[Colosseum] Knockout Fight: Edward vs. Jade! {open to spectators}

[Jiala'in Veldri]

Hour 15 of Aslanica, Brightening 24 of the Third Cycle of Kalendryas
Winter of Era I of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIII Post Fractum
Paradigm: The Eclipse of the Sun

"Ladies and Gentlemen and Gnomes!" cried the announcer as he waved his hands for attention. The Colosseum was teeming with bloodthirsty enthusiasts and roaring fans, all still hailing their favorite fighters from the last match. No one really paid much attention at all; after all, the next people up on the schedule were nobodies! "Now, for our next match, it's a knockout fistfight! A naval seaman, ripped to the core, with fists like rams and a determination that rivals an ox, let's hear it for EDWARD VAN HAGEN!"

The crowd applauded and even whooped politely, uncertainly, as Edward was pushed into the arena by the dwarf behind him, who muttered something about luck and femme fatale before the door slammed shut. He had been thrust onto a dusty ground, unarmed, under the expectant eyes of the general public of Nexus Prime. They stared, they laughed, they yelled out at him to show his muscles, they roared their immediate enthusiasm for his winning, and some could even be heard already making their bets.

"And his opponent, the fierce tigress of Nexus, a killer among killers with a sharp mind and a sharper tongue, the whip of Arium, give it up for JADE ASHLAND!"

Jade was pushed out of an opposite door by yet another dwarf, who simply snorted his distaste before slamming the door behind her, leaving her to face Edward across the dusty arena. The crowd immediately burst into a roar -- though the nature of it was uncertain. Many of the men in the audience were whistling and shouting cat-calls at Jade, screaming out for her to put on a totally different kind of show. Many other members of the audience, however, were howling in rage and throwing trash into the arena, crying out against the battle between a navy man and a woman. This was immoral! This was unbalanced! This was against the will of Diana! This was an outrage!
Still, the announcer cleared his throat and stepped back calmly, motioning that Edward and Jade could step toward each other.

"Begin when you're ready, you two," he muttered darkly, pointedly ignoring the jeers of the crowd. With that he spun around and sprinted back toward a center door, through which he disappeared.

Now, it was just Ed, Jade, and their respective reputations on the line.

[Jade Ashald]

What was it about fight announcers that caused them to forever oversell the virtues of whoever was in the ring?

The only time anyone had ever called Jade a fierce tigress of anywhere was about four seconds ago.
As for the description of Edward… well, Jade probably would have just stopped at ‘top heavy’

Jade made one last check - her clothing was well secured and her hair tied back. If Edward decided to fight dirty, at least there wouldn't be too much for him to try and pull at.
Strolling casually into the area, the novice gladiator held her arm high; half wave, half salute to the crowd. As her arm lowered, she brought her hand around, the back of her hand facing upwards and her fingertips at the base of her chin and then flicked her hand outwards past her chin, almost as if she was sharply brushing something off the underside of her chin.
It was probable that there were few in the audience that knew the meaning of the gesture. Jade wasn’t sure where she had picked it up from, but she knew the meaning well enough.

I spit on you

Jade continued across the area at a leisurely pace, not adopting a fighting posture until she was but a few paces from Edward. She made sure to keep him at around two arm lengths, for now at least, and just circle him to see what his reaction would be.
He may well charge Jade, attempting to bowl her over. Depending on how he ran, Jade could either throw herself sideways out of the way or push his head down in to the dirt and step over him.

Then again, he may come out swinging. Might as well let him start things off.
Jade brought her fists up ready, her heels off the ground, leading leg slightly bent so she could duck back in a hurry if need be. Her weight was mainly on the back leg, so if Edward went for a sweeping kick she could pull one leg off the ground to avoid it, or simply hop back a step. Jade readied herself for a few punches; If Edward took a straight out swing at her upper body, she hopped to be quick enough to dodge to one side, swinging her own fist with a slight circular movement into her opponent’s wrist, pushing his blow further out to the side.

Come-on Eddy, lets see those ram like fists then. You know, there are a few other things they say about the mental faculties of oxen…