Description: The Duck Pond's main stage is closed for renovations, but the innovative promoters of both the SNF and the chosen locale are all about getting advertising and ratings! What better way to do it than by coordinating an autograph session with an exhibition match? Watch as Arika and Momoko battle it off while still trying to sign autographs to appease the fans! (And you thought -you- were good at multitasking?) (Winner: Arika)
Renovations. Construction. If it's nighttime on the weekend and you're trying to get your groove on, these are not the words you want to see plastered upon the dance stage -- especially when it's the stage of the hippest dance club in all of Southtown! Lots of customers see the scaffolding and the signs and instantly turn away in disgust.
But not =everyone= does -- in fact, there's still a =score= of people here just waiting to get in and get a piece of the Duck Pond's special attraction for the evening -- but it's not dancing, it's =dancers=, of a sort: a meet-and-greet session with two of Southtown's very finest performing artists! The ground floor of the Duck Pond is =filled= with legions of adoring fans, all hoping to get a moment with the two. And, naturally, they all have photos in hand, helpfully provided at a ludicrous markup by the Duck Pond staff. They're gonna make money this weekend, one way or the other!
Momoko is one of the two artists... and being the less popular of the two, the diminutive capoeirista is ushered into the audience first. Waving her hands to the audience, she is met by a =loud= round of applause, dashing through the crowd and giving not-so-high high-fives to everyone she can! "Hiiii everyone! Sorry to keep you all waiting!!" After getting some face time with a goodly portion of her fans, she actually goes to the front of the line. "Okay! Who's first?" she asks rhetorically, with a saccharine smile, holding a metallic pink paint pen up high so everyone can see it!
How tempting is it to show up to sign autographs wearing a hard hat and work boots? Arika Fade -did- consider it for a long while when she was told that the promo for the Duck Pond was going to be held in a renovations zone. One doesn't like to hurt their delicate feet after all, and since she normally fights barefoot, this could be a grave problem to contend with. Instead of settling on steel toes and shank, she goes for a little more of a 'casual' look than something that screams 'construction worker'. After all, she doesn't want to be equated to the Village People in any way, shape or form. Ergo, a simple set of Doc Martens cover her feet to accompany her regular outfit.
Sounds of the audience carry back to where she's been told to wait, and while Momoko makes her entrance, the diva ensures that the tools of the trade are in place. Multi-colored click pen, a half dozen or so mini Sharpie pens in a myriad of colors and two metallic gel pens acting as hair pins. No one can say that she came ill prepared for this, even though she wasn't expecting -half- these people due to the ongoing renovations.
Counting to ten, she waits while the crowd makes a mad dash for the little poppet. This clears enough of a path so that she can enter without being mobbed, and once she's partially into the room she calls out to Momoko, "Don't worry, poppet, it's fashionable to be a wee bit late to these things." Truth be told, most promoters set it up like that on purpose. It gets the crowds riled up and anxious and it's good for business; more time for photos, CDs, magazines - you name it - to be purchased. Unlike Momoko, she doesn't run through the crowd, nor does she shell out high-fives or handshakes. Confidently strolling through the mass of people, she leaps up onto the table they've been provided and gives the audience as a whole a sly little smile.
"Suppose it'd be too much ta ask you to form orderly lines, hmm?" The punk rock princess turns to her 'rival' and 'opponent' for the evening and winks. "Make it -much- easier for us to get to you ALL that way." That's about when the mob rushes forward, shoving CDs, posters, photos and magazines at the duo. Snickering, she shakes her head and gives the younger girl a look that says 'hey, at least I tried', after which she grabs one of Femme Fatale's CD's and quickly scribbles her signature.
Hey, Arika's the pro here! Momoko knows nothing about this whole 'riling the crowd up by starting late' thing -- as many times as she's been in a fight, no one's bothered to tell the twelve-year-old. Go figure! Momoko's just doing what she was told by people who have no idea how to run an operation like this. Hence the mob! Laughing to Arika's suggestions, she nonetheless bravely tries to get as many photos signed as she can. Unlike Arika, she only has one CD to her name -- a recent release of Brazilian capoeira beats.
"Hey, at least you tried!" she chirps out in response to the knowing glance. Momoko really likes Arika! She was really nice in their last fight, so really, she is a bit sad she won't get to spend more time talking with her now... maybe afterwards! But right now the fans are top priority, and Momoko can at least handle -them- gracefully: "And who can I make this out to? Hideki? It's =awesome= to meet you, Hideki! Will you be sticking around for our fight? Cool!"
... She, too, normally fights barefoot, but unlike Arika she did not have the foresight to bring shoes instead. Also, she'd only brought one pen... which could be a problem. About the thirtieth signature in, there is a shriek from the direction of Momoko's table: "Aaaaaaah! I ran out of ink! Arika-nee-san... do you have another pen?" ... What? They're =rivals= in this? Really? Surely someone in the audience would have a pen, but Momoko's already asked...
Meanwhile, the Saturday Night Fight referee paces back and forth. "How much longer do we have to wait for this?"
His sunglass-wearing associate shakes his head. "Chill out, man. We'll get underway in a few moments, just keep your shirt on..."
See... the problem with SNF coordinators is that they're always looking for ways to give fanservice to the male viewers. Granted, there are likely quite a few more men catching every single match then there are women, but... let's face it. Men without their shirts would be -very- fanservicey to the female viewers; provided the men were good looking! But it's no insult to be thrown into a match that's meant to boost ratings. On the contrary, it's extremely flattering. Good thing Arika's not getting an ego because of it!
