Description: A charity event - A live production of an episode of Batgirl and Robin vs the sinister Chiropractor! Gadgets and trickery aplenty are required to take the evil villain down, but at least one hero leaves with more neck adjusting than they bargained for! ( Winners: Ayame and Roland )
Far be it for Ayame to miss an appearance on Howard's SNF enterprise. This time, however, she's been asked to put a lot of extra effort into preparing beforehand. The producers want gadgets, and tons of them. It took a bit of research into the zany world of Batman to get the gist of what they had in mind, but she is nothing if not dedicated to making the most of her weekly matches. If the people want gadgets, she'll give them gadgets.
BatAyame is armed and ready for the match ahead. That it is a charity match is a tad ironic to the girl that pretty much thinks only of herself, but she gets paid for it, so... The stage is set, the audience packed into the seats. The props on the stage are some fake buildings, a fake skyline in the background. Ladders, ropes, and other opportunities to ascend or descend are set up all over the place. It's quite an elaborate setup, the girl has to admit to herself as she surveys the arrangement.
And of course, no production would be complete without costumes. Outfitted, BatAyame is dressed the part, with a black leotard, a black skirt at her waist, and a bat-eared mask over her head, her long hair spilling out from the back of it. At her waist is a wide, yellow, guady looking utility belt. It's anyone's guess how many BatContraptions she's readied for this showing. Draped over her back is a long, black cape.
With only a minute left before showtime, the producers are running around, getting everything in order. Ayame, for her part, is content to just stand at the edge of the stage, gloved hands at her waist, adopting a very super-hero looking pose of utmost calm. After all, she's the main hero. She should look awesome. Some other shmuck is stuck being the silly sidekick.
Across the stage, waiting in the wings, Gato stands with a face carved of very angry looking stone. To cast him as a villain was an excellent decision, as he certainly looks the part. It seems that he's not entirely miserable to be here though. Yes, he's only ninety-five percent miserable to be here. But hey, that's not what we're here to talk about we're here to see what he's been given as a costume, right? Well let's get onto that shall we?
His costume, all things together is a very simple outfit. Why it's a simple white doctor's jacket, with a large circle on the back and a vertebrae logo stylishtically scrawled inside. His villain pants are slacks, and his villain shoes are loafers. Gato agreeing to this fight must have taken quite a bit of talking from the Howard representatives, but it seems he did, and there he stands, angry, uncomfortable, and ready to snap some necks.
One of the many subtle and unsubtle differences between the pair is likely seen at the earliest levels. Roland, upon the suggestion, told the official to ‘get the hell off my back', followed by ‘I will fight however I damn well please.' This was immediately followed by hours of drinking and basic gambling, upon which he gained a 2,100 debt at a location he has no plans of ever returning to. Minutes fade to seconds. Seconds to late. Late expands to the unquantifiable ‘...' that only potential replacement can bring. Then the angry sound of gutteral cursing, as Roland stumbles upon the main stage. He's squinting through heavy lids, wearing an outfit that although laughable is assuredly no gimmick; tan trenchcoat, tan hat, a simple cowboy motif. "I ain't wearin' a costume!! I need this to fight!!" appears to be his final response to the directors, squinting through the painful light before settling on Ayame.
Upon which he bursts out laughing, doubling over and slapping his thigh. His eyes are literally watering. "Oh... oh, how much did they pay you to.... pfffthahahaha!!!" He begins wheezing, having to sit down a moment with his head between his legs, suddenly dizzy and disoriented from his hangover. While eyeing Gato, he pulls out a somewhat emptied bottle of alcohol and sips it. "I'm yer sidekick. Wonder Boy. Sorry, I forgot to shave And I left my costume in a locker." is apologized halfhearted, scratching at his chin. "This is ridiculous. Nobody's gonna respect me in some cheesy motif like this... And who's the joker over there?! Bullshit!" Some other grumbles seemingly about Ayame's appearance and skirt details is lost.
Time keeps ticking by, minute by minute. Ayame, tired of her heroic pose and has taken to just leaning against the side of the stage, legs crossed at the ankles, arms folded over her chest as she sighs softly. Idly she flips open one of the compartments on her belt and pulls out a small bat shaped boomerang... a batarang if you will, and takes to balancing it upright on her fingers.
When Roland finally stumbles out onto the stage, however, the girl stands up, turning toward the new arrival. Her mouth, left visible by the mask, is every bit the frown one might expect as she eyes who she's stuck paired up with against such a vicious villain. "What do you mean, looks like you made it through costuming just fine. Glad they had some Brokeback Mountain wardrobe in your size." she remarks back with a roll of her eyes. Her hand idly flips her hair back over her shoulder as she puts the batarang back in its place. "We'll just say you were working undercover as a wannabe cowboy. It's cheesy, but hey, look at yourself." she remarks, frown shifted back into a grin.
