Alistair’s quick counterattack took Peake by surprise. His trapped arm was already enough surprise, which the Andaris clearly showed on his features, but as the blow landed on his gut Peake could do nothing but bend forward. Hand going to the table to support himself, Peake’s breathing was cut off for a whole thrill. Although Peake’s core was quite developed, mostly because of the abusive training with aggressive exercises like deadlift or squats, Alistair’s hit was not meant to shock the body in any way – it wanted to crush it, and it did. If the Venora had been a better host and had fed him something other than moronic strategies, Peake would’ve vomited any meal on the tabletop, now being a line of saliva what hung from his mouth. Some gasping grunts escaped the nobleman, forcing his breathing to return with mere stubbornness, his left hand unresponsive for some reason, perhaps shocked by the damage.
To be defied was grave, but to be assaulted was an insult Peake never tolerated. Not even his father, Benji, dared raise his hand against the once beaten child Peake was. Even so, disgraced by a Venora was perhaps the biggest offense one could suffer in this world, the house being miserable and pretentious from its roots. As Peake rose his predatory gaze to Alistair’s childish features, the utmost arrogance in his lack of emotion was enough to trigger whatever it was that sparkled the low chuckle in Peake’s throat. Even Peake himself was unsure of what he currently felt, if it was some sort of joy from a sudden revival of an old rivalry or perhaps a deep desire to break Alistair right then and there. What he did know is that he wanted more of it, drawn by the passion and hooked onto like as if it came from the end of a bottle. Peake didn’t even need to say anything, as Alistair seemed hook onto it as well, no matter how much he tried to hide it under that bland face of his.
Leaning back to recover, Peake’s hands went behind the table quickly, taking it by the edge and flipping it to the side as papers and books splattered through air and ground. As the chaos happened, however, Peake used the distraction and the removal of the obstacle as an opportunity to strike. Instead of launching paltry punches or puny punts, however, Peake decided to go directly for a takedown, lowering his center of gravity by bending his knees and jumping forward like a spring. His objective was to ram Alistair’s abdomen with his shoulder as his hands split, one going between his legs and the other doing the same from the other end, establishing a lock. If it was successful, Peake was likely to have no trouble in using both his back and his legs to lift the Venora off the ground, raise himself at full height and use the momentum to hurl Alistair to the side and slam him painfully on the ground – Peake to land just on top of the opponent’s body a thrill later.
To be defied was grave, but to be assaulted was an insult Peake never tolerated. Not even his father, Benji, dared raise his hand against the once beaten child Peake was. Even so, disgraced by a Venora was perhaps the biggest offense one could suffer in this world, the house being miserable and pretentious from its roots. As Peake rose his predatory gaze to Alistair’s childish features, the utmost arrogance in his lack of emotion was enough to trigger whatever it was that sparkled the low chuckle in Peake’s throat. Even Peake himself was unsure of what he currently felt, if it was some sort of joy from a sudden revival of an old rivalry or perhaps a deep desire to break Alistair right then and there. What he did know is that he wanted more of it, drawn by the passion and hooked onto like as if it came from the end of a bottle. Peake didn’t even need to say anything, as Alistair seemed hook onto it as well, no matter how much he tried to hide it under that bland face of his.
Leaning back to recover, Peake’s hands went behind the table quickly, taking it by the edge and flipping it to the side as papers and books splattered through air and ground. As the chaos happened, however, Peake used the distraction and the removal of the obstacle as an opportunity to strike. Instead of launching paltry punches or puny punts, however, Peake decided to go directly for a takedown, lowering his center of gravity by bending his knees and jumping forward like a spring. His objective was to ram Alistair’s abdomen with his shoulder as his hands split, one going between his legs and the other doing the same from the other end, establishing a lock. If it was successful, Peake was likely to have no trouble in using both his back and his legs to lift the Venora off the ground, raise himself at full height and use the momentum to hurl Alistair to the side and slam him painfully on the ground – Peake to land just on top of the opponent’s body a thrill later.
Thanks to Lazuli for this amazing template!
