"First blood," suggests Church, because he really doesn't want to die because Christine's mom can't face reality. "Because I want him to be able to go back and explain to Lady Delacroix exactly what happened here." Sure, also that, that's the not coward answer.

Doesn't mean someone might not accidentally die. And...Araceli is deadly serious. The unfortunate thing for her is that Church does not have a big sense of honor. If he does lose, which he's thinking, yeah, he probably will, then he by no means is willing to just let Lord Fuckboy run off with his girlfriend. Nope. Not gonna happen.

He takes the latter rapier, sliding his hand around the grip. Quick and nimble. Thrusting. "That's what she said," he mumbles. "You know this isn't gonna go well, right? I hack and slash." He lifts the blade, points straight up between them both. "What are the chances he's poisoned his blade, just, y'know, on the offchance?"

Listen, you never know.