Description: The Combat segment of the pageant continues with two combatants (out of their element in their own ways) brandishing similar, yet different weapons. Things get.. Interesting fast as personalities clash and passive-aggression rises. (Winner: Sada)
And of course what is this segment without the aid of the hostess, everyone's favorit curly-haired soccer mom Wanda! Well, she had to admit she isn't exactly thrilled that such a segment such as this exists, and yet.. Somewhere deep down inside her she simply finds herself unable to turn away, really curious to see what the two students are capable of. "Ladies and gentlemen," she then calls into her microphone, "Coming up is the next match-up, Miss Sada Asai versus Miss Alexis Lacoeur! As the two fighters meet face to face, I ask that for your safety that everyone keep their distance until the very end. Thank you very much, and enjoy!"
With that, Wanda bows and steps out of the fighting area, joining the eagerly waiting audience.
Seijyun flower garden needs very little extraneous decoration to have it looking like a park. The locale is already filled with myriads of different flowers, creating a fragrant atmosphere. At the center of the garden is a large fountain, spraying water softly out the top allowing it to cascade down into the base. Along the edges of the 'stage' are several large benches, nearly every available seat upon them filled with audience members. After the introductions have been done, Alexis peeks her head out from behind a rather large rose bush.
There is one thing that concerns her -- fighting in spring ensemble is going to be very... fanservicey. Taking a deep breath, she smooths her hands down over her little gown and steps out in front of the fountain with a very bright smile and a friendly wave to those that are here to watch the fight. The gown in question is a baby pink in color, strapless and cut a few inches above her knees. The elegant satin gown has a soft chiffon overlay that drapes down nearly to the floor. It's built to allow her to move more easily, but at the same time give her a vibrant Spring look. On her feet are a pair of strappy white wedge heels, so that she'll have additional balance. A chiffon wrap is draped over one arm, obviously not being used as it is intended to be.
Hands folding in front of her, she waits there for her opponent since there is a fight etiquette to follow.
Sada, for her part, has gone with traditional dress. A long-hemmed kimono in various spring pastel shades, with a light blue and sakura-pink predominating, rest on her shoulders. Her long black hair has been bound up and decorated with lacquered and enamelled sticks of wood, as well. While the arms of the kimono have been pinned up, the long hem of the robe hasn't been; Sada, perhaps, is used to fighting with a trailing skirt.
The only declasse' part of this outfit is her weapon, which is presently loosely wrapped around her left shoulder and forearm, the kama held loosely in one hand as she steps towards Alexis. "I hope you'll enjoy the fight," she says, offering one well-scrubbed hand - the one without the kama, naturally! - towards her. Her eyes crinkle as she smiles, although perhaps Alexis will find it a little perfunctory. But then, isn't competition a heady thing, even in a ladylike manner like this?
"Well, to be honest," she begins, her own perfectly manicured hand taking the well-scrubbed one and offering it a little shake, "I've not ever heard of a pageant with a fight in it!" Alexis looks down at her dress, dusts it off again, and then offers a tentative smile to her soon-to-be opponent. "But it is not a matter of my own enjoyment anyhow! All that matters is that our audience enjoys themselves, and that neither one of us winds up seriously injured!"
That last bit sounds a little hopeful on her part. She's not all that familiar with Sada's fighting style.
Hearing the bell chime, she takes a graceful step backward and settles herself into a somewhat defensive stance. "I suppose that means we're to begin then! G'luck!" Sure, it's a pageant. Sure, she wants to win. But she's going to maintain her cheerful, graceful manner throughout -- provided she can manage to do so while fighting in a Spring gown...
"Well, this is a fighting town," Sada says with that same smile. "And yes. I hope to see your grace!" And she's not using her kusarigama with a live steel blade, either, so that's not a big concern. And then the bell chimes, and Sada steps back one pace...
... and another, letting the kusarigama slide off her arm like a snake. She twists it around, whipping the weighted end of the chain up above her head with casual grace that may show just where she learned how to use the yo yo so trickily. She casts it forwards then in a low sweep, the chain whooshing softly, to try and tangle up Alexis's legs as she calls out, "Don't be afraid, it's the practice version!"
COMBATSYS: Sada has started a fight here.
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Sada 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Alexis has joined the fight here.
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Sada 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alexis
COMBATSYS: Alexis blocks Sada's Snare Whip.
