Description: AMERICAN GLADIATORS SNF. Watch as people totally forget to actually climb the thing! Be astounded as everyone counters at once! Watch Setsuka be freaky! (Winners: Setsuka/Kiyoko)
The Spider stands at the base of the American Gladiators pyramid, smoking a pre-fight cigarette. Mirrored aviator shades cover his eyes, and black grizzle covers his face. It's been a couple days since he shaved - someone doesn't understand television, apparently. He waits for the fight to start, exhaling a cloud of smoke out the side of his mouth. He slowly rolls his head around on his neck, cracking his vertebrae.
COMBATSYS: Spider has started a fight here.
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Spider 0/-------/-------|
Flora is not too far away. She thought about trying to strike up a conversation with her partner, but never quite got up the nerve to do so; he makes her uncomfortable even if she can't clearly state why.
Dressed in her gi and hakama, Flora actually looks like a real fighter instead of a too-big student, which is a start. She spends a few moments making sure her bowstring is in good condition and then looks up at the pile of mats. There certainly seem to be a lot of them; it goes up higher than she thought they would.
Flora swallows, once, then looks toward the opponents. Don't lose your nerve, she thinks, just do it, it's simple enough...
COMBATSYS: Flora has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Flora 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Spider
COMBATSYS: Spider has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Flora 0/-------/-------|
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Spider 0/-------/-------|
This is Setsuka's first time to the 'big spectacle' of Saturday Night Fight... and probably not her last. But this particular venue... well, it just proves that money can do anything, except maybe make some people not-crazy. Setsuka showed up knowing what the show was about... but she is -damned- if she will wear one of those ugly spandex bodycondom things. So instead, she's wearing a black leather bodysuit, the 'catsuit' type of deal...
... and yes, she has her blade with her. Again she's gone with the kodachi, figuring that ease of movement will be the key factor in this match. Not that she intends on reaching the scoring button but speed is, as always, her primary goal. Shaking her head in rueful amusement, she approaches, spotlighted by the attentive production crew; regarding the big, soft-foam pyramid, she leaps up onto it, in a single bound, landing quite steadily, despite the unstable footing that is the nature of 'the pyramid'. As she lands, she glances over at the opponents. One she's met in battle already... the other is new to her. But that's fine with her. New people means... new pain to taste...
COMBATSYS: Setsuka has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Flora 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-------|
American Gladiators! ...not a show Kiyoko had ever taken much interest in. It does have some appeal, but why beat around the bush creating pseudo combat situations when you can have the 'gladiators' just fight each other? Well, maybe they like their fighting diluted and confused over in America?
Whatever the case the purple haired youth is busy getting herself ready. A few stretches are done to make sure her legs are warmed up and loose- getting a cramp while trying to climb that pyramid would be a real pain. Especially considering how /large/ the steps are compared to her. The pyramid was not created with schoolgirls in mind, especially not those of the Japanese variety. Sure she's a bit tall for all that, but the steps were made for people around six feet tall! Which means she'll be more making jumps rather than huge steps- but that's ok she's good at that.
Decked out in her standard Tai Chi uniform she seems ready to go now that everyone's shown up. A quick smile is given to everyone that she can actually see, and she takes her first tentative steps onto the pyramid, quickly realizing what her partner had already known- that the soft foam is going to be awful for keeping your footing and springing off of. Well, at least everyone has the same disadvantage, right?
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Flora 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko focuses on her next action.
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Flora 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
Flora is not precisely worried about the height of each space, because she's the tallest one here by almost a foot. As always. Sigh.
Flora continues to look rather nervous and decidedly uncomfortable until the starting bell (buzzer, in this case) rings, and the cameras all focus on her and the other fighters. Then she looks /really/ uncomfortable for a few startled seconds, but she forces it down and bursts into action.
Before she gets more than a level or two up the pyramid, Flora uses her extremely long reach to swing her oversized, reinforced bow in a wide arc at Setsuka. It's not designed to smack into her so much as just yank her off balance so that it takes her a moment longer to follow the tall schoolgirl up the pyramid, which is where she goes immediately after that.
The Spider leaps up the first few steps, crouching with a hand on the ground, as he tosses his cigarette away with his hand. He peers at Kiyoko from behind his aviator shades, exhaling smoke through his nose, and then produces a faint sneer. "You. Yeah, you." He suddenly springs into motion, attempting to slam into Kiyoko and take her to the pyramid mat with a quick shoulder tackle.
COMBATSYS: Setsuka blocks Flora's Hooking Sweep.
