[An elegant eyebrow raises at that new bit of information, and it's obvious from her expression that she's a little surprised.] A long way indeed. [That only makes it even more impressive in Root's opinion; then again, if a mechanic's first draft of a prosthesis is something so rudimentary, it can only get better from there.]
And no hitting the right side of my skull, [she adds casually, completing their little rule book. She realizes that she may have given a weakness away, but Root isn't about to put her cochlear implant at risk; she doesn't know how strong Furiosa is, or how well she fights. The right side of her head is a no go, but she didn't say anything about the left side.] Roger that.
[She watches Furiosa roll her shoulder, but she stands still, not doing any kind of warm up or preparation. Root doesn't even take on a traditional sparring stance (her fighting style is far from being traditional) as she waits for the other woman to get ready; the only thing she does is to remove her hands from her back pockets and stretch her arms above her head with a soft sigh. She's ready for whatever the other woman throws at her.]
[Furiosa was also a lot smaller then, barely more than a child. That's a long story, though, and not an entirely pleasant one.]
Sounds all right. [She agrees mildly to the rule Root has added. She's not sure what it's apropos of, but this is supposed to be relatively friendly. She doesn't want to actually injure her new acquaintance, at least not beyond grass stains and bruises.
Furiosa's stance is very solid; she's fought mostly men, and they've been bigger than her, by and large, at least by weight and muscle mass. Root may be a challenge simply by virtue of being female and a little shorter.]
Two taps to stop. [She adds as a final rule, and then her body language shifts abruptly from military to loose-limbed and almost predatory as she darts forward in an attempt to sweep the other woman's feet.]
[Even if Furiosa does end up injuring her, Root won't mind: she's more than okay with a little violence, after all. There's something to be said about a good sparring match, and if their fight includes blood and bruises that won't heal for days, Root certainly won't complain.
While Furiosa's stance is solid, Root's is almost fluid: she's built like a ballerina-- tall, thin, and disarmingly feminine-- and definitely far from athletic, but she's the complete opposite of fragile or helpless. She's fought men and women alike, and although she frequently spars with a friend of the same gender, Root isn't used to actually being the shorter girl herself.]
Noted, [she replies, waiting for Furiosa to make her move. She doesn't have to wait at all, though, and as soon as she finishes speaking, the other woman is darting forward and trying to sweep her feet with her right leg. Root counters her move by sidestepping suddenly, making use of the momentum to aim a blow at Furiosa's left side.]
[Bruises are virtually guaranteed, particularly when they've never fought each other before and can't be sure how far to pull their blows. Furiosa would rather not draw blood, but these things happen. She won't hold it against Root if she walks away with a split lip or scraped elbows.
It's actually just a little bit distracting, noting the way Root stands. The grace, the slenderness, the clean and unmarked skin...Furiosa is damaged in many ways--romantically, psychologically--but she's not dead. Now is not the time to admire, though.
She's impressed by Root's agility, but she's not so careless she'd overextend on the first move, and she's ready for the counterstrike, parrying efficiently with the left elbow. There's power in that motion; some of the muscles have been built up by carrying the heavy prosthesis. It's her right fist, though, that jabs for the other woman's solar plexus.]
[Do Furiosa's eyes linger for a little bit longer than necessary, or is it just Root's imagination? Whatever it is, she pushes those thoughts aside as she focuses on their fight. Even if Furiosa did stare for a fraction of a second longer, there's nothing wrong with admiring an attractive woman, and Root knows she qualifies as such; her self esteem is just a tiny bit too high, after all.
Root is a very curious person. When Furiosa first suggested sparring, she wondered how the other woman would use her metal arm in a fight, and when she realized that Furiosa wouldn't be using it, she became even more interested in what was about to happen. So Root is pleased to see her using her left elbow just as efficiently as if she were using her whole arm, and can't help being impressed by how powerful the move is. She doesn't let herself get distracted, however, and she is just as ready for her own counterstrike. Once again, Root makes use of momentum to try to turn the tables to her advantage: she grabs at Furiosa's right arm and rotates her body, just enough to get up close and personal as she tries to do a shoulder throw.]
