Description: After a intense sparring match with his right-hand man, Billy Kane, Geese decides to make his grand return to the realm of fighting. Also featuring: embarassingly scandalous poses by Billy. Good work, Billy.
Geese Towers has always held significance to the citizens of Southtown. Ever since its construction, it has been a blaring, magnificent monument to the empire that Geese Howard had sculpted out of the once simplistic city. To others, it is a blot, signifying the corruption that has infected Southtown since Geese's rise to power. To the man himself, it holds a very special place in his heart.
It's not often that a person gets pushed off their own rooftop, after all. Twice.
Despite this gruesome fact, Geese Howard is especially fond of his tower's rooftop, as he always has been -- perhaps moreso. It's something of a symbol to just how unbeatable he truly is. Which is why, more often than not, he can be found here when he is needed.
Today is no exception. The leader of the Southtown Syndicate has been mulling in his rooftop office for some hours now. He currently stands just beyond the shore of the artificial pond, holding a glass of wine in one hand. Ten minutes previous to this, he'd sent out for his bodyguard, Billy Kane, to have the man meet him here. The reasons were not explained. Yet, judging by the fact that he wears that tell-tale gi and hakama as he observes the rivulets of water flowing throughout his stream... the reason should be made clear to Billy by the time he arrives.
Billy erupts through the double doors, wearing a slip of a dress. "Happy birthday Mr. President..." He then wriggles sensually out of it, his modesty covered by a dallop of whipped cream.
Unsurprisingly, Billy was rather expedient about the call to visit his employer at the apex of his building; Although such is hardly reserved only for business. He had been training within the myriad rooms that take up an entire floor, toweling himself off before slipping on his jacket and opting to take the stairs rather then the elevator. Unannounced, the door opens with rather forceful gusto, the British bodyguard shouldering it heavily with his long crimson staff resting upon the other in a loose grip. "Hey hey hey!" is offered, twisting around his heel to kick it closed immediately thereafter. Given the still mild sheen of sweat, it'd be obvious to Geese what Billy had been doing himself.. Outside the fact he likely already knew, and this interruption was doubtlessly purposeful. A halfhearted glance flickers over the surrounding office, as he saunters over a couple meters from Howard's side. Twirling his staff lazily, the base impacts the ground with a loud crack that echoes sharply in the room. "Well... if I didn't know better, I'd say you wanted an assbeating." is mused, free hand rubbing his chin in a thoughtful manner. "Run out of Bogard dummies to break?" Amazingly informal, as always. Then again, they are friends; There is no actual subservience beyond what is strictly necessary in a public setting.
"Ah, Billy," Geese notes with the British man's bursting entrance. A dull smile crosses his lips.
"Still as explosive as ever, I see."
Howard half-turns in a semblence of greeting as Billy explodes into the office and just as loudly announces his presence. That dull smile transforms into something more amused as Billy goes on, lifting the glass of wine to his lips. Taking a long, savoring sip of the contents within, the Southsynd leader lets his attention turn once more to his right-hand man. Incredibly informal, Billy is. Some might even think of him as insulting, with how he talks. Surely, Geese has killed men for such talk.
"Only if you think you can manage it, Billy. We wouldn't want you to hurt yourself trying to hard, hm?" But Billy is not most men. Geese turns fully as Billy speaks of dummies and challenges, the Howard offering little more than a scoff in reply. "Dummies are hardly a test of skill. But sometimes a man needs a challenge." Setting his glass down, Geese stands tall before Billy, a grin slipping past his lips.
"That is, if you haven't gotten too rusty." Amazingly informal. But this kind of atmosphere is just what Howard is comfortable with when speaking with Billy.
"Rusty...?" Billy slowly scrunches his fingers, as if he has just been slapped in the face. "I'm the one out there, slaving in Saturday Night Fight and trying to sock it to that Masters fellow in the Neo League... What've you done? Sat up here sippin' wine, it seems." There's a mild snort there, as if he truly thinks he's the one who has the better ammunition for such playful accusations. For the reality is thinking Geese can /possibly/ go soft or suffer attrition is a quick way to a mortician. He steps backwards, beginning to sweep his weapon around in smooth, careful arcs, juggling the weapon masterfully. The one talent he fully earned himself, and the very one that got him his station. "So let's see just how good you are... I've almost forgotten!" And then, without much warning, he dashes forward across the short distance between. Whirling around, he snaps his weapon in a broad arc, the heavy end aiming to strike Geese upon the side of the head with rather explosive force. He's trying to use the range to make it harder to avoid outright, as opposed to make himself safer; And he shifts up his foot to unleash a brutal kick towards his employer's midsection thereafter, hoping to capitalize on any evasion or defense that is summoned up!
