SNF 2005.10 - Iori vs Charlie

Description: Charlie comes out of retirement at this week's Saturday Night Fight Main Event. Iori's right there to bar his path, though Charlie does land some solid hits on him in the process. (Winner: Iori)



It's time for another Saturday Night Fight. Yawn.
The audience jam-packed into Howard Arena this evening naturally has a much more enthusiastic reaction to the festivities. Instead of the usual seven or eight fights taking place in Southtown, there are only two today... and guess where all the Southtown residents are tonight? That's riiiiight. Lots of eager fans are here to cheer on the US Martial Arts star, apparently re-emerging from his 'retirement' here at Howard Arena.
Iori Yagami? Present. He strides confidently out of his gate, eyes straight ahead, without even a hint of him giving a damn about all the cheering that begins as his many (crazy) fans catch sight of him. He's tuned this stuff out ages ago -- he's just here for the fight. And the mad cash that lets him continue loafing around the other six days of the week, naturally. Adopting a position in the middle of the ring, he watches for his challenger to arrive.

COMBATSYS: Iori has started a fight here on the right meter side.

                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                 |-------\-------\0             Iori


Ah, SNF. A (grand?) tradition that Charlie wanted to enter before, but couldn't, due to obligations. Well, now is the time, and after Charlie heard about his opponent he was more than happy to have entered. Normally, Charlie would have orchestrated an entrance--the Harrier jet's always popular, even if a bit on the expensive side. But Howard Arena just doesn't allow for those kinds of tricks right now. So, having made his preparations, he strides out of his gate into the Arena. It's familiar, if not quite home, the soles of his boots clopping against the floor as he makes his way out to the stage.

"Yagami. I've heard about you," states the blond Air Forcer, taking off his glasses and tucking them into a safe place, and straightening his vest with a pair of quick tugs. "Should be interesting, huh?" He pays no attention to the crowd, for now; that can wait until afterwards. If he's successful.

COMBATSYS: Charlie has joined the fight here.

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Charlie          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Well... it's probably better that Charlie didn't airdrop himself in. Have you seen the price of aviation fuel lately? Holy-moly.
Iori had started leaning to one side as he waited for Charlie. The preliminaries always incensed him. And Charlie's attempt at building friendly rapport isn't helping much. Iori may be on friendly terms with Ryu, but that's in part due to him not saying =anything=.
In other words, Iori snorts his assent. "Let's get this over with." Sauntering one, two more steps towards Charlie, Yagami rolls his shoulders over into a more aggressive stance. Hands extended and at the ready, his crimson irises focused on Charlie. "Hmph."
And the announcer, apparently, is oblivious to the omgangst when he shouts his next words. "Ready.... FIGHT!"

Angst? No angst here. Charlie grins, but lets the red-headed fighter come to him, raising his hands up into stance. It should be noted that his grin does -not- reach his eyes; those are narrowed, focused, much like Charlie himself, watching Iori's stance for openings. Charlie's feet settle apart a little wider, he leans forward slightly, his fists clenching tighter.

COMBATSYS: Charlie focuses on his next action.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Charlie          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0             Iori


Growling, Iori stares back at Charlie. To the hot-blooded fighter, smiling is a sheer sign of arrogance. And while Iori may be guilty of that himself... he's got something to prove. And in this case? It means he's going to start charging at Charlie like a crazed bull, dashing in with a wide, overhand swing fully intended as a wake-up call to the military man. "GURAAAAH!"

COMBATSYS: Charlie fails to interrupt Strong Punch from Iori with Jump Sobat.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Charlie          0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0             Iori


As Iori rushes into action, so does Charlie; he's pushing himself into the air, targetting Iori's head with a classic jumping sobat. But the redhead proves to be too fast for the military man and that overhand swing smashes him to the ground. Charlie has enough presence of mind to roll himself away from the impact of the ground, before hopping up to his feet again. "Nice... swing," he mutters, with a quick shake of his head.

Snort. Iori's mildly pleased at the success of his attack, but he's not about to come out and -say- something about it. As it is... he's confused as to why the man jumped into the air. Some trick Iori doesn't know about, perhaps? Regardless, he's put somewhat on the defensive -- a place he doesn't particularly -like- to be. And that... just won't do.
aking a cue from Charlie, he leaps into the air, his hand blazing with purple flame. He cuts one sharp revolution in midair, fire trailing a wide parabola through the sky as his hand plunges downward at Charlie. "GURAAAAAAAAOH!"