[It's not her imagination. Furiosa tends to be drawn to strength and competence first, but she's far from immune to beauty, either, and Root seems to have all the above, and then some.
The shoulder throw is a move Furiosa has made use of before, herself, and she's surprised to have it used against her so efficiently. It's doubly effective since it's trickier for her to counter with the abbreviated left arm, and she feels herself being pulled off-balance before she can break the hold. What she can do with that left arm, though, is curl the elbow tightly around Root's opposite shoulder and neck even as she's flipped. The grip may not hold well, but it should be enough to pull her opponent off-balance and land them both on the ground.]
[Well, that doesn't exactly go as planned. Root's move is successful, but it's obvious that Furiosa isn't planning on falling down on her own, and her grip is just enough to make her lose her balance: Root lets out a surprised little sound when she feels herself being pulled, which turns into breathless laughter when she does fall down (and quite ungracefully, at that), landing almost on top of her opponent. Her laugh isn't mocking, however; she's positively delighted that Furiosa managed to use that move to her advantage, when she didn't think she'd manage to do so. Root should have considered that possibility.
She doesn't waste any time pondering her mistakes, however: Root moves quickly so she can straddle the other woman, reaching for her arms so she can pin them above her head.]
Not bad, Furiosa, [she says with a wide grin as she twists Furiosa's right arm-- just enough to hurt, but not enough to actually harm her-- and pins her left arm by the elbow. Root knows that this position isn't really that good of a strategy, but she can never resist being a cocky little shit.] Not bad at all.
[Furiosa is laughing too, in fact, only silently, doing her best to save her breath. Root will no doubt notice the grin on her face when she tumbles on top of her. For a moment, the older woman is reminded of tussling with her clan-sisters as children. Valkyrie pinning her down and prodding for ticklish spots.
She gasps at the arm twist, fighting it while planting her heels. It hurts, but in that strange, semi-pleasant way that sparks adrenaline rather than distress. It's wise of Root to pin her elbow; men have made that mistake before. She's slippery as a snake with that arm and she'll get it out of most grips easily.]
Mmn? [Her eyes narrow, but the smile doesn't fade.] Could tell you the same.
[Then her hips twist, body writhing in a sudden explosion of movement to tip Root toward her left side, taking advantage of the way she's poised unevenly to throw her.]
[It seems like she's not the only one who's having a lot of fun: Furiosa's laughter is much quieter, yes, but it's there, and her grin is just as obvious as Root's. That gasp is only to be expected, and so is the way she fights back, but the hacker doesn't let go: she puts most of her weight on her arms, allowing her to pin the other woman more efficiently.
Unfortunately, her actions make it more difficult to keep her legs as stable and grounded as her upper body, and she pays the price immediately after: Furiosa's whole body writhes to the left, throwing her off. Root doesn't stop laughing even as she rolls away, her hair flying everywhere, and she rises quickly to her feet.]
Now that we've both established we're quite good at what we do, [she steps closer to Furiosa, offering her right hand to help her get up.] Maybe we could stop holding back, hm?
[Furiosa is already halfway up when Root offers her hand. She grins, accepting, although she's watching to make sure this isn't a prelude to a sneak attack.]
We seem to have established we both enjoy a good match, too. [She nods slightly. They're both standing now, right hands clasped, but Root may notice Furiosa's stance is balanced again, her side turned toward her opponent to present less of a target.]
Where'd you learn? [She's not quite ready to make another lunge, not yet. Weighing her opportunity, and hoping the other woman will attack first and allow her to play defense.]
[Root may be as ruthless during a fight as she is during a shootout or when hacking complex security systems, but she wouldn't just help someone up only to betray their trust; she's sneaky, but she's not that sneaky. She's glad that the other woman takes her offer to help her up.]
