NFG Season One - The RUMBLE
[Toggle Names]Description: Sixteen NFG fighters. One ring. Who will be the last one standing? This one kicks off with a devastating surprise!
[PRINGER X]
The Dragon Arena is packed tonight, and the atmosphere is electric. It's not the biggest wrestling and combat arena in the world, but it's still big enough to house the thousands of people in attendance for the New Fighting Generation's biggest draw yet: The Inaugural NFG Rumble.
Everybody knows the idea: the entire sixteen-prospect roster, all in one ring, arriving one at a time. Security provided in cooperation between the sponsors and Professional Fighting Worldwide itself ensures the protection of the future inhabitants of the ring and the fans in the seats, ready to intervene if the chaos of such a massive brawl spills out into the stands either physically or in spirit. Over two dozen heavily-padded protectors lurk around ringside, half facing the crowd and half facing the ring; even before the match has begun, they appear to be on alert.
The atmosphere is electric, but it's not negatively charged; for practically every spectator, it's simply excitement. The closest thing to this in professional fighting in recent memory was the Pringer X Birthday Bash, which had been an entertaining and chaotic spectacle, but hadn't allowed a live audience. This, however, is an even larger selection of fighters, and while they may not be known for the same level of prowess as those in the Royal Rumble, these are fighters that the public has had a chance to watch grow from seedlings to sprouts - and this might be the first opportunity to see who truly blooms. It's an audience that's invested.
As the entrance ramps light up and the New Fighting Generation's theme music starts to play, though, and the crowd roars in anticipation -
It's not Nixie Greene who walks down to the ring. It's a red-haired woman in a white skirt suit that doesn't receive much recognition from the public, though some of the NFG fighters will surely remember her.
The familiar voice of Tom Bradley rings out over the PA system.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome CEO Carly Meadows of Professional Fighting Worldwide, who has a special announcement to make before the Rumble begins."
The redhead steps carefully into the ring with the assistance of two of the security team's members holding the ropes.
"Thank you, Tom. Now, I know that y'all bought yer tickets to see the biggest fight of the year and not to hear me talk, but I reckon that now is the appropriate time to let you all in on some information."
Carly allows the murmur of the crowd to die down before continuing.
"It's real simple. The New Fighting Generation is about growth. And sometimes, seeds need fresh soil to grow in. That's why I'm here to announce that as of now, all of our sponsor teams have hereby disbanded."
A louder murmur and even some gasps come up from the audience. Again, the woman in the suit gives them a chance to settle as the information sinks in.
"Which means this here Rumble will be a bona fide free-for-all. After the dust's settled and we've crowned our winner, the teams will get a chance to draft new prospects in order of pre-Rumble standings. So, startin' with Team Metal, then Blaze, then Thunder, then Frost. And this time, there'll be no contests."
Carly smiles at the mixed reaction as some audience members cheer and some boo. Most, though, seem unsure - but not quiet about it.
"Those'll be the teams that y'all will be stuck with till the end of the season. And after the Rumble, matches will be worth twice the points. Sponsors are gonna want to think real hard about who they can see winnin' it all after this Rumble, and some might fancy a second shot at the picks they didn't get in the first draft."
Carly beams a smile for the cameras.
"So let me re-iterate: this Rumble is every fighter for themselves, and there's up to sixteen NFG points on the line! Now let's get ready to find out who's gonna be the last New Genner standin'!"
As the music kick backs in, Carly walks back out to a chorus of cheers, making her way to a ringside seat between Tom Bradley and Lou Harris as they prepare to offer commentary.
There are four entrance ramps set up, each leading from the backstage area of one of the four teams - though, now, it's starting to settle in that the fighters might be having their last moments together on the same team.
The process is simple: each fighter's theme music plays when it's their turn, and they have one minute to head down the ramp and hit the ring. If someone goes unconscious or is knocked completely out of the ring, they'll be eliminated and the order of elimination will be updated. Each minute, another fighter will be sent in until all have made it. The longer they last, the more points the fighters will earn!
[NIXIE]
The seemingly digitalized organ music starts playing as Nixie makes her way down the ramp. She looks a bit uneasy with the huge crowd and the bright lights, she's not exactly the most social person after all. Plus, the fact that she was entering the ring first means that everyone's attention is going to be on her. Not to mention that several fighters she's already beaten are going to be here and many that she hasn't fought yet.
COMBATSYS: Nixie has started a fight here.
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Nixie 0/-------/-------|
[HAWKSLEY]
Relatively speaking, it's been a quiet couple of weeks for Hawksley Moore. After the drama he endured in the days beforehand, he'd welcomed the peace, even if it hadn't always been an easy one. Most of his time was spent in the various bars of Sunshine City (Inner not outer, he hasn't got a death wish.) When back at the dojo, he'd been working on training techniques and putting in the hours on the gym equipment. It was a way to focus his mind and get his body to a point where he was tired enough to crash out and sleep. He'd even had time to hang out with Brian Storm, his roommate. Despite Brian's teetotal ways, the two had found some common ground and Hawksley was even invited to meet Brian's family and friends, who gave him a warm Sunshine City welcome.
It hadn't all been sunshine and rainbows though. There'd been the numerous unanswered calls and messages to Constance 'Coco' Coalbridge. He'd finally given up on trying to contact her, when he saw her post pictures of her posing at one of the city's coolest hotels. Obviously the Brit was safe, sound and enjoying sunbathing, so he'd decided to leave it at that.
Once he'd heard the news of The Rumble taking place, he and Brian had started training together, throwing each other around like a couple of brawling schoolboys. It'd been a laugh and now he's looking forward to the big event.
He hadn't expected it to be on quite this scale though. For the first time in his New Fighting Generation fighting career, he actually feels nervous. The area is packed to the brim with excited fans, some of them are even chanting his name and in these numbers? It's both thrilling and fear inducing. He's not someone to back away from scary situations though, so Hawksley will hold his head high and get his arse out there. But not before he catches up with Coco backstage.
"Did you hear that, Pops?" he checks, as Carly's announcement comes through the speakers backstage in the Blaze dressing room. "This might be the last time we're on the same team."
He takes a moment to let his dark eyes linger on her shapely form and then readies himself for the ring. "See you out there" he calls to his three teammates, though given the running order, it'll be impressive if the Irishman can last long enough to face Iris and Brian.
The sound of Irish pop punk band Ash playing Go! Fight! Win! blasts out of the arena's speakers as Hawksley runs down the ramp. His entrance is energetic and he forces himself to take it all in. The crowd, the atmosphere, the magic in the air. To think that an ordinary fella like himself has found his way from Cork City to California. This time the brown eyed brawler doesn't sing himself but several of his fans seem to be doing so. He laughs loudly, loving everything about this electric evening.
It'll be no surprise to those familiar with the fella, that he's dressed in his usual uniform of worn blue jeans and white sneakers. His toned and tanned torso is finally free of the bruises he'd been given by one of the Team Frost sponsors on the roof of their imposing warehouse. He'll be lucky to leave this place tonight without at least a few fresh ones though.
"Here comes the Irish Inferno, Hawksley Moore!" Tom announces.
"Now he's a man who's been surrounded by drama so far in this competition" chimes in Lou. "Let's see if his rumble will be as tumultuous as his love life has been of late."
COMBATSYS: Hawksley has joined the fight here.
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Hawksley 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nixie
[NIXIE]
It's a rematch of the finals! At least for the moment, as Hawksley joins Nixie in the ring. She's going to have to pace herself if she's going to win the fight. Maybe it would be best to use her short size to her advantage once more people entered the ring. For now it would be best to take of her mobility before things become crowded. She quickly slips behind the Irishman and attempts to stab him from behind with her metal straw.
COMBATSYS: Hawksley blocks Nixie's Straw Shank.
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Hawksley 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nixie
[HAWKSLEY]
"It's been a while, Nixie."
Hawksley greets the goblin girl with a grin, recalling his rough battle with her back in Southtown. He'd had fun in the final despite the result not going his way.
"I'll be impressed if you can win this time but whatever the result, you've got to get past me first."
As she speedily sneaks behind him, looking to stab him with her infamous straw, he finds himself flinching at the motion, making the metal do less damage than may have been intended. It certainly stings though!
"Ah feck, there she goes again with that bloody thing" he laughs, before turning himself around to face the other fighter.
When he pulls out his familiar flask, there's a roar of expectation from the crowd. "Cheers" he toasts Nixie before taking a swig of whiskey and spitting it towards her. As the fiery liquid moves through the air, he'll set it aflame with his internal fire.
[VEGA]
In the audience, front row even, is a young woman with messy black hair in spikes. She's dressed in, oddly for an event like this, Office Lady Mode. White blouse, black pencil skirt, tights and low heels. She is almost, almost unremarkable, but something just seems off.
Maybe it's the way she watches the fights unfold, the focus and experience with which she seems to judge the fighting. Maybe it's her aura of 'Leave me alone'.
Maybe it's the occasional twitch of a terrifying grin.
Regardless, the woman minds her own business and watches. All the while, so very far away, a man with a terrifying rictus of a smile floats in solitude as his consciousness is observing the Rumble.
[COCO]
==*== ONE MINUTE AGO ==*==
'Did you hear that, Pops? This might be the last time we're on the same team.'
Coco had only half-registered the announcement, having been lounging in a twisted posture across a reclining chair in the Blaze dressing room when Teamageddon was revealed, staring into space and holding a half-empty mocktail with a 'do not engage' expression in her body language.
Hawksley's comment had snapped her from her reverie, though.
"I suppose I'm a step ahead, then, Lucky," she'd remarked with a blase air.
Indeed, she'd been separating herself from Hawksley and the rest of Blaze, having checked herself into a hotel room using her paycheque. Not wanting to neglect her training, she had been putting in time sparring with volunteers from the Purple Pride Posse, half of whom had been happy to help, and the other half of whom had been happy to try and teach her a lesson for her treatment of Chevy. The experience with multiple partners had seemed the best way to hone her already-keen defensive prowess in preparation for the chaos of a Rumble where she expected to be Public Enemy #1.
Still, as Hawksley had left the room, she'd wondered if she was making a mistake.
==*== RIGHT NOW ==*==
"And here comes the Queen Cobra, Constance Coalbridge!" Tom calls out as 'I'm Good' by Bebe Rexha and David Guetta starts to blare over the speakers and Coco emerges from the backstage, sauntering down the ramp toward the ring in the high-cut purple microshorts and pearlescent purple bikini top that she debuted in her Noise Factory match against Sarah.
"I like the Queen Cobra title. Coco the Cobra. Especially considering she's shown some real teeth last week - not to mention a little toxicity," Lou comments.
"She's certainly taking her time getting to the ring. I suppose she has got sixty seconds," Tom comments.
"Exactly. Why waste her energy running down the ramp when she can let gravity do its thing and we can enjoy the show?" Lou says as the main screen even switches cameras from the in-ring action to watch Coco go.
When she does finally get to the ring, she pulls herself up easily, then leans on the ropes for a second or two more, watching Hawksley spew fire at Nixie.
"The question is, will she turn on her own teammate - or go after the biggest threat in the competition?" Tom posits.
Coco pulls herself up onto the ropes as she sees Hawksley keeping Nixie at bay dragon-style, then turns around and bounces on the ropes before slingshotting herself off at Hawksley's back, aiming to crash into him hip-first!
"Is that a Muay Thai technique?" Tom wonders.
"Well, as you know, Coco's a big fan of Tia Langray, so she'd probably say it's a Muay Thai technique, even if it looks like she's ripped it off of Rainbow Mika," Lou says.
COMBATSYS: Coco has joined the fight here.
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Nixie 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hawksley
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Coco 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Nixie dodges Hawksley's Hedonism.
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Nixie 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Hawksley
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 0/-------/-------|
[NIXIE]
Nixie doesn't want to get burned again, especially with all the explosives she's carrying on her. She ducks under the flaming whiskey and focuses her attention on Coco instead. She remembers her from the finals but she hasn't actually fought the other woman yet. This could easily turn into a two on one but then again with the teams being disbanded after the rumble it didn't matter as much. She swipes her at with the metal straw, nothing fancy but it gets the point across.
COMBATSYS: Hawksley blocks Coco's Aggressive Strike.
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Nixie 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Hawksley
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Coco 0/-------/-------|
[KEN MASTERS]
The audience has been blessed with another presence that is here to watch the festivities with all of his interest and splendor. That front row (different section) watcher is the absolutely, positively champion of martial arts himself: KEN MASTERS. He's sitting in his reserved seats (as best as they can be in the Dragon Arena) and he's got popcorn and drinks balancing on one hand while using his other elbow to try and get the attention of the young spectator that he's brought with him: Mel Masters.
Mel is, as most young people these days, on his phone. He may be swiping through KickTok or just FooTube. Either way, his classic 'uninterested in whatever my father loves too much' facial expression is plastered across his face. The direct contrast to the father's 'so excited to be watching a fighting competition with his son' facial expression is perfectly obvious.
Masters Day Out is in Full Effect.
[HAWKSLEY]
Hawksley is too busy breathing fire at Nixie to watch Coco's showy entrance. He does register Tom and Lou's commentrary and the dance music pounding out of the speakers though, so he's pretty sure she's on her way. He's also pretty sure he's gonna be her number one target, given that their love/hate relationship has definitely been more focused on the hating of late.
He's proved right, as within seconds she's already trying to get on his back, or at least knock into it.
"What's with the Queen Cobra?" he questions Coco curiously as he stiffens to resist her. Her hips knock into him, causing his flesh to throb but he's still standing upright.
"Have you been taking snake charming lessons at the fancy hotel?"
Before the Brit can answer, he decides to try and sweep her off her feet. Getting into positon to make a grab for her, he tries to wrap his arms around her waist and then throw her across the ring.
[MINT]
In previous NFG events, Minal Panesh had chosen to remain low-key with a fairly plain polo shirt and her human-standard-sized prosthetics. Here though -- especially with the blatant disregard for protocols that took place in a third-round Thunder vs Frost competition, the corporal saw fit to increase security even more. And this means bringing out the big guns -- the twinned armored gauntlets that collectively weigh just about as much as she herself does.
It's no time for her to sit around comfortably in the pricy seats though -- the Marine's in full fatigues and is making a patrol around the arena, devoting the lion's share of her attention to the observers. Legions of adoring Hawksley fans? Check. Strange lady with a predilection for rictus smiles? Check. Filthy rich pro fighter with his kid? Check.
Even still, the front row is a great place to stand and watch for a moment. The punchy Team Metal representative may not -technically- be stewarding any fighters in this competition any further, but that doesn't seem to matter as she leans against the tension barrier. Emotion, for a moment, catches the better of her as she throws a metal fist high.
"C'mon, Nixie! Give 'em all the North Jersey welcome!"
She glances to her side, flashing Mel Masters an apologetic smile for shouting so closely, and possibly disturbing his web surfing.
COMBATSYS: Coco blocks Nixie's Quick Strike.
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Nixie 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Coco blocks Hawksley's Fast Throw.
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Nixie 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 0/-------/------=|
[COCO]
Coco has barely had time to clear the ropes and get her rear in gear before Nixie's already after her, the straw swiping at her as her hips smack into Hawksley's rigid flesh.
"I don't need any lessons, Lucky. It's a natural talent," Coco shoots back. She's busy batting the weapon aside with one of the padded gloves of her hands when she feels Hawksley's arms slipping around her waist. "Couldn't wait to get your hands on me, could you?!" she grumbles, grunting as she kicks her legs.
In the end, she's hauled off her feet and hurled across the ring, but she manages to roll out of the landing and hit the ropes, pausing to catch her breath against them just for a moment.
"Maybe I'll save you for last, Lucky," she declares as she pushes back off of the ring ropes and starts to circle the other two fighters who've entered so far. As she's looking toward Nixie, though, she suddenly sidesteps toward Hawksley and tries to catch his arm under hers before snapping an elbow over it, aiming for the Irishman's nose to try and stagger him into the corner. If she succeeds, she'll follow up by grabbing the ropes for leverage and swinging her hips sideways toward whatever part of Hawksley happens to be level with them - twice - before backing off.
"Definitely some targeting going on from Coco, here. Looks like 'Lucky' is back in her bad books!" Tom remarks.
"Well, if she wants to get her shots in, she'd best do it before the rest of the NFG descends on her," Lou says. "Speaking of... I think Tamaki's due to join in any moment now!"
[KONGOU]
Soooo..how about a yassified juggernaut?
Kongou's arrival to the rumble is something of a minor seismic event given his size and a visual spectacle given his..uh..size. At the very least, both situations are somewwat blunted by the rumble itself as the fighting world is no stranger to minor seismic disturbances given the abilities of those involved and the roar of the arena and breakneck pace and rising energy of the battle has most attention locked on the center stage where it belongs. Thus his arrival by means of the entrance usually reserved for trucks and other assorted vehicles used to transport materials in and out of the arena for stage construction, could be said to be just part of the background. And he went through so much trouble to get his faux Balenciaga look together with dark shades, a big broad full toothed grin, open vest over a bare torso and other elements that.....make him look more like one of those AI meme videos that attempt to dress an over-pumped version of Hulk up in designer clothes. So ..not quite real looking despite actually truly physically being there.
He's at least got two lovely escorts, though their heads reach the middle of his stomach. "Greetings. Greetings. Hello." he says towards..nobody..as nobody is actually greeting him or are staring at him as he passes and then pauses just after the entrance to look around and then towards the in progress match while musing. "Hmm...this does not look like an expensive suite.."
COMBATSYS: Tamaki has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Hawksley
[TAMAKI]
== BACKSTAGE ==
Tamaki has taken the rumble the way she's taken everything else: completely in stride.
While she's actually been taking the fights more seriously now, complete with actual practicing and talking with her sponsors and everything, she hasn't exactly worried about the process by which they're picked or how they're run.
So, the fact that she was coming in so early and supposed to last as long as possible didn't really worry her. She'd manage it, or she wouldn't; either way she'd have a good time and, hopefully, have a good showing. She's tough. She can roll with the punches. She can handle it.
Nor does the Teamageddon. Teampocalypse. Whatever you call it. "Hmm," was all she had to say about that. She would have liked more time with Lyraelle. She hadn't gotten as much as she'd wanted.
But then she watches the first few entrants on a tiny television. She has, somehow, managed to get a mimosa into the back rooms, and finishes it before she's called out to the front.
== NOW, OUT FRONT ==
Tamaki is indeed due to join in. And here she is! Complete with her chosen music, which is the instrumental opening of Silent Screamer - not the most usual fighting music. City pop doesn't exactly lend itself to violence! She's always shown an affinity for that era, though.
But Tamaki doesn't come out to the music, precisely. There's no obvious time when she walks down the ramp. Nobody sees the moment she enters the ring. But one moment she's not there, and the next there's a blur, and there she is, perched in a crouch on one of the turnbuckle corners and looking in, eyes glittering and tail half-curled around the post.
She's dressed like she's come out of the 90s too! A short sleeveless shirt that cuts off just above her navel, revealing a couple inches of belly, dark green baggy pants, and bare feet because she never wears shoes. The shirt is dark but has a pattern in bright, bright colors on it, if pattern is the right word given it looks completely random! If you've seen 90s exercise clothes, you've seen this. The gourd tokkuri doesn't match, but she's not giving that up.
"Oh, here's Tamaki, our fun-loving bake-danuki! Coming at us from 1993 instead of 2023, by the looks of it. I was afraid she'd missed her call. Do you think she'll share her drink?"
"Not a chance, Lou. But if you really want, you can go in and ask her! Just watch out for stray fighters."
Tamaki stays up there for a moment, posing, making sure the crowd sees her, and then she stands up, balancing on the corner post as easily as if it was flat even ground. She even waves, though it's not clear to who if anyone she was aiming at. Tamaki stretches at her full height, arching her back before dropping to a more stable position... and then she leaps into the ring, performing an enormous belly flop on the smallest target in the ring: Nixie!
Whether she connects with Nixie or just the ring floor, she hits front-first and rebounds off like she was made of rubber, launching herself back up and continuing her spin to end up crashing on her back a few feet on, laughing hard.
"Do you think that hurts, Tom? Belly-flopping into a pool's bad enough."
"Well, she seems pretty resilient, Lou. And bouncy."
"That's what we like to see in a fighter!"
"Which, the resilience or the bounciness?"
COMBATSYS: Nixie blocks Tamaki's Diving Kick.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Hawksley
[NIXIE]
Nixie notices the bake-danuki quickly falling in her direction. She tries to catch her before she's crushed but the lack of her physical strength makes it difficult and she ends up getting trampled. She winces in pain a bit before rolling underneath Tamaki. Oh great, she's being messed with again. She lashes out with the metal straw as she does her best to try and fend off the ever growing number of attackers.
COMBATSYS: Hawksley dodges Coco's Tiki Bongo.
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Tamaki 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Hawksley
[HAWKSLEY]
"It -has- been a while" is Hawksley's response to Coco's accusation of him wanting to get his hands on her.
As she's sent flying across the ring, she manages to tumble her way out of trouble, rising to rest against the ropes. He stares back at her with an amused expression, a smile playing on his upturned lips.
"Like a kid. Saving what you enjoy best till the end."
The elbow to the nose move is one he's been on the receiving end of many times, mostly in and around the bars of Cork City. As it comes towards him, he's aware of the sounds and sensations going on in the arena.
There's a trembling beneath his toes when Kongou shows up to spectate, there's Tom talking about Hawksley being back in Coco's bad books and then Tamaki's arrival.
He allows himself a split second to glance towards the bake-danuki, but once he's registered she's going after Nixie, his focus is fully back on his attacker.
As Coco's curvaceous hips come hurtling towards him, the Irish fella flings himself forwards, flowing into a forwards roll to escape the ferocious female fighter. When he gets back to his feet, he blows a kiss in her direction.
Hawksley looks around the trio of fighters he can choose from. He's already took a shot at Nixie and Coco, so it's only fair Tamaki gets a turn too!
Bending down, the brawler tries to pull her to her feet before looking to deliver a left-handed jab into a right cross to break open her guard. He's hoping to put her back off-balance before grabbing her shoulders and pulling her face-first into his rising right knee.
[COCO]
Hawksley manages to elude Coco's grasp, leaving the purple-haired fighter's hips to rebound off the corner turnbuckles instead. A grimace twists the line of Coco's lips as she rubs a hand against the sore surface of her skin where it's impacted the hard plastic, and a scowl turns Hawksley's way as he blows a kiss at her in the midst of her displeasure.
"You're a lousy flirt, Lucky!" she accuses as she draws her fists back up into guard. "One moment you're blowing kisses, next you've already got your attention on the next girl!"
She steps toward the Irish brawler, swinging a big, heavy kick toward his upper body that shows off both her flexibility and power.
"Looks like somebody isn't about to let a grudge go," Tom remarks. "This may be a free-for-all, but Coco's investing all her energy on Hawksley!"
"She's got a one track mind, for sure, and I doubt that taunting her like that was ever gonna change it," Lou comments.
[HAWKSLEY]
Hawksley says, "Ahh! Fair play then."
COMBATSYS: Nixie successfully hits Tamaki with Medium Strike.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Hawksley
COMBATSYS: Tamaki blocks Hawksley's Buzzkill.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Hawksley
[TAMAKI]
Tamaki is hard to catch when she has momentum on her side, and she bounces through Nixie as she'd hoped before landing on her back.
Of course, that doesn't mean she's safe... pretty much the opposite, in fact! Her splashy entrance means that she immediately becomes a target for everybody under the sun (except Coco, who has other plans).
Nixie's sharpened straw pokes into the flesh of Tamaki's thigh with enough force to punch through her baggy pants. She lets out a pained yelp as she reflexively rolls away from Nixie and any follow-up - right into the waiting grasp of Hawksley.
Hawksley pulls her up to her feet, and Tamaki doesn't even resist that, because being up seems better than being down right now. Once she's up, though, she goes to work defending herself; she deflects the jab with one hand, then weaves away from the cross, ending up halfway to behind Hawksley.
Rather than let him knee her in the face, she gets one arm across his shoulders instead and applies pressure. It's a relatively gentle push - at first - but it becomes insistent, shoving him to the ground and shoving herself past him in an awkward-looking staggering gait. Her balance is a lot better than it looks, though.
Oh, and also her tail is interposed just so to make sure that when the push guides him forward, he trips over it. Don't worry; her tail is pretty strong! It isn't going to hurt (much) to use it the same way she'd use a tripping leg.
"It's all right, he's not really my type!" Tamaki sounds amused when she addresses Coco. "Though if you want some attention, I could provide that instead..."
[JOHN DOE]
With the crowd hooting, cat calling, cheering and booing at the ever-increasing spectacle, one could be forgiven for overlooking the presence of Matt, Titania, Miranda and Bethany. The disparate foursome find themselves with front row seats, with varying levels of appreciation. Matt and Titania appear to be enjoying themselves, with the bleach-blonde gym bro having eyes mostly for Coco and Tamaki, while his blue-haired companion shouts out anatomically improbable suggestions to any fighter who will listen. Miranda, on the other hand, looks like she might be holding in a fart, and Bethany has devoted most of her attention to the tablet resting atop her crossed legs.
A sudden blast of 80s hair metal announces the arrival of the next competitor, causing Miranda to wrinkle her pointed nose while Matt and Titania leap to their feet with wolf howls that are nearly lost in the swelling roar of the crowd.
"WHOOOAH, YEEEAH! Kick start my heart, give it a start. WHOOOAH, YEEAH! BAAABYYYYY!"
With the rocking jams of Motley Crue thundering behind him, John Doe bursts from the west most entrance and out onto the top of the ramp. Having Foregone his usually comfy casual hoodie, the heart throb movie star poses with arms thrown wide, lean form clad in a long black coat of heavy leather studded with silver spikes and chains. Hands open in a motion of benediction, he blesses the crowd to either side, head thrown back and long hair falling down his back as he breathes in a deep breath of the air.
So much life. So many emotions. All pounding down upon the competitors like a psychic flood.
For once, the actor doesn't appear to be even the slightest bit drunk, his motions smooth and coordinated as he shrugs the coat off and casts it up into the crowd. Beneath he is wearing a tight black tank top that exposes the solid definition of his arms and shoulders, black elbow pads, fingerless gloves, and athletic pants with knee guards and boots. Grinning widely around, grey eyes bright, he takes off down the rap at a sprint. Music blaring, crowd cheering, he dives beneath the bottom rope of the ring into a belly slide, aiming to plough squarely into the backs of Nixie's legs before gripping her around the knees and rolling, hopefully bringing her slamming down with him while Coco continues to try and beat the hell out of Hawksley, and Tamaki offers the Brit a bit of friendly competition.
COMBATSYS: John Doe has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Tamaki
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Nixie dodges John Doe's Return of the Living Dead.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 0/-------/-----==|
[NIXIE]
Nixie's sharp hearing picks up something behind her and she steps out of the way of the belly slide. It's really starting to get cramped in here and hard to keep tabs on everyone. The others seem distracted for the moment so she turns her attention towards the new arrivial, he looks tough
. She decides it would be best to try and keep anyone from getting too close to her. She digs into her apron and removes a bomb before tossing it at John. He might want to get out of the way or he's going to find himself stuck in a rather sticky substance.
COMBATSYS: Hawksley blocks Coco's Strong Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Hawksley dodges Tamaki's Everybody's Friend.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 0/-------/---====|
[HAWKSLEY]
"Don't be getting jealous now, Coco Pops. We've had enough of that recently" Hawksley heckles.
Whilst he's busy trying to bother Tamaki, the kickboxing Brit comes towards him, trying to launch a lethal looking leg into his chest. It's an area of his body that's only recently recovered from being struck by another sparky and spirited woman, Team Frost's Juri Han.
Apparently he's taking the attempted attack in his stride, if his words in response to the commentators are anything to go by. The fighter may think that his former teammate targeting him is fair play but that doesn't mean it will hurt any less if she gets lucky.
Whilst the brawler is busy deciding how to handle Coco, Tamaki is seeking her revenge! His combo on her didn't go quite to plan. She's far too skilled to just soak up the pugilist's punishment. He finds himself being pressured from behind, as the bake-danuki seeks to push and shove him to the ground.
Her interposed tail has the Irishman having to escape the hazard. It'll take some fast and fancy footwork if he's going to avoid the assault from two angles.
With all this chaos going on, Hawksley could be forgiven for missing John Doe's dramatic entrance, but he aknowledges him once he's arrived in the ring. "Welcome to the party, fella. I'm having a grand old time."
He decides to grab hold of Coco's foot in his hands to avoid his tender torso taking any fresh damage. This means his poor palms start to pulse with pain and he lets go of her limb once he realises the danger has passed to rub them on his jeans.
He's then taking to the air to jump over Tamaki's tail before landing on the other side of the ring next to Nixie. "Missed me?" he asks, then kicks out his leg to try and connect with her ankle.
[COCO]
Coco's sculpted leg swings, only to be caught by Hawksley. She tries to twist on one foot as she's held on display, the pose working wonders with her microshorts from the perspective of interested observers - but it's not a comfortable one for Coco. The words from Hawksley and the comment from Tamaki both have Coco's face flushing for very different reasons, and she chooses, as she often does, to scowl through her feelings.
"Oh, Cheers, babes," she says to Tamaki, the awkward Coco of earlier rounds reappearing for a moment without a line rehearsed, but Hawksley remains her focus.
"You're a real wanker, Lucky," she says as her foot comes free, whirling to get back into her stance. "And you've got me all wrong, you arrogant bastard!"
It's clear that Hawksley's having trouble keeping his attention on her, for some reason, despite there only being three other fighters besides the pair in the ring.
"Well, if you're not going to have this out with me properly..."
Coco climbs up on top of the corner turnbuckles, then leaps off, swinging a diving kick down at the green machine that's attracted Hawksley's notice.
"Looks like Coco's given up on trying to get Hawksley's attention directly and is now trying to eliminate Hawksley's target!" Tom remarks from ringside.
"Guess she's graduated from Tsundere from Yandere, Tom," Lou comments back. "She's taken a real dark turn lately."
[TAMAKI]
Tamaki grins, showing slightly inhuman teeth to Coco. They're only a little pointed, mostly around the canine. Was she joking? Was she just trying to fluster Coco?
It remains a mystery. For now.
Tamaki takes another one of those weaving, swaying steps past Hawksley and ends up leaning against the ropes, lazily. She's on the far side from John's entry and gets to watch him slide himself into the ring, joining the increasingly confused scrum that she has just stepped past. Everybody's going after everyone else and she, at least, has a couple moments to herself.
But only a couple. It would be real easy for her to just take it easy and not get involved, but after a few moments she leans backwards - into the ropes instead of away from them - and uses them to spring herself off. Tamaki rejoins the brawl, but not to do significant damage herself - instead she tries to guide (read: push) John Doe into the center of the crowd, aiming to bounce him into Coco to cause maximum chaos.
COMBATSYS: John Doe blocks Nixie's Glue Grenade.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Tamaki successfully hits John Doe with Fast Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 0/-------/---====|
[JOHN DOE]
Having narrowly missed snagging the nimble goblin with his surprise slide, John Doe rolls quickly to his knees and pauses to shake hair from his face. Catching Hawksley's eye, he returns the Irishman's greeting with a grin and a slanting glance toward Coco, getting an eye full of thigh and side cheek as her kick is caught. Lifting his shoulders in an easy shrug, he has just began to rise when his Danger Sense begins to tingle, warning him of something potentially harmful to his person. Or, more importantly, his hair.
Head whipping around, he is just in time to witness Nixie releasing the bomb, sending the little missile tumbling through the air toward him. With only moments to react, the movie star has to think fast. Think. THINK. What can a man of his talents do when faced with such reckless hate?
...
Gripping his shirt just beneath the ribs, JD whips the garment up and off in a flash, doubling the number of shirtless men in the ring. Just in time he manages to catch the dangerous projectile in the stretchy fabric and smother it, the little pop of an explosion turning the shirt into a sagging sack of sticky goo. Face crinkling in distaste, he tosses the garment away to splat wetly into an empty corner of the ring, rising fluidly to his feet to face the tiny green terror.
But whatever revenge he might have had in mind is quickly abandoned when Tamaki's clever hands plant themselves against his back, shoving him stumbling forward into a chest to hip collision with Coco as she drops toward the goblin with leg outstretched.
"Gmph..." he grunts, half in surprise, half in apology, before both arms attempt to hook around the posh preservationist's waist and drag her into a tight embrace. To the envy of teens and young adults all across the nation, the star attempts to hold the purple-haired girl close, grip crushing, before tumbling backward toward the mat and lobbing her up and over his head, away from the tangle of fighters and toward the far side of the ring.
[DJAMILA]
And then "Parle a ta Tete" music starts blaring on the speakers. It's Djamila's turn. It seems she has a thing for French songs. She comes out like the wind, running toward the ring with her staff. She then slides under the bottom rope and rolls herself on her feet.
"That's the most eager we've seen her seen her Tom, don't you think?"
"It looks like it, Lou. After the personal drama in her life and her last two matches lost, let's see what she can do today in the RUMBLE!'
"Whatever she does Tom, we at least know she will be sexy while doing it."
"I am with you on that Lou!"
Today, she's wearing a pair of tight orange shorts and a top that's a black sports bra. The only other thing she has is her trademark black blindfold. As if she can somehow feel JD did his best to get Coco away from people, Djamila jumps in her direction and swings her staff toward Coco's rib if she has her way. Then as she lands, she rolls to be in a different position than one might expect. "That's a small payment for Chevy!" She seems so excited right now, yet in control. At least for the moment.
COMBATSYS: Djamila has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
John Doe 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Hawksley 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Coco
COMBATSYS: Hawksley successfully hits Nixie with Light Kick.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
John Doe 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Hawksley 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Coco
COMBATSYS: Coco successfully hits Nixie with Diving Kick.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=======\=====--\1 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
John Doe 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Hawksley 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Coco
[NIXIE]
The sweep connects hard taking out Nixie's ankle and sending her onto one knee. Unlikely for her this leaves her wide open to the dive kick which sends her flying back into the ropes. While, it's not enough to bring her down, she does stagger a bit.
She needs a pick me up and fast. She pulls a bottle of green liquid out of her apron and drinks half of it quickly. She then chucks the other half at Hawksley, its magical properities makes unsafe for non-goblins.
COMBATSYS: Hawksley blocks Nixie's Toxic Tonic.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
John Doe 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Hawksley 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Coco
[HAWKSLEY]
Perhaps Coco's words should sting but Hawksley just greets them with a grin. It's not the first time he's been called a wanker, it's not the first time he's been called arrogant or a bastard, but from this blazingly angry British babe, it seems all the sweeter.
"Looks like Coco's feeling left out, Nixie" he comments to the goblin girl. "She's turning as green as you."
When Tamaki weaves past him, he gives her a little wave and then it's back to business. John is messing with Coco and as Djamila joins the fray and targets her too, he decides she's got enough to deal with.
He has to admit he and his former teammate do make a complimentary combination at times though, when they can resist tearing each other apart. The case in point is Nixie being caught between Lucky's leg and Coco's leap of faith.
Apparently Nixie is not gonna let the lad get away with his part in the double damage. As the petite predator pulls out her potion, he at first thinks she might be going to offer him a swig. No such luck though. Instead the lurid green liquid is launched towards him.
He brings up his hands to block it from going in his eyes. He'd seen what this foe did to his buddy Brian Storm, when the blond man got blinded in their battle. "Did you spill your drink on me?" he questions with an air of mischevious menace, wiping away what did splash on his skin with the back of his hand.
Looking around for his next target, Hawksley's dark eyes fall on Djamila in her eyecatching orange shorts. Moving up behind her, he then slips forward and twists into a left snap elbow to try and send her off-balance. If possible, he will then pivot into a devastating right-handed haymaker towards her centre of mass, intending to knock her on her back.
COMBATSYS: Coco dodges John Doe's Cemetery Man.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
John Doe 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Hawksley 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Coco
COMBATSYS: Coco blocks Djamila's Evasive Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
John Doe 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Hawksley 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Coco
[COCO]
Coco's kick lands clean against Nixie thanks to the tandem attack with Hawksley, leading to retaliation from the goblin - against the Irish brawler. Before Coco has a chance to express her pleasure at this turn of events, though, she can sense the palpable presence of John Doe lurching toward her from behind. They've had little interaction so far, in or out of the ring, in the New Fighting Generation - mostly hanging out in bars - but something feels different about this time, and it's not just the fact that he's hooking his arms around her waist. As she's hoisted up, she realizes that the newest entrant in Djamila is swinging right for her ribs while John is still holding her.
"Not fair!" Coco declares in protest as she's primed for a brutal double-whammy - but she quickly tucks her knees up, pushing the arms around her into the course of the pole. The impact may not be especially damaging, given John's resilience, but it triggers a response that allows her to slip down and out of John's grasp and onto her bottom on the mat.
"Slippery move by Coco. You think she oiled up for this?"
"I would be neither surprised nor disappointed, Tom."
Not wanting to waste any time and seeing that Hawksley's attention has been drawn by Djamila's orange shorts, Coco pushes up into a low squat and snaps her right leg out toward Djamila's feet, using her hands on the mat for balance.
"You've got it backwards, babes. I still owe /her/. This one's on the house, though!"
[TAMAKI]
Having done her job by propelling John Doe at someone else, Tamaki circles around the outside of the scrum. She didn't really pick Coco maliciously; she just wanted him aimed both not at her and somewhere where he was likely to cause additional chaos. It seems to have worked, so she's not going to object!
She *had* been going to give Djamila a happy welcome to the match, but it looks like that's covered, actually, and while Tamaki also is not adverse to ganging up she doesn't see a point in going all in against the newcomer. Also, it's pretty crowded over there.
So instead Tamaki kind of slides up next to Nixie. "Drink?" she offers, seeing as Nixie's taking a sip of her own potion. She raises her gourd tokkuri, takes a long drink from it...
...and then sprays a fine mist over Nixie of extremely strong-smelling sake. It really stings if you get it in your eyes!
The whole thing was a distraction for Tamaki to get in, literally try to pick up the smaller fighter, spin around once and basically hammer throw her across the ring! If she hits another fighter, so much the better, but Tamaki isn't really aiming at anyone.
Afterwards, she takes Nixie's former position on the ropes, lounging.
[JOHN DOE]
With the lovely British Babe caught up in his arms, John Doe has already begun his backward lean when things take a sudden turn for the unfortunate. With her wiggling and pushing, the scantily clad diva manages to twist enough in his grip to get her legs up for leverage, muscles straining against the actor's horrific strength. And yet, as Djamila's staff comes sweeping in, that extra little jolt of impact is all the purple-haired fighter needs to pop free of his grip and impact the floor at his feet, while the man himself topples backward to land flat on his back a short distance away.
It is from this new perspective, grey eyes staring up toward the sky, that he witnesses the odd sight of a tiny green goblin flying over his prone form. Glancing back in the direction she came from, the actor spots Tamaki taking her ease, and offers the lounging Tanuki a thumbs up as he rolls away from the developing mob of other fighters and springs to his feet, lunging at her with unusual energy.
"Hrrmph." he grunts in greeting, grumbled syllable chased by the leather-clad knuckles of his fist as he aims a quick, left-handed jab toward Tamaki's chin, only to drop his right hand and pivot into a heavy hook toward her side, aiming to send her staggering off along the ropes toward the corner behind the scrum.
COMBATSYS: Djamila dodges Hawksley's Detonator.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
John Doe 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Hawksley 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Coco
COMBATSYS: Coco successfully hits Djamila with Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Hawksley 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Coco
[DJAMILA]
She gotta give it to Coco as she manages to use her attack to help out get out of the former. That's pretty cool.
She doesn't have a lot of time to think about it, as she has Hawksley to deal with. When the Elbow comes for her, she's already on her staff, which she has set down just moments prior, spinning away from it. Then she lets herself slide down to the ground quickly to get away from his haymaker. That's handled, but it puts her right in the path of Coco's sweep.
She doesn't quite react fast enough to get out of the way and ends up on her back. She grabs her staff soon after and flips herself upside down, getting up the pole that way. "We will agree to disagree, Coco."
After saying that, she extends her legs and lets herself spin herself down, hoping to hit Hawksley from that position with her legs, which also perhaps clears the area further around her.
Once close to the ground she puts one hand down and flips herself upright.
[KENZO]
The machinist shinobi was making the last adjustments on the device he was working on in Metal's back room. The thigh mounted pouch on his combat suit was a very welcome and useful addition considering it carried his toolkit.
He finally finishes around the time when the CEO comes out and makes the announcement. Both eyebrows rise and although the combat specs obscure his eyes, one could easily imagine both eyes widening in surprise. Surprise then gives way to sadness and regret. While he liked getting to know Djamila, it was a shame he didn't get to know Nixie or JD.
In the case of JD, between the fact that their room occupancy schedules rarely matched up and the fact that he rarely was around him when the entourage wasn't around, he didn't find getting to know him all that easy. In the case of Nixie, his fights were almost always either around the same time or too far away from his to get to her fights in time to cheer her on.
Nixie goes out and Kenzo gives her a nod. After that, there's nothing to wait until JD is up and then the rest of what used to be team Metal go out in order with Kenzo being the last to leave.
The arena is suddenly filled with the guitars of Metallica's Ride the Lightning. When the crowd sees him, Kenzo descends from the rafters hanging from a drone while using his other hand to pilot it. At about 15 feet in the air, the ninja drops onto one of the turnbuckles, landing silently. He then lands the drone outside of the ring while he identifies his target.