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Flora 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
And so it begins... Setsuka is already up on that first tier of the pyramid, having not really understood the point of the 'game'... and having already decided that it isn't the game that -she- is going to play. That arcing weapon is met simply by a rock-solid stance; it does in fact yank, but all it does is actually pull Setsuka towards the young girl who has decided to take her as an opponent.
It wasn't a bad strike but Setsuka was ready for it--the question is, will Flora be ready for the return? Because Setsuka is not oft-inclined to simply take damage--she lunges forward... then stops short, or s it seems. Somewhere during that move, her left hand fell to the scabbard, her right to the hilt of her blade--and then she's slashing outward, though she's still a level below Flora.
The concept is not to slash Flora--but to unleash a arc-wave of blue-purple energy, sparking and cold, slashing through the air at her would-be opponent.
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko dodges Spider's Quick Throw.
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Flora 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
With things underway Kiyoko takes her time to see what everyone else is doing rather than rushing off to try something brash. It is, in this case, something that pays off well. Spider is rushing towards her as soon as the match begins and it's due only to her awareness that she's ready for him when he comes. Likewise her stretches have done their part, making her nice and limber. As he rushes at her with his shoulder she hops quickly, ascending to the next level of the pyramid and sending Spider shooting past.
Much like her teammate she isn't going to simply stand there and take it. She rolls forward onto her hands, actually rolling off the higher tier in order to get on an even level with Spider, and attempts to hook her legs tightly around her neck before swinging herself backward in an attempt to lift him up and over herself and slam him down to the admittedly soft padding. Still, it'll wrench his neck rather badly if she gets her hold!
COMBATSYS: Flora blocks Setsuka's Kuukan Zan.
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Flora 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
Flora has seen people do the energy thing before - she can do it herself - but it is actually the first time she has ever been the /target/ of it. Flora acts exactly like it was a thrown rock, leaping backwards with the motion (she actually ends up one 'floor' higher) and bringing her arms to cover her torso from the blast.
She lands a moment later, a little awkwardly but fairly well. Flora reaches around and pulls out a blunted arrow from its quiver, changing her grip on the curved weapon just a little. She draws it back, swinging it from target to target as if she can't quite make up her mind who to fire it at.
Flora settles on Kiyoko but it takes her a moment to do that. The arrow is blunt, not sharp, and is not likely to draw much blood; it's rather like getting punched, although over a much smaller area.
COMBATSYS: Spider blocks Kiyoko's Harvest Moon.
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Flora 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
The Spider's arms come up as Kiyoko's legs close around his head, holding her legs as he's swung around through the air. He manages to force his way free at the end of the throw and lands on his knee. His leg swings out as he attempts to catch her ankle with the crook of his foot and simultaneously slam her with the blade of his outstretched hand, knocking her to the ground.
Ho ho... so they're teaming up on Kiyoko, are they? How deliciously unsportsmanlike. Glancing back and forth, she considers a moment. Flora or Spider... Spider or Flora. Who will be the most fun to injure? Flora, she is quick to note, switched targets quickly... perhaps she's more afraid? Or perhaps not... she'll pursue her for a bit longer, she decides. Spider's tasted her blade already, and Flora deserves the same opportunity.
The swordswoman is agile--her balance unaffected in the least by the shaky pyramid. Crouching, she leaps upwards, after Flora--actually, leaping hard enough to take her -past- Flora. As she goes, she turns, flipping over a full three-sixty degrees.
The manuever has two goals--the first, to keep her facing her quarry. The second, to allow a slashing attack. Should Flora not be terribly careful, she will find the tip of a blade cutting through her clothing and into the flesh underneath. The blade would part muscle and skin easily--potentially a disabling wound, but not a dismembering one.
Setsuka is very careful.
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko dodges Flora's Strong Shot.
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Flora 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko dodges Spider's Hymn of Solomon.
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Flora 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
Spiders defense against Kiyokos attack isn't obvious until the very end, where he manages to move himself in a way that keeps him from hitting the foam very hard at all. And just as she's getting up she finds herself getting attacked from two different directions- first of all by a blunted arrow shot at her by Flora and secondly by a leg sweep and knockdown by Spider. Rather than dealing with each attack separately she goes for an all or nothing maneuver, thrusting herself backwards while falling to the ground, the attempt to snag her ankle going under her now airborn feet even as the arrow flies only inches above her body.
