Match of the Millennium

Description: Ariastra has a chat with Tamaki that turns into training. Painful training, but training! Tamaki gets a feel for what's expected to her in this tournament.

[ARIASTRA]
Ariastra finally gets a hold of Tamaki. "Hey there. I've been trying to get a hold of you, but our schedules have been off. But now, you're coming with me. Give me your hand." She smiles. This will be an excellent opportunity.

Assuming Tamako takes her hand, one moment they are still in Sunshine City, the next, they are in a club. They are in Jamaica, although that might not be as readily. They both appear in a dark corner. Tamaki might have felt the energy if she is sensitive to chi/magic. Otherwise, it's just one moment Sunshine City, the next Jamaica.

The club is quiet, even if there are still musicians playing soft music. "If you will excuse me just a second." She goes to talk to the bartender, he nods, and she handles him quite a nice bundle of money. Then she comes back. "Ok, that takes care of that. So we will start with talking. Less you want a drink. Feel free, I know it's part of your fighting style after all." She gets a table, but instead of shitting on a chair, sits cross-legged on it. "Come here." She pats a space beside her on the table.

So Tamaki. Why do you think you were picked by Team Thunder? Why were you contested?" She waits a moment so Tamaki can think about it.

[TAMAKI]
Tamaki is...

Well it's not that she's been avoiding training, precisely; it's just that she doesn't really stick to a schedule well and tends to wander off when she wants to do something.

Fortunately she's not *that* hard to find, and Ariastra finds her watching some very dedicated skateboarders (in 2023!) pull some very impressive stunts. She may have been trying to decide where she was going to get a board before Ariastra offered her her hand, and Tamaki took it.

Tamaki is indeed sensitive to magic, and also has it; if Ariastra is sensitive herself, there was a definite sensation from her at close range through the teleportation. And while Tamaki had hidden her tail and ears on the Sunshine side while she was just hanging out, they're back now that she's been brought somewhere else.

"Ah! Now that's quite a trip," she says, before yawning once - she's not tired, she just has to clear the pressure in her ears. "As for a drink, I will certainly not say no." She also will take just about anything.

Why does she think she was contested? "Honestly, I don't know," Tamaki says. "I assumd Lyraelle would select me solely because I was a yokai - a Darkstalker - and the others would avoid me for the same reason, ha ha! Perhaps my performance impressed them!"

[ARIASTRA]
She can feel Tamaki's magic, but she does not mention it, not currently anyway. She also does not mention the skateboarders. Tamaki can do what she wants in her free time. She simply wanted Tamaki to have the same opportunity with her the others had. Fairness and all.

It is, but I have a feeling it's not as surprising or sickening as it was for the others. She motions to the bartender, and he brings what looks like beer, yet different. "I hope you like it. You could call it beer but from ancient Egypt time. It's not that easy to find. I mean that beer in particular, not beer in general." She chuckles a bit%

She stresses slightly. "Lyraelle would have taken you and Nixie right away in the choices if it was up to her. Because of what you are, yeah. But Lyraelle wasn't the one holding power at that time, honestly. But we all wanted you though. You have qualities others don't have. All of you together make a great mix. You have a place here and a lot of potential." She takes a sip of the hqt.

"You also did a great performance in the tournament. Finishing third is nothing to laugh at." She pauses. "we did take you third, but we knew we could get you. At third place, you still have a reason to get better." She looks at Tamaki. "Before we continue, do you have any questions?"

[TAMAKI]
"I'm older than I look, ha ha! But I'm not so old I remember this beer." Tamaki is pleased to get something new (to her) and interesting. Also, laugh is surprisingly loud - she really does seem in good humor all the time. "I suppose, then, that you must come here often, if they have your drink on hand..."

Well, when you can teleport to a bar Tamaki supposes it gets easier to find your favourite. She usually just walks.

