Description: Alma and Jericho vs. Alan, Drake, and Sarah! Herein models have a dramatic clash! (Winners: Alan, Drake, and Sarah)
Well, this is all rather unexpected.
Alma Towazu, renowned psychic prettyboy and would-be champion of virtue extraordinaire, did not expect to still be in Southtown today. As hesitant as he feels about the idea of leaving the country with his friend Jiro still in bad straits and that madman Tran recovering in his apartment, the young kung-fu model is resolute in his intention to pack in as much tournament fighting as possible before Southtown University's spring break ends. That's all well and good -- we all have problems, and for someone feeling genuinely troubled Alma has been performing quite well recently -- but he hadn't planned on getting a call from Howard Enterprises' Fightsports Division.
They gave him an offer he couldn't refuse.
But... only because he's such a dutiful and gracious guy. The company has been quite generous with him; Alma is an irregular competitor due to the constant pressures of his normal life. Those who know him know that his even being able to have such a thing as a 'normal life' is something of a triumph, and he should be satisfied enough with that to decline invitations such as this, but-- the bishounen crowd favorite thrills in pushing his limits. In this case, his time limits.
So here he is.
Standing in the midst of a large garage, flourescent lights flickering dramatically above him as the cameras finish set up in the dramatic shade of several conveniently placed smashed and totalled automobiles, young Alma stands with his usual relaxed poise, one hand slipped into the pocket of his designer jeans, high-collared white cotton pullover stylishly snug over his powerful frame. It's certainly a unique environment for fighting. He's looking forward to this. But--
~ Something's missing. ~
--shouldn't his teammate have shown up by now?
Alan R. B. has assembled for his fight, dressed as normal with his hands tucked into his pockets, a mostly-smoked cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. He was informed that this fight was called 'upstart trials,' and well, he's not entirely pumped about that, but he'll deal. His hands slip out of his pockets and have acquired his standard set of iron rings on each finger, faint electricity crackling along them. For once, he has no sneers toward his opponent, having scrutinized his appearance to find something to mock and coming up short. For once, someone else with some style to them, not like most of the people he's encountered. That crazy kid on the barge!
Drake, meanwhile, he could go off on, but Alan finds it's best to hold back on sassing his teammates. Sarah gets an appreciative eye (and many more if she catches him) and at least one inappropriate smirk. "Hmm... a bit young, though." Alan rolls his shoulder and then lifts his fists lazily toward Alma, suddenly moving into his boxing stance. He drops the cigarette, and steps on it. "So, where's your friend, hot shot? Back out after he heard I was going to be here?"
Drake is the sort to prefer a fashionable, if not extravogant entrance. Call it something residual from his home. Specifically, he's used to booming music, montaged footage on huge screens, black and white sprays of sparks - an introduction truly worthy of a professional wrestling federation.
So when Domino gets absolutely -no- introduction, he has to wonder if he's making a premature appearance. Good gracious, but this is confusing. He's received precious little direction on how to make his appropriate first appearance on Saturday Night Fight. Well, the only thing he was really told was to show up, fight hard, and try to look good for the cameras. He can handle that. But the flare! It's missing!
...So he's willing to bet that he's just judging prematurely.
As such, Domino strides into the cleared 'arena' in which he's to fight, hooded robe worn tightly about his frame. Seeing as nothing special seems to be going on right now, he casually brushes back the hood to take in his surroundings more clearly.
Finally. Professional fighting in a global capacity. Where the true fame comes from. Mm. Domino feels almost electrified with energy.
Sarah has been hiding. She got here very early to find a van with plenty of luggage on its roof, and lay down upon it. A true ninja is patient, and she's waited...spectators filling in aren't enough to draw her out. Even Alan showing up isn't enough...though he seems to have spotted her when she peeked out to see who's here. It's only when she spots Drake that she emerges, tossing a smokebomb onto the van roof...and onto a spot beside her teammates, leaping from one 'cloud' of smoke to the next. Then she nods to Drake and Alan in turn, beaming. "Sorry to keep you waiting! I'm good up front or helping from the back by throwing stuff...what do you guys prefer?"
COMBATSYS: Alma has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Alma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Jericho has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Jericho 0/-------/-------|
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Alma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Sarah has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Jericho 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sarah
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Alma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Alan has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Jericho 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sarah
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Alma 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alan
COMBATSYS: Drake has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Jericho 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sarah
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Alma 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alan
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
Alma regards his opponents silently in turn as they arrive, inclining a polite nod to each one of them, smiling ever-so-mildly, looking calm and completely composed, almost serene even.
"It's possible," he replies graciously to Alan's casual baiting; but he soon turns to Domino and casts him a rather appraising gaze. What's this? Can Alma, with his ever-present aura sense, detect that Drake has some special ability he should be especially wary of? Is he wary of the other model's potential for competing with him for the title of Most Handsome Young Fighter!?
~ Mn, well, isn't he handsome. ~
L...let's stay away from the inner monologue for now, shall we?
In any case, once Sarah arrives Alma casts a glance toward the cameramen that looks, well, slightly weary. But the tall fighter-model appears unfazed. His teammate hasn't shown up, and it's time. No one would blame him if he conceded. He didn't even plan on doing this anyway. But--
"No matter."
We've already mentioned how Alma is.
"I'm willing to fight you all myself. Don't hold back, now."
Calmly, limbs relaxing, back straightening, eyes growing sharply clear and deeply focused, expression the essence of refined calm, Alma Towazu raises his hands into guard position and smiles slightly.
"Please, everyone-- do your best."
COMBATSYS: Alma focuses on his next action.
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Jericho 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sarah
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Alma 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alan
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
Scared of Alan. Hah. Adrian doesn't even know who Alan R.B. or Sarah or Domino -ARE-! ... but the exchange student doesn't really fear a great deal. The least likely student of Justice High nonetheless makes a decent appearance, aside from the tardiness, as he turns the corner out into this sublevel of parking nirvana clad in the formally pressed blacks and reds of the Justice uniform, almost entirely non-scuffed! The kickboxer's physique is likely the first most would notice, a stark contrast to his effeminate blonde partner, Jericho stands well over six feet tall, and every ounce of his impressively broad frame seems to be solid muscle.
