Description: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. With the threat of Rugal hanging over the tournament, the organizers of Jinchuu have reached an agreement with Blackjack. Riko has met with Elle. An...understanding...is in effect. But that matters little, if word hasn't /reached/ the members of Blackjack. Not that any Blackjack member would cause trouble, of course, Certainly not. I mean, that's definitely not Naerose there, just an..."R" soldier in a really bad-fitting uniform. Obviously. And that's not Birdie, can't be, just some finely-dressed dandy of a stranger. Yeah!
Such a difficult time..
The last body hits the deck.
Overall, Hiretsu has been hard at work organizing defenses. Alerting crew, training Sakura, organizing a defensive line, but even now.. there are certain hot spots to attend to. For one, the match deep in the bowels of the suiryu. Soma Travedi wasn't half bad, for a fighter, but the seeds had been planted. He'd only pray that the detective was.. at least half as intelligent as the director had taken him for. Of course, Hiretsu has changed his uniform jacket to one that wasn't quite so torn from Soma's blade, but the blood still seeps past a makeshift bandage and through his jacket. Apparently, his uniform is more important than amenable first aid.
The director sniffs audibly, wiping a trail of blood from his lip with handkerchief, leaning on his cane. He suppresses a particularly wet-sounding cough into that cloth as the last of an untended group of invaders hits the boards of the deck, fully unconscious.
They are quite talented for their "R" payroll, but ... well.
The Director's methods tend to be impeccable.
Perfect in every way. The sound of applause drifts over the deck. It's a soft and subtle thing, barely audible over the distant roar of gunfire. But it's applause all the same, a gesture of appreciation.
The black-garbed soldiers lie motionless around Hiretsu's feet. But there's another figure standing in the shadow of the ship's superstructure, a dark silhouette. A slim figure, a lithe figure. Clapping as she steps forward.
Riko glances, briefly, at the fallen "R" invaders. Then she lifts her head, meeting the Director's eyes.
"The Blackjack situation is handled," she says, without preamble.
Was that truly all of them?
Some might beg to differ. While certainly a rough count of invaders they would all seem to be accounted for, except for one's clothes. Well at least one. He was an older man, mostly there, he had his pants and stuff, but he was missing his jacket and some of his weaponry. . . Not that it would do any good to the person who took it, being as the ammo wasn't taken with the weapons. The only truly thing about him that set this one man apart from the other invaders would be a marking on his arm claiming him to be the property of a certain 'Naerose'
Meanwhile being in the bowls of the Suiryuu would carry dangers unimagined. Could it be that the 'agents' of Jinchuu had spawned some desponds? And how could a ninja possibly be snuck up on by someone as clumsy as this peculiarly dressed woman. The first thing that gives her away are the round black shades she wears even in the darkest parts of the ship, the next give away? Her bumping into things as a result. The next give away though was her speaking into her headset.
"Gzzzt, subject found, over? Gzzt," the figure says, though her headset had long since started sounding with only static as the invasion force was defeated.
"Gzzt, engaging subject Gzzt. Over and out. Gzzt." Yes, she's making the gzzt sounds herself.
Then jumping out into plain view. . It's pretty clearly Naerose, with her witches hat and broom and shades, but on top of that she has a beret on the top of her witches cap along with an 'r' jacket slung over her red dress and some useless weapons over her shoulders.
Blackjack situation is handled.. Eh?
Naerose needs aid so she isn't so horribly slain, so why not ask the jolly green giant!
Well Birdie isn't green, but he is a giant none the less. Having been kicked off the ship already by LITTLE GIRLS and BLANKA DOG, Birdie was aiming to get back at the ship EVEN THOUGH Elle made an agreement to work with them. Thugs will be thugs. And thuggerly is expect from thugs, so thugs thug thuggery thuggings. To be thugs.
Birdie, not being a part of -R-, or beating up an invader, did something to hide his features as well. Namely, over his spiked head there is a top hat. He's wearing a shirt underneath his vest, and even though, it's still ripped in half like the vest, and on one eye he wears a monocle. THERE. Now he's British royalty.
After a nice swim all the way up here, and a few throws with his chain, Birdie's able to get up aboard ship in no time. And since the invaders were out and about, it was easier to sneak on. If you can even call it that.
Now, Birdie rounds the corner as Naerose jumps into plain view, almost like it was planned. Hmmmm.
