Match of the Millennium

Description: The third round of the Golden Angel Tournament! The daring match between NOL Lieutenant Clio St. Jeanne and The U.S. Marine's own Corporal Minal Paresh splashes in with a, well, splash. How well received is the twist to the Golden Angel Tournament? Tune in to find out. (Winner: Mint)

[MINT]
"It works best if you just clear your mind..."

In the center of a pristine room, tiled from ceiling to floor in white, Mint holds her arms out to either side. A pair of Golden Angel assistants patiently applies the swimsuit-in-a-bottle concoction to her skin -- and the senior of the two assistants seems more than a little concerned at the way it's reacting. Most swimsuits are bright colors, but as soon as the formula touches Mint's skin it begins to adopt a dark, charcoal grey color, aligning itself into vertical ribbing.

"It -is- clear. I'm totally -not- thinking about how I won the fashion show or anything all by myself..."
The corporal's nostrils flare, as her eyes track the senior assistant on her circuits around. The two ladies might be doing their jobs, but the tomboyish Marine has never enjoyed being doted on by other people. Particularly considering the setting.

Breathing a sigh, Minal closes her eyes and lets the assistants work their magic, her bionic fingers wriggling slightly as if allowing her sour mood to dissipate. "Okay, okay. Sorry. I'm just a bit on edge."

The junior assistant blurts out, "Heh, you're not the -only- one..."
Earning her a warning glare from the senior assistant.

- - -

The "Heaven's Gates" battleground has been given a hose-down of fresh water after the last competition. Once again, every surface is a potential danger for the Golden-Angel-clad competitors.

And as Corporal Panesh makes her appearance, the crowd erupts into a frenzy. Thus far, Mint's only appearance in front of the crowd was in the fashion show, where she showed off her hot-rod styled outfit -- much more of a costume than a workable swimsuit! And this outfit, too, seems less fit for a summertime shoreline than many might expect. While it is certainly skin-tight, hugging each of the tomboy's toned curves in ways that no traditional fabric swimsuit could -- it also conceals just about every inch of skin aside from her face and a circular region on her back.

The core of the outfit is a long-sleeved leotard in dark, charcoal grey that practically absorbs all the light. The chemical has adopted a vertical ribbing pattern, to increase surface area and warmth for the wearer. Similarly ribbed shoulderpads make the corporal's shoulders look even bigger than usual. And a small yellow scarf or necktie -- it's not completely clear which -- juts out from just below the garment's collar.

Her arms are wrapped in the chemical as well; the sleeves seem to be a bit thicker than the rest, forged into what appears to be bright red 'gauntlets.' The corporal seems to have set her oversized KNUCKS gauntlets aside for this match; only the tips of her fingers make it obvious that her hands are mostly mechanical beneath that glossy red veneer. The chemical taking on a more form-hugging appearance for her legs, rather than the vertical ribbing above, descending all the way down to a pair of knee-high boots that take on a more leathery appearance.

Mint is also carrying a rather long water rifle in her right hand, some three feet in length. A capacious water reservoir is affixed to the top -- and it seems she has a spare water reservoir hanging from a strap looped around her hip.

The Marine doesn't seem to mind the cheering as she strides out to the battlefield in a parade march. It helps that said march allows her to keep both hands on the rifle. Falling back upon her training is a good way for her to deal with her momentary turn in the spotlight! It's also her way of making good on the promise to not make the US Marine Corps look bad, in an event sure to be viewed by thousands across the globe...!

Once she's in position, she flashes a brief smile to the crowd.
And then she steps into the battlefield -- and its six inches of water.
And she nearly jumps up in fright, as her boots dissolve on contact with the water.
The fresh water is now polluted by a pool of inky black, dragged into long smears of gray by the current.

Gulp.
Mint laughs slightly, tightening her grip on her rifle.

COMBATSYS: Mint has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mint             0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Mint is now armed with a water rifle!

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mint [E]         0/-------/-------|

[CLIO]
"You do realize this is utter bullshit, right?"

Protestation, tired and bored ones, are met with little resistance but a distinct and steady obliviousness. The Golden Angel Tournament must continue onward. The paint-like goop being slathered on a naked form. Cold, coating, slithering and sliding into a form-fitting fabric.

