Description: Since her last meeting with the Southsynd crime lord, Shihong Mao was tasked with a small assortment of odd-jobs. And the oddest request? Learn to manipulate her power independently of her body. So, after some time, Shihong returns to her employer for a bit of catching up. But what has become of her efforts to learn something completely different and alien to her from the style she knows so well..?
There's nothing quite like watching the sunset from the top of the world.
Winter has begun to seep away as the months approach springtime. The distinct chill of the day and the snowfall has begun to dissipate until a cool, placid warmth settles over the city of Southtown. The skies are clear today; the breeze is distant and faint, as it has been all day. Tranquil would be a good way to describe it; serene. The air is crisp and fresh, carrying with it the scent of springtime. It's a good day to be king.
Or so one would imagine. Geese Howard has not had to imagine how it would feel to be king for some time now. His city, his kingdom, has been a constant in his life for decades, and enjoying the setting of the sun has just become one of many hobbies the would-be benefactor of Southtown has come to enjoy without much of a second thought.
The King of Southtown observes his kingdom from the rooftop of Geese Towers, his typical 'home away from home.' He is clad in his distinctive white gi and red hakama; today has been a day for rumination and training, and Howard has taken the day to hone his skills and ensure that they remain sharp. It's been a productive day. But then again... every day is, when you're Geese Howard.
Currently, the CEO of Howard Enterprises stands towards the westernmost edge of the roof. The tranquil sound of his man-made pond accompanies the sight of the sky illuminated in vibrant oranges, reds, and pinks as the sun dips under the horizon. His hands crossed over his broad chest, head tilting to the side as he watches. It's a good day to be Geese Howard.
But then, what day isn't?
Shihong Mao has become quite a regular face at Howard Enterprises.
With an elegant stride and confident gait the Chinese woman steps in from the streets, a tiny, rather coy smile on her rouge red lips. Behind the woman her long, light trenchcoat trails after like a banner in the breeze, sharp steel heels clicking distinctly on cold marble. It draws attention, numerous eyes turning to regard the newest arrival in the lobby. It's just the way she likes it, and her smile grows.
But her time there is short-lived; summoning the elevator, the woman follows her usual motions and rituals when in the King of Southtown's tower. Calling it down, Shihong enters and instructs the machine to the top floor, patiently riding it out. And when it arrives, the usual measure is taken: a pat-down for potential weapons--not that Howard himself really need to worry about being off'd by someone with less than half his skill. But it's a measure, nonetheless.
Free to go, the woman moves on. Pressing into the huge, heavy doors, Shihong Mao arrives into the office of the King himself, greeted by the setting sun on the Southtown horizon. With a brief glance around the office, she surveys what lay before her with idle curiosity. Lips idly purse, black eyes hooded as she mulls secretly to herself.
And then her eyes finally regard the tower's namesake, black eyes draw to a close, a ghostly smile crawling over her red lips. The woman in black's arms fold over her chest, as she begins to approach the westernmost roof.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" the woman wonders, calling out to the crimelord. "To stand so close to the roof, what with your past and all..?"
'Are you sure that's a good idea?' The response that comes is direct and simple:
"Only fools and cowards shy away from bad experiences. Besides, what's that old saying?
"What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger."
It's Geese's greeting to Shihong, simple as it may be, taking her sudden appearance in stride. The boss of Southtown Syndicate lets quiet take over the rooftop for a moment longer after this, pale blue eyes remaining fixated on the sunset sprawling out before him. The expectation is that Shihong will wait for him to address her; that's the way it works, after all. At this point, it's not as much expectation... as it is simple fact.
After a minute or two, Geese finally turns, arms falling easily to his side. "Of course, your concern is noted, but I doubt there's anyone who'd expect to see me fall off this tower anytime soon and not pay the price for it. Eventually people learn from their failures. Even the slow-witted garbage." Howard leaves this topic to die at this point, maneuvering towards his faux throne. "If I can't enjoy watching the sunset from the edge of my roof without being afraid of some chump trying to push me off, then I wouldn't really deserve to be there in the first place, would I? You really should take a look. It's a beautiful sight." Pale blue eyes glance back towards the sunset before finally resting upon Shihong, narrowing in vaguely amused contemplation.
