Cepheus was quite the haul from there to here, but it was a very "worth it!" kind of haul even if xe had needed to also haul half xir weight in snacks to keep xemself from getting too hangry to think— which was very often these days and it was getting xem exiled to Pegasus ('SO SAD!') before xe ate xir family out of house and home—

Which is to say that Plover has been hungry, has been carb-loading on sugary treats in the Forum's green room in anticipation of the combat to come, and is now sustaining a jittery sugar rush as xe meets xir wrestling partner in the middle of the sandy pit.

Beady little eyes size the guy right up ('BIG AND BLUE AND BUILT TOUGH AS NAILS!') and xe bares monstrous fangs wider before xe remembers the manners that big brother Hunter has taught xem: "HELLO, PARD'NER!" A slushie-stickied jolts out into the space between them, and if it's taken for a handshake, Plover goes for a slap of the palms and a bit of skin given.

(And if it isn't taken, Plover just tries to pat xir partner on the head.)

No matter how that goes, Plover sticks xir blue raspberry-stained tongue out and continues: "YOU LOOK LIKE ME, SO I'M NOT GONNA HOLD BACK WHILE I KICK YOUR ASS!" Xe wrinkles xir nose and grins yet harder. "BETTER NOT HOLD YOURSELF BACK EITHER, BIG GUY! I'VE HAD WAY TOO MANY SLUSHIES AND I CAN TAKE IT."

ROCK SOLID GROUND RULES, EH?

@Audland

Auddie really didn't know what he should have expected from this event. It was literally his first time experiencing anything like it, ever. It had sounded fun in theory, and when he finally got into the ring and looked at his opponent... well. He expressed his bemused bafflement with a chuff and a small, up-quirked smirk.

'HELLO PARD'NER!' "Howdy," he replied with a small bow of his head. If he'd had a proper Stetson, he would've looked like such a gentleman. Regardless: he was endeared to this guy like... immediately. Each word proceeding only served to sweep him further off his big fuzzy feet. Does his besmittenness show on his face? Audland couldn't be sure. A handshake is offered, that Audland eyes for a moment without a word, pondering something in the back of his mind. Plover has more to say, and Audland listens to the terms wholeheartedly.

After the last sentiment about not holding back, Audland would reach out for Plover's hand, whether it was above him or in front of him, and attempt to pull him in tight for a big bear hug. Audland would attempt to squeeze in this hug, as many bears do at the start of a fight, to test his opponent's strength. They're similar enough in height and girth that Audland wants to get an idea of just how difficult it would be for him to move this thing. As Audland attempts tighten, and tighten, whether he's making ground of not, he will turn his head and whisper directly in Plover's big fluffy ear: "I wouldn't dream of holdin' out on you, pardner."

Round: 1/5

Attempt: Test Plover's strength (by crush hugging xem, apparently)

Defense: Besides fluff and confidence? Nothing. my man is stupid

Injuries: N/A

If there was any indication of swooning on the big lug's face, it's about as hard to tell as it is for Plover's face. They've both got the same beady little eyes and gregarious grins, and just about anything else bar the color schemes. "Anything else" includes the penchant for pranks, and Plover falls head-over-heels in an instant. Up xe goes, swept off xir feet for as long as Audland can stand to heft all that weight up, and back down for a big, stifling bear hug of a squeeze.

Would it be that xe had the arms to offer a similar squeeze, xe would. Alas, all xe's got is a big, sloppy kiss (of the tongue, not lips!) for Audland's cheek— (if he wasn't so blue already, the kiss would've left a big, blue stain of sugary spittle on him—) and a grin: "GOOD! DON'T GOT HANDS, SO I'M GONNA BITE YOU A LOT 'TIL I DO!"

Squirming in his arms, Plover twists xir neck around, following up on that promise and offering a second kiss in as many seconds: Bared teeth going underneath gnarled horns and right for the fuzzy side of his neck with increasing force, until he lets go or does something to discourage xem otherwise.

Round: 1/5
Attempt: Taking advantage of the proximity to give Audland a love-bite (on the neck).
Defense: What's that?
Injuries: N/A

@Audland

Good.. grief this thing was heavy to hold. But that's quite alright, Audland is still managing. Somehow. And while he has put his most vulnerable places at a dangerous (lack of) distance from Plover's slurpacious maw, Audland still holds the advantage of where Plover's body is now allowed to go.