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Sada 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alexis
A fighting town it is, though for Alexis' way of thinking fighting and pageants don't mix! Maybe she should have read the fine print, but she's not going to sweat it now. She'll just do her best, or at least the best she can in the gown! Peridot eyes watch the chain carefully, the cast, the attempted leg-tangling. A gentle, graceful sweep of her right foot is made, stopping the chain before it ensnares her within its grasp. But it is still a chain, so when it collides with her bare legs, it's enough to cause her to wince a little.
"It's good that it's a practice version! I'd hate to be hit with a bladed one!"
The chiffon wrap is whisked from her arm, her hand raising it above her head as she begins to twirl it about. Dancing through the air, the flimsy material catches the light and shimmers for a second. Just long enough to dazzle the audience. Snapping it out toward Sada, she continues to smile. "It seems we fight similarly, though it is doubtful my ribbon would hurt as much as your chain-thingy!" A gentle yank is given to the wrap bringing it back toward her, before her hand shoots out to send an extremely swift jab toward her opponent's face, the material trailing behind her. "Hyah!"
COMBATSYS: Sada dodges Alexis' Jab Punch.
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Sada 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alexis
"Fu hu," Sada says as Alexis avoids getting thoroughly entangled. "The blade's not the worst part; it's the chain, but I've wrapped the weight, too!" She yanks the weighted thing back, and when the incoming ribbon whips at her head, she sinks to her knees as if preparing a tea ceremony for a fleeting moment!
She doesn't roll around the ground, though; that might be unladylike. "Was that," she says, rising just as that fist is thrown towards her face! She weaves to the side, missing only by a fraction of a second and swinging the kama around in a tight arc, aimed at Alexis' side! "Ha! Good feint... And it's called the kusarigama. Please remember the name!"
This is unusually polite for her, as far as a fight goes, but then, she /is/ in a competition that doesn't revolve around 'beating the opponent into a mashed pulp'.
COMBATSYS: Alexis dodges Sada's Medium Strike.
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Sada 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alexis
"Beg to differ," Alexis replies, her feet carrying her out of dangers way with not a second left to lose. "A blade means the dress or myself would wind up cut, the chain just means a bit of bruising." After getting out of the way of the chain-thingy again (and yes, it'll forever be a 'chain-thingy' to her, despite the proper terminology), the gymnast offers Sada a sweet smile. "Thanks! But I guess it wasn't good enough!" Had it been a /great/ feint, maybe she would have actually hit her target!
Alexis never stops moving, even as she speaks. Her feet carry her four steps backward, the wrap gracefully twisting and twirling through the air, much like her display during the talent competition. The soft pink material sways upward, creating small, horizontal snake patterns. Whirling about so that she's in front of Sada once more, the gymnast leaps forward twice. As her feet leave the ground, the pretty chiffon overlay for her dress whips up and billows about her. Before landing, the ribbon-snake snaps forward. A tickle of energy courses down either side of the material, making the ends of it stiff and pointed like a viper's teeth. These two points lash out at Sada, attempting to sink into the other girl's flesh in order to 'bite' at her.
COMBATSYS: Sada dodges Alexis' Serpent de L'eau.
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Sada 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Alexis
"Ah, but a cut can be less painful than a blow," Sada says thoughtfully, drawing the chain up as she steps aside. Then Alexis moves in a whirl of pink cloth, Sada's eyes narrowing as she approaches, watching all the motion of the cloth /and/ the motion that's hiding within the complex feint. Of course, this time, Sada is lucky; the glittering scarf makes her leap up in a flurrying flap of silk and fabric, cresting over Alexis's head and landing behind her as she whirls around on one geta sandal.
"It's got one advantage," Sada points out, as she takes a sudden leap to the side and twists her wrist around, sending the chain up into the air as if /it/ were a snake of its own. The goal now is to wrap suddenly around Alexis' waist and, with another step, yank her down towards the ground - Sada may be restraining her mouth, but not the technical, perhaps cruel, nature of her style. "The chain's so long that I can trail it behind me..."
COMBATSYS: Sada successfully hits Alexis with Odani Foundation Art.
