Description: Two people with very different variations on "float like a butterfly" fight on a spinning platform high above Sound Beach's chilly waters. Although Luise makes a strong early showing, D! earns a name for himself as the comeback kid in this exciting match. (Winner: Heavy D!)
In her short time in Southtown, Luise Meyrink is apparently making quite the rounds of the professional fighting circuit. In a few short weeks she's enjoyed an exhibition match at Howard Arena, a Neo League bout, participation in the World Warrior tourney, and even some time on Saturday Night Fights. Her experiences are not an unqualified good -- getting very nearly killed by Iori Yagami was not the highlight of her week -- but so far she's satisfied with the experience. A number of interesting fighters have crossed her path, though perhaps only one had anything to do with her broad goal of finding her father. And with Billy Kane a mostly unapproachable possibility, she has to throw herself back in the fray.
Wednesday Night Bouts proved to be the opening she needed. Espying a call for signups at a cafe earlier in the week, she promptly made herself available, hoping to once again use the channels of organized fighting to find someone who might have some connection to Detlev Meyrink. It's for that reason that she finds herself now, fully healed and ready to go, standing on the edge of a massive raised platform a number of feet above the water, the circular shape almost like a helipad, having been ferried out by boat. Only nearby yachts and the lights of the city illuminate the arena, the lighting not exactly friendly to Luise's already pale skin as she waits for her opponent, rubbing her arms a bit in the brisk pre-spring chill.
And her opponent?
Well, it's none other than the WNB regular himself, the man, the legend, the wedgehawk. Heavy D!. Yes, that's right, the man so hard, he has the exclaimation point legally in his name. Of course...D! seems to be a bit less enthusiastic about the fight than he normally would be. Then again, it's not hard to see why, if you heard about his World Warrior fight. It was espcially evident from the bandages all across his stomach. Either way though, D! frowns, hands on his hips as he works out his legs a little. "So you're my opponent then?" he asks rather direct and to the point, looking around the raised platform above the water before turning to the pale girl once more.
D! cuts a singular figure in the cold night air; Luise glances up at him with a raised eyebrow at the bandages, but doesn't comment on them further than an indication of interest and sympathy on her face; after all, injury is commonplace and D!'s stance marks him as a professional fighter. Instead she simply nods and keeps a respectable distance, letting her hands fall to her sides as the wide ends of her sleeves flutter in the breeze. "That's right... I'm Luise Meyrink. It's a pleasure."
Getting somewhat chilly herself, the Dancing Butterfly in a Starry Sky decides that now is the time to get moving, and readies herself, dropping into the loose stance she usually uses for fighting, torso leaning slightly back... and, in a brief flicker of blue, she almost appears to float above the arena, as if skimming over the surface. "Let's enjoy ourselves and give the crowd a wonderful performance," she suggests, ready for anything.
COMBATSYS: Luise has started a fight here.
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Luise 0/-------/-------|
Heavy D! nods. He stops shaking out his legs, planting them firmly and tightening his fists a bit. He winces at his still recovering wounds before settling into a stance. "Heavy D!," he says. Looks like he's not in a terribly conversational mood. Nor does he seem to be very much about playing to the crowd today either. He's just focused on his opponent right now, eyes peering over tightly clenched fists, arms held in close for his guard. Even if she looks like your normal girl, the fact that she seemingly floats above the ground...and the fact that she's even here in the first place means D! can't take her too lightly.
COMBATSYS: HeavyD has joined the fight here.
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HeavyD 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Luise
Another reserved individual... considering that her first exposure to Southtown's fighting crowd was Sakura Kasugano, the people Luise has met since -- Aislinn Doyle, Iori Yagami -- have been practically laconic by comparison, and D doesn't appear to be any different. However, the German woman has intuition and senses that go beyond the norm, and she can feel the sense of seriousness that washed over the young boxer the second he got into stance. He's cautious... and Luise doesn't blame him. Hoping to put him at ease, she doesn't start right away, instead giving the boxer what she hopes is a reassuring smile. "If you'd like to start us off..."
COMBATSYS: Luise takes no action.