Movements are controlled, professional... a degree of detached instinct that one tends to see more in battlefield veterans than young prodigies, "Who's scared of a throw-down?" Adrian inquires in deep tones, a deceptively broad grin spreading across his rather sternly chiseled features. His hand runs back over the close-cropped buzz of whiteish hair, the frosty stubble carrying a bluish hue that seems to almost shift with the light. As for Alma's senses? Well they'd be buzzing at this guy, the energy within him all but roiling, in a contained and self-sustaining flow. The emotional center is one of intense fervor, a rebellious drive for battle. Alma may fight with a different kind of passion, but sometimes a little diversity can work wonders.
Adrian scans each of the opposing fighters with vibrant blue eyes, smile dulling but remaining, along with the spark of dangerous intent in his emotive gaze, "Yes, yes. Do your best. Or at least try to stand up a little while and make this interesting!" The larger warrior amends. Alright... loudmouth brawler, another fashionable bishy beauty, or one of those... disturbingly scary... girl... ninja... things.
Jericho quickly wipes Sarah off the priority list for the moment and rushes at Alan, sliding low as he charges the electric-channeling brawler, "OH LOOK, It's ALAN R.B.!" Jericho exclaims, a mocking nod to Alan's earlier, arrogant assertion, as his right foot snaps out to lead the low kick. It looks like a slide tackle. It's probably a slide tackle. Unfortunately, Adrian's heavy boot sole scuffs up just short, with alarming velocity. Alan might thank his lucky stars, or abandon his defense if Jericho's lucky.... he might not even notice the subtle air tremor that ripples before Jericho's foot, suddenly exploding upwards in a shearing, singular beam of white-hot, silver-blue fire.
COMBATSYS: Jericho successfully hits Alan with Wraith.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Jericho 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Sarah
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Alan
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
Alan sneers at Jericho as he comes pretty much out of nowhere at him, the leaner man generally unimpressed by this mini-Sagat kind of guy. "Fashionably late, guy?" He rises up on the balls of his feet as the newcomer comes on, opening his mouth for another sass, but bites it off when Jericho comes up short, Alan's form seeming to blur as he jukes backward.
oO(--Too soon!) It'd be a simple matter for Jericho to adjust his attack to make up for Alan's pre-emptive dodge, and the flaming beam slams into Alan, hurling up and back into the air, burning his vest off, but somehow keeping a hair from falling out of place. He recovers in the air enough to land hard in a kneel, grimacing, electricity swirling around his right hand. "Jesus, man." He stands and makes a few quick backsteps, swinging his hand at his assailant. "Strike!" A bolt of lightning leaps between the two of them, but Alan immediately swings his hand back up, pointing. "Twice!" Another bolt! What's up.
Drake originally didn't notice Alan. Blame it on the professional wrestler looking at the larger, bigger scene than noticing detail. But he notices him now, nodding to the male partner. The smoke bombs get a different kind of greeting, though. That is, Drake jumps slightly, as if to evade the smoke itself.
He's -wired-.
The kunoichi is given a flat look that lasts all of three seconds before turning into an amused grin. "Hey, Sarah. Funny that we'd get paired on our debuts, hrm? I can't really give you suggestions on how you fight - I'm not familiar enough with your style for that. Just know that I'm an up close and personal fighter. Work with that."
Domino then turns to regard the opposition. Alma's supposed to be in this. He's heard only a bit about him, really, and from someone who apparently wasn't too pleased with him at that time. Can't really be entirely certain who's who, though. Such is the troubles of being a new face to globalized street fighting.
"Just make sure you're ready, yourself!," Domino calls back to the seemingly more pleasant of the two. And after that, he undoes the robe and casts it outside the arena-limits.
When the fight actually commences? Well, all heck's broken loose. Alan seems to be the teammate in need at this time, so Domino elects to give his assistance there. The guy looks as though he hits insanely hard, after all. So he takes the advantage of Jericho's attention on Alan to lock his fists together and swing both fiercely towards the taller man's head. Nothing special, no frills, but quite hard.
Sarah immediately dislikes Alma's offer. "No way! They booked this as a fair fight, assuming your teammate is here. There's no way I'll do that to you, so I'll sit this one ou..."
...There's Jericho, being very loud-mouthed. "Okay, I'm in!" And when the loud guy makes a very nice trick 'slide-tackle' into fire burst, Sarah responds by drawing a wooden short-sword and nodding to Drake. "I think it's good, and I'll work with you!" Then a horizontal slash sends a thin wave of typical orange/red flames at Jericho, then jumps onto a car's hood. This might set off the alarm, to some irritation.
Hmm.
~ Interesting. ~
Even as his opponents begin their attacks, Alma seems to be focusing mainly on his own teammate more than anybody. Certainly, they all have interesting and vibrant auras, as all fighters do; Sarah's spirit is appealing, as is Drake's attitude (even if it makes him jumpy), and Alan, despite his sneering demeanor, is surely an engaging enough personality. Easily pleased at the worst of times, Alma is already quite content with his lot in this challenge, no matter what the result. It's only his teammate that gives him pause.
It's not their similarities that made Alma hesitate, similarities that he immediately reveals as he lunges in silently, flowing with a rolling grace that belies his tall frame, and with a flash of his eyes stabs out suddenly with a burst of white sparkling soulfire at the attacking Drake's back -- "Hey," is offered, to get his attention and so it's not a complete ambush -- wielding what is clearly the same power as Jericho's. It's their differences. Not their physical differences; yes Alma's appearance is more feminine than Jericho or Drake, but he's built too, you know. For despite the way both the experienced young fighters seem to be especially passionate about the match--
~ Who /is/ this Jericho? ~
--it is, indeed, a passion with a very different source.
"Pleased to meet you," he murmurs to his teammate as he too enters the great melee. "I will endeavor to be of service."
COMBATSYS: Jericho blocks Drake's Strong Punch.
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Jericho 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Alan
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Jericho blocks Alan's Lightning Strikes Twice.
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Jericho 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Sarah
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Alma 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\0 Alan
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Jericho overcomes Dragon Fire Wave from Sarah with Killswitch.
