Description: Todoh teaches Adelheid all the moves he needs to triumph over Mr. Big and Makoto? Alright, maybe not quite. ... brave souls inquire within. (Winners: Todoh and Adelheid)
The cozy 'Second Wind' Retirement Home. Southtown is not the nicest place to live (unless you ask your local Howard Enterprises travel and real estate agents), but one can't really find much fault with this place. It's in a quieter part of town, the living costs aren't completely outlandish, and sometimes you might even find a spirited Taiyo High student come here for community service hours. Some of the older men really look forward to that. Along with dinner. They never know when it's time for that.
This is skirting past such bothersome, less glamarous issues that come with taking care of those so old that they can't even really take care of themselves, mind, but it's a nice place. A nice, quiet, peaceful place to live out the rest of one's days among one's own rapidly aging generation.
Leave it to Saturday Night Fight to throw such peace and tranquility to the wind! It's for the ratings, baby! The ratings and the exciting battles everyone's come to expect to see every Saturday evening! By this logic not even the most irate of the elderly would mind free front row seats to one of these things they idly left the tiny TVs to broadcast while they confuse every moderately attractive teenage girl to pass by as their niece 'Keiko.'
It is almost too quiet for a brewing battle as most of the front lobby is vacated (or at least roped off) for the safety of the residents. Too peaceful. Suspiciously so, if one suspects the inevitable when the name of a particularly stubborn man is seen anywhere on the card. Maybe there is an off chance that everyone can be gathered here without incident?!
A retirement home? Maybe they're trying to send Mr. Big a message. It's impossible to turn up his nose at an invitation to do battle with one of SouthSynd's premiere members, however, especially when it happens to be this one. Adelheid is decidedly what the residents would call a 'young whippersnapper' or in their less forgiving moments, 'a damn hooligan', but when the fight's on TV, the public is just fine and dandy with it, right? Or maybe they just want to see the old folks whip the young generation into shape.
Adelheid is right on time, the Bernstein heir dressed simply in a loose black t-shirt, and jeans, the shirt tucked and belted smoothly. He refused the 'rebellious teen' look the SNF costumers had put together. What are they going to do, cancel the fight? If Todoh wants to preach, that's bad enough. Passing into the roped off area with what fanfare the audience here can manage, Adelheid pauses to calmly survey his surroundings. Not just waiting for his opponents, but taking a careful measure of where everything else is in the room. Sometimes that can be rather important when surrounded by invalids, and fighting dangerous adversaries.
They tried to get Makoto to look like a rebellious teen, too. She was having none of it. She shows up in her gi, and if anyone has any objection to that...too bad. The pride of Rindoukan will be diminished for no SNF.
Makoto slips under the rope blocking off the 'fight area' from the 'no fight area', straightening on the inside and dusting her gi off. She doesn't like her teammate (oh, yes, she remembers him from when she had to /fight/ him) and so she ignores where he is likely to show up, looking only at the others. There is, at least, no violence! Yet.
Mr. Big is one of the few fighters that is as well known for his flashy entrances as he is for his fighting ability, which says a lot considering how much he's accomplished thus far. It is this fact which makes his appearance at this particular Saturday Night Fight rather surprising. The soles of his fancy Italian leather shoes click loudly on the linoleum floor of the old folk's home as he slowly walks into what passes for the recreational room of this inherently dreary establishment with what one might interoperate as a reverent air about him, if not for the look of disgust on his face.
His head swiveling slowly as he takes in the sight of the old and infirm, Mr. Big's revulsion is quite apparent with every poor soul his sunglass-laden gaze passes over. While someone more optimistic might look at this building as a nice place to live out one's final days, Mr. Big can only see the tragic death of everything he holds dear. Virility. Money. Fame. Independence. Virility... No, this is about the last place that Mr. Big would like to be.
"Outta the way grayhair," Mr. Big grunts to Todoh as he brushes by on the way to the makeshift ring. "...This area is for fighters only; you geezers are supposed to sit over there," he adds with a casual motion of one of the two black batons in his hands. Adelheid ignored for the moment, Big's mouth breaks into a grin as he approaches Makoto, his pearly white teeth shining through the smile. "Ah, here's my pupil! I have so much to teach you young... lady...?" he trails off pointedly before breaking out into a throaty chuckle.
The 'kids' of the respective teams being rebellious towards being dressed in such a way that would present them as the stereotype even further, well, the officials probably decided not to consider it a terrible loss. All the better for the 'elders' to set a prime example for them... yes? But there remains one simple problem. Where is Ryuhaku Todoh? Normally he is very hasty to try and take center stage or do something that draws generally unwarranted attention towards his person.
There he is! Adelheid might take stock of him on the first pass of his careful survey of the local area, but it is Mr. Big who might throw any hunch about the whereabouts of the older of the two active Todoh fighters into straight confirmation.
And that man of the hour is near the corner, almost out of the full extent of how far the cameras could reach as he is just behind the ropes. He doesn't flinch at Mr. Big's big swaggering entrance, no. Those eyes narrow like so many other eyes have, a fan held in his left hand utilized in a strangely repetitive motion. Not one movement deviates in any way from the previous. It is the exact same. The same range of movement, speed, everything. It is like he is a runaway 1997 animated GIF file pasted somewhere within this universe at whim.
This theory is subsequently disproven when he decides to leap into the ring instead of simply walk in, his free hand quickly pointing a finger oh-so very scoldingly at the man who is the big man for he is Mr. Big. "Oooooh! Don't you start! Lest you be humbled by the terrifying might of the way of Todoh!"
It's a relatively tame entrance, aside from whatever it was he was doing out in the corner instead of actually waiting in the ring with Adelheid and Makoto. What if he actually lived here?! Some would think the theory to not be too farfetched. But, in what is perhaps a rare gesture for one so absorbed in himself and his own style and talent (to the poor extent he has been able to display this live on national TV), he appears to acknowledge Adelheid in the slightest way possible.
"Stick with me, young man! And you'll go far, far indeed! Further than this man's teeth, that's what!" So Ryuhaku boasts as the officials present decide to count their blessings and just get things underway now that everyone is accounted for without any headaches. Yet. It doesn't take long for the command to come from the official in charge of getting it all rollin'.
"FIGHT!" And so the fight begins!
"I'm feeling charitable today!" In what capacity, oh Ryuhaku Todoh? "So charitable... you go on ahead! Yes." With a fan in hand, he points Adelheid towards glory with a smile. And a narrowed eye in Mr. Big's direction. Very narrowed. So narrow, one might even see a little angry spark. He wants to see a fighter, does he?!
COMBATSYS: Todoh has started a fight here.
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Todoh 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Makoto has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Todoh 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Makoto
COMBATSYS: Mr.Big has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Todoh 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Makoto
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|-------\-------\0 Mr.Big
COMBATSYS: Adelheid has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Todoh 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Makoto
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Adelheid 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Mr.Big
COMBATSYS: Todoh focuses on his next action.
