Match of the Millennium

Description: Djamila and Hawksley. They have met before, they both have reasons to want to win this match. Will this be a repeat of the first Tournament, or can the blind girl turn things around, like Hawksley did with Nixie?

[HAWKSLEY]
What a week it had been since Hawksley Moore was last in this arena. Sunday 5th November was an explosive occasion indeed. In the afternoon he watched his girlfriend, Constance Coalbridge be badly burned in her battle with Junko. Then somehow he had to find the strength to return to compete in his own match that evening, batting off bombs to be victorious in his battle with Nixie. He'd put on a happy face to give the fans what they wanted but he'd received considerable backlash since. Critics, including New Fighting Generation commentators, Tom and Lou had questioned his demeanor considering the state that Coco was in. Some people had even called for him to drop out of the competition to concentrate on helping her with convalescing. The Blaze Brawler had been beside her bed every day and night since. He'd not even set foot in a pub or bar. In fact he'd been completely sober, not even a sip of alcohol passing his lips. It's the longest he'd been without a drink since his school days.

As such, it's a somewhat more subdued Hawksley that makes his entrance for his match with Djamila this evening. He's still flashing his fit form by going topless and he's waving to his fans but perhaps theres less bravado on show. There's also a few more boos than usual. He's faced the polefighter before. On their last encounter he knocked her out of the opening tournament of Fightfest at the semi-finals stage, earning himself a place in the final against Nixie. Since he fought the little green goblin in the last round of this tournament, it's almost like he's retracing his steps. He's just hoping that the result won't be flipped like it was in his last match.

The Irishman's theme song, 'Go! Fight! Win!' finishes playing and the Cork lad climbs over the ropes to get himself ready in the ring. He's not expecting an easy ride from Djamila today. But whenever was there such a thing in this weird and wonderful world he finds himself in?

[DJAMILA]
It's been a week for Djamila too. She had quite a bit of a harder time against Genie in the tournament, vs Genie at the detention center. She expected that, however. It's probably why she won. If she had taken Genie for an easy win, she would have lost.

Now it was against Hawksley. She is aware she lost against him in the previous tournament, but they both have gotten better. She understands Hawksley must be thinking of Coco still. It must not have been easy for him. Junko is a menace. She understood that well with the match her love had..

She comes out, and at first, her face shows she is bothered. But as soon as her music hits, she puts a smile on her face. The show must go on. Hawksley did this and got shit on for it. She understood Hawksley though. What goes on outside the ring stays there, and what goes on inside the ring is another mindset. Neither of them should lose because something happens. Not on purpose.

She runs to the ring. She has her staff in her hand, wearing midnight blue short shorts and a sports bra. She also has her trademark blindfold and black combat boots. She slides inside the ring, and then lifts her arm with her staff up to the cheers from the crowd. After working the crowd a little, she then goes into her corner, waving at Hawksley. She wants to win this, but she has nothing against Hawksley. It's a match they both have to do, even if the mood is not perfect.

[HAWKSLEY]
When Djamila joins him in the ring, Hawksley gives her a sincere smile. "Alright, cailin? I'm looking forward to having a good old brawl with you, so I am. Work off some tension and all."

He starts to pace around in his corner, positioning himself for when it's time to strike. "What do you say we just get on with things and see what each other are made with?"

Without waiting for a response, he hurtles forwards, reaching in to his jean's pocket on the way to pull out a slim silver flask. His hand shakes in anticipation of its contents, as he considers whether it's a good plan to get a taste for the amber nectar again but he manages to swig enough to set his plan in motion.

It's a move that will be extremely familiar to his fans and foes alike, having made an appearance in the majority of his matches. Using his own inner fire to ignite the booze, he then breathes it towards the blind woman with the intention of hitting her with the blaze.

COMBATSYS: Hawksley has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Hawksley         0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Djamila has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Hawksley         0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Djamila

COMBATSYS: Djamila dodges Hawksley's Hedonism.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Hawksley         0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Djamila

[DJAMILA]
Right this second, still having Junko in mind, and also remembering Hawksley's fire in their first match, Djamila doesn't feel like getting burnt again by him, or anyone for that matter. With a mix of speed and reflexes, she uses her staff to toward Hawksley's left side, evading the threatening flames.