Catching sight of her over-exuberant opponent, the diva just shakes her head. It's amusing to see someone so gung-ho over writing their name on a few photos of themselves. Arika supposes that she'd be like that too under different circumstances. Pausing long enough in the autographing to nip onto her index finger lightly, she forces herself to keep from laughing. Her first autograph session? She lost the pen. So she feels for Momoko, she really does. Dipping her hand into her pocket, she pulls out a bright mauve mini Sharpie and tosses it toward the younger girl. "Incomin', mate. 'eads up!"
Already, she's whipped out her pen and is signing things furiously again. While she takes time to chat with the female fans, and flirt and wink with the male fans, she's not quite as loud about it as the young capoeirista. Laughter, chuckles and much playful bantering is going on where she's settled herself, but she's keeping a close eye on the time so that she's well prepared when the ref calls for the fight to begin.
"Yay!" Partly to show off, partly so that she can catch the pen before her fans do, she leans forward on the table, balancing perfectly so that her foot can shoot up and catch the pen between her toes. Yoink! Twisting about, she tosses the pen into the air again, righting herself just in time for the pen to fall into her waiting hands. "Thank you, Miss Arika!" she calls out, to thunderous applause. Oh, she may be rather new to this particular venue, but she knows how to keep a crowd's attention -- if only subconsciously!
She's able to sign a few more photos, and even a few copies of 'Momoko, Capoeira Daisuki!' have made it to the autograph table -- much to her delight!
But all good things must come to an end -- even though the autographs are really only halfway done. The staff would be ridiculous to shoo the people away at this point, yes... but ratings are the name of this game. The suit with the shades checks his watch once again, and gives his associate a nod.
"LAAAAAAADIIIIIIIIIIES AAAAAAAND GENNNNNTLEMEEEEEEN! Welcome to this very special presentation of the one, the only... SAAAATURDAAAAAY NIIIIIIGHT FIIIIIIGHT! We'd like to thank everyone for coming out to this exclusive audience participation event ... and we'd like to kick things into high gear!"
Momoko blinks, standing on her tiptoes and glancing over at Arika. She got a =hint= that this might have happened, but thought she'd have more time: "B-but I'm not even halfway done yeeeeet!" she protests, pumping her fists in frustration. Not that anyone can really hear her over the booming voice of the announcer!
"In this corner we have the tiny tot from Hamaoka, MISS... MOOOOMOOOOOKOOOOOO!!"
Momoko, never one to miss her cue, tosses up her fist to even more applause, but she feels guilty for hanging her fans up to dry, and reaches forward to sign a few more photos while the guy's rattling off her stats, and quite =intentionally= stalling for time. She only manages to get a few done before the announcer moves on to the more famous of the two...
COMBATSYS: Momoko has started a fight here.
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Momoko 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Arika has joined the fight here.
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Momoko 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Arika
Gladly letting the poppet show off some of her skill, Arika manages to add her signature to a half a dozen or so more items. Each is signed with a tiny flourish and an added 'xox' to the bottom of the second 'a' in her name. Deep blue eyes catch the glance between the ref and his associate, and she caps the silver metallic pen she was using, and pokes it back into her blonde tresses for safekeeping.
During the opening announcement, she hears the protestation from the little poppet and she gives her shoulders a tiny shrug. "We'll just 'ave to sign'em while we fight. 'old tight to that marker now. Wouldn't want to disappoint the fans." As she says this, she's already shooting an apologetic look to the fans in front of her, since she's had to pause again to stretch and limber up. Arms reach well above her head before she begins to leans backward. Oh, yes. She's good at that fanservicey 'show off your bod' deal. Something she's picked up in the singing circuit, as well as her few forays into the pro-wrestling world.
Stats blathered by the announcer, they continue on by announcing the diva. "And in the opposing corner is the punk rock princess from London, England. Miss Femme Fatale herself.... ARRRRIIIIIIKAAAAA FAAAAAAAAAAADE!"
After which they immediately go into -her- stats, which gives her just enough time to scribble a few more autographs. Normally this is where she'd blow a kiss to the cameras, but she gets an idea that will rile the crowd up just a little more. Spying a rather cute guy that looks to be around her age, she reaches forward and grabs his shoulder. Yanking him in toward her she waits until his friend gets the digital camera ready, and then leans in to place a faux kiss on his cheek. Flash snaps, and she grins. Then she takes the photo he has of her, and instead of actually autographing it, she kisses that as well, leaving a lipsticked lip mark on the image with a quick 'xox' added beneath -that-.
Done goofing around, she turns to Momoko and nods. "Let's start this thing, poppet."
Wh-what?! Momoko is shocked and awed! =She= wanted to mug for the crowd like Arika was! She totally missed her chance by being all shocked and stuff. The idea that she could possibly do =more= for her fans is... well, it's a really awesome thing! She's amazed by Arika's fan presence! "Arika-nee-chan, I want to be like you when I grow up!" chirps the 'poppet', throwing up her hands! ... But she has no lipstick on. Fooey!
So instead, she'll just have to settle for leaping up onto the table, handstanding on her left hand, balancing her leg on the nearest support pole, and signing her next photo =inverted=. "Yeah!" she chirps, pleased to at least make =some= ground in the battle of who's got better fanservice! .... Since she obviously doesn't have the -maturity- of Arika, much to her dismay.
But by then the announcer is done with his shouting out of stats and is ready to move onto bigger and better things! "Well, it looks like the fighters are still eager to keep signing autographs, but we've got a schedule to keep! Fighters ready...? FIGHT!"