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Todoh 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Makoto
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Adelheid 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Mr.Big
So this is Ryuhaku Todoh. The eccentric martial artist draws his platinum blonde charge's attention, the crimson-eyed youth considering his 'mentor' for the fight for several lingering moments. He gives the elder man a slow, almost uncertain nod. ... what is this guy's deal, anyway? Still, Adelheid can see he's capable... though just how that might manifest remains to be seen.
As to the battle, and their opponents? 'FIGHT!' is all the encouragement Adelheid needs. Fists clench, arms tighten, and his focus nearly tangibly spikes in the upsurge of his centered strength. That Todoh wants him to lead the charge is almost knowledge gained too late, but the elder martial artist's words meet the platinum blonde's ears about the time his booted feet start sprinting forward. His focus is locked on Mr. Big, of course, "Hey Diamond Don..." He shouts, "Come here to put in your residency app?!?" The impetuous youngster pulls up abruptly short, his right foot all but cleaving out in front of him, carrying him fluidly off his feet. For a moment, it's as if Adelheid glides on an invisible shockwave of windshear, and then the air itself flows together, blasting out violently in a lancing wave that threatens to cut a path solidly into Southtown's premiere pimp, the platinum blonde's hair and clothing rustling for one violent moment in the wake of that silvery edge.
The environment is largely irrelevant to Makoto. As far as she's concerned, SNF sends you places, you fight there, that's all there is to it. Old age home? No problem! It's neither an insult or an honour as far as she's concerned, even if she does have an appreciation of her elders.
Elders that aren't Big, anyway. "I'm a girl," she says, somewhat more sharply than she probably means to. "It's not /that/ hard to tell, but I suppose you're blind with those sunglasses on." Makoto turns away from him, dropping into her combat stance when the signal to fight begins and immediately taking off toward her opponents.
Makoto takes five steps in a run toward the old guy, then literally leaps into the air, somersaulting forward slowly. As her foot passes the perfectly vertical, Makoto extends it, flipping down into a strike with her heel straight toward Todoh's head! "Haaah!"
So much for letting Adelheid tank.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Mr.Big with Reppukyaku.
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Todoh 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Makoto
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Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Mr.Big
Snickering as Makoto snaps at him, the Platinum Player shrugs. "Sore subject I guess," he chuckles to himself. "Okay girl, now here's the pla-" he begins to inform her, but stops short as she runs off. "Damn girl..." Rubbing at his shiny head with the back of his hand, Mr. Big watches Makoto charge at Todoh for a moment before his attention snaps over to Adelheid. "Oh. Junior." the Chrome Dome Don replies with a frown as Adelheid taunts him. "I thought I heard somethin buzzing. I'll deal with you in a-" Mr. Big is cut off short yet again as the shockwave flies at him and sends him staggering backwards a few steps into the fringe of the viewing audience.
"Hey Mr. Jenkins..." the Pimp Cane Padrino says to one of the random geezers sitting next to him as he grips the old man by the collar of his tweed jacket. "Talk to your grandson for a minute," Pulling the old man out of his seat, the Southtown Syndicate Lieutenant shoves him in the direction of Adelheid. "Entertain him while I show my student how it's done," he adds as he leaps in the direction of Todoh and starts corkscrewing horizontally through the air with his batons crossed above his head. Hopefully he'll be too busy being head stomped by Kasumi to notice the Pimp Crusher heading his way.
COMBATSYS: Makoto successfully hits Todoh with Tsurugi.
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Todoh 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Makoto
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Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Mr.Big
COMBATSYS: Todoh dodges Mr.Big's Cross Diving.
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Todoh 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Makoto
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Adelheid 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Mr.Big
Right when the signal to fight comes to light, that Adelheid's movements are not so slight in running right up to Mr. Big as he charges right by the elder Todoh with such ferocity and speed that even he must give it a pause. Oh! Such spirit! Admirable, for a kid! It'd almost bring a tear to his eye, the same sort of tears had by those who live here in seeing that they aren't completely abandoned, or that they are no longer who they were before. At least, until a twitch in his leg to move nearly has him slip up against the linoleum floor.
Recently cleaned linoleum and socks do not go together very well for traction. Right as he tries to correct his stance to account for this complication he should have when he decided to literally leap into the ring, Makoto comes at a very sharp angle that he notices too late with his eye on Big instead, the dive given extra 'oomph' when it strikes him against his head with such force and vigor that his neck nearly twists itself off the rest of his spine! Saliva flies in endearing, marketable Kasane Ate patterns! One eye nearly pops out of his head in shock and impudence!
The silver lining, in this instance, being that his lost footing means that Mr. Big passes by overhead harmlessly in a narrow miss. With slightly better coordinated timing, it would've hit dead center. But 'almost' only counts in fishing, horseshoes, and stealing Marco's prized Kyokugen dojo banner board. Mr. Big flying like a loony is neither of these!
The impact of terrible Makoto foot against not-all-there Ryuhaku head leaves enough inertia that Todoh remains in a preferred distance with Mr. Big. A little close, but not too close. Lifting himself off his back all too spry for a man that's going to be carrying a swollen, deeply bruised cheek for the next few days, rather than give Makoto much more mind for the wear, he briefly centers himself with a loud clap of his hands over his head. A loud enough clap that might stir all to attention!
"You want to see how it's done?! Do you?!" He trades a perfectly advantageous position to tack on an almost guaranteed hit to rebuke what the escrima maestro wants to say about 'how you do it.' "Hey, kid! Take a good look at this!"
A good look at what? Polite manners in dealing with older people? How to make delicious tea out of ordinary leaves? How to impress the parents of the young lady you are trying to marry? If you've pondered any of these questions at length, you probably haven't known Todoh enough to expect that his arms seperate instead and raise up high, a flash of terrible yellowish-orangeish blocks of chi of utmost power (...maybe) that he thrusts down and forward with such vigor and a soul-piercing (...not really) kiai! "HEEYAH!"
Three of them form. Three of them fall. One may stand to fall if they do not prove the bigger man against a big strip of segmented chi. But that's no big problem for the mighty runner-up of the World Warrior tournament, now is it?
Makoto will get hers soon enough. Damn punk kids jumping at you at funny angles you can barely hope to defend against if you so much as look an inch away from them, grumble grumble.
Phase one complete. Phase two, well. First of all, there's an old guy hurtling towards him. That's not altogether a threatening feeling, but the man himself could well break a hip, or worse, given Big's strength. Much as the PR department would LOVE to try to spin that, Adel shifts to catch good ol' Jenkins, shoving the startled old coot a bit more smoothly back into his seat with graceful precision. Todoh does admirably well under the brutal double-assault, and Adelheid twists to track Mr. Big's launched form, the aerial assault coming in the wake of Makoto's rather devastating display. Doesn't matter /who/ you are... that one had to hurt. Teeth grit, and his dark eyes narrow, the lither Bernstein taking a quick and careful assessment... the blades of chi burn to life, and Adelheid darts left, launches forward, looking to snag the powerful girl by the front of her gi. And quite suddenly drag her up off the ground by her gi.
