Description: League fight. Coffee. What's not to love? (Winner: Elisabeth)
It starts with a letter.
'You are cordially invited
to coffee and a League tournament.
Coffee's on me, win or lose!
-Shermie
Should Elisabeth follow the instructions given with the formal invitation, she'll find herself at a small coffee shop in the Village, on the corner of Bleeker and 9th streets. It's a nice little place with an outside sitting area, wrought iron tables and chairs that give people time to laze about and watch the quieter area of Southtown work and play. There's a small park nearby, perfect for fighting, and more likely than not, that's where the match is supposed to be.
As for Shermie? She's there at the coffee store, already. She's got an open tab, and has a mocha in her grip, idly sipping at it as she waits. After all, she's not even sure that her opponent will show. So far, the written invitations have worked well enough, so hopefully, it is a manner that will continue.
The letter came, and with it a sense of uncertainty. How odd, the Blanctorche heiress wondered, to receive such an invite. She hadn't been in the League long, but apparently people were already starting to track her down. Still, how can she resist. She signed up in hopes of finding out more information in regards to...well, a lot of things.
Led by the letter sent to her, Elisabeth wanders the streets of Southtown Village, blue eyes curious, wandering about as she seeks the aforementioned coffee shop. Eventually her black, well-polished boots click to a stop, her gaze sweeping up to eye the sign. This is, without a doubt, the place mentioned in the letter. Exhaling, the woman's gaze shifts again, searching over the outdoor seating area. Is the opponent there?
For now, the coffee shop is thinly populated. Standing out from the crowd is the curious Shermie, who earns the heiress' attention almost immediately. Narrowing her dark blue eyes, the woman purses her lips slightly before she lifts her head and calls out, "I presume you are mademoiselle Shermie?" She pauses, a hand resting on the crop at her hip before she says, "I received your letter, and I will gladly fight with you." Free coffee doesn't hurt, either.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth has started a fight here.
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Elisabeth 0/-------/-------|
Slowly, Shermie looks up. Or at least her head turns towards Elisabeth, nodding a bit in polite greetings. The smile on her face is wry as she slips to her feet. "Excellent. I'd been looking forwards to getting a good workout in." There's a bit of bitterness in that - her last battle, televised on SNF, was pretty horrible for her. This will be a good chance to get her feet back under her.
She sets her cup down on the iron table, and starts to walk towards the other woman, slow and steady. She hasn't demanded the fight start yet, and she's actually feeling at least moderately generous. "If you want to have coffee /first/, I'm certainly willing to wait a bit before we run through this. Just because it's a fight doesn't mean we have to beat our chests and grunt like men.." There's a laugh at the end, which turns eager, just like the sudden slow boil of her blood, the feeling that draws into her right before a fight. "... Or we could just drink /after/..."
COMBATSYS: Shermie has joined the fight here.
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Shermie 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Elisabeth
COMBATSYS: Shermie takes no action.
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Shermie 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Elisabeth
There's something very strange about the young woman seated, but hardly enough to disarm the heiress. It's likely the fact the woman's eyes are veiled by long brown hair, making her gaze all but unreadable. Squaring her jaw lightly, the other Frenchwoman just watches as Shermie stands and regards the heiress. She seems cordial and polite enough.
Shaking her head, a hand lifts from her side. "Non," she explains, "I would prefer to drink after. It would be a nice way to relax after a spar." It's also easier to fight when the prospect of getting a drink afterwards is still there. Her remark, however, earns her a puzzled expression before the woman bows her head, a breathy chuckle slipping past her soft lips. "I fight with far more grace and civility than that, I'm afraid."
That said, the woman slides into a stance, lifting a hand. "Please, let us begin." That said, Elisabeth observes the other woman, watching carefully to see what move she will make, if any whatsoever.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth focuses on her next action.
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Shermie 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Elisabeth
Well, alright then!
"Sounds good. I bet my mocha'll be cold by then, but the tab's open - I can just get another one!" Easily let go of, focusing on the fight-to-be now, and not the bribe to get Elisabeth out to join her. Beneath her jacket, muscles move and twist, shoulders tensing as she prepares for the oncoming battle. She's used to taking the first action, and when it's offered so politely, with Elisabeth just watching and waiting, Shermie doesn't hesitate to give her something to see!
Pink boots close the remaining distance quickly, her hand reaching out for Elisabeth's shoulders. There's a tension in her calves, as she tries to get a hold of the other woman, fingers going for her hair, not /too/ unkindly!
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth blocks Shermie's Spiral.
