Match of the Millennium

Description: In the second round of the tournament, babyface Brian Storm comes up against classic heel Nixie Greene, settling their NFG match in the squared circle. Can you smell what's brewin'?

[NIXIE]
The small green goblin isn't looking forward to fighting her next opponent, a wrestler certainly isn't a good much up for her. Still she's commited now and she would never hear the end of it from Myriad if she backs down now. It's not like she has whole lot of other options after all. A stool has been provided so it's easier to climb into the ring this time, that would be the only comfort she's getting in this fight.

[BRIAN STORM]
After Nixie makes her way into the ring, *BANG* *BANG *BANG* a row of pyrotechnics *BANG* *BANG* *BANG* erupt at the top of a ramp that's been placed opposite the ring between rows of seating, filling the air with smoke and the crowd with anticipation as a figure emerges in silhouette.

As he appears, the visage of Brian Storm is unmistakable: an immaculately trimmed goatee, steely blue eyes, flowing and perfectly groomed blonde hair that reaches down to the rippling muscles of his shoulders. It's unmistakable because the exact same visage but more dramatically lit and airbrushed appears across the front of the black t-shirt that he wears, and underneath that portrait is the name 'BRIAN STORM' in bold blue letters shot through with streaks of lightning. His legs are covered by a pair of black tights with a lightning bolt motif, and on his feet are a pair of fire engine red wrestling boots that perfectly match the shade of the necktie worn loosely around his throat.

"HELLO, SOUTHTOWN!" he booms into a microphone, tinny feedback ringing through the sound system. "I hope you all brought umbrellas, waterproof coats, and appropriate footwear... because there's a STORM coming through! And I hear that it's going to be so heavy that it could blow away pets, small children, and of course, -goblins-!"

Brian gives a few seconds for the pop from the crowd to die down before raising his microphone to his lips once more. "I know some of you were disappointed that the three minute soliloquy in which I utterly deconstructed each of my fellow prospects in the New Fighting Generation never made it to live broadcast... so I'm going to deliver that promo RIGHT HERE, and RIGHT NOW, as I make my way to the ring!"

Many of the fans in the crowd cheer at this revelation. Brian keeps his mic and his gaze level with perfect poise as he sweeps his eyes across the crowd and takes one step forward down the ramp. His fully original theme song, 'Man With A Plan,' starts playing over the sound system

"Now, some of you have heard that there's a visually impaired fighter in this competition. That's perfectly fine. When I meet her, I intend to make things even," he says, putting his hands across his eyes, "because I too could kick the asses of any of these rodeo clowns with my eyes clo-"

Just as he's about to finish his sentence, Brian trips over somebody's plastic beer cup on the ramp and flails his one free arm as he falls forward, the microphone screeching as it goes flying. He log rolls all the way down the ramp before rolling unsteadily up to his feet at the ground level. He finally takes his hand off of his eyes, steadies himself, and calmly adjusts his necktie with both hands as the lyrics 'I'm A Man With A Plan!' blare over the speakers.

Rather than resuming his speech, Brian climbs up onto the apron and swings himself over the top rope. He moves to the opposite corner and starts to climb the turnbuckles to hype up the crowd. Just as he does, blue post pyrotechnics go off right in his face, and he staggers back onto the mat, placing a hand over his blinded eyes.

"Cool! Cool! This is all cool!" he growls optimistically.

COMBATSYS: Nixie has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Nixie            0/-------/-------|

[NIXIE]
Okay, maybe Nixie overestimated her opponent just a bit. Then again this could all be an act, well it's not like she was intending on showing mercy her anyway. She doesn't have anything against attacking a downed opponent after all. "Well, it might help if you could stand up for more than 5 seconds if you plan on fighting the blind chick. OF course you kind of have to beat me first for that to happen." Still she doesn't hope he floods the ring or something, she doesn't want to test how well she swim in this form.

Well, he's already on the ground might as well make the most of it. A magical sigil appears on the floor behind the wrestler. Brian might want to get up onto his feet quick or he's going to find himself getting stabbed by the wooden spikes that are slowly rising out of the ground.

