Description: Watch for the return of punching people who eat food, even though Alex never eats anything! (Winner: Alex)
Some fighters are on their way up. Some fighters are... up and up. Since his return to active, televised matches -- since, for some time, Alex was apparently content with fighting guys in bars and attempting to bum rush gorillas on his Ryu-style journey across the globe -- he's made a stir and climbed the ranks. It's made him some money, which, in turn, has meant that some of the poorest neighborhoods in Metro City have observed a mysterious and sudden influx of wealth. Today, though, is a little simpler.
Clad in his fatigues and a muscle-shirt, Alex is walking through cramped, crowded Metro Square with a younger woman, who is enjoying fresh ice cream. "Alex?" she asks. "When's the last time you got a hair cut?"
"There's nothin' wrong with my hair. Jeez, cut me some slack..." The big guy earns a few photographs from passers-by, but only a few. He's on the way up, but he's not there yet. "
Makoto is still on the way up herself. She is happy for fame (in that it gets attention on Rindoukan) and money (because the dojo doesn't fix itself) but doesn't really care about it personally. She pays more attention to /other/ people's fame.
Like Alex, for instance, who she can recognize, even from the back. It helps that Makoto attempted to memorize the face of everyone involved in the Neo League for just this purpose - so that she would never be surprised or caught off guard or, more importantly, unable to make a challenge.
Makoto scoots through the crowd in her gi, which gets moderate attention (does she even own any other clothes?) but not as much as when she attempts to poke Alex in the back of the shoulder. "Hey! Hey, you!" she says, slightly rudely. "I know who you are!"
Alex keeps walking, at first. And then he gets poked. His shoulder is akin to a brick wall; he's as dense as he is big, but hopefully not as smart. A crowd begins to form around the two, and Alex turns. And sees nobody. Then, he looks down. Oh. There's a person. "Yeah? That so?" he asks, his accent as thick as any of the Metro natives.
Patricia seems vaguely worried. That girl (it's a girl, right?) looks kind of... dwarfish, next to Alex. "Hey, Pat. This probably won't take long," he asides, before returning his attention to the smaller fighter. He squints at her, and considers. "You're not one of Dan Hibiki's sprats, are you?" he inquires. "Or maybe the tattered-gi thing is in vogue."
Makoto isn't /that/ small, although compared to Alex, pretty much every sixteen year old who is not Natsu is somewhat short. She looks up at Alex with an expression somewhere between 'excited' and 'determined' on her face. "This isn't tattered," she objects, "it's /patched/." Because there is an enormous difference there, of course. "And I have nothing to do with that man!"
She takes a step back, because looking straight up gives her a crick in her neck. "My name is Makoto, from the Rindoukan dojo, in Tosa! And you're Alex." Makoto is pretty sure he has no dojo. "And you're in the Neo League, too! So I'm challenging you, right now." She pauses, glances over at Pat, and then adds, "Unless this is a really bad time?"
Alex shrugs to Patricia, who makes a 'you're gonna get beat up' look and heads for what is quickly becoming the sidelines. "Rinkoudan Dojo, in Tosa, huh?" he repeats, pulling his shirt off. "Sounds like a proud and honorable dojo, and I'll be honored to accept your challenge," he says. He says this, of course, as though going through motions. Alex is not known for his politeness, but since Makoto wasn't being a jerk, he'll do the same in return. Besides, spirited kids from Japan wearing karate gis take their dojos seriously.
"You gonna punch me now, or what, kid?"
COMBATSYS: Alex has started a fight here.
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Alex 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Makoto has joined the fight here.
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Alex 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Makoto
Makoto lets people clear out and get to the sidelines if so inclined. She wants a fight; she doesn't want to hurt random people who just happen to be watching them, although at least she doesn't have chi blasts to watch the aim of. She takes the opportunity to step back a few steps (why? She's just going to run straight back over) and tighten her gi's belt. "If you're honoured to accept, of course!" she says, perhaps not catching the tone that makes it a rote response.
She does not actually punch him. Instead, she takes two steps forward again, plants her hands on the ground flat and goes low, delivering a straight kick toward Alex's shins. It has a surprising amount of power behind it, and she lets out a "Ha!" as she does so.
COMBATSYS: Alex endures Makoto's Medium Kick.
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Alex 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Makoto
Rather than attempt to avoid or even just take the hit on the shins, Alex drops down into a crouch, following Makoto's movements almost as though doing so a moment before she moves herself. His objective seems straightforward, but by the time it becomes apparent, it may be too late to do much of anything about it. Letting the powerful blow dig into his shoulder, Alex reaches out to snare the smaller fighter by the leg and stands swiftly up, using all of that momentum and strength to spin once. Alex's body becomes the lever and the lever looks to flatten Makoto into the street with an asphalt-cracking impact.
It should be mentioned, perhaps, that Alex does not believe in taking it slow.
COMBATSYS: Makoto blocks Alex's Powerbomb.
