Description: Shihong and Cherise receive an invitation to a meeting with the King of Southtown himself, Geese Howard. Though the offer of employment into his ranks is at first met with some reluctance by the eccentric Cherise, a solid beating takes care of any qualms she might have had.
There is a general rule of thumb that anyone who's anyone in the world knows: no matter how good someone is at hiding, with the means and the resources... -anyone- can be found.
And that is just one of the many forms of power there are in this world.
Twelve in the morning, Downtown Southtown. Fall has settled in fully, the dull cool breeze becoming a chilling cold in the thick of night. The winds have died down as the sun sinks into nothingness beyond the horizon. Now, there is just a dead cold that permeates throughout the city. The roads of downtown are largely vacant, save for the occasional drifter, or a car zooming across the streets in a rush to get home from the work late shift. The buildings largely dead... save on in particular. A large warehouse towards the center of town, the words 'PERMATECH' scrawled across the front. The lights of this building all blare with life for reasons unknown to any save for those who reside within. The warehouse should -- assumedly -- be closed. Yet...
... This is just one of the many places held within the generous palm of Southtown's benefactor, Howard Enterprises.
A day before, the elusive fighters known to the world at large as Mao Shihong and Cherise Bouchard would have found themselves approached by a men in the most plain and unassuming of black suits. A single letter was delivered: an invitation. To meet PERMATECH warehouse in Downtown, Southtown, at midnight tomorrow. -Opportunities- await, the letter read, signed simply, 'G.H..' Simplicity in its utmost.
It is an intrigue the sender would imagine neither could rightly resist, which is exactly why he stands within the dead center of the factory now. Dressed in a fancy, dark blue button-up shirt and red tie, a simple white vest and blue slacks, he keeps his back presented to the entrance of the warehouse. He waits. When his watch strikes twelve, he merely allows a slow, thin smile cross his lips. They should be here any time now. He knows. He knows the type, but more than that--
Geese Howard is simply a man who is never wrong.
Yesterday: Not long after a shower and answering the door in the hotel bathrobe, Cherise got just that-- and she's looked nothing but amused about it ever since. She packs appropriately-- and also gets her bags in order should this end up being some sort of trick or trap that requires her to skip town, packing them next to her bed.
Today: Dressing up a little more than she usually does, Cherise arrives at the warehouse with a short-sleeved button-down, a loose black necktie, a short black skirt, and her usual pair of boots-- as scuffed and bruised as they've become, her expensive footwear will never leave her side. Curiously, she arrives on-site with a soft guitar case slung across her back, the webbing belt crossing from shoulder to opposite hip over her chest. Certainly no musician by trade, and it'll confuse security-- but who cares?
"Ah! This is just like a movie. So cinematic, no?" she calls, arms thrown up and her accent thick, her hair styled to keep her long bangs from getting too far into her eyes. "I wish I had popcorn."
Yes. She's enjoying herself, still.
Though the majority of Shihong's business has more or less taken place in the ever-deteriorating streets of Metro, the Chinese woman continually finds herself taking considerably lengthy trips to Southtown. Case in point, her business here today in particular.
Just as the woman was beginning to pack her belongings and check out of the hotel she had been stuffed into for the sake of business, a knock interrupted her. On the other side, a well-dressed goon, holding an envelope. To most, the simple initials and suited men might not mean anything. To those who are more 'in the know' with the seedy underbelly of the city, both Metro and Southtown alike, it could mean two things: Something good.
Or something bad. Shihong can only pray it means the former.
Though it was with perhaps uncharacteristic hesitation, the Chinese woman decided to oblige the letter and its sender. Much like her unlikely cohort, she arrives at the designated hour, clad in her usual black trenchcoat and garments. As per usual, a phone is absently cradled in the woman's ear.
"Mmn, yeah. I got the package. Thanks for the deposit, Antoine. It was appreciated," she speaks to the opposite line, of business more or less inconsequential. Black eyes briefly observe the other arrival--Cherise--before they drift skyward. "How is the wife, Marcella? Doing well? Will she be arriving in Southtown alright? ...really? I'll pick her up at 2 in the morning then. She'll be in good hands, as usual, Antoine!"
However, when spoken to--or at--by the Frenchwoman, Shihong's brows furrow slightly before she speaks into the receiver. "Later, Antoine." Click.
"A movie? Where on Earth did you get that observation? It looks like some warehouse, if you ask me." And she's well-versed with deals involving warehouses. It's nothing shiny or new; thus does the woman exhale, the expensive phone tucked away into the inner pocket of her coat.
"I'm glad YOU'RE excited, Cherise," the woman complains absently. "I'm still not sure if we're meant to come out of this in one piece or not." Not that she sounds particularly scared or worried by this possible outcome.
Punctuality seems to be a virtue both Cherise and Shihong share; in most efficient form, the two appear as requested, on the dot. Well.
That is something in their favor, at least.