From there, well. Remember when we said forethought and awareness of the environment could come in handy? As established, Adelheid isn't about to plow through a mob of old folks. But he is quite aware where one of the heavy structural columns rises to the side of the common room, blocking views and providing a corner here and there off the ring clear of collateral. It's that pillar that would be targetted, indirectly, if the grapple is successful. Quite simply, Adel's feet would leave the ground, his form blasting forward as if launched by an unseen inner force, the intent being to slam Makoto with retirement home shattering force into that column, like she was the warhead of a missile.
COMBATSYS: Makoto fails to interrupt God Press from Adelheid with Hayate.
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Todoh 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Makoto
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Adelheid 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Mr.Big
Makoto lands on her feet after her mighty spinning kick, pumping her fist downward as she lands and bringing her other hand forward, open, in a blocking position. She turns instinctively to look at the clap without really meaning to, which means she misses Adelheid putting the old guy back in his seat.
She'd approve of it if she'd seen it though. Old people are not projectiles!
She looks back a moment later, hearing as much as seeing Adelheid rushing at her. Makoto brings her fist forward, moving /into/ the grap - but Adelheid's arms are longer, and that proves to be enough this time, as he presses her against the pillar while she flails with her fist rather uselessly. The impact is very loud and very solid.
Makoto staggers afterwards, shaking her head once or twice to clear the dizziness.
COMBATSYS: Todoh successfully hits Mr.Big with Fierce Kasane Ate.
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Todoh 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Makoto
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Adelheid 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Mr.Big
Tucking and rolling out of his dive, the Diamond Don growls lightly as he spins to face Ryuhaku. "You old fool..." Mr. Big begins to rebuke, though he trails off as he recognizes Todoh's familiar stance. Normally Mr. Big wouldn't be very worried, though don't misunderstand, the Kasane Ate is very fierce, but these two go back a long time, and he's all too familiar with the Todoh fighting style, but Mr. Big is far to close to deal with such a broad attack efficiently. "No!" the Platinum Player shouts as he attempts to spin away, but the Kasane Ate strikes true with the utmost power (definitely) and pierces his soul (yah really) painfully. Small bits of glass scatter on the linoleum as one of the lenses of Mr. Big's glasses shatter, and a large purple bruise rises to disfigure his cheek.
"...nnh... lucky..." he groans as he picks himself up from one knee and skitters back a few paces. "Girl!" Big calls out to his ersatz student. "...stop fooling around with Heidi and finish the job with the old man! You'll have plenty of time to flirt after the fight!" Resting a baton on his shoulder, Mr. Big gestures with the other weapon, trying to urge Makoto on. "His knees, girl, his knees! Always start with an old man's legs, not the head! There's nothing up there worth protecting anyway!"
COMBATSYS: Mr.Big gains composure.
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Todoh 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Makoto
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Adelheid 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Mr.Big
And ol' Ryuhaku Todoh there, it doesn't matter if he lands one. He'll do it again and again and again if given the chance. Way back in the day, a certain someone thought that would have worked very well against a certain orange-clad gi fighter. But, you know, enough on that, because that's ancient history and this fight is certified KYOKUGEN-FREE. Certified!
Ahem.
Ryuhaku's hands ready themselves up again for number two, and don't think he isn't going to on that accusation of it being a lucky shot! Like he'd let Mr. Big off after that dismissive entrance! But, at the very nick of time, he halts as Mr. Big calls out to the prone Makoto. "Hmph! What kind of advice is that?!"
He hikes up his trousers and decides to dash along in earnest to the other side of the battle where Makoto and Adelheid had their recent exchange (which Adelheid appears to have come out on top) as he tries to position himself a ways behind the blonde prodigy, steps smaller than he'd usually take due to the slick floor.
"You, young man!" With a flourish, both fans snap open in his hands! They wave about in wide circular patterns. "What're you waiting for?! Take life by the horns! Don't let up! Don't give 'em the chance to catch their breath!" Like he just did with Mr. Big?! "You find what works and you work 'em over! That's what you do! Now go get 'em! Yeh hah hah haaaaah!!"
Can this spirited cheering reach the calculating Adelheid at his core and empower him on to victory?!
COMBATSYS: Todoh assists Adelheid.
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Todoh 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Makoto
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Adelheid 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Mr.Big
"Take your own advice." Adelheid advises as he shoves off Makoto, rebounding away from the cracked pillar as Todoh... waves his fans around, and shouts sage advice. Big is regaining his senses, and talking all kinds of shit, and well... everyone knows what that means, "Stay on them!" the youth encourages his elder compatriot. He's not really your typical high schooler: Adelheid's training has little in common with the varsity football team.
Indeed, he swaps it up on the fly once again, unwilling to let Mr. Big square off against Todoh unimpeded. No, he still has a few tricks left to show the platinum playah.
Barreling in hard, Adelheid dives feet-first at Big, apparently taking the SouthSynd sub-boss' advice about going for the elderly's knees to heart. One boot slams in from the front, the other from behind, as the flying tackle is executed with a scissoring sweep meant to take Big's legs right out from under him. Hard.
"I don't need your lessons," Makoto says, although she has the decency to add, "It's nothing personal, it's just that I already know what I'm doing." Really, she does.
That's why she's just...standing there. Having already recovered from her dizziness, Makoto instead performs a breathing exercise, planting her feet and taking one deep breath, then another. She moves her hands just so, ending with them cupped around an invisible point in space several inches in front of her navel as she prepares to strike as hard as she absolutely can.
COMBATSYS: Makoto gathers her will.
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Todoh 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Makoto
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Adelheid 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Mr.Big
COMBATSYS: Mr.Big interrupts Medium Throw from Adelheid with Double Ground Blaster.
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Todoh 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Makoto
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Adelheid 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr.Big
So the kids don't feel that they need the guidance of their elders. WHO COULD HAVE GUESSED THAT. You can almost hear the old men and women in the audience murmuring the same sentiment to each other as they watch. Well... those that are even aware that there's a fight going on anyway.
So Adelheid thought he could use Mr. Big's sage advice against him? Not likely son, the Glittering Sultan of Southtown is still in his prime! His legs are like mighty oaks! A sneer curling up to his lip as he watches Adelheid slide towards him, the gangster greets the bottle blonde (you know you bleach it, don't lie) with a double swipe of his batons. "DOUBLE GROUND BLASTER!" Mr. Big intones as two large plumes of fiery orange chi flare up in their wake, washing over Rugal's son and taking all of the momentum out of his slide. "Pff. Like I didn't see that shit coming from a mile away junior," Mr. Big admonishes Adelheid as his feet thud against the mighty oaks harmlessly.
"Well it don't seem like you're doing much of anything right now!" Big calls out to his young partner as he steps away from Adelheid casually. "I mean, I'm sure I can handle both of these chumps by myself, but that's not really in the spirit of the match, now is it?"
"Take wha--" Todoh cuts himself off as ADelheid speeds off and decides to make use of Mr. Big's own advice instead, arms lowering as his mood sours just a teensy weensy bit more that very evening. Cheeky (though correct) punk. Makoto rebukes the advice towards her in her own way. Politely, towards his opponent. Kids these days! And those hand movements! What point is there behind them? This is a foolish question to ask, but the two differ very greatly in their fighting styles on many different points.
