Description: Sakura proves that she can overcome the disadvantage of wearing something feminine in this showdown against Ingrid in this Neo League fight at the Temple of the Peaceful Dragon, in Kyoto. (Winner: Sakura)
Ryouan-ji, the "Temple of the Peaceful Dragon", is but one of several hundred temples in Kyoto, the old capital of Japan. It's not =as= famous a tourist destination as the more pretty locales like Golden Pavilion, the Silver Pavilion, or the Heian Palace, but for the Myoshin-ji school of the Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism, it's home.
There are certainly =better= places to stage a Neo League fight. But, surprisingly, not many temples want to risk fighters coming in and mucking up the landscape -- especially not ones with the prised karesansui (dry landscape) rock garden as this one! But... considering Zen Buddhism was highly prized by the samurai, surely there is applicability to a fighter's development in a place such as this.
Even still, the monks in control of the temple wouldn't allow their prized rock garden itself to be the site of a battle -- rather, a smaller garden outside the teahouse was selected. There's ample space, and many trees along the main pathway to fight.
But who, exactly, is fighting? Why, Sakura Kasugano is here as one of the contenders, dolled up in a long, formal kimono. It's... not exactly the best outfit for fighting in, either: more suited for cherry blossom viewing. She stands by one of the trees, an umbrella resting on her shoulder, looking up and trying to get a sense of the awesome, uh... zen-ness of the place!
A beautiful temple with an amazing rock garden, and a deep and rich history. The sort of place the other participant in this league match can definitely appreciate and enjoy. Ingrid's only regret as she exits the teahouse, apparently taking the tour as a regular tourist, is that she didn't have the presence of mind to wear such a lovely example of indigenous clothing as Sakura did. Of course, the culture isn't hers to begin with so perhaps it would have been a bit odd anyway. As it is she's wearing her usual affair save for a change in color- a black jacket and skirt with white stockings.
She clasps her hands behind her back lightly and slowly approaches the Ansatsuken practitioner, a small ever-present smile set upon her features. Once she's close enough that shouting is no longer required, she speaks up. "Good afternoon, Miss Kasugano. It's absolutely lovely here, don't you think?" The one time they met the two got along somewhat oddly, or such is Ingrid's memory of the event, but there's no reason not to be completely friendly. Ingrid doesn't like being on bad terms with anyone. Well, almost anyone.
"It's wonderful to finally meet you again, and under such fun circumstances as well." She pauses for a moment and then adds, "And I simply must compliment you on your choice of attire. I admit, I feel rather overshadowed standing next to you."
"Eh?" Kasugano looks up at Ingrid's words, smiling contentedly. "Ah, this? Thanks! I... just don't make it out to these kindsa places very often. Figured it might be fun to try for a fight or two..."
... Fight, in a kimono? It becomes obvious as Sakura turns that the young woman's kimono isn't wound quite as tight as most, considering she can stand with her feet shoulder-width apart without toppling over. It wouldn't be the first time she's fought 'in costume', but... the first time in this such costume.
Kasugano folds up her umbrella, though, resting it against the nearest tree. "Well... don't worry about it, really! Most people =do= feel pretty insignificant next to me!" Sure, she's talking arrogant... but she's smiling in a playful manner and not a prideful one, so that makes it okay... right?
Kasugano widens her stance for stability, raising her hands into a defensive position, her billowing sleeves shifting about in a slight breeze. "This'll be fun, though, don't worry! I've been looking forward to facing you for real!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|
That's the thing about fighting a foreigner in something like that; Ingrid wouldn't even know that the kimono wasn't being worn in the usual fashion. "Oh, I'm not worried in the slightest," she states. "Though I don't know terribly much about the great fighters, I'm positive that a 'handicap' such as that one will prove trivial to someone of your caliber." She definitely knows that Sakura's a force to be reckoned with, their last meeting inspiring her to at least look up her fighting record.