COMBATSYS: Brian Storm has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Brian Storm      0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0            Nixie

COMBATSYS: Brian Storm blocks Nixie's Punji Pain.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Brian Storm      0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0            Nixie

[BRIAN STORM]
The awe-inspiring figure that is Brian Storm regains his senses, whirling to face Nixie. "I never lie down for more than two seconds at a time," he boldly declares, stamping his foot down - right on one of the spikes rising out of the ring. Brian's face turns beet red as he otherwise refuses to react to the spike now protruding through his boot, stepping forward to avoid the rest of the emerging patch. "Not even to sleep."

He advances on Nixie, drawing back his arm to aim an almighty chop at the goblin to imbalance her. Should he inevitably succeed, he'll then stoop down to grab her by the arm and swing her toward the ropes, intending to send her ricochet-running off of them as he would also turn to run into the ropes on the opposite side!

COMBATSYS: Nixie just-defends Brian Storm's Brian Whip!

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Brian Storm      0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0            Nixie

[NIXIE]
Nixie puts her small arms up and the steer rush of adrenaline makes her able to shield herself from the chop. She's not quite sure how she pulled that off either, but she takes a deep breath afterwards. She runs behind him, though she's certainly not hiding. Instead she draws a sharpened metal straw and stabs him in the back with all the force her little body can generate.

COMBATSYS: Nixie successfully hits Brian Storm with Straw Shank.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Brian Storm      0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0            Nixie

[BRIAN STORM]
It seemed impossible, but somehow, the mighty BRIAN STORM's perfectly executed chop is deflected by the goblin's effort, astounding the wrestler to such a degree that Nixie is afforded the opportunity to sneak behind him for a devastating SNEAK ATTACK. Brian's eyes go wide as he feels the weapon stab into his back.

"ARRRGGHHH!!!"

Falling to his knees, he throws up his hands to the very heavens above as if to demand an explanation for this cruel fate.

"Referee! You saw it! She used a foreign object!" he insists, pointing down at the straw sticking out of his back.

"This is a fighting competition! Weapons are allowed... within reason!" the referee points out to Brian, who appears dumbstruck.

"Are you saying this is... HARDCORE match?!"

The referee raises her hands and shrugs.

"Why didn't you say so?!" Brian wants to know. "SOMEBODY GET ME A CHAIR!"

A few different fans around the perimeter quickly volunteer their folding chairs, offering them up between the ropes, and Brian takes one of them, unfolding it in his corner and sitting down on it. "Alright, time out, ref! I gotta come up with a new strategy now that the rules have changed!"

Brian rubs his goatee thoughtfully as he rests on the chair, elbows propped up by the ropes in the corner.

COMBATSYS: Brian Storm focuses on his next action.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Brian Storm      0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0            Nixie

[NIXIE]
"I think he's taken too many blows to the head. MAybe I should get some kind of protection." Nixie doubts he'll be forced to forefit, but now she's kind of worried about her own safety. She remembers what happened her last opponent did when he stopped fighting for a moment and decides to keep her distance for now. She figures she should do something before he manages to come with an idea and pulls a explosive. It's not that dangerous on its own but hopefully it'll provide a distraction at least.

COMBATSYS: Nixie successfully hits Brian Storm with Smoke Bomb.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Brian Storm      0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0            Nixie

[BRIAN STORM]
Brian shrewdly shifts his eyes toward his opponent as the device is lobbed in his direction, then deftly decides to try and dodge out of the way, throwing himself off of the chair - but his feet catch in the legs of the furniture, causing him to fall down face-first toward the smoke bomb instead. As it detonates in his face, he starts to cough and retch, clawing his way to the ropes as he visibly fights back tears in his eyes.

"Augh! I'm blind! And I'm... PISSED OFF!"

Grabbing the hem of his t-shirt, Brian pulls it up and over his head, throwing it out of the ring and causing the fan who catches it to nearly swoon with delight.