"Mmm." It's unclear whether she is expressing her appreciation for the drink or being neutral on what Ariastra just said. "I think that is one of the first times anyone has said anything about my 'potential'. I entered this because it seemed entertaining - and it is! - and because a dear friend of mine used to partake. I got the eye for it then, but I never put it into practice, until now."

"Honestly, it's as much a surprise to me as anyone else that I got past the first round with a win, ha ha!" Tamaki laughs at herself, this time. "I expected to lose, but at least I'd have fun doing it. But do I have questions?"

She pauses, taking a drink. "Thick," she says, though it's not a complaint. "Mmm... I'm interested in what you think those qualities are, I suppose! That I have."

[ARIASTRA]
Ariastra would say being able to teleport and able to spend money is what allows you to find your favorite or anything. It's crazy how a lot of people can do the impossible when money is involved. It's the way of the world.

"Ah yeah, you're the party girl of the group." Ariastra doesn't seem influenced in any way by Tamaki being a Darkstaker. Then again, she probably saw a lot of things. "That brings another question. Do you want to win now? Or it's just entertainment?" She looks at Tamaki directly. "That's not my way of saying you have to win or else. If you will do your best and that's all I want. I just wonder if your drive changed?"

She listens to more of what Tamaki has to say. So losing the first round. "If you lost the first round. You would still be here." She adds nothing more to it.

Then it's time for her questions, although she does comment on the drink as she tastes it. "Some great things and great people are." She ponders a moment, for the question. "You can use all you have. I've seen you use your tail. It's part of you, and you use it well. You're a party girl, and it's part of your fighting style. You have some good 'Magic' that can destabilize your opponents.

After a pause, Of course, you have your flaws too. In my opinion, a glaring one is you need to learn to block better. I will still tell you to find yourself and do what you see fit, but blocking would take you a long way.

"One last question, and it might be the hardest, but there is no wrong answer. Who are you, Tamaki?" She takes a big sip of her beer before looking at Tamaki again.

[TAMAKI]
Tamaki agrees, "I do like a good party. And a good drink. This counts, by the way." She raises it toward Ariastra in a cheers-like gesture.

"Hm~m..."

Tamaki lets out a musical sound as she considers the question. She so rarely gives straight answers to anything about herself and it looks like she might have chosen not to do so again.

Until she actually speaks. "Of course it's entertainment. If it wasn't I wouldn't stay. But right now I have to admit that I'm curious as to how well I *can* do at it. And is that really such a bad thing? If we had more people who did this because they were having fun than because they wanted 'power' or 'domination'," complete with finger quotes, "then I think frankly we'd all be a little better off, ha ha!"

Blocking... she's probably right. Tamaki did her best when she rolled with the blows. It couldn't hurt to roll with them a little more. It sounds simple, but that doesn't mean it will be - but at least she can keep it in mind.

"Who am I?" Her smile returns. "I'm Tamaki. I don't have an answer beyond that: I am who I am, and I've no interest in changing it. I'd rather just be myself. Live life as it comes, instead of forcing it into a little box!"

[ARIASTRA]
"There is nothing wrong to enjoy what you are doing. You have grown though. You want to push yourself and see how far you can go. That's the spirit." Most of Earth's population loves power and domination too much. Then it goes all the way to wars. It's not fun to see them evolve, yet so prone to more wars all the time." She shrugs.

Blocking in your own way, of course if you decide that path. You're blocking needs are different than my needs for example. It also fits with the last question.

She listens to Tamaki. "Being yourself is the best way. You will grow and be different simply because who you are is different. Or not. Who am I to know? It's your life to discover if the 'you' you are now and the 'you' of the future changes." She seems satisfied with the answers given by Tamaki.

"Now you will show me what you can do. We will fight." Ariastra nods her head toward the bartender again, and he has everyone move and leave the bar for their safety. Except for the musician, they are still there to give some ambiance. Although the music is still very much Jamaican, now it is more suitable to fight.

She finally stands up, her scythes appearing in her hands, a turquoise green.