"I wonder how Mako's is going to turn out,"

Idle, red-earred wondering. The colors of the goo shift, brighten, and darken. Black coating, trimmed in violet. Covering the body from shoulder to knee in a dark and skin-tight material. More body coverage than she's had all tournament, but little more than body paint that indulges every curve and angle of the Lieutenant's body.

"Lord Kagura will never let me hear the end of this."

A gun in hand. A weapon she's not used much. Even as a child she never really played with water pistols. And when you can make fire happen, there's a lot of other options in your combative repertoire. Still, it's lightweight, maneuverable, and simple.

"Damn, she's tiny. How am I going to hit her?"

Stepping into position, into the water. Her suit doesn't diminish. The cut off is at her knees, and her purple water shoes aren't made of the same Golden Angel material. She bought them separately. Clio St. Jeanne, reporting for a very, very strange duty in staring down a small girl across the water from herself. She adjusts the water rifle, sights it, and looks down the range.

"Nice scarf!' she calls out. Her attention is on the woman across from her. The crowd a secondary notion. She's not here to fight them.

"Screw it, this is stupid. Let's do this and we can chat later!" she calls out to Mint, starting to grin. This would be so much easier if it were just a fight.

COMBATSYS: Clio has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mint [E]         0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Clio

COMBATSYS: Clio is now armed with a water rifle!

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Mint [E]         0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0         [E] Clio

[MINT]
Mint really would have preferred an actual fight as well -- her fighting career is worth a lot more than becoming next lurid photo sensation on the internet! But, as the corporal's superiors often tell her, it is what it is.

As soon as Clio makes her appearance, Mint's hand leaves the stock of the rifle to offer a friendly wave. "Thanks!" After a brief moment of scanning Clio's attire for a suitable compliment, she's quick to blurt out, "I don't feel so bad about my outfit coming out so -dark- now, haha! You look great!"

With both fighters being so gracious and cordial to one another, the crowd's cheering and applause grows practically unbearable. It's -not- the best place to share introductions -- especially with the announcers whipping them up into a frenzy. Mint can only offer a laugh in response to Clio's call to action, hefting her rifle into the air as a sign of solidarity. But even if Clio isn't able to hear her words, it should be easy to read the corporal's lips as she draws the syllables out:

"I'm - sorry - about - this!"

The fight begins, with a cry from the announcers!

And Mint immediately darts behind cover, the splashes of water bubbling against the lower hem of her tights. With each passing moment, the bubbles nibble away at the skin-tight material, revealing more of her darkened skin to the air. She drops low, pressing her shoulders against the concrete barrier...
And then Mint realizes why she shouldn't trust wet surfaces, once she hears her shoulderpad begin to bubble in similar fashion
"Dammit, this is -ridiculous..." she mutters to no one in particular.

Without further delay, she pops out of cover -- and fires off a quick barrage of squirts from her rifle, hoping to catch Clio in motion!

COMBATSYS: Clio blocks Mint's Rifle - Three Squirt Burst.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0         [E] Clio

[CLIO]
The first shots come flying. Clio instinctively moves to place a more defensible part of her body in the line of fire. The shots splatter off her arm and Clio swiftly sees the mistakes that she's made.

"Shit," Clio seethes. The suit bubbles and melts, the dark material on her bicep dripping away and splatting down into the waters of the shallow wading pool.

Okay, need to keep moving, need to keep sticking. Clio is out of her element in a water based firefight. She dashes through the water, hoping to keep the fan of splashing from catching her own backside as she twists and sights the long gun.

A careful angle, biding time, waiting for the right moment to take a well aimed, steady shot at the smaller woman. Quick and easy and hopefully all she'll need to put this challenge to bed and let her get on with something a little more dignified.

COMBATSYS: Mint blocks Clio's Rifle - Aimed Squirt.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0         [E] Clio

[MINT]
While the Marine has never fought in this -particular- sort of attire, in this -particular- battlefield, combat engineers are required to be infantry first and foremost. Battle tactics are reinforced with countless drills, to the point that battle responses are reflexive, and unthinking. And in military training, soldiers are trained to block not with their bodies, but with objects more resilient to incoming fire.

