Description: Leona just wants to drink coffee. Preston however, wants to pick a fight. Guess what happens in this exciting episode of As The Oar Turns!
Somewhere in the southeastern end of Southtown's expansive sprawl of a downtown, there stands an elite school of students that span the globe. All of them are there for various reasons-- be it they're wealthy, children of influence, or related to dignitaries or noble houses and royalty... at least where it applies, in the last case. All of them are going to be great people someday, or so they're all told. They're going to be the best, brightest, and most elite.
They are also not Leona Heidern.
Always one to dress appropriately, she has, of course, adapted to the weather. A dark pea coat and scarf cover up her button-down shirt, with boot-cut pants and (of course) combat boots polished to an immaculate shine. Dressed like this, she might look as though belong with some of the students that live in the dormitories... but as anyone the wiser would realize, she's far from a high school student.
The adopted daughter of the Ikari commander is near the school in the winter's afternoon chill at a small coffee shop, just exiting and moving north along the block. Along the exterior of the school, even, with a coffee cup held in a leather-clad hand and blowing off a bit of the rising steam. Amusingly enough, the domestic is what concerns her today: What are Ralf and Clark doing? What about her father? Should she try to get in touch with Whip at some point? All these questions, and more...
Questions, questions, questions, there are always questions! And Preston Alistair Wellington the II, he's had just about enough questions. Why aren't you fighting on the circuit Preston! Why don't you fight on the circuit Preston! Does this make me look fat Preston! If he didn't know any better, he'd swear he was dating members of his team.
And thank god he isn't, because he'd probably have to hang himself.
Drawn out of the school grounds in search of both sanity and an escape from the questions, the burly Brit is wearing about what one would expect of him; his school slacks, and an open shirt. Defying the weather as well as his health, he ambles along as only he can, gathering mutters for his height and also for the fact he doesn't excuse himself when he brushes past people. There's also the fact that he's walking around holding an oar during winter, when the rowing lanes are all iced up and there's no activity on the racing circuit.
And with regards to the weather, he's wearing a scarf. It is blue, the color of his school.
Potentially also his balls, but that's another story entirely.
As fate would have it, he ends up brushing somewhat roughly against the coffee-drinking Leona, who hopefully has a lid on her cup, continuing on a pace or two before he suddenly stops. And then he turns, to look at whoever it was he just clipped on the way through.
His mouth opens--
What good, high-priced coffee chain would dare not put a lid on their cups? They even come with the little paper-cardboard sleeve to fit around it, just to remind you that the coffee shop is high-class and worth the price they charge... not that Leona wouldn't mind just drinking something out of the pot at home. So without a massive splash, the cup still nearly dislodges from her hand with a few drops flitting up into the air through the opening to drink from, though her grip is secure enough to keep it from flying away.
Turning to look up at him, the state of his undress is duly noted-- noted and tossed to the side, as the girl with the shoulder-length blue hair looks up at the taller student with a fixed, fearless stare.
Imposing wall of muscle? Naw.
"Sorry."
A simple, one-word answer to the situation, and one that will allow her to keep moving without having to expend a whole lot of energy, effort, or the need to -talk- to a stranger more and more.
That mouth opens, but it seems that Preston is beaten to the punch as the girl goes with the logical route; apologize to the big guy, before he starts something. It's the best way to keep out of trouble, now isn't it?
Only it doesn't seem that it's going to be that easy. Initially put off his game plan, the tall Brit follows up with something else, that cunning mind of his starting to tick over. His team wants him to fight -- well he'll just have to pick one, now won't he? It's just like that movie with Brad Pitt that Marisol and Estella keep drooling over.
"You should be sorry," he notes with a nod, as if it were entirely her fault to begin with. She apologized, right? That usually indicates guilt. "You're from one of the other schools, ain't ya?" he follows-up, that oar coming off his shoulder just enough to be twisted in his hand. It spins, and it spins, as he waits for the answer, seemingly a loaded one that could lead to something... but just what could it lead to, one has to wonder?
Why, there's only one way to find out!
She better be sorry, eh? Her eyebrows raise a little bit, but then her expression changes completely to a sort of squint. Well, isn't he just a pile of happiness and joy.
