Trainers Tournament '87 | Round 1: Levisay vs Ash

[✨ zozo.]

Lights, camera, action! The people of Panem were no strangers to watching combat on their television screens, but this year they'd have the pleasure of watching Capitolites battle it out for glory and status - just without the death!

The Plinth Munitions Annual Trainers Tournament, proudly brought to your screens by Fenwick Broadcasting Inc. would see the best of the Capitol's best go head to head for the honour of being crowned Head Trainer in the Capitol and the Career Districts. Fans from all over the country gathered around to watch the publicly broadcasted event, with some of the Capitol's elite and their friends taking seats on the bleachers in the Training Centre to watch the action right before their eyes. The High Council, of course, sat front and center to admire their handiwork or took to viewing the action behind the camera, putting their expertise in broadcasting to work. No rest for the wicked!

The question on everyone's mind was the same: Who would come out on top and be offered one of the most prestigious new jobs in the Capitol since the announcement of the High Council? Only time would tell.

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Welcome to Round One, trainers! In this round, we'll be using hand to hand combat only! These rolls are: unarmed.

The rules are simple: Everyone starts at 25HP. First come, first post. You have 24 hours to complete your fights - if no trainer has reached 25HP, we will determine the winner based on current damages and activity. Blitz posts are encouraged for the sake of speed.

Any questions pls head to #trainers-tournament in Slack.

Good luck trainers - may the odds be ever in your favour!

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Cassian Levisay (eulalie blake 1a 🍒 tris ) vs Dominik Ash (gamemaker kelsier )

[gamemaker kelsier]

 DOMINIK

Just this morning he fell in love with the new guy at Julie's Smoothies because he winked when he passed Dom his protein and guava fruit maccha blend with just a tiny itty bitty squirt of vanilla, smoothie. He knew that sugar was bad for him but Dom had never ever been able to resist just a little bit of sweetness. So he'd left his number on the handoff plane, butterflies in his stomach at the idea of an after-tournament date.

That was a little naughty, he swore he could already hear his manager's voice in his ear, telling him to keep his head in the game. When Dom had announced that he was leaving his family's company to follow his dreams of being a fitness coach, his father had laughed and disowned him. He'd left him with nothing but two cars, a penthouse, two avox and a driver with the promise that his son could come crawling back. Dom was determined to make it on his own, however.

The trainer's tournament had seemed like a great start and a wonderful way to get his name out there. Even if he lost, there were plenty of people who'd watch and definitely want to sign up for some personal training. Dom offered one to one service, a complete focus on a single client at a time. He believed in a personal, caring touch.

"Oh? My god?!" Dom smiled wide when he realized whom he was standing across from, "I didn't know celebrities would be competing! I'm a huge fan, huge, huge fan." Dom gushed even as he paced to the left to calculate his first move. He couldn't help but be a little bit starstruck though, "That episode where you went to the dog shelter inspired me so much! I adopted Boo Boo that very night, you literally changed my life."

Dom saw his opening but hesitated, a little worried about attacking the celebrity. "No hard feelings right?" he asked, "Just professionals being professionals!"

[dom attacks cassian <3 -- unarmed]
Gb8_97FPZJunarmed
[Broken Left Arm -- 6.5 damage]

25/25 hp

unarmed

[eulalie blake 1a 🍒 tris]

"Please, keep going. You're so kind."

Have I ever told you that I love models? Socialites, party boys — all of 'em. They're just so delightful. It's good to surround yourself with like-minded people, after all, and I've always been fond of narcissists. But this one has always seemed a little different. I recognize him from a few magazines, and sure, I've checked his blog out before.

Not for the self-help, I wanted to see where he got his workout clothes.

He didn't say. I clicked out, obviously.

"Listen, handsome, I'll just give it to you straight. Obviously, the face is off-limits for the both of us." I flash my opponent a kind smile, the kind that says, 'you're gonna be my fling for a whole season, then I'll break your heart in the finale.' It's just how the storyline goes, he doesn't have to take it personally.

"I have to meet Boo Boo after this match, there's no question about it. And I'll sign an autograph for you, too, don't feel pressured to ask. I got you." I crack my knuckles dramatically, twisting my neck in a circle like I'm an actor playing a fighter. I guess I kind of am, but still — when the bell rings, and he charges at me, I yell.

