Description: Eagles (1977). In an attempt to recruit a thief for Blackjack, Elle subjects Aranha and Reed to a test of skill, strength, and wits. The recruits come up short on all but one, which leads to an inconclusive ending. However, there's enough there to warrant further interest...
Chinatown.
It smells funny.
But aside from all of that, the place is filled with colors, lights, and the ethnic flavor unique to this part of town. It's a bastion of reality, a representation of the insane amounts of scrubbed conformity that plagues Japan in general. The controlled chaos is something that rolls like a tide, and you either go with it, or drown.
And here, in an old abandoned squatty building that looks rather like a three story pagoda, is where that chaos comes to roost in the form of a test! And not just any test.
For two young thieves, it could be riches and excitement beyond their ken. Or it could mean utter disaster and failure. Everything rides on a simple exam for theives, and it's been set up by none other than Blackjack's de facto mastermind: Elle.
She stands in front of the building, awaiting the two theives that answered the call, dressed in a dark maroon suit and a black blouse. She'd look professional, if not for the guitar slung over her shoulder.
Erstwhile, Reed is on his way, chomping on one of the district's organic Fuji apples, that have no doubt of been smuggled in from the real source by poor and illicit wholesalers. Even in this day and age, agriculture has been somewhat of a mark for those black market types, small as their crime may be in comparison to those dealing in illegal weaponry.
At the sight of Elle, however, the youth stops dead in his tracks, frowning plainly as the apple drops to the ground. "Heh. Well what do you know." The grumpy teen barely says a word after that, but lets his eyes do the talking instead. It's fierce alright, burning with a rage that would intimidate just about any average Joe heading your way.
Unfortunately for him, this is no average Joe. This is 'Helle's Belle.'
The moment he received the call to come to this particular location. Keith Mason, aka. Aranha, did some calling around. Money? It would be enough to put his sister through college. While he loathes to do stuff like that, he had to grudgingly admit the that the money was good.
He slowly walks to the build with a smile. Even if he doesn't like the work he still has to play the role and plus he still wants to support his sister. He then looks at the other young thief then he looks at Elle and after giving both nods he says, "So this is where the party's at, huh? I'm Aranha."
Reed gets a glance, but if Elle is particularly concerned or worried about the boy, it doesn't show. She's more interested in this new kid for the time being. Both are very young boys, which concerns her a little. Elle was expecting more experienced theives. Or perhaps the appropriate word would be 'hoping'. Nevertheless, she'll take what she can get.
"Alright," Elle says. "I'm not going to go into much more detail here. This is a test. I want you to make it to the third floor of the building, and retreive the prize." She holds out a photo of an obviously fake plastic replica of a chalice. "Only one person can leave with the cup. The other one fails. No sjob for you."
Without further ado, Elle walks towards the front door, to stand in the foyer of the building. The botom layout is a long hallway, seemingly innocuous. At the end? a locked door with a high tech security system that leads to the staircase above.
"No time limit. But speed is better than sloth." She gesture to the hall. "Get to it."
COMBATSYS: Elle has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Elle 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Aranha has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Elle 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Aranha
COMBATSYS: Naerose has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/-------|
Unlike Keith, Tyler doesn't loathe his profession at all. In fact, one would say that this sort of thing is right up his alley, considering his penchant for larceny. Without a word, he gives Elle his last mincing glance before staring at his competition. "Well, good luck." One of them is gonna need it. Pissed or no, he might as well commence.
The lanky kid starts toward the building, his steps quickly pacing into a run.
COMBATSYS: Reed has joined the fight here.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Reed
COMBATSYS: Reed has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Reed
And then woman tells them about the mission he begins to grin and this time it's a genuine one. Reason being that he's looking at this one as a challenge rather than an actual job. Of course that's because it is one. He nods to his opponent and then he walks in.
The moment he steps in, his mind is already at work studying the layout and searching for possible pitfalls. He's not rushing in. Instead he cracks his neck and begins to dance as he moves in. He won't use his actual speed until he knows what he's up against.