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Jericho 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Sarah
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Alma 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\0 Alan
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
Better late than never! And better to join the party with a bang. The towering Justice student laughs out a singular "HAH!" as Alan is blasted back. Nothing is a better retort than that, it doesn't matter -who- you are. Still, Jericho is about to become the proverbial fish in a barrel if something doesn't change fast. Alma's coming in hard, a crouched glance out of the corner of his eye confirms that, but so is Drake. An angled forearm catches the wrestler's axehandle high and shoves it wide, as Adrian recovers his footing in the opposite direction. Once! Twice!
Lightning zorches forward, scorching electrical sizzle into Jericho's forearms, one after the other, "Hah! You've got some bite left." But Alan will have to wait, because there's a blaze of ninjafire hurtling in at him.
Recent experience teach Jericho: Ninjafire hurts. He twists about to face Sarah's position, and slams a fist into the concrete floor with audible, cracking impact. It doesn't seem to bother the frost-haired powerhouse's fist, but there /is/ a rather noteable, air-rippling shockwave erupting along the pavement. It's not unlike a very insidious, vicious gopher burrowing its merry way along, though passing under the wave of fire, its nature becomes apparent. A blade of that same blue-silver light scans the space above the ground in a single, reaving crescent, ripping the fiery blast apart as the deceptively subterranean burst courses forth towards the ninja, and her perch.
Under normal circumstances, the resultant cleave might just take the car with Sarah as it passed below... but it took some punch to hammer through, so one will just have to wait and see, "Bring. It. On!"
COMBATSYS: Drake parries Alma's Self Expression!
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Jericho 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Sarah
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Alma 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\0 Alan
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
Alan slowly stands from his kneel, shaking his head to clear the fog still lingering from that hell of a hit. In his mind there is a list with names on it. Jericho now has a red line through it.
The boxer changes targets then, going for the more well-known fighter currently harassing Drake. He gets back toward him in the main fight with a series of short steps, hopping into the air - over Drake - and somersaulting in the air as he passes behind Alma. His heel swings out, tracing a ring of electricity in the air directly at the back of the opposing model's head. "Crash!"
Drake blinks his eyes when his strike is blocked. He thought for certain he wouldn't see that coming! And before he knows what else to do, he hears a, 'Hey'. His head turns, and he spies a burst coursing his way. Simultanious to this, his male teammate takes flight over his head.
Domino concerns himself not with mysterious flying teammates. The blast has to be responded to, and immediately. So Drake leaps into the air in a backflip, landing beside Sarah on the vehicle. And without warning, the professional wrestling springs again, twisting about in the air to collide his torso to Alma's in a flying crossbody.
COMBATSYS: Jericho successfully hits Sarah with Killswitch.
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Jericho 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Alan
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
Sarah hesitates...not because of her fire being negated, but because of Drake jumping over to her while Jericho's own blast is coming in. "Hey, what're you..." He's gone. She tries to jump off as well, but...she clears the car just fine. She doesn't clear the flames Jericho made, and gets knocked into the ceiling. That hurts, though she does land relatively softly and gets up quickly... then runs after Alma, going in low with a slide-kick at one of his ankles. Whether she hits after the takedown or if he utterly avoids it...doesn't really matter to her; she just wants to work on the leg.
COMBATSYS: Alma dodges Sarah's Light Kick.
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Jericho 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Alan
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alma endures Alan's Ring of Thunder.
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Jericho 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Alan
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alma interrupts Darkside Slam EX from Drake with Divine Intervention EX.
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Jericho 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Alan
> ////////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Drake
"Hm!"
Not bad, Drake. Alma grins slightly as the handsome wrestler slips away from his grasp and backflips over him and away, impressed by the display of acrobatics. Despite everything, the blond fighter-model -- for that differentiates him from the other fighter-model -- seems to be in quite good spirits. Indeed, the defense seems to have inspired him.
Enough so, at least, that when the three come, he is fully prepared.
Alma hops just enough to allow Sarah to slide right under him, and spins immediately, apparently not noticing Alan's leap and kick. In fact he has chosen to ignore it, twisting to take the hit on his shoulder -- and finding that Alan's chi is just as intense as he expected -- and perserveres for long enough to meet Drake's assault.
With righteous fury, the two models clash in midair.
And this time, iron resolve unrelenting, it's Alma that ends up on top. Er, as it were. In fact, once Alma has discharged a lance of psychic fire right into Drake's torso, seeming to penetrate straight through his body as though the flesh itself is insubstantial and striking directly at his will to fire, Alma flips away with the force of their clash and lands lightly on his toes.
Despite the hits, his expression remains calm and composed.
"Not bad, everyone," he offers, genuinely good-natured.
Remember that whole 'veteran's poise'? It extends to defensive instincts as well, at least on a good day, but the unusually hardened student doesn't have time to test his resiliency further, as he deflects the trio of attacks, and their wily opponents move on to rushing Alma's base! Rather than having all his dudes relentlessly slaughtered, however, Adrian's teammate presents his own impressive improvised defense. It brings a wry sort of grin to the frost-haired youth's granite features. He pauses only a moment, studying the exchange. Sarah comes in low, Alan clobbers Alma a good one, and then Alma all but /explodes/ into Drake's flying assault.
That's his cue. Despite his well-muscled girth, Adrian's sprint is a hearty one, as he hurls himself skyward and wheels in on the fray in a forward frontflip, looking to quite abruptly catch Drake before he can recover from the explosion. Jericho's flying leap carries him right past as Alma flips away, and the sharp wheeling rotation brings one harsh heel around in a descending glance meant to clobber Drake's chin, or nose, or some such and bring Jericho's footing around properly. As with all things this fellow does, however, the attack is not fully what it appears. Alma would sense it, as would anyone else with particular acuity to the flows of energy.
... rampant psi floods even the forceful momentum of that flying kick, and should its passage connect in any fashion, there's an aftershock. A single, vibrant burst of psycho power... like a camera flash, or a bubble that suddenly blew up and burst in someone's face. A very forceful, searing bubble, the silvery fire quite similar to Alma's in terms of projected, soul-reaving force.