The show already late to its start, the audience already fidgeting, mumbling, and griping that these charity events just don't ever live up to the hype, the stage crew shuffling out of the way... yup, looks like it's time for the evil villain to be taken down!
A gloved hand points toward the dressed up, 95% miserable to be here, Gato. "That's not the Joker, Wonder Boy. That's the Chiropractor!!" The offstage band fires up a loud Dun Dun Dun!! to emphasize the seriousness of the matter. "We've finally caught up to him, now's our chance to take him in and make him pay for his crimes!" Given the ready way the girl fires off the cliche lines, it would seem Ayame has pretty much no problem at all with the ridiculous SNF venue. Though she does usually like being the villain instead. "Let's get him!"
Gato crosses his arms at this, before rolling his eyes and uncrossing them, spinning beautifully into his fighting stance. Plot? what's that? Dialogue? Who needs it? Exposition? That's for suckers! There is only one thing Gato came here to do, and that was to pit himself against powerful opponents. Shamefully it looks like he got the D-List.
Locked in his stance, and balancing carefully it seems Gato has no need for Minions with names like 'Pop' 'Realign' and 'Exploratory Surgery!' A veritable one man army ready to take on the world. Finally he speaks one word to the ridiculous girl and her BBQ-flavored cowboy compatriot, "...Come and get me."
COMBATSYS: Gato has started a fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Gato 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ayame has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Gato 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ayame
COMBATSYS: Roland has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Gato 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ayame
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Roland 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Roland has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Gato 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ayame
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Roland
"..." Roland doesn't seem to get the insult, given the mild confusion hidden by simply not asking for clarification. He does grudgingly slip away the alcohol at the angry hand motions from one of the directors, giving Gato a pitiable look that seems to herald he's not any happier, If not less so, by the joke these two are going through. Eyes blink, turning to look deadpan at Ayame as he's spoken to. Before both hands slap against his own face, kneading his eyes while slowly shaking his head. This is not happening. This is SO not happening. Egh. But he's got bills to pay, and it's not going to go away just because it's ridiculous and retarded. "Very well, Batwoman!" is stated, with a startling vehemence as he points as well. "We won't get a chance like this again!! To arms!" With that he leaps up, grasping a taut rope. He swings in the general direction of Gato before slipping off in a hiss of pain, landing badly on one leg and limping aside. He stuffs his ropeburnt fingers beneath his armpits, giving a sound very unlike a hero. "Forget this!!" is immediately followed, as he charges towards Gato with full intent to simply slug him right in the stomach. He's wildly underestimating the other man, but that's really what he does best.
Something about Roland's animosity only causes Ayame to grin more. She has a history of antagonizing partners and opponents alike, so if she's getting beneath Roland's skin that easily, she expects good times ahead. "Well, he may not be the best sidekick I've ever had, but he's at least eager..." she ponders, "So far that's only about ten checks in the negative column, one check in the positive column. We'll see how he holds up against a real serious villain like the Chiropractor!"
Her hand slips to her belt, popping open one of the yellow gaudy compartments and pulling a small cylinder out of it. Pushing her thumb against the top, she activates the detonator. "Hopefully he doesn't get blown up by this Batbomb, ne?" she adds, hurling the small device directly for Gato.
The impact threatens to be a small explision with almost nothing in the way of shrapnel. She was told to keep the blood letting low for ratings purposes... Doesn't mean the explosion itself won't hurt some though!
COMBATSYS: Gato dodges Ayame's Medium Fling.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Gato 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ayame
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Gato counters Power Strike from Roland with Hou-zan Sai Heki-Ga.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Gato 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Ayame
> //////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
Gato's eyebrows raise and lower in quick succession, as his eyes travel from Ayame to Roland with lightning speed. As the 'batbomb' arcs in, the medical clad fighter boosts forward, thrusting his weight towards Roland in a fluid motion. His left hand comes to his gut, and casually pushes Roland's fist aside, while he spins his body back and rams his elbows into the Cowboy's gut with a loud kiyah.
As he finishes, he looks back to the girl in the gaudy costume and shakes his head three times, before frowning out at the audience and then back at the other fighters. He slides out of his stance, "Tch. Is this what passes for opposition? Weaklings in silly outfits," really great words coming from the man who actually went through with changing into the labcoat, eh? Hypocrisy aside it looks like Gato is bringing his a-game.
