschlagen]

Champions of foreign lands and worlds of names I have yet to know–hearken unto me!

[This video starts off with a bang! No, literally. There’s a loud explosion in the background as towering flames suddenly jut out from all corners of the arena forming an orange-red haze around the entire colosseum. For any unfortunate souls here, it’s going to feel hotter than hell but for others just watching from afar; you’re relatively safe for now. Those wild orange flames won’t scorch anyone as long as Rosen has control of them.

Oh, for those of you wondering who’s talking right now–that would be the dapper old bastard with the long flowing hair dressed in bright red and blue tunic standing at the center of the colosseum. Don’t ask how he’s managing to film the entire stunt. He’s just doing what he does best, causing a disturbance. It’s been a little too peaceful here and he’s bloody determined to change all that. If there’s one thing Rosen hates more is peace and quiet.]

Many of you proclaim to be warriors of realms I have yet to explore. Some of you even pretend to be likened to gods all for the sake of vanity and nothing else!

[It’s amazing how this crazed fellow can project his voice. He’s not talking into a microphone or anything. No, he’s literally projecting his voice throughout the entire colosseum over the roar of the fire. That actually takes talent and a lack of shame for being that damn LOUD! Then again, the colosseum has great acoustics.]

Therefore, I challenge you!

[In a flash of brilliant white light, a magical fiery red spear suddenly appears within his right hand. He dramatically points it towards the direction of the camera, making sure that this prized relic is on display for all to see. While it might come into question as of how he’s recording all this, Rosen at least knows how to put on a good show.]

I am called Rosenkrantz, and I formally challenge every capable warrior and legend here to face in armed combat! Only the strong need to apply for those without strength will be turned at the gate!

[He’s not kidding either. If he finds any of you fools lacking, he’ll toss you out of the colosseum on your ass. That is an unspoken rule here.]

With that said, if you seek a worthy challenge–then face me.

[And just like that, the footage goes black.]

Comments

[lonesummit]

The gods I have slain said much the same.

[Zhongli smiles a little at that, summoning his spear. He's not too long off of his victory over Childe, having smashed the Harbinger into the ground until he were no longer able to move, but there was the last vestiges of Zhongli's Manticore possession left lingering, longing for battle.]

Do not hold back. You'll find me hard to damage.

[At that, he will make a first move, slamming the lance into the ground, which summons a stone pillar and sets up a shield around himself before lunging at Rosenkrantz.]

1/2 <3 <3

[at_heart]

[ Well, Rosen will definitely get the satisfaction of widened eyes and hands brought up to shield his face, but that initial flinch is very quickly turning to something else, a practiced sword stroke and then a burst of ice that slices through the wall of fire with Yuri close behind it, hissing, to bring the tip of his sword down on the other side of it.

For Rosen's sake, hoping he's not in the immediate blast radius, because a wide circle lights up around him, symbols glowing blue on the ground, and then any damage the fire might have done before he was able to escape is healing — and anyone Yuri doesn't consciously choose to heal is feeling that same refreshing breeze like a punch to the gut. AOE pulsing damage. ]

[at_heart]

[ And... a very breathless laugh. Yuri's gaze is hot when he lifts it. ]

Better.

[erschlagen]

[With surprising haste, Rosen manages to avoid that icy strike with relative ease. The second he felt the temperature dip, Rosen all but vanished from view obscured by the clash between Yuri’s ice and his towering flames. The lancer reappears behind Yuri in just a breath, his golden-eye shining brightly as he swings his lance down upon the swordsman’s head. It’s a dangerous maneuver for the both of them, especially since this could be a fatal blow for anyone other than them.

Not only that but that field of light Yuri summoned tears through him like a knife through butter. Even though the effects were about to fade, he could still feel the burn of that light magic on him. It's a horrid sensation, a burning sensation if anything but Rosen tanks through it like a pro. Despite his lofty dominion over vainglory, Rosen is a legitimate fire spirit.

While ice magic is truly his bane, Rosen can power through light-oriented spells well enough. That's why he continues with the swing by turning up the heat both metaphorically and literally. It's a foolish thing to do but this is the only time Yuri will stay still. He only has a couple of seconds here. The window of opportunity is that bloody short. So he sacrifices his own wellbeing in hopes of landing a decent hit.

Nevertheless, Rosen is confident that the little bastard will find a way to squirm out of harm's way. After all, he knows just how spry and nimble the young man was earlier. Yuri is slippery like an eel. It would be a shock if he actually manages to land a decent hit on the pretty bastard. Hell, Rosen might call that a “win” if he does.

So far Yuri is giving him a run for his money and he isn’t entirely sure if he likes that yet.]

[erschlagen]

There's a lot odd similarities among cultures. Therefore, I suppose it's not too odd for two worlds to be oddly similar as well.

[That's a logical conclusion, isn't it? Despite hailing from two different worlds, certain things accidentally overlap. Makes sense and all.]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

It would not be particularly odd for such a thing to occur, no.

[Though in fairness the worlds he knows are more connected than most might be.]

