Description: It's a treacherous battle above the Mariana Trench... or is it more of a test? Arika and Mary face off on a platform hanging from a helicopter over the Pacific Ocean. Both wind up taking a swim, but only one can be victorious... can't they? The question that remains unanswered: Who is that mysterious 'him'? (Winner: Arika)
Picture if you will, the image of glass. Blues of very different shades stretching out in all direction. Above, clear blue skies as far as the eye can see. No clouds, nothing that deviates from the single shade that looms over head. Below, a deeper blue glass surface that seems almost too calm for the creatures that lurk below. From sea-level, it's quite difficult to ascertain the exact danger this location in the Pacific Ocean might be.
The deepest part of the world's oceans. The deepest location on the surface of the Earth's crust.
The Mariana Trench.
Hovering high above it is a single helicopter, the rotors spinning with such speed that it's pushing down at the water causing it to spray up in a somewhat circular wall. Dangling below the 'copter is a large platform, a tightly roped barrier set around it to ensure that those upon it will not slip off into the depths of the ocean. At each corner of the platform is an unmanned camera, and two others have been stuck to the bottom of the skids.
Dangling down from the cabin door, hanging on a thick rope, is the punk princess. The wind of the rotors is making it difficult to descend to the platform, but even so, she can't help glancing at the cameras with a wry little wink. Carefully removing one hand from the rope, she blows a kiss out to the unseen audience at home, then simply allows herself to drop down to the platform in a crouch.
Stepping out into sight, visible finally, is a sight not expected within the area of the Mariana Trench. Bonnet-less, Mary steps to the edge, one hand on the side of the helicopter, the other holding her dress, the heavy, southern dress that is currently whipping around with the rotors, and while her best to hold it down is being tried, it's certainly difficult.
"Ya'll .. just makin' it difficult for a lady like me, aren'tcha?" She asks, laughing a bit, before looking down. It's a nice sight, but the pale woman has other things in mind, such as the battle that should take place .. in oh .. about a few minutes. It's been a bit longer than she would prefer, and she better get the jump on it unless she wants to go through .. withdrawal! Adrenaline withdrawal, perhaps.
Leaning over, she whistles. "Well.. you know what they say. The first step is always the darndest." And she just steps forwards, off the helicopter.. yet holds onto the parasol as she opens it.
It's not very unexpected that it's able to support her weight, reinforced so that it can stand up to a few assaults in the least as well. Being blown in a circular pattern, she finally touches down, dizzy, on the platform.
"Alright darlin' .. we're gonna have a lil' test, alright? Ya'll won't mind, will you?" She asks, before shaking her head. "Course not .. but it's involved in this fight anyways.. so nice to meet ya'." She adds, before closing the parasol and leaning on it.
"Course, I don't know if I should be so forwards to take the first action. What ya'll think?"
COMBATSYS: Arika has started a fight here.
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Arika 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Mary has joined the fight here.
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Arika 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Mary
The umbrella maneuver is watched closely, a smirk developing upon Arika's face. Catching note of the outfit, she just gives her head a shake. "Well ain't you just a regular Mary Poppins..." She's not read those books in forever, but what she -does- recall is that the vain and acerbic British nanny usually had a few tricks up her sleeves. Might be best to keep her eye on this opponent.
"But Oi gotta say, -real- 'ladies' don't foight, now do they?" Pausing, she brushes a windswept strand of hair back up into the messy ponytail. "Wotever floats yer boat though." Or the platform for that matter. "Wot's all this 'bout a test though?" It's not curiosity that has her asking the question, but rather the fact that she -hates- it when people mention they're 'testing' her abilities during a fight.
"Well if you're a roight'n' proper lady, it'd be very unbecoming of you to take the first action," she replies with a slight grin. Then she's dashing across the swaying platform, attempting to not even think about the waters below as she slams her fist at an angle toward Mary's cheek.
COMBATSYS: Arika successfully hits Mary with Jab Punch.
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Arika 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Mary
Arika's words aren't hard to make out, altogether, it's just the way she says it! And right now, she's saying hello with her fist.
As Mary leans to the side, the fist strikes against her, the angling hand striking just against her cheek, and causing the woman to flinch, as well as take a step backwards.
Now aint' that a fine how do you do!
"Now I don't know what you're insinuiating darlin'... that real ladies can't enjoy their work.. it goes so much faster when you enjoy what ya'll do!" She adds, and does not respond about the 'test'. "Ya'll right .. good on ya' to take the first action .. but now it's my turn, darlin." Which might be odd.. when clouds under the helicopter begin to appear, spinning from the force, but still letting down droplets, Mary sliding towards Arika on the slightly less frictioned area.
