Description: Geese Howard goes up against the tiny titans of the fighting world. Angry words are thrown about, people are thrown about, and Double Reppukens melt people into a fine paste! What happens when a R1 is hit by the Deadly Rave?!!? FIND OUT HERE! Witness, the fury of an Army of R1!! ALSO: epic post-SNF rival battle?!!?? (Winners: Luc/Marisol/Drake/Tenma/Arika)
Shaanxi History Museum.
Xi'an, China.
Boasting three-hundred thousand various artifacts and relics from all periods. National treasures, bronze wares, jade wares; likely, if it has some sort of impact or cultural significance to the history of China, all thanks to the hard work of curious archaeologists! Truly, the museum is a veritable treasure trove of ancient relics and pieces, affording its visitors a glimpse into the past, to witness first-hand thousands upon thousands of years of work and artistry, conveniently packaged into a large, elegant museum.
Too bad some of the people on tour don't APPRECIATE it.
Finding herself otherwise trapped in a group of people she could care less about, Marisol O'Connell staggers behind most of the tour group. At its helm is an old man, whose wrinkled face bears a strong resemblance to a prune. Clad in museum wear, he guides forth the 'youngsters,' prattling on about various relics and their histories with as much enthusiasm as a guy who looks over a hundred can muster. It's a god-given miracle this man can walk without the aid of a walker. Or a Rascal.
"And here," he prattles on with a thick, raspy voice, "we come to the last part of our tour." Idly, he gestures, his hand shaking quite visibly as he shows the group an assortment of pottery figurines of varying shape and size. He continues to prattle on and on, rambling and spilling facts about them all, each and every one.
Meanwhile, Marisol keeps to herself, flanking her schoolmate and teammate, Luc Schroedinger.
"Oh my God this is so f'n boring," she mumbles to him, whispering in his ear as they amble along slowly. "Why do we have to suffer a history lesson before a damn fight? I'm sick of looking at dusty relics and listening to Father Time talk. I just want this to be over. What about you?" Pausing, she looks up, toward the others, before she grins broadly and closes in closer, adding in the least discreet fashion possible for all the others to hear:
"And of all our luck we had to be stuck with that Gedo loser, to boot. He's going to make us lose this fight for sure."
Some? Try at very least half! Tenma Kiryuu has spent most of the tour wondering if he can fall asleep while walking, or if anybody would notice if, say, Luc or Marisol 'accidentally' tripped and broke some priceless historical artifact. As often as possible, the Gedo swordsman tries to lag back and bring up the rear of the group, where he can avoid hearing the creaky old voice of their ancient tour guide. Seriously, that guy's probably the tour guide because he was there when everything in the museum was first made!
Of course, Tenma's also about as enthusiastic about his teammates for this match as Marisol is... In fact, he'd agree with pretty much everything she just said, were he close enough to hear it. Or willing to agree outloud with the redhead. At least she's not bad to look at, when she keeps her yap shut! His cloth-wrapped bokken slung over his shoulder, the tall Japanese youth looks like he might pass out at any given moment from sheer, overwhelming boredom... But he does, at least, hear the 'accidentally' too loud whisper Marisol directs at Luc there. "Hey, Bitchy Rich, shut your trap," Tenma says, about as subtly. "Unlike your air-headed self, some of us are trying to /learn/." No he's not. But it gives him something to be a jerk about.
Lagging behind at the very back of the tour group is a very auspicious looking blonde; hair up in an extremely high ponytail, dark sunglasses covering her eyes and her hands shoved into the pockets of an extremely long, white leather trench coat. Not as unappreciative as some, the 'hidden' punk rock princess is actually enjoying the tour, despite it being somewhat forced.
But there is an air of nervousness about her that has absolutely nothing to do with the tour or the upcoming fight.
Fidgeting about slightly as she sets her eyes upon a particular white plate with a 'guan' character upon it. Beneath the glasses, deep blue eyes shift toward her teammate; one Drake 'Domino' Vyril and she sighs. "I know I lost that wager, but this is an -important- fight, Drake. Are you -sure- I have to go through with this?" As the question is posed, she clenches her fist around a piece of material that resides in the pocket and then shifts her body to face the front of the tour group again. "I mean, we're talking -GEESE- bloody -HOWARD- here."
The questions and the conversation aren't what's odd at all. The odd part is that Arika Fade is actually speaking in a soft British accent as opposed to her usual Cockney drivel.
"Yes, I'm sure," Drake replies in a tone that offsets nearly everyone else present. It's... cheerful. Indeed, some might say Drake is happy with this fight. Nae, -thrilled-. He's participating in a main event! In fact, three fourths of the Shooting Stars are participating! "You look gorgeous, and you'll make a sensation when we get to fighting."
At the moment, the celebrity fighter is dressed somewhat similarly to his teammate. The black satin robe is bound tightly about his body via slim white sash, hood left down to bunch behind his shoulders.
And a museum-patron makes a loud 'SHHH' noise at him.
Verily hushed by this reprimand, Drake's left arm lifts to settle around Arika's shoulders. "If we can get our teammates to not kill each other, we've got this in the bag," he offers, voice now hushed. He turns his head to peer back towards Marisol, Luc, and Tenma, frown touching to his pleasant features. "C'mon, guys. Focus on the win. Just imagine the fame'n fortune riding on this!," he whispers back to them, voice lifted -just- enough to hopefully be heard.
As far as his interest in the tour goes, he can't even concentrate on it. He's too pumped for the upcoming fight. Therego, he simply uses this time to meditate on the battle ahead, following the guide in a trancelike manner.
"And this particular bronze was made during the war of..."
For some people, this tour is like a little wet dream. Getting able to learn about history, see things made in the distant past first hand. During times like this -- these 'interesting' events that are only interesting to class-A losers -- Luc Schroedinger has developed a special ability in order to further enhance the experience. He calls it 'not listening to stupid crap.' Eventually, he might call it something else. But as the tour guide speaks, the German essentially hears this:
"Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah WAR blah..."
It works out well for him. Since everyone is hanging towards the back, it seems that the end effect is everyone is actually all grouped together in the technical front. Luc, for one, doesn't really care where he ends up walking; whether he's in the front of the group or the back, he's not looking to appear anymore badass or ultra cool. He can ignore the thousand year-old nerd just as well in the front as he can in the back, and so, he simply walks besides Marisol with a certain, lively spark in eyes that would normally be dull and bored in a situation like this. And why does he look so eager? The answer should be obvious. They get to fight /Geese Howard/.
"Whu?" Luc's 'not listening to stupid crap' trigger shuts itself off about halfway through Marisol's mumbling, looking down towards his teammate with a frown. "... This stuff is retarded. Who cares about what people did hundreds of years ago? They're all dead anyway, no one should care about dead people." It's probably more like thousands, but Luc figures that estimate is close enough. He just wants to get this over with. After all, the main event is going to be so much more interesting. "Geese Howard. You think he's as strong as everyone says he is? He better not just be some worthless geezer." Luc has high expectations after all -- especially if he's fighting /five people/ at once. How hardcore is THAT?
There's a brief pause on Luc's part as he shoves hands into his pockets, looking with half-lidded eyes over at Drake and Arika, and then at Tenma. As the Gedoite speaks, he pipes up as well, narrowing his eyes, "... Shut up, dumbass. Don't fuck this up, got it? I'll kick your ass if you screw up again like last time." Luc doesn't bother mumbling or talking quietly like the others; instead, he speaks loud and clear. Are you supposed to be quiet at museums? The tour guide gives him a harsh stare. He frowns, and then silently looks to Drake with a snort. Work together. That will certainly be a miracle.
"Man, I hate museums."
Ah, relics. Geese does love relics. Not so much the artistic, memoribilia oriented museum sort, but hey... it's close enough, and even history such as this has a way of reminding Howard about what humanity as been, and his own accomplishments. It's a life affirming experience, which isn't really improved by the company of schoolchildren, though this little event does seem to be keeping them remarkably well behaved. ... wonder why that could be?
Geese accompanies the tour group without really accompanying them, the designer suited crimelord taking time to listen (seemingly) and appreciate the various cultural heirlooms displayed for the public. The only real disruption to the display and diatribe on precious murals, sculptures in every shiny metal the ancient Chinese could think of, and ancient paintings is the occasional outbursts between the small group of competing teammates. Which is to say, the tour goes rather smoothly, and eventually winds up right back where it began. ... out front of the museum. The tour guide's speech is cut short by Geese, who slips out of his suit jacket and tie, handing them off to one of the well-dressed, high class thugs at his sides, and steps forward, "These kids don't seem to be too impressed by the relics you've been showing off." Perhaps it has something to do with the exhaustive yet meaningless detailed commentary, "Perhaps they need to be shown something more... dynamic." That old guy isn't exactly the most emotional speaker.
Geese loosens the top button on his fine crimson shirt, and a calm smile crosses his features. Five opponents. Hmph. What is he, a school chaperone now? This match wasn't his idea, but the chance to glance at a few of the newer faces among the fighting circuits is welcome enough. Even if he hardly seems intimidated, "We'll see how they fare against some of the forgotten martial secrets of this land. And whether they still think it should be so quickly forgotten!" By this time, the ever-attentive Geese Howard has made his way over near Luc and Marisol... and consequently the rest of his opponents.. at the base of the courtyard steps.
Somehow, the fight is called to begin with must efficiency, and in an instant Geese weaves in for Luc. He's the closest, and has been the loudest, and Geese's hand snaps around for the back of his neck.
It's not a chop, nor a punch, but rather Howard seeks to clasp rather painfully, his hand inverted on the scruff of Luc's neck. Howard's foot would then sweep forward, as he exerted impressive leverage and control over the held Luc, stepping past and literally flipping the fellow over, off towards the kanji-enscribed stonework wall at the head of the museum's picturesque fountain.