He chuffs in amusement at witnessing Plover's antics up close. The giant meatball allowed xemself to melt into Audland with a sort of affection that kind of made him reluctant to actually hurt the guy. That big, wet kissaroo on the side of his face only worked further in favor of Plover wriggling his big, silly way into Auddie's heart. Fortunately, on account of how they were both built, and on account of the weight and latent strength Audland now possessed a good understanding of, he could essentially guarantee that what he had planned wouldn't do too much damage.

The bite to the neck was sudden, not entirely unexpected but shocking nonetheless. A jolt passed through his body on instinct and Audland could feel the heat rising within him. He'd have to tamp that down for now, lest he become disqualified from the whole match. The added pressure of Plover's delectably sharp teeth against his softest parts told him that he needed to act quickly.

And so, taking advantage of his own position and strength, Audland would swallow his rising panic, hold Plover tight, and attempt to lift and spin xem for leverage, yelling: "Y'CAN HAVE.. ALL THE HANDS... YOU... WANT!" with strained effort before flinging Plover in the direction of the nearest vertical surface.

Round: 2/5

Attempt: Fling Plover into nearest wall

Defense: fluff and fat babey!

Injuries: neck bitten (lovingly), possible scratching or bruising or bleeding in the area but the fur makes it hard to tell. Also (kind of gay) panic?

@Plover

Despite being lobbed into the nearest surface like a medicine ball (with no small amount of cheerful laughter before ultimately yelping on impact), Plover will consider the mouthful of silvery-blue hair stuck between xir teeth to be a sign of victory. There's having regained agency over where xe is and where xe is going to go, too, but clearly the big fuck's ticklish and sensitive even with all that mane in the way. Good to know that there's pressure points to annoy him with.

Plover's tail wags hard enough to stir up a cloud of dirt when xe hauls xemself back up to xir feet— (and that's as quickly as xe can manage, because Hunter was very sure to drill into xem not to stay down or beached for long)— and laughs again. "GYAHAHAHA! THAT'S ALL YOU GOT?" Xe goads, brushing off the sand and rubble (which was already there, xe didn't leave that much of an impact crater this time) and newly-forming bruises and rug-burn equivalents off xir back.

Much like tempting a bull to charge, xe flicks xir palm toward xemself. "C'MON, BIG BOY. YOU CAN THROW ME HARDER'N THAT! I'LL SHOW YA."

Except... Plover is the bull, in this case: Taking to a pace best described as for charging forward and bowling an opponent over— with enough force that xe hopefully ends up on top with the forward momentum.

Round: 2/5
Attempt: Charge at Audland and knock him over. Revenge glomp.
Defense: This, too, is fat and fluffy.
Injuries: Battered and bruised from being thrown toward a wall.

@Audland

Maybe letting the frankly titanic four-armed bouncy ball have "all the hands xe wants" is actually. Not a great idea. Audland was already heaving with the effort it took to move that guy in any direction at all, much less throw him. And now, before Audland had time to even do anything about it besides raise a single thick hand pitifully to check his neck, the green oaf was laughing in his face and charging at him.

Moments before the impact, Audland's mind miraculously found enough time to entertain a single idea in regards to Plover's enthusiastic offer: did he actually want to be shown?

Great. Now who's the homosexual?

BOOM! Approximately one ton of meat barrels solidly into Audland from the front—Audland can feel the impact reverberations flowing in waves from his belly out to the rest of his body. But he's not willing to give up just yet. In an attempt to use Plover's momentum against xem, Audland allows himself to take the full impact but keeps his tail beneath him to catch him and use as a spring.

For the sake of explanation, let's slow this down: As Audland falls further down onto his tail cushion, the tail will act as a spring being compressed further and further. At a certain point of Plover being above Audland, ready to fall down on top of him with all that crushing weight, Audland's tail will provide a restorative force that pushes Audland's legs back up, swinging them over Plover's body. If Audland can push himself all the way up, he'll be able to manage a turnover that puts himself on top of Plover.

He will attempt to tangle their legs together and lock them in a tumble where Audland can use his tail for enough vertical leverage to boost him upwards. Audland's goal now is to be the one topping. I mean on top.

Round: 3/5

Attempt: as bunny put it: "folk wrestling-style turnover"

Defense: fluff and fat babey!

Injuries: neck bitten (lovingly), possible scratching or bruising or bleeding in the area but the fur makes it hard to tell. Also (kind of gay) panic?

