Description: "We saw that you did reaallly well in that SNF fight last week. How about we pair you up with one of the bigshots? This one guy is tough, but even if you lose, do well and you'll still be famous." "I just need the money and the fight." 'We'll give you the fight then. Just do well. If you don't? ... eh, well. Maybe that last fight was a fluke." Sometimes, all that matters is the blood and sweat of the fight itself, not the outcome. (Winner: Oswald)
A man of Oswald's stature stands out in Japan. Enigmatic enough to be 'kakoi', yet holding a bestranged appearance to make him almost appear an albino can lead him to have a strange mix of horrific allure at most times. White, slicked back hair, thinning yet regal, red-lensed spectacles low on the bridge of his nose, enough to reveal the crimson iris of his eyes. Dressed in a formal, custom cut suit and matching pants, polished shoes, decked out with expensive watch...
...and enjoying a pastry and tea on an outside terrace at a cafe in the middle of the city outskirts. Some could find it hard to believe that someone with such a relaxed look could be one of the top fighters in the Neo League ranks, and a notorious interloper in the SNFs hosted by the Syndicate. And about to fight at that.
A finger thumbs a page of the newspaper that's half folded in his lap, turning it over to close it neatly, setting it upon the tempered glass top of the table. The metal legs of the chair groan as its pushed back by his knees as he stands, offering a polite nod over to the waitress. He was done with the table... and they were nice enough to him to merit getting away from their storefront. No need to involve them in the collateral damage, they had good tea.
The street here in particular is closed to motor vehicles, leaving only pedestrians. The 6'2'' Irishman towers over most of the folks here as he stands in the middle of the road. Making his presence obvious.
Shurui's presence? Not so obvious. In fact, when the five foot tall girl dares to stride into the ever widening circle that appears around the tall Irishman, with her hood on and her glasses casting a rose tint over her eyes, Shurui looks like just any other punk that sometimes casts their lot with the Neoleague.
In fact, that's kinda what she's doing.
'We saw that you did reaallly well in that SNF fight last week. How about we pair you up with one of the bigshots? This one guy is tough, but even if you lose, do well and you'll still be famous.' 'I just need the money and the fight.' 'We'll give you the fight then. Just do well. If you don't? ... eh, well. Maybe that last fight was a fluke.' ... It was a fluke. Hayato and Hotaru had underlying matters to work out, and Shurui benefitted from it. She fought, yes, but Hotaru's transformation was more worrisome than any staged fight.
The hood comes down, revealing a shock of grey hair. ".... You're... Mr. Oswald, right?" Tall, dark suit. Her mental vision is held back by her glasses; for now, Oswald is just a blurry imposing outline, complimented by her sense picking up on the man's movements as she focuses mentally on him, the act registering as vague itchs in the back of her mind. .... Man, he's tall.
He indeed was tall, aged into maturity, but still quite in shape. He's a man that carries himself with remarkable composure and even a sort of staunch grace. Even his aura might seem impeccable, pulsing, almost flaring with an inner resolve yet carefully controlled. A killer instinct without being overly cruel; a warrior spirit without being reckless - while there is no cliche 'heart of gold' in the abberently selfish man's stature, that's not to say there's a lack of heart altogether.
His shoulders square up as Shurui addresses him as 'Mister'. Not often he's politely addressed, it was a welcome change of pace. His right arm bends at elbow and tucks against him as he offers a bow, short and formal, "Miss Shurui." He confirms her assumption with nothing more than her name at first, "I promise not to disappoint you in this fight, so long as you promise to give me your best."
And then he returns to his full height, arm still bent somewhat gloved fingers giving two quick, curt beckons toward him. "I will put your skill to the test."
Politeness isn't something Shurui is known for; but that last televised fight did show a side to the girl that had been as of unseen by anyone following. ..... To put it bluntly, when you live under the roof of a cranky old man who worked as a professor lifetimes ago, you pretty much have an almost instinctual drive to be polite to anyone who's over the age of 40. Or looks to be, anyway.
The glasses are pushed to perch atop her forehead, revealing dark brown eyes that, on their own, wouldn't be of much interest. However, what *is* of interest is something that, right now, is something only the clone herself knows. And that is the ability to see past Oswald's covering and into the skin of his psyche. Or, well, his body energy. The flow of body energy often says enough for Shurui to actually get a vague sense of a person's personality or leanings; here, it shows the man to be so much more than a gentleman who likes tea in outdoor cafes and nice suits.