COMBATSYS: Billy has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Billy 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Geese has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Geese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Billy
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Billy's Medium Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Billy
A short, chuckling laughter follows in the wake of Billy's indignation. In the same motion, Geese sweeps back with his right foot, adopting a more formal stance for the fight soon to come. His icy blue eyes focus on Billy, an easy smile crossing his lips as he lifts his left hand up. "Oh? It seems I hit a sore spot there, Billy! So, then..." His hand twitches in a beckon as the muscles of his body tense in a subtle preparation.
"Let's see just how far you've come!"
And just as expected, Kane comes rushing in towards Howard. The Southsynd leader is undeniably swift to react; the moment that staff swings up, his forearm is there. The hard crimson material strikes his bracer with a dedadened thud, the impact largely absorbed and deflected. The moment that Billy comes in with that -kick-, Geese is thrusting his left hand out palm-first to swat it out of the way even further. "HMPH!" With a rigid forward stomp, Geese's body shifts to the right. The fingers of his right hand seek to bury themselves into Billy's gut, the left gripping his shoulder. From there, Geese will launch him off his feet in a spin, before snapping out his right hand in an open-palm thrust to Billy's sternum, carrying with it more than ample kinetic fury to launch the Brit backwards.
COMBATSYS: Billy counters Combo Throw from Geese with Fire Dragon Pursuit Cane.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Billy
It would seem the adaptive style of Billy is working as intended, shifting himself to forge an aggressive defense intended to keep up the pressure even while it keeps the opponent at bay; Geese can thank himself for teaching this particular facet to such a highly polished level. Shifting backwards, the gouging strike towards his stomach is scarcely avoided, and the other hand moving to his shoulder is caught with a twist of his staff, deflected sharply upwards. Geese is vulnerable. He is probably not used to this. "Too slow!!" is offered with a sharp cackle following, immediately using his raised weapon – detached into a segment connected by chain – to viciously *strike* Geese across the face, and capitalize on that to flow into a rapid onslaught, twisting the other end around for even more damage. At the conclusion he assembles his weapon while swooping it overhead, to smack the larger man in the chest and drive him backwards. Billy flows into a loose and forward stance thereafter, shifting his weapon beneath an armpit and then beckoning with the free one. "C'mon! Sure you didn't drink too much wine before calling me up here?!"
Ah yes, that.
That is something of a problem, isn't it?
Of course, Geese knows exactly what's coming. He taught Billy exactly the maneuvers to use it, too. It's not unexpected; however, there is a certain look of surprise on Howard's face as he is struck so solidly across the face. It quickly fades into a grimace of pain as he is struck in the chest, launched off his feet for all of three seconds. He recovers in mid-air, landing in a skidding halt a faint distance away from Billy. The tall man smirks ever-so slightly, bringing a hand to press it against his chest. "... Hm. Still as tough as ever. That's good; I actually brought you up here to talk to you about something, as well."
But Geese doesn't allow time for explanations -quite- yet. Instead, his body exerts itself at superhuman speed, flowing forward just as Billy makes his bold declarations. Cold blue fire crawls up Geese's right arm, swirling into the palm of his hand in a bubbling maelstrom. "Double..." He unleashes the torrent in a ground-based wave of the deepest blue with the upward thrust of his arm. Before it can blaze off, though, his -left- hand thrusts forward as well, adding to the mass of the flame until it is easily as tall as Billy. "REPPUKEN!!" And then... the entire conflagration of blue flames shriek across the ground, aiming to consume Billy within.
COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Billy with Double Reppuken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Billy
"Business with pleasure?" Billy smirks, continuing to spin his weapon around in a rather masterful manner, beginning to pace at what is perceived to be a safe distance from his long-time mentor and friend. Of course that's only an illusion, as the summoned and woven cerulean energy proves. He tenses, and attempts to lurch himself into the air over the torrentous assault; He fails, impacted with a heavy grunt and blown backwards. But rather then land on his back, he snaps out his staff and diverts himself into a heavy crouch, skidding a few more yards further and ending up pained some distance away. "...Ouch." is offered, picking himself from the ground and regaining his stance thereafter. Rather then press the assault, he takes the time to gather himself better; Swirling his weapon and summoning waves of heat, billowing and displacing the air in front of himself as a sea of crackling sparks begins to go off around him. "Well, what is it?" he asks, apparently content enough to use the breather to continue the earlier palaver.
