Description: On a blustery winter day, the Silent Assassin and the Dancing Butterfly meet in a field of snow for a somewhat... subdued and laconic fight, by Neo League standards. (Winner: Luise)
The Neo League. Luise had heard of it before coming to Southtown -- who hadn't, really? -- and her feelings about it were somewhat mixed, just as they are about fighting in general. Clearly, some individuals saw the league as an opportunity to broaden their horizons and fight a number of opponents they might otherwise not see, and human potential advocate Luise approves of that. But she's also seen some people simply in there for the glory of battle, and that doesn't sit as well with Ms. Meyrink at all. However, all of this is trumped by her desire to find information on Professor Meyrink... and all kinds find themselves in the League. So here she is.
The snow gently falling around the shrine makes a gentle white halo around Luise's pale hair and features as she awaits the appointed time and opponent. The entire thing is new to her, and so she came dressed slightly more warmly than normal, a silver scarf and long black overcoat worn over her normal combat dress, and a steaming cup of tea to keep out the chill. At her last public fight there was a big audience. Here... it's just the snow, the remains of the shrine, and the Masters Foundation cameramen. Sipping her drink, the Dancing Butterfly scans the surroundings and waits, trying to argue down the gnawing sense of foreboding at the back of her mind...
The Neo League, while once booming in popularity, has found itself quieted by the resurgence of Saturday Night Fights--and with the upcoming World Warrior tournaments, Ken Masters' league may find itself in trouble in the popularity polls. It is, however, still the easiest way to find yourself a fight, and when you're trying to find out information about someone, finding people is the best way to do it.
However, Luise may be disappointed if she asks Aislinn about Meyrink. She doesn't know anyone like that. And while Luise is dressed for the cold, Ais is dressed as if she doesn't -care- about the cold. Then again, her leather outfit may be good enough for it--padded, insulated, whatever. She emerges from the ruined structure of the Shrine, apparently having arrived a few minutes before... her gloved hand resting on the doorjamb.
Clearly, she's already ready; after she pauses for a moment, she walks out of the shrine and down the steps, assuming a spot that she'll mark as her starting position.
Luise's cup of tea is at her lips when Aislinn makes her appearance, and one eyebrow rises as she watches the girl walk across the snow to the designated 'ring' area. A singular presence, indeed... and cold as the weather is, there is something about young Aislinn that gives Luise pause. Still, it's no call to be rude, and after setting aside her cup and removing her jacket and scarf, the German woman turns to her opponent and smiles faintly.
"You must be Aislinn. I'm Luise Meyrink... a pleasure." She doesn't extend her hand, mostly because she too has moved to her 'start' position and readied herself. "I'm not used to the League yet, so please favor me with your indulgence," she adds, before pushing her hands down to her side and, perhaps unexpectedly, lifting the merest hint of distance off the ground, moving as if she's floating. "Let's begin."
COMBATSYS: Luise has started a fight here.
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Luise 0/-------/-------|
If there was rudeness, Aislinn certainly didn't perceive it--but she's never been particularly sensitive to societal issues. Though that can be attributed as much to being at Gedo as being a freaky little NESTS cyberassassin. Her lavender eyes are like crystal--cold, clear, and unflinching--as she regards the elegant Luise Meyrink.
There's certainly -something- about her... while Aislinn doesn't believe the girl is actually floating, it sure kind of looks that way. And that's cause enough for caution; while Aislinn is normally the kind to burst off the starting line, instead she holds back... bringing her hands up, assuming a tightened combat stance, shifting her left foot forward and turning almost side-on towards Luise.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn has joined the fight here.
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Luise
COMBATSYS: Aislinn focuses on her next action.
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Aislinn 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Luise
Hmmm. "Cautious," Luise observes, smiling at Aislinn... mostly to keep her sense of foreboding in check. There is something about the girl that unnerves Luise, but she can't pay it any heed now. Battle is a state of mind for the Dancing Butterfly, a sort of zen place of being she needs to enter and stay in if she wants to make it through. "Well, it's certainly a prudent way to fight."