Still, she hesitates in answering his question. Not daring to take a sip of the coffee she holds in her hand, even with the few drops lost from it after brushing shoulders with this huge brute of a teenager, Leona takes a short moment to analyze her situation a little more carefully:
From the accent, he's clearly English. Tall, muscular. His state of dress in this weather suggests that he has excellent constitution, or he's borderline retarded. The oar... well, that's anyone's guess, but the logical route to take would be to assume that he uses it as a weapon. Coupled with his strength, he likely hits pretty hard. That would mean he's a fighter at the least, a common thug at the most. Sizing him up with just that, the shorter young woman replies.
"What if I was?" she asks, feet shifting to keep her in a better position to assume a defense-- should the taller Brit decide to do something.
Sizing Leona up has already been done for Preston; he clearly thinks her to be of a similar age, likely attending school across town -- perhaps college, but then he always has fancied older girls a little bit. That's another story. She could also just be a tourist, but given that garish hair color he actually has his doubts.
Japanese love their crazy hair colors, he's deduced over the year and a half he's spent in Southtown. They're really crazy all-round, and he's wondering how long it will take for this girl to prove it as well.
Maybe if he got to know her a bit better, and they had some coffee...
"If you are, then I'd have to knock that coffee out of your hands for starters," Preston replies, the Brit offering an off-handed shrug as if it were something he couldn't help, as if it were an inevitable outcome. "After all, you know how we are about being territorial in this town, all the little kiddies poundin' the crap out of each other as a pastime," he further explains, for indeed, it is a sad state of affairs. Why can't they all just get along?
Looking up to the heavens, it's almost as if he were beseeching for divine intervention. "I guess you get a choice then, luv. You can either sit down with me for coffee, or I knock it out of your hands."
If this is how the brute finds a date, then clearly the Wellington line is either doomed or due to be brought up on rape charges five years from now.
But a closer look would reveal to Preston that the girl looking up at him through her bangs doesn't have the proper features to appear to be Japanese... hell, even Asian. Leona has a lightly tanned pallor, to be sure, and the hair is ... well, her hair's always been that way. No dyes or fancy fads seen around Shinjuku or Akibara or wherever or whatever the trendly locations are these days don't hold a lick of influence into the Heidern girl's appearance.
With that aside, now, she has an important point mentioned to her: The territorial nature of the students in the schools around this city. Clearly she must be invading one of those territories, mistaken as a student. Perhaps it's her age? More questions for Leona to ponder on, but she'll have to better consider it later. No, now she has to listen to what he has to say-- to the offer that he makes.
Date, or fight. Wait. Date or fight?
Date or fight.
What would Whip do in a situation like this, again?
Leona lowers her head, and it shakes a bit. "I decline."
"Well that's a pity," Preston replies, for it truly is. With that alternative declined, it seems that the boy has little choice but to go through with his other option. After all, it wouldn't do for him to look like he was having second thoughts, or that he was all bark and no bite, right?
What would his teammates say, if they heard he didn't go through with his word?
What would his FATHER say, the Duke of Rutford?
Then again, Preston doesn't really care what his father would think or say, but he's got to show that he's a man of his word nevertheless. "Well, uh," he replies, offering another of this slow shrugs of his as if that were the end of it all -- when in reality, it's just the beginning.
One moment the oar's there, held in hand.
The next it's whistling to knock that cup right out of Leona's hands and into the side of the wall next to them, unless, of course, she does something spectacular to defy those odds, something that only a trained Ikari could manage!
A man of his word-- a man that's going to try to knock the coffee out of an innocent passerby's hand with the might of an oar. She's no idiot or stranger to combat, knowing full well as his body shifts and the oar cutting the air on the path to her cup. Much like the oar, the cup is in her hand.
Then it's not.
His oar meets with the back of the Ikari's hand to stop it cold, though there's a distinctive enough *thwack* as it connects with her arm. The cup that's missing doesn't go far, actually. Rather, it goes up-- up, and on a slight arc, the lid loosened and with a nice hot cup of joe looking to splash Preston right in the face.
Not to mention the styrofoam cup with the cardboard sleeve. That thing's going to be a doozy on him!
COMBATSYS: Leona has started a fight here.
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Leona 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Preston has joined the fight here.