"Oye! Don't make me come over there and smack you!" Roland warns towards Ayame with no small amount of appearance that he'd very likely do such with minimal provocation. But he's more intent on trying to sink his knuckles into delicious Gato meat; beat down the meal ticket, try to get a look up Ayame's skirt, finish his beer and it's a good ni–whoa. Whoa, what just happened? It was like slugging a greased naked dude, and he knows damn well how that feels. He's trying to put together what happened. He's never been pwned to that level before, and it's requiring adjustment. Especially given he's completely floored, likely more then confirming what he just said. "...the hell?" is offered weakly, before yanking off his hat and stumbling to his feet. An interior blade pops out, eyes becoming warily intent. "Alright... I'll skip to the good stuff!!" is roared, hurling it through the air towards Gato; it actually moves remarkably fast, whistling sharply as it blurs with full intent to slam into him!
Gato negotiates the small explosion with trivial ease before dishing out some pain on the hapless sidekick. Able to watch everything transpire from a little ways back, Ayame balks slightly. Dealing with superior fighters in these whacky productions is always a challenge, vague memories of her hellish time fighting Kain on the set of Les Miserables coming to mind...
"Okay, I know how to deal with tricky fighters like him." she remarks, hand going back to that belt of hers. Pesky explosions may not phase the super villain, but if she can get him to hold still a little, WonderRoland might get less beat up in the process of subduing him!
Darting forward into the mix of action, Ayame leaps up into a forward flip, aiming to take herself into an easy arc over Gato. Once above him, however, she twists around in mid-air attempting to literally drop a thin-wire mesh net down over Gato's head and shoulders in an attempt to snare him a little. "Let's see how tough he is if he can't move around so much," she remarks. "Your neck snapping days are numbered!"
COMBATSYS: Gato dodges Roland's Blackjack.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Gato 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Ayame
> /////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Gato interrupts Quick Throw from Ayame with Dan-Zetsu Dai.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Ayame
> /////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
As Roland's hat comes spinning in from out of nowhere, and sports a knife, Gato's back arches downward, until his hands plant onto the soundstage. In this fashion he avoids the deadly hat altogether. This does two things advantageous to him in the current situation. It allows him to spot Ayame above him in the air, and allows him to push off of his hands to meet her. In the sky, he thrusts the tip of his ballet shoe into her stomach, and spins his body quickly, carrying her with his momentum before releasing her and sending her down to the stage below.
His momentum carries him to the top of a nearby fake building, where his stands balanced perfectly on one foot, and folds his arms behind his back, "......."
It seems that this pair is beneath even complaints of contempt, the look on his stern face holding that much proof of contempt. What a jerk!
Apparently, Roland just isn't putting together that his techniques are failing due to Gato's capabilities; an invisible wire gleams, yanking his hand back as the hat stops mid-air and then returns to his hand. He looks it over, as if suspecting some kind of defect, brow knit in complete aghast confusion. "That... what!" is mused, glancing up to Gato then back to his hat, trying to divine the secrets from the crystal ball of worn leather and sharpened steel. None are forthcoming. He places it back upon his head, uncertain now as he glances to Ayame. Unconcerned, of course, with her state of affairs. But he does rush forward anew, finding no immediate way up; beyond grasping a rope and then cutting the other end of the line. He shoots upwards, releasing a couple meters below and allowing his heels to carry the inertia. Before he starts to spin rapidly, trying to blow both directly into Gato's chin. "ROLAND ROCKET~~!" This move cannot fail! Since he's got a long way to the ground if it does.
Caught in mid-air before her intended trap can even be landed, Ayame finds herself crunched hard in the stomach before she's driven down to the stage floor where she lands hard, a pained gasp escaping her lips as she kicks backup to her feet. "Okay, that's not working either," she mutters. Glancing back and forth a moment, it takes her a second to realize that the fight has been taken to higher ground.
Grimacing as she puts aside the pain of being kicked around by the more veteran fighter, the girl exhales, hand slipping down to her belt to reach for another compartment, "Okay, time for plan C. This is where you keep him busy while I come up with a plan D!" She doesn't really know what plan D might entail.
COMBATSYS: Ayame focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Ayame
> /////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Gato dodges Roland's Heavy Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Ayame
> /////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
That analogy about a greased naked man might almost be a little too apt, as the stern-faced practicioner of medicinary mayhem is off like a streak as Roland comes in. With some amount of acrobatic flair that draws a few 'oohs' and 'aahs' from the crowd he hops down the faux-building's wall, sliding for a moment before springing to another fake bit of scenery and repeating off the false city-scape down to the stage below.
