Description: In this fight, Iori, Chun-Li and Heidern decide to put aside their differences and bring the joy of holiday cheer to unfortunate orphan-children the world over through joyous caroling. Tears are shed, bonds are forged, and delightful, generic meandering socializations are artfully crafted. Also: people die. All or none of these things are accurate. PS: Uchikoma is a whore. Literally. (Draw: Heidern and Iori)
SOME TIME AGO
Xiang Chun-Li is reading the terms of her next SNF fight in the office of one of the producers, who she is hitting up for an advance on her next fight payment because she needs some new and very expensive parts for her vigilante radar array network. "...church bells? That sounds... dangerous," the World's Most Dangerous Woman notes.
"Extremely!" the producer says, pleased with the compliment. "But also /totally safe/."
"W-Wait," Chun-Li says, trying to parse this.
"Don't worry, Chun-Li," the producer says, leaning forward. "We've got this under control. Nothing could possiblay go wrong. ...possi/bly/ go wrong. Hunh. That's the... first thing that's ever gone wrong."
Chun-Li stares.
NOW
Xiang Chun-Li still has her reservations about this fight. Though her cruel mentor, the kung fu wizard and tai chi merlin Gen, told her about the Five Great Greased Up Naked Deaf Masters of Aikido once, she has no desire to join their ranks. Still, she is wearing her white and gold qipao, because she figures she might as well dress in her Sunday best if she is going to lose her hearing forever. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to wheedle her way out of the fight.
She really needed that advance.
Now, stuck in this situation, Chun-Li is adjusting her boots and throwing out a few whipcrack check-swing kicks, making sure she's good and limber for her competition. Her last match with Heidern was a bit of a massacre, and she saw pictures of what Iori Yagami did to Sakura Kasugano on rotten.com when she accidentally browsed the site for an hour and a half. So much of this fight seems... ill-fated.
Already, Heidern has lost an eye. Apparently SNF wants him to lose his hearing next.
Perhaps begrudgingly, the Ikari Commander obliged the stipulations of his match: fight in the belfry of some old church while SNF crew members obnoxiously rang the ridiculously large brass bells. Wandering up from the Village proper, dressed in his Ikari Warriors fatigues topped by a long, deep olive-colored jacket, the one-eyed soldier makes his way to the church.
Immediately, he ascends the many steps up to the top of the belfry. He quits counting the steps halfway.
Arriving just in time to see Chun-Li kicking the air, the man offers her little more than a nod before he steps to one side, near the belfry's open ledge. Inwardly, he ALMOST feels a little bad about the massacre that was their last engagement. However, she has had ample time to train between, and with the wild card of GIANT BELLS being thrown in, who knows?
So there he stands, a silent figure as he waits for the match to begin.
Iori Yagami hates many things. He's ambivalent about Christmas.
But every progressive SNF is teaching him that maybe it's a good thing to hate it, too.
/BEFORE/
"... What the hell is this?"
Iori stares incredulously at the outfit being presented to him by an eager SNF producer; the clothes are rather appropriately labeled 'IORI'S COSTUME!' in red and green letters.
"Uhhh... it's your costume, Mr. Yagami," the thing man explains slowly, and as cautiously as possible. Iori's brow twitches. "Surveys have found that... audiences find you 10% less threatening when wearing one of the costumes we pick out for you, and--"
"... Go to hell. You're a moron if you think I'd agree to something that stupid," Iori states bluntly, turning around. The man looks exasperated, wiping some sweat off his brow before continuing.
"W-well, Mr. Yagami, it's... a requirement," Iori's right hand twitches into a fist. "A-and if you don't do it you'll be barred from participating in any more Saturday Night Fights...?" Yagami pauses, considering the drawbacks of this. While there are very few, there is one that causes the red-eyed fighter to spit loathingly and swipe the costume from the producer with enough force to push the man backwards.
"Fine," he growls, before finally looking at the outfit again.
"... what the /hell/ is /this/ shit?"
\AFTER\
Iori stands towards the edge of the church belfry, hands shoved deep in his pockets and exuding an aura that very explicitly gives off 'don't talk to me or I'll kill you' vibes. While his outfit is stylistically no different than usual, the entire affair has been redone in red and green colors, the festivity only set off by his increasingly angry-looking expression. His shoes have been replaced with red, pointed elf-shoes, and on top of his head as a single, floppy Santa hat. He does not look happy.
"... Someone's gonna die."
Chun-Li gives a stoic nod toward Heidern while Iori Yagami makes his way up. When his holiday attire stands revealed, the World's Strongest Woman is far too polite to say anything, but she is momentarily taken aback, and her cheeks pinken a bit when she regards him. Internally, she wonders if the SNF producers are /trying/ to kill her.
"Well, gentlemen," Chun-Li says, with a respectful bow, arms bent and fist pressed to open palm, "this may be the last time we hear each other... ever... again, so I look forward to a good fight from both of you." Chun-Li stands up and flashes a bright smile, ever earnest in her good intentions.