Momoko had moved on to sign a second photo at this point, but she can't keep the crowd waiting! "I'll give this right back, okay? I promise, okay? Okay?" Clipping the photo onto a clipboard, she vaults off the table, clipboard and sharpie in hand. "Ne, ne, you're ready too, right?" she calls out, but really... she's already dashing on towards Arika, zipping through the crowd! Orderly? Ha! She leaps into a somersault at Arika... but in the midst of her twisting about, she's actually signing the autograph! She drops out of the flip, both feet careening for Arika's shoulders, just as the little girl is drawing a smiley face on the 'o' in her name. "Haaaaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Arika counters Medium Kick from Momoko with Diva Allegro.
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Momoko 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Arika
Wait.. what? Someone wants to be like -her- when they grow up? Flattering though it is, it causes the diva to raise her brow and give the younger girl a look. You know the one. The one that says 'are you sure about that, kid?'. Arika is only the way she is because of the hand life dealt her. Better to make do with it and persevere to become a better person because of it, but she'd not wish it on anyone else. "Thanks," she replies happily, nonetheless. Speaking of that lipstick though, she's got to run a finger along her lips to ensure that it's not smudged. Her vanity dictates that she look her best since the fight -is- being televised.
That's when she notices a slight problem.
Keeping up with the capoeirista's energy and flamboyance while signing her name to things is going to be quite difficult. With no way to match the balancing act, she simply takes two photos at once and drops them on the table. Backflipping onto the chair, she pulls out two pens, signs her name and then slides them forward. As luck would have it, this actually prepares her for Momoko's oncoming attack. Grinning broadly, she watches as the younger girl comes careening toward her and scrolls through her options. Ducking out of the way -would- give her enough time to slip in at least -one- more autograph before having to deal with the fight, buuuuut....
... she's got to start this off in the right way. Her aim is going to be a bit skewed because of the angle the poppet is coming in at, but that doesn't stop the punk rock princess! Uncapping a neon pink Sharpie marker, she clutches it in her right hand. The hand is then jabbed out toward Momoko, and while she punches the poor girl? She's attempting to autograph her at the same time.
Why is she bothering to do this while attempting a strike? WHY! Momoko seems to be a fan, and what better way to kick off the SNF autograph BATTLE EXTRAORDINAIRE than signing her opponent?
As she draws her right hand back, she slams her left hand forward in a sharp palmheel strike. Hand fully extended, a bright flash of violet energy encompasses her hand as it smacks against the girls torso. "Oh, I'm ready."
Ugh! The punch, and the palmheel strike, and the flash of violent violet... Momoko wasn't a huge fan of those. But, looking down at herself while backpedaling, she squeals with delight upon noticing the autograph that's been left upon her. "Wh-whoa..." Arika just keeps upping the level of fanservice here!
Fortunately Momoko didnt' destroy the photo she'd had in her hand -- keeping it out of Arika's reach was part of the reason she got hit so hard, after all! She reaches back to hand the photo to the happy fan -- that marker scrawl from when she got hit is one of a kind, folks! Unsurprisingly, more fans flock to offer her photos to sign in the midst of her kicks -- she picks two of the best and... dumps them on the floor before Arika! What callous disregard for...
Oh right. She's diving into a tumble after those photos, glowing pink as she rolls along the dusty floor towards Arika's shins! A capoeirista would normally do quite a bit of damage here alone, but she's also managing to scribble her own mark on the photos as her feet whirl towards Arika, as if to knock her into her own fans! "Phoenix... ARROOOOOW!"
COMBATSYS: Arika dodges Momoko's Phoenix Arrow.
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Momoko 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Arika
What callous disregard for the fans! Arika is about to crouch down and sign the photos herself (sure, they're pictures of the capoeirista, but it would be amusing, wouldn't it?), but she catches a pink glow from the corner of her eye. "Whooa..." That's not going to happen. She can't afford to get hit with a potent energy shot just -yet-. After all! Things are just starting to roll!
Which is precisely what the diva chooses to do.
Roll.
Dropping from her crouch onto her side, she tumbles away from the feet that are coming her way. In the process, she picks up a few more items and hastily inks her name on them. Can't be certain who they belong to, so when she kips up to her feet, she tosses them into the crowd. Once Momoko enters her 'space' again, the punk rock princess simply reaches out for the girl and attempts to hoist her off her feet into a quick cradle hold before tossing her back down to the ground into the middle of a crowd of adoring fans.
COMBATSYS: Momoko interrupts Quick Throw from Arika with Bananeira Dois Golpes.
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Momoko 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Arika
The fans seemed to like that, even if Momoko did make the signatures a little sloppily there. She cartwheels back to her feet just after missing, with the fans who offered the photos diving to retrieve them.
It'd be just then that Arika closes in for a cradle hold -- but Momoko really doesn't want it just yet! "Uh-oh!" she cries out, back-flipping and twisting to the side. It looks like she would =gladly= continue backflipping completely out of harm's reach, but there are eager fans RIGHT IN HER FACE. "Whoops!" she chirps, throwing her leg out as a counterbalance to stop completely in mid-flip -- but not without gratefully accepting the photos practically shoved in her way. Eeping, she drops to the floor -- and Arika's still closing in! So Momoko just snaps her feet back, kicking twice with the backs of her heels, balancing on one hand as she struggles to sign the two photos she's been given! "Sorry they're so mess-ssssy..." she bemoans, twisting about afterwards and righting herself with a more cautious forward flip, returning the photos and even taking a moment to sign a CD case right-side-up! GASP.