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Alex 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Makoto
Makoto has not fought a lot of wrestlers previously - except Raiden, anyway - and so she is a little surprised at the speed at which Alex can sling her around. She knew that they could throw, but even so, it's a little startling. About all she manages to do is cover her upper body with her arms when she hits the asphalt, putting an X in the indentation she leaves behind.
Rolling away from the impact point, Makoto gets to her feet and immediately leaps almost straight up. Midair, she brings her left foot up and around before viciously scything it down; she tries to hit Alex with it hard enough to knock him down and allow her to spring off him and land behind.
COMBATSYS: Makoto successfully hits Alex with Tsurugi.
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Alex 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Makoto
Alex doesn't seem to expect much from the smaller girl's offensive capaility. But she gets back up -- surprise the first -- and then launches her foot at him -- surprise the second -- before he can even react. It catches him on the shoulder with enough force to drop him to his knee. There's a crack as pressure is distributed throughout his bulky, but mortal frame. "Alright. That's more like it," he says, popping his shoulder back into place with a grunt.
Trying to push into action before the girl can land, Alex jumps up after her, trying to snatch her out of the air and turn her right around, turning their combined momentums into a downward spiral directed right for the ground. Their impact will be messy, but she's the one on the inevitable receiving end.
COMBATSYS: Makoto dodges Alex's Spiral DDT.
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Alex 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Makoto
Makoto is not particularly fast except in bursts, but she seems to be having one of those bursts right now; she manages to push off Alex's grasping hand and spring further away, out of what would otherwise be an extremely painful grip and introduction to the ground.
"I do my best!" Makoto says, whirling about once she's properly on the ground again and making sure there is nobody behind her. She pauses a moment, focusing her strength, before taking two fast steps forward and delivering a rather classic hand chop horizontally. It would be to Alex's neck, except she's only high enough to hit his chest easily; it's still likely to sting, Steamroller Girl that she is.
COMBATSYS: Alex blocks Makoto's Fierce Punch.
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Alex 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Makoto
Alex recovers his caution, it appears, just in time. Snapping a hand up to deflect the force of her blow, Alex whirls right around. Setting one foot into the asphalt, he grins and raises his other, driving it straight ahead and putting all of his weight and power into it. It'll hopefully be enough to bowl Makoto over. At the very least, he'll get some space within which to catch his breath. "You don't fight like a lot of losers I wind up going against--jumpin' around like ballet dancers. You get right to the point--that's moxy, kid!"
COMBATSYS: Makoto fails to interrupt Strong Kick from Alex with Hayate.
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Alex 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Makoto
I'm surprised you haven't heard of me, at least a little!" Makoto says, drawing one fist back - if going all-out helped before, it can't possibly be a bad idea now, after all. She prepares, and focuses, stepping forward to deliver a mighty strike toward Alex's stomach.
That was the idea, anyway, except she held back an instant too late; the kick strikes Makoto solidly and sends her rolling backwards. She ends on her back, and takes slightly longer to get up this time - although it still isn't really that long.
"I don't pay attention to that kind of crap," Alex says, still approaching, implacable, as Makoto gets herself back on her feet. She's tough. She can take it. Right? "Lots of gossip and jabber. You can't talk about a fight, or about fighters. You just gotta fight 'em. Anything else is just a waste of time," Alex says, and to illustrate the point reaches out to grab Makoto by the shoulder and just /fling/ her off to the side. He doesn't want to be involved in a close up fight with her, so if he can keep sending her off into the distance, all the better.
COMBATSYS: Makoto blocks Alex's Quick Throw.
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Alex 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Makoto
Although Alex does get ahold of her and throw, Makoto doesn't go as far or as fast as he might be hoping; she hits the ground early and rolls with the impact instead of taking it as solidly as she otherwise might have.
It certainly doesn't stop her from getting up again. "I don't always pay attention to it either," she admits - it's true - "but even I hear things!" Makoto darts forward in her low, surprisingly fast run, and then does something probably unexpected; she reaches up with both hands and attempts to grab Alex by the throat, levering him up and bringing him closer to her. The main difficulty is that his throat is too thick to really do much with.
COMBATSYS: Alex endures Makoto's Karakusa.
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Alex 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Makoto
Alex gets himself seized and pulled forward, but instead of letting it be used against him -- and he doesn't entirely succeed, still at Makoto's whim for a few moments at least -- he gets to his senses and brings his knee straight up into her gut, attempting again to push her off while keeping potent a general offensive trend. He seems to be all offense. He may lack finesse, but, really, who needs it?
"Yeah, that's you. Me, I don't care who I fight--or how may imaginary points they've got. A fight's a fight!"
COMBATSYS: Alex successfully hits Makoto with Air Knee Smash.
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Alex 1/-----==/=======|=======\=======\1 Makoto
Makoto would say she doesn't care how many points she had, but it's been zero for quite some time anyway, so it probably doesn't matter.
