Description: Bidden by a 'mysterious' challenger, Charlie comes to a meeting with his old Vigilante partner and the two slug it out for a shiny medal. Rated OMG for teasing and a blushing Chinese beauty. (Winner: Chun-Li)
The Southtown Medal Tournament. It's progressing at a steady pace, and certainly keeping things interesting as to regards the type and level of fighters clashing in any one battle. For the Strongest Woman in the World it has been reasonably scant on action thus far, but of her two fights one proved far more useful than the simple acquisition of a shiny trophy and an extra 'point' for the leaderboard. In fact, the meeting answered a lot of questions which may bear further discussion with certain of her friends and colleagues - not least Charlie, who set her upon Cammy White's trail to begin with.
Now though, Chun-Li has called a meeting for more recreational purposes, as it seems she is wont to do quite often when it comes to her Vigilante partner in vengeance. Presently she sits at the base of the stone steps leading up to Southtown's picturesque shrine, only just recovered from the renovations triggered by her last trip here. As a result, she has purposely avoided any action near the summit, instructing her friend to meet her here on the grassy knoll at the forest's edge. There is plenty of space and the surroundings are still conductive to a clear mind.
Clad in her traditional fighting garb for the first time in several days, and still recovering from a recent criminal smackdown which has gone poorly.. as evidenced by the daily paperts... she wears one marked difference. Her right hand is freshly bandaged and held more delicately than it otherwise might. Scarcely enough to slow her down, but the addition is noticeable. The only other 'odd' thing is that she wears a simple warm jacket unzipped over her dress - simply to stave off the cold as she waits.
Ultimately however, it is just as well that these /are/ the only alterations and that the woman is seated in plain view; in the playful style she often adopts with Charlie, his challenge would have been received anonymously, written in scrawled black ink. A basic 'meet me by the shrine' but with a mysterious twist.
'Meet me by the shrine'. So ominous... so mysterious... it could only be Chun. For Charlie, the medal tournament hasn't been as kind to him; but that's the way fighting goes, and neither of his fights have been serious, all-out, kill or be killed fights. Though Saishu's came close; that man is truly crazy, thinks Charlie, but a good man nonetheless. Probably. Still, Charlie has to be feeling some dents in that confidence of his; either the rest of the world's gotten better or he's gotten worse. He knows what at least one of his fellow warriors' solutions would be, and he -has- been training, but that can only do so much. Charlie banishes such thoughts from his mind as he comes up on the shrine entrance.
"Hey, Chun," calls the man casually; no sneaking up and saluting this time around, it seems. Charlie's sharp eyes catch the bandaged hand, but he makes no mention of it. If Chun wants to fight a medal fight at less than full strength--if she _is_ at less than full strength--then that's her perogative. If this were a fight against Vega, Charlie would have Chun benched. Despite the cooler weather, Charlie toughs it out as only he can--in that survival vest and his own usual fighting clothes, and it doesn't seem to bother him any, as usual. "Fancy seeing you here," he continues, a slight grin curving his lips, "I got some sort of weird challenge, said, 'meet me at the shrine'... there wouldn't happen to be any mysterious, sneaky people around here, would there?" If it amuses him to tug on Chun's tail in such a manner, it only shows in that grin--well, and the cameraderie clearly shown just in his relaxed manner and casual posture.
"Mm, fancy!" Chun-Li responds to Charlie's first comment with the flashing of quick grin, visibly perking up a bit from her semi-idle state on his initial arrival. Fighting crime and dining with fangirls in the same day... a scant while after discovering a strange new set of feelings for an old presumed enemy, she is only too pleased to see a face she knows is friendly, and which contains no surprises by way of personality quirks or sudden shifts of allegiance. Home ground.
As the ex-soldier continues, the Tai Chi mistress forces her smile to fade and tips her head to one side, regarding him with a good attempt at an honestly quizzical gaze. "Oh? Mysterious challenger, huh? Sounds most odd, Charlie.. though now that you mention it? I did hear of a sneaky type who's been caught waltzing around Southtown recently," she blinks innocently, pushing herself to her feet off her left - uninjured - hand and moving to walk toward and around Charlie, not removing her eyes from him as she circles.