And then, so fast that it is like a blur of white silk and giant fucking thighs, Chun-Li proves that she is also earnest in attempting to kick Iori Yagami in the teeth, spinning around to give the backswing of her heel toward his cheek a surplus of speed, if not force.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has started a fight here.
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Chun-Li 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Heidern has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Heidern 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Iori has joined the fight here.
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Chun-Li 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Iori
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Heidern 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Starscream has joined the fight here in the center.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Chun-Li 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Iori
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Heidern 0/-------/-------|
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Starscream [W] 0|-------|------=
COMBATSYS: Heidern has joined the fight here on the top side.
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Heidern 0|-------|-------
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Iori 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
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Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
When Iori arrives, Heidern turns and regards both fighters...but when he sees just /what/ SNF has done to Iori, the man BRIEFLY looks taken aback. Then, he very nearly smirks in what is likely to be 'amusement' from the old Ikari. It's guaranteed he's unhappy in that--maybe a little humility will do him some good?
"I prize my hearing, since half of my vision is already gone," the Ikari states dryly. "So my aim is to get through this with as little loss of it as possible. Good luck to you both." He nods shortly after. Lord knows they'll all need it.
And so, with a woosh of white silk Chun-Li tears off after Iori. Rather than throw himself after the Orochi-blooded punk, Heidern keeps back, instead shifts his stance wide, fingers crooked as hazy red chi begins to writhe slowly from the ground around his feet, crawling up along his legs and toward his shoulders. He'd rather bide his time; rushing in foolishly, however tempting what with the BELLS and all, isn't the best strategy.
He'll leave that to Iori.
COMBATSYS: Heidern gathers his will.
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Heidern 0|-------|---====
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Iori 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
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Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Iori with Light Kick.
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Heidern 0|-------|---====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Iori 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
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Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
"Deafness would be a godsend compared to having to listen to your pathetic droning," is Iori's polite greeting to both Chun-Li and Heidern.
"So how about you shut up and let's get this shit over with already, huh?"
And so, Iori gets his wish. The already-irate Yagami heir lowers his stance as painful violet flames begin to sprout across his body. As Chun-Li springs forward at him, Yagami moves forward as well, becoming a surge of holiday cheer... but not quite fast enough.
The sole of Chun-Li's foot SMASHES into the side of Yagami's face, hard enough to snap his head to the side with a light spray of blood and sting of pain -- but not hard enough to stop him. Fists both alight in flame, Yagami keeps up his momentum, spinning around as both hands clench over his head and SWING down, to smash /Chun-Li/ in the face with a pair of violet-charged fists, the slightest contact with which will bring about the deafening roar of an explosion of purple flames.
"PATHETIC!! GUUUUUUUOOOOOOOOHHHH!"
"Hey," one of the producers mentions off hand, gesturing at one of the sound technicians. "Y'think we can edit those little yell things he does? Maybe like, I dunno, 'GUOH HO HO HO!' or something?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Great, great. Our ratings are gonna be fantastic!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li fails to interrupt Tsumagushi from Iori with Medium Kick.
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Heidern 0|-------|---====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Iori 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Chun-Li
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Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
SEVERAL DAYS LATER
Chun-Li, sitting in the bath as she recovers from the fight, stares at the television screen in shock.
The producers have taken advantage of her white qipao to add a CGI stovepipe hat, striped scarf, and corncob pipe. She is also billed as 'CHUN-LI THE SNOWMAN.'
"I'M NOT A MAN!" Chun-Li cries in protest, before realizes she's yelling at the TV and then splashing her bathwater in frustration.
Then, Charlie opens the door to the vigilante base bathroom. "Whoa! Occupado! Sorry!" he blurts before immediately stepping back out. Chun-Li rubs her temples, trying not to scream at how badly this day is going.
NOW
Chun-Li's troubles begin as Iori's flamin' fists of fury come down on her head with the sort of force that usually results in an explosion and less usually an explosion that Dolph Lundgren refuses to be fazed by. Chun-Li is no Dolph Lundgren, though, and her attempt to intercept the blow with a sudden high kick goes horribly awry.
Oh, she hits his fists, all right. It's just that the force of his chi-soaked attack is enough to not even register her kick. It rebuffs the interception totally -- by striking Chun-Li in the foot so hard that it drives her knee into her own body like a hammer sinking a nail.
Chun-Li lands in what could only be described as an 'awfully reminiscient of breakdancing' tumble.
Meanwhile...
Having sufficiently kept aside and having not intervened in the fight what-so-ever, Heidern observes with his one, good blue eye as Iori is kicked. Then, Iori gets violent (surprise) and lashes out at Chun-Li. Despite her efforts, she's smacked good and hard, so much so even the old Ikari winces in sympathy.