Still, when they arrive, they really have no one else to talk to save for themselves. While well-constructed and far from the dingiest place around, the PERMATECH warehouse offers nothing more than offsetting and cold quiet for comfort. The chattering of Shihong to her cellphone, the excited proclamations of Cherise, they all seem to fall on deaf ears. Twelve becomes twelve o' one, and--
"Well, you two have been making quite the names for yourselves, haven't you?"
The voice comes from above, deep and amused. From the offices on the second floor descends Geese Howard, polished shoes slapping against smooth steps as he makes a calm descent down to the main level. Pale blue eyes bring their focus to the two female fighters, amusement tinging his gaze and delighting the corners of his mouth in a thin smirk. "Mao Shihong and Cherise Bouchard. I assume I don't have to introduce myself, but I'm a big believer in proper ettiquette. I'm also a big believer in skipping unwanted and unnecessary pleasantries. So..." The final step is taken as Howard makes a sharp turn, making his way towards the duo. A gloved hand presses against his expensively-clad chest. He offers one last facade of a smile.
"I'm Geese Howard, and I would like to extend an offer to the two of you. I want you to work for me."
As they can likely imagine, this is not a request...
But Geese Howard is certainly skilled at giving the illusion of choice.
With one hand on her hip, Cherise Bouchard shakes her head and waves the other dismissively, scarred fingers and all. "Ah, Mao, I thought that -you- would at least understand."
Though she wouldn't mind continuing with her thoughts on the PERMATECH warehouse, the French girl is pre-empted by the voice of the owner apparent descending from the upper level. Though Cherise hasn't ever met him before, of course she knows his face, his name-- and with a little digging, one would know the rumors and stories surrounding him beyond the public level.
What she's ascertained has yet to be seen. She's a tourist, after all.
Unslinging the padded leather and cloth guitar case from around her torso, the silver-haired girl sets it down in front of her, hands folded over the head like it were the pommel of a sword. "I do not mean to be rude in the face of such generosity, Mister Howard," she says, her accent forcing her to enounciate his name a little harder, "But I am not in this country for work, I am here to simply see the sights. I have stayed only because Saturday Night Fight has been enough to keep me occupied and given me some extra spending money."
Blinking once, slowly, Shihong's eyes drift back onto Cherise, her words striking a certain chord in the woman's mind. "Understand what? You're hard to follow sometimes," she explains, a flat look on her pale, porcelain-like features. Immediately after, thin red lips pull into a line across her face, brows furrowed gently before she simply lifts a hand and offers a dismissive gesture back to Cherise in kind.
Though the woman is silent for a brief moment, her lips part, a breath of air daring to slip past her lips. But a voice from above fills that empty silence, causing the woman's pale features to gently twist into a cursory look of bemusement. Soon, and perhaps expectedly, black eyes drift upwards, toward the descending Lord of Southtown himself, Geese Howard.
For a moment, the Chinese woman says nothing. Instead, she listens closely--carefully, even--to every shred of word which escapes the man's lips. Part of her does not trust him, only because she does not know his intentions. The other part of her is curious. What could he possibly want from someone like herself? Or someone as nuts as Cherise? It boggles her.
But soon it's made clear. He wants them to work FOR him?
Request or not, it would seem that Cherise has other ideas. And they seem to involve dismissing Howard's request. Part of the woman is amused, evident by the half-hearted smirk that lingers on her rouge red lips. So the Frenchwoman insists she's little more than a tourist, more or less as Shihong anticipated. Thin shoulders shrug absently.
"I might be interested," she coolly responds. However, a morbidly curious part of her is interested to see what possibly becomes of Cherise. Surely nothing bad...
Simply here to see the sights, the Frenchwoman says.
"Isn't -that- a shame."
The reply comes coolly and without hesitation the moment the words leave their lilted mark. Geese does not even miss a beat; his right hand slips itself into his pants pocket even as his stance makes a subtle shift, from something casual to something slightly more rigid. Slightly more -serious-. His right brow twitches upwards incredulously at Cherise's words. "It's not generosity," he notes, calmly.
"Call it equal opportunity."
Turning on his right heel in a smooth movement, Howards moves his focus from Cherise to Shihong as she speaks up. His grave expression melts away into that easy, cocky sort of smirk -- the smirk of a businessman who sees opportunity; who sees ideal qualities. "See, Ms. Shihong here understands the implications of this. But you don't work quite like her, do you?" Shihong operates for the sake of money just as much, if not moreso, than the sake of a fight. He knows well enough about her and her trade. And Cherise?
"I've watched your SNFs. I know how well the two of you work together. This is a package deal." Turning his back to the pair, Geese moves towards the rear of the warehouse, his voice carrying throughout the wide, vacant room with little effort despite the distance he puts between them. "Your stay here is about to become a bit more permanant, Ms. Bouchard. Of course, I realize the offer of money might not be as appealing to you as it might be to your friend here, so I'll put it this way: work for me, and you'll be able to fight all the challenging opponents you want... and you won't have to worry about cameras and ratings to hinder you." A brief pause.
"It might do you some good to reconsider."