Mint ducks back into cover after unleashing her volley, but rather than stay in one place, she moves onto the next concrete barrier. She reminds herself to not actually -touch- the barrier this time, simply crouching down behind it. And when she hears Clio's splashing stop, she leans out -- hoping to take the advantage -- only to hear the pull of a trigger!

Mint ducks back behind cover, but she's not quick enough to pull her arm out of the way -- a shot rings out across her right bicep, shredding the ribbed fabric apart with a shower of bubbles. Minal grunts with surprise -- though she realizes that the only casualty was half of her upper sleeve, as her dark skin is revealed to all. So much for getting a -fully- bionic arm, she admits with a wry grin.

She ignores the rising clamor from the audience, bolting out of cover and using one of the plexiglas walls for cover this time.
Sure -- Clio may be able to see clear through it.
But she'd also get to see Mint raising the gun towards her.
Not in a threatening fashion, but rather in a way of calculating the ballistics of her next shot, as she judges the weight of the barrel -- and how far her previous shots went.

"I can see why these guns don't have sights, sheesh!"

COMBATSYS: Mint focuses on her next action.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0         [E] Clio

[CLIO]
Not a soldier. Not really. Clio used the term knight for herself and she would more or less consider her position more of a cop than anything else in the modern era. She's never been in drills. She's never been in the same militaristic training that Minal Paresh has experienced.

However, she has access to powers of her own and a wealth of fighting a single opponent in life or death situations. And perhaps that will be enough to put her over the top against a more legitimate soldier.

That would be her tactic. Don't fight like a soldier with a rifle, fight like she would fight in any other situation. And for Clio, a moment's hesitation from her opposition is an opening to exploit. Clio's reaction time is snap. A raise of attention gets a three round burst of watery, splashing, swimsuit death Mint's way.

But then Clio moves like the wind. With a kicking, twin fan splash of water behind her, Clio St. Jeanne is off like a shot after her own shots. She tears through the splash zone and takes a leap. Her water shoe alights atop the barrier Mint hides behind and Clio spins off of it and over Mint's head.

Rotating in the air like an acrobat, she turns the barrel downward, nearly fast enough to beat her own burst of fire to the target, she takes a second series of shots right for the soldier's chest.

COMBATSYS: Clio blitzes into action and acts again!

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0         [E] Clio

COMBATSYS: Mint blocks Clio's Rifle - Rapid Squirts.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0         [E] Clio

COMBATSYS: Mint negates Rifle - Penetrating Squirt from Clio with Rifle - Single Squirt.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0         [E] Clio

COMBATSYS: Mint blitzes into action and acts again!

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0         [E] Clio

[MINT]
There's certainly merit in Clio's approach! The enlisted soldier would certainly -expect- her battle strategies to give her the advantage in a battle of actual rifles. But Mint is already adapting to the new battlefield by presenting herself as an open target, and practically -daring- Clio to come out and play.

It's more fun that way, anyway! Mint grins as Clio leaps into the open, squeezing off three rapid shots. Against bullets, Mint would be caught out in the open, but in a battle of water the Marine can also use her -rifle- as a defense, raising it up to deflect the shots. The rounded cylindrical forms of the water rifle diffuse the energy of the shots into smaller streams which wind their way around the weapon, splitting into multiple drops of water. The damage isn't immediately obvious, but holepunch-sized gaps will be quick to appear in the ribbed fabric in the moments which follow...

But through it all, the soldier does not lose track of her target. Bright eyes follow her target, hearing allowing her to keep mindful of the insanely fast movement even as Clio twirls overhead. The damage to her infiltration suit is ignored, as the rifle is brought once more to bear.

And when a shot is levelled upon her center mass...
Mint braces the stock of the rifle to her shoulder and opens fire.
And her shot intercepts the other in midair.
Equal masses -- and equal momentum. The doubled-up shot hangs in midair, unsure where to go for a moment -- before gravity pulls the water back down.

The soldier's grin grows, parting for her triumphant word: "Bingo!"

