Description: The Neo League goes where it wants... but sometimes the people who overlook the places Neo League goes aren't keen on certain things being done. The courtyard of a historic castle in Transylvania is the site of a battle between bouncy tonfa-wielder Maki and the classy stylings of Eagle. Even in the wake of a one-sided beginning, the show must go on... and does, to a long and drawn-out finish. (WINNER: Maki)
It's Transylvania, home of Count Dracula, who sleeps by day in his coffin deep within his dark, dank castle, full of monsters and booby traps. And by night, he comes out to feast on the blood of the living so that he can survive--
HOLD ON A SECOND!!
That's not the case here! Sure, this is an old castle in Transylvania, but there are no vampires or anything here like that. Instead, a battle is going to be fought for the Neo League in this very castle. Or rather, inside the courtyard, where there's plenty of debris and objects to act as obstacles to the two fighters. This is definitely a new thing for the Neo League, since most fighters wouldn't fight in a location like this.
But for Maki Genryusai, this is just the way she likes it: Fighting in an exotic new place, with a unique atmosphere and obstacles to deal with. The blonde-haired modern ninja tightens her shoelaces and grabs her tonfa, before waiting for her opponent to show up.
Eagle had a good week or so of solid rest after Rock, well, rocked him in a private hospital suite. His particular assistants wondered when he would stop talking about that young man and it took a whole lot of doing to convince him not to go through with a second performance with him so soon.
So it goes, the people he pays to do almost all the thinking and scheduling for him. A nice, classy historical site? He's quite fine with the idea - it's a little remote, a bit run down - he supposes it's fine. But, due to the location, there would be next to no live audience outside of the TV film crews.
Be fortunate you, the reader, weren't here for the tirade. Live TV audience, no problem, but where's the /energy/? Where's the /feeling/? Without anyone else directly watching it'd all boil down to how well his opponent can work with him. That's when he asked who, exactly, the people he paid to set things up for him wanted to match him with.
Maki Genryuusai. Some sort of acrobat or another if he recalls correctly. He goes in here with at least a cynical hope of making something good of this.
Sadly, he couldn't get personally in touch with Neo League officials to set up any fancy interest through the site. Local enforcement has been very strict about what sorts of things are, and are not to take place and so he can't do something like dramatically swing from a high place or what have you. He decides to make up for this in wardrobe.
To be more specific, shiny, eye-wateringly tacky sequins. Everywhere! He foregoes the suspenders and comes in with a bright red shirt. A bright red /sequin/ shirt, accessorized only by a matching ascot and moderated with only the usual slacks and dress shoes, a careful spin through the courtyard past obstructions and slight changes in elevation. (They wouldn't let him sing his way in here, afraid the vibrations would damage the structure.)
Though hating to reuse the same idea of an entrance twice in a row, he puts on a smile the very moment he is aware he's in view of a camera, brandishing two escrima sticks with a flourish each as he points invitingly to Maki.
"Shall we, then?" He asks of her.
Maki knows who Eagle is, vaguely anyway. She's heard about him through the grapevine, but never actually seen him in action or his picture. Today, however, marks the first time which she is encountering him. And to think that he also fights using a weapon. Looks like Maki's opponent won't be outclassed by the fact that she uses a tonfa. Nevertheless, Maki is impressed by Eagle's style of speaking and how he gets right to the point.
"I was just waiting for you to say that," Maki replies, hopping up and down a few times to get the blood flowing through her. She then gets into her fighting stance and gestures to Eagle with her tonfa. "I am ready when you are! Come on!"
COMBATSYS: Maki has started a fight here.
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Maki 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Eagle has joined the fight here.
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Eagle 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Maki
'I am ready when you are! Come on!' That is what she tells him. Inwardly, as much as he has on his smiling performance face, he just has this feeling. This harrowing feeling, it is going to fall entirely upon him to fully dictate every little detail of this show, working blind with someone he has never had a chance to work with ahead of time. There is a certain sort of excitement to the improvisation, of course, but this is showbusiness! This sort of thing can't run completely on pure improv!!
"Well then, my lady," Eagle gives a proper bow, "if you will allow me, I hereby declare the season to have begun." The season of what? Neo League? That's been underway for a time already! But, perhaps Maki will be wiser to the intent behind this as he kicks up a little rock - something he has done in response to a flung missile sent his way in the past - and brings his two sticks together like some sort of bat, whacking the rock with just enough oomph to send it Maki's way with an appreciable amount of force and accuracy.
