Match of the Millennium

Description: Angelina surprises Chris. Can he be fast enough? Or is Angel going to bring him closer to god?

[ANGELINA]
Angelina Benedetti is feeling somewhat shell-shocked. This time last week she was sitting at her desk piled high with paperwork in one of the seedier areas of Metro City, and now she's a competitor in a fighting commpetition. Not that she's a stranger to such events, but she's never been involved in one quite like this. For a start, there was the venue for her opening match. Not the community halls or sports centres she'd become accustomed to on the aikido circuit, but instead a dog pound complete with canines. Then there was her opponent. She'd swallowed down her fear at the sight of him, but he was a big bear of a man and she'd expected to be broken in two. But no, she's still in one piece and somehow miraclously had been victorious in their battle, and was now through to the second round.

Sitting in the back of yet another cab, her thoughts turn to a different man mountain by the name of Seven. She still hadn't managed to track him down, though she had heard through the grapevine that he too had been successful in the tournament. Perhaps their paths would cross in combat at some stage, but for now she has someone else to focus on, a boy named Chris.

Scrolling through her ancient looking cellphone, she locates an article on him, which tells her he is a Swedish singing star. Sbe's heard of his band CYS, but they haven't made any of her Spotify playlists and her knowledge of them is virtually none. Judging by the photographs, he bears more than a passing resemblance to the Canadian megastar, Justin Bieber. Or at least when he was the same age, which apparently is fourteen.

"Fourteen?" Angelina cries out, causing her driver to glance at her in the mirror.

"So first they put me up against a giant and now they want me to beat up a kid? Or get beaten up by a kid I guess. I'm not sure which is worse."

She slumps back in her seat and gazes out the window, focusing on the scenery of Southtown to distract her from her dismay.

Eventually they pull up at what looks to be some kind of theme park.

"This is the Golden Angel" the driver announces pleasantly.

Handing over enough money to cover the fare she'd been quoted, plus a generous tip, the Italian American woman exits the vehicle and makes her way to the gates of the complex.

Modest it's not. It resembles something she'd expect to see in Vegas more than Japan. At the centre is an arena surrounded by bleachers for spectators. As yet they are sparse in number, but several of them seem to be waving flags with Chris' face on. She guesses this will be the location of their battle, but perhaps there's been some kind of maintenance issue, because it's currently submerged in nearly half a foot of water.

As her gaze shifts to the rest of the vast vicinity, she can't help but notice random rocks jutting jaggedly from the ground. Most strikingly of all are the shimmering and sparkling statues, proudly showing the Golden Angel mascot wearing bikinis. Resembling rotund hippopotami, they are holding large vases of stone in their arms, from which pours non-stop torrents of water that replenish the pools below.

[CHRIS]
Meanwhile, Chris was already there. Made his way all by himself, the rest of the trio busy with their own matches.

It's ok really, he is after all going to face a nobody in this fight. Though from the info he was able to gather, she's a pretty woman. Nothing bad about having something nice to look at while fighting. At least at the start of combat. It will probably get ugly before long. He chuckles to himself and looks around.

There isn't a ton of people around, but he can see his faces in the spectators and he approves of it. They know who he is and quite a few are going to support him. What's not to love. The location is over the top, which means he might have to go over the top as well. No biggies, he could play it big if necessary. He had no problem with that.

Then finally his opponent arrives and now he knows things will finally get interesting very soon. He gives her one of his charming, innocent smiles. He doesn't hate his opponent, not one bit. Well ok, some of the images in his head aren't really good per se, but he's getting used to them and ignores them for the most part. Yes, this was going to be a good fight. He's now simply waiting for the combat to start. Pure strength didn't beat Angelina, but pure speed would.

[ANGELINA]
Seeing the Swede standing in position, Angelina nods her head politely at him.

"Hey. Good luck with the match, kid" she says, returning his smile.

It's meant to come off as friendly, but there could be a risk it sounds patronising.

She makes her way over to the arena, kicking off her flip flops and dipping her bare feet into the water. This isn't something she's doing to adjust to her environment, it's just how she prefers to fight. She tightens her black elastic hair tie around her thick curls, straightens her Aikido costume and then starts to stretch out her limbs, making splish splashing noises in the process. She knows better than to suggest a coin toss after her previous match, but she still seems reluctant to attack without permission.