She's quick to get back up, rolling over onto her stomach and then pushing off and turning back to face Spider in a single motion. He's shown ability to defend against her grapple, so she's going to test him against her strikes. Rather than coming fully off the ground she moves in low, moving just within striking distance and then snapping out with a horizontal chop at Spiders knee, a blow that will be more painful and jarring than disabling if it hits, the girl attempting to quickly withdraw after the attack. "Yah!"
COMBATSYS: Setsuka successfully hits Flora with Quick Strike.
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Flora 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
COMBATSYS: Spider fails to counter Quick Punch from Kiyoko with Star of Zion.
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Flora 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
Flora is reasonably careful, but she's big and not as fast as she could be. The blade slips into her back, and Flora yelps, immediately doing her very best to put some distance between Setsuka and her. She /is/ afraid, or at least edgy.
Having gone partway around the pyramid, Flora pulls another arrow, draws it back - further back than a European archer might - and... holds it. She breathes in, she breathes out, trying to relax even though she's in the middle of a fight and focus her energy, just like she was taught. It's not a fast process.
COMBATSYS: Flora gathers her will.
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Flora 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
The Spider gets chopped right in the side of the knee, and his leg goes out from under him. He stares up at Kiyoko in shock as he climbs to his feet, his leg shuddering as he wrenches it with both hands. His kneecap back in position, he raises his hands into fighting position, gesturing for Kiyoko to bring it on.
She pauses, just a moment, to savor that pain, as it runs through Flora, silvery and bright. It is indescribable... Her eyes seem to brighten when Flora yelps. Yessss... she likes that. Like... well, like a spider, actually... she lowers her center of gravity and scrambles--gracefully, but she -is- scrambling--around to where Flora is. She stays low... until she pops up in front of Flora, smiling saucily.
"Hello again," she purrs, "Shall we try that again?" And she feints another slash--the blade actually comes out of its scabbard, partly--but just as quickly it's back in... and as she's feinting, she's moving forward. The movement is just to draw the eye--the actual attack, when it comes, is a lifted right knee, right into Flora's stomach.
It will be a different type of pain, but just as delicious to Setsuka.
The chop was effective, so there's simply no reason at all for Kiyoko to quit. The look of shock he gives her isn't recognized- it's hard to figure out what someone's thinking when they've got such large sunglasses on. Nice and sportsmanlike she waits for Spider to get back up and move into his fighting posture. Once he does, however, it's on. Having gotten to her feet while he was grounded she lifts her left leg off the ground and lashes out with a fast kick at his head- one that misses just enough that she can bend her knee and try to smack him in the other side with a snap kick.
COMBATSYS: Flora blocks Setsuka's Light Kick.
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Flora 0/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
The kick is caught by Flora with one of her own knees; it looks like a very uncomfortable way to stand, not to mention unbalancing, but she manages to hop back on her other leg without being kicked over, /and/ it doesn't hit her quite as hard as it otherwise might.
She is still holding the arrow back. Flora plants her foot back down and keeps backing up, firing as she starts to go around the corner of the pyramid; the arrow moves so quickly that it's nearly invisible, hitting with the same blunt force as the last.
COMBATSYS: Spider blocks Kiyoko's Light Kick.
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Flora 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
The Spider's arm jabs out, knocking the kick aside. "Hrmph," he murmurs, as he stares down Kiyoko from behind those mirrored shades. He shimmies his left hand, before his right lunges out. His body moves in perfect sync, poetry in motion, as he jabs his fingers at her throat, attempting to crush her windpipe.
COMBATSYS: Setsuka dodges Flora's Secret Hunt.
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Flora 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
"Ot-to..." It's a very odd strange sound for Setsuka to make, and yet entirely appropriate. Perhaps she's reading Flora well, because as she releases that arrow, that nearly invisible arrow, Setsuka really just twists a little--the arrow sails past her. Or does it? Because that arrow isn't seen on the monitors. (Even if it is practically invisible.). She glances backwards, but really, Kiyoko and Spider seem just fine...
"Floooooora...." she coos, sickeningly-sweetly... definitely playing with her partner, here... "Why are you running...?" She's speeding up, playing catchup with Flora. The pursuit is rather creepy, though--she's reamining low to the pyramid... but she doesn't get within sword range. Instead... she pauses just outside that range and smiles.
"You forgot something, Flora," she chastises, mockingly. "Don't drop it!" And then her right hand flicks upwards, and that arrow is sailing back for Flora's body.
