Description: A very close match between Iori and Geese on SNF at the Arena. (Winner: Iori)
Iori's never been on the best of terms with Geese Howard. He's never really been on the best of terms with darn near anyone, actually. But that's not to say he doesn't have respect for the man. Or any other fighter of his caliber. The thing is... he just hasn't had the opportunity to actually -fight- him. He's fought alongside him, yes, but that's not quite the same.
So... learning that Howard himself would be the matchup tonight was welcome news. He doesn't bother listening to the announcer -- he never does. As he, the challenger, is introduced, he calmly strides out to the stage, crimson eyes never wavering from the door opposite him, from where Geese would stride in. Sleeveless black shirt, black leather pants... the tall Orochi halfblood's not wanting anything to get in the way of this battle.
Geese makes a point of not being on the best of terms with a lot of people. For all his charitable donations to the schools and other worthwhile causes, he is an absolute bastard on SNF, a characterization of his true mean-spirited self. So tonight's match may start off easily enough with both fighters being announced, but Geese is announced after Iori. And when he comes out to the arena, he has a microphone as he goes. "Ha!" His voice carries over the speakers quite well.
"I've had enough with scheduling lousy matches. Half the time our main events are a joke, but that's going to be different tonight. Sitting out of KoF caused me to miss out on something I should've done a long time ago..." He stops just short of the arena, setting the mic down, then steps in. He's arrogant, arms folded in front of him as he waits. As far as Geese is concerned, this match is already underway, but he's certainly not in his typical stance.
COMBATSYS: Geese has started a fight here.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Iori has joined the fight here.
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Iori 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Geese
Well, Geese does make the rules. A faint smirk crosses his lips as Geese announces his intentions, partly because Iori feels some sort of kinship with him, in that regard, 'shut up and fight' being an unspoken credo for some of his previous publicized battles. After a brief nod, Iori's shoulders slump forward, his hands assuming a ready position by his sides as he stares back at Geese. Wary, he's cautious at this point -- for the fact that Geese is swaggering about like that is enough to put him a bit on edge. That doesn't mean he can't still be a jerk, as he rumbles his response: "Glad you finally came to your senses, Howard."
It may not have been clear to the public that this battle has begun -- especially since the two fighters are just staring at one another at the moment. So just to make things final, the announcer shouts the word -- and on that signal, Iori lurches into motion. Slinging his left hand across his body, he sends a blast of purple flame racing across the floor to Geese as a way to start things off. "URRRAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Geese fails to slow Yami Barai from Iori with Reppuken.
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Iori 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Geese
Geese probably should learn one of these times, about being so over-confident. It only really works out when there's a massive difference in power between him and his opponent(s). Iori is not that far below him. When the purple fire comes at him, Geese waits a half-second or so before unfolding his arms, and then swings one up. "Reppuken!" It's a lazy, smaller than usual Reppuken that forms and races out to meet Iori's flames.
It's a lazy, smaller than usual Reppuken that fails to do anything significant about those flames. The purple fire crashes right through, almost completely unhindered for the trip, and makes a fine point of burning Geese's legs. A burn that makes him lose balance for the moment, going down to his knees while he recovers...
And while Geese stumbles, Iori's already dashing in to cover the slack. There's nothing quite so sad as a wasted opportunity, after all. That... and anyone familiar with Yagami's style should know he tends to follow a ridiculously -fast- pace, given the opportunity. "Don't get sloppy on me, Howard!" he roars as he races to meet Geese.
He swings his elbow around, as if to crack against Geese's jaw -- if it weren't to fall horribly short in doing so. The real threat here would be his right hand, blazing purple as he swings it across his body, crashing into the side of Geese's temple. "GURAAAAAAAH!" The goal would be to detonate that flame into a larger, more explosive bloom, hopefully pressing that advantage to bring Geese to the arena floor.
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Iori's Koto Moon Negative.