"Play ball!" Truth be told, this isn't cricket, but Eagle knows that the disproportionately American and Japanese fanbases get a kick out of baseball.
COMBATSYS: Maki dodges Eagle's Small Thrown Object.
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Eagle 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Maki
Would that be strike one or an error? Either way, Maki's not too keen on being beaned today, which is why she ducks underneath the incoming rock. Without missing a beat, she pops right back up after the projectile flies past her, and she glares at Eagle. "Is that how you like to play? Well, I like my games up close and personal!" With that, Maki rushes at Eagle at a fast rate of speed, and then brings her tonfa upward swiftly.
COMBATSYS: Eagle endures Maki's Medium Strike.
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Eagle 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Maki
Groan, that comeback! She's not too good with those comebacks. He was hoping for... 'you're out,' or something of the sort. What issues he may have with his opponent's ability to work with him, he cannot fault for their blazing speed. She is so fast in closing in that, in fact, she's swinging moments before he's actually ready to put up a proper block or anything of that sort.
His jaw clenches as the stick rises up to meet his chin, a satisfying 'thwack' that doesn't carry a whole lot of weight to make him recoil completely from the blow as he moves to shove Maki down to the ground and, in a flash, plant both sticks down on her back (or front, whichever way she ends up tumbling if she gets caught).
"But we just met!" He coyly adds. Sigh, such low-brow humor!
COMBATSYS: Eagle successfully hits Maki with Chest Blow.
Grazing Hit
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Eagle 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Maki
Maki is hit and goes down to the ground. However, Eagle might find that she's not entirely that easy to hit, since just as the sticks come down, Maki rolls to the side. The sticks graze her side, which hurt less than if it had hit her in the chest or back. Nonetheless, Maki is only getting started, and she already dislikes Eagle's low-brow sense of humor.
"Hey, why don't you come join me down here? It's rather nice!" Maki says sarcastically as she attempts to deliver a swift foot sweep to emphasise her point. It seems she has a better sense of humor than Eagle.
COMBATSYS: Eagle counters Light Kick from Maki with Canterbury Blue.
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Eagle 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Maki
The sticks strike that aforementioned ground with such force that there are now two small hole-shaped dents in the old castle grounds - perhaps a strong reminder that it is not the greatest idea to get caught on the business end of any one of them!
Eagle only raises one stick along with a leg, coyly smirking in Maki's direction as she rolls off to the side. The raised stick whirls with such speed that it could be a disc instead as Maki makes the invitation.
"I'm afraid not." Eagle politely declines as her foot gets caught by the stick already held low. That it touches it at all is a sign of Maki's incredible foot movement, he merely has something held down there as insurance as he turns a step inward and stabs the other stick low, maybe into her hip or somewhere around there.
"What would it say of me to accept every invitation off the bat, hm?" He has a throaty chuckle, forgiving the dip into the lowest common denominator of humor if only for - at last - having something to play against. Good old-fashioned banter!
It would seem that Maki has gotten a bit too cocky for her own good. She assumed that Eagle would be an easy target based on how he fought and maneuvered. Not to mention, what a weird outfit to wear when fighting. But it seems her eyes have deceived her brain, and as a result, she's paying for it big time!
Maki yowls as she's struck by the attack, and finds herself lying in a fetal position on the ground, holding her side in pain as she struggles to grit her teeth through the pain. After a few deep, labored breaths, Maki uses her tonfa to push herself up slowly onto a semi-seated position, and then get back up. "Seems you're tougher than you look," Maki says, still trying to catch her breath. "But I'm done letting my guard down!" She adds while narrowing her eyes at Eagle.
COMBATSYS: Maki focuses on her next action.
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Eagle 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Maki
"Your guard, is it?" Eagle asks as he returns back to a ready position, turning his foot back inward with a smirk - though notably the smile rises a bit higher on the unscarred side than the one that actually bears one. She's choosing to relent, maybe catch her breath, maybe psyche herself up, does it even really matter in the long run?
"Don't let your fans down, young lady, the telly is full of exciting things they could be watching instead, hm?" He starts to spin the sticks in either hand, tossing his head back and giving a disapproving shake of his head. "Not bringing your best! All said and done, our audience has no time..."