Turning back to Nixie, Brian gives the green goblin a full view of his bulging pecs and toned stomach - and the sight of his own face, nearly perfectly matching the picture on his t-shirt but in the even more stylized and artistic hand of a tattoo artist.

"It's time to get real!!"

Brian smashes his fists together before bouncing off the ropes and whirling toward Nixie, spinning with arms outstretched and hands balled into fists. Normally, Nixie would be fairly safe from such an attack, but in the interest of making sure the height his arms spin at present a danger for her, he spins upside down, his crown against the mat like a top!

COMBATSYS: Nixie dodges Brian Storm's Fister Twister.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Brian Storm      0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0            Nixie

[NIXIE]
Well, it looks like her blinding attack was more effective than she thought. Nixie runs circles around doing her best to avoid getting caught in the makeshift tornado. She jabs at him with the metal straw trying to find an opening without get hit by his fists in the process.

COMBATSYS: Brian Storm interrupts Medium Strike from Nixie with Bri of the Storm.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Brian Storm      1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0            Nixie

[BRIAN STORM]
As Nixie evades his spinning charge, Brian bounces up to his feet, catching onto the ropes to steady himself and stretching them toward the outside of the ring as his weight fully settles on them. He holds a fist into the air as he declares his identity for all present to hear loudly and clearly:

"BRIIIIAN STOOOORRRRMMMM!"

With that, he slingshots back off of the ropes, crashing into Nixie's waiting straw en route to crashing into Nixie herself with a flying inverted reverse shoulder block!

[NIXIE]
That's what she was afraid of as she jabs at him and ends up with Brian colliding her in the process. The goblin is launched into the air and goes flying into the ropes in the direction. Nixie isn't able to stop herself and is turned into a makeshift pellet as she's slinged forth at him. Her small body isn't able to create much force on its own but he still might want to get out of the way before she smacks into him.

COMBATSYS: Brian Storm blocks Nixie's Light Kick.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Brian Storm      1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0            Nixie

[BRIAN STORM]
As Brian gets back up to his feet post-collision with Nixie, he dusts himself off, turning to face his opponent again. This time, she appears to be coming at him with a dropkick - the first attack she's used that he's accustomed to encountering in his career. He brings his hands up to catch the green goblin's feet as they're about to crash into his chest, deflecting the soles of her boots and shaking his hands out afterward.

"I see you're a wrestler after all," he says approvingly. "In that case, let's see how you deal... with... THIS."

He throws a punch at Nixie, then reaches for one of her arms, hopefully having put her off-kilter enough to establish a dominant grappling position and twist her arm behind her back in a hammerlock!

COMBATSYS: Nixie blocks Brian Storm's Medium Throw.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Brian Storm      1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0            Nixie

[NIXIE]
"I'm not a wrestler idiot, you knocked me back into the ropes! What did you expect to happen?" She tries to block his attack once again, but leaving her arms to shield her face allows him to grab one of them and twist it behind her. "Ouch!" Of course he likely has to lean over to grab his arm, so she uses her free hand to reach and poke him in the eye with a pair of clawed fingers.

COMBATSYS: Nixie successfully hits Brian Storm with Eyepoke of Doom.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Brian Storm      1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0            Nixie

[BRIAN STORM]
"AUUGGHHH! I've been blinded -- AGAIN!!"

Clearly dedicated to his craft, the wrestler sells the hell out of the poke to his eye sockets, staggering backward and releasing the hammerlock. Red fluid seeps liberally down between his fingers, squirting all over the mat. When he pulls his hands away from his eyes, though, it becomes clear from close range that he's just squinting and covered in what seems to be fake blood.

"You've called down the thunder... now get ready to reap the hurricane!!"

Brian's foot crackles with static as he aims an electric sole kick at Nixie to try and double her over. Normally, this would be the setup for him to put her in a piledriver position, but he'll have to actually grab her and lift her up into place in order to do so in this case due to the height difference.

