Description: ...Served Cold. Memories of Thailand remain, as the shadows of that war and those who fought within it linger still. In particular one little rivalry remained unsettled.. A chance meeting becomes frantic combat. Can Arika defeat the pain that plagues her spirit in time to save herself from the Devil of Koga?
Early evening finds the Suiryuu in port once more. Quite a few people disembark to gather supplies, extra clothing, meet up with friends, grab a bite of non-ship food, set plans in motion. Whatever their excuses, it's not like the harbor is completely empty. The evening weather is gorgeous. Though fall is creeping in, the last vestiges of summer are clinging to Southtown and the night is going to be a warm one.
Thus, the punk princess walks down the ramp of the ship dressed in a simple pair of capris and a halter top. A hoodie is slung over one arm in case the weather decides to turn on her while she grabs a few items in town. Pulling a sheet of paper out of her pocket, deep blue eyes scan it to make sure she knows where she's going to procure the items they need and get them back to the ship without raising too much suspicion. Nodding to herself once, she folds the sheet back up and pockets it again.
Those disembarking quickly disburse. The Suiryuu's schedule seems to be a guarded secret by those organizing this floating tournament. Sometimes the mighty ship makes port within hours.. othertimes within days. This gives little time for those seeking to contact loved ones or picking up provisions of any sort.
Not to mention, another chance to stretch one's legs over good old terra firma. Not everyone is cut out for life on the ocean, after all.
It isn't long before the Punk Princess finds herself mostly alone. The port of Southtown is as dirty as any crime-ridden, urban city. Thankfully the warm coastal air does wonders to scour the worst of the stench from the streets and industrial areas.
Several strip malls are located close to the docks. The tourist trap locations tend to be a little nicer, but considerably pricier than the store-fronts closer to the wharf itself. Options abound, and Arika has plenty of time to choose her destination. The Suiryuu isn't due to leave for several hours yet... Assuming the event organizers are telling the whole truth for once.
The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Not bloody likely coming from those ninjas. Arika doesn't much care one way or another, she'll find her way back onto the ship if it decides to leave port right this very second. But she's a woman on a mission, and so once her feet are firmly on the ground and she's positive she's got her land legs back, she begins to walk.
At first, she heads in the direction of the tourist traps. Steady footfalls toward the beach and boardwalk. Several warehouses are passed while she meanders in that direction, thoughts definitely -not- on the task at hand. Idly, she reaches into the pocket of her hoodie and slips out a cellular phone. One quick press of a button and she's grinning.
"Hey," she says after a few moments (obviously waiting for ringing and/or a machine), "Thought I'd try to catch you while we were in port. Guessing you're out keeping the city clean. If you get this message soon, call my cell. We'll be in the harbor for a few hours."
The odd thing is, the extremely thick Cockney accent is missing.
Snapping the phone shut, she drops it back into the hoodie and twists around. No point even pretending to shop for something fun and girlie. It's an Army Surplus store she's looking for.
As the Princess delves deeper into the labyrinthine streets of the harbor area, the cleaner and nicer storefronts are passed by one after the other. Slowly bleeding into streets that clearly haven't been swept with anything resembling regularity. Many warehouses here are closed for the evening, the blue collar workers long-since headed home for the evening. Graffiti of many numbers of street gangs cover every decrepid brick wall and beaten up mailbox or signpost. Southtown, has never exactly been the safest place in the world to roam around at night. Especially in the dark, poorly lit low-income regions of town.
Convinence stores litter every other street corner, most with half-boarded up windows. Every teller locked behind an armored, bullet-proof glass window.
Mere punks that roam these streets, however, are no match for a fighter of this girl's calibur. But there are things that occasionally roam the shadows here.. that even she must be cautious of.
The Army Surplus store in question is just a few more blocks away, or so the map would indicate. However.. As she continues along the sidewalk, the street lamp above her suddenly flickers. Power fluctuating with an audible crackle, occasionally obscuring the local street in inky shadows before illuminated once more. And if that was not creepy enough... Goosebumps rise on her skin as the air seems to drop a degree or two. Perhaps the evening, coastal breeze has finally swept in to push back the late summer heat further inland? ... Perhaps..
Wait..
The power flickers on briefly.. And in the corner of the girl's eye she sees a figure. A tall.. shadowy thing. The image of a rich kimono.. A hauntingly graceful figure.. Slow, methodical movements..
But by the time the power again flickers on.. The image is gone. Nowhere to be seen. Terminating moments ago infront of a dark alleyway across the street..