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Preston 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Leona
COMBATSYS: Leona successfully hits Preston with Thrown Object.
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Preston 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Leona
Now is this really what they both wanted? Without further adieu, the coffee splashes down across Preston's face -- and more importantly his rippling body, the visible muscles there across his front becoming wet and slick and somewhat attractive (?!) to all involved.
Not to mention the fact that it hurts. The Brit's mouth opens wide, and he lets loose:
"FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFffffffffffffffffffffffFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFU--"
Birds take to the air, those that haven't taken to the air, and a nearby set of removalists drop the big organ they were moving from a truck into the street as the loudest expletive this side of Homer Simpson fills the street.
"--ck that is fookin' hot," the boy finally finishes, a hand lifting to wipe his face. At this rate, he's going to look like an Indian, his skin turning a nice shade of red from the sheer heat of the coffee. Where was his just-defend when he needed it?!
Since he's all nice and annoyed now, he does the smart thing; he lashes out at Leona, aiming to drive that oar of his right into her feet like a big blunt spear aiming for delicate bones!
COMBATSYS: Leona blocks Preston's Weapon Jab.
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Preston 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Leona
'FFFFFFFFFF--'
Well, you get the point. When Preston lets out that horribly painful wail regarding the heat still contained therein the cup of coffee and the liquid contents deposited onto him, well, ...
She doesn't even blink.
Leona may just be that horribly jaded to the world, or maybe it's just her training that's kicked in. Either way, she has no reaction to the pain that Preston is in, and it doesn't seem as though she's particularly sympathetic to his plight.
No, instead he tries to jab that oar onto her foot.
Bending her leg foward a little, Leona's hand extends to catch the oar on the palm of a leather-clad hand. It still smashes down on her thigh, but the damage is minor-- and at least she doesn't have broken toes because of it. Hooking her arm to the side, trying to get a little room, her left hand sweeps up to grab Preston by the shirt and drag him in a little closer, to pull him along a step. "Stay down."
Her right hand forms into a rigid, flat 'knife hand' position, and her fingers drive into Preston's throat. Strangely enough, the transfer of kinetic force isn't immediate-- there's a moment's pause as that hand jams up at his neck before the force is applied-- force that might just throw the taller British youth right off his feet!
COMBATSYS: Preston blocks Leona's Leona Crush.
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Preston 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Leona
Unfortunately for young Heidern (and won't that get confusing) the burly Brit isn't much for listening to orders, particularly not from blue-haired girls who should be flat on their backs if not chained to the oven. When he's drawn in for that vicious strike, he does the sensible thing; he blocks, managing to get his forearm in the way to absorb the strike and its latent discharge of potent energy.
"Nice try," Preston replies, and since the girl has been nice enough to keep him up close and personal, he figures he may as well accommodate her accordingly.
That oar threatens. At such range, it can't be used to its fullest potential, but thankfully for Preston he happens to have giant muscles to make up for that fact. With her fingers still against his forearm, he suddenly retaliates -- almost in kind -- bringing the tip of the oar up in a vicious stabbing motion once again.
This time, it's Leona's superb genetics that are threatened, the oar's tip thrusting for her chest in an effort to give the son of a Duke room to swing his weapon properly, to propel her back and away, if not right onto her back!
COMBATSYS: Leona blocks Preston's Bunting Tosser.
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Preston 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Leona
The tips of her fingers don't sway. They don't break, they don't bend-- they just stay in that perfectly straight position, in line with the rest of her hand. How such a feat is possible is anyone's guess, but the forearm guarding? Leona will have to take into account that this young man is a little tougher than she initially surmised. No, maybe he'll have more to show her, a lot more...
The oar comes up with a massive jab, a motion that could well likely put her flat on her back. The blue-haired Ikari's response to this is to bring both hands up, back to her chest, and catch the weapon short with a light grunt.
Using the excess of power at Preston's weapon or with the strength of her own powerful legs, Leona uses the chance to throw herself into the air, to backflip with almost no arc or standing preparation. Just as her body faces down, her arms cross over her head and her body back-bends into a pose that seems almost to the caliber of a professional contortionist-- before her whole frame cracks like a whip, her arms slashing out at the air in front of her.