COMBATSYS: Charlie blocks Iori's Tsumagushi.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Charlie          0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0             Iori


Charlie brings his arms up as Iori leaps forward, thrusting them forward to catch that attack; the plunging hand does not do much damage but that flame still singes him. And Charlie is beginning to realize how strong Iori is. This will be a tough fight, no matter how it goes. As Iori lands Charlie attempts to return the earlier favor, twisting his body forward and throwing his right hand forward in a simple right cross.

COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Strong Punch from Charlie with Oniyaki.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Charlie          1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0             Iori


Staggering back as his palm is brushed aside, Iori scowls to himself. Inspiration? What a joke. That's what he gets for following his opponent's lead, he reminds himself. But as he takes three quick steps back to give Charlie some more breathing room, he shakes his head. A light chuckle escapes him as he watches the approach -- but just before Charlie can land that cross, Iori crouches down low. Sure, he ends up taking the punch to the shoulder, rather than the sternum -- but the maneuver also gives him the windup to whip around into a rising three-sixty, whipping his arms to either side as his palms once more erupt with the hideous purple flames of his birthright. A twin helix of fire is left behind for Charlie as Iori pirouettes through the center, only -now- a smile creeping across his normally-scowling visage. "GUROOOOOOH!"

Ngh. What a hit. Flames and impact both, and it scorches and hurts, even if he does strike a glancing blow. But Charlie refuses to be cowed and he refuses to be afraid. His grin widens. "This is one hell of a fight, Yagami!" he cries as he lunges forward--then appears to do the impossible... or at least the physically improbable. At the tail end of his lunge, he turns his back on Iori, crouching, then thrusting himself up into the air into a powerful reverse somersault, first one heel, then the other slicing through the air vertically, leaving behind fading arcs of energy; turning, he does it again, and again, slashing the air--and hopefully Iori--with his heels and his energy.

COMBATSYS: Charlie successfully hits Iori with Somersault Justice.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Charlie          0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0             Iori


What a hit? That hit was -nothing- compared to the surprise waiting for Iori as he starts to land from his Oniyaki. He attempts to brace for impact, by sweeping his arms out to defend, but having left himself wide open for attack... well, there's not really much left to do except get hit, fly backwards, and get hit =again= by the successive crescent waves of energy.
The tall Orochi halfblood actually knocks a chunk out of the floor when he lands -- that's how frickin hard Charlie hits! It's... rather unusual for the big man to face anyone quite -this- strong, and he's suitably annoyed with he kips back to his feet. Another snort. He'd agree with Charlie's spoken assessment, but he's not quitting just yet. Nope -- he's grabbing the chunk of concrete that was loosed from the impact, and hefts it over his head. Roaring, he whips around in a tight circle and chucks it over at Charlie like a shotput. "OOORAAAAAAAH!" Don't tick off the berserker.

COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Charlie with Large Thrown Object.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Charlie          0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1             Iori


Charlie is satisfied with his handiwork; it's not often he misses with that attack and it's always done well by him. But his moment's inattention is paid for and paid for well; the whirling chunk of concrete clips him even as he tries to move, and it sends him to the ground, with a picturesque bounce, from which he recovers with a flip. Even though he lands on his feet, he's breathing heavy, just from the pain, and a bloody streak is painted down one side. No more joking, no more teasing, just a pure desire to--if not win, then to at least acquit himself better than this.

COMBATSYS: Charlie focuses on his next action.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Charlie          0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1             Iori


Hmph. Charlie's not weak, Iori's figured =that= much out. But he's also got a mind to keep the pressure on his opponent. Maybe Charlie needs the moment to reconsider his options, but Yagami is dead set on hammering down blows, one after the other, clearly attempting to keep the military man from making any =use= of his free study period. He strides in close, a dark scowl crossing his face as he steps in for a right cross to the jaw. But it's not =just= a punch... should it be successful, he'd follow it up with a driving knee to the stomach. The whole sequence is punctuated only be the occasional exhalation of breath -- as with Charlie, the time for random jibes and comments has passed.

