Description: In the first application of SNF's new Active Tag Tactics, celebrated prettyboy Alma Towazu and the stoic Aislinn Doyle face off against Jiro 'Stray Dog' Kasagi and charming monk Frei Tsukitomi-Renard. Silent Valley is silent no more with the intense battling, but in the end, only one team can remain! (Winners: Alma/Aislinn)
There is little sound in the Silent Valley. The warm summer sun highlights the vibrant green of the landscape even as it dries the creekbed to its shallow level, what water there is funneling into the lake here only eliciting a thin trickling sound. With few trees on the steep mossy slopes, there are few birds chirping; with few flowers, there are few insects buzzing. The clouds pass lazily, quietly through the sky, and that is all.
That, and the sound of the Irish-accented murmuring of the camera crew, and the sound of Alma's feet swishing through the plush grass.
Here, in this little bowl-like cleft on what is mostly a steep incline down into the heart of the valley, the match is to take place. The camera crew have set most of their equipment on the lip of the crest so they can aim down into where the action will take place, although a couple are stationed at the far ends as well, for a clear flat shot. For the most part, though, this little dip in the valley, shadowed by steep grassy knolls on either side and preventing any view of most of the rest of the valley, is empty. Empty, pristine, silent. Silent Valley.
The tall, bronzed youth, clad in a snug dark green half-buttoned overshirt and brown and tan cargo pants, gazes up through the natural visor of his swept blonde red-tinged bangs and smiles contentedly up at the sun, appreciating this tranquil place.
Then he blinks, scrunches up his face, and sneezes.
"Excuse me," Alma murmurs, sniffing once.
It is a warm summer day, great in position for a fight to come up. Withi the bowl-like cleft is a figure making his way through the incline.
He's accompanied by a few Irish setters that are following him around. It's not the Stray Dog if he doesn't have animals following him. The Stray Dog's attire is just the normal set-up; grey sleeveless shirt, black cargo pants, and some tennis shoes. Oh, and his signature leatherstraps for gloves.
He stares over at the sneezing Alma, gritting his teeth as he tightens his fist. "Good to see you again." Folding his arms, the Stray Dog's grin is apparent. "About time that we fought officially."
So, despite being half of British descent Frei doesn't find himself coming to England very often. He hates the food, doesn't particularly like foggy cold mornings, and tends to get weird looks from people when they hear his last name. But SNF is SNF, and the monk is so excited to be part of the franchise that he totally abandons whatever impulse against going had cropped up in his mind. He didn't even wait to hear who the challengers were.
This is why he's now standing off behind Jiro, long headband tails flapping in the wind moving through the valley, and assessing the situation carefully. There's Alma, the guy he kissed on national television. Then there's Jiro, the guy who has a history with Alma and probably wouldn't take kindly to knowing Frei HAD made that kiss, particularly since Frei is his teammate. Jiro uses words like "fruity". To Frei, this doesn't bode well. And his history of fighting Alma... let's just say it's not that great.
Yep. Situation perfectly analyzed.
"Oh, *bugger*."
Alma smiles softly as Jiro approaches, the silence finally broken by their conversation. "And you," the tall boy murmurs in response, one hazel eye warm and friendly, the other currently half-hidden by his swept blond hair. "Last time was Easter Island, wasn't it? We seem to end up in very natural environments." The young bishounen speaks softly, but after a moment his smile widens and his voise raises slightly as he tilts his head to look over to Jiro's new teammate. "Frei!" Alma grins softly. "You're here too... this will be interesting."
It's an innocent enough comment -- probably. He might have noticed Frei's expression. It's hard to say, though, because only a moment later the youth turns his head to glance over his own shoulder, more symbolically than anything else it seems. "My teammate seems to be missing, though..."
~ Aislinn Doyle... is that the strange girl I met on the street...? ~
"...well, I'm sure I could take you both, if it comes to that."
Alma's grin widens.
COMBATSYS: Alma has started a fight here on the right meter side.
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Alma
COMBATSYS: Jiro has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Jiro 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alma
COMBATSYS: Aislinn has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Jiro 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Aislinn
Shrug.
"Yes. It was almost an awkward finish."
...
...