Following her hands is a strange bluish-white chi, an energy that tracks the path of both swiftly moving arms and forms a large 'X,' one that seems quite intent on cutting right into Preston and giving him something a little more painful than hot coffee to the face!
COMBATSYS: Leona successfully hits Preston with X-Calibre.
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Preston 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Leona
Watching that act of grace and precision, Preston is unfortunately not able to find any means by which to catch an upskirt in that moment, most likely because Leona is wearing the wrong type of clothing whatsoever for the somewhat whimsical, perverted Brit. All the same, he thinks he sees an opportunity; even as she bends backwards, he surges forward, intent on simply powering his way through her strike and into a better position.
But the force of her chi strike proves more debilitating than he'd wagered. He stumbles once, unable to capitalize, instead forced to take a step back to ensure he retains his footing. Grinding his teeth together, he mentally grouses a lost opportunity.
Has he simply been out of this for too long, despite his near-daily practice with his uncle?
Rather than stick to the defensive, he continues to press the opposite, aiming to weather down the Ikari's defenses as this sudden street fight draws a few spectators. That oar begins utilizing its full range, blue-white energy dancing down its length as the tall Brit puts his massive arm-span into use, slashing the air before Leona and himself.
"You're too fuckin' thin, luv! Chew on this!"
And in its wake, a crescent of energy manifests, before slashing down at the girl!
COMBATSYS: Preston successfully hits Leona with White Horses.
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Preston 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Leona
The thought and sight of spectators is nothing new to Leona. She's fought in public before, for a multitude of reasons-- and this won't be the last time she's ever forced into this situation, either. Once those blades of chi cut into the Brit, the force actually pushes her -back- from Preston, allowing her to twist dynamically in the air one last time before she lands on her feet.
The only problem now is Preston's ability to recover quickly, shrug off the blow and come moving in at her with that powerful wave of chi. She twists and puts a leg to the side in an attempt to start dodging, but the weapon comes down nonetheless and has a good hacking.
Staggering for a moment, clearly taken off-guard by the sudden power behind that strike, Leona opts to narrow her eyes-- study Preston a little bit, as she backs off some. Her steps are likewise light and with a bit of a bounce, one hand coming up to sweep back her bangs and keep her vision clear. Once she's got a little room, then her stance shifts. Her left hand is forward, the right is drawn back but ultimately cocked out to the side a bit. Light on her feet, steady, and painfully analytical-- she's thinking about what to do now.
COMBATSYS: Leona focuses on her next action.
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Preston 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Leona
There's a slight smirk on the face of the Brit as he finally manages to land a solid hit on his opponent. Without a doubt, he thinks she's more than she appears; he hasn't seen her on the fighting circuit, to his knowledge, but there are plenty of unknowns. Given the resistance he's feeling though, he doesn't think she's just a new up-and-comer though... he thinks he's walked into somebody of note.
Thus he opts to take a moment to collect his thoughts, refocusing on what he wants to gain out of this. While it may have been a date with a (relatively) attractive (not-yellow) woman, it seems now that there's learning to be done in the fighting arena instead.
And Preston, he's secretly a big nerd after all.
"So what's your name?" he questions, spinning the oar in front of him, hand over hand. While he acts with all the brute force of an ogre, he handles the weapon with remarkably deft hands. There's a staff-fighting background there, to be sure, even if he tends to exploit the weapon in much more obvious, linear ways.
But is he about to mix it up on her? It's like a good game of cards. You can't stay with the one strategy for too long, otherwise an observant opponent will figure out your game plan and exploit you. And Preston, he can tell that Leona's turned very observant all of a sudden.
Has he managed to make her sit up and take notice?
Maybe he'll get that date yet.
COMBATSYS: Preston gains composure.
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Preston 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Leona
What can she do? No, the better question is, where can she -go-?
Watching the young student carefully, Leona notes his intent to stop and catch his breath while she's keeping watch, while she's thinking. Immediately, she changes gears. Her feet shift, and she's moving with quick steps, agile movements of her legs, and ultimately, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Taking a step back in at Preston, Leona suddenly leads off with a swift swing of her left fist, looking to deliver a simple upward-swinging hook of a punch right up to the young man's jaw. But no-- it ends up a feint, the young Ikari opting instead to spring into the air and gather her hands together, legs kicking out to either side as she axe-handles right down at Preston's head with the intent to give him a firm knock right over the head!