Both heels hit their mark, and send the diva staggering back a ways. Sometimes it's a good thing that there is an audience of fans about, especially when one takes hold of Arika's shoulders and helps her regain her balance. Unfortunately this isn't done without an attempted grab, but she -gently- persuades him to stop before his hand can settle onto her rear by grabbing his wrist and jabbing her thumb into a pressure point. To stop him from protesting about fan abuse, she deftly scribbles her name across the white cotton shirt he happens to be wearing.
She's going to have to get her hands on some photos or CDs soon, since she's beginning to feel as though she's got a penchant for autographing people.
Reaching out into the crowd, she takes hold of two more photos and begins to write as she runs toward Momoko. "Poppet, they ain't gonna complain that they're messy. 'ow many people can say they've got autographs -durin'- a fight?" Clipping the photos together with the cap of the pen she was using, she shifts them over to her left hand. Meanwhile, her right hand chambers up into a fist and sends it toward the younger girl's jaw in a speedy little jab.
COMBATSYS: Momoko blocks Arika's Jab Punch.
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Momoko 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Arika
Well, Momoko was raised to be polite! It comes with growing up in the country, far away from rude city-dwellers! So... yes, she over-apologizes! Like now: "Oh, really? I'm sorry, I didn't know!" She bounds backwards, taking a cue from Arika and scribbling her name on the nearest person's arm -- why not, right, since they =offered= it to her, being too cheap to buy one of the exorbitantly-priced photos. "Aaaah, you're not stressed-out at all, are you? It's confusing, but you're..." She finds herself interrupted as Arika slams a fist in her jaw, but she's still writing her name on that guy's arm! So she grips hold of it more tightly, leaps up and blocks with a high-raised knee, before landing and dotting her smiley-face's nose. "There!" she exclaims, spinning about again.
"But you're not distracted at all!" continues Momoko, bringing her leg around as she spins. She hops a bit, her heel brought high, only to arc downwards and possibly crash into Arika's shoulder! "Haaaaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Arika just-defends Momoko's Change-Up Kick!
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Momoko 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Arika
Oh, well... Arika was raised to be polite too, but things change. It's not that she's -not- polite, per se, but she just knows crowds like this. They eat up things like messy autographs, body signage and great fights! Hopefully the two of them can pull all of that off -and- see to each and every fan before the match is through! "Comes with the territory," she explains as she shifts her shoulder to move with the onslaught of the arced heel, allowing the foot to slow enough before it actually touches her so that the pain is trifling at best.
The two photos she holds are handed back to the people she took them from, and reaches for yet -another- guy in the audience. "Ready, mate? Follow me feet and on the count of three, spin me." Once she receives a nod from him, she bounces over onto her left foot. Then her right. Back and forth until he's synched with her movements. "One," she motions for the photographer to get into place. "Two," a flash goes off as she grabs hold of the guy's shoulders in a quick little hug. "Three!" He takes her by the waist and spins her around in a perfect circle, which allows her to pirouette her way toward Momoko. In the midst of the pirouette, she chambers her right knee and rotates her hip to the side as she lashes out toward Momoko's torso with the instep of her foot.
COMBATSYS: Arika successfully hits Momoko with Rhythmic Roundhouse.
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Momoko 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Arika
Momoko's eyes open wide as she sees what Arika's starting to do -- she's getting fresh with the audience! ... Momoko wants to get fresh with the audience, but she's still =way= too shy for anything like that! "It must be nice being an adult..." she half-whispers, envious of Arika and her casual comfort with the crowd!
It seems she may be too awestruck to get out of the way though, as her attempt at slipping out of the way is hampered by someone standing right behind her -- someone she really should have -felt- from how the mouth-breathing dork was practically =drooling= on the girl. Ugh, gross!
Stumbling backwards, she holds up her pen, winking back at Arika. "Ooh, I got a good idea, I'll be right back!" And then the girl just ducks =into= the crowd, taking full advantage of her small size to disappear within the crowd. It won't be hard to know where she is, by extrapolating the looks of the people in the crowd, but it'll still be tough to -see- her considering how fast she's scurrying about...
COMBATSYS: Momoko focuses on her next action.
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Momoko 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Arika
Blink.
Has she become -that- much of a monster that her young opponent has to run off in the middle of a fight? Arika watches as the small poppet disappears into a sea of people. Careful steps are taken backward as she heads to the table they started at to grab a stack of photos and leave her signature on them as quickly as she can. The stack is then taken up in her right hand and secured together with an elastic. The middle and index fingers of her left hand are slipped between her lips and she gives a shrill whistle.
"These ones are on me, folks."
A glint of playfulness can be seen in her eyes as her fans do exactly what she figures they'll do. They come together in a tight little group in the center of the crowd, expecting to get a freebie. Thus, the fanbase is thinned out enough that the diva can spot the little capoeirista. Twirling herself into a dervish of movement, she continues to clutch the bundle of pictures tightly. When the whirling stops, she has just a split second to do what she intends to do before Momoko moves again. Releasing the autographed images, she's hoping to catch her opponent on the head as she weaves her way through the thinning crowd.
COMBATSYS: Momoko dodges Arika's Thrown Object.
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Momoko 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Arika
Excellent technique! Momoko is actually pretty amazed that Arika was able to manipulate the crowd like that! It should only be common sense -- she got her reputation for a reason, after all! But now that she's out in the open again, Momoko also doesn't have the people she'd wanted for the (presumably) perfect setup she had planned! "Aww!" she protests, idly taking a moment to scrawl her John Hancock on a half-dozen or so other people's photos while Arika's publicity stunt goes off.