Their bodies collide in a magnificent display of immovable object (Plover) against unstoppable force (Audland), and the resultant impact leaves xem gasping with ill-suppressed glee. Xe's going to have a legendary appetite worked-up after this, and xe is most certainly going to invite the cause of it over for another contest: For eating, this time. No matter if xe wins or loses here, xe's going to make sure that xe does in that match.

Audland flips xem up, and xe takes a moment to surface from xir wistful reverie about drinking super-gulp sized slushies with him and realize that somehow he's not doing that with just incredible core strength. That tail of his is going to be a bother if it's that strong.

Plover falls back onto xir back with a forceful "whuf!" of air from the lungs, and is promptly somewhat crushed by the Valkhound's weight. matte teeth don't break from xir overjoyed grinning, though.

"HEY." Seeking palms look for every handhold they can manage: The top set affix themselves to Audland's broad shoulders, and the bottom to the side of his gut and a lovehandle. Unaware of the intimacy of such holding, Plover guffaws, twisting with all the force and leverage in xir own body to get the two of them rolled over. Except, it's not quite enough leverage to get more than a brief budge given the entanglement of their legs, and Plover whinges, "I WAS PLANNING ON BEING ON TOP."

Round: 3/5
Attempt: Grappling Audland and rolling over to be on top suffering from leverage problems.
Defense: This, too, is fat and fluffy.
Injuries: Battered and bruised from being thrown toward a wall. Currently being smushed.

@Audland

It actually worked. Holy smokes. Audland sits for a while on top of his prize lost in his own amazement, taking in whatever breaths he can spare, his eyes positively starstruck with the afterglow of adrenaline. This... this might become a problem for him, in the future. Of a kind.

Four hands making light, gentle impressions on his body wakes him right the f%#^ back up. His glaring yellow focus jolts down to Plover's own beady little eyes, while his hands idly fall on Plover's chest. Feeling the soft rise and fall of it, along with the surprising gentleness and.. placement of those paws confuses Audland greatly: he really doesn't know what he wants to do next.

But registering Plover's words works to bring him back to the present swiftly, as a (slightly uneasy, but who's watching? Oh, everyone—? Uhm.) sleazy grin spreads across his muzzle. "Eheh, eh, s-sorry, doll," (nice catch on that slip-up) "but that claim's been staked. And..." For a brief moment, Plover may witness Audland doing something that seems counterintuitive. He slides off of Plover's big belly stands at Plover's side. But as Audland's knees begin to bend, his little quip continues between deep, ragged breaths: "I'm afraid you're... gonna have to..." Audland leaps into the air, catching himself again on his tail to spring further upward still, and then letting himself rapidly drop down directly onto Plover's open belly. "...STAY THERE!!!"

Despite the melodrama, it seems Audland's tail cannot sustain his weight any more than it already has. He drops himself on his back, landing with a thud! and a mild groan. A hand goes up for a face palm. "Though y'know what, I hear a spot just... opened up..." Arms extend out wide as Audland embraces his tired, kind of gay fate.

Round: 4/5

Attempt: drop down onto plover's belly, hopefully winding him entirely. fall on his back next to Plover.

Defense: fluff and fat babey!

Injuries: neck bitten (lovingly), possible scratching or bruising or bleeding in the area but the fur makes it hard to tell. ground-induced rug burn on back from landing. Also (definitely gay) panic

@Plover

Oh, wait. Is that a look of admiration? Starstruck awe? A grin to match xir own? For a second, xe almost catches on to the meaning of the absolutely electric tension and energy between them. In the beat immediately following that gist, Audland's giving up his nicely-earned spot smushing xem for the sake of the dramatics, and Plover plays into the bit and doesn't even budge.

What should've been an incredible finisher becomes a terribly lukewarm flop, and once Plover stops howling with uninhibited laughter, xe reaches over to slap Audland's belly with an open palm. "TOUGH LUCK, BUDDY!" Plover utters in mostly one inward breath (while trying not to laugh some more), hauling up to a sitting position. A sandy mitt braces against the ground, pushing xem up to xir feet. "IT'S NO FUN IF YOU JUST HAND ME THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE. WORKING FOR MY FOOD'S MORE FUN."

Skipping toward the splayed length of Audland's tail, Plover muses aloud, "Y'KNOW WHAT DID LOOK FUN, THOUGH?" A single knee is all xe needs to reach down and take the plated limb into all four hands, then give it a tug in the same way that a mountain climber checks the tensile strength of his rope. "TAKE A GUESS!"