The white dress isn't quite black, but black is only saved for mourning, ain't it?
Either way, as Mary starts up in her movement.. she begins to spin with the parasol, and boy, she keeps spinning. And spinning. It just gets faster, while the parasol, now opened, ends up being a nice little wall.. it might sting a bit.
COMBATSYS: Mary successfully hits Arika with Element of Fun.
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Arika 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Mary
Sometimes it pays to make the first move.
Sometimes it doesn't.
This is one of those instances where it could have gone either way, really. Until clouds start to appear -under- the helicopter? It's distracting, is what it is. Arika brings a hand up to rub at her eyes to make sure she's seeing things correctly. Surely, the water that's whipping up around them isn't really enough to condense into little cloud forms, is it? She's seeing thi--
Out of the corner of her eye, she spots the movement of the parasol. A frown creases her brow, and her hands shoot down quickly to stop it from impacting against her body. Thanks to the distraction, she's not paying close attention to her foot movements causing her right foot to slide upon the damp surface of the platform and nearly -directly- into the attack. Slammed back against the rope barrier, she nearly topples over. The saving grace here is the quick-thinking grab of the cross tube that keeps her upright and not ocean-bound.
"Gggnngh..." Hurt more than she's willing to admit just yet. Teeth grit together, grinding a little as she swings herself off of the cross bar. Before her feet even touch the slicked surface of the platform once more, she's already got them in motion. Right foot bounces twice, then she hops to the left for a single bounce. To the right again as she begins to move forward, then left. Continually shifting between the two while she closes distance. Suddenly, her body spins in a full circle whirling about as she lashes out a snappy roundhouse kick aimed for the woman's stomach.
COMBATSYS: Arika successfully hits Mary with Rhythmic Roundhouse.
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Arika 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Mary
Spinning is a funny thing, especially if you're spinning on water. And Mary is doing just that. However, even after striking Arika, it's hard to slow down .. much harder to simply stop, and it turns out that Arika gets the drop, literately, onto the woman as she hops towards her, bouncing, and then lashing out for Mary's stomach.
While spinning, this is a bit difficult to stop .. and even if she DOES get her parasol in the way, it's not any longer a moment later. When the snappy kick slams straight into her, and causes her to crash backwards, her dress and all growing a bit wet, but she had already expected such.. not to be wet, honestly, but to trade somehow .. she still believes she got the better part of the deal, in the end.
Staggering to her feet, a bit dizzy yet, Mary taps the parasol against the ground, nodding. "Ya'll certain have some fancy moves.. but is that really all you have, darlin'? Why .. barely felt it.." She jokes, but waves afterwards. "Oh no, certainly did just toyin' with ya'll .. but, that's the wrong way to, ain't it?" She moves closer as she goes, stepping, slowly, towards Arika.. before taking the closed parasol and swinging around the end.. which slides off the rest of the parasol, a chain swinging the J around and towards Arika's leg. To yank her up, off the ground, and spin her a bit. Of course, then to toss her against the ground and then yank her upwards and release her .. well. That's just an added bonus!
"Careful up there, darlin'!"
COMBATSYS: Arika counters Go Fly a Kite from Mary with Diva Allegro.
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Arika 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Mary
"Heh."
Oh, it's going to be one of -those- fights. The 'Arika of little words' fights. Then again, it's not as though she's the most social of butterflies at times like this -usually-, so it should be coming as no surprise.
The platform's surface is becoming more and more treacherous, water coming up from below sprinkling it with puddles. Moments ago she slipped on one to a dangerous degree, now she's planning on using one to her advantage. Eyes narrow when she sees the hook-turn-chain, and she quickly slides toward it as it swings toward her. Just before it snags her leg, her fist shoots out to slam against the arm holding the parasol, knocking the potentially painful chain to the side.
She's not done yet, either. As her hand draws back, the left one becomes engulfed in a bright violet energy. Once fully enveloped in it, she slams the hand forward in a sharp palmheel strike in order to force Mary to slide along the puddly platform.
"Wrong way. Roight way. Who the bloody 'ell cares?"
Water is far from trecherous at times, compared to when Mary has a fist shoot out to slam Mary's assault to the side, causing her to stagger, before the bright violet energy comes for her and ends up with a hand in a strike motion slamming towards her chest. Oh, it was just bloomin' lovely it was!
But knocked backwards, and sliding as well, Mary is still away from Arika.. and she recognizes such a style. "Ya'll have to forgive me for bein' .. bored despite the situation then. Ya'll remind me of this other fighter." She exclaims, "And the one before him." Perhaps she's just getting unlucky with the types.
As the platform begins to move, so does Mary, but not quite too far about it.