But then a sheaf of photos is being hurled towards her! Hey, didn't she say these were free?! The capoeirista doesn't seem to mind that they're photos of her opponent, though... zipping right under the collection, she reaches up to nab it! Being a kick-centric fighter has its advantages: she can scribble 'MOMOKO WAS HERE' on each page of the set as she drives through successive steps of a combo she's rehearsed many times before.
First, it starts with a crouching heel kick to Arika's ankle. "Ya!" Should that hit its mark, she'd stand, twisting forward (and still signing away) as she spins like a top for a revolving Armada Porarta kick. "Ichi-nii-saan!" She'd then twist her torso ninety degrees to the side, her torso like an axle, her legs the spokes of a wheel rolling to crush Arika from above. "Teyaaaa~ !" Should all that land, she'd follow up by practically walking right up the punk rocker, kicking off of her forehead with a backwards flip -- at which point she'd spread the photos like confetti all among the gathered fans! "Here you goooo!"
COMBATSYS: Arika blocks Momoko's Momokonba.
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Momoko 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Arika
Dangit! The stack of photos missed the wee little poppet? Not only that... but her opponent is -grabbing- them, and setting a pen to the-- ACK! "MOMOKO!" Appalled that the young girl would deface her lovely portraits Arika is momentarily distracted. Instead of her jaw dropping in awe or shock though, a impish grin tickles at the corners of her lips and she turns to dive toward the table of promotional products. She's barely got herself turned about when she spies Momoko still holding the pictures. Curiosity gets the better of her, so she turns back just in time to get her ankle kicked for her troubles. The ankle kick comes as a warning though, so the remainder of the attack is easy to block. The kicks still land, though each blow is lessened and the feet on her forehead? Blocked entirely by her hands.
There are some things you just don't do. Kicking the vain punk rock princess in the face is one of them. For her trouble, Momoko gets the top of her foot scrawled on quickly as well. At least this time, it's not intentional! Arika was trying to sign another picture as her hands came up to make that final blocking motion.
"Ungh. Since you like kicks so much..." The diva covers herself as the photos begin to fall, and then follows after the girl. Unfortunately, her move isn't half as choreographed or thought out. Dropping herself forward into a cartwheel, she makes a valiant effort to double-kick Momoko's left shoulder while heading toward the table to sign Momoko's CD with -her- name and toss them out into the crowd.
Pretty soon, the crowd of fans is going to be much like a bevy of sharks that's circling and darting about to get what they want.
COMBATSYS: Momoko fails to interrupt Light Kick from Arika with Phoenix Arrow.
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Momoko 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Arika
It's all in good fun! Momoko figures most will get both signatures -- as Arika said, how many people are going to get an autograph in the midst of a =fight=, anyway? Besides, these photos and such were free! ... And Momoko got her foot signed in the process. "That tickled!" she states, hopping about on her unsigned foot as she lands while trying to fight back a case of the giggles.
Momoko scrambles backwards once she realizes Arika's intentions, twisting sideways and trying to swing out of the way of those kicks. Once again, her escape path is blocked by eager fans... which means she can't twist about for a blurring kick to the shins like she'd wanted to. Reeling backwards from the kick to the shoulder, she nonetheless flashes Arika a bright grin, sweeping a pile of her own CDs into her arms and signing them at mach speed, while backpedaling away from the punk rocker. "Hee-hee... I can't punch you if I'm writing! If I signed with my feet it'd be messy, won't it? Won't it?"
"You're dextrous enough to sign things with your feet?" Yet another thing that causes the punk rock princess to blink. Now she's left with images of Blanka gone the way of the X-Men's Beast, sitting in a chair with a pair of glasses nestled on his nose and signing documents with his toes. Way to go, Momoko!
Arika gives her head a shake and finishes up with the last of the CDs. Her only warning to the girl is, "Watch the jewel cases. Don't want to take someone's eye out with them." In retrospect, it might have been a very -bad- idea to begin throwing them around in the first place. They're not frisbees afer all! As the advice is offered, she whips out two fresh Sharpie markers and winks at the fans. "Photos up 'bove your 'eads, mates!"
Momoko is given the briefest of respites while she quickly climbs up the side of the scaffolding and then leaps off of it so that she can throw herself into a series of somersaults above the crowd. Every time her hands come downward, she pens her name to something - pictures, CDs, phones, headbands, people - you name it, she's signing it as quick as can be. Feet touch down on the ground and she immediately goes to cap the markers and send a double fisted punch out in Momoko's direction.
COMBATSYS: Momoko dodges Arika's Medium Punch.
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Momoko 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Arika
... Well, no. Momoko =isn't= that dextrous, and she shakes her head to that effect. "Noooo, it'd get =messy!=" she protests, as if that explains everything! Signing and passing out CDs at record speed, she nonetheless happens to keep her eyes on Arika as she somersaults through the crowd. How she managed not to hit people is a mystery Momoko resolves to duplicate... some day!
But not right now, because she's got two fists coming right for her! Twisting backwards and out of the way of Arika, she falls onto her now-empty hands. "Sorry, folks!" she calls out -- but the reason =why= might become clear as her feet snap up towards the advancing Arika's waist. With any luck she'll be able to harness Arika's forward momentum by scissoring her feet about her and falling back further, sending Arika flying overhead -- and possibly further into the crowd behind her! "Heeeeyaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Momoko successfully hits Arika with Medium Throw.
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Momoko 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Arika
It's a secret of divadom. One day, if Momoko is a really good girl, Arika might share it with her! (Though, really it's just the fact that she was high enough to stay airborne for a while before landing - just don't tell anyone that!).