Then as the flames die down, she jumps closer to him and slams her staff down in the ring. Like everyone has seen so many times before, it stays upright. Then she jumps high on her staff and reverses herself so she hangs with her legs, upside down. She then reaches for Hawksley's legs, and if she has her way, she grabs them and pulls to trip him. Either way, if she can, she then allows herself to gracefully land back on her feet, her left hand holding to her staff.

She then finally answers him. "I intend to give you a run for your money and then some Hawksley. It will be fun because I know you will also give it your all." She grins a bit.

COMBATSYS: Hawksley blocks Djamila's Inside Leg Hang.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Hawksley         0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0          Djamila

[HAWKSLEY]
If Hawksley knew Djamila's thoughts and feelings, he wouldn't blame her for not wanting to get burned. The fact he fights with fire has been on his own mind after the events of late. He isn't actually angry with Junko for using her abilities though, that's a matter for the New Fighting Generation authorities to decide, it's more how she gloated about it afterwards.

Pushing these ponderings aside to focus on his performance, the Irish Inferno braces himself for the stripper's staff skills. The show is impressive but he's not looking to buy a ticket. He tenses his lower limbs, meaning that even though he's grabbed, Djamila is not able to send him off balance.

"Of course I'll give it my all" he responds to her. "You know me well enough by now." A grin appears on his face. "Oh, are you trying to play the en eff gee drinking game? If you are, I reckon we just made Tom and Lou have to drink a couple of shots."

Stepping up into Djamila's space, Hawksley looks to deliver a left-handed jab into a right cross to try and force open her guard and hopefully rock her core. If he succeeds, he will try grabbing hold of her slim shoulders and pull her face-first into his rising right knee.

COMBATSYS: Hawksley successfully hits Djamila with Buzzkill ES.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Hawksley         0/-------/-----==|>>>>---\-------\0          Djamila

[DJAMILA]
She can't make Hawksley trip, but it's ok. She knew it wasn't going to be an easy fight either.

Now that Hawksley sends a left jaw at her, she moves to the right, straight into his right cross. Which allows him to grab her. After that, her face meets his right knee, and her nose bleeds a bit. It does rock her. "Ouch, Hawksley. Good one."

She doesn't lose time, however, she gets back high on her staff after wiping her nose with her finger, and then she extends her legs. She then spins, trying to hit him with her legs multiple times. If she touches down, she does so in a split and slowly gets back up. "You may hurt me, but I am not stopping yet. Not that you expect me too."

COMBATSYS: Hawksley blocks Djamila's Chopper Spin EX.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Hawksley         0/-------/---====|>>>>>--\-------\0          Djamila

[HAWKSLEY]
"Yep, you're definitely playing the drinking game. Well, fair play to you."

His cross connects, allowing Hawksley to hit Djamila with the hard surface of his knee and draw first blood in the fight.

The plucky poledancer is not gonna let it get her down though, in fact she's straight back up on her weapon of choice, performing party tricks to the approval of the cheering crowd. He looks at her with raised eyebrows as the spinning legs whirl into action. "What kind of a fecking eejit would step into the path of that?" he asks before doing just that, albeit with his arms raised to shield his face and torso from the brunt of the damage. Djamila does manage to strike his arms with her extended legs, adding to the brawler's ever increasing collection of bumps and bruises.

The slugger slips right back into boxing mode, facing off with the now landed Djamila to try and strike her with a series of three rapid jabs with his left hand. From here he is seeking to effortlessly flow into a right-handed cross punch and finish with another quick left jab.

COMBATSYS: Djamila counters Cherry Bomb ES from Hawksley with Superman EX.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Hawksley         1/------=/=======|>>>>>--\-------\0          Djamila

[DJAMILA]
Djamila feels she is hitting his hard and not some hard flesh. Hawksley is at the top of his game. She has to do something else with this to break through.