"Quite the villain I hear. Makes a habit of picking on poor, defenceless young flowers caught out in the middle of nowhere. He takes their medals for his own treasure trove and leaves them stunned and breathless, unable to even /explain/ what just happened. You know..." Drifting to a halt, she pauses to look away from the American before tilting her head to look back at him. "I should be more careful who I talk to, don't you think?"
Chun-Li is unable to hide the laughter in her eyes now though, and it tugs at her lips as she slips her jacket off, letting it fall to the floor behind her with a slight clink as the material knocks at her spiked bracelets. Bringing her hands around and making slight adjustments to each of these matching accessories in turn, she tries her best to remain straight-faced whilst taking in Charlie's reply.
Charlie is just as glad to see Chun, as well; fighting an odd, ice-powered girl and the next day a crazy flamewielding old man are, while not outside of the realm of sanity, not exactly Charlie's favorite things. Seeing her stand and... well, begin to circle, Charlie suddenly gets the feeling of being surrounded by a shark... but, what a way to go. Fortunately for Charlie (or perhaps unfortunately) fans aren't something that really comes his way--crime, however, can be. Still, her reaction provokes a spark of amusement in him.
"Well, of course you should be more careful who you talk to. But, really, I don't know who you're talking about... I think you leave more people breathless than *I* do," he chuckles, "and I certainly haven't been taking medals from anyone." Quite the opposite, really; but it's water off a duck's back, to Charlie. "I must say, though, this medal tourney's been surprising in some ways. I've certainly met some... _interesting_... people..." Seeing the spiked bracelets, and watching Chun adjust them for the perfect fit, Charlie just shakes his head. "You know, I really hope I don't get tagged with those tonight. It'd sure be hard to explain to the guys back on the base." A subtle acknowledgement that there will be a fight between the two of them, perhaps, as Charlie begins making his own preparations, removing the glasses and putting them away. "Maybe after this is done we can find that mysterious challenger, hmm? Surely my friend and fellow Vigilante wouldn't resort to a scrawled note to entice me out here when I *know* she can reach me by cellphone..."
Chun-Li's demeanour is thrown a little by the turning of tables with her 'breathless' statement, just the tiniest touch of colour coming into her cheeks at that. Perhaps she's not so good at sustaining the tease factor, but she's a lot better than she used to be! "Well," she responds with a light peal of laughter in response to Charlie's final conclusion, "Did you consider that she may just have run out of charge? Modern living can be so expensive..."
Shaking her head with mock-sadness, the world's strongest woman glances down at her hands now to tighten the bandages around her injured extremity. Looking up quickly she also turns to face her comrade, falling into a battle-ready stance, rising up onto her toes and lifting her arms around her. "But certainly I'll keep an eye out. I wouldn't want my favourite ex-soldier to go getting hurt after all."
The Chinese beauty accompanies this last with a wink, flashing a smile one last time before slipping back a couple of paces, remaining in her assumes posture. "Seriously, though, don't go easy on me. It's been an eventful few days, Charlie... we need to talk, later, but for now I need some," she pauses to sink a little lower on her feet, cricking her neck to one side before finishing, "Spiritual healing. Attack me with everything you have and I'll have a nice cup of green tea ready for when you wake up."
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has started a fight here.
Charlie almost laughs at being able to tease Chun-Li... it's no secret that she's not only considered the Strongest Woman in the World by many, but also one of the most beautiful. His response is thought out only for a moment, "I suppose that could have happened. I'll keep it under advisement; perhaps I should suggest finding better battery packs at the next procurement meeting."
At the 'spiritual healing', Charlie just smiles, and raises his hands up. "I guess it's what the doctor ordered..." Truthfully he could use a good fight, as well; fighting Saishu was good, for sure, but also filled with anxieties--Charlie is never able to just let go and enjoy when the fight's against a personal unknown. Crazy can hide in any form. "Confident, aren't we, Chun? Don't expect me to have green tea for you if things don't go your way," he warns, and then slightly more seriously, "and I'd never give you anything but the best I can give. It isn't how I am." And with that, he settles himself into stance.