[erschlagen]

I wonder if it's just encoded into our blood. [He muses.] Something that ties all of humanity together despite the distance between stars.

[Such esoteric thoughts aren't his forte but Rosen is not some braindead brute.]

Food for thought, I suppose.

[at_heart]

[ Go on, tell him how tanky you are, he likes that in a guy. ] [ More seriously: Yuri has a couple of weaknesses as a fighter. One of them is that he's only just gotten a clear invitation to use Burst Artes, which means Mystic Artes are still off the table in his mind. A pity, since Rosen would definitely get a kick of some kind out of Divine Wolf: Flood.

But another? The longer fights like this go on, the more Yuri wants to take a hard hit. He gets — impatient for it. A fight with an opponent like Rosen, who's definitely eyeing him for more than just the next attack... A fight where his life isn't on the line? Or in a place like this, where he knows that even if he really screws up, he'd just come back in the winter flower yard...

Yeah. It starts opening these little gaps in his defenses.

So the sword comes up and it blocks, taking the blow with more strength than you might expect from his narrow frame, but Yuri doesn't pull back as quickly as he could. Okay, handspring backflip, get distance. He should definitely cut this short, before he does something stupid like letting himself get seriously barbecued. ]

Too much of a terrible pun to say you're hot like this?

[erschlagen]

[To be honest, Rosen is a little surprised that Yuri can block his attacks. He’s quite aware of how athletic the youth is and expected him to simply dodge but no, the bastard blocked it. It goes without saying that Rosen is built more for power than speed. He’s one of the strongest arkanas, if not the strongest. So for Yuri to be able to contend with his power despite still being assumedly mortal, is a little surprising. That’s why Rosen pauses for a second in disbelief giving Yuri the distance he needs to handspring backflip away from him.

Something akin to a scoff escapes Rosen once he hears the pun. A smirk slowly curls onto his lips as he stabs his lance into the ground beside him. That smirk of his eventually grows into a full-on smile before suddenly he’s just laughing loudly at the top of his lungs.]

Color me impressed by both your fighting prowess and bad sense of humor!

[He teases before summoning away his spear for now with just the snap of his fingers. The magical lance vanishes in a plume of fire leaving little red embers within its wake. It seems this battle is over.]

You did well. Much better than I initially expected.

[Rosen honestly didn’t know what to expect when Yuri stepped into the coliseum but he’s grateful for the experience.]

[at_heart]

[ ...Oh such mixed feelings: relief, from the little part of his rational brain that would actually prefer not to get too seriously injured, and disappointment from the rest of him.

But the laugh's nice, and as Yuri rolls his left shoulder, feeling the ache from the impact he absorbed with his sword arm, well... that's nice, too, even if it's not quite what he very stupidly wanted.

A grin, fierce, showing canines: ]

What can I say? I'm full of surprises.

[ —and full of energy, a restless buzzing just beneath his skin. Shouldering his sword, ]

We should definitely go again sometime. I'm sure we've both got a few tricks left up our metaphorical sleeves.

[ But are you done right now, Rosen. Or are you just done fighting. An important distinction. ]

[erschlagen]

[If this was less a spar and more like a life or death clash, one of them wouldn’t be walking out of here alive. However, this isn’t Rosen's intention. Just as he stated earlier, this is nothing more than a test on his part. He wants to see how he compares with other newcomers here and Rosen has received his answer. While he’s indeed quite powerful, he’s not at the top of the food chain anymore.

This worries him quite a bit but Rosen is a master of hiding his worries with sarcasm.]

I fear I might have to head back to the metaphorical drawing board. [He mutters before shifting his attention back towards Yuri. He smirks at him again but this time it’s a little flirtatious.]

We can go again whenever, friend. Although, it looks like you’re craving to do something else.

[/eyebrow waggle]

[at_heart]

[ A little caught out, there, and Yuri hesitates for half a second before deciding to own it. He's definitely being teased, but he doesn't think he's just being teased. Starting to cross the distance between them: ]

I like a good, hard fight. [ Steady, even, surer of himself. ] If I can't go until I pass out, though, I get a little wound up.

[ Right up in Rosen's personal space. ]

Luckily? There're other ways of burning off that energy.

[erschlagen]

[Just when he thought Yuri would falter, the young man suddenly crosses the distance between them and gets all up close and personal. It’s a little surprising, especially since they barely know each other but the attraction is there. If there’s one thing Rosen simply adores, it’s confidence.]

You’re a bold one, lad. [He whispers as he leans down a little to get a better look at Yuri.] A little too bold but I like that in potential mates.

[If his teasing smirk wasn’t anything to go by, then maybe the way he curls his arm around Yuri’s waist is evident enough of his attraction.]

If you want to burn the midnight oil with me, just say so.

[at_heart]

[ Eyebrows lifting, even as he lets himself be drawn in closer. ]

I like to think I'm not bad at reading people.

[ Fingers curling in the front of whatever passes for Rosen's shirt in this thread, Yuri tugs him down to mouth level. Almost purred: ]

But hey. Feel free to tell me I'm barking up the wrong tree.

