Description: At Ingalls Shipbuilding, Mississippi, the infamous Rolento Schugerg is pitted against not one but three relatively fresh-faced fighters in the SNF scene. Sheer brutality is the name of the Major's game, but will it be enough to last against the three fighters? And will the fighters be capable enough of fighting together, rather than against one another? Answer: probably not! (Winner: Zach, Cherise and Shihong)
COMBATSYS: Rolento has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Rolento 0/-------/-------|
Mississippi!
It's a really boring place.
With none of the excitement and the bustle of a city like Metro, the flight and the car ride all the way to the shipyard has left someone like Cherise to sit in the back of the car driving her there with her head thumped against the window, eyes half-lidded and feeling a little bit jetlagged. But that's of little relevance! She's signed up for some internationally famous television shows, you see.
Once she's arrived at the site of the upcoming battle, the silver-haired Frenchwoman sits ready and waiting in one of the director's chairs scattered around the set and mess that's usually caused with bringing the show to any particular location. The usual loose black dress she wears is replaced with one a little snugger-fitting, a sturdy black vest worn over it. A brown leather wrap is worn around her waist, a few pouches and other oddities hanging from the sides-- and after inspections, it doesn't look like there's anything ... -too- harmful in her possession.
Sitting crosslegged and drumming her fingertips together in a half-steepled manner, Cherise eyes the people setting up, even the few giving her wary looks-- word about her antics in Metro certainly have travelled fast.
Zach has been to Oklahoma; it is a close second for boring.
A shipyard, however? Totally different story. A purple-haired youth wearing street clothes walks onto the set, his eyes wide as he takes in everything. To be totally honest, Zach was surprised to get the call from Howard Productions; he had assumed that his previous performances (even if Tenma and he won that second one) had earned Zach an early retirement from that particular show. He gives Cherise a glance before continuing to look at the cranes and rigs, along with the ships that in the water for testing. He let out a low whistle.
While a shipyard is nothing new to the likes of Mao Shihong, being in Mississippi is.
And boy is it a let down. Not that the woman expected much of the state, mind, but it's a far cry from the places she is used to. It's been years since she's seen farmland first hand, for instance. But that is all moot. She isn't here for leisure or pleasure, or even business. She's here to fight.
In a shipyard.
Easing its way into the main drag, a complimentary humvee pulls into the main grounds of the shipyard. Upon stopping a long-legged Asian woman emerges, clad in a sleek black twill dress and a pair of too-expensive shades. Smirking idly to herself, long, spidery fingers pull them from her eyes, and with a slow sweep the Chinawoman surveys her surroundings. Particularly the others present. And the moment those eyes are laid on Cherise, the woman offers a devilish smirk.
"Tourist-girl," she muses aloud--loud enough for the French girl to hear. "It has been some time. This should be fun. Just be careful. Sometimes I just can't control myself." Cryptic and foreboding, her words are coupled with an oddly jovial laugh. Pausing, the woman's gaze briefly studies the other combatant present, but is given little regard--in fact, Shihong just lifts her arms up and turns her back, stretching them across her shoulders as she waits.
"Oh, this should be fun!" she chimes, her words laced with obvious sarcasm.
COMBATSYS: Shihong has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Rolento 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Zach has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Rolento 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zach
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Cherise has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Rolento 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zach
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Shihong
In a rather usual event, Rolento's helicopter can be heard approaching the area; The heavy thrumming of the rotorblades audible before it's almost lethargic descent, sleek blackhawk positioning itself a few dozen yards above the area this fight is to take place. Descending on a line is none other then Rolento Schugerg, notorious worldwide thief and proprietor of the largest private army to boot – at least, by his standards; Shadaloo's shattered remnants and NESTS doesn't count! Landing in a lazy crouch, the commander rises while slipping out his baton with a flourishing twirl, stance spreading as the weapon impacts his palm. "I am on a tight schedule." is commented to those present. "My attendance in this battle as opposed to forfeit is due to mutual interest in two of the parties." His baton shifts up, pointing towards first Cherise and then Shihong. Slowly it arcs over towards Zach, with a frown. "You... are merely fodder, and shall be expediently eliminated." Conducive to this, he quite suddenly bolts forward, breaching the space between in less then a heartbeat. Whether the three are even ready or not appears irrelevant, as he whirls around and unleashes a backhand with his weapon, intending on cracking the weapon right across Zach's temple to send him sprawling backwards upon the ground. It would continue twirling thereafter, with a rather bemused "Hmmhmmhmm..." leaving his lips.
"Oh, what a pleasant surprise," Cherise says. "It -has- been awhile, hasn't it?"