Splaying her fingers somewhat, the German woman closes her eyes for a second. "But it's not getting us anywhere, so allow me." Swinging forward almost as if she were making a graceful bow, she sweeps down, and then back, swinging her arm with her in a wide arc. In a flash of bright blue, a butterfly-like shape of energy surrounded by a glistening blue aura flickers out at Aislinn. "Tah!"
COMBATSYS: Aislinn endures Luise's Sharp Quartet.
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Aislinn 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Luise
Cautious, yes... as Aislinn is with any new opponent. That doesn't mean she's passive. While she isn't quite fast enough to stop Luise from creating that energy butterfly, she is fast enough to start moving before it reaches her. She quite literally puts her shoulder down and rams -through- it--dropping a step or two in the process--but it allows her to close with Luise afterwards.
As she reaches the elegant Ms. Meyrink she transfers her momentum from her legs into her upper body--and then her arms--as she throws herself forward, taking a long step with her left leg. Just as the left foot lands, stabilizing her movement, Aislinn's right fist arcs up and overhead, whipping through a downward arc intent on smacking Luise in the chin--or the chest. The fist, as it arcs, flares with red-white energy, which carves a brief trail in the air, a dazzling arc of her own energies.
COMBATSYS: Luise interrupts Fierce Punch from Aislinn with Quick Throw.
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Aislinn 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Luise
Aislinn's maneuver does make Luise blink in surprise for a moment. The surge of force in the young girl as she powers through the German woman's assault impresses her, as it seems so counter to the serious and calm mien that gives the Silent Assassin(tm) her name. The most she can think of to say is "Oh my", as the young fighter's daring charge suddenly brings her deep inside Luise's guard.
However, the Dancing Buttefly's reaction time is not to be underestimated either. Snapping out a hand, she does her best to grip Aislinn's incoming fist, face twisting with pain -- for that does indeed hurt, especially the force of the girl's chi -- as she does so. "Most impressive," she admits, before twisting her body and appearing to waltz through the air with Aislinn briefly before, with a flick of the wrist, she sends the girl sprawling to the ground in an improvised grapple.
Though she'll never admit it, Aislinn hasn't mastered her own body, yet. While she's tough enough against physical impacts, and can muster up the aura to defend against chi-based attacks, being tossed about quite simply -hurts-. As it does in this case. Aislinn's punch, cut short, leads only to her flying through the snowy air and crashing onto the steps. Briefly, her back arches in involuntary pain reaction, before she fiercely controls it.
Rising to her feet, she seems, understandably, shaken... but not yet ready to admit defeat. Once again she leaps to the attack, ignoring the pain screaming along abused nerves, this time seeking to apply a flying side kick to Luise's face. Perhaps it isn't kosher to strike a lady's face, but Aislinn isn't Jewish either.
COMBATSYS: Luise dodges Aislinn's Medium Kick.
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Aislinn 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Luise
She's quiet, this one. Curious. Luise's experience with young women who fight has given her a very definite impression of their typical personality and Aislinn assuredly is Not It. Immersed as she is in the rhythm of battle, Luise has let the sense of foreboding go about the situation. However, Aislinn is a mystery she'd like to explore.
But first there's the matter of that kick to attend to. As the blow sails toward her head, the Dancing Butterfly shows how it is she came to acquire that nickname; with a twirl that sets the snow around her dancing into the air, Luise spins out of the way of the kick, letting Aislinn fly past her harmlessly. "You've got an aggressive style for someone so quiet," she observes, hoping to draw the girl into conversation, even as she launches a counterattack of her own. Spinning like a ballerina, Luise extends one leg and sweeps it through the air at Aislinn at chest height, in an unorthodox and graceful roundhouse.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn counters Heavy Kick from Luise with Banishing Needle.
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Aislinn 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Luise
To be sure, Aislinn is absolutely nothing like Sakura; where Sakura is chatty and loves to trash-talk, Ais lets her skills do her talking for her. There is little she dislikes more than people with big mouths that can't back their boasting up. If Luise looked at her fight card she would've seen 'The Silent Assassin' listed as Aislinn's nickname.