His preferred target has too many people close by and so he walks along the top rope like a tightrope walker, drawing his war fan and drops to the ground to hit Tamaki with it before springing over next to the turnbuckle that he used as his point of entry with his fan between him and everybody else.
COMBATSYS: Kenzo has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Nixie dodges Tamaki's Power Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 0/-------/-======|
[NIXIE]
Nixie is instantly supicious when Tamaki offers a drink in the middle of the match, and gets a bit of sake poured on her. She's not the easiest person to grab and slips underneath the bake-danuki's arms. She tries to return the favor and does her best to grab ahold of her to toss her onto the ground. There's a bit of a size difference between the pair but shouldn't prove to be impossible right?
COMBATSYS: Djamila successfully hits Hawksley with Chopper Spin.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 0/-------/-======|
[HAWKSLEY]
As Kenzo makes his showstopping arrival in the rumble, once again Coco copies the Cork City fella by also going after Djamila. Her attack is more successful than his own efforts though. The dancer dodges out of the way of his Detonator attack, only to be be knocked down by the kickboxer.
Despite this, it's Hawksley that Djamila wants revenge on. Maybe she's still hot under the collar from that time he set her on fire in the tournament.
His own personal poledancing performance sees him penalised by her agile abilities. As her spinning strikes connect with his own legs, the lad is knocked down to his knees with an expression of surprise on his face.
"You're making me go weak at the knees, Djamila" he jests, before struggling slowly to a standing position.
There's a bit of sway in his stance as he starts towards John Doe. The actor is the first opponent The Irish Inferno faced in the New Fighting Generation and he's not had a chance to hang out with him since the action shifted to Sunshine City.
He's about to throw a punch the teen hearthrob's way, when an opportunity presents itself. One of Hawksley's fans has thrown a box of Lucky Charms into the ring. It'd be a right laugh if he hit someone with that, so he decides to smack it into John's face. What's this though? The naughty fan has replaced the sickly sweet cereal with broken up rocks instead. If Mister Doe can't get out of the way, he's unlikely to be ready for his next close up!
[COCO]
The exchange between Djamila and Coco is relatively bloodless, all told, and when Djamila suggests that they 'agree to disagree,' Coco replies with a simple, cold observation to the woman she's just kicked over: "I don't consider your opinion relevant."
With all of the chaos blossoming around her, she ends up with some separation from the battle-stripper, who instead courts the attention of her erstwhile Irish teammate.
'You're making me go weak at the knees, Djamila.'
Yet another dig at her confidence comes from her fellow former Blazer. A little show and a kick in the thighs and his attentions have already turned. She doubts he means any compliment to the girl whose colour scheme is 'traffic cone,' but it's clear that he's intent on rubbing /Coco's/ nose in his mess.
"It's a regular occurence, Lucky. I reckon you just have bad knees," she fires across at the Irish fighter. Then, spotting Nixie attempting to heave Tamaki and doing some quick maths in her mind, Coco decides on a new course. One that doesn't base her whole strategy around the fellow who's been making himself the gravitational center of everything. Flaunting a developing opportunistic streak, she slips behind Nixie, aiming a vicious vertical elbow at her head.
"And Coco turns her attention to trying to take our longstanding lady of the leaderboard out of the fight!" Tom bellows. "That's a nasty-looking elbow! Looked like a twelve-six to me!"
"More like an eleven fifty-five," Lou comments more casually. "Not that we don't allow them anyway!"
COMBATSYS: Tamaki dodges Nixie's Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Kenzo successfully hits Tamaki with Reaction Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Tamaki blocks John Doe's Hook Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 0/-------/--=====|
[TAMAKI]
All of a sudden, Tamaki's lazy lounge becomes a very busy time indeed!
Nixie didn't actually *go* anywhere, which presents a problem for her immediately, but at least it's one Tamaki can see coming right away. When Nixie tries to throw her, Tamaki hooks one arm around the ropes, holding her in place.
Nixie manages to lift Tamaki, despite the size difference (Tamaki isn't very light for her size, but she's also pretty short - she's easier to lift than, say, Hawksley or JD, both of whom have eight inches or more of height on her) but Tamaki has her arm locked, and so she uses the lift to hop up so that her heels are also on the ropes, 'standing' on the lowest rope!
And that's great for one opponent, but Nixie's not the only one attacking her. JD comes in; Tamaki leans back and avoids the jab, but not the hook. She goes completely limp at the impact, overselling the blow and letting it practically throw her along the ropes and ragdolling in an almost comedic fashion! Apparently she's decided to absorb the power of the force by simply going flying.
Tamaki ends up once again sprawled, this time on her side, in that corner. She apparently doesn't even see Kenzo until it's too late; an attempt to roll only means the war fan smacks her in her thigh with a meaty slap. Tamaki flinches but stays exactly where she is.
At least for a few moments!
After Kenzo has enough time to get into the ring and turn away from her as he passes by, Tamaki rises. That is, she rises by tucking her legs up, rolling backwards until she's resting on her upper back with all her weight on her arms and then springs forward, attempting a double-footed kick at Kenzo's back. She's a lot more agile than she looks - something her previous matches have made very clear - and she even manages to land on her feet afterwards.
COMBATSYS: John Doe interrupts Random Weapon from Hawksley with Dead Rising.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 0/-------/--=====|
[JOHN DOE]
With his first punch deftly dodged, John Doe throws all he has into the following hook, fist ploughing toward Tamaki's ribs with brutal force. Despite that, however, he still manages to look startled when the drunken brawler goes tumbling away as if hit by a truck, bright grey eyes glancing from her flopping form to his fist. Dark brows lifting slightly, he looks comically pleased with himself, turning away from the devastation he has wrought only to come face to face with Hawksley as his shirtless contemporary staggers free of the girl pile.
Grinning broadly at the fractionally taller and leaner man, JD squares up with the Irish brawler, shaking lustrous hair back from his eyes as fists lift in a sloppy guard. Clearly brace for the oncoming punch, he tenses the muscles of his arms, flexes his abs, and...Follows Hawksley's gaze toward the colorful box of cereal that lands beside them.
With a smoothness that seems almost coordinated, John drops back and low, right fist falling to his knee while the blazing brawler scoops the box up. Gazing at one another past the cartoon mascot's smiling face, they close in a rush, JD's Tanuki-smashing fist rocketing toward the box with unshakable confidence.
Knuckles strike cardboard.
Pebbles spray in all directions.
And JD's fist ploughs through the box to impact squarely on his opponent's chin, the both of them staggering apart across a ring now strewn with annoying little stones.
[DJAMILA]
She did manage to get Hawksley in the leg, so that's something. His comment is funny, so she has to answer it. "You made me all hot and bothered in our one on one, now I made you fall for me." She smirks a bit, then ponders who to attack.
Many things happen while she ponders. Hawksley decides to go after someone, and it doesn't work too well as JD answers to it, and then something squatters on the floor. This is going to get annoying. Meanwhile, Coco has been going away, and Tamaki has been flying around a bit. Djamila figures it's time to go back to Coco.
She dances her way on the tip of her feet to evade the stones she can and gets to Coco. She then jumps in the air and tries to slam her staff on her. If she manages it, she jumps a second time to do it again, with force.
COMBATSYS: Tamaki successfully hits Kenzo with Rude Awakening.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 0/-------/--=====|
[VEGA]
The young woman watches the combat intently, her eyes flickering across all of the combatants in the rumble in turn. Her gaze is calculating. Assessing. Seeking potential in all of them.
She sits back, crossing her legs and tilting her head slightly. The attentive and astute might see a flicker of a sheen of violet cross her dark eyes, but it might just be a reflection of the lights in the arena.
Elsewhere, Vega floats in darkness, wreathed in the purple corona of Psycho Power as he observes through Xiayu. His terrible grin just grows wider.
[KENZO]
The sequence of events that take place after Kenzo gets into the ring is so utterly confusing he has no idea how respond to it.
Having put his back towards the turnbuckle, he had attempted to prevent any attacks from coming in from behind. The fact that Tamaki still managed to slip a double footed kick to his back is a testament to her agility. The shinobi is sent flying into the thick of things which was exactly where he didn't want to be. His only consolation is that it brought him closer to the opponent he wanted to go after from the beginning.
His reasons weren't so high minded as wanting to deliver retribution on the behalf of Chevy. Sure he got along with Chevy and sure he thought the kick while she was down was a dick move but no. He just had a drive to prove himself. Since Coco had defended a majority of his attacks he wanted something significant on her.
Kenzo manages to quickly rise back to his feet. Once Djamila finishes her attempt to deliver blunt force trauma to the kick boxer, Kenzo moves in to grab a hold of Coco by her waist and should he do so, take her up into the air before flipping backwards and driving her head first into the ground.
[KONGOU]
The immediate area around him shakes, the very air parting from the pressure waves he causes as Kongou lifts both arms above his head, pointer fingers pointing at the roof in a gesture of '#1', and a massive flex ripples through his freakishly massive arms and then upper body as he hoots and roars a thundering "YOOOOOO!" in approval of the spectacle. This is followed by a "YEAAAAAH!" and a "WOOOOO!". All of which cause the unfortunante bystanders nearest to him to stumble and those a few stands away to have their hair ruffled, clothed disturbed and popcorn knocked over as the pressure wave ripples past them from the giants force of presence and strength.
He's clearly enjoying himself and loving what he's seeing. So he cheers and hoots. Mind you...he's not even sure -who- he's rooting for. So ..he decides all of them is worth his attention and encouragement at the moment. Hopefully his antics don't distract them.
"How very impressive!" he declares, lowering his arms to his sides, "What a charming display of violence, physical distress and exuberant destructive vigor! Kongou approves!"
He speaks to nobody in particular though he's loud enough to e heard by all around him. When Kenzo arrives he actually claps though he's got the grace to do it lightly .. causing a few drinks to spill in the process. "I like that one! I'll have to steal that entrance...Make a note." THis to ones that accomapnied him here, "Lower me from the heavens for my next match."
[SARAH]
While waiting for her turn in the ring, Sarah has been off to the side, taking the time to warm up and do plenty of stretching. After all, you don't want someone like Sarah, who's also known in the club circuit as DJ Supernova, to be messing up one of her tricks or pulling a muscle in the ring. The girl takes the time to warm up with some acrobatics and running, then proceeds to show her flexibility with extreme limberness that makes her seem like a contortionist at times! To some it might seem extreme, but for Sarah, it's just her way of warming up for a big battle!
Once she's all warmed up and loosened up, Sarah waits for her signal to join the battle. When that happens, she double-checks her baseball cap to make sure it's on tightly before running swiftly into the heart of battle!
As the announcer introduces her, Sarah does a running leap onto the edge of the ring apron, landing hands first before performing a handspring over the ropes and into the ring, rolling as she lands before getting up quickly and holding up her arms like a gymnast having finisher her routine. "It's DJ Supernova!" She calls out gleefully as she gets into the ginga and prepares for what is most likely set up to be a great fight!
COMBATSYS: Sarah has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/----===|=======\====---\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Hawksley
COMBATSYS: Nixie dodges Coco's Fierce Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/----===|=======\====---\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Hawksley
[NIXIE]
It seems like Nixie is getting heat from all directions as she ducks under Coco's elbow. She notices Sarah enter the ring still remembering their last fight. "You're still too cheerful about this." Sure, Nixie had won but she was still sore from it. "I hope you're ready to experience hell." She uses her quickness to her advantage as she takes a swing at with her straw at the DJ's face.
[HAWKSLEY]
"My knees were grand when I smacked your face into one of them during our fight" Hawksley reminds Coco. "Not to mention..."
Whatever he was about to say next is silenced by John Doe's fist smashing into his jaw. His head is knocked backwards and his body soon follows as the brawler smacks down on his backside.
"I've missed you, John" he grins gleefully before pushing himself on to his hands and knees.
From this position he gets up, taking a moment to patrol the ring and figure out who his next target should be. His attention is briefly drawn by the spectacle of Kongou in the crowd. Who the feck is that fella? He forces himself to focus back on the other fighters for now though.
Now he's aware that the cereal is actually something more dangerous he gets an idea. Deciding it's time to have a reunion with another of his former match mates, he approaches Kenzo and aims to lift the nimble ninja off the ground. If he's able to, he'd hold him at shoulder level and then throw him down on to the hard (and likely painful) pieces of rock littering the floor of the ring.
COMBATSYS: Coco instinctively blocks Djamila's Superman.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Hawksley
COMBATSYS: Kenzo successfully hits Coco with Izuna Drop.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Coco 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Hawksley
[COCO]
The melee is well and truly underway, with eight fighters now crowding the ring. The fans in the stands have erupted (with one particular fan presently being escorted off the premises for smuggling rocks in a box), and the atmosphere is oppressive to all six of Coco's senses. Standing in her Muay Thai stance after Nixie ducks under her errant elbow and goes after the newest entrant, the purple-haired pugilist can feel more than see Djamila dancing toward her with staff brandished amidst the exchanges in the middle of the ring. Her hands shift positions to catch Djamila's pole as she twists at the waist, preventing the weapon from crashing down on her head and largely deadening the impact. She's only just managed to push it away when Kenzo's arms wrap around her waist.
"Oh, hello," she says with a surprised tone, before trying to wrench herself free of his grip with a jerk of her hips. She doesn't succeed, though, and she quickly finds herself upside down with the room spinning around her. It's almost as unpleasant as the last time she did a keg stand. "Bugger!"
Then it gets a lot worse as the rock-covered mat comes up at her.
*THUD*
Rebounding head-first off the mat, Coco bounces along for several feet before stumbling onto her feet, brushing her hands across her face to wipe away several pebbles as more rain from her hair.
A quick slip of a mini pocket compact from her shorts allows her to assess the damage and scowl at the pebble-shaped marks in her makeup revealed by the spiderweb-cracked glass.
This is all Hawksley's fault.
"What was that, Lucky?" she shouts, about to go after the Irishman again, but finding another fellow standing in her path.
"Pardon me, Jay-Dee!" she says politely, before much-less-politely attempting to remove him from her course by force - throwing out a couple of quick jabs as she steps in toward him, attempting to grab his arms with hers in a clinch and overpower him with a hand to the back of his neck before sweeping him to the floor with both hands, if she can, intent on stepping over him afterward and pursuing her perpetual provocateur.
[TAMAKI]
Having abused her agility to clear a corner out for herself, Tamaki hops up onto the turnbuckle itself, balancing there as easily as when she first entered the ring. She's not slacking. She's choosing the right moment.
And that's actually true this time, because after about five or ten seconds of perching there, watching the chaos of the battle unfold, Tamaki chooses both her target and her... other target. Time to make a bit more chaos!
There's a whirl of chi and wind and then there is a second Sarah on the turnbuckle. She looks identical, as Tamaki has even managed to hide her tail, and so when she gleefully yells, "I'm DJ Supernova!" and leaps in a flying kick toward Djamila, it's hard to tell the difference unless you watched her transform. She even sounds the same.
Well, she looks identical unless you look really closely, anyway, and spot the lumps of her ears mashed in under the baseball cap. Tamaki either can't or won't hide everything, it seems. But it's hard to spot.
Either way, once Tamaki-Sarah hits and springs off, or misses and skids along the mat, she goes into an impromptu (not very good) dance for a few seconds before slipping around the crowd. When she's visible again, she's back to being Tamaki.
COMBATSYS: Coco successfully hits John Doe with Singapore Sling.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Coco 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Hawksley
[JOHN DOE]
Staggering steps carrying him away to bounce loosely against the ropes, John Doe hooks one arm over and dangles, flashing another grin toward Hawksley before lifting one gloved hand to his lips and blowing the Irish brawler an appreciative kiss. From anyone else the maneuver might seem silly, but with the actor's legendary screen presence and natural charm, it seems somehow both Mocho and totally bro-like, as if they were a couple of sweaty Italian men kissing one another's cheeks before a manly business lunch.
As Internet Shippers all across the Internet click open a fresh Notepad file, the teenage heart-throb bounces upright and steps away from the ropes, right into the path of an oncoming Coco. Turning at the sound of her apology, he has only enough time to look startled before her first jab pops him full in the mouth, jarring his head back and prompting him to flail an arm up in defense. Catching only air, he eats two more jabs to the ribs and chest before she hooks his arm and drags him in, instinct causing him to push into the clench and bring his greater strength to bear. Except, the moment he steps forward she re-directs his momentum down, and he eats a face full of stone-free matt, nose bouncing off of the canvas as he rolls away in open bafflement.
One hand rubbing at his nose, JD casts a final startled look up into the departing whirlwind's shorts-clad posterior, seeming completely at a loss as to what just happened to him.
"Huh..."
Shrugging slightly, John springs lightly to his feet, wipes blood out from under one nostril, and turns just in time to witness Fake Sarah's little dance. Joining in, he bounces a couple of steps, hands waggling, and crosses through the crowded ring to where the true Sarah and Nixie are facing off. Approaching the little goblin from behind, he swoops in, arms reaching to try and sweep her up in a reverse bear hug, grip tightening to clamp her arms to her sides and hold her in place for potential retaliation from the real DJ Supernova.
This has the downside of being crushing and painful, but the upside of being a hug from the incredibly talented and handsome John Doe.
COMBATSYS: Djamila blocks Tamaki's Art of Transformation - Mirror.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Coco 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Hawksley
[DJAMILA]
Again Coco blocks her attempt. This, is not meant to be, it seems. It's alright. She can bit her time. For now, she oncentrates.
So many things are happening in the ring, and outside of it, like the loud Kongou. Focus, gotta focus on what is going on in the ring.
Tamaki, now Sarah, comes at her suddenly with a flying kick. Whether Djamila knows it's Tamaki or thinks it's Sarah, it's probably not because she saw her transform, but she managed to bring her staff up and get the impact of the kick into her arms. "Oof. Not this time, babe."
Instead of retaliating, she finds a little space, slams her staff down, then starts undulating. Winds gathers around her and ease her body as she makes the 'om' sound. It's not enough to attack others. Have to last the long run, after all. She takes the time also to better analyze what is going on.
COMBATSYS: Djamila makes the om sound and wind chi flies around her for a short moment.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Djamila 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Coco 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Hawksley
COMBATSYS: Kenzo dodges Hawksley's Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Nixie 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Djamila 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Coco 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Hawksley
[KENZO]
Kenzo gets lifted into the air by the Irishman however the ninja curls up tight enough that he can brace his feet up against Hawksley's hips, betting that his leg strength is greater than Hawksley's arm strength. Instead of getting slammed, he launches himself into air and out of the grip.
Upon landing, the ninja lands on his feet with war fan at the ready. The next target on his hit list hasn't entered the ring yet so that will have to wait for the time being. Since the brawler has made himself a convenient target, he focuses in on him.
Kenzo closes the fan with a snap of his wrist before attempting to grab Hawksley's ankle and lift it up so the brawler is off balance and lands on his back. Should he manage that, he'll follow up by pressing his closed fan across his throat for a few moments.
[MINT]
Minal Panesh has been patrolling Dragon Arena to keep her eye on anyone who might cause a scene. It's... refreshing, in a sense, to be freed from the responsibilities of nurturing Team Metal to reach their highest potential. She still wants the four to do their best -- and the optimal way to do that is to keep them safe.
... Which is one reason she keeps looking back at a Chinese woman with short black hair and, occasionally, a rictus grin. The corporal's able to corroborate the woman's profile with her threat database. One hand curls around her cardboard coffee cup. The fingers of her other hand twitch as she accesses data on the Shadaloo Doll.
But then Mint's focus is pulled away by a familiar sound.
'Ommmm...'
She slowly sips out the remainder of her coffee cup.
Not... her responsibility, she reminds herself.
COMBATSYS: Nixie successfully hits Sarah with Evasive Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Djamila 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Coco 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Hawksley
[SARAH]
Sarah spots Nixie and how she's coming in fast. She recognizes her as well as the fact that the attack is coming quickly at her.
Too fast for her to dodge, unfortunately.
The DJ gets hit in the face and is sent stumbling backwards as she rubs her face, before she gets back into the ginga.
"It's my trademark," Sarah says, still smiling in spite of the slight injury to her face. "Look on the bright of side things, you know?" She watches as Nixie pulls away, and that's when Sarah does a forward diving somersault, rolling after Nixie before attempting to pop up with a swift uppercut! "Where you going? It's not nice to walk away from someone who's talking with you!"
[GENIE]
Oh goodness. Even knowing about the event, Genie finds herself terribly unprepared for this. The chaos of a multi-man melee is almost entirely new to the young fighter, but her enthusiasm after mentoring has given her renewed confidence. As she psyches herself up back in Team Frost's back room, Genie goes through some drills, trying out her balance with some kicks and taking deep, meditative breaths. "You can do this, Genie," she tells herself. "You are going to put forward a good showing."
Genie enters the arena in a different uniform than before --- a purple and white dobok --- and gives the crowd a sheepish wave as "Perfekte Welle," a German pop song by Juli plays over the loudspeakers. When she reaches the turnbuckle she hops up, just a little awkwardly, then vaults up onto the ropes, her purple ponytail swaying as she does.
And in uncharacteristic Genie fashion, she goes right into the offensive with a jumping kick toward Kenzo! It's a bit unpolished, but it certainly has considerably more technique than what she was throwing in their earlier match-up.
"Hello again!" she says, "It is good to see you again!" The contrast between the friendliness of the greeting and the immediate kick seems lost on Genie.
COMBATSYS: Genie has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Sarah 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/-------|=======\=------\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kenzo 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Nixie dodges John Doe's Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Sarah 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/-------|=======\=------\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kenzo 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Nixie dodges Sarah's Roll With It.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Sarah 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/-------|=======\=------\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kenzo 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 1/-----==/=======|
[NIXIE]
Nixie ducks under Sarah's uppercut. As much as she hates to admit it, being short has its advantages at times. "Well, I'm trying not to get killed over here! I can swear you were over there for a second. Crap, am I seeing double?" She's not in the best shape right now. Especially when John tries to grab her from behind and she has to slip between his arms. Shd drops an explosive where she was standing and uses the blast to conceal herself for a moment.
COMBATSYS: Hawksley blocks Kenzo's Mix-Up Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Sarah 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/-------|=======\=------\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 1/---====/=======|
[HAWKSLEY]
Hawksley leans in to the part he's been cast in, laughing along with the actor's antics and blowing him a kiss right back. He's aware of the approaching Coco but for now he's busy shrugging off the fact that Kenzo managed to escape the Cork lad's clutches.
As the attackee becomes the attacker, Hawksley is knocked flat on his back. Staring up at Kenzos face, he strains to avoid the threat of the fan to his throat, managing to bring up his forearm to force it away.
He's tiring now and it takes him some time to get back on his feet. Once he does, he starts dancing from one foot to the other, psyching himself up to stay in this fight.
Who will be the next potential victim to his violence? He's torn between three. On the one hand, Nixie is obviously struggling. Perhaps he could finish her off he lands a lucky blow? Sarah has yet to experience any attention from him though and then there's the newest entry to the ring, a ponytailed, purple haired posh girl, who's bearing a remarkable resemblance to Coco currently. Hawksley hesitates before deciding to opt for option one.
Moving towards tricksy Nixie, he sets his arms ablaze en route. When he's close enough, he crouches down before throwing a series of hot hooks and crosses at the green goblin girl before finishing by throwing out a straight punch to try and smack her in the face.
[COCO]
With John Doe unceremoniously swept from her warpath, Coco continues across the mat toward Hawksley. She can see him lighting up, even feel the heat coming off of him as he crouches down in preparation for an assault against Nixie. With his back turned toward her and his body clearly feeling the strain of the rumble more than most of the other competitors thus far, the opportunity is clear, and Coco's lips twist in an almost sinister smirk as she twists at the waist, loading a lethal kick into the chamber in preparation for her coup de grace.
The bright light as Hawksley ignites, though, forces her to shield her eyes with an arm and look away - only to catch sight of a purple ponytail whipping about in Kenzo's vicinity.
"You what?!"
Suddenly, Coco is seeing red. Well, purple, but metaphorically speaking, red. Who would have the gall to imitate her look? She knows no one else had purple hair in this competition -
"That bloody tanuki."
New target acquired, Coco is suddenly rampaging forward, aiming to grab hold of the purple-haired fighter by the ponytail to pull her backward and drill a nasty knee into the other girl's spine.
"Nobody cops my look!" she declares as she makes the attempt, intending to follow up by shoving her to the mat with a gloved hand to the face. "It's not like anybody falls for your bollocks anyway, Tamaki-san!"
"It looks like Coco's suddenly upset with Genie for some reason," Tom remarks from ringside.
"At this point, I'm not sure she can even tolerate another female in the ring with Hawksley," Lou says. "He might be on fire, but she's the one who's clearly losing her cool."
[TAMAKI]
Tamaki circles around the scrum, looking for a convenient entry point. She's on the short side (well, ignoring Nixie) and she's not really interested in just wading into the middle of it to get punched out. That doesn't suit her very well at all!
But it does put her in a position to see Coco attack Genie for the crime of being Tamaki. Which she isn't.
Tamaki definitely believes in not interrupting your opponent while they are making a mistake, and so she takes advantage of the fact that Coco is loudly proclaiming she is somewhere else to take a long, long drink from her tokkuri, letting the warmth from the alcohol and the burn of the chi blend within her.
Only afterwards does she lower the gourd, wipe a stray drop off her lips, and say, loud enough so she's reasonably sure Coco will hear it, "Though we are pretty famous for our bollocks, last I checked I don't actually have any!" She swings her hips like she's keeping up a hula hoop, her tail providing a counterpoint in the movement, until she turns her hip-swing into a weaving step away from Coco in case she's just become enraged and charged her. Tamaki gives that about 50-50 odds.
"That, and if I'm being honest, I don't think your style works for me. I'd have to squeeze to get into those shorts, purple is *not* my hair color - can you imagine it in my tail? - and I'm not much for shoes either." Another drink, for good measure. "Also, I've been over here the whole time."
COMBATSYS: Tamaki gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Sarah 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 0/-------/<<<<<<<|
COMBATSYS: Nixie successfully hits John Doe with Smoke Bomb.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Sarah 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 0/-------/<<<<<<<|
[JOHN DOE]
Pale arms close around empty air as Nixie Green gives John the slip, ducking free of his embrace with all the titchy agility expected of a goblin. Lurching to a stumbling halt, the actor shows the first signs of his normally drunken sway as the exhaustion of constant combat begins to catch up with him. Stooping to rest leather-clad palms on his knees, he glances across at Sarah, around at their fellow fighters, and finally, nose twitching at the smell of burning, down toward the smoldering bomb between his boots.
Grey eyes widen.
BOOOF!
The explosion of heat and smoke erupts around him in an expanding cloud, sending him staggering backward with face and chest stained with oily black soot. Unfortunately for anyone who might want to cancel him, as he straightens from the impact his face is revealed only to be marked with an oddly artistic pattern of commando stripes rather than anything racially insensitive, though much of his chest and left shoulder are blackened to a nice dark char.
His hair, of course, is perfectly fine.
Speaking of hair, though. The snatchy hands of Coco grabbing for Genie's purple ponytail catches the actor's attention. For the first time tonight, a crease of displeasure marks the young man's handsome features, lips pressing into a hard line of disapproval. Of all his fellow competitors, he expected Coco to understand. Aside from Brian Storm, she is the most likely to live by The Code, and to see it so blatantly disregarded?
There must be a reckoning.
Hands tightening into fists, JD abandons the broiling brawl that Hawksley has started with Nixie and charges across the ring, head lowered like an oncoming bull. Arms spread wide, the righteous super star attempts to plough bodily into Coco's side and tackle her to the mat, tumbling in a tangle of limbs that ends with him sitting up and dragging her around in a fierce headlock.
Only if he can get that grip will the startlingly strong teen haul her face down across his lap, plant one hand on the back of her head to keep her there, and raise the other high in somber-faced judgment. Then, with all the world watching, he will attempt to do what her parents never could.
Give her one hell of a spanking.
After all, hair pulling is against the rules.
[DJAMILA]
She's still undulating her hips, but she has stopped her humming, focusing on everything around her. So much is going on. It's normal but gotta ponder who to attack next.
Coco seems to be having a meltdown over some other purple hair. It would be funny in a different situation, but apparently, she's getting handled by someone. Hawksley is going after Nixie, and she seems to be running out of Juice. So he seems to be. So it's settled. Not that she has anything against him, but it's the name of the game.
She stops 'dancing' and removes her staff from the ground. She skips toward Hawksley and does a drive-by attack with her pole. If she has her way, she's poking at his lower back with the end of it. Then she finds a spot to set her staff back down and climb on it.
COMBATSYS: Kenzo fails to interrupt Medium Kick from Genie with Whirling Chain Blitz.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Sarah 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 0/-------/<<<<<<<|
[KENZO]
The next person on Kenzo's hit list ends up coming to him. As he rises from his attempt to pin down Hawksley he can see Genie rushing his way.
His tessen is replaced by the chain as he watches Genie place her foot on the ground in preparation to take off. He can see no energy coming from her. If there was a moment to strike her, it was now.
His chain crackles with electricity as he swings it towards Genie. Before the weight can even connect, the unrefined kick sends him stumbling backwards.
It would appear that exorcizing that particular demon of Kenzo's NFG past will have to wait a bit longer.
[SARAH]
The only thing Sarah seems to really notice is a glance from John, but other than that nobody seems to be taking interest in this Capoerista. As a result, the girl finds herself keeping an eye on all of the fighters in general, trying to formulate the next best course of action.
It seems Nixie is interested in John Doe than fighting back against her, so Sarah shifts her focus to the overall fight in general. She's not entirely sure who her next opponent should be, so she keeps her eyes focused as she maintains her ginga.
COMBATSYS: Sarah focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Sarah 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 0/-------/<<<<<<<|
COMBATSYS: Genie deflects Combo Grapple from Coco with Bouclier De Galahad EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Sarah 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Nixie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-======|=======\=====--\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Hawksley 0/-------/<<<<<<<|
[GENIE]
"Oh, you have new moves too!" Genie says as she lands the jump-in kick in spite of Kenzo's tactical combination of weapon and chi, the Swiss heiress almost seems ... proud? Certainly a deviation from her earlier, humbler attitude, but perhaps this too is a sign of her growth. Any victory celebration, however, is short lived.
"What did I do?!" Genie says, suddenly turning to see Coco launching herself toward Genie. In the next moment, the Swiss miss feels a tug on her hair and reflexively interjects, throwing up a shield-shaped barrier of pink-purple energy between Coco's impending knee and Genie's spine. It thrums when struck, reverberating like a gong before pushing forward into Coco then disipating on its own.
"I am so sorry I--" Genie is fixing her hair when she realizes who she smacked.
"AH! Miss Coco! Hello! Sorry! I wanted my hair to match my new uniform! Are you OK?" At least she's gotten better on the defense...? "I am not Tamaki!"
[ICHIKA]
Ichika does not look well, when it is her turn to emerge from backstage.
Recovering from what she had done to herself in the battle against Daisuke had taken a lot of time. Catching up on her homework had taken even more. She's only been able to do the basics, not even seen her sponsors for days, and now... now all of it could be torn away. At the very least, her friends were unlikely to fall in the same team. So much uncertainty. So many unknown variables. She's never coped well with them.
The girl is pale and drawn. She hasn't even been able to concentrate on the goings-on in the ring. For nine full minutes she's been backstage trying to process everything. With the rate her mind works at, that's a staggering number of possible horrors to contemplate. What if Mint took her this time, thinking she was doing her a favour? What if Mitsuru drafted her purely out of spite? Or Juri, for her part in the rescue? Or, or, what if she wound up on a team with BUFORD?!
From the moment the announcement was made the girl hadn't said a word. Just stared blankly at the backstage clock as it counted down to her entrance. She'd made a vague effort to lift her arms when Chevy had given her a big hug. Made a kind of 'it'll be okay' noise that didn't convince anyone of anything. Then she'd walked as she was bid by the organisers.
She is numb as she makes her way to the arena. Calm. Focus. Learn. Three principles that are supposed to guide her through all of this. But it is hard to remain calm when her life has been so thoroughly upended with no warning. How can she focus when she no longer sees where she is going?
What is the lesson to take from this? That her fate is not her own? Perhaps, it never was.
But music follows her on her journey to battle. A brief burst from Babymetal's classic Road of Resistance:
~Advance! Even if you follow a pathless road!
Forever! Forever!
Wow, wow, wow, wooooooow~
She grasps the middle rope, knuckles white as she feels so many eyes on her.
~In the depths of your heart!
A burning soul of steel! That is our resistance!
Wow, wow, wow, wooooooow!~
She pulls herself up into the ring. Forces herself to take a deep breath. The future is the future. In the present, she has a fight to win. Thousands of people watching. There is an opportunity here; to demonstrate how far she has come. To show the world her Truth. As horrifying as tomorrow might be, the present is electric.
The girl who stands in the ring now is not the girl in the Justice uniform who had fallen in her first battle. The outfit she wears is of her own choice; proclaims her loyalty to Thunder and to her friends a dozen times over in its details. Her fate is her own. She decides the path she walks. Nobody else.
Ichika draws her sword, and immediately steadies. Moments such as these were what the Warrior's Road was made of. Would she falter, broken by the formless dread that hangs over her, or would she forge her path?
She assumes her stance, feet planted firmly and blade raised before her. She tries to make a swift assessment of the competitors, their current states. There are so many. Trying to keep up with just Kenzo and Coco at the same time had been challenge enough to make her head hurt before; she simply will not be able to do so here. There can only be chaos.
So she can only trust instinct, not strategy.
But she knows what she can do, when she trusts herself.
Nixie is on the ropes, and Hawksley is striking with that awe-inspiring fire of his, which means... the time to ensure she is not the first out, is now. She rushes across the melee, dodges around Sarah, dives right past Djamila as she heads towards Hawksley, and:
"GREENE-SAN!"
The girl shouts, because with the chaos of the melee, the goblin might not be aware of her otherwise. Whilst she doesn't have any trouble hitting someone in the back in a normal fight, here, it doesn't sit right with her that she would do so without at least letting Nixie know that she is present first.
Sense of honour satisfied, she lunges in from behind as Hawksley's assault intensifies, staying low in case of wild swings, and aims to land a single swift slash across Nixie's back before twisting away to put the edge of the arena to her rear; there's no way she can keep detailed track of everyone but, hopefully, she can keep the immediate dangers in her field of vision.
And equally hopefully, Hawksley won't be too upset if she winds up stealing his KO.
COMBATSYS: Ichika has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Nixie 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Djamila 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 John Doe
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ichika 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\-------\0 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Genie
COMBATSYS: Hawksley successfully hits Nixie with Burn Out.
[ \ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Nixie 1/--=====/=======|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Djamila 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 John Doe
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ichika 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\-------\0 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Genie
COMBATSYS: Ichika successfully hits Nixie with Evasive Strike.
- Power hit! -
[ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Nixie 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Djamila 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 John Doe
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Ichika 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\-------\0 Hawksley
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Genie
[NIXIE]
Nixie's luck finally runs out as she gets pummeled by Hawksley, there's no way she can avoid all of the blows. This leaves her wide open for Ichika's back slash as well as falls to the mat. It seems like the goblin has a parting gift as drops all the explosives she's still carrying at the bartender's feet, if she's going down she's certainly not going to be the only one if she can help it.
COMBATSYS: Nixie can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Sarah 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Djamila 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\-------\0 Hawksley
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ichika 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 1/--=====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Hawksley blocks Djamila's Quick Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Sarah 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Djamila 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\-------\1 Hawksley
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ichika 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 1/--=====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Hawksley interrupts Epic Explosives from Nixie with Numbskull.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Djamila
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Ichika 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Genie
COMBATSYS: Hawksley can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Djamila
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Ichika 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Genie
[HAWKSLEY]
Hawksley doesn't realise how close he came to experiencing the wrath of Coco. The swoosh of a swinging ponytail saves his bacon, at least temporarily, as the party girl decides to prowl after Genie instead. Could there be an upper class cat fight on the cards? The crowd and commentating team will surely love that. It seems however that John Doe is set on intervening in the fancy girls fighting. He'd love to see how -that- turned out, but he's got his own battles to be getting on with.
Djamila comes after him whilst he's on the path of Nixie, braving the blaze zone by swinging her staff at him to seek out his exposed lower back. The brawler braces himself instinctively, then pushes back against the weapon before continuing to walk on his warpath.
Once he's on Nixie, he batters her with his boxing combo, his fiery and frenetic punches finding their mark to the sound of Road to Resistance. It must be Ichika's time to join the raucous rumble.
Before long, the metal loving baby of the contest is right there beside him. "Good to see you, cailin" he grins at the girl, welcoming her as an ally in his assault on the Greene goblin.
The slash from her sword is speedy and swift, striking the tiny terror that is Nixie and ensuring an end to her time in the ring. Hawksley lifts his right hand (now free of the flames) for a high-five with the highschooler, but then his mouth falls open as he sees that Nixie is going for a curtain call.
As the explosives are dropped for her encore, the Irishman reacts rapidly, launching himself head first into their path, in a bid to save himself and the schoolgirl. His time as a schoolboy soccer star has served him well. He lands a clean header, which launches the bombs away from the fighters and sends them soaring towards the front seats of the crowd to cause chaos. Screams and shrieks can be heard, as fight fans scramble to save themselves.
Meanwhile, the Cork City cruiserweight is collapsed in the centre of the ring. It seems he's out cold.
"An explosive end to the rumble for our top two on the leaderboard there, Lou" enthuses Tom. "I would question though, is Hawksley a hero or a hooligan?"
"Probably both, Tom. Someone get that fella a pint."
COMBATSYS: Coco just-defends John Doe's Violent Clinching!!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Djamila
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Ichika 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/--=====/=======|=------\-------\0 Genie
[COCO]
Instead of the soft, susceptible spine she expects, Coco finds her knee slamming violently into a barrier of ethereal energy. She feels the power reverberate through her knee and somehow into her head.
"Bugger!"
Hopping backward on one foot and holding the knee that had hit the shield, Coco curses, a grimace tightening her facial features.
"What, it's not Tama-"
The precarious unipedal posture allows John Doe to catch her out of the air, no resistance offered to his tackle, the posh purple-haired pugilist taken for a tumble, entangling and disentangling breathlessly with the pale heartthrob.
Oh, hello," Coco's voice rises from the encounter as they emerge at the other end with John's arm wrapped around her decolletage, then suddenly finds herself slung across John Doe's lap.
The psychological pressure directed her way suddenly becomes a deluge as, for a brief moment, she finds herself in a nexus of envy, consternation, schadenfreude, pity and desire on the part of hundreds of enthusiastic observers - some all at once. Her body relaxes slightly as her silver eyes take on a dazed expression, seemingly ignorant of the hand rising menacingly behind her, but fully aware, even accepting, of her need to be punished and the nature of the transgression as the floodgates of her mind open. She watches in an almost out-of-body state as before her, Nixie becomes the first casualty at the hands of Hawksley and Ichika, then helplessly as the bombs fall at Lucky's feet.
The feelings of schadenfreude, of just punishment, of pity that she feels for Hawksley's perilous predicament in the same moment - are they her own? Or is she merely a vessel for a greater social psyche?
Then, as usual, Hawksley does something incredibly stupid.
As the explosives rebound off of Hawksley's head into the row of hapless spectators at ringside and the first blasts start to go off, Coco's place as a focal point is disrupted by a wave of shock and awe, attentions violently ripped away. She herself snaps back to her present just as the hand is descending, sensing the assault as she reconnects with her immediate opponent. Instinctively, she shifts her hips, and John's hand finds the fullest part of her flesh, the impact absorbed harmlessly. It happens again and again, with Coco graciously and literally turning the other cheek until the punishing hand of justice relents.
If she's never been subjected to such a punishment, she's clearly a natural when it comes to dealing with it.
"I'm not sure what's getting the most attention - this exchange between fan favourites John Doe and Constance Coalbridge in the ring, or the explosives that just went off at ringside," Tom comments.
"Wait, were there bombs going off?" Lou replies. "Uhh, was anybody hurt?"
"It appears not, Lou."
"Oh, good."
Finally, Coco frees herself by tucking her head under J.D.'s hand and rolling sideways off of his lap and onto her back.
"You're quite right, Jay Dee. The hair-pulling was uncalled for," she says from her place on the mat with a salute before popping back up to her feet and rubbing the seat of her shorts, oddly appearing more invigorated by the experience than anything. Then, with a tilt of her head at J.D., she's off on her adventures, aiming a kick of greeting at Ichika's ribs from the side as she's presumably recovering from the near-explosion that Hawksley has saved her from.
"Hiya!" she chirps - the greeting, not a kiai - as she intends on following up the initial attack with a snap jab and cross punch that allow her to keep her guard up in case of reprisal.
[TAMAKI]
Armed with her drink, Tamaki gets a front-row seat to Nixie's fall and a shower of bombs hitting Hawksley, as well as scattered towards the crowd! Well, not a literal front-row seat, but only because she's not in any danger of getting hit by one.
Though the crowd is fine, so it isn't really her problem, either!
Pleased that she's not the first one out (though since she was the fourth one in she really shouldn't have been) Tamaki claps her hands together once. Joining in against Coco is a possibility - let's let her really deal with the bake-danuki - but it's already pretty crowded in there. Sarah, off by herself, is both a target of opportunity and much more open.
Tamaki hops up on the ropes, making sure her tokkuri is slung over her shoulder pretty securely. Last time she was up there she belly-flopped into the ring, laughing; this time she throws herself in a two-footed kick at Sarah, also laughing. "No more standing around! You might get hit by a bomb!" Which is pretty rich coming from someone who just took a quick booze break, but that's life.