COMBATSYS: Ariastra has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Ariastra         0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Tamaki has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Tamaki           0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0         Ariastra

[TAMAKI]
Tamaki seems pleased with Ariastra's response to her answer. She may have expected something negative - something about how she was only here to win for the team. Nothing would have lost Tamaki's interest in actually participating faster.

But this is different.

Tamaki takes a long drink before she rises. She still has about a third of the glass, and the gourd tokkuri over her shoulder (she doesn't go anywhere without that), but neither one slows her down; she's not worried about losing them, apparently.

When Ariastra summons her scythes, Tamaki eyeballs them for a moment before deciding that they have to go. She comes in with a weaving, ducking step, seeming to almost stall as she sways backwards while stepping forward before she lets her upper body catch up, momentum swinging her hand forward in an open-palm strike toward Ariastra's wrist, aiming to catch her in a specific spot - if you hit someone just right there, their hand opens. Not that it makes a huge difference if she can just summon them back, but it's the principle.

She has not yet spilled any of her drink.

COMBATSYS: Tamaki successfully hits Ariastra with Medium Punch.
Glancing Blow

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Tamaki           1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0         Ariastra

[ARIASTRA]
Ariastra simply observes Tamaki. She is, after all why they are both here. Ariastra likes to observe almost as much as the fight itself at times.

She sees the punch coming, but she doesn't move. Is it on purpose, or is she just simply not fast enough because she's observing? Whatever the case, she simply moves her wrist slightly at the last moment. it hits, but not dead on. Yet her hand opens, dropping the scythe.

She then gives Tamaki a wink and drops down low, catching the falling scythe into her other hand,so that both scythe are held in the same. Presumably she is also using that moment to attack. Yet nothing comes. She stands back up and simply focuses her attention on Tamaki. "Good, More." She takes a step back.

COMBATSYS: Ariastra sends herself healing energy, soothing her body.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Tamaki           1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0         Ariastra

[TAMAKI]
Tamaki laughs. "Oh, I see! This is *really* just watching." She can tell Ariastra is holding back - even if she knew nothing else about her, she had an opportunity to strike there and she didn't take it, when she caught the scythe and winked.

Tamaki, thus, takes the opportunity to finish her glass of beer. She covers it with her free hand, hiding it from sight for a moment, and when she reveals it, she throws it at Ariastra.

Except it's not a glass at this point but what appears to be a tetsubin, if a small one; a cast-iron kettle for making tea. It's also full, because when it hits it splashes water (thankfully only warm, and not hot) everywhere.

It's *also* primarily a distraction. Tamaki's actual strike is a forward hop and a double-footed drop kick, which she delivers with sufficient gusto that she doesn't even recover afterwards; she simply lands on her back, flopping onto the floor. This leaves in what looks like a precarious state, but if Ariastra has seen her fight before, she knows that Tamaki is perfectly capable of striking and moving even when apparently lying on her back.

A few moments later, the tetsubin - which is probably rolling on the floor, somewhere - turns back into a glass, though it has managed to spill water all over the floor. It didn't break from the impact unless Ariastra smashed it. Apparently that doesn't last very long at all.

COMBATSYS: Ariastra dodges Tamaki's Lazy Day.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Tamaki           1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0         Ariastra

[ARIASTRA]
"Not really. But I enjoy looking at your manipulations." Ariastra answers, even if perhaps it didn't need an answer. Maybe it's just a fair warning.

The trick with the beer glass is neat. It doesn't seem like she bothers to block that or anything else. She takes it. Water soaked into her shirt, but not in the golden emblem on it. The Tea kettle goes down, rolling on the ground, forgotten.

But Tamaki is not forgotten as Ariastra spins on herself at the last moment. She is not surprised Tamaki ends up on her back. She knows how good she can be in that position.

This time, Ariastra strikes almost right away. She gives one of her scythe to her other hand as she lowers back down in a smooth motion. She opens her arms and aims for Tamaki's sides in that position, to impale the pointy end of her scythes in. If that works, she sends electricity through her scythes into Tamaki's body. Thankfully, she does not use full power on her electricity. Either way, after that, she stands back up.

