Description: An exhibition invitation that sees Rock and Shermie facing off against Ichiro and Adelheid on an Einherjar patrol boat may have hidden motivations beyond exercise....
Shermie frowns expansively, with her hands balled into fists and resting on her hips just for good measure.
"If we are all going to engage in the innuendo at least we could go out to a bar instead of sitting around punching each other. Fighting is so, ah, boring. Very boring."
When Rock goes off like the young stallion, Shermie's disapproving lower face turns to a fierce pout. "Ah! It's already begun! Tres senseless!"
And then, even though she's wearing heels, the Frenchwoman breaks out into a run. She crosses the distance with surprising speed, leaping the last ten feet, whirling around through the air to wrap her freakish Xena Warrior Princess thighs around her opponent's head.
If there's a chance to stop her supernatural onslaught, it's right now, where she briefly takes a moment to rest on Ichiro's shoulders and dig through a jacket pocket for her phone. "Ah, un moment."
She simultaneously tries to dial a number while whipping around in a spiral, maybe throwing Ichiro to the ground like he's a chump.
COMBATSYS: Shermie successfully hits Ichiro with Shermie Spiral.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Rock 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Adelheid
"KID?!" Ichiro yells indignantly as Rock makes some sort of crude innuendo that is totally accurate on both levels. "Who are you calling kid, KID?!" Oe growls his knuckles whitening as his grip on his spear tightens with anger and it looks like he is about to rush Howard, but this first impulse is cut short by Rock rushing in toward Adelheid. Releasing his initial anger with a sigh, Ichiro instead focuses his attention on the totally hot chick that is presently running toward him in very impractical heels.
"Look, what that guy said... He's just being a d-MFFF MRFFF!" Ichiro says, the last part of his statement uhh... muffed (?!) by Shermie straddling his head. Ichiro stands rigid for a moment as Shermie pulls out a cellphone, but after a second Ichiro's legs start to wobble a bit, and it probably isn't from the model's weight on his shoulders. Ichiro's shield and spear clatter and clang loudly as the young man is sent spiraling to the deck, helpless as he is in the clutches as the older woman's thighs. "Hnnn... Best... pain... ever..." Ichiro mutters groggily as he gathers himself to his feet. "Okay Ichiro... don't think about what just happened... pull it together man..." he tells himself as he lifts his shield in front of his body and cocks his spear arm back in a standard spear and shield fighting stance. "Get a hold of yourself"
COMBATSYS: Ichiro enters a meditative state.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Rock 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Adelheid blocks Rock's Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Adelheid
The simultaneous disdain and opportunism Shermie demonstrates brings a smile to his face, even if Adelheid does only get to see it out of the periphery of his vision as the Frenchwoman goes hurtling past him and into the Einherjar lieutenant. There's a vague chuckle at that, or perhaps Rock, as Adel's attention rapidly shifts to his evil twin. Jab meets an arcing left block with tense forearm, the cross intercepted at the elbow as Adelheid steps /in/ on Rock, of all things, catching the uppercut low with a dropping elbow. The impacts sting, perhaps even bruise, but he seeks to snare that uppercutting arm under his own, abruptly twist as his palm lashes out for the centermost point of Rock's torso, seeking an abrupt and rather brutal slam to the reinforced steel floor of the missile boat's hull.
COMBATSYS: Rock just-defends Adelheid's Medium Throw!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Ichiro
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Adelheid
Part of knowing how to punch is knowing how to punch so that you're not damaging yourself on a block--aside from mean things like elbow blocks, that is. Fortunately, Adleheid isn't attempting that kind of tactic, yet, so it's Rock who gets the first damage in, blocked or not. Adelheid traps Rock's arm, unbalancing the Howard boy for a moment--but only a moment. Rock actually gets his other hand up, interposing it with Adelheid's--using that push, twisting his trapped arm to free it from Adelheid's grip, he turns the brutal slam into an artful tumble.
"Nice," he says, briefly, but he's not wasting time with too much admiration of the technique--he's got to get back to the fight. Rising up from his three-point kneel, he pushes off again, into a lunging elbow aimed for Adelheid's chest, using his left arm. That happens to be his weak arm; his strong arm, his right, is applied in a palm strike for Adel's chest--that palm flaring with the purplish chi that is Rock's birthright, cold fire and sharp wind.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid fails to interrupt Hard Edge from Rock with Grosse Stob.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
Shermie dances away from the collision to the ground. Like, literally dances away. She skips and cavorts, light on her two-inch heels. She wiggles her hips, waving her arms over her head.