If she hits, she springs off, and if she misses, she just hits the mat, but either way Tamaki turns the impact into a roll that leaves her on her back and a few feet from Sarah, in what would look like a pretty bad position for her if it hadn't already been established how good she is at kicking or flipping upward from a prone position.
[SHERMIE]
Shermie is NOT happy. Her friend, Lyraelle Lightheart secured her three tickets to the New Fighting Generation Rumble and due to a hamster based emergency she has missed the start of the show. Already two fighters have been eliminated (the tricksy goblin and the boy who can't keep his shirt on) and she's missed numerous entrances, which is usually the best bit! What if one of them had chosen a CYS song?
Strutting to her seat, carrying an oversized banner with the words 'Rock them hard Ichika!' she makes a show of getting settled, wondering the whole while where her bandmates have gotten to. She had expected they would have already been here. How mysterious...
She looks towards the ring with her unseen eyes, trying to figure out what's happening. Rumbles by their nature are pretty chaotic. Chaos is something Shermie thrives on. Waving her banner wildly, she can't help wishing she was there in the thick of it, thrashing around in the frantic throng.
[CHRIS]
Chris finally makes his way to the rumble as a spectator. He scans the place to see if any of his bandmates made it too. Sometimes they have to handle things on their own.
But he's here now and... Wait, that's Shermie there. She made it too. He's surprised Yashiro didn't make it yet, but if Shermie is here, he will eventually. He's pretty sure of it. He makes his way to his seat, squeezing Shermie's shoulder lightly to let her know it's him, and he settles in his seat.
He has a banner as well, but in his case, it's not Ichika. Who is he rooting for? Sarah. She's a DJ, she's in music, so it makes perfect sense. "Dance to Victory Sarah".
Everybody in the rumble has a chance to win. He wishes he was in the rumble and had a chance to win, but even if he's is of the new generation, he's already well-settled in the community. He doesn't need this. No one in CSY needs this. So he's going to be cheering Sarah on and probably have a friendly rivalry with Shermie (And Yashiro if he ever gets here) to get each of their favorites to win.
[JOHN DOE]
The loud SMACKs of hand on rump come to an abrupt halt as Coco rolls free of John's punishing(?) embrace, the handsome actor aiming a beatific smile up at the purple-haired pugilist as she rises anew. The acknowledgment of her crime provokes an easy double thumbs up from the actor, his expression warm and understanding. After all, it isn't often that you get to share a spiritual heart to heart with your friend in the middle of a royal rumble.
Off in the distance, a girl screams in furious envy.
Job done, JD springs to his feet and rolls out his shoulders, pale skin still stained with artful lines and blotches of greasy soot. With Coco off to handle Ichika, and Tamaki challenging Sarah, There is one fight he'd like to get back to. Scanning the ring for his fiery friend, JD is just in time to see Hawksley staggering free of the premises, expression falling as he realizes that he must have missed his buddy's final moments while busy with, other issues.
"Awwgh..." he grunts, turning away to wander a bit listlessly into the milling mass of combatants. Picking one at random, he wanders up behind Djamila, his presence oddly muted and fuzzed around the edges, and swings a quick, hammering rabbit punch toward the back of her head.
COMBATSYS: John Doe successfully hits Djamila with Cross Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Djamila
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ichika 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 Genie
[DJAMILA]
So much more things have happened. Booms everywhere, as far as she understands it. Nixie is out, and so is Hawksley, everyone going after everywhere. Ichika is here too, but she doesn't particularly want to destroy her right now.
Then there is JD behind her. To be honest, she does react late to it. That's why while she still manages to move, it's not enough to not get it at all, and she gets the rabbit punch in the side of the head instead. Which isn't ideal at all. Since she most likely can't see stars in her condition, she hears birds whistling as they circle her head.
She decides to continue turning and spins her staff to return the favor to JD, smacking him randomly in the head with her staff. "Hi there, former teammate." Whether she succeeds or not, she almost loses her equilibrium but catches herself with her staff and attaches it there, keeping her sense alert as best as she can.
[KENZO]
Kenzo had the words from Genie's lips echoing in his head in time to the swats delivered to Coco's hindquarters. 'Oh, you have new moves too!' Each repetition his frown grows slightly deeper, his grip on the handle of the sickle and on the chain gets a little tighter, he mentally replays the moment when his weight rebounded off of her energy shield.
"To think that you think so little of me to not realize that I had attempted to use that move in our first match. I don't know if you are intentionally looking down on me or if you're actually that obtuse."
He channels his rage through the sickle of his kusari-gama in the form of a vicious slash across the torso.
"I will be acknowledged."
COMBATSYS: Tamaki successfully hits Sarah with Lazy Day.
-**- LUNATIC HIT!! -**-
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kenzo 0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Djamila
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ichika 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 Genie
[SARAH]
"What's that?" Sarah asks as she turns to face Tamaki before grinning. "Settin' me up the bomb, are you? Or are you just trying to drop a bomb on me like that band from the eighties?" Whatever it is, it hits... and it hits hard.
Sarah is knocked down and rolls sideways across the canvas a few times before stopping in a kneeling position, rubbing at the spot on her head where she was sprung off of. "At least my cap is all right," Sarah comments as she stands back up and gets into the ginga, although she's having trouble seeing straight for a moment. "Where'd all you come from?" A moment later, she slaps her face a couple of times, trying to bring herself back to reality.
"You dropped a bomb on me there," Sarah comments with a slight smile as she tries to keep an optimistic outlook on things. "But don't underestimate me at all!" With that, Sarah shoots forth an energy projectile that resembles a butterfly somewhat. It's flying right at Tamaki and it's definitely not a cute, friendly butterfly either!
COMBATSYS: Genie dodges Kenzo's Fierce Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Djamila
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ichika 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 Genie
[GENIE]
Genie looks absolutely scandalized when Coco tanks her way through a brutal spanking. Her face is flushed and turning red when Kenzo suddenly snaps her back to her attention.
"Oh!" Now she's even more flustered. "I--I am not an expert on the um, kusarigama. Sorry I did not realize!" Genie says, "I didn't mean to slight--" The accusation makes Genie briefly shocked, but that quickly gives way to a sudden surge in vigor.
That same vigor seems to envelope Genie with her usual unusual aura, and the Swiss miss throws herself back and out of the way of the sickle as it skims across the fringe of her dobok. The aura surges again, and suddenly Genie pulls back her fist, creates her psychic spear, and tosses it back--past Kenzo and toward Ichika.
"Oh, sh--ah, shoot! Shoot!"
[IRIS]
Iris is packed with fruit flavor
COMBATSYS: Coco successfully hits Ichika with Bloody Mary.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ichika 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/=======/=======|==-----\-------\0 Genie
COMBATSYS: Genie successfully hits Ichika with Lance Du Lac.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/=======/=======|===----\-------\0 Genie
[ICHIKA]
Ichika is faintly surprised when not only does Hawksley's assault strike true, but her own blade bites deep. She'd seen Nixie escape many perilous situations before, but apparently the woman truly was at her limit.
She's not so startled that she misses the explosives this time, though. She starts to move away, only to stare in horror as Hawksley decides to take the attack right to the dome. The dramatic display has her wincing; not only because the first person ever to seem as though they were moving for a high-five with her is rendered unconscious, but because it is more by luck than judgment that the crowd escape injury. Surely he didn't do that just for her benefit... right? They barely knew one another, really!
Maybe she's starting to see what Chevy likes about the man from Cork so much after all.
She waits a beat, to be sure that Hawksley's fires aren't going to rekindle, but when he does indeed stay down, she stands over his body with sword raised in a defensive position. Nixie seems to have totally disappeared, which isn't too surprising, but surely it wouldn't be long before someone gets him out-
Then Coco attacks her.
The girl's nostrils flare, and you don't have to be an empath to see the irritation written in her eyes; her expression practically shouts 'Really? You? NOW?'
Her attempt to twist out of the way of the first kick not only doesn't work, it winds up with her stepping into the path of a wild projectile she had not even begun to sense. The girl is sent reeling, forced to stagger back under the combined assault with her defenses blown wide open, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth after that clean cross punch. For as dramatic as her entrance had been, it's difficult for her not to come to the inescapable conclusion that - no - when compared to her peers, she's still not advanced that far at all.
She takes a deep breath. Centres herself. "Very well." She says, coolly, her gaze flicking down to the unconscious Hawksley she has been driven away from before it goes back up to Coco. "He's your responsibility then. Or maybe you want to get another kick in before the staff can get him out? He's still breathing after all. How do you know he's done?"
The bitter words betray her as much as her eyes; she's trying to keep her cool, but she's angry on so many levels right now it is difficult. Angry at herself for her failure to defend, angry at Coco for being Coco, angry at Genie for holding that mysterious power that seems to obliterate all who stand against it without her even really trying.
She makes herself swallow that fury. As she does, her own power rises. Blue eyes go from smouldering with emotion, to literally glowing, crackling with sapphire energy as she spits a wad of blood onto the ground. Her teachers and parents will be horrified at such a breach of decorum, but right now the girl's thoughts couldn't be further from those concerns.
Calm. Focus. Not taking her eyes off Coco, she brings her sword around... and sheathes it, right hand curled around the hilt, left brought up to smear the blood from her lip across the back of her leather glove. The blood stops flowing. Her breathing steadies, and she does her best to empty her mind.
COMBATSYS: Ichika gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/=======/=======|===----\-------\0 Genie
[BUFORD]
It was in the aftermath of the explosion that the Shadow of The Maclanky cast over the Rumble.
The hefty, hearty swordsman was once again clad in a trenchcoat, now of black leather, with a clean white undershirt, devoid of any images of cross-eyed anime girls with their tongues out like before. At his hip, he grips the hilt of his newly reformed blade, repaired by the greatest craftsmen of Metro City. Flat on his upheld palm, balanced with careful skill, is a wide, cream-colored frisbee. It is held upside down, with the frisbees turned lip facing upwards, and it's contents are shimmering with a green, fizzing goodness. Smugly smirking at the aftermath of the fight so far, it was soon time for his arrival. Nixie had fallen. Pity. After all, it was practically all his doing that she reached the lead; he would have enjoyed explaining it to her for a chance to earn some graciousness for his mentoring. THen Hawksley falls, and the explosions come.
It was time.
Buford tilts the frisbee to his lips. Slurping up the sweet Dewy nectar noisily, he lets out a hearty but vigorous grunt as he finishes it in one guzzle. Wiping the dribble on his chin, he twirls the frisbee back over with his fingertips exposed from his gloves, before leveling it out. With a heaving toss, the throws the frisbee away, above into the free for all fray. It stalls, rising up and up. Its final destination is unknown.
Much like the spirit of the Samurai who wielded it.
Buford strides out at his entrance, a bit prematurely as it was. But he was now striding down the walkway, his chest out, brain overflowing with the special personal training he had earned. The Mad Gear really were a group that understood him, and even respected him. Why, he almost came in driving a truck. Unfortunately, Buford can't drive a stick. But now, with their special techniques, he was ready to make his introduction. But the soundtrack to his introduction was sullied by a rhythmic beating. The sound of firm Muay Thai toned tiki bongo drums being bopped and bapped. No, despite the strength of those Iron Buns, Buford could not believe that his arrival would be associated with the mistreatment and dehumanizations of female creature. As Ichika seems to be engaged with Coco, no doubt some misunderstanding about trying to get that vile John Doe off her, he immediately reads the situation to the fullest: he must help Coco. His neat and trimmed beard bristles on his neck, as he raising a hand to snap his fingers for a proper introduction. Blaring over was the sound of his personally selected theme song for this moment. And as the chortle of J-Pop burbles out, he knows his time. He gives his knowing nod.
And he begins the dance.
The mighty Ronin of Edmonton swings his hands in a jogging motion, clenching his fists, though his legs remain still. Stretching his right hand to the side, he holds the palm flat out, as if he was pressing it against a wall. Buford steps to the right, and then, to the left. He then crosses his arms before him, and uncrosses there, hanging them both out to the side much like a scarecrow as he steps back to the right. He points in the air, then to the left, and then fans his hand in front of his face. Sweeping the arm, he brings both fists to his hips, and begins to shake them left to right. Buford waves his hand with his hip shakes, before he sweeps his hands before him. He starts his shake to shake, this time with his arms up, before he pushes his outstretched hand before him. All while the peppy J-Pop plays,
./` "Aimai San-SENCHI Sorya Punitte Koto Kai? Cho!
RAPPINGU Ga Seifuku... Daaa Furitte Kotanai Puu.
Ganbaccha Yacchacha
sonto KYAACCHI & Release gyo
Ase, Fuu, ase, Fuu, no tanima ni
Darlin' Darlin' FREEZE!!" ./`
Buford does not sing along, aware that his thick Canadian tongue would no doubt bring shame to the beautiful Japanese language. He would allow his dance to carry it's meaning. He ends the dance prematurely, finishing as he waggles his finger with a passion only barely rivaled with the blade. As the song continues on without him, Buford gives a bow to all. "I hope you all learn from this cultural exchange. With honors to Yasuhiro Takemoto-sama, may he rest in peace." He tips his fedora, coming back into a stand, drawing his blade. His rosy cheeks break into a look of intensity, as he draws a heavy breath from the base of his repaired Suchimusodo. A blast of buttery-scented mist fills the air around him, as he stares daggers from the cloud. "But enough respectives. It is time for something more than just a battle." It wasn't that vile ninja Kenzo, his OTP according to some. It wasn't dear Sarah, or the wily Tamaki. No, he was transfixed on the true villain of this fight. And he points a finger at John Doe, past Djamalia and Coco and even Ichika.
"It's time to defend the honor of these fair maidens!"
Buford rushes forward to the ring,, his blade purring as it trembles. "How dare you paddle that queen's behind like she was some kind of schoolgirl hussy!" Buford bellows out as he closes in to the ring, raising a finger in the air as he jogs. "In my time with my mentors, I learned that it's never appropriate to spank a woman without her consent, even if she is a disobedient foreign maiden with a bratty attitude! A lesson that must be learned by you as well, good sir! Every woman is a goddess, and her body is a temple!" Buford grunts as he leaps up, wriggling himself under the ropes the best he could. Grabbing the ropes, he pulls himself up into a stand, before he as he moves past the three women. He does makes sure to glance at Djamila first, then Coco, and of course sweet Ichika as he closes in on JD. It would be clear that his words weren't only for these three lovely maidens, but for every woman here who could listen, and would apply to everyone and anyone who felt their bottoms were exposed to such attacks of opportunity. Buford was many things.
But he wasn't selfish about how important he was to people.
"And even if she were to wear such inviting clothing," Buford begins as he raises the hilt of his blade up. "With tight tops, or bikinis, or even shorts that exposes a thong of sorts for wayward men to gaze upon, a true man must stay his hand, and refuse to spank her toosh unless ordered to!" As he rushes past the girls, he smoothly draws his blade out. Bringing the hilt to his lips, he deftly and strategically vapes. With a great exhale, a deep, heavy fog descends like a greasy cloud all around him, smelling strongly of creamy Irish Butter churning around in milky goodness: A powerful scent of dairy air, to accentuate his defiant stand for the derriere. The coiling clinging mist envelopes them all, John Doe, the ladies, and himself. Like a shark diving into a school of fish, he gives a snapping slice of his warrior's blade, the katana cutting through the buttery mist like a hot knife through a ripe tomato before he dances in and out of the cloud of his own making. And with it, he grimly recites the haiku of his heart for all to hear.
"A Maiden's Bottom"
"Is Always Pure, No Matter"
"How Soiled It Is"
COMBATSYS: Buford has wandered into the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Sarah 1/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 1/=======/=======|
[COCO]
Her combination having connected clean with the younger teen, Coco ends up retracting into a guarded stance, one leg lifted as she puts her back instinctively toward the nearest corner of the wrestling ring. Ichika has already taken a solid thumping on arrival (more solid than the thumping Coco was just subjected to, anyway). It would make sense to continue her aggression toward the sword fighter and eliminate the most clear and present threat to her in the ring.
But then, Ichika throws down a different gauntlet. And as the sword is sheathed, the girl's tongue is drawn.
And the two fighters find themselves in a different arena - one where Coco is always packing a weapon sharper than any sword.
The purple-crowned combatant sniffs disdainfully as Ichika's words stab right for her gut, then deflects the attack with one swift slice:
"I saw your Dad watching just now, Kasumoto-chan."
And then the riposte:
"Tell him autographs are twenty quid. He's obviously a fan."
Flipping her hair, she turns away, certain she's left her opponent proverbially bleeding on the mat as she returns to the Dragon Arena and the RUMBLE - just in time to witness Buford's arrival. His defense of her honour. She didn't ask for it, but what reason does she have for turning away a white knight while he's riding down one of her opponents in her name? It's enough to almost make her consider abandoning her ceasefire in favour of an alliance of opportunity with the Alberta bladesman. Perhaps she could even leverage her noble status to play daimyo to this ronin. After all, if it doesn't work out, she can always demand seppuku later to save her optics.
But that notion is cut down with seventeen syllables. Or more specifically, two. 'Soiled.'
Mentally washing her hands of the affair and pretending not to have noticed the unfolding vendetta, Coco instead considers another strategic alliance.
After all, there's one fighter in the ring that she has the most in common with.
"Hallo, Supernova!" she chimes as she jumps over to the other quarter of the melee, suddenly lashing out with a series of explosive kicks launched swiftly toward Tamaki's back and head as she balances on one leg. Sarah may be a Northerner, but that doesn't mean Coco as a member of the wealthy London elite can't at least pretend to have her best interests at heart while really only being interested in jockeying for better personal positioning.
After all, it's how they got out of Europe.
"What do you say to a bit of a team-up?"
COMBATSYS: Coco successfully hits Tamaki with L.I.T..
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Sarah 1/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Sarah successfully hits Tamaki with Flash Butterfly.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Sarah 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Tamaki 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 1/------=/=======|
[TAMAKI]
"No, Nixie is the one who set up the bombs!" Tamaki would make this a Who's On First gag but she can't really think of any fun way to keep this going - especially if Sarah really wasn't paying attention to the bombs.
Good thing there's a lot of other events to keep Tamaki busy! A new entrant (ugh, she thinks to herself, at the smell of butter combined with the sweat of the ring; her nose wrinkles), more battle... and Sarah herself, who is throwing a butterfly at her.
An actual butterfly would not be an issue, but this one is made of chi, and that *definitely* means Tamaki has to pay attention to it. She raises one hand, but apparently reconsiders at the last moment - to her folly, as the chi butterfly strikes her, sending her rolling overdramatically backwards.
And that's when Coco strikes - when Tamaki rises back up, she's right there to deliver a furious kicking. Tamaki manages to duck one of the blows, but the second hits her right between the shoulders and knocks her off-balance, and her weaving stance owes a bit more to reeling and trying to stay upright than managing to evade the follow-up strikes.
"If you want a team-up you should get all the girls pointed at the Butter Ronin over there! If you're interested, I can't say I'd be unhappy seeing him go down..." Despite her words it's Coco she defends herself against. Turning with a sideways sway, she manages to avoid the very last of the kicks despite being hit solidly by several others.
Tamaki reaches out and attempts to grab Coco. At first glance it looks like she's just grabbing wildly to stay up - it barely looks like an attack - but Tamaki puts her bodyweight to work, pulling Coco along as she rolls backwards with her in a throw! And while that would be bad enough, Tamaki manages to get her feet up as she goes so that - if all goes well - Coco lands with her stomach against Tamaki's feet, giving her the opportunity to use the power in her legs to kick the party girl away from her.
COMBATSYS: John Doe dodges Djamila's Improvised Smack.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Sarah 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/???????/???????|=======\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: John Doe blocks Buford's Spirit Of The Samurai.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Sarah 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/???????/???????|=======\-------\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 1/------=/=======|
[JOHN DOE]
A bit of the spirit seems to flow back into John Doe's expression as Djamila just about dodges his sneaky punch, the bare-chested brawler bobbing in a quick dip to avoid the blind woman's immediate retaliation. Staff sweeping just over his head, he retreats a step to give her some space, teeth flashing in a quick but joyous smile as snappy J-Pop fills his ears. He is just about to turn away, to give his prior team mate some space and pick on someone else, when the tingle of a scent catches his hyper-sensitive nose.
That tingle grows into a buzz, a burn, and finally ends in a quick, explosive sneeze as the wave of vapors roll over them, right arm lifting to catch the expulsion in his armpit like a proper gentleman. This, more than anything else, saves him. For aside from looking like he's straight up Dabbing on the competition, the sweep of his elbow catches Buford's opening sword stroke on his black pad.
A long strip of shaved rubber falls through the air between the two men, striking the matt like a metaphorical gauntlet as the thicker fellow voices his truth. Waving a hand to clear the buttery smog from his face, JD stares into his new nemesis's eyes, pale features creasing into a frown of either righteous displeasure or disgusted villainy, depending entirely on one's perspective.
"Pphfffft."
Challenge accepted.
Lunging forward to meet the Canadian Samurai, JD rears back his right fist, narrows his eyes, and launches his fist toward the other man's flapping gums with deceptive speed and little to no actual skill.
[DJAMILA]
So many things can happen during a single blow. Tamaki gets hurt by Coco, who wants to team up with Sarah. Buford comes in, talking about derrieres and smelling like buttery popcorn with his vaping. A soiled bottom briefly takes her to a dirty diaper. She has that in mind as JD dodges her attack.
That buttery smell gets quite strong, and the previous JD blow wasn't exactly fun either. While everyone is busy in some ways, she finds a spot where she can set her staff down and starts undulating her hips once again. She also 'Om' to clear her head as winds slowly move around her. Now she can concentrate better on what is going on in the ring, the wind soothing her mind and body.
COMBATSYS: Djamila makes the om sound and wind chi flies around her for a short moment.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Sarah 1/------=/=======|=======\=====--\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/???????/???????|=======\-------\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 1/------=/=======|
[MINT]
Mint was, of course, paying attention to the fight in the midst of her patrols around the arena. After having confirmed an actual enemy combatant, and notifying her security crew about the presence of such, Mint wasn't about to start a scene while they were behaving. She'd been minding her own business right up until the explosives went off. When that happened, though, the explosives were on the other side of the arena from where she was standing -- so there was no reasonable way for her to intercept. And, even more thankfully, no one was hurt. So there will be no bonus PTSD for the unlucky-with-explosives corporal today.
But what there will be... is frustration with her former(?) student.
Mint just balls her empty coffee cup into a ball and wings it towards the stage when she hears that 'om' one more time. "C'mon, Djamila!" she shouts, "you're better than this!"
[KENZO]
Kenzo's slash doesn't find a home but it doesn't surprise him. Genie was a vexing opponent to land any damage on. As he looks around, he can see more attractive targets than Genie, at least from a strategic standpoint. There was Coco who was too strong defensively to leave alone for too long. There was also his former(?) team mate JD who he could easily say the same for. Then there was his other former(?) team mate Djamila who he might need to remind that she can't win if she doesn't attack and hopefully light a fire under her ass so she can put some damage on other people. There was even Ichika who had to gather herself after Coco and Genie hit her with telling blows. Tamaki, on the other hand was less appealing seeing as she already had one foot on the stretcher. t
Kenzo's pride, however, won't let him go after anyone but Genie for the time being. Free-for-all style events work strongly against his current skill set so he is using it as a way to show himself and the world that he has grown. He can't do that until lands something substantial on her. Especially after the new move comment.
As Genie moves away from him, he moves in to cut her off from the rest of the ring. He swings the weighted chain around Genie's neck causing it wrap around it. He then pulls her towards him as he drops hips low enough to convert it into an over the shoulder throw.
[SARAH]
So it seems Sarah accidentally double-teamed Tamaki there. She wasn't intending to do that, but things sometimes turn out that way. It's then she realizes that it's the same fighter she took on at Noise Factory and she smiles a little. "Well, how lovely to see you again!"
The blonde-haired disk jockey makes her way towards Coco and then adds, "Don't worry, I've no hard feelings or anything, but I am intending to win this time, so don't take it personally!" She then attempts to deliver a swift Capoeira-styled sweeping kick.
[KONGOU]
The explosions. The blurring movement. The wild flashes of energy. All occuring one after the other and often at the same time. It's a visual treat to be sure and a spectacle that is only limited by the experience and capabilities of those present.. and they are -quite- capable. This much is clear to Kongou, who observes The Rumble with growing interest and approval, if not awe at the energy and drive on display.
And there's Buford. Kongou's look of excitement is transformed into befuddlement. Stark confusion as if the very aura of the arriving ronin has thrown his thoughts into disarray and his ability to examine and assess the legitimacy of combatants in The Rumble into absolute ruin.
"Wha.." he rumbles, expression twisted into a visible manifestation of his utter loss for words. But then something else tugs at his senses..as if seeing Buford cleared his mind enough for something else.
His gaze grows more serious, the beffudled look giving way to actual concern. Itself an alien look to the Bruiser from the Backyards face. He's generally usually affable. Possibly detached or dismissive and in his own personal world but something has pulled him out of it. Something dark and heavy. "This does not belong here.." he muses while taking a moment to cast his gaze over the vast crowds.. Towards where the veiled essence of pyscho power peers into the arena and then past it, unable to find exactly what he's looking for but knowing -something- is out there.
He then shakes it off just in time to see John Doe go forth to send a fist hurtling at Buford and all seems back in order in the world.
"Hmm...must be nothing of note."
COMBATSYS: Genie dodges Kenzo's Strong Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Sarah 1/------=/=======|=======\=====--\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/???????/???????|=======\-------\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 1/------=/=======|
[GENIE]
"I am so sorry, Ichika!" Genie continues. "I was aiming for K--"
Genie cannot finish the sentence before she's interrupted by Buford and his proclamation. "Oh no. Oh no no no no..." She covers her ears, energy still surging around her in a powerful aura that makes her hair stand on end. It would be slightly more impressive were it not for how poorly Buford's haiku seems to have thrown her off her game.
But apparently, not entirely off her game. The chain wraps toward her throat and Genie threads thr needle, dropping down through it as unseen force gives her the window she needs. She drops into a crouch, then launches into a springy leap that defies gravity as she pivots around into a spinning tornado kick...onr that definitely seems to be cheating with TK.
"Yes!" Genie says, "I have to put on a good showing! I will not be a pushover!"
[ICHIKA]
Ichika's jaw clenches tight at Coco's words, and her grip on the hilt of her sword also becomes almost painful. But she lets the insult flow off her. The girl's cheeks are flushed and she's furious; it's impossible not to see it in those burning sapphire eyes. But for once, she doesn't let herself be ruled by her emotions.
A slight nod and a "Thank you." Is given to the staff member who manages to extricate Hawksley from the ring - definitely one of the more dangerous jobs going in the circumstances, but with an all-too-familiar scented smoke wafting over the arena, and the kind of music that sets her teeth on edge to announce him, there are other concerns more pressingly at hand.
The exact nature of Buford's introductory speech is... well, it is what she'd expected. Not in the specifics; she could no more have guessed the particular strain of bizarre, offensive inanity he would spout than she could the exact scent of that hateful vape. But that it shows he is still very much trapped in the delusions he has built for himself? It would have been too much to hope for anything else. Coco might be a selfish and unpleasant person... but there's something about the word 'soiled' which has her jaw clenching on the woman's behalf. And for haiku to be used to such an ends...
There's nothing about the man that is acceptable. Nothing at all.
The smoke makes things more difficult, not least because of the distractingly sickly scent, but having been given a brief reprieve she can see a way around it. She crouches, then jumps straight up, and when she emerges, trailing mist, she has a much better view of the arena below her. Oof. Tamaki... really came off the worst in that exchange, Genie and Kenzo are embroiled in their battle and part of her wants to help her former upperclassman there, too. Or take the fight to Djamila. Though that, like Coco, is a score she wants to settle on her own, not in the chaos of the Rumble.
Ultimately, fighting is a matter of truth. As much as she would like to intervene in many bouts, there's only one man here who has consistently not only denied hers, but refused to accept his own. It is a duty to defeat him.
Her eyes briefly alight on a sign in the crowd and some of that electric feeling returns. She grins.
"Yes." She murmurs, and then, much louder, "MACLANKY-KUN!"
Because she can see him, too. The foggy shroud can only hide that massive form so much. John Doe is already embroiled with him, and seeing the handsome actor in the fight only spurs her on that much more; they'd met once, briefly, and he'd been kind.
She could repay that.
"LET'S ROCK!"
The girl has a good set of lungs on her, and she actually seems to pivot in the air, twisting around with her sword still sheathed-
-until she descends with a gravity-defying blur of motion, her boots crash into the mat behind Buford and her sword is suddenly drawn, extended to the side - a glittering line of bright metal having carved itself from the very apex of her jump to the sudden sharp drop. Hopefully, going right through the Canadian swordsman's flank along the way.
COMBATSYS: John Doe successfully hits Buford with Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Sarah 1/------=/=======|=======\=====--\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/???????/???????|=======\-------\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Buford dodges Ichika's Artful Slash EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Sarah 1/------=/=======|=======\=====--\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/???????/???????|=======\-------\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 1/------=/=======|
[BUFORD]
Why, these silly headed females seem to be confused.
As the slash snips out Buford makes his escape, he was hoping Coco and Djamila would be there to catch him. Buford was clearly expecting more graciousness from the other women. Certainly, he didn't expect them to simply fawn over the pure and noble spirit of his defense of them. Dancing through the fog, he spins around, almost... Almost waiting for them to descend on him? For a moment, he feels all alone, as shapes and shadows move in and out of the spreading buttery fog. Hmph. And he did the dance and everything.
Perhaps Chevelle would appreciate his noble defense of the mudflaps.
But before he could explain to the girls, perhaps even repeating himself verbatim but louder, he is met with a punch to the face rocketing through the fog. Knocking the filibuster out from him, Buford glowers with a fat bloodied lip. "Why you scoundrel!" He shrieks. "You remind me of one of my mother's boyfriends! And like you, fiend, he treated women's behinds as savagely as a gorilla brute!" Buford had more to add on that, but Ichika seems to calling for him. "Yes Kasumoto-chan~?" He coos sweetly, turning in the mists. But when he is greeted with a flash of steel in the fog, he instinctively bring his own sword around. Ichika must be getting confused and attacking at him instead of John Doe, he thinks at first. Bringing his own blade around, he deflects Ichikas own, his full weight and strength redirecting to the floor of the ring. Staring down at the smaller fighter, he gives a very stern, if sugary sweet lecturing tone. "Why, you are being a little jealous! Don't worry, little cherry blossom. When you get a little older, and when you kick high as freely as you like, you can choose all kinds of provocative outfits you like, and men should respect your bottom for it! But until then, a good girl like you should stick with the most appropriate undergarment for fine young ladies." He nods knowingly.
"Safety Spats."
Buford brings his sword up towards Ichika, a patronizing slash aiming right at her upper arm and shoulder. He wouldn't waste the momentum on it. Tearing through the creamy cloud, he brings the blade back around. Now, this was the perfect time to pitch his sponsor and sensei. He has a very strict script, of course, but something bothered him. He was a heel, according to Abigail. And heels were popular. So why couldn't -his- fans have a nickname too? He certainly had them, according to that website of professional writers so exclusive it had a waiting list to even get registered, Fo3. Thus, as he brings a hefty two-handed overhead slash back at John Doe, he bellows out. "But the only thing better than protecting your bottom is protecting your tires! That is why, uh, DoeBros might shop anywhere for their trucks parts..." He looks towards where he hopes is a camera through the milky mist, tilting his fedora down.
"But only True Boofers use Abigail's Scrap Metal for their car parts, eh!"
COMBATSYS: Buford blitzes into action and acts again!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Sarah 1/------=/=======|=======\=====--\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/???????/???????|=======\-------\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Genie
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Coco 1/------=/=======|
[VEGA]
Xiayu, it's clearly Xiayu masquerading as some kind of Office Lady, though of the assembled only Ken might have some kind of inkling to her true identity. Maybe. Regardless, she is the source of the undue dark presence. Seated in her chair, legs crossed at the knee and resting her chin on her palm looking almost bored.
This whole thing, there's no one truly interesting here. Until Genie shows up. Vega, who is piloting the Doll, can feel the spark of her power. This makes her sit up. Her legs uncross and she leans forward, dark eyes intent. It's the first time since she's been here that she's felt something worthwhile.
True potential.
This, of course, means that she misses out on Buford's ... Buford-ness because of her laser focus. That one may prove useful. The power must be cultivated and stoked, but it could be mighty and terrible.
Faintly, almost too faint to feel, to hear, Vega's laugh echoes out from his lair in a psychic pulse from Xiayu. It is somehow sinister and full of true joy at the same time. The psychic pulse will be easily noticable by Genie, given her own touch of Psycho Power. Everyone else may or may not even hear it echoing in their minds.
[CHEVY]
== MOMENTS AGO ==
A round two win and a beach cleanup event secured Chevelle Beaumont's reputation as the NFG's 'girl next door.' It wasn't till her clash with Constance Coalbridge, though, that the hayseed's media profile really started to soar high. Chevy's media agent navigated her through the resultant social media minefield with a focused campaign blitz, buying her the time she needed to rest and relax away from the public's prying eyes. But, in the midst of check-marking 'surf in the Pacific' off her bucket list, she'd discovered a brand-new source of inspiration. Armed with a fresh appreciation for the true nature of water, Chevy felt like she was ready for anything the Rumble could throw at her.
And then came Carly Meadows' announcement about the teams splitting up. Ichika hadn't taken it well. Chevy hadn't either; but she'd kept up appearances until the junior fighter took the stage. As the hayseed watches the chaos unfold in the ring below, though -- particularly the harrowing moments where her dear friend was ganged up on by both Genie -and- Coco -- the stress had finally gotten to her.
There were two buckets set aside for her use in the battle.
In her frustration, she had kicked one of the buckets over.
Water flooded all over the concrete-floored staging area.
Panic dawned on her face as she saw the water pooling everywhere.
And then, inspiration struck.
== RIGHT NOW ==
Dragon Arena's speakers thrum to life with the wildfire reverb tempo of the 1963 surf rock hit "Misirlou." Amidst the chaos in the ring, Lou perks up at the musical selection. "Oh! Misirlou! I love this song!"
Tom looks skeptical. "And I'm sure it has *nothing* to do with the fact that your name's in it."
"Not at all! And hey, you might not know this, but while Dick Dale's well-known to listeners for this song's release on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack, but he -also- studied American Kenpo for thirty years!"
"That's fascinating, Lou, but I'm pretty sure he's missed the entry cutoff by now."
A moment later, the lights over the Team Thunder entry area dial up to full intensity. Chevy Beaumont strides confidently through the ring of light with a coquettish smile, wearing attire that fits the surfing theme: cutoff jean shorts and a vibrant Hawaiian shirt, the top buttons left undone to reveal a multicolored lycra bandeau underneath. Both hands trail behind her as she steps in, wrapped loosely around her signature weapon. Astute observers would notice, though, that both of the buckets dangling from her pole are clanging rather loudly. Because they are empty.
Lou notes, "Now, Chevy's not had the best luck in her matchups this season. She could pick off any one of our contestants. Who do you think will be the lucky target, Tom?"
While Tom and Lou are commentating, it might escape notice that the entrance ramp is starting to run over with water -- trickles at first, but soon turning into a full-on river, as a literal -wave- of water starts to spill down the concrete. Chevy's water shoes splish and splash as she makes her way down, hastening her pace to a light jog. And as the water catches up in volume, she swings her pole to her right side, taking a running start -- and then leaps onto the magic carpet of water, surfing it down the ramp!
By now, the commentators have taken notice of the coming tides: "I was going to pick Genie, but now my money's on Facilities Management for the collateral damage she's about to cause. Is this a free-for-all or a surf exhibition?"
Lou: "Genie? Why her? I'm going with Coco -- Hawksley may be down but there's no way that fire's not still burning."
Tom: "Just a hunch. Genie, final answer."
From Chevy's point of view, the calculus wasn't complicated. Chevy's agent may have loved the Coco rivalry, but she'd personally wanted to distance herself from it. Similarly, she's not in the mood to pick a fight with Djamila or Sarah, since she already knows where she stands with them. Tamaki may have narrowly defeated her in the very first round but she's got nothing against her former teammate. Her friend Ichika is distracted with Buford -- she can't hear -why- though, because she's in the midst of surfing down the ramp while he's unleashing his latest barrage of unfiltered cringe. And, in their last battle, Chevy had realized that simply failing to acknowledge Buford might in fact be a potent attack in itself...
As her wave reaches the arena level, Chevy crouches low, bracing her pole and the empty buckets in front of her. The wave suddenly crests, carrying her upward and over the ropes...
"Hey y'all! Hope you don't mind if I cut in, Kenzo!"
And the water continues to sling her right towards Genie! For not only is there her history with Ichika, but Kenzo has chosen her as his target -- and as some members of their respective fandoms are fond of pointing out, he and Chevy just keep missing connections, like two ships passing in the night.
With the wave driving her forward, Chevy hopes to snare Genie with the pole's extra reach at roughly the same time that Kenzo's attack concludes... Should she catch hold, she'd draw the Swiss Miss close, cradle her head and shoulders with her arm, and drive her face-first down onto the canvas in an odd homage to both wrestling and... terrifying alligator attacks?!
COMBATSYS: Chevy has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/???????/???????|=======\=------\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/----===/=======|=======\=====--\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Coco 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Genie
[KONGOU]
Outside.
He was late arriving, so much so, that he can't even get his monster truck through the traffic towards the parking lot set aside for the sponsors and had been accidentally redirected by the traffic coordinators into the standard lot--waaaaay into the back. Two-P and Axl were to blame, having taken his truck without permission that morning to go hunting for merchandise for Brian Storm to sign. So ultimately they had little choice but to just settle on watching The Rumble from large set up displays that were streaming event leaving a fuming, frustrated and irrate Abigail to squint his eyes and glower at the monitors from afar as a disinterested Roxy and an overly excited Two-P and Axl looked on.
Then they were jumped by a half-djinn just as Buford began his arrival. The distraction pulled the Superhuman Hot-Rodders attention from The Rumble towards that of the bizarre circumstances descending upon them. The brawl was intense but brief. Understanding was reached with fists and earth shaking and sundering drop-kicks. Surely a new friend was gained and Abigail's mood had the chance to improve.
"Chief! Look!" exclaims Axl. Abigail turns his attention back to the monitors. His eyes widen in growing dawning horror as "But only True Boofers use Abigail's Scrap Metal for their car parts, eh!" explodes out over the parking lot and beyond in ever amplified echoes as the cameras lock in on Buford.
"NOOOOOOO!" Abigail thunders in desperation while dropping to his knees as the sheer force of the review bombings that begin flooding his website andthe sponsor phone calls that begin overwhelming J back in Metro City at his shop, rebound back onto him into his very soul.
COMBATSYS: Coco blocks Tamaki's Hair of the Raccoon-Dog.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/----===/=======|=======\=====--\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Genie
COMBATSYS: Coco blocks Sarah's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/----===/=======|=======\=====--\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Genie
[COCO]
It's hard not to notice the river of water running down the entrance ramp from the direction of Team Thunder's backstage zone, but Constance Coalbridge is doing her best. After all, she has two fighters now focusing their attentions her way as her sense of opportunism has somehow been turned against her. Not only is Tamaki still standing, but Sarah has also opted to swerve her, refusing to recognize her leadership. Obviously. She should have expected as much from a Northerner.
"I mean, I wasn't planning on taking revenge on him for trying to defend my honour," Coco comments carefully, "even if I don't strictly endorse it."
Her arm is latched onto by the bake-danuki as Sarah comes in with the low, wheeling sweep kick. The DJ's foot smacks against her leg, but Coco's ankle concedes to the attack, holding back onto Tamaki as the tanuki-girl grips her in order to maintain her own footing. It's likely to leave little more than a minor bruise.
Tamaki, on the other hand, manages to pull Coco off of her feet. However, the wealthy warrior wannabe's insect-like instincts see her curling herself up like a roly-poly, covering up her stomach with her hands so that the two-footed kick that would have hit her vitals is instead deadened, sending her across the ring in a partially-controlled roll. She rolls up to her feet and staggers backward into the ropes, catching herself on them and gripping tightly as her chest starts to heave with each breath. She's been in the ring the longest at this point, and even if it's only been - actually, it's been nine minutes now since she came in. She'd considered that number, because...
Coco's eyes sweep across the ringscape to where Chevy is surfing onto the scene. Coco's entrance was clearly much more sexy, but the crowd are eating the girl-next-door's arrival up. She can't help but feel envious. No wonder Hawksley would fancy someone so down-to-Earth, yet actually pretty fun, and even cute, for a ginger. But she can't let that jealousy show.
Instead, she straightens up, pushes her chest out, and sleekly struts forward, her glistening, sweat-sheened figure emanating experience and suffused with sultry confidence as she advances to greet Chevelle Beaumont before slipping a hand to her waist and cocking her hip.
"So, guess who's still here to greet you, Miss North Carolina -"
But, it turns out that Chevy's instead attacking...
"Seriously?! How dare she -"
It's one thing for the imitation Swiss Coco to be stealing her look. But to be stealing Coco's rival? That attack should clearly have been directed at Coco!!
"Alright. Time to get sexy!!"
Incensed, the Muay Thai fighter scowls ferociously, then hurls herself bodily forward, trying to latch her legs around Genie's waist as she leaps at her from behind.
"You can steal my bloke, you can steal my hair, but you can't steal my nemesis!!"
If she can, she'll wait until the other attacks have been launched before backflipping, intending to slam Genie down to the ground before raining down a series of punches and elbows to the girl's back and head.