Despite the catty form slinking about, remaining hidden in the dark of the night, Hiretsu doesn't need to open his eyes to tell who it is. Another idle sniff, before the kerchief is tucked away into his jacket. The director limps past the unconscious group as if he were picking his way through nothing more than a field of daisies.
"Good. We don't need any undue interference during this time. In turn, Travedi has been appraised of his role. ...It would seem we're regaining control of the situation. While personnel has been handling the .. more human elements of the incursion, we are only slightly behind schedule in matches...comparitively speaking, of course. THat leaves only.. the mechanical obstructions."
Hiretsu... frowns, faintly.
"... Help you, miss? .. sir?" He asks, simply, hands folding over the ball of his cane.
He doesn't shift his attention, but the split in direction makes it at least relatively clear he means to address the .. new arrivals.
"Doubt it," Riko murmurs, with just the faintest hint of sarcasm.
Her back's turned towards the two newcomers - the woman in ragtag "R" gear over a red dress, and the man in punk nobility finery. She can't see them. But she senses their presence all the same. She keeps herself facing Hiretsu, however, exchanging a wordless look with the Director.
Riko shakes her head, ever so slightly.
Riko reads well the way that Naerose is moving, the way she places a candy bar, which has seen better days, containing many bites out of the chocolate goodness, into her mouth. She starts to stalk slowly toward Riko with precise care and almost a saunter, but more like a cheap imitation of one.
It might be worth noting now that Naerose was actually unaware of any deals made with Blackjack and therefore not likely to follow the directives of one. This is another one of those details that might go unnoticed in the otherwise bizarre situation.
"Gzzt, Engaging. Gzzt Cutter out." The witch says and looks way more threatening the way she lifts her broom to her shoulder, like she were carrying a rifle.
As it happens she IS carrying a rifle, but rather then treating the rifle like oh I dunno, a rifle, she decides to use her broom.
Birdie is noticed, but sort of in the way you notice something you expect to have there. Not so that Naerose knew he would be there, but just more that she didn't think he'd do anything like try and take her shoes when she was in the process of being rather thuggish herself.
Birdie notices Naeros- no he doesn't! She's an invader! As well as Birdie. Both of them are invaders! Grrrrr. Be careful when they invade for they invade with great power.
Noticing INVADER 1, Not-Birdie begins to move up towards Hiretsu, and upon seeing the new clothes with fresh blood stains, he seems to stop in his tracks. The man looks like he's been around a it. Well, he's using a cane and probably old, so it wouldn't be that surprising if it was true.
"'Ello Guvnah." Not-Birdie says, "How're you today mate? Looks like you got in quite the bloomin' scrap if I say so myself. A crying shame."
He proceeds before nodding towards him.
"So 'ow bout you just lay down an' leave the rest to us, eh?"
Hiretsu smirks faintly, nodding at Riko once.
".. It's the preference of the blind to walk the brambles," Hiretsu observes, coldly. There is a methodical persuasion to his voice, a sequential rhythm of observation. "I'm sure you two think you're going to accomplish something today.." he begins, stepping past Riko--passing almost too closely--and towards Delphine and Birdie with his familiar jangled gait.
".. But we have a bit of a situation aboard the ship. As.. you no doubt, know."
A glance is given to Naerose and get getup, moreso than the thug.
"... If you'd like to attend to that particular battle before getting in over your heads, I'd be happy to invoke command authority and deputize the both of you."
Hiretsu glances up at Birdie. Way, way up.
"... Nice hat," he compliments, as an aside.
"It is," Riko agrees, looking over her shoulder. She tilts her head to and fro, giving Birdie a look of intense deliberation - before nodding, once, emphasising the statement.
The ninja girl turns, the wheels of her in-line skates scraping against the deck. As she pivots, her face is lit by a distinct explosion in the background, a flash bursting over the water between the Suiryuu and the Black Noah. Riko pays it - and the sound of the blast - no heed.
No, she just regards Naerose and Birdie, staring at each of them in turn. Riko stands beside Hiretsu, at the old man's shoulder...content, it seems, to let him do the talking.
Which should, in itself, be a bad sign.
"Hey, wait.. you mean you just wanna loot those fellas?" Naerose says, gesturing to the 'R' invaders? "Seriously? The ninjafolk would probably think you were doing them a favor if you did." Though the witch doesn't have eyes for loot right now, at least not that look, after all there is better loot to be had.