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HeavyD 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Luise
Heavy D! gives Luise a hard stare over his fists. Yeah, he's dead serious right now. He has to be. He feels he's got to redeem himself after his showing in the tournament. He needs to show that all that training he's gone under didn't just go to total waste. He needs to PROVE something.
That hunger, that need to make a statement is probably why he comes out hard and swinging. Quickly advancing, he wastes no time in trying to bring out the heavy hits. His left arm reels back, and seems to loop around, readying for a hook...before it pulls back, using the feint to cover for the massive right hand meant to double Luise over something fierce.
COMBATSYS: Luise counters Fierce Punch from HeavyD with New Moon Nocturne.
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HeavyD 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Luise
And the dance begins. The dark blue eyes track Heavy D! as he sweeps around across the platform, moving with the same quick footwork that is the hallmark of boxing. However, the pale blonde is in no mood to be doubled over just yet, and at the last second, as D!'s fist sweeps toward her gut, she snaps out a hand and grabs it at the wrist, twisting to the left and dragging the boxer around in an impromptu waltz before sending him straight up with a concentrated flick of both arms, a complex but effective defensive dance.
The Dancing Butterfly's footwork is disturbed, though, once she tries to sweep back in position, as the carousel under the platform begins to spin, causing the entire circular affair to begin to rotate as promised. Steadying herself, she realizes her usual floating stance... might not be a good idea here, and settles onto the platform, steadying herself. "Oh, dear."
Well, that was unexpected. D! didn't expect her to grab his arm so deftly. Nor did he expect to be twisted about like he is. He ends up landing quite awkwardly, wincing as the platform starts to spin slowly. "NGhhhh...." Quickly getting up, D! frowns. This is not starting out how he wanted it to. Rather than rush in blindly again, however, he holds back, trying to get his wits about him again, and figure out the best way to go about his attack.
COMBATSYS: HeavyD focuses on his next action.
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HeavyD 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Luise
Luise actually expected D! to press the attack, so when he decides to take a more reflective route she raises an eyebrow curiously... though it doesn't stay there long. "You're a boxer... an interesting style, I haven't really met many boxers. Tell me..." she begins, before swiftly crossing the distance between the two fighters and, with a spin, lashing out at D! with a quick spinning kick to the side. It's a little hard to manage with the spinning of the platform, but she's managing alright so far. "What drew you to the sport?"
COMBATSYS: HeavyD fails to interrupt Light Kick from Luise with Hook Punch.
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HeavyD 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Luise
Heavy D! doesn't really respond. IT should be pretty obvious from his stance that he's a boxer. And he's...a bit too focused to bother with banter. So as it is, he simply waits for Luise to come in. When she tries to snap a kick to his side, D! tries to meet her with a hard hook punch, hoping to trade blows with her. However, the strike throws his punch off course, his fist failing to make contact and forcing the boxer to stumble to the side. He grunts, teeth gritted. And still no answer from him. He's not happy at the moment, no sir.
Twisting to the side, the Dancing Butterfly spins away from D and back into stance, evading the punch intended for her by equal parts good fortune and unfortunate timing... and it is indeed good fortune, if the whistling of the boxer's punch through the air is any indicator of attacks to come. Sensing his focus and reluctance to speak, Luise doesn't pester D! with more questions; instead, she tries to get into a rhythm of fighting that will divert her attention from the increasingly spinning platform. Wasting no time, she sprints back toward her opponent, sweeping one arm through the air in a downward arc, intending to flatten D with a heavy blow to the shoulder. "Keeping your footing on this isn't exactly easy..."
COMBATSYS: HeavyD interrupts Strong Punch from Luise with Rolling Soul Driver.
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HeavyD 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Luise
The slow spinning of the platform really isn't doing D! any good. He's already forced on the backpedla it seems. ANd from the looks of things, Luise has full intention of keeping the pressure high on him. However, he's not about to give in. When she snaps her leg down toward his shoulder, he snaps forward again. Arm encircled with chi, he thrusts it forward, taking a glancing shot from her leg while his right fist extends out for a lunging punch straight for her midsection. "GNHAAH!"