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Sada 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Alexis
Styles, as Alexis is finding out, are far too similar. The major difference being that Sada's chain-thingy packs a heck of a lot more 'oomph' to it than her own graceful, dainty ribbon techniques. This elicits a tiny frown, which is quickly replaced by another bright smile. When things are too similar, it's time to switch things up!
Unfortunately, the chain snugs about her waist, dropping her to the ground with a tiny kerthump sound. "GAH!" Unwrapping herself, she kips back up to her feet, dusting off her dress. "A chain isn't very lady-like, y'know!" Her voice is almost chirpy as she says it, despite the obvious upset of her dress becoming dirty. "You'd probably get the same effect with a ribbon!"
And perhaps Alexis can show her how! Whipping the wrap about her body, she tosses an end of it up into the air. Leaping after it, she attempts to land her heels upon Sada's shoulders in order to balance there momentarily. Almost immediately upon landing, she springs into a front flip trying to drag the other girl along with her.
COMBATSYS: Sada counters Quick Throw from Alexis with Asai Harvester.
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Sada 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Alexis
"I don't think so," Sada says with a slight shake of her head. "You see, a ribbon's elegant, but it lacks something important." She tilts her head up as Alexis throws her wrap in the air, following it herself, coming downwards -- "Let me show you."
Sada's wrist flicks then, and Alexis will find herself briefly seized by the cold (if clean, thankfully) steely grasp, her dress wrinkling in the tight embrace. "The ribbon," she explains politely, "lacks mass." And then she scythes upwards with that brutal scythe! ... which is,fortunately, made of wood. However, it leaves a long deep scratch along Alexis' leg as she's pulled down, Sada whirling aside as she completes the technique, her kimono flourishing around her legs as she concludes in a half bow, facing at her opponent.
"The kusarigama's strength is in its ability to confine and counterattack the enemy," she explains. "So, perhaps we aren't as identical as we had thought?"
An insult of one's style can never really be done politely, can it? Alexis definitely doesn't take it as such. She watches the wrap flutter to the ground as she's snagged by the chain once more, and it takes nearly all of her willpower to continue smiling through the pain. The long scratch isn't as deep as Sada would likely hope, however. While it leaves a nice red line along her right leg, it isn't deep enough to have blood dripping from it.
"The style," she replies with a simple smile, "is still very similar. You may not have seen the weight behind the ribbon yet, though I assure you it can certainly do just as much damage as your chainy-thing." Perhaps the last portion was done on purpose, or the more likely case is that she can't actually say the name of the other's weapon without tripping over it.
Pirouetting around, she leans down to lift up the wrap and whisk it about her shoulders, wearing it as it is meant to be for the moment. Crouching low, she takes a moment to inspect the wound, and then springs up into the air once more. This time, she's no intention of landing on Sada's shoulders. Unfurling from a quickly twisted somersault, she sends her feet out to crash into her opponent.
COMBATSYS: Sada dodges Alexis' Heavy Kick.
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Sada 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Alexis
"Chainy thing?" Sada says, eyebrow twitching slightly. The whisking motions are watched carefully, Sada remaining in her half-crouch as Alexis looks at the injury and leaps up into the air - and now she DOES resort to rolling, a bundle of fine cloth moving around the raised dais as the kick goes wide, landing with a thump and Sada rising up with a little laugh.
"What's your style called?" she asks as she steps back, not moving, it seems, to strike right now. That smile on her face is looking a great deal like a smirk. "It's very beautiful... though, perhaps you focus too much on beauty alone?"
COMBATSYS: Sada gains composure.
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Sada 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Alexis
Alexis lands in a much more graceful manner than a thump. Trained in an art of poise and grace, when she spots her opponent rolling away her body twists to the side to light upon the stage as softly as she can.
"Quite simply, it's called gymnastics." Other things are part of her maneuvers as well, but that is primarily where she focuses her fighting talents. "Fights are boring when one focuses mainly upon logistics and tactics. Situations like these should be used to show off what a true art form fighting can be!"
Two swift steps see the gymnast rushing across the dais, her body tucking forward into a somersault. Springing up out of it, the heel of her palm is sent flying upward in an attempt to catch Sada by the chin before she does a standing flip up and over the other girl.
COMBATSYS: Alexis successfully hits Sada with Quick Punch.
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Sada 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Alexis
The fast motion makes Sada try to raise one arm in a block - but she's struck on the chin before she can, hissing in momentary pain as the first telling blow is landed. She whirls around, as if anticipating a follow up dive, saying in that same cheerful voice as she does, "Oh, do you really think so?"