Back on track though, the punk rock princess finds her her fists careening toward a fan and has to veer off course once Momoko twists out of the way. What could have been used to her advantage is used against her instead as it lines her up perfectly to have her body grabbed by the capoeirista's feet. Finding herself airborne once more, she lands in a crowd of fans with a vocalized oof and... wouldn't you know it? Someone's got a camera out and yet another picture is snapped. Rolling her eyes she murmurs, "Send me a copy of that one, and I'll sign it for you later," kipping up to her feet at the same time.
Have they gotten through all the fans and autograph requests yet? Arika can't be certain, so she takes her trusty Sharpie in hand and inks a few more signatures while she's lost in the crowd. Decorating the final signature with a heart dotting the 'i' in her name, she allows the crowd to shove her forward. Haphazard are her movements as she tries to focus on Momoko's position. Her body starts to move to a beat that only she can hear, and at a key point to this rhythm, she sends her head to the left in a wide circle like motion. Bobbing it forward a few times in a soft headbang, she suddenly circles it again to the right. This she does twice, before sending it to the left again and then -slamming- it forward to crack against poor little Momoko's face.
COMBATSYS: Arika successfully hits Momoko with Harmonic Headbang.
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Momoko 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 Arika
Cameras! No doubt people have been snapping photos of the two all throughout the fight, but darn if the girl's been able to pay attention to all that! She's pretty singleminded when it comes down to it -- she can manage herself, and things in her immediate area, and that's really about it!
It's easy for her to get lost in the beat though -- she's familiar with music, but this whole 'punk' thing, and thrashing about wildly... it leaves her a little mystified. Headbutts she would normally be able to block, but when she's actually =expecting= a kick or punch or something... well.
Momoko doesn't do well with headbutts. Her nose is instantly set to bleeding from the twin strikes, forcing her to stagger backwards, arms windmilling to either side for balance -- but the girl eventually loses said balance, careening to the floor amidst a flurry of flashbulbs. "Itaaaaaai~..." she exclaims, but despite a hand snapping to her nose to stem the bleeding, she doesn't let the pain get in the way of a good show! She asks the crowd members, her voice a bit nasal, "Ne, please hold out your albums for me real quick?" She mimics the gesture for them to follow, which of course they manage, and asks, "Just a bit higher? ... Perfect!"
At which point she =dashes= towards Arika, leaning to one side so that she can sign the albums in midair, while unleashing a jumping Martelo Rotado kick at Arika's midsection!
COMBATSYS: Arika blocks Momoko's Medium Kick.
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Momoko 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1 Arika
Careening is to be expected from a possible concussion inducing blow to the head, but Arika wasn't expecting to break the girl's nose! Hopefully that isn't the case, but since she's having to wipe blood from her forehead she's not going to hold her breath. An apology is sure to be forthcoming, but not on camera! There's this whole tough-girl image to uphold for her fans, and that's something she's pushed aside recently a few times.
Holding out her hand, she's expecting someone to hand her a tissue, a cloth... anything so that she can wipe this blood off of her. Making a grab for the article she quickly wipes the remainder of the blood away and wrinkles up her nose in disgust. Her own blood is one thing, but wearing someone else's is another entirely. Something's up with the napkin though, it was a little thicker than normal and less crumpleable. Eyes widen as she glances down at Momoko's face and she sends an apologetic and embarrassed look over to the fan from who she snagged it. "Sorry, I'll get'cha another."
"No! Are you kidding me? That's like... GOLD!"
Guy's probably expecting to sell it on eBay after this fight airs for big bucks.
Shrugging her shoulders, she jots her name down on the bloody image and tosses it back to him with enough time to get her hands down in order to slow the kick down a little. The fact that she's backstepping into the fans should be enough to let the other girl know that, hey... that actually hurt a little bit. Still feeling a wee bit of guilt over potentially breaking the face of the younger fighter, she decides to give her something of a break. Winding her fist up, she swings in with what -appears- to be a haymaker, but at the last possible second she pulls her hand back and instead sends a quick jab at Momoko's jaw.
COMBATSYS: Momoko blocks Arika's Jab Punch.
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Momoko 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1 Arika
It was just a nosebleed -- Momoko's still at the age where they're fairly easy to induce. But... the thought of her blood being on someone else's photo is just... eww? Momoko makes a vaguely discomfited face at that one fan, before shrugging dismissively with a half-smile. To each their own, she figures! Ignorance is bliss: it's a good philosophy to live by!
Momoko has mostly gotten her blood loss under control though -- "I'm okay, really!" -- enough to spare a moment to sign a few more CDs. Have they gotten everyone yet? ... Well, it doesn't matter, really, since people keep showing up with stuff to sign! And as long as that keeps happening, Momoko will feel compelled to humor them! Sharpie smiley-faces abound as the girl signs a few more, waiting for Arika to show up. "Thank you for coming to the show, everybody! It's been great fun so far!" Apparently, Momoko wants to make sure she lets her fans know how much they're appreciated, even if they'll be selling smeared blood on eBay.
But with Arika closing in, the girl curls up in anticipation, bringing her knee up high to absorb the blow -- whether it be a haymaker or a jab punch, the reaction's (thankfully) the same! But while she's close, Momoko will drop low to the ground, swinging her right foot towards the ankles, before handstanding and spinning about for a falling kick known as the Au Giratoria, aimed at cracking the top of her foot across Arika's shoulders -- since she doesn't like hitting in the face, for now-obvious reasons!
COMBATSYS: Arika dodges Momoko's Change-Up Kick.