COMBATSYS: Geese has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Geese 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Geese has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Geese
COMBATSYS: Drake has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Drake 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Geese
COMBATSYS: Marisol has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Drake 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Geese
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Arika has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Marisol 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Geese
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Arika 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Drake
COMBATSYS: Tenma has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Marisol 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Geese
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Arika 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Drake
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Drake has left the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Marisol 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Geese
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Drake has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Drake 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Geese
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Luc has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Drake 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Geese
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
As the tour continues on in an agonizingly slow fashion, Marisol finds herself growing increasingly irritable and bored. While the older people here might be enjoying themselves and the tour itself, the half-Spaniard is struggling desperately to keep from just up and wandering off to find something better to do than this. If she wanted a museum tour, she could have gone somewhere more interesting. Tipping her head back, she lifts a taped-up hand and stifles a loud yawn.
Eyes roll lazily toward Luc as he speaks, and on her lips she sports a toothy smirk. "Hear hear. If anything I'd wanna go back and see the weaponry. At least that was remotely interesting." But the Schroedinger boy cuts to the chase, and gray eyes spark with enthusiasm, even if SHE may seem dull and bored. "Dunno. He's gotta be somethin'. Doesn't he own the company that puts these things together? Plus it's us versus him - that has to mean something, idiot." To emphasize her point she flicks his ear.
When that's done, the girl issues another yawn, idly glancing back toward the other two, who seem exceptionally dressed when compared to the likes of the redhead and, likely, her cohort. Wearing a khaki skirt and comfortable tanktop with a light, white hoodie, the redhead definitely fits the part of 'casual tourist.' Which...she is. The pair earn themselves a weird look. What's there to be afraid of? If anything they should be worried about not breaking old man Howard's hip!
However, all that is moot as Tenma actually replies to Marisol's remark, the girl's suddenly at attention. Snapping her eyes toward the Gedo boy, she hoods them dangerously, lips pulling into a frown before she lets those full lips cut into a harsh smirk. "Oh sure," she cuts back, a little loud, "like you understand half the stuff gramps up there is prattling on about. Gedo kids don't know what learning is. Go steal a car or something."
Yeah, it'll be a miracle if this gets pulled off without a hitch.
Then, apparently, the business between the rival teams seems to become Drake's. Snapping her head to the side and shooting him "a look," the redhead just squints uncertainly at him. Yeah, the win is nice. Yeah, the 'fame' is okay. But... "I could care less about the money," she informs him. After all, who needs money where you're the heiress to a family fortune? Tossing her head lightly, the girl offers a soft "tch." Can't they fight already?
Clearly she gets her way. When Howard himself speaks up, the redhead turns her attention toward him, eyes hooding in thought. As he readies himself and speaks, the girl is silent. She doesn't even pause to spare a glance elsewhere. They're in the courtyard now, which means only one thing.
Luc's going to get hurt.
Jumping OUT of harm's way, the redhead looks surprised Howard moves as fast as he does, considering his age. It draws a slight frown over her lips before she lets them split into a savage grin. Yeah, about damn TIME.
"COME ON LUC! Don't get beaten THAT easily!!"
COMBATSYS: Marisol assists Luc.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Geese
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
Yeah really, Tenma and the two Pacific Resistance kids sure get along swell, don't they? "Shut up yourself, Monkey," he replies to Luc, immediately. "When I want your opinion, I'll offer you a banana." As for Marisol's comments? Well, that just elicits a big ol' smirk from the Gedo gang member, who taps his bundled bokken against his shoulder. "Careful with that insult, it's an antique," he says, dryly. "But I'm sure you'd be paying attention if he was talking about clothes and boys though, huh Big Red?"
Drake's remarks just get a roll of Tenma's blue eyes, though to some extent he agrees; if they can beat Geese Howard of all people, it would look pretty good for them. Even if it took five of them to do it. And how come he's the only one who doesn't have anyone he trusts (or for that matter, likes) on this team? Seriously. But soon enough, they're in the courtyard, and Geese is getting the party started by going after the German lunatic. Tenma, of course, can't really blame him for that. With the fight starting, though, he unshoulders his weapon, loosing it from its cloth sheath, and bites into the flesh of his left thumb. A line of blood is drawn down the blade of his bokken, completing the chi link, before Tenma sweeps the sword through the air to set it alight with a misty aura of crimson. And then, with no further ado, he leaps in, in an attempt to strike Geese right in the mush with his chi-charged bokken, regardless of whether or not Luc gets totally ended by Geese's attack. "DINNERTIME, GRAMPA!!" he shouts, showing his characteristic tact and respect for others.
Outside the front of the museum once more, Arika casts another nervous glance to her teammate. Uncertain of -why- she agreed to go through with this, the diva sheds the trench coat, slides the sunglasses into the pocket, and since she has no thugs to pass it off to, simply drops it to the grass. As she does this, the material that she's been clenching is snapped into place over her face, leaving her in a very harem-esque looking outfit.
Note to self: Make sure the next 'sanctioned' fight isn't a highly publicized Main Event when making a wager like this one.
Not really thoroughly prepared when the fight is called, Arika suddenly becomes happy that she took up the back of the tour, since it has apparently spared her Geese's attention for the moment. A furtive look is given to each of her 'forced' teammates for the fight and she winces as Luc is singled out; though she doubts that will remain the case for very long. Tenma is going toward the face of their foe with his bokken, and from her position that leaves her little choice.
Normally meant to jab at someone from the front, the punk rock princess chambers her right hand into a fist and kicks off her shoes as she runs toward Geese, aiming at the back of his head with a swift jab. Provided that she doesn't trip over anything on her journey or isn't stopped, a second strike is forthcoming. This comes in as a palmheel strike to his mid-back, a bright and distinctive violet energy sheathing her left hand as it draws ever closer.
No word of 'good luck', no silliness like normal. It's time to get down to business.
Drake is not really surprised by the reaction his small pep-talk received. It's certainly disappointing, but they're kids and school rivals. What can he expect? So they just get a neutral look with an 'at least TRY it' look shot to each of them.
But when they're outside and he sees that Arika is shedding her outerwear, he does the same. Huh. No huge crowd to showboat for. He should probably be getting ready anyway. So the sash about his waist is pulled undone, and he shrugs out of the lightweight robe, leaving him in one of his wrestling outfits. The robe is nudged aside in the grass, and he pulls his grappling gloves a little tighter upon his hands. A sidelong look is cast to Arika, and he whistles at her playfully.
But before any real comments can be made, the fight has begun. There's Geese Howard. Not unlike the old man from the Kung-Fu television series. Not in appearances, but in presence. That's.. intimidating, actually. A feeling he quickly shakes off in favor of getting into the game.
Without a word, Domino dashes in to assist his teammate in an indirect manner. With Geese's head and torso under assault, the wrestler makes to grab for Geese's legs from behind. If caught, he simply goes to yank the legs out from under him to land him on his front, then step up onto the ritzy gangster's back to pull the legs backwards towards his head in a standing Boston Crab.
COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Luc with Fast Throw.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/--=====|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
Luc has extraordinarily witty commentary to deliver to both Marisol and Tenma. In fact, with a light grumble and a wince when Marisol flicks his ear, he's about ready to insult both her AND Tenma, lifting a hand to smack the Irish-Spaniard across the back of the head --
--Just about when Geese comes flying at him like a mad, crazed, old bat out of hell. Like, an old hell.
But still, Luc can't even get a single /word/ out. Suddenly, his mouth has begun to open, and Geese is ALREADY upon him with speed and strength that leaves the young German boy absolutely stunned. The fact of the matter IS, Geese is just so damn fast that Marisol's words don't even come until well after the Howard has grappled Luc by the neck and thrust him into the ground with naught but a simple flip. Luc lands with an unpleasant thud and a loud grunt of pain, instantly rolling to the side. What the hell was that...?
He doesn't really have time to ponder it, nor does he want to. Geese is unbelievably fast and without exerting barely any effort, he hits like a truck. "Like I'm gonna go down that easily, you stupid girl!" He shouts to Marisol. So what's Luc's analysis on this fight?
"Haha... ha... SWEET!!"
With that roar of a declaration, Luc does not even pause to recover himself. Instead, he rushes in headfirst at Geese, leaping into the air. His body tenses, rolling in on itself, and as he gets close enough.... Luc RELEASES all that tension in a single, springboarding action, intent on SLAMMING a single foot into the side of Geese's face, his leg encased in a spiralling sheathe of burning, black chi. "GRAAAAAAAH!!"
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Drake's Strong Throw.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/--=====|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Arika successfully hits Geese with Diva Allegro.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/--=====|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Luc successfully hits Geese with Tyrant Strike.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Geese interrupts Fierce Strike from Tenma with Shippuken.
- Power hit! -
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
See, there's this law, in the traditional, sensible elder master's book. It's this thing about starting a fight in the middle of a proverbial mob, when you're effectively surrounded. Anyone's skill is diminished, and their defense far more open. And yet, it's a situation Geese invites. Indeed, he almost seems to enjoy the sudden pile-up that ensues. Which isn't to say he deals with it perfectly, by any means. A weave aside brings him out of Drake's vicious grapple attempt... but into Arika's fist. It's a solid strike, albeit the girl might find her target a bit more resilient than most, the hit thudding painfully into centered chi and corded muscle, even as Geese is sent staggering back the other way by a similar, more explosive kick to the skull. His footing is recovered quickly, however, but it looks like Tenma will complete the three-for... however, despite the ringing in his head from the dazing combination, as that imbued weapon descends, it barely glances off Geese's shoulder as he twists, and leaps. The grazing, energy-touched strike is little compared to the sudden gout of bluish chi that descends into Tenma.
Howard's right palm thrusts forward, and a mushroom cloud of rampant, crackling power blasts forth in a wide berth, its force such that Geese is actually /propelled/ skyward in a graceful, high flying arc. The aged but not slowed Howard lands on subtly bending legs... in the center of the fountain, balanced in the perfect center of the narrow, wet stone walkway that crosses it. Geese's eyes close, his hands come together in a firm, flexing kata, and then his smile returns.