As expected, Heavy D!'s strength, once it connects, is fairly prodigious... and as she goes sailing through the air from the boxer's punch, it should be obvious that Luise Meyrink is not made for taking physical blows. Only some quick thinking keeps her from sprawling off the side of the platform entirely as she catches the edge with one hand and handsprings to her feet, putting a hand to her stomach. She may be healed, but wounds like the ones Iori Yagami made leave lasting impressions. Inwardly pleased at her opponent's improved spirits, she decides not to close the gap, instead swinging her arm through the air in an arc from ground to sky, a butterfly shape of deep blue light flickering from the wake of her strike out at D!. "Hya!"
COMBATSYS: Luise successfully hits HeavyD with Sharp Quartet.
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HeavyD 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Luise
Alas, D! can't seem to get out of the way of the shot in time, the spinning of the platform doing something to his footwork. As such, he's hit square in the chest, sending him stumbling and crumbling to the ground. Hissing, he tries to get back up to his feet, finding the platform's increased speed hard to deal with. As such, he instead chooses to hang back, hoping to get a breather of sorts.
COMBATSYS: HeavyD gains composure.
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HeavyD 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Luise
Hoping to use the distance attack to her advantage -- for the spinning of the platform is starting to get to her too -- Luise doesn't wait to see what D! will do in response to her Quartet; instead she simply rushes forward after it, using it as a blind. Thus she perhaps has a little bit of an edge when she goes to follow up, looking to snap a hand around D!'s wrist once again. "Shall we dance?" If she can get the grip she needs, Luise doesn't do anything fancy; with a twirl, she spins to her left and looks to put D! on the floor toward the center of the platform. Her motivation is somewhat selfish, too; the spinning is worse at the edges, and it would suit her fine to move the fight away from them.
COMBATSYS: HeavyD endures Luise's Quick Throw.
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HeavyD 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Luise
There's a certain logic to Luise's direction. As such, D! lets himself be flung toward the center, falling flat on the ground with a grunt. However, as soon as he hits, he snaps forward again. Advancing, he repeatedly sets punch after punch in toward Luise, his fists seemingly moving faster than before. One can almost see shadowy trails behind his attacks as he tries to repeatedly pummel her.
COMBATSYS: Luise fails to reflect Shadow from HeavyD with Treacherous Ballad.
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HeavyD 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Luise
The best laid plans of mice and men frequently come to naught, and it looks like in one fell swoop Heavy D! has decisively closed the gap between himself and Luise. Not expecting the boxer to roll with the punch, the German is unprepared for the assault that follows as she turns to head toward him again. On reflex she starts to draw a circle in the air with her hands, but the first punch of many lands before she can fully finish whatever it was she intended to do. The blows that follow certainly take their toll, forcing the pale fighter farther and farther toward the edge, clutching her side in pain. "Pretty... impressive!" she notes, and it's true: that was one heck of an attack.
Finally, some momentum for the boxer. Not wanting to lose his advantage, D! keeps up the pressure. Winding back after his shadowy attack starts to fade, he attempts a little more conventional method of attack: the good old right cross across the chin. No feint, no tricky movements...just one big punch.
COMBATSYS: HeavyD successfully hits Luise with Fierce Punch.
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HeavyD 1/---====/=======|=======\=======\1 Luise
Sometimes the basics are what works the best. Heavy D!'s attempt to give Luise the old one-two works exceedingly well, his fist slamming into her face with crushing force and sending her sprawling, with no graceful recovery this time. Frowning with disappointment at herself as the German woman gets to her feet, she takes a deep breath and pats at her cheek. That hurt. An awful lot more than she thought it might, too.
"Well, then... I suppose I've always enjoyed saving the best dance for last!" she says, before closing her eyes and beginning to gather power to herself, a glow around her beginning as a deep midnight blue and getting brighter until the light is white-hot, the light coalescing into eight glass-like orbs that circle her waist in perfect order. Flicking her eyes open, the Dancing Butterfly glances at D! as she rises slightly from the spinning platform. "This is my way of saying... farewell." And with that, she thrusts out her hands... and the eight clear orbs send out a huge burst of energy, spiral tendrils of pure starlight looking to put some serious hurt on D! if they connect. Boxers use their fists... Luise has other methods.