"Come on.. You're ninja right? And you want your 'agents of jinchuu' to use their heads. . Right? Right? So lets see here, I mean, your boat is being attacked by invaders and everyone and their grandma is busy protecting the ship against these invaders, so Sakura your head of security is busy, her girl scout troupe is surely up helping her. . . Even if anyone did stumble on us now they'd be too hurt. . " The witch pauses to gesture at Hirestu's shoulder, "To help. And speaking of too hurt, when best to strike. .. Come on I've played enough Tenchu to know how this is done. I'm using my head, and I'm here to claim the prize, for me <3"
The witch adds a wink over the rims of her shades and blows a kiss toward Riko and Hiretsu. Yeah probably no talking her out of this one.
"Thanks. I had to beat someone up for it. He wasn't that hard but it is a nice hat." Birdie states with a grin. He's not hiding the fact that he did that at all. He's a thug. HE'S EXPECTED TO DO THAT. Really.
Still, Birdie just nods to Hirestu as he speaks. Infact, he sure does think that they're going to accomplish something. Even if Birdie has a terrible streak of luck. HE'LL STILL TRY. Oh ho ho ho ho.
Looking down towards Hiretsu, Birdie grins, his teeth white and with two large, pointed incisors.
"Well then. I see mate." He states before looking up towards Riko. The flash goes off but Birdie barely flinches. "Skates on a ship?"
And then he looks to INVADER 1. She says all she has to.
The distant flash backlights the director, casting a harsh shadow over his face, during which there is only a briefly visible smile. It is... hardly a pleasant thing. Fangish and predatory, they match the director's eyes, briefly visible in a sharp, relentless gaze.
"So.. the proleteriat wants to realize their legend's consideration the hard way, hrmm?" He chuckles. "I'll say this much... you've ambition."
The cane raises off the deck as Hiretsu shifts positions, setting his cane into his right hand instead of both. It is subtle. Something just barely perceptible. But it is a ready stance, nonetheless. "But ambition won't solely determine the new dawn and its legendary recompense. There are other factors. Skill. Intelligence. That will be subject of today. Miss Koganei. I shouldn't think there is lack of ample time in our schedule for a simple test.. should we begin?"
COMBATSYS: Naerose has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Birdie has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|
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Birdie 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Riko has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|
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Riko 0/-------/-------|
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Birdie 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Hiretsu has joined the fight here.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hiretsu
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Riko 0/-------/-------|
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Birdie 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Riko has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Hiretsu
Riko makes a show of raising her arm, cocking her wrist such that her sleeve slides back. She mimes the familiar motion of someone consulting a watch, making a small thoughtful sound.
"Whatever you say," she replies, "Hiretsu-/sama/."
And that's all the warning she gives, before she bursts into motion.
Skates on a ship, Birdie noted. Yes. Skates on a ship. Perhaps impractical, considering the less than stable nature of the whole business.
But Riko doesn't seem to have any problems.
She moves, gliding silently past Hiretsu's shoulder, wheels sliding against the deck - her whole body pitched low. A rapid movement, as she spins, skidding suddenly, one foot racing to the nearest target:
Birdie, and his stolen finery.
"See now that's one of the things that I sorta have a problem with, you know. Someone else telling me what I can and can't do, like, you're a really awful rapper, or you can't dance, or you could probably flip burgers okay. I'll tell you what, I don't judge myself so like you totally shouldn't judge me, anyway, I'll tell you, I'm just going to totally take what I - oh right. . A 'test'" The witch winks over her shades, the explosion in the background reflects in the round lenses of her shades and also reflects her targets. A smile remains plastered on her face.
"You can totally call this a test. I don't mind."
The witch raises her broom and gets into what seems to be a ready position, or maybe just a lame pose. She leans back as if she could at any time sit on said broom.
"Thiis gonna be so awesome." Then she moves in, her target? Forget Riko, she's going for the gold and bringher broom around full circle to hit Hiretsu.
COMBATSYS: Riko successfully hits Birdie with Light Kick.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Hiretsu
So Riko comes at him. He's busy listening to Hirestu to actually know what Riko is doing. When he's finally done, Birdie looks back towards Riko. Well. That sure didn't work so well.
She's already coming at him in a burst of motion. The skates make her fast, even on this ship. So when she comes at him, the foot lashes out at his chest... and strikes! Him right in the chest. But the chest refuses to give. It Birdie's struck, but it pricks him. He's none too happy about that.