The light trash talking gets a small laugh from Ingrid, who seems to be going along with it rather well. "Is that so? I'll do my best to maintain my confidence and give you a proper fight, I assure you." From the looks of it the more experienced fighter is ready and raring to go. For her part Ingrid seems to relax even further, her hands dropping to her sides. About the only thing that would tell a layman this was a fighting stance is the way she sways back and forth ever so slightly. To experienced eye like Sakura, though, it's probably as visible as the daylight itself.
"I do hope so. It ought to be fun seeing how someone like me, who plays it by ear, does against someone who studies her opponents as thoroughly as you."
COMBATSYS: Ingrid has joined the fight here.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ingrid
COMBATSYS: Ingrid focuses on her next action.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ingrid
"Eh... if it bothers me I'll change! No biggie!" Kasugano winks back at Ingrid with a grin. It wouldn't be the first time she's done a costume-change mid-fight.
Sakura glances over Ingrid briefly, curious. It sure doesn't =seem= like Ingrid's ready, but there's no reason to believe a fighter with any particular skill =wouldn't= be ready. Besides, the cameras are rolling -- wherever they're hidden! Kasugano gives the Neo League official a brief nod, and the word is given.
Still, one comment sticks in Sakura's mind: "'Studies her opponents?'" The Seijyun student gives her a smirk as she rockets forward with a dashing punch. "You make it sound like I'm a /nerd!/"
COMBATSYS: Ingrid fails to counter Medium Punch from Sakura with Sun Upper.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Ingrid
Somehow, it wouldn't surprise Ingrid at all if Sakura had her normal clothes on under that kimono, for some reason. Then again she could just move faster then the camera could track her, though something like that isn't something Ingrid would even consider attempting. "I see. Well then, here's hoping that isn't necessary."
Ingrid is, in fact, ready. Whether she's ready /enough/ is an entirely different matter. Though she doesn't do much pre-checking on an opponent before a fight, she's usually pretty good about making observations about them when it's time to begin. So she notices the nod to the official, and the fact that Sakura's ready to send the fists flying.
"A nerd? No, I simply meant to say that you seem to be...unusually well prepared." And then Sakura's barreling towards her. So many choices are open to her, and so little time to choose between them. While the punch coming at her is certainly fast, it's not hideously so. Ingrid was also paying excellent attention, and so in the end her reaction is simple. Instead of pulling back and escaping, or simply trying to absorb the blow in an easier manner, she'll lean forward into the attack, and attempt to turn it against her attacker with a disk of psionic energy.
She's found that using a reversal technique against the very first attack can create some real doubts in the mind of her opponents, but only when it doesn't blow up in her face. This time the reason is simple; she didn't act soon enough. The disk is starting to form, yes, but by the time it's ready to intercept the blow the fist is already impacting cleanly on the small young woman's jaw, snapping her neck around hard enough to force her to step and turn with the blow or risk getting knocked straight to the ground.
She's quick to turn to face Sakura once again, a gloved hand rubbing at the sight of the impact, "Oh, my. I seem to have underestimated you."
"Well-prepared?" Sakura grins, shaking her head as she hops back, brushing off her fist. "I haven't been following up on you, if that's what you mean!" As to the underestimation: "Eh, happens to the best of us!"
Still... Sakura can't let her guard down against this young woman. She can tell Ingrid's power... she =knows= that would've been... inconvenient for her strategy, at best, had it succeeded. So rather than stick with punches -- easily brushed aside -- or give her the Hadouken treatment so early, Kasugano tries leaping in with a spinning, helicopter-like kick. "SHUNPUU KYAKU!" The long outfit has too many layers for the usual level of fanservice, but it's for the fans just the same!
COMBATSYS: Ingrid dodges Sakura's Shunpuu Kyaku.
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Sakura 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Ingrid
Sakura's words get even more of a laugh this time, "I suppose there's egg all over my face then, as well as your fists." Perhaps Sakura was simply talking about following the legends of fighting when they spoke the first time, rather than every opponent that's to be faced. For now she'll have to let that go- if she gets too distracted she's going to end up getting pushed around quite handily.
