Description: In a bid to promote another family eatery, Burger Vigor, Ken Masters faces down against Chun-Li in a match to entertain guests at this fine family establishment. Will Ken's burning AMERICAN spirit defeat Chun-Li's friendly CHINESE spirit? (Winner: Chun-Li)
Southtown's newest eating sensation: Burger Vigor!
A fighting-themed family-style restaurant, Burger Vigor (the name, like most names in the fighting world, is fairly inexplicable and sounds a little dirty if you say it too fast) caters to people who enjoy a nice meal with family or friends, surrounded by waitstaff in gaudy costumes and authentic fighting memorabilia. This is, of course, a Ken Masters operation, designed as much as anything else to generate revenue by broadcasting all the latest Neo League matches from the new season on flat-screen TVs, so people can see Mike Bison make people spit up blood while they eat.
Ken Masters himself is present tonight, signing a few autographs and skulking around the sides of the restaurant with a few businessmen, observing the first night of operation. There's been a media blitz to hype the place, and thus it's a packed house. The servers wander about in red, white, and yellow sleeveless gi for men (pink for the line cooks), and Chun-Li qipaos in blue and pink (plus clip-on hair buns) for ladies.
"This looks excellent," Ken says, giving his CFO, Stan, a thumbs up.
"Harrumph! Everything's going off without a hitch, indeed," Stan replies.
"Well, what could go wrong?" Ken says, thanking a Chun-Li waitress who brings him a bottled water.
"Well," Stan says, looking at some paperwork he's holding, "we never did get Chun-Li to sign off on authorizing the costumes, but I don't think she's copyrighted the look, so we should be safe."
This news is nonetheless enough to make Ken spit-take his water. "We didn't -- what?! Oh, man," Ken groans.
Public appearances are nothing new to the World's Strongest Woman; in fact, Chun-Li doesn't mind them one bit. It gives her a chance to meet with her fans and sign autographs and generally immerse herself with the people who support fighters and their endeavors. They're a good thing, really.
So when the invite came to fight against none other than the Neo League's founder himself in a public venue for a fighter-themed family restaurant, Chun-Li had to oblige. It'd been ages since she'd seen Masters in person, and it was a good opportunity to improve herself with some training. After her performance and loss in Strolheim, the World's Strongest Woman felt she needed to work on her techniques.
Chun-Li's arrival is quiet and low-key. Stepping into the busy restaurant, she looks around at the place, taking in the sights and themed waitstaff. Most people overlook her--in her blue qipao, she looks identical to the other women milling around taking orders. With a smile on her face she looks far from worried about copyright infringements or authorizations for her 'trademark' uniform. If anything, it amuses the Chinese fighter!
Her eyes finally pinpoint Ken Masters and his CFO Stan, an arm reaching up into the air to give the blonde a wave and a friendly smile. But before she can call out a table of Americans cut her off and demand she take their order. Briefly embarrassed, she tries in near-vain to break away. Fortunately, a Sean-themed waiter intervenes.
That's when Chun-Li makes a break for it and approaches Masters.
"Sorry if I'm late," she offers in apology, briefly bowing her head. "Er...are we supposed to fight in here? With so many people eating sitting around?" Bemused and uncertain, she looks to the Neo League man himself for answers.
As Chun-Li enters, a few people keeping watch scurry off. There's a large section of the dining floor marked 'RESERVED,' and suddenly those tables -- dead center in the restaurant -- are swooped on by burly Ryu-attired men and carried off along pre-programmed paths through the dining area, with nary and interruption to anyone's meal service aside from some of the diners looking a bit confused.
Ken grins and reaches out for a handshake. "No problem. We kept part of the dining room floor clear, so we'll have a wide enough berth to fight without kicking anyone's tables over." It's true; the restaurant is huge, probably precisely because of scenarios like this.
"Trust me, Chun-Li," Ken says with a gleaming Big American Grin, "it'll go fine."
Then, suddenly, Ken breaks away, half-jogging to the now-clear center space, upon which a few large mats have been laid down -- not to protect the fighters, but to spare the carpeting. "Uh, attention, everyone!" Ken says when someone hands him a mic. "Thanks for coming to Burger Vigor tonight -- it means a lot that you'd choose us over, you know, Outback Steakhouse or any of the other fine places to eat around here. But we have something they don't. No, ha ha, not the hat autographed by Terry Bogard, but actual, /live/ Neo League fighting!"
The crowd cheers.
