Description: So a ninja and a serial killer walk into Howard Arena... (Winner: Freeman)
Sunday, April 04, 2004, 6:45 PM
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Howard Arena
Cavernous and huge, Howard Arena is the epicenter of public display
within Southtown. A multi-billion dollar venture by Geese Howard, the arena
paid for itself within the first two years. The enormous arena is able to
seat hundreds of thousands for any variety of spectacle--the most common of
which being sports, concerts, and of course, martials arts competition. The
latter has made Howard Arena famous, as it hosts various tournaments and
exhibitions each year.
There's only one primary arena, and every effort has been made to make it
impressive. The overall atmosphere of the arena is that of solemn magnitude.
Thousands of seats ring the main central stage, the front row seats dropping
to eyelevel of the flat stage. The stage sits in a large depression, with
enough space between it and the seats to allow for trainers, officials, and
other such people to run back and forth. These and exits in the stands lead
off to countless corridors for spectators and competitors to travel in and
out with ease. Naturally enough, these corridors are filled with vendors,
peddling everything from food to Ralf-style bandanas to authentic Mai
Shiranui thongs.
The stage itself is a massive rectangular block of stone. Six-inch thick
flat slate tiles cover a much harder core of reinforced granite, giving the
stage the look of a weathered, timeless mountaintop. Stairs on opposite sides
provide a dignified way for the fighters to approach the center, the stairs
appearing to be carved directly into the rock. Here, some truly spectacular
battles are fought under the eyes of an entire city and, indeed, the world.
[Exits : <Out> Out to Business District ]
[Players : Freeman, and Kyo ]
Freeman
Freeman should be fairly tall. That is, if you could straighten his near
perpetual slouch, he would probally be a bit over six feet tall. Despite
this, he is a very lanky figure. Indeed, drooping seems to be his defining
characteristic; his head and shoulders slump, inclinding his face towards
the ground and leaving his long, unkempt and presently obviously-dyed darkly
orange-red hair to hang in matted lines down the sides of his head, covering
his ears like a still frame of a waterfall of clotting blood.
His face is indescrible. This is owing to the porcelian mask he wears in
front of it, holes cut out for his eyes, nostrals and mouth. The mask
appears to actually be a friction fit- held on purely through close contact
with his skin, without anything tying it on. His eyes are a brown so dark
as to be black, while his lips are a pale, thin affair- almost like a gash
drawn in the mask of his actual flesh. His ears are hidden behind his hair.
He is dressed in a ragged, dirty black long-sleeved shirt, cut in half to
reveal his ribbed abdomean. His arms are likewise revealed by artisticly
added tears, and are likewise muscled- although thin, they give a sense of
density and power. the sleeves don't end at the wrist, either, but extend
down across his hands, acting like fingerless gloves. His jeans are
simplier and more utilitarian, and have clearly seen quite a bit of wear and
tear, as have his boots- massive, thigh high affairs of black leather and
steel toes and heels. The only decoration he has is a leather belt, with a
silver skull for a buckle.
Freeman carries around himself a faint coppery scent, and the sense of
potentially sudden violence. He doesn't bob when he walks- he shuffles his
legs, and his body moves in any direction without warning and without
changing it's vertical level. Many people get uncomfortable if forced
around his presence for long.
That same annoying announcer in the purple suit with the bowtie is up in the
center of the limelight again. Well, we guess everyone has a job to do,
right?
".. and welcome, ladies and gents, to today's SUNDAY NIGHT FIGHT!" Bowtie
straighten. Eheh. He waves briefly at the gathered populace. "And tonight
we'll meet today's combatants! In the north corner, we have a newbie to the
arena! Calling himself a free man (I think he's kinda creepy), let's give a
skin-crawling welcome to FREEEEMAN!" Queue the appropriate spotlight flash
and good-willed applause.
"And in the south corner, with more toys than our gift shop, it's the ninja
SEISHIROU RYOUHARA!"
