Description: Deep Purple (1972). Elle is forced to eject Sergio from one of Metro City's seedier casinos for cheating while moonlighting as a pit boss. When the casino gives her an offer to make things interesting, she accepts. Sergio starts off strong as the favorite, but Elle scrapes out a remarkable comeback at the last minute.
Metro City isn't Blackjack's base of operations. Yet. Things take time. Rome wasn't built in a day, and with the economic downturns in Elle's particular business, it's getting harder and harder to secure jobs.
As a result, Elle's turned her entrepreneurial spirit towards other things. Being a mercenary is only part of what she does. She also buys and sells controlled goods such as weaponry and drugs, does a brisk trade in stolen merchandise and bootlegs and runs odd jobs at various gambling dens.
The latter is something new to her, but with her ability to keep an eye on surveillance and do several things at once, it's really just an extension of what she already does. Just with less violent deaths on all sides.
This makes her a regular in a number of smaller casinos and less than upstanding gambling establishments across the city as she fills in for an absentee pit boss. The pay is good, and it's a better way to spend her time rather than just staring at the television all night. However, it's not exactly exciting as she stands between roulette tables, a bored look on her face, dressed in a maroon miniskirt and jacket and a black blouse.
Sergio is in Metro City for no good reason at all. One of his Neo League fights was here and he spent a day checking the place out, somewhat liking what he saw. His so-called commitment to settle down led him to back to Southtown rather quickly, but he's wanted a chance to get back and explore the city a bit more in depth since then.
It's not the tourist traps that he goes to explore either, but rather the places of ill repute. Casinos, cock fights, dog fights, raves. The sort of thing you'd normally find the youth of a city doing. He usually finds himself getting into trouble, but that's half the fun, isn't it?
Currently he's sitting at a poker table, sitting over a moderate sized stack of chips, which is steadily, though slowly, growing. That shouldn't be happening; the cards are marked and the house should have a clear advantage. The problem? Sergio can read the marks faster than the house dealer. He's being discreet enough that it might look like blind luck, throwing games here and there, but the fact he's even ahead is a tell. The casino, obviously, won't like this at all.
Like card sharps never walk in the door.
It's amazing how many people think they're doing something new, or have found a fantastic new way to beat the system. Even more amazing are the amount of people that think they're being clever by coming ind using their homespun systems. Even more so are the actual low amount of tables that actually cheat for the casino itself. Certainly one or two tables are rigged, but the vast majority of them need not be.
The games themselves have such dismal odds, cheating is superfluous. You might as well toss a match at a forest fire.
Still, due to the frequency of this sort of thing and the occasional person that's deliberately trying to provoke something, there's a specific way these sort of things are handled. 'Handsome' Harv has seen them all, and the old, wheezing, portly dealer trundles up to Elle with a tired look on his face.
"We got a greaseball at table sixteen," he says with a hacking cough. Emphysema hasn't treated him well. "Down at Eddie's table. We usually just cash 'em out, send 'em home."
Elle nods. Harv's a straight shooter, been working in the place for a dog's age. The man knows his business, and under his instruction, she walks over to Sergio's table, and repeats the same tired line that she says every other week. "I'm sorry sir, but we're closing this table, and we're going to have to ask you to leave." Her dull, uninspired voice demonstrates she finds this as about as exciting as watching a potato grow mold as she casts her eyes downward at the man.
Winning at the table isn't really the objective. If you know how to count the cards and there's someone in the casino with marked cards you're pretty much assured to make at least a little money. The real game is to see how much fun you can have while winning. Giving obvious tells when pretending to bluff, and simply choosing whether or not to buy the other players gambles, that's the real game. You can make people feel like they have the best luck around or send them home pissed, or put them through a real roller coaster ride. Start actually making real money and- well, you'll get what Sergio's about to get right now, so there's little point in it.