Equal oportunity. A shame. A -package deal-, no less. Cherise looks at Shihong and nods slowly, her eyebrows raised and expression marked with someone suitably impressed-- or at least, doing their best to fake it. Though her stance is somewhat passive-aggressive, this French girl is doing well with hiding it. Ten years of training in seclusion, ten years of punishment-- and she isn't going to so easily be strongarmed into employment.
At least, that's what she thinks.
Waving her hand boredly, but more importantly dismissively, her posture slips a little, hand on her hip and weight shifting from one leg to the other, the guitar leaning against her hip. "I could care less of this 'challenging opponents,' and all that 'warrior's way' stuff. I do it because it's fun to me. And as soon as I get bored with it, I stop. It isn't like smoking cigarettes, Mr. Howard, stupid addictions like that do not suit me."
Picking up the soft guitar case by the neck, she slings the strap over one shoulder and hooks her thumb underneath.
"Unless you can keep me from being bored, I may just have to be on my way."
And all the while, during the exchange between Cherise and Geese Howard, Shihong stands, long arms casually folded across her chest. She's not dumb- -she knows a lot better than to butt into a conversation which does not involve her, particularly the ones that involve someone as (in)famous as Howard himself. He runs most of the city, and has a definite hold over the underbelly of Southtown. One wrong move, and...
Well, Shihong knows how it goes.
But color the otherwise pale woman surprised when Cherise does precisely what she did not expect nor anticipate. She outright denies the 'generous offer' given to her by Howard. She even goes so far as to begin collecting her belongings and be on her way. For once, the Chinawoman seems mildly alarmed.
Turning on her black Guccis, Shihong addresses the Frenchwoman in hushed whispers, audible only between them. "Are you insane? --wait, not literally. I know you are. But seriously--are you trying to get yourself killed?" Pausing briefly, Shihong lifts her gaze, a single black eye drifting slowly over her shoulder. The older man is observed, that solitary eye hooding briefly before she turns back to Cherise.
Her features are flat and lifeless. There is no distant amusement hidden in there.
"He's not the sort of guy you want to piss off, and as it seems, you're doing a good job of precisely that, Cherise." Pursing her red lips, the woman narrows her eyes, peering at the shorter woman.
Maybe Cherise is more insane than she initially presumed?
Turning her back to the girl, she folds her arms over her chest. "Your funeral," she mutters, eyes drifting back onto Geese...
That's the problem with kids these days.
They have absolutely no common sense.
While Geese's expression is largely impassive, his mind is an entirely different story. Cherise makes it a point to be a defiant upstart when she really shouldn't, and deny things that were never within the realm of her control to deny. It makes Howard's brow twitch faintly, his smile thinning into something more amused in the way that a sadist might find the futility of the struggle amusing. He says nothing for a long time as Cherise gathers her things. That pale blue gaze doesn't even focus on her, lifting instead to the ceiling above. His gloved fingers twitch closed with the creak of leather.
"Oh, kids," he notes.
"They never know when it's not their choice."
His voice cuts through harshly, to get Cherise's attention and -keep- it. "You're not leaving. Either this town or this -warehouse-, until you've... accepted my offer." 'Accepted,' because 'forced to see the futility of refusing' is such a harsh way of putting it. He takes a step forward, his brows knitting together in the semblence of thought. "But that's not fun, is it? So how about this. I'm a business man; I appreciate the idea of a good deal. So..."
As Geese speaks, he tugs at his tie, loosening it. His stance makes a subtle shift, rigid form adopting a classic and traditional fighting stance bred by a lifetime of training. "If you can beat me in a fight, I'll let you leave, no questions asked. You can even have assistance, if you'd like." His gaze shifts to Shihong, pointedly. "I don't really care, either way. But if I win, you work for me." Or she simply does not leave this warehouse breathing.
"Do we have a deal -now-?"
COMBATSYS: Geese has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Geese 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Shihong has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Geese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Cherise has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Geese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Shihong
She is insane. Not, 'Oh, she's so crazy!', but 'We the jury find the defendant...'
And she's also not looking amused, either.
Cherise has a long history behind her, one that certainly not even the likes of Southtown's mafia could dig up. Organizations like this will attract attention, however, unwanted as it may be, and while she can deal with offering a minimal amount of information to Howard Enterprises to let her sign up for televised events like this... she isn't too hot on letting herself get stuck in a profession that would also involve something like the police.
So with her back turned and four steps away from Geese Howard and Mao Shihong, the slender French girl's head tips back.
"Jesus Christ and Jeanne d'Arc, I was wondering how long it would take."
She's not hot on it. But she's not going to turn away from the chance to apply the skills she learned over the last ten years.
When she turns back around, her expression has changed-- the air around her, the look in her eyes, even the mildly lopsided grin she has. Unshouldering her guitar and setting it down on the floor, Cherise slowly licks her lips and turns around, her expression one that, perhaps, Geese could appreciate-- one predatory, though knowing how outclassed she is.
"It is up to Mao if she wants to do this. But those of Bouchard Vineyards do not go into business with a man without knowing the quality of his character. I do not care if I win, Mister Howard; I will work for you irregardless," she says, shoulders rolling forward and palms turning outward. "I want to see the quality of your character."
