Cull gives a slight concerned rumble at this, but will oblige with renewed sparring if Grim elects not to yield.

This second round goes just like the first, except that Cull brings her to the floor slightly earlier and slightly harder on account of her existing exertion.

From the looks of things, she's not going to yield until Cull decides they need to stop. Or she's injured enough that she can't continue.

The former happens before the latter.

After downing her for a third time, Cull simply refuses to fight further, even if further attacks are thrown his way.

-Yeah, she's not going to attack him if he's not fighting her.

She slumps against one wall, and thumps her head back against it. She's less jittery now, but she still feels the need to talk to Thanos, and that's keeping her on edge.

Cull sits down beside her.

He doesn't know what his sister needs, but he'd like to be around if she asks for something.

It's not like he has anywhere else to be.

She leans against him, not entirely used to this, but grateful. "Thanks," she says quietly, and she's talking about more than him just staying with her.

Protective rumble.

For a while she just sits there, but eventually:

"I- need to talk to Lord Thanos," she says by way of explanation as she gets to her feet.

Cull nods, rumbles affirmatively at her and smiles as reassuringly as his jaw structure will allow.

She appreciates it. And with that, she scrambles out of the pit, and makes her way back towards the throne room.

He's waiting in his usual place on the raised platform in the room's center.

She approaches, but stops, still a little distance from him, waiting for him to acknowledge her.

He waits a few seconds, to see if she's sure of her approach, and then leans over the arm of his throne and leans in her direction.

"Grim?"

"Sir, I- wanted to. Speak to you. If I could?"

"Of course, child."

He beckons her closer.

She moves closer with little hesitance.

"I- wished to apologise again," she explains. "For not- trusting that you would deal fairly with me if I had brought the notes to your attention. In hindsight, I had no reason to doubt how you would handle the matter."

He sighs. Shakes his head.

"Your past life was not one that engendered trust, nor one that rewarded trustworthiness. That doesn't excuse your failings here, in this life, and doesn't mean I won't expect better from you. But I understand why you're struggling."

She glances to the side, unsure in the face of logic that makes sense, but that she's never heard. "I- wanted to thank you as well. For-" (everything) "giving me a chance to do better."

"I trust you to rise to the occasion."

"I will do my best," she nods. Pauses, bites briefly at her lip. "I have- never experience a punishment that was...so apt for the transgression. So. I. Thank you for that as well? For teaching rather than-" she makes a vague hand gesture.

He cringes a little, inwardly, at what Grim just implied about her prior upbringing. There'll be so much for her to unlearn. It's so unfair. So unbalanced.

"Time will tell whether my actions today were apt."

She looks down, and nods. "I won't let you down," she promises.

He smiles, leans in, and squeezes her shoulder.

”We’ll be making planetfall in fifty hours. I look forward to seeing you in action out there.”

She smiles a little, ducks her head. "I'll be ready," she confirms.

Thanos lets go, leans back, and rests his head against the spine of the throne.