"I've never been one for orders, either. And I suck at teamwork, so."

"The trick is too be good enough that you are easy to work around, and can easily work around others."

"Other people get in my way." (Or, usually, die stupidly because she can't protect them.)

"I will strive not to repeat those mistakes."

"Good."

"Perhaps I can even teach you a thing or two."

"Going to put all your teacherly talent into it?"

"If required."

"Give it your best."

"Already planning to be a difficult student?"

"No teacher's survived me yet."

"I am rather hard to kill."

"Good."

"Though I would be obliged if you didn't try too hard."

"Then where's the challenge?"

"I'm sure something else suitable could be arranged."

"Oh?"

"I note you've yet to put your shirt back on."

She snorts. "If you want something, say it."

"How about this for a challenge- if you can get my shirt off in one piece, I'll let you keep it." She's wearing a rather nice blouse at the moment, soft, breathable fabric in a dark green flatteringly fitted with half-length sleeves.

"You planning to fight back?"

"That would be more challenging, no?"

She smirks and steps closer to Eliese, teasingly - and blatantly - reaching for the bottom hem of her shirt.

Eliese's hand slaps Zero's away, blindingly fast.

Oh she's on.

(Zero's hand: fails to be properly slapped away. Eliese needs to course correct mid-slap, for one, as Zero yanks her hand to the side - and even once she makes contact, Zero's hand is remarkably not-going-anywhere; Eliese is stronger but would probably need sustained pressure or a much harder hit to really knock Zero off balance.)

Also, relatedly: Zero's now trying to punch Eliese in the face, also blindingly fast. (Eliese said no tearing the shirt. She didn't say anything about the rest of her body.) (Her form's pretty blatantly not formally trained; she's an experienced brawler, not a soldier nor martial artist. She's remarkably good at not telegraphing her movements - one movement Eliese is pushing her hand away, the next Zero's other fist is flying at her.)

...And, simultaneously, she's kicking at Eliese's ankle, and grabbing Eliese's slapping hand.