From the bleachers a youthful female voice yells "Get her, Chris. Show her CYS is not just the best band in the world, but has the best fighters!"

COMBATSYS: Chris has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Chris            0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Angelina has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Chris            0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0         Angelina

[CHRIS]
Chris was wearing his usual fighting attire. A blue tshirt over a black form fitting halter top, white bermuda like pants and his usual blue boots. He looks at his opponent, seeing she's wearing a fighting outfit. She gets points for that. She looks cool.

Then as soon as the fight starts, he's going toward the woman. He doesn't wait. "Hi!" he says when he's close enough. "Nice clothes lady!" Then he proceeds to kick toward her right side with his left leg. Nothing super flashy yet. He has to test the water after all.

COMBATSYS: Angelina blocks Chris' Medium Kick.

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Chris            0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0         Angelina

[ANGELINA]
"Oh, thanks" she replies "It's just a standard uniform really. Nothing flashy."

She keeps her eyes on him as he talks, having learned her lesson from the previous round, when she'd almost paid badly for getting distracted.

As a result when he comes for her, she's ready. She braces her body against his kick and whilst it does make contact with her right hip, she avoids the brunt of the damage.

She runs her hand along her flesh, through the cutout section in the flimsy fabric of her loose fitting pants and then up to her jacket, from which she pulls out a telescoping jo staff. She swings it towards the boy from the band, aiming for the knuckles of his hand. Whilst he's registering this attack, she will attempt to move behind him, extending the staff to its full length, with the intention of using it to force him down to the ground on his front. Should she manage to do so, he will recieve a hard smack on his buttocks, albeit it delivered with a blushing face, at using the move on such a young boy.

COMBATSYS: Angelina successfully hits Chris with Temperance.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Chris            0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0         Angelina

[CHRIS]
Well, well, well. You know how to fight! He tells Angelina as she is ready for his kick, and it doesn't seem to do much of anything.

But while he's speaking and perhaps tauning, he gets hit on the knuckles "Hey!" But she's already not there anymore as she moves to his back and make him fall to the ground. "Ok now!" But it's not even done yet, as she ends up smacking his ass with her staff. "Ouch." He rolls forward after and back to his feet, turning around. "Ok, now you're pissing me off." But it was hard to see if he was playing or really angry, as his smile never falters.

Then he steps forward, then jups up. Then with his heel first turns it into a dive kick, aiming for her chest.

COMBATSYS: Angelina blocks Chris' Gliding Stomp.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Chris            0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0         Angelina

[ANGELINA]
"Yes, I have been training as a fighter for over a decade" Angelina replies seriously.

"Admittedly this tournament has been a change of pace, but I'm enjoying the challenge so far."

Her stick is now retracted and she's moving through the shallow water once Chris returns to his feet.

"There's no need to get angry" she advises. "Wrath can lead you in to all kinds of trouble."

When he strikes out at her again, she too jumps, moving backwards and getting herself out of reach of his kick. His heel clips her shoulder, causing her to flinch and she takes a moment to regain her focus with what seems to be a deep breathing exercise. Her brown eyes remain open throughout however, locking on to Chris's own gaze. It appears for now, she is making no further attempt to attack him.

COMBATSYS: Angelina harmonises with her opponent's energy.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Chris            0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0         Angelina

[CHRIS]
"Oh..." He says when she mentions she has been training for 10 years, like it was less impressive now that he knew how long she trained for. "Good job, well done." He gives her a thumb up and as she doesn't press back on him and instead seem to focus, he presses with another attack. He does not answer about anger. Anger can be useful after all, but he didn't wish to debate about it.

He moves toward Angelina, just enough to punch toward her head. If he has his way, he would hit her nose. But who knows if she would blow it again.

COMBATSYS: Angelina counters Medium Punch from Chris with Patience.

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Chris            0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0         Angelina

[ANGELINA]
The black haired woman seems unfazed by the compliment, genuine or otherwise. Her expression remains neutral, only altering as the young rockstar aims a punch towards the vicinity of her face.