He looks from Ayame to Roland once more, and steeples his index fingers and thumbs together, resting his nose in the delta they form, before he begins formulating his own plan of attack. In no short amount of time, his eyes lock onto Roland, who seems to be the brawn of the outfit, or at least the one listening to orders. It seems Gato's chosen his current 'special-friend'
COMBATSYS: Gato focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Ayame
> /////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
Oh boy. Roland doesn't like that look at all. Immediately he waves his hands, as if trying to get the attention of a rhino. He's out of his depth here, and never learned how to swim. "O-Oye!! Don't look at me that way! Look at her!! She's made of paper! Hit her first! Yeah, you totally should!" My, how chivalrous. Although this is not a mark of cowardice; he gives Ayame a momentarily cunning look, and the ghost of a smile. Does he think she can take care of herself? Or is he just trying to appear more inept? Such is hard to deduce, but he's got something in his mind. "Alright... I guess I ain't got no choice..." Before he suddenly rushes forward once more, surging with green energy and lunging overhead. His speed is significantly bolstered, heel arching overhead in a swift, brutal pivot before trying to slam it rather hard upon the top of Gato's head, to hopefully break his concentration. "HA!!"
Gato continues to play hard to catch as he avoids the deadly Roland Rocket with fluid skill. "Che," the girl grunts. It's time to bust out something a bit more serious than batgadgets. No one told her she'd be trying to use them on some kind of incredible veteran here! Tired of playing around with various contraptions, she decides to fall back on something that's always served her well.
From her belt she withdraws a half-foot long metal tube. A button press in the center causes the small object to telescope out into a full length six foot long staff made of sturdy but lightweight titanium. Glinting in the stage lights, the girl spins it once at her side for effect before locking it under one arm, using her other hand to point at Gato and give him a very stern nod. He's in trouble now!
Inhaling, Ayame charges forward, leaping up the steps of a ladder to take her up the sides of a building nearby Gato's. Halfway up, however, she takes to the air to close the rest of the distance on her target. A skirt flairing spin leads into a forward flipping drop as Ayame attempts to drive one end of her staff down harshly against Gato's shoulder with enough force to let her flip forward and off of him to complete her airborn trip by descending back down to the stage.
COMBATSYS: Gato blocks Ayame's Random Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Ayame
> ////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Gato interrupts Gold Rush from Roland with Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Ayame
> /////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Roland
Faced with a pincers assault, Gato's mind begins racing, though his face remains unchanging as though the only thing wrong in the world were these fighters who were coming against him. As for Ayame's expertly timed baton beatdown, his body twists ever so slightly, putting his hand in the right position to catch the staff. A quick catch before he releases it and lets the girl continue on her way, nonplussed by her.
Roland on the other hand, gets another taste of his might, the fighter's index and middle finger becoming a single claw that he spins once, before his eyes widen slightly as he finds his target, poking the two fingers at back of Roland's knee that his arching heel exposes. Of course, Gato doesn't come out of this quite so unscathed, his back and shoulder taking a least some of the beating Roland intended, but it does serve to soften the blow at any rate.
Thereafter, the exchange done, Roland's struck knee buckles; that's when he realizes it was hurt. "Agh...!" is hissed out, gingerly resting the majority of the weight on the other. This is bad. This man's like, some kinda fighting god! He had heard of monstrous people in Southtown, but to see one... Geese must be a tiny step above him!! And how terrible HE must be. He begins to huff slightly, dancing foot to foot to loosen the pain. It was a lovetap, he'll get over it. "Alright... I'll unveil it to you now..." Both of Roland's fists twist and clench, and two long blades erupt from the sleeves of his coat. "My perfectly refined killing strike... unfailing technique #1...!!" He suddenly swathes with green energy, surging forward while leaving a trail of afterimages; twisting twice, lashing at Gato's chest before a final rush forward lances them down, trying to cross strike him a final time. The ground dissipates, his chi reaching impressive levels for those couple seconds. Although how effective it was remains to be seen. But it's assuredly a move beyond his present league...!! If still mayhaps not in Gato's.
Flipping forward off of Gato's timely catch of her staff, Ayame drops to the roof of a slightly lower, nearby building after a quick course correction. Sliding to a stop, her feet find traction just before she would have skid right off the side and back down to the stage. But up at this height, the girl has a better shot of pulling off her follow up attack.
The long polearm gets held by her left hand, freeing up her right hand to reach back to that belt of hers, flipping open yet another compartment. "One of these has /got/ to work," she mutters, drawing out three coiled up thin chains, each linked at the center by a metal ring. On each end is a small black bat symbol. "The BatBolas!"