It's a hallway. The hallway is wide enough for three people to stand side by side. The floor is made of wood paneling, and the walls have pictures hanging on them. Overall? I tlooks like a hotel hall. The reason? It's... an old hotel hall.
"Okay..." Reed mutters as he stops his run and scrutinizes the floor-plan, before glancing at the wooden panelling. A building as decrepit and as old as this is more than likely to have a few hidden traps. Too bad he didn't bring his equipment with him, but then again, being the arrogant little bastard he is, he manages he'll be able to figure it out later. Unlike Keith, he's more of the act first, think afterwards type, if his demeanor doesn't give one indication of that.
Instead of rushing forward at this point, however, he carefully makes his first step, testing the board to see if it will crumble and cause a serious fall. His booted toe lightly raps on the plank, and he holds his breath.
And then things truly begin he continues to move forward through the hallway still studying the area as he moves forward. The one thing he has learned from both Capoeira and his experience as thief, is that nothing is always so simple as it seems. And so he goes further in carefully making his way forward.
While he keeps his foot steps relatively silent as he allows his body to rock in a ginga he begins to sing softly barely breaking what would be his personal silence of his work. "Nem tudo que reluz é ouro... Nem tudo que balança cai..." Translated it would mean approximately, 'Not all that glitters is gold.... Not all that stumbles will fall.'
Hole traps? Come on. Those sort of things are last century. No, instead, when Reed's foot hits the plank? Nothing! The boy's soft steps don't trigger any breaking holes, or any kind of spike or pit trap whatsoever!
No, what triggers the trap is the fact that he stomps right through an infra-red sensor that causes the ceiling behind them to open up, disgorging two machine guns. The weapons are hooked up to cameras, and the immediately start to track their targets with motion senseors, and the bullets chatter in the otherwise silent hallway like demonic wind-up teeth. Like all technology, it's cold, heartless, and really doesn't care how well it's targets feel today.
COMBATSYS: Aranha dodges Elle's Medium Strike.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Reed
COMBATSYS: Reed blocks Elle's Medium Strike.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Reed
And the one who actually triggered the sensor just so happens to get into the thick of it. Luckily for him, he's got his baton with him to scale down the damage that might have initially got him, had he not been so quick to react. An inferno of chi in swarthy green coats his midnight stick as he twirls on sight, reflecting whatever bullets that may want to end up in his body. That does not mean that he doesn't get hit, however, as a few of the swiveling silver shots graze his jacket and then some, even going so far as to burn and serrate skin.
The guns begin blazing as the trap gets triggered. He then begins to dodge and flip out of the way of the initial attack and then he begins to move even faster. He sidesteps and dodges but now the movements are even more efficient as he keeps going while still continuing the song. And then at a certain he sees he's about to get nailed with a shot but then he breaks into a sprint before kicking off the wall. He barely gets enough elevation to get over the last bullet.
The machine guns eventually run out of ammo, smoke oozing from the barrels as they die down. The dormant weapons seem to be fairly benign now, unable to attack any further as the two theives continue down the corridor. Bulletholes now pockmark the otherwise pristine hallway, and the air is filled with gunsmoke. However, there's a whole two thirds of a hallway left to go down, and there's still plenty of things left to face.
Around the second third of the hall, the nimble Aranha flies by one of the pictures, which falls to the ground. In fact, all the pictures in the hall fall to the ground as small concussion grenades start to roll into the hall. Good going, monkey boy. You tripped trap 2. On the plus side, the securely locked door is in sight.
Just a glance shows that there might be a bunch of ways to open it... but it may need two people to work on it, and there's no telling what might pop up in this place.
COMBATSYS: Elle successfully hits Aranha with Quick Throw.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Reed
COMBATSYS: Reed endures Elle's Quick Throw.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Reed
"Aw....great job, dweebo!" Reed yells at Aranha once the grenades go off. His string of curses are cut short, however, when one of them ends up whizzing right past him, striking him with the type of force that would severely batter his limbs, thus putting him out of the competition. Well, not quite. In fact, the kid manages to roll away just in time, soaking in the sudden attack trap 2 brought, though not without its consequences. This pisses him off, however, and without really thinking, he whips his baton out to strike Keith in the head with it! Completely forgetting that he's the one who set off the first trap in the beginning.