Walking through Southtown in the evening isn't -that- spooky, even with a sociopath like Balrog on the loose. Yet, there's something about the harbor area that bumps up the creep factor. Maybe it's the silence of the evening (what -did- happen to the others from the ship?), maybe it's the type of shopping she's got to do to see this plan to fruition.
Arika has never been one to jump at things that go bump in the night.
Until she actually jumps when the lights flicker and the temperature drops.
"Oookay. Looks like we ain't in Kansas any more, Toto," she says, adopting the Cockney accent once again and talking to the nothingness that sweeps through the air beside her. Rubbing her hands over her arms to kill the goosebumps, she lets her eyes dart about the area -- looking for Balrog, in order to avoid him. She's not looking for a prolonged visit to the hospital any time soon, especially when only two people could even know where to begin looking for her somewhat mutilated body. Trying to chuckle it off, she switches directions once more and that's when she spots it.
Movement in the shadows. Silken material.
Frowning deeply, the punk princess continues toward the Army Surplus store. Not a moment later, she's turned back and heading toward the shadowy movements. Something about it seems far too familiar to her, and it can't just be mere coincidence that it caught her attention.
"Again.. Child."
As curiousity gets the better of the girl, Arika abruptly turns on her heel and ... immediately faces something from the darkest corners of memory. Something she hasn't seen since the days of War across the sea and months ago.
A tall, feminine figure stands not but five paces away from her. Kimono loosely dangling from pale, ivory shoulders. Silent. Motionless. This creature could be an illusion if it was not for the chilling radiance, the unearthly sensation of something that should not be. Eyes hidden beneath the veil of her ebony bangs, the rest of her tresses bound by twin golden needles.
The ghost looms over the shorter girl, purple lips quirking into something of a bemused smile, "..You again find yourself meddling in affairs you cannot understand." That voice, smooth and sultry yet possessing a cadence that warps over the atmosphere in ways that play tricks with the mind. Her long sleeves held at her sides, an easy, open stance without tension or concern. However, somehow, a danger eminates from her.. the feel of a predator staring one straight in the eye.
Twitching, every muscle in Arika's body tenses. The creep-factor is now gone from the night and she's faced with something even more chilling -- the vampiric demon wench that tried to kill Drake. A mask quickly settles into place, a cold complacency.
"Tonight ain't a night for games, so I suggest you say wot it is you want to and move right along." Right hand chambers into a tightly clenched fist, letting her anger seep out there instead of in her words.
COMBATSYS: Arika has started a fight here.
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Arika 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Marise has joined the fight here.
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Arika 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Marise
A deep chuckle escapes the ghost's painted lips in the face of this girl's grim, fatalistic determination. The mask may be in place.. but this creature barely sees it. No.. Her bangs suddenly part themselves. Sweeping open like unveiling curtains, revealing those familiar inhuman orbs. Rich gold irises with black slits, peering through flesh and muscle to the pulsing, dancing lights of breath within. Seeing the luscious lifeforce within her grow cold.. she can literally see the hatred boiling from the pit of her heart.
Mmm..Such a wonderful thing to see in children..
"As you wish.." The Devil muses with a melodic, bemused tone. Slowly her hands slide from the depths of her sleeves, fingernails slowly extending to razored claws. Those needles at her hair slide themselves free, as a black ocean of silk pours past her shoulders like a living cape of shadow.
"..I did not quite get a good taste of your heart before, Child... Show it to me again.." As that golden abyss looks straight through her..
COMBATSYS: Marise focuses on her next action.
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Arika 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Marise
"You want a fight, bitch, you 'ave one..." Spoken words are still extremely calm and even. Arika knew she'd likely not get the demonesque creature to part without some sort of altercation, but a girl can always hope. "Let me set somethin' straight for you, though. You might injure me. You might try to do to me wot'cha did to -'im-, but you ain't -never- gonna get a taste of me 'eart." That's something that has only and will only belong to one person.
Taking her already chambered fist, she sweeps herself to the side of the grim figure and smirks. "This ain't Thailand and you ain't got Kirishima to back you up." Springing off of her feet, she shoots her right arm out in a swift jab, intended to hit the face of the creature (does it even have a normal face?). "And you can stop with the creepy ass tactics, they ain't spookin' me in the least." This is when her left hand springs into motion. Instead of balling it into a fist, this one she slams forward as is -- a palmheel strike directed toward the chest. Upon reaching full extension, a flare of bright violet energy encompasses her hand causing a vibrant glow in the ever-darkening sky.