The cell phone gets tossed up. It spins around and then lands directly in her cleavage.
"Are you trying to do 'the zen' during all of this? So bad! Try to be passionate!"
The Frenchwoman leaps forward, again displaying ridiculous agility, though she lands low and springs upward from her crouched stance. She tries to wrap her arms around Ichiro's waist, pressing her body against his.
The phone goes BEEP BEEP. A familiar voice asks: "Shermie, where you at?"
"Suplexing a man, un moment."
And then maybe there is the best front suplex into the deck. Maybe.
COMBATSYS: Ichiro dodges Shermie's Explosive New Suplex.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
"Passionate, eh?" Ichiro mutters as the pretty French lady attempts to grab him around the waist. "You wouldn't like me when I'm passionate," he adds darkly, his mind flashing back to his time under the viscous mind control of Shadaloo and the BLECE project. Hopping a quick step backwards, taking his beautifully sculpted abs out of the model's reach, Ichiro puts a little distance between himself and the woman to give himself the split second needed to execute his first attack. A dark grimace flashes across Oe's features as he draws upon the golden energy lying dormant within himself, letting his burning spirit bubble to the top and flow through his shield arm as he charges toward Shermie. "Gyaaah!" Oe grunts as he unleashes the golden energy through his shield, attempting to slam the protective armament into the girl with all of his strength before continuing his charge past her.
Turnabout is fair play - and Rock does an impressive job indeed of stepping up to the challenge, and then raising the bar anew. His initial assaults turned deftly aside, Adel smiles slightly, out one corner of his mouth. He doesn't have time for much more, given the quick offensive. The Prince of War seeks to answer Rock's attack point for point, kicking a foot out.. until the double-strike blasts him away, far quicker and more forcefully than he imagined. "Hah. Point taken."
The words are a bit coughed out, as the renegade Bernstein heir slides to a stop against the far wall, pushing himself back to his feet. One gloved fist tenses, and his attention shifts only momentarily to take in the quick motions of Ichiro, squaring off against Shermie.
The trick is not to get too cocky. Rock, after all, is prone to such things. It's the one thing Terry's not been able to cure him of... perhaps because Terry's prone to it, too, self-confidence crossing the line into unwarranted self-boasting thought. Still, he has to keep up with the Joneses, so to speak--he can't let Adel get a moment's rest. To be fair, he doubts Adel would give him a moment's rest, either.
So, blonde on blonde violence... to come again. Rock runs--blurring, almost, achieving 88 miles per hour, feeling the flux capacitor... ahem. He pours the speed on, in an attempt to fool Adelheid into accepting his gift--a short-hop, spinning right hook that turns Rock almost completely around--which is accompanied soon thereafter by a reaching grab for Adel's shirt with his left hand, as Rock plants his feet and uses the contact to transfer momentum into his upper body, intent on hurling Adelheid back into the 'field of play'.
COMBATSYS: Ichiro successfully hits Shermie with Auric Breaker.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
Meanwhile, Shermie is trying to text a guy who just ruined her suplex. Ichiro did his whole wriggle free and step backward deal, but that just got a frown and a scoff from the girl. She turns her attention to the phone while Ichiro braces himself to fight.
'u suk a lot y do u h8 me'
Shermie casually brings her free arm up when the shield charge comes bearing down on her. It lasts for all of a second before she fumbles her phone, stumbling away, her valued social link going spinning off the ship into the ocean.
"My... my cell!" she shrieks. It looks like, at first, she is going to go running off to dive into the ocean but abruptly she kicks off from the graveled ground to go whirling through the air with her heel aiming to puncture something that should not be stabbed with a heel.