COMBATSYS: Aranha dodges Reed's Medium Strike.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Reed
And then song ends. Not by will and not because of the fact that it's the end of the song. No way. It's actually the result of seeing the concussion grenades roll out only to elicit an, "Oh shi..." He continues to try to move through the grenades but it's too late. His rhythm is disrupted and just as he's almost completely away from the grenades he gets his foot caught in the explosion and ends up face-planting uncharacteristically gracelessly.
However he manages to hear the baton coming down upon his head and manages to roll out of the way of it and then back to his feet. "Ok. That's how you want to play it huh?" Meanwhile he begins to dance again this time keeping an eye on the next area and the other or Reed. He won't do anything yet. He wants to see what happens next.
COMBATSYS: Aranha focuses on his next action.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Reed
What happens next:
The two theives make it to the security door. It sits there, and if doors had feelings and the ability to emote them, this door would look very stoic and resolute in it's ability to be a very secure door. It's electronically locked, and it has to be at least a foot thick. There's a manual lock, too, and there might be another way around it...
Either way, both the theives had better think fast, because the hallway has just launched it's last line of defense. The hall closes off behind them, creating a tiny room for them. The room's walls then start closing in. A successful escape means freedom and the second floor! And unsuccessful one means... well. A lot of pain.
COMBATSYS: Aranha dodges Elle's Strong Throw.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Reed
COMBATSYS: Reed dodges Elle's Strong Throw.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Reed
"Dammit! Stop moving around so much so I can give you a good, clean whack," is pretty much what's uttered to Keith as he tucks the baton back under his arm. He lets out a growl of frustration before the last line of defense is launched, putting him in an even worse mood. Not that the traps really care, but it's enough to keep him from slacking.
"ARRGH," he grouses, "Alright hot-shot." He points to Aranha. "Since you're so dodgey," double entendre intended, "Start scaling the walls to find a hidden switch. I"ll figure out the combination." And Reed gets going, frowning at the buttons as he mumbles out a combination of numbers that are usually popular amongst the geniuses that set up these things. He's dialin', and dialin' fast! "233666890"...."10011000"...etc. etc. Until one of them finds a way out.
As the doors begin to close, Aranha breaks into a run completely forsaking his ginga. Ideally he would've went right for the combination locks himself. Instead he kicks off one wall to kick off the other and when he's satisfied with how high he is in the air, he lets himself drop down. If Aranha has his way, it will be right on top of Keith's head foot first and kicking off him to grab the top of the door jam and hang off.
COMBATSYS: Reed dodges Aranha's Sky's the Limit.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Reed
And when he fails to make contact with the other thief, the rest of his plan which was to activate the hidden switch up top. "Well so much for the hidden switch." With no other alternative the Capoeirista just kicks the damn door down with a loud grunt. "When subtlety fails, sometimes you need to just say, screw this!"
With no more obstacle in the way he continues moving to the second floor. He's not taking his eye off Reed though.
With a mighty groan, the door gives way just as dumb lock pops the lock. Between the two theives working together (so to speak), the door simply flops open off its hinges when Aranha belts the door down, leaving a clear way for Reed to the next floor up.
"Fucker," Reed spits under his breath as that incoming attack catches him by surprise. Unfortunately for Keith, he's a little too late, and it goes without saying that the younger of the two just happens to have some pretty good reflexes as well. As the other thief¡¯s foot barely makes it to the side of his skull, Cecchetti¡¯s protegee glowers, arching waaaaaay back, recovering just in time to make it through the door first. He¡¯ll pummel the dude later. After all, if he didn't have dexterity, then why would he be in the profession he's in?
The dining hall dominates the second floor. The area is not easy to navigate with so many tables and chairs all over the place, and it looks like the hotel was set up for a very formal reception before it closed down. The dust is think here, but some effort has been made to clean up a little. Overall, there's a lot of space, but all of that space is cluttered by the random objects everwhere.