COMBATSYS: Charlie has joined the fight here.
"Now, now," Chun-Li chides, tone a little distant now as she concentrates not on the social side of this meeting but upon that yet to come. "You know I don't trust you Americans to be capable of brewing such a drink." One eye closes briefly in a slow wink, then the woman's gaze is trained not upon Charlie's eyes but on his whole form as she sizes him up... regardless of how many times they have fought, she prefers to reassess any warrior each time they fight. Skills develop and abilities grow as experience is gained. That is simple fact and she would expect no less from her opponent - besides, where would be the fun in paying no attention?
"Okay!" The young woman exclaims, some affirmation that she is prepared. In curious sync with this the sound of footsteps sounds nearby, almost silent but telltale enough for those with developed senses - sounds like the Kanzuki-ryuu ninja camera crew have arrived. Invisible or not. The sound does nothing to perturb Chun-Li however, and she braces herself a moment before rushing in toward Charlie at a dash, ducking her shoulder low as she presents him with one side of her body. Hands flow together and slip to her stomach, close to the hip and then...
"SOU!" She lunges forward with a double palmthrust aimed to penetrate the Vigilante leader's guard and strike him straight in the ribcage. A flicker of chi energy reveals the extra potence contained within the blow, a sign of the force lingering within - certainly strong enough to send Charlie sliding back across the grass if he does not mount adequate defence.
COMBATSYS: Charlie blocks Chun-Li's Sou Hakkei.
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Chun-Li 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Charlie
Charlie just stands there; if Chun wants to size him up, well, here he is. No secrets for him, not to be hidden from the woman before him. She is, after all, one of his closest--if not only--friends, and he would not do her that disservice. As Chun-Li chooses to ignore the cameras, so does Charlie; it wouldn't do to be distracted, especially with Chun-Li coming in as she does. But that strike is for naught, as Charlie reverses his forearms, brings them down in a cross block, and feels the force dissipate into the well-toughened, well-abused flesh. "A good start," he comments, "but not yet!" Wordier than usual, perhaps, is the man, conscious to some extent of the camera crew. With Chun-Li this close special infighting techniques must be used, and so it is that Charlie grabs for the woman's shoulders, intending on stepping a foot behind her and, quite simply, forcing her to the ground shoulders-first, a classic trip-throw.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li blocks Charlie's Quick Throw.
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Chun-Li 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Charlie
Well, the good news is that Charlie attains a grip on the over-extended woman. There is no surprise shown at his raised guard - even though she did put an extra burst of effort into the technique this time around, there is little she can do to throw off the ex-soldier so early on in a bout. Chun-Li is, however, likewise prepared for his countering attack. Even as she's grabbed the world's strongest woman is twisting her body to weather the impact, right shoulder tucking inward and her 'free' leg lifting in preparation for what comes next.
"I'll show you close," she chimes softly, looking up into Charlie's eyes briefly before she's pitched to the floor. Body going momentarily limp as he releases his grip, that will be the first physical sign that anything is wrong, the next being more obvious as the Tai Chi mistress catches herself on the turned shoulder and bounces off it, right arm going out to brace to the floor and lift her up for her own return strike.
"HYAAH!" Lifting herself off the floor on extended limb and bent right knee, Chun-Li thrusts her prepared left leg out in a weighty thrust kick aimed at taking her fellow Vigilante deep in the gut, then applying a little boost through a shove /off/ her shoulder, to propel him backward while she bends her agile form to land in a half-crouch a slight distance away.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Charlie with Strong Kick.
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Chun-Li 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Charlie
Charlie is not surprised at Chun's speed; he's always known that the Chinese Mistress of Tai Chi is faster than he is. Thus it comes as no surprise that the weighty kick finds itself with Chun's foot buried in Charlie's stomach. Yet he seems ready for it even so, tightening abdominal muscles and managing to shift so that the kick doesn't quite take him full on. It does push him back a bit, though, with some of that movement by the Vigilante leader's own choice.
