[attr="class","icon"]

Their prior meeting is still a frequent visitor to her thoughts. For a long time, she'd gone unnoticed and that had suited her just fine. She'd never sought recognition, and yet, she'd be lying to say she isn't somewhat thrilled by it. Like a dopamine hit she'd resisted feeling until that point and now she sees why. Ambition is a powerful thing.
[break][break]
"Theo."
[break][break]
"Yes, sir." She nods, looking over to make sure that Kuru feels the same sentiment. The bird is... distracted, but there.. which is really all she can ask of the buzzard.

[attr="class","bottom"]THEO BECKETT [break]
mission![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"alright, then."[break][break]

he takes a step back, sending his alolan sandslash scurrying forward with a gesture. its sharp claws drag against the floor.[break][break]

"the objective of today's battle is simple."[break][break]

taking up his spot across the room, he turns back to look at her.[break][break]

"survive."[break][break]

his tongue clicks, and from the sandslash comes an ICICLE SPEAR that looks to impale the corviknight.

[attr="class","bottom"]Marza Volchitsa[break]
mission![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"Survive." It is simple. About as simple as it gets, in Marza's opinion. The one thing she knows quite well and yet she hasn't trained with Theo on this. There is a thrill in the sentiment. However, she doesn't just want to survive, she wants to conquer.
[break][break]
Kuru leaps backward, ice crashing just below its claws. Armoring up with Iron Defense in case any more icicles lash out at him during the ascent. He is a heavyweight, but agile enough to put distance between himself and attackers, perhaps that's why Marza has always favored him. With the distance applied, he speeds up to lash out with brave bird.

[attr="class","bottom"]THEO BECKETT [break]
mission![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

sandslash is quick to curl up into a ball before picking up in a RAPID SPIN, fending off the BRAVE BIRD with its hardened exterior. even if it does take damage from it, it's not enough to deter the sandslash from continuing with its spin.[break][break]

theo whistles.[break][break]

sandslash doesn't even have to stop as it sends out another ICICLE SPEAR, this time soaring straight towards marza's leg instead of the corviknight.

[attr="class","bottom"]Marza Volchitsa[break]
mission![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

The armored form of the sandslash manages to make Kuru frustrated. The bird has a shorter temper than its master, which shows. In Marza's attempt to pull his attention back, she barely manages to dodge the icicle spear thrown for her this time. There's a sharp cut to the side and she hisses, gritting down on the pain. The adrenaline from it is like a kick to the chest. It's a good sort of feeling and she was stupid for not expecting the attack.
[break][break]
The corviknight doesn't appreciate the attack lashing out with a fury attack, attempting to dig its talons in and get a good hold to thrash the sandslash about.
[break][break]
"Focus." What a temperamental brat of bird he's being today. 

[attr="class","bottom"]THEO BECKETT [break]
mission![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

the corviknight's temperament may prove to be its downfall as the alolan sandslash simply tucks into a ball once more. though talons may sink into it, most of the damage is mitigated by its spiky exterior that oddly acts as a cushion.[break][break]

it's able to shoot another round of ICICLE SPEAR at marza, this time more careless with its aim.[break][break]

"focus."

[attr="class","bottom"]Marza Volchitsa[break]
mission![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

The snap is enough to recall the Corviknight's fleeting attention, drawing him back to her as she rolled from the next deadly icicle. They're both temperamental mirrors of one another, that's always been the case. It made it sometimes hard to deal with, even if they could read one another better for it.
[break][break]
Marza always preferred to fight with her pokemon, but that left her weak on a one-on-one. It meant she needed better control over her own pokemon if she wanted to progress. Clearly, she was failing in that regard and in front of her boss, which only made the bite more severe.
[break][break]
Rather than attack, the corviknight steeled itself with IRON DEFENSE.

[attr="class","bottom"]THEO BECKETT [break]
mission![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

with marza now forced on the defensive, he wonders how long she'll be able to persist and survive.[break][break]

his tongue clicks in wordless orders. the sandslash continues its assault, closing in with multiple ICICLE SPEARS that all look to impale either her or her corviknight.[break][break]

carefully, theo begins to approach as well, offering her a possible path to wint his battle by putting himself in a risky position.

[attr="class","bottom"]Marza Volchitsa[break]
mission![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

Aware now that the rules are far more deadly than she'd anticipated, her hackles are up. Every nerve burns with the familiar adrenaline that has helped her to survive for years. It reminds her of battle, real battle. Athleticism had always been her forte, preferring to leave more thought-provoking talents to the scientists and smartasses in rocket.
[break][break]
She bobs and weaves, ducking around the assault of ice spears hurled her way. It requires her to focus on two different things, both survival and the fight. Kuru does the same, until Marza orders him with a curt whistle. The bird twists in the air before hurling down in a BRAVE BIRD that is aimed not for the sandslash, but at the underboss.

[attr="class","bottom"]THEO BECKETT [break]
mission![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

fighting and surviving should not be two different things. he fights in order to survive. simple as that.[break][break]

from his shadow comes a banette, slipping free to tank the impact of the BRAVE BIRD that sends it careening through the air. it levels soon enough, then turns back to shoot out a THUNDER that soars toward the corviknight.[break][break]

meanwhile, sandslash RAPID SPINS forward, ready to deliver a controlled NIGHT SLASH to her leg.

[attr="class","bottom"]Marza Volchitsa[break]
mission![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

Even with the danger, there is still a thrill that runs under her skin like a electric current. Every once in awhile, the realization dawns on her that she's not a weapon, but a force of nature. Even if her life has been constructed as no more than a tool to be used. Maybe that's the thrill in fighting and working with someone like THEO BECKETT . He doesn't bother to stamp out the fire when it threatens to burn him.
[break][break]
Kuru screeches as the impact of the thunder crashes down on him. Marza rolls, hoping and praying she doesn't end up down a leg in the end of this fight. One hand flipping out to loose her trevenant. Roots cracked up out of the ground, weaving up and blocking the strike from attacking her. Before a burst of flames crashes out at the sandslash with will-o-wisp. 

[attr="class","bottom"]THEO BECKETT [break]
mission![break]