"So, what brings you here today, Mao?" he questions, resting a hand on the top of his ornate seat as his head tilts towards the enforcer.
"Come bearing any worthwhile news?"
"That would be the one, yes," the woman coolly replies, her patient stride carrying her across the open air office. As she draws the distance to a close her pace slows, gradually ceasing as she remains a respectful few feet from the hakama and gi-clad businessman. The silence that follows is met with silence from the woman; far be her to interrupt the man's thoughts or speak inconsequentially. Instead, the Chinese woman employs her patience.
She waits.
When he turns she lifts her chin, eyes leveled on the blonde as her posture grows a touch rigid. As he speaks she expectedly listens, thin red lips pulled tightly across her pale face. His words are carefully noted, the tiniest hints of a smirk crossing her features. Everyone knows the story, and the end results never get any less humorous, at least to her, that despite falling from impossible heights...
"Indeed," the woman in back replies, eyes following the man as he wanders past, away from the edge and toward his seat. Only after he passes does she turn, heels clicking quietly on the floor as she begins to follow. Take a look? A soft, barely audible laugh escapes her.
"I'll take your word for it, sir," the woman replies.
Soon enough she follows after, giving the man his distance before she comes to pause within conversational distance. His inquiry is met with a distantly bemused expression, which swiftly fades as she lets a tiny smirk cross her lips once more.
"If only. It has been a quiet month or so. I have still not had a chance to get in contact with that young woman I told you about. I suppose...if anything, I would have to inquire about the last SNF I was engaged in."
Lifting her chin at a discreet angle, black eyes peer with vague curiosity as she asks,
"What was that all about?" The odd woman, she very likely means.
Geese turns, looking back towards the skyline. 'I'll take your word for it,' she says. Geese lets an amused smirk drag across his lips.
"I guess you'll have to."
He doesn't try to insist upon it, because frankly, he doesn't care. The offer is just small talk; in the end it means little to him if she does or doesn't look, or jumps off the top to see what it feels like. Though, that would be an investment down the drain. Instead, Howard simply returns his attention to the rest of the conversation, moving forward to look towards the ranks of statues that decorate his office.
"Still? You've had a long window of time to get in contact with her, Mao. You're not getting rusty, are you? I'd hate to think I'm paying you to dull your edge." Howard's words come out absently as he shifts an incredulous gaze back towards Shihong, lips twisting into a frown. "Get in contact with her by the end of this week." It's not a suggestion.
As Shihong brings up the SNF, though, Geese draws pause, his hand placed on the shoulder of a statue. "Oh yes, that. Getting a bit curious, eh?" Silence takes over from there as Howard turns his back on Shihong, hands crossing behind his back as he moves towards his makeshift stream. "That was just a test. Something I was curious about. That girl was an odd one, wasn't she? Did she say anything interesting to you?" Howard seems legitimately interested in this, though he doesn't divulge the reasons why. Like many things -- the reasons are for him alone to know.
"And, also... how has your training been going? Any developments, or am I in for another disappointment?" Icy blue eyes shift towards Shihong once more, brows furrowing as he stares at her. "You've at least made some strides with that by now, I'd hope."
"I realize that, sir," the woman replies rather swiftly, her tone lacking emotion but hinted with the slightest inflection of sternness. "But I have been busy, and she is a hard one to find." Rusty? Shihong is getting rusty? The very insinuation mildly rankles her, rouge lips pulling into a thin, taut line across her pale face. How can he have the nerve..?
An ultimatum is given: she has until the end of the week to find the girl. Shihong's eyes hood ever so slightly, black depths flickering with the tiniest hints of smoldering red. What does he take her for? An inept fool? A moron? She is certainly not. Circumstances have worked against her, that's all. If he's so determined to see her or what the kid is worth, can't he get off his ass and do it himself?
With a sudden lift of her chin, a smile blankets across her lips. "Very well, sir," is all she offers.
