Jelani slips back a step, adding additional distance between then. She returns that smile, even if she's not fully satisfied with her reaction, but the smile is soon replaced by a look of focus and determination.

She starts to slowly circle him, trying to treat this as any other fight, to analyze her opponent and look for an opening. It's a split-second decision when she thinks she's found done, and she moves in to strike. Connor did etch the kata into both her head and muscle-memory, at least for the time being, but translating that into an actual fight is easier said than done. And that makes her movements a bit hesitant.