The hazy, crimson chi disperses as Heidern snaps an arm sharply to his side. Lifting his arm shortly after, he tightens one of his black leather gloves before leveling his gaze on Iori.
"You really need to learn manners," he dryly remarks. "You're almost as bad as Saishu's brat."
Without word, he just dashes forward, a blur of olive green fatigues and coat as he pursues the Orochi-tainted Yagami scion. He'll attempt to grab him by the collar and hoist him up briefly--only to slam him back firsti into the concrete floor of the belfry. Then, lifting one arm into the air, he'll summarily drive his fingers INTO the Yagami's stomach.
COMBATSYS: Iori endures Heidern's Lead Belcher.
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Heidern 0|-------|--=====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Iori 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Chun-Li
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Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Both hands snapping back, Iori falls into a crouch with an angry grunt, slowly lifting up. He's prepared to just kick Chun-Li while she's down, probably literally--
--Before Heidern goes and says the Wrong Thing.
Coming to a full stand, Iori pauses mid-motion as Heidern finishes speaking. Crimson hair matting across his eyes thanks to his awkwardly shoved-on Santa hat, the twitch of his right eye is almost imperceptible as Heidern launches himself forward. The grapple goes through successfully, but as Iori is hoisted up.
"Are you kidding me, you old piece of shit?"
The /second/ Heidern twists to slam Iori back down, he might notice the young man's hand burning bright purple... before he SWEEPS it forward the very SECOND he lands back-first with stone-cracking force, unleashing a sudden, violent PLUME of Orochi-tainted fire the second his Heidern's hand impales itself painfully into his stomach. Crimson blood is coughed outward from Iori's mouth from the impact, but he ignores the pain with the unloading of that powerful blast of fire, aiming to punsih Heidern just as he attempts to recover himself.
"I'M BETTER THAN KYO IN EVERY FUCKING WAY!!"
Chun-Li, meanwhile, is on her back, wheezing powerfully because she just got cracked in the lung with her own kneecap. While Iori and Heidern begin their blood duel, Chun-Li croaks and tries to get back up, quickly realizing that a couple ribs are broken. She thinks back to her training, so long ago...
SOME TIME AGO
Chun-Li, younger and with a marginally different ox-horn hairstyle, is standing perfectly erect, awaiting instruction from Gen. She is wearing thoroughly 90s workout clothes, including an oversized NO FEAR wifebeater tucked into electric yellow shorts.
"Today's training will be PAIN RESISTANCE!" Gen cries, his mouth moving out of sync with his words. He then punches her in the side so hard that a loud, sickening CRACK carries through the tranquility of his estate.
Chun-Li falls to her knees, spitting up blood and gasping in pain and shock. She looks up at Gen, who rests the heel of his boot on her forehead. "Now: five hundred push-ups. And no /girly style/ ones."
NOW
Chun-Li slowly, carefully forces herself to stand up. A hand goes to her side to assess the damage. She'll live. Okay, game on.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li gains composure.
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Heidern 0|-------|--=====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Iori 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
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Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Heidern with Yami Barai.
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Heidern 0|-------|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Iori 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
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Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Ignoring the words out of Iori's mouth, Heidern simply follows the motions, dropping him harshly before plunging knife-like digits into the depths of the young man's stomach. Flames be damned; he just wants to dig his hand into him and make him suffer.
Yet, being so close doesn't help his defenses much. The attempt to get Heidern OFF Iori works; violet fire slams into the man, drawing a loud "HRRGH" from him as he flies back. He bounces once, dust flying from the pavement as he lands. The front of his fatigues smoke, last remnants of violet fire burning away at the cloth. Beneath lies a nasty-looking burn.
But the old soldier perseveres. Pushing to one side, the man rolls ONTO his side before he shoves himself off the ground, casting a glance from Chun-Li, who remains passive, then to Iori. Coughing hoarsely, the man offers the faintest of smirks.
"What's wrong, struck a nerve?" he wonders in that same, dry tone.
Finding himself really unable to go after a woman who isn't really posing a threat, Heidern pushes off after Iori once more, closing in on the Yagami before he leaps, flips head over heels before dropping a heavy, booted heel right toward the top of Iori's skull.
COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Medium Kick from Heidern with Yumebiki.
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Heidern 1|------=|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Iori 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
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Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
/YEARS AGO/
Iori Yagami sits alone in his estate while not learning important life lessons like 'how to show restraint' and 'how to control your temper' because both his parents are dead.
/NOW/
Chun-Li has presented herself as an incredibly open target. Taking this into consideration, Iori also takes into consideration his initial gut impulse to tear Heidern to pieces because he said something that could vaguely be construed as an insult if one tried hard enough. Ultimately, Iori decides to hurt Heidern more instead of capitalize on opportunity.
Because that's just how it works.