Icy blue eyes open, surveying between the opponents. They're bound to come at him again.
Oh Tenma! Your social skills are about as impressive as Marisol's. His response earns him a savage smirk from the half-Spaniard, gray eyes afire, a touch wide as she looks his way. "Oh, aren't you so clever, like I haven't heard THAT before." As for the jib about boys and clothes, Marisol offers a sharp laugh. Then a serious face. "You wish. Now stop flirting and pay attention." Geese is talking, after all, and it sounds kind of bad.
Then he shows them how bad things can be by plucking poor Luc out of thin air. Well, sort of. Sucks for him, and it shows as his teammate winces lightly in response. That looked like it hurt. The Schroedinger boy should be utterly thrilled by this fight, then.
Everyone left to their own devices, the redhead just steps back for the moment, watching the others. First Tenma, who partakes in his odd blood ritual thing, earning him a wrinkle of her nose, before she glances to Arika and Drake. There, she stares. What on earth? Blinking slowly, the girl tips her head to one side before she puts a hand to her mouth and tries not to laugh aloud. Costumes? To a fight in some museum China? It boggles her, but it's shrugged off easily! It's time to get serious, after all.
That mindset locked and loaded into place, Marisol slides easily enough into a 'loose' upright stance. Taped hands clenched into easy fists, those smoky grays peer across the way, a close eye kept on Howard as he is suddenly assaulted from various angles by...well, practically EVERYONE. Poor Tenma; for a moment, she kiiinda feels sorry for him. But, well...the display is overall pretty damn sobering, but the redhead just bides her time before...
"Feh!"
...she moves. Charging in, she pauses only to LEAP from the fountain's edge at Geese. Airborne, the half-Spaniard shoots her fist out from her chin, attempting to sock the man straight in...well, whatever that taped fist can manage to strike in what could potentially be another cluster of upstart hooligans! In water!
Like Tenma cares if his pre-fight activities gross anyone else out; it's perfectly normal to him! Like Marisol, he seems rather a bit unimpressed with Drake and Arika, snorting derisively where the redhead chooses to stifle her laughter. But, yes; he attacked Geese, and then he kind of pays for it, the older man's blast of chi striking him quite powerfully and smashing the lanky teenager into the ground, good and hard. Woo, that explains why they put the dude against /five/ other fighters, huh?
"Son of a /bitch/," the Gedo swordsman mutters, getting to his feet rather woozily. That /really hurt/. Time for a change in plans, maybe? Marisol's going directly after Geese, which is at least somewhat to be expected, so Tenma... Sweeps his bokken through the empty air in Geese's direction, launching a crimson crescent of roiling blood at the crimelord, which hopefully won't hit any of his teammates too - but he's not /overly/ concerned with that possibility. "GRAH!"
Unimpressed though Tenma may be, Arika's attack -actually- hit Geese, while his own just sees the Gedo-boy getting literally thrashed by the cloud of crackling power. To put it quite frankly though, now that the fight has actually started, the diva cares less about what she's wearing; even though it's sure to boost ratings; and is focusing entirely on the fight.
Deep blue eyes never stray far from their opponent, but she knows well where her teammates are as well, trying to keep herself very alert to the presence of others so that she can act in everyone's best interest and not interfere with other attacks that are being sent toward Geese. So Marisol rushes in with an airborne punch, Tenma is sweeping in with an energy attack of sorts - and she'd kind of like to -avoid- that for the moment, so she rethinks her tactics once more.
Having so many teammates is making it difficult to rely on her usual style.
Dashing toward the side of the fountain and from there launches herself skyward much like Marisol has done. Somersaulting once in the air, she angles her right fist toward Geese's head, while her left swings in a pirate-hook motion toward the front of his ribs in a poorly placed uppercut which is looking more like a liver punch as she begins her descent.
Such looks at his attire. You'd think the children have never seen a professional fighter before. The looks, however, are ignored. They've already proven themselves to be tactless hotheads - not the sort who's opinion he cares for. This is easily reflected in Domino's disregard for his teammates, focus centered solely on Geese during his attack.
Nevertheless, the elder proves more spry than he gave credit. Without even enough time to engage him again, Geese has leapt clean away and left Domino crouching where he once was. The model raises to his full height again and turns to face him.
Domino's tactical Dark Side takes over, opting to coordinate his attack with his teammates'. With the two females airborne and attacking from different angles, and Tenma launching that arc of blood chi, he dashes around the perimeter of the fountain to move in from behind. This sees him nimbly rushing over the wet stone walkway, hands chambering at his sides as the distance is closed. The moment he enters strike range, Domino dips low into a frontal stance on his right leg, hands thrusting forward in a double palmheel strike aimed for Geese's back. The moment his arms are fully extended, his hands ignite in a bright white flash of radiant concussive energy.
At this point, Luc... has pretty much stopped paying attention to everyone save for a few select things. He doesn't notice nor care about Drake and Arika's garb; all he sees is Geese in front of him, and his explosive foot impacting against the man's skull. Yet, compared to other fighters? This seems to do hardly anything to Geese beyond unsettle his feeting -- and not even enough that he's not completely prepared for when Tenma comes crashing in. If Luc cared more about Tenma than an exhillerating fight like this, he might be pleased that the other boy gets so thoroughly trashed by Geese's attack. Instead, Luc disregards Tenma almost entirely as the Gedo student goes flying backwards in the wake of the assault. Luc merely lands, and grins.
This is FUN.
Rather than continue to waste time standing around, though, the 18 year-old 'child' instead sees fit to continue to press his assault. As soon as he lands, he bounces upon his heels for a short moment. And then? He makes a dead rush towards Geese, weaving between the other four fighters as he seeks one simple thing: to punch Howard, straight in the side of his body. It will be accompanied by another flare of black chi, which combusts into a black-blue /explosion/ of power, to at the very least singe the mighty Howard. It seems they're going to have to chip down the titan. That's fine with Luc.
It makes things more interesting.
COMBATSYS: Marisol successfully hits Geese with Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Tenma successfully hits Geese with Dharmapala.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Arika's Quick Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Luc successfully hits Geese with Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Geese fails to counter Whiteout from Drake with Joudan Atemi Nage.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
See, now, the ledge. It was supposed to be a good idea. They could only come at him so many ways, and they would get confused, and hung up on themselves, and fall about in glorious slow motion like in that movie with the Spartans. But Geese wasn't really counting on the all-out, concerted offensive. Whatever differences seperate the teammates, in this fight... they seem to be complimenting one another alarmingly well. The leaping fighters land in on Geese just after the burning crescent of bloody power crashes over him, lurching his footing aside on the slick surface... and his footing just isn't stable enough to do more than eat the first smack to the head, reeling with the impact to slam a forearm up and around, deflecting Arika's strike. ... at the least, maybe that'll make the landing unpleasant.
Still, Geese is pinned between Luc and Drake, the latter's explosive chi rocking Geese back as he twists to intercept, the Syndicate boss nearly falling over himself before Luc explodes him back the other way. Howard topples, and falls, splooshing heartily into the fountain below, his nice suit well and thoroughly drenched. His breaths are a bit ragged as he pushes out of the crouch. ... that rather hurt. He'll need to find a new approach, it seems.
The moment those taped up knuckles bite against flesh Marisol swiftly withdraws; pulling her hand back in close, the redhead weaves aside. Giving herself some 'breathing room,' the half-Spaniard allows herself to avoid any, well, incoming blows that could likely stray and hit her in the face. Not that it's of major concern. Her only concern at this point is Howard himself. Though hit, that makes him no less of a threat to her or anyone else!
But the only way to go is, alas, into the fountain itself. Her tennis shoes now ruined, the redhead just jogs away after the proverbial Goliath has been momentarily felled, arms still crooked, fists at her jaw. Pausing, she spares a brief glance between the other fighters before she purses her lips and focuses. The hand at her side flares up with yellowy flames, coalescing into a sphere, which she tosses his direction in one, sweeping motion of her arm! No rest for the wicked!
Revenge? Maybe! It does make Tenma feel a bit better about the rather vicious chi blast he took, landing that particular attack on Geese; the fact that it struck as part of a seemingly unending barrage from the collected challengers doesn't temper his arrogance one little bit, either. "Heh, looks like even the Monkey and his girlfriend are useful!" Tenma laughs, before he too rushes in, joining the fray.
As Marisol lobs her sphere of girly yellow energy, Tenma sprints up behind her and briefly puts a hand on the redhead's shoulder, using her to vault himself at Geese without wading into the fountain as well. "Thanks for the lift, Red!" he shouts at her, twisting in midair and trying to catch Geese with a whirling, repeated strike from his bokken. "Haaaaaaaah-!!"
Water splashing up from the fountain makes the punk rock princess almost -happy- that she chose to come in with an airborne attack.
Almost.
Feet hit the ledge, and she goes to spin swiftly not wanting to lose sight of her target. The spin has Arika flailing about a little as her bare feet slide upon the wet stones, but thankfully she's able to right herself before falling in head first. Again, she waits for her cue. An energy ball lobbed from the side, Tenma going in overhead and the diva knows exactly what to do. Not her first choice of an attack, but the best she can do from the angle she's left to come in at.
Running along the ledge she attempts to position herself behind Geese and swing out to the opposite side of Marisol's energy ball. Drawing her right leg up vertically, she rotates her hip and snaps the instep of her foot toward the back of his shin in the hopes of knocking him off balance once more (and not breaking her foot in the process; God willing).
The sensation of hands striking and a sudden burst of energy connecting with Geese Howard - GEESE HOWARD - is incredible for Domino. He remains in that low frontal stance for a few seconds longer, feeling he's done quite well with that technique and cooperative effort. A smirk touches to his face when the powerhouse falls into the water.
Domino raises to his full height then, turning to mark his prey's location and his condition. With everyone already moving in to press their own attacks, he attempts to coordinate with them again. One projectile of energy, one projectile person, and one close-quarters attack, from the looks of things.