Her wrists snap, lengths of wire trailing out a great distance to either side-- hard to keep track of, but Cherise certainly knows where her weapons are.
"So, show me."
And with that, her arm whips upward in a harsh arc, blades of silver energy whipping upward in an arc and accelerating ahead toward Geese. Though crafted from her strange energy, they do the part of slashing weapons quite well-- and hit or defended, they'll probably do some harm to his sleeves, or cause him to bleed a bit.
And in the midst of it all, Shihong is left to wonder:
How did she get pulled into all of this?
Distantly, her conscious reflects on the fateful evening when, in Metro, she first happened across Cherise in all her tourist glory. Granted, their exchange was largely Shihong's fault, but it was still a meeting regardless. From then on, whether she'd care to admit it or not, their paths have more or less crossed numerous times. Ultimately, Shihong accepted her ‘fate,' as it were.
So, despite the distant thoughts of 'damn you so hard, Cherise,' there is a reluctance to help out the masochistic Frenchwoman when she gets herself into trouble. A new deal provided for Cherise, which includes the aid of the odd Chinese woman should she accept, the woman in black does little more than narrow her gaze. Then, those dark eyes slowly drift back onto Cherise...
It's up to Shihong if she wants to do this.
Exhaling loudly, the woman shakes her head slowly.
"Honestly, Cherise," she sighs, still shaking her head in what seems to be disappointment. But it ceases when those eyes roll back onto Geese Howard, thin, rouge red lips curling into a devil's grin. "I was worried you wouldn't let me have some fun."
When the young Frenchwoman moves into action, Shihong follows in pursuit just after the attack. Moving behind the arc of energy, the woman in black leaps into the air, her body twisting. The first kick is aimed to peg Howard in the temple with the toe of her shoe, and through the rotation her back leg swings up, to crash the heel of the opposite foot into his neck should it land.
COMBATSYS: Cherise successfully hits Geese with Argent Claw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Shihong's Change-Up Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Cherise
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Shihong
And here Geese was afraid they wouldn't be up to the challenge.
It just goes to show that Howard's choices for employees are impeccable as always.
Any pleasantries aside, Cherise sees fit to get straight to business. With the setting of that inconspicuous guitar case to the floor, Cherise turns her attention directly to Howard. His stance remains rigid and strong, his expression unwavering from its cocky smirk of entertainment. These two -- whatever they might -think-, they work well together. And that's exactly what he needs.
Not only that, they wield such unusual energy. Of course, Geese is not unaccustomed to Psycho Power; the familiar jolting sensation twists through this body as those wires cut through both flesh and mind. Energy sheers through his sleeves, leaving faint welts along his arms as he makes a steady, backwards leap. The resultant aftereffects and the lingering tingling sensation at the back of his skull draws the king of Southtown to pause. "You use that kind of power, eh?" he muses. Certainly not nearly as potent as the late lord Vega, but even so--
And there is Shihong almost immediately after. Coming in with naught more than the power that her legs have to offer, Geese's response is equally simple; his body twists in a jerking pivot, rotating in a three hundred and sixty degree circulation and bringing himself harmlessly out of the way of the leaping Shihong. Her heels crash into nothing but the harsh ground as Geese's attentions shift, twisting and focusing on Cherise.
Show her, she says.
"If you insist!"
With fluid motions still incredibly fast despite his deterrents, Howard surges in a flurry of elegant clothes and long arms. His right leg sweeps out, coming int to hook around Cherise's legs. At the same time, his right hand will bury itself palm first into her back, the left gripping onto her back. Using this added leverage, Howard seeks to simply flip Cherise -over- and through the air with monstrous force, letting gravity take care of the rest to introduce her painfully to the cemented ground below. "-HMPH-!"
COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Cherise with Medium Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Cherise
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Shihong
Geese says, "oh man"
As the blades of energy leave her fingers, it truly looks like some sort of massive swipe of a claw, no wires involved whatsoever-- thin as a sheet from the direct view, but with a hazy blur of silver behind it. If it wasn't for the jolt on impact, one could confuse it for some sort of odd materialization of metal chi-- if they were familiar with the Eastern elements, anyway.
But she certainly doesn't know it's name.
"Eh?"
Enough to make her stop and not defend, enough to get her legs smashed out from under her and a crushing blow dealt to her back, bones popping like she were at a sadistic chiropractor. She's thrown hard, airborne for only moments at the behest of a lifelong master, planted into the concrete floor with a wet *SMACK* from her face. Pausing in the air, it would be comical if it wasn't so painfully brutal, tipping to one side and falling face-down, a smattering of blood surrounding her head.
And for a moment, she's knocked completely the fuck unconscious.
Her body shifts hard after a moment, her right leg twitching hard before her hands press to the ground, pushing herself up to all fours. Mouth drooping open, blood rolls out along with a steady dripping stream from her nose as she slowly gets back up to her feet. Both hands come up to her nose-- and with a swift gesture to the right and an audible *CRACK*, Cherise shudders. A bit more red spills out onto her shirt-- and that'll take a god awful amount of bleach to get out-- and her hands lower to her sides, mouth split once again into a vicious grin.