When the crime lord opts to change subjects, the woman's demeanor shifts, her smile fading as she fixes her gaze upon him. "Of course I am," she replies. The girl turned traitor on her at then after seemingly going batshit insane; why wouldn't she be? Black eyes never leave the man, even as he turns his back to her. A test..?
"I don't know," is Shihong's ultimate response. "Unless there's some meaning behind some 'Father' she kept rambling to you. Or talking like some damn computer program. Targets this, primary objectives that." Slender shoulders easily rise before they fluidly fall. She'll let him parse that and make sense of it. "That and her using the same sort of power Cherise and I utilize." It should be sufficient enough information, Shihong privately decides.
"That?" Slender arms rise from the woman's side, folding gently under her bosom as she shifts her weight. Must he be so harsh? She's a busy woman, after all. Is she really such a disappointment? Slender hands tense discreetly against her arms as she forces a smile.
"Of course not. It has not been easy, though. As they say, 'like ants eating bone.' It's a difficult task I can't tackle swiftly. It takes bit by bit, and it takes perseverance." She pauses, eyes gently narrowed. "I do not lack perseverance. I will get there." And if that disappoints him, well...
Geese Howard is a harsh man. He is a ruthless and efficient man.
You don't get to the top by being a bleeding heart.
He also doesn't pay people so that he can get off his ass and do work for himself; that would be counterproductive to the point of employees. "Mm," he muses silently at her explanations, right index finger tapping against his left forearm in an idle twitching motion. "Fortunately people can't just up and disappear, and as long as they exist, they can be found. So, find her. I have faith in your abilities." And that, as they say, is that.
There are more important subjects to focus their attention on. For one, the ever-mysterious Elfa. "'Father,' eh?" Howard remains contemplative over Shihong's words, quirking a brow at her mentioning of 'Psycho Power.' "... likely another crazy fall out from the late 'Lord' Vega's Shadaloo. They've been scurrying around lately. Like cockroaches." He sounds relatively distant as he speaks, dismissing the words with a lift and wave of his arm.
"I'll be meeting up with an... associate, soon, to discuss some business. I'd like you to come with; I'm sure you'd be interested to meet him." Geese says little more than that, looking over his shoulder towards Mao with a furrow of brows. "It'll certainly be an educational experience."
As the enforcer begins to explain herself in her training, Howard shifts on his foot, pivoting to turn towards Shihong. "So you've been taking it in stride. Good. Hasty people often come up short and make fools of themselves. Still, though... how far have you gotten? Using that energy of yours, I mean. Have you discovered how to use it independently, yet?" He pauses here, shoulders rolling in an idle gesture as a calm, amused smirk lifts over his lips.
"If you have... then show me."
Bleeding heart or no, Shihong regards the man with a very muted glare, red lips pulled tightly across her face. She's no fool--she is a very capable woman. She's endured through the shitty hands life threw at her on the table and came out on top. And someday? She'll be even greater, something more. But until then, one thing is clear: she'll have to struggle to climb above the rest.
With a slow and patient blink of her eyes, she puts it behind her.
"Yes, 'Father,'" the woman reiterates, her head bowing in a light nod. At mention of Vega, the woman's lips twitch, hints of a smirk edging over her face; she says nothing, however. He'll deal with the message however he chooses--it remains none of her business.
At mention of his 'associate,' black eyes drift back onto the blonde, a thin brow arching ever so slightly above a single eye. It is by no means her place to ask who, or why; so, instead, Shihong simply bows her head, black locks spilling past her shoulders as she nods once.
"Alright. Understood, sir. Give me a time and place, and I will be there."
As for her training, it is met with surprising reception. He isn't upset? He shouldn't be. "Of course. It's an utterly different technique than what I have otherwise ingrained in my years of training. I'm not used to it quite yet, but I am getting there, I believe." Her lips pull into a charming smile, eyes hooded in amusement as she regards the crimelord.
"It isn't easy," she casually remarks, shoulders rolling in turn as she shrugs. "But if you insist.
"One condition, though." Pause. "I need a warm up."
She doesn't hesitate. The woman launches herself forward, her body hurriedly crossing the large gap between them as heels swiftly click against the floor. Seven feet away her body lifts off the floor, using her forward momentum to fly at the man and, at a foot from him, twists. A leg shoots out and around as she lets her back face the man, as she attempts to deliver a flying back kick right to his chest.