As soon as Heidern pushes up and leaps, Yagami surges /forward/, /directly/ into Heidern's attack. His heavy boot /crashes/ into Iori's skull with a sickening CRACK of impact, flattening his Santa hat with merciless strength. And yet, Iori /powers/ through it, letting out a blood-curdling howl--
--before SLICING razor-sharp claws forward to carve straight into Heidern's neck and chest, spinning a full three hundred and sixty degrees before using his /other/ hand to backhand the Ikari commando into the ground.
"What's wrong," Iori asks caustically as a trail of blood runs down the left side of his face, barely noticeable against his simlarly-hued hair. "Struck an artery, you senile shit?"
And just as Iori delivers his INCREDIBLY WITTY REJOINDER, the church bell begins to move with a sudden, ominous groan, swinging wide... before going off with a series of deafeningly loud WHOOONGS of impact, the sheer sonic force of the bell's toll shaking the very room and promising pain to anyone in range.
COMBATSYS: Starscream successfully hits Chun-Li with RING DING A LING.
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Heidern 1|------=|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Iori 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Chun-Li
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Chun-Li has just about /regained her composure/ when behind her, the bells suddenly start going off and it's like someone dropped an atom bomb into each of her ears and when the atom bombs went off it turns out they were full of radioactive rapist atoms that rape the atoms of her ears (eartoms).
Chun-Li falls to her knees, clutching the sides of her head in phenomenal pain. If she cries out, it's not obvious, because holy shit those bells are loud.
When they stop, the noise subsides, but not the ringing in Chun-Li's ears. "Uhhhnnh," she groans, but she can't hear herself -- just a constant high-pitched ringing. She quickly gets caught up with the fight, though, relying entirely on her vision -- so if Iori and Heidern are actually engaged in polite conversation, she won't know it.
Assuming that they aren't, though, Chun-Li jumps to their location, ending her leap with a quick somersault, her leg shooting out and landing on the ground so powerfully that a shockwave ripples toward Heidern from behind. She respects Heidern more than Iori, but... he was closer. Sorry.
COMBATSYS: Heidern just-defends Starscream's RING DING A LING!
[ ||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 1|------=|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iori 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Chun-Li
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
COMBATSYS: Heidern fails to interrupt Hazanshu from Chun-Li with Moon Slasher.
- Power fail! -
[ |||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 1|---====|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iori 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Chun-Li
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Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
It was a noble effort; however, Heidern's attempts to smack the hell out of Iori don't really pan out. Intercepted mid-strike, the man is clawed into with unnaturally long and potentially girly nails, blood splashing from fresh wounds. Driven back through the air, he again bounces and lands with a thud, the old Ikari's one eye pinching shut. Shit that hurts.
But just as he begins to get to his feet the bells begin to move. Chun-Li crumbles in pain. Heidern, however, covers his ears firmly. Only when the bells stop does he pull them away--and removes a set of ear plugs he'd SOMEHOW brought with him. He casts them aside, turning his eye back to Iori.
"Now--"
CRACK.
Struck painfully by chi AND foot, Heidern is driven to his knees from the impact, a loud HRRK escaping the man. He doesn't move immediately after; instead, he plants his hands and just tries desperately to push himself back onto his feet after that.
COMBATSYS: Iori parries Starscream's RING DING A LING!
[ |||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 1|-----==|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Iori 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Chun-Li
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
"Che," spits Iori spitefully, rubbing the back of his neck as he glares at both the recovering Chun-Li and the fallen Heidern.
"You're both worthless."
Rolling either shoulder with a series of painful-sounding cracks, Iori is only interrupted when he notices something out of the corner of his eye: the bell has begun to move. Crimson eyes narrowing, he reacts within a fraction of a second. It's all the time that he has, and apparently--
--it's more than enough. The very second that the bell rings, Iori is suddenly /leaping/ backwards, moving out of direct range of the mighty gong of the bell, landing /literally/ on the ceiling of the belfry. A second pauses, as the aftershocks of the musical booms ripple through, and then, fully intending to make use of the distraction the bell provides, Iori PUSHES off the walls of the building... right for Chun-Li.
"HUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!"
Right elbow presented, the red-haired festive young man is fully intent to /smash/ it into Chun-Li's throat before a holly-jolly-clad arm SNAPS forward, /smashing/ a flaming palm into the face of the World's Strongest Woman with intent to plow her into the cold hard stone... and then IGNITE her flesh with a morbid explosion of Orochi-cursed flames.
COMBATSYS: Iori has left the fight here.
[ |||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 1|-----==|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Chun-Li 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li fails to interrupt Koto Moon Negative EX from Iori with Tensei Ranka.
[ |||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 1|-----==|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Iori 1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0 Chun-Li
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Having crippled Heidern, Chun-Li is still dazed and deafened. She looks up in some mild confusion -- Iori's cry, being louder than the bells, was almost enough to cut through her savagely overbearing tinnitus, and she glares at him as he prepares to charge. "Let's dance," she says.