The jig is up, and the games over. Too bad he's getting kicked out at the same time, there'd probably be some more fun to be had in the place if he'd be able to stick around; maybe even a back room he could join. That and some mean bouncers showing up are the other two likely outcomes of his current shenanigans. He stands up and gives a light shrug to the others at the table, "And the game was just getting started." About this time he looks over and notices Elle. First he grins, and then he momentarily appears shrewd, before sliding into a naturally charming look that Elle's probably seen a million times before. "Well, I guess I can go if you're the one asking."
"Good," Elle says flatly. There's a reason why people don't really notice her for the most part. It doesn't matter what she looks like, her cold, dead, and sometimes just flat out odious personality tends to detract from any possible purchase into a conversation if she doesn't feel like talking.
Those same qualities are what make her so marketable in her chosen feild of work.
Dull brown eyes have seen a lot, and she motions with a tired hand. "Out," is the laconic continuance to her original statement. If the guy continues to chatter without moving anywhere towards the exit, she's going to have to haul him out and blast him out the door like the last guy, and that'll be about as fun as getting a root canal.
It's all she can do while she waits patiently for most of her operatives to get back to her. Anything to make ends meet and ensure that a paycheck in on the table for eahc of them.
"Well you're a tough cookie, aren't you?" He grins lightly. It doesn't look like he's going to move, but then he does, but in the wrong direction. It'd make sense though, as he's grabbing his chips. Apparently he wants his ill-gotten gains. If not stopped he'll scoop his nice little pile up and walk ever so slowly to the counter where chips are cashed out, speaking to Elle either on the way, or in passing. "You know, you look like you could use a little excitement. Must be dull workin' in a place like this. How's about you come with me and I show you a good time; there has to be a good nightclub somewhere in this town." Added a moment later is, "Could also stir up some excitement here, if y'know what I mean."
And now he's talking. It may sound like words to Sergio. To Elle, it's a noise akin to the muted trumpet sound Charlie Brown's teacher makes.
Elle just puts off the air that she's seen everything the world has to offer, and a few of the things it didn't want to give away. The pickup lines are old and tired, and the shiteating grin and patronizing tone all part and parcel to the deals she's done.
From megalomaniac overlords to crazy revenge-obsessed loners, Elle's worked for all types. This is just another indignity she puts up with for the sake of her own welfare. His slow pace, however, is met with more of a response than everything he says put together.
"Move faster. My grandfather moves faster than you. The dead one."
A real tough nut to crack. Jaded nuts are perhaps the toughest. "Hmm. Yep, you could definitely use a little zest." Silence entombs him for the rest of the walk to the cash counter, the unreceptive nature of the person he's talking to doing much to cut back the jabbering. He sets down the chips and then pointlessly puts them in order for the clerk, who's probably experienced enough to count them all offhand without such niceties. "How'd you get hooked into workin' at a drab place like this anyhow? You seem that type. The quiet one that's the hellcat underneath." Is he just venturing guesses or does he know something? Probably a little of both, hoping he's right. Talking to her while he cashes out the chips is probably just annoying. Asking for his cash in $1s, that's an asshole move.
Sergo
In those big Vegas casinos, you can do that. If you're a regular and a whale.
This place, however, is not a Vegas casino, nor is it Burger King. You get it their way, when they feel like giving it to you. The wizend old woman behind the teller's cage eyes Sergio, and then looks at Elle, who just shakes her head drolly.
"Sorry hon," the woman croaks, "All we have are hundreds for you. And before you start raising a stink..." She points to a button on her shirt that says 'Manager'.
Elle's not answering any personal questions, however. "Just keep moving," is all she offers. Hellcat. If Tran heard that, he'd laugh himself sick.
Foiled again. "Hmm, guess I'll have to go with hundreds then." Stalling for time isn't working very well. The cash is counted and handed out, and Sergio picks it up, shoves it in his wallet and begins heading for the door. Slowly of course. "Well, guess you probably do know what you'll be missin' so I won't use that one. So long, not so fair, not so maiden. Have fun standin' around doin' nothing all night. See you in the funny papers, haha!"