From a certain angle, her eyes seem to gleam with red pinpoints of killing intent. "Maybe you're right."
Sada slings the chain upwards while Alexis is still flipping in the air, aiming to wrap it around the girl's legs and once again rip her downwards. This time, of course, it's less swift - she's working from a standing start, the kusarigama not already being in motion. Still, the angle may surprise the leaping gymnast!
COMBATSYS: Alexis parries Sada's Sling Whip!
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Sada 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Alexis
Surprise!
With a soft, fluid motion, the gymnast removes the wrap from her shoulders sweeping it outward to catch the kusarigama and turn it aside from its intended path. Without easing the flexible grace of the wrap, she tosses it into the air once more, allowing it to flutter about overhead.
"Oui. I do really think so."
Launching herself from right foot to left, she twirls up into an aerial spin, and her smile broadens. Though she realizes she has little chance to actually come out of this fight victorious, her opponents use of the chainy-thing is definitely giving her insight into Sada's personality a little. Especially when accompanied by that somewhat evil glinty look in her eyes. Before landing upon the dais again, her leg juts out, angling in for the other girl's head.
COMBATSYS: Alexis successfully hits Sada with Tour Jete EX.
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Sada 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Alexis
WHACK
The kick in the head dislodges part of Sada's done-up hairstyle, a lock of hair falling back as she grimaces for a moment. But - she recovers; that was just a reaction to pain, naturally! Any lady might make a face if she had a surprising thing, like a Frenchwoman kicking them in the head. She breathes in deeply...
And says with a sweet smile, "I suppose I should show you my art!" She leaps back, now, letting the kama fall out of her hand as the chain rattles... she catches it, just before she hits the floor. "Normally, this technique is seen only in bad chambara films. But, my grandfather mastered it, and taught me the art. So -"
She starts whipping the blade in front of her in a scissoring figure-eight, advancing at a sudden run towards Alexis, the chain and flailing scythe liable to inflict a great many battering scrapes and bruises along Alexis's tender body if Sada's telegraphing doesn't give it away! "Correction of Shinryukan!"
COMBATSYS: Alexis dodges Sada's Shinryukan Correction.
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Sada 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Alexis
Flipping into a gentle roll after her foot smashes into Sada's head, she nods in agreement. "I suppose you should," Alexis replies, rather cheerfully. Despite the fight she seems to keep a perpetual smile upon her face, and a chirpy little attitude. It might be enough to drive anyone crazy at this point, but she's going to make the best of this!
Familiar with the figure-eight pattern of ribbon movements, she's able to push herself off of the dais and flip over Sada's head once more, avoiding the extreme amount of bruising that was meant had she not had the forethought to move out of the way of the chainy-thing. "It truly is an artful technique, but its movements are much like those in Rhythmic Gymnastics," she points out with a soft, sweet politeness.
Extending her left leg out behind her, she pivots sharply. As she makes the inward movement her leg comes in, then with an alacritous motion it cracks outward, cutting through the air in a manner reminiscent of a snapping whip.
COMBATSYS: Alexis successfully hits Sada with Petite Fouette.
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Sada 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Alexis
Sada grimaces for a moment at the swift evasion - and at the inward snap that hits her in the knee as she staggers while trying to turn around to face Alexis once more, teeth grinding for a moment as she staggers for a step! But just for a step...
Before she lets out a little, faint laugh. "Not bad," she says, pursing her glossy lips as she straightens. "Is it really like rhythmic gymnastics? I was always training harder than that; I suppose there are only so many ways to move the human body!" She then snaps the kusarigama's weighted end out again, behind her now as she swings it once in a great whirl around her head, first once high and then down lower again; the high-speed chain arc may be easy to see coming, but it if Alexis can't get herself out of the way in time...
COMBATSYS: Alexis parries Sada's Tangle Whip!
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Sada 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Alexis
"The movements are very similar, oui." This turns out to be the perfect opportunity to show her such, as well. As the chain-thingy whirls up around Sada's head, the gymnast mimics the movement with the delicate looking wrap. As the arcing chain whips in toward her body, the wrap once more catches it in order to deflect it from the projected path. "See?"