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Momoko 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1 Arika
Appreciation goes a very long way, apparently. Fans of both begin to cheer, clap and stomp their feet, creating quite a noisy din in the Duck Pond despite the lack of a band, a DJ or whatever else usually keeps the club running full steam.
Guilt is alleviated a tad when Momoko further announces that she's okay. Arika's not sure what she'll do to make it up to the girl, but she'll come up with something. An autographed CD (HAH!) or tickets. -Something-. "Nice block," she says with a slightly cheeky grin. But when Momoko drops low to the ground, Arika bridges backward and kicks her feet up over her head until she's upright again. Very awkward way to dodge an attack, since her feet aren't aiming toward the little poppet, but it manages to work and surprise the diva at that!
Taking things one step further, she jumps backward onto the autograph table. Raising her right shoulder up on a slight angle, she turns to face the cameras directly. Winking at them, she blows a kiss out to the viewers at home. Concurrent to this, she holds her left arm out to the side about three inches below her shoulder, bending her elbow just enough to make it look like she's holding her guitar. Dropping her right hand down to where the pickups would normally be she fakes her favorite power chord. Bringing her hand back up after hitting the imaginary chord, a bright explosion of multi-colored chi goes off behind her before the energy arcs off toward Momoko.
The energy might not be as powerful as some, but it's enough to rustle a stack of pre-autographed images and send them out toward the fans with the initial burst.
COMBATSYS: Momoko dodges Arika's Siren Song.
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Momoko 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Arika
Momoko beams: the fact that the audience is providing a nice steady beat means the world to her! That's the one thing she's been missing so far in this particular battle, and she's rather glad to have it! "Thank you, everyone! This is what the Duck Pond is all about!"
But when Arika hops up on the autograph table... well, what =is= that? She looks like she's playing a guitar, but there =isn't= one, and... "Uh-oh!" Momoko thinks she knows what's coming, and to avoid it, she makes a pre-emptive dive =under= the table, letting the energy streak right past her! Hopefully it doesn't hit any fans, that could suck!
But now that she =is= under the table, Momoko makes a brief diversion from her usual tactics, ramming her shoulder into the table at an off-angle, that ought to be enough to send everything on the autograph table flying -- possibly including Arika! And with that support column nearby, it won't be pretty...
COMBATSYS: Arika fails to counter Strong Throw from Momoko with Diva Attaca.
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Momoko 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Arika
Oh, anyone who's a fan of the diva likely knows what's about to happen. As the energy arcs toward the location where Momoko -was-, they part like the Red Sea. Anyone who isn't aware of what's going on is smart enough to know that when the rest of the crowd moves? So should they. Arika stifles her urge to curse that the girl moved with such precision as to get underneath the table before the energy can even graze her at all.
It's right -then- that the table is jostled out from under her. As she's lifted into the air by the movement, she reaches up to grab for the sash on one of the grotesquely large inflated ducks so that she can swing back and drop down behind Momoko to grasp her in a chokehold. Depth perception is apparently not her strong suit though, since she miscalculates where the sash is and instead crashes right -into- the duck before dropping down to the floor with a groan.
Well, that's a relief! Momoko is glad to know no one was hurt in the making of that awesome light show! It takes her a moment to recover from that, though -- after that, and being kicked and hit in the face, she's still a bit woozy. But it seems like that's alright, considering what happens with Arika and the duck!
"Whoa, sorry about that!" she apologizes (yet again). She'd have something smart to say about the duck, but... well, trash-talking just isn't her forte. "You're okay though, right? You are, right? Right?" She springs up to the top of the upturned table, proving her balance by standing on the edge... but she's also good at leaping from there, as she does a flip, staying crouched in midair as she flips about. It may be a bit hard to tell what she's planning, but it won't be when she snaps out of that crouch with a backwards kick towards the punk rocker's upper torso! "Haaaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Arika just-defends Momoko's Short Kick!
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Momoko 1/----===/=======|==-----\-------\0 Arika
"If I ain't alright, poppet," Arika says with another groan as she pushes up to her feet, "you'd know it." She may be 'alright' by her standards, but that doesn't mean the little flight into the rubber duck was in any way fun, or that it hurt any less than it died. Stabilizing her footing, she watches as Momoko flips about toward her. Uncertain of what the younger girl is up to, she sets herself into a defensive stance, preparing to block anything that comes toward her face. She's not got to do that though, since she pulls a Matrix moment. As she watches the foot snap out toward her torso, time seems to slow down for her. She drops back and touches the ground with her right hand in order to push herself right back up to her feet a moment later.
Reaching out to grab Momoko by the shoulders, she attempts to yank the poor girl toward her as she slams her knee up toward her stomach. Not a very nice thing to be doing, but there's a reason for everything...
COMBATSYS: Momoko blocks Arika's Femme Fatale.
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Momoko 1/--=====/=======|==-----\-------\0 Arika
... for instance, Arika is hoping to force Momoko to double over so that the second part of this move can become a reality. Releasing shoulders, she attempts to wrap her hands about the girl's midsection, so that she can hoist her up into a standard back-to-belly piledriver position. However! Instead of dropping the capoeirista on her head like a piledriver is meant to be delivered, the Femme Fatale goes to drop forward with her opponent so that she's hitting the ground chest first if this all comes to fruition.
"Oh, good!" She seems pleased that Arika's okay, at least!