And considering she's seen this .. style before, it's perhaps obvious her intent is to swing the chain again towards Arika, this time to simply snare and chuck the woman's leg, and the woman with it.
Not a very difficult, or complex motion either.
COMBATSYS: Arika blocks Mary's Snare Whip.
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Arika 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Mary
Being that Arika uses primarily generic techniques, she doesn't take it as an insult when she's compared to other people. After all, while she has been trained in the esoteric boxing form called Hausa, it's -still- boxing. To put it plain and simple: the punk princess is a brawler.
"Be as bored as y'like. Just means you're more liable to make mistakes," she points out with a smirk. Such as when the chain latches about her legs. Due to her stance, as she's thrown she's able to get both legs free and toss herself into a tumble, lessening the power of the blow a little.
Rolling back up to her feet, she pops her neck side to side. Eyes narrow and she starts forward again. Springing upward, she snaps her foot out toward Mary in an attempt to catch her on the chin.
COMBATSYS: Mary fails to interrupt Light Kick from Arika with Beg Your Pardon.
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Arika 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Mary
As the leg comes towards her, Mary assumes she's in the perfect position to deal with the foot, but slipping the weapon around, ends up instead with a foot ending up right against her. She staggers at first, and then with her inertia, flails about, aiming to stop for a moment..
And then unfortunately doesn't really get things worked out as she slips and grabs the rope a bit late, falling overboard.
Climbing onto the edge of the arena, Mary shakes herself, all wet, off, before just looking at the girl.
Well, maybe she could just go swimming instead?
"Bloody 'ell..." Muttering beneath her breath, the punk princess just shakes her head and wipes a hand down over her face. Arika can be mean in a fight, sure. She can be vicious if the situation calls for it.
Never let it be said that she goes out of her way to accidentally drown people. Which is what she's sure will happen because the foolish woman is wearing a -dress-. A -long- dress. To a fight.
Grabbing hold of the rope barrier, she seats herself upon the edge of the platform. Swinging her body outward a little, she attempts to latch her legs about Mary and simply fling her upward onto the platform once more. It's somewhat pitiful as far as rescues go, but at least she's -trying-.
COMBATSYS: Mary fails to interrupt Quick Throw from Arika with Singing in the Rain.
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Arika 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Mary
As Arika grabs Mary, whom is not doing quite so well, she's unable to do much more than flail and be launched, even as she tries to get a handle on Arika. Flung onto the platform, Mary coughs a bit, before landing rather solidly on the ground, staring upwards.
It's just generally not going so well for her. All of her attempts at such things continue to backfire, and it just seems she's not going to be able to continue it! Not very unexpected, actually, yet something that Mary tends to deal with.
She does get up, however, and slide the parasol over her shoulder once more. But for how long?
"'least you ain't drownin', eh?"
Sliding back from the rope, she twists around and uses her hands to push herself back up to her feet. There. Arika's gone and done her good deed for the week, right? Saved another person from drowning. Even so, a wary eye is given to the ocean. An almost imperceptible shudder as she remembers her near drownings.
Despite whatever issues she has with the water, she keeps focus on the fight at hand. Mary gets to her feet, so obviously she didn't swallow too much water, and should be good to continue. After allowing her a brief respite to ensure that she's not going to keel over and start spewing water, the punk princess slides forward.
Swiveling in a three-sixty, she lashes out with spinning-backfist.
"Make sure ya don't fall over again. Oi ain't the sort to save a person twice..."
Okay, maybe she -is- that sort, but there's no need to go into that just now.
COMBATSYS: Mary fails to interrupt Medium Punch from Arika with Long Shot.
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Arika 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Mary
As Arika slides about, swivelling, Mary simply raises the parasol .. and ends up being just too slow to respond, cast backwards, away from the assault. "Ya'll don't need to worry .. I ain't gonna die." She exclaims, shaking her head as she staggers from the assault, bloodied, but still upwards.
She's just not able to get a response in.. but then, perhaps her effort is waining .. or it's just the poor choices she's making! It's just as well, she doesn't believe she has much of a choice any longer.
"But, I believe you passed your test.. so we may end here if you wish!" She exclaims, even if she's still up, and not quite finished. "The game turned a bit sour for me, I must say, but darlin' that's my fault.'
"Not gonna die? Wotever. Savin' someone was the roight thing to do..." Especially from the horrible fate of drowning.
Tightening the cord about her hand, Arika dashes forward. Gliding along the water-slick surface of the platform, her body twists about again. Unfurling herself from the twirl, her right fist shoots forward in a straight punch to come just shy of hitting Mary's face. The feint is needed to create a distraction as she steps back a little and sends her left fist front in a poppy jab.
It's only after throwing the shot that she blinks.