And then she squeezes off a succession of shots to follow it. Each shot is led ahead of Clio's falling arc, with an aim of scoring a trio of hits across her abdomen! "Hahahaha!"

COMBATSYS: Mint successfully hits Clio with Rifle - Rapid Squirts.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0         [E] Clio

[CLIO]
Raking fire dashes across Clio's midsection. The water tears through the suit, dissolving the solution in neat little circles across her abdomen and exposing a good deal of Clio's belly to the world. Though the suit is still more modest than just about anything else she's worn during the contest it's a sign of mistakes and underestimation of her opponent, it's enough to make Clio go a little red at the notions.

But there was something else that Clio saw, and it gets her to slow a moment. "Damn. That was good," she admits, genuinely surprised to see the clean shots that neatly took the threatening water from the air. "Really, that was good."

She remains standing there a moment, just in the water, not particularly fighting or dashing or dodging. "I was not expecting that."

Clio tilts her head and considers the militaristically outfitted opponent. Something is a little familiar about the suit that Mint wears, Clio knows she's similar before but with the already extant water damage she isn't entirely certain. "Say, what gave you the idea to dress like that?" she asks.

It's not entirely an innocent question, as Clio uses the moment to casually lift the water rifle in one hand and squeeze out a series of shots at her opponent and casual conversation partner.

COMBATSYS: Mint dodges Clio's Rifle - Three Squirt Burst.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0         [E] Clio

[MINT]
Mint is used to practice rounds in the battlefield. Even with body armor, they leave bruises.
Mint is used to paintball rounds, and their bright splashes of color.
Mint is even used to actual battlefields, and actual blood.

But seeing the fabric peel away as her watergun slams into it?
Still getting used to that.
She is glad she apologized when she did.

Thankfully, Clio's words lure the corporal's gaze upwards, away from the expanse of bared tummy.
"Heh, thanks. Wasn't sure if that Robin Hood trick would work, but hey..."

Even with the friendly nature of conversation, Mint doesn't fully retract her guard -- the rifle is brought back down and level, the soldier keeping aim even while partially distracted. The question strikes her as a bit odd...

"It's funny you ask--" she starts -- but then she realizes the conversation is a tactic, too. As soon as the arm is lifted, Mint leaps up onto the nearest knee-high obstacle, rewarded for her quick thinking by the sound of the water blast ricocheting off the splashing water she leaves behind. "I dunno! They were telling me to keep my mind clear, but so much for -that- idea..."

Mint hops from one barrier to the next, keeping her bared feet from touching that water as much as she can. At one point, though, she crouches down low, bracing her left arm against the inside of her bionic knee. Taking aim, she squeezes off one single shot -- seeking to clip Clio's shoulder!

COMBATSYS: Clio blocks Mint's Rifle - Aimed Squirt.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0         [E] Clio

[CLIO]
The deception wasn't good enough. Tiny opponents are apparently hard to hit. The next shot comes as Clio is attempting to make her break for it. The water splashes off Clio's shoulder and runs a long diagonal cut through the Golden Angel fabric along Clio's back. A line of skin exposed on her belly and along her back, she takes cover behind a clear piece and dips her gun into the waters to refill her chambers.

"I won't lie, I think this stuff could do a lot more than basic swimsuits. I could like it with some testing," she calls out. "And if that's your mind clear, you have some interesting style choices."

She's crouched, near the waters, filling up her gun and waiting. She's losing a good amount of her suit and it probably won't be long now before she's having to admit defeat. Maybe, she thinks, she should've been as conservative in mindset as her opponent. That would've given her more suit to lose.

COMBATSYS: Clio reloads her watergun!

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0         [E] Clio

[MINT]
As Mint's gaze lingers on her fleeing opponent's shoulder, she also finds her cheeks getting a bit warm. The audience is quick to notice her reddened skin too, judging from the peals of laughter that roll out. But Mint isn't paying them mind, training her rifle for a followup shot -- only to miss her opportunity as Clio flits into the cover of a Plexiglas barrier.

"Well... yeah! Add a bit of wire scaffolding or something, and you could make some really neat designs!" As Clio remains stationary, Mint hops down, taking pains to keep her splashing to a minimum as she creeps towards a better vantage point.

