Maverick was getting more and more accustomed to living in Ashen every single day. What had started out as a daunting notion of upending his entire lifestyle in favor of building a new stable life with his girlfriend had become a comfortable sort of normal he looked forward to waking up to every single day. But until recently, he felt like he hadn't done much to carry his own weight within the pack. Sure, the argument could be made that he was still getting his feet underneath him after a total life change, but more than anything, Maverick wanted to feel like he was worthy of Venom. The stories of her formidable ex-husband and actually seeing him in person at the pack challenge did leave the outwardly confident renegade a little shaken up and feeling a smidge inadequate by comparison. Well, that stopped today! Starting from now, Mav was focused on making himself into the best version of himself—not just for Venom to have a partner who could stand up against the world with her, but for his own self-esteem as well.

Deciding that sharpening his fighting skills seemed like the best place to begin if he was to help defend the Empire for his queen, Maverick headed down from the palace to the training areas that he had been shown during his initial tour of the pack with his beloved Empress. He had asked Venom to meet him here at midday, though he hadn't told her why yet. He cleared out one of the rings of any debris and, once satisfied with the state of the arena, sat and waited for Venom to come meet him. Hopefully she wouldn't be too busy that he could steal some of her time for a quick spar, just a little assessment to gauge where his skills were—and also to get a chance to see his lady in action too. A little devilish smirk touched his lips as he considered that last point. Yeeeah, getting to see Venom in the heat of battle sounded pretty hot.

"Venom & Maverick"

The loneliness that had haunted her since Hattori’s leaving was all but banished when she finally invited Maverick into her pack and home. Venom had no more questions, for so long her thoughts were wrapped up in her ex-husband. The why of it, the how, but now that she had Maverick at her side all of the doubting thoughts were gone. He’d left her for a reason, and fate twisted her path to lead to Mav. Despite the pain and agony she wouldn’t have changed anything in her past. All of it led to her being stronger in her character, and more importantly to find her rough and tumble renegade. Who made her feel alive like she never had before.

Mav had asked to meet at midday, somehow she had refrained from showing her disappointment in the time frame. Dutifully Anko woke her mistress in the late morning after a little nap so she could meet her suitor. When he asked her to meet him near the training ground she had an idea of what was to come, but she left her armor in the den, and did not have her companions follow her when she arrived before Maverick’s clouded sky form.

He sat himself inside one of the training rings, waiting for her to arrive. His mirthful grin created a Klein like smirk on her own features as she approached him. "Don’t you look dashing.” Venom chuckled as her white gloved paws brought her into the ring.

"Venom"

Maverick wasn't kept waiting long—or at all, in fact, for as soon as the sun moved towards its zenith in the sky, his nocturnal shadow of an Empress emerged to meet him in the sparring ring. The rugged renegade cast a lopsided grin to his lover, a toothy smile that sat crooked on his lips in his casual, debonair way. She called him dashing, and it took all of Mav's self control to keep from just calling off his plans and spiriting her away to their bedchambers for some much needed R&R. No, there would be plenty of time for that after they lit a fire in their blood with a bit of full contact sport. "And aren't you the picture of beauty," he quipped back with ease, putting that silver tongue to good use. Maverick wasn't shy with the appreciative gaze he let roam down his girlfriend's perfect physique. This time, however, he was assessing it for physical use of a different variety. "Too bad I'm about to get you all sandy."

Once Venom had set paw into the ring, Mav shifted to square up against his Empress, still all cool confidence and easy grins. He hadn't told her what he had planned, but by now she surely had figured out his intents. "Other than Plague, I hear you're the best fighter in Ashen, Your Grace." He spoke with a teasing tone, taking playful liberties with her while he rolled his shoulders to limber up his body. It had been some time since he'd had a good and true proper fight! "I thought before we turn in for the... er, day, I might be able to convince the most beautiful wolf in all of Boreas to show me the standards I need to live up to." Teal eyes flashed with a mischievous mirth as he added, "That is, if I don't lay you out flat first."