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Iori 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Geese
Geese gets back up just in time to have his face assaulted. Initially it looks like it would succeed, and the casual observer would probably call it that. The more experienced would call this a 'half dodge.' His arms swing out to knock Iori's hand away just as it connects, the detonation still striking Geese in the head, just not in physical contact beforehand. The result is good either way for Geese; less harm done. With Iori right here, it's a fine time to reach out for his throat. "Hmph!"
Where Vader just chokes people, Geese has a different plan. He wants to grab ahold of that neck, pick Iori up one-handed, and smash him to the ground head-first. Ouch.
COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Iori with Tate Katate Nage.
- Power hit! -
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Iori 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Geese
Pity Iori had gone to the trouble of driving this fight to melee range, eh? Just as well, though, really -- getting caught by the throat and dropped on his head isn't an entirely bad thing. Builds character. And teaches him not to get so darn close. In fact... just a bit of half-Orochi blood is spilled in the process -- that'll leave a mild stain on the floor if it isn't addressed soon. Not that Geese is likely to care, of course.
Rolling with the blow, Iori pushes himself back to his feet -- though he senses his advantage may have been unnecessarily short-lived. Backing off, he walks in a wide arc around Geese, keeping his hands at the ready for whatever it is Geese might try. This... may take a bit more thought.
COMBATSYS: Iori focuses on his next action.
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Iori 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Geese
Geese presses in even while Iori rolls away and backs off. He's not willing to let Iori have that little break. Instead, he'd like to get some distance between them. Just not in the same way normal people would, by retreating. Instead, he's closing in and reaching out to grab at Iori's sides, and then windmill his arms above his head to hopefully toss Iori far away.
COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Shinkuu Nage from Geese with Yumebiki.
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Iori 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Geese
Grabbing for Iori's sides? ... Something about that doesn't sit right with Yagami. Sure, it could be fun flying through the air with a complete lack of control, but something about it just... irks him. He takes action accordingly, stepping to the side as Geese tries to grab hold of him. But in the midst of what might have been Iori being yanked upwards, the tall Orochi halfblood had slammed his elbow into Geese's arm, knocking it aside. "GURAAAAAAH!" In one fluid motion, he steps forward and -reverses- that arm, slamming the heel of his hand down onto the base of Geese's neck. It's a reverse of his usual sequence, but one that just happened to work in this case.
Geese is struck, something he partially accounted for. His hold weakens, his motions become less smooth, but he still gets Iori and still tosses him. Just not as well as could have been done. It's good enough for now though, and now it's Geese's turn to gather himself. Arrogance faded away quickly in this match, he's being serious as he bides his time...and rubs at his neck for a second or two, to see if he can't fix that up on the spot.
COMBATSYS: Geese focuses on his next action.
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Iori 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Geese
Well, at least Iori's got something pleasant to think about during his flight over Geese's head. As it is, though... well, that could've gone better. But at least he's got the presence of mind to land on his feet.
Collecting himself from the blow, he grins back at Geese. The fact that the man isn't coming to him ought to be a sign for Iori to keep his distance, yet again. A low chuckle, as Iori rests his hands on his hips, tilting at the waist to peer back at Geese. "I haven't put you on the defensive, have I, Howard? Heh-heh..." A low chuckle spills forth from Iori, but he never quite breaks his gaze away from Geese, either. Tactics? From =Iori?= ... Well, maybe it's not Geese who's truly on the defensive here, but don't say that to either fighter's face.
COMBATSYS: Iori focuses on his next action.
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Iori 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Geese
Geese does something that most people would find counterproductive. He kicks the ground. Not out of frustration, but out of an urge to crack the stone floor enough to make part of it come loose. A rock-sized chunk of it (as opposed to a Rock-sized chunk, which the likes of Zangief might get more use out of) is loose, Geese kneels down to pick it up, and begins to stroll towards Iori. "Heh heh heh...don't you know? A powerful defense is sometimes all you need." Not that he's on the defense right now, as he hurls the stone-chunk at Iori, aiming for his face and giving it enough velocity to make a sports star whistle in appreciation.