No, it's more like.... a gentleman.... assassin? Killer? Fighter. He certainly has that 'taint', if one could call it that. Bloodlust without the lust, maybe? The indications can sometimes be so clear and yet so vague.
As Shurui is bowed to, the girl's serious posture freezes to one of slight surprise, even shock. ".... Uh..." She's at a loss of words for a moment, then recovers. "We'll just do what we do best and see what comes of it. Does that sound good to you?" Whether Oswald decides to continue this pre-battle conversation or not, for Shurui, the battle's already started- all with her looking at the man's aura, studying it. "... You're probably one of the tallest people I've fought so far."
COMBATSYS: Shurui has started a fight here.
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Shurui 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Oswald has joined the fight here.
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Oswald 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Shurui
The crowd was dead silent now as the telltale signs of a fight about to start are shown. A wide circle forms around them, and from around the cafes, restaurants and bistros, people are standing up, even getting up upon chairs to look at the great mismatch in heights. Cellphones are whipped out to start little videos - non doubt they'll be circling on computers for weeks to come.
A hand comes up and across his body, brushing fingertips against the shoulder of the suit, flicking away something or other there as Shurui looks up to him in the physical sense of the word. "And to think..." He pauses deliberately as he squares himself up and turns profile toward the younger fighter, hands clenching into fists for a second before relaxing to open palms once more, "... I'm not the tallest. Come, show me why they pitted you against me."
COMBATSYS: Shurui focuses on her next action.
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Oswald 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Shurui
COMBATSYS: Oswald takes no action.
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Oswald 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Shurui
So it's the punk versus the gentleman. Only, said punk is in reality a girl who's oddly stilled her sharp tongue, and the gentleman..... well, is still a gentleman, especially since he thought it keen to allow the newcomer the first shot. Feet pressed apart slightly and hands held open in front, Shurui allows her body to lapse into a stance that feels, even for the short while since she's learned it, something she's known all her life.
... However long that was. "Alright."
The hood of her hoodie lags behind her as she suddenly darts forward, pressing to the side in an attempt to grab ahold of Oswald's arm, hopefully ensnaring it to capture the assassin in a brutal assault...
COMBATSYS: Oswald blocks Shurui's Spare the Rod.
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Oswald 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Shurui
Grabbing ahold of the besuitted man's arm, Shurui jerks him back and jams a foot against Oswald's back leg, then lets go to allow his body to fall to the ground. However, when he falls, a few punches come flying at his face, too practiced to be her simply taking advantage of the man's downed status.
There's a clap of his heel against the pavement as the 'punk' girl approaches. He braces, expecting a strike, but reacts well enough upon the grapple attempt, locking his knees and tugging his weight back against the throw. It's a partial success, as he does get somewhat swept, hip landing hard against the ground - but going along with...
"A good start." He groans a bit as the fingers grab into the arm that was leveraging for the throw, and with his roll, brings his weight around - and hopefully Shurui's weight along with, one good visit to the 'mat' deserves another...
COMBATSYS: Shurui parries Oswald's Medium Throw!
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Oswald 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Shurui
Oswald's arm suddenly brushes against Shurui's own, and then some. In fact, the girl's arm is snaking past his in a quick, practiced move, pressing against his to knock it just enough to shoot off course. The entire exchange is fast, and Shurui continues backing away to avoid any further attempts from the assassin. For now, anyway. .... She'd like to not get smashed into that nice asphalt mat too many times today if she can avoid it, even if it probably won't be as horrible as sliding across hot metal. .... Besides, it's winter. The ground's cold.
This man better not have named any of his attacks with the noun 'Gigaton'.
Shurui, now focused on the fight, doesn't really reply with much of anything to the man's compliment, despite being out of danger's way. The man was quick; she could have easily joined him there on the concrete. The danger? For some reason, it sort of gives her cause to smile, just a little. Something inside her enjoys this element, even if this match is one-on-one with no one to help her.
Time to show her skill. ".....Hpf!" With a slight exhale of air, Shurui pressed into striking range of Oswald's body, leaning in with a deceptively simple punch. However, instead of the whole arm delivering the momentum, it's the body, along with a small explosion of strange energy if it impacts against Oswald's chest, along the center line of his body.
COMBATSYS: Oswald reflects Velvet Fist EX from Shurui with Heart.