Surprised that he successfully landed that attack, Alan lands easily on his feet and pivots toward Alma - in time to see him have a model-duel with the other one using a rather impressive lance of fire. Plus, he'd have to jump again to get to him easily, and his style is very much a ground-based one. So, all 'harumph'ing, he pivots over toward the larger fighter and jukes toward him. Electricity thunders around his hand as he drives a hard blow to his (hopefully) distracted back.
COMBATSYS: Drake dodges Jericho's Medium Kick.
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Jericho 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Alan
> ////////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Drake
Drake wasn't expected to be outright intercepted. And with the energy lance, it just makes it entirely excruciating. Drake lets out a yelp as he's pierced in a way that.. fortunately.. doesn't seem to cause visible external damage. He's sent back from the other model, and he forces the pain out of his mind to focus on his current situation. And there is Jericho, whipping a kick at him. Domino makes a display of his unique wrestling style's acrobatic influence by twisting his body cleanly out of the way.
Domino lands in a crouch and narrows his eyes at the larger opponent. Seeing Alan move in towards him as well, he decides to attempt coordinating the attack a bit better. If nothing else, he'll make for a more obvious distraction. He rushes in towards the larger one and hops into the air, twisting to face his back to Jericho. Arms reach up to attempt grabbing ahold of his head, and he drives down to attempt hammering Jericho's skull against his shoulder in a stunner. And during this, hopefully Alan will have the opportunity to find his target.
Sarah gets up from the slide-kick, and has a quick laugh after Alma's praise. "You're holding up pretty good too." Then she dashes off to follow Alan and Drake, wooden sword held out to make a series of diagonal spinning 'slashes' at the kickboxer once their moves are finished. She even mixes in some crouches with it, to make a few low swings at his knees.
Alma's reaction is a little unusual.
Normally he's consistently very supportive no matter who he is fighting with, and always willing to lend a hand. But a few things affect Alma's attitude. First all, despite having a good gauge of Alan's energy levels from the feel of his aura -- and the fact that, you know, he has lightning all over his hands -- Alma didn't expect to be hit /quite/ so hard, and because of that it wasn't quite so obvious that the tall psychic had allowed himself to be hit for extra momentum. Some time to settle himself is well appreciated after a mass convergence like that.
But more than anything... he wants to learn more about Jericho.
Normally Alma only has a single goal in fights, the ideal that gives rise to his unstinting passion. But the expression of his passion relies on his ability to engage others, and right now, the person he most wants to engage is Adrian Jericho. It won't happen right now, of course. None of them have the time, or probably the inclination. But they will. Alma is convinced-- they'll have to, someday.
So he watches, back straight, face calm, gaze intent.
COMBATSYS: Alma gains composure.
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Jericho 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Alan
> /////////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Drake successfully hits Jericho with Strong Throw.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Jericho 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Alan
> /////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Sarah successfully hits Jericho with Swift Hurricane Dance.
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Jericho 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Alan
> /////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Jericho interrupts Medium Punch from Alan with Lurker.
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Jericho 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Alma 0/-------/----===|=======\======-\1 Alan
> /////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
Alright, so a few things happen upon landing that he didn't intend. For one thing? Jericho misses! Crap. His head is grabbed, and before he can really make sense of what's going on, his face is meeting shoulder. Hard. His nose is crushed quite suitably, a trickle of blood apparent as he rebounds back in a crouch. It's jarring, and painful, though not as debhilitating as one might expect, under the circumstances. Still, Adrian isn't quite with it enough to align his guard properly to Sarah's flurry of strikes, the stick-sword raising welts on his face and shoulders as he twists through the whapping strikes.
... that stings. Really. That, and his battered face! And here comes Alan R.B., slamming into his chest rather than back. But it slams home even as Jericho is in motion, and he certainly gets the hell out of dodge. Backflipping straight upwards in a tremendous shockwave of power, Jericho's right foot cleaves the air as Alan's chi-charged fist skims painfully off his body. A knee, then a reinforced boot-toe clash harshly with the brawler's jaw. The flip would be quite familiar to some, its path etched by a bladed arc of blue-white fire that lashes from the ground, nearly along the full rotation of Jericho's backflip. Which, satisfyingly, carries him rather clear of the fray... at least for the moment.
Alan's head snaps backward from the kick, and his body follows, the boxer hurling through the air, spiraling. However, none of this is nearly as important as one other thing.
Alan's sunglasses fly off, clattering on the floor.
Alan lands hard on his shoulder, rolling briefly before stopping himself. "Jesus /Christ,/ man..." The blonde slowly gets back up, rubbing his face and nearly-broken jaw, pausing when he detects his missing glasses. His mouth twitches. "Now that's just insulting. Don't mess with a man's style!" Alan takes a few staggering steps toward Jericho, then stops suddenly and grounds his stance. Electricity pools around his feet, travelling up his legs and down his arms.
COMBATSYS: Alan gathers his will.
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Jericho 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Alma 0/-------/----===|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Alan
> /////////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
Drake rolls quickly forward as soon as his strike is delivered, and he turns around in time to see the others succeed as well. Hah! That worked out keenly! Except... err.. he's pretty sure Alan didn't originally intend on flying back quite like that.
...Or tumbling...
...Or losing his shades...
...Or looking that beaten up.
Crap.
Domino narrows his eyes on the more massive male, working out that he seriously needs to be brought down. But at this very moment, he needs to be steered away from his partner. So the dark-haired model (as previously noted, the easiest way to differentiate between Drake and Alma) leaps towards Jericho's back. Once close enough, his arms lash out to attempt hooking around the opponent's arms and torso in a gutwrench bearhug hold, arms tightening substantially to crush the air out of his target.
Sarah jumps away to watch Jericho tear into Alan, eyes wide. "...Wow! Not bad!" And when Drake charges after the kickboxer, she tries to run past both the wrestler and his target, then jumping onto a car beside them. More car-alarm annoyance!
But this time, Sarah jumps off immediately, sword held out beside her as she tries to go past Jericho from behind, and slam the weapon into his head...hopefully while he's in mid-bearhug.