COMBATSYS: Iori endures Geese's Thrown Object.
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Iori 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Geese
That stomping foot is enough to give Iori an idea -- a ridiculously -stupid- idea, but an idea nonetheless. When he sees Geese kneel down, Yagami starts running again -- though when Geese chucks it at his face, there's a moment when Iori actually flinches away from it, as if to get out of the stone's way.
Either he changed his mind, or it was an effort to impart more energy into hammering his forehead into the chunk of stone, shattering it into several pieces. It doesn't curb his momentum in the slightest, though, as Iori continues plowing onwards at Geese. No time for indecision -- just one hop into the air as he cuts a sharp three-sixty, igniting his hand in purple flames, carving a brilliant crescent through the air. He aims to bring his hand crashing down onto Geese's face with a howl of: "KUURAAAAAAAOOOH!"
COMBATSYS: Geese counters Tsumagushi from Iori with Chuudan Atemi Nage.
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Iori 1/----===/=======|=======\==-----\1 Geese
No. The hand-impact and flame-burst do not happen. Geese continues to stroll in towards Iori, not terribly worried about this headlong charge. Indeed, this may well have fit Geese's plans. When Iori makes that leap, and brings his hand down, Geese grabs Iori's forearm and throat, tossing him up into the air and putting his hands together. "Hmph!" A large blast of chi refines itself into a more pinpoint 'ray', shooting into Iori as he falls, blasting him away. "Case in point, for a strong defense."
Smirk.
Hrrk. Iori finds himself with a plethora of time on his hands as he's blasted back into the air again -- learning quickly what -not- to do in a fight against Geese Howard. He'll clearly have to take a more roundabout route to stop him, it seems. Spreading his feet as he lands, to stabilize himself, he growls back at the Hakyokusaken master, nodding in approval. Drawing his open palm out towards Geese, he snorts lightly. "It has its benefits."
Right then, a burst of light flares in his palm, but before it can take recognizable shape, Iori's hand clamps down onto it. Once more, he cuts a sharp 360 rotation -- but it's more of a windup pitch, to speed the flow of the white-hot bloom of flame as it races towards Geese's feet. "GURAAAAH!" It's... a bit different from his opening salvo, though, as Howard's quick to find out -- for as soon as it reaches the spot upon which Geese stands, there's a minor explosion of flame.
... met by a -major- column of lightning crackling down from the heavens, with several smaller blasts of lightning surrounding it.
Smirk.
COMBATSYS: Geese overcomes Ya Sakazuki from Iori with Raging Storm.
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Iori 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Geese
Geese retorts, "It should be sufficient to deal with you," and yet...what he says doesn't seem to match what he does, at first. As Iori starts to make his pitching gesture, Geese moves in. He makes a long, graceful leap through the air, "Raging..." His hands are already crossing at their wrists, held above his head. 'Guraaah!' "STORM!" Geese lands, slamming his palms into the arena floor and creating a massive chi-cage around him, tall crescent waves encasing the area. Most of these do nothing special, there's nobody there. The wave between him and the fire however, clashes as it explodes and lightning arcs around. Storm meets storm. Raging Storm breaks through, much diminished, but nonetheless intact and trying to lick into Iori...
Apparently, Raging Guraaaah Storm is contagious, for Iori's attempt at a lightning storm seems to have backfired upon him. ... Though the crackle of electricity that lances through his frame doesn't hurt nearly as much, due to his distance from Geese -- even if it does cause him to stagger backwards, arms jolting from the voltage. He's quick to recollect himself, though, narrowing his eyes at Geese. "... Perhaps," is Iori's sole word of retort, as he lurches forward again. He tries something different this time... rather than play the keep-away game, he lunges in with a quick dash, swinging his arm high overhead in a diagonal slash at Geese's shoulder, before reversing the motion sharply to bring the back of his fist towards the man's jaw. "UUURAAAAGH!"
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Iori's Yumebiki.
