video; @gamora

[godslay]

[ When the camera switches on, Gamora is in her apartment, Godslayer across her lap (diligently cleaned and freshly oiled), and she’s holding her communicator with her usual unreadable expression in place. ]

I want to expand my training opportunities. Those looking to spar or test their abilities – I want a challenge.

[ And with a slight lift of her brow— ]

Or let me know if you simply want others to practice with. Tell me how you prefer to fight, and we can work something out.

[ What a friendly and welcoming message.

… Except definitely the opposite of that.

Gamora is working on that “reaching out” thing, on trying to get a better idea of who and what surrounds her in the city, and she might as well use it as a chance to stretch her legs and potentially come up against a worthy opponent or two. ]

Comments

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He snorts out a laugh, waving a hand dismissively. ]

Fine. I won't bring air horns. Can I at least bring popcorn, still?

[godslay]

I assume you can eat that quietly.

[ The key here is clearly to be quiet. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ A shrug. ]

Sure.

I can throw it pretty quietly, too.

[godslay]

And now you're uninvited.

[ Why are her teammates children. Why. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He raises both hands, palms flat in a gesture of surrender. ]

Joke. Joking. I'm not gonna throw popcorn while you're sparring.

[godslay]

Good.

Otherwise, you might find it much more difficult to throw popcorn with broken wrists.

[ Who knows if it's a real threat.

(Probably not.) ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ There's a bit of a pause, as he lets his hands fall to his lap. Then, ]

Just as a suggestion, maybe try being a little nicer before you jump straight into the threats of bodily harm.

[godslay]

I was nicer, and you insisted on pom-poms.

[ ... "Nicer" is clearly a relative concept here. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

Because I was trying to be enthusiastic.

[godslay]

And you can be enthusiastic before and after, without pom-poms.

We can get dinner or something when I'm through.

[ Is that date-ish? It might be. A little. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His gaze flits over to her, almost surprised, and a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. ]

So does that mean I'm re-invited?

Just so we're on the same page, obviously.

[godslay]

[ She really does like that smile that creeps onto his face, and she can feel one mirrored on her own. She ducks her head, glancing off to the side – though that smile isn't quite smothered. ]

As long as there are no pom-poms, air horns, or porncorn-throwing, yes, you are re-invited.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He heaves out an overly dramatic sigh, throwing both hands into the air in a gesture of surrender. ]

Fine. It totally takes the fun out of watching you beat the crap out of folks, but fine.

[godslay]

If it's not fun, you don't have to go.

[ She crosses her arms over her chest, glancing back at him with that smile wrangled down in favor of a lifted brow. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He meets her look with narrowed eyes. ]

Can I at least take bets still?

[godslay]

[ Gamora tilts her head, momentarily considering. She did shoot down most of his other absurd options, and considering taking bets could mean a little extra money for the both of them (and people will hardly be cheated out of anything for it), she finally nods. ]

Fine, you can take bets.

But I want 70%.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His expression scrunches up a little at that. ]

That seems like a conflict of interest.

[godslay]

Why? I'm the one doing the fighting.

[ So, clearly, she should get something out of it. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

Well, I mean, there's always the off-chance where you're, like, not favored to win...

[godslay]

And if you win anything off of that, I want a cut.

[ Though Gamora's competitiveness means she doesn't much care for the idea of being less than favored to win. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

See? That’s what I’m talking about! Conflict of interest. I don’t want you to, like, throw the fight if you think you’re gonna get a cut of the profits no matter what.

[godslay]

[ That sure does earn him the flattest of flat looks. ]

You think I would ever throw a fight?

[ ... Unless someone's life was on the line or it was for the purpose of a mission, but in a low-risk competition? Absolutely not – and especially not for money. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He holds up both hands – placating, rather than surrendering. ]

Hey. I’m just saying, it’s all about appearances.

[godslay]

If you're going to be there, and you're going to bet, you're going to pay me.

[ Simple. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He studies her with narrowed eyes for a second, almost challenging. Then, ]

... As long as you don’t tell anyone you're getting a cut.

And we split it fifty-fifty.