"You're gonna regret that chick-a-dee." Birdie snorts as he rears back a fist and tries to drive a punch straight at Riko as she's still spinning and skidding. In hopes to catch her off guard.
But the clothes might impede his speed however. That would suck.
COMBATSYS: Hiretsu blocks Naerose's Medium Strike.
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Hiretsu
"We're all judged. It is the nature of adversity!"
WOCK!
The broom, swung full circle, impacts neatly against the length of Hiretsu's cane, accompanied by a soft sound from the director. The cane is shorter, allowing Hiretsu to maneuver in a tighter space with a faster response time . The weapon slides against Naerose's own, shifting until horizontal.
"Watch closely."
If she's not quick enough, the young witch will shortly discover Hiretsu's cane is also much, much heavier than her broom, as he flips the end past the obstruction and moves to, without any further delay, crack Naerose in the face with the fat end.
COMBATSYS: Birdie successfully hits Riko with Jab Punch.
- Power hit! -
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Naerose 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Hiretsu
Meanwhile, the echoing sound of broom against cane...
...blends rather nicely with the sound of bone against bone.
Riko slides to a halt on the deck, one arm skewed in an awkward unnatural angle, hanging limp from her shoulder. Her fingers twitch, muscles over the whole limb spasming in response to the incredible damage - all from that one moment of fateful contact with Birdie's fist.
He hits hard.
But Riko's facial expression doesn't change. She completely fails to react to what /must/ be intense agony. She just stares at Birdie. In the irregular light provided by the battle raging all over the ship, in the silvery cast of the moon, she regards the man with cool intensity.
"Maybe," she says, simply.
Riko moves, again. With her one remaining good arm, she lashes out. Out and up, her fingertips forming into a rigid striking point. Aimed directly at the monocle resting over Birdie's face... intending to shatter the glass straight into his eye.
COMBATSYS: Naerose blocks Hiretsu's Medium Strike.
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Naerose 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Hiretsu
Wow, that was fast. Naerose is sort of impressed except she's also doing her best to cover the incoming attack with her broom. It's in a nice place, but this guy, he moves with a lot of skill. The sort of impact of wood on wood would send vibrations up her arms and cause her to go 'ow' and shake her hands off a bit. Luckily Birdie seems to have Riko pretty much taken care of for the time being so Naerose can pay attention to this fiesty old man. She's starting to think he's the sort who hides in japanese bathhouses to watch girls. She mercifully keeps this suspicion to herself.
The counter move, she knows totally what she's going to do though. If that man is anything like her he won't let go of his cane any sooner than she'd let go of her broom. All she has to do is grab it and toss it and probably will end up tossing him too. Well here is hoping.
COMBATSYS: Birdie blocks Riko's Improvised Tactics EX.
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Naerose 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Hiretsu
"What in the bloody hell do you think you're doin' chickadee." Birdie cries as he slams back Riko. He's a monster. A giant black man with muscles than make Hercules look like a chump. But he doesn't have the endurance of a god.
As Riko comes right back up though, Birdie can't help but grin. It's going to be a nice fight. No matter how long it is, or anything. Birdie's going to enjoy it. As Riko comes back though, Birdie find out monocles could be potentially hazardous.
A single shot fired towards Birdie's monocle eye sends him into a defensive mode. The massive arms come up to stop the rigid, striking point fingers. They stop it, taking damage, and probably saving himself from an eye being useless for a while.
Backing up, Birdie grabs hold of the monocle and tosses it aside. "Alright dammit. No more play time." Bursting forward towards Riko, he tries to strike her with the hat. But soon, if he connects, she'll find the follicles of hair bursting out the other side of the hat. YEAH. This isn't going to be a cake walk.
Hiretsu just wanted to say that
COMBATSYS: Hiretsu interrupts Quick Throw from Naerose with Random Weapon.
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Naerose 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Hiretsu
Glancing to a side, the director keeps a careful eye on Riko. She seems to have her hands very full with that brute over there. But in that moment of weakness, Naerose is able to get a solid grip on his cane, binding his movement, and pulling him offbalance, putting pressure on his shoulder socket.
That is when the Director simply releases his cane.
You see.. the witch guessed wrong.
The cane drops, as if almost supernaturally heavy for its displacement. Part of this is because of the cane's sophisticated makeup and balance. The other part is because of the seal glowing on the end that Naerose grips.
With a soft gas hissing from the head, the resultant reaction is a measurable danger. If Naerose tries to keep a hold of the cane for too long, the explosion will most likely take Naerose's arm off.