Elle's grim face betrays nothing, until he gets a few feet from the door. Tapping his hand on Elle's shoulder, Harv mutters something to her, to which she nods back. The older man half trots, half stumbles his way to the back office as a ringing noise is heard overhead.
"New odds folks!"
The horce track betting board is immediately changed over to a far more simple odds board: Elle and 'Challenger'. The woman's guitar is tossed to her from behind the cashier's desk, and she slips the harness for the weapon over shoulders.
"Somebody just told me who you were and where they've seen you before. Odds are up. 3:2 in your favor. Let's see if they're justified."
And with that, Elle begins to charge her aura, the electrical power snarls around her feet and up her legs, increasing the amount of energy she can bring to bear. "You want excitement? Here's your shot at it."
COMBATSYS: Elle has started a fight here.
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Elle 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Elle has ended the fight here.
COMBATSYS: Elle has started a fight here.
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Elle 0/-------/-------|
A laugh suddenly comes from the man, though a good natured one. "Oh, so that's how it is, is it?" He immediately pulls out his wallet and hands all the money he'd just won to the manager. "Great! Put all of that on me, then; I ain't gonna lose." If Sergio's personality wasn't obvious before, it'll be clear as daylight now, extreme confidence oozing from him. "Plenty of excitement when things like this happen. Have to say I wasn't expecting a pick-up match against a bored security chick, but I guess it takes all kinds."
At the electricity suddenly building up around her, he laughs even more, "Electricity? Nice trick, but it's not gonna work against someone like me." That shiteating grin is back in full force. "Tell you what, I don't have any problems with hitting girls, but why don't you take the first shot. Call it a handicap, that might even the odds a bit."
COMBATSYS: Sergio has joined the fight here.
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Elle 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sergio
COMBATSYS: Sergio takes no action.
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Elle 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sergio
Electricity might be something Sergio is capable of handling.
Then how about sound?
Elle takes a step forward, and pushes against the ground, angling herself. Time to get into gear. As she pushes, she does a sudden reversal, rotating in an opposite direction as she rolls by a table for cover as people clear out to watch the spectacle from the safer back portion of the room.
Popping up from her cover of the tables, Elle unleashes a sonic attack, the shimmering burst shooting from her hand, barely visible to the naked eye. While it's not much for causing any force upon a successful it, it's an attack designed to rip into eardrums and rupture blood vessels.
COMBATSYS: Sergio blocks Elle's Metal Health.
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Elle 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sergio
Sound, fire, electricity. It's all the same, really. Or at least, it is when someone's ready to take it head on. The blast of sound energy roars towards him and into him, smacking into a body tightened up hard, muscles tensed to deflect whatever blow may come. He grits his teeth as the chi hits him, and then grins when the effects of it are negligible. "Nice one. That could actually hurt if I'm not careful."
He then adopts a brawlers stance, and begins moving slowly towards Elle, that table she's hiding behind doing it's job well and covering her up. Sergio, however, has a plan. He runs forward, a not entirely impressive speed, jumps up, hits the edge of the table and jumps off of it again, landing hard on the ground just behind Elle. Whirling about he reaches for her shoulders, and if successful attempts to put her into a strong headlock and choke her, afterwards pressing his hand on the small of her back and releasing a hard burst of water at point blank range to blast her away from him. "Hah!"
COMBATSYS: Sergio successfully hits Elle with Riptide.
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Elle 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Sergio
The slow attack should have been easily avoided. Unfortunately for Elle, her combat skills are more than a little rusty these days. The man grabs her by the neck, and unleashes his stream of water and Elle's blows away by the attack fairly easily.
Despite this, it doesn't look like Elle's going to stay down for long. Already, her body's compensating for the damage. Shaking off the initial strike far too easily than she should be able to, she staggers to her feet.
So he thinks he's invincible? That's good. Elle likes people that consider themselves indestructable.
Raising her hand, the woman lets loose a stream of power. The electricity rips down her arm, crackling across painted fingertips and blasting a solid stream of charged particles at the man, attempting to find purchase somewhere in the apparently considerable defenses they're up against.