Wasting minimal time with the windup over her head, the girl flings the spinning chains through the air, targeting Gato's neck with the intent of having it strike home at about the same time Roland's unfailing technique #1 becomes a threat.
COMBATSYS: Roland successfully hits Gato with Three Card Monte.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Ayame
> ////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Ayame successfully hits Gato with Hijacked.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Gato 1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0 Ayame
> ////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Roland
As Roland and Ayame bear down on Gato, a slight smile crosses his face. It's so small that those in the audience might blame it on a trick of the lighting, but it definitely is there. Gato twists his body, slowly. Too slowly, given his recent show of lightning speed. Roland's blades hit home, shredding the fabric of his medical coat quite nicely, and even drawing some blood from beneath. Stage Blood, that's what the papers will say. It's like the real thing, only better. This of course brings a wince from Gato, while the other threat collides at about the same time.
The bolas swing in around Gato's neck, causing his wince to deepen as he becomes the victim of vigilante justice. He thinks, a split-second is all he needs to slide away from in between the two, and give himself some breathing room. And breathe he does, puting a fist to a palm while staring at the two, taking a break but nonetheless remaining ready. "Hm..."
COMBATSYS: Gato gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Ayame
> ////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Roland
That's the ticket. "You're not bad!" is offered towards Ayame, beaming with a thumb's up. They managed to stagger the unbeatable man; certainly a feat he couldn't of performed alone, even if Monte did the *majority* of the work. Flexing his fingers, he assesses the current situation. It won't take too many more blows like that for triumph, but such is far easier said then done. He tries to get a sense of what the other tricksy femme fatale will do, and then decides to take the high road and rush forward. Arms and legs churn, before he leaps and spirals, attempting a roundhouse kick to the head. However, his lackluster stretching only gets it up to about stomach level. It's not as cool, but the force is genuine, even if it elicits a grunt of pain. Blegh... he needs to work more on his padding style. Every move can't be a Monte...
Wait, did that guy just spring blades from beneath his coat? So caught up in trying to contend with the much faster fighter, Ayame completely missed the hidden weapons Roland had been utilizing throughout the fight. A blade bearing hat, twin arm blades... Huh. He mentions that she's not bad and Ayame just shakes her head, right hand coming up to take the batmask off and chuck it to the side. "Stupid stuffy things," she mutters as the disguise lands on the stage floor. "Pretty sure it's canon for heroes to lose their masks all the time anyway," she adds, hand coming up to brush her hair back over her shoulder with a shake of her head.
Whelp. No sense in standing around letting Roland think he's doing all the work. Because A, he isn't. And B, well, she doesn't want to be shown up by the sidekick. Her long staff still gripped in her left hand, Ayame charges forward, leaping back up to the building occupied by the villainous Chiropractor.
A sweeping slam from her staff comes early, a feint to draw off Gato's guard as she spins around into her landing, her right hand slamming forward, a small surge of bright red chi exploding out just beyond her palm as the girl attempts to strike him with energy while staying back just far enough to be hard to kick in the stomach again - or so she /hopes/.
COMBATSYS: Gato dodges Roland's Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Ayame
> //////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Gato blocks Ayame's Midsummer Fantasy.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Gato 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Ayame
> //////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Roland
Gato spins away from Roland in a small movement, letting the toe slide just scant inches past his abs while looking at Ayame with some sort of intent. As she feints he moves only slightly, his body flowing like water, while his eyes remain locked onto her. As her palm surgers forward, so do his hands, cupping the blast of energy between them, no doubt searing the callouses on his palms, but for the most part doing little actual damage to the fighter.
With Roland so close to him, Gato takes a short hop into the air, kicking his foot out as he goes towards the man's head, his arms trailing behind him slightly like wings as he does so. The slacks whoosh with the sound of the quick motion, and it looks like he's finally starting to go on the offensive. Well, that will be a nice change. It looks like they've got his attention
COMBATSYS: Roland interrupts Sen-Ga from Gato with Sleight of Hand.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Gato 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Ayame
> /////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Roland
"You don't look half bad without the mask." Roland offers, another of his thumb's up given towards the girl. Yet he senses an opening; there's one thing that no fighter can withstand, jacket pocket dug into the moment Gato springs airwards. Both of his blades sheathe in a rasp of leather in steel. Before... Roland hurls a big handful of sand right in the Chinese Kenpo master's face. He reels away from the kicks at the same instant, but the grazing hurts a hell of a lot more then anything rightfully should. Lunging thereafter, he catches the disoriented Gato with a length of wire from behind, strangling him with a few heavy kidneypunches. Normally, he'd kick them away, but he'll probably have his hand's full just dealing with the huge fellow for the followup. "Oh yeah! That one never fails!! Finish him, you useless girl!" is demanded, quite loudly, towards Ayame. Not that clinging tenaciously would really help with that being done flawlessly...