COMBATSYS: Jericho endures Sarah's Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Jericho 1/-----==/=======|=------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Alma 0/-------/----===|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Jericho fails to interrupt Blackout from Drake with Guilty Spark.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Jericho 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Alma 0/-------/----===|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
Alright, so, that might have been a bad tactical decision, Alma. Now they're all beating up on your buddy. Yet Jericho seems unfazed; if nothing else, he has an enduring fighting spirit.
Whatever his motives, Alma can't help but respect that.
So, having learned a little more about his teammate, albeit nothing that he could articulate in a way that others would be able to understand, Alma rushes back into the fray. He won't be able to reach in time to rescue Jericho from the coming onslaught, but he /can/ attempt to take Drake from behind again.
As it were.
While Drake is busy grappling with Jericho, Alma will lunge mightily into the air and, passion for battle glittering in his eyes and reflected in the flames that burst into being and wreathe around his legs, kick out with a series of fierce aerial roundhouse kicks.
"Uurryyaaahh!"
How's that for a warning?
Well, there's one thing about being more successful about inflicting pain. People don't seem to like it. So upon landing, Jericho is greeted to another extra helping of retaliation. He's picked up, squeezed, and the stick sword slams down on his head.. which only really serves to give him a little more forward momentum as every muscle in his body flexes... and then the momentum is crushed, quite literally, as the squeeze tightens. Whatever he had planned, it's defeated by the power of that grip.
By the time he can lurch free, it's back to the ground, dropping into a crouch, winded at least momentarily. Sure, Alma! NOW you help! Maybe holding off the three as well as he did is impressive, but just at the moment Adrian mostly needs a moment to keep his head from spinning, and get a little air back in his lungs.
COMBATSYS: Drake dodges Alma's Rising Fury.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Jericho 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
Alan shows no real reaction to the next events of the fight, remaining in his grounded stance. The electricity continues to pool around him, crackling up and down his body. His eyes are half-closed, enough so that he'd probably realize it if someone rolled right up on him.
COMBATSYS: Alan gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Jericho 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
Drake grips tighter with a sneer, pleased in having kept the bigger (in a literal sense) threat at bay while Alan can... uh... do whatever it is he's doing. Drake's never seen anyone do that before.
And suddenly, Domino's ears are filled with a warcry. Those are never good. He quickly releases the hold with a brisk shove against the larger male to gain a bit more room to manuever. The wrestler pushes off to the side and drops into a roll, cleanly evading the oncoming attack. His first instinct is to attack the other model, but he decides that tactics must override impulse. So his attention redirects to Jericho, and he rushes in towards him again. With a leap into the air, Domino twists onto his side and juts his elbow out, aiming to crash it against his target's head.
Sarah laughs upon landing, calling to Drake. "Hey! You're not supposed to hug /him!/" Definitely a joke of some kind...but then she's running at the dazed Jericho, and sliding along the ground again... though she does try to time her arrival to be just after Drake's elbow-strike. Then her legs try to wrap around one of the kickboxer's ankles and twist, hoping to trip him to the garage floor.
COMBATSYS: Drake successfully hits Jericho with Strong Punch.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Jericho 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
COMBATSYS: Sarah successfully hits Jericho with Quick Throw.
[ \\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Jericho 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
Well, uh, this didn't work out at all.
Alma feels kind of bad.
Not because he's going to have to fight alone, of course. He was already willing to do that. Just that-- well, when you think about it, he /was/ a bit selfish, putting his own interest in Jericho's aura over full strategy. Taking the time to compose himself was nice, but it wasn't /entirely/ necessary. And he has an odd feeling that Jericho may not forgive his lack of presence in this match too easily.
Well, it would be easier if Drake didn't keep dodging. But the dark-haired model is much more slippery than the blonde model has anticipated. It may be too late to save Jericho, but it's not too late to actually hit Drake with something. So hand pulsing again with power, Alma approaches.
"Hey--"
In a moment.
"--you're pretty quick."
After he tosses off the fire in his hands at Alan, who has been standing there for way too dang long.
"HA!"
... Didn't he have a teammate? Alma feels bad because he is bad! As for Jericho, he /thought/ he had his bearings back pretty well.... but that's rapidly disproven The incoming elbow looks pretty straightforward, not to mention slow as hell... but appearances can be deceiving, and instead of deflecting the strike, the frost-haired student takes it full on in the face, reeling back. Before he can conceive any grasp of what's going on, he's tripped and goes crashing to the floor.
There's not a lot that the Justice kickboxer can do at this point, other than let out a disbelieving, pained wheeze.... and launch himself into one final backflip. His leg rips the air, and he seeks to launch out of his forced fall right up into Drake's chest and jaw, spinning a full rotation with a shearing edge of penetrating spirit energy, gleaming brilliantly despite his battered status. Of course, his status is given away when he falls out of the sky mid-kick, more or less on his face, with a groan. That... did not go well. Maybe Alma can do a bit better, his defenses have proven rampantly defective in the face of the relentless, all-out assault.
COMBATSYS: Jericho can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
COMBATSYS: Drake dodges Jericho's Lurker.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alan overcomes Sacred Wave from Alma with Thunder Storm.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Sarah
> //////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
Through the focus his charging brings him, Alan is able to see the flames coming at him just in time to do something about it. Power leaps into both of his hands, and he spins toward the incoming attack. "Thunder... STORM!" Both hands thrust out and his fingers snap. Electricity surges out from both hands, four huge bolts spiraling outward and blasting through the fire. "Whoo!"
Drake lands after his forward-moving elbowdrop in a roll, ending this movement in a crouch. His eyes narrow on Jericho, and he sees the attack coming rather easily. The professional wrestler kicks stereotyping in the face by shifting his weight to the side onto a hand to push himself up into a clean, acrobatically evasive butterfly twist, landing him clear of the line of fire.
Now normally, Domino might egg on the crowd and the spectators. Except the match isn't quite over yet, and from the pain he still feels, the remaining opponent is in no way weak. So he focuses his attention on him, and spies the projectiles striking about. Not one to be outdone in showmanship, Domino slides himself into a backstance in preparation. His hands thrust towards Alma at range, palms outwards. A pair of energy beams fire from the palms - one brilliant white, the other deep black. The beams entertwine and race towards their target in the form of a double helix.