COMBATSYS: Arika successfully hits Marise with Diva Allegro.
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Arika 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Marise
Golden eyes half-hood at the girl's threats. "Keh ha.." Softly snickering under her breath at what amounts to this foreigner's rage, "Oh?" Only seeking to fan the anger on, let it burn hotter inside of her.
An arm slowly moves upwards, entirely too slowly at that.. as the deceptively fast punch passes by the Devil's defenses and indeed clobbers her directly in the side of the face. A hissing grunt escapes from the monster as she backs a step from the impact. Hissing smoke rises from the striking zone of her pale cheek.. The natural affecting her unnatural skin clearly.
"..No Girl.." The Devil whispers slowly, "..This time.. THIS time.." Lips pulling back into a sneer as her sleeved arm whips forwards. Ivory limb streaking forth from the black folds like a spear. Seeking to grip the girl's throat and -SHOVE- her across the street and against a boarded window of a shop long-since closed down, "..You don't have your little child friends to save you!"
COMBATSYS: Arika just-defends Marise's Maou Tsuke!
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Arika 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Marise
"That's right," Arika quips as her hits shoot through the Devil's defenses and strike her dead on. "There are worse monsters in this world than -you-." This thing may be the creepiest thing she's ever been up against, but sometimes personal demons are -far- worse than those that take physical form.
Smirking as the arm whips toward her, the diva allows herself to be shoved across the street. Before coming into contact with the boarded window though she throws herself into a roll and stops just short of hitting it with full force. And that? Well, it only causes the smirk to become a little more cocky. Issuing a small 'heh' at that, she pops her neck to either side and then grins.
"Maybe not. Don't need'em." Lifting the heels of her feet upward, she bounces in place a few times and then literally dances into action. Right foot crosses over left, left moves into a box-step and crosses behind right. This simply, yet graceful move is repeated several times before the beat of her feet pick up. Eventually the movements become almost sinuous in their delivery, until she finds herself within striking distance of the odd creature again. Rotating herself in a smooth pirouette, the punk princess swings her right leg up and about in a swiftly delivered roundhouse kick aimed for the torso of her apparent foe.
"Wot's your deal any'ow? Got tired of waitin' for All 'allow's Eve?"
COMBATSYS: Marise interrupts Rhythmic Roundhouse from Arika with Onigumo no Dokubari.
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Arika 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Marise
As the girl squirms free from the Devil's grasp, golden eyes widen a fraction at her speed and toughness. Lower lip curling in mild annoyance as her arm recoils back within her sleeve. Her arms slowly again settle to her sides limply, like a puppet with loose strings. Golden eyes following the dancing, swift movements of this fighter approaching ever closer.. seemingly taking no defensive movements whatsoever.
Until the Punk Princess finally spins and kicks into range, her foot solidly thumping against the Devil's torso beside her shoulder, jolting the whole of her white corpus. Seemingly just letting the attack strike her without so much as a fuss..
...As her black locks suddenly -whip- forth. Loosing a half dozen black needles like a shake of a manticore's tail. Embedding themselves into the girl's outstretched leg like a row of thin, black spikes. Immediately she can feel a strange weakness spreading from them.. Poison perhaps? .. More like, her lifeforce itself disrupted by their penetration.
The Devil muses mildly, "..Always talking, talking. Is talk what they do best in your cold lands of the North.. Mn, girl?"
As she draws her leg back from the strike, Arika finds several spikes piercing her skin. Clamping her teeth tightly together, the diva stops herself from crying out in surprise. The demon is not getting anything from her, especially not any outward emotion since she seems to thrive from it. Distracted by the disruption to the core of her energy, the punk princess yanks her leg free, despite any added pain this may cause.
Deep blue eyes narrow into slits, and she runs the side of her sandal over the black needles in order to dislodge them from her otherwise pristine skin. Small rivulets of blood course down her bare calves, and she frowns. "Would you rather I roll over and play dead? Ain't my style."
Crushing the needles beneath her feet she storms right on up to the Devil woman and sends a hooked jab toward the beast's face. Simple. Precise. Hopefully efficient enough to shut the creature up.
COMBATSYS: Marise interrupts Jab Punch from Arika with Maou Satsujinken EX.