But the French girl doesn't leave her chair, content to sit there and feel lazy until the event is supposed to lurch into business. The boy with the purple hair? Well, he's largely ignored for right now. She's seen enough people with funny-colored hair simply from lounging around the airports and in hotels, though those people did seem to always be around her age. Her light eyes return to her hands, thumbs tapping together. "Oh, so I didn't get a chance to see you getting a little too far into it last time? I--"
Cut off by the approaching chopper, the assassin's eyes are turned toward the sky, watching the man descend and make an entrance she'd deem to be all too dramatic-- if it wasn't for him pointing that baton at her.
Interested?
-Really-?
"Is this where we interfere?" Cherise asks of the Chinese woman, her attention now turned to carefully study Rolento as he strikes out at Zach-- still, so comfortably seated in that chair.
COMBATSYS: Cherise takes no action.
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Rolento 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zach
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Zach with Fierce Strike.
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Rolento 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Zach
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Shihong
Zach was not ready for that; he had honestly expected people to follow things like /rules/ in a setting like this. He takes the baton square in the noggin, sending the youngster sprawling. He tumbles and bounces before coming up in a low crouch, one hand on the ground to steady himself. He looks up at Rolento, his power burning just below the surface already. It reacts almost like a living thing, rising up in response to the threat the mercenary represents. He tucks a fist in close to his ribcage, and closes the gap quickly.
During the approach, purple energy flares around the fist Zach has prepared. The Psycho Wanderer fires a fast, if not very strong, punch at Rolento's midsection.
He'll complain about fair or unfair /after/ the match.
Just when those thin red lips of the pale-faced Asian woman begin to part, her words are cut short by the approach of an imposing Black Hawk. Rather than concern herself with the likes of Cherise and her remark, the woman's black eyes narrow a bit, observing as the Major himself descends like a spider from the belly of the helicopter. Her interests are most definitely piqued.
When the soldier lands with an audible thump, the woman's long arms simply fold across her chest, thin red lips pulled into a tight line, her expression clearly pensive. And when the baton turns from Cherise onto herself, the woman's smile widens. She says nothing; instead, she cants her head to one side as the baton slides onto Zach. Fodder..?
No time to dwell on it. The old Major moves with frighteningly fast speed, fast enough to give Shihong reason to briefly pause. Were she likely a kinder woman, she would wince in sympathy for the young man. But she is not, and instead lazily turns her attentions back onto Cherise.
"Mm, I think so," she responds, long digits drawing back errant locks of black from her pale face. "Why don't you go ahead and blaze a trail for me, dear? I've got a bit of observing to do." And, to emphasize her desire, she makes a 'shoo shoo' gesture, those black eyes never once leaving Rolento's form as he moves.
This COULD be fun after all.
COMBATSYS: Shihong focuses on her next action.
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Rolento 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Zach
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Rolento with Sting.
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Rolento 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Zach
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Shihong
There's a glance given to Shihong, obviously catching her own prepared focus, and sufficiently distracting that the sudden lance of energy-sheathed fist does peg Rolento right in the stomach for his trouble. The grunt is hardly one of epic proportions, but the commando flips backwards, hands bracing upon the ground before he launches into a rather startlingly impressive roll into the air. At the apex, there's a glint of steel before a knife flies out, shooting towards... Shihong, attempting to embed deep within her thigh and stagger her. The motion is all but completed in a heartbeat, force sufficient to stall him a moment mid-air before he descends lazily to land anew. "If you do not wish to wait, I have no compunctions about hastening your involvement." He can tell lounging and ‘getting ready to stab in the back' apart, thank you very much! Yet he's not particularly off to a good start... He'll have to play it carefully...
Clicking her tongue with a sigh, scarred, slender hands grip the ends of the chair arms and pull the occupant out of the modicum of comfort provided. Tugging off the vest worn over her dress, Cherise Bouchard starts walking forward while Zach sprawls across the concrete and pulling on a pair of full black gloves, the palms and fingers time-worked to comfort and flexibility. Lowering her posture a little bit, she sprints forward as Rolento backflips, looking to close the gap between the two of them and slide to a halt just beyond the elder man. Her arm swings around high in the process-- and the reasoning for this will become painstakingly clear in moments. As Cherise halts, her arms twist and her wrist snaps. A flash of silver-- someone like Rolento may recognize it for what it is, wire-- and unless he prepares for it, the skinny French girl will pull the wire taut around his neck and use it to throw the man Judo-style over her shoulder!
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Shihong with Stinger.
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Rolento 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Zach
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> //////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Shihong
Zach leaps to the side, eyes tracking Rolento's movement. He focuses for a moment, bringing a single hand up to aim at the merc. Energy balls up in his palm as he braces the arm at the elbow with his free hand. The arm starts to shake slightly as the ball gets to the size of a bowling ball.
