[ There's a surge of lip-sneering frustration as the bat connects lower than Strauss would like; still, the thick impact of hardened wood over the flat shoulder bones of the tall stranger was at least a little satisfying. He steps in with the blow, closing the distance between him and his target as the momentum of the swing brings him closer - but the natural curve of the rest of the bat's intended downwards arc is brought to a staggered halt.
Strauss's surprise to find his target still standing is etched in his features as he realises that, rather than buckling and falling to the ground, the man has the other end of Strauss's weapon in an iron grip. Still, the attack dog nerves in the back of Strauss's conscience override everything else; he applies his free hand and maintains the tight grip on the bat in bloody-minded refusal to let the target wrench his weapon away from him.
Not his only weapon, of course. But the only one that could be turned against Strauss if lost.
With both hands on the handle end of the bat he lifts a leg (a risky move, leaving him off-kilter and balancing only on one foot) to swing a boot at the other man's knees. ]
no subject
Strauss's surprise to find his target still standing is etched in his features as he realises that, rather than buckling and falling to the ground, the man has the other end of Strauss's weapon in an iron grip. Still, the attack dog nerves in the back of Strauss's conscience override everything else; he applies his free hand and maintains the tight grip on the bat in bloody-minded refusal to let the target wrench his weapon away from him.
Not his only weapon, of course. But the only one that could be turned against Strauss if lost.
With both hands on the handle end of the bat he lifts a leg (a risky move, leaving him off-kilter and balancing only on one foot) to swing a boot at the other man's knees. ]