Sarah crawls away and hops back to her feet after the trip, surprised when Jericho also rises. But Drake seems to handle him well enough, and after a few seconds to ensure the kickboxer is out, she gives a triumphant "Yay!" and turns her attention to Alma by running toward him... .../definitely/ waiting until the electricity and beam pyrotechnics have cleared. There are no sword-strikes this time, as instead her left hand makes a series of rapid, light palm-strikes...aimed everywhere. High, low, face, chest, stomach...anything on his upper body is a target for these hits.
COMBATSYS: Alan successfully hits Alma with Thunder Storm.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Alan
> //////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alma dodges Drake's Domino Helix.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Alan
> //////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Sarah's Quick Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Alan
> //////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
Here goes nothing.
Things may be a little rough for Alma for a while, but with unstinting composure and a heroic demeanor, the tall blonde goes forth. The series of lightning bolts indeed burst through the bolt of Psycho Power, but a thrust of his palm produces a half-sphere of faint glimmering flames that ripples wildly like water as the electricity arcs off it. It's not an actual shield, per se; it seems to be rather the visible manifestation of an invisible force, a series of small explosions that result from the clashing auras, and by the way Alma grits his teeth he seems to be absorbing all the force. But his aura remains strong, and despite the intensity of the attack, he seems alright.
He then weaves around Domino's dramatic projectile, but before he can close in the ninja girl is there and lashing out with a series of rapid palm strikes. Interesting! Allowing himself to be fully occupied by her assault, Alma responds with a barrage of blazing fast parries of his own, demonstrating startling reflexes and awareness against the three attacks. And rather than continue to pursue the elusive Drake, Alma responds to yet-unscathed Sarah by finishing his rapid parrying with a twist and a fierce back spinning knuckle to the side of the blonde girl's head.
"Wataah."
Never has that battle cry been announced in such a low, serious tone.
Don't let that fool you, though-- for his eyes still blaze with passion!
With the Thunder Storm used, some inner charge Alan had built up is gone, and he can't stay in that almost meditation thing, so he goes ahead and starts closing the distance. He looks a little bit peppier, but not by all that much. He looks a bit odd without those shades of his. "Alright... let's get this going again." There's a flare of power as he darts in at the attacking Alma's side, making a fast punch at him.
Drake pulls his hands back to end the twisting Domino Helix, and.. nothing. It's failed to strike the intended target again. He's seriously got to practice on finger and mobile targets.
So Domino decides to likewise close back in and get back into his primary method of dealing with enemies - wrestling. He attempts to weave around to the lighter-haired model's back, hopefully while he's occupied with Sarah. When he closes in, leaving his front to either Sarah or Alan, he attempts to hook his arms underneath Alma's. The hands then go to lock behind Alma's neck, and he promptly jerks back to drive the other model's head back against the ground.
COMBATSYS: Sarah endures Alma's Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
Sarah is struck full-on by Alma's backhand fist, and looks stunned as if he'd just knocked any sort of awareness out of her, head rocking back as her body makes a staggering twirl, arms flailing. Then she falls to her knees...and poof! A smokebomb detonates, obscuring her. She shoots out of it immediately with a forward flip, sword held out with flames wrapping around it as she tries to use her leap to drive the weapon onto Alma repeatedly...and hopefully continue above and past him, to land well away from Drake's attempt to slam him to the concrete.
COMBATSYS: Alma dodges Drake's Strong Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alan successfully hits Alma with Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alma endures Sarah's Rising Crescent Slash!!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Alma 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
Alan R.B. says, "thunder endure"
Alan R.B. didn't say that go away
Go Alma Go! Weaving his way around Drake's attempt to throw, Alma grits his teeth as he finds that Alan is still, despite Jericho's brutal assaults, raring to go. He can't evade the jab punch, and though it doesn't stagger him significantly, Alma becomes immediately aware that he has lost his balance. He turns quickly to Sarah to see what she's planning-- and finds that she's stunned. Well, perfect--
If there weren't so /many/ auras, he might intuit a trick coming.
But instead, teeth grit in determination, Alma lunges directly at Alan; and then Sarah poofs out of nowhere with a rising series of sword strikes. The psychic model has already committed himself to the leap, so it seems there's nothing he can do...
...except man up.
He doesn't even flinch. Even the cameras catch that. The sword blows rain down on him, and Alma, with the steely resolve that can only be born of a true passionate commitment to the fight, ignores them entirely, rushing full on toward the thunder-wielding boxer, and with a fierce shout lunges into a blurring series of strikes, two feinting jabs followed by a fierce uppercut aimed to take Alan out of the fight once and for all.
"Hyah!"
COMBATSYS: Alan dodges Alma's Strong Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Alma 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
If there's anything Alan knows how to deal with, it's punches - Alan sees the feints for what they are, only moving enough that they don't touch him, and then full on dodging to the right, blurring slightly as he darts around to Alma's side. "Not fast enough!" Both hands crackle with power as Alan swings his hands forward, clapping them together at Alma. "Burst!" The electricity hits with a burst of thunder, blossoming out around his hands in a bright yellow ball, and exerting a good deal of concussive force.
Drake grabs nothing but air, and this grates a bit on the wrestler's nerves. Hmph. A model, like him. A fighter, like him. And he's evasive, like him? Inconceivable! There can be only one!
Domino shoots a glance towards Sarah and nods to her, though whether she can see this or not is up to chance. He doesn't wait to find out. Instead, he attempts to get in behind Alma again, seeing that Alan is being targetted. His arms grip higher this time though, left arm attempting to hook around Alma's throat, right arm going to loop under Alma's right arm and locking with the left hand to present what will hopefully be an immobilizing chokehold.
Sarah tucks the sword into the back of her sash upon landing, digging into a pouch to pull out several small metal barbs - caltrops. Watching the fight carefully, she waits until she thinks Alma is about to move, and tosses the caltrops at the ground. If all goes well, they should clatter along the pavement and land in a spread where she thinks Alma's feet will set down (or perhaps be set down upon, if Drake gets the hold?), attempting to slow him down even as she begins to rush toward the outnumbered man.