As his fist moves towards her, she reaches out her hand and grabs it, before locking her fingers around his delicate wrist. Forcing his arm upwards with her other hand, she then steps in underneath, placing her thigh firmly behind his legs.

Grabbing his knees, she pushes them together and then lifts his legs from under him. It's a more comfortable feat than when she'd performed the same move on the Finnish fighter she'd faced in the previous round. Having a three inch height and twenty six pound weight advantage on the teen is a definite help.

As he falls to the ground, no doubt making a splash in the water, she raises her hands high above her head and gathers a ball of golden white energy, which she slams down upon the slight Swede.

[CHRIS]
There are days like that and fights too, where nothing you do seems to work. Before he knows it, he's in the water, and getting hit by some white golden energy. Yet you're suppose to stay cocky. You can't let your opponent get the advantage, but it's hard. He is feeling the fight right now, and he is aware it looks back for him, but yeah. He can win this. "Not bad. You had your fun yet?" He gets back up, wet now, part of his bermudas transparent because of the water, but he's wearing something under, so all is good.

He takes a deep breath. It looks like he is trying to recenter himself, but he's just trying to push the murderous thoughts away. Then the sweet smile returns. "You got all the right moves right now. Getting me wet there." He then proceeds to jump, legs toward her head. If he has his way, he grabs said neck between thos legs and flips her around toward the ground, in a short of hurricurana. It wasn't exactly his usual style, but maybe a little change at the moment is in order.

COMBATSYS: Angelina interrupts Medium Throw from Chris with Charity EX.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Chris            1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0         Angelina

[ANGELINA]
"I'm still having fun" Angelina answers. There's no mocking in her tone though, it's simply a statement of fact.

She pays no heed to Chris' visible underpants, interested only in the battle at hand. She can't help but notice that several of his fans from the crowd have started to boo and jeer her though.

As he comes for her again, she reacts with skill and speed, avoiding being grabbed around the neck but not quite fast enough to get out of the way of his heel hitting her cheekbone. That will probably be another bruise for her growing collection, but that's what Cover Girl concealer was invented for!

Gathering a brilliant, beautiful and blindingly bright ball of golden white energy in her hands, she unleashes it at the boy, sending it flying towards his face.

[CHRIS]
When it feels like your destiny is to lose and even the gods are against you. he's unable to really hit again. He is only getting glancing blows, if they can even be called that at all. Then he can't react as he gets a bright ball of golden white energy straight at his face. At this moment, he can hear the boos, and really wants to tell the crowd things one can't repeat here. But considering he can't alienates the crowd as the rest of the groups wouldn't like it at all, he keeps it all inside.

At this time, he doesn't attack, taking deep breathes instead to recompose himself and keeping an eye out for the next attack that will certainly come his way.

COMBATSYS: Chris gains composure.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Chris            1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0         Angelina

[ANGELINA]
As Chris catches his breath, Angelina takes a moment for a breather herself, allowing herself a brief glance towards the bleachers, where the boy's fans are berating her. Their faces are contorted with dissapointment and anger and they are clearly blaming her for beating on the boy they are fans of. She must not let their negative emotions in though. Focusing on her own fighting is key.

Producing the staff from her pocket again, she infuses it with golden white energy, before thrusting it towards the teenager, aiming to hit him with a series of rapid strikes. Should this succeed, she will follow up by using the staff to sweep his legs from under him and send him sprawling to the watery ground below.

COMBATSYS: Angelina successfully hits Chris with Diligence.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Chris            1/---====/=======|=======\=------\1         Angelina

[CHRIS]
Chris took it personally, thinking they were booing him and why not. He's done nothing but be a punching bag for this lady who really is at the top of her game right now, compare to himself, who seems to do everything wrong. The proof of it is when he tries to get out of the way of the strikes. He only ends up getting hit by all of them like a first timer. He seems like he's unable to anticipate any moves at all. Att he end of those strikes, he's bruised and bloody. To add insults to injuries, he gets sweep off his legs and ends up again in the watery depth like an idiot.