"Hmph!" So he snorts as the fans are placed back whence they came, inside his gi shirt. Adelheid probably deserved what he got for trying to correct him. "How about you? Are you listening to me? Hm?" The elder Todoh doesn't even bother giving Makoto much of a chance to answer as he brings up his arms... again! But what sort of technique would require the formation of additional blocky, none-too-appealing blocks of that chi that can't decide if it wants to be yellow or orange or maybe even red or green on various NTSC TV sets?! They form with a very solid color, so much that they may be confused for perhaps being plastic-y in appearance.
"ARE YOU?!" This substitutes the usual kiai when he leans forward, arms down, to let the mighty(?) descending wave do all the deciding. In case Makoto isn't comfortable making her own decisions against this sort of thing, anyway. This sort of thing is very swell for teaching young, rising fighting stars as to what to do against anything shiny that forms right out of midair.
"Look, honey, an aurora," an old man points towards the descending wave with a cane, "just like on our honeymoon to the Arctic Circle!"
"Honey? I don't even know you!" An old lady slaps the old man in the back of his head.
The rush of energy overwhelms Adelheid's assault midflight, with a blazing intensity that's enough to knock the air right out of his sails, and the wind right out of his lungs as he's all but exploded back the way he came by the sudden double-surge of energy. He crashes to his back, and then right over it with a profound grunt of pain, tumbling back once, twice, and then up... a three-point crouch keeping him up off the ground of the home, at what seems like long last. Hmph. Maybe he did have that coming. Either way, the fight is far from finished for Adelheid Bernstein.
Alert crimson eyes scan momentarily, considering only a moment. The 'R' heir tenses, and springs, throwing a hand out in front of him as he launches full-on right back at Mr. Big. No, he's not one to take a setback laying down. .... however painful it may have been. Instead, Adelheid seeks to clamp his fingers over the Diamond Don's face, and explode him backwards by his clean-shaven head in a maelstrom of brilliant, arcing silver windshear. The blade-intensity, point-blank blast would be enough to launch Big right back towards the ropes, and draw further ooh's and ahhh's from those present who think they're watching the Northern Lights from that lovely Carnival boat.
COMBATSYS: Makoto blocks Todoh's Kasane Ate.
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Todoh 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Makoto
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Adelheid 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr.Big
Makoto switches from her breathing exercises to action almost instantaneously when the attack comes. It's nothing special; she just brings up her arms to take the impact as best she can. Chi is something she's never really gotten the hang of dealing with, though, and it shows; it leaves marks all down her arms.
Her legs are fine, though, and Makoto brings one up, thrusting it forward in an enormously strong straight kick toward Todoh's midsection. 'Doing nothing' indeed - she's not going to let Mr. Big say /that/ again and be accurate. Just because she needed a moment to focus herself! "Haaah!" Makoto yells, as her foot moves forward.
More calmly, she calls, "Do you need a hand over there?" with every indication of politeness. Really.
COMBATSYS: Mr.Big fails to interrupt Scorpion Deathlock from Adelheid with California Romance.
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Todoh 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Makoto
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Adelheid 1/---====/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr.Big
Damn it Adelheid, why do you always gotta interrupt when Mr. Big's trying to impart some knowledge on Makoto? Okay, so he wasn't trying to impart knowledge as much as bickering with her, but that's not the point. Crouching slightly as Adelheid flies at him, Mr. Big seems ready to fall back on his tried and true method of dealing with people who are trying to get a little too close for comfort. There's not much sense in letting someone negate the range advantage his batons, is there? No. There isn't. Springing throught the air towards Adelheid, Mr. Big is about to crush his facemeats baton-style, when suddenly, Mr. Big's own beautiful face is palmed by the youngster. Not his face. The women love his... well, they love his face too.
Boom. Yup. It was his face. The blast obliterates what was left of Mr. Big's sunglasses and sends him skidding backwards across the linoleum, but doesn't force him to leave his feet as the blonde had hoped. The Diamond Don manages to grit his teeth and take the blast on the chin like a man... which isn't to say that it didn't hurt. "No. I don't need a hand, do your thing" Mr. Big replies evenly as he pulls another pair of sunglasses out from the depthes of his coat and slips them over his squinting eyes. "I got this on lock."
COMBATSYS: Todoh dodges Makoto's Medium Kick.
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Todoh 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Makoto
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Adelheid 1/---====/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr.Big
"Dear, dear! Look now! Did you see it? I saw a UFO!" So goes that same old man again, who leans dangerously over the railing.
The old lady yanks him back by the collar, far less cautious about dealing with those fellow fragile members of her generation with the sort of disdain only a woman can give. Especially for a perfect stranger.
Moving on.
When Makoto's foot goes flying, the elder Todoh sways backwards to let it neatly pass by, leaping back a bit further from a last minute thought that she might try to swing it in to hit him anyway. This movement is so sudden and jarring that he once again nearly falls to the whimsy of a lack of friction in his footing - his own little handicap in this battleground.
Or is it? A marvelous idea pops into his head! "So you show concern for the well-being of your elders! Admirable! Why, I could almost cry!" The giggling that follows is not indicative of any tears. Maybe he finds it so funny that she appears so unthreatened as to wish to offer help if Mr. Big needed it.
"My question and advice, all in one! Be honored that you are receiving such lovely lectures from the one and only Ryuhaku Todoh!" Should she really? "And this is...!" The ellipses in question are the vocal component to him taking a number of steps forward to build up speed and actually use it to bolster the distance and velocity of a slide. A slide across the floor, both hands against the ground to be ready to pull himself back up as he thrusts a raised leg towards Makoto's abdomen.
A technique designed to foil the Hien Shippu Kyaku, but strong enough for a woman!
...Er.
==============================================================================
"Tough as ever." Adelheid observes as Big slides backwards, taking the ample explosive chi in stride, and coming back swinging. At least, figuratively speaking. Literally, he's more hanging in there, and the platinum blonde uses it as an opportunity to simultaneously praise Big, and throw a somewhat wry sort of smirk at the Diamond Don. He knows what he took from the mighty crimeboss the last time they crossed paths. That just makes it all the sweeter to suddenly leave Big in the lurch once more, not immediately pressing the attack, and instead driving a gambit inspired by one of the Sultan of Southtown's own taunts.
He glides aside, landing in a smooth, fluid sidestep, flanking to come in behind Todoh. Ryuhaku's foot comes up, the platinum blonde feints in, and a predatory gleam kicks up in his eye. He's been wanting to try this ever since he faced off against Kain the second time, and felt what had previously eluded him. He can summon up a great deal of energy, indeed... but in a situation like this, or any other where precision and raw force are tantamount, well. Adelheid's eyes narrow, and the room quiets in the fleeting instants in which the prodigal boy gathers power... focuses his will... throws one powerfully flexed arm out to the side in a singular, violent thrust that ruptures air even as it roils the ground beneath it. Hopefully Todoh felt this coming, because too close to Makoto is suddenly a very dangerous place to be. A reaving, Makoto-high tidal wave of sheer wind energy crashes forth in a cresting maelstrom of brilliant silver and roiling grey, the entire force coalescing in the space between Adelheid and his target, every bit of energy he can muster exploding in one potentially devestating moment.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Makoto with Crown Prince.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Makoto with Crown Prince.