"That was beautiful."
Give her a moment to collect herself, there's currently three Geese and three of Mao in her vision.
COMBATSYS: Cherise focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Cherise
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Shihong
Her body swings, following familiar motions as she attempts to kick the Lord of Southtown with those powerful legs. However, he is quicker than she gives credit- -almost immediately his body betrays her, his swiftness unexpected as he pivots out of harm's way. She blinks once, a slow and nigh-thoughtful gesture before she simply follows her momentum and lands in a deep crouch. Immediately, the woman in black rises, turning to half-face the blonde.
Much like her unlikely cohort, she too is unaware of the power she wields. She too remains unfamiliar with it to an extent--all she truly knows is that she doesn't happen across many with similar talents. And that most people who wield unnatural powers possess talents not like hers. She and Cherise, they are different. Special, even.
So she remains just as bemused as the Frenchwoman as he spits out a name.
She shrugs it off, regardless. It remains the last thing on her mind, especially when he gets his hands on Cherise and introduces her face-first to the dirty warehouse floor. Even Shihong has to wince in sympathy. As they say...it looked like that shit hurt. Briefly, the Chinese woman frowns. But when Cherise gets up, the smirk returns.
She should really be enjoying herself, that masochistic French girl.
Clearly, Cherise is going to stand back and try to gather her wits. No matter. "Careful, Cherise," she warns lightly under her breath before she suddenly charges forward with the intention of zeroing in on Geese. Only as she nears does she suddenly thrust an arm outwards her heel aimed for his sternum. But it does not connect; rather, a sudden swell of vibrant vermillion red energy blossoms, to blast the man swiftly and rock him to the very foundation.
"KIYAH!"
COMBATSYS: Shihong successfully hits Geese with Swallow's Wings.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 Cherise
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Shihong
One twist is all it takes to demonstrate Geese's impressive might that he can bring to bear. Cherise is brough to the ground with the crack of bones on hard cement and the tell-tale pooling of blood that can only mean that Howard has left his mark. With a snap, he retreats backwards, the muscles in his arms flexing and relaxing as he heaves an easy breath. Psycho Power, but he's dealt with such things from the late, 'great' Vega of Shadaloo. What they use is inconsequential...
... Only that they use it -well-.
As Cherise recovers, Geese's concentration and attentions move from her to her cohort. Shihong maneuvers with a fluid sort of grace, yet Geese can track it all. The clicking of her heels against the cement, the forward thrust of her arms... and the crackling surge of red energy to follow. Yet, for all he may be able to track it, Geese is not quite as good at outmaneuvering it. His right leg twists back, planting against the ground to lead off in a backwards leap. This only leaves him vulnerable for the strike that slams into his sternum and the blaze proceeding, singing at his soul in the lightest of stings just as it burns at his clothing. It is enough to make him stagger. Two steps. He looks down at the char of his tie. He frowns
"... And I liked that one, too."
The statement is accentuated with a simple forward -thrust- of his body. Jerking rigidly to his right side, his arm lashes out with the lightning speed of a snake. His palm will seek to bury into Shihong's midsection, directly into a cluster of nerves. His left hand, meanwhile, reaches to grip her by the left arm, and in one fluid motion, carry her into the air in and over his head. With the downwards -snap- of her arm, he'll drive her into the ground much like her companion. Only this time, it is accompanied by the sudden CRACK of chi that strikes like a bolt of lightning, blue-white energy striking and jolting with power that could disrupt the very flow of energy and life within Shihong.
"Both of you use Psycho Power. Well. That just makes things more -interesting-."
COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Shihong with Raimei Gouha Nage.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Cherise
> //////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Shihong
Not just should-- she is. Outclassed to the nth degree, but she's enjoying herself.
And summoning up that great focus, eventually the images come together. Three of each becomes two, two become a blurry one, and finally, as Geese and Shihong clash for one more attack... it all becomes clear. Moreover, she's watching Geese's stance, his manuvers-- he's no out-of-the-box fighter, nor someone with stupid luck. No, he's beyond the level of most that call themselves mortal men.
And man, is she having a blast.
"He knocked me stupid, Mao, not dead!" she calls, before deciding it just may be the time to rejoin the fray.
Her arm lashes back, the air near the finely-clothed Geese Howard whistling as a line of silver flashes in front of his vision, Cherise running ahead before leaping-- high-- into the air. Her arm lashes forward once again, and the small golden weight at the end bolts past his head, smacking into the concrete hard enough to actually -hook in-. Pulling hard on the length of wire, it brings Cherise back down to earth with a little extra force... force applied with a smooth, practiced roll of her hip and her muscular leg tightening up to deliver a smashing axe kick to the Southtown Syndicate leader's face, looking to put the nearly-knee high laces across his chops.
If Cherise is saying something--Shihong cannot hear her. Why?
Well, she's currently being introduced to sheer pain, courtesy of mister Howard.