COMBATSYS: Alan successfully hits Alma with Thunderhead.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Alma 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Sarah
> ///////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Drake successfully hits Alma with Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Alma 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Sarah
> ///////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alma dodges Sarah's Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Alma 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Sarah
> ///////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
Alma does his best, but to no avail; Alan, despite the similar name, is not a kung-fu fighter but a boxer and punches are his specialty. The mellow blonde model can't help but actually look genuinely dismayed -- albeit in his usual mild sort of way -- as his uppercut totally whiffs and Alan weaves back in with a fierce electrical strike. Like the proverbial gentle giant, Alma takes strikes from all corners as Drake closes in on his stumbling form and suddenly we have model-on-model chokeholding.
This, Alma decides, cannot go on any longer.
Sure this fight has just been going rather poorly in general. He's probably been pushing himself too hard lately, for one; he hadn't been paying nearly enough attention. But the fact is that he could have an engaging match against any one of these three fighters, and fighting them all at once is really quite over the top. Now that he realizes just how talented they all are, he feels almost a little ashamed. It's kind of an insult to them, to force them to all come on at once like this as though alone they are not enough. The complete lack of teamwork on his side probably didn't help either. That Jericho fellow /really/ gave him a weird feeling.
Alma just hasn't had time to remember why he's here.
"RRYYAAAAHH!"
Why he's /really/ here.
With a sudden strength Alma tears free of Drake's chokehold all at once, still having the presence of mind as he does so to nimbly step around Sarah's caltrops; despite the rage he seems to emit from that battle cry, that makes it clear, along with his /still/ calm expression, that he remains fully coherent. Because, you see, it's not anger or frustration he feels. It's fury. The passion that is born of clashing swords, the will to achieve something beyond victory or defeat.
It blazes in his eyes, and as he twists and one-handed cartwheels away, hand just barely avoiding a caltrop, it begins to blaze all over the rest of his body too. Soulfire envelops him, and all at once it becomes clear that in this split-second he is in one place and they three are all together in another...
"HAAAH!"
And with another lion roar, wordless but infused with meaning through the pureness of his spirit, somehow obviously free of any petty irritation at his losing position -- with this lordly cry to the heavens Alma punches the ground, splintering concrete, and a thin trail of flame rockets towards the three of them ominously.
He turns away, eyes shaded dramatically by unkempt bangs, and clenches a fist.
A geyser of psychic fire erupts, the illusory flame seeming to burn but in reality striking directly at their senses of self, their centeredness, and their will to fight.
COMBATSYS: Alma successfully hits Alan with Full Confession.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Sarah
> ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Alan
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
The huge geyser of Psycho Power slams hard into the boxer, knocking him up and away, once again spinning. However, this time, he's completely covered in fire, only visible as a black silhouette! The flames go out when he lands, and he remains. He's completely cashed out.
His hair is still /perfect./
COMBATSYS: Alan takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Sarah
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alan can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Sarah
> ///////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alma successfully hits Drake with Full Confession.
Glancing Blow
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Sarah
> /////////////// ]
|=======\====---\1 Drake
Try to keep the hold as much as Domino may, Alma breaks free. It surprises and summarily stuns the wrestler. And before he knows what's going on, a geyser of psychoflames errupts. Following this, the model finds himself airborne, twisting about and landing in a roll when he hits the ground. The tumbling comes to a skidding halt, and Domino looks.. astonished. Confused, even. He's never dealt with an attack like that. Only through his rigorous martial arts training and familiarity with acrobatics did that strike not completely devastate him. That being said, Domino isn't terribly quick to get back to his feet.
But once he does, Domino is rushing in for the other model quickly. He attempts to grab ahold of him and force him to bend over to lock his neck between his legs. If successful, Domino's arms then loop around Alma's midsection to hoist him into a piledrive position and applying an inverted bearhug.
And from there? Domino will leap into the air, pulling into a series of rapid forward flips. The momentum of the spin would increase as they begin their descent, giving the illusion of becoming a solid ball. The momentum would then be driven in full against Alma's head and shoulders.
...
If Domino manages to grab him.
COMBATSYS: Sarah blocks Alma's Full Confession.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Sarah
> /////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
Sarah can see something is going on. Alma should either be rushed down and disrupted, or avoided...and she chooses to stay away, skidding to a halt and crouching, arms held in front of her. Even with that, she's sent flying back by his blast, slamming into a support column. "Eesh...hey, Drake?" Picking herself up, Sarah begins to walk toward the fight once again slowly. "Let's make this next one count, okay?"
COMBATSYS: Sarah gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Sarah
> /////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alma dodges Drake's Total Eclipse.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Sarah
> /////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
Alma releases a long, quiet breath.
~ Ah, release. ~
That felt good.
But it appears not everyone appreciated the fullness of Alma's self as manifested through spiritual purifying flame as Alan did. The blond model, his awareness thrilling in the intensity of the fight as it is now, can sense by the overt fluctuations in the auras of his opponents that the dark-haired model and the would-be kunoichi have manages to deflect some of the force of his attack. Not that anyone can tell what Alma knows. His eyes remain closed, his chin tilted downward as though deep in profound contemplation. Drake rushes him, and Alma does not appear to notice.
Which makes it rather startling when with fluid grace he ducks and slips right under the other model's attempt to grab, and as he twists on his heel Alma thrusts out with a palm strike suffused in white light to Drake's kidneys, a lance of soulfire erupting in an attempt to catch Drake in the back -- successively, this time.
Whether or not he succeeds, his twist has already taken him to face Sarah. Though his chest heaves with his silent breathing and his feathered bangs are damp with sweat, his gaze remains focused, and he meets the girl's eyes with clarity of purpose.
COMBATSYS: Drake dodges Alma's Self Expression.
[ \\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Sarah
> /////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
Drake grabs for Alma and succeeds in abusing only the air. The dark-haired model scowls, having been previously convinced that the lighter-haired model was ready to be finished off. Sarah is given a glance and a slight frown, followed by a slight bobbish shrug of a shoulder. He can't fault her if she really needs to hold back temporarily. She might be more injured than she looks, and he'd hate for her to get -seriously- hurt.