COMBATSYS: Todoh successfully hits Makoto with Sweeping Kick EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Todoh 0/-------/--=====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Makoto
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Mr.Big
Isn't it always the way that everything goes wrong at once?
Makoto leaves herself open to Todoh's slide kick, even when he goes and practically announces the thing by telling her she's about to be lectured; it slips in under her guard and knocks her back a step. What it mostly seems to do, though, is make her angry; she strides forward a moment later, striking down and forward toward Todoh's midsection before switching to a series of midline punches. She yells the whole way as she rears back, preparing to deliver a massive punch upward, to his jaw.
This leaves her in turn wide open for the massive wave of silver energy. Makoto's eyes widen; she attempts to follow through with the punch anyway and then clear out of the way by leaping over it. Unfortunately, the wave was far taller than she was expecting, and far more powerful - and she's never really been good at dealing with this sort of a threat. Fighting she understands. Energy...not so much.
The burst catches Makoto, throws her away from Todoh, and leaves her half-embedded in the wall to outside, feet about a yard above the ground. She very slowly pitches forward, landing on her front with a heavy thud, and stays down.
COMBATSYS: Makoto can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/-------|
His gaze following Adelheid coolly from behind his shiny new glasses, Mr. Big's face remains neutral and emotionless as he watches Todoh and Bernstein team up to take apart his young partner quite painfully. Standing statuesquely for a few more fleeting moments, the Platinum Player just stares at Makoto's limp form before his head starts to slowly shake from side to side.
"...THAT was your thing? That was your thing." Big announces to the girl's limp form incredulously. Sighing heavily, the gangster shrugs each shoulder independently and gives the heavy batons in his hands a couple of test swipes. "Oh well. So much for passing on wisdom. Shoulda known it was go down like this." Bouncing on the balls of his feet a few times, Mr. Big bobs his head a few times as if listening to a beat that only he can hear. "Well c'mon then. Let's do this!" he calls out to his two opponents, motioning towards his chest with his batons invitingly as a wolfish grin spreads across his lips.
COMBATSYS: Mr.Big gathers his will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Todoh blocks Makoto's Seichuusen Godanzuki.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/-------|
"And it is," and thusly the self-proclaimed master of the greatest fighting style to ever grace mankind and beyond (or, at the very least, far better than Kyokugen) starts as his forward slide comes to a close. His brow furrows. "Argh! Forgot what I was going to say."
He doesn't even get out of his sliding posture when she comes right at him despite all his noble intent towards the educating of the next generation! But he does at least demonstrate that when all else fails, anything works on defense. Things like catching the first of Makoto's punches with the foot he just struck her with. The impact is no lighter for it, the sound of mighty punch against flesh (and sock) echoing through the lobby while pain shoots up his leg. But, for better or for worse, he holds the posture.
It's a little gasp of surprise with a faintest hint of premonition. He's a man who has worked very extensively with chi. You know what, maybe that just goes without staying. His neck hairs go on end right with the sheer /power/ at ADelheid's command. It's not as high as 'flick of Kain's pinky finger' or even 'Takuma with bad gas' but it is enough for him to notice even without prior notice of the intention!
He can't really do anything about it when the punches continue, batting at them almost desperately with his foot to prevent her from striking in any deeper. Before the uppercut, one can't fault him for really trying to thrust himself up to deal with whatever it is going on behind him that Makoto almost - almost! - catches him right in the chin with the final uppercut, putting weight on his stronger foot as crossed forearms come into the path of this mighty uppercut. It throws his arms up and apart with a surprised look on his face before she jumps over it, her attempt to clear it...
In vain. Concidentally, he leans a bit forward to regain his footing against a linoleum floor that is not the optimal place to fight for one running around in socks. End result, Makoto eats the vast majority of what could have - and some would say, should have - struck him. He's left with an awesome windblown look in his hair that went from 'smooth, long, and not at all gray despite age' to 'tussled, all over the place, and maybe with one new gray hair!'
"...Hm!" His interest piques at Makoto's fallen form. Which is halfway embedded through the wall. "So you politely protected your elder, did you? Yeh hah hah! You'll go far in life now, young lady! You'll go very far indeed, yes, yes."
He pivots around to face down Mr. Big with Adelheid by his side (unless he's decided to run off and actually keep the pressure on Big like Todoh /himself/ said to do without ever actually doing it himself because he's such a bad dude he doesn't take any crap from himself either).
"Now for you! Young man! I see he's not kissing the floor yet!" Todoh harrumphs with arms crossed. And thusly, he continues not being a terribly great help in such delicate matters of the utter annihilation of all obstacles before him.
COMBATSYS: Todoh takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/-------|
All his life, Adelheid Bernstein has struggled for power, much like his father. That's about where the similarity begins and ends, however, as the young fighter shares few of his father's perspectives, or goals. Now, recent events have shown him that it's not enough to simply wield his power. He must be aware, precise. Always prepared. The violent coalescence collapses in on Makoto, and Adelheid clasps his hand closed. The voluminous waves of rampaging chi ruptures outwards and dissipates violently into the empty air, all of its power spent and released in the span of its course directly into the other young prodigy selected for this fight. One might think it symbolic, however.... Adelheid turns away from Makoto, and back towards Mr. Big as he taunts, and gathers more of his own deadly power, "There, now what was it you were saying about taking on both of us?"
Of course, Todoh seems to have other ideas. The elder martial artist's words bring a look of momentary disbelief from his young partner. Wait. Todoh wants him to take them both down, now? It figures. The platinum blonde paces around the roped-off 'arena', facing down Mr. Big, his attention fixed on the crimeboss, "At least this is only the first floor, Big."
COMBATSYS: Adelheid focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/-------|
The head bobbing slows. Then stops. "Huh? So neither of you want a piece of Mr. Big, huh? Can't say I blame you." Resting the baton in his right hand on his shoulder, Mr. Big gives Adelheid a glance as the kid paces around the ring. "I was SAYING that that there's no way I can take you both on at once if you both too damn CHICKEN to fight." Take that McFly! Brushing Adel aside metaphorically with a casual flick of his baton, Mr. Big turns his attention on his 'old' associate, however brief their association was (thanks to Ryo).
"Well, I guess I have to take the fight to you, then. Whaddya say Toto?" Punctuating his question by bursting into a sprint at Ryuhaku, the Diamond Don almost looks as if he's about to crash into Todoh, but suddenly skids to a halt about a foot and a half from the older fighter. You might be able to do that too Todoh, if you could afford shoes. "I don't think the kid appreciates your suggestions either old man. So don't worry about staying down when I put you down. I'll teach him for you." Thrusting his batons at Ryuhaku's chest, Mr. Big attempts to hook his batons under the man's armpits and heft him into the air above Big's head. If he's able to get the Todoh-ryuu master airborne, the Pimp Cane Padrino will then commence to juggle him in the air for a bit with bone-crunching baton strikes, saving one final thrust to send the old man flying.