COMBATSYS: Spider successfully hits Kiyoko with Quick Punch.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Flora 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Kiyoko
Kiyoko's foot is halted as Spiders forearm interposes itself between Kiyoko and himself. His form is perfect as he strikes, and even as the girl tries to bring her leg down and move her own arms up in a defensive manner there's simply nothing she can do to protect herself from the attack. The finger jab forward and crush into her throat, causing an immediate reaction. A choking noise is all that escapes from her as she stumbles backwards and away, unable to breathe for several long moments. Finally though there's a loud gasp as she's finally able to draw in air, and then a short bout of coughing.
Shaking her head at herself she steadies herself and then squares back off against Spider. She considers her options for a short moment and then steps forward, her arms suddenly moving very quickly as she gets close to him and attacks. Attacking in a way that can only be a Tai Chi workout modified into an attack she swings her arms around in fast, graceful motions, attempting to smack Spider about with a long series of chops and knife hands.
COMBATSYS: Flora dodges Setsuka's Large Thrown Object.
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Flora 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Kiyoko
Flora has never had anyone throw an arrow /back/ at her. It's a new thing. She reacts to it by throwing herself flat; the arrow goes over her head harmlessly, and Flora scrambles back up to her feet a moment later, holding her weapon like a staff rather than a bow instead.
"..." Flora starts to say something, but closes her mouth a moment later. She lunges forward toward Setsuka, striking with the lower part of her staff by bringing it up and then jabbing with it as if it was a standard staff butt rather than the hooked end it actually is. "How are you?" she calls toward Spider, instead.
COMBATSYS: Spider fails to counter Summer Squall from Kiyoko with Star of Zion.
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Flora 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Kiyoko
The Spider gets chopped and kicked backwards, slowly giving ground and getting backed down the pyramid. The final stray is when he takes a chop to the jaw, his teeth gritting as his jaw slides to the side and his head snaps. He drops to the ground, stunned and dazed.
COMBATSYS: Setsuka counters Power Strike from Flora with Oborozuki.
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Flora 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Kiyoko
Tsk. Well, it's alright. It was just a distraction anyways, wasn't it? Setsuka smiles at Flora, and the smile is the kind that you see on cartoon cats playing with their mice... well. The switch of the bow to a staff-style weapon, now that's interesting. Also interesting: Setsuka isn't moving at all as Flora thrusts the bow at her body. She doesn't move at all, and what Flora may feel is the feel of a perfect strike--but by the time the staff's end has passed through where Setsuka is, she isn't there.
Right at impact, her body flared with energy--blue-purple energy, like she was made of it--and disappeared. But the reappearance was nearly instantaneous--behind Flora, maybe just a foot past... her right hand held up, a blade-like projection of that energy hissing from her fist... that blade is brought across Flora's back as she turns to face her erstwhile opponent.
"You shouldn't run, Flora... it just takes longer..."
Despite Spiders efforts he ends up getting beaten by the strikes of the young woman, battered about before finally getting forced to the ground. It's at this point where Kiyoko isn't entirely sure what to do next. Perhaps switching targets with her team mate... but no, they're doing well enough, why do something that might stir the pot? Deciding that she simply needs to press on and continue to attack she advances on Spider. Thinking that he's probably a good enough fighter to take care of himself she attacks while he's still grounded, stepping forward even again and balling her right hand into a fist. She swings downward at a harsh angle and bends down herself, trying to drive her fist into his stomach while she has an advantage. "Hah!"
The blade hurts. A lot, actually. You don't realize how much it's going to hurt until it actually happens, Flora reflect. Maybe she shouldn't have gotten into this around someone like /this/. She's crazy!
Flora makes a pained sound as she turns around, trying to ignore the wound in her back and managing with mixed success. Lunging forward again, she brings her staff up, trying to literally throw Setsuka into the air with her spinning curved staff.
And then she brings her staff the /other/ way to slam Setsuka to the ground once she's done that. She's still biting her lip, too - that really hurt! More than Aprile punching her, that's for sure.
COMBATSYS: Spider dodges Kiyoko's Strong Punch.
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Flora 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Kiyoko
The Spider's legs come up and wrap around Kiyoko's arm, his feet digging into her shoulder and stopping her fist before it can reach him. He has her just where he wants her. He grabs at her wrist, and then attempts to turn to the side, giving her arm a mighty snap with the intent of possibly breaking it.
COMBATSYS: Setsuka blocks Flora's Mantis Snap.