"Meh." The Stray Dog narrows his eyes a bit, then he tightns his fists once more. "Anyway." He shrugs once, looking back at Frei, "Cool, you're here." He lifts an eyebrow, then he has a smir on his face. He finger extends up and he points it at Alma.
The hand extends forward, white flames illuminating along the hands with a grin, "Alright, Alma. Let's make this a good fight, hrm?" The Stray Dog immediately has the flames flick away, then he rushes towards Alma's directon.
Why is everything Still in the Dark...?
Because Jiro's arm is aiming to clothesline Alma right onto the ground.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Alma with Strong Punch.
- Power hit! -
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Aislinn
~ Hm? ~
Alma unhurriedly raises his right hand slightly as the Stray Dog rushes him unexpectedly, the tall youth blinking once. "Ah, Jiro, we can't--"
Well, the television audiences are probably eating this one up. Alma doesn't have the air left to finish his sentence as Jiro's clothesline almost flips him over completely, the fighting model's eyes widening as he just barely manages to control his fall by slamming his palms against the ground and twisting his body fiercely. It becomes an odd sort of tumble, and it's unclear whether or not Alma is actually in control of his body at all as Jiro runs by.
"...heh!"
But the young man tilts his head up in mid-twist, and despite the wince in his features, he's grinning. "Let's--" Lifting his right hand off the ground and lifting his legs in the air, Alma reveals he has in fact manages to redirect that crazy spin, and with a sudden surge of energy, the psychic's right hand ignites in a burst of white purple-tinged soulfire as he slashes out with a low cut. "--GO!" Ripples of stunning force fade out from the cut, and though he doesn't physically touch Jiro's legs, the impact is even greater than if he had; if the Stray Dog doesn't get out of the way fast, he too will be swept off his feet.
For his part, Alma doesn't seem that worried about fighting alone.
COMBATSYS: Jiro endures Alma's Self Expression.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Aislinn
The fight's on and yet there's no Aislinn. Oh, wait, yes there is. Finally, Aislinn makes her debut entrance, showing up amongst the SNF cameramen; she leaps over a camera, hits a valley wall, and pushes off--towards and past Alma, towards 'their' end of the canyon. Yes, Alma, it -is- the girl you ran into once... and her weird, flat aura may cause you some distractions if you dwell on it. The entry is somewhat flashy, at least for Aislinn, but then once she's landed she just stands at the end, waiting, her arms crossed behind her back.
After the clothesline runs through Alma, Jiro immediately makes his way over to the older youth. A snarl is given after he straightens himself and he finds himself running to one of the green 'walls'. Instead of completely crashing against it, he shifts his feet over to kick against it, then he shoots himself straight towards Alma's direction.
Right to where the psychic is revealing the white purple-tinged soulflame. The ripple of the force aims for the legs. Insead, Jiro tilts his body foward as to fall into the ground from the aura filled force.
Once Jiro does fall forth, his hands quickly hold onto the ground as he positions his legs out. He aims to have the legs together, then pushes himself towards Alma.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Alma with Heavy Kick.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Alma
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Aislinn
Alma sees Jiro turning to move away from the blast radius of his attack, and as he continues to spin and right himself, he senses the approach of his teammate. That strange, flat aura...
Eyes narrowing slightly as he casts a sidelong glance at the new arrival, Alma finally twists fully around and tucks into a graceful crouch, turning to look at where Jiro ran off to as he begins to straighten up--
--and gets kicked in the face.
So, apparently, Jiro was running away to kick off the side of the wall and plow right through Alma's attack. It's really quite interesting, and honestly he should have been watching out for something like that, but right now all he can think about is the uncomfortable sensation of getting the back of his head slammed forcibly into a dirt wall. The tall youth makes quite an indentation on the other side of the cleft, embedded there stunned for a few moments before slipping out and limply falling into a kneeling position. He looks rather dazed.
"Oh..."
Face smudged with dirt from Jiro's shoe and nose bleeding slightly, Alma quietly wipes his face with the back of his hand and glances back at Aislinn again. "I think," he murmurs, "I'll take a little break."
Grinning slightly at Jiro, Alma leaps away.