"Try this," Zach grunts as the sphere snaps free and arcs towards Rolento in a sparkly purple blur.
And here Shihong was off to a decent start of some form of conversation with the Frenchwoman, too. But talking while eyeing her opponent is likely a big mistake; the man's form leaps upward and flips midair, a glint of silver cast on the blade's edge. It gives the woman reason to pause, black eyes widening a bit as her long legs tense. Just when she's about to leap out of harm's way she becomes briefly distracted by the sudden movement of the girl from her side. The result? A nice long blade lodging itself into her leg.
But she doesn't scream or cry. Instead, the woman lifts a hand and slowly grasps at the hilt, a creepy smile haunting her red lips. "I never said I had compunctions," she states, for the Major to hear. "I was just biding my time." The knife is torn from her leg with a grunt before it is cast to the ground.
And with that she moves, waiting to move only after the others' attacks have been handled by the others. Once such is in place Shihong lunges to life, leaping free from the ground and feet-first at Rolento. Her legs flare to life with red energy, swirling as her body rotates, her heels aimed for his chest where, should those long legs make contact, the energy surges and explodes, to launch the scarred soldier back and away.
COMBATSYS: Rolento parries Shihong's Strutting Crow!
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Rolento 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Zach
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> /////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Cherise's Argent Filament.
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Rolento 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Zach
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> /////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Rolento interrupts Blast Ball from Zach with Fatality Package EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Zach
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> /////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Shihong
It seems Rolento is an incredibly difficult person to pin down, in the proverbial sense. As Cherise approaches him, the gleam of silver is immediately caught, and he hefts himself upwards with a considerable enough margin that it passes beneath by a solid meter. And twisting around, he shifts above the psi-sheathed leg, pressing both feet upon the mercenaries' chest before kicking /off/ Shihong, using her as a mid-air pivot board likely with a tumble to the ground as a result. Which is potentially uncomfortable, but not dangerous. Speaking of the latter, the literal moment that Zach's ball of energy leaves his hands, Rolento's in his face again – snapping out his weapon and obliterating it, the wisps flashing over him seemingly without much effect. He grasps him by the hair, slaps a string of grenades on the poor youth, and literally hurls him into the air. Where he explodes. ...Simple, maybe, but obviously efficient. "Hrrmph. I miscalculated your durability." is all he seems want to add. "I shall fix this oversight..."
Zach's eyes go wide as he realizes what is happening to him. His smoking body comes crashing to the ground. He drags himself to his feet. Rolento may be surprised; Zach is obviously /hurt/, but his clothing is intact. His whole body is giving off a faint purple glow. Perhaps it acted as a sort of overcoat, preventing serious energy. He looks up at Rolento.
"Man. You fight dirty," Zach chuckles as stumbles a bit. It is after he has regained his footing that Zach charges in close to Rolento.
And then he explodes for real.
The French girl's tongue clicks, her eyes narrowing. Her footing shifts as Rolento's attentions are more than turned toward Shihong and Zach, turning around and snapping her wrist. The wire leading away from her bracelet hisses and waves as it lands in an arc at her side, stance shifting a bit. He's much more agile than she had anticipated, and miscalculating will be a big mistake.
The French girl opts for the safer road-- reaching for the hem of her skirt, her fingers dip under the cover provided by the dress, a small throwing knife held between her fingers. In a manner similar to Rolento attacking Shihong, a throwing knife is cast at the elder man's left shoulder. "Come test my durability!" she calls, accent thick.
Used as a springboard. There's a certain look of annoyance that eases its way across the woman's face, her body thrust toward the ground as result. But she's not as incapable as the mercenary might presume; in a sudden jerk of motion she twists her body, landing feet-first in a deep crouch. Her hands drop down, palms flat against the dirt as she supports her weight. Her face twists thereafter, her expression annoyed still as she stands upright in one swift motion.
When black eyes sweep up, they spy the young, purple-haired guy being snared and hurled into the air where, upon reach his apex, the grenades strapped onto his body erupt in a furious display. The woman only flinches slightly as warm air gusts across her face, her lips taut across her pale face. "Mm, bother," she muses aloud, hands absently smoothing her garments out.
With a sigh, Shihong lifts her gaze, just in time- -the two others have since moves into action, Zach practically exploding with deliciously Psycho energy, and Cherise doing her usual tricks. At a loss, the woman purses her lips lightly before she shrugs and, charging into the fray when the timing's right, delivers a two-fold aerial kick right at the mercenary's chest.
COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Rolento with Storm Flare.