Narrowing his eyes at the crouching Chun-Li, he hunches in some, tightening his stance... and draws his right arm back. The motions should be familiar to Chun; his chi flares around his right fist and he whips it forward, carving out an arc of energy that flies off towards Chun like a blazing boomerang. And as it flies, Charlie's deep voice echoes through the shrine area.
"SONIC BOOM!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li fails to slow Sonic Boom from Charlie with Kikou Ken.
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Chun-Li 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Charlie
Chun-Li finds herself slightly staggered as she completes her curiously graceful flip, barely landing as she intended and though the results of Charlie's sturdy absorption may not be entirely visible... they are there all the same, her focus dulled a little and reaction timing suffering as a result. Perhaps this makes no difference to what she attempts to do next, watching her friend and comrade wind up for something she is all too familiar with, or perhaps it makes no odds. Regardless, her hands are already wound about an imaginary ball, a golden pinpoint flaring as they come forward to meet the blast of sonic energy. "Ki-hngh!"
The vibrant spark of her own chi dissipates in a tiny cloud of vaporous mist, the powerful woman falling back as she's impacted by the projectile. Her balance goes after an initial stagger, and she's forced to arc into a backflip to save herself tumbling, palms finding the grass and propelling her back to her feet some way off. "That doesn't happen often!" She remarks breathlessly, and good-naturedly, before falling into a defensive stance, "I guess an old dog really can learn new tricks."
"Old dog?!?" Charlie growls good-naturedly at that, "I'll have you know I'm still young, missy! Hell, just yesterday I fought a guy who was old enough to be your dad. Or mine." But he wasn't, and Charlie says silent thanks to that. Whoever Saishu's kid is, that's one unfortunate kid. But--back to the matter at hand. "Old, huh? I'll show you!"
And that proclamation sets up Charlie's next attack, preceded by two quick running steps which carry the American into a low-trajectory hop which ends with him curling into a tuck--only to stab out with one foot in a flying thrust kick.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li dodges Charlie's Heavy Kick.
"Oh?" Chun-Li actually looks somewhat interested in this piece of news - there are precious few older fighters whom Charlie might have faced, and the identity of this one might bear investigation. She's long desired to meet the patriarchs of the legendary Kyokugen and Kusnanagi-ryuu styles, even despite conficting reports of insanity in both cases. But this will be something else that can linger until later - for now she has a rather deceptive little assault to deal with, her defensive positioning enabling perfect chance to escape damage.
"You may," she begins as she ducks low, her right side leading as she performs a single sliding motion to place herself outside of Charlie's frontal range, "Want to try and show me a little faster - I've moved on, remember?" Still teasing through her focus it would seem, but then these things are mutual She's being encouraged! Just as she's being encouraged to go all out, though that should be a given. Left hand snaking out to grip the airborne Vigilante by the scruff of his neck, lifting and shoving in equal measure should she gain grip, the world's strongest woman ducks low before rearing up with a gigantic thrust kick from her right leg.
"HEEE!" The strike should propel her friend reasonably high, if it hits. Long enough for the Chinese beauty to dance away and scope his landing point before beginning to circle this point in long, measured strides, fully in the rhythm of battle. If nothing else she means to give a fair show to the Medal Tournament fans - Xiangfei might even be watching!
COMBATSYS: Charlie fails to interrupt Strong Throw from Chun-Li with Step Kick.
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Chun-Li 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Charlie
Fast... too fast... Well, not really -too- fast. But too fast for Charlie; even as he's recovering, trying to spin towards the target of his kick, she's grabbing, lifting, pushing--and kicking. And that kick takes him -right- in the side, and sends him flying. "UNGH!" Charlie flails his arms as he goes flying, probably about ten yards up and ten yards back, throwing his arms out to absorb some of the fall; still he'll be slightly slow on getting to his feet. "Okay," he gasps, "so you're still faster than I am... doesn't mean I'm old..."