He takes in a nice, refreshing breeze from the spinning sticks as the stage lighting reflects off of that horrible shirt o' sequins. It's so blindingly red! It's too much red for one place! It may have been a half-formed vampire joke! Whatever the theories behind this latest disaster, the forty-ish British man gestures with the stick in his left hand, the right one already in a ready position for Maki's next assault. He finishes off the classic quote but a second after he trails off.
"...for losers."
COMBATSYS: Eagle takes no action.
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Eagle 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Maki
Wait a second, did Eagle just call Maki a loser? Whoa, now he should know better than to insult Maki Genryusai, because this blonde ninja absolutely abhors being insulted. And this is no exception to the rule. Maki's glare turns even sharper as she grits her teeth at Eagle. "You've got a lot of nerve to call me a loser!" She shouts at Eagle. "But when I'm done with you, you ain't gonna have any nerves left!"
As soon as the last word is spoken, Maki rushes at Eagle, her sneakers hitting the ground at a fast rate of speed, and then she jumps into the air, attempting to grab Eagle by the neck while flipping herself upside down.
COMBATSYS: Eagle blocks Maki's Tengu Daoshi.
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Eagle 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Maki
Unfortunately, Maki finds herself unable to grab onto Eagle, since he seems to have quite the defense, and she is forced to drop to the ground, rather vulnerable at that!
He would be surprised, in retrospect, that she didn't seem to take offense at calling her a whore in a playfully roundabout way. Maybe she's not the brightest he's ever encountered. Maybe that was to be expected with the somewhat simple and direct way she talked... but English could also be a second language for them. Who knows?
What he does know is that she's finally putting that acrobatic stuff he's heard about to use as she goes upside down in midair and goes for the throat! Something he heads off with a raised stick for her to rebound off of, though a shock goes down his forearm with the late catch. Eagle hatches a plan to see if he can't keep the young lady in the air for as long as possible if - for nothing else - an impressive show of juggling for both of them. People do get excited over displays of acrobatic agility, after all!
Crouching down to the ground, Eagle hopes to catch her with the other stick as he stabs it straight up. The air around it is displaced with this one, powerful upward thrust - but he is operating on the assumption she will catch it and perhaps rebound herself back up in the air.
"Hup!" He grunts. It doesn't quite cross him how much it might hurt if he actually nailed her with it. How he would hate to have to get this show called off early due to the injuries of an /amateur/.
COMBATSYS: Eagle successfully hits Maki with Fierce Strike.
- Power hit! -
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Eagle 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Maki
The show is looking at being called off early because of Maki's failure to dodge properly right now. She's sent down to the ground once again. It looks like she's knocked out, but then her eyes open again slowly. She struggles to get up, but manages to, albeit in a labored style. "You haven't seen the last of me! I'm just warming up!" Maki says as she stumbles backwards into a nearby object to lean against while she begins to catch her breath.
COMBATSYS: Maki gains composure.
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Eagle 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Maki
Wham! Some of the TV crew pollute the broadcast with their calls of 'oh!' and 'Ouch!' That clues Eagle in on just how badly that particular act... acted.
He casts a sour look as Maki touches back down on the ground roughly, irate more for the mistake on her part rather than any real concern for her well-being. This is not the sort of talent he works with! He's world-class! And he will be having words with some of the people who sign things in his name if that's the end of this one!
But she gets back up. Oh, good, good. He nods and takes a few steps back to give her proper space, while not quite having it in him to apologize for the mistake.
"Well, please, young lady, do take your time," Eagle so graciously invites as he spins a stick in his right hand before pointing it at a low angle in a flash, a safe distance away from the reeling Maki. But she might feel that small breeze from there. This is a man whose striking strength is matched and/or surpassed by a figure of no more than two digits.
"But the show must go on."
COMBATSYS: Eagle takes no action.
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Eagle 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Maki
"Indeed," Maki replies in a very sarcastic tone of voice. "The show MUST go on. And while it seems like you're in the lead, anything can happen!" She adds as she advances on Eagle. "I do hope you're not being cocky, because I've made numerous comeback victories in the past!" With that, Maki drops onto the tip of her tonfa and begins spinning around like a whirlwind!