Now that she has a flying, spinning kick headed her way, Ingrid resorts to standard methodology; which is to say she dives forward, tucks into a ball and rolls right underneath of if. Once safely on the other side she pops back up to her feet instantly and turns around. No little quips or comments from her this time, she moves forward and uses a hopping kick of her own, though it's much simpler in it's use. She simply jumps forward and extends her left leg, seemingly attempting to stick the point of her toe right into the small of Sakura's back.
COMBATSYS: Ingrid successfully hits Sakura with Light Kick.
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Sakura 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Ingrid
Kasugano quirks an eyebrow at Ingrid's expression... but dismisses the eccentricity with a grin. "Uh, yeah!" But as Ingrid rolls about, Kasugano keeps her eye on the little Norwegian, balling her fists in defense.
Well, almost. She doesn't think Ingrid's going to =attack= right away, and she's punished right away with that kick to the back. Stumbling forward, she snickers a bit as she turns back to face Ingrid, adding, "Heh, you're quicker than I'd thought at first..."
But she doesn't immediately attack, either -- raising her hands in a defensive gesture. Right now, the Ansatsuken disciple will follow her teachings -- watch the opponent and learn!
COMBATSYS: Sakura focuses on her next action.
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Sakura 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Ingrid
That's something Ingrid can respect, and she knows that right now she has to be careful. Not too careful or she'll risk losing the initiative, but that line is a vague and fuzzy one. As for the comment on her speed? "Thank you. If I were much slower I'm afraid I'd find myself completely at your mercy." As might have been obvious from that first punch, she doesn't take punches nearly as well as many of the fighters around.
Right now she has a decision to make, and in the end she decides to go with what's essentially her most often used technique, save for the reversal she attempted earlier. She moves up to Sakura at a pace that's not quite a run, and then simply lifts her hands into the air and pulls them back down while moving them away from herself, a large amount of sparkling, golden energy flowing out from her palms in an attempt to simply bathe the brunette in her power.
COMBATSYS: Sakura interrupts Sunbeam from Ingrid with Shou'ou Ken.
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Sakura 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Ingrid
Sakura grins and nods! She normally enjoys trash-talking, but she has a feeling Ingrid might not respond well to it -- or worse, try and =dissect= it. And if there's anything she hates more, it's explaining stupid jokes!
But luckily she doesn't have to worry about talking -- fighting's her preferred dialect, and Ingrid's more than happy to engage in conversation there. When Ingrid brings her hands up, Kasugano smiles warmly... and =ducks=.
It's not really the =best= way of dealing with energy attacks, no, but by charging forward at Ingrid, she's able to use Ingrid's own strength against her, plunging a rising uppercut right into her solar plexus at the same time that Ingrid's energy washes down onto her. Sure, it stings like heck... as evidenced from the slight crack in Sakura's voice as she shouts "SHOOO'ooou KEEnnn!!" But she follows through with the motion just the same, even as an uncomfortable warmth floods her body, even through the silk of her garment.
Ingrid usually prefers to tease rather than be direct about such talking, but it's hard to feel up to it when you're getting beaten up as she is. Still, she's far from a sore loser, especially when she's having as much fun as she is. And learning as much as she is. She walked into the trap knowing it was there, but wasn't as prepared for it as she'd expected. The fist lodges itself firmly into her gut and she's tossed upward into the air, rotated backwards from the force of the blow and sent a good ten feet away before she hits the ground, shoulder blades first.
She lays still for a moment as the pain slowly subsides, and then rolls over onto her stomach, pushing herself up quickly with her arms. "I'm going to have to be much more careful about that, next time. That was a little more painful than I would have hoped." Now that she's a good margin behind she's going to have to do something drastic to get back into the swing of things. But luckily she has just the thing for this sort of situation.