Let us hope, then, that she is fast enough to release it in time.
COMBATSYS: Riko dodges Birdie's Bull Horn.
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Naerose 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Hiretsu
A blast. An explosion. A shockwave rippling out from Hiretsu's cane, stirring the air. A shockwave large enough that it tosses Riko off-balance, sending her spilling to the ground. A case of friendly fire? So it would seem.
Until it becomes apparent that with her tumbling to the deck, Birdie's top-hat rush passes clean over her form. Nothing accidental there, just a case of pure pragmatism. Tucked in a compact shape, Riko rolls against the deck panels - before her legs scissor out, heavy skate-clad heels entangling with Birdie's own limbs. More than just a tripping move...a motion precisely calculated to turn his own forward rush against him.
"If you say so," Riko notes, calmly.
Well her arm doesn't get ripped off, but she takes some serious damage from that crazy attack. Wow that was cool, but that was far to painful, she takes it with a scream and sort of falls back a little. The witch takes a moment to shake her head from side to side.
"Okay.. Okay, so you're actually kind of old and you've had a lot of time to practice..
"That's kind of painful." Complains the witch and takes a moment to seriously consider what to do next. Well, she actually seems to think she has a good idea what to do next.
"Ugh, I totally give up." the witch says and starts to back up, but if you were paying attention you'd totally see something like a red ninja style string which she seems to be trying to toss around Hiretsu' neck, if she succeeds it will be followed by quite a choke and a jolt.
COMBATSYS: Birdie endures Riko's Isometric View.
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Naerose 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Hiretsu
Birdie does go pushing forth, BARRELING forward. And he doesn't stop even if she's going to try to do that. As she rolls, Birdie tries to keep watch on her, but then the skates come out to entangle Birdie's own legs! That's not good at all! Birdie's not getting out of this one, so he does his best to actually use it to his advantage.
And he does. Bursting forward, Birdie trips and falls under his own power. Really. ON PURPOSE. Okay not really, but he does fall towards the ground. A loud rumble goes through out the boat when he falls. But he's not going to let her feet just get out. Instead, Birdie tries to lock his feet on hers and literally use his own falling momentum to rocket the girl into the air.
"Yeah. I'm serious here. Hahah. Chick-a-dee you're going to regret this."
COMBATSYS: Hiretsu dodges Naerose's Threads of Fate.
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Naerose 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Hiretsu
Hiretsu steps forward, picking up his cane. "Do you. Do you really?"
For some reason, Hiretsu seems little convinced.
Especially when the loops of string float around his neck.
He smirks. His cane twists. And flips into the air, quick as a lightning bolt. It spins, the motion displacement making it a discus as it careens back into the deck. It anchors near Riko, landing on its end, and hanging there, eerily, as if supported by the deck at a perfect 45 degree angle.
The threads, bisected in that instant, fall around Hiretsu.
"So.. do you?" The director asks a third time, a thin chill of amusement crawling through his voice.
COMBATSYS: Hiretsu assists Riko.
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Naerose 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Hiretsu
COMBATSYS: Riko endures Birdie's Quick Throw.
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Naerose 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Hiretsu
And Riko echoes the old man, her voice pitched in an eerie replica of his voice and intonation: "Do you?"
She says this, even as she flies through space. Thrust skyward by Birdie's attack, her head thrown back, her spine arched in a painful fashion...but she twists, suddenly, with whipcord gymnastic flair. She changes orientation in mid-air, an inhuman display of acrobatics.
And the ninja girl drops earthward, plummeting in a controlled arc. She lands not on the deck, but instead upon the rod planted upon the surface of the ship - the cane that Hiretsu flung a heartbeat ago. She stands there, skate wheels resting against the diagonal surface...defying all laws of weight and gravity.
Riko looks at Birdie, then, cocking her head. "Will I?"
Then she explodes from the cane, skating -up- the length of the weapon. Treating it like a launch ramp, shooting from it like a human missile - towards the Red Witch.
COMBATSYS: Riko successfully hits Naerose with One Hit Wonder EX.
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Naerose 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Hiretsu
She totally wasn't expecting that. It was grand and then.. And then something is shown to Naerose one place where the ninjas totally had her. Teamwork. She seemed to lack any great understanding of teamwork, she didn't ever really use it much. she only sort of managed to do it with elle but even tht was noting compared to the move that was jsut used on her. but then ... She doesn't even know what hit her. One moment Naerose has words lips on her tongue and then the next.. She has a face full of ship. Eh. She gets up.