COMBATSYS: Luise successfully hits HeavyD with Overture to Farewell.
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HeavyD 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|====---\-------\0 Luise
That's one hell of a way to make a farewell. Backing up ater he manages to get in his hard punch, D! watches and waits, trying to see what Luise is up to. THat's...a mistake, as it gives her time to summon up her energy in the form of those glass orbs. ANd then...the light. The BURNING light. D!'s floored by the searing pain, knocked to the spinning platform hard by Luise's Overture. "GNHHHHH!!" Rolling onto his stomach, D! lays there for a good long while, seemingly done for. And he continues to lay there...and continues. And then....
Boom. Rolls over and snaps out one hell of a punch seemingly out of nowhere. And if Luise believes this is a normal punch...well, she's dead wrong. It's like comparing BB Gun to a pistol...and Luise is right in the sites.
COMBATSYS: Luise dodges HeavyD's D. Magnum.
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HeavyD 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Luise
This fight has been one fascinating fulcrum shift after another. Luise's early lead was pulled away by very smart attacks by Heavy D!, but the Dancing Butterfly managed to make a miraculous shift in momentum with her most powerful attack. Now that the boxer has responded in kind, there's not a lot that Luise herself can do, especially since D!'s movements are so crisp and sudden that there's no way to judge how to react at all. Working on instinct, letting her sense of the moment guide her actions, Luise doesn't bother to try and get away from the attack, seemingly... she doesn't move.
Until the very last second, when in a burst of deep blue light she simply *is not there* when D's attack would have connected, her sudden and invisible movement having taken her across the platform, where she 'lands' in a crouch. Fatigued by the effort and not helped at all by the continual spinning, she makes a valiant effort to still try and make some sort of offensive effort, twisting and launching herself at D! from behind in a graceful aerial display, her foot glowing blue as she looks to sweep it right into the boxer's jaw.
COMBATSYS: HeavyD dodges Luise's Angel Wing Waltz.
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HeavyD 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Luise
D! tried to hide his charge up for the Magnum the best he can. He tried to make it as big of a surprise as he could. However, that still doens't seem to work, as Luise manages to disappear out of the line of the Magnum's blast somehow. Panting in exhaustion, he tries to turn around, hopefully finding where she's gone off to, before he's nearly clocked by a sweeping blue glowing kick. He's barely able to lurch away from the kick, the spinning making it touch to make any kind of drastic movements. As such, he's forced to the basics again, a sharp, but somewhat weak left hand shot aimed for Luise's side as she comes down from the kick.
COMBATSYS: Luise fails to counter Light Punch from HeavyD with New Moon Nocturne.
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HeavyD 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Luise can no longer fight.
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HeavyD 0/-------/---====|
It may be a 'weak' left hand shot, but it's enough. Luise stakes the rest of the fight on her perception but sadly it's not in the cards for the Dancing Butterfly; she makes a move to grab D!'s hand again, but either through fatigue, disorientation from the increasingly fast spinning, or just plain old bad timing, she's not quite so lucky as she was before. The punch itself doesn't do much damage alone, but in the aggregate with the blows she's sustained already, it's more than enough. Luise stumbles back a few steps, then drops to the ground in an ungainly crouch. "Well fought, Mr. Boxer," she says with a faint smile. "You win." And then she's out like a light. Hopefully somebody will remember to get her off the bloody spinning platform at some point.
Thankfully, once it becomes apparent that SOMEONE up there's lost the fight, the people in charge of the platform slow down it's spinning, making the nausea incuding stage slow down. Of course, D! doesn't really notice it, as he slumps down, exhausted, beaten and battered...but somehow...somehow manages to make it out triumphantly. Dropping to a crouch himself, he keeps himself barely propped up with a hand. "NGhh...damn...."
Log created by Luise, and last modified on 05:50:06 03/07/2007.