COMBATSYS: Alma gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Aislinn
Hmph. Does it look well for the team of Aislinn and Alma, Dear Readers? I must humbly submit that it does -not-. And while Aislinn's never worked with Alma before--or against him--she recognizes when he leaps away... that it's her turn to attack. And she would dearly love to attack Jiro, with a strength of emotion somewhat beyond what she's used to. And the second Alma's feet leave the ground she's leaving the ground as well, in a burst of speed... running straight for Jiro? No! She's running for the canyon wall, past Jiro, and she leaps up... flipping sideways, in midair, kicking out a small rock... which triggers the tumble of a mid-sized falling rock... heading straight for Jiro.
COMBATSYS: Jiro slows Large Thrown Object from Aislinn with Riot Cross.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Aislinn
Hrmph. The Stray Dog is narrowing his eyes at Alma with a grin on his face. "Leaving so soon, Alma?" The youth shrugs slightly, then he sees that Aislinn is coming forth.
He awaits for her to charge, so that he can greet her wth a kick to the stomach. However, it is unexpected as his foot strike the air instead.
Blink.
Frowning a bit, the Stray Dog sees her kicking a small rock and then the tumble of the the falling rock straight his way.
Channeling his chi into his grasp, Jiro releases a roar while forming two white fireballs. "Arrgghhh!" He hisses out, then he throws the fireballs at the rock. It breaks it down to small pieces, but the smaller pieces knick him against the cheek. "Shit.."
Aislinn springs off the wall and flips over once before landing on the canyon valley floor; she... almost... smiles with grim satisfaction, seeing Jiro get rock'd. (Pardon the pun.) Then she charges in once more... seeking to close the distance and find Jiro's stomach with a flattened left hand... which will suddenly become the focus of all of Ai's momentum and impact, behind the knuckles of a suddenly closed fist. It is... the One Inch Punch. You can practically hear the 'WA-TAA!!!' behind it, but if you do, that's probably Alma... not that he'd do that. It'd just be weird.
"Wa-taa," Alma murmurs quietly, sniffing again as he finishes wiping away the thin streak of blood from under his fortunately unbroken nose.
COMBATSYS: Jiro counters One Inch from Aislinn with Bull Fist.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Alma
> ////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Aislinn
The One Inch Punch.
A famous move.
When she is trying to slam the fist against Jiro's stomach, the youth immediately yanks out the hand from even reaching him, which is now involving lifting the woman up. "Denied." He snarls out towards Aislinn, winding his fist back as he calls out. "SEI!"
The One Inch Punch.
A famous move.
When she is trying to slam the fist against Jiro's stomach, the youth immediately yanks out the hand from even reaching him, which is now involving lifting the woman up. "Denied." He snarls out towards Aislinn, winding his fist back as he calls out. "SEI!"
Fist preps, casting backwards, before it zooms forth like a wrecking ball, aiming to cave right into Aislinn as he lets go. "DO!" He aims to drive the woman right to the 'grass' wall.
He aims to leave an Aislinn imprint on the field. Why? He just -rocked- her.
"No, I am not going to 'wry'."
Sadly, Jiro... an imprint you will -not- leave. It was strong... but Aislinn has met stronger. She takes the hit, blowing out breath to soften the impact slightly... and once again, in midair, she flips, landing with a skid on both feet and one hand, ala Wesley Snipes in any of the Blade movies.
She rises to her feet, almost... smirking... as she tenses muscles and lowers her stance. Invisibly, power runs through her, washing away fatigue and empowering her physical form...
COMBATSYS: Aislinn gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Alma
> /////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
Although disappointed that Aislinn caught herself and the fact that he is finding himself in the fight for too long, he decides that his partner should have some fun.
"Hey, Frei!" Jiro calls out then he starts to leap out of the fighting ring, "Tag, you're in."
COMBATSYS: Jiro gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Alma
> /////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
COMBATSYS: Frei has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Frei 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\0 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
Wow... check out the formations on THAT rock. Sexeh.
In truth, Jiro's been putting up such a bang-up performance that Frei didn't even really think to watch the fight. Instead, he's been enjoying the scenery and trying not to think about the really terrible ways in which this could end up. Thus the Stray Dog's tag out catches him by surprise, and he jumps a little as he turns around.