While the spar alone would have been more than satisfactory for Maverick, what fun was a contest of skill without some sort of friendly wager on the line? What would happen to his renegade street cred if he didn't take the opportunity to exploit something favorable from this test? "So the plan is we fight, we get cleaned up, and then we head to bed to do some unwinding. How's that sound, my love? Oh, and how about we make this into a game? The winner gets to have total control over the other for the rest of the day." Sure, the rest of their day was mostly going to be spent sleeping until dusk, but their private time right before the sleeping could be oh so fun with a little twist added in. "Whaddya say, Ven? You game for a bet?" Flashing her another naughty, cocky grin, Maverick lowered his body to a fighting stance, shifting his weight back and forth on his paws while he waited for her to assume her stance as well to begin their fight.

Maverick vs Venom for Spar
Round 0/?
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Spiked leather bracers
Defensive Battle Accessory: Ballistic canine vest
Companion 1: Northern Sparrowhawk, Female - Flying
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Intermediate Navigator

"Maverick"

Maverick gave her his lopsided grin, only solidifying her opinion on his dashing appearance. She could see a flicker of mischievous flame through his vibrant gaze as he looked her body over. Venom enjoyed being his object of obsession, no one looked at her like this before, and feeling wanted was an incredible confidence boost. Her own sunset gaze mirrored his, as she admired the way his new armor fit over his body. He greeted her back with a similar compliment before admitting he almost felt bad about getting her sandy. They lived on an island chain, there was always sand somewhere. It had become a part of her, and the pack, but she showed him a devilish grin of her own in response as she drew herself up before him.

He vaguely explained himself to her, starting with the assertion that she was indeed the best fighter within Ashen’s boundaries. Her smirk intensified as she let him speak. He flattered her, enough to convince a little flush to her cheeks before he asserted that he would lay her out flat before she could show him her prowess. The assertion brought a chuckle from her lips as she rolled her own shoulders. Despite his massive size Venom was the picture of confidence. She had been fighting giants her whole life. "We’ll see about that.” She quipped back with a teasing grin.

Maverick wasn’t done yet. With his own smirk he upped the ante, suggesting a not so small wager. Venom couldn’t deny the fire he lit in her core, not just the anticipation of a spar, but the way he described their follow up activities and the possibilities before them. A wicked grin played on her features. "Can you trust me not to throw the match?” She asked him suggestively as her joints bent in preparation for her attack. The suggestive words flowing easily off her tongue. She enjoyed the prospect of submitting to her lover much more than taking dominion over him.

She gave him no more warning or confirmation than that as she began their tussle. Immediately Venom shifted to Mav’s right hand side, but it was just a ruse to duck under his chin and wrap around the left side. Aiming to trip up his left leg while her sharp teeth went for his sensitive ear. She wanted to throw off his balance and coordination as she controlled his head by his ear.

"Venom"

Venom vs Maverick for Dominance
Round 1 of 2
Age: over 1
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Quills - Defensive
Mutation 3: Enhanced vision - Perception
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Intellectual
Specialty: Bulwark

Venom entered the ring with all the grace and composure of a leader and a seasoned warrior. She held his gaze with her own stunning sunset eyes, a cocksure smirk on her lips that had become a common nuance of hers he noticed, and stood opposite of him, limbering herself up for the fight to come. She teased him back, accepting his challenge. His additional offer of a wager and the stakes he suggested brightened up the Empress' beautiful face with a fire in her eyes and a wicked grin on her face. She asked if he could trust she wouldn't throw the fight, and the suggestive implication her words had made his core clench hot. Oh, Maverick could not deny his great desire to take dominion over his lover, already imagining a slew of fun and inventive ways he could enjoy that power and they could enjoy that luxury together. "Well, if you're that interested in being my subject, you could use your prize to command me to dominate you, and I'd be happy to..." Maverick purred the last few words off his tongue, rolling the syllables with a thinly veiled lust. "But I'd prefer to win that prize if I can."

As soon as their banter had ended, the fight had begun. Venom kicked things off, the lithe Empress darting to his right, which Mav immediately moved to intercept—only for Venom to feign to the left and lunge for him. Maverick tried to turn to intercept her attack, but Venom was quicker than he was. She was able to get in close and use her body to prevent him from getting his footing on his left paw. He stumbled, and Venom went for his ear, but a quick turn of his head kept the sensitive appendage just out of reach. Instead, her teeth found purchase on his cheek, grabbing the side of his face in her jaws. Maverick snarled in reply, keeping his left eye closed to prevent any accidental damage to it while he relied on his size and strength to overpower the Empress. Maverick shifted his weight to his right legs and sought to bring his left paw up over Venom's back and sides, seeking to grab her round her sides so he could literally scoop her front legs off the ground and put her off balance enough to release him.