Of course, being unable to hear herself, Chun-Li says it way too loud. Incidentally, let's take a look at what Xiang Chun-Li knows about dancing.
SOME TIME AGO
Chun-Li is at a vigilante fundraising party and someone dressed like John Travolta. Her dress shows off her legs, as is her wont, and the Travolta guy whistles. "I bet you're an amazing dancer," he says, smiling harmlessly.
Chun-Li, who has never been out dancing in her life, tries to go along with it to save face. "Oh, well, yeah, I... dance," she says, feigning confidence and trying to think of what dance-related pop culture she knows from her limited time focusing on 'things that are not Shadaloo.' "I kind of... fuse Flashdance with some... MC Hammer... sh..."
"Well, come on then, show us your moves," says Cammy, in the midst of her eighteenth or nineteenth deprogramming.
After some blushing and balking, Chun-Li is put in the center of a circle of people. "But there's no music...!" she protests, and they start clapping and humming a song. Chun-Li hesitates for a moment, and then begins going into a bizarre series of rhythmic spasms and what look like check-swing karate moves, throwing up limp kicks and weird, angular chops, stomping back and forth and shaking her shoulders but not her hips. The clapping gradually dies down, and so does the singing -- from everyone but Chun-Li, who continues to hum / grunt a disjointed tune as her dance continues well past the point of sanity, beginning to involve spins and dips, until she brings her arms up, spins on her heel, claps, and points to someone.
The crowd watches, astonished. "We don't have to give a donation for that, too?" Guile asks.
NOW
Maybe that shameful memory strikes, or maybe Chun-Li is more rattled by the bells than she'd care to admit, but Iori completely steamrolls her -- again. Her flying spin-kick is interrupted by him just punching her right in the fucking stomach, sending her down to the ground as if she was pinned by a javelin. She squirms -- and then /ignites/, chi blazing so brightly that sections of her trademark brown pantyhose dissolve. "AAARRRGGGHHH!"
Meanwhile, crouched on the floor of the belfry, Heidern tries to shake off the horrendous headache he'd received no thanks to Chun-Li's god-awful and mannish strength. So while the Chinese woman daydreams and Iori pitches a fit, the old Ikari is trying to peel himself off the ground. Eventually, he manages the feat--
Just in time to witness Chun-Li having the crap beaten out of her. Frowning sharply, the one-eyed soldier just hoods his only good eye before wordlessly charging forward, right after Iori. He seeks to close in by sliding across the dusty concrete, one arm crossed over his chest--before he lashes out with it, attempting to slice into the Yagami scion from hip to shoulder with one wide slashing motion of his ridiculously sharp fingers.
COMBATSYS: Iori fails to interrupt Fierce Punch from Heidern with Kousen Barai.
[ |||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 1|-----==|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Iori 1/---====/=======|======-\-------\0 Chun-Li
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
'Let's dance.'
"Wh--"
CONSPICUOUSLY CONCURRENT FLASHBACK
Iori Yagami is fourteen, staring balefully at Kyo Kusanagi from afar as the more-famous heir breaks out into what onlookers would later describe as a "killer fly off-the-wall stupid fresh dancing revolution." Behind him flares a banner: "KING OF DANCERS '93."
"Che, worthless," spits Iori. "I can do better than that...!" And, trudging onto the dance floor, the young Yagami heir breaks into dance as the crowds watch, stupefied. After roughly a minute and a half of what onlookers would later describe as "like a full-body dry heave set to music," Iori Yagami is laughed off the stage.
It is the last time he will ever attempt to challenge Kyo in any sort of social context than 'killing him.'
NOW
"Fuck off!" Iori screams at Chun-Li with unusual vigor as he smashes her into the earth.
"I DON'T DANCE!"
Bringing himself to a stand, flames are still licking around Iori's arms as he hears those footsteps rushing ever-closer to him. Turning an angry eye to stare at the approaching Heidern, Iori begins to lift both hands--
--but it's too late. Just a second too slow, Heidern CARVES with those sharp fingers (perhaps girlishly so) across Iori's entire torso in a violent spray of blood, the pain flashing through Iori's mind like a familiar surge as he stumbles backwards. Crimson splatters against the belfry floor as he clenches his wounds, glaring at Heidern.
"... you got lucky, you old shit."
Chun-Li steams and sizzles but eventually makes it back to her feet once Heidern steamrolls the crimson-haired Orochi sociopath. "Hughhg," she groans, rubbing at her ears, which still throb with more pain than the parts of her that were just on fire. Her hearing is starting to come back to her, and she eyes the newly-splattered Yagami. He's really taken enough liberties with her tonight -- time to give him the chance to go for the hat trick.