"Wot's this then? You concedin' the match to me? Takin' the loss?"
COMBATSYS: Mary fails to interrupt Jab Punch from Arika with Power Shot.
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Arika 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Mary
"It's yours anyways, I don't care for any of the title's darlin'." She responds, after she's popped in the face, staggering back.
"Ya'll can have what you want. I already got my enjoyment out of this little exercise, not too shabby, but I sometimes really need to keep myself from laggin' behind." She admits, shrugging, failing once more to get the weapon cocked and ready to respond before Arika already lunges for her.
"So if ya'll wish to end, it's yours anyways." She admits, spinning the parasol about her shoulder over the wet platform, and trying to keep her balance after being somewhat wounded.
"You really know 'ow to suck the fun outta somethin' don'cha?" Arika frowns a little, struggling with a debate going on in her head. Take the concession and the win as is, or finish the fight off. Going one way would be like admitting she's better than the other fighter -- which, well, she might think anyhow. But...
... there's really only one way to end things, isn't there?
Her head begins to bop forward. Gentle little movements that become more erratic. Sweeping her head in a large, circular motion several times, she advances upon poor Mary again. Stopping directly in front of the woman, she simply SLAMS her head forward, aiming her forehead for the woman's nose.
Yeah... it's a bit barbaric...
COMBATSYS: Mary interrupts Harmonic Headbang from Arika with Cookiedough Creme Banana Cupcake!.
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Arika 1/-======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Mary can no longer fight.
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Arika 1/-======/=======|
"Just maybe, darlin'." As Arika comes forwards, she smiles. "It's fun in it's own way."
But as Arika goes on the debate, Mary realizes the kid just can't accept a victory the normal way, and shaking her head, slides the chain out. "Ya'll should have just accepted it." The head slams into her own, but the chain is actually slid around Arika's leg this time, and as she begins to swing her around, the rain pffts out of existance.. the chi that the rain is burns to a point, but it doesn't matter, as she lets Arika crash into the edge of the ropes, before she falls backwards, looking upwards once more.
"I just need a bit of rest anyways.. so I'll jus' stay here for a while." She says afterwards.
Barbaric, smaric, it was at least something different!
Victory the normal way? There's a normal way to be victorious? That would be dependant on the person who's thinking about victory, wouldn't it?
But Mary makes a very good point. She likely should have just accepted the win.
When the chain cinches about her leg, Arika makes an erk sound. She crashes against the ropes with enough force to break through it. Her body drops down against the water, skin smacking against it with a loud cracking sound. It looks as though it's her turn to sink into the briny depths, but she's managed to snag onto the rope in order to pull herself back up. Landing atop the platform on her knees, she coughs a few times, then glares over at her opponent.
"Wotever. You take your wee rest, Oi'll take me victory and be off..."
Only, she can't help herself. She approaches Mary and nudges at her with her foot.
"'ope you're done playin' games now. Me life and me skills ain't a bloody test."
COMBATSYS: Arika takes no action.
COMBATSYS: Arika has ended the fight here.
As Arika nudges her with her foot, Mary laughs, belting out it, before coughing, a bit of blood escaping her mouth, staining her white skin.
"No, your life ain't my business, but you certainly showed me what you had darlin'! And I'll keep it in mind if I'm thinkin' of you one day.. cause you never quite escape his eyes y'know. Especially if you might prove useful to 'im. thanks for showin' me what you're capable of tho, darlin!"
She flashes a smile to Arika once more, before lying back, her head beaten a bit harder than she hoped, and with little energy to speak of. Still, it's quite enough for herself, and she shrugs.
"Maybe if I really fought ya' it'd be different, but prolly' not." She responds finally, before yawning, still laying back.
"'im? 'im who?" Arika furrows her brow at that, shaking her head at the snide insult at the end. She's not going to let that detract from the elation of winning a fight. Not -her- fault if her opponent wasn't giving her all. "Useful to -who-?"
As she asks the questions she leaps up to take hold of the cross tube again, trying to clamber her way back up into the open cabin door. Peeking in, she calls out, "Need a medic down there..."
Laying back, Mary remains tightlipped. "Not somethin' I can just say darlin'." She adds, before shaking her head at the help. "Ya'll don't get me help, I'm fine!" Even if she's not, she believes she will be.
Staggering to her feet, Mary will eventually follow after her.
Just not actually answer anything at all.
"Fine. Wotever. Keep your secrets then."
With that, Arika pulls herself up into the cabin of the 'copter and attempts to settle in for the ride back to shore. The medics, despite the protest from below, head down to check on Mary and make sure she doesn't slide off into the ocean again.
Log created on 15:18:37 07/11/2008 by Arika, and last modified on 19:00:11 07/11/2008.