Maverick vs Venom for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Spiked leather bracers
Defensive Battle Accessory: Ballistic canine vest
Companion 1: Northern Sparrowhawk, Female - Flying
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Intermediate Navigator

"Maverick"

Maverick gave her another out, if she did happen to win she could always just switch their roles with her command. He was right though, a win from him would be so much sweeter than handing over control voluntarily. "I’d prefer as well…” She assured him with a quick whisper before starting the battle in earnest. She expected him to give her his all, there wouldn’t be any punches softened by her and she expected the inverse as well. Venom could take him on in earnest.

She got him with her beginning feint, enough that she was able to trip him as she wished, but she missed her target of his ivory ear. She was forced to grab his cheek instead as she suppressed the worry that she would catch his eye with her sharp teeth. He snarled, but she knew she didn’t really hurt him, she wasn’t biting that hard. Yet. She felt his arm wrap around her, and she raised her hackles, knowing that he hadn’t forgot about her greatest defense.

Venom aimed to use his next move to her advantage, she did indeed release him from her hold. The Empress would aim to grab him back to steady herself. Venom aimed to wrap her long arms around his neck. She wanted to hang from him, pulling him over as she held tight.

"Venom"

Venom vs Maverick for Dominance
Round 2 of 2
Age: over 1
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Quills - Defensive
Mutation 3: Enhanced vision - Perception
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Intellectual
Specialty: Bulwark

Thankfully, Venom's jaws around the side of his face weren't clamping down on him hard or trying to inflict any real damage, otherwise he'd have been afraid of the smaller fae taking out his eye or leaving some seriously nasty scars. In this one attack alone, Maverick was really seeing just how aggressive Venom was when it came to combat. Not that he had doubted her skills or the rumors, but hot damn, the woman had spirit! As son as Maverick's arm went around her back, he felt Venom's muscles tense, raising her hackles and bristling her fur, and he knew what was coming. He slid his foreleg down the curve of her back just enough to narrowly avoid those spiny quills from pricking him, managing to get his grapple on her. Unfortunately for him, this seemed to be exactly what Venom had wanted, for as soon as he got a hold of her, he felt her jaws release his face. It was then that he knew he had fucked up.

No sooner had he gotten his foreleg around Venom's sides with his claws gripping into her skin and fur, the Empress also made to wrap her slender arms around his neck. In his current position, the dire brute had no hope to try to stop her or avoid the grapple, and before he knew it, Venom was hanging off of him, using her full weight to pull him forward and topple him. On only three legs, Mav was effectively just holding on to the svelte fae while she threw herself back and let gravity do the rest. "Whoa!" Mav cried out in surprise as he went tumbling forward, trying to brace himself and catch himself mid-fall to prevent being taken down to the ground along with her.

Maverick vs Venom for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Spiked leather bracers
Defensive Battle Accessory: Ballistic canine vest
Companion 1: Northern Sparrowhawk, Female - Flying
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Intermediate Navigator

"Maverick"

And the winner is...

Maverick

Venom must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Venom : Attack Roll: 12 Defense Roll: 78 Agility Roll: 7 Perception Roll: 45 Total: 142 Attack[12] + 10% Bonus[1.20]: 13.20 Defense[78] + 35% Bonus[27.30]: 105.30 Agility[7] + 5% Bonus[0.35]: 7.35 Perception[45] + 35% Bonus[15.75]: 60.75 Total[186.60] + 25% Bonus[46.65]: 233.25 Maverick: Attack Roll: 11 Defense Roll: 69 Agility Roll: 13 Perception Roll: 99 Total: 192 Attack[11] + 25% Bonus[2.75]: 13.75 Defense[69] + 10% Bonus[6.90]: 75.90 Agility[13] + 10% Bonus[1.30]: 14.30 Perception[99] + 10% Bonus[9.90]: 108.90 Total[212.85] + 10% Bonus[21.29]: 234.14

Venom wrapped her white gloved paws around his neck, had Maverick been prepared for her sudden weight he wouldn’t have toppled over with her like he did. Taken off guard, as made obvious by his sudden exclamation as they went tumbling towards the ground. The Empress very nearly outmatched him, but his weight landed just right on her thin frame that he pinned her completely beneath him. She squealed unprofessionally, as the sound shifted to an almost excited giggle as she surrendered beneath Maverick’s weight. Venom didn’t have to throw the fight, he’d won but just by the skin of his teeth. That fact absolutely thrilled her.