Which makes it a wonderful place for improvised weapon tactics.
There's a kitchen off the the far right, complete with those swining kitchen doors and little windows to look into. On the far end of the room? The staircase that leads to the final floor. The staircase has been locked off by a simple metal gate, however. The room looks pretty innocuous.
As if it was going to be that east.
Amongst the dust, almost like she belonged, sitting on a white table cloth is the red witch, sipping from a dusty wine glass full of a red liquid. It is deep in color and would seem to be a red wine. Lit around her are candles in silver tarnished candle holders, really going for the whole show and everything. In her other hand she holds what appears to be an old book, it's a prop perhaps, or maybe for real, but the spine which is held up reads, 'Grimerie'. She lowers the book and tries to hit the first thing she sees with it, positioned near the entrance. The first thing that is, which is not Tran.
"I can't believe.. ." she begins.
The witch is in red, this much is true, she does have shades on, and does have a broom, but this seems to only fit with the poofy dress she has on with white in it, yes, white lace and a bow and a pair of suspenders around the red bodice. She is dressed in some bizarre fashion of a maid. A french Maid, and let her not forget to play the part,
"I can't believe you two would come and mess up my house!" she exclaims and decides to attempt to discard the book in Reed's face.
COMBATSYS: Reed dodges Naerose's Random Weapon.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Reed
And there, dressed up impeccably in a clean-pressed tuxedo, standing in the middle of the room, is a short asian...butler? Well, it sort of makes sense, considering the setting.
Of note is that he's balancing a large, silver tray on one hand, with a round cover on top concealing whatever might happen to be on the tray. When Reed comes up, the butler grins, gives a mocking half-bow, and states, "You're just in time for the first course, monsiuer!"
Sweeping the cover off dramatically, Butler Tran reveals...a glass of milk? He drinks it down, leaving only a milk mustache behind, and then hucks the large tray like a frisbee toward the door. Hopefully right about when Aranha comes up.
COMBATSYS: Tran has joined the fight here.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Reed
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Tran 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Aranha endures Tran's Large Thrown Object!
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Reed
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Tran 0/-------/-------|
This...place....was /her/ house??!? Twitch, twitch, twitch. The eyebrow goes first, then the gloved hands. "You've gotta be shitting me." Nope. It's these two they're up against. And likely a tier or two higher than the pair of thieves that want the prize at the end. As the book heads straight for his face, the boy smirks, leaping out of the way before he gets paper cuts. Or something of the sort, and considering the pace in which the object is flying, he doesn't want to find out.
Tyler doesn't say much after this, but he does get ready to launch his first attack. Breaking into a run, swings the baton straight for Naerose in her pretty maid outfit. "BATTER UP!!!!" If he's successful, the thing will come crashing down and over to hit her towards the roof, and he'll double-whammy it off with another strike across the horizon. This thing is gonna get ugly.
The Aranha is fairly poised as he continues into the dining area. He's currently ill at ease with his 'partner.' And so when the scarlet maid shows up to nail Reed he has to laugh a bit. After all the whole situation is completely rediculous to him. In his laughter he almost fails to notice the fact that Mr. Tranverdere shows flinging a big ass tray. Almost. He does catch onto the fact that it's flying towards him. Instead of getting out of the way he takes the hit but he jumps into the air as he does so allowing the tray to drive his foot right into Reed.
COMBATSYS: Naerose endures Reed's Shepherd's Tail.
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Naerose 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Reed
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Tran 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Aranha successfully hits Reed with Colossal Kick EX.
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Naerose 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Reed
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Tran 0/-------/-------|
Well there you have it. The french maid doesn't move at all, instead her expression turns to one of dour dryness. And then she is hit and there is the face unchanged, still dour and dry, she took a page from Kodomo no Omacha, only instead of a dresser flung at her face, it's Reed's hitting her. This leaves the french maid/witch someplaces away from her as she is sent to the ceiling and crashes into it and then lands on a table, losing her broom.