COMBATSYS: Billy gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 Billy
Arms snapping back to his sides the moment the wave of power ruptures forward, Geese can only give a mild smirk as it sends his trusted bodyguard flying backwards through the air in a most unpleasant way. Retaining his stance just a faint distance away from where Billy lands, Howard lowers himself once more into his fighting stance. His arms twist, muscles tensing. "I'd like you to go on a bit of a recruitment drive for me," is his calm response to Billy's question. He observes as the Brit stays back with only a quirk of a brow, knowing full well what those billowing waves of heat mean. "Two people, actually. They typically reside in Metro City. You actually may have heard of one... they go by the names 'Birdie' and 'Katana.'"
With this said, Geese does not waste time nor hesitatte. As soon as Billy gathers all that energy towards him, Geese moves -forward-. In a blur of speed, Geese reaches out to grip Billy by the front of his jacket. The movement is quick; in the same motion he twists, intending to lift Billy up into the air and over, slamming him -straight- into the ground in an unpleasant heap in a move meant to disorient rather than deal significant pain.
COMBATSYS: Billy blocks Geese's Fast Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Billy
"Recruitment drive, eh?" Billy mulls, as if he's immediately lost most of his interest in the given task. The names seem to be rolled around in his head a few moments, before he bursts out in laughter. "Birdie? That's the useless Brit me and Yamazaki beat up... and wasn't Katana the washup from Mad Gear? Yeesh.. Well, you're the boss." Of course, then the other man is immediately in his face, snapping out and catching his jacket. "Whoa, whoa, careful!" is stated as he flits overhead, both hands extending and significantly dampening his impact. He rolls away in a tight ball thereafter, bounding light as a gazelle to give a bit more room once more. And then he flares with chi again, beginning to spiral around his weapon in a mad manner. "Hrrrrrn..." The pinwheel suddenly ignites into flame on both sides, building up into a crescendo as the ground is licked black. And then he hurtles a rather large fireball towards the man opposite, throwing a significant amount of strength behind the attempt. "Go to hell!!" is snarled, hoping to impact Geese like a freight train!
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Billy's Blazing Whirlwind Cane.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Billy
"Oh? Because you and Yamazaki beat him you'll just assume he's worthless? I thought you of all people would know not to judge a book by it's cover, Billy." The chiding comes in turn with the forward thrust, and even though Billy has managed to dampen the impact? Geese hardly looks perturbed, already snapping backwards to land smoothly a fair distance away. His feet spread to shoulder-width the moment that heat begins to build up across Kane's body in such a discernable manner. He smirks. "And I'd think you'd also know better than anyone... not to -underestimate- an opponent based on poor information."
The moment that pinwheel of fire comes in, Geese is pushing both his arms out. The blaze strikes Geese's outstretched, welcoming palms instead of the bulk of his body, and in the storm, a large portion of that power is harmlessly disperses about him. Chi-flames lick at Howard's arms uselessly. The force causes a dull aching throughout his arms, but soon enough the storm is abated, and Geese is there, standing calmly... and largely unharmed.
"I think you'll find the two of them together will be a great way for you to test yourself."
For now, Geese doesn't pursue an offensive. He instead opts to stay back, and observe Billy... waiting for an opportune opening to strike.
COMBATSYS: Geese focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Billy
"Oye, oye, I said useless, not worthless. He seemed dense and aggressive, but I guess you've got Yamazaki so he'd probably be a good enforcer." Always fun to poke at the mercenary when he's not around to defend himself with an attempted headbutt. "I've fought him twice; He hits like a truck. Gotta give him that much." Katana he doesn't know much of anything about, beyond that he supposedly has a comical motif that hides true skill and leadership. Continuing to spin his weapon, there's just the smallest of smiles. "A better test then you...? Good job stopping my fireball..." He then rears back his arm and /shoots/ forward his weapon, the staff breaking down into three pieces once more; Spiraling madly down the intervening distance in a heartbeat, trying to /slam/ into the other man's chest. "NOW STOP THIS!!" He'll twist his grip and retract the weapon with a mad laugh, channeling energy into a rather sudden detonation of fire thereafter with full intent of sending a newly flammable Geese hurtling towards the wall behind!
COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Geese with Blazing Cane Thrust.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Geese 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Billy
Stop -that-, he requests. Of course, Geese plans to do something different than stop it. Howard simply attempts to -circumvent- it, an attempt which sadly goes terribly awry. The segmented staff he is so famiiar with cracks harshly against his chest, and the resultant napalm-esque explosion of fire is more than enough to send Geese -slamming- into the wall just behind them. Landing against it with the solid -crack- of impact, Howard begins to slump... but is quick to recover himself with startling rapidity. His body smokes, his gi clearly burnt and singed, yet the prideful Howard maintains a full, unwavering stance. "Hmm. You've gotten even better since we last sparred, Billy!" he compliments with a nod of his head, his body lowering. "But...
"Let's not get -too- cocky."
As soon as he says this, Geese is lunging -forward- at Billy, intent to weave into Billy's defenses. His right palm lashes out, seeking out vital nerve centers in Billy's body, burying itself into him without relent in a formation that could easily disrupt Billy's flow. At the same moment, he grasps for Billy's wrist with his free hand, to twist him around and ultimately send him crashing into the rooftop grounds with an explosive BOLT of chi to course through Billy's very essence.
COMBATSYS: Billy endures Geese's Raimei Gouha Nage.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Geese 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Billy
"I don't usually do this well... Gimme a break!" Billy comments smarmily, smirking towards the other man. Yet as he surges forward, the bodyguard is aware his defensive options are useless enough to all but ignore; Instead he shifts, accepting the attack rather then risk breaking his guard in a useless attempt to get around it. His body goes numb even as he is whirled overhead, but he gathers enough of himself to twist, and does not land in a crumpled heap as energy flares through him; Rather, he hits awkwardly on his knees, grunting in pain. But giving him a great vantage point to thrust out his staff, trying to smack Geese in the throat. "Over you GO!!" is snarled, twisting and trying to swing his boss in a broad arc through the air, to slam him full-force upon the ground opposite with a loud snarl. Hopefully trading blow for blow, at least as well as he can manage!
COMBATSYS: Billy successfully hits Geese with Fishhook Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Geese 1/----===/=======|=======\====---\1 Billy
In fact... Billy is actually doing -quite- well, all things considered. The fact that Billy has accepted the assault bodes ill for Geese indeed, and sets himself up poorly for what comes next. Intending to do the same in kind to Billy, Howard instead finds himself -struck- in the throat with that cane before being tossed uselessly to the side in an unpleasant heap. He ricochets once off the ground, before coming to a stop in a panting crouch. That icy control is still there in his eyes, fingers dragging against the ground as he considers. A slow smile cross his lips as a single trail of blood flows down. Billy has gotten stronger. Good, then...
That just makes things interesting.
With a single, simple lunge into the air, Geese is suddenly back on his feet and in Billy's defenses once more. His attempt is simple; a driving elbow to bury into Billy's sternum, digging in deep to pierce the solar plexus, followed by a sweeping kick to take the bodyguard's legs out from under him and send him crashing into the ground below. "HMPH!"
COMBATSYS: Billy interrupts Combo Throw from Geese with Red Lotus Requiem.
[ \ < > ///////// ]
Geese 1/=======/=======|====---\-------\0 Billy
But it wouldn't appear that Billy intends to simply let himself be taken out; He roars in defiance, rushing forward once more... with a similar but unavoidable goal to the first given assault. The shoulder cracks into his chest with horrific force, but the followup doesn't quite manifest. He sweeps up his staff, catching Geese in the chest with it, and launching him into the air with Billy following right behind; And ushering it into a sudden explosive spiral, that causes a horrendous gout of flame that licks the ceiling in a massive explosion to send the older man away with no small amount of force. That hurt; And it wasn't even the entirety of the man's combination. But as Billy descends to land in a painful crouch, he can hope he might of finally managed to get the better of his long-time friend...