Hawksley starts with a jab which she moves her head out of the way, then brings her staff up so he hits the hardwood. "Surprise!" She then jumps in the air to land her staff on his head hard. As he doesn't go down with this one, she jumps in the air again to slam it down even harder. She is breathing heavily as she forces herself to hit harder with this, but her senses stay sharps as she waits to see what Hawksley will do. She's not silly enough to think it will be it.

A bruise is forming on part of her forehead and part of her nose, from the knee she took.

[HAWKSLEY]
Hawksley's knuckles smack into the solid staff, causing them to bleed. "Jesus, that smarts a bit" he states, but it's nothing compared to what comes next.

The Cork fella swears he can feel the crack as the weapon connects with his skull. He might need stitches for that one but for now he's gonna have to focus on staying on his feet. The second strike sees off that possibility and he slumps to his knees, cradling his crown in his hands. "Wow, Djamila. Did it bother you that much I didn't take the pendant?" he jests but the grimace on his face suggests he is having to push through the pain to stay positive.

When he finds his feet again, there's some added stagger to his steps and he can't seem to steady himself enough to take a swing. "Just give me a second. My fecking head is throbbing here."

COMBATSYS: Hawksley focuses on his next action.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Hawksley         1/------=/=======|>>>>>--\-------\0          Djamila

[DJAMILA]
She watches Hawksley fall on one knee. "Of course, I spiteful like that, you know me." She jest. She grins and takes the time to catch her breath as he is on his knee.

Then, when Hawksley comes back on his feet, he doesn't seem steady. He even asks for a second there. Of course, she knows he meant just for himself, but actually, she says. "Ok, babe. Why not." She focuses on herself and her senses as she stops moving. It seems she's not going to attack Hawksley either this round.

The crowd seems a little confused there. "Come on, fight!" some people can be heard saying. Then a chant starts, "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" To presumably pump up both fighters.

COMBATSYS: Djamila stops moving and focuses herself.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Hawksley         1/------=/=======|>>>>>--\-------\0          Djamila

[HAWKSLEY]
The sound of the crowd shouting "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" recalls hundreds of memories for Hawksley. Scraps in the playground with other schoolboys - rucksacks and coats positioned to create their own makeshift ring, bar room brawls - stools or snooker cues in hand, whilst abuse was hurled in boisterous boozy tones. Pavement poundings - come closing time when everyone is just looking for that last thrill of the night in the form of a warm body to either shag or scrap with. He's lived them all and loved every minute of it. Has he been the victor in every violent encounter? Hell no but one thing he has never done is quit.

Fetching the flask back out from his pocket, he drains it down to the last dregs, feeling the fiery liquid warm his throat and stir his senses. "Alright, let's fecking go!" he yells, as much for his own benefit as Djamila's.

Striding towards her, Hawksley rears back before trying to smash his forehead into the dancer's face. In that moment she's not just his friend and fellow competitor, she's everyone he's ever faced off against.

COMBATSYS: Djamila counters Aggressive Strike from Hawksley with Light Kick.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Hawksley         1/---====/=======|>------\-------\0          Djamila

[DJAMILA]
This does not give the same thoughts to Djamila, but there are thoughts. How Hawksley might have seen more fights than she has before NFG. And other things, but it's not the time for this. Hawksley is not done for, and neither is she.

"Ok then, babe, bring it!" She yells back, caught in the moment.

As Hawksley comes rears back. She doesn't have long to figure out what she will do. She decides to do a backflip, kicking her feet up. It was a good guess, it seems, as Hawksley's forehead connects with her feet. Then she finishes her flip, landing on her feet and holding to her staff. "Not going to make it easy for you. I am still sore from our first fight." She tells him, but in the same tone, he told her about the pendant. She makes sure to keep breathing air is everything.

[HAWKSLEY]
"Take another shot, lads" Hawksley laughs, as Djamila tells him she's not going to make it easy for him.

His aggressive attack hasn't gone to plan. Picking himself up off the floor, he can see double Djamila, making him unsure which dancing image to strike back at. Is he shocked that she's stepped up her game? Far from it, he's watched all of her matches, along with everyone elses, so he knows she's been on form since the switch to Metro City.