She gets up.. slowly, reaches for her weapon and produces. Dun dun dun
!!!!! A feather Duster !!!!
"Zat esz it! Zis will not stand. Monsieur ees obvious that you need a less-ee on in cleanliness, no?"
Only instead of swinging at Reed, who just cast her away with his attack, she swings at poor Aranha, trying to totally dust him off.
"Language, sir, please!" Mr. Tran, esteemed butler to the Belmounte family, holds a hand up to his mouth in mock shock, staring at Reed for a moment. "There's a lady present!"
His shock aside, Tran leaps forward, landing on the table with an ungodly clattering and shattering of assorted glasses, plates, bowls, and a ceramic gravy boats shaped like a family of ducks. "If I may be so bold, sir, allow me to instruct you on the finer points of being a gentleman!" Raising his hands in front of him like a boxer, Tran feints to one side, and then ducks down, throwing a quick series of jabs at Reed's torso before shouting, "Buttle PUNCH!" and finishing off with a straight, somewhat more powerful blow.
COMBATSYS: Tran successfully hits Reed with Quick Punch.
- Power hit! -
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Naerose 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1 Reed
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Tran 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Aranha blocks Naerose's Medium Strike.
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Naerose 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1 Reed
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Tran 0/-------/-------|
Damn Aranha and his fancy Capoeira crap. Reed doesn't even get the pleasure of seeing what his attack brought on Naerose...or rather, lack thereof, as the kick is brought and delivered. Righteously. But to Reed? Oh, he's pissed as hell, for the fact that:
A) Keith is SERIOUSLY starting to annoy
B) He can't wait to kick the crap out of him
And C) Naerose barely batted an eyelash as his attack was delivered.
More or less, reasons A and B are first and foremost, but what REALLY ticks him off is the fact that he gets friggin¡¯ BUTTLED!! That HURT!!! Rage can¡¯t be a good think when you¡¯re this pissed off. So, he ends up directing his attack to the first person who caused all of this: Aranha. "Damn you!" An explosion of green bursts from his hand and around his baton, and he attempts at uppercutting the other thief with it.
COMBATSYS: Reed successfully hits Aranha with Flaming Lips.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Naerose 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Aranha
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Elle 0/-------/------=|=======\====---\1 Reed
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Tran 0/-------/-------|
The capoeirista doesn't even bother trying to dodging getting dusted. The kick he had delivered on the other thief had put him way too off balance to completely dodge. He raises his hand to deflect the witch's attack as he leans away from her and right into Reed's baton and it sends him flying up into the air.
Looking groggy as he slowly gets back up to his feet. "Well well... You're actually somethin' more than a whiney little bitch. I still am gonna kick your ass because well... Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'."
Aranha runs forward completely forsaking the other two hitting him as he performs an outside crescent kick from his front leg which then drops to his rear leg. He shifts back and swings his leg around in a rear leg outside crescent kick which is quickly followed up by a trio of kicks where he touches the ground as he swings the heel of his rear leg towards his opponent's head. On the third of those particular kicks he cuts short and turns his foot as he drops it down on the ground before swinging his other foot at the head in a roundhouse kick-like motion though it's also done with both hands on the ground. The spidery one then shifts his weight over to the side swinging the unplanted foot up and over which though it doesn't hit, it generates momentum for the other foot to come back across. He performs a handstand and performs a series of rapid spinning handstand kicks each of which are engulfed in a blue glow as he attempts to quite literally kick the crap out of the other thief.
What ever happened to french maids? I mean seriously? did they ever truly exist? Aside from so many people who apparently want to bang them, they're never around when you need them. Especially when the room was actually messy and they needed to do more than look pretty. Perhaps this particular one had that in mind, this room WAS getting messy and DID need actual cleaning, but who wasn't there to clean it? Naerose the French Maid. Instead her feather duster lay on a table where she ought to be handing out reprimands for the pair beating each other up, but while they were too busy doing just that, she was too busy being someplace else. Literally, just slips out the back.
COMBATSYS: Naerose has left the fight here.