"It looks like Coco hasn't forgiven Genie after all," Tom comments from ringside.
"I've given up following that gal's logic at this point," Lou says.
[TAMAKI]
While Tamaki doesn't have one foot in the grave, precisely, she definitely appreciates the brief respite. Like Coco, she's been in here for a long time, and also like Coco, she's pretty much gassed. She tried to pace herself, and that worked just fine until she got her ass kicked! At least everybody seems to have bothered someone else for a few moments.
Staggering over toward the ropes, Tamaki flops back-first against them, catching herself with her spread arms and catching her breath. Wiping sweat off her forehead, she stays hanging there for a few moments...
...because the crest of the wave bursts behind her, and she lets the spray cool her down, water spotting her skirt as the rest of her catches cool mist and air. She gives Chevy a little wave as she passes - thanks for the water!
It seems to have revitalized her enough that she pushes back off the ropes with a bit of a spin, her tail flicking out. A ball of chi launches from the last third or so of it, a rough blob of energy that flies directly toward Kenzo!
Why Kenzo? Random chance, mostly. She hasn't bothered him in a while. But she's still too out of breath to actually say anything to him.
COMBATSYS: Buford successfully hits John Doe with Crushing Strike.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/----===/=======|=======\=====--\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/-------/<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Genie
[JOHN DOE]
The smack of John's knuckles striking Buford's mouth is far more satisfying than the actor expected. Though it provokes a torrent of words rather than blood, the slight crimson smudge across the leather of his fingerless glove brings a brief grin to his handsome features.
And then the samurai is rounding on Ichika, words boiling forth to stain the air, and all traces of amusement are once more gone.
"Ugh."
Stepping forward through the stinking cloud, JD reaches out as if to grip the hefty swordsman by the shoulder, clearly intending to drag him back around to continue their manly contest. However, no sooner has he began the motion than does Buford act, sword slicing past Ichika in a whirling spiral that ends with the two men face to neck beard.
"...?"
Caught completely flat footed by the other man's pronouncement, John Doe begins to take a hesitant step back, brows knit. When the sword strike comes he jerks himself hard to one side, turning what could have been a bisecting strike into a deep gash that cleaves down his left pectoral and out past his ribs, dark blood splattering the mat as he staggers sideways beneath the force. Confused, wounded, and most importantly OUTRAGED, JD abandons any thought of returning to the general mass of combatants. Hurling himself forward, blood pulsing sluggishly from his side, he attempts to plough bodily into the smoggy samurai's hefty form, to send him stumbling back before lunging in a huge, haymaker swing for the bigger man's ribs, attempting to drive him back into the corner of the ring.
[DJAMILA]
The dancing felt good, but now it's time to do something else. She focuses her senses to figure out who she wishes to fight. Genie seems busy. Coco seems upset again. Ichika's busy. Chevy just got in. Buford and JD are going at it too. Sarah. Nothing against Sarah. Just it seems to be simply the person she focuses on now.
She goes in the direction of Sarah. "Hey, nothing against you. I will even tell you good luck with this. Kick ass." Then she proceeds to strike toward Sarah's Sternum with her staff if she has her way, then she pulls the staff back toward herself.
She tries to keep her sense up at all times, but so many people around.
COMBATSYS: Tamaki successfully hits Kenzo with Swaying Tail.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/----===/=======|=======\=====--\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/-------/<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Genie
COMBATSYS: Kenzo interrupts Strong Kick from Genie with Whirling Chain Blitz.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-======/=======|=======\=====--\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/-------/<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/-----==|=======\===----\1 Genie
[KENZO]
This time, Kenzo not only had a point to make, he actually has Genie's timing down. As Genie comes in, carried by psionic energy, that chain of his gets charged with electricity. He swings the weight into her just as her kick connects with his body. He manages to hold his ground before delivering the subsequent attacks. Through pure happenstance, Kenzo swings the electrified weight at her, rapidly and repeatedly to the rhythm of Miserlou as Chevy rides the wave into the ring.
Now that he's got his shot in on her. He's more than happy to let Chevy 'cut in' and so he takes a step back and he hears Coco protest Genie also stealing her rival. That makes the ninja want to make a full retreat... Right into a weird blob of chi.
It would appear that Kenzo had failed to account for Tamaki's ability to throw spanners in the works.
COMBATSYS: Djamila successfully hits Sarah with Medium Strike.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-======/=======|=======\=======\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/-------/<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/-----==|=======\===----\1 Genie
[SARAH]
Staffing problems it seems... Wait, that didn't come out right.
"Ungh!" Sarah cries out when the staff hits her in the sternum. She goes stumbling back and rubs at her chest, trying to catch her breath. "It's everyone for themselves, right?" Sarah asks as she catches her breath. "So I ain't gonna take it personally!" She tries to smile, but it's clearly a forced smile.
"Good style with that staff, I'll give you that!" Sarah adds, before dropping down and attempting to deliver a double sweeping kick, one with her higher leg and one with her lower leg, while balancing on her hand. "Watch out! Here it comes!"
COMBATSYS: Genie blocks Chevy's Mudskipper EX.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-======/=======|=======\=======\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/-------/<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/-----==|=======\======-\1 Genie
COMBATSYS: Coco successfully hits Genie with S.O.T.B..
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-======/=======|=======\=======\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/-------/<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Buford 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Genie
[GENIE]
Genie is mid-pivot on her kick when there's the sudden sinister pulse of power rippling through the arena. Did anyone else feel that? It reminds her of the training that Juri gave her; it's different, more distant perhaps, but it has that same sense of overwhelming dread as when Juri showed Genie what kind of power she has at her disposal.
But speaking of demonstrations, Kenzo interrupts not only Genie's thinking but also the incoming attack as her foot meets lightning-infused chain as Kenzo whips the weight end of his kusarigama around. It catches her under the leg on the first past, then under the chin on the second, launching her backward toward the ring. Where a more skilled fighter might land in a roll, or a tumble, Genie instead lands flat on her back in an ceremonious heap and a groan.
"Ow ow ow..." Genie is back on her feet in time to see a literal wave entering the ring, bearing Chevy with it as the North Carolinan rides the surf to catch Genie with the pole and draw her into a terrible clutch. "H-hey!" Genie wheezes, "I need a moment, I--" She is very clearly not used to mass melee as she tugs around Chevy's hold before being slammed down into the mat.
"Ugghhh." Genie looks -much- worse for the wear after taking the synchronized strike, but even as she's managed to pull away from Chevy things are not over for her yet. Suddenly Coco has her from behind, and where Genie might have been able to put up a fight against Chevy, her reserves are spend and her head is spinning by the time Coco has flapjacked her and is moving in with a series of brutal punches and elbows to her back and head. Genie goes down, lifts back up, and gets knocked down again as her head spins and Coco is yelling something about rivalries.
Genie wheezes something in a foreign language. It's hard to tell if it's German or French because it's mostly mumbled. "I don't," she gets it in English the second time. "I don't even know what you're talking about you," Genie wheezes again, "You ..." Genie curls up, like she's trying to turtle and keep Coco off her.
And then she suddenly flares with psychic power.
"TRAMP!" Genie kicks out with both legs suddenly and, for a moment, her aura takes the shape of a tremendous greatsword, bigger than a person. The blade, ethereal though it is, spikes forth from her feet with the kick and threatens to punch right through Coco in one mighty slice. Fortunately, it doesn't cut like a real sword. Less fortunately, it certainly feels like it did.
COMBATSYS: Ichika blocks Buford's Power Strike.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-======/=======|=======\=======\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ichika 1/-----==/=======|=======\===----\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/-------/<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Buford 0/-------/-----==|>>>>---\-------\0 Genie
[ICHIKA]
Ichika's steel meets Buford's in a twisting dance. Her blow is deflected; she twists back to face him sword raised to clash in an overhead guard, and the girl's eyes continue to blaze as sparks fly from the blows.
He's talking about her underwear in front of an audience of thousands. Despite Coco's taunts, she knows that her parents aren't here - but they'll certainly be watching back home in Southtown, and after everything she's done to reassure them both about her outfit and her participation in this tournament being a positive experience... one that was supposed to help her bring honour and recognition to the family name.
If Ichika had wanted a test of her resolve to keep her cool she couldn't have set it up better herself.
But of course, as she always does, Chevy comes to her rescue. Not by attacking Buford, which would only have drawn more attention to this corner of the ring, but instead by entering and dramatically leading the charge on Genie. The moment the girl hears that music play, she grins. Her friend is here. Who would remember Buford's drivel after that? And even if they did, she reminds herself...
The words don't matter.
The fight matters.
She can't let herself be drawn into pretending that his unthinking insults have any more weight to them than the vapor spilling from his mouth.
There is a flinch of sympathy as John's defense is less successful. From a strategic perspective, she should attack Buford from behind here. But instead, as John reels, she hops around the Biggest competitor in the NFG to stand side by side with him, presenting a united front.
The girl's voice is clear and sharp as her sword. John is staggering but the girl is there to cover him in that brief second of vulnerability.
"Truth is not what you want it to be, Maclanky-kun. It is what it is. You must bend to its power or live a lie."
There is a click as her katana snaps back into its saya, adding a sense of finality.
These are the words of an ancient master, a Samurai at that, but despite her distaste for the worst of them, these she had found mirrored her own thoughts to an almost unbelievable degree.
The world is full of frightening truths; one's own weakness key amongst them. The response, it seemed to Ichika, could be to face it forthrightly as she tried to do and struggle on in spite of her fear. Or to do as Buford had done; construct his own world around him and retreat from reality.
And then her erstwhile ally is surging in to hammer his powerful fist into Buford's ribs, and she follows with him.
"I tried to teach you this lesson once before. Let us see if the second attempt is more successful."
As John comes in with his haymaker strike, Ichika leaps upwards. The blade is drawn and attacking in a single smooth motion - aiming to mirror with the first sapphire-laced slash the wound that Buford had inflicted upon the actor.
But she doesn't stop there. Slash after slash follows as the girl drives herself into him, beautiful blue power finally allowed out of her to try and carve a half-dozen shallow slashes all across the big man's upper body.
Only then does she drop to the mat beside John once more, favouring the man who had come to her aid with a firm nod.
[HAWKSLEY]
There's a strange sight in the crowd. A topless man, his lower half clothed in a pair of blue jeans and white sneakers is sitting with bandages around his face. He can't really be watching the match, as the only visible gap in the bandages is where his mouth is. This seems to have been left exposed for the purpose of absorbing the drink that is being held in his right hand. It seems that somebody did indeed listen to Loverboy Lou's suggestion and has got Hawksley Moore a pint.
Perched on his knee, chuckling away happily is a bearcat with a black baseball cap on his head. Red lettering on the hat claims he is 'Ready To Rumble'.
COMBATSYS: Buford dodges John Doe's Dash Punch.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-======/=======|=======\=======\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ichika 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/-------/<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Buford 0/-------/-----==|>>>>---\-------\0 Genie
COMBATSYS: Ichika successfully hits Buford with Lambent Assault EX.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-======/=======|=======\=======\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ichika 1/---====/=======|=======\===----\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/-------/<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Buford 0/-------/=======|>>>>---\-------\0 Genie
[BUFORD]
%And the cloud carries around Buford.
This time, the mists seem to help with John Doe than hurt. As Buford finishes his swift and savage combination, the rush of battle keeps him focused. Chevelle comes and goes, yes, but between Hollywood Handsome John Doe and the sweet young Ichika, the fury of battle was almost too much for him to bear. But as long as he enveloped himself in his safe and nurturing cloud, like a soft and sweet blanket, he believed he could handle anything. Thus, when John Doe riots in with his brutal haymaker, he is already slipping away into the churning milky cloud. When Ichika comes roaring in, however, it's a visegrip. Accounting for both, he nearly fails completely. Only barely managing to slip away from the haymaker, Ichikas flurry of slashes rip on his flank, tearing into him with a great and pained moan. A powerful psychic weight comes down, flooding his mind with a terrible presence.
Fortunately, a hit of his vape immediately clears his mind.
As Ichika retreats from the assault alongside John, the swordsman smirks after her, gripping his fresh hot wounds gingerly "Kasumoto-chan, you are still clinging to your ridiculous, child-like delusions! That startling handsome figure will hardly take care of you!" Thus lectures Buford diligently, white shirt sucking in the blood. "I know it's so easy for you to be so insecure in yourself, like you are pretending to be a grown up instead of really being one. I myself was insecure with myself. Why is it that despite as hard as I tried to get people to admire someone as cool as me, that every lady seemed to almost seem disgusted in me? Fortunately, Abigail of Abigail's Scrap Metal and his Loyal Friends taught me that I should accept that, and embrace who I am, like any True Boofer should!" He releases himself, and brings his sword up in a salute.
"Truth, is out of style!"
Buford brings his hilt to shoulders. The vibrations on the hilt intensify, massaging him briefly as he adjusts the flavor. The fog around him thickens, changing from the buttery goodness into the sharp and unmistakable scent of freshly picked sun-ripened Snozzberries. "We each create our own reality, and only those who are strong enough and dedicated to act upon it, can make it real! The truth is not an obstacle for someone such as me! And once you realize the same, why, you could dress yourself just like Coco, or Djamila, or any other kind of promiscuous woman!" From the depths of the Snozzberry cloud, Buford begins to rip the fat cottony goodness, the cloud spreading and thickening into a ripening fog. Choking at the final draw, he is nearly out of breath as he whispers aloud.
"Who owns reality?
We are the music makers,
the dreamers of dreams.”
COMBATSYS: Buford pushes himself past 10% of his strength and chokes on his fattest cloud yet...
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenzo 1/-======/=======|=======\=======\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ichika 1/---====/=======|=======\===----\1 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/-------/<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Buford 1/------=/=======|>>>>---\-------\0 Genie
[CHEVY]
Chevy had seen Coco fending off attacks from Sarah and Tamaki on her initial approach, as well as the smug strutting that followed afterwards. She'd grit her teeth upon hearing the 'Miss North Carolina' taunt -- but that turned into a smile the moment Coco realized her true target.
One exchange later, as a momentarily grounded Genie asks politely for a stay of execution, Chevy is happy to comply by hopping away to a place of relative calm amidst the storm -- a path kept clear by a wide swing of her pole. Water pools at her feet, ushered about in the shadow of that pole like an obedient puppy. The product of her pre-fight inspiration, the water is much more than would fit in her two-gallon buckets by a wide margin -- much more than she's carried around in an NFG fight to date. For now, the babbling brook surrounds her as a rough donut shape on the canvas floor as she takes a moment to survey the battlefield.
Chevy spares a glance towards Kenzo, freshly recovering from his attack on Genie -- though she winces as a blob of energy from her former(?) teammate Tamaki smacks into him. A brief glance confirms that Sarah has peeled off to duel with Djamila for the moment. She looks toward the sound of the self-important prattle, knowing that Buford -has- to be in the middle of that noxious cloud that Ichika and John Doe are contending with. Chevy grins with pride in knowing that Ichika isn't letting Big Buford push her around -too- much...
But she'll have to check back on them later, she resolves, once she hears that accursed phrase from Coco. 'Time to get sexy?' Chevy's brow furrows in memory of the last time she'd heard it: it definitely wasn't sexy then. And the hayseed really -can't- see anything alluring about Coco delivering a truckload of knuckle sandwiches into Genie, either.
But then she hears the petulance that follows...
A stolen bloke.
Stolen hair.
A stolen... -nemesis?!!
Something just -snaps-.
Chevy smirks.
And her knuckles turn white as she tightens her grip on the pole.
The water beneath her churns into a frothy foam.
And that 'nemesis' is probably about -done- playing nice, as she sees Genie getting the receiving end of Coco's rage. The drawl is thick as she centers the pole, turning the ends around in circular motions, slowly coaxing the water into mimicing and amplifying her motions. The water spools up into two small 'wheels' beside her that grow larger in size...
Genie's remark emboldens her. And Buford's taunt caught her ear, as well...
"Hey, d'you hear that, Coco? It sounds like Big Buford -loves- it when you get sexy for him!"
And when the time is right, she suddenly -whips- the right end of the pole forward sharply, urging the water to respond in kind. The right 'wheel' shears apart, slinging a gallon-sized mass of chi-infused water at Coco! Similar motions hurl four more rapid-fire water blasts Coco's way, as Chevy finds herself -- at least for the moment -- in her own element!
[AYALA]
The arena is big, and filled with people. Ayala is at first not used to one this big--she's been in arenas before filled with people--but none this big. At first bewildered by the size of the crowd as she peeks out from curtains at the back, near where the fighters enter--she regains her composure from the amazement and begins to make her way out towards the ring. She has managed a kind of cocky strut as she goes, something she might have learned from Djamilla, it does help with getting a bit more of a rise out of the crowd.
Slithering into the chaotic ring, she is at first more surprised still by the utter bedlam going on inside it--but nevertheless, excited. There's so /much/ fighting! It's like a kid in Toys R' Us, on some level--this is definitely the kind of thing she signed up for, so to speak. She recognizes pretty much everyone here--except maybe Genie--there is Gadget man and also Djamilla and a Chevy. She spots her teammate Buford and Ichika, seemingly squaring off, so she holds back there. Anime man will have to hold his own--she doesn't like the idea of hitting someone with their back turned, either. Despite the new slight scarring she has been afforded by the latter's sword back in the warehouse. Ooooh, yes--Ayala owes her a thing or two later.
For right now, she calls out the name of her current target, "JOHN DOE!" since he's apparently doing quite well for himself, still, charging him and unleashing a flurry of punching! Mostly to his upper body.
COMBATSYS: Ayala has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Sarah 1/---====/=======|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Djamila 1/=======/=======|=======\====---\1 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 1/----===/=======|>>>>>>>\-------\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Chevy 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Genie 0/-------/---<<<<|
COMBATSYS: Coco just-defends Genie's Arondight!!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Sarah 1/---====/=======|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Djamila 1/=======/=======|=======\====---\1 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
John Doe 1/----===/=======|>>>>>>>\-------\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Chevy 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Genie 0/-------/---<<<<|
COMBATSYS: Coco blocks Chevy's Rinse Cycle.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Sarah 1/---====/=======|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Djamila 1/=======/=======|=======\====---\1 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 1/----===/=======|>>>>>>>\>------\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Chevy 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Genie 0/-------/---<<<<|
[COCO]
It's inevitable that, at some point, Constance Coalbridge must relent in her onslaught against Genie as awareness of the acute throbbing in her knuckles and the need for fresh oxygen to fuel her fury converge to surpass the threshold, causing her systems to overheat and sending her momentarily into shutdown mode. It's at this point that she reaches a half-gloved hand up to wipe her brow, inadvertently streaking it with blood - of indeterminate origin - and Genie is given the window to respond.
'You ... TRAMP!'
The impugnation of her character may be quite galling, especially since Coco doesn't even have the obligatory butterfly tattoo above her ass to qualify as a tramp, but the foremost concern for Constance is the rising energy she can sense from within Genie - sentiment given form, as the Swiss fighter gathers her frustration into a massive sword and aims to penetrate her posh purple-haired peer with its business end.
"How dare you?" Coco says in a low voice as a brief glint of purple flashes in her eyes. A reflection of the spirit sword... or something else?
Instinctively, the fighter's hands clasp together, forming a triangle between her thumbs and forefingers a moment too late to intercept the psychic zweihander - but somehow, the weapon is trapped in the gap, the tip mere millimeters from the innermost contours of her bosom and centimeters from the heart that pounds behind them. Coco's eyes close in concentration as her will strains against Genie's in stalemate for seconds - before, slowly, the extracorporeal energy is swallowed whole, absorbed into the psyche of the would-be victim.
Sweat and blood may be staining Coco's face, but as the attack dissipates and she opens her eyes, her lips curve into a smile. Visible only to Genie is the purple glow in Coco's eyes before it disappears with a wink.
"I mean, you're right, but seriously, how dare you?"
About that moment, though -
'...Big Buford -loves- it when you get sexy for him!'
- she turns her head as she hears the sound of her rival's voice taunting her. The shout gives her merely sufficient warning to throw up her arms protectively as the water washes over her. It causes her to stagger backward a step or two as it hits, blasting off sweat and blood alike as it soaks her upper body. When she lowers her arms again, water is trickling down her hair and face.
"Thanks for the heads up, Chevy! He can pay his twenty quid after the show, like everyone else!"
Then, with sudden violence, she snaps a swift left-handed jab toward Genie's face, then feints with her right leg before throwing a left-legged switch kick at her side, intending to viciously eliminate her rival for rivalry!
[TAMAKI]
Tamaki finishes her spin, launching the -
Okay. It's not a hadouken. Hadoukens come from the *hands* and also they're an expression of a certain style, which she does not follow. But it looks an awful lot like one.
Any way, she finishes it and then hops up onto the ropes, perching there in a crouch. This is because there is something going on that's even more interesting than the battle which she is literally involved in right now. And what's that?
Drama, of course!
Tamaki claps her hands together and lets out a cheer as Coco, Chevy, and Genie all kind of go at it. She's not even going to get involved in that - it's more fun to watch it! That doesn't mean she's not going to participate, though; while Sarah and Djamila are occupied with each other, she slips down behind the DJ with a particular lurching grab that threatens to yank her off her feet as Tamaki reels backwards afterwards, then follows it up with a slightly lazy-looking but deceptively powerful kick.
COMBATSYS: Ayala successfully hits John Doe with Tooth & Nail.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Sarah 1/---====/=======|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Djamila 1/=======/=======|=======\====---\1 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Chevy 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Genie 0/-------/---<<<<|
[JOHN DOE]
Though Buford shows surprising agility by weaving around the swing of John's fist, the smoggy samurai is unable to defend himself from the follow up fury of Ichika's blade. Hand clamped to his side, the movie star slumps into a tired lean in the wake of their combined attack, free hand lifting to clap the Japanese girl lightly on the shoulder in response to her nod. They may yet have to fight before the rumble is done, but in this moment, side by side in the face of Buford's swollen delusions, they stand united.
That is, until the sound of his name rises above the general roar of the crowd.
Muscles tensing beneath pale, soot-stained flesh, JD manages half a turn before Ayala's first punch catches him high on the right cheek, snapping his head around and driving him clear of Ichika's side in a stumbling defense. Left hand remaining clamped to his side, he flails his right in a sloppy attempt at blocking, though the wild blonde's fists dart easily past to hammer squarely into his chest and ribs. With each impact she drives him further back, though pounding on him is like beating a side of frozen beef. He's nothing if not sturdy, skin cool to the touch despite the intensity of the contest.
Back bouncing into the ropes, he real's on his feet, bruises beginning to appear where a lack of soot allows them to be seen.
Head having fallen forward with evident exhaustion, the actor's handsome features are lost behind the glossy curtain of his hair. A final punch glances off his chest as he hangs slumped against the ropes, still and unmoving. And then, with nary a sound or wince, he pushes slowly to his feet, movements stiff and precise. Left hand lifting from his injured side, he holds up a blood-smeared palm to Ayala, gesturing her to wait as his hidden gaze fixes on something happening behind her.
The air around JD prickles with malice as he watches the exchange between Genie and Coco, the British babe's actions having once again caught his attention. However, where once before his disapproval was firm but playful, the weight of the gaze that now settles upon her is anything but.
An aura of rising menace surrounds the normally attractive figure of JD, a pulse of supernatural terror radiating out from him as he strides carelessly past Ayala to approach the purple-haired pair. Movements slow and measured, he paces quietly up behind Coco, aura growing more intense with every step. Left arm reaching out, he attempts to hook a forearm neatly around her neck and drag her backward out of her clash with Genie, pivoting on the spot to hurl her to the matt away from the Swiss Heiress. Then, with none of his usual charm or flare, he proceeds to try and kick the absolute dog spit out of her. Driving boot after boot toward ribs, hips, and gut, he allows the aura of terror to swell around him like the screeching soundtrack to a horror film. A swell that peaks, then comes crashing in on her as he takes a last step around her and swings a vicious football kick toward the side of her skull, punctuating the display of reflected malice with hateful finality.
COMBATSYS: Djamila fails to interrupt Tornado Warning from Sarah with Teddy.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Sarah 1/-======/=======|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Chevy 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Genie 0/-------/---<<<<|
[DJAMILA]
She got another blow in with Sarah, "Good, I have nothing against you, but in the end, we're all in each other's way for victory." She says to Sarah, ignoring the other people who are busy with others.
Thank you. Sarah." She nods and observes with her sense. She feels the kicks coming and starts spinning her staff, wind gathering around her, but nothing more comes out of that, as both the high and low kicks get her on point and makes her fall to the ground with a loud thud.
Whatever offense she was about to take, taken out of her. Instead, she goes back to what she heard Mint say earlier. 'Come on Djamila. You're better than that.'
She takes a moment to catch her breath but still keeps her senses sharp.
[KENZO]
After witnessing the results of him essentially (but not intentionally) knocking Genie into the onslaught of Chevy and Coco as well Chevy and Genie go off on Coco before watching John Doe jump into the fray. Yeah... Kenzo wants no part of that mess.
That brings him to his next target. Now that he has exorcized his NFG demons or at least as many as he could reasonably expect to (he didn't expect to last long enough to get a shot at Buck), he can operate on a more strategic level now. In some cases, he eliminated some too entangled in a chaotic mess that it was too likely to get hit as part of collateral damage. Others, he eliminated due to not being sure he could hit them without reprisal. Others, he could see as useful for putting damage on others.
He settles on Tamaki. She's too chaotic for him to predict who she was going after. He quietly moves in behind the tanuki while she's preoccupied with Sarah. As soon as Tamaki follows through with the lazy looking kick, he attempts to wrap the weighted chain around her ankle and then yank her foot from under her and send her face first to the mat.
COMBATSYS: Tamaki successfully hits Sarah with Combo Grapple.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Sarah 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Coco
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Chevy 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Buford
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Genie 0/-------/---<<<<|
[SARAH]
Slipping behind Sarah there? Trying to grab her from behind? That's a sneaky one!
Sneaky, maybe, but it's also effective.
The girl goes down onto the mat and winces in pain a little as the pain from her previous injuries comes back to haunt her. She groans a little, and then realizes her hat has fallen off!
"Oh, blimey!" She mumbles as she puts her hat back on and then gets back onto her feet into the ginga. "Not bad, but I'm not out of this yet!"
Once she's regained her rhythm, Sarah attempts to launch into a cartwheel into Tamaki, and if it hits, she'll follow up with her spinning double sweep kick from before and then finish it off by popping up with a chi-infused uppercut!
COMBATSYS: Genie fails to deflect Pina Collider from Coco with Chevalier De La Charrette EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|>>>>---\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Ichika 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Coco 1/---====/=======|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Buford 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Chevy
COMBATSYS: Genie can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|>>>>---\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Ichika 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Coco 1/---====/=======|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Buford 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Chevy
[GENIE]
Genie is running on fumes already by the time she clashes wills with Coco. There's blood on her face and her hair has lost any semblance of the neat bun and braids she had when she arrived. In a flash, she goes from high spirits to absolutely beaten down, bruised, and bloodied from a three-way focus fire. Intended or not, it leaves Genie on her last legs by the time she's lashing out in a desperate gamble to peel Coco off her.
Genie doesn't seem to know how to process what happened with her energy sword, and whether it was a failure on her part or a success on Coco's, nor can she process Coco's question.
"What?"
Her lips are moving, but all Genie can hear is ringing in her ears by that point before Coco punches her out with a heavy CRACK that was probably Genie's jaw. Anything after that is walloping an already unconscious girl.
[ICHIKA]
Ichika probably shouldn't let John grasp her shoulder in the middle of a battle royale, but she does. Every instinct she has tells her she is safe. For a brief moment her eyes meet his, and she dips her head again.
"I understand." She says, "Thank you. You may entrust this task to me. I look forward to the day we face each other properly."
She turns her attention back to Buford, only vaguely aware that John has become the target of Ayala's entrance. That means Iris will be here soon. Just three more minutes and she will have lasted long enough to stand in the ring with every competitor. That is a pleasing thought, but more pleasing is the revelation in Buford's words:
That he CAN hear her.
There have been times when Ichika has felt she speaks more for herself than for Buford when they clash. The stubborn refusal to acknowledge her has had her wondering if he simply replaces the words she says with what he wishes to hear at times. But if that was the case in the past, he is at least engaging with the substance of what she said now. Some part of him knows.
Progress is being made.
She flicks her sword to the side as though to clean it, still glowing with that shining blue light, and slides it neatly back into place into its scabbard. This exchange seems to her, in this moment, more important than points and competition, more important even than teams and what-might-bes, infinitely more important than the chaotic Rumble.
The question draws the first genuine smile onto her lips that Buford has managed through anything other than squealing in pain.
Hateful vapor swirls about him, but through it the girl keeps her eyes locked on his - unblinking in her gaze and assessment of the man before her.
"Before I began this journey, I was as you say. Insecure. Afraid. Desperate to prove myself. The title of Super-Elite was an anchor, weighing me down. That girl would not have known how to answer your question."
She still does not blink.
"My failures have made me stronger. My flaws have humbled me. Yet my conviction remains unbroken. I have not faltered. The price has been high, but in exchange I have glimpsed truths that care nothing for fashion. My own, and the world's. I can now answer your question. Who owns reality?"
For a moment, she is back at the summit of the Mountain.The freezing air of its peak burning in her chest, the impossible weight of it heavy in her limbs, the ancient song in its heart alive in her bones and blood. Demanding to be witnessed.
"Who owns the mountain? The sun? The air in our lungs?"
She straightens, then, and draws in a deep breath. Sucks in the disgusting cloud, only to expel it in a heavy breath, distorting the air between them. The truly astute will note that the air she breathes out contains no trace of the narcotic; the ripple in the air defined by its absence.
"Only the Kami. We are admirers. These things can never belong to us."
Those eyes of hers are piercing. As cold as ice and as deep as the ocean.The rest of the arena has fallen away for her, an irrelevance. She has found her focus.
In a sudden explosion of motion she is rushing through the fog, tearing it aside as she closes on him, her feet leaving the ground in her haste.
"Bring all the smoke you wish! You cannot hide, Buford Maclanky!"
The blade carves through the sickly shroud as she brings it around, aiming to cleave the man from shoulder to hip as she draws her blade through a powerful arc, using the full momentum of her bursting rush. Only pure steel, here. This is her Truth, not that of the world. The chi within her strengthens it, rather than spilling forth. Whether she hits or not, she's already reversing her grip on her blade, ready to continue the motion through as she pushes herself further, intent on staying relentlessly close.
"It is time to show me your Truth!"
COMBATSYS: Buford blocks Ichika's Genius Loci.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|>>>>---\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Ichika 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Coco 1/---====/=======|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Buford 1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0 Chevy
[BUFORD]
In ways, Buford had changed too.
While his dream of being a lone wandering ronin has not died, it has transformed and transfigured. That when he felt like a monster, a villain that was the contempt of everything, he wouldn't cry and hide in his Hitscord channel where his personal entourage would tell him, no, he was actually a hero and a genius and for 20 quid they would really make him go Coco Nuts. No. Like the gentle moistness of his blade, he would envelope it around him. Even as the din of the fight erupts outside of the safety of his cloud, there would be only one who would penetrate it: Ichika. If he is to be hated, then let him be hated. Let him wear the hatred like a trenchcoat. He would be more than happy to expose his truth to the young Ichika. She had rejected him. She had rejected his breath. And in turn, if she were to dominate him? Then let it be so. THat was his intention originally, except then Ichika mentions something that immediately makes his brains gear shift without a clutch.
"Kami as in -gods?-, Kasumoto-Chan?!"
Buford's face begins transfixed in a serene kind of... horror. The features almost seem waxy, his eyes losing it's rather dazed and distracted look into one of feral focus. His lips were still wrapped around his vibrating hilt, when Ichika was upon him. Turning the blade to catch her own, there is a clashing noise as hers overpowers his own. Her edge cuts long and shallows across his abdomen, his own Suchimusodo the only thing that may have kept his organs spilling out over the ring. As he struggles in the awkward position, the blade rhythmically clatters against her own, the weapon vibrating with a buzz against her sword as well as his own gritted teeth on the hilt. He releases his bite, and when he speaks, there is a new air of contempt in it, as the clouds pours out from his nostrils and mouth like the foul smoke of a dragon. "Oh my sweet summer child, you do -realize- that these so-called gods are just make believe, don't you?" Buford is bloodied, his white shirt being almost completely drenched in crimson, but he doesn't seem to be recoiling. No, something seems to be fueling a fire within him. Was his true colors showing on strong women? Or was there something else? "This will be for your own good, Ichika." Buford murmurs to himself, before he makes a gargling hurling noise.
And point blank, he unleashes a wave of fog directly back at Ichika.
The cloud shares that distinctive and unmistakable snozzberry smell, but it was mingled with that inner essence of Buford, the rich tapestry of scents that only exist within Buford himself. Outside the cloud around Ichika, he almost seems miles away as he calls back. "This is my Truth! How can someone so smart believe in something so stupid!" Buford bellows. There is a flash of steel, as he does a single slash at Ichika's flank. He continues to lecture, as he flashes in and out of the cloud from different sides, slashing and withdrawing. And with each word, he accelerates more and more, a fanatic fervor building in his voice. "Did you know, statistically speaking, more people have died in the name of these so-called gods than anything else in the entire history of the entire world, whether ALLAH or JESUS or RAIDEN! And for what? So invisible sky daddy can be proud of you? It's over -control- over the ignorant masse! It's used for the exploitation and the stupefaction of the common people!"
"Especially over women!"
At the mention of the mistreatment of women, Buford becomes faster and faster, more excited and frantic with his slashes practically coming at all sides now. "Notice how in almost all religions, women are subjected to horrible mistreatment and abuse all in the name of some imaginary folks in the sky! By clinging to your gods, Kasumoto-Chan, you are clinging to a desire to be controlled by a stronger! Do not let yourself fall in the brambles of religious guilt Kasumoto-Chan! Free yourself with the power of Reason and Thought!" And at the mention of Logic over Religion, Buford suddenly ends his dashing dance of blades into a singular finishing, two-handed horizontal slash that -tears- through the whole of the cloud.
"Only science and rationality can decide humanity's fate!"
The cloud washes out over the arena, fully exposing Buford as he turns his back to Ichika. And on it, in the thiny wispy shapes of mist, was a Japanese character. A new one, taught by Katana himself. The very same that Katana bore on his honorable samurai armor, the very same on his chest. That very character was now the one emboldened on Buford's back in the mingled scents of his personal vapor trail. Buford didn't know what it meant, but that was okay.
Neither did Katana, apparently.
[CHEVY]
Genie's given Ichika some trouble in the past, so Chevy was under no illusions that the Swiss miss -wouldn't- pose an issue in this battle -- hence the reason for singling her out. But to see her self-declared rival deal with the psychokinetic zweihander so adroitly is... awe-inspiring, to say the least. And even after all that, her water charges barely even seem to register as glancing blows across the Muay Thai artist's sturdy defense. The water-wielder's jaw gapes open in stunned surprise. Coco's tacit admission of her questionable dating history and the dwindling puddle at her feet leaves her bereft of ammunition in more ways than just one. She had high hopes that Genie would have been able to withstand Coco's followup assault in the same way as before, but after taking that much damage...
Well, as Chevy and John Doe have both learned, when it comes to defending Miss Coalbridge, no good deed goes unpunished. She definitely appreciates the tacit heartthrob coming to her rescue -- both in receiving Ayala's attack, and in his subsequent charge against Coco -- as his arrival creates an opening for her. Not to attack -- though she calls out, "Thanks, JD!" as she swings around behind him -- but to recover her ammunition. Jogging around him, she sweeps her pole around as if it were a giant dustmop, shepherding the water into a singular mass once again.
Her path carries her past Ichika and Buford -- and past the quarreling quadrilateral of Kenzo, Tamaki, Sarah, and Djamila. For one brief moment, she considers the effect that breaking away from Coco at this point might have upon the assembled crew. She struck Genie, and Coco had spent the next few moments focused upon taking down Genie. If she picked another target, would Coco follow as well, in a continued attempt to earn Chevy's full attention?
Gritting her teeth, she concludes: probably! It's not a bad strategy, to be fair, to lead Coco around by the nose like that... But Chevy can't abide that one bit. It's a mess she's made, and she's determined to clean it up.
Moving to stand alongside John Doe, she makes a golf-club swing with her pole, sending the accumulated puddle to the far side of Coco. "Wow, that's pretty nice of you..."
Another step and a recovering swing brings her pole back into position for another strike, as Miss Beaumont reminds mindful of the positioning of both Mr Doe and poor Genie -- not wanting to exacerbate her pain any further. "... I figured you'd charge double that!!"
And then she lashes out with her pole, hoping the timing is -just- right so that the bucket on the end hooks neatly around the back of Coco's knee, buckling the joint at just the right time to knock her off-balance. At the same time, the puddle of water behind Coco would spring to life, gushing a powerful geyser into her backside to send her flying up into the air! And in the wake of that rising tide, she would seek to grab hold of Coco's ankle, and use the accumulated momentum to toss her around as in a hammer throw -- sending Coco flying across the battlefield!
[AYALA]
The flurry of Ayala's punches goes seemingly unheeded by John Doe. Even as she realizes it almost feels like there's no pain from the deadman, she gets a weird feeling from it--and was seemingly discouraged from opening up with one of her more feral manuevers--using her claws and teeth. Something about John Doe made her not wanna do that, for reasons that were not obvious--even if he was pretty conventionally attractive, as a chi-sensitive, she could tell there was still something... strange about him. It almost dampens her normal enthusiasm for a big brawl like this--she should be bursting with excitement, and yet it felt like the obvious fulfillment of violence that she desperately craved from the situation was eluding her, somehow.
She was bumped and nearly pushed over by a few of the other fighters anyway--leaving her more separated from sword girl and the deadman--in the chaos, she was briefly aware of Buford and Ichika's clash. She had to give the vape man credit--despite how much he talked, he at least knew how to use that blade of his.
Finally, she spots who she had ALSO wanted to see.
"Water girl! Chevy!" Ayala gets a real nasty feral grin, rearing her right arm back for a set of punches aimed right at the water-bending woman. Ichika had hurt Ayala /outside/ of the ring, so it was more personal, even Ayala knew that what happened inside of a fight ring and what happened out of it were different--but that didn't mean she also didn't remember Chevy had been there in the warehouse. Not cool.
[IRIS]
The decision to join the NFG had come, to the knowledge of no one but herself, on the heels of the death of Iris's sister, Celica (no relation to the Mercury clan), the ACTUAL heir to the Osterlund magical legacy. A proper lady, a studious sorceress. The hope of the bloodline. As Iris had ever so vaguely implied to Ichika however many weeks ago, the result was that nobody ever expected anything from her; it was all on Celica's shoulders. Iris could relax and do whatever.
Iris was free to be wastefully useless, in other words.
That was the thinking that haunted her at night, really. Three fights in the NFG, and only one of them seemed to go okay. A little voice telling her 'this is why nobody ever expected anything of you'. Nanny and Oglesby in her ear during the day, imploring the young miss to get her act together and stop this fighting silliness. In the dark of night when the brain decides to churn over everything bad you've done that day, it was easy to think about saying 'no thank you, I had fun' to the organizers and leaving.
The night before the rumble, she'd actually written it out, the email where she decided maybe this wasn't a good idea after all. Sitting in the dark of her hotel room -- nobody had ever told her about the team living situation! -- and staring at her laptop, she eyes another email, one TO her FROM the organizers. Asking for, of all things, entrance music. The wizard had never actually answered. Smirking, Iris opens iTunes, turns on shuffle, and hits play.
2 minutes in, her eyes widen.
MEANWHILE, AT THE RUMBLE:
Why is there suddenly some weird combination of swing, girl group, and pop jazz playing?
o/~ You awoke me, unleashed the fire in my heart
o/~ I will dance, and I will defeat them through the light and the dark
o/~ Your mistake was to underestimate my power
o/~ Won't let go of this fight... 'til tomorrow's mine!
In an unoccupied corner of the arena, in a burst of rainbow light, appears Iris Osterlund. She's apparently sipping a cup of boba tea, which -- if she can catch her eye -- she salutes Chevy with, the logo on the cup clearly indicating the place Chevy herself had recommended.
"Well, I barely know any of you," the British sorceress says, sipping her drink, "and I have no bloody idea what all this prestige TV drama you're shouting at each other is about, but here I am, regardless."
A loud slurp as she inhales a couple tapioca pearls.
"Let's do it, then."
COMBATSYS: Iris has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|>>>>---\-------\0 Sarah
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Ichika 1/-------/=======|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Iris focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|>>>>---\-------\0 Sarah
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Ichika 1/-------/=======|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Coco 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Chevy successfully hits Coco with Spout Toss.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|>>>>---\-------\0 Sarah
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Ichika 1/-------/=======|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Coco 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Coco dodges John Doe's Evil Dead.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|>>>>---\-------\0 Sarah
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Ichika 1/-------/=======|=======\======-\1 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Coco 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/-----==|
[COCO]
Coco's shoulders heave as she stands panting and dripping over the fallen form of Guinevere, having just delivered the blows that eliminated her from the competition. A green light above Genie's name on a screen over the Frost ramp winks out to a red glow.
"It's amazing that half these fighters are still kicking," Tom comments.
"That's probably because, for the most part, the bad blood's only come out in the last few minutes. Only one fighter's really been opportunistic so far - and it looks like she's about to get what's coming to her!" Lou shouts. "Coco, look out!"