But Chris doesn't stay down long. He feels a weird energy around him and uses it to push himsel even further. He examines Angelina a second. He then slides forward doing multiple palm strikes. Each with an explosive burst of chi. It looks like it is never going to end. If he manages it, then he finishes witha strong straigh punch, leaning into it as he does so and screaming at the top of his lungs for that final hit.

COMBATSYS: Chris successfully hits Angelina with Chain Slide Burst.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Chris            0/-------/-------|=======\=======\1         Angelina

[ANGELINA]
It had to happen sooner or later. The bruised and bloody boy emerges from the water reborn and ready to show her what he's made of!

As he slides towards her, striking out as he moves, she steps towards him instead of back, hoping to block him with her body. It doesn't go to plan.

Her intake of breath is loud enough to be heard by her opponent. As his energy powered hits pummel her, she tries to back off, but he's too fast! His fist smacks into her face, bloodying her nose and wounding her pride.

She mustn't let herself dwell on this though! Pride is the most serious of all sins and one she doesn't plan to indulge in.

"Nice job" she compliments Chris, wiping some blood from her top lip with the back of her hand.

The roar from the growing crowd is loud enough to rival the singer's own scream, and several of them call out "We love you, Chris" as they become cheered by his success.

Gathering herself together, Angelina smiles softly, her expression seeming strangely serene. She starts to glow with radiant golden white energy from tip to toes, causing several gasps and one loud groan from the spectators.

She moves forward at rapid speed, aiming for the rocker and attempting to deliver a series of striking looking but relatively harmless atemo to his body, using her palms and feet. She's focusing on his pressure points and should she get close enough to access them, she will twist his arm around to both impede and reposition him, exposing more to her touch. Everywhere she is able to make contact is marked by glowing golden prints and when she's happy with the picture she will hopefully create, she would step back, pressing her hands together as the meridians of both fighters light up in harmony. Their connection would cause Angelina's energy to restore, whilst Chris would feel his limbs and organs to go numb with impermanent nervous overload.

COMBATSYS: Chris barely manages to escape Angelina's Redemption EX!

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Chris            0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0         Angelina

[CHRIS]
Hitting his target clean this time, seems to empower him. She compliments him and he nods his head to her, acknowledging her. He quenches the little voice trying to turn that into something nasty. He knows deep down she just wants to be nice. The roar from the crowd is not bad either. But, how quick they are to turn around.

When Angelina starts this attack, which has to be said, is impressive, Chris reacts on instinct. He dodges what he can, her blows barely missing. It should have hit him. Angelina would have deserved as such, but Chris got a mix of skill and luck in that one. Even when she touches his arm, he flows with the repositioning, only to dodge again. Even he seems surprised to have escaped those attacks.. She would see it in her eyes. "woah."

Then as if he's still working on instinct, he dashes in with a leading elbow strike, and if he hits, goes into a slide kick. "You get my blood pumping!"

COMBATSYS: Angelina dodges Chris' Shooting Dancer Thrust.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Chris            0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0         Angelina

[ANGELINA]
It hurts that he managed to spoil her show. Not a show she is putting on for others though, just one that she enjoys creating. The feeling inside her when she starts to glow is something akin to blissful. It's the nearest Parole Officer Benedetti gets to that in her life. She's not going to reveal her internal wounds though, her physical ones are visible enough.

"Yeah, well you make my blood spill" she jokes.

When Chris dashes towards her, as agile as a dancer, she dives quickly out of the way, causing the water to rise up and soak her white jacket through. Taking a moment to wring it out, she then wades back towards him, extending out her palm and unleashing a blinding flash of golden white energy in his direction. She seeks to stun him, so she can draw out her staff with her other hand. If she manages to pull off the manoeuvre, she will swing the stick at him, using both hands and aiming to hit the Swedish star in his most sensitive parts (right between the legs), with the intention of incapacitating him.

COMBATSYS: Chris blocks Angelina's Chastity.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Chris            0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0         Angelina

[CHRIS]
"Nicely done." Chris says as Angelina gets out of the way. She has been surprisingly fast for most of the fight. In a way, Chris was impressed, even if he didn't voice it too much toward her. Can't be fawning all over her.