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Iori 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Geese
Iori has reconnected.
Iori has dropped a connection.
"You scream too much." Geese is getting a little bored with listening to 'gruoah, whooarugh!' all the time, and he's starting to make a point of letting Iori know. "If I wanted to listen to a psychotic wookie, I'd watch Star Wars." The shoulder-slash connects just fine while Geese is busy insulting Iori, but that gives him incentive to bring his arm up and push against the fist aiming for his face, knocking it away. He has plans for this, ones of a fairly simple nature. The non-blocking arm swings upward, "Reppuken!" A blue chi-wave forms and zips along the ground. Hopefully his defense has taken Iori off-balance enough to allow a close-range projectile to strike.
COMBATSYS: Iori dodges Geese's Reppuken.
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Iori 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Geese
Funny Geese should mention that movie in particular -- as it was one he'd promised to take Kula to go see. Yes, the man has a heart underneath that howling, violent facade. He's in no state of mind where a blast of chi would feel -good- though, so he jumps sharply to the side, the Reppuken narrowly skimming past the tall fighter. "See if you think the same when your body starts tearing apart from the inside, Howard." He's not roaring for effect, after all... the howls of agony are but a mild distraction from the pain coursing through his veins, a distraction he willingly accepts for the gift of power accepted by his ancestors.
And Geese, just making fun of it... well, that's enough to kick things up a notch. Both hands flare purple, though Iori's a bit tweaked at the moment -- which might explain how -fast- the flames fire like bullets for the arena floor beneath Geese's feet. The shots come, one, two, converging on the same spot and triggering a series of explosions. The real meat of the attack comes when Iori rears both hands behind his head, before slamming his fists down onto the stone floor. A wide fissure opens between him and Geese, flaring with purple light and threatening to envelop the man in a column of purple flames. Oh, yes, and the screaming. It may be nothing for Geese to whip out the attacks, but it certainly takes a lot out of Iori.
COMBATSYS: Geese endures Iori's Yami Sugi!
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Iori 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Geese
"That'll never happen! I'm immortal!" Geese knows he'll never have the same problems Iori does. Or at least he 'knows' it, arrogant self-assurance. With his Reppuken avoided, Geese is also losing patience, so it's apparently working both ways, this increase in intensity. As fire and screams pour out, Geese...incredibly charges through the former, and tries to silence the latter. Amazingly, he actually does force his way through the fires, staying on-balance and shoving Iori back. That, on its own, will not hurt. "Double Reppuken!"
The gesture of two arms swinging up to create a massive, person-sized chi wave...that might hurt more, if Iori doesn't recover his own balance in time from the forceful shove.
COMBATSYS: Iori blocks Geese's Double Reppuken.
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Iori 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Geese
The shove is enough to knock the man back, but it's not enough to keep him from dropping to one knee, throwing his shoulder and forearm into the path of the waves, cleaving them in twain. It's not a wholly painless process, though, so Geese will have to put up with Iori seething through clenched teeth throughout the process. And he'll also have to put up with Iori charging right back towards him, slashing his hand out in an attempt to rake his long fingernails across Geese's side, hoping to catch him off-guard. "Impossible!" If he's -lucky- in his charge, he'd continue running right past the man, tugging Geese along behind him before forcibly extracting his talons in a sharp upward tug, letting the blood fly whichever way it chooses. He's a bit addled from that fireball, but if it works, more power to him. "=Everyone= dies!"
COMBATSYS: Geese fails to counter Saka Sakahagi from Iori with Chuudan Atemi Nage.
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Iori 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Geese
Luck happens sometimes. Slamming right through flames left Geese hurting, enough so that what should have been a simple defense against this finger-rake fails, Iori's hands sink in, and Geese lets loose with his own yell, getting sliced definitely does hurt. The follow-ups to it do even more damage, and yes, blood-letting. Geese sinks to a knee, fist shaking at Iori as he tries to get back up...but at this very second, strength is failing him. "Everyone except me. Even when I fall...I get back up sooner or later, you clown." Strength may fail him, but confident defiance does not.