When Domino turns his attention back to Alma, he spies another energy lance coming his way. Demonstrating grace and agility quite uncommon for a typical wrestler, he pulls his body into a smooth spin to to the side, placing himself out of harm's way. And having evaded that, he rushes in to attempt grabbing Alma by the shoulders. Pulling him forward and dropping back, Domino pushes a foot upwards towards Alma's torso to vault him behind himself.
Sarah nods to Alma when he faces her, and runs at him while Drake goes on the attack. As she gets close, one palm is brought down in front of her, swiping upward as she gets close. This won't hit Alma, but the motion seems to 'draw' flames up after it that might strike, and she repeats it with a downward palm-swipe to create another flame-wave, followed by a left swipe and right swipe with similar effects.
COMBATSYS: Alma dodges Drake's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Sarah
> /////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Sarah's Charging Wave Barrage.
[ \\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Sarah
> /////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Drake
Fatigue pushing the limits of his endurance, Alma readies himself and pushes forward against the series of flames, thrusting out his palms and implacably allowing the fire to wash against them, deflecting them again with a 'shield' of aura that as it is forced to visually manifest again appears to be rather cracked and ruptured at this point. The blond model's focus is fading fast; his passion, though it still burns bright, is losing its channel as his clarity evaporates like morning dew. But even if his concentration must dissipate, Alma's duty remains; he must, if for no other reason than out of respect, not hold back against these two for even a moment.
And Alma is always steadfast in his duty.
Speaking of which, why didn't he sense any impact--?
Jerking forward instinctively just in time, Alma evades Drake's grab attempt by a hairsbreath, psychic presentience more than natural agility saving him from probable disaster. "You are quite skilled, sir," he offers, even as he uses his momentum from his dodge to half-stagger into a rearing preparation for a kick. "And you, young lady, clearly have natural talents yet to be realized."
With some of the last of his stamina, Alma pumps out with a fierce thrust kick at Drake's abdomen; it is perhaps not the most tactical move against an opponent with such good reflexes, but Alma moves as abruptly as possible, and, well, he doesn't have many more options left anyway.
Even as he kicks, though, he has a speculative look in his eye.
"Have I see you," he murmurs to Drake, "in a magazine somewhere?"
COMBATSYS: Drake counters Heavy Kick from Alma with Solar Eclipse.
[ \\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Drake
Drake growls a bit when his grab attack misses yet again, he decides to ease back a bit and re-assess his approach. Perhaps he's attempting to be entirely too forward in his tactics. Getting into the stereotypical wrestler mindset hasn't done much good for him before, so it shouldn't now.
Though Domino's expression is neutral, if not detached and outright cold, the compliment is received with a small nod. "You're not bad, yourself. I take it you're Alma. Heard about you." But he leaves it at that.
The kick is the opportunity Domino was waiting for. He steps in and beside the thrusted limb to hook one arm under the leg, and the other around Alma's neck. Using the lack of balance caused by the captured leg, Drake hoists Alma up and pivots him over to powerslam him to the concrete. That is, slamming the blond-haired model on his back, with the dark-haired model professional wrestler landing his hard abdominals across his opponent's.
Sarah takes some playful exception to Alma. "'Lady' is okay, but my name's fine too. I'm Sarah..." A jump back as Alma kicks, albeit at Drake. "...Nice to meet..." Drake's caught the kick, and smashed Alma down quite well. "...You." She's tempted to attack while Alma's open, but holds back to see if it's even necessary.
COMBATSYS: Sarah focuses on her next action.
[ \\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Alma 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Drake
Oof.
Well, at least that's over with. Alma sighs, or rather has the breath forcibly ejected from his lungs in what approximates a sigh, as he's slammed to the ground and Drake lands heavily on his chest. By the time he does manage to catch his breath again, the tall blond has lost feeling in his legs; with the last of his effort, he reaches up and crosses his arms behind his head for comfort.
"Nice to meet you too, Sarah," he murmurs, soundly rather casual for someone who looks so completely exhausted. He quirks an eyebrow up at Drake as the older dark-haired model rises. "Well, I hadn't... heard of you," he replies mildly, taking his time to maintain steady breathing, "but I have now. I'll have to... challenge you again, I think."
Whew.
"That's it for me," Alma finishes, with an uncharacteristic heaviness to his voice. He really seems wiped out. "Well fought... you two."
The trials ahead of him weigh greatly on his young shoulders.
Sheesh... what a week this has been.
COMBATSYS: Alma takes no action.
> ///////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Alma can no longer fight.
> ///////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Sarah
> ////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Drake
Alan R.B. just got totally sassed.
Alma can't talk to you man, you're on like the other side of the battlefield and he can barely turn his head, give him a break.
For Alma and Drake both. This match-up was the very end of his first week in his new home of Southtown. It's ended well, he believes. Drake springs back up to his feet with a proud smile over his lips. Now that the fight's over, he's back to his typical charming, friendly demeanor as per normal. "Sure, Alma. Take it easy." He nods to the blond, then turns to march directly over to Sarah. And once beside her, he attempts to turn her towards the cameras and the crowd, takes her right wrist into his left hand, and he throws his hands up in victory. The right hand clenches into a fist and is given a single pump. Mmhm.
The teen model and professional wrestler known as Domino has made his satisfactory debut on Saturday Night Fight.
Sarah is glad she held back, as Alma is clearly finished. "You too," she answers his praise...and then after a few glances around the garage, she realizes something. "...Hey." Her remaining teammate is heading her way, so Sarah jumps toward Drake, trying to embrace him as she's absolutely thrilled. "We did it!" He'll have no trouble raising her arm though, if he persists at that.
Alma is already lost in thought again, only barely able to maintain consciousness anyway, but he can't help but smile as he shares in the happiness of the two still-standing victors.
"Hey," he murmurs quietly to himself, "where's /my/ hug?"
Well, Drake -was- going to just give her the equal rights of dramatic victory, only he's all but pounced in a hug. So the victory pose is held off for the moment in favor of looping his arms around the kunoichi's waist to return the embrace. But after a couple seconds of this, he persists in lifting her right arm with his left, and lifting his right fist in a show of victory.
COMBATSYS: Sarah has left the fight here.
> ////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Drake has ended the fight here.
Log created by Alan, and last modified on 20:50:02 04/02/2007.