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Rolento 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Zach
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> /////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Cherise's Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Rolento 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Zach
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> /////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Shihong successfully hits Rolento with Change-Up Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Rolento 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Zach
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Shihong
"I fight to win." is all Rolento seems to care to respond, although the youth's rather explosive manifestation of energy does catch him off-guard. He's blown backwards, disoriented to a significant degree. While picking himself up, he manages to deflect the thrown knife with a snap of his baton, which happens to prevent him from establishing any useful guard to the sluggish kicks from Shihong; Which again stagger him, but he finally regains his bearings with a wince. "Hrrmph." He begins to twirl his baton anew, rushing forward and approaching Zach before suddenly pausing. A full second passes. Then, he shoots out his baton, aiming to smack him right in the eye. "Sit down." is asked, politely. "Your uncontrollable energy has little combative value without the element of luck." Of course, he's assumed a more defensive posture... apparently prepared for a sustained assault by the trio, and hopefully having removed one of them!
He dodged. Again.
More importanty, the unpredictable young man that's been hit so hard is still managing to keep on his feet through all this. Cherise brings her arm across her chest with a harsh snap, the cast-out wire reeling back towards her bracelet and letting a *tik* noise as the weight strikes the frame. Muttering and murmuring in her native tongue, the words crossing her glossed lips are filled with phrases that a lady shouldn't utter-- let alone know.
Cherise takes one more lunging step ahead and gets within a good six feet of Rolento. Her arm hooks upward, palm upturned and fingers hooked out like a claw-- though thin lines of silver light-- full bodied from a side view-- rip upward after the arc of her hand. Though a shocking burst accompanies the contact, the focus of doling out pain here comes from the way it moves... cutting, slashing-- deep enough to rip up clothing and draw blood.
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Zach with Weapon Jab.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Rolento 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Zach
> /////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Shihong
Zach twitches slightly; it is the only thing that keeps him from losing an eye. The baton, however, still smashes into the side of his head. He spins slightly, blood trailing from the side of his head. His feet slide apart, power flowing down his arms and into his hands.
"Guess that makes two of us, then," Zach gasps as he flings both hands forward, unleashing a torrent of Psycho Power raging forth from the palms of the young man.
COMBATSYS: Zach can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Rolento 1/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Shihong
Recovering from the kick, Shihong uses the mercenary's body as a springboard in kind, her body rotating midair before she lands in front of him, a few feet away. Rising to full height, the woman offers a playful smirk as black eyes regard the soldier. There's something amusing about this fight, evident by the humored expression the Asian woman maintains, and it likely has to do with mister Schugerg's cutthroat antics. And it shows, especially when he bats the young man in the face.
"Ha ha, I think I like you!" she cries, black eyes wide with amusement, as Cherise swings into action, quite literally. But patient as always, the Chinese woman does not make any immediate moves; instead, she waits until the young man unleashes his torrent of Psycho Power, to see just how the man will react. Shihong will play it safe. And when the timing is right, she offers a playful smirk.
"Haven't you had your fun with the boy? Come on!"
Only then does Shihong blaze forward once more, letting her body leave the ground as she swings her legs up. They arc wide, the inner sole of her expensive heels aimed to belt the mercenary in his temple. "Play dirty with the girls, won't you? I promise we won't bite!"
COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Rolento with Burst Stream.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Rolento 1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Cherise successfully hits Rolento with Argent Claw.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Rolento 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 Cherise
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Rolento fails to interrupt Medium Kick from Shihong with Take No Prisoner.
- Power fail! -
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Cherise
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Rolento can no longer fight.
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Cherise
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Shihong
It should be noted that Zach, as soon as the column-like blast fades from his fingertips, falls over like a sack of potatoes.
There's really no reason that Rolento somehow succumbs to the torrent of energy, going at the speed of snail with all the forecast of a semi honking two blocks down the street. How did he stay in the road? Did he wait too long to bother moving? Did he sneeze just prior? Did he check his watch? The reason doesn't much matter! Once the swathe hits him, he realizes he's in trouble. Significant trouble! Immediately motioning for his helicopter, singed and disoriented, he twists backwards, managing to evade the contact of Cherise's palm by an inch. Sadly, this is insufficient after the snap of psionic energy, ravaging his already weakened mind. Blearily, he watches as Shihong approaches, desperate to save face. "...READY?!" He then snaps up his hand. The wire shoots out, wrapping taught around a neck as he's kicked in the face. Stumbling backwards, eyes bulging and expression warped in pain, he leaps upwards, hooking the wire over the dangling apparatus of his helicopter. "GO!!" Descending, up goes... a cameraman, who was about a meter to the left and some distance behind Shihong. Sustaining the pressure a few moments, he luckily slips and collapses, allowing the figure to fall with an anticlimatic thud. Slowly pushing himself up, there's a rather open sneer given to the occupants. "..." So he missed. Well, whatever. "ASSESSMENTS SHALL TAKE PLACE AT A FUTURE DATE!!" is proclaimed, groping the air before finding a dropped line and ascending with his helicopter. ...The least he can do is not pass off on camera. The only people he'd recruit with a performance like that are exactly the kind he doesn't want in his army!