The applause seems to be about the same for him. At least the spotlight guys
are on their game, right? The announcer grins, "Now, let's have a good
fight!" Before he gets out of here. Who knows what could go down with that
freak and the bomb kid out there.
Freeman steps into the arena, his mask catching the light brilliantly. But
that's the only part that is enhanced by being put into the spotlight;
overall, Freeman seems much more a creature of shadow, and actively shrinks
down a bit from being forced into such brilliant illumination. But, at
hearing applause for his name, he unwinds a bit, and his slouch becomes a
bit more out of enjoymant than discomfort at the glare of light. "It is a
beatiful night, for a death," he says, stretching and bringing his hands up.
Stepping up in his ninja shoes, Seishirou squints critically across the
arena, tugging at his gloves to tighten them up around his hands. The masked
entity across the floor reminds him of people he's known back in the
village. Only, you know. This one seems weirder. He carries himself
strangely... Seishirou couldn't place his style. Walking up to his
predetermined position in the arena, Seishirou is dead silent for moments as
he studies Freeman. Before, at about the same time the character spotlights
turn off, his levelled voice raises. Death? ....
"I don't know who you are... but make this a good fight." He's been
training.
Ryouhara assumes a fighting position.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Freeman 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Seishirou
Freeman smiles grimly behind the mask. "Oh, I promise you, I'll do that for
sure." He waits in his corner, for just a moment, until the signal to start
is given. At which point, he turns into a dark blur, head bent forward
slightly as he pumps his way with an astonishing speed towards Seishirou.
At the last second, he drops to a crouch, then does a back flip, his forward
leg slinging out to slam into his opponent's head. As he does so, multiple
purple shadows of the attack spring out, slamming the kick home from three
different directions at once. "Crow, strike."
COMBATSYS: Seishirou blocks Freeman's Crow.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Freeman 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Seishirou
Hmph.
Ryouhara didn't recognize this person from any of his ongoing tournament
studies, but he'd approach him like he would any other unknown entity;
cautiously. When the attack comes--it moves with extreme agility--from his
speed, it's an almost off-hand note that this one's either fought longer or
has a speed oriented style, cause his eyes have just a touch of difficulty
tracking the movement, but when it comes, it's one that's .. almost
ironically something that Seishirou's dealt with before. The ninja responds
with a full-on backflip into the air, a soft hiss the only sound one could
hear from him as a dull glint of bright light on matte black can be
seen--purple energy splashing off of steel daggers. The first two are
deflected by these, but a curled leg is forced to catch adn block the brunt
of the actual physical blow, sending the ninja into the air further and to
the side, rolling to a stop. As he does so, however, Seishirou wastes little
time recovering--because beforce he even does, three of those same knives
have been flicked out at this eerie man's head.
Something's different about him.
COMBATSYS: Freeman dodges Seishirou's Kunai Flight.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Freeman 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Seishirou
Freeman huhs, as the daggers towards his head, before smoothly sidestepping
out of the attack's path. As the daggers swish by, Freeman glides backwards
on the mat, his whole movement seeming mildly unnerving and unnatural. Then
he pauses for a moment, before shrugging slightly and dashing forward, his
arms swinging out and nails gleaming deadly in the harsh spotlight, right
for the ninja's face. "What's the matter boy?" he asks as he comes close.
"You don't seem to be enjoying yourself..."
COMBATSYS: Seishirou blocks Freeman's Finger Rake.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Freeman 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Seishirou
Yeah--he moves pretty quick. Seishirou, rolling into a crouch after his
suprise re-attack, settles carefully. As Freeman moves forward, Seishirou
watches the way the man's feet move across the floor, as a peripheral
addition to watching his entire body. Eyes still calm, but .. distinctly
concerned. When Freeman surges forward into him, Seishirou, at the very last
second counters with a blur of his own, following and matching the man's
speed exactly in a terse leap--just backwards. The price? He's only grazed
across the chest by the killer's movements. Have to be careful, if he
manifests chi like that.