COMBATSYS: Todoh counters Raging Spear from Mr.Big with Kuzu Otoshi.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/-------|
How much faith does Ryuhaku Todoh place in Adelheid Bernstein? It is difficult to read his trust in just about anything other than his own self opinion. Or how he even really sees these children as anything more than children, regardless of whatever talents they possess that happen to exceed his own on several fronts. But, despite the blunders of luck that seem to compensate occasionally for poor adaptability, there is at least one thing you can say about Ryuhaku Todoh at his best. Or worst. Or, anywhere in between.
"Chicken, you say? Indeed! Perhaps I, Ryuhaku Todoh, am chicken! Yes." How can he take such a classical insult as a comment? He breaks apart his crossed arms, partially because they're sore after absorbing that final, terrible uppercut of a combo that, were he not thinking on his feet (literally), he'd be embedded into the ceiling and having a nice chat with the old people up on the next floor. Maybe not in that order.
He draws his weakened leg nearer when Mr. Big addresses him again, just missing that slightly incorrect pronunciation in the heat of the moment. He shifts his body sideways to the advance of Mr. Big, one arm cocked back tightly. The other, extended. He manages a grin even through that terribly large bruise on his face courtesy of a flying Makoto kick. This doesn't stop Mr. Big from getting his batons under his armpits along his taunts.
Instead, Todoh pre-empts the inevitable by thrusting his arms under Mr. Big's instead, hefting him up with a sharp exhale above him, and into the linoleum floor behind him with a timely body slam. Can it be? Has he finally gotten off something of a similar appearance to Kasumi's own most favored technique in a pinch?!
"Stay down?! Yeh hah hah! I'm like the Yakuth of Tamil Nadu!" In one swift movement, his right hand draws a closed fan, which he thrusts down upon Mr. Big twice in succession while pinning him down with his left in a most compromising, embarrassing position after shutting out his very best.
"Cluck cluck cluck!" Just to add insult to injury as he lets up off of him. "See kid! This is what happens when you run your mouth at your elders! Don't be like him!" A sage nod.
Big comes in on Todoh, and Adelheid studies the exchange intently. The Syndicate subboss could crush Ryuhaku rather abruptly, by the platinum blonde's estimation... were the aged and eccentric fellow not so prepared and on the mark with his reversal. The Sultan of Southtown's assaults are nullified, and the prodigal Bernstein has to pause a moment to smile, "Don't worry, Master Todoh." Adelheid says with calm, polite tones, obviously pleased by Big's predicament, "You don't have to worry about that."
A nod to Ryuhaku, and a dig on Mr. Big built right together, as the Bernstein heir once more leaps into the fray. Other warriors would be given that precious moment to regain their bearings. Big? Adelheid tries to get to Big before he can even fully pluck himself up and away from the Todoh-family technique's thrashing, and help haul him out of his tumble. Then trip and flip him face-first back towards the ground, in an effort to unseat the Diamond Don before he even fully finds his footing.
COMBATSYS: Mr.Big fails to interrupt Medium Throw from Adelheid with Random Weapon.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|
As Mr. Big tumbles away from Todoh, time seems to slow down as it so often does in high stress moments. How could he have been foiled so easily by that old fool?! Can this be the same Ryuhaku Todoh who was so easily dispatched by that Sakazaki punk those years ago? Catching sight of Adelheid approaching him, Mr. Big's slow motion inner-monologue tumble is interrupted. Feeling way too vulnerable at the moment, the Diamond Don reaches out for the first object he sees, which happens to be an ancient woman's walker standing just outside the roped off ring. His world speeding up to real time as his index and middle finger close around the walker leg, Mr. Big can only gasp in disbelief as the old lady jerks the walker out of his grasp. 'Let go of my walker you bald headed bum!' the lady scolds the shocked gangster. Big can't come up with much of a comeback, unfortunately, as he is hauled up by Adelheid and slammed back down face first into the ground. Rest homes suck.
"Very good! Very good, yes. Yes." Pride eminates from what is already the sort of pride that just positively oozes from him. The sort of pride that... well... rarely... has the ground he thinks it does. But despite himself and his eccentric behaviors and habits, there remains tangible virtues to his fighting style. Is he that different a man from what he was years ago? He had that same bluster when Mr. Big, whom he barely even knew so many years ago and still doesn't know very well even /now/ (Todoh himself barely qualified as a 'henchman' when all he was was some low card pit fighter that Mr. Big thought could stop Ryo - really, to him it was just one random dude who he was supposed to listen to ask just one tiny thing and then they never saw one another again for years, but that's enough of that for now).
One of which includes that, for whatever reason, he has somehow managed to move himself across where he was just standing before Big and an eager Adelheid to the ropes towards the back without much of an indication of movement in the scope of such a short amount of time. Even the cameras somehow manage to miss this when Adelheid's maneuver with Mr. Big bscures all view of this movement for that one moment.
If Adelheid and Mr. Big were on one flat 2D plane, Todoh would be strictly perpendicular to them. Maybe it's just a natural instinct for the Todoh family. He starts to fan himself that same, strangely repetitive way he did when Big came in. "Good, good!" Leave it to Ryuhaku Todoh to cheer on Adelheid to do the sort of thing he'd berate him for doing if it was himself. He's a cad.
"Get outta mah Z-Axis!" An old man exclaims from his chair.
"...What?!" Todoh's head tilts behind him with what is either legitimate confusion, or a poker faced game of 'dumb.'
"I didn't bust my ass over ten years ago to introduce the concept of this to the world to have some youngster think he can come into it whenever he wants to!" A bony, thin fist waves in anger. Followed by a cane not full of impotent rage, but fully three-dimensional assault! Which doesn't do much but to bring Ryuhaku to raise his free hand by reflex to what equates to a bunch of soft taps.
"Bah! What's it to you?!" What's it to him, Ryuhaku asks?!
"OUT! OUT OF MY Z-AXIS!" This is called with such vigor, such powerful, trained lungs that can only come with age and cantankerous behavior that even Ryuhaku Todoh, junior to this man, simply sighs, bows his head, and shuffles his feet back closer to the brawl with a slight limp with his head lowered.
Nothing quite like being old and yet getting scolded by someone even /older/.
COMBATSYS: Todoh takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/------=|
Todoh flanks, observes, rambles... as old men are wont to do, and Todoh, well. Todoh is especially good at that out-of-the-way sort of thing. It's like he's one of the patrons (further supporting the theory that he might actually live here) in his now self-assigned instructional role. Or at least, he tries to observe and instruct until he's accosted by the even older gentleman. It gives Adel all the time he needs to plant Big right back down to the ground, despite the attempted robbery of that poor, poor old lady's only means of mobility.