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Shermie 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Elisabeth
"Ah, je regrette, mais... if such is the case I will gladly purchase you a new one to make up for it," the heiress replies, the faintest hints of a smile forming on the corners of her soft lips. It fades quickly, however, as she slides easily into a stance, her hand held atop the crop at her side. She waits patiently, simply observing. She knows not what her opponent is capable of, and that's what makes this a little tricky.
Then she's off. As she nears a hand reaches out for Elisabeth, but with one smooth motion the Frenchwoman simply slaps her hand aside. Interesting.
With that she jerks to life; thrusting that crop at her side forward, toward Shermie, five points of brilliantly white light spring to life and plow straight for the other woman's chest.
COMBATSYS: Shermie slows Grand Etancher from Elisabeth with Large Thrown Object.
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Shermie 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Elisabeth
Forward and past! Damn, Shermie couldn't keep her hands on Elisabeth, no matter how much she might like to. Not in that way, you crazy people. IN the other way! The way which involves her twisting and pretzeling the other woman and.. er. Let's just leave it at that! As she stumbles forwards, she hears the possible taunt, and just winces - she knows her overextending is going to be painful. As she turns to face the woman, she sees the crop coming in.
"Aah!" Sparks of light and fire?! Not good! Shermie grasps one of the tables and uses it to hide behind - the intense energy blunted by the wrought iron, but the large latticework holes in it letting a fair amount of the pain through. As she recovers, setting the table back down with a clang, she runs her fingers through her hair and examines Elisabeth again. "... One of those, hmn? Alright, try it again.."
Elisabeth wastes no time; jerking to life, she thrusts the crop forward just after poor Shermie has been shrugged off, attempting to blast her square in the chest with those white-hot points of light flying right for her. It will likely hurt if it hits...it's just a matter of whether or not it does so.
And it doesn't. Sort of, anyway. Her quick-thinking and ingenuity prevent her from being brutally struck, the table accepting most of the blow. A few sparks slip past, however, winding past the lattice and striking poor Shermie. Elisabeth, on the other hand, stands up straight and eases the crop gently back into the sheath at her side.
Try it again, she insists. Neither a smile or a frown lingers on her lips; instead Elisabeth charges forward and unsheathes her crop; delivering two blows, she twists thereafter and swipes a foot out, looking to plant a side kick square into the center of Shermie's chest to knock her back.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth successfully hits Shermie with Strong Punch.
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Shermie 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Elisabeth
Why do they /always/ hit her in the breasts?
Really, it's kind of silly. People must think that kicking her there is a weak spot, that it'll make her fold like a cheap suit, fall over and crumple down. But it doesn't, really - instead, it sends her a step or two backwards, letting her rub her palm against the imprint and try to brush the road dirt off her blouse.
"Hnn. Now I'll have to change. Guess it's time to get you dirty too."
With that, Shermie closes in, wrapping her arm around behind Elisabeth's back and trying to dip her down. Admittedly, this 'dip' is very intentionally not going to stop before Elisabeth would konk her head on the paved road. Very, very intentionally!
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth counters Shermie Shoot from Shermie with Mirage Derriere.
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Shermie 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Elisabeth
It's nothing personal, Shermie. It's just the widest and most convenient place for her to strike. That said, Elisabeth makes the motions regardless, two swipes with her crop before she's kicked back, to stumble a few steps. Elisabeth yet again sheathes her crop, dark eyes observant as she watches the other woman.
"Very well, mademoiselle Shermie," she replies, lifting a hand up and gesturing her slender fingers toward her self. Come on, Shermie! Show her what you've got.
Watching her closely, Elisabeth shifts her weight at the last second, a hand rising from her side swiftly. Her fingertips are aglow with white energy, a soft veil of white light painting the air between both women. The moment her hands touch it a bright flash erupts and Elisabeth vanishes from plain sight--
--she reappears a second later, however, to kick poor Shermie in the back and send her forward.
From one point to another, Shermie is just getting kicked anywhere that this girl seems to be able to find. What's this?! Her having her ass handed.. er, footed to her! Shermie stumbles away awkwardly as she gets hit, down to one knee and back up as she catches a wall for support. Her shoulders are tense as she faces the wall, not quite willing to turn just yet, letting her fingers just dig into the concrete. INTO the concrete. This is just a friendly match, she reminds herself. Good practice for a joke league. There's no reason to let that monster out, to try and take over what she has available to her. No, just fight to win, and enjoy the company afterwards.
No matter how much losing might sting.
"You hit pretty hard.. But I bet you're made of paper. Stand still, and I'll prove it to you." With that, she turns - her hands out and wide, her body a blur as she moves into close combat range. She's comfortable this close, her body /almost/ touching Elisabeth's..
And then she lunges, to try and get behind the other woman!
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth blocks Shermie's Shermie Carnival.