"And what better way to kick it off," Ken continues, "than with me, Ken Masters, facing the Wooorld's Strooongest Womaaan -- c'mon out here, CHUUUN-LIII!"
Ken beckons for Chun-Li to come out. The diners, meanwhile, go apeshit, cheering her even louder than Ken.
Meeting the hand, Chun-Li returns the handshake with a relieved smile, shoulders stooping somewhat as she's given explanation. At least they don't have to fight around the people eating! She wouldn't want to accidentally traumatize a group of small children or something during her fight or worry about accidentally kicking someone in the head. They're very valid concerns!
"If you say so, Masters," the woman replies with an easy grin. "I'll take your word for it--"
But before she can finish the sentence properly Ken tear off and enters the cleared out section, drawing a mildly baffled look across her features. She waits, watching as he tends to formalities with her arms folded across her chest. But when she's properly addressed she looks almost coy, a small grin crawling over her lips before she breaks away and moves forward, waving to the cheering patrons as she joins Ken in the center.
"Thanks," she offers the blonde with a sincere smile. "Also, I won't lie. I'm eager to see you in action again. It's been too long, after all! So feel free to start us out, okay?" That being said, Chun-Li eases into a stance, arms raised as she holds her ground.
"Good luck, Ken!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has started a fight here.
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Chun-Li 0/-------/-------|
Ken passes the mic off to some little jerk or another who works there. "Hey, you too, Chun. And hey, don't worry, parents, this'll be a good, clean fight -- besides, I couldn't in good conscience lay a bruise on /those/ legs anyway." Ken is completely hamming it up to the crowd, who indulge him with polite laughter; still, even as he jokes, he falls back into his combat shuffle, shoulders heaving gently to a metronomic rhythm.
"Well, I was taught never to punch a lady first, but if you insist, ma'am--!" Ken suddenly lunges forward. His wild black brows are furrowed in a look of concentration that seems completely at odds with the friendly hucksterish grin he displayed a moment ago; it's as if the difference between 'entertainment personality' and 'Shoryuken Machine' is as simple as the flick of a switch.
Ken feints high with one hand but swings low with the other, giving a punch to the stomach more flash than it really deserves -- while this might be fun for the crowd to watch, it's a plan sure to leave holes in his defense.
COMBATSYS: Ken has joined the fight here.
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Ken 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li blocks Ken's Jab Punch.
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Ken 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
A grin graces Chun-Li's lips in response to Ken's hamming flattery, brown eyes hooding somewhat before she drops stance briefly and rests her hands on her hips. "I'd be a little careful, Masters. You're a married man, and I wouldn't want you to wind up with any marital strife." Not that she means it. Ken is a good man beneath it all, of course!
Easing into stance once more, Chun-Li's smile lingers are Ken readies himself. "Really?" she replies with a soft chuckle, brown eyes lidding playfully. "You of all people should know that ladies on the circuit aren't to be taken so lightly--!" He moves rather suddenly, brown eyes widening a fraction, following his movements before her shoulders drop. One arm swings up, perceivably to intercept the feint as the other drops, intercepting the blow to her stomach on her forearm.
"Careful- -!" she warns, shoving his arm back and swiftly drawing a leg up and tightly at her hip. A split-second later it shoots out, a series of rapid-fire, blindingly fast kicks delivered at Ken's chest and torso to hammer through his defenses and possibly into the man properly, if he's not quick! "YAA!"
COMBATSYS: Ken dodges Chun-Li's Hyakuretsu Kyaku.
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Ken 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
"Aw, you know me," Ken says, grinning back despite the intense look of concentration in his blue eyes. "I just try to be the nice guy--!"
Ken's sentence ends with a sudden drop to the ground; as Chun Li lashes out with her foot, Ken snaps his arms back and hits the deck, curling into a little red-and-blonde ball and somersaulting a few feet until he's behind her. The movement is as fast as Chun-Li's kick, and before her leg can even come down, he's popped back up to his feet. "Almost had me there!" Ken says, flipping his expertly and stylishly trimmed bangs back to simulate wicking sweat from his brow.
Of course, the motion is not just that -- as when Ken's hand comes away from his face, it's suddenly toward Chun-Li's arm, and another one toward her shoulder, as the American fighting champion attempts to swing one leg up to brace and then fall backward into a quick judo throw!
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li blocks Ken's Jigoku-guruma.
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Ken 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Chun-Li
Almost had him--!