Chun-Li flinches momentarily as she watches Charlie hit the ground. One part of the woman never has liked taunting and subsequently laying the hurt upon her friends... without the taunting, it's fine, but in moments like this she always feel a slight irrational twinge of guilt. Still, the instant is over in exactly that and she resumes her original plan of circling the Vigilante leader, hands raised in rigid blades about her body - the bandaged one showing little sign of pain. The wound is mostly healed at this stage, for the record.
"I'll concede you're not old," The Tai Chi mistress offers while closing on on her rising opponent, favouring him with a brief smile after a moment, "I may even concede you'd be a fine catch if you can dodge my next blow. Deal?" Smile vanishing to leave the humour only showing in her brown eyes, Chun-Li dances in at a deceptive approach angle, waiting until she finds herself a nice view of Charlie's left flank before spinning in a horizonal pirouetting motion, coming around at his fore with a whirling hook kick.
"HA!" Kiai'ing more briefly this time, the side of her white boot is aimed to clip her comrade atop the head, probably not pitching him to the floor but causing a brief stumble which she'll use to spin about again, arriving on his opposite side this time and snapping instantly into her stance. Can he win the prize at stake?
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Charlie with Medium Kick.
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Chun-Li 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Charlie
With a challenge like -that-... how can he not try? And well, try he does---but Chun -is- fast, and Charlie's still aching from the landing. "Ngh!" he cries, as the kick does clip him in the head, and he does stumble... closer to Chun-Li's position. A feint? He seems to recover far faster than he should, replying to that teasing comment with, "I think I'd rather be caught by you than me!" The tease is not just a reply, though; even as Charlie speaks he's dropping to one knee, firing off a pair of left jabs into Chun-Li's position, right arm up to continue to help defend against any further white-booted kicks.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li dodges Charlie's Quick Punch.
"Oh-ho, really now?" Chun-Li replies almost instantly, gaze flickering downward with the motion of her oft-time sparring partner. His jabs are met with a sharp movement of her leg, back and to one side, the woman standing oddly for a moment before the right slides in to match. Now with her body at a three quarter angle she looks down at Charlie with a cocked eyebrow, "I was /going/ to give you that one for effort, but after your presumptious nature?"
Instead of finishing her own question immediately, the Strongest Woman in the World does something rather uncharacteristic. Lifting her unbandaged hand she raises it above her shoulder before going for a wide swat at the Vigilante leader - it actually resembles a slap of all things, until she lifts it at the last moment to catch him around the side of the head instead. Like telling off a naughty schoolboy. "Time out for you, young man!" Wink.
The hand is retracted as fast as it was employed, and Chun-Li drops into a short-range spring to make some distance between herself and Charlie, skidding around a good fifteen feet away and dropping to a crouch, fingertips tickling the grass to either side. "When you're done thinking about your attitude, look me up again!" Though the invitation is there to do so now, naturally! And she punctuates this by lifting one hand in a beckoning motion. Bring it.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Charlie with Jab Punch.
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Chun-Li 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Charlie
Seems this fight is going badly for Chuck; the slap connects with his head and while it doesn't do much besides ring a bell or two it's enough to wake him up. He manages a contrite "Yes ma'am," sounding appropriately chastised, then starts laughing as he rises to his feet, tracking Chun-Li's motion; he doesn't press the attack this time, however, but settles into a more serious stance, arms up like a boxer's, legs set, knees bent and center of gravity low. Chun's kept him off-balance--payback for the tease at the start, Charlie figures--but it's time for him to regain some of his focus.
COMBATSYS: Charlie focuses on his next action.
In all honesty, that probably is enough fun and games - though Chun-Li did express a desire for spiritual healing. What better way than to wind down from the dramatic showdowns with the Zero Doll and the crazed Orochi woman than to partake of a little joking stupidity between friends? Along with playful slaps that would probably knock out a normal person... but anyway. After gracing Charlie's 'yes ma'am' with an affirming nod and a final amused smile, the world's strongest woman rises halfway to her feet, guard raised and gaze intensifying once more upon the task at hand.