Again, there's no moment where Adelheid seems to consider backing off. Not from Mr. Big. He's seen plenty of merciless action from this one, and it's a test of a different sort to meet him, even in this somewhat comical ring. Big is taken down, and the platinum blonde is on the platinum player in an instant, his reinforced boot swinging forward, hard, aligned with Big's ribs. It might be enough to help him up, albeit in a rather painful way, if it weren't followed by an abrupt spin, heel leading in a roundhouse aligned with the Don's chrome dome. A kick which would, ideally, fluidly follow into a direct-to-chin snapping sole, meant to send Big more permanently to the proverbial canvas, with a gutteral kiai.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Mr.Big with B's Destruction.
Glancing Blow
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/-----==|
"Gnnnhh!" Mr. Big grunts as his ribs are kicked savage, probably breaking one or two and launching him upwards, where his bruised and burnt head is met by roundhouse kick that shatters the lens of his second pair of sunglasses and sets him up for the final kick to his chin. His head snapping backwards sharply, Mr. Big remains motionless for a split second, his back arched and his head staring at the cheap foam-board ceiling tiles of the Second Wind Rest Home. "Hnn.." Big groans softly as he lowers his head and gives his chin a tender rub.
"That stung, junior," the player informs the blonde as he springs out of his crouch, batons blurring as Big attempts to slap Adel sharply on the face with his left hand weapon as he leaps into the air and tries to catch him once more on the jaw with the baton in his right hand, carrying the kid into the air with him, though Mr. Big will have a much softer landing if he's successful. Should everything go according to plan, the gangster will then toss away his second pair of broken glasses, and replace them with a third from his coat. He's used to this sort of thing by now.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid blocks Mr.Big's California Romance.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/---====|
And now Todoh has ambled along closer to the site of the battle, because of silly possessive ancient fossils who want their Z-Axis left untainted. Whatever it is, maybe he'd be so spiteful as to look into figuring out if that's some crazy American mysticism or what have you that he must learn the secrets of to further bring ruin to the Sakzaki clan! Or failing that, at least annoy the bejeezus out of them.
"He's still up?!" The elder Todoh's voice is slightly less approving of what it was before, no matter how timely a defense Adelheid can make following a relentless offensive. Adelheid's father has much to be proud of for his progress and talent as a fighter. Now, if Todoh were his father?
...No, let's not think about it. (As much as he would have preferred a son. Never repeat this!)
His weaker, injured foot taps against the linoleum floor with the softest of taps, hands on his hips as he watches the most recent exchange of Big's last ditch attempt to show that he is truly THE MAN above overbearing odds between a prodigy and... Todoh. Or at least the prodigy.
"Yeh hah hah! C'mon now! Take all you've learned from me," if anything at all, "and show 'em who's the next World of King League Night Fights or whatever, ahhhh," so many prominent tournament names run through the elder fighter's head that he almost salivates at the thought at actually entering and winning such a competition handily (in his dreams). He closes his eyes and inhales deeply.
Then the eyes just race open again, slightly redder for the wear. "JUST DO IT ALREADY!" One arm rises, bruised at the forearm but no less spirited with a raised, open flag. This Ryuhaku Todoh commands!
COMBATSYS: Todoh takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/---====|
Crack! Big's baton comes around, but rather than his austere face, it cracks into a fast-moving forearm, deflected wide, as his opposite arm comes forward, across his chest to catch the uppercutting stick solidly. It's still ample force, and Adelheid is knocked back, and up slightly. He lands on bent legs, prepared for Mr. Big's descent. Todoh's words spur him on with unimaginable motivational power, or at least the previously fervent offensive hasn't dulled the young Bernstein's spirit for the fray, any, "Have to take care of everything myself." Adelheid mutters, more sardonically than in sincere agitation. This old fellow they teamed him with is crazy, but he's all too willing to step up to the plate.
And step up he does, charging in at Big as the Diamond Don touches down, looking to quite literally barrel into him, and grab him by the collar. At which point a snapping foot would sweep sidelong into his ankles, and he'd step straight backwards, jerking down hard on the crimeboss' fancy threads. To plant him with a hard, front-first slam, if all goes according to Adel's plan.
"Hope someone brought your wheelchair, Big!"
COMBATSYS: Mr.Big dodges Adelheid's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/---====|
As soon as the soles of Mr. Big's expensive shoes touch linoleum, he can sense the younger fighter charging behind him. "Heh," the Southtown Syndicate Lieutenant chuckles softly to himself as the kid rushes him. Waiting until the last possible moment, the Glittering Sultan of Southtown spins out of the way of Adelheid's groping hands. Not really feeling like trash talking at this point in the fight, hell breathing hurts enough; Mr. Big keeps his mouth shut for once as he continues his spin around Adelheid's side. Raising both of his batons side by side as he rotates, Mr. Big attempts to slam the batons with all of his strength into the back of the blonde's skull.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid dodges Mr.Big's Deep Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/---====|
Ryuhaku Todoh waves that fan he has drawn with increasing tension and braoder swipes and movements to bring Adelheid to that home stretch to take Mr. Big out! He's... not sure that Mr. Big's seen his last yet, but after suffering one of /his/ hits he's pretty sure he's not man enough to take another! That's just how high an opinion he has of himself.
He stops when Mr. Big twirls out of the way of Adelheid's latest attempt at tossing him around. The movement stops abruptly, almost to a snap, the tension relaxing so very slowly after the fact as he comes to a straight stand. As if he came up out of some seat to stare aghast at what just occurred.
Only not.
"Dammit, you! You! Yes, you!" He must mean Mr. Big, considering he is so irate to the point he doesn't even bother remembering names. "What's wrong with you? You can't show this young man the proper respect that he is, so the kids say, 'totally roxoring your boxxors?' Huh? Huh?! What kind of message are you giving the youth when you just don't give up!"
He leans forward that much more, hand on his hip as he scoldingly points a finger at Mr. Big. That's right. Naughty you.
Big may be too quick on his feet for Adelheid to find a grip on his upscale threads, but Adel matches his bet, throwing himself sidelong out of the way in a graceful twist, coming about to face the Diamond Don not far off as the batons whoosh through the air, displacing a sizeable chunk along their forceful, but ultimately futile course. Todoh's words are certainly amusing, and yes, the eccentric elder is quite correct: it would be awfully nice if Big would stop being so damn squirrelly all of a sudden. Adelheid shoves off his landing rather suddenly, reversing his path to bring him right back in at the dangerous crimeboss, his right elbow leading, "Don't listen to him, Big."
Adel slides low, and his arm snaps up, plowing the bony end of his forearm forward, in perfect alignment with the Diamond Don's mouth, "Keep trying to get up!!"
... it's genuine encouragement. No really.
COMBATSYS: Mr.Big parries Adelheid's Medium Punch!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Todoh 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/---====|
His bloody mouth widening into a grin as Adelheid flies at him, elbow first, Mr. Big smoothly, almost casually, raises the baton in his right hand in front of his face as the striking point of Adel's arm closes in. "You know kid..." he begins as the blonde's arm slides up the weapon and over Mr. Big's shoulder, bringing Adelheid uncomfortably close to the crime boss. "...you're starting to make sense," he growls, bloody spittle flecking off towards Adelheid's face as he speaks.