Setting xir jaw and grinding xir teeth together, Plover hauls Audland by the tail, leveraging it until xe can slip xir shoulder beneath the halfway point of it and use the rest of xir hands to partially hoist him up by it. From previous experience lobbing egregiously-large sticks and logs around for fun, xe knows that xe just needs to get a little bit of momentum and airflow under him, and inertia can do the rest of the hard work of spinning the two of them around like an Olympic athlete preparing to bung a hammer ball across a great distance.

It takes just a few spins for xem to grow both dizzy and tired, and xe lets him sail off into whatever direction with a stumbling "THE ANSWER'S THROWING SHIT!" of farewell.

Round: 4/5
Attempt: Grab Audland by the tail and hammer throw him. (Permission given by Don to condense this into one round, rather than spending this one securing the tail and then the next to attempt to throw.)
Defense: This, too, is fat and fluffy.
Injuries: Battered and bruised from being thrown toward a wall. Slightly smushed. Currently off-balance and dizzy.

@Audland

Audland has to really put on his A-game holding in the twitch that would've otherwise come with having his belly smacked after all that laughter. Did nobody ever tell this guy? Not many Valkhounds get touched very often.

Regardless, Plover's laughter proved a little infectious. Audland's own dry chuckle notably hiccuped at the touch, and after the words "best seat in the house" and "working for my food", Audland can't focus on keeping his magic at bay and keeping the nervy-swervy-ness out of his chuckle. He doesn't know what to do with this anymore. He felt more than ready enough to. wrap it up, hit the showers. Starlights above, he was hungry.

In the middle of Audland's musing on how to finish this while he waited idly for the squarsh of a lifetime, a second, unexpected touch to the tail jolted him out of his swirling thoughts. This was his notice that his defeat might not go as he thought it would. Immediately upon realizing what is about to go down, Audland's hide prickles with anticipatory goosebumps. And tell me now, just how much of these goosebumps were from pure excitement alone?

Upon hearing (and feeling) Plover's spirited attempt at hauling him skyward by tail, Audland's claws instinctively grip the ground in defiance, but he finds no purchase. His flighty scrambling is accompanied by a soft staccato chorus of "Woa- ww-w-w-w-woah woah woAH!"That might enthuse not only Plover but the audience as well.

No luck today, gay boy. Plover successfully manages to paint the sky blue, and screaming.

"aaAAAAAGH—!!!"

Arms flapping like a chicken, Audland now approaches a wall. The round is nearly up, and he is looking to spend it face first in a beautiful buffet of rock and heart palpitations. Perhaps it's the butterflies twittering and twisting knots in his stomach, but Audland feels pretty light-headed right now. And somewhere in that light-headedness is a rush.

I wouldn't call it a second wind per se, but.. The round is almost over, what's the best way to impress? To demonstrate prowess, skill, technique? Certainly not superiority—in this creature, Audland had found a kindred spirit, plain as day. But then, perhaps a better question: how to impress xem?

Better yet: what can you do in the next 3 nanoseconds before you hit this whole wall with your entire face?

Answer:

In mid air, in mere seconds, Audland manages enough strength to twist. He curls himself, he flips himself, and he lands feet first into the wall. BOOM! Like it's Naruto. He bends his knees to absorb the shock, then springs! Off the wall, back in Plover's direction, he flies forward, diving towards the ground. He curls at just the right moment, bracing for impact with the ground, but he's only part way to Plover. He rolls into a ball, the momentum still coursing through his entire body somehow. Then, like that one armadillo mini-game in Animal Jam, he releases, he lunges out, and with this second burst of momentum, Audland is able to fling himself at Plover with his arms outstretched. He has made himself able to close the distance between them once more, if Plover is willing to have him.

There are no words Audland is able to produce in this moment. Only a guttural yell as he barrels directly into Plover's chest, open arms ready to grasp once more.

How poetic.

Round: 5/5

Attempt: land well fling yourself at another man i guess. harlot.

Defense: fluff and fat babey!

Injuries: neck bitten (lovingly), possible scratching or bruising or bleeding in the area but the fur makes it hard to tell. ground-induced rug burn on back from landing. thrown into a wall by his tail (yowch!). and perhaps worst of all, he's kind of into it.

@Plover (come get your soup big man!)