COMBATSYS: Eagle endures Maki's Bushin Senpuu Kyaku.
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Eagle 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Maki
Maki is in agreement. Good, good, she still has a showman's (...or showwoman's) spirit even after suffering that particular setback. She has that pep, yes, but... is that really all she has to put on the table? Maki steps it up by creating an energetic whirlwind.
Ah, those flashy colors, there we go. Eagle has encountered more than a few people whose talents often began and ended at being able to produce bright flashy colors. Impractical for fighting, but great for a show! Some of his very best were against these types of opponents.
He humors it in spite of being at a safe distance by all but leaping into it with a simple hop forward, sticks crossed in front of him. This proves to be a fantastically bad idea on some fronts. Fronts such as now being dead center of a spinkick that stands him up and twirls him around her whirling energy legs, that flash of chi working itself past his well-maintained fighting figure.
Though left gasping for air in between feet like the wind striking him where it hurts (the face, mostly), he works up a knowing smirk through the frazzled moustache and tussled hair, planting a foot firm enough into the dirt that it loudly slides against the courtyard floor. A large cloud of dust forms.
He raises the other foot, risking his balance as soon as he thinks her momentum is starting to wind down, arms outstretched as he starts spinning wildly about her vicinity, hoping to suck her in and return the favor with a spin of his own - a classically silly maneuver of little practicality in a world that is in love with techniques that involve spinning.
It is nominally called Manchester Black. If Maki gets caught up, however, it may be more apt to rename it the Manchester Black and Blue (with a touch of Red).
COMBATSYS: Maki blocks Eagle's Manchester Black.
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Eagle 1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1 Maki
If that had connected, Maki would be black and blue. But as it is, her tonfa is up ready to deflect the incoming attack away. It does a little pain to her arm, but it's not as bad as if it had hit her directly. As it is, Maki has staggered backwards again, but is far from done. She runs backwards onto a nearby stone pile, and then begins charging her energy.
And then she flies directly at Eagle with her foot outstretched, a yell escaping from her lips!
COMBATSYS: Eagle fails to reflect Tesshin Hou from Maki with EX St. Andrew Green.
- Power fail! -
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Eagle 1/-======/=======|=------\-------\0 Maki
It's one thing for Maki to be able to run away from that close encounter with her celerity intact. It's another for Eagle to have somehow survived that whole ordeal without having lost his lunch through all that spinning. He's twirled with the best, he has a cast-iron stomach for the fastest merry-go-round you can stick him on - and that window of time in which Maki backs away would've been adequate even if he was feeling out of sorts after all that spinning.
She comes flying at him again with that energy. To her credit, it's a straight line and that energy-laden kick does make it fairly difficult to gauge how far away it really is by depth perception. It'd be easier to tell if he were looking at he from the side.
He kneels down just a little, both sticks held together as if lining up a putt. He flickers a yellow color throughout his body as he rears back the sticks for the swing, the beginnings of some sassy dialogue or another on the tip of his tongue.
The tip of this tongue, instead, gets overrun with spittle and a bit of blood as he bites his cheek, swinging much too late as the chi-leading foot slips underneath his arms and nails him square in the breadbasket.
Ribs crack. Eyes bulge. A loud, prolonged groan sounds as he is launched off his feet, sequins shearing off his shirt not only with that first impact, but when he slides up against the courtyard and comes to a hard stop against a run down pillar.
That he's starting to sit up isn't just indicative of him still being awake and, in some form, capable - this means Maki still gets to bop him a good one for calling her a loser until someone says the fight is over.
That ref over there doesn't think it's over.
"It seems you've got your just desserts!" Maki says with another sly smirk. "That'll teach you to insult Maki Genryusai!" She wipes her tonfa arrogantly and says, "Do you think you've still got it in you? Because I'm still itching to go at it some more!" She winks and then leans against an old rock, crossing one ankle, and smiling.
COMBATSYS: Maki takes no action.
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Eagle 1/-======/=======|=------\-------\0 Maki
Humble pie, a cherished dessert for those felled by pride. It appears to be made of ages-old dust and dirt.
Eagle, for all his pomp, has difficulty standing even with the use of his sticks as a crutch, one eye shut from injurious impact against that pillar. Deep breath, deep breath, and all that.