COMBATSYS: Cherise has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Cherise 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Shihong
"Ha hahahahaha!"
Wait, did he just...?
He just ran off? Just like that?
Cherise's eyes go wide, brows twitching and hands staying somewhere between fanned-fingered and clawed. Staring into the sky and tensing herself from head to toe, the French girl barely lets a strangled noise leave her throat before...
She laughs. Her knees bend slightly, bending forward, and she starts to laugh loudly, harshly. Her gloved hand grips the side of her face, her eyes wide and a bead of sweat trickling down the side of her face as her mouth quirks into an odd shape. "You have to be joking me! That isn't nearly enough!"
Twisting sideways a little bit, she turns to Shihong in the cool harbor breeze, her eyes widening up a little and attention turned... to Shihong. "You always knew what to do."
Charging ahead on her bootheels, the Frenchwoman hooks into the air in a small hop, flipping forwards and spreading her legs. Snaking out to wrap around Shihong's waist as well as tackle her to the ground, the gray-haired girl's arm rears back with the intent to slug her in the face.
COMBATSYS: Shihong interrupts Strong Throw from Cherise with Savage Tiger.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Cherise 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Shihong
Things just don't seem to be going Rolento's way, much to the Asian woman's dismay. Frowning slightly in response, she tilts her head as he shouts. Ready? Why, of course she's ready. Isn't it obvious with the way she's throwing her body at him, to kick him? Unfortunately, today isn't his day, and when the tell-tale cry of "GO!" erupts from the soldier, it would seem his intended target does not go up. Instead, a camera man is hoisted into the air, only given salvation when the woman's kick, along with Cherise's assault, knock him ajar. The Asian woman simply rebounds off the man's chest and lands gracefully.
Those black eyes follow as Rolento ascends and escapes into his helicopter with a promise of a future meeting. Smiling demurely, she offers him a light fingerwave in response. Cherise's maniacal laughter goes largely ignored. The girl is ranting again; there is nothing new there.
Fixing her dress, the woman half-turns, her body facing the Frenchwoman as she readies herself to leave. "Hm? Did I? I'm not sure I follow you, mademoiselle Lunatique," she replies, employing a rough French tongue briefly. But she isn't ready to finish, for a split second later the girl attempts to latch herself onto Shihong. The punch lands, and the pale-faced woman...smiles around the fist.
"Oh my, so forward. But not on the second date!"
Jerking to life, Shihong's arms drop and, with a fierce shove, attempt to pry the girl off before her hands rise and snare her arm. Using her chest, the Chinese woman runs up the front of her body and lingers high above before she suddenly thrusts her legs down, to lodge the girl face-first into the dirt, followed by a vicious burst of that familiar vermillion power she has displayed before.
"Ah ha ha ha! So fiesty!"
Her arm captured and used for nefarious purposes, Cherise is introduced to the pavement of Ingalls Shipyard with a loud crash and her body jerking harshly with the force applied. Still-- the French girl's head lifts from the ground as she remains on all fours, reaquainting her face with the salty air accompanied by the shipyard's location. Shifting her weight back and sitting on the heels of her boots, she closes her eyes and inhales deeply, even with a bit of blood trickling from her nose. "Ha... hahahahahaha... ah... yes, that is more like it."
So much more like it, in fact, that the French girl rises from her squat and rubs her nose, her eyes refocusing and resuming her casual stance. "It's so much better when I have someone to go all out on," she also responds in French-- though her own is perfect, thick with the ennounciation and a life-long accent.
"Come!!"
COMBATSYS: Cherise focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Cherise 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Shihong
There is something intensely satisfying about the feel of Cherise's chest and face slamming into the concrete, so much the woman offers a dreamy exhale, her shoulders sagging before she gives her sharp heels a vicious twist, to give the girl's captured arm a savage turn. Enough force employed to dislocate the arm, were she made of less stuff. The woman knows well she can handle the pain.
She LIKES the pain. Fortunately for Cherise, Shihong likes giving it.
So as the girl revels in her agony, Shihong stands with long arms folded neatly across her chest. Comfortable, she simply tilts her head, black eyes hooded in sheer amusement as she observes the girl's response. Clearly the Frenchwoman is the most insane person she has met. So there's little remorse where dishing out the pain is involved.
Her smile broadens, as the girl beckons.
With nary a word, Shihong lunges at her, dropping low a foot in front of her. Coiling a leg at her hip, she thrusts it forward, a swift but sufficiently light kick meant to send her stumbling back a few if she's not careful. "Fiesty AND demanding! I'll do what I please, when I please it!"