COMBATSYS: Sergio overcomes High Voltage from Elle with Whirlpool.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Elle 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Sergio
"Haha! Shooting lightning at me isn't going to work; I've faced down and beaten lightning stronger than yours; trust me!" Sometimes delusions of grandeur can be an asset rather than a disadvantage, allowing one to take risks that might seem folly to an ordinary person. It proves the case this time, as Sergio pulls out a rope and flings it forward, a twisting vortex of water forming around it as it spins. It moves across the floor like a miniature tornado, and the electricity blasts into it. Thing is? The energy just seems to stay inside that vortex, water being a natural ground and all, shorting the attack out completely with rope and water trick still heading towards Elle. The ropes at neck height, so if it hit's it'll choke her on top of assaulting her with the water. "See what I mean!"
COMBATSYS: Sergio successfully hits Elle with Whirlpool.
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Elle 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Sergio
Well, this could be going better. Strangled by a rope and blasted by water, Elle hasn't fought this badly for quite some time, and there's frankly little excuse for it. Clearly, Sergio's just built to withstand what Elle can bring to bear. Two rounds into the fight, Elle's already being thrashed fairly badly.
There's still a little bit more to her repitoire, though.
Grasping the rope with her free hand, she yanks at it feircely, trying to slam the man face first onto the ground. it's not a graceful move, operating more off sheer brute force than any finesse, but it'll hopefully have it's intended effect. Otherwise, Elle is done before she can even get off the ground.
COMBATSYS: Sergio interrupts Strong Throw from Elle with Old Faithful.
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Elle 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Sergio
Whoops. Sergio pulled out the wrong rope for that one. He does have some longer ropes for a more impressive version of the same attack, and the result of an incorrect rope used seems to be the other end whipping back and wrapping around him. He realizes this only when Elle's hand reaches for the rope. "Shit!"
Quickly, he thrusts his right hand into the air, a blast of water flying up from right in front of his feet and hosing the guitarist down, enough to knock her off balance just enough that the rope can't be pulled quite as hard as intended, though still quite firmly. Sergio stumbles forward and rapidly unwraps the rope from his arm, allowing it to simply fall to the ground. "Nice try, almost got me there!"
Elle's faced down a lot of opponents. However, every time she thinks she sees everything, there's always a new variation on a theme. That being said, it's time to take stock in what's going on here. Elle's fought opponents like this before. It's just a matter of figuring out precisely what to do that's the trick.
Until then, Elle's going to have to marhsall her strength and see if she can't buy herslef some time. After getting blasted backward by the jet of water, Elle crouches down behind a blackjack table, and considers the situation. More importantly, exactly how she's going to get back into this game.
COMBATSYS: Elle gains composure.
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Elle 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Sergio
Sergio, on the other hand, has faced relatively few opponents. His tactics never vary too far from his average either, but they seem to do fairly well. "Tryin' to catch you're breath, huh? Good idea, but not gonna happen!" He moves in quickly, rushing her to try and keep her from getting herself back together. If his opponent is weak, he needs to press his advantage. Other fighters may take a time for a breather themselves, or perhaps quickly think up some countertactics for whatever Elle might try next. After all, desperate fighters can get dangerous quickly.
Sergio, however, simply does what's natural, and that's attempt to lay down some more beating. He charges her, lowering his shoulder and powering forward like a locomotive, a literal wave of water forming behind him and moving across the floor. It catches up and overcomes him, sweeping him up in it's power and surging him forward even faster, the intent to blast right through the blackjack table and simply run right over the top of Elle. "rrrrrrrrraaaaaAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Elle interrupts Strong Kick from Sergio with Powerslave.
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Elle 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Sergio
Hrm. Well, it's time to put her assessments to the test. If this works, she might not be able to win, but Sergio's tactical advantage will be signifigantly lessened as she'll have figured out his strategy. After a long time of dealing with technical and proficient fighters, wanton swinging isn't something she's used to.