"Oh, right... SNF." Flexing his fingers out, the monk observes the situation and finds... Aislinn, the impassive china doll he's fought once before, though not in this venue. Outwardly he's all smiles as usual; inwardly he groans a little. She's a good fighter, but she is no fun. "Personal goal:" he states grandly, before hurling two spheres of blue-white chi at the young woman, "Get you to crack a smile." Unless Aislinn gets out of the way, the two orbs impact each other once they get close, hopefully pelting her with ice shards.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn blocks Frei's Hyoushou Rengeki.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Frei 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Aislinn
Get Aislinn to crack a smile? Not terribly likely, unless you're Krizalid, Candy, or Kula. Frei's breasts aren't big enough for either of the girls, and he's not tall enough for Krizalid.
Aislinn stands her ground, throwing her arms up and absorbing the ice-based chi from her new opponent... after a moment's worth of consideration, she decides to try to close the gap anyways, despite being pushed back, and she leaps to the fray--running forward to close distance and then leaping, kicking out at Frei's head with a booted foot, around which red lightning crackles.
COMBATSYS: Frei blocks Aislinn's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Frei 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Aislinn
Interestingly enough Frei deflects Aislinn's kick with what seems like minimal effort, his hand flickering a bluish silver as he interposes it between her foot and his head, pushing the force off to the side. He does wince a little bit from the pain, but it apparently isn't enough to slow him down. "I cannot imagine a weirder partner for Alma," he mumurs, spinning out of the defense and aiming to snag Aislinn's wrist before she can get too far away, judo-tossing her to the ground behind him if possible. "Unless he wanted a dramatic foil and built you in his basement like those guys in 'Weird Science'."
COMBATSYS: Aislinn gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Frei 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
COMBATSYS: Alma interrupts Medium Throw from Frei with Divine Intervention EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Frei 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
Alma's been sitting on the sidelines for a little while now, but he's had no time to really catch his breath. While not feeling frustrated exactly, his passion hasn't really had the opportunity to truly express itself -- that's his way of saying he's been getting completely jacked -- and all his awareness is focused on what's coming next. He doesn't know what to expect from his partner, that's for sure, but she seems to be holding her own...
He doesn't like this one, though.
Alma's not one to barge in on anything, honestly, but sometimes his instincts know better than he does. His usual courtesy is totally overwhelmed by the burning urge to get into the game, and before he really knows what he's doing--
--the gentlest of shoves redirects Aislinn to the side--
--and Frei's grab attempt is parried, followed up by an explosive burst of soulfire that should send the older monk back a bit.
"I'll take it from here."
Aislinn didn't see much, really--just the reaching of hands... and then she's thrown to the side, really, pushed up against the canyon wall. Fortunately she doesn't get a mouthful of canyon... instead, she retreats. Alma already said everything he needed to. She'll even forgive him the shove.
Shoulda coulda woulda.
The chivalry catches Frei by surprise, but only for an instant. Why? Because Alma's stupid like that and the monk should have known to expect it, which is definitely what's playing in his head and he *starts* the backwards midair fall from Alma's sudden, violent, heavily overused counterattack. But that in and of itself is a blessing, because it makes the monk start thinking again. Use your surroundings, right?
Righting himself in midair, Frei lashes out one foot and slams it, hard, into the ravine wall... and basically hangs there, teeth gritted with focus as he uses earth chi to 'anchor' himself onto the wall like Spider-Man. "Well... didn't know I could pull this sort of thing off, but making it up as I go along is my..."
And then he's descending on Alma like a ton of bricks, hand outstretched to snag the model anywhere he can. And if Alma can't get out of Frei's grip? With a quick midair spin it's down to the ground he goes, greenish motes of energy bursting out of the impact point as the earth itself continues to respond to Frei's spiritual call. Handy stuff, that.
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Frei's Daichi Kudaki EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Frei 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
Alma grunts slightly as his arms snap up in a full-on defense against whatever Frei has coming, but that can't prevent a grab. The tall youth is hefted up and spun, but as soon as he's released Alma tucks immediately, his auric field actually coming into visibility for moment as a rosy gold uneven globe as Frei's chi force strikes him. With his combined physical and spiritual defense, Alma is able to safely land in a coiled crouch--
--and leap up almost instantaneously.