COMBATSYS: Shihong has started a fight here.
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Shihong 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Geese has joined the fight here.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Geese interrupts Medium Kick from Shihong with Fast Throw.
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Geese 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Shihong
Such is the nature of business, or anything. Shihong's feelings about Geese's opinion are of no concern to the boss of Southtown Syndicate. At the end of the day, he operates an organization -- a finely tuned business. These chidings, well. They come with the territory.
Shihong should be glad she only merits a verbal reprimand.
"I'll make contact with you regarding the date of the meeting later. The friend we'll be meeting can be very elusive when he wants to be, but it won't be that hard for me to track him down." Anyone can be -found-, after all, no matter who they might think they are. It's just a matter of how much effort one puts into the search. Howards leaves this conversation where it stands, though, letting an amused smile pass over his lips as his gaze falls down to the pond just beyond him. 'Elfa' is another matter he'll have to take into consideration later. The results of that were fairly interesting. But--
"The time it takes to adapt and incorporate new techniques and information is a tribute to skill. So I'll be very interested to see how far you've come. It'll be a good marker to see just how much worth you have." 'One condition, though,' Shihong notes. Geese arches a brow. 'I need to warm up.'
"Hmph. That's fine,"
Shihong launches into the air, even as Geese's back is still turned towards her. Head lowered, he makes no move -- not until the very last moment, at least. His lips twist in utmost entertainment as the transporter twists towards him in a backwards kick. The heel touches his chest--
"I could use a bit of a warm up, too. Though..."
It all happens in the span of a few moments. Shihong's heel barely digs into Geese's sternum before he takes a solid grip onto her outstretched thigh with his right hand. His left takes her calf in an iron grip. And with almost a casual exertion, Geese twists and yanks Shihong bodily off the ground in a simple toss -- straight over his shoulder and towards the pond just beyond him.
"... A bit of a dip might help sharpen your wits."
"Understood, sir," she replies, his information noted with a discreet nod. Shihong offers nothing more.
Especially after her feet stir beneath her, her lithe figure hurriedly approaching the blonde. Moments later she sails, every intention of driving a steel stiletto heel right into his chest. She knows he can take it--he fell off of his tower, after all. What's a kick to the chest?
But her intentions are swiftly cut short, the moment her heel makes contact. His hands reach up, clasping down with painful force onto her thigh and leg...moments before she's hurled casually over his shoulders. An odd noise escapes the woman as she flies, black eyes wide as she soars, right for the pond.
A loud splash follows, as Shihong crashes into the pond, her body partially submerged under the surface. She lands hard, her arm and back hitting rocks and drawing a loud groan from the woman's lips before she slowly shifts her body's weight. Cautiously and carefully, Shihong rises from the water, soaked.
"That wasn't very polite," she muses, black eyes fixed on the blonde. Her coat drenched, she lets her shoulders shrug, forcing the dampened garment off before she carelessly tosses it aside, outside the pond. "You could have aimed for the statue, at least, sir."
Moving swiftly once more, the woman races at Geese, eyes sharply narrowed. In her palms red energy springs to life, dancing off her fingertips as she charges forth. The moment she draws the distance to a close she swings her arms fluidly up before she thrusts them forward. The collected energy swells and bursts...but does not operate truly independent of her hands.
In other words, a dud. The woman privately curses in response.
COMBATSYS: Geese fails to interrupt Swallow's Wings from Shihong with Slash-style Reppuken.
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Geese 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Shihong
What's a kick to the chest, indeed?
What it amounts to is a casual launch of Shihong backwards through the air. Howard doesnt even really bother to look behind him towards the flying enforcer. Instead, he casually wipes off his hands, closes his eyes, and inhales. "Done warming up, now?" he asks as he exhales, turning an amused glance towards Shihong. Aimed for the statues?
"Don't be absurd, Mao, those statues cost money. If I did that, I'd have to take it out of your paycheck."