Oh, absolutely, [she says with a smile, but she doesn't let go of Furiosa's hand just yet. While her stance is defensive, Root's posture couldn't be more different: she doesn't turn her side to present less of a target, or even tense up in anticipation of an attack. She looks harmless, as if she's greeting a friend instead of taking a very short break during a fight.] A friend taught me. She and I both agreed that I needed to know how to defend myself. And you?
[She takes a few steps back, letting go of her hand and putting some distance between them. Root is going to make the first move this time around-- it's only fair, after all-- but not right away, so she circles Furiosa without taking her eyes off of her, her body language shifting to predatory and almost feline. And then she strikes, stepping closer and pivoting her body to aim a roundhouse kick at Furiosa's torso, targeting the left side just so she can see how good her opponent is at defending with her left arm.]
[Furiosa actually is that sneaky, but not during friendly sparring. If she's fighting for her life, everything is fair game, and if she's fighting for status, almost everything is fair game. Not now, though.]
Started learning when I was little. From my mothers. [Mostly from Katy Concannon. Mary, her biological mother, was capable of shooting and punching, but she didn't relish the physical challenge the way Katy did.
She turns subtly, watching Root circle and choose her target. And that is a very impressive kick she's got there. Rather than try and block with her arm, Furiosa counters with her own leg, aiming for Root's hip region in what's more of a shove than a kick. While they're around the same height, Furiosa has quite a bit of leg to work with, and may have better reach. She gives a little growl of effort as she moves, then pushes forward to swing her right elbow up and in toward Root's chin, forearm held close to protect her own face.]
[Indeed, everything goes when fighting for her life or someone else's. But friendly sparring is a different game altogether; she's not above sneaky moves such as faking an injury or fragility in general to bring her sparring partner's guard down, though.
Her eyebrows go up in surprise at Furiosa's answer. Mothers, plural, just like the other woman mentioned during their word game, right after the hacker said 'motorbike'. Root had found it an odd word association at the time, but the game itself can be delightfully weird, so she just chalked it up to different life experiences. She didn't think Furiosa had meant it literally, and the thought that her opponent is lucky enough to have two mothers looking out for her distracts Root enough that she isn't able to dodge the foot aimed at her hip. She stumbles, but before she can rearrange her body and her limbs into a defensive stance, there's an elbow connecting with her chin and mouth, bringing a pained little sound out of her and making her stumble backwards once again. This time, Root takes a few steps back, retreating to a safe distance to rethink her next move.]
They taught you well. [The hit was enough to make her bleed, and Root licks at the broken skin on her lower lip like it's no big deal, her eyes never leaving the other woman. It isn't a big deal at all: the metallic taste is nothing more than a reminder that she's alive, and a natural consequence of sparring with a very skilled fighter. Speaking of skilled fighters, Root doesn't take long to recover: she crosses the distance between them all of a sudden, pretending to aim a punch at Furiosa's face in retaliation, trying to distract her from her real move: a punch right to the solar plexus, using her right fist, like the other woman tried to do to her before.]
[Not just two mothers, but a host of other female clan members. By the standards of some worlds and individual, Furiosa's early childhood was tough. Certainly she had to learn to survive, to shoot and fight and work, very young. But she had a huge, doting, affectionate family, and even if she was torn away from them too soon, that love has stuck with her. If she had started out as an unparented war pup or feral child, she would have fallen for Immortan Joe's poison much harder, and maybe never freed herself from it.
She had memories of green, and women laughing, and playing with her sisters, and whether she knows it or not, they're the root of a great deal of her strength.]
They were strong. [It's a quiet, simple response. She watches Root's reaction a moment, gauging how angry she is, whether there's a loss of control forthcoming. She sees adrenaline rather than rage, and her lips quirk in a small, approving smile before Root darts in again.