Like Alex, Makoto is all offense. She has difficulty dealing with him rushing her like that, and the knee strike hits home solidly without her doing much to buffer it. She /does/ land on her feet, but it's a narrow thing, and she's definitely not moving as smoothly as she was even a moment ago.
In fact, she hesitates a moment to catch her breath quick. Makoto doesn't fall all the way out of her combat stance - her hand remains raised to block, if necessary - but she's definitely trying to recover and force herself to stay in the fight longer. It also keeps her quiet.
COMBATSYS: Makoto gains composure.
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Alex 1/-----==/=======|=======\=====--\1 Makoto
Alex hits the ground on his feet after the aerial collision, but doesn't pursue or push his offensive posture. Instead, he holds his ground, cracking his knuckles and remaining where he is. To outside viewers, the fight seems to... stop. "Hey!" he yells. "Frank!" Frank is a nearby hot dog vendor. "Put a sausage on for me. This'll be done in a sec," he suggests, before slowing down and waiting. "When you're ready, kiddo."
COMBATSYS: Alex focuses on his next action.
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Alex 1/-----==/=======|=======\=====--\1 Makoto
"I am getting," Makoto says, with unsurprising firmness, "REALLY tired about people skipping out on my fights to go get a snack!" She hesitates a moment, but has to admit, "At least you didn't stop entirely."
As soon as she's done talking, she charges. Makoto lets out a yell as she opens with as solid a punch to the gut as she can deliver. She follows it up with a trio of midlevel hits with both hands, and then hesitates for a moment, tensing and winding up for the ultimate blow: A strike to the chin with every ounce of her surprising strength behind it. "SEICHUUSEN GODANZUKI!" she roars, holding the final pose a moment longer, her scarf fluttering from the backblast of wind her punches make. Even if they miss!
COMBATSYS: Makoto successfully hits Alex with Seichuusen Godanzuki.
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Alex 1/-======/=======|=------\-------\0 Makoto
Alex is hit, and skids backwards several paces. He takes it square on the chin, and barely remains standing as it leaves him, staggering but not down, several paces away. He rubs his chin, to the shock of the audience; the 'KLUDD' of the impact was audible for many, many paces. Many are surprised that he is still standing, which he is.
"Not bad," he says, spitting out some blood. "You really know how to push a guy to the limit. But I got bad news for you, kid--" Alex moves forward. Immediately. So much bulk, and he can move that fast? When he wants to?
Some commentators have theorized that Alex is slow -- usually -- to surprise opponents when he does something like this. Their theory is rapidly gaining credence.
Traveling with upsetting speed, Alex grabs Makoto by the head -- or tries to -- and headbutts her. Several times, the brutality and impact of each blow. Hopefully, this'll be the end of this.
COMBATSYS: Alex successfully hits Makoto with Stungun Headbutt.
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Alex 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Makoto
The brutal blows are just about the end of it. Makoto has, it might be noted, an extremely solid head - but her head is not invincible, just tough. As is demonstrated here.
However, in the midst of being gripped and hit in the head, Makoto brings up her feet in wide swinging arcs; if Alex is lucky, he may be able to hold her away from him so that she can't reach, but more likely he'll be clipped by at least some of her powerful strikes.
The last headbutt, however, puts her out entirely.
COMBATSYS: Makoto can no longer fight.
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Alex 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Alex just-defends Makoto's Abare Tosanami Kudaki!
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Alex 0/-------/---====|
Alex isn't. He keeps coming, and his hits are hard to stop, or to get around; if there's a fist in his way, he just pushes his head through it like a bull, looking to down his opponent quickly and relatively cleanly. He does so, and finally falls to his knees, catching his breath once it's over. "Jeez. Not one of Hibiki's kids is right. Almost had me down for the count." And, indeed, he's almost waiting -- for her to get up. But she doesn't, and, in time, he stands up. It's over.
Makoto stays down for a few moments. She may be looking at the pretty stars or flashes of light.
After some time, she sits up, but does not stand up; she is certainly not going to try fighting anymore! "Ow," she mumbles, mostly to herself - and then, if Alex has not left yet, says, "Your reputation...you deserve it."
"Reputation, huh?" Alex walks over, sitting himself down on the curb. "Didn't think I had one. Or that one'd matter. You put up a good fight. Nothing to be ashamed of."
"I listen," Makoto says, as if it makes her sound wise when she's dazed enough to not /quite/ be looking straight at Alex. Off to the side, a little.
More accurately, she looked up his League record. She couldn't get very much information on him, himself.
"Anyway...I enjoyed it." She finally gets back up, apparently feeling a little better after her sit. "Thanks. Don't forget your sausage." See, she too can be polite. "I'm going to head back."
Where back is is a mystery, because she apparently picks a direction at random and starts walking, mostly in a straight line.
"Catch you later," Alex says, heading off to eat his hot dog. Getting yourself beaten to rubbish works up an appetite. "Next time we fight? Hit harder," he says. "I'll expect nothing less."
Log created on 20:53:31 05/23/2007 by Makoto, and last modified on 09:32:05 05/27/2007.