COMBATSYS: Preston blocks Leona's Strong Punch.
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Preston 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Leona
While the Ikari certainly has a good deal of guts and experience on her side, there's something to be said for the sheer toughness of the opponent she faces. The feint doesn't prove as successful as she'd hoped, as the overhead axe-handle strike is met by his forearm again. A lone forearm, holding back her offense as a smirk paints his features.
"What's wrong, not in the mood for talking?" he questions her further, as he pushes back her arms -- and aims for the throat! Since she's nice and in the air, he hopes it will be an easy grab, for his thick fingers to descend around her throat and give her a crushing squeeze.
Of course, that may make it hard for her to talk, but it could well be the least of her problems. It's a two pronged attack, for even as he seeks out her feminine Heidern neck, the air behind him shimmers as chi manifests.
Hit or mess, the spikes of chi slam forward, aiming to shatter against her torso while it's ideally being held prone and willing!
COMBATSYS: Leona just-defends Preston's Cape Horn Fever!
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Preston 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Leona
He pushes against her arms, and breaks the intended attack a little easier than she had anticipated. Leona doesn't seem to let it bother her on the surface, however, maintaining a perfect poker face for the entire time. No, the young woman seems more intent on bringing up her hand with fanned-out fingers, looking to match Preston's grip palm-to-palm and keep her neck safe.
As the spikes of energy come in at her, Heidern's daughter brings up her hand with a swift cutting motion, that same energy tracing her fingers' path in the air and scattering right through the incoming attack.
"No, I'm not."
Pulling her hand away from Preston's, her arms cross over her chest before her back arches slightly, using the distance between them to form a sudden, swirling ball of energy. It starts as a glowing light-- then erupts into a mass of swirling, cutting energy not unlike what she's used before. The ball travels forward only the barest of amounts, but the size and the cutting force might just make up for it!
"Uoohhhgh-!!" she cries, almost as if forming the sphere takes more effort than she cares to admit.
COMBATSYS: Preston endures Leona's Baltic Launcher.
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Preston 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Leona
It isn't so much that Preston is angry with Leona as she negates his attack, it's more that he's disappointed. But not in himself, naturally. Nevermind the fact that they're holding hands. There's a sour grunt from the Brit as his spikes are dissipated as well. All that effort, seemingly for not.
But is this girl crazy? Staying within close range of the burliest of Britons this side of Mister Bean is problematic at the best of times. When that ball of energy descends down on him, there's only the slightest of smirks that appears on his face as he instantly makes his decision.
He's strong. He's mighty. He's also able to weather blows that would fell most other opponents with relative ease. Thus rather than attempt to disengage himself from Leona, he simply stands there and accepts what is coming at him. The ball strikes squarely against his burly chest, ripping his stained shirt apart in a spew of fabric.
It even threatens to unravel his stylish scarf, but without that, his nipples would be visible for all to see!
"Tasty!" he roars the word, seemingly attempting to startle Leona with the fact that he didn't move a single inch from her strike. Whatever pain he may have accepted, he simply stands there with a smoking chest for a moment...
Before he closes the gap, to do more than simply steal a kiss from Leona.
If one considers thundering his forehead down in a vicious headbutt, like a bull goring the matador, to be a kiss of course! He does just that, following it up with a bellow, aiming to clear the debris from his horns with a thundering uppercut from his free arm!
Feel the power of Briton!
COMBATSYS: Leona blocks Preston's Bull of Barney.
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Preston 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Leona
Ah, a kiss. So warm and gentle or so powerful and passionate. When applied by the forces behind the forehead of Preston, you just don't want to be in the way of it.
Besides, what kind of man has lips on their forehead?
The headbutt seems to come down all well and good, though Preston may note the degree of resistance behind his headbutt, the feel of forearms in the path of what should optimally be skull. Likewise, the following uppercut meets a heavy amount of resistance in the form of two arms and outturned palms, though the weight of Leona Heidern's body is still picked up a bit off the ground. Riding that momentum with a heavy grunt, she ends up tossed into the air.