It's a surprisingly spontaneous recovery even for Alma, and with his speed he's hoping to get Frei while the monk is still descending from the aerial throw. Alma twists as he jumps to lash out, quick as a flash, with a spinning kick under Frei's jaw. His legs become suffused with a pinkish-purple halo that soon bursts into all-out white soulfire as the series of kicks continues, and if the initial strikes are succesful, Alma aims to repeatedly hit Frei in midair before knocking his opponent away again.
"Haaahh!"
Our bright-eyed psychic really seems to be getting into it.
COMBATSYS: Alma successfully hits Frei with Rising Fury.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Frei 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
Well, the plan had been to possibly block some of the incoming attacks, but really, Alma is faster and stronger and psychic energy > chi, so Frei's attempt at palm-blocking the first kick is denied in a really spectacular fashion, sending him flying back through the air and impacting the valley wall with an unpleasant-sounding *CRACK* that one hopes is the stone and not, say, bone structure. Frei emerges from the cloud of dust this kicks up eventually and with considerable effort, but he doesn't seem to do much but get back in stance and wipe blod from his lip, trying to focus somewhat. "Second verse, same as the first," he mumbles.
COMBATSYS: Frei gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Frei 1/-======/=======|=======\=------\1 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
Well, Alma's redeemed himself. Spinning once in midair before executing a sweeping landing, sliding one foot in a slow arc like a dancer so as to smoothly redistribute his momentum -- he'd look like a showoff if he didn't seem so completely focused -- the tall youth takes only a moment to recover before lunging again. Stepping first with his right knee forward, Alma then lunges into having his left knee forward in that jerky yet strangely graceful Hiten-Ryu style before finally twisting into a fierce roundhouse kick to Frei's head.
"Hmn!"
No hard feelings, handsome... but no holding back, either!
COMBATSYS: Frei blocks Alma's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Frei 1/=======/=======|=======\=------\1 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
No time for anything fancy. Shrugging, the monk reaches up a hand and simply bats Alma's kick out of the way, gracelessly. "I am starting to feel a little annoyed," he says, sounding puzzled. "Which is weird, because that never happens. So I'm going to let someone else have a turn until I figure out the why." He glances over at Jiro with a faint nod of the head, and then takes a step back to recover, brow furrowed.
COMBATSYS: Frei gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Frei 1/-======/=======|=======\=------\1 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
Once the signal calls for Jiro to jump in, the Stray Dog is ready to run into the fight. Jiro immediately races past Frei and straight towards Alma in a rush. His eyes narrow at his opponnt, then he has a wide grin on his face.
First off, Jiro immediately launches his foot back, tossing out a large rock towards Alma's head. But he runs to that rock, only to leap up and slam his right foot against the rock to the side of Alma's head.
"Eat dirt."
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Jiro's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Frei 1/-======/=======|=======\==-----\1 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
Body still spinning from his deflected kick, the intensity fades in Alma's eyes for a moment as he glances at his puzzled-looking and currently retreating opponent.
~ Frei... ~
But it's disrespectful not to pay attention to your opponent, and Alma hasn't lost any of his momentum. He senses more than sees Jiro leaping in, and twists into a second roundhouse kick -- but this time, as a defensive action. The rock shatters into fragments and powder as the two kicks collide, though it's Alma who's forced to step back a pace after the collision. "Heh." He gives Jiro that small grin again, and his gaze focuses on his new opponent as he lunges...
...backward, performing a quick backhandspring to flip backwards up to where his body last made that imprint on the earth. The place where his head implanted formed a little ledge of dirt and small rocks right above, and it is on that little piece of dirt that the super-poised youth settles, toe pointed expertly and one knee raised.
It looks nice, but it only lashes a second, for with a twist to gather torque he pushes off and rockets back down to Jiro, unleashing a fierce firm-voiced kiai as he lashes out with a hooking flying kick at his rival's head.
"HOU!"
COMBATSYS: Jiro fails to interrupt Shooting Star from Alma with Heaven's Diminisher.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Frei 1/-======/=======|=======\====---\1 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
This is going to be an interesting fight.
