[ He counts the count and then...oh and then! That's quite some grip that young man has. Reinhardt is indeed surprised by it. By the sheer power in such a slender hand. He's caught even more by surprise by just how much strength he feels. In that moment, his arm actually moves towards the losing side of the table. His single eye wide at how much he hadn't been expecting it and then his face full of shame that he had indeed underestimated his opponent.
For a moment, there is even a surprised Was?? before his muscles flex and he's struggling to push them back up to the starting point. He's not mad though. Not at all. Instead, there's a quiet excitement in his face. It's so rare to meet anyone that can best him in physical strength in his world (the SEP Solders didn't count). His delight shifts to concentration and his muscles strain against the confines of his rolled up sleeves as he makes a valiant attempt to push against Giovanni's hand.]
[And he sees it there, the surprise in his face, the brief struggle toward comprehension, and Giovanni flashes a knowing smile, all teeth yet somehow good-natured with it. Not nearly so vicious or cold or empty as such an expression tends to be when he wears it. They're playing a game after all, and he always has liked games.
Reinhardt pushes back though, and Giovanni laughs, quick and sharp, as his arm strains back toward the starting point, away from the winning side for a moment.]
Du bist stark wie ein Bulle!
[and he is strong, Giovanni will give him that. Strong in a more real and honest way than Giovanni himself, artificially created thing that he is. But then he's putting a little more into it, not trying to harm or break but trying to win all the same.]
[ He's seen grins like that on fellow Crusaders. He recognizes it all too well. Here is a wolf among dogs. A lion in the midst of sheep. He feels honored to get to try his strength against one he is so unevenly matched against. Not stronger than someone for once, but having to truly struggle. It's a treat!
Sweat beads at his brow and his arm shakes with the effort just to keep it in the starting position. He can feel it. The strain in his joints, against the pull of his muscles as Giovanni pushes at him. When he answers back, it too is in German, spoken with that Bavarian accent.]
If I am a bull, than you, my friend, are a titan!
[ There is no shame in losing to a stronger opponent, but Reinhardt still struggles for every single inch as his hand goes slowly down until he's mere inches from the table and it's taking all his effort to keep it there. In the end, his arm will give and the back of his hand will touch. But he's not angry at all. Instead, he seems utterly pleased. ]
[There's another bright flash of his cutting smile in the wake of the other man's compliment, something subtle and yet overtly pleased written into the lines of his face. He's unaccustomed, after all, to receiving praise or affirmation and when it comes it's always an unexpected surprise. Something he can't help feeling pleased with.
They keep playing, keep pushing, and when the giant of a man finally yields yet responds only with obvious pleasure, Giovanni releases his grip on his opponent, holds his hand out again, this time to shake upon a game well played. Should he have found the boot on the other foot, his reaction would have been the same-- there's satisfaction to be had in winning, but not so dissimilar is the pleasure to be found in unexpectedly meeting one's match.
His own answer comes in German once again, the specifics of his own accent difficult to place.]
Perhaps so, but well met all the same. I'll bet you're quite the opponent on the battlefield.
[ Reinhardt is more than happy to shake hands with this man. He doesn't mind that he's been so schooled. It's just a reminder that things in this world aren't always what they appear. He's too old to be continuing to take things at face value and yet he still does it. A lesson he's found hard to learn.
He gives a hardy shake and with his other hand, reaches out to give the young man a pat on the back. ] Yes! Well met indeed. And I suppose I could be that. If I had my armor. I would say my shield is yours, my new friend, but I think you wouldn't need use of it. If anything, I think I'd be trailing behind you to mop up. Though perhaps some time, we will meet in the fighting pits.
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Giovanni - Gala
Date: 2018-01-13 01:16 pm (UTC)[ He counts the count and then...oh and then! That's quite some grip that young man has. Reinhardt is indeed surprised by it. By the sheer power in such a slender hand. He's caught even more by surprise by just how much strength he feels. In that moment, his arm actually moves towards the losing side of the table. His single eye wide at how much he hadn't been expecting it and then his face full of shame that he had indeed underestimated his opponent.
For a moment, there is even a surprised Was?? before his muscles flex and he's struggling to push them back up to the starting point. He's not mad though. Not at all. Instead, there's a quiet excitement in his face. It's so rare to meet anyone that can best him in physical strength in his world (the SEP Solders didn't count). His delight shifts to concentration and his muscles strain against the confines of his rolled up sleeves as he makes a valiant attempt to push against Giovanni's hand.]
no subject
Date: 2018-01-14 01:52 pm (UTC)Reinhardt pushes back though, and Giovanni laughs, quick and sharp, as his arm strains back toward the starting point, away from the winning side for a moment.]
Du bist stark wie ein Bulle!
[and he is strong, Giovanni will give him that. Strong in a more real and honest way than Giovanni himself, artificially created thing that he is. But then he's putting a little more into it, not trying to harm or break but trying to win all the same.]
no subject
Date: 2018-01-21 11:54 am (UTC)Sweat beads at his brow and his arm shakes with the effort just to keep it in the starting position. He can feel it. The strain in his joints, against the pull of his muscles as Giovanni pushes at him. When he answers back, it too is in German, spoken with that Bavarian accent.]
If I am a bull, than you, my friend, are a titan!
[ There is no shame in losing to a stronger opponent, but Reinhardt still struggles for every single inch as his hand goes slowly down until he's mere inches from the table and it's taking all his effort to keep it there. In the end, his arm will give and the back of his hand will touch. But he's not angry at all. Instead, he seems utterly pleased. ]
Maybe I was the one that needed both hands!
no subject
Date: 2018-01-21 03:30 pm (UTC)They keep playing, keep pushing, and when the giant of a man finally yields yet responds only with obvious pleasure, Giovanni releases his grip on his opponent, holds his hand out again, this time to shake upon a game well played. Should he have found the boot on the other foot, his reaction would have been the same-- there's satisfaction to be had in winning, but not so dissimilar is the pleasure to be found in unexpectedly meeting one's match.
His own answer comes in German once again, the specifics of his own accent difficult to place.]
Perhaps so, but well met all the same. I'll bet you're quite the opponent on the battlefield.
no subject
Date: 2018-01-23 02:34 am (UTC)He gives a hardy shake and with his other hand, reaches out to give the young man a pat on the back. ] Yes! Well met indeed. And I suppose I could be that. If I had my armor. I would say my shield is yours, my new friend, but I think you wouldn't need use of it. If anything, I think I'd be trailing behind you to mop up. Though perhaps some time, we will meet in the fighting pits.