COMBATSYS: Ichiro blocks Shermie's Axle Spin Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
Tsking softly Ichiro gives the bikini-clad fighter an apologetic look as he cell phone gets sent into the drink. "Sorry about the phone babe, but wasn't that last year's model anyway? Might be time for an upgrade." Shermie's springing kick -almost- catches the spear-fighter off-guard, but he is able to quickly interpose the shield between the lady's spiky heel and his vulnerable bits just in time to send he shoe glancing off, though the large metal disk manages to slam into his pelvis with a decent amount of force anyway. "Ghn... you know, you hit hard for someone so easily distracted. I bet if you focused on fighting you might actually be a bit of a challenge," Ichiro adds with a mischievous grin. Rotating his shield away from his body, Ichiro quickly lunges forward, thrusting his spear straight for Shermie's near-perfect abs.
COMBATSYS: Rock successfully hits Adelheid with Combo Grapple.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Adelheid
Rather than plunging into deep past or dystopian future, Rock's charge, and the battering ram of a fist that leads it, catches Adelheid as he rights himself, the Prince of War pummeled back.. and then hurled around, crashing into a renewed skid back the way he came. It's fair to say that the Howard heir's got Adel's full attention. ... not that he was exactly slacking, to this point. Crimson eyes narrow at his counterpart, and the young Bernstein considers and acts in the same breath.
Seeking to answer Rock's momentum with his own, Adelheid launches himself directly out of his crouch, one gloved hand stretched outwards, fingers open, curling inward like talons as he lunges for Howard's face. With a heave inward, and a heave outward, Adelheid seeks to clench Rock's features in a painful grip.. and blast him loose from it with an eruption of ragged-edged, shearing grey energy.
COMBATSYS: Rock effortlessly blocks Adelheid's Scorpion Deathlock.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Adelheid
Fast! Red eyes meet red eyes, and in a flash, there's Adelheid, in front of Rock, every bit the speed demon--that gloved hand snapping out, gripping Rock's face, lifting him up. Rock's thought process comes thusly--<Oh hell.> But he has a moment--and a moment is all he needs to make the situation alright. The grip isn't really the deadly part. It's that razor-sharp chi--and the landing he'll take after the blast. But he can get around that. When Adel's shearing energy flares--so does Rock's purple chi. The two odd-colored energies flare and swirl, and the result is, when Rock goes flying--for her assuredly does--he is in control, flipping over in midair to land on his feet and his left hand--another picturesque three-point landing.
He rises to his feet, and his own red eyes seek Adel's, for an infinite moment... then Rock smirks, a half-grin tilting the line of his mouth as he gathers that purple energy in his right hand, seething up as he takes a half-step forward, then sweeps his hand upwards, negligently almost, unleashing that purple power in a hissing wave that Adelheid would, no doubt, recognize even without Rock's voice calling out a word, sharp syllables cutting the crisp air.
"REPPUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Ichiro successfully hits Shermie with Medium Strike.
> Determined Hit! <
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Adelheid
"It was retro futuristic!" Shermie hisses. "It's new because it's old! It's paying homage to our forefathers who had phones a year ago!"
She spins off of the shield, canting away to again look over the edge of the ship, demoralized. Ichiro has an easy time coming up behind her, readying his spear-his thrust strikes true, though she whirls to the side, the edge glancing across her stomach and drawing blood! Shermie shrieks.
But not at the blood. "What if I had been wearing something there? Aaaaa! Hand to hand fighting is so much better!"
Still bleeding, Shermie grabs the tip of the spear, yanking it aside as she takes a leaping step toward Ichiro, attempting to side behind him and press close, wrapping an arm around his neck.
"It is so close! Like this! Much better! More personal! I feel your heart beat and you feel mine!"
Of course her little explanation gives a broad window for Ichiro to extract himself before she actually starts choking.
COMBATSYS: Ichiro fails to interrupt Choke Hold from Shermie with Dragonfly Cutter.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Adelheid
Oe struggles to try to keep Shermie at bay with his spear as she attempts to close in on home, but the woman's lithe figure belies hidden strength, strength enough to force the spear's tup aside and slide behind him, her arms gently looping around his neck as she speaks into his ear. "Mmm... I dunno Adelheid.... why are we fighting again?" Ichiro replies, his voice slightly breathless even before Shermie starts choking him.