But really, it's not as if Momoko doesn't have =enough= issues worrying about her chest! Luckily for her, she's got a bit of fight left in her, despite it being weeeeelll past her naptime. As before, her leg snaps up just in time to fend off the knee to the stomach... but that won't leave her very open for the grapple that follows. Momoko is pretty hard to keep a hold of though, and due to a slight amount of wiggle room, she's able to snap her feet and hands out just in time to cushion her fall, so that she doesn't get a =total= crushing defeat at Arika's hands!
Once she's let go, though, the very first thing the girl does... is get back to her feet. It may have looked like she'd be down for the count, but she's determined to put on a show for the fans! She'll try to flip about so that she's on top of Arika's shoulders. Should she manage that, she'd sharply twist her mass to one side, applying a good deal of torque to Arika's upper torso, before flipping away to safety. "Iyaaaaan!"
COMBATSYS: Arika blocks Momoko's Iyan.
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Momoko 1/-======/=======|==-----\-------\0 Arika
Ever hear the saying 'a watched pot never boils'? This could be said to Momoko about her worries. She's young yet, and it's really not something she should be stressing over. At any rate, it's all quite moot, since the punk rock princess isn't telepathic and can't hear the thoughts of the younger girl.
Arika believes the girl to be down for the count and is about to leap up and drop back down with her elbow, when she's suddenly finding feet on her shoulder. Most moves can be anticipated fully, but this one? The diva's not got a -clue- what the younger girl is up to now! Legs fasten around her neck, and the pressure is put on. Not much she can do to stop it, so she forces her shoulders upward to decrease the amount of it she's feeling, while at the same time tensing her neck muscles. Looks like she's not got to keep that going for too long, Momoko is suddenly flipping away which leaves the diva to stand there rubbing at her neck and attempting to catch her breath.
This moment of respite doesn't last long, the capoeirista doesn't look like she's down. Resilient little poppet! Dashing after her, Arika brings her knee up across her chest and swings her hip slightly. Extending her kicking leg outward, she's attempting to strike Momoko's torso with the outside edge of her foot.
COMBATSYS: Arika successfully hits Momoko with Light Kick.
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Momoko 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0 Arika
No, Momoko isn't down just yet -- flipping to the side, she's able to land on her feet and handspring to safety. The crowd is nervous, now though -- whenever fighters get worn down as much as Momoko and (to a lesser extent) Arika have, stuff tends to explode! So they're mostly giving the fighters a wide berth now.
Which means there's plenty of room for Arika to wheel a kick about into Momoko without hitting anyone else. Already quite exhausted, she's unable to get out of the way, and staggers off to the side, curling one arm about her stomach. Yeah, that seems to have done the trick!
But... she'll go down with grace, at least. Handing her pen to the nearest fan, she nods towards the main entrance. No one had bothered to close the main doors with all the fans inside, but since most of them had gotten what they came for... well, there's a bit more room now! There's an almost clear shot to the main entrance, but Momoko, gasping for breath from that kick, just motions to people with open hands, indicating 'spread out'.
If that wasn't easily understood, perhaps the pulsing sounds of energy gathering between her palms will. Smiling faintly, she nods back to Arika, smiling. This was a good fight, she seems to be saying... and it's going to go out with a blast! With one last wink, she mouths the word, "Thanks!" And then all heck breaks loose, as every last bit of the girl's energy is channeled right between her fingers into a GIGANTIC blast of pink energy -- which would rocket straight outside -- sweeping Arika along for the ride if she should be so unlucky! "Es-per..." whispers the tiny capoeirista... just before dropping to her knees, utterly spent.
She's down =now=, that's for sure!
COMBATSYS: Momoko can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Arika dodges Momoko's Esper.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Arika 0/-------/----===|
People spread out. No one wants to be caught in an explosive burst of energy! Fans disperse, and while they're not exactly fleeing the scene of the fight, they're definitely high tailing it out of dodge! For some, it's as simple as ducking behind columns. One even dives behind the bar. Hopefully whoever runs the place was smart enough to lock up the library of libations.
Things definitely go out with a blast. Whatever stacks of photos that were left are swept out through the doors with the wave of pink energy. The papers make a fwooosh sound as signed photographs litter the street outside, and some of the lucky fans that hadn't quite made it up to the girls walk away with these prizes.
So, where does that place the punk rock princess? The pulsing sounds of energy being gathered caught her attention, and just before the GIGANTIC blast, she manages to drop to the floor and compress her body against it. As luck would have it, the energy just -narrowly- misses her. A hair away, really. An explosive exhalation of air bursts forth from her; breath she wasn't even aware she was holding until just this moment. Lifting her head, she nods to Momoko and grins. It really was a great fight, and she can't help but be pleased with how the promotional event panned out. This has absolutely -nothing- to do with the fact that she managed to win, either. Though she's not going to knock the win at all, she's actually just ecstatic that all of the fans seem to be satisfied with the autographing and the fight.
"You did good, poppet," she calls out to Momoko as she pushes herself up to her feet to claim victory. Shooting her right fist up into the air, she makes a big show of blowing another kiss toward the cameras.
"THE WINNER! ARRRRRIIIIIIIIIKA FAAAAAAAAAAAAADE!"
After the announcement, the diva settles back onto the floor leaning back against one of the support columns. There's just one thing left she feels she's got to do. "If we missed anyone, form a line 'ere." She points in front of her and adds, "If you can find anythin' left you want us to sign, you'll 'ave to give us a moment to catch our breath."
Perhaps she shouldn't be speaking for Momoko when she says this, but she's positive it's what the girl would want to do.
COMBATSYS: Arika has ended the fight here.
Log created on 19:46:48 08/10/2007 by Arika, and last modified on 17:41:38 08/13/2007.