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Oswald 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Shurui
"...fast..." He grunts as he shifts to try and pull Shurui down with him, but she reacts faster, completely evading his throw - and using that newfound vantage point to press her own attack passed Oswald's guard.
...but something is wrong. The fist hits in to something, but it's not cloth and flesh like one would expect - it's hard, square, thin...
And then as the Gambler retreats, the explosion of energy bursts first into, and then is channeled right back into the high-schooler's arm as he leaps away - the card taking the brunt of the attack, leaving the thin metal impacted with the visible imprints of her knuckles as it clatters to the groud...
"Impressive." he intones, voice grave and quiet as a hand reaches up to press the glasses up the bridge of his nose as he widens his stance and keeps his center of gravity low, "You handled my throw expertly..."
Her third eye knows it before her arm does. However, as what usually happens in these situations, Shurui can't possibly react to information she only knows nary a nanosecond before the outcome happens. Oswald said she was fast, but Shurui can tell that the experienced man is plenty faster. The card throws at her a taste of her own medicine, painful and hot in a way that definitely doesn't register as chi. Gritting her teeth together, she pulls back like a wounded animal, holding the afflicted arm. "*tch*!"
.... It always is a little strange to realize your powers really *do* inflict a different sort of pain on other people rather than it just being a quirk of bad chi. If such a thing exists.
Leveling her gaze at Oswald, Shurui can't tell his age by her weakened sight alone; when she looked for information on her opponent, it stated his age to be something akin to 40 or 50 something. She can't remember the exact age, but the fact that he wasn't in the usual range of teenager to early ot mid middle age mildly suprised the girl, despite her experience with someone far older.
"I think the thing you just did there was more interesting." Shaking the recovering arm, she straightens, her voice as quiet and serious as the card-weilder's own. "Let's keep going."
"HAAAYGH!" Now going for something more akin to blunt force than flashy mind energy or quick jabs, Shurui instead whips her body around, tilting the bottom half to attempt to pummel her spinning frayed sneakers against Oswald's face.
COMBATSYS: Oswald endures Shurui's Heavy Kick.
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Oswald 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Shurui
There's a wide grin that accompanies the compliment, the Irish Gambler's head giving a short nod. "You have zeal." He states plainly as Shurui lets out her battle cry and starts to close the distance between them, "There is no weapon, no training that is substitute for Zeal! It will make you brave. It will make you BOLD!" His arms tense up as he leaps forward at the last moment with that shout, just as Shurui's leg comes up to deliver that kick to the side of his head, and it connects in full...
The sound of metal and thin plastic clattering against the dark pavement underneath accompanies the gasp of the crowed as the kick makes Oswald lurch to one side with a hard grunt.
But he doesn't stop. Going into the kick, he lets the leg slide up his shoulder, whipping his arm over the knee to keep it braced there, head suddenly turning from the kick to deliver that piercing, crimson-eyed glare to his opponent. "FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD!"
That trapping arm squeezes in as the opposite moves to grab Shurui's hip as he twists in and turns with the momentum of the kick trying to use it to heft Shurui into the air. The aim is to buy time so he can continue with his spin, and after leaving go of her body, throwing his bod into a short spin, cards out-of-nowhere into his fingers, bringing his arms out to begin a whirlwind of slices...
COMBATSYS: Oswald successfully hits Shurui with Ace.
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Oswald 0/-------/----===|=======\======-\1 Shurui
.... Zeal? Oswald's words had been quiet and mannerly up to this point- at least, in Shurui's view, they were. The clone has a rather slanted view of what counted as quiet and mannerly; the first people she'd associated with and in turn adopted their behaviors were rough, scowling teenagers; people who used lest they be used themselves, who used foul words to cover up for weaknesses and insecurities. The antithesis of Oswald, it could be said. Then again, Oswald has the experience of a man old enough to be Shurui's father, and it shows in his fighting prowess.
And yet, when his words become more and more spirited, it causes the girl to be taken back by man's impromtu speech. "...?"
Really, it's rather easy to make Shurui uneasy. You just need to make a first impression.... then change it to something completely different. Or, in Oswald's case, just be yourself and make the girl be unable to feel that you are in any way predictable.
"...*tch*!" The world spins to the point that the clone is suddenly in the air, hefted up by Oswald's quick countertattack. Then, a barrage of the worst sort of papercuts, ones that aren't papercuts at all but things like knives going across skin like a surgeon cleanly attempting to slice away skin. When she finally lands, the bleeding starts, a cry of a million nerves being struck at once. Shurui shakes her arms, once again gritting her teeth against the pain. "..... Okay..."
