[ The headbutt is deserved, but it’s still a surprise that he takes with a cackle of delight. Pain blooms across his face, but he grins with all teeth to see her reaction as it’s mirrored. Briefly, he considers just what these tokens offer, since such a thing would be as valuable as gold was to the mon-keigh. Imagine, tying a simple ribbon to an Arena’s participant and being able to multiply their indulgence for the crowd!

…Something he’ll be getting a taste of, clearly. He’d rather be the one with the token rather than bearing its pains firsthand, generally speaking, but this mon-keigh Arena was soft. Thankfully. ]

It is. You offer pain skillfully, Mia.

[ From him, that’s a compliment, as is using her name. His voice is a low, sultry rumble to match her purr, and as she pulls up her hair, he lessens his grip on her. He lowers her thigh back so that she’s not folded in half against him and removes his fingers from her, but it’s almost predictable as he brings those fingers up to his mouth to taste. ]

But nor am I. Do not fret.

[ Certainly not in the way she’s thinking, since it doesn’t even occur to him. His “interrogation” would be more along the lines of reassessing how freaky humans could be. Especially human women, maybe? Much to consider,

But he half laughs, half hisses in pain as he starts to move and maybe finally listen to the announcers and crowd alike. Or, almost certainly, it’s her insistence. He seems to ignore the crowd completely, like he’s used to it. ]

I will be here. Now I must see how this tournament ends.