"Can't we just...hrrk... relax... on the deck... hnngg... suntan lotion... grrrrrkkk..." Ichiro continues even as Shermie begins to choke the life out of him. Oe's face begins to turn red and his eye almost rolls up in his head before the dots swimming in his vision shock him back into wakefulness; his arms flailing as he tries to free himself from Shermie's vice-like grip, despite every bone (heheh) in his body begging him to give in to her caress and enjoy the euphoric darkness.
COMBATSYS: Rock has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Ichiro has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Shermie has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Adelheid 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Rock successfully hits Adelheid with Reppuken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Rock 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
As Rock manages to hold his own against the onslaught of Adelheid's own chi... the answering stroke proves dangerous indeed. As Adelheid readjusts his footing, realigning his momentum to slip out of the path of... *FWOOM*. The wave of the quick-moving Reppuken blasts into Adelheid, knocking the Bernstein scion away, his feet bowled abruptly out from under him. He meets the deck of the ship face first, nose and mouth and chin bloodied on the resilient, unforgiving hull structure. Then, Adelheid laughs, as if this were the best possible outcome to the evening. He laughs, and laughs, and laughs probably a little bit too long, but something seems to have pleased Adel to no end.
Then, he spits blood, cracks his head to the side, and eyes Rock evenly. "You've been practicing." It's been probably a year or more since Rock and Adelheid faced off. Both are stronger, faster, more savvy... and of course, Adelheid kind of had this coming. Still, he's not laying down yet, glancing almost calmly to the face-off between his ally and Shermie.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Rock 1/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Adelheid
Shermie chokes Ichiro. Then she chokes him some more. Eventually he stops moving and she frowns. "Hello? Are you still with us?"
The Frenchwoman spins her opponent around and pushes him away, leaning forward and putting her hands on her hips and maybe squinting, who can tell. "Did you get bored because you did not know where I was? Here I am~!"
"Now enough rest time! I have had too much of this 'playing the fool around.'"
Shermie skips lightly on her feet, fancifully at first, but quickly ducks into an all-out run across the deck, quickly closing the distance she put between the two in the first place. She slides laterally at the last moment, pushing off from the ground for a powerful hold with her arms around Ichiro's waist!
Rock's response, to Adel, is surprisingly serious, his tone almost low, as if he were holding a private conversation. "Of course I have. Haven't you? You know why we're fighting. What the stakes are. Can't let up, not for an instant, or we'll never achieve those goals." Okay, moment over--Rock and Adelheid probably have plenty to talk about, but that's best left after the fight.
Adelheid's looking at his teammate. That might be an indication that he's going to go over there and -help- Ichiro. Now, this is just a spar--this isn't for points, or a title, or even bragging rights. But Rock is a competitor--that spirit burns hot in him, just like it did in Terry--and in Geese. He obeys it the way millions of people the world over obey the subliminal advertising for Sprite.
So he crosses that space again, booted feet moving surprisingly fast--and once again, he practically blurs, just a few steps before he'd reach Adelheid, trying to fake out Bernstein--ending up in front of him.
"Don't look away!" he shouts, tauntingly, as he lunges low, seeking to grab Adelheid's ankles--
COMBATSYS: Ichiro Toughs Out Shermie's Shermie Flash!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Rock 1/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Adelheid
Once latched on, Shermie lurches abruptly backward, bending her back with surprising strength considering she is lifting Ichiro over her head. The two go down onto the deck on the other side, Ichiro likely head-first and Shermie maintaining the bridge suplex like she is just kind of hanging out at a restaurant or something.
ONE
TWO
"Oh, Angel? No. I bought the tickets. No. Stop being so whiny! Tickets are bought! It is my money anyway, you greedy slacker! Shermie's money! Wait, call you back."
Shermie stuffs her phone back into a jacket pocket.
THREE
The Frenchwoman rolls aside, just now looking to see what shape Ichiro is in. "I guess there are not pin rules in this fight, yes?"
Shaking his head as he attempts to knock the cobwebs loose, Ichiro comes out of his oxygen deprived daze just in time to see Shermie charging in on him and lunging for his waist. Ichiro's laser etched abs quickly tense as the beautiful French woman clutches him around the midsection and begins to lift him over her head. At this point there is little left for the spearfighter to do but go along for the ride as he clears his mind and attempts to brace himself against the powerful blow that is to come.
"Hnng..." Ichiro grunts loudly as Shermie slams and bridges him. Mr. Perfect would be proud.