The next several minutes are a blur of motion and endorphins, punches and kicks and holds and twists. She finds Root a very tricky opponent; in a lot of ways, she is better-trained. Her form and technique are more precise and elegant than anything Furiosa has ever faced before. That makes the fight a kind of joy in itself, like a dance. If she could move outside herself and just watch the two of them moving together, she'd be tempted. It must be a hell of a show.
Furiosa's own strengths are an ability to zero in on her opponents' unguarded moments, even as few and far between as they are. If there's an opening, she's there. She's also impossible to discourage, patient and stubborn and relentless.
By the end of it, her left side is terribly sore--it will be shades of blue and purple tomorrow--and she has assorted cuts and abrasions on her face and arms. She can feel herself wearing down, tiring slowly but surely, and her right hand is clumsy now, numb from repeated impacts. It's not completely useless, though, not yet, and Root's long brunette waves are too tempting a target to pass up. She's already pulled on them once or twice, but this time when she lunges in, she locks her left arm around Root's neck and curls her right hand in her hair, a secondary, stinging hold.]
['Were', not 'are', and something softens in Root's eyes before the adrenaline takes over once again. She's all too familiar with the pain of losing a mother-- she wishes they didn't have that in common, too-- but she doesn't let those thoughts distract her again as she moves in to retaliate: she focuses on fighting back, on giving as good as she gets and doing her very best not to let her guard down.
Furiosa certainly lives up to her name: it's been a very long time since Root had this much of a workout, and their fight is turning out to be just as challenging as hacking into the most secretive government organizations. While Root moves like a ballerina, Furiosa is unyielding and remarkably strong; the hacker would pause to admire her if only that didn't imply getting her ass kicked.
(She noticed a single camera as they made their way outside, but she doesn't know if it's online, or even if The Machine can access it. She'll have to ask her AI friend if she caught their fight on tape, later on.)
There's something to be said about sparring with a worthy opponent. Before she learned how to fight, Root never saw the appeal of doing it with someone just for the hell of it; oh, she's always known all about the adrenaline and endorphins involved and how much of a thrill that would bring, but she had no idea of how much fun it could be. And 'fun' is definitely the best word to describe everything that's happened so far: Root is sore all over, has long since lost count of how many bruises she'll end up with tomorrow, and both her nose and lower lip are bleeding freely, but she doesn’t regret a single thing.
Like her opponent, Root is growing more and more tired with each punch and kick-- she isn't used to sparring for so long, and her stamina has never been the same since she was tortured with several injections of amphetamines and barbiturates a few years ago-- and she's moving slightly slower because of that. Before she can block the other woman's next move, Furiosa puts her in a headlock and tugs on her hair, making Root growl through gritted teeth as she struggles against her hold, feeling slightly uncomfortable by how close that hand is to her cochlear implant. Her reaction is immediate: she sinks her fingernails into Furiosa's arm, clawing at her with perfectly trimmed nails as she tries to catch her breath and release herself. Normally, she wouldn't pass an opportunity like this to be a little shit or indulge in some flirting-- 'choking me already? You could at least buy me dinner first' is what she would say if she could actually speak at all, because Root always flirts at the most awkward times-- but as it is, she barely has enough energy left in her to think of her next move.
Luckily, Root has always been quite good at thinking critically even under the most dire circumstances, so it doesn't take her long to think of what to do next: she twists her body suddenly, just enough so that her right shoulder is pressed against the other woman's chest-- turning her head while Furiosa is gripping her hair tight is particularly painful, and it makes her hiss loudly, almost like a feral cat-- and hooks her right leg around Furiosa's to try to trip her, jamming her right elbow against her stomach at the same time.]
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sarken
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-04 01:44 am (UTC)And no hitting the right side of my skull, [she adds casually, completing their little rule book. She realizes that she may have given a weakness away, but Root isn't about to put her cochlear implant at risk; she doesn't know how strong Furiosa is, or how well she fights. The right side of her head is a no go, but she didn't say anything about the left side.] Roger that.