Uh oh, a compliment. Roland's remark catches Ayame offguard, the girl not really sure how to take it. When conniving she can come across rather adept at smooth talking social interaction, but when her mind hasn't really shifted to think that way she seems more awkward than anything.
What's she supposed to say to that? A quick recap of social cues from various media suggests to her that if she replies back with something similar that would come across flirty and she really has no interest in giving him a reason to think she's interested in him. But if she doesn't acknowledgement, that's not very heroic, which betrays her assigned role for this charity play! "Just keep your mind focused on catching this guy!" she barks back. That sounds about right, she decides, quite proud of herself for quick think- oh, right, head on the fight.
"Hmn," the girl muses, deciding her BatRay didn't have quite the impact she was hoping for. Of course, Roland's antics with sand... wire... and kidneypunches... give her plenty of time to come up with Plan E. With Roland keeping Gato busy, she seeks to take the opportunity to deliver a more simple attack, closing the distance with a short hop and spin into a chest-level jump kick!
COMBATSYS: Gato interrupts Light Kick from Ayame with Zero Kiba.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/----===|=======\====---\1 Ayame
> /////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Roland
Staggering from Roland's admittedly impressive blow, Gato has very little time to think on his feet. Of course, that's no longer a problem, since now that these two are actually managing to snatch victory from him he becomes very angry. Catching Ayame coming at him and, his hand pulls back, his whole body moving with it, before it juts forward with an open palmed strike that knocks Ayame's foot away and sets her up for the terror that comes next.
Gato leaps into the air, his thighs lining up with her temples as he lands on her shoulders and twists up and back, altering their aerial momentum quite a bit. The two of them spin in concert at least three times before the terrible Gato Futaba slams the poor caped crusader onto the soundstage once more no doubt leaving her neck feeling much worse for the wear. With a small grunt of exertion, he lands, eying Roland.
What! He survived Roland's ultimate ambush! Impossible. He fell off at the start of the dreaded Zero Kiba, a move that seems to put his own nemesis' grandest ploy to shame. Grunting with a heavy thud, he scampers to his feet and a comfortable distance away, still panting lightly. Sweat furrows down his brow; he's managed to be rather lucky so far, only taking one heavy hit, but that won't last forever. It's better to end this before he gets hurt, his clothing gets hurt, his weapons get hurt, or distantly Ayame gets hurt. With that he rushes forward, shooting out and lashing his forearm; a running clothesline, intending to take the dreaded Gato down heavily upon his back! It leaves him retardedly open, but assessing optimal moves are for chumps who have time to assess optimal moves. /He/ doesn't.
Ayame gets introduced, rather painfully, to where this particular threat gets his name from. Slammed back staggering, she only just barely begins to regain her balance before she has Gato leaping up onto her shoulders. This can't be good - is about all the time she has to muse before she's hefted up off her feet into an aerial spin before she finds herself driven back down to the stage floor, her neck twisted painfully at a sharp angle, leaving Ayame collapsing flat as Gato rises back up to his feet.
Sprawled out, it looks like that impact pretty much took any interest in fighting clean out of the girl. "Ugh," comes the pained groan as one of her hands comes up to rest against the back of her neck. Her othe hand pushes against the stage floor as she rises up to her knees, head bowed for a long moment. Turning her head side to side a little, she winces as she tests her limits before rising the rest of the way up to standing.
A careful back and forth glance helps her locate her dropped staff, which she fishes off the stage floor and grips tightly in her hands. Breathing in deeply, the girl turns back around to face Gato, brown eyes narrowing a little as she struggles to remain steady. "A very effective technique, villain," she mutters, her voice a bit soft as she tries to ignore the headache she feels coming on.
"But not enough to keep me down!" she snaps, grips on her staff tightening as she begins to gather energy up from the world around her. Beginning as red whisps around her feet, the chi she pulls in takes on a visible spectrum of blue hues as it builds up closer to her torso. Playing at hair and loose bits of clothing, the production's young heroine builds up for an ultimate technique to take this evil villain down!