Attempting to pivot on her heel and avoid the initial strike of his palm, it would seem that Shihong miscalculates. Struck, black eyes widen considerably so, pale features blanching all the more as she is otherwise stunned. Snared in the iron grip of Howard, she's hefted up before she's introduced to the ground--and a burst of blue-white energy that utterly burns. She hates this shit. Seriously.
And it seems a lot of people are familiar with THIS energy.
Regardless of her grievances, however, Mao Shihong is slowly but surely pulling herself off the ground, recovering from that nasty blow. Carefully she shakes her head, a hand flat against her forehead as she tries to collect her wits. She knew she was getting herself in over her head. But there's no way Cherise could take him alone.
"I'm not sure what you're going on about," she explains, black eyes desperate to regain focus. When they do, she sports a smile. "But whatever. Don't underestimate us!" she adds, warning the Lord of Southtown, despite how outclassed they may very well be.
And, with that, Shihong bolts forward, sprinting across the warehouse floor with a furious click of heels on concrete. A few feet from Howard, however, the woman leaps up and twists her body in midair, a foot lashing out to kick the man harshly in the side of his neck, if only to stun the crimelord. Harshly so.
COMBATSYS: Geese blocks Cherise's Stiletto Axe.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Cherise
> //////////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Geese counters Strong Kick from Shihong with Chuudan Atemi Nage.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Cherise
> ////////// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Shihong
Of course he didn't knock Cherise dead.
That'd just be inefficient business practice, right there.
Electrical-esque arches of chi dance around Geese's forearm as he releases Shihong from his steel-like grasp. Wrenching himself away with considerable ease, he moves himself back and pits his focus upon both Cherise and Shihong. Observing as both recover themselves, all he can do is offer a thin smile.
"Underestimate you? Don't worry; I'm not an idiot. Though..."
And there they come. With almost mechanical proficiency, Geese gives a sudden twist the moment that Cherise comes bearing down on him from the air above. His right arm bends at the elbow. When she delves too close, that arm lashes out with piston-like force, the rustle of dark blue cloth preceding the slam of the Syndicate boss' palm into the booted heel of Cherise's foot. "HMPH!" With one push, he'll force her back into the air and out of his range, timing it with Shihong's forward rush.
"... you shouldn't underestimate me either."
Shihong leaps, descends in rapid motion. But Geese's calibre of fighter is simply too great to be fooled by such tactics. As she lashes out, he is -there-, slipping past her lancing foot while gripping her securely by the calf. With the a berating roar of "Too slow!" Geese will rip Shihong -forward- in a sudden yank of her leg, his body rigidly twisting and introducing her midsection once more to the palm of his hand. Before physical contact can be made, though, a churning spherical mass of icy blue fire sparks into existence within Howard's palm, churning into her with burning might. He'll release her leg at this point of his thrust, allowing her to blast off through the air as he snaps back, prepared for any more offenses taken against him.
Her leg halted at the foot with the strength of his arms alone, Cherise is put under a degree of pressure-- enough pressure to shove her back up into the air, in fact, and launch her airborne. Arms lashing up and around, she regains her balance and sets herself in position for a picture-perfect backflip. Her knees bend a little, one foot steps back a little, and her body does well to cushion the impact.
Arms twisting back, her wires travel in a massive back-arc, away from Geese. "All right, then...!"
And this time, -both- of her arms shoot forward, her hands poised to point at the man as if she were wielding guns of some sort. They scream ahead with pin-point accuracy, both looking primed and ready to snap taut just beyond his neck and curl like they were animated creatures. The twin weapons tighten-- and then, if they can get around his neck, her left leg thrusts forward, her left hand hooking around to grip the pair of wires and pull taut. A suddenly loss of oxygen, and...
Again, Shihong knows what it is like to feel pain at the hands of Geese Howard.
Fortunately, she reminds herself somewhere along the way she's just glad she's on his GOOD side at the moment. Likely, this could be a lot worse.
That does not mean that this does not HURT, however.
Plucked out of midair like a fly, the Chinese woman is suddenly yanked down as he thrusts his palm forward. Another burst of that god-awful energy erupts, blasting the woman a few feet and then some away. She does not correct herself--she can't, as she is too dazed. Instead, she hits the ground and rolls like a rag doll. For a moment, she does not get up. For a moment, it almost looks like she's stopped breathing altogether.
As Cherise attacks, Shihong suddenly gasps for breath, a racking cough erupting from her burning lungs. Slowly- -cautiously- -the woman peels herself from the dirty concrete, arms shivering as she tries to stand. She needs a moment, clearly, to collect her wits, those black eyes desperately struggling, the faintest flickers of red erupting in those black depths as she glares toward the crimelord...
COMBATSYS: Shihong focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Cherise
> ////////// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Geese dodges Cherise's Argent Sniper.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Geese 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Cherise
> ////////// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Shihong
Though these two work well in tandem, Geese is simply an entirely different sort of beast than that which they are used to. His rigid posture is still highly flexible, and it shows in the way he deftly outmaneuvers and punishes Shihong with a brilliant blaze of blue flames. The bubbling orb of power diffuses in tongues of power along his palm as he snaps back, rolling his neck with practiced ease. "Hah!" he barks out, in entertainment. In good spirits, indeed. After all --
This is a good work out.