Chun-Li charges toward Iori, seeking to boot him in the stomach with a suddenly thrusting kick that puts all of her strength in her heel. Of course, part of that isn't just for impact -- it's to gain an actual foothold in his solar plexus, so she can spin herself, her other leg swinging up off of the ground and whipping toward the side of his head with centrifugal mega-pain. "I've heard you call people a lot of things, Iori, but 'your worship?' You're losing your touch!"
Okay, her hearing is /back/, but not /good/.
"Luck has nothing to do with this," Heidern assures the Yagami as he stumbles back. Dropping his hand from high, he sharply cuts it away, leaving a gross trail of blood splatter at his feet. He offers the faintest of smirks before, quickly, the expression fades into his usual look of...well, no real expression.
He begins to speak; however, the patter of footfalls behind him gives him reason to pause, the man's one good eye darting back as he glances over his shoulder. Chun-Li comes running up, to take on the Yagami after her particularly nasty dance gone wrong with him prior. His brows furrow slightly, and he finds himself in a moral conundrum. Attack her, or attack Yagami?
Exhaling in what is likely disappointment, Heidern shakes his head lightly before he steps in and attempts to GRAB Chun-Li by the back and pull her away, ultimately dropping her (kind of viciously) to the ground and possibly away from Iori before he FLIPS OUT. He figures that's being nice by comparison to what Iori would do.
COMBATSYS: Iori dodges Chun-Li's Fierce Combo.
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 1|-----==|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Iori 1/---====/=======|======-\-------\0 Chun-Li
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
"You think so, huh?" growls out Iori as he glares at Heidern. That's right -- he has a score to settle with this guy. And he's just about to do so--
--when the World's Strongest Woman comes barreling in with a confusing declaration. Iori's head swings around, staring at the advancing Chun-Li. Moving almost on instinct, the Yagami heir pivots sharply to his side just as that thrusting kick drives at him, letting her heel brush /just/ by his midsection, cutting off the assault abruptly. "What the hell are you talking about?! Are you going senile, you hag?!" And then Iori swings--
--only to have Heidern suddenly interpose. As the Ikari lashes out, Iori leaps back instinctively to gain some distance -- only to find the mercenary leader attacking /Chun-Li/, and not him. Well. It works just fine for him.
"How about you do me a favor already," Yagami growls at Heidern as bluish energy crackles in his palm.
"AND JUST DIE?!"
His right hand swings, and once more a brilliant plume of violet fire /roars/ across the ground, much like earlier. It travels almost impossibly fast, seeking to explode violently against Heidern... and should it? A GIANT bolt of pure, Orochi-spawned energy will scream down to smite Heidern with the full fury of Yagami's cursed blood.
COMBATSYS: Heidern successfully hits Chun-Li with Medium Throw.
- Power hit! -
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 1|----===|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iori 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Chun-Li
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Iori leaps back, and Heidern grabs her by the scruff of her qipao -- and from this unfortunate confluence, Chun-Li fails. Not only does she fail to kick Iori in the head, lamentable enough as that is, but she fails to not get pulverized, once again engaging in a thoughtful debate between floor and spine that the floor wins (as it always does). Spinning to her feet in an altogether dire state, Chun-Li seems to be running on fumes -- but then, Chun-Li running on fumes is more than Skullomania manages with a full tank, and if you're some kind of Skullomania apologist getting all offended by that, well then buddy, screw you.
Despite her brain probably being close to leaking out of her ears, Chun-Li is good with time, and knows that soon, the bells will go off again, which will no doubt cause her head to explode like that one man in that one movie that Charlie was watching at the base one time. (She walked in at exactly that moment and had to go hunch over the sink for a few minutes. And yet, she hangs out with Gen. It's a weird double standard.) She knows she's done for in this fight either way, but...
Chun-Li will never admit this because it would be tantamount to being /unsportsmanlike/, but she really wants Heidern to punch Iori's face in. So as she gets ready to see herself out of the fight, either by fellow warrior or by bells, she makes one more grab for Iori Yagami, after he's done trying to blow Heidern the hell up -- to grab his shoulders, and slam him down so that he ends up closer to the epicenter of the bells' unholy racket.
COMBATSYS: Heidern overcomes Ya Sakazuki from Iori with Caliburn.
- Power hit! -
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iori 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Chun-Li
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
"I know so," Heidern quickly remarks. "I--"
Chun-Li interrupts the Yagami, however, attempting to kick the crap out of the man. Unfortunately for her (and Heidern), the man swerves aside and avoids the strike altogether. Fortunately, about this time, Heidern snags Chun-Li and drives her away, rather hard, toward the ground. Part of the Ikari Warrior feels a bit bad about that--but at least she still has her face.
Snapping his attentions back onto Iori, the old mercenary just smirks faintly. Letting his booted feet part slightly, the old man braces himself as blue flames crackle in Iori's palm. More of that shit?
Damn.