Having come to a quick decision on his next attack, the acrobatic wrestler leaps into the air, body twisting in a cyclonic flip to land himself hopefully with his legs around Geese's neck to ideally keep him in place just a second for the others. Using the momentum of the jump, he simply drops back behind Geese and twists, dragging Geese by the throat to flip him over and bash his head into the fountain floor.
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Marisol's Rolling Star.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Arika's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
So, it seems like Geese is in dire straights. Luc can feel the supreme glee of his fist impacting against Geese's body, and though he knows that it's likely only done a sliver of any feasible sort of damage to Geese, it's enough -- and combined with the assaults of everyone else -- it sends Geese teetering and crashing into the ground below. He sirks. And then... he hears Tenma speak. He shoots an unpleasant glare towards Tenma's way, his fists clenching as he rolls his neck. "She's not my GIRLFRIEND, you worthless piece of trailer trash! Stop talking and start trying to be helpful!"
And so Tenma does, vaulting over Marisol. And what does Luc do? He leaps BACKWARDS... and then he rushes /forward/, building up momentum before releasing all that tension with a single, mighty leap. He soars over Marisol, and over Tenma, letting out a blood-curdling berserker yell as he flips easily and almost gracefully through the air. His intended landing?
Right on Geese's shoulders.
Luc actually intends to slam himself hands-first into Geese's shoulders, thrusting them down and hoping to get a solid grip. Maintaining a strange, awkward handstand for a few seconds, he grins -- and then releases from his entire body an omni-directional BURST of black-red chi in an attempt to force Geese downwards with the force of the blow, to set up everyone else for their own attacks -- but mainly to enjoy striking Geese Howard with his explosive chi. "GRAAH!!"
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Drake's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Tenma's Vajra.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Luc's Heatwave.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
Luckily for Geese... he recovers from being cracked upside the head, repeatedly even, fairly quickly. His initially unstable, waterlogged crouch shifts quickly as his zealous pursuers push the assault. The energy ball gets there first, and splayed palms slam forcibly into it on the way, the searing energy displacing itself with an audible sizzle up Howard's arms. It stings, but the energy dissipates, and Howard has the momentum to push rather suddenly back to his feet. With alacrity one wouldn't expect from a man of his age, and style of fighting, Geese all but blasts water aside in a sudden, sidelong lunge that carries him out of the way, as Drake drops in above him... only water to crash land on this time, for Domino.
Howard, on the other hand, still has two fighters to deal with. These kids may just be getting started, but they're a hell of a lot better than your average training spar thug. It's more exhilerating than Geese would have expected, and a bit moreso as he finds his footing with a grin and fiery gleam in his eye. One foot swings high, his stance brought about to take in his surroundings as Arika's foot strikes low, but the singular evasive stride leads immediately into another measure. Tenma comes in with that bokken nearly thrumming with power, and Geese can similarly sense the prodigious chi boiling with Luc. He wants no more of it, and so he takes to the sky, pushing back in a powerful, backwards high jump.
It brings him the entire span of the fountain, landing in the very fore, though still more than knee-deep in water. It doesn't stop the King of Southtown from showing his real power in the same fluid motion, however. His left hand reaves the air, tendrils of chi ripped forth as the water before him erupts in a flash-boiled geyser, "DOUBLE..." Then his right hand swings upwards, and he shoves forward, and a /tidal/ wave of dark chi erupts forth, filling the central waters and blasting those on either side of it out of the fountain itself in a wild windspray of power, man-high and surging with cruel edges. This wave, of course, surges forth for the location under such fervent assault. Echoed by a fierce, "REPPUKEN!!"
Just when Marisol was focused, Tenma had to go and ruin a good thing! Snapping her head over a shoulder just as her sphere is released and set adrift into the air, the redhead glares toward him and bickers, "Shut up! What Luc said!" And she huffs, too! Because Luc isn't. That's like saying Hakuya is Tenma's boyfriend! ...wait. Payback is a bitch.
Furrowing her brows, she rolls it off her shoulders - and of them is momentarily seized. Blinking, the redhead turns her attention toward the Kiryuu boy as he plants it down and vaults forward and. ..thanks her? Stunned for the moment, she seems baffled, even offering a "wha?" before she furrows her brows. "Yeah, well, don't fuck this up!" she shouts. That's SORT of a compliment. Right?
But...what's that? Sparing a glance where Tenma touched her, she spies a bit of blood on her nice jacket. Her nice clean jacket. Her nice, very white jacket. A brow ticks, her shoulders tensing as she curls her hands into fists.
"TENMA!! You incompetent JERK!" sharply follows as the half-Spaniard bellows after him. So much for a compliment!
But no time for such trivial matters. Squaring her shoulders, the redhead's attention fixes back on the elder man, observing carefully as he's again assaulted by numerous people from numerous directions. Though her attack does little, it's still effort enough to help chip the man's defenses! Feet beneath Marisol stir lightly, her shoulders tense as she readies herself. She's about to push off...
...when a huge gout of blue chi energies blast to life with enough force to jar the redhead slightly. Blinking three, pointed times, the girl watches as three of the fighters are throw into the fray. "Holy..."
Her head shakes. Shrugging off the surprise, Marisol moves into action, following the outer-edges of the fountain's lining. There, as she zeroes in, does she offer a fierce grunt as her arm lashes out, a hook delivered straight for Geese's jaw.
Well, that's certainly a new way of dealing with that attack; Tenma is quite surprised when Geese actually goes /over/ him, leaving the Gedo swordsman to sail through the air rather ineffectually. It's pretty impressive how Geese avoided that though, and pretty much everything else they threw at him... Obviously, Geese isn't facing the lot of them for nothing. Tenma actually lands clear of the fountain, which fortunately means he's well clear of Geese's enormous torrent of VERY BAD THINGS, his eyes widening as he feels all that chi. It's... Immense. And the intent behind it is nearly as terrible.
But there's no time to be standing around gawking, no. Instead, Tenma has to get right back on the attack, circling around in an attempt to flank Geese, before lunging to strike at the same moment as Marisol does, pulling his sword back over his shoulder before sweeping it out in a vicious two-handed strike, right for the back of Geese's neck. "HAAAAAAH-!!!
COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Arika with Double Reppuken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\0 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
Righting herself as she realizes the kick to the back of Geese's shin missed, Arika's deep blue eyes focus on the tendrils of chi as the water begins it's geyser of energy. Diving out of the way, she -just- about makes it away from the energy blast as it comes directly for her. Alas, the water splooshes down upon her leaving her completely drenched.
Quickly pulling off the veil and the armbands, she tries to skirt around the remainder of the wave but gets sent backward with alarming speed. Unable to actually react once she's in midair and flying, she knocks over the ancient tour guide. The poor man looks quite dumbstruck as her drenched, veiled buttocks mows him down. Her next stop is a crash into one of the cameras that renders it completely out of order and has the crewman cursing about the cost.
Cursing at his -boss- no less, though the camera is likely very easy to replace.
Her journey ends with her cracking her right shoulder against the stone stairs, and leaves her there in quite a bit of a daze.
But she's not about to let that stop her.
Trying to right herself, she slips twice and then finds herself on her feet. The only thought the punk rock princess has now is 'to BLOODY HELL with everyone else'. Ignoring whatever Marisol and Tenma are attempting, she's yanking off that harem-skirt as quick as a fanboy can say 'woohoo' and drool. If she's going to have to be soaked, best to do it in what can be equated with a bikini anyhow.
And then she's running directly back toward Geese, pirouetting herself behind him as she draws closer. An attempt is made to reach under his left arm and grab his right arm to yank it across his body and lock him up in something akin to a half-nelson hold. If successful, she makes an attempt to lift him up above her head despite the sixty pounds he has on her, and spin about to show off to the remaining cameras. From there, the spinning would become increasingly rapid until she hoisted him up directly above her. Then an abrupt stop, and an extremely forceful drop to the ground which should land him on the back of his head.
COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Drake with Double Reppuken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Drake 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\=------\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
Ever have one of those moments where you just -know- you're screwed? It takes all of one second for that dooming realization to set in, but once it has, there's really little you can do about it.
Domino gracefully landed right on his rear in the water, making a splash in the fountain. Well, that was impressive. But the next thing he knows, there's a rather huge geyser of energy rushing straight at him. He clambers to his feet, starts to leap over the attack... but water has a way of bogging motion down, as well as making things slippery. Domino faulters.
Amethyst eyes widen.
After that? Well, he's sent sailing back right along with Arika, flipping through the air in an unintentional way. Though he doesn't smack into Mr. Miyagi the tour guide, and he doesn't destroy some of Mr. Howard's equipment in subconscious revenge, he -does- go a bit further than his teammate. He -is- the team leader, after all.
But this is in a bad way.
Domino smacks front-first into the wall of the museum itself, creating a crater etched in webbed cracks along the stone. Domino makes not a sound, all the air forced clean out of his lungs from the impact alone. He remains stuck to the wall for a few seconds, not unlike a splattered insect, before finally just peeling off and dropping down to the ground with yet another thud. There he lays for several more seconds, body completely numb and twitchy as he deals with this newfound pain. Oh, good lord but that hurt.
Nevertheless, the resilient celebrity wrestler pulls himself back to his feet in truly heroic manner, expression one of dogged determination. Pearly whites grit, amethysts lid to focused slits, and he begins to close in on Geese again. It begins at a limping charge, but the closer he draws, the more he slows and becomes cautious and observant. Tactical, one might say. Such is the way of Domino's Dark Side.
COMBATSYS: Drake focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Drake 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\=------\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Luc blocks Geese's Double Reppuken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Drake 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/----===/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
The moment that Luc's hands grasp air and he finds himself sailing towards the ground, he knows one thing: something painful is going to be heading his way soon. He's good with these things; he takes abuse more than enough to know when chi is starting to surge like God himself has deigned to strike down human trash. It's this kind of horrifying realization that causes Luc's eyes to bulge wide as he lands, hands-first, into the grouns, his body tensing before he pushes OFF in a flipping leap. His eyes snap wide, strain... and his lips, slowly begin to pull /upwards/.