And this will be an epic moment. The Stray Dog and Alma are in battle once more, which is pretty good. As Alma lunges backwards, then he takes off to the air to come down with his dive. At the same time, Jiro is preparing for something to greet Alma.
White flames ignite from the foot, burning fiercely as he looks up at Alma. "Hah, hope you enjoy!" He hisses out, then he leaps up towards Alma.
He is attempting to thrust his weight out, shooting the foot to strike Alma in the gut, as to light his opponent up.
Unfortunately, Alma's hook-kick strikes Jiro against the head, which sends him spinning and tumbling towards the dirt.
Ow.
"Mother ****er..." He groans.
It's time.
Alma half-skids to rebalance himself as Jiro goes tumbling, but in an instant he's charging forward again. The tall youth's eyes burn with inner resolve, but his face is strangely relaxed, as though his mind is somewhere else altogether. Drawing back his right hand, Alma's lips part slightly as the light shines forth, eyes glimmering with pinkish-purple light and the aura around his right hand palpitating with fiercely glowing white energy. The soulfire seems to sing as the energy level rises, sounding faintly like a choir of angels...
"It's--"
Suddenly, Alma is all there, every bit of him focused, and the soul energy stops throbbing as it reaches critical mass.
"--OVER!"
He thrusts out at his recovering opponent, and emits an overwhelming blast of psychic energy, all the passion and battle spirit Alma has been building up to this point.
COMBATSYS: Jiro gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Frei 1/-======/=======|=------\-------\0 Alma
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
COMBATSYS: Frei fails to interrupt Absolution from Alma with Fukami Reikai.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
COMBATSYS: Frei can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
Jiro doesn't even need to say anything. In fact, by the time Alma arrives, for all his speed, Frei is just... there, hands already flickering with prismatic light. His face is... taut. "Nothing's over," he says sharply, completely interposing himself between Alma's attack and Jiro's body. He all but detonates his own strongest attack into the wake of Alma's psychic assault, which makes for a really impressive, if utterly pointless, lightshow. Frei at least has the presence of mind to keep talking all the way through it. "What kind of attitude is that? Toward your friend, even. You should be ashamed of yourself."
Which is about the last thing anybody can make out of what he says before the clashing energies reach fever pitch in a blinding burst of white. When it clears, Frei is... way back. With a nice, comical embedded-in-the-stone-wall effect for good measure. He's clearly out.
Okay, this is not good. Jiro is in a bad bind after that attempt tomake the dive. The whole 'it's over' thing is -really- annoying. Then again, the -last- time Alma said that long ago, he met the might of the Bull Fist. Right in the damn stomach.
Who's to say that Jiro won't Bull Fist him again?
Of course, Frei coming in kind of surprises Jiro, who grunts and he blinks. "....Egh.." He sees that Frei is out. "Well damn."
He looks at Alma, "Eh, oh well." He sprints over towards Alma once more, then he sprints over to Alma, then he skids behind him.
Tap on the shoulder.
He is going to greet Alma with a kick to the gut.
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Alma with Strong Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
With the right foot gutting Alma, the Stray Dog immediately twists around to have Alma's bent body captured by the jaw-lock around the shoulder-blade. He has the left arm keep Alma's headlocked, then he shifts his weight down.
Both of his legs kick out and he aims to have Alma's chin meet with the shoulderblades.
THE STRAY DOG STUNNER! OH MY GOD, THE STRAY DOG STUNNER!
Alma, stunned.
His explosive attack fails to even touch his rival, instead sending a frustrated Frei flying back against the packed dirt wall. He's shocked, certainly, but... he's not surprised. Unfortunately.
~ Why does he always misunderstand me? ~
The slightly alarmed-looking youth closes his parted lips and closes his eyes for a moment, releasing a quiet breath. Not a sigh. Not... exactly, at least. While the boy's face remains completely composed, his smoldering eyes look tired. Of course, he did just unleash every ounce of his power.
~ At least Jiro understan-- ~
*WHAM*
Alma, Stray Dog stunned.
"Ghn," the battered fighting model manages, looking rather bemused in his weakened state as he rears away, half-crawling for a moment before staggering to his feet, spinning around to make sure Jiro isn't pursuing too close, and quickly backpedals back to where his teammate has been patiently waiting.