Now enter Seishirou's next movement. Settling a ways away from Freeman,
Seishirou snorts quietly. He leans back, one foot moving forward, hand going
behind him, the other forward, level with the floor. Switched stances.
"Fighting doesn't have anything to do with fun..."
COMBATSYS: Seishirou focuses on his next action.
Freeman seems disinclined to let Seishirou get much rest- even as he begins
the backflip backwards, Freeman's pulled his arms back. Black chi suddenly
flows across his chest, filling in the gaps of his ripped shirt for a
moment, then concentrating into his hands. Pulling his hands together for a
powerful clap, the dark energy forms a wave that rushes out towards the
focusing boy, bare moments after he's gotten into the stance. "Overkill,"
Freeman intones quietly, before bringing the bloodied nail up to his mouth
for an experimental taste. "Delicious..."
COMBATSYS: Freeman successfully hits Seishirou with Overkill.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Freeman 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Seishirou
Just who did this guy think he was? Seishirou found his heart beating
faster, despite himself. As soon as he's settled into his stance, Seishirou
has an eerie black chi to deal with. Noting briefly the speed and size of
the wave, Seishirou makes an attempt to dodge. Unfortunately, it fails
pretty solidly and the chi strikes him, with serious power. With a brief
cry, Seishirou is in the air almost instantly, attempting to recover. He
lands on the ground, in an explosion of smoke.
But Ryouhara is no longer there when the smoke clears.
He appears, in a shimmering flash of motion, closer than most men would
actually like to get to Freeman, but moving away pretty quickly. 'Course.
The hissing sound from the explosive device Seishirou has just attempted to
plant on Freeman's back could have something to do with it.
COMBATSYS: Freeman fails to interrupt Improvised Tactics from Seishirou with
Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Freeman 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Seishirou
Freeman blinks in suprise as the smoke, advancing a few steps at his more
normal speed. "That was almost pitiful," he says towads the smoke, only
noticing the blur of the ninja at the last second. "What?" he asks, trying
to casually elbow Seishirou away. Rather unsuccessfully at that- the boy
jumping back from the attack. And then there's an explosion, knocking
Freeman flat on his face with a tremendous thump and leaving the back of his
shirt a ruined tatter. Growling, he starts to pull himself to his feet.
Growling, but chortling thickly in the back of his throat. "Much better!"
Sliding to a stop, the explosion--and the subsequent sound of a body hitting
floor--is probably the best indication that Seishirou's attack worked.
Turning on a heel, Seishirou's bandana-tails wave in the air. In his first
stance, Seishirou takes a moment to simply reach behind him. You can hear a
brief *zip*. He's not intending on losing this time. And if that means
taking some advice he heard, _so be it._
By the time Freeman manaed to get up, Seishirou has moved from his distance
away to .. *right* there on top of Freeman, in a briefly-sketched out
spinning thrust kick, using all of his considerable speed and momentum to
crash his shoe into Freeman's collar.
COMBATSYS: Freeman dodges Seishirou's Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Freeman 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Seishirou
Freeman half-turns his head in response to Seishirou's kick, before bending
backwards... a lot. Far more than anyone should comfortbaly do so, his arms
hanging loosely at his side- he's almost at a ninty degree angle at the
waist. A few members of the audience make faintly shocked noises at the
sight- but if that upsets them, what's coming up sure as hell will. As
Seishirou's kick starts to sail paste, one of Freeman's hands darts up to
grab the leg, intending to trip and slam the boy into the ground.
COMBATSYS: Seishirou interrupts Medium Throw from Freeman with Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Freeman 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Seishirou
It's just as he thought! When Freeman demonstrates he's not as damaged as he
would initially appear, the nature of Seishirou's attack changes in an
instant--drawing his leg back instantly, using the motion to arrest most of
his forward movement, his hands at his side forming a hammer-blow position..
but wait. Just how far is that guy bending?!