Don't worry Adelheid, Mr. Big is going to try and give you back some personal space. Unfortunately, his method includes quickly lifting the other baton in his left hand and trying to strike the younger fighter in the face, then trying to leap into the air once more and brutalize Adelheid's jaw with a reverse-gripped strike by the baton in his right, hopefully carrying Adel into the air with him this time, unlike his last attempt.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid interrupts California Romance EX from Mr.Big with Reppukyaku.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Todoh 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Mr.Big
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/=======|
"Damn right he's making sense! He's knocking it right outta you! And back in! And you're gonna leave enough of it on the floor for me to make a whole US dollar out of it!" Clearly, Todoh has managed to gander another sneak peek at the mighty secret black book of the Sakazaki family's proper insults that make the tiniest bits of sense in English! (If such even exists.)
Then something awesome happens when Mr. Big makes his smooth play against Adelheid. But what awesomeness is it that happens that Ryuhaku would have to give pause to as the fan nearly drops out of his hand?!
Big's defense is sensed the moment contact is made. It's something Adelheid can't do an awful lot about, however. The ball is suddenly in the Diamond Don's court, and as one would expect, he makes brutal use of that opening. The baton whirrs in, cleaving squarely into Adelheid's skull and cutting him across the temple as he reels sidelong from the resounding impact. Reels, but doesn't fall. A step, a slide, and his boot is whipping back. Big leaps in, brings his baton around, but before he can send Adelheid crashing up, up, and away.... a blast of brilliant silver windshear erupts forth from the Bernstein heir's heel, coalescent blade lancing forward and crashing over Big's legs, raging right past and through him. Adelheid is launched backwards gracefully, Big's trip may not be quite so pleasant.
Regardless, his head is still ringing, and blood trickles down his features, now. That was a hard-bought strike, but he'll take it. He steadies his footing as he lands, sparing a glance to Todoh as Big is blasted by the wave. No comments though, not just now. Got to focus... make sure the crimeboss is down. God knows Ryuhaku is just going to sit there giving that speech that, thanks to the blow to his head, sounds sort of the like the adults in a Peanuts movie, now.
"Heh..." Mr. Big chuckles as he pushes himself up from the ground unsteadily with one of his batons. Reaching up and grasping the lapels of his coat, the gangster makes a totally ineffective and useless attempt to straighten his dirty and blood stained clothing. "Y... you almost got me Heidi..." Mr. Big says as he stumbles forward a couple of steps. "Not gunna... go down that easily... punk... take THIS!" Rushing towards Adelheid with a gait that looks like half running, half falling, Big slows slightly as he comes within four or five feet of the younger fighter and whips a baton forward. "GROUND..." he begins as a large flare of energy follows in his baton's wake, "...BL-" the name of the attack never finishes though, as the large man loses his footing and falls face first on the ground. The chi on the other hand, isn't so impeded.
COMBATSYS: Mr.Big can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Adelheid 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Todoh
COMBATSYS: Adelheid reflects Ground Blaster from Mr.Big with Dark Barrier.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Adelheid 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Todoh
And Todoh would continue that Wahn-Wahn-Woooohn'ing were he not somehow so impressed, so stunned at this opportune moment to summon his own personal mastery of the right stuff (aka chi)...
The way he so perfectly shuts out an elder man that almost got a big break off of the natural strengths of his fighting style but then was so brutally denied and shut down! Tears start to stream from his eyes, the irony completely lost upon him. No. There is something darker afoot.
A perfect opportunity! He hikes up his skirt and starts off in a direction away from the action. But, for what reason would he suddenly choose to try and avoid the watchful eyes of the SNF camera crew?
Surely, there must be a reason or some harebrained scheme, a haste in his step. Well, haste in the step he didn't block the majority of Makoto's finest with. That /still/ smarts.
"Such tired insults, Big. Desperate for..." he pauses, because Big is still dangerous. His arm flexes, hand unfolds, and fingers bend, tensing as a crackling shield of purest chi whirls into being between himself and the crashing wave of energy, "New material!!" The greyish barrier swirls violently, the baton-conjured blast colliding full bore, rippling the disc to either side, its own breadth reverberating back on itself with a mighty shockwave, all the power from both attacks suddenly and chaotically discharging all around the shield's opaque, windy circumference, and right back the way it came.
Perhaps the shockwaves inspired Todoh to get the hell out of dodge, perhaps it was his incontinence. Adelheid doesn't initially notice Todoh's egress, too focused on nullifying the attack. And, of course, sending Big toppling over with substantially more force, thanks to the exploding shotgun blast of chi-shrapnel coursing back at him. The barrier released, Adelheid takes one step back, and draws a deep breath, lowering his arm to his side, "Hah. Sure put your back into that last one." He lifts a gloved hand to touch lightly at the bloody gash on his head, "Better luck next time, Herr Big." There's clear sarcasm, even if it is more sporting than Big's offerings.
Mr. Big's body shudders as his own Blaster Wave is sent back at his unconscious, but not limp, no, never limp, form. Smoke rises from the tattered remains of his fur-lined coat as he lay motionless on the ground.
And then Ryuhaku Todoh makes the big move he had meticulously planned from the beginning. From background to foreground, or more specifically, to 'get the hell out of the way of the camera, man,' sliding to a stop with generous abuse of the lack of traction between himself and the linoleum floor. His face, wet with tears of happiness. Even his bruise has an alluring(?) sheen to it, a smile that manages even when the muscles on that side of his face don't even want to bother any further. He strikes a pose with both fans, arms held upward, shuddering as if undergoing a joyous seizure in suddenly usurping what hard-earned victory Adelheid has won almost by his own hand.
"Yeh hah hah! That's right!! You can't go wrong with the Todoh way guiding you into the future of martial arts!"
Ignoring the fact, for a moment, that Adelheid Bernstein has not so much as given any such pretense to even utilizing any such recognizable quality that one could attribute to Kasumi or Ryuhaku himself. But does that ever stop him upon the dawning revelation that this is the first time - whether or not by his own actual applied effort - that everything actually went according to his own nefarious plan?
"Ryoji, Ryoji, they're taping a fight," a very tiny old lady reaches a hand up for his ear. His neck jerks to resist this pull, but it is met only with pained squeals of resistance from Ryuhaku, mistaken for this Ryoji, as he waves a fan into the camera as he is suddenly finding himself losing tug of war against an old lady's hand and his neck muscles.
Little did he and Mr. Big realize that some of the members of the Second Wind community were champion arm wrestlers until it was too late. "Ryoji?! I'm - I'm not Ryojiiii! Ah! Ahh! Ow! Aaaaargh! You delirious old -- AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGH!!!"
Saturday Night Fight officials pay the struggle of Ryuhaku Todoh no additional mind, not after the amazing battle that Adelheid could almost have been said to win single-handedly. It'll be a SNF highlight! One of the greatest moments of 2007! More money in Geese Howard's pocket. And all the other pockets in his wardrobe. There is no single pair of pants that could hold that much.
Log created on 21:14:40 12/28/2007 by Adelheid, and last modified on 16:48:44 02/05/2008.