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Shermie 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Elisabeth
Despite how ruthless the other woman may seem in her assault, Elisabeth remains cool and composed, not a feature one written across her smooth, porcelain-like face. She meets Shermie instead with a look likened to apathy; neither smile nor frown haunts her lips. And why should it? This is a fight. She has to focus.
Yet those dark eyes catch sight of poor Shermie's frustration, fingers digging into the wall with impressive strength. Tilting her head, the heiress just lifts a hand, slender fingers gently pressing against her lips before she exhales softly, eyes drawing to a close. This is a friendly match, she reminds HERself. It's practice, yes. Don't let the other woman's uneasiness get to you.
"Is that so?" she asks. Tilting her head softly, Elisabeth's eyes slowly open, her hand falling to her side. "I'm afraid I cannot just stand here. But, however, I implore you do your best, mademoiselle." She's interested to see what she's capable of.
A blur--she moves fast, but Elisabeth is ready. Again she keeps close eye, watching as the brunette zeroes in on her and attempts to snare her by...well, whatever hands can grab. They're unsuccessful; lashing out, Elisabeth pivots swiftly and swipes the hands away and quickly counterattacks. Recoiling a leg, she snaps it out quickly, to strike the other woman in the gut, in hopes of knocking her away.
COMBATSYS: Shermie fails to interrupt Light Kick from Elisabeth with Spiral.
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Shermie 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Elisabeth
And the impact is swift, brutal. Shermie is knocked back against the concrete again, though she's not facing it, which is at least some relief. Her hands grip the concrete again, and she pulls a chunk free before crushing it in her hand. She's angry, and her foul mood is making her all the more irate. She tosses it down, and then just pulls her lips into a thin, tight line.
"C'mon. Finish it. You've got something more than that left, right? Prove yourself, and let me see what you're made of."
The anger that Shermie feels is very noticeable; in fact, Elisabeth blinks slowly as she watches the concrete crumble in Shermie's palm, stress relief of sorts, but likely intimidating to weaker-willed sorts. Fortunately, however, the Blanctorche heiress is not. She just stands, impassive as dark eyes look forward. They do not leave her opponent.
Finish it, she insists. Bowing her head slightly, dark eyes draw to a close as she exhales. "Very well," she murmurs, words soft...
And then, without warning, the woman blazes forward, dipping low. Only as she nears does she coil a fist tightly at her hip. Her body twisting, the woman rises up underneath, attempting to uppercut poor Shermie in the jaw and knock her sky high, coupled with a furious blast of chi energy. If it strikes true she'll leap up, to swipe at the other woman with her crop and knock her back to Earth.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth successfully hits Shermie with Grand Rafale.
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Shermie 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Elisabeth
So here's the plan. Shermie slides around as Elisabeth comes in with her big 'ol slow finisher. She then proceeds to let Elisabeth meet the wall. Over and over. It's a nice plan. It has a lot going for it. And when it ends, it'll end with Elisabeth eating concrete and Shermie looking all smug above her.
Sadly, Elisabeth seems to have other ideas. Shermie's caught squarely with the uppercut, rocking her back against the wall and up, leaving her open for the crop swipes, over and over. Somewhere between the first ten, Shermie manages to get her hands up. "Geezus! Okay, okay, you win, you win. That's it, that's fine. You want the win so bad, /take/ it." As she gets back to her feet, she looks at her mocha.
Still warm. Guess that was pretty fast, huh?
COMBATSYS: Shermie takes no action.
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Elisabeth 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Shermie can no longer fight.
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Elisabeth 0/-------/------=|
Following through with swift efficiency, Elisabeth wastes no time blazing forth and closing in on the other Frenchwoman. Her fist strikes true, clocking the poor woman and sending her sky high, the blast of chi only accelerating her ascension into the skies. Following after, the woman strikes with her crop, enough to cause the poor woman to cry out and insist she cease and desist. Elisabeth complies, landing a few feet away with a soft click of heels.
"Ah, I wasn't really looking for a win that badly," she explains. "I just felt it would be an insult to you, mademoiselle, if I were to simply give you the least of my skill." Bowing her head, she offers a nod toward the woman as her hand lifts, sheathing the crop at the side of her hip. "You did well."
She notes the coffee, and, offering the first hints of a smile, slowly turns on her heel, away. "If you wish to fight again, please look for me. If you win, I will buy you a coffee, mademoiselle Shermie. For now, I'll take a rain check." Looking up, her dark eyes peer at the skies overhead before they fall forward. Her thoughts wander, but ultimately the woman marches forward. With hope they'll cross paths again.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth takes no action.
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Elisabeth 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth has ended the fight here.
Log created by Shermie, and last modified on 06:07:10 03/28/2007.