COMBATSYS: Shihong successfully hits Cherise with Short Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Cherise 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Shihong
A swift kick planting into her stomach is the least of the things on Cherise's mind-- and lord only wonders what does go through that head she has. And she certainly is made of some durable "stuff"-- her ability to spring back from the beatings she had suffered at the hands of this woman before, the stranger in the subway... even the hits landed on her at the Metro City charity event she had crashed, and yet until this point her face had yet to show the signs of any damage. "Heh ... hahaha... heh heh..."
The rubbery soles of her boots scuff and catch traction at the wrong angle, and Cherise nearly falls to the ground. But she's more coordinated than that, a little quicker and a little lighter. Her arm snaps back behind her, the whistling of air making a familiar signal to Shihong-- the extension of her wire. Charging in at the Chinese woman, the path of her choice weapon left unseen, the demanding French girl hooks her arm up and drives her fingers toward Shihong's throat in a familiar 'stabbing' motion-- like the day they had first met. Surely enough pressure to kill a man or cause more than a signifigant amount damage to their windpipe, but something in the back of her mind gives her 'that feeling' someone like this could take the hit.
COMBATSYS: Cherise successfully hits Shihong with Strong Punch.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Cherise 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Shihong
Following through the motion of the kick, Shihong pivots on her knee before she rises up, still turning as she about-faces with a delighted and devilish smile. "Oh ho, come now, surely you saw that," she responds, long fingers rising up as she lightly tucks locks of black hair behind her ear. She continues to smile, even as Cherise laughs. Ha ha indeed.
But the smile falters as a familiar whistle of the strange Frenchwoman's battle thread whizzes past her ear, those red lips faltering into something akin to a frown. Honestly, this again, she wonders, but does not move. Instead she stands there, waiting for the crazy Frenchwoman to drive her fingers into her throat...and she regrets it. Staggering back, she offers a muted gag, hands clutching her neck as she stumbles. But she doesn't fall. Not in the slightest.
Instead, Shihong's grin broadens, her expression insanely bold.
Pivoting harshly on her heel, the woman spins, her opposite leg lifting up and coiling at her hip before it snaps out, the heel of her foot aimed right for Cherise's prone temple. "You're such a little bitch sometimes!" she shouts, sounding mildly annoyed in the midst of it all. But she still smiles. Tough love! ...or something.
COMBATSYS: Shihong successfully hits Cherise with Medium Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Cherise 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Shihong
The heel of the well-dressed Chinese woman's shoe cracks across the side of the head, causing the black-clad girl to half-turn and her weight to shift hard to one side. She still keeps her range, however, still staying so close and with that lopsided smile. "But I thought that was how you liked me," she retorts, moving slowly at the distance just beyond arm's length-- moving slowly, carefully, and starting to circle her prey while her eyes zero in and lock on Shihong's own.
Cherise's tongue drags across her lips as her fingers twitch, moving smoothly, slowly. But then she--
Steps back?
Her arm snaps around hard in a wide arc, the whistling scream of wire circling out around Shihong as it comes to life. Her arm hooks over her head once, then rears back with a harsh snap of her wrist and a forward thrust, as if a lion tamer teaching his pet the finer points of performance-- and that lash of silver seeks to snag Shihong around the throat. And it does find a home where she intends... that's just the beginning, of course.
COMBATSYS: Shihong dodges Cherise's Argent Sniper.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Cherise 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Shihong
"The only way I like you is face-down in the pavement, girl," the woman responds, her expression still delighted by the exchange. Unfortunately for the two, their fight with the crazy mercenary was too short lived, clearly for the both of them. But Cherise? She just acted when Shihong was considering. Part of the Chinese woman thinks that, maybe, she should thank her.
But not until she has left her face-down in the pavement.
Circled like a vulture, the woman just holds her ground, arms folded as she oh so patiently waits. What will the little Frenchwoman do, she wonders. Will she attack, or will she continue to bide her time, to no avail? The snap of Cherise's arm gives her clue enough. She's going to act. Good.
Smirking, the woman's shoulders and legs tense the moment the girl springs to life. The line, distantly noted, is observed and, as the last possible second, snared, snagged out of thin air in the palm of the woman's hand. Lips curl at the corners, her amusement too clear. But she says nothing; instead, the woman releases the thread and leaps into the air before she harshly descends, a sharp kick aimed right for the girl's face.
With that sharp heel of her Gucci pump.