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Flora 1/------=/=======|===----\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Kiyoko
Yesss. Setsuka -wants- it to hurt. Laughingly, she uses her right hand to grab the end of the flying staff... yes, she's launched into the air, but not in an uncontrolled manner. As she flies up, she's twisting gracefully, almost lazily, and when that slamming strike comes down, she's ready; she catches the impact on the scabbard of her blade, reinforced with both hands. The impact sends a shiver down her arms, and through her spine, but she seems to delight in it anyways.
"Mmm," she murmurs, still smiling, as she lands. "That could've hurt very badly," she says, to Flora, as she goes into a low crouch... and then comes up. Up, and forward, as she seeks to step -past- Flora, to the other girl's right...
And as she steps her right hand is reaching out, seeking to snag Flora by the throat, to use it as a grip to literally force the girl down, to trip her up. The impact might not be as intended, with the soft mats, but that's why she adds just a little squeeze. A love-squeeze, yes.
COMBATSYS: Spider successfully hits Kiyoko with Strong Throw.
- Power hit! -
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Flora 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Kiyoko
Attacking someone when they are down: Bad Idea! This is a thought that's firmly placed into Kiyoko's mind as her arm is caught and trapped by the leg hold. It takes her a moment to realize just now much danger that limb is in until he rips on the limb. A scream of pain suddenly escapes from the woman as he wrenches on it, and an ugly sounding pop accompanies it. Lucky for her it's only the sound of her shoulder dislocating nastily and not her arm itself snapping like a twig! But still she can't escape his hold, sweat forming on her forehead from the sheer pain he's causing her. In desperation the girl lashes out, her free arm swiping through the air, a trail of green energy following after it and forming a crescent that immediately shoots forward at him while at literally zero range. "L-let go!"
COMBATSYS: Setsuka successfully hits Flora with Quick Throw.
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Flora 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Kiyoko
Flora is not actually all that good at getting thrown around; she's too big and she tends to trip over her own feet, rather like so.
The squeeze doesn't help matters much.
Flora, on the ground, can barely use her staff and can't use it as a bow at all. She scrambles up to her feet a little slower than she would like to, actually coming up to her full height; Setsuka comes up to somewhere around her chest. This is why Flora almost never stands up straight.
She tries to literally pick up Setsuka and throw her back down the pyramid, giving herself time to go /up/ it. Her eyes are a little wide. Setsuka is, admittedly, a little freaky. Maybe that's it.
COMBATSYS: Spider blocks Kiyoko's Spring Blossom.
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Flora 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
The Spider releases Kiyoko's mangled arm, and brings up his arms to block the crescent. It leaves sizzling black marks on his jacket, as he climbs to his feet. "This is a good jacket," he explains with distaste. He stands before Kiyoko, on the pyramid and cheered on by the audience, catching his breath for a few moments.
COMBATSYS: Spider gains composure.
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Flora 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
COMBATSYS: Flora successfully hits Setsuka with Strong Throw.
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Flora 1/---====/=======|======-\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
... Yes, Flora is tall. Setsuka probably wasn't expecting her opponent to pick her up bodily and -toss-... but as she careens through the air on her short trip... she starts laughing, a sound only interrupted by the involuntary release of breath as she impacts--hard.
Flora might have a few moments to gain some headway up the pyramid but... well, let's face it... she's playing a different game and Setsuka's not interested in that one. Instead, the sword-wielding woman makes her way back up the pyramid, swiftly, leaping upwards... though very fast, she's not quite a blur, at least, not until she's at the same level as Flora.
And then she is--a blur that stops, very abruptly, at Flora, with a hand already reaching for Flora's gi top. No, she isn't intent on de-clothing the young woman--instead, she's reaching out for Flora's top as a convienient grip, to hurl her back down the pyramid with an almost negligent gesture, a turn towards the audience that lets her get enough motion to fling the other girl downwards.
The shot of energy is defended against, but all that means to Kiyoko is that the arm is indeed let go of. She lets out a sigh of relief as he releases the limb, rubbing the shoulder gently as it pops back into place. Not wanting to risk that arm getting hurt again so soon she goes for a simple maneuver, scooting in close to Spider and attempting to trip him to the ground sweeping his legs out from under him.
COMBATSYS: Setsuka successfully hits Flora with Yamikaze - Nage.
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Flora 1/-======/=======|=======\-------\0 Setsuka
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Spider 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
Flora is very glad that she's not being de-clothed on international television because that would probably be the end of her career as a fighter due to sheer mortification.
She does go flying, though, landing several 'floors' down and bouncing on the springy mats. She twists around enough to not land on her bow and break it, but still fails to land on her feet; Flora ends up on her back for a moment. She would have been more dazed had she hit something that wasn't mats.