It's as soon as Luc lands on his feet that anyone can see the huge, shit-eating grin on his lips.
"SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT!!"
Yes, he goads Geese Howard to bring it on. And so Geese does, in a sudden, unholy wave of power that surges upwards like a giant geyser of dark cerulean chi. He sees it crash into Arika, and then Drake, almost literally exploding the pair of them in unrelenting explosion. The tidal wave of fury flows in, and Luc....
... Luc Schroedinger rushes /RIGHT/ into it.
Rather than try to evade the wave of doom, Luc moves INTO the thing, meets it head on. "AAAAAAHAHAHA!!" His arms swing upward, and in one single motion.... they come down, sheathed in his own black chi, to strike the Reppuken waves /directly/. The resultant crash issues forth a large, deafening explosion that ends up sending Luc tumbling backwards despite the fact thaty he /guarded/ against it, reeling back and landing rear-first into cold stone. He blinks. His body is smoking, some holes now in his shirt. His fingertips feel like the prints have burned off. He takes a deep breath.
"... /awesome./"
COMBATSYS: Luc gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Drake 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/------=/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Arika's Punk Rock Breakdown.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Drake 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/------=/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Tenma's Deep Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Drake 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/------=/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Marisol's Hook Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Drake 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/------=/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
The Double Reppuken serves two very satisfactory causes: cleaving the ranks of these upstarts in twain, and buying Geese Howard a moment to regain his breath. His focus isn't on the ongoing bickering, or fashion... he has plenty more suits, and all of his attention needs to remain on keeping up with the quintet of talented schools fighters. Wouldn't do to fall down without putting up a serious fight, after all. Geese does have an image to consider. Howard's defenses are ready, despite the immense power conjured up for the potent Reppuken. The right hook swings in from one direction, the bokken whirrs the air from the other, and both whip through nothingness as Howard drops into a low crouch, and shoves off backwards. It's a good thing that both Tenma and Marisol are relatively capable, or they might actually smack into one another. ... they -are- that quick, hopefully.
Howard, meanwhile, lands himself right in Arika's clutches. He's gripped, and at first, Geese barely fights it, even chuckling slightly as he's swung about. Oh, these five are all so into it... one would think it school spirit, if they didn't know the true rivalries. It's when the Syndicate boss is hefted upwards, around, and over that some problems might become apparent, a sudden flexing of his arms ending the throw just before the slam, as he hits the ground at the edge of the fountain shoulder-first, rolling rather roughly away.
"You five have talent! But this is far from won!" With the renewed challenge, the King of Southtown charges Arika as she recovers, slamming a chop, his fingers flexed, for the side of her neck. A painful, disorienting blow that would be suddenly followed up with a full-on palmstrike to the girl's face. No one ever said the traditional styles were gentle.
Ha ha, oh WOW.
For a moment in the chaos of Geese's frightful Double Reppuken and the damage wrought upon the three hapless fighters caught in its wake, Marisol thanks the heavens she was not in there or a part of that mess. Considering how nice and toasty Drake and Arika are after being blown away, well. Yeah. Who would WANT to get hit by that?
Nevertheless, it brings a swift smirk to the girl's lips. Yes, this is a most formidable opponent - the strongest yet, no less. If she's thrilled, then Marisol wager Luc is all but bursting at the seams with delight. But, unlike her teammate, the redhead is a bit more sane. Shaking her head lightly, she lets a grin etch itself across her lips. When the smoke clears, those eyes seek out Luc - there he is. And, as expected, he's enjoying himself.
Whatever! She moves, lashing out with a hook for Geese's face, only...that tightly-coiled fist eats empty air. Blinking once, Marisol tips her head slowly to one side, mildly perplexed, by this outcome as Howard dips down and jumps back. When her gaze lifts she's left looking at Tenma. She frowns and snorts. Then she reaches out and slaps his face lightly in retaliation. "FOR THE COAT," she yells, pointing at her shoulder.
Twisting thereafter, the half-Spaniard is set into motion again, leaving Tenma to his devices. Even though Geese attacks Arika, Marisol coils a fist tightly before she lunges at Geese, attempting to punch him in the sides not once, but twice as hard as she can!
A swing and a miss! Tenma overbalances a little as his bokken sweeps through empty air, with Geese helluva gone, and isn't that a little disappointing? At least he and Marisol didn't accidentally clobber each other, right? Except that the red-haired half-Irish girl then reaches over and /slaps/ him. "WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?!" Tenma demands of her as she runs off after Geese. What about her coat? He doesn't see anything wrong with it!
Once again though, Tenma is left with little recourse but to run forward himself, while the big man is presumably busy taking Arika down a few more pegs. "Man, don't compliment them!" the teenager berates Geese. "They're gonna get swelled heads!" Tenma, you see, is already overconfident for precious little reason, his head can't swell much more. But anyway, getting close he tries to work in concert with Marisol again, attacking Geese's other side with another strong slash of his chi-empowered bokken.
COMBATSYS: Arika blocks Geese's Quick Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Drake 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\===----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/------=/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/-======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
School? Arika hasn't been in school for a very long time, so it's probably a very good thing that she can't hear thoughts and become completely insulted by that. Better that way, even, so she can focus on what's coming for her.
Focus appears to be a very, -very- good thing, as it allows her to spot the makings of a full-on palmstrike and she's able to quickly duck her head away and bring up both arms to stop it from breaking her delicate cheekbones.
Thank -GOD- for that, but now her arms are hurting like Hell.
Aware of the others once more, she weaves her way around their attacks, bouncing back and forth from one foot to another. It looks as though the feet are sliding into a dance to a beat only the diva can hear. As her left foot comes down again, her body pirouettes around in a powerful circle that ends with her drawing her right leg up vertically, rotating her hip to the side so that she can get a better angle, and attempting to snap a kick toward Geese's chin.
Domino continues to close in, wary as can be, observing the goings on from the perimeter of the battle. Tenma and Marisol's strike-and-miss scenario is noticed, as is their renewed attack. His poor teammate's persistant assault is likewise noted, as is her current condition. The angles of the attacks insofar geared towards Mr. Howard are factored in.
And Domino thinks he sees an opening between the three assailant's attacks.
The nimble wrestler skirts along the outer edge of the fountain, keeping low as he closes in on Geese. And just as he reaches him, he hops into the air and attempts to outright grab him by the shoulders and yank him from his perch. This will hopefully unbalance the megalomaniacal boss long enough to get his head locked between his legs, and to look his arms around Geese's torso. He hoists him into the air upside-down in piledrive position, and without a moment's hesitation, his arms begin to compress fiercely along his abdomen in an inverted bearhug. For certain Domino's arms are more streamlined than beefy, but he's counting on his arms having the same effect as a thin garrote wire cutting off all air passage and circulation. After a few seconds of this, Domino leaps into the air with his prey, starting a series of rapid forward flips. By the time the two are on the descent, their bodies blur into an opaque swirl of motion, ending only when the full force of the flipping momentum and their combined bodyweight comes crashing down on Geese's head.
Then and only then does Domino release Geese in favor of hopping back from him to gain some distance.
Man, that was intense. For a long moment, Luc just looks up towards the sky in a single-minded sort of elation, only wondering how much that would have hurt if he didn't manage to put up that impromptu guard to it. It's that thought alone that inspires Luc to grin again. This guy... he's really strong. Really, REALLY strong. And because of that, Luc is inspired to laugh in enjoyment as the others go racing off, and Geese so deftly outmaneuvers the lot of them. He slaps his hand against the ground, and simply... /laughs./ "This..."
Slowly, the German drags himself back up onto his feet. He goes about dusting dirt from his shirt, hardly even paying attention to the altercation between Tenma and his teammate. It's a shocking thing; something takes up his attention even moreso than his raging hatred for poor idiots named Tenma. And that something is the man currently striking a young girl in the face.
Luc's hero.
Removing dirt and ashen remains from his already battered shirt, the Schroedinger heir looks towards Geese as he begins to take on the lot of his fellow fighters once more. Eyes narrowed, the young German continues to grin wickedly as he lifts a single hand into the air, outstretches itm and points it at Geese -- thumb and index finger pressed tightly together. Considering the burn marks there, it stings. Luc doesn't care. He barely even notices. And, only aggravating those injuries... Luc just snaps his fingers, a single time.
From Luc's burnt fingertips comes a spark, that quickly evolves into a sizeable, churning mass of black-blue chi, spherical in shape, that propels itself forward like a rocket the moment that Luc's fingers snap. That orb of broiling power seeks to smash /right/ into Geese's face, and ignite explosively, to at the very /least/ unsettle the other man's vision with the sudden burst just before Drake comes charging in like a crazy man.
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Marisol's Fierce Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Tenma's Fierce Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Arika's Rhythmic Roundhouse.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Luc successfully hits Geese with Explosive Round.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Drake 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/------=/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Geese fails to counter Total Eclipse from Drake with Gedan Atemi Nage.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Drake 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/------=/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 1/-------/=======|
It's still deep in do or die time, in terms of perservering against these opponents... and Howard fuels that attempt with a sizeable does of that measured, sudden capacity for movement that has been serving him well against the myriad attacks. It works fairly well, as Howard once more puts Tenma's bokken in the position to deal Marisol serious harm, as he lurches aside, his leather shoes scuffing smoothly across the stone walkway. Coming about, Howard eats the sparking, explosive blast of chi full on, the crackling manifestation of Luc's fighting spirit setting Geese off balance. He saw Drake coming. He had this all lined up, planned out...
But that doesn't mean a hell of a lot as his footing recovers a moment too late. The damage might not be as complete as Domino was hoping for, but Howard is certainly squeezed rather painfully, unable to break the clench in time, he finds the reunion with the ground entirely uncomfortable indeed. Bleeding scrapes evident along his arms and one side of his face, Geese skids free and comes up in a rather unsteady crouch, trying to get his bearings. ... that was not the plan. And there are still way too many blurs moving out there.