A bright flash of energy surrounds her and her hands come up to her chin with her palms facing upwards. A small, dull little sphere of energy forms in them and this she 'blows' towards Sakura. The fireball; a way of attacking that Sakura herself will be intimately familiar with.
COMBATSYS: Ingrid successfully hits Sakura with Sun Burst.
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Sakura 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Ingrid
Whirling about, Kasugano lands a fair distance away, her kimono ruffling in the slight breeze. She knows she's made significant progress, but at the same time, she knows that progress can be undone in a heartbeat, from how strong Ingrid's last attack was. She's good at playing off the effects, of course... but the fact is, it hurt!
So Sakura's rightfully -scared- when she looks back at Ingrid's next burgeoning ball of energy. Eyes widen, and she throws her sleeved arms in front of her, not =quite= wanting to risk a fireball in return just yet. Though... her second-guessing costs her, as she's swept away by the blast, knocked back a good dozen feet or so in the process. Her kimono's scorched, sure... but them's the breaks!
"Not bad... I =guess=..." she comments, coughing lightly through ragged lungs. But she's not one to just wait idly by... as she curls her hands back to her side. Yes, Sakura's =very= familiar with fireballs -- and here she is, forming one for Ingrid, blue lightning crackling around a rapidly-swirling center. "Shinkuu.... " And Kasugano rushes forward at that point, hurtling the ball of electricity -- now four feet in diameter -- at Ingrid. "HADOOOOOOOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Ingrid dodges Sakura's Shinkuu Hadouken.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ingrid
There; that ought to even things up a bit. Ingrid's blasts of psychic energy definitely carry a pretty bit punch to them. It's not as much as those of some, but it's enough to make up for the fact that she tends to fold like a house of cards when subjected to the fists and feet of others. She's not quite willing to gloat over her success though, and for good reason. The one Sakura's bringing up right now; the fact that the fighting prodigy can give as good as she can take, if not better.
The Norwegian's reaction to Sakura charging up her huge ball of crackling blue energy is quite the opposite from what Sakura's was to her own little golden one. Escape. If that thing hit's, it's going to end her. There's not even a thought of trying to send a volley of her own to try and overpower it- it's just not worth the risk. If hands and feet work well on Ingrid, chi is like running her over with a dumptruck.
So the moment Sakura's readying her attack Ingrid is running, not away or towards, but around. Circling her opponent should make it pretty hard to track her, and once the ball is actually racing towards her she leaps into the air and vaults over the top of it, the roar of electricity in her ears telling her just how lucky she is.
And once she's back on the ground she's not going to stop, altering her momentum to bring her directly towards the ex-schoolgirl fighter now. The moment she's close she brings her arm up and swings it sideways, aiming a nasty knifehand chop to the side of her neck. "Eh!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura blocks Ingrid's Strong Punch.
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Sakura 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Ingrid
While Ingrid's sunshiny-bright power is unquestionable, Kasugano feels a lot more comfortable dealing with her strikes. The tricky part is keeping her eye on the little Norwegian, though! As Ingrid circles, Sakura shifts her footing to keep her shoulders squared up. She's fast, but at least she isn't tossing out illusions like Chizuru...
So when Ingrid chops down at her neck, Kasugano's arm is there in its path, knocking it aside. She winces slightly from the blow, but a smile and a casual shake of her head is enough to show that didn't hurt as much as it could've.
Sakura's hope, though, is that Ingrid's watching the smile and not the knee that comes rocketing up at her mid-torso. "Hyaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Ingrid counters Light Kick from Sakura with Sun Delta.
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Sakura 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Ingrid
Ingrid's neck chop is staved off by a skilful block, and the small blonde retrieves it quickly. It's true that most of the time her attacks that don't have anything to do with her energy are fairly straightforward and simple. A little trickery could go a long way, but in the end she prefers to use them as a way of keeping an opponent busy while she sets up her next plan. Often times this can get her punished severely, but other times it puts her into just the position she needs. Now is one of those times.
