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[sup][color=wheat]⚚[/color]   [color=c04000][b]LOCATION[/b][/color]   [color=cd5c5c]⚚[/color] Colosseum → Colosseum Cavea (seating area)[/sup]
[sup][color=wheat]⚚[/color]   [color=c04000][b]OUTFIT[/b][/color]   [color=cd5c5c]⚚[/color]  [url=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNTk1NTg2ZGItNTZjNi00NjkyLTk3OTEtNDY4M2U5ZTRkMzY2XkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg]Armor[/url][/sup]
[sup][color=wheat]⚚[/color]   [color=c04000][b]INTERACTING WITH[/b][/color]   [color=cd5c5c]⚚[/color]  Nobody (summary of his fights [@Sugar and Spite]; Lucius mentioned and Approaches Eden [@Moon Child][/sup]
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[color=wheat]There was a crisp, crackling feeling in the air. Rex could sense it. That protruding sense of bloodlust -- all competitive, sure -- but it couldn’t be denied. Rex could always sense it and whenever displays of strength, cunning, and the culmination of years of service and training came together, there was an abundance of it. It climbed up Rex’s defined, chiseled spine, tickled him in ways that nobody could ever achieve. Not even his beloved, Eden Ashford could replicate it.

No, this came directly as a side-effect of the genes he got from his father, Mars. A sixth sense, in a way, to be able to sense everyone’s desire for violence. Even those who claimed to be pacifists like Jeremy Grover were in attendance for the spectacle that was about to take place. 

And why wouldn’t they? It wasn’t often the best fighters Camp Jupiter [i]and[/i] New Rome had to offer would come together in randomly selected pairings and participate in some good ole fashioned sparring. Now this sparring was full contact, weapons and armor included, but it wouldn’t be fun if it wasn’t.

Rex had bore witness to some of the matchups for the Legionnaires. He heard Luka was outsmarted by Rikki. Not expected but not unwelcomed. Rex was able to take some pride in knowing Luka wouldn’t be gloating about that. He stayed aware until the second round of their fights, as he had to mentally prepare for his, but not before he heard one of the Praetor’s, Cassian, was able to win his match. Pride swelled in Rex’s heart. He had no doubt and that seemed to be a match not evenly matched. 

As the festivities went down further, Rex, who was already watching from a vantage point in the back, he would watch Cassian take his dub, as he rightly deserved.

And then it was his turn. The first of the Veteran matches and it was a showstopper. Sabine, that ever chaotic daughter of Pluto, was to be his first fight. A worthy foe. Rex would never think of disrespecting her by underestimating her. They have sparred many times in the past, so he knew about her abilities as a warrior first hand but that would not make it easy for him. War and violence was as natural to Rex as breathing underwater for a child of Neptune was, yet as the match went underway, it became clear that Sabine wasn’t taking it seriously…not at first, anyway. 

Rex came with his warhammer. The same one Noah had forged based off of the schematics given to him by Thor. The same hammer that was, in normal cases and for normal people, a two-handed weapon. Someone like Ashton would need two hands, but for the Son of Mars, he could swing it wildly with one hand. He had power, precision, and speed at his back. But Sabine was a warrior among warriors. A true testament of the big three. Her handling with her spear was genius. A true Roman. But as good as she was and as evenly matched they were, Rex’s power was something that not even Sabine Kiskova could match. The deciding blow came with a clashing of hammer against spear and Rex twisted his body to the side, Sabine going forward and Rex, with as much force that wouldn’t kill her, threw a right into her gut.

The match was called when Sabine fell.

The next series of matches passed with Ashton giving up against his fight against Gigi Russo, not even bothering to give the girl a shot against him. She wasn’t happy and Rex was only disappointed. [color=c04000]“You pussy!”[/color] Rex shouted at Ashton. Gigi seemed to feel the same because she shouted the same at him.

After that, Noah would win against Delaney and then the match against Avery and Aeris, the fight that would decide who Rex would face. So he watched it intently, studying everything but also enjoying the fight. Avery was a magician on the battlefield. Her experience always showed in her grace and it clearly paid off because it seemed as though her fight against Aeris went as quickly as it began.

Which meant Rex had his hands full. There weren’t many Rex truly admired. Okay, that’s a lie. There were plenty of worthy Romans among them. Many with creeds worthy of their prestige, but Avery was different. She and him had been as tight as two people platonically can be ever since Rex came to Camp Jupiter. She is the closest thing he would have to an older sister, but more importantly than that, someone whom he respected more than anyone else. 

And their fight was legendary. A true testament of their skill and positions as Senators. At times, it seemed like she was a few steps ahead of him. Rex had power and he had timing but Avery was just a step ahead of him, pivoting to the side, parrying his blows, sparing no wasted time. Her skills with that gladius was as masterful as his own skills with his hammer was. She caught him a few times in the abdomen, which effected his mobility, but Rex had powered through it. He got her with a few rights but still she wouldn’t give.

And then the deciding blow came, but it was not one with a blade or a hammer or a series of fists, but rather an admission of a truth that threw Rex off his game and about his beloved, no less. It wasn't just the unveiling that Eden and Avery shared a moment together. The shock got Rex but it wasn't what did him in. It was the repeated mention of Eden's body: her boobs, her ass, her curves - every mention of in-between strikes and counters and parries were what distracted the usually focused Son of War. This one admission allowed Avery to snag the victory with a well-placed series of strikes in his abdomen, then in his face, breaking his jaw in several places.

Brain beat braun. 

How could Rex be mad at that? No seriously, how could he? Wisdom was her forte and Avery used it in such an unconventional way. Even as he laid on the ground, pondering how he couldn’t see it coming, Rex just smiled. It hurt to do so and within minutes he was seen with Lucius with an emergency healing. Nothing major. Rex didn’t need much. He had a few bruised ribs but nothing time couldn’t heal. Or a visit with Lucius later, but he just needed his jaw fixed. When that was done, Rex shook it off and joined the only person who could heal the rest of his ailments (none of which were physical).


He took a seat that overlooked the rest of everyone. Not that it was a position to celebrate importance but it just happened to be where she was. Rex took his beloved into his arms and kissed her sweetly. His jaw still tingled and he was tender all over, so the usual primal kiss he blessed on her lips would have to wait until later. [color=c04000]“I almost had her too,”[/color] Rex said, releasing Eden from his hold, though he still held onto her hand, leaning against her shoulder in a display of shocking vulnerability. [color=c04000]“She’s a crafty one, alright. Hope you’ve been enjoying the show regardless, [abbr=my one and everything]Mein Ein und Alles[/abbr].”[/color]
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