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Arika 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Marise
The Devil takes a half step back as the girl recovers from her surprising, vicious attack. Purple lips curling upwards in a bemused smile as she regains a touch of the mirth the Princess had erased moments prior. Golden eyes pierce through the child's body once more, searching through her as she murmurs, "..Anger clouds.. child. It can blind you.." Advice? Or perhaps just stoking those fires hotter and hotter within her.
As the girl then storms forth in cold, ruthless efficiency.. The ghost is waiting. That jarring fist is caught quickly, chilling fingers clench about her outstretch wrist as her knuckles halt against the inhuman thing's cheek once more.
In a smooth movement, the Devil twirls around. Using the Diva's focused momentum against her as she whirls in a rush of silk and shadows. Contorting the girl's arm as she looms behind her.. Her free hand shifting in a half dozen hand seals as she whispers closely, "..There are worse fates than death.. Child.."
The ghoulish creature then -thrusts- her palm against Arika's back...
...And for all the world it seems a portal to -Hell- itself bursts from Arika's chest. The Devil's.. inhuman, murderous Chi blasts through the girl! Pouring forth in a geyster of screaming red light. The energy not tearing or scorching her body, no.. her organs and flesh remain intact. It is a backstab to her very spirit.. The fountain of Hell Chi takes the form of a thousand jibbering, screaming mouths of energy. Screaming like rising choirs of Hell in a burst of wicked power!
Until the energy dissapates and the Devil simply -shoves- the agonized girl away.
"..Do you see that now..?"
Zach arrives from the harbor.
Seething with anger when her second attack is turned against her, Arika clamps her teeth into her lower lip. She is -NOT- going to cry out or give this creature any pleasure in the pain she's causing. Even as her arm is twisted behind her, the punk princess is working it free. She's not about to be trapped here when she -knows- that the Devil woman is liable to try to make a light snack of her at any minute.
Energy bursts forth then, the mass of Hellish energy spewing forth a noise unlike anything the diva has ever heard. And -LORD- does it hurt. Steeling herself against the pain, she contorts her face into a slight wince and then masks it again as quickly as humanly possible.
"T-think that's the worst fate in the world? I've -seen- worse. I've -lived- through worse." Soul-shrieking is not something she's used to though and when she finally wrenches her arm away, hands jolt up quickly to attempt to block the sounds out. It doesn't work, but one can't blame her for making the attempt.
Two steps carry her away from the ghastly foe she's facing. Two steps carry her back toward sanity. The geyser of energy may not have messed with her mind directly, but the shrieks brought back memories that she rather wished would stay repressed and locked up -- just the way she liked them. Focusing on the Army Surplus shop, she attempts to push those memories back where they were hidden. Body picks up speed with each step as she tries to plow right through and continue on her way.
COMBATSYS: Marise endures Arika's Quick Throw.
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Arika 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Marise
The Devil again watches her prey stumble forth as her murderous hand twitches and spasms in the aftermath of that wicked technique. The Princess does everything in her power to keep from screaming at what amounts to soul-ripping torture, a tenacity that the Ghoul can't help but admire to a degree. The apparition takes a slow, methodic step closer as her painted lips quirk into a smile once more. Hellish eyes watching the girl's struggles very intensely. only to pause as she makes that audatious boast. The ghoul pauses a moment as she processes that pained admission.. "Hnn.. is this so.."
As the girl attempts to rush past the creature, she quickly steps into the way. Rather easily allowing the slightly smaller young woman to crash against her, budging only a half-step in doing so. Glancing down to the near-eye level as her arms quickly sweep upwards in a bid to grasp the girl in a simple.. if abnormally tight.. hug, "..Tell me then.. Tell me of this pain.." The Devil's expression genuinely curious. Eager, even.
COMBATSYS: Arika blocks Marise's Quick Throw.
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Arika 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Marise
Swept up into the tight bearhug, the diva just laughs. Tell her? Tell this -demon- of her pains? Not a bloody chance. Wriggling her body about, Arika manages to slip free of the hug, a smug look upon her face. Stops the physical pain from getting any worse, and ceases any bruising that may have occurred.
"No."
Pause.
"See, got this theory 'bout you. You get off on the pain of others. While I ain't gonna condemn your lifestyle choice, I ain't gonna feed into it."
Pulling her head back as far as she can, she uses the full weight of her body to propel it forward. An attempt is made to crash her forehead against the demon's nose and injure her as much as she can.
COMBATSYS: Marise blocks Arika's Medium Punch.