"Do I? Oh hehe, do I give up. NOT!" Cries the witch and sticks out her tongue and tugs on the top of her eyelid, then she charges ahead at the old oyagi, trying to tackle him.
"I will never give up." The witch actually sounds pretty serious.
Riko... explodes off of him. The ninja girl plummets from the throw, hurled up and away from him. But she doesn't go for Birdie. No no no. That would be to GOOD for her. Instead, right towards his ally.
Birdie's had this problem before. But OH he's not letting this happen again. Oh no. Riko's going to come back to him, like it or not. He's being ignored, and he really doesn't like it. He's going to get her back. "Hey! What the bloody 'ell do you think your doing chick-a-dee. I'm right over here." Birdie snorts as he unravels the chain on his arm before literally tossing it towards Riko.
What does this prove? He's trying to ensnare her and pull her back. But all she's going to feel is the links around her body, possibly making it harder for her.
COMBATSYS: Birdie successfully hits Riko with Thrown Object.
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Naerose 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Hiretsu
Harder indeed. She's ensnared, the links of metal looping round her form. A harsh embrace of serpentine steel, coiling hard enough to bruise. Riko's barely had time to disengage from Naerose...when she finds herself surrounded by the chain. Grabbed, dragged, hauled in like a fish.
Unlike a fish, though, she /doesn't/ have a gaping mouth. Oh yes, her lips part in a faint expression of surprise. But that lasts only for a moment...before instinct takes over.
And a finely-honed mind.
It's too late for her to escape. But she slams her feet down as Birdie yanks her towards him - literally digging her heels, drawing the brakes of her in-line skates across the deck. There's a horrible screech as sparks erupt from Riko's skate boots, thrown up by the sheer amount of friction. And all that's just enough to change the girl's direction, such that...
Well, she's still heading right towards Birdie.
But her course changes - she -also- collides into the deck railing, skidding along the ship's flank as she's reeled in. A painful thing indeed. Especially when she slams into one of the cannons pointing over the side of the boat, just before bouncing into Birdie's grasp.
Then again, that collision does send the muzzle of said cannon swinging round, as the entire weapon pivots on its mount...
Riko looks up at Birdie, smiling ferally.
"You are."
COMBATSYS: Riko assists Hiretsu.
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Naerose 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Hiretsu
COMBATSYS: Naerose successfully hits Hiretsu with Quick Throw.
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Naerose 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Hiretsu
Bowled over by the attack, Hiretsu is knocked back by Naerose's tackle. And to his own measure, being in close quarters with Naerose is generally a quick way to lose most of your valuables. He has all he can handle with trying to fight her off, one sleeve flicking back as he tries to push her off with his elbow, hand-braced against his jacket.
But a part of his attention .. always stays focused.
It is hardly a surprise when Hiretsu builds enoguh space between the two to lean back and slam his cane into the deck, almost eerily in sync with Riko's movements. "HIRYUU TAIHOU!"
As if every fixture on the ship obeyed the cane's command, the cannon Riko just swivelled explodes, inloading its heavy iron payload.
That cannon.. is trained on the thug.
That weapon it spews is a specially modified cannonball. It will land. There are multi-stage seals across its backside. It will land. And then a seal will explode. And it will continue landing, seal after seal triggereing just as its momentum dies. It pushes, and breaks through whatever is in front of it.
The Hiryuu Taihou has an effective range of several miles.
This was getting crazy, Naerose didn't know what happened with Riku, only that when she fond herself over Hirestu, then he wipes her off, there is a big explosion and then things get more confusing. The witch doesn't know what's going on shes like OMGOMGOMG, then she's like, wait, nevermind, then she's like.. Screw this.
"Ugh, I don't wanna get hit by something like that, take this En Criento." The witch thrusts a hand at Hiretsu and sends a torrent of swirling chi.
"Look I'm not leaving until I have what I want, sorry, but I'm a girl on a mission." She winks over her shades as her hat and clothes start to whip in a sort of wave of the things blowing up, knocking on her backside with an ooof.. Luckily out of the way of shrapnel.
COMBATSYS: Birdie endures Hiretsu's Large Thrown Object EX.