She looks down at her rifle, though -- and realizes its tank is running low. Not wanting to be caught unaware, she unscrews the cap on the spare reservoir hanging at her hip, and refills the gun, keeping a wary eye out for Clio's advance.

"... Hey, what's -that- supposed to mean? Black goes with everything!"
Mint's dark grey. Close enough for government work.

COMBATSYS: Mint reloads her watergun!

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0         [E] Clio

[CLIO]
Back seen through the clear wall she's using as cover. The curve of her back exposed in that slash. Plenty to see for Mint as she waits and bides her time. She's going to have to bring her A-Game to all of this. To Make more than certain that she can get the shots that she needs to make. It's going to take all she has to bring this fight toward her needs.

Clio looks forward, she takes a breath, she centers herself. She brings her mind to bear. Time to hit hard and time to go home. A fire sparks in her eyes as she smiles. Her finger draws a circle on her thigh. The circle sizzles and marks on the swimsuit a series of sigils written by the damp tip of Clio's finger. She looks up and readies her rifle. She looks ready for this, to bring things around to what she needs to win. Any means necessary.

COMBATSYS: Clio gathers her will.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1         [E] Clio

[MINT]
Infantry is not typically the first choice for ladies entering the Marines. Mint was used to being pretty much the only one in the enlisted barracks. And that's just fine for the street rat from New Jersey -- the jeers of tattooed, testosterone-pumped Marines really don't have much effect on her.

But she's never had to deal with a gun that reveals more of her opponent with each successful shot. Mint is learning things about herself a bit more rapidly than she'd like.

"S-so how far are -you- going in this fight? Are you an exhibitionist, like that crazy electricity witch from the first night?"

Mint finishes dumping the bottle's contents into her gun, letting the empty fall back to her hip as she screws the water rifle shut. She turns towards Clio, with an obstacle obscuring her from view. And with a solid, attention-grabbing splash, she vaults upward, sending a rapid-fire barrage at Clio's last known location. Mint has no intel on her opponent save for what she's already seen -- and she's hoping to score another hit before needing to worry about it! This nearly-solid stream of fire is directed straight into the sigils...!

COMBATSYS: Mint successfully hits Clio with Rifle - Suppressing Squirts.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Mint [E]         0/-------/=======|=======\===----\1         [E] Clio

[CLIO]
All is well and all is ready. Clio stands up, walks toward Mint. She doesn't do much but turn to the shot. The water sprays across her back, exposing much of her from shoulder to hip. The water's shaken off. Clio's left with little more than a neck halter and a pair of small boyshort length shorts.

But she still walks forward. Smiling. "Like what you see?" she asks. "It's not a bad look. And no, but I am comfortable with myself."

She moves. She moves like a blur, darting to the side, circling wide around Mint, arcane symbols briefly visible on her limbs as she leaves behind her a steady stream of water aimed for Mint. A spray of liquid in a wide arc as the weapon unloads and Clio makes what might be her final full frontal assault on her opponent.

COMBATSYS: Mint blocks Clio's Rifle - Full Auto Squirts.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Mint [E]         1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0         [E] Clio

[MINT]
Mint sees more and more of the sinuous curves of Clio's back -- as provocative as if she was all set for a trip to a fancy, expensive night club. And yet, this isn't a nightclub -- not a private, intimate night on the town. It's a practically public display.

And for a moment, Mint becomes aware of the audience. Guys and gals of all ages. Jaws are dropping at the sight -- and Mint finds herself aware of the bare patches of skin, their cooler temperatures in stark contrast to the snug security of the rest of her impromptu outfit.

And then Mint finds that she's been caught staring. Her cheeks flood with red, as she backs up, keeping the rifle trained on her opponent. "I... it's... it's nice? I mean, I-- I wouldn't wear it like -that-, but..."

She stammers, caught in the crosshairs, and her chin dips low. "I'm -really- sorry about this...!" she exclaims, her eyes tracking Clio as she moves to the side. The sigils are super-obvious now -- and Mint's self-confidence is practically shaken as she abandons all pretense of firing back against the ferocious volley of sprays. She raises the rifle vertically, shutting her eyes as one shot after another rains into her.