"Nope, pin-falls do not count anywhere, but you're welcome to keep trying," Ichiro chirps as he suddenly twists and throws his legs around Shermie, attempting to get her in a scissor lock before spinning like an alligator in a death roll as he tries to maneuver the bikini-clad woman on top of him, which doesn't really seem like a very advantageous position, for fighting at least.
COMBATSYS: Adelheid fails to interrupt Shinkuu Nage from Rock with Crown Prince+.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Rock 1/-----==/=======|=======\======-\1 Adelheid
Take his eyes off the battle? Not at all. Adelheid's senses reach out, he pulls for the currents of the fight. For the signature of power he feels from Rock, the odd waves of energy that Shermie draws up in her seductive dance of destructive crushing. But that doesn't mean the Bernstein scion is about to turn away from Rock Howard. Not at all. The Prince of War just waits for him to charge, his own power climbing, climbing higher. Like an icy hurricane surging up from Adel's very soul, and the sea around them.
Adelheid gathers is energy, surging in his hands, as Rock launches in, closes the last span of distance. Ah, it brings him back, feuds ending in pulverizing attacks on the deck of a warship. ... unfortunately, all his planning whips away as he's whirled end over end by the Howard heir's assault, crashing hard against the observation bay's wall, and down upside down on the deck. He manages a long groan. Nggggghhhhh.
"What's the matter, Adelheid?" Bernstein is a better fighter than this. Rock knows it. His killer instinct wars with his kinder side--almost literally--but he'll let his opponent get up. Now it's his turn to look over at the other battle--which is a much more even match. Hey, they're probably both getting some good experience out of it. Maybe Ichiro more so. So, Rock takes a moment to calm himself--that damnable evil blood boiling up, it's not-voice telling him to take the opportunity, to go over there and kick a man while he's down.
But he won't. The indication of his struggle is visible--his hands glowing, bright white-blue, for a moment, until he clutches them into fists and takes a deep breath--there. Better.
"C'mon, Bernstein. You paid for this fight, we might as well finish it." It's like he's talking about a leftover pizza, in some ways. "'sides, sooner we're done, sooner we can talk." Which means, of course, that he -does- have talking in mind...
COMBATSYS: Rock focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Rock 1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
COMBATSYS: Shermie endures Ichiro's Longinus Redemption.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Rock 1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
Once Ichiro is able to get Shermie on top of him he gives her a flirtatious little head nod and wink (which in reality looks exactly the same as a blink on account of his eyepatch. He apparently still hasn't figured that out yet) before lashing out with his spear and attempting to pierce her side with its tip (just the tip!). "Sorry about this..." he apologizes frankly as he whips the round shield worn on his left arm around and bashes the gorgeous woman off of him with its face, letting go of the spear as it still sticks out of her. Having to hurt pretty girls is the worst part of being a professional fighter, but we all have to make sacrifices.
Drawing the golden energy from his burning spirit deep within, Ichiro suddenly sends a surge of energy through the barely noticeable, incredibly strong wire tether that connects his spear to his right wrist, causing the weapon to violently flare up with golden chi before he yanks the weapon back into his hand.
Shermie does the little lean forward bit again when Ichiro comes barreling in, as if she really is interested in what he's trying to show her! "Ah, is this the 'big climax'?"
That's about when Ichiro does some reverse psychology on her and gets in close, skewering her and bashing the Frenchwoman across the deck. She goes flying head over heels, somehow landing on her feet--
And the spear is sticking right through her. Through her jacket, then her stomach, then out the back where it pierces the jacket a second time. She looks down, frowning expressively. "I wish people would have more consideration when they learn how to stab people with metal objects. Ah! Ruined jacket. It is a good thing it was borrowed~!"
When Ichiro pulls back, Shermie is holding on with one hand, riding it to her opponent with a impish little smile on her lips and an arm held out ready to clothesline him like the world's most RAW is WAR yo-yo.
COMBATSYS: Shermie successfully hits Ichiro with Lightning Leg Lariat.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Shermie 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Ichiro
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Rock 1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
Viciously following through, Shermie takes a step past Ichiro, landing on the deck before ripping the spear out of her body. Lightning runs down her arm as the sky inexplicably darkens-- though Ichiro might want to stop with the chi transfer through the tether, but it's not happening anytime soon now that Shermie is getting in on it.