... oh wait, those aren't blurs, those are the other fighters. At least the head has stopped ringing quickly. Geese draws a minor smirk, though the motivations behind it, well... he is a man of many mysteries.
His shout after her goes ignored; for the moment, Marisol is fixed on the fight once again, gray eyes on the prize as she zeroes in for Howard. Shortly thereafter, eyes briefly spy the Kiryuu boy in tow, the sight alone enough to bring a light smirk to her lips. It's a miracle he's not hitting her back! Then those eyes spy Arika coming in - maybe they can finish this fight??
One can hope!
Lashing out, Marisol attempts to strike the elder man. Key word here: attempts.
Looking up, Marisol catches sight of Tenma again, who is standing opposite of her with that silly bokken of his. For a moment her features are flat. Then, with a frown, the redhead points a finger at Tenma and shouts, "Quit messing up my feng shui here! You're always running in and every time you come at him when I do he winds up avoiding getting hit!" Curling that hand into a ball, the girl continues to rant at Tenma, "Why, if your style wasn't so predictable I bet we'd actually HIT him! Argh! Tenma Kiryuu!" Pausing, those gray eyes glare. "You're so hopeless!"
With that, Marisol exhales and pivots sharply, following after the far more experienced fighter, despite his failed attempt to soundly bludgeon Drake, possibly to death! If raw power isn't going to do any good, then, well...she'll just have to strike like a butterfly, instead of stinging like a bee. So she does what any jerk would do - while Geese is trying to collect his wits she comes in from the left and attempts to punch him atop the head. Merry Christmas!
Missing entirely once more, Tenma would really have to give Geese credit for his superior ability... If the teenager were the sort of person to give other people much credit, ever. Instead, he just gets mad at Marisol for almost getting hit by his attack. "Hey, stop whining, Red!" he shouts back at her when she goes and rants at him like that. "Maybe if you weren't so ugly, he wouldn't be running away from you like every other guy in the world!" That's right, two can be nonsensically mean to other people, Marisol!
But then off goes the redhead after Geese again, and Tenma watches her go, and he spits on the ground. "One of these days..." he mutters darkly, but he never finishes his threat; instead, he stands his ground, raising his bokken overhead, point down... Before thrusting it downwards, driving it into the ground, and focusing. For a moment, nothing happens.
Then cracks begin to spiderweb out from around the point where he drove his weapon into the earth, widening as gouts of blood erupt out of them, linear streaks of crimson fluid and chi that race along the ground, shaped like dragons, converging on Geese himself to smash directly into the crimelord. "GO TO HELL!!"
Swing and miss! Arika continues about in the pirouette when her foot misses and comes out in behind Geese. It puts her at a very interesting vantage point now. The diva isn't standing right atop him, so she's able to spy Marisol coming in and attempting to hit the older man on the head in her attempt to be Little Bunny Foo Foo. And the verbal vomit coming from the high schoolers has the punk rock princess rolling her eyes. She'd yell at them to grow up and focus on the fight, but hey... who's she to judge? Maybe the mean banter spurs them on to fight a little better. You know, that whole one-up thing.
That isn't what receives the rather disgusted look though.
Blood erupting from the ground is just wrong in so many ways and so Arika is trying her damnedest to avoid it at all costs. Unfortunately, avoiding it means completely giving up an opportunity to attack, so rather than run from the disgusting display she braces herself for what will likely be after-splash and races toward it.
In a move reminiscent to how she started off the fight, she tries to time a quick jab punch to the back of Geese's head to correlate with Marisol's bap. The remaining hand slams in toward the man, not really caring if it hits his head or upper back area with a palmheel strike. The palm is once more imbued with a dazzlingly bright violet energy before it impacts, the color coursing over her skin this time and causing the flat of her palm to become more fluorescent.
Paydirt!
Domino smirks back at Geese once the elder seems to have collected himself again. It's not a far stretch to say he's tuned out all the chit-chat completely. Domino becomes entirely too focused on actions and tactics when in the ring - no room for distracting conversation or insults. The only talking he's likely to do is to simply coordinate a strategy with someone else... and in this situation, he doesn't feel it necessary.
Amethyst eyes regard the attacks coming in at Geese from their various angles, and he spots a direction - albeit from an aerial angle - in which he can insert his own assault. So that's the one the martial arts wrestler goes for.
Taking high to the air with an acrobatic flip again, Domino begins to gather energy - shimmering white energy around his right hand, sparkling black energy around his left. At the crux of his jump, he uncurls from the flip and turns to face Geese on the ground. Palms thrust forward, and the opposite-colored energy discharges forcefully into two beams with force enough to keep him elevated in a hover. The white beam and black beam entwine as they race towards Mr. Howard, becoming a double helix of forceful concussive energy - one solid, forceful beam streaming from his hands.
Satisfaction paints Luc's face the moment that explosive burst impacts against Geese. But he's in his element here; he's gotten his flow down, and his berserker rage begins to boil distinctly in his blood as soon as that orb of power makes contact with Geese's head in an unpleasant explosion, perhaps unintentionally helping to set Drake up for his own attack. He pauses, and watches the exchange between Marisol and Tenma with a frown, rubbing the back of his neck. "... idiots." And then...
... And then, his attention returns to Geese Howard with a wide smile.
Watching as the business man skids into a crouch, Luc's legs slide out to either side of him. He lifts his right hand into the air once more. Black chi crackles like electricity around his fingertips, converging together to forge a small, flaming lance of black, violet and blue power. This within itself doesn't look all that impressive, really; it's small, and the power behind it doesn't seem to be much. But more and more energy seems to be compacted into that diminutive form, before Luc rears back... and just /chucks/ it straight into the ground.
With an explosive crackle of power, that small lance strikes the ground... and literally gets absorbed straight into the ground. Silence from where Luc stands permeates for several long moments, as Tenma makes his retarded little blood gouts and Arika and Marisol both team up against Geese. But within moments, the ground beneath Geese begins to crackle--
--and it doesn't take much longer until a massive LANCE of black and blue chi /erupts/ from the very ground beneath Geese's feet, considerable larger than before, and seeking to impact against the mighty man with a sudden explosion of energy as the German watches on with an eager look in his eyes.
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Marisol's Light Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Drake 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Arika's Diva Allegro.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Drake 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Drake's Domino Helix.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Drake 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Luc's Uberlastung Lanze.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Drake 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Tenma successfully hits Geese with Hell of Blood.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > // ]
Drake 0/-------/----===|=======\====---\1 Geese
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
On your toes, Geese, on your toes. All of Howard's attention goes to extending those brief instants in his mind as all five of his opponents launch their assault in a myriad of deadly and dangerous ways. This time, it isn't Tenma Marisol tries to collide with, but rather Arika. Of course, the evasion is half made possible by the impact of those oh so disturbing blood dragons. Let's hope Tenma doesn't have any strange, chi-transmitted diseases. Because Geese definitely has some open wounds at this point. He throws himself back under the onslaught, leaving the strikes of the two young women, potent or no, to lash out into the twilight air. Coming up in a crouch, Howard's icy gaze snaps to Luc, and in an instant he rolls to the side, the lance erupting from the ground where he was. Coming up in a renewed, three point crouch, Geese Howard bursts into a charge...
... for the only untouched fighter in the fight? He's running on empty, and close to just kneeling down and gasping for air. But first, Geese's elbow slams out at the end of the last-ditch charge, even with Marisol's sternum.
COMBATSYS: Geese can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Drake 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-------|
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Marisol with Deadly Rave.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Drake 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
The elbow... leads into a sudden twist, and a closed fist clashes solidly, squarely into the Pacific Resistance boxer's face. Geese's other fist slams in underhand, burying deep in her ribs, and then the other forearm crashes into her jaw. One might think that would end, but Howard is right on the warpath, pursuing the redhead across the fountain with a dizzying flurry of blows. His knee rises, there's a chop to her neck, and a couple swift palmstrikes thrown in amidst the straight-on knuckle busting impacts.
The ending is, of course, entirely pleasant. If one likes being exploded in the midst of brilliantly burning blue-white chi, which seems to sear with an entirely icy intensity. Flaring outwards once, twice, and erupting the Pacific fighter away from Geese, as he does finally sink to one knee, in the refreshing water. Giving a bit of a laugh. It's a good thing Marisol was in peak condition, in retrospect, isn't it? Otherwise he might have had to hold back to avoid killing a kid on national TV, "Heh." Geese muses, "Well fought." All just a test, a spectacle. SNF is entertainment at its best, at least in Howard's little world.
For an old guy, Geese sure moves quickly. Fortunately, Marisol is quick too, and avoids getting smacked with Tenma's toy sword. Though she dishes out insults, she's apparently reciprocated in kind; his shout earns him a bemused look before her features just turn sour. "Your insults are so juvenile, Tenma! Grow UP!" With the last word there, she pivots and flees, leaving him to her back as she goes in once again.
But her footing slows a bit as she draws near, lines of familiar red racing along the earth. The half-Spaniard frowns. Ooooh, she knows this one. With that in mind, she pushes forward even faster, lashing out at Geese--!
And hits nothin'. But see, that's okay, because the least of her concerns is actually HITTING him. Not only are gouts of blood about to erupt, but also, well. There's a huge kamehameha soaring in her direction, and a lance of chi. "Fu--," she mutters, before cutting herself off. Instead of sticking around, she just hightails it out of the general area. Arika, you're on your own!
Only when she's OUT does she have a chance to breathe. Covered in splatters of blood, Marisol looks peeved. The jacket is, as far as she can tell, ruined. Scowling, the girl shoots an awful glare toward Tenma, but...she says nothing. Because truth be told, the guy actually accomplished something! That doesn't mean she has to LIKE him. Her mouth's opening, and she's getting ready to talk. Then the sound of expensive shoes breaks her thoughts. Turning her head, she looks to see...Howard gunning right at her.