Which surprisingly enough, is not to win a medal. As a fringe benefit it will bring her one step closer to the promise made to her number one fangirl, but this is all about her, Charlie and the way of the warrior. Settling herself back into focus, the Chinese woman waits only a few heartbeats more before breaking into action. It begins with another sprint, but this one ends prematurely as she bends willowlike at the waist, finding a point of pressure with an extended hand and seeming almost to be tumbling off her feet...
"SPINNING BIRD KICK!" The motion is turned in familiar style, the famed manuever executed with its usual grace and style - surpassing the possible silliness lurking within a woman doing an aerial headstand. Once her legs snap out firmly to either side though, and the rotations of that muscular form begin, there can be no doubting a distinct lack of 'silliness'. Thundering in toward Charlie as a tornado'ing blur, Chun-Li rejoins this bout dramatically.
COMBATSYS: Charlie interrupts Spinning Bird Kick from Chun-Li with Step Kick.
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Chun-Li 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Charlie
If Chun wants to drop the teasing--and it's evident to Charlie that the time for the games is over, clearly shown in the woman's intensified gaze--then Charlie is fine with it. It's a sign of their friendship, to him, that their fight can go from teasing to serious in the blink of an eye. As Chun-Li sprints forward, and begins spinning towards him, Charlie decides that he may not win this fight. But he wants Chun-Li to remember it, and he wants it to be a good one. And so, just as he did with Saishu's flamethrower attack, Charlie steps -into- the kicks, taking one, two, three crunching hits to the jaw and chest--but he maintains his steady stance and his booted foot lashes out right into Chun's midsection. Something of a Pyrrhic victory; those kicks hurt. But it's far better than just taking the hits.
Chun-Li can sense something a little wrong both from her strobed view of Charlie's feet and the way in which the first barrage of kicks is weathered - the impact is there with all the force it entails, but the muscles seemingly tensed within the pummeled body are a sign of something incoming. Unfortunately she has no way of finishing at such close range and without more foresight, so the army boot catches her in the midriff and forces out every last ounce of breath from her lungs, the violent exhalation the only other sound made as she's sent whirling out of her technique.
Landing in a barely controlled ball of limbs nearby, the Chinese beauty is quick enough to get to her feet but clearly disorientated, drawing and releasing fast breaths as she reviews her condition and renews her stance. "...I hate it when you do that..." she breathlessly states, giving a grin and a shake of her head before sinking into low concentration. Charlie likely recovers too quickly for her to capitalise on any obvious opening, and so she is forced to open up proceedings again, moving in more slowly this time and with an analytical eye watching her partner.
One hand curls to a fist beside her hip while she approaches, Chun-Li appearing to come to some decision on her next action. Scarce feet away from Charlie she quickens her pace to duck down close to the floor, body then rising in a circular motion with crabwise movement. Odd and deceptive, the strikes that follow are a little more textbook. Her right fist leads, bandaged hand slamming forward to catch Charlie in the stomach. The left arm then comes directly up bearing an open palm to catch the Vigilante leader on the chin when he hopefully folds in around the first strike.
"Hup-HAAA!" Hardly original, but proven.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Charlie with Medium Punch.
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Chun-Li 1/----===/=======|=======\==-----\1 Charlie
Charlie rubs his own bruised chest and mock-glares at Chun, "Hate it, huh? I hate eating your boots for dinner, but that doesn't stop you either!" Okay, so he grins to show he's joking; though he tries not to let it show, the fight's taking its toll on him, making him slow, a little clumsy. So it is that the one-two combo comes in from Chun and is unopposed, the attack having exactly the desired effect--fortunately Charlie's tongue is safe from what could have been a nasty bite. He stumbles backwards, a half-step, and turns, coughing, to drop down... to his hands. And what comes next is probably predictable, at least for Chun, who should know her sparring partner's style very well by now; he seems to almost handstand, his feet flipping out heel-first in a chi-assisted reverse flipkick, and Charlie absorbs the momentum, turning around in midair, redirecting his landing impact into another back-turned flipkick, energy blazing even brighter, carving arcs across the sky, the last repetition taking him even higher into the air; and though he manages to turn and land, he's left on one knee, panting, one hand on the ground for balance.