COMBATSYS: Charlie interrupts Light Kick from Iori with Somersault Shell.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Charlie          1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1             Iori


Oh no. We're not having that. Charlie dodges the punch, and just--ignores the knee--as he is determined to make Iori pay. His whole body hurts, but that's alright, he's been there before. At least it isn't freakin' Psycho Power, that shit stings for like an hour afterwards. He explodes off the ground in an arcing, reverse somersault kick, the younger brother, as it were, of the Somersault Justice, and he announces the attack with a loud, "SOMERSAULT!"

Ah, yes. Iori had forgotten that Charlie was a card-carrying member of the Brotherhood Of Shouting Out Attack Names. But at least he knows what to watch out for next time.
Of course, that doesn't help -this- time, as once more Iori's head ratchets back from the double impact of the crescent wave and the kick that powered it. One full revolution, and Iori finds himself face-first on the stone again. He doesn't remain there long, though, pushing back to his feet and wiping the blood off his chin. Wasn't... exactly a fun trip, after all.
Howling with rage, Iori closes the distance once more, coming back at Charlie with an underhanded punch to the stomach. And... should that hit, he'd follow it up with a headbutt for good measure.

COMBATSYS: Charlie dodges Iori's Quick Punch.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Charlie          1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1             Iori


Gut punching? Iori doesn't play around, that's for sure. Gutshots are often the worst--and there's that Big Bite hot dog Charlie had before the match. He doesn't want -that- coming back up. So he sets himself, fakes one direction with a twitch and sidesteps in the other direction, before unleashing his counterattack; his energy rising, filling him, he lets it loose in a wave of energy--waves of energy, literally, scything at Iori at this close range, three--no, four--blades of chi flying off his hands. And yes, he does announce this attack, too. "SONIC BREAK!"

COMBATSYS: Iori blocks Charlie's Sonic Break.

[                         \\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Charlie          0/-------/-------|=======\===----\1             Iori


Bah. Iori, likewise, wants none of that. Scowling, Iori drops to one knee, raising both his arms before him in a cross pattern, as the coruscating waves of energy ripple around him. He's got no illusions about Charlie's proficiency with chi =now=, that much is for sure... but at the same time, Charlie can't tip over soon enough for him.
Which would be why Iori pulls out one of =his= big guns now. Rising as the waves of energy subside, Iori erupts into a deep chuckle. His hands light with flame, spread to either side. "Pushing it," he cautions -- just before his right hand slaps out at Charlie, pitching a bloom of purple at the man's feet. "But it still won't be enough!" he howls, hurling his left handful of flame at the same spot. Two attacks, two explosions designed to blast Charlie off his feet. But then Iori brings both his hands over his head, then reels forward to slam both fists upon the ground. If he were a member of the club charlie's in, the name of this move -- which entails the stone floor splitting and furious purple energies flaring out -- would be a guttural, "GURAAAAAAAOH!"

COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Charlie with Yami Sugi.

[                                < >  ///////////                   ]
Charlie          0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0             Iori


If Charlie thought he could withstand the purple flames and stay standing, he would. Just to prove he could, or maybe just for a tactical advantage. But he knows he can't and so he tries to dodge. But his fatigue, and the pain, slow him down, and he's caught in the attack. "NNGH!" he cries out, engulfed in flames, and his last conscious action is--to just fall over. The fight's over; Iori won. But Charlie doesn't think Iori will forget him too quickly.

COMBATSYS: Charlie takes no action.

                                  >  ///////////                   ]
                                 |====---\-------\0             Iori


COMBATSYS: Charlie can no longer fight.

                                  >  ///////////                   ]
                                 |====---\-------\0             Iori


"... Curious," answers Iori, after he rises back to his full height. Staring down at Charlie, he shakes his head in a slow, disapproving fashion. "I'd heard you were better. A match for Ken Masters, even." Snorting, he turns on his heel, steel-toed boots clomping across the battle-ravaged arena. Hooking his thumbs into his pockets, he strides to the arena exit to the cheers of excited fans all throughout the arena -- none of whom he cares about, naturally. Likewise, he really couldn't care that the announcer is loudly proclaiming him the winner of this battle... why trumpet the obvious? "Hmph."

COMBATSYS: Iori takes no action.

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                                 |====---\-------\0             Iori


COMBATSYS: Iori has ended the fight here.

Log created by Iori, and last modified on 15:51:51 10/15/2005.