Honestly, it's too late to move. Slammed in the sternum - HARD - the girl experiences a pain like no other. From there it's a blur; a flurry of connecting strikes and blows which stun and numb the girl to pretty much everything around her. Forget her teammate, forget Arika and Drake. Hell, forget Tenma. This shit hurts. The only reprieve comes when she's smacked and sent flying back after a burst of blue, awful energy careens into her. Soaring with the greatest of ease, the girl lands, rolling a few times through the fountain and pausing in a heap. Good thing she was at her peak, indeed. Somehow, she's not dead.
5tAnd somehow the girl slowly rises to her feet, shaking quite visibly. Her expression - despite the blood on her face - is one of the most pure surprise and disbelief. It was like being struck with a bolt of lightning from heaven. And...it brings a smile to her face. Those gray eyes turn to Tenma. She's pumped now. Why let the adrenaline go to waste? With that on her racing mind, Marisol charges right for Tenma with the intent to smack him in the face...
COMBATSYS: Tenma Toughs Out Marisol's Cloud Nine!!
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Drake 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Marisol 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
Wow, that actually worked! Tenma is as surprised as anyone when his bloody chi reaches Geese when the others' attacks all fail to, but then... Oh man. He actually feels bad for Marisol there, having something like that happen to her. It's just cold. Cold and wrong. But of course, the half-Irish crazy bitch decides to take it out on /him/, like it's his fault she got attacked by Geese or something. And when the girl takes a swing at him, the Gedo swordsman just /stands/ there, and he doesn't even move.
"So sick of this crap," Tenma says, knowing full well he's going to have Luc jumping in on him any second too; so he'd better deal with Marisol fast while he can. This would be why Tenma uses his current position, and hopefully Marisol's surprise to knee her right in the gut, in an attempt to knock her back so he can then slash her viciously across the torso with his chi-empowered bokken. "BACK OFF ALREADY!"
Entertainment at its best? No kidding!
On her own? At least her punches don't land on Marisol and finish her off. Though Arika tends to look out for number one, she'd feel a little guilty if she accidentally wound up slamming her fist into a teammate before she was targeted with an attack like that.
Tired and wounded as she is, when Arika see's Geese sink to one knee she watches him with a wary eye. Gathering from what he says that he's not going to get up again, the diva just stands there completely dumbfounded. Deep blue eyes grow large with astonishment and three very pronounced blinks.
Did they just...
Another blink of sheer disbelief and then she shoots her hand up in the air and gives a little arm pump of victory before launching herself toward Drake (wherever he landed after the aerial attack) and flinging her arms around his neck. Latching to him momentarily, she presses her lips to his in a quick, excited kiss.
Then all Hell seems to break loose between her teammates.
"Sorry, darling. We'll have to celebrate later," she says before releasing Drake and rushing off to attempt and stop Marisol from launching another attack or catch her if she falls. Not a word of insult is offered to either one of them though, she simply attempts to draw the other female away from Gedo-boy before this becomes an all out brawl. "Save it for when you get home."
Still elevated a few seconds even as Geese evades the streaming black and white energy beam, Domino's eyes narrow. The beam cuts off, and he drops into a low crouch, prepared to press further assault... but following a quick assault on Marisol, the founder of Saturday Night Fight has... fallen! They're victorious!
Domino raises to his full height and turns to spot one of the cameras. Left hand sets to his hip, and his right hand points towards the camera and makes the 'gun-fire' gesture with a wink of an amethyst eye, complete with roguish smile. The hand then whisks through his bangs before resting at his side. ...Not long before Arika has suddenly latched to him for a kiss. The thrill of the fight and the exuberance from defeating Geese Howard and winning a main event overcomes him, and his arms slip around Arika. He promptly pivots over to dip her, kissing back a second or two before setting her back on her feet. Rar.
But, indeed, all Hell breaks loose about that time. Domino blinks at the scuffle, and he rushes along with Arika to hopefully break it up. As the girl tends to the other female, Domino attempts to take ahold of Tenma's shoulders to pull him back away from Marisol, complete with pep-talk to dissuade further violence. "C'mon, guys! You just beat Geese Howard! -Geese Howard-! This is cause for celebration, not more fightin'!"
Apparently, one person is forgotten in the midst of Marisol getting her ass handed to her by the legendary Geese Howard, and the resultant clash between Tenma and the red-headed half-Spaniard. Luc doesn't look all that much dissuaded as his own attack gets swiftly dealt with by Geese's deft roll, and is ready to go at the man again, his legs tensing -- just about when it becomes clear the fight with Geese is over in a rather spectacular finish.
There is a pause, as Luc's green gaze sweeps around him, looking almost disappointed that the fight is over, and a little lost as to what to do next. For him, it's not about the glory of beating some stupid legendary fighter. It's about the fun and exhileration that is provided DURING the fight. And so he doesn't bask in the glory that Arika and Drake seem to be taking their time to bask in. Instead? He looks for the next bit of fun. And he finds it... the very moment that Marisol attacks Tenma.
There's opportunity there. Not that he wasn't planning it himself, but Marisol initiating confrontation and Tenma following suit is all the reason that Luc needs to forget any thoughts that he once had... and slowly walk towards the pair. In the aftermath of Marisol's attack, as Tenma bears through it and attempts to knock her down -- even as Drake and Arika try to seperate them, Luc just calmly, casually strolls forward. The moment that Drake touches Tenma's shoulder, there is someone else there.
"Hey."
In that very instant, Luc's right hand SNAPS forward. Within the palm of his grasp? A churning sphere of black-blue, fiery chi. His intent is to just slam his palm, chi-ball and all, into the back of Tenma's head, lifting for a brief moment before, a split second later, that sphere goes off in a deafening BOOM to knock Tenma AWAY from Drake, Arika, and Marisol, regardless of what happens to Luc's teammate.
"FIGHT ME, CHUMP!"
COMBATSYS: Marisol fails to interrupt Fierce Strike from Tenma with Iron Butterfly.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Drake 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Marisol can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Drake 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/-------|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-------|
The moment Marisol's fist connects, it feels like a futile effort. Accomplishing little, despite what amounts of power she can muster, the girl doesn't remotely phase the likes of Tenma. As result she simply sports a harsh scowl, eyes narrowing as she just glares at the other team leader. Forget everyone else. Tenma sucks, and she is trying to show him how much she dislikes him. Her hands curl into tight fists.
Then he lashes out in turn. A knee coming for her gut, she does what any good girl in her currently dire situation would do! She tries to grab at him with a glowing hand. It doesn't quite work out, and the following slash causes her to stagger back. It's over as far as she's concerned.
However, the Pacific girl is caught, it seems, by Arika. Not that Tenma HIT her hard - hell no. She's just barely capable of doing much of anything after being hit hard, over and over and over again. Suffice to say, however, she knows why the likes of Howard runs these things. Drake's talk falls on deaf, unconscious ears. Marisol is in slumber land now! No celebrating for her, no sir.
COMBATSYS: Tenma fails to interrupt Quick Throw from Luc with Medium Strike.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Drake 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/------=|
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/----===|
Well, for whatever reason, Tenma manages to totally wreck Marisol... That makes him feel better, at least. But then the Gedo student has to deal with Drake trying to 'pacify' him, and at the same moment, there's Luc there trying to blast him off his feet... And unfortunately it works. Maybe Drake's steadying hand slows his reactions, but for whatever reason as Tenma whirls around to totally whack Luc in the head with his bokken, the Japanese teen is too slow, and gets blasted away, skidding along the ground rather painfully.
And then he starts to get to his feet, blue eyes fixed on Luc. Drake and Arika might as well not exist, now. "Bring it, Monkey. I'm gonna send your sorry ass back to the zoo where it belongs."
Upon catching Marisol, the punk rock princess looks around. Surely someone like Geese Howard would have medical personnel on hand. From the corner of her eye she spies a few and tries to flag them down while dragging the unconscious girl out of the fray. Luc and Tenma can fight to their hearts desire, as far as she's concerned. The official fight is over, and the five of them rose victorious over the proprietor of the Saturday Night Fight, with not a one of them falling during the match.
After ensuring that Marisol is going to be cared for, she allows the medics to look over her own wounds and winces slightly when one of them prods her shoulder. There's going to be a hefty bruise there in a few hours at the very least, she can feel it. But while Arika's taking the time to be looked over, she's keeping her eyes on everyone else to make sure that her full time teammate is okay.
COMBATSYS: Arika has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Drake 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/------=|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/----===|
Domino continues trying to calm Tenma in a gentle, but firm manner, even as he apparently knocks Marisol out. But before he can add anything else, Tenma's knocked right out of his grasp. "Ah, Hell with it." And the celebrity model wrestler just lets the two highschoolers beat the tar out of each other however they will.
Domino departs from the fray and heads to the edge of the fountain, leaning over it towards Geese. "Thanks for the opportunity to compete in an SNF main event. It was a rivetting fight, Mr. Howard." He'd offer his hand, but he's too far out.
COMBATSYS: Drake has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/------=|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/----===|
BAM! Just like that, Tenma goes flying up and away; whatever assault he tried to muster to circumvent Luc's attack goes to the wayside in the wake of that exploding sphere of power. Luc doesn't even bat an eye at it. In fact, with an almost single-minded purpose, Luc continues his casual walk the very second that Tenma goes flying, rolling his neck and cracking it idly with his left hand; his right slips into his pantspocket as he observes Tenma with a half-lidded, irritable gaze. Back to the zoo, Tenma says. Luc's eyes narrow.
"Everyone thinks they're so damn witty," mutters the German, scratching his ear with his left index finger, "but..." And then, his left hand rises. Just as Tenma gets to his feet, Luc brings that hand swinging DOWNWARD in a blur of motion, seeking to /crack/ it against the side of Tenma's face in a fast, unpleasant backhand, accomopanied by a sudden burst of black power. Luc's eyes are now bulging wide, his lips pulled back in a sneer.