Shihong dealt with for the moment, the Syndicate king focuses his attention on Cherise. The Frenchwoman is clearly preparing for something. As such, Geese begins to focus inwards, chi gathering in a far less noticeable way and diffusing throughout his body. It energizes his ligaments, his muscles, his entire -body-, enhancing his senses to unfathomable levels. Thus, as Cherise lashes out with those glimmering wires of Psycho Power, Geese Howard...
... is simply not there.
It's movement that might not be detectable, even to fighters such as themselves. In one moment, Geese is there. In the next, he is twisting past, those wires snapping harmlessly through the air beyond him. In the next split second, he closes the distance between himself and Cherise. "Good. You two are competent..."
The mulled words accompany a ferocious elbow directed towards Cherise's midsection, burying itself into her shoulder plexus. From there, he jerks -forward-, shifting sides to dig his left palm into her gut and his right hand against her shoulder. From there, another overhead flip, one that will undoubtedly send poor Cherise crashing into the ground in an unpleasant heap.
"... But you're nowhere near -my- level."
COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Cherise with Combo Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Cherise
> ////////// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Shihong
Someone like Cherise should notice this. She should notice his speed, she should notice his movements, she should notice his posture. She notices it when he's standing still for the beginning of her attack, when he's dead in her sights and she's about to snare him around the neck to give him a whole new lesson in pain.
But then he's not there.
Her arms reel back as he's suddenly THERE, almost as if he's teleported in front of her. The wires swish through the air as her arms pull back -hard-... though Geese's attack is more than enough to make her feel as though her ribs may just as well be broken. Pulled through the air once again in a stern, forceful, and very unforviving manner, Cherise connects with the ground with a painful thud and a hard gasp as the air rushes out of her lungs, feeling like her whole body wants to compress to about the thickness of a pancake. Stunned, breathing hard-- and once again, her vision goes white.
But she's not completely out of the game yet.
Whipping her legs up and twisting hard on her shoulders while her eyesight is still coming back to her, she twists hard like a top, passing one hand over the other and continuing the flurry of harsh kicks at point-blank range. Of course, after a half-second of the whirling assault, it becomes clear that she isn't trying to attack, but instead create a rather mean distraction--
"Mao!!"
COMBATSYS: Cherise assists Shihong.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Cherise
> ////////// ]
|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Shihong
Given time to recover, or simply forgotten for the interim, Shihong shakes her head, the deafening hum and hiss haunting her ears slowly subsiding. Those black eyes, now flecked with hints of red, continue to glare across the warehouse, never once leaving the infamous Lord of Southtown as he stands there. Wires of silver stretch out, like Death's hand reaching for the man, sure to introduce him to pain, should those threads touch. And yet, as astute as those eyes are...
They fail to follow as he blurs and is suddenly not there.
They are clearly outclassed, Shihong surmises.
Compliments or no, it fails to truly set in as he brutally lashes out against Cherise once more. As expected, it is brutal and it is god-awful and looks like it hurts her cohort, but it does not hinder the likes of Shihong. Oh no. If anything, it simply ENCOURAGES her to press herself all the more. These odds are insurmountable at this rate.
But she is having FUN.
Rather suddenly, Shihong is bursting forth, closing in on Howard. Cherise provides a (hopefully) distraction in the interim, giving Shihong just enough time to suddenly leap up a foot away before she descends and slides feet first toward Geese. Her feet suddenly erupt in vermillion red energy, aimed to crash painfully into the man's shins...
COMBATSYS: Geese fails to counter Guardian of the Gods from Shihong with Gedan Atemi Nage.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Cherise
> ///////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Shihong
The moment those long, particularly swift legs make contact, Shihong bursts into a flurry of motion.
Twisting her body there upon the ground, the woman's legs- -still aglow with furious and copious amounts of vicious vermillion energy- -crash ruthlessly into Geese, battering him repeatedly before she plants both palms flat on the ground. With a cry and a violent push, her heels drive straight for his jaw, to send him flying upwards with sheer force as she rockets upwards.
And this is -exactly- why the two of them work so well together, whether they see it or not. When assaulting in tandem, Shihong and Cherise are a brutalizing force to be reckoned with. It can easily be seen as Geese snaps back from his assault upon Cherise. Aware of the effects it must have had on her body, he is nonethless caught unprepared by her sudden and quick recovery. Howard prepares himself with a quick backstep, intending to simply outmaneuver Cherise. And he does --
'Mao!!'
Just in time to lock gazes with the sliding Shihong.
"... Clever--"
-CRACK-. Psycho Power and physical prowess assault Geese Howard in tandem as Shihong twists. Her legs lance into his body like a battering ram to a brick wall, slowly but surely eroding his defenses in a sudden and relentless assault. There may have been an attempt to stop the attack, but it is long gone to the winds, leaving the King of Southtown to the Chinese woman's mercies. Heels plow into jaw with the yielding sensation of bone cracking, and Geese goes airborne for the first time in the fight. Yet when he lands...
