Don't Mock Me [Macht]

"No."

The answer was so bluntly put that it took her off guard. Her fists loosened and she relaxed her shoulder slightly, standing a little more tall before the movement began, she watched as the red haired guy took off in a flash, grabbing the creep by the face and slamming him into the floor. Sarah gasped gently and felt a sense of sick satisfaction. She wanted to know what that felt like, what it would be like to actually be able to do that to creeps like that. She had lucked out in the past standing up for herself but that was calculated, that was intentional, that was with a rational mind.

"You've got sloppy technique. You're all over the place, your feet don't seem like they're properly supporting what you do. Until you can fix that, people like him will continue to make you a target."

"I... I'm sorry," she wasn't sure why she felt compelled to apologize but it was a compulsion after all. She lowered her eyes a little bit, she felt the need to make herself a little bit smaller as her hand reached up to tug her hair. She stopped it though, she pulled her hand down and looked up to see eye to eyes with the boy. "I guess I'm not exactly the greatest at this. I mean, I'm pretty strong and stuff. I do alright just, I'm not very good you know? I guess I'll just have to find some more classes at the Y or something until I get better at this whole fighting thing."

She held out her hand, "Thanks for... well, for messing his face up a little. Maybe he'll feel slightly deterred next time. Right? He wouldn't come after me again would he?"

She gave a firm shake of her own before lowering her hand and listening to him. She wasn't sure if he was just trying to be uplifting at first or what, but he was made pretty clear once he mentioned working with someone who knows what they were doing.

"Like me."

She didn't feel like a burden at that point, she felt a little loosened up because it felt almost comical in a way. "Oh?" She smiled at the boy but saw that he wasn't tring to be funny, or at least it didn't feel that way to her. Maybe he was trying to be funny... either way she thought about it and she could definitely learn to fight like that. If she could grab that guy by the head and drag his ugly mug up and down the hallway... well, that'd definitely make it easier to survive around here.

"Is... is that an offer?" She was a little unsure if that was what she was hinting at, but she wasn't sure what it would take. "If so, I uhm. I have to warn you I'm not exactly loaded, I can't really pay for any sort of private lessons. Part of the reason I'm kind of stuck with the Y rather than some sort of training facility." She gave a slight shrug, not sure if that would be kind of a let down for the boy. After all it would probably cost a lot to get lessons on how to go from how she was to anything like how he was. If she had the money she'd spend it, but boy did she not have it.

"No."

"Oh..." She was extremely disappointed by this, but then something weird happened. He was pulling out his wallet? She wasn't a charity case, "You really don't have t-"

"Hold this." She felt dumbfounded, looking and unable to do anything. He reached out and pulled her hand, she made a small startled noise but he put a bunch of money into her hand. "Now you can pay me." She didn't know what to say, she hadn't held this much cash before. She had money from time to time, she was going to probably end up with some sort of settlement eventually, though her mom would be the one who received it and would probably drink it all if truth be told.

"I..." She smiled softly and found herself having a little more emotion happening than she would have previously thought. "I'm gonna be honest I feel physically uncomfortable touching this much money. I feel like it might set fire in my hands and then I'd owe you. So... how about you take this back." She held the cash out.

"I can't pay you and I can't pretend to be able to pay you. I'll work it off somehow. Lawn work, chores, hell you can call it training if it makes you more comfortable. Just... money is a sensitive subject with me and I can't really process this right now. But you're really kind, and I'll do whatever I need to do in order to show you my appreciation for this."

If he didn't take the money back she'd repeat as he had done by pulling his hand up and putting the money into it. "It means a lot to me though, and I know it's coming from a good place. So... what now?"

He interjected with an idea that she simply pay by progress, that her efforts and her accomplishments would be pay enough. That was a bit more comfortable to think of that way, and it was definitely something that she could understand and mark. She gave him a small nod, "Alright, I'll be sure to pay you as much as I can in that case, I'll do my best to get better." Macht spun and began walking, gesturing for her to follow. She did so, a little curious about where they were going, and quite honestly was feeling some tingles along her spine as the sensation caused her to feel a little lightheaded in an enjoyable way.

"Assuming you've got nothing better to do, now we begin." She turned her head to look in the direction of her class, but turned back with a look of determination, a slight shake of her head to show that she didn't have anything better to do. She gripped her fists tightly as she would step in through the door held for her.

"Thanks," She'd say as she would walk in, turning to see him stripping down to more comfortable workout clothes. She tossed her bag to the side and took off her t-shirt so that she was down to her tank top and bra. Her sports bra was in her gym locker, but she didn't really need it that badly for the moment. She kicked off her flats and felt her bare feet touch against the cold ground.

"Got a name, lady?"

She looked over his body and felt some sting of guilt, almost like she shouldn't be seeing it. She had scars of her own, but they weren't visible. Besides, most of hers were from herself. His were clearly from a really really rough time with fighting. If nothing else, he definitely could help her get tougher.

"My name is Sarah Louise Crestwell. Feel free to call me Louie." Most people called her Sarah, in fact only her mom called her Louie, but it was a gesture of respect. It was probably not one that could be picked up on but that was okay, it was a gesture from her and for her to know above all else. This was someone who was deserving of her respect and gratitude, and most likely someone worthy of her trust. "So then, what first?" She would pull the strap of her tank top up from her shoulder, tightening it gently before putting her hair into a ponytail.

"Alright then, Macht." She listened closely. She relaxed herself as he gave her the instructions and she found herself rotating her shoulders and thinking more about her footing, thinking more about her positioning, and caring more about the possibility of actually landing a hit on this guy. She brought her fists up to about mouth level, elbows bent at a sharp angle to keep them close to her body with her left foot leading slightly.

"Alright then...." She'd step in fast on her right foot, her right fist going forward in a right cross, aiming to follow it up with a left cross as her left foot would step in to follow before bringing her right knee up toward the pelvis just above his junk. At least, those were the movements her body had been attempting to do, a basic kickboxing combo that she remembered pretty well now that she allowed herself a little bit of time to think about it.

She had a moment of triumph when the first hit landed, and the second hit even connected with something but it was clear that it didn't have the same sort of give that hitting something usually gave as her knuckles felt a stinging pain. Her knee seemed to be doing well but she felt her foot swept out underneath her as hands grabbed her shoulders and she fell forward. The problem was that the panic had made her stomp down that very leg that had been trying to knee Macht, a little too hard.

As he was holding her shoulders and her momentum pressed forward, that foot would plant so hard that she would continue driving forward, her hands wrapping around Macht mostly to try and keep herself up, but she wondered if he'd be able to keep his footing, if his stance was good enough they'd stay upright, but she was terrified that they'd just topple over.