When the counterstrike comes, Ingrid's movements become as quick as lightning. Suddenly she's no longer just standing there while bringing her arm back, but leaning forward at the hips, her other arm lifted up. She seems to give the air in front of herself a light tap, and a small triangle of energy forms in front of her. That shouldn't worry Sakura. What /should/ worry her is the disk if swirling psychic energy that's as big as Ingrid herself that forms just in front of it.
That's what the raising knee connects with, and suddenly the kimono clad fighter is sucked inside the disk. Up it raises to the sky, and Ingrid leans backwards, giving Sakura a mock salute as she gains altitude with a teasing little smile on her face that just screams 'gotcha!'. Once it's gone up a ways the disk vanishes, and Ingrid lifts both arms up above her head as she gathers another burst of power. Sakura falls quickly towards the ground, and Ingrid swings her arms down and holds her palms outward towards her, a massive symbol of the Eternal Goddess flaring to life around the fighter a moment before she hits the ground.
Kasugano thought she was quicker than that! She really =ought= to be quicker! But... no, the next thing she realizes is that she's flying through the air... and then falling! Unlike the usual effects of gravity, no amount of flailing her arms and legs allow her to regain control. Oof! That... that hurt a lot!
... But as soon as she realizes her muscles can move under their own control again, Kasugano pushes off the ground with her hands, aiming both of her feet right into Ingrid's stomach! "Nnnnnraaaaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Ingrid fails to counter Strong Kick from Sakura with Sun Upper.
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Sakura 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Ingrid
Ingrid was -not- expecting to simply get back up and launch an incredibly fierce attack at her. Maybe stay on the ground for a moment or two, comment on how she wasn't expecting her knee to get turned on her like that. Nope, instead she comes flying forward with both feet to clobber her. It's nasty, it's brutal, and it's really, really freaking obvious.
Ingrid's snap reaction to such an attack is to throw it right back in Sakura's face, leaning forward once more to try and fling her into the air with psionic assist. This time, however, she has a different problem. She reacted /too/ fast. By the time Sakura gets to her the power of her pooled energy is dispersed, and the fighter blasts straight through it as if it wasn't there, feet jamming into Ingrid's stomach and causing her to collapse instantly, hitting the ground hard butt first and entering a wickedly uncontrolled roll afterwards, ending up face down. Now she's left picking herself up on extremely wobbly arms, hair a mess, and feeling much less confident and ego driven. "I believe I deserved that one."
Sakura's... been wearing herself thin, that much is obvious =despite= her best attempts to keep it hidden: she springs back to her feet, but she's standing a bit wobbly. Appropriately, her response is a simple grin with the comment, "Maybe!" Lots of fighters do what's most strategically appropriate, =all= the time... whereas Sakura's always felt that her main strength shows when she diverges from the "best" course of action at the right time. "If you were perfect it'd be boring though!"
Kasugano follows that up with a flurry of punches, but she's only intending to bluster Ingrid long enough for her foot to careen down from overhead. ... In a kimono?! Stranger things have happened... "Hriii-HAAA!"
COMBATSYS: Sakura successfully hits Ingrid with Flower Kick.
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Sakura 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Ingrid
Ingrid lets out a little laugh, "Yes, you are right at that. And how could you ever learn and become better if you never made any mistakes?" And all fighters seek to become better then they are. The small Norwegian seems to be having a hard time keeping herself up straight, but seems to get a decent hold of herself by the time Sakura's coming at her.
Though she's ready for it, her attempt to escape the attack is cut short as a kick comes from out of nowhere, smashing her on the shoulder and driving her into the ground. She catches herself with her arms, but even those give out on her, a gasp filled with pain escaping her as her face meets the dirt.
This time she's not going to be complimenting Sakura on her well executed blow- she's in far too much pain for that right now. But neither is she going to let the fight end just like that. Though there's nothing left in the tank that's going to allow her to keep going, there's just enough to let her get one last shot at the brunette. It's going to take every little bit she's got, though, so even as she's just getting up a bloom of light surrounds her as she digs for her inner power one last time.