As he charges, she slides a guitar string from her wrist, pulling it taut between two hands. When Sergio smashe through the table, she leaps. The debris spray everywhere as she lands behind the man and wraps the wire around his neck. Yanking back once, she sends a powerful jolt down the length of the wire before letting go, falling backward onto her shoulder, rolling back to give herself some distance.
That worked out nicely.
Getting grouted with amperage; not something that was intended when he attacked, but then counterattacks are rarely expected when they happen. Or at least, when they succeed. "Grck-!"
He falls backwards from the technique, reaching for his throat on the ground and rubbing at the extremely sore spot that's now there. "Nice-" *cough cough*, "-one. Ugh." He picks himself off of the ground, and looks at Elle carefully. So, mad-bull rushes don't seem to work against her. Lesson learned, or so he thinks. She's rolled away, with good distance between them. What to do. Another rush might end up with the exact same result, so what to do? His answer is, perhaps, astonishingly stupid.
Rushing in on the ground may not have worked, but what if he's midair? Rather than just come in normally he takes a couple running steps and launches himself into the air, leaping up and extending one leg, intending to plant it solidly in the center of Elle's chest. If it lands it will knock her back just enough so that he can land, deliver three solid punches across her body, and then send a hard palm strike to her chest, only to stop just prior to contact and release another spray of water. "Haah!"
COMBATSYS: Elle blocks Sergio's Breaker.
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Elle 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Sergio
No such luck this time around. Readying herself as the man telegraphs his moves to her, Elle hunkers down, falling to one knee and raising her arms. The falling leg smashes against Elle's raised arms, depleting the force of the impact enough for Elle to heave herself backward, well out of the range of the follow up.
Having learned the man's attack strategy a little too late for her own good, Elle's just trying to play catch up at this point, and it's questionable as to whether or not she'll actually be able to manage it.
In fact, there's only one real way that she might even have a chance to come back from this, and she's forced to channel all her energy into making it happen. Flooding her system with her own power, she tries to boost herself up by sheer will alone... which unfortunately leaves her wide open to attack.
COMBATSYS: Elle drops her guard to recover.
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Elle 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Sergio
Being given a little information about Sergio's fighting style beforehand could probably do wonders for his opponents, as it's fairly unrefined and obvious. The little, usually unnoticed, touches of refinement and the man's sheer power are probably all that keeps him from being a nobody in the fighting world. But you don't fight on the streets for 20 years without picking up at least a thing or two.
One he's learned is how to spot and attack people who are pulling back and either drawing themselves up or lowering their guard. In fact he has an attack created for just those situations. He can, and does, use it for other reasons, but it's a plain fact that one of the Italian's most powerful techniques was created for just the position Elle's put herself in. When he sees it, he simply grins, and drops into a power stance, drawing his right arm back.
There's a loud rumbling below, and Sergio thrusts his hand forward, the floor of the casino suddenly rending as a torrent of water surges up from beneath, as if an underwater river was suddenly redirected aboveground. Along with it comes huge chunks of the floor and anything else that may be in the direct path between Sergio and Elle. "HYAH!"
COMBATSYS: Elle blocks Sergio's Whitewater.
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Elle 1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1 Sergio
The torrential cascade between herself and Sergio smashes dead into her, the powerful attack bowling her over. However, the assault doesn't do much more than put her back to where she was before she got blasted backwards... meaning that she's now got a little more to show for her efforts.
Staggering to her feet, she scans the ruined area, looking at the layout of the room now that it's been drastically rearranged. There's not a lot of cover now, and there's only one clear course of action for her.
Just keep attacking until someone falls over.
Once again, Elle's hurling herself forward. Shooting by the man at a quick speed, she tries to grab ahold of him by his arm, and simply fling him to the ground as she passes by, making sure that she continues to have enough distance between her and her opponent to stay at range.
COMBATSYS: Elle successfully hits Sergio with Medium Throw.