"Tch..."
Not too far from his body, though, the blue-haired Ikari Warrior reaches out to grab onto Preston's wrist, using the burly Brit's own arm to keep her from going too far away. Pulling herself back down toward the ground, her feet will only touch ground for a minute as she attempts to maintain that contact, keep herself holding onto the young man and then put her other arm up closer to his shoulder-- to grab on, and throw a stiff hip-check at the middle of his thigh while trying to pull Preston off his feet and throw him, quite literally, to the ground!
COMBATSYS: Leona successfully hits Preston with Strong Throw.
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Preston 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Leona
Yes, that's definitely not the feel of a soft bosom to cushion his head! Something has gone very, very wrong here, and Preston can only grind his teeth together as the girl musters her defenses and rides his uppercut away. "Fuck," he growls quietly, twisting the oar in his hand, spinning it swiftly as he looks up just in time to see his other arm grabbed, an anchor against a would-be storm.
Swiftly he attempts to thwart her effort, to lock his leg in around hers or anything -- but she proves a little too swift, and despite her size a little too strong. Leverage proves quite good as he's wrenched over her body and toppled, on instinct rolling away and onto one knee.
The oar comes up in between them, warding off any attempt she may take to capitalize. "Why do I get the feelin' I've just fuckin' run into someone that ain't from one of the schools, huh luv? You're definitely not from around these parts." And if he wasn't getting his ass handed to him, he'd likely be feeling somewhat amorous towards her as well.
Just as well that he is!
And since he's almost feeling embarrassment with how this is going, he instead decides to keep with the offensive. Back onto both boots, he's quite prompt in taking two steps forward, the gap between them vanishing as that massive leg of his drives forward, aimed to catch her square in the belly!
COMBATSYS: Leona dodges Preston's Light Kick.
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Preston 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Leona
As Preston falls and brings up his oar, Leona's already walking-- slowly-- as if to circle the young man, to keep him off-balance with his oar positioning as much as possible. The blue-haired girl's stern expression never changes, regardless. "I am not. Nor am I a student. Your judgment is still lacking, if you were unable to discern this from the very first exchange."
Preston's up, moving ahead, and swinging a leg in to throw a large kick right into her gut. Twisting to the side, Leona's natural speed and reactions take over-- allowing her to step off to the side with the Briton's foot striking only the air. The Ikari capitalizes on -this-, however, suddenly moving in a swift sprint, even at the close range. Her posture is impossibly low to the ground, her right arm whipping around in a chopping motion at his exposed leg. Along with it, that same 'cutting chi' that she used earlier. From there, her body whips backwards in a spread-leg kick at his chest, flipping into the air with a second line of that odd chi trailing from her leg. The gain of velocity is enough to send her up high, and fast enough to send her right over Preston's head should she hit-- or even if she misses.
COMBATSYS: Preston blocks Leona's Grand Sabre.
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Preston 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Leona
The exchange happens swiftly; his kick makes the air whimper, and she's back and then forward again, bringing that chi-laced leg to bear against him. Gritting his teeth, her foot encounters only the blade of the oar, the impact of it against his chest -- but the majority of damage buffeted and her flying over his head.
Turning to regard her, he spins the oar between his hands, a whirling shield of wood as he steps after her swiftly. "You'd be surprised what's lingering around these parts," he declares, the oar up over his head as he spins about -- and then his attack begins, whether she's facing him or not!
It's a triple attack, remarkably simple but almost elegant in its execution, particularly when displayed by someone his size. Those thick fingers of his prove nimble as he lashes out, the first swipe of the weapon aimed to clip her across the skull, ideally to disorientate as the second comes -- a thrust into her belly. And then the final insult, should all go to plan, as he aims to cleanly sweep her legs out from under her and place her where all good women should be!
COMBATSYS: Leona blocks Preston's Queen's Regulations.
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Preston 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Leona
Continuing in an almost graceful way over the Pacific youth's head, Leona's flip continues until she lands on her feet with a light step. A light step-- and then turning to regard the incoming blows with the utmost care. The young woman's forearms again bear the brunt of the damage that would be laid upon her head with that oar, closely guarding her head to the point the blade of the wooden oar lets out a *thak* as it jostles against her triangular earrings. The thrust is met in an awkward way, the young woman bringing her -leg- up into the mix, letting it crash against the outside of her calf and thigh as she swings it out to the side to buffer and direct the damage-- just enough to drop into a squat and let it catch against her side, rather than knocking her flat on her back.