... he lands on his feet.
Polished shoes strike concrete with a resounding echo as Geese comes to a fall. A thin line of blood trails down the corner of his lip, but the damage is clear. Had it been anyone -else-, the effects likely would have been devestating. For Geese, the entire affair is halted with the lift of a gloved hand, pulling his kerchief out from the breast pocket of his vest. Slowly, he dabs it at his mouth, wiping away the blood as his gaze refocuses on the pair. "We're done, here. The two of you are satisfied, right?" They can choose to pursue if they'd like, but the results will probably not be pleasant -- after all, he's made it clear that the fight is now -over-.
"So," he begins again, slowly, "how does that deal sound now?"
Legs hooking around for one final twist, Cherise arcs her back and springs off into a half-squat of sorts, arms snapping back and wires lashing around her in a smooth swirl of silver and air. Her wires twist, swirl, and she gets ready to launch into another attack, but...
Stop?
Though her blood's on fire, though she truly, desparately wants to keep fighting Geese alongside one of the few people that she'd actually dare to call one of her friends... she stops. Amazingly, perhaps a little sadly, but she nevertheless stops.
With a smooth swipe of her wrists, the wires cast out around the warehouse whistle back toward her, toward the spools from wence they came-- the spools hidden, somehow, within the gold bracelets around her wrists, the small weights *tink*ing against the surface before looking relatively flush... no signs of a weapon being hidden within at all.
Loosening her necktie up and unbuttoning her bloody shirt-- stained red, once white-- the French girl licks a bit of red off her lips and isn't afraid to express her disappointment. "I could have gone on a little more," she says, though her body would certainly protest much further punishment. "However, yes... I will aid you. I can't guarantee I will always be in town, but I will do what I can." Turning, though gingerly, she tromps back toward her guitar and picks it up by the strap, actually hesitating for a moment. A sign she's actually in pain, and not enjoying it?
Slinging the instrument up onto her shoulder, she turns on her heel and smiles, albeit bloodied. "Mao, if you are happy, then I am."
However he lands, it matters not to Shihong. What matters is she got in a clean hit, and it left its mark. Her work here is, for the moment, done, thanks to Cherise's suitable distraction. Whether or not the two women are more or less of how well they work together, they do so regardless. It just works out, in the end. And clearly that is what Howard wants from them.
Shihong offers a wry smirk as the man dabs at his mouth, lips ajar as she pants. In two clean hits the Lord of Southtown has more or less driven Shihong to her limits. He is as they speak of him, when you talk to the right people. He is fearsome and cruel, his strength frightening. She hasn't felt like this...ever.
Are they satisfied? "Don't ask me," she responds. Those black eyes drift to Cherise.
Then she thumbs toward the silver-haired girl.
"She's the masochist." And it's clear the lack of seeing the fight through disappoints her. Brief is the smirk that haunts Shihong's rouge red lips. So it would seem things have drawn to a conclusion of sorts. Exhaling carefully, the woman draws her eyes closed.
"It's an opportunity," she explains to Cherise, an eye slowly opening and regarding the young Frenchwoman. "It's also not every day we get to be beaten the hell up by Howard. So, why not?" She shrugs absently, her smirk widening slightly.
Then her eyes return to Geese.
"Very well. We have a deal."
Like Cherise, she turns, if only to exit, offering a wave to the crimelord from over her shoulder.
"I'll get in touch with you about the specifics later," she offers, still grinning softly to herself. For now? She needs to fucking recuperate from those harsh blows. She'll feel those for DAYS to come.
"Come on, Cherise. Let's go."
There are certain things that anyone even remotely observant or careful should note about others. Personality quirks, behaviorisms. Cherise, for example, is one who lives for the thrill of the fight. Whether she only engages in such to 'keep from boredom' or not, there is the lively spark in her eye like a child playing with its favorite toy. In stark contrast, Shihong is an objective sort of individual; all business. These are all things that Geese notes from the pair's interactions. In the end, they're all important.
Knowing your employees, after all, is a key to success in -any- walk of life.
Neatly refolding his kerchief, Geese once more tucks it into his breast pocket as he observes the pair's final decisions. The reaction is one of a man who clearly already knew the results. Arrogance paints all Geese's actions, and the smile that graces him now is no different. "Good," he says smoothly, hands slipping into his pockets. "And here I was worried you might say no."
But he wasn't, really.
But this is the end of their interactions tonight, such as they are. Howard takes a single step backwards as the two turn to depart. "Yes, we'll be in touch soon." Perhaps not through Geese -directly-. This, in and of itself, was a rare occurance indeed, which might go to show how much the man appreciates the would-be duo's talents. He turns sharply on his heel as they depart, walking back towards the main offices in a slow stride.
"A good day for business."
COMBATSYS: Geese has left the fight here.
> //////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Cherise
> ///////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Shihong
Log created on 00:13:47 11/09/2007 by Geese, and last modified on 18:13:13 11/16/2007.