Still crackling with what seems to be real, honest to god lightning (reinforced by the gentle rain now slicking the deck), the woman slams the tip of the spear into the ground, grabbing Ichiro by the neck and whipping him bodily over her head. Before he can even make it to the ground, she dashes to the other side, grabbing his shoulders again, locking their arms.
Freakishly, the Frenchwoman supports his whole weight once again as she suplexes him behind her, then wrenches both their bodies in the other direction for another go, and then another, until finally she somehow slams him onto his feet and sends him off with a kick to his back.
Whether he stumbles or flies or skids along the ground, Shermie is in a position to grab hold of the spear once again, yanking him back with the tether and then using the pole like sporting goods to vault herself into the air, wrapping her legs around his head.
Lightning strikes!
"I didn't want to be over so soon, but maybe you can repay the favor. Sometimes I just get so excited~!"
The two go spinning to the ground, Shermie pressing Ichiro to the deck first, then leaping off.
Oddly enough there is absolutely no stab wound present on her during this entire exchange.
There is a panic-stricken look in Ichiro's face starting at the moment that Shermie grabs his spear that lasts all the way until he is electrocuted and discarded onto the deck like so much garbage. "...hnn... whoah," Ichiro gasps, coughing up a little smoke in the process. "That didn't... go according to plan..." he groans as he props himself up on his elbows, looking simultaneously dizzy, exhausted, and oddly enough exhilerated after being tossed around and battered by the Frenchwoman.
"Dangerous," he remarks simply before letting himself collapse back to the deck. Yeah, he might have one last push left in him, but after such a masterful display of grace, strength, and ruthlessness it seems like a better idea to lay on the deck for a bit and relax. Take in the sun. You know, what they should have been doing in the first place instead of fighting. Though the ratio could use some tweaking of course. Ichiro is going to have to speak to Adelheid about that for the next time they invite some guests over.
"I think I'm done Adel," Ichiro announces as he lays supine on the deck squinting into the sun. "Where is that suntan lotion at?" he mutters quietly as he lays motionless.
COMBATSYS: Ichiro takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rock 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ichiro can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rock 1/-----==/=======|
It takes Adelheid just a moment to regain his footing, and then push back to a standing position. He coughs a bit hoarsely, and brushes away a smear of blood, chuckling at Rock's words. "Maybe I'm just getting rusty." though truth be told, the lithe Bernstein doesn't seem particularly concerned with the outcome of his 'duel' with Rock. He's certainly getting a spectacular panorama of what the other blonde is capable of. Meanwhile? Well, Ichiro gets a workout. And learns valuable skills about coping with distractions. Plus it's not really much more expensive than taking his crew to a strip club.
What to do about Rock Howard, though. Well, there's really only one thing Adelheid's ingrained warrior's spirit and instinct allows him to do, in a situation like this. He rushes the other prodigy, tossing out an axeing kick that rises for Rock's jaw, and then twisting into a clockwise roundhouse that carries heel for Howard's collarbone.
They'll just be... finished in a minute. Because hell if he's going to stop early on account of rain. And lightning. And something that smells vaguely like Ichiro's cologne lit on fire.
COMBATSYS: Rock fails to counter Medium Kick from Adelheid with Gedan Crack Counter.
-* CRITICAL FAIL! *-
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rock 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
And Adelheid's warrior instincts prove true--Rock sees the kick coming, but Bernstein's foot is too fast--it smashes into Rock's chin, unbalancing the heir of the Syndicate to give him ample room to smash that roundhouse in. Rock goes flying from the impact, very nearly smashing face-first into a bulkhead--only a frantic twist lets him take that impact on his left shoulder, almost dislocating the limb.
Stubbornness forces him to not cry out, though his lips and jaw are locked into a rictus of pain, like a snarl held back just at the teeth. He got cocky... with another violent twist, Rock works the shoulder, satisfied that it's not dislocated or broken, and he reaches up, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. Despite all that...
He's grinning.
Shermie waits expectantly for Ichiro to do something. Even after he announces that he's done, she still waits!
Eventually waiting gets boring and she starts to dance, humming some song you probably heard on the radio this week.