Blinking as Ken suddenly blurs into a ball of red, the woman's rendering kicks slow and ultimately stop, her leg dropping to the floor just as Ken hops back onto his feet BEHIND her and he begins to make his move. Unfortunately, his wicked-awesome bishounen moment goes unseen, but a few women in the audience swoon and fan themselves in between their bites of food.
Gripped by the American fighter, Chun-Li offers a mildly baffled expression before he shoves a leg into her stomach, earning Ken a startled cry. Fortunately for Chun-Li, quick thinking spares her the real brunt of his judo throw; she flies, but hits the ground with her palms, cushioning the blow as she tumbles forward. A moment later she hops back onto her feet with a deft spring.
"I'm impressed, Ken," she offers with a smile. "I was a little worried with your lack of public appearance you may have gotten a little rusty..."
She doesn't finish, though. Breaking into a brisk dash she seeks to close the gap between them and, with one fluid motion, lifts an arm and leg up, seeking to drive her knee sharply into the Ansatsuken fighter's sternum. "HIYAA!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Ken with Medium Kick.
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Ken 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Chun-Li
"W--duh-OOOF!" Ken says, having just kip-upped to his feet snapped back into his combat stance when Chun-Li suddenly Tony Jaas him. The wind is knocked out of Ken's sails, and the Neo League owner falls -- the force of the knee lift is enough to knock him up into the air, legs swinging back so that he lands roughly on his belly. "Well, I guess I didn't disappoint on that front then," he says, half to himself, with a wry smile.
Before Chun-Li can capitalize, Ken rolls off to the side and pushes off the ground, rising to his feet and snapping his head back to get his hair out of his face. "Good thing I've got fighters like you to whip me back into shape -- I'd almost forgotten how hard you hit!" Ken grins boyishly, but then charges forward regardless; one good knee-lift deserves another, as Ryu's BFF attempts to seize Chun-Li by the shoulders and blast her with a flurry of knees.
To the stomach, mind. Ken's too much of a gentleman to knee a girl in the boob.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Chun-Li with Tsukami Nage.
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Ken 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Chun-Li
Almost immediately Chun-Li recoils from the knee strike, taking a few patient steps back and giving Ken his breathing room while she reassumes stance. His remark earns him a small, lopsided grin from the Tai Chi Mistress as she replies with a soft chuckle. "No, no disappointment here. I guess I'll have to be a touch more careful now."
Following his movements as carefully as possible, Chun-Li holds her ground as he speaks, watching as he charges. She waits, attempting to time her movements carefully, to avoid his grip at all possible--
But he's faster. Seized by Ken, the woman is suddenly barraged with knee strike after knee strike, the force enough to knock the wind out of her lung and take her off her feet. Only after she's released does she crumple somewhat, gripping at her now-aching stomach. Oww.
"S-same," she offers, grinning as she tries to catch her breath. "I see your time away hasn't dulled your strength, either."
With ample time now spent, the World's Strongest Woman presses the advance once more. Swiftly dashing forward, she seeks to drop low into a sitting position once the distance is closed. Fluidly she moves, lifting and folding her right arm across her forehead while the other arm shoots out swiftly, a nasty blow aimed for Ken's stomach. "YAH!!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Ken with Fierce Punch.
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Ken 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Chun-Li
Ken is popped so hard in the stomach that he /backflips/, landing on his belly again -- which, admittedly, is preferable to landing on his head, but still. Groaning through the sore sensation of a big bruise forming, Ken pushes himself up again, blinking a few times as if dazed. "Did someone get the name of that truck--?" he asks, holding his head. "/Ow/."
Ken swings his fists back out, though, still ready for more. "Tell you what, Chun," he says with a smile, "if you take me out in my own restaurant on my own opening night, soda for everyone on the house." As the crowd lets out an appreciative whoop, Ken winks at the World's Strongest Woman -- and then suddenly takes to the air, launching upp with one knee pulled up into the air! What follows is academic:
Ken suddenly spins, stretching his leg out straight and attempting to keep himself moving through the air with only the momentum provided by repeatedly kicking Chun-Li in the mouth.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li dodges Ken's Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.
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Ken 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Chun-Li
As soon as Chun-Li's fist slams into Ken with enough force that seems to flip the American off his feet her fist recoils. Both legs shoot out as the blonde hits the floor before they flip up, her body rolling on its back before she springs up and hops onto her feet. Once back on her feet, brown eyes peer curiously at the felled fighter, lips pursing lightly before she offers a small, coy grin.
"Sorry," she says sheepishly, lifting a hand apologetically. At least she means it!