Flora gets back up to her feet quickly, though, or as quickly as might be expected given her condition: bruised and battered. She draws three arrows, holding them delicately between fingers, and draws back, loosing all three at once.
They start as three but by the time they get up to Setsuka, there are twelve. NIne of them flicker and are vaguely greenish, chi duplications that split off the real ones, but all of them impact equally hard; the duplicates explode into tiny bursts and the real ones just bruise like any of her other blunt arrows.
COMBATSYS: Spider fails to counter Quick Throw from Kiyoko with Star of Zion.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Flora 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
The Spider turns his head to the side, spitting out a mouthful of blood. As Kiyoko approaches him, he raises his guard, but is not ready for her to drop down and sweep. His legs are knocked out from beneath him, and he hits the pyramid in a pile of limbs.
COMBATSYS: Setsuka blocks Flora's Thousand Flight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Flora 0/-------/----===|=======\==-----\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
Well, that is... that's quite a technique. Setsuka -actually- looks surprised for a moment. But in a good way. It's always delightful for opponents to show her something she hasn't seen before, and she definitely hasn't seen that before. Rather than try to be evasive, she just covers up; the impacts jolt her body, and the sting of that chi is not to be denied at all... but she's still standing. Perhaps it's too far away for Flora to really see, but Setsuka's smile hasn't faded in the least.
"That wasn't bad at all, my dear Flora, but you see... now I'm between you and your goal..." She gestures upwards, at the 'button' that they're supposed to press. "I wonder, will you stay down there and try to shoot me down... or will you actually come up for me...? I do so miss you, Flora..." Definitely mocking. And as she's mocking... she starts to glow, limned in that strange, blue-purple energy...
COMBATSYS: Setsuka gathers her will.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Flora 0/-------/----===|=======\======-\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
COMBATSYS: Setsuka has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Flora 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Spider 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Flora has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
COMBATSYS: Spider has left the fight here.
> ///////////////// ]
|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko has ended the fight here.
Kiyoko's quick sweep seems to do it's job just fine, leaving the young woman in a relatively good position against Spider. Unlike last time she isn't moving in to try and punch him while he's down, still taking a bit of time to nurse her hurt shoulder. A quick glance over to Flora and Setsuka tells her that her partner seems to have everything under control on her end as well. Her face makes a little frown of concentration as she tries to decide what she should do next, and in the end she decides upon caution. Right now her main opponent is Spider, but things could change in the blink of an eye, and despite a few utterly brutal blows that have been laid upon her the careful analytical style of fighting she's used this fight has proven effective. Why mess with what's working?
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Flora 0/-------/----===|=======\======-\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
It really is a tough decision. Flora could chase Setsuka up there, but Setsuka is still rather unnerving and Flora doesn't really want to tempt melee with her any more. She pulls back her bowstring after a pause, holding one of those blunt arrows carefully in her hands.
And then she decides to take a different decision entirely. Flora turns her upper body and doesn't fire up at all; she fires obliquely, toward Kiyoko's back, to interrupt her even as she goes after Spider and maybe lend a hand to her theoretical ally. Focus beats responding to Setsuka's taunting, though; this way she doesn't have to think about that very much.
The Spider turns his head to the side, spotting Flora out of the corner of his eye. He frowns as his eyes flick back to Kiyoko. In an attempt to get her trapped between two attacks, he takes a step forward, before emitting a mighty, "Hurrraaah!" His leg flies out, the heel of his boot aimed at Kiyoko's jawline.
Ohhh...? So Flora -is- afraid... yes. Yes, Setsuka can feel it now, that bright line... Well then. It seems they want to team up on poor Kiyoko. Then again... they tried that before, with not very good results. So.. perhaps she can just stay here. "Flooooooraaaaa... why won't you come play?" calls the catsuited young woman, brandishing her blade... that glow's faded, at least, for the moment.
"Kiyoko~~" coos the woman, as she watches Flora most intently. Not just Flora, of course, but Spider as well... these people can be so unpredictable, after all... "Kiyoko, I'm afraid you'll just have to hold them off... I'm simply too far away to help..." That is a blatant lie, now, isn't it? Setsuka smiles. She's going to be ready, come what may...
Hopefully it will be the glorious Flora's pain she'll taste again...
COMBATSYS: Setsuka focuses on her next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Flora 0/-------/----===|=======\======-\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko auto-guards Spider's Desert Sun!