From that squat, Leona looks up at the Brit, to respond. "You have no idea."
Leona's arms cross over each other from that position as her weight shifts from one leg to the other. Standing up in a bursting motion, her arms chop the air in a swift arc-- a cutting circle that leaves another trail of chi in the wake of her hands, one that again intends on digging right into Preston and giving him a whole lot of pain to deal with. "Haa!!"
COMBATSYS: Preston dodges Leona's Moon Slasher.
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Preston 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Leona
If only things went so smoothly. Again it seems neither is exceptionally succeeding at sealing this deal; his strokes are matched, and she isn't flat on her back. In turn, she makes an off-hand remark and lunges onto the offensive.
And then the impossible happens.
Preston gets out of the way. The arcs seek the Brit out, but he leaps high, remarkably so for someone of his size and stature. But what goes up, must come down, and he seeks to do just that. The only problem of course being that, while he's evaded her strike, it's likely time for her to do the same with his; he comes down armed and dangerous, that big oar of his held overhead.
And indeed, what comes up, must come down. Like a guillotine, that weapon of his thunders down from up-high with a deadly intent, aiming to smash Leona into the ground like the annoying fly that she is! "You'd be surprised, but why don't you tell me about it!" he grunts the words out as he completes the swing. It's no Venus-fly trap, but a fly swatter will do just as well.
COMBATSYS: Leona fails to interrupt Medium Strike from Preston with V-Slasher.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Preston 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Leona
He gets ... right out of the way. She didn't expect it, but this is combat-- don't get stuck in surprise. Accept it, move on. As Preston makes his well-timed dodge, Leona immediately decides to show him exactly what she was talking about. 'Tell him about it?' It's about to happen-- it's about to happen as she springs up into the air and brings her hand back up high. It starts to glow, not with that blue energy, but with a fiery orange. In a strange moment that defies physics, she comes down at him at a sharp angle...
... and his oar comes crashing right down on that shoulder, spiking her down. Needless to say, the energy at her hand scatters, and Leona lets out a harsh, angry grunt as she hits the ground on one knee, pressing herself back from Preston with a few swift, staggering steps. Yes, she's a bit humbled right now... but she needs to accept it, and move on.
On his descent, he notes the way she starts to glow. That just won't do, now will it?! While he lands first, he ensures she isn't long behind him, effectively swatting her out of the air instead of against the flat surface. "Hmph," the Brit sounds as he straightens, again giving that oar a loose twirl between his hands. "Or you can tell me about it over coffee, like I'd originally intended," he adds, snapping the oar out behind one arm as he closes the gap in swift steps.
While it may seem that the oar may come into play, it never does. Preston steams forward, a locomotive with the intent on simply plowing right over the opposition with such overwhelming force that Leona may find herself becoming one with the wall, if not out on the street.
But the real worry is the underarm of Wellington the II, for it's a thundering clothesline that he aims to deliver, a massive strike that may well decapitate a lesser fighter -- and in this case, at least send Leona flying!
COMBATSYS: Leona blocks Preston's Running Rigging.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Preston 0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Leona
The problem set before Leona Heidern now is her position: Preston stands right before her like the bull that sees red at the entrance to the china shop. He's off like a shot, sure, but there's not a whole lot of places that the shorter girl can immediately run to after what she would file away in a report as a 'colossal blunder.' As Preston charges in, Leona again brings her arms up to take the brunt of the Pacific teen's assault to keep her from being knocked flat on her ass-- or outright trampled.
Backing up to keep herself on-pace with Preston, to keep her from having to chase him down after the attack, she waits for just a moment before ending her defensive stance and immediately returning to the counterattack. The result? A very swift, straightforward attack: Her hand sweeps up into the air in a jabbing motion, the heel of her hand turned outward with the intent to crack the oarsman right in the middle of the face!
"I decline."
COMBATSYS: Preston endures Leona's Quick Punch.