Iori's never gonna keep him down, eh? Sounds like a song, there. He doesn't quite take as well to being called a 'clown' though. Something about that whole 'anger' being a multiplier, and all that, maybe. Even still, the sight of Geese shaking his fist at him is enough to bring a smirk to the man's face, just the same. "No one's immortal," he snorts -- though he's also standing right next to that fissure he'd opened in the floor. One quick stomp from the heel of his steel-toed boot is more than enough to jar a decent-sized wedge out of the stone floor, and into his awaiting hand -- which he then whips forward to send hurtling at the side of Geese's head. "Least of all, you!"
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Iori's Thrown Object.
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Iori 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Geese
"Except me." Catch. Geese is now the proud holder of a chunk of his very own arena, held in one hand. And then he gets up. "Except me, Iori. Most of all me, Iori. Immortality doesn't mean a perfect winning record, but it does come close. Observe!" He drops the stone-chunk, and...leaps. A prodigious leap that carries him well across the arena once again, a leap that lets him swing a kick at Iori's head as he descends.
COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Strong Kick from Geese with Medium Kick.
- Power hit! -
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Iori 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 Geese
Gritting his teeth as he finds himself on the figurative ropes, Iori stares intently back at Geese. He knows he's run out of steam for this fight, but he's determined to make a good showing just the same. And as Geese comes leaping towards him, Iori takes a strategic step backwards, shaking his head once more. "What's better, then..." Due to his repositioning, Geese'll have to settle for that kick landing in Iori's stomach. He'll -also- have to settle for Iori bringing his right knee high, slamming it into Geese's side before extending his shin to knock the man to his own arena floor. Iori staggers backwards from the blow, one hand snapping to his mouth, the blood he coughs out mingling with the Hakyokusaken master's blood from the earlier attack. But he pushes himself back to stand, shaking his head. "... Living forever in an arrogant delusion, or dying in your prime, before you grow weak and feeble?"
Geese goes down due to the knee blow, tumbling over on his sides and forcing himself back up. "Living forever, minus the delusion..." This is definitely going to be a critical juncture. If Iori lands any more blows, Geese may be down and out of this. He's certainly going for an 'all or nothing' that may result in his defenses evaporating. "Deadlyyy Rave!" That cry heralds Geese seeming to 'glide' across the floor, elbow extended to strike at Iori's solar-plex.
And then go into a series of blows one after another, and finally culminate in bringing his hands together for a final chi-blast, similar to the one he did when he tossed Iori upwards earlier. If he'll have enough energy to mount a decent defense after this lengthy barrage is another question entirely.
COMBATSYS: Geese can no longer fight.
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Iori 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Iori parries Geese's Deadly Rave!
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Iori 0/-------/--=====|
Smirk. Iori's a bit exhausted at this point, but he knew the battle wouldn't be over till Geese were to fall over, defeated. And... that'll take a bit more work on Iori's part. Stepping backwards as Geese starts 'skating' towards him, Iori flings out an arm to knock the elbow aside. A raised forearm knocks the following blow aside. Everything Geese flings, Iori has an equal and opposite response, that smirk on Iori's face growing with each hit successfully deflected, his instincts driving his arms in perfect sync with Geese's deadly series of attacks, completely nulling their drive.
And when that chi blast comes rocketing from his hand... well, Iori's not about to knock that aside with just any forearm. No... he merely steps to the side, letting the blast whistle harmlessly towards the spot he's no longer standing. And without further ado, Iori steps right back into the spot he'd vacated, lunging into a hard right uppercut aimed at Geese's jaw. "Sleep well tonight, Howard!" Snorting, Iori steps back with a feral grin. "Living forever... you're a fool for -wanting- to."
COMBATSYS: Iori takes no action.
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Iori 0/-------/--=====|
Log created by Geese, and last modified on 19:16:25 07/23/2005.