Easing into stance, she readies herself as Ken speaks, her brow knitting softly before she offers another smile. "Really? Well, I can't disappoint the fans, can I? Very well; however, if you win, I'll foot the bill." That way everyone is a winner! Well, except for whoever foots the bill. Fortunately, that doesn't bother the likes of Chun-Li.
Moments after the wink he moves again, leaping up before whipping like a tornado of pain right at the woman. Briefly her eyes widen before she drops low and weaves swiftly aside, letting Ken's powerful kicks whip dangerously close to her face as she gets out of harm's way. Once she's in the clear she darts in and attempts to grab Ken by the lapels of his red gi as a leg shoots out, to try and sweep his ankles out from under him with a shove of her arms, to send him sprawling to the floor, back first. "HAH!"
COMBATSYS: Ken just-defends Chun-Li's Medium Throw!
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Ken 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Chun-Li
Chun-Li's sweep is effective -- Ken just grins as the female fury grabs him by his gi, as if he doesn't even plan to resist. But then, as her foot comes out --
--suddenly Ken jumps, hopping up just enough that his bare feet land on Chun-Li's leg, arms sweeping up to break her grip -- and in a split-second, he's kicked into a backflip, landing in a ready stance, fists brought up to bear, grin so white the light actually make it sparkle, for which Ken can thank a lifetime of brushing with Glisten. "If that's the case, then we'd better at least five these people a real show first!"
Ken flashes a thumbs up at the crowd, and looks back to Chun-Li. "Hope you didn't mind me dancing on your feet -- Eliza /hates/ it when I do that. But let me show you a little dance move I do better than /anyone/--"
Ken rushes low, fists balled tightly, flame coiling up his arm as he charges and /explodes/ upward, seeking to take Chun-Li with him. "--/SHOOORYUKEN/!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li blocks Ken's Shoryuken.
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Ken 0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1 Chun-Li
When Chun-Li sweeps her leg out, it meets nothing. The very fact causes her to briefly look confused, brown eyes widening a fraction--more so when suddenly Ken is backflipping away and out of harm's way. That was certainly unexpected; she stumbles somewhat as her arms are broken free of Ken's gi, boots lightly scuffing against floor.
"I didn't mind, no," the woman offers, shaking her arms out somewhat with a small grin on her lips. "I think you need to work on your steps a bit, though." Her smile grows a bit, eyes hooding slightly in amusement before she nods. "Agreed. Let's give them a show. Do your best, Ken!" the World's Strongest Woman offers as encouragement.
His rush is observed, the flames around his arm noted as he closes in. But when he unfurls and explodes like a piston Chun-Li's arms suddenly fold over her chest and face, taking the brunt of his fiery blow into her bare arms. Flames singe and burn, and Chun-Li grits her teeth in pain, but she weathers it admirably enough.
As Ken falls Chun-Li hops back, putting distance between herself and the blonde. Her arms move, stretching out before her as wisps of blue energy begin to bleed from her fingertips. The energy swirls, gathering at her palms and expanding gradually, before--
Whipping her arms behind and arching her back briefly, she then shoots forwards like a cracking whip. Chun-Li thrusts both palms forward, the energy collecting into a mass of vibrant blue energy that shoots forward from her palms, sending the spherical mass of pure chi sailing right for Ken. "KIKOOOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Ken with Kikouken.
- Power hit! -
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Ken 1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Chun-Li
"Ungh!" Ken grunts as the kikouken interrupts what was apparently going to be an attempt at a punch to the dome. The ball of chi impacts into Ken's stomach both gracefully and painfully, knocking the fighter away from his opponent. "Whoa! You're faster on the draw than you used to be -- nice!" Ken parlays it into a compliment as a preventative measure against being accused of being /slower/ than /he/ used to be.
"Tell you what, Chun, this isn't looking too good for me," the red-clad warrior says with a grin, "But I'm still gonna go out /swinging/!"
The 'swinging' of Ken's sentence is emphasized by the fact that as he says it, he lashes out with a bared, muscular arm to try and punch Chun-Li in the cheek, swinging his upper body forward to try and really put his strength into pasting her one. It's not a very flashy or fancy maneuver, but he's been mugging for the crowd for a bit too long now, and it's time to show these people what a REAL ASS STREET FIGHTER does.
COMBATSYS: Ken successfully hits Chun-Li with Medium Punch.