COMBATSYS: Ariastra successfully hits Tamaki with Weakened Eternal Punishment.
- Power hit! -

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Tamaki           1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0         Ariastra

[TAMAKI]
Bake-danuki - literally the 'shapechanging tanuki' - are really known for these tricks. So far, Tamaki has only really bothered to change herself in a fight, but apparently objects are fair game too... at least for a little while, as the once-again-a-beer-glass rolls away from the battle.

From the ground, Tamaki has a lot of options, but Ariastra takes a lot of them away by coming in quickly with the paired scythes. She's never fought a weapon like that before, and it shows. The scythes hit, and the electricity shocks her all the way awake - if she hadn't thrown her glass before she would absolutely have lost it after that one. As is it makes her already messy hair even messier as parts of it try to stand up.

"Ah, well! I'm hardly the only one with tricks, apparently..." Tamaki sounds more hurt than she looks, but she recovers well... at least enough to keep fighting. One strike like that isn't going to take her out.

So as Ariastra stands up, Tamaki does too! Tucking her body into a tight curl, she vaults upward at her in another two-footed kick, though this one is aimed to hit Ariastra on the way up and then let Tamaki hop back to her feet. She sways dangerously once she's up, half because of unbalance and half to avoid a counterstrike.

COMBATSYS: Tamaki successfully hits Ariastra with Rude Awakening.

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Tamaki           1/---====/=======|====---\-------\0         Ariastra

[ARIASTRA]
"No, you're not alone. We both use magic." She chuckles.

Tamaki is quick to stand up as Ariastra does it. Ariastra brings her scythes together, making them a double-blades scythe instead. Then she tries to move out of the way. For someone who said Tamaki needs to block more, Ariastra is not blocking much. But there is a reason for that.

This time, as Tamaki hits with two feet, it seems Ariastra misread her, and she gets hit in the chest by both feet. "Oof. Those are powerful legs." But she's is still standing and ready to go back into another move.

As Tanaki is making herself harder to hit, Ariastra is moving toward her by spinning her double-bladed scythe. She's sending icicles toward her, and will hit her too, with the staff if she can.

COMBATSYS: Tamaki fails to reflect Weakened Storied Punishment from Ariastra with Ponpoko Beat.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Tamaki           1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0         Ariastra

[TAMAKI]
"I'd say I work out, but..." Tamaki doesn't. She just does a lot of walking. And, like a lot of slightly heavy people, she has more powerful legs than it looks like she does.

As Tamaki sways forward again, she raises one hand, thumping it against her partially exposed stomach - her shirt's ridden up a little. It causes a drum-like thump, a pulse of chi radiating out from her body...

...but her timing is a bit off! Some of the icicles do hit the burst of chi and are deflected, but not far enough to miss her; they smash against her, as much blunt force as piercing. One gets her to yelp as it hits bare skin almost sideways. "Cold!"

She's a little too open for the pole of the scythe, which strikes her. Tamaki takes an almost comically exaggerated tumble backwards, allowing herself to reposition backwards; she rises again, several steps back rather than staying in close while Ariastra has the polearm out.

[ARIASTRA]
"It's ok, whatever works. You're not here because I wanted to force you into anything, but I spent time with everyone else, and I wanted time with you too because you are as important."

Then Ariastra attacks happen, and Tamaki is answering it. She has a pretty good idea of what she is trying to do. She did see her fight before. It's a shame it's not working. What a mini second off can do to make something fail. "It's ok, good try." She also still manage to hit her. As Tamaki probably realizes, Ariastra's style is to do damage that not only hurts right away but over time as well.

So now Tamaki is backing up. Ariastra is going into a split, to go low, and in a strike that doesn't look prepared in advance, tries to reach to sllce light at her legs. This is not very elegant. it's a spur-of-the-moment thing.

COMBATSYS: Tamaki blocks Ariastra's Weakened Random Strike.