Aislinn flies past, dropping her legs to halt her flight and land, and as she spins to face Luise, she seems to sense, or somehow otherwise know, that Luise intends a counterattack. Aislinn's response is simple; as she twists, she snaps her right knee up, catching Luise's leg just before it would reach Aislinn's chest, and the Silent Assassin's knee proves bony and hard as it stops that kick. Then Aislinn is completing her twist, thrusting her right boot into Luise's chest, a perfect side-on kick to complete her retaliation.
Only then does she open her mouth, and then only to say, "Words don't win fights."
'Words don't win fights'.
Well, she's right, isn't she? Kicks and punches win fights, like the ones Aislinn just delivered unto Luise with considerable effectiveness. Exhaling in pain and shock, the German stumbles back from Aislinn's shutting down of her attack, composing herself. That stung just a little bit. However, Luise is far from out.
"No, they don't," she agrees, circling around the Silent Assassin with those unusual floating steps briefly. "But they do make it more interesting, yes?" Deciding to take another tack, she drives forward with a simple sweep of the hand, Chizuru-lick, in a downward arc, her flared black sleeve slicing through the cold air with a fair turn of speed as Luise looks to essentially karate chop Aislinn in the shoulder from above.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn blocks Luise's Quick Punch.
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Aislinn 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 Luise
What Aislinn finds most interesting about a fight is the flow of it; punch and counterpunch, kick and dodge, a block turned into an advantageous opening. Although she goes about it in a more mechanical manner than most, there is a certain undeniable beauty to it. As Aislinn might comment about Luise; she moves with a fluidity and grace that Aislinn envies.
That doesn't make her any more willing to be hit; Aislinn reaches up to deflect that smooth chop, then does something somewhat curious for her--she reaches for the extended limb. If she gets her grip, she'll pulse chi into it as she twists to her left and sharply pulls Luise forward, an attempt to deposit her on the ground.
COMBATSYS: Luise reflects Quick Throw from Aislinn with Treacherous Ballad.
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Aislinn 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1 Luise
The lack of a reply doesn't shock Luise too much. After all, Aislinn did say words don't win fights, so it's illogical to think she would really respond. Shrugging that off, she glances down as she's recovering from her chop and notices the Silent Assassin's hand moving for the grab. Thinking quickly, the Dancing Butterfly doesn't retract her hand, but instead brings her other hand forward and quickly traces a circle in the air between herself and her opponent, a glittering swirl of blue light forming in the path of her fingers and blocking the attempt at a counterattack with a powerful burst of force. Curiously, as the disc of light forms, an arpeggio of musical tones lilts through the air.
Luise takes the opportunity to spin back and away, giving herself some space, regarding Aislinn carefully. What was foreboding has become interest; the German woman is interested in the dichotomy Aislinn represents. "Well then, I'll respect that and keep myself quiet until we're done."
There's no grunt of pain this time; the backlash of shock is painful enough to lock Aislinn's jaw for the brief moment of searing pain. She stumbles back, shaking her abused arm out; there's only the barest tingle of sensation, but she's sure the nerves will heal. And she's eying Luise again.
"Do as you like," is Aislinn's response, finally; said quietly, calmly. Aislinn really doesn't care if Luise wants to jabber or not. This fight... is nearing its end, and Aislinn hasn't done terribly well. But she won't let herself go. Once again, she centers herself, centers her mind, on trying to divine what Luise's next pattern of attack will be.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn focuses on her next action.
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Aislinn 1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\1 Luise
There is something in Aislinn's calm that Luise almost envies. That, and the Dancing Butterfly had thought that Aislinn was one of those fighters who covets wins and isn't concerned about the experience, but her actions put the lie to her comment about words. All in all, Luise finds the girl fascinating. But she also made a promise to keep quiet for the time being, since it appears to be the way her opponent operates.