Slowly, Howard rolls one shoulder, and then the other. He relaxes into his fighting position, cold eyes fixating upon Mao finally. He observes as she gets up, recovers herself -- and then launches forward. Psycho Power swells with life in chaotic surges. Is she trying--? His eyes narrow as she draws closer, noting the crackling energy. He smiles blandly.
"Not nearly enough--"
In one fluid motion, Howard surges forward. But by sheer miscalculation, Shihong one-ups him before he can even start his intended maneuver. Energy crashes into him in a wave of power, sending Howard staggering backwards. Smoke rises from his chest as the vermillion power explodes across his torso. He takes one step backwards -- two.
"... Like I was saying," he begins after his second step, brushing a hand against his palm.
"That wasn't it. The execution was wrong, the movements were off -- there wasn't nearly enough control." He pauses.
"Do you need to warm up more?" Given the amusement in his voice, one can consider the question to not be all that altruistic.
"And your point? That was an expensive jacket, sir," the woman replies with a lilt of humor, eyes narrowed in amusement as she eyes the blonde. Tilting her head absently to one side, she adds, "So, essentially you're still docking my pay." She pauses briefly, giving her long arms a shaking out, hands smoothing out her blazer's mildly dampened surface with a sigh.
A moment later she's suddenly there arms moving and energy swelling. It isn't nearly enough to accomplish her feat, but it does well enough to miscalculate and crash into the burst, his broad form sent staggering back. The woman exhales lightly, privately praising whatever higher power for giving her the advantage. That could have been bad.
Her attentions turn to the man as he speaks up shortly after, black eyes distantly curious as she regards him. The execution was wrong? Her movements? Not enough control? Briefly her expression falters, an uncertain look on her pale face before she glances down at her hands.
Then they curl into loose fists, her expression giving way to one of amusement.
"Ohhh, perhaps," she says, turning her back and absently waving a hand at shoulder level. "It's been a while since I'd had a good workout anyway." A light laugh follows, arms lifting thereafter high overhead as she stretches her arms and shoulders out. Slowly they lower...
And rather suddenly her form pivots on a heel, about-facing and looking directly at the crimelord. But Shihong does not hesitate; sprinting forward she has every intention of coming in close and swinging her right leg out and around, a spinning hook kick to catch him in the temple. If it should land she drops her leg and coils it before she snaps it upwards sharply, a vertical kick aimed right for his jaw.
With those awful three and a half inch steel stiletto heels.
"YAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Shihong successfully hits Geese with Change-Up Kick.
Glancing Blow
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Geese 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Shihong
"Heh," Geese let's out a chuckle as Shihong airs her grievances, looking towards the woman with an almost mocking expression touching his face.
"Well," he begins, slowly, "impress me, and I'll by you a new coat.
"Let's see if you can manage it."
Shihong manages to move just fast enough; Geese recovers from his misstep, but even as he does, Shihong is moving on to her next maneuver. Her words earn her an arrogant grin on the part of the King of Southtown as his arms draw inward to his sides, bent at the elbows.
"Then, let's see if I can provide a -decent- workout for you." The words probably do not bode well for Shihong.
However, she still does an admirable job of keeping up an offensive. Just as Howard is finished speaking, Shihong is already moving forward in a sudden rush of speed. She swings her right leg forward, twisting through the air--
--She only gets as far as the first maneuver. The kick lands against Geese's temple in a graze, but the King of Southtown is already on the move. He ducks just as she lands, and as that vertical kick lances out--
--Geese Howard twists to the side. A sudden, cold jerking motion takes Geese -just- beyond Shihong. There's no real grace to the maneuver. Just practical efficiency that takes the Southtown boss lancing to the side of Shihong, sweeping out with one elbow driving forward.
"Is that supposed to be a work out? Let's try something -better-!"
The elbow strikes out, to bury into Shihong's sternum. And, should it connect, Howard's right leg snaps out in the rustle of his red hakama, intent on sweeping the transporter's legs out from under her and use the force of his elbow strike to just SLAM her brutally into the ground. "HMPH!!"
COMBATSYS: Shihong blocks Geese's Combo Throw.
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Geese 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Shihong
"Very well. You have a deal."
