Description: With big things brewing on the horizon, it's no surprise that the mysterious Ash Crimson has finally returned to Southtown after a mysterious absence... Of mystery. Life working the way it does, one of the first people Ash meets upon his return is his old buddy, Shenwoo: Naturally, Shen greets the Frenchman with violence. Will the God of Battle finally be able to get one up on the flamboyant flamewielder?!
Today is a day like any other here in Southtown, and despite an absence of one year from these familiar streets and faces, it's as though the likes of Ash Crimson had never left at all. There's still the men dressed in three-piece suits, going about their business, and probably fighters fighting the good or bad fight elsewhere. Little shops dot the sidewalk, overenthusiastic vendors attempt to lure in the unsuspecting to buy unofficial, overpriced wares... The young, platinum blonde haired man truly missed this; even if he weren't back due to certain circumstances, he would've returned eventually regardless. It's just boring anywhere else.
For now, seated atop a white semi trailer, the slender flamewielder dangles his legs past the edge, kicking them back and forth rhythmatically. Below, two men unload boxes of cargo, stacking them in the alleyway out of view. "Hey, Ash!" The eldest calls up to him, and the Frenchman responds by just glancing down and quirking an eyebrow, "Why don't you get your stupid ass down here and help?" Feh, how ludicrious. They expect Crimson to be of assistance? He might break a nail, and that would be a great travesty to all of mankind.
"Yeah," says the second, and he looks like more of a sloth than a man, hunched over and laden with a particularly heavy load, "You should do some work, too."
This is just unfair, ganging up on him like that... But it's a good thing that he doesn't feel a shred of sympathy, nor indebted to these individuals. So what if Ash hitched a ride across half of Asia to Japan? These men should consider themselves lucky he hasn't just vanished into thin air, wandering away as is his wont, and stuck around out of curiosity. He never asked what was being transported. "Rather not," the Frenchman replies while pushing off from the metal trailer top, hitting the ground in a rather catlike manner, "I think it's time to find a hotel room for the night. I hate sleeping in a cramped vehicle. It hurts my back." Slipping both hands into the pockets of his jacket, Ash turns to the street.
"Hmph, should've known. Ungrateful frog."
The last few months have, honestly, been pretty boring ones for Shenwoo. The self-styled 'God of Battle' has done precious little since the siege of Southtown, and the subsequent near-collapse of the Saturday Night Fight franchise. Why, he didn't even manage to get to Taizhou in time to get involved with the wackiness down there, which was just plain disappointing. He's stretched his muscles here and there, of course, but mostly against people who would be securely labeled under 'small fries'. He went back to Shanghai for a bit, seeing if he could find any traces of certain individuals he knows who have gone and disappeared, but... Nothing.
How terrible!
But Shen is still a common sight in Southtown, particularly in Chinatown where his ostensibly at least part Chinese-ness combined with his martial might has gotten him a definite level of acceptance. Nobody tries to buddy up to him, of course - he's kind of scary - but the locals generally treat him well enough. It works out.
Dressed, like always, a bit flamboyantly - he's never been one to hide - the tall, blond brawler is making his way along the street, when he hears voices coming from a nearby alleyway. Normally, he wouldn't really care, and today, he still doesn't particularly - although if he caught some /criminal activity/ he might end up stepping in - but as he walks by the mouth of the alleyway, Shenwoo turns to look inside, a bored expression on his face as his dark eyes look and see: A semi truck, guys stacking boxes, a /white haired Frenchman/.
Attention settling on that last one, Shenwoo stops in the mouth of the alleyway.
"/YOU/," he says.
What was that? Did someone just call him a frog? Ash does not bother to contain his laughter, instead sharing it freely without hesitation. Behind him, the two men scowl unpleasantly, but what else can be done about the incorrigible Frenchman? It's not like his feet can be bolted to the ground, forcing him to work, and the insults do nothing because he simply doesn't care. Without anything left to say but those parting words, clearly not wanting to waste anymore time that could be spent unloading, Crimson is left to walk away without further argument.
Walk away almost straight into Shenwoo.
Shaking a hand out from his pocket, using it to shade his eyes from the sun overhead, Ash looks up... Waaaaay up at the individual blocking his path. "Oh~" he exclaims with some mild, pleasant surprise, "Do I know you?" Wait, wait. Back up. Is this really happening? Does the flamewielder not recognise his brawling former roommate, this very soul whom Ash mooched off of to his heart's content? Or is he just playing some strange, weird joke? Could Shenwoo have crossed over into BIZARRO WORLD?
But really, there's no signs to suggest anything but convenient amnesia or am excruciatingly poor memory. The platinum blonde head tilts slightly to the side, finger tapping gently against a pouty lower lip.
As Ash walks almost right into Shenwoo, the taller man lifts a hand, pointing right at the pale, freckled Frenchman. He...
'Do I know you?'
Shen's eye tics once as his arm half-falls, finger curling in to clench into his more habitual fist, annoyance tugging at the half-caucasian features of the God of Battle. Did Ash seriously just...?