"... ALL YOU ARE IS A CHUMP!!"
COMBATSYS: Luc successfully hits Tenma with Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/------=|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/---====|
Suddenly it seems, Tenma can't do much about Luc's attacks? Weird, especially after how quite authoratively he dealt with Marisol's! When Luc comes his way again, the swordsman tries to get his wooden blade between his face and the berserker's attack, but instead he gets backhanded, the strike staggering him a step or two.
"Watch it now, you're gonna hurt my feelings," Tenma says, as usual using his constant talking for multiple purposes, not the least of which being to simply distract his opponent. "But if that weak crap is all you got, who's the real chump?!" the Gedo student demands, suddenly lunging forward and attempting to simply smack Luc in the face with his chi-charged bokken!
COMBATSYS: Tenma successfully hits Luc with Light Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/---====|
Fast, but weak; the intent of Luc's attack is really just meant to be a humiliating one rather than something to effectively beat the other man down. But it seems that Luc and Tenma are both really good at battering each other because, just as Luc attempts to raise a guard of his own, he's in turn smacked across the face by the full brunt of Tenma's assault, sent staggering backwards a single step. Blood drools down the corner of his lip, and slowly... he starts to smile.
"You gonna start fighting like a real man, hobo..." As he speaks, Luc wipes the blood from his lips. His hand extends, in a classic 'bring it on' gesture, "... or are you just gonna keep coming at me with that weak crap all day?!" Luc doesn't come at Tenma directly. Instead, he takes a moment to catch his breath. That fight with Geese has understandably taken a lot out of him.
COMBATSYS: Luc gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/------=|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/---====|
"Like I'd waste anything good on /you/," Tenma says, swinging his weapon back and leaning it against his shoulder; Luc's smile is met with a wide, think smirk, and as the German beckons him on but stands there catching his breath, the Gedo gang member instead chooses to slowly pace around the other fighter. Luc's not the only one who's had a lot taken out of him so far. "Barely trying is good enough to fight your kind of trash, all yellin' and punchin' at nothing at all. I've seen little kids on apron strings who fight better than /that/..."
COMBATSYS: Tenma gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/------=|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/----===|
A single brow twitches as Tenma speaks, and Luc's legs spread shoulder-width apart. Frowning distinctly, the young man shakes out his head, deigning to finally remove his right hand from his pocket."... che. Weak pieces of trash like you..." As Luc speaks, his legs tense. And in that single moment, he goes silent -- RIGHT before he launches /straight/ off the ground in a dead run towards Tenma.
"I HATE THEM!"
If Tenma isn't going to come for HIM, than Luc has no qualms with rushing straight towards the Gedo boy. He makes a sudden shift as he slides across the smooth ground with the squeak of sneakers, using the traction to stop his motion before he JERKS out with a single elbow, the length of his arm encased in black chi -- aimed to strike Tenma right in the throat. "GRAAAAAAH!!"
COMBATSYS: Tenma blocks Luc's Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/------=|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/---====|
This time though, Tenma's reactions are fast enough; his chi-charged blade intercepts Luc's punching fist, the impact sending a stinging numbness through his arm, as black and red chi rage against each other in a dark storm of energy. "You think that's good enough?!" Tenma wonders, disdainfully, but there's something about a fight against someone you can, well, /do/ much to that gets the blood pumping. More than the fight with Geese managed, even.
Pushing Luc's fist away, Tenma switches the grip on his bokken, before aiming a slash at the berserker's arm, and then another across his gut, before finally striking a third time... This, at Luc's big dumb head again. "You can't even make me try hard!!"
COMBATSYS: Luc blocks Tenma's Deep Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/----===|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/---====|
"WEAK!!" Luc roars out, almost completely disregarding the fact that Tenma has nullified his own attack. His blood already boiling from the fight with Geese, it doesn't take much to push him over that berserker's edge; the moment that Tenma swings, a deft movement of arms brings a forearm to stop the sudden strike of Tenma's bokken against his arm, preemptively stopping it before the swing cam complete itself. The second slash to the gut is similarly dealt with by both Luc's arms, before that last swipe... is stopped with a single palm.
"BRING IT ON!" And with this bellow, bokken still held fast, Luc leaps straight vertical, twisting through the air before he sends a spinning kick to the side of Tenma's head, seeking to plant the sole of his sneak against the Gedo boy before it ushers force an explosive lance of black-blue power, accompanied by a blood-curdling hollar.
COMBATSYS: Tenma interrupts Medium Kick from Luc with Initial Breaker.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/--=====|
Though his repeated attacks are stopped, Tenma isn't particularly deterred; however, his bokken getting grabbed is potentially problematic. What's a boy to do in a situation like that? But as Luc jumps and twists, Tenma actually wrenches his sword free with all of his strength, rearing back for a moment before, even as he gets kicked in the side of the head, thrusting his chi-charged bokken out into Luc in a 'Gatotsu'-style attack, knocking him away with the combined force of the physical blow and his own roiling, bloody chi. "Shut UP, MONKEY!!"
The sudden yank backwards of that blade is enough to surprise Luc, more than long enough for Tenma to strike the German with that sudden lancing strike. The blood-chi singes and due to the fact that Schroedinger is currently leaping in the air, the blow is enough to knock him backwards, if only for a few feet before he lands solidly once more, and grins. Shut up? Shut UP?
"How about you MAKE ME, YOU PIECE OF CRAP!" Bellowing this out, Luc runs forward in an attempt to shoulder rush Tenma. If successful, he'll launch the other man in the air, leaping up after him and shoving the palms of both his hands into the Gedo boy's gut, channeling forth a sudden BURST of black-violet energy. "GRAAAAAAAAAH!!"
COMBATSYS: Tenma blocks Luc's Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/--=====|
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/-======|
Successful? Kind of. Tenma gets shoulder rushed, and he gets knocked into the air, but once again that chi-charged bokken impedes the rest of Luc's attack, bloody energy striving against the berserker's emotionally charged own. The burst sends him flying, but it's a more controlled flight, and he rolls back onto his feet soon after. Clearly, that just wasn't good /enough/. "Too bad, Monkey! You almost made me have to get serious!" he chides, running forward.
As he runs, Tenma holds his blade low to the ground, crimson chi skimming against the earth underfoot, but when he gets close he changes up, swinging the blade behind him as his fist lashes out at Luc's torso, striking repeatedly. His footwork is careful, as he tries to herd the berserker, and his strikes are less for pure damage than they are to temporarily disrupt the flow of chi through the German...
COMBATSYS: Tenma successfully hits Luc with Flow Breaker.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Luc 0/-------/=======|
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Tenma 0/-------/=======|
While Luc's attack is defended against solidly, it seems that he is not so lucky with Tenma's own strike. Growling out as the other man begins to strike, the blows hit... but are dulled by something else; Luc feels the odd sensation of having his very chi flow tangled and jarbled, and what does he do? ... Luc laughs. He laughs long and hard, and in the very second that those blows strike, he only takes a single step backwards before his eyes narrow, and a wicked grin spreads across his lips.
"HAHAHAHAAA!!" He's not even really LISTENING to Tenma at this point. Instead, he just charges FORWARD, slamming his right fist forward in a sudden, brutal haymaker meant to crash right into Tenma's face nose-first. It's followed by a sudden lance of fiery black chi /bursting/ into life across his arm, before he proceeds to flip /backwards/, aiming to clock Tenma straight in the chin with his well-used sneakers.
COMBATSYS: Tenma fails to interrupt Riot Revolver from Luc with Head Breaker.
[ \\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Tenma can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/-------/=======|
Does Tenma even try to avoid Luc's attack? Or block it, or anything? No, he doesn't. Instead, as that wild haymaker comes in, the Gedo gang member's hand shoots out, reaching past the German's arm to grab him by the front of his shirt, jacket, anything he can get ahold of... But it's not a strong enough grip this time, the punch knocking him back too strongly. "Shit--!" And then, well, Tenma gets helluva flipkicked, sent flying back to crash into the ground. "Keh... What, was that it? You're boring me, Monkey," he taunts. But really... He can't keep fighting anymore.
Not that Tenma's going to admit defeat. Not to /Luc/, of all people. Instead, he gets up as best he can, the crimson aura around his bokken fading from sight, the red line he drew on it in his own blood burnt off. "Go look for your sad sack teammate, she'll probably need help getting to the airport without getting her ass hurt more." Beyond his usual arrogance, beyond anything of the sort, Tenma's simple and outright dislike of Luc leaves him unwilling to show the slightest hint of weakness to the German. Even though right now, he kind of wants to go take a nap.
And that's it. Despite that, Luc's battelust has already tipped over the edge; if he were not still aware of the fact that cameras were watching him, and that Arika and Drake likely still wait in the wings, there can be no doubting by the look in his eyes that he would keep on beating Tenma into a bloody pulp. One day, that's likely not going to stop him from trying. And that will be a most painful day for one of them, indeed.
As it stands, though, as soon as he lands from his flipping kick, he can tell this fight is over. His blood begins to simmer, that maddened look in his eyes dimming as, at the same time, his manic grin fades away. Instead, it leaves a somewhat battered German standing to his full height, wiping blood from his lips as he stares at the Japanese student with a half-lidded, irritated gaze. "Like you said, chump..." Luc begins, shoving his hands into his pockets as he stares in a most /condescending/ manner at Tenma.
"... you're not worth my best."
That said, Luc turns his back to Tenma, apparently unafraid of any repercussions the other man might deliver. It's a cocky action, and it's meant to anger Tenma. But what can the other boy do? The heir of the Schwarzerde style simply walks off, intent to find Marisol, push any medics out of the way, sling her over his shoulder, and then... just walk off.
What a FUN day.
COMBATSYS: Luc takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\ <
Luc 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Luc has ended the fight here.
Log created on 17:25:19 06/02/2007 by Luc, and last modified on 12:56:56 06/03/2007.