When Freeman managed to backwards-duck (?!) his attack and snag his leg
anyway, Seishirou's only option is to do one thing--break that hold. When
Freeman disrupts what was left of his momentum, a single fist of Seishirou's
shoots out, attempting to strike Freeman from his 'air crouch' in his neck,
hoping the suprise will allow him to break free to recover.
As this succeeds, Seishirou will manage to hit the ground.. more lightly
than expected.
Luckily, Seishirou's blow was misaimed slightly- it strikes Freeman in the
mask rather than the neck, connecting squarely with the chin. Well, lucky
in theory. The blow to his mask seems to enrage Freeman, he snaps up and
dashes forward to the still prone Seishirou. A hateful growl rips it's way
from his throat as he attempts to deliver a vicious, steel toed kick to
prone ninja.
COMBATSYS: Seishirou counters Strong Kick from Freeman with Calculated Trap.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Freeman 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Seishirou
Rolling to a stop, Seishirou already understands he missed. Without a direct
blow to the windpipe, Seishirou's attack will not be effective enough to
give him the time he needs to recover fully. Instead, Seishirou's hands slip
to his waist satchel. He can hear Freeman approaching him. He doesn't even
need eyes to sense that hate in the air. When Freeman attacks, Seishirou is
there, but when Freeman's blow lands, it's in another cloud of smoke. .. Or
is it flour? There is a brief moment in which Freeman will find that he has
planted his foot into a sack of flour. With a miring goo inside, to try and
trap that shoe.
There is another brief moment in which Freeman will understand there are
wires leading above and behind him. In the chaos of the enraged blow,
Seishirou replaced himself with a sack of flour carrying a glue bomb
payload. And then he leapt over Freeman, holding the ends to those strings.
They'll snap soon after he pulls, but the attack is meant to yank Freeman
off balance, so Seishirou can plant a vicious and hard toe kick of his own
to the back of the psychotic's skull, using the unblancing momentum against
his opponent.
Freeman grunts heavily at the explosion, before stars explode in his vision
as the kick slams into the back of his skull, sending Freeman staggering
forward several steps. But it wears off quickly, and the retaliation comes
swiftly- it would seem that Freeman has grown tired of this. Much as in the
beginning of the match, Freeman starts a blur-fast darting run towards
Seishirou, who is far closer this time- not enough distance to build up a
proper flip. Instead, his leg simply sweeps up, with the full force of that
impossible run behind it.
COMBATSYS: Freeman successfully hits Seishirou with Swinging Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Freeman 1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0 Seishirou
The wires are abandoned almost immediately, Seishirou's kick landing true
and sending the boy into a flip to settle a good distance away.
Whoever this guy was, he was scary quick. Rock presented more fo a
challenge, but if Seishirou didn't keep his wits about him, he'd be the one
to drop tonight. That can't happen. But then, Freeman is RIGHT there and
kicking him. Seishirou attempts to sidestep. This is harder than it looks.
As Seishirou finds out, when he gets kicked sky-high. However, when
Seishirou's blood flies through the air and he crashes into the ground....
he picks himself up with relatively little fanfare.
Wiping the blood off off his jaw, he snorts, a dark gaze permeating his
features. "...You're good. But I hope you've got better..."
COMBATSYS: Seishirou focuses on his next action.
Freeman hulks forward, one hand idly rubbing his chin. "Hope... I've got
better?" he asks, incredulous. "You little punk! I'll slit your wrist and
drink your blood for my leisure! You touched my mask!" Throwing his hands
back to the side, he closes his eyes to focus for a moment, seeming to leave
himself vulnerable. Even as a he does so, however, a tremendously powerful
chi starts to pull up around him, arcing like black lightening. It hangs,
concentrating around his chest, for nearly a second- and then it splits into
two globes at his hands, which slam together again. "Double Overkill!" he
screams, voice froathing with hate, as the twin blades of night time
darkness tear towards the ninja.