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Tamaki           1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0         Ariastra

[TAMAKI]
"Ah, well! I suppose that is for the best," Tamaki says, with another too-big smile. Reading her is difficult.

The progressive damage is adding up. Tamaki has been shocked, chilled, bruised; all of it together makes her less able to manage the battle, less likely to keep fighting. It's not kept her down - yet - but there's always more of it!

Tamaki can see the slash coming, and it's as Ariastra says - she needs to be able to defend herself. Her first instinct was to roll with the blow, and so she follows that instinct, deflecting it just slightly so it's not quite edge-on and letting it push her more than cut her. It leaves her looking like she's going to fall again, but she doesn't. Nor does she go for the kicks she's focused on so far.

Instead she sways forward after the blow, a lurching step forward that somehow turns into a rushing straight punch at Ariastra's midsection!

COMBATSYS: Ariastra interrupts Fierce Punch from Tamaki with Timeless Destruction.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Tamaki           1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0         Ariastra

[ARIASTRA]
"That was well done." She tells Tamaki, how she deals with that strike out of the blue. Some might think it would make her slow down on Tamaki now, but instead...

Ariastra is aware of the punch. But she's fully ready to take it. Furthermore, she drops back down to slam her scythes down as she separates them yet again. She gets the punch to her face right as they hit the ground and send a powerful electric shockwave at Tamaki, which would electrocute her once. Then from the ceiling, another one strikes at Tamaki. "Ooh, that was a bit too powerful. Shit." She spits some blood out of her mouth from the punch. "We can stop there. You've held your own." But Tamaki could also continue if she wanted to show the immortal more tricks. Ariastra is not a strict teacher. She goes with the flow.

[TAMAKI]
Now, Tamaki isn't a *bad* fighter. She has been watching people do it for a long time and following along with the motions. She even has some practical experience these days instead of just remembering what she saw other people do.

But she certainly doesn't have Ariastra's experience or power! Her eyes widen at the double discharge of electricity, and she looks like she's going to drum her belly again, but it's far too fast for that. The bolts catch her, literally throw her back to hit a table; she sort of lands half-on it and tips to the ground, with it as a backrest.

Two seconds later, an abandoned coaster slides down onto her head, landing almost perfectly between her ears.

"No, I think that's good enough," Tamaki says, her voice only slightly slurred. "Ha ha! You hit a *little* bit harder than most of my opponents have managed!"

[ARIASTRA]
She winces for Tamaki as she sees all that happens. She also manages not to laugh as the coaster comically hits her. The musicians playing have hit a few wrong notes from this, but who can blame them?

"This went off as I got your punch to the face, and I didn't pull back on the lightning power. That's my bad. But I can heal you if you desire. I don't want you to be too sore for your next fight." She ends up smiling. "But you took it all, and you're still conscious. For now." She waits for Tamaki to say her wishes. Even if she thinks Tamaki needs healing, she doesn't force anyone to accept it.

"This was a good fight. You held your own in this. You even blocked something. It's the first step. You want to be yourself, and I tell you, be yourself, and you will go far.

She pauses a moment and then adds. "If you lose, it's fine too. I am still in your corner. I don't know about the others. But I want you to think of your safety too. Don't push yourself to breaking point, just to win and end up with a career-ending injury." She does seem to really care.

[TAMAKI]
"I heal quick," Tamaki says. Not fast enough to be relevant *during* a fight, unfortunately, but pretty fast. "But I won't say no."

She decides to not stay down too much longer and levers herself to her feet, using the table she's propped up against as a support to lift herself with. The coaster is still perched right on her hair. It hasn't moved.

"Heh heh." Her laugh is a little more conspiratorial this time. "I will see what I can do, but I don't think you have to worry about *that*. I'd rather go on living, after all... but I am certainly interested in seeing where this goes. The NFG is more than I expected..." She grins.

COMBATSYS: Ariastra has left the fight here.

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

Log created on 13:02:17 06/13/2023 by Tamaki, and last modified on 06:41:06 06/24/2023.