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Flora 0/-------/----===|=======\======-\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Kiyoko
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko overcomes Medium Shot from Flora with Vernal Equinox.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Flora 0/-------/----===|=======\======-\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
Kiyoko is immediately very glad that she decided to simply stay back and observe her opponents. Moving into attack could have put her directly into the clutches of the Spider, and if she'd turned her back on Flora she may never have even noticed the blunted arrow that's now shooting her direction.
But as it stands now she's in good position to deal with them both. She has to deal with Spider first because of his proximity, and deal with it she does. As his boots come kicking up for her jaw her hands fly up in front of herself as she takes a fast step backwards. Perhaps normally her hands might have stung from the impact, but this time something's different- a green glow around her hands, a thin barrier of chi absorbing the kinetic impact and leaving her completely unharmed.
And not only that, it means that she's in an excellent position to deal with that arrow. Her chi already drawn and ready she quickly whirls towards it, her hands arcing through the air one, two, three times in full, creating a trio of crescents in the air that merge into a single large shell of energy that bursts forward. The arrow impacts the spheroid of chi and deflects away harmlessly, leaving the bulk of the force barreling towards the bow-woman at breakneck speed.
A short, satisfied exhalation is given and she looks up to Setsuka, "Sounds good! I could probably use a little help with this guy down here, though!" After all, she's barely gotten a chance to fight Flora.
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko successfully hits Flora with Vernal Equinox.
[ \\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Flora 0/-------/=======|=======\======-\1 Setsuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
Flora has never seen anyone shoot back into her arrow. She needs more experience, badly, if she's never seen anyone do something that simply - but it does distract her for the critical few instants before she changes her grip and jumps, a sudden leap that almost makes Flora blur with the speed.
The energy orb plows into her midway, partially interrupting her jump, but Flora keeps coming, swinging her staff downward to crack into Kiyoko a moment later. Or that's what she's trying to do, at least; from going through the chi blast, her aim is a little off.
She crashes to the ground a moment later, tucking and rolling as best she can but too dazed to clamber back onto the pyramid. This, unfortunately, disqualifies her.
COMBATSYS: Flora can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/-----==|=======\======-\1 Setsuka
> ///////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
The Spider's foot rebounds off of Kiyoko violently, and it moves to the ground. He narrows his eyes, noting that one of his most powerful assaults failed to do /any/ damage. He looks across the pyramid, noting that Flora is down. It's time to get serious. He reaches into his brown jacket, and draws a vicious looking combat knife. "I'm gonna carve you up like a turkey," he hisses, before lunging at Kiyoko and attempting to stab her in the gut.
Ahahahah! Kiyoko takes Flora out... that's irksome for the young woman named Setsuka. She had wanted to be the one to take Flora out. But, at least there's another target... Setsuka nods to herself. Yes... Spider will do nicely... but he's so far away, isn't he? Well...
Setsuka crouches, then leaps high into the air, from near the top of the pyramid... she descends. Of course the cameras are on her, but she's nearly silent, as she drops...
Her target is simple--it's Spider's back. She intends to carve a long, deep furrow down his back. Carefully, of course--she doesn't want to cause him -permanent- injury... but the slice she cuts into his might be more than enough to make him give up the fight.
Carve her like a turkey? Perhaps it'll be Spider who is carved like a turkey...
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko dodges Flora's Leaping Surge.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/-----==|=======\======-\1 Setsuka
> ///////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko dodges Spider's City of God.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/-----==|=======\======-\1 Setsuka
> ///////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Kiyoko
Kiyoko once again finds herself the target of both Flora and Spider, but from the looks of it she's getting used to the doubleteaming. Unlike before it's Flora she has to be the most careful of, the young woman streaking down from above towards her with that staff. Kiyoko has a bit of experience fighting staff-wielders, mainly from several fights she's had with Ayame. Something she's learned is that getting hit with one of those /hurts/, and second of all you don't go trying to grab one of those out of their hands- that just gets you beat up bad.
She takes the most cautions actions she possibly can, backpedaling as fast as her legs will take her and then ducking down as low as she can squish herself into the foam, the end result being a staff shooting directly over her head as Flora passes.
And then there's Spider, who's decided the time for punches and kicks has ended and the time to pull out a knife and shank the girl has come. The teen responds as one might expect, letting out a cry of shock and scrambling away from him, crab walking backwards away from him as he stabs, the knife slicing through her top but, luckily for her, failing to make purchase on flesh.