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Arika 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Marise
As the girl squirms free of her capturing arms, the Devil once again allows her limbs to fall to the side. For the moment, seeming content to just keep the girl present.. Not allowing her to flee quite so easily. Repositioning a few steps to loom infront of the Army Surplus store the girl seems so desperate to frequent. Afterall.. perhaps she thinks she can find some knife or gun within the premises that could give her an edge, yes?
"Kya ha heh!" The ghoul snickers, tilting her head whimsically as she agrees, "..Pain is truth, girl.. Tell me.." Golden eyes narrowing as the girl -rams- her head forwards.
The Devil's limbs do not so much as stir as the girl finds her head suddenly.. enmeshed as the Devil's living locks suddenly whip upwards and catch the girl's forehead in a hastily woven network of black silk, "..What truth about you hurts so much?..."
Not content with that, the rest of the Devil's tresses slowly undulate forwards. Rolling over her shoulders and seeking to coil themselves around Arika's torso and squeeze her like masses of ebony pythons..
COMBATSYS: Marise successfully hits Arika with Strong Throw.
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Arika 1/--=====/=======|=======\==-----\1 Marise
A knife or a gun? Anyone who knows -anything- about the punk rock princess -knows- that she believes fighting with weapons is a sign of weakness. If one can't use his or her own body, and the gifts they were given, then they really shouldn't be fighting at all. Close minded? In a sense. Then again, Arika just really hates having any part of her body marred with potentially permanent damage, especially since bandages don't show well under the stage lights.
"None. Of. Your. Business!" Each word is enunciated clearly, and pointedly. Even as her body is being squeezed by the ebony tresses of the demon. Fingers curl into the hair and she begins to try yanking it out strand by tiny strand. Likely isn't going to do much to the devilish woman, but within a few moments, she's able to pry herself free.
"Ugh."
Ribs aching from the constant squeezing, she swivels about to situate herself behind the demon. One hand slingshots forward to take hold of the material near the wrist of the woman, using it to wrap tightly about her foes waist should she manage the grab. From there, she makes a slight hip-check and just tries to lob the woman over her shoulder and to the wooden planks below her feet.
COMBATSYS: Arika successfully hits Marise with Strong Throw.
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Arika 1/-======/=======|=======\====---\1 Marise
The black locks are not too content to allow the girl escape, but even their embrace is eventually wriggled free from. The Devil slowly lifting her own arms as she slowly reaches for her, "Hn Hn! Come child.. You were so content to speak before-" The creature's growing smugness proves to be her undoing as the girl has life in her yet! Her lengthly sleeve grabbed as the Devil's arm is curled about her middle in an abrupt move. Lips twisting into a deep frown as she just begins to turn..
Only to get hurled over her enemy and -slammed- into the wooden surface beneath her. An abrupt grunt escapes the creature's lips from impact as she sprawls.
"..Grrnn.."
An aggravated exhale seethes from the dark creature. Prone but not helpless.. as her pale, shapely legs suddenly flash out from the hem of her parted Kimono. Lifting up and seeking to entangle the Diva's own and -yank- behind her knees. Forcing the girl to collapse to the ground in a brisk takedown as well!
COMBATSYS: Arika dodges Marise's Quick Throw.
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Arika 1/-======/=======|=======\====---\1 Marise
Just like playing jump rope, Arika watches the legs flash out at her and times her move accordingly. When they're about to trip her up, she leaps upward and then grins. "Content to speak, maybe. Not answer." Heck, even Drake who knows the entire story doesn't know how much it still -hurts-. Over the years, the diva has become quite good at masking who she used to be and how hurt she becomes by the simplest things.
"You want answers though? You can get'em the same way everyone else does." Perfectly manicured hands reach down and attempt to YANK the Devil back up to her feet. As soon as this is done, she dances around behind the woman and her mouth is formed into a hard, angry slant. "Earn my trust."
Not. Going. To. Happen. Ever.
Reaching under the Devil's arm with her left hand, she tries to lock the woman up in a half-nelson hold. While she does this, her free hand reaches across her opponents body to try and yank the other's arm across the woman's face.
COMBATSYS: Marise interrupts Punk Rock Breakdown from Arika with Maou Dokuja.
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Arika 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Marise
The Devil's legs are escaped as the girl leaps up with astonishing speed. Golden eyes widen as her lips contort into a low snarl. The Devil crawls another inch or two as she listens to the girl's bold statement.. The horrible woman spats dark, filthy blood onto the cracked wooden surface beneath her. "..A noble sentiment.."