COMBATSYS: Seishirou interrupts Double Overkill from Freeman with Kawarimi.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Freeman 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Seishirou
Well, he seems to be upset. What's this eerie feeling? Seishirou can feel it
all around him. That dark chi again... He looks up, briefly, before his eyes
narrow. Whatever Freeman's doing, it's not good.
He has to stop him.
But Seishirou has comparitively little time to react as twin blades of chi
slam out towards him. They were too fast, and their energy fields would
throw off his balance. But he still had to think of something. Dancing back
and away from the attack, both blades crash into him, in a big explosion
that envelops his side of the arena.
When the smoke clears, Seishirou is on the ground, on his knees, one hand
clamped over what is obviously a seriously bleeding midsection, panting
hard. ... But at the same time, could he have really withstood the full
force of that kind of an attack, in his condition?
A wrapped bundle of bamboo, two halves to either side of the arena, scorched
and burnt, tell a different tale. That explosion was not entirely of
Freeman's manufacture.
Freeman doesn't wait for any more of this non-sense. Not wasting time with
banter, he bursts through the smoke like a demon from hell, the emotionless
mask unable to totally cover up the twisted grimace of his lipless smile or
the anger smoldering in his dark eyes. "It's OVER!" he screams, both arms
lashing out with the force of the run behind them, reaching to leave bloody
gashes along the ninja's chest.
COMBATSYS: Seishirou blocks Freeman's Finger Rake.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Freeman 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Seishirou
"...?!" Seishirou looks up as Freeman wastes no time in attacking. Blowing
through the smoke like that, Seishirou has to admit being faintly impressed.
And more than a little--yeah. He's too fast. This is not going to work..
Seishirou's pupils dialate, just a little, before Freeman impacts with
Seishirou, his rake attack finding a plated glove and arm to sink into more
than chest. He surges back and away from Freeman, convulsing with pain. ..
It's about then than he remembers Rock's word.
He's not going to choke. Fear is only going to clog his resolve. Seishirou's
dead-eyed gaze faces Freeman coldly, his eyes... they know determination
just as much as Freeman's face knows hatred.
"You're fond of that mask, aren't you..." he coughs, one arm still clamped
over his midsection. He doesn't look well.
COMBATSYS: Seishirou focuses on his next action.
"Fall down and die!" Freeman retorts, still moving in a blur of rage and
hate. But he seems to have at last over-extended himself, just slightly-
although his hands lash out again, now reaching for Seishirou's throat-
they're a bit slower now than they were previously. Freeman still seems to
be putting his all behind it, even if his all isn't as much as it was
recently.
COMBATSYS: Seishirou fails to counter Quick Throw from Freeman with
Improvised Trap.
COMBATSYS: Seishirou can no longer fight.
COMBATSYS: Seishirou has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Freeman 0/-------/------=|
When Freeman comes at Seishirou, Seishirou is ready. When Freeman comes at
him, Seishirou braces and then moves--not away from Freeman, but right into
him. He seems to be holding something in his hand.. but at that point,
Seishirou finds his speed arrested by a bloody fast hand clamped around his
throat. And while he sees it coming... he simply could not move clear in
time, as was the plan. Simply, Seishirou is lifted up, the strength already
draining out of his bleeding body, wheezing quietly. No .. more .. will.
..What happened? Seishirou's vision grows blurry.
Freeman holds Seishirou for a second that seems to last a year, squeezing
viciously. Then, he brings his free hand up and sticks a nail into the
flesh of the ninja's temple, deep enough to draw a well of bright red blood.
The crowd falls silent, as he drags the nail across the cheek and onto the
chin, leaving a vicious gash that glistens wetly. He discards the
unconcious body at that point, bringing the blood drenched nail to his mouth
for an experimental lick- which he takes, and then spits. "So weak," he
mutters, before stalking out of the arena, which has fallen as silent as the
grave. Moments later, howls of outrage roar out, and the medical teams rush
to Seishirou's aid. But the free man himself is already gone.
COMBATSYS: Freeman has ended the fight here.
Log created by Kobun, and last modified on 10:30:56 04/23/2005.