A droplet of blood is forced back from the cut in her cheek as she rushes towards Oswald, seemingly to deliver a loose punch in revenge...
COMBATSYS: Oswald blocks Shurui's Shades of Grey.
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Oswald 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Shurui
The first punch hits, whether it's against card, chest, or arm, delivering a shock of grey psi energy wherever it lands. What follows is a barrage of kicks, punches, and jabs, each comboing with the next in a smooth, learned way rather than being forced upon Oswald with just her rage. The last touch, if it has a chance to hit, is a punch made to Oswald's chest, sending a spear of that same energy from earlier through whatever physical entity it hits against, erupting through the back and sending the assassin back.
As Shurui sets solid foot upon the ground from the circular assault of 'Ace', Oswald is in a wide stance, arms somewhat crossed before him, bloodsoaked cards held deftly between fingers. A quick whip of his arms out and flick of his wrists sends the drops of blood in a slight arc to each side of his body along the pavement, followed by a closed-eyed, wide smirk on his lips. A dry chuckle comes out of him.
"Still standing." He says flatly as the youth steadies herself and rushes in again, it's almost a trick of some sort of bizarre magic as the fingers suddenly splay out, the cards supposed to drop so quick, but instead feather floating to the ground as he turns his body 'goofy foot', putting his left foward in anticipation for the attack.
As the first punch moves in, his arms brace in and cross before his chest as that chi-burst takes a bit of the wind from his lungs... and for a second, he almost releases his defense to lash out...
...but he turtles in quick as the rest of the barrage is incoming. The first few hits are blocked, then the kicks, the punches, each additional strike brings a pained and rather annoyed grunt from the gambler. In fact, as each hit goes in, some start to land just a bit cleaner as his limbs take long and longer to react.
The final strike of psi does indeed send him back, but not as blasted off his feet as one may expect. The hard soles of his shoes scrape hard along the pavement as he hunches in to try and stomach the rush and spike of energy, finding it only moderately successful. At least the effort wasn't in vain.
She indeed had potential.
For a few seconds, he stays hunched and turtled in even as the attack subsides. Then slowly, his body becomes animated. Shoulders rise a bit, then fall with a deep breath, and his back uncurls and moves to stand up straight. The sound of the air rushing through his clenched teeth is like a hiss as he takes in the breath that was winded from him a moment ago. His arms and legs sore from the shift to defensive.
"...well..." The glare on his face is one of annoyance, and surprise. Annoyance at that, he never liked being on the receiving end of a barrage, but Shurui had the Veteran's respect, "...that took guts..." His shoulders roll back and he twists his head to one side, keeping himself limber after that period of pure tension.
"I hope this will not be our last meeting, Miss Shurui." The glare slowly melts into a sneer, he always loved a good, clean fight, even if he was an opportunist. He needed a bit of time to study this girl further...
COMBATSYS: Oswald focuses on his next action.
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Oswald 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Shurui
Finally, it somehow hits her. Cards. He's beating her with fucking cards. ..... This takes Shurui a while to process.
....Wait. No, not just cards. Cards that were able to reflect energy and meld into the shape of her hand when she punched against them. These aren't ordinary cards, and the man that's holding them, as her sight vaguely predicted at the beginning, is no ordinary man. His words take her out of her train of thought, pushing her to the present. She's still standing? Hell yes she is.
".... Sorry to disappoint you," Shurui says, wiping the blood off one cheek with the sleeve of her hoodie. "... But I wouldn't come here if I knew I'd fold in on myself after a few good punches." As Osward studies her, the girl seems to be doing the same, her eyes seeming almost to stare directly through him instead if at him.
".... If you stay in Neo League and the SNF fights, it probably won't be," the girl admits. "I probably won't be going anywhere."
COMBATSYS: Shurui focuses on her next action.
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Oswald 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Shurui
"No apologies." he shakes his head slowly, eyes staying transfixed on the girl, "Going down easy is boring. Boring for me. Boring for you..." he pauses as he breaks eye contact just a bit to look about the crowd, "...boring for /them/." A little nudge of his head and half-lipped grin indicates the spectators...
Whom are silent and slowly stirring, starting to give out encouraging shouts to the duelling pair. Strategic fights always were crowd pleasers.