"I don't think so," the man murmurs as Iori screams for him to die. Just when the flames roar toward him Heidern's gloved hand glows blue. Seconds after he viciously swings his arm upwards, and from the ground erupts blue pillars of energy--energy that devour the tainted flames and drive themselves right at the Yagami scion.
"You're a hundred years too young!!"
COMBATSYS: Iori Toughs Out Heidern's Caliburn!
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iori 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Chun-Li
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Iori with Koshuu Tou.
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|------=
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iori 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Chun-Li
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Fully recovering, Yagami glares at the standing Heidern and the recovering Chun-Li, lifting up both hands.
"What? You two both want a piece of me? /Bring it on/ then, you wimps!
"It's the only way this fucking fight is gonna be fair for the two of you, anyway!"
The first is Heidern as the Yagami heir assumedly takes care of him with one powerful burst of Orochi might; the projectile thrown, Iori seems content to turn his attention /just/ as Chun-Li takes a solid grip on him. He's about to belch out yet /another/ insult...
... until Chun-Li helpfully circumvents that by slamming him back-first into the bell. At the same time, Heidern cleaves through Iori's energy, seeking to perhaps pin him to that bell with his own. But...
"You... stupid... SHITS!"
Iori has other plans.
The /second/ he makes contact with the bell, Iori inglouriously coughs up an unhealthy amount of blood and /pushes/ off it, setting the bell to swing forward wildly. As he does, he rockets STRAIGHT into Heidern's blast... and then THROUGH it, letting out a blood-curdling howl as he disregards every single ounce of burning pain, punctures out the other end...
... and seeks to kick Heidern, straight in the face, land, and then headbutt him -- just to let him know how he /really/ feels.
"GUUUOOOOOOHHHHH!!"
Which is just about when the bell completes its swing, coming down with the earth-shattering BOOM of unbearable noise threatening to sweep across the entire belfry.
COMBATSYS: Iori has left the fight here.
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|------=
[ \\\\\\\ <
Chun-Li 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has left the fight here.
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|------=
COMBATSYS: Heidern has ended the fight here.
COMBATSYS: Heidern just-defends Iori's Combo Attack!
[ ||||||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iori 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Chun-Li
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 1|=======|=======
COMBATSYS: Starscream successfully hits Heidern with RING A LING.
[ ||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Iori 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Chun-Li
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Well.
That was unexpected.
Iori comes BLASTING through his attack, much to the surprise of the mercenary. Almost immediately the man snaps a hand up and intercepts the kick before drawing his other hand up to intercept the headbutt aimed FOR HIS FACE. With a shove he pushes the Yagami back, jaw tightened. "You're a reckless fool--!"
DING DONG. DING DONG.
The sudden eruption of bells in the belfry catches Heidern off guard, the ear-splitting sounds causing him to recoil in pain. Clutching at his head, however futile the effort may be, he desperately attempts to plug up and shut his poor eardrums off the agony. Only after the bells die off does the Ikari stumble a bit before he shakes his head out.
Without a word Heidern moves again, seeking to drive his fist straight into Iori's face, Chun-Li be /damned/. He just wants to shut the Yagami down--and up.
COMBATSYS: Starscream successfully hits Chun-Li with RING A LING.
[ |||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > // ]
Iori 0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Chun-Li
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Chun-Li slams Iori into the bell, yes.
Of course, the price of this is that she is /right next to the fucking bells/.
They go off, and the noise is /excruciating/. That's not what takes her out of the fight, though, it's close. No, she's just reeling from the damage she's taken in the battle that she get clocked by the bell when it swings toward her in the course of its ringing.
Chun-Li just kind of gracelessly falls over with a 'thump' and doesn't get up.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li takes no action.
[ |||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Iori 0/-------/=======|
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li can no longer fight.
[ |||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Iori 0/-------/=======|
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
COMBATSYS: Starscream successfully hits Iori with RING A LING.
[ |||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\ <
Iori 1/-------/=======|
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
COMBATSYS: Heidern successfully hits Iori with Strong Punch.
[ |||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|----===
[ \ <
Iori 1/-----==/=======|
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Once again, the bells ring.
This time, Iori finds himself strangely unable to parry sound.
The ear-splitting cacophony hits Iori just a second after it does Heidern; but it is this delay precisely that affords Heidern the scant amount of time he needs to pull off his attack. Clenching his ears, Iori staggers back, his brain seeming as if it were threatening to simply split apart. Staggering backwards, Yagami's crimson eyes creak open slowly--
--just in time to see the fist cold-cocking him in the jaw.
There is a distinct CRACK of bone as Iori Yagami is sent staggering backwards, blood flinging from his lips as he smashes back-first into a nearby wall. Threatening to slump, the red-haired youth shakes his head once, twice. It hurts just to even /think/ of moving his jaw, and yet...
"And you... punsch... like a sickly little girl... you--"
And, with one forward stumble, Iori LASHES out, thrusting both hands forward as a sudden GOUT of brilliant, purple fire EXPLODES like a pillar from the ground, aiming to consume and /rocket/ Heidern away from the red-haired heir.