The creature is then -hoisted- to her feet by the girl.. Which proves to be her undoing as the Devil is not without her tricks. As the girl reaches in to grapple.. she learns why such matters of intimate combat are often an unwise venture against a thing such a she. The Devil's arm is easily held.... Only as Arika reaches around for the other arm.. it simply isn't there.
The limb extends, stretching downwards and looping around behind the girl. Coiling up and sliding around her throat from -behind- her. The Devil's entire body seems to stretch then.. Leg slipping up to wrap around her own twice.. the other similarly locking with the first as her arms loop and wrap around the girl several times over! Tangling and coiling her up in her hellish elastic body as the Devil unnaturally twists her neck around to look the girl in the face, "..I'll settle for earning your pain instead.. Girl.." Blooded lips rasp out as her body -constricts-.. squeezing tightly in a tangle of serpentine limbs..
Biting the inside of her cheek in a manner hard enough to draw blood, Arika freezes as the arm loops around her. Releasing the cheek as she begins to choke, the diva musters a few words. "W-won't... get... it..."
While she's both intrigued and disgusted at how a body can wrap, tangle and coil around her person in such a manner, the punk princess begins to try and work her arms free. Squirming, squiggling and twisting her body about, she takes the last vestiges of her energy to try and wipe the look off of the unnatural creatures face. A sudden *pop* noise and her right fist frees itself.
"Just so you know..." She rasps out in a choked whisper, "You -ain't- my type..." The fist is then slammed toward the side of the face as it looms in toward her. Hoping that this has distracted the demon enough, she works her left hand free. Too hard to angle for the torso, she sends the heel of her palm in a snappish manner toward the monster's chin. The flare of bright violet energy that accompanies it eerily lights up the Devil's face momentarily and that actually gets the diva to cringe a little.
Damn, but those eyes are freaky.
COMBATSYS: Arika has reached second wind!
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Arika 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Marise
COMBATSYS: Arika successfully hits Marise with Diva Allegro.
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Arika 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Marise
Slowly the Devil's limbs choke the life out of her adversary. The sound of grinding bones and sinew fill the air as the Princess is slowly tortured. Luscious lips are pulled back into an inhuman smile, jagged teeth glinting in the dim light as a clammy, cold tongue slithers forth to lap at the girl's cheek, "..Do you feel that girl?.. Its inevitab-"
The creature feels one of the girl's arms suddenly slip free. Golden eyes widening a fraction of a moment before that energized fist -rams- straight into her face.
A horrid -screech- fills the air as the Devil's limbs quickly disengage the squeezed girl. The wicked woman's body recontorts to normal as she sprawls upon the ground, face eclipsed by billowing, hissing smoke as she quickly starts to crawl away..
Those tendrilous locks suddenly -flail- to life behind her.. wildly snapping forth several more of those black needles in the girl's general direction, if only to scare her away a few more steps.. before quickly slipping between two of the slightly wider boardwalk planks. Fitting into the dark slot like pouring black, liquid silk before the shadows swallow her whole..
COMBATSYS: Marise can no longer fight.
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Arika 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Arika dodges Marise's Onigumo no Dokubari EX.
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Arika 0/-------/=======|
At least one rib is cracked with a sickening crunch as the demon puts on the squeeze. Involuntarily, Arika lifts her shoulder to try and knock away the grotesquely clammy tongue before it can lap at her cheek. There's just something -wrong- with that. The deafening screech brings a smile to the punk princess' lips though. Means she managed to hit the beast, and all at once she's free.
Dropping to her knees, she takes several excruciatingly deep breaths, trying to maintain consciousness. Eyes narrow into thin slits as she watches it start to crawl away, and there's a part of her that's certain things aren't quite over. Blind luck in making that assumption allows her to toss herself into a roll to avoid the needles of pain... and in that second, she curses herself. Had she figured she'd be running into this one again, she would have brought a wooden stake with her to test the theory she had back in Thailand.
"DAMNIT!"
Slamming her fists on the ground, she waits until the shadow coalesces into the night. "This ain't over," she shouts into the darkness. Only then does she force herself back up to her feet, still trying to make it to the Army Surplus store before they close for the night. She's got business to take care of, and it's a wee bit more urgent than chasing a ghost into the shadows.
COMBATSYS: Arika has ended the fight here.
Log created on 17:04:36 09/23/2007 by Marise, and last modified on 21:08:22 09/25/2007.