[She watches Furiosa roll her shoulder, but she stands still, not doing any kind of warm up or preparation. Root doesn't even take on a traditional sparring stance (her fighting style is far from being traditional) as she waits for the other woman to get ready; the only thing she does is to remove her hands from her back pockets and stretch her arms above her head with a soft sigh. She's ready for whatever the other woman throws at her.]
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-05 02:38 am (UTC)Sounds all right. [She agrees mildly to the rule Root has added. She's not sure what it's apropos of, but this is supposed to be relatively friendly. She doesn't want to actually injure her new acquaintance, at least not beyond grass stains and bruises.
Furiosa's stance is very solid; she's fought mostly men, and they've been bigger than her, by and large, at least by weight and muscle mass. Root may be a challenge simply by virtue of being female and a little shorter.]
Two taps to stop. [She adds as a final rule, and then her body language shifts abruptly from military to loose-limbed and almost predatory as she darts forward in an attempt to sweep the other woman's feet.]
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-09 01:57 am (UTC)While Furiosa's stance is solid, Root's is almost fluid: she's built like a ballerina-- tall, thin, and disarmingly feminine-- and definitely far from athletic, but she's the complete opposite of fragile or helpless. She's fought men and women alike, and although she frequently spars with a friend of the same gender, Root isn't used to actually being the shorter girl herself.]
Noted, [she replies, waiting for Furiosa to make her move. She doesn't have to wait at all, though, and as soon as she finishes speaking, the other woman is darting forward and trying to sweep her feet with her right leg. Root counters her move by sidestepping suddenly, making use of the momentum to aim a blow at Furiosa's left side.]
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-11 02:52 am (UTC)It's actually just a little bit distracting, noting the way Root stands. The grace, the slenderness, the clean and unmarked skin...Furiosa is damaged in many ways--romantically, psychologically--but she's not dead. Now is not the time to admire, though.
She's impressed by Root's agility, but she's not so careless she'd overextend on the first move, and she's ready for the counterstrike, parrying efficiently with the left elbow. There's power in that motion; some of the muscles have been built up by carrying the heavy prosthesis. It's her right fist, though, that jabs for the other woman's solar plexus.]
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-14 05:28 pm (UTC)Root is a very curious person. When Furiosa first suggested sparring, she wondered how the other woman would use her metal arm in a fight, and when she realized that Furiosa wouldn't be using it, she became even more interested in what was about to happen. So Root is pleased to see her using her left elbow just as efficiently as if she were using her whole arm, and can't help being impressed by how powerful the move is. She doesn't let herself get distracted, however, and she is just as ready for her own counterstrike. Once again, Root makes use of momentum to try to turn the tables to her advantage: she grabs at Furiosa's right arm and rotates her body, just enough to get up close and personal as she tries to do a shoulder throw.]
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-15 02:09 am (UTC)The shoulder throw is a move Furiosa has made use of before, herself, and she's surprised to have it used against her so efficiently. It's doubly effective since it's trickier for her to counter with the abbreviated left arm, and she feels herself being pulled off-balance before she can break the hold. What she can do with that left arm, though, is curl the elbow tightly around Root's opposite shoulder and neck even as she's flipped. The grip may not hold well, but it should be enough to pull her opponent off-balance and land them both on the ground.]
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-16 05:26 pm (UTC)She doesn't waste any time pondering her mistakes, however: Root moves quickly so she can straddle the other woman, reaching for her arms so she can pin them above her head.]
Not bad, Furiosa, [she says with a wide grin as she twists Furiosa's right arm-- just enough to hurt, but not enough to actually harm her-- and pins her left arm by the elbow. Root knows that this position isn't really that good of a strategy, but she can never resist being a cocky little shit.] Not bad at all.
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-18 12:46 am (UTC)She gasps at the arm twist, fighting it while planting her heels. It hurts, but in that strange, semi-pleasant way that sparks adrenaline rather than distress. It's wise of Root to pin her elbow; men have made that mistake before. She's slippery as a snake with that arm and she'll get it out of most grips easily.]