Through the sight of his aura, it's almost tactile how this 'energy' coursing through him starts to boil. The bruised limbs tensing up from shoulder to fingertips, from thighs to ankles as the breath he takes is used to center his concentration into something almost unearthly still. It's not zen mastery, no, nothing that complex (or simple?), but his mind is racing. Calculating. Trying to find the best result.
"My apologies. But it's nap time for you, Miss Shurui." the tone is colder than before, now as it's his turn to press the offensive, tension in legs unraveling as he sprints forward in a rather strange dash, arms wide out to his sides, and mysteriously again clutching those strangely reinforced cards. A brief pause to his sprint allows him to crouch and launch his body into the air, jumping at Shurui to deliver a wide arc of a slash...
COMBATSYS: Oswald successfully hits Shurui with Deep Strike.
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Oswald 1/-======/=======|=======\===----\1 Shurui
"... All that matters is the people in the ring," the clone interjects. "The crowd c.... is along for the ride." .... There were other words waiting on her tongue, but it's best *never* to insult a crowd. Especially one that's as excited and into the match as this one, thanks to Oswald's words.
But that's far away right now, a hollow roar against the itch in her mind and the flow of visual energy her mind overlays Oswald's form. She's also trying to find the best result, though she does so through a cheat created by her quirky mis-tailored psi genes, rather through any true insight or experience. ... Well, to be fair, a true sixteen year old has an edge on Shurui just due to the fact that they've been *around* longer. But that's neither here nor there.
Shurui knows it's coming. She knew it was coming the second Oswald said the word 'nap'. But try as she might, the slash hits cleanly, ripping against her body even as she reaches out in an attempt to knock Oswald's arm off its painful course. She's fast, but here, she's not fast enough. "G....." Stumbling back, holding her left hand against the blood that wells up in that horrible papercut from hell across her midsection, Shurui closes her eyes..... and lets out a big sigh.
She'll lose. But she still has one trick up her sleeve, something that will make her a winner at something else rather than the outcome of the fight. That is, if it hits. ".... Alright. Let's give them.... a show, then." Her eyes still closed, she charges at Oswald, preparing to enact the same brutal move as before, starting with a single punch...
Only, somehow, despite her eyes being closed, she's still making a perfect track for the assassin.
COMBATSYS: Shurui can no longer fight.
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Oswald 1/-======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Oswald counters Shades of Grey from Shurui with King.
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Oswald 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
It's a deft, deep, and vicious slash. Bloodshed was expected, and it was indeed delivered. The great gout of blood lands clean of the Irishman's card just as the younger girl drives her body forward with that last 'gung-ho-hail-mary' of an attack. Her body is battered, bleeding, that last shot could very well be fatal... yet she presses on.
There's that lingering punch again, this time he wasn't confident his arms and legs could take another full block of that rush and burst of psi laced kicks and strikes... and he wasn't entirely certain her body could do well afterwards either.
What happens is mainly lost in the flurry... but...
That punch sails wide and is instead caught from behind? His hand fits over the girl's wrist as the punch flicks only against a floating, paper card emblasoned with a sword-bearing Regis of Spades and passes through it. It is just a card after all... but it's a classic magician's trick, the distraction allows him to shift suddenly... and take vantage behind her.
Catching the wrist was just the first thing, exerting her body with that deep a wound? No, he was a gentleman when he wasn't on contract, there was no need for anyone to be hurt further. The gripped wrist is pulled against her as he catches her before tumbling forward unceremoniously to the ground. Uncharacteristic show of sportsmanship? Concern for his opponent? Whatever the case may be, the bleeding youth is gently let down along with her own gravity enduced momentum upon the pavement... and rolled upon her back.
"If only we had warriors like you back in my day. We'd have gotten that much more done." He says very quietly, just enough for her to hear before he reaches back to pluck the hat from behind him where it was hung upon his belt. He places it upon her chest, keeping the wound mainly concealed, making she has her dignity even if she wavers out of conciousness... before placing the Spade-King upon the top of the hat along with.
That was enough. Enough for him, and enough of a show for the Neo League organizers. Standing up to his full height, he turns his back to Shurui, turning head just enough to give her a downward-side glance.
"Dewa.... Gokigenyo..." (Well then... good day.) he utters low and quiet before sliding his hands into his pockets and walking to the rim of the crowd, which splits to let him pass...
COMBATSYS: Oswald has ended the fight here.
Log created on 21:44:50 03/04/2008 by Shurui, and last modified on 20:31:16 03/05/2008.