- Power hit! -
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Ken 1/-------/=======|=======\======-\1 Chun-Li
Arms relax as the sphere meets its mark, shoulders sagging somewhat after the exertion of spiritual energy. Such is not necessarily Chun-Li's forte, but it does its job well enough in putting distance between her and Ken. That should give her time to plan her next move, she suspects. Hopefully her intuition will pay off.
"Thank you," she offers, bowing her head politely--and respectfully--to the American. "Good to see that my hard work is noticeable. You're no slouch yourself, you know!" Fortunately, she doesn't say he's slower than he used to be, if slow at all. It's been so long, after all!
"Can't say it's going too easily for me," she replies, grinning politely. "But show me your best, Masters. I'll show you mine!"
As predictable as the assault may be, what with the emphasis on SWINGING and all, Chun-Li's attempt to evade that stony fist prove fruitless. Struck in the face she reels sharply, nearly losing her balance as she's forced to stumble several feet away from Real American Hero Ken and his Kung-Fu Grip of Fury. It leaves her winded for a moment, the Chinese woman bent at the waist with hands on her knees as she tries to catch her breath. She recovers quickly enough.
Breathing in a deep, sharp breath, Chun-Li focuses sharply on Ken, brown eyes narrowing intently. Flexing her legs, she hops once before she begins to move quickly, hurriedly closing in the distance between them before she whips a leg up and into action, unleashing a painful barrage of kicks at Ken once more--
But it doesn't end with one; instead, she merely changes up and switches legs, unleashing another barrage at the fighter. Another change up, another barrage of kicks follows the second, then switches once more for another barrage before she changes up once again. This time, however, her powerful leg shoots up like a piston aimed for Ken's jaw, to send the blonde fighter sailing into the air--!
COMBATSYS: Ken fails to interrupt Houyoku Sen EX from Chun-Li with Hadouken.
-* CRITICAL FAIL! *-
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Ken 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Ken can no longer fight.
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Chun-Li 0/-------/----===|
Ken's follow-up to his punch is a tactic remarkably simple in its execution -- namely, eating a kick to the face, then one to the chest, then one to the face again, et cetera. He's spun backward by the attack, almost toppling over but catching himself on a bare heel.
Ken's hands come together and his arms tense, biceps flexing -- a ball of chi starts to form between his palms as he spins, calling, "HAAA--"
And then Ken is /cracked/ across the face with four kicks in the space of a second. He stands there for a moment, chi fizzling out and arms dropping to his sides. "Forgot... the one rule..." he groans, dizzy. "Never... punch... a woman fighter... in the face..."
Ken's eyes cross, and he topples forward onto his belly, unconscious. The crowd cheers Chun-Li, as NL medics tend to Ken and the CFO of the Masters Corporation, a mustachioed senior named Stan, approaches Chun-Li. "Don't worry about the drinks, madame, the expense will teach this nitwit not to play around so much in his fights. Harrumph!"
%Unleashing her mannish strength upon the blonde, Chun-Li is relentless in her assault, despite Ken's admtirable attempts to smack the Chinese fighter in the midst of her assault with a fiery sphere of pain. Her assault continues without interference, countless kicks unleashed within a mere minute's time. Only after her final kick to his jaw does the woman immediately withdraw, a foot placing itself down before she pivots and backs away from Ken.
But he doesn't attack. Instead, his chi fizzles out and he speaks before he collapses to the ground, to Chun-Li's surprise. Blinking brown eyes slowly, she watches with muted disbelief. But just as she takes a step forward to see if he's all right, the old, mustache-clad man interrupts her.
"Er...okay," is her response, lips pulling into a discreet frown before she offers a lopsided, uncertain smile. Meanwhile the crowds cheer with delight. Yay free sodas for everyone, courtesy of Ken Masters? Everyone's a winner in the Neo Leagues, obviously!
Meanwhile, Chun-Li tries desperately not to get overly swamped while trying to get in touch with the League officials in-between stopping for autographs. Poor Ken. She needs to at least leave a note with him to tell him she's sorry for knocking him out! Plus she doesn't want to piss Eliza off. Chun-Li is a responsible fighter!
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has ended the fight here.
Eliza understands the risks of Ken's job, even if she thinks Chun-Li lets her unitard bottoms ride up that much on purpose during fights. But she'd never say that part aloud.
Ken, meanwhile, is revived in short order, his first word upon regaining consciousness being a blurted "--hhhoobastank!"
Patrons and waitstaff alike swarm Chun-Li between her position and Ken's, though, seeking autographs or high-fives.
Log created on 19:39:11 01/17/2009 by Chun-Li, and last modified on 12:45:26 01/19/2009.