"I do say, that was... quite splendid, yes," Eagle concedes in a touch of good humor. But she must have thrown her best a tad too soon if her opponent is standing - for a given definition of, er, 'standing.' His posture is very shaky. One of Eagle's assistants is chatting with the rest over the possibility of calling the fight off before he risks any further serious injury. With the damaged shirt and his battered face, he looks significantly less like a million pounds.
If he were able to hear it from there he'd likely toss them all the way down that one-thousand steps leading up here!
Sucking in his breath one last time, there remains the matter of Maki being fairly far from him. He doubts he could leap that entire distance, why, he'd look awful foolish. What little faith he places in his leg strength for putting on an entertaining show - and putting himself in a more favorable light - he instead places in his arms, thrusting his left arm forward with such force that the rest of him seems to glide across the battlefield, hoping to get in close enough to catch Maki with that initial thrust.
"Then please allow me to scratch that spot!" He invites, continuing with a series of eight thrusts even if she isn't there any more. There's a camera there, after all, everyone digs a nice showy display of lightning-fast strikes even with the absence of an actual opponent.
COMBATSYS: Eagle successfully hits Maki with Oxford Red.
Grazing Hit
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Eagle 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0 Maki
Maki is foolish to think she can get out of the way in time of those strikes. She tries to, but fails, miserably. She's hit hard multiple times, and goes down for the count. But just as the referee reaches nine, she forces herself back onto her feet. Of course, she'd been struggling since the count of three. A last ditch effort by Maki Genryusai. "It's not over yet!" Maki says as she attempts to deliver a swift kick to Eagle's stomach.
COMBATSYS: Eagle counters Strong Kick from Maki with Picadilly Silver.
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Eagle 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Maki
Eagle draws back his sticks when Maki is apparently down for the count, politely taking a step back to let her gather herself. Any advantage this period of time gives him to collect himself is nullified when he begins to wheeze from the cracked rib or two or three or more, making it hard to hold his breath for much. The drama and spotlight, for the moment, falls upon Maki - something he allows to stay for lack of much in the way of strength to do much. There isn't even any random spectators here! He finds the lack of such difficult to work with. Maybe even... demoralizing.
"Is it not?" He asks as he joins his sticks together in front of him with a loud 'clack!' Moments later, he's but a blur, one arm already quickly held back with a spinning stick and another held in front of him to catch that powerful kick. She almost breaks past it.
With a loud huff, he takes a step forward and pivots with a strong thrust against her stomach. This should be enough - but he doesn't stop. Calling upon what reserves he has left, he keeps advancing into her with a variety of strikes that further keep her off guard and just tack on the gratuitous damage, from the simple kneeling strikes down low to at least a partially formed Manchester Black or two, even a few advancing thrusts like he had just tried on her moments ago - each hit lightning fast and in sequence to a carefully improvised array.
It comes to an end as he finishes the whole adventure off by squeezing his right forearm around her head, casting his nose upward with a smile.
"I do agree, it's not quite the end." He smacks her upside the head to knock her out of his grasp and perhaps to the dirt. "Now it is!"
But will this heroine to Metro City let it be the end?!
Will Maki let it be the end? It's up to if her body can bring her back from being out cold. Unfortunately, after the attack she just received, it appears she might be heading for the ground rather quickly. She's staggering around, can't even keep her balance, and then looks like she's going to fall to the ground...
COMBATSYS: Maki takes no action.
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Eagle 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Maki
COMBATSYS: Maki has reached second wind!
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Eagle 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Maki
But suddenly, just as she hits the ground, she holds out her arms, and then gets back up, a look of determination in her eyes! "You haven't seen the last of me just yet! I'm back up and ready for more!"
Eagle's already delivering a bow to disguise the sheer pain of that flying kick starting to win over him... but wait, what's this, she's yelling about it not being the last of her? After the two just exchanged some of their flashiest, greatest techniques?! God, not only does she not know how to work off him, she doesn't know when it's finished, either.
No matter, he says to himself, people do love those dramatic heroic comebacks. His sourness comes entirely from his gaining fatigue as he turns to face her. He notes the glint in her eyes - it's that little spark of youth. Indeed, she's right after all, she /is/ ready for more even after that. This will just have to be one of those drives that go on juuuuust a tinge longer. A showman must have some sort of stamina, after all.