With Iris on the approach, there are ten fighters standing in the ring, but as something looms up behind Coco, she suddenly feels isolated. Everything else seems to go dark, and goosebumps start to rise along Coco's back as she feels the prickling dread crawling up her spine. She happens to make eye contact with Captain Morgan in his front row seat. She makes a connection. Suddenly, she sees a flash of what the bearcat sees: the undead monster rising up behind Coco's back. She feels the fear of a small animal watching a predator preparing to feed. Then, the connection is broken as Captain Morgan throws up his claws to cover his eyes and screeches in a fear shared between woman and beast.
Coco suddenly whips around, her eyes wide and chest pounding, silver orbs making contact with John Doe's eyes as he lurches for her in their shared horror movie. Is that wetness she feels running down her leg...?
Suddenly, Coco snaps her head to one side and starts to raise her arms -
*SPLOOSH*
Coco's leg is hooked from behind as the geyser of water erupts from under her arse, the cold surge colliding with her barely-protected backside and causing her eyes to widen with shock as she's grabbed by the ankle and tossed across the ring - the spell of John Doe broken as she's sent away from him. Her wet shorts slap against the middle turnbuckle moments before her spine hits the upper one and her head snaps back to hit the post, causing her world to go momentarily white.
"Urgghh..."
Forcing herself away from the support of the perpendicular ropes, Coco staggers unsteadily forward, grimacing as she unconsciously wrings out the seat of her shorts with one hand, leaving them riding high as her dazed gaze searches for the face of the only opponent here that she truly cares about.
"Thanks," she says as she locks eyes with Chevy from halfway across the ring and starts sauntering toward her, somehow still emanating confidence despite the battering she's taken, "but I don't need the money anyway."
She flips her wet bangs away from her face.
"Let's settle this, shall we?"
She flashes a tight, sugary smile - and as she does, something flashes behind her eyes. If Chevy doesn't manage to escape her gaze, or to break away from the sudden contest of wills, she'll suddenly feel the fear of a small animal watching a predator preparing to feed - potentially paralyzing her as Coco winds her body up, arms sweeping into position as her hips twist in a slow, almost hypnotic motion.
Then, suddenly, Coco would lunge forward, body uncoiling as she spins almost vertically, her heel descending like a deadly buzzsaw toward the farm girl's head in a singular, devastating kick.
COMBATSYS: Tamaki dodges Kenzo's Weapon Trip.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|>>>>---\-------\0 Sarah
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Ichika 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Tamaki reflects My Favorite Remix from Sarah with Ponpoko Rhythm.
? Strange Hit! ?
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>-\-------\0 Sarah
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Ichika 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/-----==|
[TAMAKI]
Tamaki is already making a hard target of herself - she's taking weaving, staggering steps as she circles, her movement erratic and with a lot of swaying that is strictly not necessary for movement but is making her a lot harder to lay a hand on.
As demonstrated by the way she handles Kenzo. She spots him sneaking up behind her, or actually hears him; her ears perk up as she hears the jangle of chain, and despite her increasing fatigue she manages to hop over it, staggering forward and almost into Sarah. "Ha ha! A good attempt, but - ah, balls."
This is bad, because Sarah's attacking her.
Tamaki leans so far back that it looks like she's going to tip over backwards when Sarah cartwheels, the foot missing her by centimeters. At first it's not clear how she's managing to balance like that, but a few moments in and it is - she's using her tail to prop herself up, like a hand on the ground for balance.
She goes so far back that she is, for a moment, held up *entirely* by her tail to avoid the sweep - and then Tamaki drops forward again, landing slightly awkwardly. She can feel Sarah's chi gathering, and there's only one response she can make fast enough.
Tamaki thumps her own stomach with the palm of her hand. Hard - but even so it makes a drum-like boom rather than the slap of palm on flesh. Then again, with the other hand, and again - almost a drum roll. Chi blasts off her in a wave with every thump, enough to break apart what Sarah is doing and shove her back with a shockwave... though it apparently goes both ways, because on the fourth thump Tamaki slips, landing on her broad rear but unharmed except for her dignity.
Well, and all the other battle damage she's accumulated. Just no *new* battle damage.
[JOHN DOE]
For the second time in a row, the righteous justice that John Doe attempts to level upon Coco is avoided with almost effortless aplomb. Perhaps, in this way, art emulates life. How wonderful it must be to live free of cons--
SMACK!
A wince of empathic pain twitches JD's handsome features as Constance's sodden backside impacts the post. As much as he was intending to dish out a beating upon her, the young man's rage is a brief and easily forgotten thing, gone as quickly as the reflected emotions that spawned it. And so, rather than pushing the attack, the actor allows the rival women to sort out their own conflict, turning away from the display of high kicking and shaking his hair free from his face.
Where once there was a looming, pallid monstrosity, now there is only the achingly handsome, if somewhat besmirched visage of celebrity fighter John Doe. Friend to small critters, beloved by all. Helper of drunken parents.
Wandering through the unfolding chaos, he flashes an easy Thumbs Up to Tamaki as his fellow brawler flops onto her backside. Bypassing her, he comes to loom over where Djamila lies, stooping to try and slip strong arms beneath her back and knees. As helpful as ever, he offers the orange-clad girl a quick grin and wink, before coming to his feet in a sudden rush of speed.
Unless the dancer can fight her way free, JD will hoist her up in a gentlemanly Princess Cary, before dropping to one knee and bringing her crashing down across the other for a major spinal adjustment.
COMBATSYS: Djamila dodges John Doe's Power Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>-\-------\0 Sarah
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Ichika 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/-----==|
[DJAMILA]
Djamila feels herself getting picked up by strong arms. She reaches to grab a rock from the ground as she is pulled up up. Then she lets herself go limp and with the help of a bit of wind, she lets herself slide from his arms. "Not this time." She kisses a kiss. "Next time." She ponders retaliating right away, but instead, she moves away and focuses her senses.
She concentrates. Coco, it seems, ended Genie. Chevy goes after Coco. Tamaki might have ended Sarah. Everyone else going at it.
She settles on what she wants to do after analyzing things. She throws the rock she picked from the ground toward Tamaki's head if it doesn't hit anyone else first by accident. She is idly wondering if she will feel that coming. She wouldn't be surprised. Tamaki has been excellent in some of her offenses and defenses.
[KENZO]
After failing to sneak up on Tamaki, he can only watch in stunned silence as the tanuki performs a tail assisted matrix dodge of attack after attack until the moment she bangs on her stomach. It was at this moment that Kenzo didn't watch much film on Tamaki and that he didn't make a steel cable version of his kusari-gama for stealth.
Meanwhile he can feel his energy flagging from the exertion of energy that he used in responding to Genie's spinning kick. So he backs off takes in the figurative battlefield. Coco is still somehow up and he still wants no part of that Chevy/Coco mess. Buford, he still wants to get one shot in on but he isn't sure he wants to interrupt Ichika's beat down of the faux samurai. Iris, he hasn't seen anything from so he wants to get more info on before he takes any action.
He leaps into the air and lands on the top turnbuckle readying himself to strike at moment's notice when the opportunity presents itself.
COMBATSYS: Kenzo focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>-\-------\0 Sarah
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Ichika 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/-----==|
[VEGA]
Xiayu watches Genie get, well, ansolutely wrecked in no time at all. Her expression is flat, almost uninterested. A strange look for someone watching this kind of spectacle. Still, the expression seems to suit her.
In the flickers between the seconds, right before awareness leaves Genie, a voice enters her mind. It's tone is smooth and rich like velvet, but there is something unbelievably hard beneath it. Cold and almost alien.
"Your potential is great, but you lack training. You could have the power to crush everyone here, to stand victorious over them. All you need to do is cultivate your power." The voice pauses, as if for effect.
"I can help you. All you need to do is ask. Think on it. I will know if you accept."
That laugh seems to echo again before fading away.
Then Coco can feel its attention on her. Uh oh.
[SARAH]
Ever had one of those days where nothing is going your way?
Well, that's not entirely the case with Sarah, but the fact that her last-ditch attack was countered really makes it feel like this was not going to end well for her.
The pain she's feeling is getting to be a bit too much for her and she's starting to feel a bit like jelly. Nevertheless, she's willing to give it one last effort before hitting the canvas for the last time.
"Jolly good show," She says to Tamaki as she stumbles towards her. "I love seein' a good show!" And then, without warning, Sarah suddenly delivers a backflip with an upwards kick coming towards Tamaki. Normally, Sarah would land on her feet, but in this case, she's going to land flat on her stomach... and be out for the count.
Hopefully, she'll do better in the next rumble!
COMBATSYS: Sarah can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Ichika 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Chevy
[ICHIKA]
It is a strange moment to find that there was, in fact, something that Ichika would once have shared common ground with Buford over. She would not have been so vehement in her rejection, nor would her analysis have been so focused on the failures of organised religion, but before her participation in the tournament she was not a believer. She went through the motions because it made her parents happy, but she didn't truly believe. Most modern people don't.
Then she had climbed Mount Shasta, and reflected on her experience at Mount Fuji, on how it felt when she released her power. She had realised, with some surprise, that she could not do other than believe. Truths must be accepted. And this one made her happy. How miserable would life be if it turned out that the only truths were painful ones?
The air is thick with sickly sweetness. She may never understand the smaller mystery of how it is he can stand such a thing. But, it seems, she has gotten what she wanted. This is the core of him; the unwarranted certainty of a man who believes that all things can be codified, explained and tallied through the power of his mind. It is good to finally see him. This is a Truth that she can comprehend, even as she rejects it.
Now she merely needs to demonstrate the superiority of her Truth to his.
Brilliant blue power bursts around the girl as she turns to follow him. The first few blows spark from the barrier; chi responding to her need to defend herself whilst she remains focused on finding the path through his assault without sacrificing her momentum.
"Religion and spirituality are not the same thing." She says, her voice filled with a calm she does not feel. "The Kami do not control, or demand. They ask only for respect, and to be acknowledged. They acknowledge me in return. You, though. You see me only as a 'little cherry blossom'."
Her barrier shudders under his assault. It will not last for long. She has to make it count, gather the strength she can whilst it holds.
"I am more than my sex. I am more than my culture. I am certainly more than your ideas of either! I am Kasumoto Ichika!"
The shield shatters and the first blow through it catches her clean across the side, tearing open her jacket and drawing a thin line across her exposed midriff. The next comes from the other side. She has to hand it to Buford; when it came to the speed of his flurry of blows, he had her beat. Even her most determined combination was only a little over a half-dozen strikes; sluggish, compared to the whirlwind of his assault.
Ripped open, the jacket reveals the crop top beneath fully; stained with blood but reiterating her name, proudly emblazoned across her: Kasumoto.
The broken shield hangs in the air between them as he comes in with his brutal two-handed strike. Shards of power glitter like sapphires. Those unyielding eyes meet his, as intent as she has ever been.
Ichika's grimace of pain becomes a wild grin. She had been accused once of having 'a penchant for risk'. There is something to that. The gamble here is considerable. Logic and reason tells her to abandon her assault. Buford's sword is coming in too fast to evade; the weight of the man is immense, she knows that the force behind it will be great.
If she threw her blade to the side, it would absorb the worst of what is to come. That is what the sensible choice would be; tactically prudent, safe.
But. She would not be who she is if she backed down now. Her instinct tells her that she must meet and overcome his violence with her own; that the window to prove her point will close, otherwise.
She doesn't have logic or reason on her side. Only faith.
"Do you see me now?!"
She completes the motion. Already she can feel her muscles tearing as she demands too much of herself, but she needs every ounce of power she can muster if she is going to punch through this assault...!
COMBATSYS: Ichika interrupts Musarama Wrath from Buford with Bleeding Edge EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ayala 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Chevy
And she is rewarded for her faith.
It is a glorious moment. Her blade finds his stomach less than a heartbeat before his sword would have found her side. Such a tiny figure should simply not have it in her to lift him as she does. And yet, in defiance of all logic and reason, the girl erupts from the ground like a cannonball, twists around in an elegant corkscrew that helps to arrest his motion, and flings him up into the air as she forcefully completes her leap.
She was right, of course. She was too slow to fully avoid the attack, even now. The sword still catches her for a painful rent across the side, but she takes him high above the arena, her sword shining as it catches the lights, both combatants trailing vapor as they emerge from the crowd and she becomes aware, again, of the rest of the melee.
When she lands it is with a heavy thump of her boots on the mat. She is breathing hard, but the air is not stained with that disgusting scent. She does not sheathe her sword again. She's hurting, and she's not sure exactly where Buford came down, but she is certain he will be on her again as soon as he realises what hit him. Awareness of the rest of the battle is slowly filtering back in. A lesson from Ariastra prickles at the back of her mind; danger could come from any direction. She must be ready... if she wants to keep her blood mostly on the inside.
[BUFORD]
Impossible.
It's actually so impossible, that Buford doesn't actually notice it first. As he stands there, he just imagines that in his reality, the reality he chooses, Ichika was defeated. SHe was on her knees, broken, her useless faith destroyed, and apologizing to Buford for being so dumb and wrong about her silly girl thoughts about the invisible sky daddy who would take care of her. Certainly on her own, she had climbed Mount Shasta. But it would be with Buford that she would climb Mount Dew. And yet, as he hangs there, as the mist on his back fades, he feels something. Something moving away from him. And then. Towards him. Faster and faster.
It's the floor.
The corkscrew launch ends with an audible -slap- as he makes a bloody bellyflop right on the ring floor. Buford unleashes a shrill squeal as he impacts, his legs flailing. Moaning as he rolls over, the chaos of the melee all around him. Was he down? Bringing his hand to his stomach, he feels... a clean cut. Deep cut. Very. Deep. Cut. Buford's ruddy pink complexes pales to John Doe levels.
Denial falls away to Bargaining.
It's not possibly that bad. It cannot be. Buford shifts his position, and it likes something threatens to fall out. Buford rises up, first to a sit, and then, to one knee, as he clutches his flabby stomach with a clenched grip. He turns back over to Ichika. There were no clouds now, and Buford could feel himself exposed to everyone. For everyone to see how much Ichika had just stood up to him and... humiliated him with her declaration of faithfulness.
Bargaining falls way to Anger.
"So you have given yourself up to the lies of Religion... Why, it breaks my heart." Buford states, gripping his torso as he rises up from his knee, holding his stomach with one hand. It was deep. Very deep. Buford bellows, the color returning to his face in crimson, then purple as he shrieks. "Then I reject all you stand for Ichika! You have failed me, and I am disappointed! It seems that the only way I can help you by vowing to destroy all symbols of faith you cling to! It seems that your time with Team Thunder has poisoned your mind! I can only imagine how many innocent young maidens will fall in their foul clutches of false beliefs! Then I must make my stand!" Buford stands fast. Leveling his blade at Ichika, he whips his swords around. "I have decided by cause! No longer the wandering Ronin without direction. I am now... The Faithless Samurai, Warrior Of Atheisms Might!" Buford leans forward, ready to respond to Ichika's defiance-
And he doesn't approach.
Buford blinks a bit, and tries again. "THe Faithless Samurai! Warrior Of Atheisms Might!" He repeats. But his legs don't seem to cooperate. Buford begins getting a really sweaty look. He didn't want to -look- like he was getting intimidated by Ichika. Which was ridiculous. After all, just because that was his strongest attack, and she just- well, certainly it was just a clumsy mistake that she fell into the attack. A cute and clumsy girl thing. Buford's eyes dart around the ring, as he starts breathing heavily, his eyes looking a bit watery, shadows of despair rising against the anger. For a brief moment, Buford's knees -buckle-. Almost as if that Ichika's reality had pierced his cloud of belief. And now, he was all too aware what the real Ichika was... and how dangerous she was. He catches something, someone, standing away, not a threat yet but... but... maybe just enough to... "But... But- We will have to settle our duel another time m'lady, um, gee gee, well played!" Buford quickly tips his fedora and turns tail as he looks at the corner.
"Kenzo! My true rival!"
Buford cries out, fleeing away from Ichika, his sword drawn out high as he heads right for the corner post. Hand latched on his stomach wound like a vise. Peeling it straight at Kenzo he chops, chops, chops the blade with wild slices. HIs warning was just that, as he attempts to strike him cleanly off the post with his one-handed hacking frenzy. All while bellowing his cool new title.
"The Faithless Samurai, Warrior Of Atheisms Might!"
COMBATSYS: Chevy blocks Ayala's Gatling Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Chevy
[CHEVY]
Chevy had hoped her attack would synergize with John Doe's wrathful strikes rather than provide an escape route away from them, but she definitely isn't going to argue with the results. She snaps a quick salute and a toothy half-smile to JD: "Sorry about that, JD!"
As Coco deals with her shorts in a fashion which surely won't be made into image macros later, Chevy hears the start of unfamiliar music, but glances towards the Team Blaze entry ramp to see a familiar face. And a familiar cup of boba.
"... Ugh, now I want one..." Her expression creases with jealousy, as she goes about sweeping some of the water back into her buckets. "And you didn't even bring enough for the whole class..."
But before she can get -too- wistful over not having her very own Southtown blend of boba tea, Chevy's scattered attention span is narrowed by the impending threat of attack! With her focus, she's able to deflect the first punch against her pole with a loud, hollow ring -- though the second makes it past to slug Chevy in the shoulder. Forced backwards, she;s able to recover and defend against the remaining punches with careful swings of her staff and forearms, before finally taking a good leap backwards to clear herself.
"Hey, Ayala -- sorry about that other night!"
But she's not out of harm's way yet. Out of the corner of her eye, she catches Coco's hips twisting, like a cobra ready to strike...
"Yeah. Deal me in," she replies. She's been avoiding Coco for long -- but now it's personal. The moment of truth. Her heart pounds in her chest. She slams one end of her pole into the mat, gripping it with both hands in preparation as she stares back at Coco with a defiant grin. She's been reliving the last fight in her head ever since. But will things work out better this time?
COMBATSYS: Chevy counters #Cobra's Fang# from Coco with High Tide EX.
? Strange Hit! ?
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/-----<<|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Chevy
Chevy swings the pole to her side -- and harshly -throws- herself into the other side. Using the pole as a fulcrum, and the water in the buckets as additional leverage, she's able to whip herself around, giving Coco's instep a solid point of connection, but ensuring that it is not, in fact, Chevy herself. With the brutal force of the whirling kick redirected into her pole, Chevy is able to leverage Coco's swift momentum against her, leaping slightly into the air as she hurls the pole downward sharply, slamming Coco down like a hammer into the mat!
The -strange- thing, though -- is that almost all of the water in the area tends to -mimic- the motion of the pole -- such that puddles left behind from the earlier water barrage spring into motion, and other puddles splash and froth from compression waves.
Yeah! Don't *mess* with me durin' high tide!" she shouts, apparently oblivious to the puddles that seem to be swimming across the mat towards her feet.
[AYALA]
"Chevy sorry??" Ayala seemingly can't wrap her head around this one, it seemed like a really pedestrian response to something she thought was a lot more serious than that. It seemed to get the cavewoman quite a bit riled up, but people were also pairing off into duels and seemed far too distracted with that. The idea quickly came to her to save her strength a bit, as she had already broken out in a sweat trying to nail Chevy with the mudamudamuda punches just now.
"Hrrghh--" Ayala fell to all fours and her tail-like scarf flailed behind her, the fighter psyching herself up with a stoneage kiai. It at least added to the bedlam that was going on in the rumble arena, seeing a lady in a gray sabrecat bikini outfit looking like she's about to pounce on someone and maim like a feral beast.
COMBATSYS: Ayala focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/-----<<|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Buford 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Chevy
[IRIS]
One final, defiant slurp of boba, and then Iris distractedly holds her hand out and lets go of the now mostly-empty cup, as if she were going to drop it on the ground; instead, it hangs in midair for a Looney Tunes-esque second before winking out of existence, the inverse of her typical weapon-summoning trickery. She surveys the arena, trying to take it all in, brow furrowed.
This happens for roughly 30 seconds, before she shrugs and puts her hands up in the air, in a very guess-ill-die-guy.jpg kind of way. "Alright. Chevy just beat up the kinda snotty-sound British girl," ET TU, IRIS? Of course, if anyone knows snotty-sounding British girls, it's her, technically speaking. "Ichika and..." A brief squint. "...a con-goer are in a very loud deathmatch with each other. I have no idea who the rest of these people are." SOME OF THEM ARE YOUR TEAMMATES, YOU JERK.
But she can't just sit here forever, sipping boba (she's out of boba), and as such, the wizardess realizes she has to make a move at some point. Scanning the room, it really feels like only a couple people haven't been put through the wringer just yet... and truth be told, if what she's about to do ends up being Real Bad, at least she RECOGNIZES Chevy and can apologize later. Plus it seems kinda rude to have your introduction to someone be 'hello, here's a lightning bolt'.
Which is exactly what happens, coincidentally: Iris brings up a hand, drawing a quick rune in the air in violet light, which presages a purple-blue lightning bolt dropping out of the sky to try and strike Chevy. Why her? Well... maybe it's all that water?
COMBATSYS: Buck has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Iris
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Coco 0/-------/-----<<|====---\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/--=====|
[BUCK]
Poor Buck. He's been at the base of the Team Thunder ramp in his usual fighting outfit of jeans and a black tank top, dancing from bare foot to bare foot since his last teammate entered the arena, quite literally chomping at the bit if the way he's grimacing at the action inside the arena is any indication. This is a pure form of torture for him, making him wait on the sidelines this long while there's a perfectly good brawl waiting for him. Worse, a few of the people he wanted to cross fists with were already eliminated without him even having a chance at them. It's enough to get his blood hot before even stepping into the ring.
And then the folk rock guitar riffs and heavy drums of his intro music starts and his grimace turns into a wide toothy grin. "'Bout damn time!" He shouts as he comes barreling up the Thunder ramp, the words turning into a bellowing warcry. He slaps his left hand to his right shoulder, bracing it as he holds his right arm out to the side like he intends to clothesline the entire arena ahead of him.
He's going for a show of his abilities right off the bat, as that right arm of his sprouts a spiny blue-gray carapace, moving down his arm from shoulder to hand in a rippling wave.
He bursts into the ring as his fingers merge, his hand swelling into a giant crustacean claw which he lifts into the air over his head with a bellow as he narrows in on one target he's just been itching to take a piece out of. He was going to leave the guy alone for his teammate to deal with, but he ran off, making him fair game in Buck's mind. "Sorry, Ichi!" He calls out to said teammate, hoping she doesn't get to upset he's going after her prey.
"Here comes the crab hammer!" He bellows as he runs right for Buford, bringing down the massive shelled apendage like an oversized club, grinning like a madman as he does.
[COCO]
Coco's technique was something that the Muay Thai fighter has never exhibited before. The result of the limited opportunity she'd had to train with someone who could help her with the ability she was only beginning to understand. The attack was straightforward, if flashy, but the accompanying hypnotic stare lent it a weight that made it something special and unprecedented in Constance Louise Coalbridge's arsenal.
It was also raw, and clearly, it has to be said, unperfected.
The kick is nearly powerful enough to snap the staff in half, and likely would have if it weren't for the particular affinity Chevy has for the unconventional tool of war. The power reverberates back through her, and before she's fully aware of what's happening, she's slamming down through the water pooled around the mat - into the rocky surface below. Her most graceful and deadly display yet ends in an embarrassing faceplant in several inches of water.
Struggling to push herself up to her knees, Coco is aware that she's had it. After all, she might have only lost a fight once, and just barely, but she's certainly familiar with the sensation of being so far gone that hitting the floor has become inevitable. She's been fighting for nearly twelve minutes straight now, sometimes fending off multiple attacks at once. She's given it her all, which is something she could never have said about anything else except a party before. Then, it hits her:
The RUMBLE is basically the ultimate fight party.
She lifts her lolling head up toward Chevy with a glossy stare, knowing that this damnable ginger angel has well and truly defeated her this time. Not only has she taken away something she'd hesitate to admit, but now she's taken away her shot at winning. But the party isn't over.
She looks past Chevy toward where Iris is casting her spell, and a pang of regret hits her. Maybe if she hadn't spent so many nights getting drunk and so many resulting days sleeping, she might have run into her intended roommate at the dojo more often. If she'd spent more time putting sisters before misters, she might not be in this mess.
She doesn't regret much, really, but she does regret that much.
And so, she raises a nearly-limp arm to throw up a victory V to her fellow Brit.
"Over to you, babes."
She smiles encouragingly and winks before adding, her voice a bit weak and raspy:
"Aim for her ribs!"
And then Coco slumps drunkenly face-down and ass-up into the water to await rescue from the ring by the NFG's team of trained trauma ninjas.
COMBATSYS: Coco assists Iris.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Chevy 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Buford
COMBATSYS: Coco can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Chevy 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Buford
COMBATSYS: Tamaki dodges Sarah's Flip It Good.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Chevy 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Buford
COMBATSYS: Tamaki reflects Thrown Object from Djamila with Ponpoko Beat.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Chevy 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Buford
[TAMAKI]
Over on the other side of the arena, there is both continued drama in the Coco Zone (name trademark pending) that Tamaki really wants to watch, and the Attack of the Reddit Atheist, which she doesn't but unfortunately is forced to listen to anyway because Buford is loud when he gets going.
Also unfortunately, she doesn't get any time to watch because she is sitting on her ass on the other side of the ring while people try to beat the crap out of her. Which, she has to admit, is the point of this event, so she can't really hate it. She *is* having fun. She'd just rather have fun a few moments later, when she was done watching Chevy show off.
Sarah performs an upward kick, which is a pretty good strategy normally - except Tamaki is still sitting down, and so she avoids it by the relatively simple method of flopping backwards, ending up on her back, knees raised and feet still on the mat. It's still a close thing; Sarah's foot misses Tamaki only barely.
Kicking off the ground, Tamaki backwards somersaults until she ends up in a crouch, then rises just as Djamila throws a rock at her. "We're inside! Where did you get a rock?" Tamaki objects, but she still has to deal with it. Once again she thumps her stomach, and gets the same aura of chi, a surging wave that erupts from her. It only makes it a couple feet away from her, but that's enough to intercept the stone.
This time, though, something different happens; instead of fading away and dissipating immediately, the aura surrounds the rock, flinging it away and right back at Djamila on a cometary tail of chi!
It's also enough cover for Tamaki to sag against the ropes. She's pooped! Too tired for a wittier quip, even. But she made her personal goal, and she's enjoyed herself more than she has in quite a while, so it isn't all bad.
[JOHN DOE]
Perhaps unsurprisingly, of all the competitors John Doe could have chosen to body slam, Djamila is best equipped to literally slip his grasp. Popping through his grip like a well oiled pig (don't ask), the dusky dancer rolls away to menace Tamaki with a rock. This leaves the handsome actor standing with his arms out and nobody to hug, and for just the briefest of moments he looks pretty bummed about that.
A quick glance around the ring reveals the arrival of a very crabby Buck, Buford fleeing from Ichika, and Kenzo doing some ninja stuff on the corner. Coco is bottoms up, some girl he's never seen before is throwing lightning, and Chevy is doing a little victory shuffle that he's tempted to join in on just because that smile is infectious.
"Brrrghlfgnkn..."
Grumbling softly to himself, JD rolls his shoulders and throws himself in per suit of Djamila. At about the same time the rock comes zipping back toward her from the front, he is lunging in from the side. Twisting at the waist, he puts his entire body behind the blow, left fist hurtling up toward the side of her jaw with enough force behind it to smash her into the sky. Between the chaos of the fight and the Tanuki's dogged retaliation, there just might be a chance.
COMBATSYS: Djamila dodges Tamaki's Reflected Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Chevy 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Buford
COMBATSYS: Djamila dodges John Doe's Uppercut.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Chevy 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Kenzo
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Ichika 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Buford
[DJAMILA]
'Where did she find the rock?' Tamaki asks. From those littered from earlier. There are still quite a few in the ring. She felt it was a shame to not use them. But just as if she had thrown a boomerang to the agile, fun loving young woman, it gets sent back to her. She can feel it, and she has to act fast.
Her staff gets settled on the ground, standing up in a quick swift movement, and she jumps high up on it, swinging herself away from the rock who passes by and continues its course wherever it desires. But it's not all. Someone else is again coming for her. It feels like JD. She hooks her legs around the pole and then lets herself fall forward fall backward, so she is upside down on her staff and much lower. The uppercut no longer having a jaw to hit.
She then lets herself slide down lower on her staff, and reaches to grab John ankles pulling him off his feet if she has her way.
No matter the outcome, she them touches the ground with her hand and releases the hold she has on her pole to flip onto her feet. If everything she plans could work as well as what just happened.
She also unconnect her staff from the ground, for good measure.
COMBATSYS: Kenzo fails to interrupt Soul of the Edge EX from Buford with Shocking Shell Stance.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=======\===----\1 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Kenzo can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=======\===----\1 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/=======|
[KENZO]
Kenzo's body emits a burst of energy that never has a chance to form into a protective sphere before Buford's blade strikes him down from his perch with strike after strike. It is only a desperate grasp for the turnbuckle that keeps him upright.
He looks at Buford with unrestrained disdain.
"What little remaining respect I had for you is gone. For all the talk of how dishonorable and cowardly I am for being a ninja you show yourself to be all those things that you accuse me of being."
He holds on to the turnbuckle for support while he continues his condemnation of the wannabe.
"You ran away from the truth when it was too inconvenient for you to hear. You ran away from being held accountable for the things you do whether it was your mother, other people, or yourself. You ran away from Ichika when it looked like she had your number. You may lie to yourself and everyone else here and say that you aren't afraid but you can't lie to the science that says that your heart rate elevated and body temperature rose right after Ichika struck you."
He taps his combat specs to further emphasize the point.
"I reject your rivalry. I refuse to acknowledge you. You aren't worthy of being my rival when fighters like Hawksley, Buck, and Ichika are around. Speaking of... I held off on striking you out of respect for the duel you were in with Ichika. It is a luxury you will never be allowed again."
There's burst of smoke and when it clears Kenzo is no longer in the ring because he'll be damned if he lets Buford have the satisfaction of seeing him fall let alone have the opportunity to play Coco to his Chevy.
[ICHIKA]
Buford reemerges from the melee, and Ichika faces him down.
Her eyes meet his as he rants and raves. The Justice student steadies her breathing, adjusts her stance minutely. She turns her focus inwards, and prepares to take this into the last stage.
The new title earns a twitch of annoyance from her, and as he fails to step towards her, she takes a single pace towards him instead. With a very deliberate motion she flicks her sword around, cleaning it, spattering Buford's blood across the arena floor between them.
And he breaks.
"Until our paths cross again." She says to the retreating 'Samurai's' back. The wound she had dealt him was messy, but it was far from life-threatening. He'd heal from that injury, she was sure. Only time would tell if he would reflect and learn anything more substantial from their encounter.
She didn't hold out much hope. For a brief moment, it had felt as though she had begun to reach the real Maclanky, but some lessons are not easily learned. She will be ready to teach it again. As many times as it takes.
She had gotten off to a difficult start, but the clash has reinvigorated her. Though she's still quite hurt; her face swollen, her body covered in cuts and bruises, she is still standing. Her jacket has fared the worst, and the split leather now threatens to become a hindrance.
So she simply discards it. Sliding her sword back into its scabbard, she sweeps the jacket off her in a dramatic flourish, discarding it into the crowd in a far more fun delivery than the bombs they had earlier enjoyed, as Kenzo suffers Buford's flight and makes his speech.
Part of her wondered if she ought to have tried to do more, but their duel had come to its conclusion. She had won. As Kenzo so eloquently underscored, the whole world could see it - those that weren't distracted by the many other incredible occurrences going on right now at least. Chasing him down would have been... unbecoming. He's a fool, but there are no lives on the line here, just pride, and between them, Kenzo and Ichika have completely robbed him of his.
A grin grows on her lips as she sees Chevy's magnificent reversal of Coco's kick; there was... something different about how the purple-haired Heiress had tried to deliver that one, but she couldn't tell exactly what it was. Either way, her friend's defense is as fluid as the water that is her weapon. Beautiful.
Her last (former) teammate's entrance is met with an approving shout of "He's all yours, Buck! Avenge Kuroiwa-san!"
But it is Tamaki's area of the arena that has caught her eye and which she is already moving towards. The Tanuki has done an incredible job hanging on as long as she has. Djamila, too, looks relatively solid.
She had wanted to best Djamila one on one... but the Rumble is a unique beast. She can't avoid this forever. And by the time Ichika is making her move, the woman is on John and Tamaki is taking a moment to recover. She's not going to have a better opportunity to insert herself.
Besides. John had come to her aid to level the playing field in her battle. The least she could do was return the favour.
She certainly shows no signs of slowing down in spite of the toll taken by her prior exchanges. Unencumbered by her ruined jacket she moves with renewed speed as she closes on the dancer.
"Fadel-san! Release that actor and FACE ME!"
Announcement made, Ichika aims to slam her shoulder into Djamila's back before the dancer can fully recover from her attack, before bringing the blade around in a two-handed, scything blow, trying to quite literally sweep the woman away with a shouted:
"HYAAAA!"
Thousands of miles away, Ichika's Dad is suddenly much, much more focused on the match.
COMBATSYS: Buford blocks Buck's Shell Game.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 1/------=/=======|
[BUFORD]
Buford was in fact hoping to see Kenzo fall.
But before he could declare Knockout Secured, Kenzo gives a withering rebuttal in retaliation. Buford could -feel- the contempt, he had no mist to conceal it from him. Worst of all was his mention of his mother. That gets a lip curl of anger, tears welling up into the corners of his puffy eyes. And yet, for all his dressing down of him, Buford seems to almost slavering it on himself, like a scented oil, once Kenzo makes his retreat. "Hmph! Running away before our fight could be concluded. Cowardice only befitting a ninja." Buford states matter of factly, a smug smirk on his lips as he keeps making sure to avert his gaze from Ichika. "And such a hypocrite too! And- An he refuses to acknowledge me, he says, after dedicating a speech fully in my name! ABigail was right! Being a heel is being cool!" He states with bravado, a courage filling his pounding heart. The pride he has might only be his own. But in Buford's self-absorbed direction, he was beginning to get a taste with an ego that didn't need affirmation from others. But Buck. Why did that name come up? Buford rouses from his self-indulging fantasies of overcoming both Kenzo and Ichika as he turns and meets, oh. Buck. That must be Buck. Buford brings his sword up to block the weapon he was using. It seemed that the unfamiliar foe was bringing a rock to smash him with.
But it wasn't a rock.
It was a rock lobster?
*Insert your brain riff here*
Buford's eyes go wide in sheer confusion as the katana meets claw, the weapon barely being sufficent in stopping just the worst damage from the crab appendage. His fedora tumbles backwards out of the ring, as he rams into the corner of it. "How dare you!" Bellows Buford, staggering back into the post as it cracks into his ribs. The bellow becomes a high pitched whine, his tummy cut making him terrified of any more body blows in his precious center of mass. Buford leans forward, barely able to keep standing because of the turnbuckle at this point. "Trying to take advantage of my distraction to pick me off! How dishonorable!" Buford still clutches his side as he gives two defensive swipes of his katana, the vibrating blade slashing twice in the air in an attempt to drive Buck back, before he unleashes a fierce underhanded swipe, almost like a volley swing one would make from a tennis racket. All while he gives a correction to Buck's martial technique so far. "
"And how can that be a crab hammer when it's clearly a lobster claw, hmmmm!?"
COMBATSYS: Iris successfully hits Chevy with Thurisaz - Mjolnir's Echo.
? Strange Hit! ?
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 1/------=/=======|
[CHEVY]
In some way, Coco was right: maybe it -is- all Hawksley's fault.
It was one of his fans that snuck a box of Lucky Charms into the ring.
It was he that picked up the box.
And it was he that sought to crack the box across John Doe's charmingly dashing face.
Not knowing it was full of rocks instead.
Sure, John was able to intercept it with his fist.
And no one really paid the rocks any mind after they fell, for a good nine minutes or so.
Until Djamila happened to pick up one of the rocks.
And lobbed it at Tamaki.
And then... well, maybe Buford thought that was one of the rocks?
This will be relevant in a moment, really.
So where were we?
'Aim for her ribs!' Coco had shouted with her last gasp, as Iris had been in the midst of tracing a rune into the air. But at that very moment...
Chevy had been distracted by a certain lady in a fur bikini, who was expressing incredulity that the redhead had deigned to say she was sorry for... well, attacking the Frost headquarters? She swings her pole in a wide swath around her, sweeping water around her in a ring as she prepares to engage in combat yet again.
"Y-yes!" she stammers, startled back into the awkward conversation territory from her momentary fugue of tunnel-vision. "I'm /sorry/, okay? Gosh, I don't have time to explain right n--"
It's just then that a rock flies into her peripheral vision.
A rock blasted from a strong wave of chi from Tamaki.
A rock that is now hurtling right towards Chevy's head.
"-- AAH?!"
Chevy's shoulders tilt backwards as she hurls her pole hand forward, the weight of her buckets and pole keeping her counterbalanced so that she doesn't fall over. Shockwaves of air ripple the skin of her alarmed, freckled face as the rock thunders past. She gasps for breath at the sight...
And only -then-, courtesy of a sudden adrenaline spike, is Chevy able to see the light of the runes at Iris' fingertip. And only -then- does the former(?) Team Thunder fighter feel the warm tickle of electricity at her skin, the goosebumps that come right before...
*ZOT*
Chevy's vision flashes white, and then black, and then every color of the rainbow in between, her body arcing with the tendrils of electricity as she completes a circuit from Iris' summoned bolt of lightning to the damp canvas mat of the arena. Nonsensical syllables spill from her mouth as she falls back into a seated position, shuddering: "GhgGghzhzhzhahaaa..."
A smoke cloud wafts from her for the moment she sits there trying to reboot.
And then, suddenly, her eyes blink awake. Djamila's attacking John, Ichika's attacking Djamila, Buford's getting lectured by Kenzo and dealing with a giant crab claw from Buck. And Iris and Ayala seem to be looking at her expectantly. Okay, so -some- things are normal...
Chevy rolls to one side, vaulting to her feet -- and twirls her pole at her side. And as if it's some sort of powerful hydro-magnet, the water she's splashed all throughout the wrestling arena starts gravitating towards her...
"Alright, I'm gonna be honest... -something- cool just happened, and I'm gonna need -someone- to tell me what the heck it was!"
COMBATSYS: Chevy gets ready to turn the tide!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 1/------=/=======|
[AYALA]
The cavewoman isn't entirely sure why Chevy is apologizing. To be fair, it's not as if anyone had tried to explain it to the tribal woman. While it looks like she doesn't quite know what her opponent is on about, she redirects her attention anyway.
Ayala decides she needs to pace herself, and Chevy is getting attacked by multiple people--she decides to let her prior target go for now, as she hasn't even had anyone try to take a swing at her yet. Makes her feel a little left out, on some level. Why won't someone hit me?! In a charming cave person sort of way, perhaps.
"IRIS!" Ayala calls out, darting in for what looks like a very fast still decently strong hammerblow down at the young woman. A light sweat sheathes the cavewoman--she is still trying to save her strength somewhat, but continues to fight. It's almost like it's an endurance match at this point--which, well, it kind of is. She just hopes she didn't expend too much energy already.
COMBATSYS: Iris blocks Ayala's Quick Smash.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 1/------=/=======|
[IRIS]
Off in the distance, Iris observes what is happening with her... well, 'target' feels excessive, but it's not entirely inaccurate... with a kind of detached fascination. At least for the moment, it feels like Chevy has become a bad luck magnet, even if she managed to haul herself out of the way of a flying rock. And then there was Coco's parting request, which... okay look, they never met, but it's not as if word about how the last round of the NFG went didn't get around or anything.
For a second, Iris looks down at her hand and squints. "Did I work in a hex by mistake, maybe?" she murmurs aloud, though perhaps not at audience-can-hear-it levels.
But then, much like Chevy and the lightning bolt, Iris picks up on the subtle tells that an attack is about to come her way: a change in the air. The feeling of a gaze on your neck. Maybe even a magical sixth sense that tells her someone is coming?
[TAPE REWIND NOISE: Ayala comes leaping across the arena screaming "IRIS" at the top of her lungs] Or that, right.
Thankfully the wizard notices either way, so that when she turns toward the incoming blonde bomb (figurative), she's prepared: in a flash of rainbow light, and honest to god +shield blinks into existence, the blow slamming into it with a loud *KACLANG*. FUN SCIENCE FACT: blocking an attack with a heavy metal shield is actually going to still cause stress to the arm because it's not like the force is completely absorbed or redirected! This is, however, still better than a cavepunch to the face.
As the two fighters separate and the shield blinks back out of existence, Iris turns to squint at Ayala. "There's no need to shout, miss, I'm right here." And then her arm sweeps around, summoning a whip she attempts to snag around one of Ayala's limbs before she can get to a safe distance, with the intent of flinging her out to a considerably more than safe distance. "Also, personal space, please, thank you."
[HONOKA]
Of the audience members gathered within Dragon Arena this evening, very few have hair as brightly and vividly red as the young woman who had been seated near the highest level of seats. Intricately woven curls seem to be designed to attract attention -- a curious contrast to the neutral color tones of a charcoal gray blazer and slacks, over a cream-colored silk blouse. They would serve to distract from the dark patches of the woman's flame-scarred cheeks, however.
Armed with a pair of opera glasses, the Akatsuki's shadow puppeteer has been enjoying the festivities from her high vantage point, drinking in the assorted rivalries and deadly oaths with much amusement. As the battle roster wanes, and the tournament transitions to its second half, Scarlet Dahlia rises to her feet -- apparently no longer content with people-watching. Folding the opera glasses away, she makes her way down to the first row. Where an empty seat awaits her.... right next to the spellbound avatar Xiayu.