Despite taking a bit of a beating, the Blaze brawler is still very much in the zone. As he clenches his fists, they set alight. Holding them aloft, he then crouches down. Is he perhaps taking another breather? Apparently not, as he's soon leaping into the air, launching himself high and looking to land an uppercut on Djamila's jaw.

COMBATSYS: Djamila dodges Hawksley's Shining Light ES.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Hawksley         0/-------/---====|>------\-------\0          Djamila

[DJAMILA]
Her senses are still on high alert. Even as Hawksley has to pick himself off the floor. She knows he has more under his sleeves or lack thereof.

He is indeed back up, and she can feel the fire. Hawksley is upping his game. His fists are on fire. Does she really want to counter this? No, she would rather just not be there, all things considered.

When Hawksley jumps toward her, she slides herself under, with the help of her staff, which she disconnects at the last moment to take with her, sliding just below Hawksley's athletic form. No uppercut that might burn her and send her to the roof of the arena. She had the experience of getting hit so hard that she would hit the ceiling of Blaze's gym, and she didn't want to repeat that anywhere else.

She then gets back up, and as Hawksley presumably lands, her staff is already down, and she's up on it. She tends inverses herself on it holding herself by her legs, and lets herself slide down until her extended left hand touches the ground. She releases her staff, and with her hand holding her up, she kicks toward the back of Hawksley's head if she can before flipping herself back on her feet. At least, that's the plan.

Right now, though, she's not teasing Hawksley or anything, just doing her best.

COMBATSYS: Hawksley fails to interrupt Cross Knee Release EX from Djamila with Numbskull.

[                          \\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Hawksley         0/-------/-======|>>>----\-------\0          Djamila

[HAWKSLEY]
His uppercut doesn't hit its target. There could be excuses given for this. Hawksley's heart isn't in it because of circumstances outside the ring or he's woozy from the head injury that Djamila inflicted earlier. The truth is though, that the dancer is just too fast on her feet for him to hit her and he's never been a sore loser. Not that he's quite out for the count yet.

When he sees her climbing on her staff again, the Eire lad is eager not to be attacked by any more of her agile antics. He rushes towards her, intending to try and headbutt her again.

Alas, the kick connects with the man before he can gain momentum and he falls backwards, landing on his denim clad butt. "You really want this don't you?" he asks, in a case of stating the bleeding obvious. "Well come on then, Djamila. How about you try and finish me off?"

He forces himself to his feet and if she was able to look at him, he'd be staring her down right now, his dark eyes full of intensity.

[DJAMILA]
She manages to hit again. The adrenaline from the match flows in her. She's indeed in the zone. Hawksley asks her if she wants it. If he only knew. "You have no idea, my friend. Just how much!"

When Hawksley is up again, she grabs her staff, disconnecting it from the ground, and then she suddenly goes forward quickly, trying to give him an uppercut of her own. Something she doesn't usually do. It looks like a spurt-of-the-moment thing. She is doing it rather quickly, however. Her staff is still in her other hand as she does. She's trying her best to keep thinks quick while she can.

"I am trying Hawksley." She finally says after the uppercut. Answering his request.

COMBATSYS: Hawksley interrupts Improvised Smack from Djamila with There's A Star.

[                            \\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Hawksley         0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0          Djamila

[HAWKSLEY]
Hawksley sees what's coming when Djamila comes in for the uppercut. In another life he could have been a boxer, with both the nature and nurture of his father, uncle and brother on offer to him. He'd spent time in his family's boxing gym growing up but was too restless to stick to the schedule demanded of him for training. He's always been around fighters though, in the form of his family and friends, so he can tell just by the way she shifts her body weight what to expect.

He reacts rapidly, ducking backwards to escape the blow. Once out of harm's way, he creates a burning ball of fire in his hand, staring at it for a split second before spinning towards the dancer, sending him forwards to slam it into her with his palm.

It's quite the spectacle to see, creating a fiery trail through the air as the Irishman guides it towards its target.

[DJAMILA]
Not only can't she hit with her uppercut, but she receives the fireball straight in her chest, burning her a moment, until she uses wind, or lack thereof, to snuff the fire out. But there is damage there, and it shows on her face. "Well played Hawksley.