Without the characteristic shout that normally accompanies this assault, she surges forward. Barely managing to straighten herself up fully she extends an arm and a leg, pirouetting around while seeming to slide across the ground, her body laced with energy as she tries to batter Kasugano with her limbs, ending the attack with a forward hop kick that results in a complete lack of a landing and a return trip to the grass.
COMBATSYS: Ingrid can no longer fight.
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Sakura 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Sakura dodges Ingrid's Sunshine.
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Sakura 0/-------/=======|
Well, if there's one thing Sakura's learned from fighting Ingrid, there's this: if it looks like sunshine, it's BAD. Kasugano's figured out ways to strengthen herself against energy attacks, thanks to the work of a dictator called Vega, but even still she seems to have a long way to go against powers like Ingrid's. Gritting her teeth, she leaps sideways sharply...
... Only to inadvertently step on her kimono. She'd been careful all up until this point, but one moment of inattention happens all the same! "Ulp!"
... Though, oddly? It seems to be a =good= thing, thanks to timing and timing alone -- as Sakura had started moving early, her tripping over herself actually -hastens- her escape, dropping her low and out of the way of Ingrid's strike. She lands on her elbow -- ouch! But manages to get herself out of harm's way with a quick log-roll to the side.
Panting, she pushes herself back to her feet, rubbing the scuffed elbow of her kimono and the arm beneath it. "Ugh... w-wow... that was close!" she stammers, stepping back and away from Ingrid cautiously.
COMBATSYS: Sakura takes no action.
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Sakura 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Sakura has ended the fight here.
There's no more Ingrid can try. She may not have won, but she did her best, and that means she has nothing to feel sorry over. She's down for a long time when Sakura backs away from her. It's clear she's not -too- badly injured since she is, in fact, breathing, but she's not about to pop up and start jumping around for joy because of how great of a fight that was. Not only was she physically beaten, but she's also completely exhausted from the effort it took.
Eventually, though, she stirs, rolling first onto her side before pulling herself up so that she can sit comfortably on her legs. "Thanks you for the fight, Sakura. I had a lot of fun, and I think I've learned a little bit about myself as well." And what more can she ask from the woman than that? "I do hope we'll be able to do this again sometime." Then comes a completely unrelated comment. "It seems your choice of clothes didn't hamper you in the lightest."
Sakura looks concerned, but she doesn't get -too- close... mainly because the medic team is on hand, and they can fix her up way better than Sakura can. Still, she keeps a pleasant smile about her, smoothing out the folds of her kimono while she waits.
But... it 'didn't hamper' her? ... After Sakura just -tripped- herself trying to get away from Ingrid's last-ditch attack? Kasugano actually breaks out into laughter at that. "Hah! You gotta be kidding me!" She tugs the hem of her kimono up, glancing down at her feet, "I needed to get out of the way quick, and I almost didn't! So... if I do anything like -this- getup again it's gonna have to be a short one..."
Laughing, Kasugano extends a hand to Ingrid, helping her up! "But yeah, totally! It was a great fight! You hurt a lot, you know that?" A fight ending with smiles on both sides is =always= a good fight, in Sakura's mind!
Perhaps 'tripping over your own clothes' will someday become a style of fighting as revered as the Drunken Master. "If that's the case, I'm going to have a bit of a harder time the next time we do this. It'll be interesting to see how differently you fight without such a handicap." When the arm is extended towards her Ingrid reaches up and takes it, allowing herself to be pulled to her feet. Now that she's had a moment to recuperate she can at least stand, though she'll definitely be seeing the medics before she leaves.
Ingrid nods her head, "Yes, I do. Thank you. You're a bit of a powerhouse yourself. That first punch you landed had me rather worried, though I did end up managing to hold my own after all."
Log created on 12:12:33 03/15/2008 by Ingrid, and last modified on 18:40:11 03/17/2008.