Dahlia takes her seat. And ever so gently rests her hand beside Xiayu's on the armrest, with only the slightest bump against her.
Her voice comes out scarcely louder a whisper, barely perceptible in the din of the arena and the onset of what's sure to segue into the next round of entrance music.
"The wheels are already in motion, my lord -- all in due time." Dahlia chuckles softly, one gloved hand stroking against her flame-scarred chin. "We wouldn't want to put all that laborious effort to waste, now, would we...?"
Dahlia chuckles softly, her amber gaze glassy as it fixates upon the gathered fighters.
COMBATSYS: Buck blocks Buford's Fierce Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 1/------=/=======|
[BUCK]
"I got this, Kenzo!" Buck calls out as the ninja vanishes from sight. "Man that's cool, love it when they do that." Obviously, someone has a much different opinion of ninjas.
Buck doesn't seem to care much as his crab claw assault is blacked, the weight of it alone seeming to push Buford back as the Oklahoman grins wildly. "How dare I?" He asks, just shy of a mocking tone. "I've been wanting a piece of you for insulting my teammates, my friends. Nothing pisses me off more than a bully. That's dishonorable. You should have let Ichika finish you off." It's a side of Buck that doesn't come out very often, perhaps not in the sight of even those who know him in the ring. His grin is anything but jovial, in fact it's downright feral.
It's likely surprising the alacrity which he brings that thick shelled claw between the sword strikes and his body, muscles straining as he shifts around the heavy appendage, sparks flying off the hardened carapace. The sword manages to score furrows in the shell, but its nowhere near as bad as it would be in soft flesh. "Birgus latro," he states as another of the sword swings clacks off his crab claw. "Otherwise known as the coconut crab. And if a normal sized one can crack open a coconut, imagine what a claw this size can do." There's a dangerous glint in Buck's eyes for just a moment as he clacks the claw twice like an oversized castanet.
The claw opens once more and he reaches out, trying to snap it closed right around Buford's arm. Should he get the hold, he yanks back to try and drag Buford in close, where he takes a play from the Hawksley handbook and rears back before delivering a forehead to non-fedora'd forehead headbutt.
[VEGA]
Xiayu is still in her seat save for a slight bounce in one foot. Her chin rests on one palm as she slouches a little in the chair, watching the melee. Her facial expression is neutral, almost uninterested, but her eyes flicker back and forth across the melee. Watching. Weighing. Judging.
Through the Doll's eyes, Vega senses and watches the potential of all of these fighters. They all do have potential to become mighty, though it's only certain ones that have a certain spark that he is -truly- interested in. The rest might yet be useful to him, or they may rise to stand against him. For now, though, they are mere children, playing at battle. It is enough to just watch.
Dahlia arrives, and it's only then that Xiayu shifts. She uncrosses her legs only to recross them the opposite way, straightening and then shifting to replicate her previous pose only mirrored. It puts her head close to the Akatsuki's, close enough for quiet conversation even in this chaotic mess of noise.
"Excellent work, Dahlia," Xiyau says, her voice almost a purr. It's likely disconcerting. The voice is Xiayu's, but the cadence is all Vega. "Effort is never wasted as long as A plan is advanced, even if it is not the original one. Regardless, I appreciate your efforts, and you shall be rewarded in due time."
[BRIAN STORM]
All of a sudden, the arena lights darken so that only the ring is awash with light as the opening riff of Sabaton's cover of Twilight Of The Thunder God starts to blare over the speakers, and cymbals clash. Soon, the arena starts to rumble with the noise as the drums and rhythm guitar kick in, strobes firing in the darkness in rapid tempo, and a cool white spotlight focuses on the entrance of Team Thunder's backstage area, where white dry ice fog billows forth to cover the top of the ramp. From the roiling sea-mist emerges a figure, six and a half feet in height and rippling with muscle. His visage is obscured by a viking helmet that covers his crown, stormy eyes flashing with electricity as blond hair blows beneath the wind of hidden fans.
"Is that who I think it is?"
"It is, Tom! It's -"
The commentary desk erupt in unison.
"BRIAN STOOOOORM!"
He gives a moment for the image of him to sink in for the audience, then removes the helm and hurls it aside to clatter back into the backstage, tossing his hair as he does so - to reveal that not only has Brian 'Bjorn' Storm arrived, but his luxurious golden locks have been revived. His goatee has been grown out into enough of a beard to be braided on either side of his mouth.
Bjorn raises one hand from inside the faux-bearskin cloak draped from his shoulders to the floor and holds aloft a convincingly-crafted replica warhammer. Twin lightning bolts jump from the speakers above him to strike the hammer as sparks shower down, and the audience lets out a cheer as the electricity carries on to course around Bjorn Storm's body. Bjorn convulses dramatically with the surge of power, taking a ponderous step forward. As he does so, his boot falls on the flowing bearskin, causing him to stumble, then topple forward onto the slope of the ramp. As he does, a leather satchel is flung loose, spiralling through the air and sending its contents in every direction - all of the Brian Storm t-shirts for the members of the NFG, each with dramatic depictions of a different fighter with the name 'Brian Storm' beneath. The t-shirts flutter as they unfurl, floating on the gale generated by the hidden fans, driven slowly toward the ring as Bjorn Storm tumbles end-over-end down the ramp, crashing into seats on either side of the ramp as he continues to gather speed. Finally, as the song bursts into chorus, Bjorn smashes through the apron under the ring, disappearing with a thunderous clatter as the t-shirts slowly drift down toward the fighters.
"What did we just witness, Lou?"
"I think we just witnessed the fastest elimination in the Rumble so far, Tom. R.I.P. Brian Storm."
"R.I.P. Brian Storm, indeed."
COMBATSYS: Brian Storm has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Tamaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Djamila 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Brian Storm 0/-------/-------|=======\=------\1 Buford
COMBATSYS: Brian Storm makes it hardcore!!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Brian Storm was too hardcore for this battle.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 1/------=/=======|
[TAMAKI]
Tamaki did get her moment to recover, but only a few moments. She isn't going to sit idle in the match even if she *could* probably pep herself up a bit. She could use a drink, for one. Except she already drank it, and she's not even sure how much is left in there. Enough to slosh, but she'll need some of it post-match too!
But since she's going to keep moving, Tamaki pushes herself off the ropes and begins to work her way toward the battle proper, with a slightly weaving movement to keep herself from being an easy target. Except then:
DISASTER STRIKES.
Not for Tamaki, granted. Mostly for Brian Storm. But it's still a disaster.
"Oi!" she calls to nobody in particular as she feels the impact against the ring. And that would be the end of that, except halfway through picking her target, one of Brian Storm's drifting T-shirts smacks her in the face and stays there.
"Who turned out the lights??" Blinded, Tamaki stumbles, sweeping her arms in something halfway between feeling out where she's going and wild punches. She hadn't really *meant* to go after Buford, but that's the way her fists go; swinging to impact against his side, the impact surprises her enough that she stumbles backwards afterwards, away from him.
She finally gets the shirt off her face around then, too. "Huh," she says to herself, and then pulls it on... overtop of her current top. It's too small in some ways and too big in others. This does not stop her. "I suppose he sort of made it into the ring this way!"
COMBATSYS: John Doe blocks Djamila's Inside Leg Hang.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 1/------=/=======|
[JOHN DOE]
Already off balance from the acrobatic evasion of his uppercut, John Doe staggers forward into Djamila's grasp without much in the way of defense. Or, so it might at first seem. But as the dangling dancer latches onto his ankles, the actor throws himself forward, leap-falling over her body to impact her upright staff with a jarring THUMP of his shoulder.
Hooking one pale arm around the pole, JD swings his feet up and out of the stripper's grip, executing one perfect twirl around the weapon before dismounting on its other side just before it is released from the ground. Grinning broadly back at Djamila, he offers her a quick little bow, arms spread, before his view of her is obscured by the charging strike of Ichika.
Smile transforming into a wince at Brian Storms sudden but inevitable fate, JD pauses, glancing the wrestler's direction as if internally debating whether or not he should go check on him. Wandering a couple of steps in that direction, he stops beside Tamaki, glances from the spot where Brian disappeared to the Tanuki's new threads, and offers her a friendly clap on the shoulder that she, hopefully doesn't take as the opening of an attack. They may have had their clashes at the start of this, but with the competition thinning, it seems the soot-stained actor is unwilling to try eliminating her for whatever reason.
It's at about that time that a wild bikini-clad Ayala comes rushing past them both, and John pulls away to dash after her. With the blonde's attention focused upon Iris, he propels himself into a high leap, black hair flowing majestically behind him as he swings both boots forward in a flying double drop-kick for the cave-woman's upper back.
"WUUUUUH!"
COMBATSYS: Djamila fails to interrupt Power Strike from Ichika with Improvised Punch.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/----===|>>>>>--\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 1/------=/=======|
[DJAMILA]
Djamila attempts to trip John fails. At least she's on her feet soon enough. She is aware also of Brian Storm Misadventure to a point too. But can't focus on it as she is hit in the back by Ichika. She vinces and turns quickly bringing her staff up and her arm to punch, but on this one, nothing works correctly. The sword does hit the staff, but not enough to come to a complete stop and it gets in her arm to do a rather nasty cock, sending quite a bit of blood all around when the sword is removed and it hurts. That much is clear. "FUCK!" She lets out and when one of Brian Storm's shirt decides to land right on the cut it hurts as well, but at least it absorbs some of the blood and she tries to put it on as a sort of bandage, to help stop the bleeding. All of this stops her right in her track for another attack at the moment.
X please replace the statement with "do a rather nasty cut" instead of the embarrassing word that shouldn't be there. Thank you Mister Pringer! X
[ICHIKA]
Ichika looks genuinely shocked by the sudden, violent language that erupts from the mouth of Djamila. The girl recoils, blinking, "... Fadel-san, are you okay?" She asks, perhaps rather stupidly under the circumstances. She just cut a gouge into the woman's arm. If she was 'okay' it would rather be missing the point of the competition, wouldn't it?
The air is filled with fluttering shirts, and the sound of crashing beneath the arena. Poor Brian. She hadn't been in position to *see* his dramatic entrance fail but she could certainly hear it. Hopefully those recovery ninja would be on the case; a man with such fine musical taste couldn't possibly be brought low for long, surely? Even if it does seem likely that the world's unluckiest wrestler is going to miss his big chance to catch back up in the points.
The sword slides back into her scabbard and for a moment, the girl looks uncertain. It doesn't last long though. Seeing her shirt float past - Ichika Kasumoto with the kanji for Brian Storm beneath it - helps her immensely.
Now that she is committed to the fight, she wants to see it through; the Rumble is not how she can settle the score between them, but she can see perhaps a part of how they have each improved. "I hope you are ready! This is something I've wanted to show you for quite some time!"
And with that, she's leaping back towards the dancer, her blade glowing brilliant blue as she comes in with a second slash - and a third, fourth, fifth! A similar pattern of beautiful cerulean arcs to the ones she had used to bloody Buford...
... except that before she reaches the sixth strike, she suddenly blurs, reappearing behind the woman to continue powering the last three slashes right into Djamila's back, if she can. If one strike was enough to earn such a loud exclamation, she's almost worried to learn what else she might draw out of the woman's lips with this!
COMBATSYS: Buford dodges Buck's Combo Grapple.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/----===|>>>>>--\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Buford 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Buford interrupts Stumbling Swing from Tamaki with Dewy On The Mist EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/----===|>>>>>--\-------\0 Djamila
[ \ < > /////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/---====|
[BUFORD]
Buford realized he was in real danger now.
After Buck rebukes him physically and verbally, the already weakened Buford can barely unleash his defiant slashes, before Buck brings that feral look at him. And as Buck lectures Buford on the coconut crab, Buford feel compelled to correct Buck. What to correct him on, Buford didn't know yet. Sweat builds on his naked brow as he stares across, lips quivering. "Bwuh, I mean, uh, s-sorry?" He whimpers. This seemed like the end for Buford. Uncertain of how to escape, even before a blinded Tanuki comes in undetected, it seems that the lovable Buford would finally reach his demise.
Until Brian Storm arrives.
"-AMERICANS!- Buford interjects with rage, his neck muscles tightening up he transfixes at the oncomer. As Buck comes at him with clawful in intentions, the arrival of Brian Storm gives him a patriotic second wind. It is as if all the spirits of the greatest prime ministers of his home country fill his portly frame with powers only reserved in defending his national pride again the worst of the Americas. Using the swaying whiskey-soaked stance of John A MacDonald himself, he nimbly slips just out of the grasp of Buck. Rather than down a snifter or three or found Canada, however, Buford immediately uses the spirit of Wilfrid Laurier to balance himself evenly, giving and taking as he move to make himself in the middle of Buck and Brian Storm. Immediately Brian Storm boofs out (not like a true boofer but in the bad way), as his shirts seem to bombard the ring.
Which brings Tamaki to bear.
As she bumps her way at him blindly, Buford locks on to the t shirt with patriotic fury. Putting up an iron defense in the spirit of Louis St. Laurent, he readies himself. As she bumps her flailing limbs at him, the Canadian actually checks it back, the blow narrowly missing his slice wound on his body. No, the pain only pushed him further, the spirit of Winter Olympic Might giving him almost supernatural hockey instincts. When she has her moment to adjust her shirt on, Buford couldn't even see the woman past the clothing she wore.
Which to be fair wasn't the first time he did that in this fight.
Enraged, Buford swings himself towards the stumbling in tanuki. Using the strength of W.L. Mackenzie King himself, he hurl himself into the air, spinning as he unleashes one, two, three slashes aimed squarely at slicing apart that t shirt that was ill-fitted on the tanuki. It seems almost an after thought that Tamaki was in the way, but as he lands with a heaving thump in both legs, he glances around, a smirk across his lips as he refuses to fall. Why, he could almost feel Charles Joseph Clark, the only Prime Minister born in Alberta, cheering him on right now. Which he was, of course. Looking back at Buck, he narrows his eyes. "I mean..."
"I'm Sorry, Eh!"
[CHEVY]
Not a single person stopped to explain what just happened to Chevy: Iris changed her focus to Ayala, and Ayala is returning attacks in kind. And then John Doe jumps in to join the fracas. If Chevy had been serious, she might be really disappointed about that!
But before she can think about that, the arena goes dark. And metal riffs fill Dragon Arena with a deafening roar -- a sound mottled en route to her ears by the chup-chup-chup of her spinning pole. She looks over to the Team Blaze ramp...
And sees no one there. A slow tilt of her head brings her focus to the spotlight... at her own former(?) team's entrance! She may not know why Brian Storm was there -- but that won't stop the Internet rumor mills from crafting their own wild-eyed theories.
"Hey!!" she shouts, thrusting her finger out towards Brian "Bjorn" Storm! "Brian Storm is tryin' to steal our Thunder!"
A shower of sparks erupts from the ceiling. Electricity courses around the new arrival. And a moment later, Chevy winces as the the pro wrestler she'd -most- have liked to get a little more conversation time with... tragically trips over his own cloak. It's as if the attack from Iris wasn't the only strike of lightning that left her dazed and confused.
T-shirts go flying. And Chevy dies a little on the inside. "Ughh...." Sullenly, she reaches out to stop her spinning pole, twirling sideways to pool the accumulated water into a ring around her feet.
She starts to survey the rest of the ring. She catches sight of Ichika -- idly wondering how long she'd been running around without her jacket -- in the midst of her attack against Djamila. And she -starts- moving that way...
And then Buford starts shouting about -Americans!- Like her, and half the fighters still standing! And she sees the Canadian wheeling on Tamaki. Who wasn't American, last she checked. But the point stands -- Buford has got her attention now.
Chevy thumps one end of her pole into the canvas. "S'cuse me, you two... I got me a score to settle!"
She takes off in a mad dash, her ring of water shifting into a wave that races along beside her. Rapidly clearing the distance to Buford, she sharply leaps to the side, driving her feet into the heart of the wave...
"You called?!"
And the wave =violently= explodes upward, swallowing Chevy whole and drenching her, Hawaiian beachwear and all!
In the midst of the wave -- she hopes to grab hold of Buford, and then with her extreme velocity, whip him around over onto his back, and pin him to the mat! The wave would crash down upon him afterwards -- and unlike -normal- liquids, Chevy's chi-laced water would seek to hold him in place for a follow-up!
COMBATSYS: Ayala blocks Iris' Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/----===|>>>>>--\-------\0 Djamila
[ \ < > ////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Ayala dodges John Doe's Improvised Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/----===|>>>>>--\-------\0 Djamila
[ \ < > ////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/---====|
[AYALA]
And now, finally, to Ayala, this feels like what it's purported to be. Iris's whip wraps around one of her forearms and she finds herself skidding across the arena floor as she digs in her heels and doesn't let herself be dragged or pulled off balance, her hand wrapping around the whip as she tugs back on it and gives resistance to Iris. Still, the whip is pulled and Ayala finds herself pushed back against the arena barrier, bumping into it harder than she thought she would, shaking her head as she finally disentagles herself from it.
As Ayala begins to move again, John Doe comes toward her in a double leg drop kick--the cavewoman is able to dodge nimbly to the left of it, rolling and getting back to her feet. JD was paying her back for earlier, that was fine--she still wants the girl with that weapon, and whirls herself toward her, kicking up wind with the expenditure of chi during it.
Maybe it's the fact she's glistening with sweat now, droplets coming off her like crystals--or the fact she's dressed in furs and being menaced by another woman with a whip, of all things, but damn does it look /great/ for the cameras.
COMBATSYS: Ayala successfully hits Iris with Tail Spin ES.
~~ Alluring Hit! ~~
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/----===|>>>>>--\-------\0 Djamila
[ \ < > ////////////////////// ]
Tamaki 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/---====|
[IRIS]
It can be reasonably expected that regardless of the chaotic nature of the fight, once the Brian Storm thing happened, we can get everyone's reactions in something approximating cinematic bullet time. Iris, for her part, simply watches the entire entrance. Considering that she literally just attacked Chevy 1.) with lightning by 2.) tracing a Futhark rune in the air, you can definitely assume that she has Opinions about Brian's discount Thor act.
Perhaps her distraction at seeing him fail so hard he powerslid right out of the arena is why Ayala smacks into her so heavily. Maybe she didn't have enough bullet time movement meter left to properly dodge when she turned and saw the cavewoman(?) coming right at her, knocking her over.
When she stands up, however, the wizardess looks... annoyed, frankly. Narrowing her eyes, she reaches back one hand, and in a burst of prismatic light an honest-to-god spear (probably more authentically Viking than any discount Mjolnir recently introduced to the arena) appears in her hands, which she aims and then throws... into the air? Certainly not AT anyone.
Problem: then Iris HERSELF disappears in the same rainbow-hued light. And appears where the spear got thrown, which is in the air above Ayala.
Catching it, the Brit twists, inverts, and looks to Kain Highwind the blonde right into the arena floor with the spear. "Seriously," she yells. "BACK OFF."
[BUCK]
Maybe Brian Storm had more effect on the battle in the arena than he intended. There's no way Buck doesn't look at least a bit in that direction, helping Buford nimbly(?) escape the crushing coconut crab claw of calamity. He hisses out something pithy under his breath as the Canadian slips away from his attack and instead goes after a different member of Team Thunder. "What's that about Americans?!" He says in his distinct country drawl, the apology perhaps lost in the following percieved insult.
He pulls his crustacean limb back, the carapace receeding back into normal human skin as his hand reforms from the claw, snagging one of the fluttering tees out of the air as he does so, then snags another one with his opposite hand, letting the dual items of Brian Storm merch dangle at his sides, eyebrow twitching in annoyance. "Apology not accepted." Ooo, burn.
"Not alone, you don't!" Buck hollars in response to Chevy coming and bursting in on their fight. He swings out with the pair of tees, at first looking like he's swinging the garments at Chevy, but no, he's swinging them through the wave of water accompanying Chevy. Maybe he's planning a wet t-shirt contest?" Then turning back to face Buford, he spins both of the tees, one in either hand at his side with a grin that's lingering somewhere between malicious and mischievous. Then, in a scene played out in locker rooms around the world..
Crack!
He whips out with one of the wet coiled tees, cracking it at Buford like a whip with all the skill of someone who probably did this way too often in high school.
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
Buck unleashes a torrent of wet-tee-whip strikes against Buford as Chevy comes at him from another direction. They might not do much to make the fight end faster, but it certainly makes Buck feel better
Crack!
[TAMAKI]
JD claps Tamaki on the shoulder, and - already slightly dizzy and off-balance - Tamaki sort of lurches away from it. Not far, though, and she does give him a thumbs-up afterwards; even though she doesn't really like the way JD feels to her he's never really acted badly.
Well, except that once he tried to bite her, but he's not doing that now, so it's fine.
But then her attention is grabbed elsewhere: "Who are you calling an American?"
Having freed her face from its temporary cloth prison, Tamaki can look at things. Like Buford! (It wouldn't have been her first choice.) "I am Japanese, of course! Until this tournament I'd never been to America! - Oh, wait, the shirt. Did you want one?"
Tamaki tosses the shirt she just pulled off her head at Buford, which (as you might expect) does precisely nothing to stop the sword or its wielder. He comes in, ripping at her brand-new Brian Storm shirt, her actual shirt, and the delicate body beneath, delivering a series of powerful slashes!
The tattered remnants of the Brian Storm shirt flutter to the ground, followed by the rest of it - but Tamaki's tail, having expanded to several times its original size, is wrapped very firmly around her upper body in a giant loop of fluff. Tamaki herself has fallen, but has managed to stay together well enough to roll away, out of the ring, where she unceremoniously flops and stays there, defeated and barely conscious.
Unfortunately for Djamila, her (and her giant tail) are going to roll right through her current position on her way out.
COMBATSYS: Tamaki can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-======|>>>>>--\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Buford
[JOHN DOE]
Sailing through the air like the majestic Sky Trout, John Doe passes through the spot Ayala once occupied and continues on across the ring, landing hard upon his back with a bouncing bump. Sliding to a halt with his booted feet hanging out beneath the ropes, he grins goofily toward the sky and takes a moment to just enjoy the energy.
Even this far into the competition there are still plenty of fighters remaining, each one striving to give it their all. And really, that's pretty cool.
JD is still lying there when a huge ball of tail fluff goes tumbling past to flop through the ropes. One less competitor to worry about, though the little wave he offers her as he crunches to a sit seems genuine in its warmth. Sure, she might act a little odd around him, but in its own way that's refreshing.
Pushing himself unhurriedly to his feet, the actor glances around himself at the 3 distinct fights that he could join. Ichika vs Djamila, Buck and Chevy vs Buford, and...
A flash of rainbow energy is joined by the plaintive shout of the person he knows least about in this competition. Watching her huck some kind of magical spear down from the heavens, he isn't really sure that he wants to change that, but a fight Is a fight. So, with a manly crack of his knuckles and a short, preparatory shuffle, he bounds forward to try and catch the wizard out of the air on her return journey to earth. Both hands reaching to grip her by left shin and thigh, he turns his forward charge into a sloppy spin, making to yank her down and around into a giant spin that hopefully plants her ribs hard into one corner of the ring, before releasing her leg, stepping over her to scramble up the ropes, and leaping backward to deliver a falling elbow drop from on high.
Now that's WRASTLIN'.
COMBATSYS: Djamila dodges Ichika's Future Perfect EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-======|>>>>>--\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Buford
COMBATSYS: Tamaki successfully hits Djamila with Art of Transformation - Giant.
-* WILD HIT! *-
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Buford
[DJAMILA]
Djamila knows there is still a lot going on, but Ichika takes most of her attention right. Her previous attack, which didn't go as planned for Djamila to stop or counter had gotten her arm quite well. And now it seems Ichika is not done. At least she warns her, and with her good arm, Djamila settles her staff once again upright. Then the dance begin between her and her opponent. A second slash, but Djamila is not there anymore, she's on her pole. A third, a fourth a fifth. She's spinning on her weapon, narrowly missing each of those slashes. They are beautiful, they are strong, they are professional, but Djamila is simply not there.
Then things are more complicated. Djamila no longer senses Ichika were she was. So she does something that might be the end of her. As Ichika strikes once more with three slashes where Djamila had been a second again, she strikes the air, as Djamila standing on one hand, using her good arm at the top of her staff. She is in a careful balance up there, winds around her. It seems her own truth is working. She breathes deeply. "Not this time Ichika. You're new truth is amazing. But I have my own.
Unfortunately, Tamaki comes at this time to roll toward Djamila, powerful, wild, unstoppable. She tries to push herself in a sort of jump, but her arm is tired, and her staff gets knocked down. She gets hit hard and pushed toward the outside of the ring. A gush of winds push her back inside, but she crashed to the ground hard, rolling around herself, before coming to a stop. For a second, she's unmoving. But she pushes herself back up. "I am not done."
Djamila goes back to Ichika, wind moving around her and moves to sweep her legs. If she falls down, she hits her hard with her staff, using her wind to push the staff harder into her downed opponent.
After that move, her body makes her fall down to the ground. But she fights to push herself back up again. "I said I am not done!!!"
COMBATSYS: Djamila keeps on fighting!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Buford
COMBATSYS: Djamila successfully hits Ichika with Jade Split.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Buford
[ICHIKA]
There's some frustration growing in Ichika as she fails to connect with any of her strikes; this attack is as polished as she can get, but Djamila makes sport of it. The girl's intense concentration is clear - and when Djamila matches her teleportation with, as far as she can tell, one of her own, there's a grunt of irritation from the schoolgirl. Though she doesn't have time to worry about that - as a shadow flickers across the edge of her vision, she throws herself backwards and watches in open shock as Tamaki takes Djamila out of the competition for her.
Or so she thinks. But, no. It seems Djamila has an inner fire of her own. Ichika resumes her guard stance, raising her sword, only to have her legs swept out from underneath her. She hits the ground hard, and just before the pole impacts her, a second barrier of bright blue force shatters against it, blunting the impact.
"I can see that. Nor am I."
This said as Ichika jumps in synch with Djamila's attempt to back off - aiming to plant one of those heavy combat boots into the dancer's chin as she flips back to her feet.
COMBATSYS: Buford dodges Chevy's Marsh Mud.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Buford
COMBATSYS: Buford dodges Buck's Light Random Weapon.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Buford
[BUFORD]
With Tamaki sent tumbling and her shirt severed, Slowly, Canadian Rage simmers down from the Samurai.
Buford smugly looks at his handiwork. Turning his head, he could see that the lovely red haired Chevelle had her attentions on him now. They had a history after all, mayhaps despite some misunderstandings she would find it in her chest to intervene on a poor fleeing Buford under the victims of a crab bully- Wait nope she still hates his guts. When Chevelle starts bringing the surf up, Buford realizes to his horror that Southern America was considered as American as California or New York, and had sparked a Rebel Yee-haw of sorts. As he finds himself trapped between Mid West and the Carolinas, the wave rushing at him with the curiously and intriguingly soaked Chevy within.
And then Buck teams up.
There isn't much time to scream as Buck is still on his tail. And what worse, he has a weapon that is even more terrifying to Buford than claws. When the snapping comes, Buford starts squealing, stumbling with a shriek from Bucks releases the cracking. "Save me Trudeau! Pierre I mean!' He cries, as he finds himself in a pincher attack. While he wouldn't say he never imagined a wet contest of sorts in this event, and yes it may have involved a Chevelle, he could at least admit it didn't involve himself being trapped in place with powerful water chi energy while being whipped with sopping wet t-shirts.
I mean not by Buck of all people.
"This is getting too hot for even for the Faithless Samurai, Warrior Of Atheisms Might!" Buford declares before he sticks his hilt into his mouth. As it rattles his teeth with a buzz, a thick cloud of strawberry kiwi scented goodness envelopes around him. And then, just as the crash comes, just as waves and shirts come to meet the man in the middle... He is gone. There is an audible squeak as the shirt seems to nail a trenchcoat, and that is what is left for Chevy. The cloud spreads once more across the ring, obscuring the position of the Faithless Samurai. There is a burbling sound, not around the two chasing after him, but across to the flying lady. And more importantly, the handsome actor pursuing her. "Nothing personal, John Doe" Buford says as he emerges from the mist behind him right at the wrong moment, almost as if he has teleported and not just beat feet through the cloud. Trenchcoat and fedora gone, bloody shirt sticking on in tatters. Shorts suspiciously soaked. But even now, he takes a moment to look up at Iris and give her a mossy grin and a brief glance over. "But as Sensei Katana might say: Oh my! Wammo Shin Dairy!" He give two swift slices, before ultimately running his blade in a thrust right into John Doe on the other side.
"You are already dead!"
[CHEVY]
One moment, Chevy was riding the wave into Buford. The next, she's tumbling on her shoulder with a thick, leathery mass. But as the soaked Southerner whirls free of the surf, she finds that it's not Buford, but just an empty... trenchcoat?!
And now that the wave has subsided, she finds herself breathing sickly-sweet strawberry kiwi-scented air instead of the regular old kind that her lungs need. Pinching her nose with one hand, she mule-kicks the trenchcoat away from her as if it were an infectious disease. "Blegh..."
Coughing, she rises to her feet, scooping water up into her buckets as she takes a quick look around the arena. Her Hawaiian shirt, now thoroughly drenched, is translucent and practically shrink-wrapped against her now. And for the moment, she has time to consider...
Buford's voice gives a sign of where he's gone -- blasting off again, this time to harass John Doe, who is in turn harassing Iris along with Ayala. Stepping to one side, she notices the brawl between Tamaki, Ichika, and Djamila... and draws in a fresh breath of strawberry-kiwi-less air.
Right beside her, Chevy hears, 'I'm not done!'
And she grins with renewed determination.
For Tamaki -is- done, sadly...
And Ichika looks like she's running on vapors.
With her buckets now full, Chevy steps in close. She can see that Ichika's aiming to kick high -- despite earlier cautions against this. The hydromancer is familiar enough with Djamila's style to take a rational guess on how she'd deal with that... So Chevy coats one of her buckets in a sheath of chi-charged water, and aims to swing -her- pole at Djamila in a low angle from behind -- once more giving a Thunder-friend an assist! She might not tag Djamila, but if she has to take a swing at her pole instead, she's happy to give the help she can!
She shouts back with a smile, chiming in after Ichika... "Me either!"
COMBATSYS: Ayala blocks Iris' Raido - Solstice Journey.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Buford
[AYALA]
Oof, Ayala made that last hit look extra great--destined to go into the Rumble Girls kicking high compilation, or somesuch. Ayala meanwhile doesn't seem phased by it, taking a moment to brush her hair back after she lands and looks up in time to see Iris appear above her in a rainbow surge of light. She is taken down by the girls impact into her--the spear chunking into the floor of the arena right near her head, causing the blonde's blue eyes to widen--rolling out from under the other combatant.
And it seems Ayala has taken the hint, giving Iris a bit of a wide berth. Of course, she's partly doing this to save her strength again--she's got a lot of fight left in her, and she hadn't expect JD to join against Iris either--so she's trying to be a good sport, partly.
COMBATSYS: Ayala gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Buford
COMBATSYS: Iris dodges John Doe's Grave Mistake.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|==-----\-------\0 Buford
[IRIS]
Iris Osterlund's fighting career is, counting this exact current moment, exactly four fights deep. Three of them were 1-v-1 bouts that had a wide array of outcomes, from "effortless-feeling fighting flow" to "recipient of procyonic curbstomp," but BROADLY SPEAKING they were not particularly chaotic in terms of sensory input, simultaneous cognitive foci, and so on, and so on.
Whatever the ["eff!" sound from Perfect Hair Forever.wav] THIS is, is absolutely NOT that, which might account for Iris's currently unsociable need to maintain her personal boundaries at 10x effectiveness, despite the whole point of this event being, not to put to fine a point on it, to beat what feels like ten thousand people into the dirt.
The minor benefit to your fighting style involving the summoning and unsummoning of weapons from nth-dimensional space, or however eggheads like Kokonoe would explain what we have called 'magic' going back into perpetuity, is that if you end up with a situation like this one -- where the spear you're holding onto is now firmly lodged in the ground, or in the case the arena surface -- you can simply let it vanish into the ether. This is, in fact, exactly what Iris does, because as Ayala rolls away, the Brit turns to her left to see John Doe lurching/leaping/lurchping? at her with EXACTLY enough time for her to go "What in the George Romero--" before needing to get the actual hell OUT OF THE WAY because there is every indication that if JD catches her, she is going to Regret It, A Lot. She doesn't even have time to do some sort of clever or flashy teleport(tm, Asamiya Heavy Industries) out or anything: she simply scrambles backwards, her foot narrowly pulling out of range of JD's grip mere centimeters from his potential success, Final Girl-ing herself into a shaky standing position.
"This is, like... a lot," the wizard mutters, hands on knees for a second. But neither Ayala nor JD is chasing her down, meaning she has time to look around the arena.
There's a sense of sportsmanship involved in Iris's mind; attacking the people who seem like they've been getting read the riot act for an hour is max-level Feels Bad Man. Some, however, seem fresh as a daisy, and that... still feels a little bad when they're strangers, to be honest. And that is how we find her blinking across the distance toward Buck with her hands out, as if she was about to have them wrapped some sort of two-handed battle implement that will definitely appear there properly when she finishes her swinging motion at Buck. "Hello! The crab arm was aces, is that magic?"
Right before what WOULD be impact, however, and after Iris has given her brief friendly query, the wizard realizes that she has, AGAIN, summoned the damn giant cartoon squeaky mallet. "Oh, motherf--"
COMBATSYS: John Doe blocks Buford's Cloudchaser.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0 Buford
COMBATSYS: Buck endures Iris' Weakened Crushing Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0 Buford
[BUCK]
"Stop running!" Buck calls at Buford as his tee snapping assault fails to actually connect with the Canadian. He's certain he has him trapped in the pincer attack between him and Chevy and their practiced teamwork, at least until there's a pungent cloud that smells like something exploded in the Kool-Aid aisle. "Uhg, what is that?"
He waves one of the wet tees in front of his face to clear the vape smoke only to realize his prey has given him the slip. "Hey!" He shouts, spinning around to try to pinpoint the maple syruped menace. "You called that cowardly, you snake!" There's only a moment spared for grumbling as Chevy races her way off. It does give him a moment to assess the battlefield. There's a good knot of the remaining fighters all wailing on each other, and he's actually stepping in that direction to get in on the fray, as he's never one to turn down a good chaotic brawl, at least until Iris is calling him out. At the question, he squints ever so slightly, "Well it ain't normal, is it?" His tone is jovial at least, enough that he laughs and gets ready for a fight. He doesn't know completely what this one can do, so he thinks he prepares himself for everything except what comes. And he just stares.
SQUEAK
The mallet connects with his head with a hillarious toony sound effect that will no doubt be clipped and played over and over on the internet, perhaps achieving glorious meme status. "What the H-E-double hockeysticks was that?!" He mutters as he backs up a few steps. When he looks back at Iris he's grinning again, actually, that grin is wide, too wide, like someone is pulling back on the corners of his mouth. "Buck, nice to meet you hammerspace." Then he stretches his mouth open, much more than it should be able to, a pair of snake fangs on display for just a moment with a sibilant hiss, then a glob of chi-infused snake spit is flying through the air right back at Iris.
[JOHN DOE]
Reaching, grasping, groping and grabbing for the wizardess's leg, John Doe catches a great double fist full of air as she scrambles out of reach. Straightening up, he takes a moment to wipe a bloody hand across his already soot-stained face, body a mess of bruises, carbon stains and dried gore. But, at least he's finally stopped bleeding.
The tingle of pseudo citrus wafts past his nose, alerting him just in time to tug him free of his thoughts(?). Turning to face the emerging bulk of Buford, he eyes the second largest NFG participant up and down with judging eyes, though whether it's in response to his attitude or his shambles appearance is anyone's guess. Grey eyes meeting blue, the actor tilts his head just so, accepting the challenging proclamation with but one spoken remark.
"Desu."
The humming slices of the blade come, and JD bats them aside with alternating swipes of his leather-clad hands. Waxing on, then off, he moves in perfect sink with his samurai opponent, even going so far as to lean fractionally to the side, gap opening between torso and arm...
Only to get stabbed straight through.
Directing a critical frown down to the blade impaled through his torso, he gives the flat a little poke, annoyed, before his right hand flashes up to try and smack a jab into Buford's nose for having the sheer temerity to stab him. Free hand gripping at the blade, he forces it free of his body with a wet SHHLURP, a thick welling of blood oozing sluggishly from the twin holes at front and back, before aiming a second punch at Buford's chin, then a third at his bearded neck, really driving home how cross he is about this whole thing.
COMBATSYS: Djamila dodges Chevy's Weapon Trip.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Djamila
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Chevy 1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0 Buford
COMBATSYS: Djamila fails to interrupt Light Kick from Ichika with Improvised Kick EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Djamila can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/----===|
[DJAMILA]
She's focused on Ichika mostly after all, it was her idea for them to show how much they evolved. Yet someone else from team Thunder try to sneak up on her. Good thing she has "eyes" behind her head.
. She has to decide fast what she is going to do. She gets on her staff, and with wind she lifts herself up with it. Just as she tries to kick Ichika from that position. She manages to get high enough from Chevy's pole, but Ichicka's kick manage to hit Djamila's staff before she can let out the kick she was preparing, and because Djamila is only holding with one hand, she can't hold on, falling hard on the ground and her staff falls on her.
She has her head toward Ichika's now with a tired, perhaps forced smile. "I am out. I can't continue. Good job with my arm, but in the end, you couldn't just show me what you had. To go on, you needed your team to back you up. So in my book, you're not ready to beat me yet. Goodluck though, no ill feelings. Then she uses what strength she has left to roll herself out of the ring with her staff. Trying to be loud enough to be heard. "Win this Ayala. I believe in you!"
Once she is outside the ring, she gets some help to guide her away to get her arm checked.
[ICHIKA]
Running on fumes is certainly one way to put it when it comes to Ichika. Without her jacket it is easy to see the mottled bruises spread over her shoulders, the cuts - no longer bleeding thankfully - the burn mark across her back where the psionic spear had hit her earlier. It has been a wild ride, and she is honestly surprised to find that she is still standing. But standing she is, and far from being beaten down by the experience, Ichika is proud.
Chevy's assistance helps her boot beat down the last of Djamila's resolve; the crack of staff is satisfying, and Ichika gives a faint shrug to the dancer as she slides her sword back into place at her side.
"The Rumble could never have been the venue to settle the questions between us, Fadel-san. We were each half done before we even began to face one another. I will look forward to our next proper clash."
Even she is surprised by the calmness in her tone. Once, she had sworn bloody vengeance against the woman for a far less explicit criticism. But she has found that within the heat of battle is where it is easiest to find clarity. She had meant what she said to Buford; she has learned many truths, some of them about herself, and it seems as though she still has more to learn on that score as well.
"Thank you, Chevy." She says, as her eyes turn back to the rest of the fight. She lets her mind unspool, taking it all in. "... I won't be winning this." She says, with a grin. It's a simple calculation really; she knows how much punishment her body can take before she is forced to stop, she knows how much she has left to fuel her own attacks, and she knows that she doesn't possess an incredible healing factor. Perhaps that's a weakness in her style... but how often did she intend to participate in a sixteen person mass brawl, exactly?
Much as Iris feels overwhelmed by the number of combatants, Ichika had made the same complaint when squaring off against just Coco and Kenzo. That experience might be part of why she's finding it easier this time. It's just a matter of reconceptualising what one's goals are.
And that's why she's smiling like that.
"I will do my best to clear the path before you." She says, "But know that Fadel-san is wrong. Maybe she couldn't see it, but we've each shown the entire world our best today. All except one."
There's obvious contempt even in the way she draws her sword again, her eyes barely flicker in his direction to make sure that she's firing it in the right way - she just draws it, and then sheathes it again, quick as a flash.
It'd be easy to miss the tiny spark of bright blue chi which is sent shooting across the arena to burst against Buford's backside.
She's not even looking to see if her attack has had its desired effect, instead she's continuing her conversation with her friend. That smile of hers becoming impish as her eyes gleam.
"Chicken sandwiches and crepes all around, neh?"
COMBATSYS: Buford dodges John Doe's Mix-Up Combo.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Buford dodges Ichika's Brilliant Spark.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/----===|
[BUFORD]
Desu.
As Buford drives through, he realizes that in his fighting spirit he might of killed a man. But to even a greater horror, he realizes that like Tamaki and possibly Buck, there was more to John Doe than met the eye. Hopefully, the beautiful and magical woman was intently observing him as he risks his life and limb and, most importantly, his point standing in order to defend her honor. If not, well, one could hardly expect a queen to recognize even the greatest of her subjects. As the sword sticks fast, the elegant Japanese word from the actor are flawlessly enunciated, and sound almost right out of Akira Kurosawa movie, at least to Buford's ears. But rather than gush about it, John Doe does the gushing for him in that foul oozing filth. All while that little spark comes flickering right at Buford swollen fat Alberta Toosh. But at the last second, almost as much luck as anything, he sways that thick flappy dumper just so, as he pulls himself back away from his sword, leaving it abandoned in John's torso. The spark slips past him, and Buford lands down on his rump. He recoils in horror, ready to accept his fall as the follow up punches come. But Before Buford could die the death, sentence to death, great equalizer is the death, the spark dabs on the hilt of the katana. There is a malfunction, as all six flavors suddenly rush out from the hilt in a blast of misty flourish. The scented swirl of creamy Irish butter, an entire tropical fruit salad flourished with Snozzberries, and somehow the sharp and unmistakable scent of axe body spray, carefully cultivated to savour in your mouth and lungs. As the cloud wash over Buford, he gives a mossy smirk before disappearing in the fog, leaving the last two hits to catch nothing but vapor. There is the sound of what is like a large toddler or piglet scrambling on the floor, crawling quickly but clumsily somewhere around behind John Doe. All with the trackable and well telegraphed haiku burbled out from his lips.