Mmn? [Her eyes narrow, but the smile doesn't fade.] Could tell you the same.
[Then her hips twist, body writhing in a sudden explosion of movement to tip Root toward her left side, taking advantage of the way she's poised unevenly to throw her.]
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-18 11:50 pm (UTC)Unfortunately, her actions make it more difficult to keep her legs as stable and grounded as her upper body, and she pays the price immediately after: Furiosa's whole body writhes to the left, throwing her off. Root doesn't stop laughing even as she rolls away, her hair flying everywhere, and she rises quickly to her feet.]
Now that we've both established we're quite good at what we do, [she steps closer to Furiosa, offering her right hand to help her get up.] Maybe we could stop holding back, hm?
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-28 08:04 pm (UTC)We seem to have established we both enjoy a good match, too. [She nods slightly. They're both standing now, right hands clasped, but Root may notice Furiosa's stance is balanced again, her side turned toward her opponent to present less of a target.]
Where'd you learn? [She's not quite ready to make another lunge, not yet. Weighing her opportunity, and hoping the other woman will attack first and allow her to play defense.]
welp, it seems notifs are messing up again! or so I've been told...
Date: 2016-09-01 03:01 am (UTC)Oh, absolutely, [she says with a smile, but she doesn't let go of Furiosa's hand just yet. While her stance is defensive, Root's posture couldn't be more different: she doesn't turn her side to present less of a target, or even tense up in anticipation of an attack. She looks harmless, as if she's greeting a friend instead of taking a very short break during a fight.] A friend taught me. She and I both agreed that I needed to know how to defend myself. And you?
[She takes a few steps back, letting go of her hand and putting some distance between them. Root is going to make the first move this time around-- it's only fair, after all-- but not right away, so she circles Furiosa without taking her eyes off of her, her body language shifting to predatory and almost feline. And then she strikes, stepping closer and pivoting her body to aim a roundhouse kick at Furiosa's torso, targeting the left side just so she can see how good her opponent is at defending with her left arm.]
I'm messing up. Not sure about notifs. >_>
Date: 2016-09-05 07:12 pm (UTC)Started learning when I was little. From my mothers. [Mostly from Katy Concannon. Mary, her biological mother, was capable of shooting and punching, but she didn't relish the physical challenge the way Katy did.
She turns subtly, watching Root circle and choose her target. And that is a very impressive kick she's got there. Rather than try and block with her arm, Furiosa counters with her own leg, aiming for Root's hip region in what's more of a shove than a kick. While they're around the same height, Furiosa has quite a bit of leg to work with, and may have better reach. She gives a little growl of effort as she moves, then pushes forward to swing her right elbow up and in toward Root's chin, forearm held close to protect her own face.]
You're not messing up, don't worry about it! <3
Date: 2016-09-07 12:49 am (UTC)Her eyebrows go up in surprise at Furiosa's answer. Mothers, plural, just like the other woman mentioned during their word game, right after the hacker said 'motorbike'. Root had found it an odd word association at the time, but the game itself can be delightfully weird, so she just chalked it up to different life experiences. She didn't think Furiosa had meant it literally, and the thought that her opponent is lucky enough to have two mothers looking out for her distracts Root enough that she isn't able to dodge the foot aimed at her hip. She stumbles, but before she can rearrange her body and her limbs into a defensive stance, there's an elbow connecting with her chin and mouth, bringing a pained little sound out of her and making her stumble backwards once again. This time, Root takes a few steps back, retreating to a safe distance to rethink her next move.]
They taught you well. [The hit was enough to make her bleed, and Root licks at the broken skin on her lower lip like it's no big deal, her eyes never leaving the other woman. It isn't a big deal at all: the metallic taste is nothing more than a reminder that she's alive, and a natural consequence of sparring with a very skilled fighter. Speaking of skilled fighters, Root doesn't take long to recover: she crosses the distance between them all of a sudden, pretending to aim a punch at Furiosa's face in retaliation, trying to distract her from her real move: a punch right to the solar plexus, using her right fist, like the other woman tried to do to her before.]