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Elle 1/----===/=======|=======\===----\1 Sergio
That's... not exactly what Sergio was hoping to happen. That sort of thing takes a lot of effort, and having the net effect be a gain for his opponent is...disappointing. Still, there's not much he can do about it now. It might be funny to say, but his attack may very well be ill-suited for the purpose it was created for! And then, in Elle comes. The attack took a darn lot out of him, and he needs some time to recover from it. Elle coming in at that exact moment is exactly the right thing to do. Because of that, it's a somewhat obvious tactic, and Sergio attempts evasion the moment he sees it.
Large men, however, are not good at these things; at least not as good as others are. He's snatched up despite his effort and slammed hard into the ground. "Ugh!" At this point, Elle's turned the tables, or at least evened them out fairly well. His once powerful lead has been whittled away via tactics to an even match. Those are great, as long as you don't let them go even further to the dogs. For Sergio, it's time to play his trump card.
"Ok, I gotta admit, you got guts to keep goin strong after the early beating you took. Tougher cookie than I thought before. But it's time to end this." He reaches down inside himself, and draws upon a massive reserve of power, releasing it all in one magnificent all or nothing attack. If nothing else, his last technique should put Elle in a poor spot to defend, and he's going to take every advantage he can get. Two massive waves suddenly form, one behind Elle, and the other behind Sergio. They careen towards each other at breakneck speed, Sergio easily getting swept up by the one behind him, the water lifting him off the ground and sweeping him forward. The intent is that the other will snatch Elle up in an equal but less controlled manner and bring drag her along for an impact.
COMBATSYS: Elle dodges Sergio's Unrealized Potential.
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Elle 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Sergio
Elle's immediate response is to jump. The woman isn't swift, but she's durable and crafty. The moment she took to survey the landscape apparently pays dividents as she jinks hard to the left, rolling onto the table that Sergio shattered like a twig, and she pushes off, sailing clear of the crashing waves.
With a grunt, Elle hits the ground, rolling before splaying her legs and skidding to a three point landing. As Sergio has seen, she's not the toughest, but she's a thinking fighter. And what she's thinking right now is that it's time to capitalize on Sergio's slower style.
One again, Elle loops around in a full run to beeline towards Sergio. With a short exhalating on breath, she leaps to grab the man in a Shadaloo-style Frankensteiner. Apparently she does have some training, even if it's from Shadaloo.
COMBATSYS: Sergio interrupts Strong Throw from Elle with Fierce Punch.
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Elle 1/-======/=======|==-----\-------\0 Sergio
The water slams together in a magnificent maelstrom, serving no purpose other than to destroy some more furniture. It evaporates quickly, leaving Sergio near spent, and Elle unharmed. "Oh man... I can't believe she got out of the way..." While he's busy lamenting, Elle seems to be figuring out ways to take advantage of him.
"Ok, you know what, fuck this." It's a horribly stupid thing to do, but with Elle leaping towards him he simply pulls his fist back and slams it forward, obligatory water energy surrounding his fist. Somehow it finds it's mark, bashing into the maroon skirted woman and significantly slowing her down, giving him enough time to twist along with the attack and simply go limp afterward, minimizing the shock to his system when he's smashed into the ground. He then begins the process of picking himself back up, muttering as he goes.
Elle's belted clear across the room and slams agains the wall with a bne rattling bang. Oka. Time to take steps to gain the lead again.
Step One: check the circumstances and capacity. Currently, she's not in a good position, but there's still a lot of power flowing through her veins.
Step Two: Locate a vulnerable spot. He's shown a remarkable resiliance to everything except one complaint. Captializing it, she moves forward with her final step.
Raising her hand up from a crouched position, an action that usually takes a minute or two to get to a decent power level lets out a shriek as electrons are ripped from the very air around her. Energy is projected from her fingertips not in the bright cascade as before, but in a stream of blue-white power, lancing towards Sergio like a flying pillar of pain.
COMBATSYS: Sergio negates Whitesnake from Elle with Whitewater.