It's not funny, but I can hear the crowd laughing. He grapples me, and I try to escape, but in the process I hear something go pop! And I'm not chewing bubble gum right now, so my only response is to clutch my arm in agony and wail. "Are you serious?!" My eyes blaze with fury, staring down at this cutie with a surprisingly strong grip. Big mistake.

"Here's a new rule. Please don't rip my arm out of its socket." I roll my eyes and huff in annoyance, taking the time to center myself once more. I'm tearing up, but I don't care. This is really dramatic, and very serious, and now Dom and I are going through our very first fight. The ratings are going to be incredible, I just know it.

"And I just want you to know, I would not be offended if you threw for me. I'm already wounded enough."

Still, I play my part in this — and I lunge.

cassian attacks dom ; unarmed
4IXLg8rLrnunarmed
gash/bruised right arm -- 3 damage

hp: 6.5/25

unarmed

[gamemaker kelsier]

 DOMINIK

Cassian thought he was handsome?

Fog settled over his brain in the record time of two seconds, ideations of dreamy sunshiny afternoons formed spent in a green backyard. Enter Cassian wearing only swimming briefs, his head in Dom's lap as Dom slipped him strawberries and the dogs played nearby. They'd adopt, of course, two precious orphans from the East side and Dom would name them after his parents. Kids could be renamed right? As long as they were babies still? Anyway, there'd be a-

snap.

Okay, so like, Dom hadn't really done that hard of a move, it should have been easy for Cassian to slip out of his hold but he hadn't? So he was feeling a little bit confused. Why would anyone let their arm get broken? Dom wasn't really there to hurt anybody, not more than a few bruises at least. When Dom had looked up how to be a good personal trainer he'd read that it was good to push your mentee but not too hard! He wasn't there to train Cassian or anything but he couldn't help falling into it naturally.

"Next time if you twist, like so-," he demonstrated, "I won't be able to get the right footing to do that." He realized belatedly how condescending it was to give his opponent tips mid-fight, for a trainer's tournament no less, and Dom blushed, mortified. "I mean, of course you already knew that, you're Cassian Levisay!"

Dominik was born wealthy but by no means had he ever achieved the level of fame that Cassian had reached. The man was a legend! And Dom, well, he'd been good at showing up and doing what was expected of him but no one had ever interviewed him on live television. Compared to Cassian, he was no one.

He was a little bit okay with being no one though because then when he took the dogs to the park he ould just vibe. He didn't want to have to be rude to a fan but he took playtime with the pups extremely seriously.

Anyway, throwing for Cassian could happen pretty easy! Dom just had to think about it a little bit. On one hand, it was Cassian, super hot and sexy boy next door. Losing to him couldn't hurt his business that bad right? Then again, getting to say he'd beaten Cassian would be a great slogan. "If we're making rules can we avoid the hair too?" he asked, "Because this is a pretty fresh perm and my stylist will kill me if I show up with it wrecked tomorrow!"

He was cheerful, disarmingly so, light on his feet and ready to take whatever his opponent threw at him. "There's Captain and Honey too," he said, falling away even as he felt Cassian's nails dig into his arm, "Ah, let's not leave scars!" he pouted for only a brief moment, "Though I don't mind getting a little bit rough sometimes."

Dom offered him a cheeky grin before rounding back on him.

He wouldn't be throwing for anyone, not even for cute and sexy Cassian Levisay, ex-teen heartthrob and favourited to make Panem's sexiest under Fourty list!

[dom attacks cassian <3 -- unarmed]
mlgRA4CoM7unarmed
[Broken Left Knee -- 7.0 damage]

3/25 hp

unarmed

[eulalie blake 1a 🍒 tris]

I suggest him throwing for me, and instead he... is training me, I think? It's ridiculous.

But it's also, oddly enough, very attractive. His voice is so sweet and soft, encouraging me while at the same time trying to knock me on my ass. It makes me wonder — is this my love interest for the season, or is this my rival? I'm starting to think pretty boy Dom might be two for the price of one. Usually I hate bargains, but that's a habit I need to learn how to break, anyway.

I'm crying on the inside.

"Okay. I'll keep that in mind." My attack doesn't go quite as smoothly as his, it's like he's in my arms for a moment and then he's sliding out of my grasp like it's the easiest thing in the world. That makes my cheeks turn red. I try to stop myself from stomping my foot and crying out for my parents to come and do something. That's so season one. I'm an adult now.

I'm crying even harder. Time is a complete bitch.