COMBATSYS: Ayame gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/----===|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Ayame
> //////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Roland
COMBATSYS: Gato dodges Roland's Strong Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/----===|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Ayame
> //////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Roland
Gato grins a bit at the success of his attack, in the meanwhile, he leaps up into the air, and pushes his hands down, a powerful but invisible burst of Chi causing a cloud of dust to appear from inches behind him. The force created causes him to sail over Roland's head and arms, to the other side of the stage where he sighs a bit and takes another bit of a rest, trying to figure out his next strategy. One of the things Grant taught him, to try and keep a mind for strategy in the heat of anger. And though even his slight grin is angry, a calculating look comes on his face. It seems he knows the dangerous position he's in.
So, it's simply time for a break. Take it easy, Gato.
COMBATSYS: Gato gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/------=|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Ayame
> //////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Roland
How very troublesome. The area they gained is rapidly shrinking, and he's lacking the tools to fully capitalize on such. Well, this is it, Mr. Hero. Roland breathes deep, chest stretching, then exhales in a similarly long motion. He focuses, planning intently, before it peters away. Hmmm. Come on, pros do this all the time. Hrrngh! It's somewhat pathetic to see, his impulsive attempts at competency, but surprisingly he manages. Hovering at the precipice of his chi's sudden boost, the mildest shimmer of green. Ah... preparation! His attack speed will now be even more incomparable!! "Are you ready to earn your keep, useless girl?" is shouted to Ayame. "I need to sleep off this hangover, so let's hang this villain out to dry!!"
COMBATSYS: Roland focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/------=|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Ayame
> //////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Roland
Given a chance to catch her breath, Ayame is at least able to see a bit more clearly, her eyes focusing intently back on Gato. He wasn't taking them seriously at the beginning, but they've forced him to rethink that now, she's quite certain. She meets Gato's derisive grin with a quiet smirk of her own. The chi she's drawn into her builds up and around her before collapsing back down, having given her renewed strength to continue.
A side glance is cast toward Roland as he snaps at her again and Ayame spares him a quick glare, "What are you doing over there? You're not about to just go throwing up your drink or something, are you? YOu don't look well." She shakes her head, trying to push back the annoyance. Her focus is on Gato now, and she's gotta get through his difficult defenses one way or another.
"Hah!" She exclaims, spinning her staff around to point it toward Gato. From the end of it a small projectile launches in his direction, exploding into a small smoke cloud in his vicinity. All meant to throw him off and provide cover, as Ayame speeds in right behind it, spinning the weapon around such that the other end faces him now. A second net launches out, this one far larger than the small one she tried to catch Gato with earlier.
If he doesn't get cleanly out of the way, he's in for a violent staff beating as Ayame will tear into him with a fierce combination of spinning strikes, ending with a trip and overhead slam intended to finish him off just like he tried to finish her!
COMBATSYS: Ayame successfully hits Gato with Entrapment.
Glancing Blow
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Ayame
> //////////////// ]
|=======\-------\0 Roland
Well, it's not a clean break, but then again it's not the monster party it could've been if Gato had just stood still and let himself be beaten to a pulp. The smoke cloud serves to dull Gato's eyes, and his movements are quite stilted as he tries to decide which direction to go. In short, he ends up moving backwards as his hands and arms move to try and intercept the staff at each juncture of the attack. Sometimes he succeeds, most times, he fails. He staggers backwards and falls onto his ass as the staff is used to take his legs from under him, and as the overhead slam comes down he rolls to the side, taking everything vital out of the way, but leaving his right hand behind.
Hands smash real good. As he stands from the ordeal, it's clear that he won't be trying to punch with that any time soon, its fingers slightly gnarled as its swollen red knuckles seem to pulse and throb. Thank heavens for glancing blows. Shudder to think what would happen if his head had remained.
Also man he spent so much time worrying about how his hand hurt so bad he didn't even realize he'd found himself by Roland, sending out an overhead quick claw strike. With his left hand, the one that wasn't hurt so bad by Ayame. Ayame really hurt his hand bad, that was why he didn't even realize he'd attacked. It was like a wounded animal. That's what happened.
COMBATSYS: Roland endures Gato's Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Ayame
> ///////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Roland
Whack! Oh, you did not just bitchslap Roland. He stumbles backwards, gripping his cheek as if outright insulted by what took place. "...!!" It freaking hurt too, but he's had worse. Why's this guy giving him little sissy-slaps? Is he not taking it seriously?! "Nice mostly-miss, useless girl! Let me show you how we do it!!" With that, Roland spreads his stance and assumes something like a western quickdraw. Before he begins an onslaught of darts; each trailed by a piece of paper, and each detonating on impact, either with Gato or the surrounding area. He actually continues a pretty impressive volley before cutting off; probably twenty of them left his hands, a blur of green with condensed focus and intent concentration bolstered by his chi... he'll bring the man down all on his own!