If he does manage to do so, he would leap high above the ring with her head trapped between his thighs, spinning around before aiming to drive Nixie straight into the ring head-first with a crash of lightning!

COMBATSYS: Nixie narrowly escapes Brian Storm's Hurricane Brian!

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Brian Storm      0/-------/<<<<<<<|======-\-------\0            Nixie

[NIXIE]
Of course shouting out his attack in advance gives Nixie plenty of warning. It's rather difficult but she manages to duck underneath him. This doesn't do much about the static and leaves her wide open for his next attack. She's going to have make sure that there isn't one as she stabs him in the foot with her metal straw hoping it would shock him in the process.

COMBATSYS: Brian Storm interrupts Power Strike from Nixie with Brian Lightning.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Brian Storm      0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1            Nixie

That wasn't the best idea that Nixie ever had as she gets electrocuted herself. The goblin goes from green to nearly black and staggers back with that. She could really use a pick-me-up about now. She digs around her around in her pockets once again and fortunately manages to find an undamaged flask. She pops the container open and downs half of the green liquid feeling a bit energized. She then tosses remaining half at Brian, it's rather dangerous for non-goblins to come in contact with.

[BRIAN STORM]
Somehow, Nixie manages to escape Brian's signature move, causing the wrestler to grab hold of his head and tug at his lustrous hair in disbelief. That's when Nixie's straw jabs down at his foot, causing him to yell out in pain as the foot that hasn't had a spike through it already is stabbed. As she jams it down, he rears back and slugs her in the face, sending her to the mat, where he starts to stomp on her while she's down. Grabbing the straw that's been jabbed into his foot, he uses the metal end to pin the dazed Nixie's own clothing to the ring, ensuring she'll be stuck there for a little longer as he hobbles out of the ring and starts to climb a nearby sound rig.

"Brian! Get down from there!" the referee calls.

"Why? Isn't this a hardcore match??"

"Yeah, but it's not safe!" the referee shouts.

"My fans don't pay to see safe," Brian says grimly as he balances atop the scaffolding, before turning his back to the ring. Electricity crackles through his body as he swings his arms back, then forward, the momentum carrying him into a backflip as he falls end over end -

"BRRRIIIAAN LIGHTNIIIING!!"

- for nearly twenty feet before finally crashing down in a cross-body across Nixie.

COMBATSYS: Nixie successfully hits Brian Storm with Toxic Tonic.

[                                < >  //////////                    ]
Brian Storm      0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0            Nixie

The toxic chemical hits Brian, splashing in his face and causing him to cry out.

"RAAAUGH! NOT AGAIN!"

He flails blindly, grasping for the goblin that has robbed him yet again of his sight. If he can manage to get hold of her, he'll make another attempt at spiking her into the mat in the manner that he tried earlier - either way, he's going to be flat out on the mat by the time that he's finished. It's just a question of whether it might prove to be a double knockout.

COMBATSYS: Brian Storm can no longer fight.

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

COMBATSYS: Brian Storm successfully hits Nixie with Hurricane Brian.
- Power hit! -

[                             \  <
Nixie            1/------=/=======|

[NIXIE]
Well, it looks like it's a pyrrhic victory for Nixie. He does manage to grab her on his way out down, she's not able to put much resistance at this point after all and she's out of potions. As a result they both end up on the mat even if she does go down second. She's going to need more than a flask after this fight.

COMBATSYS: Nixie can no longer fight.


[BRIAN STORM]
Both fighters are laid out in the middle of the ring after the devastating hurricane piledriver from Brian Storm results in what appears to be a double knockout. Even so, the tournament organisers require a clear victor in the match to determine who will appear in the next round. When Nixie proves the first to be able to move, with Brian eventually needing to be carried out on a stretcher with bandages around his feet and eyes, the goblin gal gets the nod - with the referee declaring that she'll be the one to continue on in the tournament.

Log created on 18:50:05 04/22/2023 by Brian Storm, and last modified on 23:10:13 04/22/2023.