(no subject)
Date: 2016-09-14 12:53 am (UTC)She had memories of green, and women laughing, and playing with her sisters, and whether she knows it or not, they're the root of a great deal of her strength.]
They were strong. [It's a quiet, simple response. She watches Root's reaction a moment, gauging how angry she is, whether there's a loss of control forthcoming. She sees adrenaline rather than rage, and her lips quirk in a small, approving smile before Root darts in again.
The next several minutes are a blur of motion and endorphins, punches and kicks and holds and twists. She finds Root a very tricky opponent; in a lot of ways, she is better-trained. Her form and technique are more precise and elegant than anything Furiosa has ever faced before. That makes the fight a kind of joy in itself, like a dance. If she could move outside herself and just watch the two of them moving together, she'd be tempted. It must be a hell of a show.
Furiosa's own strengths are an ability to zero in on her opponents' unguarded moments, even as few and far between as they are. If there's an opening, she's there. She's also impossible to discourage, patient and stubborn and relentless.
By the end of it, her left side is terribly sore--it will be shades of blue and purple tomorrow--and she has assorted cuts and abrasions on her face and arms. She can feel herself wearing down, tiring slowly but surely, and her right hand is clumsy now, numb from repeated impacts. It's not completely useless, though, not yet, and Root's long brunette waves are too tempting a target to pass up. She's already pulled on them once or twice, but this time when she lunges in, she locks her left arm around Root's neck and curls her right hand in her hair, a secondary, stinging hold.]
(no subject)
Date: 2016-09-15 12:25 am (UTC)Furiosa certainly lives up to her name: it's been a very long time since Root had this much of a workout, and their fight is turning out to be just as challenging as hacking into the most secretive government organizations. While Root moves like a ballerina, Furiosa is unyielding and remarkably strong; the hacker would pause to admire her if only that didn't imply getting her ass kicked.
(She noticed a single camera as they made their way outside, but she doesn't know if it's online, or even if The Machine can access it. She'll have to ask her AI friend if she caught their fight on tape, later on.)
There's something to be said about sparring with a worthy opponent. Before she learned how to fight, Root never saw the appeal of doing it with someone just for the hell of it; oh, she's always known all about the adrenaline and endorphins involved and how much of a thrill that would bring, but she had no idea of how much fun it could be. And 'fun' is definitely the best word to describe everything that's happened so far: Root is sore all over, has long since lost count of how many bruises she'll end up with tomorrow, and both her nose and lower lip are bleeding freely, but she doesn’t regret a single thing.
Like her opponent, Root is growing more and more tired with each punch and kick-- she isn't used to sparring for so long, and her stamina has never been the same since she was tortured with several injections of amphetamines and barbiturates a few years ago-- and she's moving slightly slower because of that. Before she can block the other woman's next move, Furiosa puts her in a headlock and tugs on her hair, making Root growl through gritted teeth as she struggles against her hold, feeling slightly uncomfortable by how close that hand is to her cochlear implant. Her reaction is immediate: she sinks her fingernails into Furiosa's arm, clawing at her with perfectly trimmed nails as she tries to catch her breath and release herself. Normally, she wouldn't pass an opportunity like this to be a little shit or indulge in some flirting-- 'choking me already? You could at least buy me dinner first' is what she would say if she could actually speak at all, because Root always flirts at the most awkward times-- but as it is, she barely has enough energy left in her to think of her next move.
Luckily, Root has always been quite good at thinking critically even under the most dire circumstances, so it doesn't take her long to think of what to do next: she twists her body suddenly, just enough so that her right shoulder is pressed against the other woman's chest-- turning her head while Furiosa is gripping her hair tight is particularly painful, and it makes her hiss loudly, almost like a feral cat-- and hooks her right leg around Furiosa's to try to trip her, jamming her right elbow against her stomach at the same time.]