There is no waiting for a reply, as once she's out of harms way, she's leaping upward once more. The one great thing about being a gymnast is that Alexis is able to move with speed and grace when the situation warrants -- like now. Again she attempts to land and balance upon Sada's shoulders, but this time she actually attempts to lock on a headscissors briefly before allowing the momentum of the leap to carry her into a dextrous backflip wherein the other girl would be tossed over onto her stomach, while she effortlessly twists to the side.
COMBATSYS: Alexis successfully hits Sada with Backflip Full-Twist EX.
- Power hit! -
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Sada 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Alexis
Sada's eyes flip upwards - too late! Her hairsticks poke lightly at Alexis's legs, but they do so to no avail. With a surprisingly deep cry of dismay, she is sent toppling keister over teakettle, and she DOES hit the ground with a thump, the chain clattering next to her.
"Hn," she says, pushing herself back up with a deep breath. "So - I think I'm starting to understand the essence of your style... you use your agility and the energy you can focus in that cloth in order to control your opponent's movements and wear them out. Is that right?"
She turns, taking a step back; her arms twist around, gathering up the kusarigama more tightly. She isn't really smiling any more, although she does look kind of triumphant, considering how she just got slammed into the ground. Maybe she hit her head.
COMBATSYS: Sada focuses on her next action.
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Sada 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Alexis
"Something like that!"
The answer, simple as it is, is primarily the truth. The understanding isn't complete, but she's not about to let her opponent in on every little detail! What would be the fun in /that/? Unwinding the wrap, she settles it about her shoulders once more allowing it to softly fall into place. A hand brushes up to sweep hair from her eyes before she sends a cheerful smile out to the audience.
It's not long before she's bounding into the fray once more. Her feet leave the ground, allowing her to sail through the air toward her triumphant looking opponent. Legs lash out to catch the other girl by the waist, her hands touching down upon the dais as she attempts to flip back to her feet, taking Sada down to the ground with the swift movement.
COMBATSYS: Sada endures Alexis' Quick Throw!
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Sada 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Alexis
Sada's grinning as she goes down with Alexis's legs wrapped around her, going loose and accepting the impact with the ground, bone jarring as it is. "Hah," she breathes out, as she snaps one arm up -- and the chain rises, almost of its own accord. It aims back with another motion of Sada's wrist as she stands up, the weighted end arcing around and perhaps coming into a brutal wrapping around Alexis's chest!
Sada slides the chain over her shoulder, turning her back on her opponent as she says, her voice becoming surprisingly guttural for a moment, "When someone's figured out your moves, you're not in a good position, are you?" And THEN she yanks forwards, aiming to send Alexis arcing over her shoulder and slamming into the ground on a length of chain! Or possibly just throw her kusarigama; these things are always a little uncertain...
COMBATSYS: Alexis fails to interrupt Avenging Anegawa from Sada with Aqueous Illusion.
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Sada 0/-------/-----==|=======\====---\1 Alexis
As the chain begins to move once more, the gymnast begins to whip the wrap in a series of figure eights and stylistic swirls above her head. In doing this, she begins to build up an abundance of watery energy...
... which is quickly interrupted by the weighted end of the chainy-thing wrapping tightly about her chest, causing the protective wall-barrier to go unformed. When she realizes she's about to go flying, she quickly grabs the sides of her dress in order to keep it down and not create an extremely fanservicey show -- as much as some of the audience might like it if she didn't, this /is/ a pageant, and things should be kept as proper as possible. As proper as possible during a fight.
The chain around her chest keeps her from twisting her body in a graceful manner, and it is now that she makes a small thumping sound upon the dais. Upon landing, she begins to remove the chain from around her so that she can continue to fight rather than wind up as a string-toy for her opponent.
Sada lets the chain go limp in her grasp to assist Alexis in escaping, standing there in a rather dainty poise as she narrow sher eyes, taking a step closer as she says thoughtfully, "Your chi - it's quite a good technique! But too many people rely only on that. You see, you have to adopt --"
She takes one step forwards, drawing the kama-bearing hand back and slinging it down in a sharp, brutal strike with the hard-wood end of the sickle. Using it, it seems, purely as a club rather than a cutting weapon. That may not ease the pain if Alexis can't get free in time to avoid the strike against her head!
"The fundamentals!" Sada shouts, as the strike whirrs through the air!