"To Fight Like The Mist:
"You Float Like a Butterfly
And Sting Like A Bee"
The last comes with it rising up behind John Doe, as the last of the vapor fizzles out. "Sensei Katana taught me a trick, you see, on what to do when a Faithless Samurai is disarmed! Now, how about my sword back, good sir!" Is what Buford explains, before he lowers his head.
And then promptly tries to head charge at John Doe.
[CHEVY]
Chevy completes her swing with the knowledge that her interference may have, in some part, helped Ichika to land the blow that brings down Djamila. The smiling Southerner takes a step back, swinging her pole to her side in order to keep the water coiled around her feet in a wide ring shape.
She keeps an ear on the conversation between Djamila and Ichika, slowly considering joining one of the other mini-melees. John Doe as Buford manages to wrest his attention away from Ayala... though Chevy finds her own attention pulled away by the giant squeaky mallet Iris drops onto Buck. "What in the heck...?!"
Djamila uses her last moment in the ring to remind Ichika that the Rumble is not, in fact, a duel. Chevy's distant grin shows that she finds the exchange amusing, though it becomes clear that she was paying more attention to an Ayala who managed to find a moment to cool her heels in the middle of the battle royale. She answers, poignantly: "Huh?"
Turning to address Ichika, she seems pleased that her friend isn't as vein-poppingly serious as in past battles. She's quick to respond to the note about Fadel-san with a confident grin: "Oh, I warn't worried about her! We've already done pretty well for ourselves!"
And as Ichika draws her sword, Chevy and her ring of water take off like a rocket, racing towards Ayala. Her parting words show her appreciation: "Yeah! You bet!" Nowhere near as eloquent as the younger Justice High student, she demonstrates that her focus lies on making a larger impression on the battle's conclusion.
Chevy quickly closes the distance to Ayala, leaping into the air -- and as she descends, she swings her bucket down in a harsh diagonal angle at Ayala's ankle. If her bucket full of water happens to connect, Chevy would use the leverage of her accumulated momentum to snare hold of Ayala's ankle, tugging the former Frostie into a head-over-heels flip onto the mat!
"Ain't no rest stops on this trip, sugar!" The references to a long car drive might be lost on the cavewoman, but that's not really something Chevy's got the time to ponder on!
COMBATSYS: Chevy successfully hits Ayala with Corner Store.
? Strange Hit! ?
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ayala 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/----===|
[AYALA]
"Water girl! Ahhh!" Ayala is taken by surprise by Chevy, who is able to hook one of her ankle with her bucket, flipping her ass over teakettle, as one might say in other parts. This might not have hurt if just being flipped onto the arena floor like that, but she does come down hard and doesn't land right, bonking her head, leaving the Cavewoman starry eyed for a moment.
"Oof... Ayala not pay Chevy back for before, yet," The cavewoman punctuates the 'yet' with a heavy and quick stride toward her and brings one of her arms back looking like she's gonna sweep a whole table clear. This is not far from the truth as she rears back and sweeps her left arm and hand in a wide arc right toward the water-bending combatant, the back of her hand headed straight for Chevy's head!
It's admittedly not quite as spectacular as her previous move, but probably still entertaining to watch.
COMBATSYS: Iris just-defends Buck's Spit Take ES!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Ayala 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/----===|
[IRIS]
There should be some sort of witty banter here; after all, that is the mode in which we appear to be operating. But the truth of the matter is, when you attack a man EXPECTING to summon a mystical warhammer and you get Amy Rose's hammer from Sonic the Hedgehog, and then he turns around and does some absolute horror movie shit vis-a-vis spitting a glob of acid? venom? acidic venom? at you, the time for banter has probably passed.
This might be why Iris's response is to go: "aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
Perhaps acting on some insane reflex that she is going to interrogate quite a lot later in the day, when Buck spits some terrifying sci-fi snake stuff at her she does the only thing she can think of to do: she holds out both hands and attempts to summon SOMETHING that will keep that from splashing all over her. Maybe a shield? Umbrella?
What she gets is a bucket, into which the green goo splashes with a deeply unsettling GLORP! sound before the weight of the new contents cause it to swing creakily into an upright position, the wire handle in one of Iris's free hands.
For a second, the wizard looks down and just sort of... blinks at what just happened, before turning her gaze back to Buck, who HOPEFULLY does not have that Mileena-about-to-eat-someone face on anymore.
Bereft of ideas, the Brit just hurls the bucket at him. "You can just say 'hell', by the way!" Iris adds, a sharp non-sequitur as she tries to process the past 45 seconds. "You're an adult!"
COMBATSYS: Buck blocks Iris' Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Ayala 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\\\\\ <
Buford 0/-------/----===|
[BUCK]
Sure, Buck's face haws mostly returned to normal by the time Iris is looking back at him, except a serpentine forked tongue flicks out between his lips as he gives her a wink. Yeah, he knows how disconcerting that attack is, not that he really seems to care, though he does cast a look over to Chevy to see if she noticed or not, perhaps a little guilty looking.
"Sorry, can't do that. My ma said she was gonna be watchin' this one and she'd have my ears if I cussed on TV." Buck explains simply as he shrugs at Iris, finally tossing the pair of wet tees aside as they no longer serve to help him. "Nice move with the bucket though." Which he says with a big thumbs up right to the magician. At least until the bucket is coming back at him. "Eh? Hey!"
He takes one step back trying to get out of the way of the lobbed bucket, then decides better of it and instead bring up his arm and backhands it away. His arm makes contact with a solid metalic thump as the side of the bucket gets a nice dent from the maneuver and ands up tumbling end over end away from Buck, spilling some of the snake venom contents in an arc as it spins throught he air across the arena, right towards poor Buford. Did he aim that? Who can tell? (He didn't.) Especially since he looks after the direction it goes flying with a grimace. "Oops."
COMBATSYS: John Doe interrupts Medium Strike from Buford with Random Weapon.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Ayala 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\ <
Buford 0/-------/--=====|
[JOHN DOE]
Fist drawn back for another swing at Maclanky's head, John Doe is jolted from his act of violence by the unexpected application of electricity to the sword hanging loose from his other hand. Body jerking slightly, he begins to lift the humming blade as a miasma of multi-scented madness blasts forth from its hilt, consuming himself and the Canadian in its putrescent warmth. Only half listening to the scrambling progress of his opponent, JD fumbles for the weapon's controls, flipping it off, back on, off again, to another flavor, and off one more time.
NOTHING WORKS.
Wheeling about to face the direction of the gabbling haiku, JD hefts the sword high overhead, fog still pouring from its over clocked mechanism, and squares himself against the looming mass of the moss-mouthed samurai. He does not speak, has no final quips to impart upon the Canadian. Facing his foe with grim stoicism, he waits, gauging the moment as Buford comes charging forth through the snozzberrie AX.
The katana's blade cuts a whistling path through the fog as JD brings it down in both hands...
THWOOONG!
Hammering the flat of the weapon square into the top of Buford's skull, John stands braced against the bigger man's continued momentum, surprisingly unmoved as the swordsman collides bodily with his front. Tossing the still humming length of metal aside, its hilt trailing vapor as it skids off across the ring, JD plants a hand against his foe's sagging chest and shoves. Intending to send him stumbling away and free of his personal space, it is unfortunate that the maneuver might also put the man squarely in danger of being beamed by a surprise bucket full of poison.
Whoops.
[ICHIKA]
Ichika shares a firm nod with Chevy as she rushes off to engage Ayala, and there's some satisfaction in seeing that go so well. It's challenging to see what is going on with John and Buford, just because of the sheer amount of smoke involved in that whole area, but it seemed as though the rotund Ronin was more stubborn than she had thought; she wouldn't be surprised if he was still standing when the smoke cleared; she could only hope that he would not. Either way, her nose couldn't take another rush through the fruity hell that is Buford Maclanky.
Iris seems to be discovering Buck's unique talents and, really, that's a fight she would have loved to see in full. The magician's ability to conjure all manner of weapons and Buck's ability to be any animal he could imagine... that would truly be a fantastic clash. Whilst getting involved might be fun, it might be even better to stay out and review with as little interference as possible on her part.
That bright blue gaze of hers returns to Ayala as the tribal leader attempts to backhand Chevy, and she slowly draws her blade. She'd crossed blade and fist with Ayala before, of course, and she knew how powerful the strength in those limbs could be. She has more than enough reason to respect the woman.
Her breathing steadies. She resumes her stance. Sword held in both hands before her. Those eyes scarily focused, no longer blinking as she readies herself - she doesn't have much room for error from here on out. She needs to choose her moment, but she's determined to make it count!
COMBATSYS: Ichika focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Ayala 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[ \\ <
Buford 0/-------/--=====|
[ABIGAIL]
Well look at that. Looks like at least -some- of the lessons stuck to Team Frost even if an unlucky break happened to couple of them. Honestly, Abigail can't complain.
The colossus had made his way into the Arena -finally-. A distraction in the form of a random half-djinn attack after already being late due to Two-P and Axl insisting on getting Brian Storm merchandise had made him miss a bulk of it in person..but he'd caught enough on broadcast.. Sarah and Genie. Buford and Ayala.. Alright then. Good, good! His eyes flicker rapidly over each of the combatants in turn. Watching some with an additional keen appraising interest before paying attention to his own once again. "Heeey whaddya know... They aint half bad!"
Buford, is of partricular interest to the Mad Gear titan. He'd invested much into his fellow Canadian..and had put his own reputation out there to...perhaps some damaging results..by selecting and vouching for the oversized samurai. Surely putting himself forward to invest in such a diamond in the rough will pay off! Risk big for big reward! Or so he'd heard from..somewhere. He'd even expended additional resources on his behalf, bringing in Mad Gears own legendary and -absolutely authentic- samauri, Katana, for some specialized training. He had his doubts about the whole meditation while sitting under the waterfall -- at the Putt-Putt Miniature Golf..but trust the process. Katana surely knows what he's doing!
Who is he kidding? Of course he doesn't..and yet when Buford starts, for lack of better word, 'kill-stealing'.. Abigail can't help but..well..frown. Frown but then slowly let that Mad-Gear sources 'slasher grin' of his begin to crease his bull dog like features. "Well whaddya know. He listened! He -is- a heel!" He reaches out and slaps a massive hand on Axl's back, the man still stunned from having witnessed Brian Storm's ah..entrance. "Not bad, eh?!"
Good enough for the Superhuman Hot-Rodder. His work here is done.
[MINT]
As the Rumble rolls on, Corporal Minal Panesh has been continuing her patrols around the stadium. Sure, there may be some people of interest for her security purposes -- Xiayu and now Scarlet Dahlia, but as long as they've been keeping to themselves there's not much reason for her to sound an alarm to the heavy-hitters in the audience. Accordingly, Mint has been able to spend some time actually -watching- the fights unfold.
She was, admittedly, a little sad when Nixie, Kenzo, and Djamila were taken down -- but she comforts herself in knowing that they did the best they could under the frenetic circumstances of the Rumble. Now, though... with the chorus of applause for the last remaining Metalhead's impressive feat, the pint-sized pugilist claps her hands together in pride. "Hang in there just a little longer..." she mumbles under her breath, metal fingers anxiously tapping against each other.
COMBATSYS: Buford endures Buck's Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Ayala 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/-======|=======\====---\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[ <
Buford 1/-------/=======|
[BUFORD]
Buford couldn't believe the humiliation.
It was bad enough that a gaijin like John Doe was using a Katana like some kind of idiot. Only those who truly had the spirit of the Samurai could wield Suchimusodo. Like Katana. Or Buford. But no, John Doe was even using the wrong -end- when he slams the weapon upon his naked head. Buford squeals as blood comes down his head, the blow being strong enough to make a bleeder. Slamming into him brief, he is sent staggering back into the ropes, he rolls his head around, eyes lolling out as he spies a bucket. A bucket that was practically a chalice made by the beautiful Iris, no doubt as a reward for selflessly going out of his way to protect her, filled with something that Buck was throwing at him. A bucket from Buck that immediately sets Buford's nose a-twitching and a-quivering. He could recognize that acrid scent and appearance. Gamer juice. He practically allows the bucket to strike him face first, breaking his nose as even more blood comes down. Gripping it with both hands, he leers out at Buck and John Doe. "You uneducated philistines! This is exactly what I needed!" He throws his head back.
And he guzzles the contents down.
Using well trained GOAT throat techniques honed from years of partaking in a wide variety of ever more exotic energy drinks, he engorges down the bucket in mere seconds. Why, it wasn't bad at all. It wasn't unlike his favorite brand, the Totally Ray-dical F-Class Gaming Performance Fuel. Yes, he could feel the power flow through him, as he wipes the last of the Buckspit from his mouth. ".... MWA SNEE HEE HEE" Bellows Buford with a belly laugh, as he tosses away the bucket. His lips slowly begin to expand in a deep, hideous purple, around where John Doe had -first- hit him at the beginning of the fight. "Naturally, the dewy from the froth of the crab was the well known secret ingredient in many energy drinks. That was all that I needed to achieve SAMURAI PERFECTION! Behold! With this second wind! I will return to finish you all off What was once QUEENS shall now become THOTS! And what was once THOTS shall become QUEENS! MWA SNEE HEE HEE! This reminds me of a Haiku! That I- I am- I am just going to lie down though." Buford limps to the corner of the ring as he falls into a horrible coughing fit. The purple was now spreading across to his jowls. After a jump to the left, and a step to the right, he curls up in a ball face down.
And makes what almost sounds like a retching death rattle.
Thus the Faithless Samurai ends the fight here, laying in a corner of the ring, bucket at the side of his head. His bottom hanging up in the air, with a small line of indecency right at the belt line around the smooth round contours of his toosh. His lips were now being twice the size as before. And the audible sounds (and more) with a burst of gastrointestinal distress, that build in strength and power. After a moment, there is a plopping sound. No, no, not that.
The frisbee he threw earlier has finally landed softly upon the peak of his rump, covering his small line of indecency for the sake of the women and children in the audience.
COMBATSYS: Buford can no longer fight. Is this the end of lovable Buford?
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ayala 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ichika
COMBATSYS: Chevy blocks Ayala's Swift Backhand.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ayala 1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/=======|=======\=====--\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[CHEVY]
'Water girl' looks a little surprised at the outcome of her attack -- maybe she overdid it? Though she does seem to be a bit more concerned at the water that spilled from her buckets in the process of attacking.
Back home, she's so used to giving people things like pies and treats that she's accustomed to giving a standard reply to things like 'I owe you this!' So when she hears Ayala's remark, she responds automatically: "Oh, naw, you don't have to pay--"
Quirking an eyebrow, the Southern girl frowns. Backhands aren't the -usual- way to show your thanks. And that's when she realizes that Ayala was talking about a different kind of payback -- and raises her staff to deflect. The cavewoman's forearm cracks against the galvanized metal pole, causing a small tendril of water to snake out and douse both Ayala and Chevy in the process -- but that backhand continues onward, with diminished force, to smack Chevy in the cheek just the same. "Ow..." She staggers sideways, forcing out a snicker in the process. "Well, if it's gonna be like that..."
Chevy steps sideways, twisting her staff around to the ready. It seems like she's about to strike again, but just then, Chevy hears Iris' comment: 'You can just say 'hell,' by the way!' And since she -had- just said 'heck,' and everyone back home gives her grief for such parochialisms, she retorts without even considering the context: "Well, yeah, but I can expect a phone call from momma about--" And then she realizes the comment was directed towards Buck, and takes a hard swallow of air.
One of Chevy's biggest problems to date has been how easily distracted she can be. She likes touching base with... everyone! But right now... it's a detriment. The battlefield has been winnowed down -- and she can trust that Buck and Ichika will know how to conduct themselves. Especially as she hears Buford squealing like a pig again. So she... bravely -stops- herself from looking to anyone else for the moment.
*Focus!* she insists to herself, drawing in her breath and narrowing her eyes at Ayala. From her viewpoint, the rest of the battlefield falls into darkness. There is only... one fighter.
"Alright, Ayala... the tide's just about right now!"
Water coils around her on the floor. Waves splash upwards -- a possible signal of her intent...
Chevy just suddenly -launches- herself forward, keeping the pole between herself and Ayala as she reaches out to grab Ayala's arm! If she manages to grab hold, Chevy would use a focused burst of water to slingshot her feet forward, using her momentum to pull Ayala down to the mat with a flying armbar takedown!
COMBATSYS: Ayala fails to interrupt Oyster Drop from Chevy with Spin Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[AYALA]
This would be one of those moments where everything's about to come together. Ayala has been a lot more careful during this otherwise very chaotic sort of event--she had hardly even gotten her hands dirty during it, it felt like. She draws in a very heavy breath when Chevy vaults forward to meet her, cracking her knuckles from the sheer force of how hard she's forming them. And she attempts to bat Chevy away with a spinning roundhouse kick--
Unfortunately, this is not one of those times.
Ayala winds up getting her leg grabbed instead, it would appear, and waterjet thrown over Chevy and landing with a sickening crunch right onto the mat. Well, can't fault a cavegirl for trying, that's for damn sure.
[IRIS]
Did Iris let that summoned bucket stay in existence just long enough to see what would happen to it? Maybe. She'd planned to let the spell go once it either hit or bounced off Buck; she didn't expect that he would then in turn chuck it at someone else. Plus, nobody else seemed to be determined to attack the British wizard at the moment. So she just kinda... let it go in a see what happens kinda way.
What happens is that some yahoo chugs chi-spiked snake venom out of a magical bucket and promptly passes out in a corner.
It's a good thing nobody attacked Iris, because she just kinda... stares at that whole debacle for a little longer than is strictly necessary or safe. Eventually she turns back to Buck, and shrugs; somewhere behind her, as it rattles away from Buford's unconscious and swiftly purpling body, the bucket blinks out of existence in a flicker of rainbow light.
"I, uh..." A brief pause. "Look, this is nothing personal, but right now we're the only un-engaged fighters in the arena and frankly I am not cherishing the idea of leaping in between Chevy and *anyone* right now. So this isn't, like... personal."
Sweeping her arm out, a flicker of prismatic light heralding the appearance of a whip in one hand, Iris attempts to lash (literally) out and snag whatever bit of Buck is handy and available with said whip, before using it to slam the shapeshifter ungloriously to the proverbial mat... right before a rune glows briefly in her free hand, and purple-blue lightning runs up the length of the whip itself to give him the tasering of a lifetime.
COMBATSYS: Iris successfully hits Buck with Inguz - Druid's Ritual ES.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Iris 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[BUCK]
Buck likewise can only stand by Iris and stare in the direction of Buford as he chugs from the ill fated bucket. One corner of his lip pulls up and quivers in an expression of mild disgust at the scene. "Did he jus'.. drink that?" He asks in a soft whisper of no one in particular. It really is a good thing him and Iris are of the same mind right here because an attack could be coming his way and he'd never see it.
Luckily, Iris is kind enough to address him before reengaging their brawl. "It's a brawl." He says with a casual shrug. "Ain't gonna take it personal."
Buck tries to slide out of the way of the cracking whip, but he's definitely not the fastest fighter in the arena and instead it wraps around his arm, the tug enough to send him off balance and down to the mat. "Dang it, not this again." He mutters through gritted teeth as he gets a small replay of his fight with Kenzo, electricity coursing through his body.
He extends a hand towards Iris, teeth still gritted. There's no way he could reach. Except his arm reaches it's furthest extension, and keeps going, rubbery flesh and suckers forming along the length of the octopus tentacle whipping out at Iris to wrap around her. "I learned this trick already." He intones. As the tentacle tries to seal a crushing grasp around Iris, it begins to crackle courtesy a few eel bio-electric organs, the whole length of the tentacle flaring with blue sparks.
[JOHN DOE]
The last of the miasmic mist fades from the ring to reveal John Doe in all his battered glory. Casting a final glance toward Buford's final resting place, the actor slowly turns his back on the unsightly display, hands working to tighten the wrists of his fingerless gloves. He seems, very unconcerned about the sword wound that pierces clear through his body, the more medically inclined likely guessing that it got him right through the liver. By all rights he should be gushing blood and other fluids while writhing around in pain, not curiously surveying his potential next fight while dark blood oozes sluggishly down both back and front.
Maybe...Maybe this is an example of Stage Health? That ability actors have to set aside great sickness or injury through a rush of adrenalin and other hormones. Truly he is a master of his craft.
With Buck and Iris engaged in a mutual contest of bondage and shock play, JD leaves them to their fun and looks toward the other 3 options for engagement. Ichika, wounded but very focused on the Chevy and Ayala tangle.
Taking a couple of limping steps, JD builds up steam, adjusting to the pull and writhe of damaged abdominal's. Compensating for the damage, the eight and will of the crowd flowing through him, he evens out into a smooth run, darting across the ring toward the wrestlers and letting out a grunt to gain his target's attention.
"Chv!"
Throwing Hopping over Ayala's writhing form, he descends upon the cute redhead just as she is beginning to rise, left hand slashing down in a quick, if sloppy, karate chop toward her left temple.
COMBATSYS: Chevy blocks John Doe's Improvised Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Iris 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Ichika
[ICHIKA]
Concentrating as hard on the pair as she is, Ichika can see the effort Chevy makes to find the same kind of focus that has defined much of Ichika's time in the ring. She's impressed, really. Chevy has always been a more... free-flowing fighter than Ichika's more planned, tactical approach. She knows that sharp, almost paradoxical state where one is utterly intent on the fight but not overwhelmed by the possibilities of it is a difficult state to maintain, especially in the chaotic melee of the Rumble.
With the smoke cleared it seems that John has finished cleaning up the mess Ichika allowed to walk away, and ... well, he looks pretty grievously wounded. Those sharp eyes of hers don't miss the fact that he's been run right through, now that she can get a clear look at him. That's, a lot. But there are plenty of techniques that could, theoretically, explain why it doesn't seem to bother him. Strange, though. Such things are usually the province of extremely trained fighters. John has, if anything, struck her as even more guided by instinct than Chevy. His natural talent must be incredible.
Nevertheless. She'd promised her friend that she'd try to help clear the path for her, and with John lurching towards Chevy with intent. This is the downside of the kind of focus Chevy sought; it's great in a one on one situation, but this isn't that, and it seems the time for respecting singular grudges has definitely passed. The girl's hands tighten on the grip of her katana. Ayala moves to interrupt Chevy's assault"
And there's her moment. She doesn't miss it.
She's already running in as Chevy plows right through the spinning kick and slams Ayala to the mat. She comes in behind Ayala, and in the moment where John is aiming his chop at her friend's temple, the blade flashes, aiming to catch the primal powerhouse across the back as she vaults behind her.
It's a difficult call not to shout a warning to Chevy in advance, but she has faith that her friend can look after herself - and doing so would compromise the edge she has on Ayala in this instant. She's going to need every advantage she can get here if she's going to make this work.
All at once, Ayala has gone from having no attention to being the centre of her own swirling melee. Ichika doesn't doubt that her friend has what it takes to tangle with John; but John has also spread his attentions around pretty evenly. Who can say whether the actor will maintain the tenuous alliance they had enjoyed against the loathsome Samurai? She could hardly complain if he came at her; but she would equally bet that he might go for Ayala as she tries to hold the woman's attention. A real wildcard, that John Doe. His range is practically limitless.
Ichika's breathing is calm, the girl's sword steady and raised as her feet touch ground once again, her jaw set. The wounds she's accumulated are written all over her body, but she's still standing - and her heart is pounding now. She's committed again. First she'd faced Nixie, then Buford, then Djamila. Ayala will be the fourth competitor she has directly stood against and attempted to drive out of the ring before she is forced out herself.
Bright blue power begins to burn along the edge of her blade. It's rare that she can keep it so consistent, but there it is; her determination made manifest in the steady glow of her sword. Chi radiates outwards as she summons this last bit of fighting spirit, and she didn't even need the sheathe to help hold it tight.
"Feldspar-san." She says, her lips tugging into a grin, still stained a little with blood from the blows Coco had dealt her. "It's only fair that I give you the chance to settle the score. Come. Show me when enough is enough."
There's less personal here than in the other prior clashes, despite the shared history with the Warehouse that she is echoing in that little jibe. She doesn't have strong feelings about Ayala either way. But she suspects the reverse may not be true, and she's very happy to play on that if it gets her the result she wants.
[CHEVY]
Chevy had taken a big risk in committing to such a bold attack against Ayala. Surprisingly, it paid off -- but it also left her in a prime position for John Doe to capitalize upon! He'd been something of an equal-opportunity attacker throughout the Rumble, so it was likely only a matter of time before Chevy would find herself in his crosshairs.
Luckily, he had done her the favor of calling out her name before his attack. In the midst of her battle trance, the warning lets her locate and avoid the strike with a reflexive twist of her shoulders. Her position is too cramped for her pole to serve as an adequate defense, so she makes due by raising her left forearm into the path of the chopping blow. The blunted strike stings the novice fighter just a bit, drawing a pained "Ow," but it buys her the time she needs to roll sideways and plant her treads back onto the mat.
One eyeblink elapses, and then a second, as she updates her read on the situation. And then her face lights up. "Oh... hey John!" she calls out in a sing-song voice, as if it -weren't- already a twenty-minute long endurance bout between the brightest new athletes on the world's fighting stage! "I was wonderin' when you'd be on my dance card!"
The bridge of her nose starts itching as she hears her name spoken by Iris -- but she doesn't let the fight with Buck distract her from the very real incursion of John Doe into her personal space. Especially not with Ichika closing up the slack she'd left with Ayala...
"So let's dance!"
Chevy responds by swinging her bucket-equipped pole overhand onto his right arm. But even if he's quick enough to avoid that, a splash of water would signal a sharp reverse of her momentum, as she steps forward to tuck one of her buckets underhand, just under his right armpit. Relying on the water in her buckets to amplify her strength, she hopes to thrust the pole upward, scoop John right off his feet, and slam him down onto the mat!
COMBATSYS: Ayala blocks Ichika's Random Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iris 1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Ichika
[AYALA]
Pain, lots and lots of pain--overwhelming the senses. Ayala tried to rise after that sudden drop and felt herself slam back against the mat--her long curly blonde hair beneath her like a sheet. She had enough momentum when she fell that it felt like falling off your bike--onto concrete. She hadn't felt that since she was a little girl--when she'd fallen while climbing a rock, on a sort of hiking trip. Luckily back then she had a lot less risk of breaking bones--and the fall had been survivable.
Ayala rose just in time to see Ichika coming at her now--gritting her teeth and putting up her dukes just as the strike came down--which admittedly in the excitement she's not sure if it was the sword itself, the hilt coming down at her, what--she does wind up with her hands and arms against Ichika's, trying to fend her off.
"Should thank Ayala--when she gone, sword girl have to fight water girl," Ayala managed through straining against Ichika, finally just rearing back and trying to break the struggle by throwing her forehead against Ichika in a desperate headbutt--again and again, trying to get the bloodied Ichika off her.
COMBATSYS: Iris interrupts Danger Hug ES from Buck with Isa - Fimbulwinter ES.
? Strange Hit! ?
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Ichika
[IRIS]
"Okay," Iris says, watching Buck's hands... and arms (sort of)... snake out (pun unintended) to grab her for an electrifying riposte to her own technique just now. She has precious few seconds to say this while her brain thinks up a suitable defense against whatever the h-e-double-hockey-sticks, as it goes, THIS is. But she absolutely, positively NEEDS to get this thought out since there's a non-zero chance this is gonna leave her on the 'mat' after.
"Whatever this is is very cool but also EXTREMELY CREEPY!" she yells at Buck, very very quickly. "SORRY!"
Then his tentacle(?!) latches onto her arm, and we're not even in Japan! Iris is left desperate to think of something to defend herself and thus latches onto the most 'defensive' technique she knows, her free arm coming up and scribing a frosty blue-white rune in the air, the runic torque around her neck glowing as well as she does so. There is a moment as Iris screams out, the EXTREMELY painful electricity giving her a dose of her own medicine--
Then she turns into a snowman.
Among other things, this fully insulates her from the suddenly electricity, makes her far too cumbersome to drag across the ground, and perhaps MUCH worse, causes mystical frost to travel BACK TO BUCK along his extended tentacle arm until he lets go, resulting in -- among other things -- non-lethal but highly numbing frostbite.
When this is all said and done, and Buck lets his grip go, the result is, well.
Hmmm.
"All apologies to your 'momma'," the still-a-snowman says carefully, reminiscent of old Rankin-Bass Christmas stop-motion, "but: fuck."
[BUCK]
Buck grimaces as the electricity surges through his own arm, the attack either hurting him or taking a great deal on concentration to maintain from the way his brows are pulled down and his lips peeled back.
Those eyes go a little wide as Iris begins a counter assault and he tries to withdraw his octopus arm, only to have the limb captured in frost, ice crystal glittering along the length as he snaps it back, the arm regaining its normal shape as he pulls back. "Ahg, well that was cold." He says, then looks back to Snow Iris with a confused look. "You know it's still summer, right? Little early to bring out the Christmas decor." If anyone shouldn't be too bothered by fighters taking on weird shapes, it's him.
Buck grips is frostbitten arm with his other hand, and starts flexing his fingers, focusing his abilities on the injured arm as he does so. "C'mon.. been practicing this.." He mutters softly under his breath. His hand and fingers regain their normal warm coloration as the frostbitten digits return to normal. He flexes them once, then grins before balling his hand into a fist. "So, you got some neat tricks. Let's see some more."
COMBATSYS: Buck gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Ichika
COMBATSYS: John Doe dodges Chevy's Aggressive Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Chevy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Ichika
[JOHN DOE]
hand striking forearm with a hefty THUMP, John Doe rebounds free of the clash and returns Chevy's smile with a cheery grin of his own. It is perhaps not his best smile, lips split, face smeared with blood and smudged with soot, bruises darkening his pale skin. And yet, he has the sort of effortless good looks that can pull it off.
Swaying sharply to the left, he weaves around the southerner's opening gambit, hair flowing behind him, and darts forward with both hands reaching for the front of her shirt where it clings wetly to her skin. Fingertips just scraping the material, he is brought up short by the pole that wedges itself in beneath his arm, feet rising free of the ground and perspective beginning to flip as he is swung dramatically over head...
Only to roll lithely around the pole and land boots-down against the mat, lean form sinking into a low crouch to bleed off the residual force.
"Hmmh."
Breathing out softly through his nose, JD gazes up at his opponent through the curtain of glossy black that has fallen across his face, features falling into deep shadow. It is an altogether more predatory figure that gives a sharp shove to her staff, rising up to swing a heavy, right-handed hook toward her face. Silent, ominous, he stalks forward into a smashing overhead hammer blow from his left, driving forward relentlessly despite all the time he has already spent in the ring.
COMBATSYS: Ichika interrupts Grasp And Pound ES from Ayala with Illumination Wave EX.
[ \\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Ayala 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Chevy 1/----===/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ichika can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Ayala 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Chevy 1/----===/=======|
[ICHIKA]
Ichika's glowing sword remains perfectly steady as Ayala comes in for her. This, in itself, might be a warning that something is wrong, because there's no effort made to defend herself from the first headbutt. It cracks into her forehead painfully, but she concentrates on keeping her feet planted and her sword steady. Her voice betrays the strain when she speaks:
"Indeed. Thank you for indulging me, Feldspar-san."
Ichika's teeth grit as the second slams into her, and she can feel the strength in her knees starting to fail. This is it, then. Well. She'd do all she can to make good on her promise. Ayala has given her everything she asked for; it'd be churlish to complain just because it did, in fact, turn out to be too much for her to withstand.
Perhaps if she had summoned another guard it would have been different. But that is not where she had turned her talent. Instead, she has opened herself up completely to the power within her and rather than push it into the world in her defense, she channels it completely into her blade.
The power in the sword surges, the light almost blinding. Ayala had seen this technique before; but it is subtly different. More power. More focus. More *intent*. She knows what she's doing now, and it is amazing what difference a little knowledge can make.
As the tribal warrior rears back to deliver a third headbutt, the tiny space between them is suddenly filled with a wave of brilliant, burning blue power as the girl finally responds, releasing all that chi in a single, tightly-focused blast. As tall as the girl herself, the energy catches the woman clean in the chest and throws her backwards, leaving Ichika to stumble several paces and clutch the top rope with one hand.
Shakily, she slides the now-dull katana back into its saya, and finally lets her hand fall away from the hilt completely, rather than standing ready to draw it anew. Blood runs down her face in a trickling stream. One last look at the crowd, the people holding signs cheering her on. Her. The awkward, friendless girl from Justice High. Tears join the blood. Those bright eyes of hers finally close, and she smiles. This moment. Bloodied, proud, with the world watching on, is going to be a good memory for her for the rest of her life.
Her free hand is thrown up towards the ceiling in the sign of the horns; another shocking thing for her parents to complain about no doubt. But it doesn't last long. Her fingers slacken on the ropes, her knees hit the mat. A moment later she feels the coolness of it against her cheek. It's a pleasant feeling.
Her reward for a job well done.
Blissful unconsciousness.
COMBATSYS: Chevy counters Bone Yard from John Doe with Low Tide EX.
[ \\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Ayala 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Chevy 1/---====/=======|
[KENZO]
Kenzo says, "Ahhh. So yeah. JD needs to go down next if Chevy is to get a shared 1st place."
[CHEVY]
The Rumble began as the last tournament ended: Hawksley and Nixie squaring off. Before long, as many as a dozen fighters would be crowding the square canvas to showcase the net results of the New Fighting Generation experience. And as the free-for-all rolls through its third and final phase, Chevelle Beaumont finally finds herself in the midst of what she'd been searching for all along -- the harmony of battle.
Chevy's smile diminishes as her swung pole is turned from a threat into a passing inconvenience. Her water shoes squeak against the canvas; a wide ring of water laps obediently around her feet. She'd fought -alongside- John Doe before -- which, no doubt, is why the two had synergized so well throughout the Rumble. But now, securing an actual -hit- against the handsome heartthrob is proving to be a bigger challenge than she'd expected.
This would normally be the time that she'd clear out of the tunnel and take a broader view of her surroundings. There's plenty of things she could acknowledge, whether it be Buck's transformation into a Cthonic horror, Iris' experimentation with life as a snow-person, or Ayala's imitation of a pounding jackhammer. But instead, Chevy's scintillating wit is directed to the person immediately before her: "... Dang. That was pretty sweet."
Indeed -- if she were distracted by the bright, cerulean blue flare of light beside her, she might have missed out on the signs of John Doe's recovery, or the subtle signs that her comprehension of reality might be... altered somewhat. The notice that the water falling from her drenched auburn forehead seems to be doing so in slow-motion. That, indeed, she seems to be able to feel, or perhaps -hear-, every drop of water resonating with crystal clarity. And with her pole as a conductor's baton, she can influence the swells and tides of the song.
A fist flies towards her face. Chevy pins her pole to the mat, stepping backwards. A bucket spins in place around the pole's base, anchoring it securely. Its twin swings in, momentarily blocking the line of sight between John and Chevy en route to the base of John's wrist -- a hollow, galvanized steel pole delivering the force needed to knock the offending limb away. The water in that bucket splashes out upon impact, threatening to drench the two fighters anew.
Chevy's blue eyes then look up with alarm.
She'd caught the right hook - that was expected.
She expected a left to follow it.
Just... not from that high angle.
With both hands on the pole, she's out of hands.
The conductor's baton twists sharply.
And in the very next instant, that splash of water from her buckets becomes what's needed. An icy cold hand, its palm slapping hard against the wrist of John Doe's strike, guiding it to the side.
The hand is one of -many- hands John Doe will find slapping up against him, as the water at her feet suddenly explodes upwards into a shower of smaller palm strikes. On impact, each of the slaps explodes into its constituent droplets -- but as Chevy is able to draw back and leverage her conductor's baton, the water aggregates into one larger hand, shoving its palm firmly into John's chest -- and closing its fingers around his ribcage!
"Almost caught me...!" she pants with enthusiasm, as her watery hand thrusts John Doe backward, twisting sharply to send him spinning!
And as Chevy completes a spin of her pole, and water splashes down, only then does she take note of the aftermath. The cheering -- not for her. But for the dramatic sequence she missed completely in the midst of an adrenaline-fueled haze -- the one that has Ichika bowing for her last act.
Chevy nods with a proud smile. And flashes a thumbs-up in return, as she draws her pole to the side, water swelling before her as she prepares for the match's final coda.
[KENZO]
Every now and then on the televised broadcast of the fight they will pick up signs that say, "Ichika Chilled Out Buford." The odd thing is that no one with those signs realize that their sign has been replaced until they show up on the big screen.
[AYALA]
The explosion of chi energy goes off--and Ayala is thrown across the arena, thumping against it as she finally comes to a rest against her back, pulling herself up. What just happened? Did she headbutt Ichika into another dimension? Oh wait--there she is, sprawled out. Ow... it comes to her attentiont hat maybe that wasn't the best idea, but it worked. She's able to get up, but she's definitely got the spinning stars and birdies thing going on, as she tries to focus her vision, upper body wavering about. Now where was her other friend--ah, there she was.
"Ayala no give up--not till she bones--" and Ayala surged with an ever-lovin' mass of chi, looking like she's going full Super Saiyan 2 or some such over there--sudden diving with fist extended towards Chevy!
COMBATSYS: Ayala keeps on fighting!
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/---<<<<|===----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Chevy 1/---====/=======|
[IRIS]
Nothing says 'Christmas cheer' quite like a multi-person brawl in a fighting-sports arena in southern California, right? It's probably for the best that Iris has kind of tunneled into a one-person-at-a-time situation right now due to being more than a little bit overwhelmed, because even if she COULD participate in the High Drama going on in the 1-v-1 matchups happening outside of her tete-a-tete with Buck, she wouldn't exactly be in a position to DO much about it right now, would she?
"Look," the snow-ris says to Buck in as irritated a tone as is possible to come out of the mouth of a picture-perfect movie snowman (just with snow arms instead of twigs). If she had a brow, it would be furrowed. "Let's see YOU call on the echoes of creation itself to last-second defend yourself from a shapeshifting octopus man and see YOU get it right 100% of the time!"
A moment of concentration for Iris, as she attempts to get this Under Control, which she has spectacularly failed to do up to this moment. Almost comically, as she does so, Ayala's leap at Chevy takes her directly between Iris and Buck, sailing through the air like some sort of paleolithic comet (maybe the one that killed the dinosaurs).
With a sparkle of rainbow light, the snowman form is swiftly replaced with Iris's typical visage, and she shakes out all her limbs like she just got done doing some very intense calisthenics which, on an existential level, is sort of what happened.
She points accusingly at Buck. "UNTIL that point, I'm not taking any sass!" But also she was raised British and polite and some things are marrow deep, so she adds: "Thank you for the compliment, however."
COMBATSYS: Iris gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/---<<<<|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Buck 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Chevy 1/---====/=======|
[BUCK]
Buck holds up his hands towards Iris, fending off her verbal assault with a pacifying gesture and an easy, friendly smile. "Hey, not sass, just a little friendly banter. You seem the alright sort. 'Sides, I get it. Ain't easy pullin' bit and pieces out of the animal kingdom on command." He srews up his face in a moment of thought. "Well, not without it goin' wrong."
He only pauses a moment to watch Ayala soar between them with an impressed look. "She'd be fun to fight, too. Like a pissed off mountain lion." He mutters, rubbing his chin with his no longer frost-bitten hand. Though he doesn't look overly inclined to get between Chevy and her opponent at the moment, but he also keeps an eye on the unknown to him factor of JD. He doesn't expect his 1 on 1 with Iris to hold out much longer. He rolls his shoulder in a lazy shrug. "Well, 'nough stallin' better get back to it. Ready?"
Then with sudden motion he's closing the gap between Iris and himself, feet pounding across the mat, arms to his side and slightly back as he curls his fingers in with a tensing of his arms. Claws slip free from his digits, glinting a touch under the ring's lighting as he begins swinging in wide raking arcs through the air as he reaches his opponent.
[JOHN DOE]
John Doe is no stranger to being swarmed by masses of reaching hands, and perhaps that is why he seems so unconcerned as his second blow is caught, and the wet press of many palms begins to slap into his already battered body. Muscles stand out sharply along his arm and shoulders as he presses himself forward into the strikes, blood and grime washing away as he manages one, determined step through the gathering flow.
His boot slips.
A flash of blazing blue energy courses through the arena.
And all at once the actor is caught up in a single, massive hand, flung spinning through the air toward the edge of the ring. With the number of wounds he has taken, and the force of the throw, that should be the end of it. He's made it far, done his best, put forward a hell of an effort.
Fingers scrabble at the mat, nails peeling back from bloody fingers as he gouges visible runs in the sturdy canvas. Water surges past him, cascading over the edge in a mini falls, but JD does not go with it. Rising from all fours, hair plastered thickly across his face, bruised skin washed clean of grime, he sloshes forward through the diminishing stream.
"HRRRRRNGHHH..."
The sound that emerges from his throat is not quite a grunt, nor the growl of any animal Buck would be aware of, but falls somewhere between.
Water level dropping to his ankles, he splashes forward with increasing speed, pounding out of the lingering puddles to approach Chevy at a dead run. With Ayala up and leading the way high, he goes low, attempting to tackle the redhead around the thighs and drive her up and off of her feet, arms clamping tight around her knees.