"Pardon me, Miss Doyle," murmurs the rather faint-looking bishounen as he edges behind her. "Make I... take a breather?"
COMBATSYS: Alma gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
Alma's not looking too good... but he look Frei out and that's important. Now it's two on one and Alma and Aislinn have the advantage. When Alma crawls--then backpedals--then makes his little plea... Aislinn is thinking about it and is ready. She steps out in front of Alma, takin three steps forward, enough to keep him out of the range of anything but the absolutely most explosive things... she then starts up, running forward, leaping high, bending her body backwards, feet and hands almost reaching each other, her hands clasped together; a blazing, three-foot-long blaze of electrical energy zorches into existence as Aislinn begins her descent, the energy lashing downwards like a gigantic chopping blade.
COMBATSYS: Jiro Toughs Out Aislinn's Lightning Blade!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Jiro 1/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Alma
> /////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Aislinn
A snarl is given by the Stray Dog when he is watching Alma crawl over to the next opponent. Jiro goes as far as saying, "Ican take you all on!" He hisses out, then he stares right at Aislinn as she is coming down with her chi-blade.
The motion of the electrical power is met with both of Jiro's hands as he extends the hands forth to grasp against the descending woman. The chi held on, the body tightens as he works on tensing his muscles and even dull the pain that is imprinting in him.
"Hah!" THen, Jiro launches himself forward, aiming to throw Aislinn off balance so that he can drive the right arm out to clothesline her into the ground.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn blocks Jiro's Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Jiro 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Alma
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Aislinn
While the Stray Dog took the attack better than she expected, Aislinn is hardly surprised at Jiro's attempt to retaliate; her arms are up and absorbing nearly all the force of that 'clothesline' without budging more than a step. Still, she doesn't seem terribly worried about that; she sets herself, then twists herself forward, throwing a high roundhouse kick aimed for the side of Jiro's jaw. Yeah, with combat boots that might hurt, if it hits. It's a simple response, but unlike some fighters, Ai simply doesn't have the boundless energy resves needed to just attack head on with her 'best' attacks all the time.
COMBATSYS: Jiro fails to counter Medium Kick from Aislinn with Public Execution.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Alma
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Aislinn
Good: Jiro prevented the shocking blade from cutting him.
Bad: The retaliation sucked major ass.
For when she is aiming to snd a roundhouse kick towards Jiro's jawline, the Stray Dog immediately launches his right foot out to smash against the stomach of Aislinn.
Unforunately, she stops him in his tracks as the foot strikes him a the top of his head. His sent sprawling back to the grassy 'wall', grumbling as he tries to take the cobwebs out.
Ideally, right -now- is when Aislinn would pursue the fight and, hopefully, finish it. Ideally. But she's been burnt by rushing in headlong, before, and so she waits. She waits for Jiro to return to ready position... and she also studies him, her purple eyes intense, intent, narrowed. Jiro has been quite the aggressor... can she turn that against him? Or will giving him a chance to recover be her downfall...? She can always tag Alma back in if she needs to.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Alma
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\==-----\1 Aislinn
How annoying.
Jiro is grumbling and then he spits out once more. Turning his head towards Aislinn, Jiro snorts, then he winds his fist back. First off, Jiro -slams his fist against the grassy wall, making a nice, huge rock collapse, as well as little pieces come down.
Then, Jiro holds the boulder up, throwing it out at Aislinn.
Hi, Jiro is now Donkey Kong.
"Gimmie my banana, bitch!"
COMBATSYS: Jiro successfully hits Aislinn with Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////// ]
|=======\=====--\1 Aislinn
Of course, Aislinn recognizes what Jiro is doing, or that is, trying to do. She decides... that standing still probably isn't the best plan of action. But she's apparently been rooted to the ground just too long and her attempt to avoid the attack is for naught. She hits the ground and rolls, her eyes narrowing... and she's grabbing a piece of that boulder and slinging it underhand, right for Jiro's face. It's a particularly flat and sharp-edged piece of granite, at that.
COMBATSYS: Jiro dodges Aislinn's Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Jiro 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////// ]
|=======\=====--\1 Aislinn
"Hrmph!" The Stray Dog grins as she is hitting the ground from thebrock. That's a good thing, all considering. He points towards Alma. "You."