COMBATSYS: Cherise blocks Shihong's Strong Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Cherise 0/-------/-----==|=======\==-----\1 Shihong
But would someone like Cherise be content with being face-down in the pavement? Her hands twist and roll as Shihong catches the broad whiplash of wire with a defiant palm and springing into the air. The silver-haired assassin's hand catches the heel of the incoming shoe and gives it a slight shove to the side, the heel cutting a gash across her cheek. Pushing as hard as she can to send Shihong back, Cherise's mouth twists into a wide smile, eyes narrowing. "Bo~ring."
Again she steps back, running hard to one side. Getting a little distance from Shihong, she turns hard. Pausing briefly, her hand again disappears under the hem of her skirt and produces another throwing knife-- and as she runs back in at the Chinese woman, her wrist flicks for a harsh toss. While Rolento's blade went toward one leg, Cherise's leg goes for the other one-- looking to give her two (even if slightly) injured legs to deal with while trying to throw kick after kick her way. "Those shoes are lovely," she calls on the run, "Where can I get some?!"
Perfect mid-battle conversation, isn't it?
COMBATSYS: Cherise successfully hits Shihong with Thrown Object.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Cherise 0/-------/-----==|=======\===----\1 Shihong
Her kick intercepted, the woman does all she can do. Pushed, she rotates her body midair and lands with a click of heels on concrete, thin lips poised in a humored smirk. Boring, she says? "Well, excuse me. You started the fight, didn't you? So quit complaining. You'll get yours in due time, my dear." Her arms fold across her chest, lips curled in a grin.
"Promise!"
As she distances herself from the Chinesewoman, however, the woman is again on alert. Narrowing her eyes, she watches as the weapon is pulled from her skirt and flicked. A predictable attack; Shihong scoffs. But her confidence gets the better of her, and when she should zig, Shihong zags. The result? Her footing fails her, and the knife lodges halfway into her leg. Another hiss, another unpleasant look. It stings, but it's far from bothersome. Not like Rolento's knife.
A hand jerks free, swatting at the knife, dislodging it and causing it to hit the pavement with an obnoxious clatter. Those eyes lift in time, to see a kick strike her in the leg. She hisses again, before those black eyes are mere slits. Oh, she's angry now. But a smile spreads across her red lips, eyes alight. This is more like it.
"Have you been eating your Wheaties??" the woman asks, before she twists to life, her body leaping up in a vertical jump. Midair, in a display of surprising grace and flexibility, Shihong's legs snap out, one after the other, at Cherise's face.
"And I got them in New York, since you were wondering!"
COMBATSYS: Cherise parries Shihong's Change-Up Kick!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Cherise 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Shihong
Coming to a swift halt, Cherise can only smile. Yes, her knife hit Shihong in the leg. No, she doesn't feel bad about it at all.
"Isn't that a breakfast cereal?"
Well, she -did- grow up in seclusion and eat nothing but healthy food for the better part of her life. Cherise's feet shift as Shihong descends, hands extending into the air to catch the first kick across the back of her hand-- and flick it to the side. It follows a swift sequence as long as Shihong's strikes last-- but after a few slaps of her hand she jumps into the air to catch up with well-dressed martial artist. "Again!"
Almost face to face with her in the air for a split-second, the wire left at the ground hisses as it goes taut, reeling back into her bracelet a bit. In a display of her own kicking power, Cherise rolls her hips and hooks her leg around in a high arc, looking to plant a brutal axe kick down on Shihong's neck, getting a little more oomph and downward force with a tug of her wire. "Magnificent!"
COMBATSYS: Shihong blocks Cherise's Stiletto Axe EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Cherise 0/-------/-----==|=======\====---\1 Shihong
Her kick avoided, the woman's lips pull tightly across her lips. Not this shit again, she muses to herself. However, just as the Chinese woman begins to correct herself in the air and seek a proper landing, the girl is in her face, and those black eyes meet a set of baby blues. A frown crosses Shihong's lips. "You're so damn demanding," she grunts, as the kick is met not with her body, but the Chinese woman's palm. Her kick is then shoved aside, the two women left to land as need be.
"It is," the woman explains, only pausing in the midst to spare a glance aside. The SNF crew present are furiously shaking their arms, some making swiping motions across their throat. They want the girls to stop fighting. The producer, however, smiles broadly and gives them a thumbs up. Two girls fighting? Great for ratings! He even makes a claw-like hand and motions downward. Tear some clothing, he motions!
Those black eyes flicker back to Cherise. She smiles sweetly. Too sweetly.
Dashing forward with newfound speed, the Asian woman jumps up before she lands on her side. Pavement or no, she slides gracefully, the heels of her shoes aimed for Cherise's ankles to take them out, kissed with that strange vermillion energy from before...
COMBATSYS: Shihong successfully hits Cherise with Guardian of the Gods EX.
[ \\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Cherise 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Shihong
Glowing heel impacts with ankle, and with it blossoms a too-thrilled smile.