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Elle 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Aranha
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Tran 0/-------/-------|=======\====---\1 Reed
It seems like Mr. Tran is about to follow up one buttling with another, when he suddenly turns away, head cocked, as though he just heard something. He turns back toward Reed and Aranha, a look of chagrin on his face. "Ah, it seems I have taken far too long in delivering the lesson! Suffice to say, good sirs, that you may consider yourselves fortunate upon this day!"
And then Mr. Tran reaches into his buttling coat, producing a small, black mask, which he slips onto his face. How it stays on is anyone's guess, but he exclaims, "The Butler Signal calls! Away!"
Dashing toward a wall on a spot he mentally marked earlier, Tran builds up steam in a very literal sense and then bursts straight through, falling to the street below in a shower of debris. If Reed and Aranha weren't already so occupied with each other, they might afterward see the butler casually strolling toward a shiny red sportscar parked a short distance away, whistling happily to himself.
COMBATSYS: Tran has left the fight here.
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Elle 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Aranha
> ///////////// ]
|=======\====---\1 Reed
COMBATSYS: Reed endures Aranha's Royal Flush.
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Elle 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Aranha
> ///// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Reed
And that's that. With Aranha's barrage of spinning handstand kicks that are swallowed in glow, Reed receives the damage that he gets, attempting to endure something that he probably should have tried dodging. Either way, the damage is done as one kick pummels after the other, draining considerable amount of energy once it's over with. Blood trickles down the corner of his mouth, and he's roughed up pretty badly, but that doesn't stop him from making the comment that he does.
"Ha. Whatever."
Instead of launching another furious round of baton flicks, he musters what's left of his reserve before running swiftly forward, using the end of his baton to strike Keith into the air before he launches himself up shortly; utilizing the force of his legs to STOMP-STOMP-STOMP-STOMP, even crashing into the ceiling if he's lucky enough. It's his last stand, either way.
COMBATSYS: Reed can no longer fight.
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Elle 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Aranha
COMBATSYS: Reed successfully hits Aranha with Flying Dutchman.
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Elle 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Aranha
And then Aranha attempts to get the hell out of the way of the baton but he's just too damn exausted. He's knocked up into the air and then stomped over and over and over until he's unceremonious dropped to the ground. He looks over to the other thief mutters, "I swear if I ever see you in the street again..." He never finishes the sentence.
He staggers towards the doorway and heads up the steps. It seems like it takes forever as he drags himself up the steps. Eventually he manages to pull himself up to the third floor.
The third floor is pristine. Apparently, this place has been used recently, and it's an opulant receiving room. It's filled with ornate treasures, although it's questionable if any of the furnishings are 'real'. Plush rugs, vases, and bright lighting however can't provide any feelings of 'warmth' however, and for some reason it's rather cold in here.
Presumably, the thing Aranha wants is behind the door at the end of the receiving chambers. There's nobody else around to stop him from getting there.
Or is there?
And there is.
The Mistress of this Haunted House, in fact.
A tall woman stands before the doorway, stunningly beautiful in her dark, slinky evening dress. The cut of her bodice leaves preciously little to the imagination, with arm-length silk gloves covering each of her arms. Hands folded politely before her as her head lifts at their approach. Her eyes hidden beneath the veil of her dark tresses, long luxurious hair falling down her bare back in a carefully arranged wave.
"Ah.. the long expected guest.." The matron muses, clasping her hands together in acknowledgement as she turns her hidden gaze to the remainder of the pair, "Monsieur. It would be my utmost pleasure to show you to your room. However.. I am afraid.."
The dark maiden saunters over towards the crawling young man at the top of the stairs.. Ever so calmly lifting her curvaceious leg from the depths of her slit dress to plant her long heeled shoe upon his forehead, "I am afraid that you are in no condition to continue on. Bon voyage.. mes petite."
Thusly giving the young man a 'gentle' shove back down the stairs and blowing a kiss in farewell.
Muah!