He tightens his fists, then he says, "Get your ass out." He glares, then he looks over at Aislinn. Not wanting to waste anymore time, the Stray Dog sprints at Aislinn, aiming to give her a spinning hook kick across the chin.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn interrupts Heavy Kick from Jiro with Momentum Overdrive.
[ \\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Jiro 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Alma
> ///////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Aislinn
It's as if... well, looking at it cinematically: Zoom in, on Aislinn's face. There's a flash in her right eye, and, scripted out (backwards, of course) in 'computer' type: Speed Boost: ACTIVATE. Optimum Point of Contact: CALCULATED. Momentum Overdrive... EXECUTE.
And Jiro's kick barely makes contact before Aislinn makes her move, pushing off with speed, with strength, her head barely twisted by the impact as she shoulders Jiro into a wall, bouncing about a foot away from the impact. And just as she lands her gloved fists burst into a literal blur of motion, hammerlike impacts of her fists pounding into Jiro's stomach and abdomen, sounding an echoing, repeated, dull thudding sound like a timpani drum. Aislinn fires off ten, no... twenty impacts right into Jiro's chest, and then there's a split second moment, just enough time for another cinematic zoom-in and close-up, where the script reads: Momentum Overdrive... FINISH. Then Aislinn's hands are striking out for Jiro's chest one last time, slamming him with a pair of open-palm strikes, the strength of which are enough to bounce her back to the opposite canyon wall.
The foot comes forth towards her form, but he is immediately cut off wen she is shouldering the boy to the wall. He groans angrily fromthe impact, then the glove fist strikes him hard at the stomach. And once the fists keep pounding onto Jiro,the youth keeps gritting his teeth, then he lands on his knees.
And of course, he is struck once again to the wall once more.
...It doesn't look like he gets up. Until a second later.
Jiro steps closer to the woman, walking towards her with each step. Step.
Step. Step. The young man growls while he is approaching Aislinn. "Hrmph... Don't..." He coughs up blood, grinning wildly, "...count me out yet..."
His hand lifts up, chi illuminates in view as he stares at the sky. "...My power exists...." The chi swirls about, glowing omniously as the light soon descends and swirls around him.
"I will become stronger... REBEL!" The circle appear over his feet, spreading to about a three feet radius. Circle sparkling, Jiro calls out when his fist slams the ground. "SPIKE!"
The uncontrolled fury spreads out like wild-fire, appearing in the form of gysers as they splashs forth against Aislinn.
COMBATSYS: Jiro can no longer fight.
> ///////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Alma
> ///////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Aislinn
Yes, hitting Jiro is definitely satisfying. And she half-suspected he'd be around for a final retaliation. But you know what...? She doesn't want to deal with them. Fortunately... Alma's right behind her. So she does the expedient thing--she leaps high, and back, and as she's landing, she gives Alma a shove in the back. Her wordless version of 'take it for the team'.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn gains composure.
> ///////////// ]
|==-----\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Aislinn
COMBATSYS: Alma endures Jiro's Rebel Spike.
> /////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Alma
> //////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Aislinn
While the shove is still obvious -- and is probably causing a hoot at home for the viewers -- it appears as though Alma was getting ready to lunge forward in any case. He does appear a little unbalanced after the shove of course, eyes widening slightly, one visibly and one half-hiden under the cloak of his bangs, but he doesn't stumble. He's already moving toward the geysers of energy as Jiro collapses...
"You wanted to show me what you've got...?"
The tall youth stands in the path of the attack, calmly watching, clothes rippling around him, as the force quickly approaches.
Then, slightly, he grins.
"Come on."
The power engulfs him, blinding light exploding around Alma until only his silhouette is visible, and then that too is gone, only geyser after geyser of Jiro's raw power, apparently unblocked and unevaded. The light effects remain for a few moments after the attack itself is finished, and there is only the glare--
--and Alma, standing strong.
"...heh..."
A few moments of stock stillness and silence, before Alma slowly, almost laboriously, tilts his head over his shoulder to grin weakly at Aislinn.
"No problem."
~ Honestly... why do I do these things... ~
Log created by Alma, and last modified on 07:07:05 07/23/2006.