It's safe to assume that Kiyoko doesn't want Spider anywhere near her at this point, even with Setsuka acting as her savior and leaping down from above to slash at him. But even that isn't fast enough for Kiyoko, who quickly gets back to her feet and grabs Spider by the arm, channeling chi through her own in order to gain a good amount of extra strength so she can /hurl/ the man straight at the descending swordswoman- that ought to give her slash a bit of extra impact!
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko successfully hits Spider with Spring Rain.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/---====|=======\======-\1 Setsuka
> //////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Kiyoko
COMBATSYS: Spider blocks Setsuka's Power Strike.
[ \\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Spider 0/-------/--=====|=======\======-\1 Setsuka
> //////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Kiyoko
The Spider gets tossed into Setsuka's assault, getting impaled by her blade. He falls to the ground, bloody and spitting crimson ooze. He shakes his head back and forth, and stands up. "Ladies, there's enough of me to go around," he hisses lowly, with a rare joke. He then jerks his hand out at Setsuka's throat, aiming to plunge his fingers into her windpipe. He's getting tired fast, and can't fight much longer. He's against insurmountable odds - why doesn't he yield?
COMBATSYS: Setsuka counters Hand of Samael from Spider with Shimatsuri.
[ < > /////////////// ]
Spider 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Setsuka
> //////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Kiyoko
A smile. That's the last the Spider will see of Setsuka for this moment... Just as his fingers seek to plunge into her flesh, she pulls that nifty disappearing trick again, her body suddenly glowing blue-purple, then vanishing. Like she did to Flora, she appears behind the Spider--her left hand glowing, that blade of Psycho Power shining from it... and her kodachi drawn in her right hand.
The first slash is from her left hand--carving an invisible furrow across his back. And then she slashes with her right, the cut deep enough to cause bloodloss, but again, no permanent injury... the attacks come fast and furious, blood spraying across Setsuka's face as she alternates, with an energy slash and a slash from her sword... three of each and then the energy blade fades away...
.. and Setsuka inserts her sword through Spider's abdomen, angled very precisely to only nick a lung... he may have a moment to look down to see the blade through his torso before she pulls it free and steps away... her eyes alight with a very, very cold light.
The Spider gets diced up like a carmelized onion at TGIFriday's, and coughs sharply as his lung is pierced. He stumbles forward, before falling over and rolling down the pyramid. The medical staff rush to him, to prevent further blood loss. He's down.
COMBATSYS: Spider takes no action.
> /////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Setsuka
> //////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Kiyoko
COMBATSYS: Spider can no longer fight.
> /////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Setsuka
> //////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Kiyoko
That display of carnage from Setsuka only gets a blank look from Kiyoko as she slashes into Spider and then impales him on her blade. It's more than a little brutal compared to what she's used to! She can't know of the pinpoint precision of the blade, of course, so that very well could be a killing blow to her eyes. "J-jeeze..." While a few moments ago she was acting exhilarated and excited at her performance, now she just feels bad. Admittedly the man /did/ try to stab her, but did he deserve /that/? From the look on her face she doesn't think so. "Ehehe..."
COMBATSYS: Kiyoko takes no action.
> /////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Setsuka
> //////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Kiyoko
With a flourish, Setsuka produces a fine handkerchief in her left hand; she uses it to clean the blade, from the hilt to the tip... and then the bloody cloth is tossed to the flooring, negligently. Her expression as she gazes at Kiyoko is... amused, in a condescending way.
"It's no less than he would have done to either of us, Fukakami-/san/... or did you not notice the knife he pulled?" Another smile, almost negligent. "I was careful. He shouldn't be too injured... possibly just a half-inch nick on his lung. Easily survivable." That said, she turns, and leaps off the pyramid; landing on the floor, she just starts walking off. Oh yeah, she has blood on her face... that'll come off later.
COMBATSYS: Setsuka has left the fight here.
> //////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Kiyoko
"Y-yeah. I guess you're probably right." Some people just fight in ways that are inherently more brutal and vicious than others- it's something she still hasn't quite gotten over yet. She can easily see someone using techniques like that in a life or death situation, but that people are willing to use them in a sporting event still erks her, even if she's been exposed to a few examples of it.
"Anyway, I think we made a good team!" Any further comments simply trail off into nothingness as Setsuka walks away, the blood still on her face. Kiyoko gives a look up at the buzzer up at the top of the pyramid, and decides it'd probably be anti-climactic to just walk up there and tap it, so she too simply descends down slowly and heads off. Looks like the real American Gladiator is no one, tonight.
Log created on 20:36:55 06/08/2008 by Flora, and last modified on 13:26:44 06/17/2008.