With a nod to Aislinn, the German woman brings her right hand down to her side, where it begins to flicker with a glowing haze of blue light. When the glow reaches a fever pitch, Luise shuts her eyes, and mumbles "Ah... the light..." before swinging her arm upwards in an arc... and unleashing a massive, pointed blade of white starlight from her hand, easily the length of the fighting 'field', looking to slice through Aislinn from below.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn blocks Luise's Fanfare of Hope.
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Aislinn 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Luise
Aislinn... doesn't like the look of that. Her eyes narrow and she leaps upwards--out of instinct. But it does give her just enough time to prepare herself for the blade of energy, curling up and protecting her vitals as it passes through her... leaving behind a thin slice of screaming pain. This pain... as well as Aislinn knows it, it still affects her, as she stumbles upon landing. She can tell, even without checking her internal monitors, that she's too close to the edge. So, she figures, she will make one last attempt...
Recovering her stumbles she suddenly launches herself forward, her body nothing more than a blur as she speeds towards Luise, a gloved hand reaching out for the woman's shoulder...
COMBATSYS: Aislinn successfully hits Luise with Momentum Overdrive.
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Aislinn 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Luise
... contact. Aislinn's grip is firm, but not enough to hurt... however, when she makes contact with Luise, she lifts her slightly, just enough to make Luise travel with her, until their path is impeded, by a large tree trunk at the edge of the clearing. Aislinn thrusts Luise into the trunk...
And then the pummeling begins, as Aislinn's hands and arms begin working overtime, almost literally treating Luise's stomach like a punching bag, firing alternating left and right body blows at a speed such that only special cameras will be able to catch each blow; left, right, left, are alternated perhaps ten, perhaps fifteen times each, in the space of approximately five seconds.
Then finally, for a brief moment, the impacts stop, Aislinn drifting back a step in a Newtonian reaction... then her feet touch down and she lunges forward for the final blow, a two-fisted thrusting punch that takes Luise right in the sternum, a blow powerful enough to force Aislinn to bounce backwards once more.
Oh dear.
Luise can't react nearly fast enough to put up a defense against Aislinn's assault and it shows; the flurry of strikes speaks to that, and the final blow sends her careening back through the air to land on her side on the ground, snow bursting up at the point of impact. Luise is not exactly fragile, but she's not particularly weighty in body, either. In one fell swoop Aislinn has more than equalized the fight.
Struggling to her feet, there is a flicker of blue-white light around Luise as she brings herself back into stance, glancing at Aislinn. An impressive attack has to be answered in kind, of course. Soaring into the air, Luise lashes out at Aislinn with a sweeping midair spinkick, her feet glowing with that same blue light, the Dancing Butterfly living up to her name with impressive aerial work.
COMBATSYS: Aislinn fails to counter Angel Wing Waltz from Luise with Brutal Hammer.
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Luise 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Aislinn can no longer fight.
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Luise 1/-------/=======|
Tired, in pain... Aislinn is all but gripping her side; while she has plenty of energy left, her body is beginning to fail her. And it fails her completely when that spinning kick comes in. She lifts her arms--too late. Had she been a fraction of a second faster, she might've survived... but instead her arms are outstretched when Luise's foot meets Aislinn's face, and that impact alone, not to mention the powerful energy that accompanies it, is more than enough to down Aislinn. She is flung back from the impact, rolling twice and fetching up against the base of a stone lantern, not quite wrapping around it. If Luise wanted to talk... there won't be much opportunity for it until Aislinn wakes up.
... not that she would say much anyways.
She is able to make a graceful landing, but that's about all Luise can manage. Bruised and in pain from Aislinn's impressive physical assault, she puts a hand to her side and winces in pain. Glancing down at the young girl's unconscious form, she mmms, pursing her blue-tinted lips closed in thought. "You're an interesting fighter, Miss Aislinn," she murmurs, before collecting her coat and scarf and heading away. "Maybe we'll meet again someday."
Log created by Luise, and last modified on 20:36:56 03/06/2007.