"Checkmate!" the woman cries from below, a shrill, piercing laugh escaping her red lips. Black eyes peer up, meeting Cherise's gaze briefly. The smile broadens all the more, eyes swiftly hooding before she adds with a soft whisper...
"Know pain."
It comes in a flurry of motion, too furious to truly follow. Twisting her body sharply, those long legs erratically jerk to life, a barrage of kicks delivered as the woman turns her body, her hands flat on the concrete. When positioned into some semblence of a handstand the woman's legs snap sharply, two harsh kicks delivered to Cherise's jaw before she springs upwards, carrying the girl skyward with her legs as her body ignites with that odd red power.
Midair, the woman twists her body and lands in a deep crouch, a leg fully extended at her side as she kneels.
"So," she asks, whether the girl is conscious or not. "Was it as good for you as it was for me, Lttle Miss Crazy?"
Stop? What? Of course not-- and what's with the clawing motion? Wasn't this enough of a catfight for him?!
And that momentary distraction is what gives Shihong the window she was looking for, looking back to her kick-happy impromptu opponent just in time to be aware she needs to -jump-. Her feet lift just as the kick racks across her feet, the strange burst of light causing her to wince-- stagger her movements just enough for her eyes to narrow and her body to seize up.
Cometh the kicks.
The flurry of kicks rip across her from top to bottom, keeping her juggled into the air long enough to guarantee there's no chance for her to land properly or be able to tell which way is up or which way is down. The last two kicks send her reeling through the air and landing with a hard crash on her back. Her silvery hair is matted with blood and her eyes are clenched tight-- and perhaps to the producer's enjoyment, her dress is a little battered along the way, too.
"He... heh ... heheh..."
Suddenly -lurching- up into a crouch, Cherise executes a powerslide across her knees on the industrial shipyard's concrete ground for as masochistic as it may be, her right arm ripping across the air in a harsh clawing motion-- with four thin silver arcs stretching out in front of her fingertips and looking to hack and slash Shihong across the torso as brutally as possible.
"Yes!!"
COMBATSYS: Cherise can no longer fight.
> /////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Shihong dodges Cherise's Argent Claw.
> /////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Shihong
It comes without mercy, each kick marked with that familiar vermillion energy, Shihong delightfully laughing all the while. Twisting her body, she launches up, taking the Frenchwoman with, to fall like a ragdoll to the ground as she corrects herself midair. She lands with a soft crouch, black eyes slowly drawn over her shoulder, to Cherise as she lay on her back.
Lifting her chin, the woman's eyes hood as her expression grows confident and cocky. Almost TOO cocky. "Now, I've said it before, and I'll say it again, so hopefully you'll get it into that crazy little head of yours." Those black eyes watch every motion as Cherise rises from her back, into a crouch.
"Stay DOWN." Shihong thrusts a finger forward, at the Frenchwoman's face.
But will does she listen? Of course not! Sighing as the girl suddenly lunges up and slides, the woman in black simply crouches before she leaps backwards, her body twisting in the air. Those silver arcs don't touch the woman, only snaring the tips of black hair, cutting them free. Landing, the woman narrows her eyes at Cherise.
"Stay down, I said! This fight is over!"
Turning on her heel, the woman's hands pry past her jacket, pulling out the sleek black shades she'd previously and carefully tucked away. Easing them onto her face, she offers another cocky smirk as her head tips back, shaded eyes peering at the sun.
"Be seeing you again soon, I'm sure, crazy girl." Lifting an arm, she waves over her shoulder. "Bye bye~!"
COMBATSYS: Shihong takes no action.
> /////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Shihong has ended the fight here.
She can't stay down-- it isn't over!! It isn't over!
Though Shihong dodges the final swing, the energy dissapating in the air while her 'teammate' has already taken the fight to the finish. The processes of Cherise's thoughts run something in a pattern like this:
'Ow, my knees. She ruined my dress. I can taste blood. Where -did- she get those shoes, again?'
Hand easing up toward her face, the French girl starts to laugh again. "Oh? ... I see what you mean," she says, seeming to finally acknowledge her appearance. "I bet you that I would break." Part of her doesn't sound totally against that idea.
Bringing her arms over her head, her fingers reach for the skies as her back arches slightly, stretching long and tall as if she slept for hours-- despite her injuries. Arms dropping to her sides, Cherise licks her thumb in an almost habitual manner, lifting her finger to point at Shihong. "And the next time, it will be you losing."
Turning around, she walks back to her chair and picks up her vest-- giving one last flick of her wrist, wire reeling in with a loud hiss and clicking against her bracelet with a metallic *tink*. Can't forget the essentials!
Log created on 19:49:46 09/24/2007 by Shihong, and last modified on 10:47:34 09/25/2007.