COMBATSYS: Charlie successfully hits Chun-Li with Somersault Justice.
- Power hit! -
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Chun-Li 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0 Charlie
Well, none can stand against the power of JUSTICE!
This would seem to include Chun-Li, and admittedly she remains rather prone to a sudden counter assault, palm raised still from its snapping motion and only lowering once Charlie himself is already swinging down into a predatory crouch. All she can do is thrust both of her arms across her upper body and face in a desperate attempt to guard, before the first chi-powered kick busts directly through this defence - ripping her skyward even as her bruised limbs are sent flailing out to either side. With a gasp of shocked pain, the world's strongest woman expresses her inability to do anything but soak the blows... and each takes her higher and causes more damage until finally she is released to sail back to earth in a gyrating, agonised ball.
However...
En route to the floor, six feet from impacting the soil and lying still for a while, a flare of light seems to emanate from the woman. Not many could see it - sense it - but the glow of her fighting spirit igniting in full is something glorious to behold for those equipped enough. For all the joking, laughing and playing around, she remains deadly serious about her earlier beseechment; no holding back on either side, and no rest until one of them has to be picked up by the other. It's this determination that sees the powerful beauty spin about in a sudden motion of flying skirts and ribbons, landing in dramatic style on raised toes, gaze fixed upon Charlie. A slight shift of her form and she seems then to cover the distance to the landing man in a mere rush of winds.
"HOUYOKU SEN!" The cry rings out clear as sunlight across the shrine grounds, a blurred streak of gold and blue rocketing in to meet the Vigilante leader. What also meets him is the first of many kicks, one of those legs coming up to catch him with a boot to the chest. Reared up on her opposing limb in perfect balance and grace, the Strongest Woman in the World unleashes the attack she meant to show her comrade last time. A half dozen strikes follow, until with a breathtaking twist of her body she comes up on the leg previously aiming blows, keeping within Charlie's guard as he staggers. Tallying up another six tendering kicks, there is one last similar rotation of her form before she rocks back on one leg...
The thrusting kick that follows is magnificent in execution and power, at the pinnacle of its art and hurled by the woman who is arguably the true master of such. A final kiss goodnight to the chin.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Charlie with Houyoku Sen EX.
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Chun-Li 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Charlie
COMBATSYS: Charlie takes no action.
COMBATSYS: Charlie can no longer fight.
Charlie looks up, and sees... well, if not his death, certainly something that looks much like an Angel of Death. And in the next moment he's seeing nothing but a whirlwind of kicks, watermelon-splitting, rock-breaking, powerful kicks, drumming his body several times a second, the last kick taking him clean across the chin, lifting him up into the air to land--this time, without his arms to help break the fall. *crunch* No harm done? Not quite. But there are no hard feelings, that's for sure. Charlie gave his best; so did Chun-Li. Tonight, Chun's best was better. The last time they fought, Charlie was the victor. There will be many such fights, he's sure, for medals, for tourneys--just for fun and to test each other. That's the definition of their friendship, or at least part of it.
And shortly after that, the cameras stop rolling... no doubt there'll be a dramatic freeze-frame of that final blasting kick, but for now the show is over. Chun-Li lowers her leg with a sigh of released effort, eyes glazing over with the realisation of pain and weariness as she looks toward Charlie. Her focus is held for a few moments just to double check that he has no final reserves to display, and then she smiles.. walking over to stand beside his prone form.
"Well... looks like you owe me a medal, Captain." Throwing a casual salute down at the man as she says this, a tired grin then plasters itself over her lips and the woman drops down to her knees, and then into a cross-legged position. Breathing deeply, she rests one cheek on a hand, the elbow on her knee, and closes her eyes. She won't be brewing up tea immediately, but rest assured she'll stick around until the Vigilante leader recovers, and then take him into Southtown to provide beverages the cheater's way. That was quite the fight, a worthy tribute to what is.. quite the friendship.
Log created by Chun-Li, and last modified on 04:24:40 11/08/2005.