"And /you/--"
COMBATSYS: Iori has reached second wind!
[ |||||||||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|----===
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Iori 0/-------/-------|
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Heidern with Yami Sugi.
[ ||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|-======
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Iori 0/-------/-------|
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
And that is that.
Or at least, that's what Heidern had hoped for.
Once the loud ringing of massive brass bells dies off, Heidern finds himself a bit incoherent and confused, his head humming loudly with that awful sound. Still, he finds wind enough to charge Iori and punch him in the damn FACE, sending the Yagami scion flying. Snorting derisively, the man just dismisses the young man. He's down. His concern shifts to Chun-Li.
But with a sudden blur of movement the Yagami keeps his footing, as it seems, sending a massive explosion of energy that consumes the old Ikari from head to toe. It burns like nothing else, the god-awful flames burning to the core, causing the man to let out a loud cry before he's left a smoking, smoldering heap of Ikari.
"Tch, kids," he manages under his breath. Then? He defies fuckin' gravity, LEAPING INTO THE AIR and grabbing at Iori's throat to SPIN RAPIDLY with claws dug into the youth's neck. Take that, gravity. Take /that/.
COMBATSYS: Heidern successfully hits Iori with Neck Rolling Slashes.
[ ||||||||| ]
Heidern 0|-------|--=====
[ \\\ <
Iori 0/-------/----===|
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
If Iori were rational, this would hurt a lot.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA-- ghhhkhk-- DON'T GIVE ME THIS WEAK CRAP!!"
Unfortunately, he has long since been pushed past any semblence of coherency.
Yagami literally laughs as Heidern swings out, /lacerating/ his throat with those deadly, dangerous claws. More blood sprays, crimson splattering against the cold iron surface of the bell as laughing devolves into strangled, gurgling sounds. Lashing out, he seeks to force Heidern /away/ with one powerful sweep, fires blazing at his hands--
--before he LEAPS after the Ikari commander in turn. "GUUUUUUUUUUUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGH!!" Spinning like an absurd twisty-top through the air, fire encircles Iori liberally before he /swings/ down both hands, seeking to strike a mighty hammerblow /straight/ across Heidern's temple, to do nothing less than floor the man in the wake of one fantastically powerful explosion.
"DIE! DIE! DIE ALREADY, YOU ONE-EYED LOSER!"
COMBATSYS: Heidern interrupts Tsumagushi from Iori with Moon Slasher.
- Power hit! -
[ ||||| ]
Heidern 1|-------|=======
[ <
Iori 0/-------/--=====|
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
COMBATSYS: Heidern can no longer fight.
[ <
Iori 0/-------/--=====|
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
Like some grim propeller, Heidern swings his entire body around and around, repeatedly cutting and lashing into the man's throat with those gloved hands. It's a disgusting mess; blood flies, flesh peels and shreds, and yet, Iori takes it with a laugh in his throat and a smile on his face. He's some freak, but that was already common knowledge.
Using his momentum to swing himself OFF of the guy, Heidern lands by help of Iori's pushing. A the same time, however, the Yagami leaps after him. Seconds after Heidern lands Iori's practically atop him, hands flaming as he closes in before he leaps up to twist off and summarily hammerblow Heidern in the face. The old Ikari is having none of that shit.
Crouching despite the BLOODY FACE he now has and the pain lancing through his body, Heidern meets Iori halfway, rising up and lashing his hand through the air in a wide arc, the motion laced with razor-sharp blue-white chi. It cuts into the Yagami in some weird effort to force him back, away and off the Ikari. Then, after that?
Heidern passes the fuck OUT. He needs his old mercenary man catnap.
COMBATSYS: Iori takes no action.
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
COMBATSYS: Iori can no longer fight.
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Starscream 2|<<<<<<<|<<<<<<<
For a moment, there is a triumphant look on Iori's face.
Heidern ends this all very abruptly when he hammers one cold, burning blade of energy into the red-haired youth without so much as a second thought.
Chi /slams/ into Iori just as soon as his fists make contact. Eyes widening, he makes a strangled cry. Normally, this wouldn't hurt -- and though he can barely even register pain at the moment, his body has taken far too much abuse this fight to be able to keep going. The crescent blast of power /knocks/ Iori away like a ragdoll, leading him to smash, shoulder-first, into the earth, kicking up dust and debris as he goes.
Silence follows. Slowly, Iori attempts to claw himself back up; he gets about halfway to his knees before he pauses, and squints.
"Gonna... kill... y--"
And then falls once more, head smacking into the side of the bell and causing it to ring off once more as he slips into sweet unconsciousness.
COMBATSYS: Starscream has ended the fight here.
Log created on 19:07:03 12/28/2009 by Iori, and last modified on 00:11:12 01/14/2010.