She didn’t release her hold on his neck, and her sunset eyes lifted to find his vibrant teal gaze as her lips pulled back into a devious grin. "You’ve defeated the Ashen Empress, Ruffian.” She whispered, deepening tones lingering in her soft voice as she lifted a slender paw to his cheek affectionately. "What will you do now?” Venom feigned worry in her expression, but this was yet another show of her trust in him. Taking and accepting the wager he’d first proposed.

"Venom & Maverick"

Together the two wolves would up toppling over onto the sand, Venom's lithe form sliding beneath his as gravity and their shifting weights resulted in the dire brute coming down on top of the svelte fae. In a split second, Maverick reached out with large paws to catch himself mid-fall, his toes sinking into the sand as he braced himself and stopped his collapse. Venom ended up beneath him, the smaller lady pinned completely beneath her giant man, producing the most delightful squeals of surprise and defiance that brought a beaming grin of triumph from the white and navy brute, cheering out in victory while he pressed all of his weight down on his squirming lover to keep her held down to the warm golden sands until she eventually yielded to him. "Aha! Victory!" he laughed out. He couldn't believe it; he'd actually won! Maverick had been 1000% sure he stood no chance against the Ashen Empress, but it seemed the gods had smiled upon his fortunes today! Now Venom would be his conquest for the evening, one he planned to take full advantage of while her surrender was afforded to him.

Still pulling delighted laughter from one another, Mav gazed down into Venom's gorgeous sunset eyes while her paws remained looped around his neck, seeing the devious grin and salacious look in those vibrant eyes. There was no doubt what was on the coal and snow fae's mind now that she'd been defeated—no doubt already trying to anticipate what her evening was going to look like. A wickedly sly grin of his own began to replace the mirthful smile on his lips when Venom declared in hushed sultry tones that he had bested the Ashen Empress, then asked what he would do with her now as a white-gloved paw caressed his cheek. She masqueraded worry, nervousness at what her opponent might choose to do with her, and Maverick was all about it. If she wanted to play, he was more than eager to play this game with her! Rumbling chuckles vibrated in the brute's chest, his muzzle dipping to brush gingerly against the side of hers before sliding lower to nose at the soft flesh where her jaw and throat met, breathing in her scent while he placed the lightest of kisses and nibbles at Venom's most vulnerable skin.

"I'm going to take my prize, of course. How can I resist such a beautiful, sexy creature under my control?" teased the dire brute with a lustful growl beneath his baritone voice. With a naughty grin, Maverick wrapped his strong forelimbs around Venom's sides and hoisted her up, manhandling her a bit as he slid his muscular form beneath Venom's lithe body to drape her across his back. The sky and snow brute then effectively kidnapped the Empress, whisking her off with brisk trots while he handled her light frame with ease. Maverick laughed like a puppy at play while he spirited Venom off into the palace and off to their private chambers just as twilight swallowed the land in dimming purple and indigo light. His paws didn't stop until he'd carried his Venom across the threshold and deposited her gently down onto the furs that covered the floor in plush carpeting in the common space. He didn't bother taking her all the way to the bedroom, instead laying her down on the furs underneath the skylight so silvery moonlight began to spill down around them as the world darkened into night.

With hungry, eager eyes, the lusty brute prowled his way back over his svelte queen, his roguish debonair grin making him look like a reaver from a fantasy tale come to life. "Is the Empress going to beg for her virtue to be spared?" he teased her further while he climbed over her prone form, the wolfish grin on his lips spreading while he dipped his muzzle to press his lips in a slow kiss to Venom's fluffy lower belly, ever so slowly dragging his tongue up the length of her underside while he stalked forward until he was standing over her, smoldering teal eyes burning into hers. Mav ran his broad tongue slowly up Venom's throat and beneath her jaw, bringing his lips to within inches of her own until he could feel her every exhale against his mouth. He was a merciless tease to her, but he was loving every second of it! The games they played together in the highs of their love exhilarated him and made him feel more alive than he had in years!

"Venom & Maverick"