"Very well! Shall we, then?" He asks once more, lacking the renewed vim she clearly possesses. The momentum may prove to swing her way once more as he tries to kick off his stronger leg, a bit more confident in the distance between the two as he works up a loud grunt. He telegraphs this somewhat, the intent being very clear when he rears back his left hand. There's only so many attacking maneuvers one can /do/ from there when they're rearing back an arm like that.
The question remains if Maki does, indeed, have the fighting spirit to do something about the powerful overhead swat that comes from that cocked back arm as he touches down on one leg. Can the Liverpool White black out the Genryuusai master-in-waiting?
COMBATSYS: Eagle successfully hits Maki with Liverpool White.
Grazing Hit
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Eagle 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Maki
Maki's hit, unable to move out of the way in time. But she's still got some fight left in her, believe it or not. She's not giving up that easily. Instead, she decides to bring Eagle to the ground for a change. She stumbles towards him and attempts to grab him and administer a simple over-the-shoulder throw!
COMBATSYS: Eagle blocks Maki's Quick Throw.
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Eagle 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Maki
Maki is in a great position to pull this off. He's unsteady, he's fatigues, he's tired, the time to completely decimate him is now! Especially when he's on one leg! It's a great tactical choice on her part.
The only problem is that he manages to work up enough vigor to draw himself out of her grasp with a good, hard tug. This close, she can hear his panting and breathing. He's nearing exhaustion, he can't hope to keep this up forever. She may or may not also have just gotten herself a handful of sequins.
He brings those sticks in front of himself again in roughly the same posture she may have seen before he had almost assuredly taken her down the very first time. It is but a moment before he spins one stick back.
"I do say, don't touch that dial," he addresses to people at home before he huffs loudly to power a thrust. A series of single- and double-stick strikes, another advancing series of thrusting blows that could easily put holes in this castle were he of the mind, going for that one last great powerful display with the remaining expenditures of his power.
But what an expenditure it is! Even if Maki doesn't stand there and take it he's more than happy to show the whole thing, closing it off with a single stick pointed dangerously close to the camera.
But... will Maki keep to that script he has in mind?
COMBATSYS: Maki dodges Eagle's Union Jack Platinum.
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Eagle 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Maki
Apparently, Maki's back in full swing again as she manages to dodge out of the way of the incoming attack. With Eagle vulnerable while Maki's in an attacking position, Maki's not one to give up the advantage. She steps at him and attempts to deliver a strong upward swing of her tonfa!
COMBATSYS: Maki successfully hits Eagle with Genkou.
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Eagle 0/-------/-----==|=======\==-----\1 Maki
It's such a shame that Maki doesn't really put any real spice to the way she dodges - she could've made a real show about how she's out-foxing, out-maneuvering the British performer instead of letting him take up valuable air time doing a whole bunch of fancy strikes for the crowd at home and in pubs worldwide.
But there is always a healthy appreciation to be had, worldwide, for the sort of slapstick humor that one does not suffer themselves as the upward swing of the tonfa cracks him upside the back of the head and sends him tumbling forward into a crouch against a painful array of decently-sized stones. Is this it? Is this really it?! It's down to the wire, but has Maki finally claimed the fight for her after a horrible start?!
"Come now," Eagle wheezes as he pulls himself up, the referee backing away after they were ready to finally call it. "If you're to end this... you are to end this... spectacularly." He whirls the sticks in either hand, notably much more slowly. He nearly drops the one in his right hand as he catches his breath. "They grow... bored, you know. Waiting."
Blowing off that hot air lets him catch back just a little, but will it be enough in time for, indeed, Maki's best shot?
COMBATSYS: Eagle gains composure.
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Eagle 0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1 Maki
"Giving up already?" Maki says, teasingly. "Come on, I thought you were better than that!" Maki shakes her head a few times as if to say, "Tsk tsk tsk!" But Maki's not going to let Eagle off that easily. Or is she? It seems Maki's also taking a moment to catch her breath, since she wants to stay in this as well.
COMBATSYS: Maki gains composure.
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Eagle 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Maki
Maki had him right then and there - is it cowardice, arrogance, or a similarly shared desire to drag the fight out to a beautiful finish? Who could say? Either way, both show the TV crew - and whoever else is watching - that neither one seems ready to completely give up the fight, even after they appear to have all thrown their very best... or have they?