COMBATSYS: Shermie takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rock 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
Black cloth clings to Adelheid's frame as the impromptu shower wets blonde locks to his face, water sheeting down his features as he watches Rock go flying away. There's a deep breath, an almost primal sort of energy to Adel's kiai as the wind whips outwards around him, and he cleaves through it to pursue the grinning Howard. This time, the kick comes low, snapping in a sidelong straight that carries his weight behind it, angled squarely for Rock's large intestine.
The reinforced bootheel would lead into a quick flourish, a spinkick with the opposite leg bringing a reaving, luminescent explosion of ragged windshear with it, meant to rip a path right around - or through - Rock's skull. Sure, it's an uphill battle at this point... sure, Rock has more than a few tricks left. .... but Adelheid still has the ability to bring fists and feet to bear, and that's what matters.*
*toborderlineoffspringofmegalomaniacdemigods
COMBATSYS: Adelheid successfully hits Rock with Grosse Stob.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Shermie 0/-------/-------|====---\-------\0 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rock 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
As Rock is getting kicked in the face, Shermie covers her phone with one hand and calls out: "Did you need me to help or is this boy talk time?"
Adelheid's turning it around, that's for sure. Rock hit him with -his- version of this move, earlier--and now he's tasting his own pain. Rock folds on the first hit, then is hurled back by the other--flipping head over heels, almost landing flat, barely catching himself in a three-point stance. "Don't bother," he calls out, raggedly. "Wouldn't be any fun, double-teaming him..." Besides... he can -win- this fight! Rock surges to his feet, forgetting his pain for a moment, then braces himself. C'mon, Howard. You had him on the ropes! You can't give up now. Rock's head snaps up, and his red eyes focus on Adleheid... and then his right hand...? It glows, with an awesome power. It is telling Rock to -defeat- Adelheid.
But it's not glowing red--it's glowing golden, and as Rock suddenly launches himself forward, moving so fast he could almost be said to be flying, his cocked-back right fist is trailing a golden streak across the air, sizzling the rain as he attempts to drive a chi-powered punch right into Adelheid's chin.
COMBATSYS: Rock successfully hits Adelheid with Shine Knuckle.
! VENGEANCE !
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ]
Shermie 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rock 1/-------/=======|
Turning it around - or at least making a rather abrupt statement to Rock. Or maybe Rock's face. Still, he's battered, bloodied, weary, and the sheer force behind Rock's rocket of ravaging golden power not at all stolen from a Gundam catches the Bernstein scion squarely... and launches him rather profoundly. Burning alight through the sheeting rain, Adelheid and Rock both end up some distance across the battlefield - but Adelheid crash lands there, up against the rail overlooking the sea.
For the second time, Adel laughs - a bit more tersely this time, apparently it kind of hurts. "Good job, Howard, good job." A nod is paid to Ichiro and Shermie, "Why don't you show her the stock in the rec room while Rock and I talk about business, Ichiro? Impressive.. impresssive indeed. To you both." A faux toast is lifted, as Adelheid does not yet have champagne. And he's kind of sprawled over.
"Huh what?" Ichiro replies, blinking his eye as rain patters against his face. When did it start raining? She must have hit him really hard. "Oh, yeah!" he replies as Adelheid suggests that he take Shermie below deck, all of his energy miraculously returning to his youthful body. Pushing himself to his feet and shaking his wet uniform coat, Oe turns to the hot French girl and cocks his head toward the stairs below deck.
"You need to see this collection of booze Adelheid picked up," he informs her as he holds out an arm to guide her below deck. "I recommend to Chateau Du... uhh... well, you're going to have to help me with the pronunciation I think. Let's see if we can find the REALLY old stuff." Turning to Adelheid he gives his friend a wink (blink?). So this was the plan after all. Solid. Ichiro owes him one.
Shermie claps politely when Rock punches Adelheid so hard that there might have been a hallucinatory champaign glass involved.
"Shermie speaks the language of wine," she assures Ichiro with a wave of her hand. "In more ways than one. Allons-y."
COMBATSYS: Shermie has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Rock 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Adelheid
Log created on 23:41:09 10/04/2010 by Adelheid, and last modified on 01:28:41 10/21/2010.