When she attacks, first with the golden flash. It blinds him for a short moment. It's enough for Angelina to continue her attack. Yet, when she brings her staff toward his manly anatomy, he has his hand to catch the blow, as if he felt where it was going. It's not exactly pleasant, but it's not as damaging as his precious jewel getting crushed would have been.

He takes his time to recover his vision, focusing on Angelina, not attacking this turn, only keeping his focus, breathing deeply.

COMBATSYS: Chris focuses on his next action.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Chris            0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0         Angelina

[ANGELINA]
The boy blocked the brunt of her below the belt assault. His future children will maybe thank her one day!

She nods in aknowledgement of his words, but stays wary, waiting for his next move. As she waits, she uses the time to realign herself, centering her energy and feeling herself become one with the young fighter before her. He's not her enemy. He is merely another living being to harmonise with. She allows herself to think only positive thoughts, full of love and goodness, ensuring she stays in a good state of mind, whatever the outcome of this battle may be.

COMBATSYS: Angelina harmonises with her opponent's energy.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Chris            0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0         Angelina

[CHRIS]
His sight returns soon enough and Angelina doesn't attack him during that time. He's not sure why not. To jolt her a bit, he tries a light kick in her direction. It's not very hard, except near the end, when it's about to hit when he's tenses his foot to add some strength to it.

COMBATSYS: Angelina blocks Chris' Light Kick.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Chris            0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0         Angelina

[ANGELINA]
The kick is enough to break the woman's focus and as Chris' leg launches towards her, she throws her hands up instinctively to protect her frame. His foot smacks into her palm, scraping the skin but not causing any real concern.

She makes her way silently towards him, moving slowly but strongly through the water and leaving a river of ripples in her wake. Once he's within her reach, she makes a grab for his arm, lifting it up to position his palm to face her and then trying to wrap her arms around the inside of it.

Taking a step backwards, she tries to turn him around, till he's standing alongside her and facing in the same direction. From here she would push him forward, continuing to move herself, till she's around the front of him. This would force him down to his knees and from here she would use her free hand to push his face into the ground.

COMBATSYS: Chris blocks Angelina's Humility.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Chris            0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0         Angelina

[CHRIS]
Angelina is quick. She's able to block most of what Chris throws at her, and grab him too. She grabs him well and is about to put his head into the water. Chris wonders why she wants to drown him, but he manages to use his hand to stop his head from going in the water. It still damages him in the wrist, but not as much as drowning. At least he's alive. then he rolls away frmo her.

Then he turns around and does a full body spinning double handed backfist toward Angelina. Moving water with his own feet as he does so.

COMBATSYS: Angelina fails to counter Spinning Array from Chris with Kindness.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Chris            0/-------/---====|

COMBATSYS: Angelina can no longer fight.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Chris            0/-------/---====|

[ANGELINA]
Chris manages to duck out of the dunking. Not that she had been meaning to drown him of course, just give him a sharp shock.

As his deadly looking double handed backfist risks further damage to her face, she makes a move to step out of their line of attack.

Jumping upwards and aiming to land on one of the rocks that jut out of the ground, she mistimes it horribly and instead falls forward, forcing his fists further into her forehead. She falls backwards, stunned by the impact and then strikes her head on the very rock she had sought as safety!

The crowd go wild, screaming for the Swedish singing superstar and trying to swarm the arena to get closer to him. Meanwhile the Metro City resident is oblivious to the attempted mobbing of her opponent and the fact the water is wetting her through.

[CHRIS]
Chris's double-handed backfist does the job. It helps it seems like Angelina missed what she wanted to do and actually enhanced the damage. He wins this, but he had to give it to Angelina, she really made him work for this victory.

He can see the crowd coming toward him. But before they can attempt to take him away, he pulls Angelina out of the water. No one wants pneumonia. It is a small way to give some respect to his opponent before the Crowd finally takes him away in celebration. Now he just needs to know if his friends will do as well as he. But, there is only one Chris. There always can only be one...

Log created on 09:57:33 05/10/2022 by Chris, and last modified on 09:45:37 05/11/2022.