[ \\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Preston 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Leona
While she may not be flying, it seems that Preston is at the very least going to be on the receiving end of something instead. It's an indicator of how this fight has gone for him; he not only fails to send her flying again, but she instead gets the drop on him with that direct punch. Rather than hit him square in the nose, it hits him instead in one of those cheek bones -- and thanks to the height advantage he has, it's not as damaging as it potentially could be.
But the way he reacted to it may seem odd to Leona, an indicator that something is amiss. He didn't try to evade the strike; he took it full-on. Ensuring, of course, that she returns right by his side.
While his tank be close to running on empty, Preston nevertheless sees the potential to attack, to harm. That's part of why he's on this fighting circuit; the joy of causing some physical discomfort to others. Knowing that his size is indeed being pressed to an advantage.
Thus, directly beneath Leona a sudden spike of chi manifests, a blue-white geyser aimed to propel her up into the sky. Preston leaps as well, this time simply to meet her in the only way he knows how. The oar goes back, and then it strikes forward, a double-handed axe handle smash of his weapon, to send her crashing back down to earth once more!
COMBATSYS: Leona just-defends Preston's Azimuth Circle!
[ \\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Preston 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Leona
Rather than defend himself, this stranger's taken the strike from the heel of her hand and shrugged it off better than she could have ever expected him to. She steels herself, eyes narrowing, and thinks hard about her options. He's right there, at close range, and that doesn't afford her a lot of room to avoid! Luckily, Preston makes the decision for her-- he causes a geyser of chi to erupt below her feet.
Leona's arms whip down low, first. The cutting chi emitted from her hands rips through the geyser of energy and scatters it out around her, rather than allowing it to chew up into her body. Looking up as the oar comes down, her hands sweep up in a smooth action and literally clap down on the blade of the oar to keep it from crashing onto her as he intended-- even with his strength, the power behind his swing!
One more time, her palms release from the oar. Reaching up for Preston, she tries to snag him at the collar with both hands and drag him down a bit-- and then, with an impressive fit of strength, twist hard at the waist and adjust her footing. In that stance, she literally tries to pick Preston up from the ground and -fling- him by the collar, to throw him like some kind of impromptu discus through the air, and let him hit the ground as hard as he pleases!
COMBATSYS: Leona successfully hits Preston with Ordeal Buckler.
[ \\ < > /////////////////// ]
Preston 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Leona
So to cut a long story short, Preston attempts to muster his defenses after being thoroughly shutdown, only for Leona to prove too nimble while he's simply too exhausted. Leverage is again exerted, and the Brit finds himself tumbling to the ground one more time.
And there he lies, contemplating where this all went wrong. Rather than humiliate himself any further, he gingerly pushes himself back to his feet, leaning on the oar for a moment before he snaps it into the air, seemingly for a final strike--!!
Except instead, he simply adjusts it down across his shoulders, and with a shake of his head aims to amble right past Leona. "Well, if you didn't want to have coffee, you could've just fuckin' said so," he huffily declares, attempting to shield his wounded pride as he makes for the entrance to Pacific High. He'll need to talk to his uncle about this, and maybe get some tips on how to actually get girls to agree to this mysterious 'coffee' that seems to work so well for his wild-haired relation!
COMBATSYS: Preston takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Leona 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Preston can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Leona 0/-------/---====|
Already back into a fighting stance the moment Preston decides to get up, the Brazillian's bouncing on the balls of her feet and waiting. Her hands are spread, her stance is ready-- and--
Preston's finished.
Shifting her stance, she straightens up and watches him walk by, stalk off into the school grounds and beyond. Then she seems to notice the audience they've drawn in, and looks at them (and Preston again) while they disperse. As he stalks off, as he utters that last statement toward her, Leona Heidern looks utterly confused.
"I did... twice..."
Shaking her head lightly, the Ikari adjusts the collar of her coat and again resumes walking... though she sends one last glance down at the styrofoam cup of spilled coffee. Picking it up, she gives it a light toss into a nearby trash bin, and keeps walking.
Still, this was a better distraction than a usual day off...
COMBATSYS: Leona has ended the fight here.
Log created on 23:21:49 12/26/2008 by Preston, and last modified on 03:52:07 01/03/2009.