And then he rolls down, being that he's in no condition to even to resist. his body gives off loud thumping noises as he hits each and every step. And when he hits the bottom he falls unconscious, eventually finished off by the fall. The broken ribs that were there before the fall exacerbated by the fall. The spider isn't making the second trip up the stairs.
Game Over.
COMBATSYS: Aranha takes no action.
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Elle 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Aranha can no longer fight.
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Elle 0/-------/------=|
It isn't too long after Marise's magananimous gesture that Elle appears next to her from the room with the 'chalice' in it. She had been waiting there fore the arrival of the winner. Unfortunately, it would appear that there's no actual winner here.
That's what it appears, anyhow. Blackjack works in myserious ways overall.
"Well, that was unexpected," she says flatly, looking at the crumpled form of Aranha at the bottom of the stairs. Walking to the stairwell, she shouts down. "Hey Tran! Can you pick up those bodies and dump them at a Doc in the Box?" Slang for an underworld street doc, of course, of which Tran is technically one of them. Having watched most of the fight with Marise in her hidey hole with the series of hidden cameras every which where, she looks at Marise, the 'Left Hand' of Blackjack.
"So. What'd you think?"
Tran may be an illegally operating doctor, but he's not the kind of guy who just goes and fixes up anybody. He's exclusive, and neither of these jokers are Blackjack operatives. Yet, anyway.
However that possibility goes, Dr. Tran, for doctor he is now, dressed in his normal dudes, calls up from the bottom of the stairs, "Alright, fine, but I'm taking the van!" And he's not going to be too careful with them, either. Tran can appreciate hating someone, but the way those two were going after each other...well, suffice to say, there's a time and a place. He's not too impressed, but he'll do as Elle asks.
The sharply dressed matron peers down the stairs with her bemused smile never fading. One hand settled upon a hip as she then turns her attention to her leader, musing, "The potential is there.. That is.. Once some of the rougher edges are smoothed out."
Then turning her attentions back to the Butler as he begins to work his tender mercies upon them. Of course, the question remains which of them she meant..
Or is that in question? Mysterious ways of Blackjack indeed.
Well, that's Marise for you. Cryptic and deadly, sort of like Yoda with gams and murder on the brain. "How about you, Fireplug? Any thoughts?" She calls down again as she descends the staircase. The joind will have to be cleaned up again. The security system will likely need to be redone as well.
Best few mil she ever spent, this old deathtrap. Only lightly used by a crazed Japanese supervillain. You'd be amazed at what you can find if you look hard enough.
Nevertheless, the question may very well be whether or not she hires anyone out of the two. Her face doesn't convey a lot of emotion, nor does she seem particularly favored to one or the other.
Dr. Tran is so over the butler thing. Good times were had, but in the end, the call of the world of medicine is too strong. And yet, he will never forget the mighty Buttle Punch!
Regardless, he turns his head toward the staircase, with Reed slung over Tran's shoulders like the limp bag of meat that he is. "Neither of them even came close to the finish, did they?" That's all he's got to say on it, occupied as he is with carrying an unconcious dude.
"As I said.." The dark maiden comments to the good Doctor as he demonstrates the very essence of his bedside manner by chucking the fallen about like sacks of ground beef, "..Rough edges."
Calmly following Elle down the stairs, skirt flowing elegantly about her legs as her fingertips brush along the staircase's wooden handrail.
Both, neither, Elle's got some things to consider as Tran heaves bodies about like an undertaker. But rest assured that with such a diverse group to pull from and her own experience, she'll make the right decision. She takes the moment ot bring the van around back for Tran, and then brings the company truck around for herself and Marise.
"Meet us back at the new office tomorrow morning," Elle says to Tran out of the truck window. "We need to pull up a staff meeting again." Blackjack is back to it's usual hijinx again, and it's up to Elle, Marise, and Tran to knock heads together and decide the fate of the world.
Or whether or not two upstart kids get dumped in front of an elementary school, naked and handcuffed together in an odd position.
Tran will do it, too.
Log created on 21:15:51 06/23/2007 by Elle, and last modified on 22:30:35 06/27/2007.