Gliding forward, the woman swings into action, a leg shooting out and around to clip the man, followed by a second, more potent strike. The sheer brunt of her secondary attack avoided, the woman's eyes immediately snap to the blonde, hooding dangerously as he twists aside, caught in her peripherals. It bodes ill for her. She knows what he's capable of and how badly it hurts.
She has no time to properly retort; moments later he's driving his arm toward her with an elbow wielded. Immediately her leg drops and plants hard, her body twisting at the torso as his elbow closes in. Her palms intercept the sheer brunt of the strike, a horrible shock of pain ringing up her arms and drawing a startled gasp from her red lips.
His leg moves in tandem, connecting with her ankles and taking her feet out from underneath her. Down she goes, his elbow still held in her grasp as he shoves her to the floor with bone-jarring force. The woman gets lucky again, her body landing with a slightly cushioned blow that makes what could have very well been utterly agony for her poor body. Shihong exhales, and does not wait a single moment.
Her body just moves; rolling to the side both hands firmly plant onto the marble floor, legs suddenly aflame with vermillion psychic energy. Sharp heels shoot out, intent on slamming fiercely into Geese's shins before both legs swing upwards in a staggered motion, her body coming to rise in a handstand as each heel violently seeks to clip his face in one fluid, well-practiced motion.
COMBATSYS: Geese counters Coiled Serpent from Shihong with Gedan Atemi Nage.
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Geese 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 Shihong
Geese lashes out. When he attacks, he does not hold back. In fact, he exerts even -more- force, letting unrestrained force crash into Shihong without being tied back by things like care for his enforcer's own well-being. She should be able to handle herself.
And she does. With the -THWACK- of elbow against palms, Howard's elbow drive meets Mao's solid guard, for all the punishment she takes for it. It could have been worse, as the distilled force so clearly indicates. And all Geese offers is a smirk as his arm snaps backwards in rigid motion, his guard re-establishing itself.
"Pretty good," he notes, idly.
"But I'm not really impressed yet."
Her response comes swift. Suddenly, Shihong is springloading off the ground, legs aflame. She's fast--
--but not fast enough.
The shot to Geese's shin goes unfinished. Howard backpedals the moment that Shihong lashes out, and as she rises in that handstand... an iron grip finds itself around her ankle.
A second later an open palm -slams- into Shihong's stomach to launch her off her handstand to grace the air with her presence once more.
"Let's try that again."
The compliments, however thin or empty they may be, are noted, but not responded to with words. Shihong choose to let her body do the talking, as she rolls aside, her body whipping into action. She knows this move well; she's utilized it numerous times. Unfortunately--
Howard seems to know what's coming.
Just as her fiery legs thrust forward, there's something amiss. Black eyes swiftly rise, observing as the blonde moves completely out of harm's way, leaving her with one option: to finish the motion as quickly as possible. Thus do her legs whip up, Shihong bearing every intention to execute another perfect handstand, when, suddenly...
She stops?
Shihong doesn't even get to look her employer in the eye or properly react. His palm moves, slamming into her stomach ferociously with enough raw strength to send her flying back a few feet before her body simply collapses and rolls across the floor. When she stops, a low groan escapes her, as the woman slowly stirs.
Carefully she rises, arms shivering as she pushes her chest off the ground, followed by the rest of her body. Staggering a few steps, a hand presses into her stomach, eyes pinching shut as she recovers as best she can from his counterattack. How can she possibly ever hope to attain such strength..?
Exhaling softly, the woman drops her arms at her sides, before she draws her hands up close to the trunk of her body, eyes pressing shut. Breathing in, she takes a deep breath before she slowly exhales, arms stretching outwards, hands and long fingers rigid and stiff. Slowly do her eyes open, once-black depths now red, fixing on the blonde before her.
It's a focusing exercise of some sort, because damn if she doesn't NEED it.
COMBATSYS: Shihong focuses on her next action.
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Geese 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 Shihong
Slowly and casually, Geese's arm pulls back, resting easily at his side. His wrist rotates in an idle gesture. His head tilts to the side, and a mocking frown settles over his lips. "Well, let's see what else you have to offer. At this rate, you'll never get a new coat."