He's good, is all the girl has time to muse as Gato manages to fend off a fair amount of the combination assault she was trying to finish him off with. Sliding to a stop with a winded gasp, perspiration dampening her temples as she finishes by spinning her staff up to her shoulders. She blew a lot of her gadgets on that attack but Gato lives on. Tough bugger.
It's about that point that Roland pipes up again and Ayame bristles, teeth clenched. "You were just standing there, how is it you can come off thinking to call me useless when I was the one doing everything!" Half a mind to take a swing at Roland, she checks herself just along enough to speed in after his storm of darts, hefting her staff up into another hop, this one aimed to slamm her weapon down against the top of Gato's head!
COMBATSYS: Roland successfully hits Gato with House Rules.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Ayame
> /////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Roland
COMBATSYS: Gato endures Ayame's Medium Strike.
[ \\\ < > ////////// ]
Gato 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Ayame
> /////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Roland
Gato is pretty much in a rock and a hard place right now. Roland's darts flying into him as he makes a confused expression. His situational awareness having gone right in the toilet somewhere around the time Ayame started bodyrocking him with her damnable baton. The fact that Ayame has decided to join the attack does little to make Gato feel good, although looking at Roland, he doesn't even feel it really. Roland's darts are all that's on his mind. His body letting loose more 'stage blood honest we swear' from various places, he leaps back into the air for one final moment of glory.
If he's going down, he might as well take one of these fools with him, with his last moment of strength, he puts his hands outward again, thrusting. Once again his invisible chi rocks the air, sending a burst of dust up behind Roland as the force of it makes impact with the floor. Hopefully Gato's aim is right, and Roland is in that blast radius, or Gato is going to look mighty silly as he falls to the floor trying to turn Ayame's Robin into Jason Todd.
COMBATSYS: Gato can no longer fight.
> ////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Ayame
> /////////// ]
|=======\=------\1 Roland
COMBATSYS: Roland slows Kou-Ga from Gato with Deuces Wild.
Glancing Hit
> ////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Ayame
> //////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Roland
Once more there's that burst of Emerald, Roland's jaw setting in a firm line before he shoots out one of his prepared darts; the other was only draw when the collision happened. Chi meats green chi, exploding in terrible proximity, underestimating the speed of the sheer raw energy; he's sent flying backwards, but diffused it enough to survive. Landing in a crouch, blood droplets dripping from clenched teeth, he teeters there a few moments. Before exhaling, and wobbling to his feet. One hand tips his hat forward, to a properly stylish angle. "Looks like Wonder Kid stole the title of ‘hero' from you, useless girl..." He flashes her a smile, all teeth and all sublime arrogance. "You can thank me for pullin' in the win later if you want." That posturing aside, Gato is given a frown and repressed shudder. Is that really the upper echelons of fighting...? How many more people are like that in Southtown? ...It's absolutely thrilling!
Her staff swing hits its mark, adding one more hit for Gato to cope with alongside Roland's flurry of darts. Hopping backward from the more experienced fighter, the girl lands, bracing behind her staff, the weapon held in front of her at a defensive angle, just in case he tries to come after her next.
But instead the villain of the week drops to the floor right on schedule and the two unlikely hero fillins can count themselves the victor. With relief that the match is over, Ayame collapses her staff back down and slides it into her belt before her right hand comes up to rest against her forehead, still reeling from Gato's neck-correcting technique.
But it seems that this fantastic team has horrible morale issues! Ayame spins toward Roland as he claims all the credit for pulling off the win for this match. Eyebrow twitching, her hands clench her staff tightly as she grits her teeth, "What?! I couldn't even tell you were doing anything!" she barks back. "You're fired! I don't need a sidekick with attitude problems like yours!" she continues as she whirls around, her back toward Roland, arms folded over her chest.
Really. Just because he had a couple neat gimmicks ANY fighter could do, doesn't mean he's all that. Hmph!
"Don't even!! I did all the damage, and I don't even get one skirt swish! Isn't this a television show?! Sakura does it, and look how popular she is!!" Roland retorts, as if this is somehow indisputeable proof. Or the severity of her crime. But he pulls at the collar of his shirt, grimacing once more with audible cracks coming from somewhere unpleasant. "Whatever... useless girl... go watch the video and see who really had the best techniques." He then begins a painful limp offstage, offering a lazy wave behind him; at who, is hard to say, but he's taking his leave. "Ask me sometime... maybe I'll teach you how to really fight..."
COMBATSYS: Ayame has left the fight here.
> //////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Roland
Log created on 18:38:23 04/13/2008 by Ayame, and last modified on 15:39:36 04/15/2008.