[ Confident enough for you? ] [ He'll... circle back to the mate thing in a minute, there's a higher priority right now— ]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

The answer is not likely to be the same, from world to world. Though there is the seed of possibility, if naught else.

[erschlagen]

[Rosen allows for Yuri to reel him in like the total "catch" he is. If he didn't want to be touched, a spear through the gut would've been his reply. However, Rosen is more than receptive to Yuri's flirtatious babbling. That's why he purposely brushes his lips against Yuri's in a teasing manner.]

You're barking up the right tree, brat.

[He says before diving in for a kiss. It's a passionate kiss, one fueled by all the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. While the kiss itself is a little experimental in nature since he's trying to gauge how Yuri will react to him.]

[at_heart]

[ Look, sometimes the possibility of getting stabbed just makes flirting hotter? ] [ Either way, the light contact has Yuri's eyes brightening, the comment curves his lips up higher, and the kiss he responds to with teeth. Biting Rosen's bottom lip, then sucking it very deliberately into his mouth.

Just enough pressure, just the right flicker of tongue, to be properly suggestive. ]

[erschlagen]

[Rosen lets out a faint groan as Yuri keeps worrying his bottom lip with his teeth. He attempts to pull away slightly only to get sucked back into the kiss again. Much like their duel earlier, the two of them are dueling for dominance here. Rosen opens his lips to chase after Yuri’s tongue, hoping to deepen this kiss to quell his perverse thoughts.

Meanwhile, he allows his hands to slide down Yuri’s narrow hips in hopes of exploring what his nimble form has to offer. Anyone with eyes can tell that Yuri sports an athletic build but Rosen is curious to see what lies underneath the fancy clothes. However, it might be better to explore that within the comfort of privacy. After all, they are kissing in the middle of a grand arena.]

[at_heart]

[ Quell, are you sure that's the right way to go about that, because he immediately pulls on that tongue, light deliberate pressure from his lips, the way he might suck on... you know, something else.

The outfit is a little misleading; but the way his tunic flares out is only a little wider than his actual hips, and then it's all — lean muscle, with just enough give on his hips and a nice shape elsewhere.

But the groping does have Yuri drawing lingeringly back with a breathless laugh, gray eyes dark with promise. ]

Your place or mine.

[ He's not exactly shy, but it isn't so late that other people might not be hoping to use the arena for its actual intended purpose. ]

[erschlagen]

[Wait, does Yuri have curves? Talk about an interesting surprise! Rosen just thought the brat was just some noodly beanpole but apparently has quite the figure under that coat/jacket of his. Rosen doesn’t know what to make of that but when Yuri starts sucking on his tongue, all his thoughts go right out the metaphorical window.
He lets out a little growl as he tries to seize control of Yuri’s sinful lips as they kiss. However, this little bastard can’t be tamed. Rosen already knows they’re going to be fighting all the way to the bedroom but first things first, they need to figure out where they’re going.]

My place. [He whispers in return before seeking out another kiss.] Unless you object to the idea.

[Rosen doesn’t really care where they go as long as they’re fucking. It’s taking all of his willpower now not to fuck Yuri in the halls of colosseum. He has some decency, you know.]

What do you say?

[at_heart]

[ He very much has curves. ♥ You should see him in skinny jeans. ] [ And he is smirking in response to that growl, giving back as good as he's getting, tugging Rosen's bottom lip between his teeth before he purrs, ]

I say anywhere's fine, as long as it's close.

[ Too bad neither of them is Spring, but it's yet another reason to learn Flight once he's mastered everything else. ] [ And he backs off, reluctantly, to lead the way to the exit. ]

[erschlagen]

[Anywhere? Does he truly mean, anywhere? Rosen lets out deep breath as he tries his best to control his excitement. His pupils contract much like a feline’s as he stares down at Yuri with a new ache in his loins. Honestly, should he take the bait here and drag Yuri into the public bath nearby for a quick fuck? That sounds like a marvelous idea to him but if they get caught? Oh, Rosen has a contigenancy plan for that and it involves murder.

Nothing is getting in his way of fucking this sassy beauty, nothing.]

Come.

[Before Yuri could even protest, Rosen suddenly leans down and yanks him up into his arms in one fluid motion. It happens so fast! One minute the little menace teasing him and the next Rosen is carrying him towards the desolate halls ahead towards the elaborate bathouse within. It’s not like Yuri weighs much either. He’s quite light but then again, Rosen can lift boulders.]

I lack the patience for travel! We’ll do this here!

[at_heart]

[ He sure does, Rosen. Also acceptable: empty train cars, public parks late at night, fitting rooms... ] [ That startles a laugh out of him, but it's rich and dark and pleased. It's been a while since he had a partner who could make him feel small and light, but you're not wrong there; the only official weight he's ever been given was 66kg. He is so much stronger than he looks.

And also? Hooking his legs easily around Rosen's waist to cinch himself in closer, a smirk against the older man's lips. ]

Yeah? How much patience do you have? [ Lower, huskier: ] Gonna rip my clothes off, old man? Make me see stars?

[erschlagen]

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