Howard's words are tinged with his own personal amusement over the situation as Shihong slowly drags herself back onto her feet. Yet despite the entertainment and vague condescension in his words, he watches carefully. He looks to see for subtle changes, to see if she'll do something unexpected -- or do what he is expecting her potential will allow her to do. Howard is never wrong.
So he'll be very disappointed if she tries to prove otherwise.
He waits. And yet... Shihong doesn't come rushing in again. A brow lifts, as his attention directs towards the woman. She's not attacking. Unexpected, but--
The smile on his lips says that it's not exactly unwelcome.
"So, what do you have up your sleeve now, Mao?" he questions almost conversationally, fingers clenching and unclenching into fists as he watches the plotting woman. He seems to almost mull over what she might be trying to plot, but it is soon dismissed with the roll of his shoulders.
"I guess I'll just have to force your hand!" Geese pushes off one leg in a sudden -burst- of speed, making a dead rush towards the woman to force her into action through raw and direct confrontation. His right hand snaps forward in a rush of speed, the fabric of his gi rippling in the force of counterwinds as he attempts to grip Shihong by the wrist. From there, his left hand will grip on her shoulder and -twist- in a sudden rotation, to launch Shihong off the ground in a sudden and brutal spiral. "HAH!"
COMBATSYS: Geese successfully hits Shihong with Medium Throw.
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Geese 0/-------/--=====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Shihong
His comments and jests fall upon deaf ears; the woman instead focuses inwardly, breathing in deeply before she exhales. Black eyes focus on the blonde ahead of her, even as he offers cold, mocking gestures. They do not get to Shihong; instead she just narrows her eyes all the further, breathing in deeply once more...before she exhales. What does she have up her sleeve?
The woman says nothing. She just watches him closely, even as he threatens to force her hand.
In an instant the crimelord is suddenly there and very much in her personal space. Though her hand shoots out in an attempt to strike his incoming arm with her forearm, her timing is off. Grabbed instead, black eyes widen, turning to her shoulder as he clamps down and, lifting her up, he drives her for the ground. Shihong impacts with a meaty thud, her shoulder cracking in the process, drawing a strangled yelp from her lips.
Again the woman struggles to rise, pulling herself up off the ground with a low groan. It never ceases to amaze her, how easily he deals with attacks. How is it possible, she wonders, to be so strong? And in his forties he's a force to be truly reckoned with. Will she ever have as much, or are they hopeless aspirations..?
A raspy cough escapes her...but soon grows into a low, throaty laugh.
"If you insist," she offers, lifting her gaze as she straightens her back, her shoulder popping as it falls back into place, drawing a wince and hiss from the woman. Her arms fall at her sides thereafter, sparks of rich vermillion energy springing to life, dancing around her fingertips, swelling with every passing second.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," she offers, sounding almost sincere.
Like before her arms move from her sides and rest before her, thumb to thumb, index finger to index finger. The energy swells and collects, tendrils of red curling down her arms as the energy gathers rapidly And when the mass can get no larger...her arms whip furiously, one arm swinging high, the other drawing back at a lower angle, but ultimately both thrust forward as she offers a sharp, guttural cry. The end result?
A sudden gout of angry vermilion Psycho Power lances at the blonde, vaguely shaped like an angry dragon.
COMBATSYS: Shihong successfully hits Geese with Coiled Dragon EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Geese 0/-------/-======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Shihong
Geese shows no mercy. Geese gives no quarter. By the end of the day, training with Geese Howard goes two distinct paths: you endure the hell and you succeed.
Or you fall behind and are cast aside like vermin.
Shihong's time to prove her worth is now. And Geese doesn't allow for any leeway to prove herself; he continues a brutal assault, keeping the window for opportunity as slim as it would realistically be. Shihong is brought to the hard and unforgiving ground of the rooftop in a jarringly powerful slam. It's raw power that has come from years of hard work, from years of exerting himself to the limit and adopting so many ancient techniques into his style. All to bring him to this pinnacle. Can Shihong achieve something like this? Geese's answer would be simple:
No one on this earth can be as great as him.