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Elle 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Sergio
"Told you usin' that on me wasn't going to work? Aren't you gonna listen?!" In the end, it's the build up that gets her. If she were able to fire it off at the blink of an eye there's no doubt it would have swamped and overwhelmed him, but as it is he has time enough to build up his own surge of power. It's a familiar move, once she's seen before. He drops down into a crouching position and pulls his arm back, suddenly pushing it forward and causing a massive onrush of water to tear up from below the floor.
Again, as with her other attack, the electricity hits the water and grounds instantly. But unlike before the water is equally spent, evaporated in a split second and leaving the both of them no less worse for the wear. ...ok, so that's not really true. Sergio is, at this point, sweating buckets and breathing very heavily. He probably can't go on like this much longer. "h-heh... didn't I warn ya'?"
Elle's face is impassive as she cracks her knuckles once again. She may be suffering from a lot of injuries, but her mind is still sharp and her accuracy seems to be on par. Despite this, the man seems to be still keeping up just fine. Nevertheless, the mercenary's not discouraged. Not yet anyhow.
Moving forward, she jogs at a brisk pace, keeping up step as she unlimbers the guitar strapped to her back. The silvery weapon gleams in the existing light as she rears it back, grasping the neck with both hands.
As she closes it, she swings the weapon with a powerful swing, the hard armored edge of the weapon seeking to smash the man in the face with a force enough to cave in a normal person's head.
COMBATSYS: Elle successfully hits Sergio with Breaking the Law.
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Elle 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Sergio
Sergio decides to play a more conservative game, if only for the moment. He's too tired to try anything else, to be honest. He simply hangs back and crosses his arms, lifting them up to meet the weapon while tightening his body and lowering himself a bit. This technique is normally able to weather some incredibly serious beatings, but it's weakness appears to be an armored guitar. The weapon smashes into the arms, and immediately batter them back into Sergio's face, his waning strength failing and giving him too little power to withstand the blow. It bowls him backwards and he lands on a mishmash of broken furniture.
Still gasping for air, he tries to pick himself up, and only partially succeeds, falling into a crouch. His normal tactic of all out, constant attacks seems to have failed him for the moment, and he needs to take a moment to rest, plain and simple. "Ugh..."
COMBATSYS: Sergio gains composure.
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Elle 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Sergio
For Elle, resting is largely a strategy. It's part of a larger game plan... not just a stock response for fatigue. So when Sergio goes to rest and regain some of his will to fight, Elle continues forward, pressing onward with her attacks.
Once again, Elle raises her hand, the power swirling about her palm as she pulls the electrons from the air.
True, she hasn't been very successful with her last two attempts at hitting him with the stuff, but third time's a charm, after all.
Bracing her feet, she opens fire with the vicious torrent of energy, the powerful torrential blast taking proper time to form and looking like a snarling, twisting snake of energy.
COMBATSYS: Elle successfully hits Sergio with Whitesnake.
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Elle 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Sergio
The little saying holds true, this time, as Sergio, nearly spent, simply attempt to dive out of the way and allow the blast of energy to go past him. It's unlikely, but he figures it's worth a shot. Unfortunately, it's just not going to happen. Elle's electric attacks finally make purchase, the energy tearing through Sergio's body and causing him to involuntarily spasm. It looks like he's all bout out of the fight, but after a few moments he picks himself up slowly, this time drawing himself back up to his feet. "Not bad at all... heh."
He's exhausted just about all of his options now, so it's time to try something big again. He simply stands where he is, and blows the vast majority of the little energy he has left, a massive outpouring of water erupting from him at every angle, an attack that doesn't so much strike from precision but pure volume, the water level in the room quickly rising to an extraordinary extent, to the point of turning the casino into an aquarium. If his trump card is barely directed force of his power, this is simply a full release.
COMBATSYS: Elle blocks Sergio's Forty Days and Forty Nights.