It would appear that -Geese- is the rusty one here today. His elbow rather than shoulder cracks into Billy's chest, as was Geese's intention; what was -not- his intention is what comes next. Though Billy is staggered, he still manages to continue his assault in that blazing staff. Shot into the air, Geese comes crashing -down- in a painful backwards thrust that leaves him slamming straight into the ground with such force that it shatters the opulent ground below in an explosion of expensive stone word and marble. That will be expensive to take care of. It's one of the overriding thoughts in Geese's mind as he strikes the ground. Not that Billy has shown enough force to take him out of this fight -- such things can be placed on his lack of sport as of late. But, beaten down as he is, Geese has one last, parting gift...
"... Hah... very good, Billy. I think..." Intense flames of the darkest blue pitch burst along Geese's hands as he lifts. "... we can end it..." His body stretches back... and then lurches -forward-, falling downward rapidly as he SLAMS his fists into the ground. "... now. Raging--"
The moment his hands press against the ground, all that energy instantly diffuses into a raging TORRENT of power that simply EXPLODES along Geese. Claws of deep blue rip from the grown, etched in dark violet as they undulate and cut through the air to rip into Billy and consume him in a most unpleasant way.
"-- STORM!!"
COMBATSYS: Geese can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Billy 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Billy with Raging Storm'.
[ <
Billy 1/-----==/=======|
Oh, great.
Billy realizes he has downed Geese; That alone is a monumentous example of his almost manic training as of late, and something not many people can ever claim alive or dead. But living to tell the tale? That is another matter entirely. As he prepares the maneuver, the second in command's intimate knowledge underlines that evasion is suicide. Instead he begins to spin his staff, summoning up his own chi in an attempt to deflect it. ...One that is doomed for failure. It breaks through after only mild delay, hitting him full on and sending him flying backwards with a cry of pain. He hits a wall hard enough to imprint his back upon it, crumpling upon the ground thereafter as his staff clatters away, rolling out of reach. His chest is scorched; Given he's wearing no shirt, that's evident of how painful the manuever was. "Hack... cough..." is offered, feebly rubbing at his chest with a smirk. "...Well. I gotta draw off you. That's unusual." He's not gloating, mocking, or rubbing it in; His teasing informality does not hide the huge respect he has for the other man, and is not going to even /lie/ about being his equal merely due to one off match. ...This is entirely unique, of course. He'd ridicule Terry himself, and has. Slowly he crawls to his staff, and uses it to begin ascending to his feet.
"... Hmph," comes Geese's first, and only, reply for a long moment. Still crouched, his brows knit in thought as he pulls in deep breaths. Still, despite the punishment taken, it does not take him long to get back onto his feet -- a testament to his skill and endurance, if anything. Gi properly burned from all the fires Billy has mustered up today, the Southsynd leader gives a derisive snort. "Hah. Perhaps it's a sign that I should start visiting old friends..." Letting his sentence trail in a muse, Geese stretches either arm. Soreness has begun to overtake him now. So, it isn't Billy that's gotten rusty. It's him. Well. No matter.
"Well done, Billy. Your skills have been improving marvelously." With the comment, Geese pauses. He lifts a hand to his neck, rubbing at it in an idle practice. "Make sure that you give those two a good... incentive to join us. Even losers and thugs have a purpose, especially ones like them." Especially like Katana. After all -- having a stranglehold on Metro City, too, is important to him.
"Maybe it's time to grace the fighting world with my presence again. I'm sure they've missed me."
And even with Geese rusty and Billy well into his A-game, he's not quite able to take the other man down; Really underlines how far he has to go to become the other man's fighting peer, but it's certainly not a journey he has any intent of giving up in the near future. Simply better incentive of his own. Similarly a cockroach, if not to such an extent to get up from falling off buildings, Billy teeters only a moment before hefting up his staff to rest it on a shoulder anew, refusing to use it as a crutch. He's in pain, likely more then the other man comparatively, but he's used to sucking it up. "No skin off my nose. I'll see if they pass muster. Might wanna try out the Neo League yourself... ole Ken is getting a bit cocky after taking me down. Think we need a presence there..." He then begins to amble towards the door, only the slightest bit off-kilter. "Next time you won't get so lucky!" is offered playfully, raising up his hand in a wave as he shoulders through the door back into the hall. Once out of sight, he can untense himself at least. ...Ouch. Raging Storm hurts as much as ever, undoubtedly.
COMBATSYS: Billy takes no action.
COMBATSYS: Billy can no longer fight.
Log created on 14:35:53 11/06/2007 by Geese, and last modified on 17:56:56 11/06/2007.