"Alright. No hair-pulling, and no scratching. At least not right now." Models are such flirts. I'm living for it. Until he lunges and makes a move that nearly pops my knee out of place, and then I'm on the ground and wailing. "Can you not?!" Literally, what is his problem? Have I met him at some party before? Did I spill his drink? This has to be personal.

I hold my hand up, like I'm giving a stage performance and this is my award-winning monologue. But I stay quiet, trying to steady my breathing. I blink the tears out of my eyes because that's not a good look for anyone. Yeah, now I'm crying on the outside, too. Whatever. Drama also exists outside of a television screen.

Get over it.

"How am I supposed to meet your dogs with a broken leg?" That's a little dramatic, sure, but that's literally my whole gig. "Okay, listen," I'm against bargains, but not against bargaining, "would you throw for me if I took you on the best date of your life? I'm so down for kissing and telling, too, so we can share the publicity. You'd love my private chef."

Sighing and forcing myself to my feet, I know that I have to keep playing along.

But I'm starting to think that this might have been a stupid idea. Not fun.

cassian attacks dom ; unarmed
iMf69aW_pDunarmed
bruised right arm -- 2 damage

hp: 13.5/25

unarmed

[gamemaker kelsier]

 DOMINIK

He rubbed his arm absently, thumb working away at the place that Cassian had grabbed him. There'd be a bruise there for sure, the man had the right thought but barely any technique. To say that Dominik was confused was an understatement, he'd modelled his lifestyle after Cassian's television life. No one had ever pointed out to Dom that television was usually for show, he'd grown up watching the games and that was the realist shit ever.

So Cassian should have been beating his ass instead of looking like he was about to burst into tears. In a way, it was kind of sweet. It was nice to see that even he had a weakness. The knowledge of it dimmed the light that Cassian gave off, making it easier to see the real man under the glow of the tournament lighting. Still, it shouldn't have been so easy, unless, "Cassian?" he checked, bending slightly to get closer to his level, "Are you throwing for me?"

Dom was a caretaker and the urge to help Cassian achieve his dreams over his own was great. He'd never had anyone support him back. He'd never expected it either, not in the world he grew up in. The competition was fierce and it had always been every man for himself.

He blushed, suddenly feeling a little bit shy. Dom's first kiss had been very public, an older man who'd told him that he'd get him in Panem's highest-rated fashion mag if they dated. Most of Dom's relationships had gone about the same, the longest one being a year. It was always cold, calculated business but he'd always fallen in love anyway no matter how long it had lasted.

"Listen, I'll date you but not for the cameras, I don't do that kind of thing anymore," he said gently, trying to let him down easy. "And not because you're throwing for me either, I just think, well, you're perfect!"

And he really did want Cassian to meet his dogs, so this time when he threw himself at him, he did his best to not get his legs involved.

[dom attacks cassian <3 -- unarmed]
95Ihy6meW5unarmed
[Broken Nose -- 5.5 damage]

5/25 hp

unarmed

[eulalie blake 1a 🍒 tris]

"Okay," I think to myself as I hear my nose crack, trying to deal with the realization that he thinks I'm trying to do for him what I've been wanting him to do for me from the start. Does that even make sense? I don't know anymore. I feel like I'm about to faint, and I want to toss this sweet guy around until he finally feels as bitter as the rest of us.

There's different ways of accomplishing that task.

"Think on your feet, Cass. You know how to flip a script."

Sure, I'd rather live through this abuse for the rest of my life than commit to a non-public relationship, but there comes a time in every famous guy's life where he realizes he has to give up a few dreams to keep the big one. And if I want to be on the front page tonight without crashing another car, well...

"Yes! I am throwing for you." Dom must have cotton candy for brains, all sweet and dumb and innocent — but it's whatever, I can deal with this. I can make it work. "Do you all hear me?" I call out to the crowd, flexing my upbringing in stage theatre. No, you will not find any old clips from any of my productions. I had them all burned.

"I am endorsing this gorgeous man as the winner! Go forward, and make me proud." Okay, so we can't date in front of everyone, but he never said we couldn't drop any hints. My body aches, but I still move closer to him, giving him a sweet peck on the cheek and curling my fingers against his jaw. "Good luck, cutie. Can't wait to meet your dogs."

And then I walk off, snapping my fingers at the nearest person in uniform.

"I need a medic. You expect me to work in these conditions?"

cassian forfeits this round ♥

hp: 19/25