Yet, she doesn't stop there. She brings her arms up, holding her staff. She then jumps in the air with her powerful legs, toward Hawksley. If she has her way, she hits him over the head before putting the staff behind his neck if she can. Then with the end of said staff, she rolls and throws them away.

She ends up rolling back on her feet if things work out.

COMBATSYS: Hawksley blocks Djamila's Inverted Crucifix Drop.

[                                < >  /////////////////             ]
Hawksley         1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0          Djamila

[HAWKSLEY]
"I ain't playing, cailin" Hawksley responds to the poledancer's praise but his words are followed by a wink.

The staff strike hits his head again and the impact of the blow causes blood to start trickling from the Irishman's nose. As he's launched into the air, he's sent to connect with the canvas, feeling the coolness against his cheek.

Pushing upwards, he starts to crawl towards the ropes of the ring and then uses them to launch himself upwards to slip out of it. His destination is the underside, a place that hosts props that a fella like him could have some fun with.

He selects a folding chair. The very idea of it putting a spring back in his step. Holding it aloft above his head, he runs back to the ring and lets out a roar as he tries to bring it down on Djamila's head.

COMBATSYS: Hawksley can no longer fight.

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

COMBATSYS: Djamila dodges Hawksley's Light Random Weapon.

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

[DJAMILA]
After hitting Hawksley enough for blood through his nose and seems to hurt him, she watches him as he manages to get outside the ring. He actually grabs a chair. Kenzo mentioned that possibility, and she can't help but laugh. Just the stress of everything, and now seeing this, she laughs.

When Hawksley comes back in the ring, she watches him. At the last moment, she rolls back, letting her staff there. Either the chair hits nothing or the staff. But Djamila is safe away. She then extends her hand, using the wind to bring her staff to it, then she puts it down, leans on it, undulating her hips and letting the wind around her ease her wounds as she chills, watching Hawksley. What will eh follow up with?

COMBATSYS: Djamila makes the om sound and wind chi flies around her for a short moment.

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

[HAWKSLEY]
It was a brave attempt by the Blaze brawler but the state he's in throws his aim off and Djamila can easily duck out of the way of the chair. It clatters to the floor of the ring and Hawksley follows, landing face down as his broken and bruised body gives way. He can hear the sounds of the crowd. Some cheers, some jeers, depending on which fighter they were following.

He wants to congratulate her. He opens his mouth to murmur the words but it seems to be full of the blood that's been dripping down his throat from his nose and he just feels so fecking tired. Perhaps he can buy her a pint or something later, once he's had a nice sleep.

His dark eyes flutter closed and he surrenders to the state of slumber he craves. Here he is still in the contest, here Coco is still fit and healthy, here he can get a hug off his mammy and see the smiling faces of his friends. There are worse places to be.

"THE WINNER IS DJAMILA!" a voice announces over the arena's sound system and her name and picture flash on the screens. It's the Iraqi poledancer who will progress to the semi-final and what a performance she put on to get there.

[DJAMILA]
As she dances/meditates, Hawksley crumbles to the ground. Is it over? Did she beat him this time around? She waits a moment. After all he has gotten up before, but no, he's down for the count, blood and all. "Thank you so much for this fight, Hawksley. You made me push myself, and I hope you will be ok." She moves to him, and she bends down to kiss her head in a caring, friendly gesture. She doesn't think he can stand up right now, so she doesn't try to pull him up and instead let the NFG medics come check him out.

She however does get a microphone from outside the ring and then comes back inside, out of the way of Hawksley. "I want to thank Hawksley for this wonderful fight." Now, she pauses before she continues. She then points to the camera. "I am coming for you next. You better be prepared." Her tone is hard to understand. She is either teasing, or she's on the contrary, emotional."

After her short speech, she drops the mic, lifts her hands up to the cheer of at least some of the crowd, and then she leaves the ring, after giving one last look to Hawksley getting helped. She hopes he will be ok.

COMBATSYS: Djamila has ended the fight here.

Log created on 11:36:18 11/15/2023 by Djamila, and last modified on 17:26:15 11/15/2023.