Howard snaps backwards as soon as Shihong drags herself to her feet. She laughs. Brows lift as Geese looks almost incredulously at Shihong.
'Sorry to keep you waiting,' she offers.
"Hnn." His lips draw into a grin.
"It's about time."
And that is when a dragon-like gout of vermillion psychic energy crashes into him.
In a sudden exertion of power and concentration, Shihong manages to expel all those energies from her in one mass of power. The dragon slashes forward, gaping maw engulfing Geese and blasting him backwards before he can even manage a defense. Psycho Power scorches the mind and the body in tandem before Howard finally crashes into the ground, feet first. He staggers, white gi scorched and in tatters in the front. He looks down. He looks towards Shihong.
"So, I think I owe you a coat."
He doesn't really give her time to respond. Even as he speaks, whisps of barely visible, ghost-like orange chi rises all around, drawn -inwards- towards Geese in undulating waves.
In a second, the King of Southtown crashes forward to introduce his elbow to Shihong's skull.
In a matter of seconds, Geese unleashes a terrible right cross to Shihong's jaw, before both hands bend backwards... and then -lash- outward in a double-palm strike aimed at the solar plexus, with force that could powder concrete and rend bone, all delivered with rigid and cold power and one mighty cry:
"JAEIKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Shihong fails to interrupt Jaeiken from Geese with Dragon King.
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Geese 0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Shihong
COMBATSYS: Shihong can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Geese 0/-------/=======|
And Shihong expect no mercy. It's just how the world works, something she's come to expect--most especially from her employer. After all, how does she ever hope to improve herself, or get anywhere within the Syndicate if she were given a shred of sympathy..?
Regardless of the beating, the woman rises, taking her time in doing so. But when she's ready, she finally gives the King of Southtown what he's been oh-so patiently waiting for. Psychic energy launches from her palms, crashing into the man and knocks him back. Despite the stern expression on the woman's pale, ragged face...even she remains surprised at the feat.
When Howard finally speaks, the woman's attentions drift from her hands to the man before her, lips curling into a demure smile. "Yes, I think you do," she coolly replies, black eyes hooding gently before she tilts her head absently to one side. "I'd have hoped that was sufficient and to your liking..."
But she trails off ever so slightly, as that awful energy rises. And a moment after it is noted, Geese barrels for her, an elbow aimed right for her head.
The woman moves as he does, attempting to lash out with her right fist and intercept the strike. But best laid plans can crumble, and so do hers; struck harshly, she reels to the side as he hooks her jaw, a loud grunt escaping her lips. And just when the pain can't get any worse, the man's palms slam with frightening force into her stomach, sending the woman flying back, her prone form eventually touching ground and rolling three times.
Once again, she has been beaten. But she's still alive.
She hopes, at least.
"Ugh," Once again, Shihong pulls herself up, her body shivering with grief as she struggles to find her center of balance and shake off the ringing in her skull, using one hand to keep balance as the other nurses her wounded skull.
And just like that, the encounter is over.
Geese got what he was looking for, after all.
With three titanic blows Geese floors Mao Shihong for the final time this fight. He looks impassive as she goes blasting back from the final, crushing blow, pale blue eyes looking towards the transporter as she soars -- and then ultimately, crashes. She bounces three times, comes to a stop.
By the time that she brings an end to her crash, Howard is already standing at his full height with arms crossed over his broad chest, indicating one thing:
The fight is done.
There's no question to it as Shihong struggles to bring herself back up from the strenuous abuse. Howard says little at first; he deigns instead to observe her as she gathers herself, attempts to bring back a sense of balance. His smirk draws a bit dimmer as she clutches her wounded head.
"You did well enough," he comments finally as his back turns to his employee. "You've made good strides with your training. I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes you next." Well. Only passingly. Any businessman knows to keep a keen eye on their investments. As always, he doesn't help her out. She can manage well enough herself. "I'll be in contact with you when the meeting is arranged. Oh, and...
"To get you that new coat of yours."
Log created on 00:34:20 03/25/2008 by Shihong, and last modified on 19:27:47 03/26/2008.