Black fabric evaporates with tiny hisses of steam as the relentless barrage sears into her -- deflected by the upraises rifle, but only deterred momentarily. Her long sleeves are torn to shreds, with only their inner surfaces remaining as a bare suggestion of their earlier form. The water that trickles off of the rifle proves to be a threat as well; the rapid-fire shots dribble into her knees and thighs, wearing holes away at first -- and the drops trace long lines down her thighs. Her bionic knee makes an appearance as well -- distinct metallic accents showing in contrast to her dark skin.

Mint cracks one eye open as the barrage ends. Her sleeves are decimated -- and very little is left at all to cover the sides of her legs. But while both sides of her outfit are holding on with bare threads, her center is mostly intact, save for the few splashes sustained earlier in the fight.

"I -- I'm comfortable with you too!" she blurts out.

And then blinks, with burning red cheeks.
"Ugh, what the heck've you got me saying?! Eat this!" And rather than open fire with another rifle shot -- Mint rams the butt of the rifle into the water, scooping up a wide wall of water towards her!

COMBATSYS: Clio dodges Mint's Rifle - Splash Attack.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Mint [E]         1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0         [E] Clio

[CLIO]
And just like that, a wave of water and dashed aside. Clio stands out of the splash zone and drapes her water rifle over her shoulder. She looks at the bits and pieces of metal starting to make themselves known against Mint's dark skin. Clio's head tilting slightly in curiosity.

"So, you're a cyborg? Hmm. Would've been nice to know that before all this," Clio says with a sigh. She reaches up to pinch the bridge of her nose and shake her head. This is all just getting to the point where she's getting little patience for it.

She might not care all too much, though she knows she's hitting her limit, but the fact that this other woman is so bothered and heated from just seeing Clio in less clothing is starting to get her hackles up.

"Hey, you. Listen, this is really starting to bother you, isn't it?" she asks, hand on her hip. "I'm not going to keep this up. Not for these people." She turns and tosses her gun to the side. "Screw this noise. You win. I'm going to salvage what's left of my dignity and get some ice cream."

The gun lands in the water with a little splash. Let confusion reign over the crowd as Clio St. Jeanne starts to walk her way out of the arena. A hand going up to the camera with a casual gesture to voice her degree of antipathy toward the contest at hand.

"But if you want to join me, catch me with some real clothes on," she adds, looking over her shoulders toward Mint. "I want to hear about your tech, it's pretty cool."

COMBATSYS: Clio takes no action.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Mint [E]         1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0         [E] Clio

COMBATSYS: Clio has left the fight here.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mint [E]         1/------=/=======|

[MINT]
Clio is not the only target of the splashing barrage -- true to form, Mint gets -herself- caught in the attack, with the blowback from the splash landing upon her upper left thigh. As the fluid drips away, disintegrating the chemical bonds formed there, Mint stares back at her opponent with a mix of wonder and concern.

"Cyborg?" Mint seems surprised at that term, bringing the rifle back to bear as she thinks about that. "... Well, not -entirely- by choice... " She raises her left hand -- a clear mix of synthetic and natural components -- as demonstration of her cause.

But -- just like that, Clio drops her guard. And her gun.

And Mint actually seems a bit... crestfallen. Not embarassed -- at least, not any more. Just... empty.

She does end up flashing a sulk -- though a lopsided one, as she has -some- good humor about it. "...Well, fine, but you owe me a rematch. I'm not done with you yet, you know."

Not long after Clio's rifle is left to fall, Mint's rifle is rested upon her shoulder. Dropping a rifle is a -major- sign of disrespect, even if it's just a water gun. And as the officials natter on about winning and losing and the audience seems to be throughly occupied with conversing about the outcome of the battle, Mint is left to just watch as Clio ambles away, with a hesitant -- albeit nervous -- smile on her face.

"Just gimme five, I'll catch up with ya."

COMBATSYS: Mint takes no action.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Mint [E]         1/------=/=======|

COMBATSYS: Mint has ended the fight here.

Log created on 10:44:28 02/18/2018 by Clio, and last modified on 12:09:40 02/19/2018.