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Naerose 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Hiretsu
Like a fish though, he rally had to reel in Riko. She's not coming easily it seems. Instead, she's giving him all this gruff to actually get her closer to him. But one hand over the other he ropes her in. And it's not going to be a good feeling when he gets his hands on her.
It takes him a while. A long while, but he does. She's there now. Even though he had to fight against her skate boots trying to force her away. Oh no, not this time. Not this time.
So upon actually getting a hold of Riko, Birdie's taking this time to really let her damn have it.
"You know, chick-a-dee. You're bloody beginning to grate on me."
Right as Birdie begins to raise the Murderer Chain to wrap up Riko and put on the SQUEEZE, something else happens. Birdie hears cannon fire.
Looking towards the cannon a large cannon ball with seals comes at Birdie. Well. Birdie knows what he's doing. Leaving Riko there still somewhat chained, Birdie hurls himself infront of the cannon ball. Why? Because. BECAUSE HE'S A MAN. Literally taking the cannon ball, he rockets forward with the aid of it, chain out, in hopes to catch Riko in it's web once more, and when he strikes the rails of the ship with the ball still blowing up on his back, which hurts a lot, he's trying to siphon all that into Riko.
Hopefully it won't end with them getting knocked off the ship.
COMBATSYS: Naerose successfully hits Hiretsu with End Creation.
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Naerose 1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Hiretsu
"Then, I think that's enough for today," Hiretsu answers the witch, striding away and with purpose. He is in fact, faintly dismayed by the thug's altogether tough as nails response to his cannon, but altogether unsurprised. He has more important things to be concerned with. As that 'End Creation' encroaches on him with all due speed, he looks towards it, a faint frown touching his features.
He is hit full on by the storm.
Knocked bodily off of his feet, the director explodes as if killed on the spot by the deadly energy channelling, which rocks the deck and causes a reaction in the sealwork across the entire starboard side of the ship. But Hiretsu's demise is a bloodless one. Nothing but an all-consuming mist that causes the eyes to tear up shrouds his passing.
When that mist clears, he is gone.
Not a single trace of him is left.
COMBATSYS: Hiretsu takes no action.
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Naerose 1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0 Riko
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Birdie 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Hiretsu
COMBATSYS: Riko endures Birdie's Bad Scrap.
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Naerose 1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1 Riko
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Birdie 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Hiretsu
...more crashing steel than a high-speed train wreck, enough force to pulp flesh and shatter sinews, enough power to smear a human body to wet shreds of red and flecks of broken bone...
All that and more. All that in Birdie's attack, with the sheer unstoppable force of a cannon-driven onslaught. And that's just what happens to Riko. Her body gives way with a sickening gut-wrenching /CRACK/, a sound so loud it echoes like a gunshot across the deck, across the water.
Except, just like Hiretsu, there's no spray of blood, no gore, no nothing. Nothing except another dense cloud of billowing smoke. Entwining with the other pillar of fog rising from the deck...until the last wisps pass, and nothing remains.
The only trace of their passing? A small steel sphere embedded in the deck, lying where Hiretsu fell. A smoke grenade.
And where Riko was, a punctured aerosol can.
A vanishing act so complete it'd put Houdini himself to shame. One moment there, the next, gone, gone, gone.
But then, that's why they call 'em ninja.
There's professional standards to maintain.
Union rules.
COMBATSYS: Riko takes no action.
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Naerose 1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1 Riko
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Birdie 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Hiretsu
"Did you see that?!" Exclaims Naerose with glee, pointing at the where Hiretsu was and then. .
"No wait nevermind, that's not half as cool as I thought it was." The witch says with marked disapointment. She glances at Birdie and sighs again.
"Well okay, I guess they left, but I bet they can hear.. Hey listen you two, I'm not done yet! If that was a test.. Oh man I'm coming for you, and if you think you can give the prize to someone else, I'll just come and get them!" Cries the witch and then glowers. There was such an amazing amount of fighting lately.. She took on her opponent in the regular match, then went through some other Jinchuu person unfortunate enough to get in her way, then an invader and now this. . Suddenly. . it all catches up to the witch.
"Hey ahh.. not-birdie, lets .. just loot these guys and call it a day."
She flicks a wrist at the unconscious R minions laid out and then sighs,
"maybe I can sell this used smoke grenade and empty can.. least not call it a complete loss."
*thud* the witch falls over, dead asleep.
And thus the curtain closes on her R4.
Log created on 14:37:39 10/06/2007 by Riko, and last modified on 16:42:40 10/08/2007.