[ \\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Elle 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Sergio
No such luck again. It would seem that while Elle is unable to escape a majority of Sergio's powerful attacks, she's capable of somehow avoiding the brunt of the man's most powerful techniques. The blasts of water crash against her as she places herself at full defense mode.
While it tosses her around, it doesn't take her down at all, the woman having conserved her strength for just such an occasion.
When the attack finally dies down, Elle doesn't look like she's doing very well herself, either. Nevertheless, she's still standing. Her hand is raises up once again, sparks flying across her fingertips as she points her finger like a gun at Sergio.
As if firing a pistol, Elle lets go with a powerful jolt of electricity. Bang.
COMBATSYS: Sergio overcomes High Voltage from Elle with Whirlpool.
[ \\\\\ < > //// ]
Elle 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Sergio
Sergio's really getting worn down by all this. It's pretty much all he can do to stay on his feet by now, and anything other than a hardened will to win would have him crashing to the dirt already. Despite his powerful attack Elle is up, and throwing more electricity at him. Third time was the charm, but fourth time wasn't. "Oh god, here we go!" He quickly whips out another rope, this time the proper six feet in length, and throws it hard towards Elle as the electricity dances on her fingertips, water forming around that spinning rope just in time to intercept the 'bullet' of energy that was shot at him. The energy is absorbed, and, once again, there's a mini-tornado of water heading towards Elle, rope in tow at neck level.
COMBATSYS: Elle overcomes Whirlpool from Sergio with Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\ < > //// ]
Elle 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Sergio
Not done yet. Not by a longshot.
Not willing to fall for the same trick twice, Elle eyes the incoming attack with an analytical eye. Now, she may not look particularly strong, but Elle's capable of pulling off some fairly incongruent feats of strength.
Reaching behind her, she grabs ahold of a roulette table that was undamaged by the fight, and hoists it up over her head. With a grunt, the woman hurls the massive table through the incoming attack with a surprisingly well aimed toss. The table whirls through the air lazily, bashing straight through the incoming attack and continuing onward to Sergio as she staggers back from the surprise exertion.
COMBATSYS: Sergio fails to interrupt Large Thrown Object from Elle with Medium Punch.
[ \\\\ <
Elle 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Sergio can no longer fight.
[ \\\\ <
Elle 0/-------/-------|
This has to end, one way or another. Sergio has gone on much longer than he has in a ridiculously long time, and it's time to make a do or die attempt at smashing Elle. That said, when she grabs the roulette table and throws it at him, he bull rushes her, pulling back a fist and swinging hard once he gets close.
It's not to be. The table overcomes his momentum, and though his watery fist comes close, it whips back just before it can make contact. Sergio's blown backwards, rolling along the shattered ground and landing in a heap. He grits his teeth, and presses his hands on the ground. He begins pushing himself back up, raising to one knee, and then all at once collapsing once more. "Auugh... you got me."
Elle eyes the man on the ground, and considers his statement.
"Yeah. I did."
He has power and a rather odd kind of luck. If it wasn't for his overbearing ego and general irritating personality, Elle would be interested in hiring him. But between the two hot doggers she already has, one with a giant ego and one without, she'd do well not to seek to add another.
The win pays out it's dividends. Elle's made quite a bundle off the fight, which should be enough to keep things going for her for quite some time, and then some.
"I respect your strength. But not your skill and definitely not the pathetic personality you have hanging off of you." She's learned a lot from his combat style. She won't make the same mistakes twice. Like ir ot not, Sergio's taught her some things. "Now go home."
Sergio takes a while getting up; and this time it's not from stalling, but from physical requirement. He's pushed his body to the limit, and now he has to listen to it groan at him. He manages a token grin at her comment, "Yea, sounds like just about anyone I've met. Thanks for the excitement, caio." He won big and then he lost big. Not too bad for a night's playing. Just too bad he's too sore and hurt to go clubbing after this. He's going to have to start thinking hard about how she was able to turn this around.
Log created on 00:14:51 08/16/2007 by Elle, and last modified on 18:19:19 08/16/2007.