Maki did suffer significant injury not long before. Is her spark wearing out? But what of the man of the ravaged shirt of those blinding red sequins? None can say... yet.
"I would ask you.... the same," he forces a smile where he doesn't feel like giving one, making a bigger show out of keeping one stick high and one stick low to give the appearance that he's still in the fight, even as he is still a tad short of breath.
He goes a moment later with a short hop forward, arms crossed in front of him in the usual posture he likes to make in forward advances for reasons that continue to remain obscure, taking both sticks above his head and trying to swing them down towards Maki's knees at a very low mid-air height with another grunt.
Will Maki stand for this? No, better question is, will she bend shattered knee to this approach?
COMBATSYS: Maki interrupts Deep Strike from Eagle with Weapon Jab.
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Eagle 0/-------/-----==|=======\==-----\1 Maki
As Eagle comes at her, Maki attempts to utilize her tonfa to get Eagle away from her. Unfortunately, it hurts her more than it does Eagle, since while Eagle only took a trivial hit most likely, Maki gets whacked hard and goes staggering again...
Trivial? That's like jumping into a protruding spike! Leaping into that tonfa makes it sting a lot more than it would have were he just standing in wait! It is made just a touch worse when it is placed as such that it nearly stops his swing and pokes at a rib that already feels ready to snap clean off, landing in an uncomfortable crouch while Maki staggers away. She is perhaps fortunate she doesn't take it in the knee.
He sucks in air again as he staggers along after her. Both of them are reeling, maybe even at their very last feet. He doesn't know if he has it in him for another spectacular series of strikes, and she's a very, very peppy one indeed.
"If I... may." Eagle clears his throat as he steps forward to try and wrap an arm around Maki, exerting his advantage of physical strength so that even /if/ he works into Maki's clutches, she might have a hard time breaking out of that simple lock.
"A warm round of applause for my... opponent tonight," he gestures to Maki as he goes to make the squeeze, "if you will. Have a good evening." That's when he works something of a bow - but not before swinging the stick of his free(r) arm inward to try and knock her head (and the rest of her) out of his grasp.
Assuming, of course, Maki actually /lets/ him call the match like that here and now!
COMBATSYS: Maki dodges Eagle's Head Cracker.
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Eagle 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 Maki
Too bad, Eagle, but Maki's still not done being agile. In fact, she manages to get out of the way of Eagle's incoming attempt to crush her head, and it's a good thing too. Maki doesn't quite feel like having her head crushed, or having blood in her hair either. Maki also doesn't quite feel like letting Eagle win either. She goes at him with a very strong and powerful strike of her tonfa, aiming at his side.
COMBATSYS: Eagle fails to interrupt Power Strike from Maki with Manchester Black.
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Eagle 0/-------/-----==|=======\===----\1 Maki
COMBATSYS: Eagle can no longer fight.
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Maki 1/----===/=======|
She slips away before he can even grab her to begin with! This puts him in a crouch and a particularly bad position to be in. Bothersome. He turns his head just in time to see what she intends to do. He could have just stayed crouched and let the tonfa strike graze his side, waited just a second, and gone with what he ended up intending to do. Fighting pundits will surely highlight this fact.
But, as if to make a point, as if to make the dramatic call, he tries to whirl with his near-stumble in the wake of Maki's speedy removal of herself. His sticks pointing out to either side, he begins to spin once more. His strikes end up going well over Maki's head as she lands a sharp strike against the side.
It's almost like playing with a top, Maki's decisive(?) strike keeping him spinning well out of harm's way until he runs out of steam and falls into a low crouch, head bowed against his knee and left forearm. His other arm is resting against the ground, having let go of the respective stick.
That's it! The ref calls it more for the health of the fighters involved, having decided the older man has had enough. The referee gestures over to Maki to declare her the winner.
Good thing the people who overlook this part of the world are okay with helicopter pickups to the nearest hospital, because nobody here is going to want to go down a thousand steps after this!
Maki nods to the referee, and then raises her tonfa arm, before dropping onto one knee. "It was fun, but hopefully next time you'll know better than to underestimate me!" She says with a wink to Eagle, before she limps off to get treatment.
Log created on 18:06:41 03/09/2010 by Eagle, and last modified on 22:07:35 03/09/2010.