From there, unless she can escape the crushing grasp of his grip, he will lunge upright, ear against her outer thigh as her chest falls forward against his lower back, only to hinge violently forward and catapult the back of her head and shoulders down into the matt.
COMBATSYS: Ayala successfully hits Chevy with Falcon Hit EX.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/---<<<<|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Buck 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Chevy 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
COMBATSYS: John Doe successfully hits Chevy with Strong Throw.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ayala 0/-------/---<<<<|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Buck 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\ <
Chevy 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
[KENZO]
The mysterious sign swapper has struck again. Spectators not paying close attention to their signs until the cameras are on them will find their signs replaced. On them is a chibi-Buck with snake face dripping venom into a bucket. The new sign has text saying, "Buford is what he drinks." No one around those with swapped signs seem to be able to figure out how the signs are being swapped out.
[CHEVY]
Even without direct observation, Chevy can tell just from the way Iris and Buck are talking that they seem content to stay out of the fracas she finds herself in the midst of. Which is probably for the better, as the redhead isn't really sure she'd be able to manage dealing with a third or fourth at this point in time!
Chevy gives her pole another quick twirl -- enough to even out the water levels in her buckets, and to start calling the scattered water back into a ring around her feet -- she positions herself within the ring's space to give roughly equal breathing room between herself, Ayala, and John Doe. Though, it seems that both Ayala and John Doe get the idea to coordinate their strike at the same time -- and there is a definite moment of confusion as Chevy glances back and forth between the two! She answers Ayala, hastily: "Uh... that sounds a mite extreme!"
Ultimately, she pools the water into one puddle, and then slams one end of her pole into the center, causing a shockwave which sends her flying upwards...
But it's not *quite* enough to carry her out of reach of Ayala's extended fist! With her leap, she's higher than expected, so the fist of the 'pissed-off mountain lion' plows right into her sternum, aborting her liftoff attempt and redirecting her back downward! Struggling for breath from the sudden impact, she's left vulnerable for the handsome movie star's attack. John Doe's leap carries him forward into her, giving him the opportunity he needs to grab hold of her thighs, lift her up -- and then *slam* her head and shoulders down onto the mat! "Nnnrgh..." Chevy flops about limply in the rippling aftershocks of the attack -- and for one moment, it looks like she might actually be down for the count...
The cheers of the crowd.
The waves rippling through the canvas.
Peaceful reminders of a home from long ago.
It's a nice memory. The sudden footfalls of Ayala and John Doe nearby interrupt that moment -- jarring Chevy awake. Her eyes shoot open in an instant -- and the drenched fighter feels like -every- eye is upon her.
The water pooled around her suddenly -explodes- upwards like a geyser. It's enough for her to backflip to her feet, landing in a low crouch, as rushing rapids begin to roll around her in a circle... With her eyes wide open, she herself looks more like a wild beast -- maybe even taking cues from Ayala.
"I ain't tuckered out jus' yet..." she insists.
And in the very next moment, she takes off like a rocket for Ayala. Each time she sets her foot down, water rushes ahead to provide an anchor for her to spring from. Each stride carries her closer and closer -- until finally she's close enough to lash a bucket around the back of Ayala's arm. If she manages to grab hold, she'd tug downward sharply, then use her momentum to sling Ayala down to the mat, while Chevy catapults herself to a safer distance from JD!
COMBATSYS: Chevy successfully hits Ayala with Mix-Up Throw.
[ \\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Ayala 1/-------/<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Buck 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 John Doe
[ \\\\\\ <
Chevy 1/--<<<<</<<<<<<<|
[AYALA]
Ayala is caught by the bucket around her arm and SLAMMED down into the mat by Chevy, the barely hanging out cavewoman now given even more stars. She is able to rise again, but she looks quite out of it, and disoriented.
"Come on--lets go, dance dance!" Uh oh, it's like that weird lime green energy eminating in waves from Ayala again--perhaps one might be the dance of her people, but it's actually more her doing that spin of hers again--this time sending out waves of that really strong chi energy.
And once she's spun herself out, she drops.
COMBATSYS: Ayala can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>--\1 Chevy
COMBATSYS: Iris blocks Buck's Aggressive Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>--\1 Chevy
COMBATSYS: Iris parries Ayala's Dance Floor ES!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>--\1 Chevy
[IRIS]
Well this is... a lot, and that's putting it mildly.
Buck suggests that it is possible his own distinctive and (let's be real) body horror-y fighting style could 'go wrong' and that comment legitimately makes the British wizard blanche a particularly nasty shade of white. She's a visual thinker, folks. You have to be, in the mystic world, to some extent (it's all about visualization).
"Please, whatever god is listening," Iris mutters under her breath, as Buck prepares to charge her, "do not let me be in the same postal code when THAT 'goes wrong'."
But then she has to handle the Buck-zerker Barrage of rapid claw swipes, the thing that is dominating her immediate attention, as Ayala's impending disco not-quite-inferno is happening a little more on her periphery. Deciding to try something new and untested (read: she's freakin' desperate), she brings her arm over her chest as if she were doing an over-the-heart salute, and in a burst of rainbow light, something appears on her ARM: a sleeve of chain mail. JUST the sleeve, and nothing else -- conjuring an entire suit of armor might be a bit much, but apparently just the arm works fine.
Try not to think too hard about what would have happened if THAT had 'gone wrong,' coincidentally. A snowman would be the least of her problems. Y'all have seen Fullmetal Alchemist, right?
Putting up a makeshift guard, the sleeve does its job, for the most part: Iris can't stop the jarring, muscle-aching impact of Buck's strikes, but she CAN keep her arm from getting clawed up in the process, Buck's shaped claws making fun, vibrating *TING! TING!* sounds on the possibly-mithril (I mean, it IS magical) sleeve, like someone clinking their finger on a particularly full wine glass. "I cannot believe that wo--"
But now it's Ayala time, brought to you by Bemani. "Oh, COME ON!"
And then, well... there's no easy way to put this, but Ayala's shearing waves of chi-empowered blows literally tears her to shreds. It's a gruesome sight indeed, eliciting a gasp from the crowd.
Or it would be if what had actually been torn to shreds hadn't been a life-size cardboard standup of Iris with an ad for the Osterlund Anything Agency scrawled across the bottom. In accordance with narrative causality, the mostly-destroyed standup topples over onto its back with a *WHUMP*.
TWO WEEKS AGO, IN IRIS'S HOTEL ROOM:
"Nanny still don't know why ye're making this daft thing, young miss," Iris's hulking Nanny says, as she puts the finishing touches on the cross piece at the bottom that makes it stand up. "I don't know much 'bout this fightin' business but seems to old Nanny that ye ain't have much use for this."
NOW, APPROXIMATELY A FOOT OR TWO BEHIND BUCK:
"For the record," Iris's voice says from behind Buck, for that is where she reappeared, "I'm genuinely sorry about this." In her hand, a summoned warhammer, swirling with green spirals of wind, which Iris ducks forward, swinging in a wide arc. Provided she's not summarily thrown to the mat, the hammer disappears, replaced by a gladius arcing with purple lightning for a downward slash in the path of the first strike's finishing arc, before THAT disappears and Iris puts her shoulder and arm forward, a round shield blinking into existence as the wizard attempts to shield bash Buck halfway across the arena.
[ZARINE]
Another has been watching these proceedings in silence. Somewhere in the back, bloody red eyes laser focused on the violence in the ring. The newcomer, the freshest recruit for the New Fighting Generation, watches her future teammates and opponents beat the hell out of each other. Her expression is flat and calculating as she takes this whole spectacle in. She shifts a little in her seat, frowning. Modern entertainment seats are so uncomfortable.
Moving beyond the discomfort, she comes to the decision that she should, in fact, be able to keep up with these mortals, odd and empowered as they may be.
COMBATSYS: Buck blocks Iris' Teiwaz - Justicar's Mercy EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Buck
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>--\1 Chevy
[BUCK]
"You thinkin' some weird thoughts, ain't ya'?" Buck replies, even in the midst of his own attack to the words spoken by Iris about his own powers. "I only nearly burned down a building once." He states as if that is the most perfectly innocent and understandable thing that might go wrong from his peculiar talents.
The claws scrape against the metal sleeve a few times but it doesn't disuade him with carrying through he keeps coming. His eyes go wide and he looks genuinely worried for a moment as the cardboard cut out explodes in front of him under Ayala's attack. "What the?"
Do Buck's ears actually twitch? Yes. When Iris voice speaks up from behind him, his ears wiggle slightly, pulling his attention in the right direction just in time to bring up his guard against that swinging warhammer. His arms coming together in front of him to ward off the worst of the attack. He dances back a couple steps away from the gladius, but meets the shield head on with his guard, letting the push shove him back a couple of feet along the mat, though he maintains his balance by slapping his hands down to the floor on either side of him. "That was close, yer quick." As usual, Buck's comments are genuine and seemingly complimentory.
"Sorry, 'bout this." He echoes Iris. When he brings his hands up, silken strings connect his palms to where he slapped the ground, gossamer fibers curling through the air as he steps quickly forward towards the sorceress. He lashes out with a quick palm strike, which if it connects pins the string to where he slaps it, the webbing continuing to slide from his open hand. Then another palm strike, and another. Each one intending to attach the strong sticky fibers to his opponent.
[JOHN DOE]
Looming over a stunned Chevy in the wake of his slam, John Doe settles into a slightly hunched stand, face hidden and chest disturbingly still of motion. Despite the influx of energy from the crowd, there is only so much a body can be put through, and the young actor is approaching his limits.
The heady stink of humanity brings a drip of drool to his lips, the wet line falling free from his obscuring curtain of hair to splat amidst the spreading wet of Ms. Beaumont's buckets.
Lurching back a step, reflexes loose and dragging, JD swings himself away from the recovering Redhead, leaving her to dash toward Ayala while the actor stumbles his way toward Buck and Iris. Little more than a shambling presence at the peripheral of their conflict, approach masked by the blazing end of the Cavewoman, he approaches from the side like the creeping doom from a B-class horror film.
It is not until Buck has regained his feet, hands slapping busily away in their attempt to web the magical Brit, that JD strikes. With sudden, inexplicable speed, he hurls himself forward from behind and to Buck's right, cold hands attempting to latch on at shoulder and neck. If he can get a grip he will heave the bigger man around to face him, hidden forehead accelerating forward in an epic face-to-face collision with enough force behind it to send both men staggering apart in an explosion of blood, spit, and gloriously messy hair.
[CHEVY]
Chevy wins herself a moment apart from Ayala to catch her breath. Buck and Iris are clashing; JD's broken off attack and is starting towards the others. Signs of the waterbender's presence have been strewn all around the wrestling ring -- a puddle here, a tiny pond there. She could spend a moment and call the fluid ammunition back to her, but it'd take forever, and she'd undoubtedly make herself a target again. So the waterbending savant decides to make use of the water she's got at hand -- about a gallon's worth pooled at her feet -- to help her collect the rest. With her lips pursed, she puts one foot in the puddle -- which bulges outward slightly on contact, lifting her foot off the mat. And then she kicks off with her right foot, and starts to slide as effortlessly as if she were on a skateboard!
On her journey around the back half of the ring, Chevy notices that Ayala's already back on her feet, entreating Iris to join her in dance! Her eyes go wide at Iris' apparent demise -- but thankfully, she breathes a sigh of relief as Iris materializes again a moment later. Just cardboard, whew!
Zipping from one puddle to the other, she grins faintly as Ayala sinks to the mat, and the green light winks out by her name above the Frost entrance ramp. "Good fight, Ayala! We'll meet up again, for sure...!"
The last puddle she needs is a way off from Iris. Now fully reloaded, her time to strike is now! She fills her buckets with two quick swipes through the puddle -- now several gallons larger -- then starts to jog the short distance to Iris. But it's then that she realizes who JD has in his sighs -- and it's not Iris. Gulping, Chevy blurts out, "Buck! On your right!"
Sucking in her breath, she returns her attention to the lady with the nice British accent. "So... Iris! You're doin' pretty well here!" And then, in a departure from the polite introductions script, she lances a full bucket of water under Iris' right elbow. "So, uh -- sorry about this!"
And if she manages to position herself right, she'd aim to sweep her pole up and outwards in a sharp diagonal. If all works as she hopes, it'd sling Iris into a sideways, off-balance tumble!
COMBATSYS: Iris parries Buck's Spin Doctor!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Buck
[ \\\\\ < > ////// ]
John Doe 0/-------/---====|=======\=====--\1 Chevy
COMBATSYS: Iris interrupts Quick Throw from Chevy with Random Strike EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Iris 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Buck
[ \\\\\ < > /// ]
John Doe 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Chevy
[IRIS]
Now it's spiders?! Really?! She wasn't 100% following the beginning of the fight but it seems to a beleaguered Iris that Buck saved all the nasty creepy crawly creatures to emulate when he was fighting her. In a weird way, however, not being into bugs or snakes or octopi (okay that's unfair, Iris has nothing against octopi, as long as they have eight arms in the privacy of their own ocean) actually has a weirdly bolstering effect on the Osterlund heiress, for one simple reason:
She truly and completely does NOT want to be touched by that stuff.
Unlike the last time she was faced with two attackers, however, Chevy's chivalrous (chevalrous?) making of herself known means that Iris can see her coming at the same time she's formulating a plan to deal with Buck... even if that plan appears to be 'run like hell', because she takes one look at spider silk coming her way and says "In the words of that one horror movie: NOPE."
What happens next, Iris herself is going to be watching with great interest off the recording of this, because it's extremely likely that everything she's about to do comes from some unconscious, lizard hind-brain situation, entirely on instinct (maybe Buck's rubbing off on her?): as Chevy's pole and bucket intrude on her personal space, Iris suddenly shoves out a hand and does the only thing she can think of:
She shoves the bucket into the path of Buck's spider strings.
The result, on the plus side, is that the wizard is saved from being cocooned (or worse) by Buck's series of palm strikes, AND for a split second at least, Chevy's weapon is, if not immobilized, then at least difficult to control... just long enough for Iris to lash out with one leg and kick the waterbender's own pole right back at her, at swift close range.
PROBLEM: all of this happens shortly before Chevy's attack -- and in truth, the positioning needed to deal with Buck's as well -- sends Iris totally off balance, meaning the Brit tumbles over ANYWAY and lands with a *WHUMPF* on the arena floor on her back. It probably would have been worse if she HADN'T tried that little maneuver, but she definitely didn't escape unscathed.
"Yes, yes," she murmurs at the sky, trying to get the energy to get back up, "we're all very sorry here today. Pretty sure I brought this on myself."
COMBATSYS: Buck fails to interrupt Brain Dead from John Doe with Bullheaded.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Buck
[ \\\\\ < > /// ]
John Doe 0/-------/-======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Chevy
[BUCK]
Buck lets out a small hiss of annoyance as he's foiled by yet ANOTHER bucket. If Chevy wasn't his friend he'd probably ban buckets in his presence for a month after this fight. As it is he aborts his spider webbing assault on Iris so as not to good up Chevy's ability to attack, snipping the threads early and trying to back away.
Well, that was the plan anyway. But then JD seems to have other ideas and is leading with his head. Buck's in the middle of getting ready for his next attack, horns sliding free of his skull as he turns into something a little less horrifying for poor Iris. Bulls aren't horrifying right? But minobuck intends to launch himself forward, he's instead spun around. And while this might not be an issue do to the nice thick skull and horns he's currently sporting, instead of meeting JD forehead to forehead the actor manages to nail him in the much more sensitive jaw with an impressive sounding crack.
Buck stumbles away, maybe doing a rather skilled impression of JD, or just momentarily stunned. Likely the later as after a few punch drunken stumbles he falls to the mat in a T-pose, bullish nose pointer to the sky as a soft and warbly, "Moooooo......," escapes his lips.
[JOHN DOE]
Here, now, in the twilight hours of the Rumble, John Doe seems to have finally found his groove. Staggering drunkenly back from his head butting contest with a genuine MinoBuck, he plants his rear foot, braces, and just manages to keep his feet. His various sword wounds have once more begun oozing slow pulses of brackish blood, each flex of his muscles forcing more free from his pallid flesh.
Turning his head slowly to the side, the ragged actor looks away from the fallen bull man, hidden gaze sliding past Chevy and her bewebbed buckets, and finally settles his attention upon the prone figure of Iris. A long line of drool splatting wetly against his chest from behind the mass of his hair, he lurches wildly toward the Brit.
With the crowd roaring, and the psychic pressure of thousands of minds baring down upon him, he looms over the brunette and reaches his left hand toward her throat. If those pale, cool fingers manage to close around their target it will be a simple thing for him to heave her free of the ground and high over head, holding her up and out straight-armed like something from a comic book.
Then, with the strength leaving him, he will collapse forward to his knees, bringing the back of her skull swinging down to pound once, twice, three times into the matt, before a reflexive swipe of his arm would hurl her tumbling away as all life flees his form, and he collapses face-first to lie utterly still.
COMBATSYS: John Doe can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Buck 1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\ <
Chevy 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
[CHEVY]
It's typical for fighters to feel like their tools and weapons are an extension of themselves. Weapons are useful in dealing damage with less risk. But they can be taken away and utilized against the wielder, as John Doe had demonstrated against Buford. So it really should come as no surprise when Iris makes a minute adjustment to the swing of her own buckets, skewing its course right into the path of Buck's webbing, much to her dismay.
She frowns as she feels the tug of the webbing working against her, digging in her heels and pulling hard. It's just that two things happen in rapid succession -- Buck cutting the webs loose, and Iris -kicking- the released pole right back at her.
*CLANG*
That'd be sound of one bucket smacking Chevy right in the face. And sticking to her.
Accompanied by a fresh splash of water afterwards.
The echoed clanging resonates throughout the arena.
Staggering backward in a daze, she's surprised to see that she has her own flock of birdies circling around her head. She manages to pry the bucket loose, webbing still stuck to her nose and cheeks -- both now red, in addition to just wet. She lists sharply to her left side, throwing a hand out to steady herself. It looks like she might be able to stabilize for a moment, but... shortly after, she collapses to her knees, eyes squinting shut to banish the birdies from her vision.
Bowing her head, she listens to the roar of the crowd. She's tired. -Really- tired. Getting a beatdown from both Ayala and John Doe in rapid succession really took the wind out of her sails -- and now, having Buck's webbing all over a bucket kicked into her face, well. That's just adding insult to injury, really.
But still, she considers, crouching low to the mat: hasn't she fought enough? In her very first fight against Tamaki, she kind of felt that it was. Just trying to fight at -all- was... something, right? She's done enough here -- she's here as one of the last four fighters.
But then she remembers Ichika, throwing the horns. Going out like a total champ. It brings a smile to her face.
And then, oddly, she hears a moo. And that makes her chuckle.
She can't let it end here. She opens her eyes with renewed hope. She's -going- to see this thing through.
"Eh... so I'd been thinkin'..." Chevy's grip tightens upon upon her galvanized metal pipe. She grunts with exertion as she strains to pull herself back to her feet. She lists to one side, pulling her pole free. And grinning like mad.
"I think you might'a been holdin' back on us, Iris!" And so, even as JD shambles into view... Chevy starts whirling her staff around to her right. The accumulated water -- scattered slightly in the recent disorder -- gathers into an orderly pool just before her feet.
She suddenly takes one step forward. And in her next motion, she slashes in an upward diagonal with her pole. The pooled water obeys her call, surging forward into a wave at Iris!
"So let's see what you really got for us today!"
In her next motion, Chevy spins her staff rapidly around its center -- and the rushing wave suddenly spins, as well, to mimic the motion! What started as a direct attack becomes more of a churning spiral of high-pressure waves, potentially delivering a dozen concentrated strikes at Iris from below!
COMBATSYS: Chevy keeps on fighting!
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Buck 1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\ <
Chevy 1/-------/<<<<<<<|
COMBATSYS: Iris dodges John Doe's Dawn Of The Dead.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Buck 1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0 Iris
[ \\\\\ <
Chevy 1/-------/<<<<<<<|
COMBATSYS: Chevy successfully hits Iris with Rinse and Repeat EX.
- CRAZY Hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Buck 1/-----==/=======|=======\===----\1 Iris
[ \\\\\ <
Chevy 1/-------/<<<<<<<|
[IRIS]
CURRENT SCORE: Iris 2, Horror movie-ass attacks which are gonna give her nightmares for the next couple weeks despite not actually connecting 0.
John Doe, other than taking a swipe at her a little while ago that was happening in the middle of a lot of other intersecting things and thus has slipped her mind for a bit, has truly been in Iris's periphery for most of this fight. In truth, almost everyone other than Buck has, since the two definitively squared off for a while there. But when someone comes at you looking a little bit like a combination between a bodybuilder and Sadako and is quite literally going FOR YOUR THROAT, there is only one option: DON'T BE THERE ANYMORE.
Thus, after a second to shout "WHAT IS YOUR _DEAL_" incoherently at JD, and mere fractions of a second before his grip would close, she literally blinks out of existence in a burst of rainbow light.
FUN FACT: it might seem like that's a very point-and-click ability, but in fact, anyone who knows anything about teleportation spells should actually be very impressed that Iris uses them so freely and swiftly in her style, because they actually require split-second calculation to make you don't end up like that guy in your D&D group who thought it would be funny to use Teleport on a place they've never been and didn't read the failure result tables closely enough.
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT: this means that just sort of going 'NOPE BYE' and teleporting means you do not, in fact, get to choose your destination with anything approaching care or precision.
This is why, when Iris *reappears*, she gets about 0.2s to look to her right and see an oncoming wave coming in her direction and say "Ah, f--" before she gets carried along in its wake.
FUN FACT #2: even when pro fighters are hit by attacks, they are constantly making minute instinctual adjustments of their body -- shifting weight, moving limbs and twisting their bodies -- to partially mitigate damage coming their way.
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT #2: A solid 80% of Iris's cognitive ability, when she was hit, was tied up in bringing her consciousness back from whatever intermediary plane she uses to portal jump like this.
The result is really satisfying for the animation team, because they get to really dig into the fluid physics engine AND the ragdoll engine as each successive wave pushes the Brit farther and farther along the arena until quite frankly (perhaps to JD's eventual satisfaction on watching the replay) she gets slammed by the back of the head ANYWAY, just by Chevy's waves and into the arena wall.
There's a second where Iris is literally just kinda slumped against the wall... before she hauls herself to her feet, wiping a trickle of dramatic blood from the corner of her mouth. "Alright, I guess I did have it easy for a while there," she admits, which is the truth. Part of her, though, the part that's still emotionally adjusting to the life of being a performing fighter, keeps turning a distantly-heard statement over in her head as she imposes her will on her unruly person to get up.
'I think you've been holding out on us!'
No, some internal voice says, I just spent a couple fights having literally nothing go my way!
She's not mad at Chevy, but there is something galvanizing about the exhortation to show her skills to their fullest. After all, her last few fights ended so swiftly, she had no chance to do so. Why not take her up on the offer?
"But if you want to see what I can do, well... I guess I can oblige that," the wizard says, as she walks -- uncertainly, since the waves carried her quite a distance and that actually hurt kind of a lot -- back toward Chevy, one hand extended to the side, a blue-white rune like a glowing capital 'I' shimmering in her palm.
For spellcasters, they are usually attuned -- either because of their personality, their training, or both -- to conceptual elements. Iris's older sister, for example, excels at spells related to the sun: control of flame and light. Iris, however, has always embraced the storm: the wind, the thunder, the cold. And Chevy is, conveniently, situated around a good deal of water.
When she gets close, Iris swings both her arms forward, a wide area around Chevy, whether it has water or not, looking to suddenly flash freeze the pole fighter's feet to the ground so she can't escape. And if that happens?
Iris becomes a blur. She blinks into and out of existence time and time again, attacking from every conceivable angle, including above if need be. Every time she appears, a different weapon: a mace, a sword, a whip, a spear, probably that squeaky mallet at least once, and each weapon flickers with an aspect of the storm as well, until her final appearance involves no weapon at all; Iris simply extends her palm and detonates a burst of wind at point-blank range intended to separate the two fighters.
[BUCK]
It's a good thing Iris and Chevy are locked in a mini-melee for now. It gives Buck a moment to recover from the little winged John Does flapping in circles around his head. Little flapping JDs that give him an idea. He rolls over onto his stomach and pushes himself up, stumbling to his feet with a mere semblance of the grace of a one legged ostrich with vertigo.
In an nerely cartoonish fashion he shakes his head, letting it snap back to normal, mostly. He's still got a bit of one horn sticking out the side of his skull which might be a thing to worry about later. He starts a stumbling walking that gets more sure and certain, but not towards the two other remaining combatants. Instead he makes for the nearest edge of the arena, grabs one of the turnbuckles, and for a moment it looks like he might be crawling out of the arena. Instead, he clambers up onto the post, crouching, with his arms out to the side for balance.
It was time to fly.
He manages to keep his balance as he raises his arms. Then with a 'FWOOMP!' feathers burst free os his arms in a pair of bird wings that he brings down as he executes a leap towards Iris and Chevy. Except.. wings are one thing, flying is quite another, and gravity has its own ideas of how things should operate as it looks like he's about to fall short of his goal.
And then Iris unleashes the storm. The bursting winds as he closes in on the pair gives him the last little bit of lift he needs, popping him a few feet back up into the air, to soar over Chevy like some crazed birdman. Because the grin he wears is half-mad as it is.
With his target in sight, he tucks the wings and lets gravity finally have its way, descending as a feet first human missile at the magical Brit.
COMBATSYS: Iris successfully hits Chevy with Hagalaz - Ragnarok.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Buck 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Iris
[ <
Chevy 1/--<<<<</<<<<<<<|
[CHEVY]
Chevy was... honestly, feeling pretty good about this battle. She'd fought against the odds and managed to stay standing for longer than she'd even hoped. So... she considered everything beyond that to be an added bonus.
And one of those bonuses was seeing her partner from that bonus round so long ago performing so well! For some reason, she'd expected John Doe to stand up again. He'd been pretty consistent in that regard, always standing up to appear where he was -least- expected. So, in the moments after her water barrage against Iris ends, Chevy had just imagined she'd see him rise again. Only to find herself frowning slightly when he doesn't. Nothing... lasts forever, she supposes.
For that matter, she spares a quick glance to Buck -- glad to see him shaking his head. And being, well, half as horned as before. The lopsidedness of his look brings a smile back to her face.
But -- as she turns back to Iris, she realizes one thing that the sorceress had knocked out of her: focus. She was letting herself get distracted again. She gulps for air, wondering for a moment: just how long had she been daydreaming? Is she even awake now? This -does- all feel... dreamlike, after all!
In the end -- she missed one of the things Iris had said. And she's suddenly staring right down the barrel of a capital letter 'I'. She draws in her breath, gripping her pole closer to her in anticipation. She's ready. And an instant later, the soaked path between herself and Iris -- the remnants of her miniature whirlwind attack -- starts to froth with foam.
It's just that, well, an instant after that, that frothy foam -crystallizes-.
Chevy's expression freezes with horror. This isn't supposed to happen. She's supposed to be -in control- of this stuff. But just as when Iris had co-opted her weapon and flung it back at her, there's... -this- sudden flash freeze. Chevy hesitates, looking down. Silently, she -pleads- with the water, rapidly raising her pole up once, twice, three times to garner some kind of reaction, -any- kind.
And suddenly she finds herself the target, not just of a web-laden bucket, but an arsenal that may as well consist of every type of weapon imaginable. Most hurt. Some hurt a -lot-. Others... tickle?! It's too much for Chevy to process in her nearly-incapacitated state -- she's much too busy just gasping for breath with all the impacts slamming into her! She's battered back and forth with each successive blow; the only way she can even remain standing is due to Iris hitting her from behind just as much as from the front.
In the end -- she did ask for it. After all, she'd been wondering -why- Iris had been holding back -- -why- she'd had access to all of these magical toys, and had not -yet- employed them in such dramatic fashion. So in that, she got exactly what she was hoping to see out of Iris.
Just. Well. It hurts like hell. And Chevy is mercifully blasted right off her feet at the end of it all, the straw that breaks the camel's back. She hits the ground on one foot, her balance so thoroughly upset by the process that she twists about at a precariously unbalanced angle before finally landing on her side, panting -- and thoroughly exhausted.
But.
She smiles wistfully, on the brink of consciousness.
"Long live... Team Thunder."
The fatigued hydromancer lifts her pole.
One inch from the floor.
And with that, her wish is, belatedly, granted.
Ice crystals crack and break free, one after another.
It's something of a chain reaction, really, as the water ripples to life in one long, slow-motion wave. Starting with a small wave near Chevy -- and culminating in a rapid tsunami that threatens to crash down upon Iris with all its sound and roaring fury!
Mind, she'll be slumped over against the mat when that happens. But that's what video-on-demand is for, right?!
COMBATSYS: Chevy can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1 Buck
COMBATSYS: Iris just-defends Chevy's Gulf Stream!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1 Buck
COMBATSYS: Iris fails to interrupt Wingman from Buck with Nauthiz - Ominous Rainfall.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/-----==|=======\===----\1 Buck
[IRIS]
When her hands come back to her sides, Iris then slumps forward, taking heaving breaths. This is a LOT. There is a lot going on here right now, and almost all of it is physically taxing. Buck is about to come for her, but Chevy is dominating Iris's focus at the moment. "Well," she says, between panting breaths, "I hope that's... oh bloody hell!"
"Climate change came early, folks! The arena is now beachfront property! Everyone, get ready to WAVE GOODBYE to Iris!" shouts one of those weirdos on the mic, whose names Iris can't be bothered to remember at this exact moment. And THEN, as the wizard looks up to take in the scope of the wave's height as it snowballs (proverbially, we've done that joke already) its way toward her, she ALSO sees Captain Falcon about to show her his moves, too.
INTERNAL MONOLOGUE BULLET TIME: Okay. So you can summon stuff. What do you do in this situation. What is helpful? You are not strong or fast but you have TOOLS, lots of TOOLS. So what is the... OH.
STANDARD TIME RESUMPTION: Iris shouts, "OH RIGHT LEGOLAS." What? I mean: what?
There's a burst of rainbow light as she flings her arm forward and throws something, discus-like, AT THE WAVE. Is she trying to overcome it?!
Nope. Because what she threw is a round wooden shield, which the Brit LEAPS ONTO and, effectively, SURFS UP THE HEIGHT OF THE WAVE.
There is a wonderful moment at the apex of this absolutely batshit defensive maneuver where she crests the wave and hangs in midair on the shield, preparing herself to turn and grab Buck and use his momentum against him to redirect him into the ground. It's going to be great, SO dramatic. Lots of flashbulbs going off from the media box.
This is approximately 0.5s before Buck 'Divekick' Finley impacts Iris and carries her directly into the ground with his freaky talon feet.
[BUCK]
It worked? It worked! Buck has flown and the eagle has landed. He really doesn't have much time to celebrate though as the final Chevy wave comes crashing down around the pair of remaining fighters as they hit the mat. He tucks and rolls, leaving a trail of soggy molted feathers in his wake along the ground behind him as he comes to a stop, crouching with his hands to either side.
For a moment he seems to be shaking, maybe from the pure adrenline rush of the brawl soon coming to its end. Except the sound of laughter slowly creeps up louder and louder, until his deep belly laugh is practically booming across the arena. He turns to Iris, a massive grin spread across his face. "This is why I joined! For a fight like this!" Maybe he's taken a few too many hits to the noggin this fight, he grabs the ropes nearby and pulls himself to standing, resting back against them. "This is living!" He shouts, arms spread wide and twisting around the cables behind him for support as he turns his face to the ceiling. Even though he looks like he might just fall over from exhaustion with only his grip on the ropes keeping him up, his chest expanding as he take in a deep breath.
The light seems to bounce oddly off the skin of his shoulders, scales starting to dot his skin. When he lowers his head it's molten yellow eyes that fix on Iris, the scales sprouting along his neck and face as his countenance distends into a reptilian visage, the one bull horn still present but balanced on the other side by one that curls back from his brow, wicked and ridged. He spreads open his fang filled maw and the amber glow in his eyes for a moment is echoed deep in the back of his throat. With a loud roar, a massive cone of flames erupts from his mouth with enough force to push him back against his makeshift support, the ropes keeping him upright as he unleashes the dragon flames right in Iris' direction.
COMBATSYS: Iris parries Buck's Burn Out ES!
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Buck
[IRIS]
Uh... UH.
You don't send wizards to fight dragons! You send paladins or fighters or whatever! Frontliners! People with high AC and Con saves! There is very real terror on Iris's face as she stares down the frankly majestic and awesome sight of Buck rearing back to end this by blowing the entire special effects budget in one go. If his plan was to show off in this arena what the extent of his talents are, then boy howdy, mission successful.
For a moment, Iris is pretty literally transfixed, staring this incoming attack down. Okay, fine. You've got a spear and a hammer or whatever; that there is a goddamned dragon, and very few people know dragons quite like British magic-users, a nation where dragons feature quite prominently in the mythology. She is, quite frankly, battling a tiny internal voice that is effectively just holding up a picture of the 'guess I'll die' guy meme image.
But she's not going down that easy. Honestly, it was Buck himself who asked her not to, who encouraged her to keep going, who -- like Chevy -- wanted to see what she was capable of. "Fine. FINE!"
In a burst of light, the chevron-ish shape of a shield of shining silver appears on her arm. As the wall of flame approaches, the wizardess starts hurriedly inscribing glowing runes on it with her finger, causing the shield itself to manifest hazy elemental auras in front of it, a sort of shield for the shield itself. "Let's GO, THEN."
And then she charges the flames.
It is not easy. As she battles through the onrushing fire, the layers of magical protection on the shield get progressively worn away, vanishing in bursts of colored light, until at the very last, it's just the silvered shield -- now blackened, Iris herself visibly singed since the shield can't fully cover her -- that erupts out of the flames at Buck, screaming inarticulately, like some sort of short, rainbow-haired berserker.
She is just going to hit him with the shield as hard as she can. This is her last hurrah.
COMBATSYS: Buck blocks Iris' Algiz - Shieldmaiden's Burden EX.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Iris 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Buck
[BUCK]
It's an attack that takes up quite a lot of his energy, and Buck was hoping to bring this to a quick conclusion. As those flames continue to rush out and he loses sight of Iris in them he feels a swell of confidence. At least until he sees the flames breaking on something as she creeps her way closer, his eyes widen. He doesn't say anything, but a deep growl escapes his draconian throat.
The flames cut off as he slams his maw shut, smoke still drifting from the corners of his mouth and his nostrils. There's definitely a glimmer of respect in that reptilian visage. But that doesn't mean he's just going to give up either. He untangles one arm from the ropes quick enough to bring it up and take the brunt of the shield bash instead of something more tender, like his face.
With a roar that goes from draconian to human as his features slowly return to normal, he leans forward against the shield pushing off the ropes with all his weight. Then with no fancy shapeshifting or elegant tricks the simply pulls back his right arm, balls his hand into a fist, and swings a hook punch at Iris.
COMBATSYS: Iris fails to interrupt Medium Punch from Buck with Jera - Festival of Plenty.
- Power fail! -
[ \ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Buck
COMBATSYS: Iris has reached second wind!
[ \ < > //////// ]
Iris 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Buck
[IRIS]
Iris might seem like the miracle child right now, but that's to an outside observer. Someone inside her head (or with S-rank Analysis) would know that she is very steadily whittling down what little remains of her reserves dealing with the very last competitor in the form of Buck. It shows when the flames die down, when Buck defends himself against that last-ditch shield bash, and when the silver shield blinks out of existence: Iris is taking deep, heavy breaths.
"Not going to lie," she says, already alto-range voice husky with fatigue and pain, "the dragon thing was impressive. Are you a druid, by some insane coincidence?" After all, who has more potential connections than a rune mage and a druid, if you think about it? Mythologically they go hand in hand.
And then there's Buck's head, which comes sailing in an arc to take her out. Which... well. There's another summoning flash, a whip appearing in Iris's hand, but all of this has taken its toll on her and she is just too slow. The hook punch sends her reeling to the arena floor, and for a moment, it looks like this long and intense battle has been decided.
Until Iris gets up.
Truly, any experienced fighter in the crowd -- and there are many -- can tell she is upright solely on willpower alone, an indicator of hidden depths of tenacity from an unexpected source. "Not yet," she bites out, squaring off with Buck. "Not. Yet."
[BUCK]
Buck catches himself from a small stumble after swinging that punch. Iris' question if he's a druid actually pulls a small smile from the farm boy. "In a way." He runs the back of his hand across his mouth, smearing a bit of blood across his cheek, not that he seems to notice.
"We can grab a bite to eat and chat magic if you want." He mutters, rolling his shoulders as he works muscles that are sore and complaining. As Iris stands up, he smiles and nods. "Well, okay then. We keep going."
He takes a deep breath to refocus himself for just a moment, squaring off with Iris in a way the cameras are no doubt zoomed in on, focusing on the two remaining brawlers. The announcers likely chattering in the background, though Buck's not really paying attention, just letting the drone of the speakers and the crowd buzz away around him in a staticy humm. He tilts forward, letting himself fall into a forward run closing the gap between himself and Iris in a few quick steps, teeth gritted and his grin blazing bright. He plants his lead foot as he reaches her and brings up the back in a quick rising knee aimed to her midsection. "Let's finish this!"
COMBATSYS: Iris interrupts Medium Kick from Buck with Thurisaz - Mjolnir's Echo.
[ \\\\\ <
Buck 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Iris can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\ <
Buck 0/-------/--=====|
[IRIS]
'In a way'? Is there a way to only be kinda a druid? Either way, Iris's response to the idea of a moment to talk about this more peaceably in the future gets a sort of vague nod. She is so far past "white knuckling it" you can see the curvature of the Earth from this point. There is probably just about enough in her to respond to whatever comes next, which appears to be a kick aimed to take her out.
In truth, even if Buck had just stood there no doing anything, there's a very real chance that it would have taken Iris out ANYWAY from sheer fatigue. But there is just enough, JUST enough in her for one last parting shot: as Buck's knee comes up, she quite literally GRABS it as it makes contact with her stomach, doing so without breaking eye contact, and traces a rune on his literal thigh that looks like a vertical line with an angular > attached to one side. Which, as Iris's now barely-conscious form falls away from Buck, suddenly erupts to fill his body with magically-conjured lightning.
And then she is on the ground and fully, completely out.
[BUCK]
The cameras couldn't ask for a better final clash, it's quite literally electric. Lightning courses through Buck, making his hair stand up as he trembles under the blast. Screens showing the fight for a moment can only display the bright white of the bolt coursing through him. Then it clears and he's standing.
Smoke rises from him, and it's not the remnants of his dragon fire, but his water dampened clothes giving off a few small curls of smoke from where the lightning was able to spark cinders. For a moment one of his knees buckle, looking to drop him to the mat, but through sheer force of will he straightens the leg back out, keeping himself standing. And all this time, he's somehow still grinning.
For a long moment he stands still as a statue in the middle of the arena, the slight rise and fall of his chest as he breathes being the only movement he dsiplays.
Then, seemingly taking all the willpower he has left he balls his hand into a fist and thrusts it into the air, and shouts at the top of his lungs.
"Team Thunder!"
Then he allows his legs to fold under him, dropping him to the mat in a seated position where he just proceeds to start laughing.
COMBATSYS: Buck has ended the fight here.
[PRINGER X]
As the last light above Team Blaze's entrance winks out with Iris' fall and the final team of trauma ninjas (now equipped with wetsuits) are deployed, Buck is the last one left standing (or sitting, as it were) in the Dragon Arena's ring.
"...AND BUCK TAKES DOWN IRIS AND STAYS STANDING! The atmosphere is absolutely electric in here," Tom declares, prompting all of the fans playing the sports broadcast drinking game take a shot. "The sound of this crowd is practically deafening!"
"What was that, Tom?" Lou replies. "I couldn't hear you!"
'THUN-DER! THUN-DER! THUN-DER!' the crowd booms over the incoherent chaos of cheers and the occasional jeers from those fans whose favourites have fallen, alternating with 'BUCK! BUCK! BUCK!'
"Well, I've got to say, Lou, this has been one of the biggest, most chaotic matches that I've ever seen in my years as a commentator, and I think the audience absolutely loved it."
"Well, if we had ten thousand viewers, I'm sure there are ten thousand different viewpoints on how this should have gone. We saw some massive performances, and some who probably woulda liked to place a little higher in the standings. But I'm sure we can all agree that this was one of the best spectacles in fighting entertainment of the year - maybe of the decade."
"Maybe even... the Match of the Millennium?!"
"I'm not sure I'd go that far, Tom, but to see sixteen unknowns come from where they started to this has been a heckuva ride. But what happens next? I hear there are going to be new sponsors, new fighters, and we already know there are going to be new teams! The original Team Thunder have flipped the script on their points standings, but that just means the other teams might wanna get their hands on them - especially since most were already contested in the original draft, which isn't an option the second go-round."
"And the stats guys have already pointed out that even though Buck is our first Rumble Champion, John Doe is now the hottest prospect in the NFG pointswise - as well as being a fan favourite. With the first pick of the draft, will Metal want to retain their high-value talent? We'll have a full breakdown of the points standings available soon. But for now, it's time to celebrate our new RUMBLE CHAMPION...
...BUCK FINLEY!"
Buck's themesong blares out over the arena's PA system as the spotlight focuses on him, the ring awash in the flicker and clicks of smartphones and cameras.
Log created on 10:18:44 07/30/2023 by Pringer X, and last modified on 10:28:27 08/24/2023.