COMBATSYS: Alexis blocks Sada's Medium Strike.
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Sada 0/-------/-----==|=======\=====--\1 Alexis
How does one stand in a dainty pose while moving a whip around? Alexis can't think of that now, she's busy getting the chain off of her, returning with a graceful elegance to her feet. Upon standing, she brushes her hands down over the skirt of the dress again in order to ensure that it looks just as prim and proper as when she first stepped out.
"Using backhanded compliments," she points out quietly as she whisks the wrap up into the air to slow down the oncoming strike, "is unnecessary." The wooden end of the sickle still bonks her in the head, but with much less force than it could have. A hand comes up to rub at the small goose-egg that's forming. That is going to leave a nasty bruise come morning.
After deflecting the blow, the wrap comes into play again. The sheer material is twirled about her body, encasing her in a mini cyclone of light blue energy. Thrusting one end of the ribbon forward, she causes the ribbon to lash out toward Sada, though the material comes just shy of hitting the other girl. The vortex of energy is unleashed as it bursts forward in a quick spin toward its intended target.
COMBATSYS: Sada dodges Alexis' Ribbon Whirlpool.
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Sada 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Alexis
They have classes for that, but Yurika has to teach them.
Sada smiles a little more at the comment, asking, "Please do excuse me?" as she takes one step back, eyes flicking at that wrap. Hm, she thinks, she's going to make a strike like that Italian prosti-
No, she isn't. The cyclone of light flies at Sada as she stares, simply dumbfounded, for a moment -- and finally, she may show her dishonor by abandoning her weapon in order to leap suddenly high and to the side, stumbling as she lands. "Ha," she says, or breathes out, and now with Alexis between herself and her primary mode of offense.
But she isn't completely out of the game. She steps forwards carefully, feet raising up onto their balls atop those geta sandals, one snapping out for a sharp kick at Alexis' midsection, her arms windmilling back to counterbalance; the sleeves come loose, rolling down with a rustle of silk!
COMBATSYS: Alexis dodges Sada's Light Kick.
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Sada 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Alexis
It is on the tip of her tongue to excuse the other girl for her poor manners. After all, not everyone can have a proper upbringing. The words stop before every leaving her lips though, as there is a large elevated wooden base of a sandal snapping out toward her middle. Carefully maneuvering herself into a side-flip, over-skirt billowing behind her, Alexis shakes her head.
"Please do fix your outfit, this is a pageant not a strip-tease. Have some dignity, like a real lady!" Though the sleeves rolling down was likely an accidental occurrence due to the windmilling of the arms, it does look otherwise with the way the material moves.
Taking a second to adjust her own dress and attach the wrap again, she pats it down and offers a cheerfully bright smile. "Try to have better control and poise!"
Leaping off of her right foot, she makes a half turn in the air only to land upon her left foot facing away from Sada. Upon touching down on the dais, her elbow shoots backward in an attempt to catch the other girl in the stomach before her dainty little fist pops against her face.
COMBATSYS: Alexis successfully hits Sada with Quick Punch.
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Sada 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Alexis
"What did you say?!" Sada says, voice raising as the kimono's sleeves finish their unravelling, /hiding/ more skin. That doesn't help her when that leaping strike makes her lean away from the foot and into the fist, her eyes narrowing at the shock of the blow! The very idea--!
She feels the urge to raise her hand and beat this girl's cheek for her effrontery, but only being nearer to the sprawling Kusarigama eases this desire. She reaches down, snapping it up as she says, her voice poison-sweet as she spins the kusari at her side with increasing speed, "I thought that backhanded insults were unladylike, too?"
She slings the weapon forward then, using IT as a windmilling force - aiming to strike Alexis repeatedly with that leather-padded heavy weight!
COMBATSYS: Sada successfully hits Alexis with Spinning The Kusari.
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Sada 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Alexis
"Composure, Miss Asai. My comment was not backhanded, your clothing was slipping." Alexis shrugs her shoulders, the sweet, saccharine smile never leaving her face. The fact that her words angered the other girl, and have now caused Sada to become poisonous in attitude just makes her smile brighter. "I do apologize if you have found my words insulting, but I assure you I had your best interests at heart, for it would be rather embarrassing to expose yourself during the pageant, non?"
She barely gets the last word out as the weapon begins to batter against her, the continued blows mussing her outfit greatly and creating red welts upon her exposed arms. With a small cry, she ducks her head to keep the strikes from crashing against her face, but it doesn't stop them from coming in at her.
Despite the pain that is now running a course throughout her body, she spirals to the side and away from any further attacks. Vaulting up, the rolls herself into a somersault in an attempt to crash both fists into the top of the other girl's head.
COMBATSYS: Sada counters Strong Punch from Alexis with Asai Harvester.
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Sada 0/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Alexis
Sada's eyes gleam as she feels hatred blossom in her heart - and blossoming hatred brings power. She steps back as the ducking Alexis relents underneath the flurry of blows, drawing back the kama as Alexis leaps in - hah!
She scythes at the side, then, raw force digging the blade into the girl's side as Sada steps back afterwards, twirling the kusarigama at her side before coming down to face Alexis, saying in a gracious tone, "Ah, mais oui! But you see, there is more than one way of exposing yourself, isn't there?" Now, at least, the poison's gone - replaced with a distinctive hint of gloating.
There is very little Alexis can do to avoid the blow when coming in at the angle she is. The bladed portion of the chainy-thing crashes against her ribs with such force that it knocks her out of the air and sends her spinning on a downward spiral toward the dais. "Aiiiiieeeee~!" Tumbling across it, her body stops only when it comes up against the base of the fountain.
Despite the ungraceful manner with which she lands, she rolls up to her feet again and once more dusts off the dress. "You are right of course, Miss Asai. There is definitely more than one way to expose yourself, and you have certainly shown me what a poisonous and vindictive person you are by your attitude alone."
Thanks to the distance between herself and the other girl, Alexis can only think of one thing to do, before her body shouts at her to stop before she becomes seriously injured. Turning to the audience with a soft, girlish giggle she chirps, "You will have to excuse this very unladylike maneuver..."
Performing a carefully executed roundoff back-handspring, she once more comes at the other girl from the air. As her legs angle downward, she attempts to latch her legs about Sada's neck in order to lock on tightly. From there, she simply twists her body sharply to the side with a full twist in order to toss her opponent at the fountain, which would leave her in a small crouch upon the dais.
COMBATSYS: Alexis can no longer fight.
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Sada 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Sada dodges Alexis' Yurchenko Toss.
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Sada 0/-------/=======|
Sada remains still, her face stony, as Alexis speaks. Her eyes narrow as she sees that handspring, that leap, that angling approach of the legs -- and she suddenly sinks to her knees in a classical seiza sitting, resting her bottom on her heels as Alexis misses, landing perhaps gracefully herself.
Sada rises then, turning around with a flourish of her kimono's hem. "But perhaps," she says as she folds her hands in front of her, letting the silvery chain pool at her feet, "what is most unladylike of all, is to call another person poisonous, or vindictive." Her arms fold inside of her sleeves and she bows deeply...
Saying, as she straightens, "But I understand, that battle is stressful. It's difficult to keep a mask up, isn't it?"
Sada's reply just works to prove Alexis' point greatly. The gymnast comes out of the crouch, a laugh causing her eyes to twinkle. "It would be more unladylike to offer you insult by not calling a snake a snake, Miss Asai."
Being as the fight has drawn to a conclusion, she comes out of her crouch. Standing at full height, she walks across the dais toward the other girl, offering both a smile and her hand as per the rules. "Unlike some, I felt no need to wear a mask during the pageant. I am what I am, and I am proud that I can show myself with grace and poise in everything I do, without hatred or anger clouding my judgment." She leaves her hand out a moment, in order for her opponent to shake it so that the rules of etiquette for the match can be completed. "Thank you for the opportunity to see just who you really are, Miss Asai. It was most enlightening."
After the handshake, she draws back to make her way from the garden. "If you will excuse me though, I do believe your chainy-thing has bruised one of my ribs and I should like to have it checked before the pageant results are announced."
"Oh, of course," Sada says after the handshake, which is just fractionally firmer than it really, honestly has to be. But just that little bit. "I do hope it won't bother you in the future. Best of luck, now!"
She walks off, and it takes her until she's gotten some distance towards another building that it becomes a stalking.
COMBATSYS: Sada has ended the fight here.
Log created on 19:59:45 07/10/2008 by Alexis, and last modified on 19:24:39 07/28/2008.