"Listen, you..." Shenwoo starts to say, his thuggish roots coming out more clearly in his tone of voice as his lips pull back in an unpleasant grin. How dare the flamboyant French flamewielder pretend to not remember who he is! It must be pretense, after all, because there's no way somebody could spend so much time mooching off another human being and getting them into trouble with mischievous schemes and machinations without remembering the person they victimised horribly!
Obviously angry, the taller man turns to face Ash more fully. "You stupid asshole!! Pretend to forget me, huh?! Maybe I'll just hit you in the head until it knocks the memory loose!"
Perhaps Shenwoo's surprisingly logical thought process will prove to be correct just this once, or maybe, just maybe, Ash sincerely cannot recall the thuggish brute before him. He goes through the motions of trying, squinting up at the taller blonde, eyebrows knitting together in intense concentration, but there's no expression of recognition to be found. Nothing that suggests he has the faintest clue. "Saa, we've only just met and you're threatening me?" Foldingly his arms impetuously across his thin chest, "I do believe I would remember someone as volatile as you, monsieur."
Then, Ash Crimson winks.
"Ahaha, forget it, I could never forget you, je t'aime." Whether Shenwoo likes it or not, unless he's quick enough to slip out of the way, the God of Battle will find himself in an extremely excited hug, Ash practically swinging on the taller man's neck, grinning like maniac, "Did you believe me? I'm not a very good actor." His laughter afterwards is musical and soft, "I've got gifts for you from France, isn't that nice?" Assuming that he's been forced to release the Shanghai-born mutt in some way by this point, the flamewielder continues in quick English, "I'm so glad I don't have to look for you--"
Trailing off, Ash suddenly locks both arms and starts ushering the brawler away from the mouth of the alleyway, "I'm sure you still want to fight anyway, oui?" The Frenchman asks, grin transforming beautifully into a sly, smarmy smile, face half obscured by his platinum hair, "Have you improved at all?"
What does it say about Shenwoo that his only friend in the entire world is /this guy/?
Mouth open angrily, Shen is about to launch into some probably abusive tirade that is no doubt the preamble to the /punching of the century/ when Ash /winks/ at him and drops the act, leaving the brawler surprised long enough for the Frenchman to accomplish his goal of catching him in a hug around the neck. "Aaagh!!!!" the Shanghai-born fighter shouts in alarm and irritation, trying to push the slighter man off of him. Push, push, shove shove. "Leggo!!"
Eventually he /does/ get loose from Ash, and actually shuffles back two steps in case the flamewielder gets any other funny, personal space invading ideas. "What is /wrong/ with you?!" Shenwoo demands, having clearly missed his friend while he was gone off to... Wherever he was. It is a mystery indeed, but not one the brawler is overly likely to investigate. "You jackass, I oughta punch that smile right off of your dumb face, talking to me like that!"
So, that would be a 'yes', Ash.
Oh, didn't you know? Well, if it must be said... Shenwoo is clearly a masochist. Look it up in the dictionary - there's a picture of the brawler instead of a definition.
Hardly phased as the God of Battle gets his shout on, Ash expected nothing less of the little prank; Shenwoo has never responded positively to any teasing, as far as he can recall. Personal space invasion and prolonged periods of absence makes the bare-chested one even more irritable than usual... Although Ash somehow understands that on some level, however he may deny it, it is because Shenwoo happens to miss him. Look at that fight way back when on boats with Benimaru and that... guy. The brawler would hardly be so upset if it didn't matter.
Though this knowledge silently exists between the two of them, the Frenchman giggling while tousling his own hair playfully as he's threatened again, what must the people passing by on the street think? Clearly the relationship is not one of love, or even a friendly reunion. It's the tell-tale beginnings of a knock 'em down, throw 'em out brawl, and they're half right, at least.
"There's nothing wrong with me," he replies to the rhetorical question as casual as you please, "I'm just happy to see you, je t'aime." The hand at his side sparks with the bubbles of verdant flame, unique to Ash Crimson alone. Just because he is unaffected by the aforementioned threat doesn't mean it's ignored, you know. "I'd like to see you try, by the way." Ever the opportunist, what if Shenwoo actually just wanted to yell a bit and chill out? Tough luck! The flamewielder highly doubts his former roommate turning into a passive, non-violent pushover, anyway. ... Not to mention that Ash is also quite curious to learn what the God of Battle is capable of now.
Arm lit by a glowing current of emerald energy, he draws it briefly back and unleashes the chi infused with the elemental property of fire. Following the first, lazy flick of the wrist is a second, and the two merge into a burning projectile of unpleasant pain. Ash laughs gently, "Catch!" Jerk.
COMBATSYS: Ash has started a fight here.
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Ash 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Shenwoo has joined the fight here.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Ash
COMBATSYS: Ash successfully hits Shenwoo with Ventose.
? Strange Hit! ?
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Shenwoo 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Ash
Sadly for Shenwoo, his buttons are numerous and easy to push, and Ash Crimson is the sort of person who delights in pushing people's buttons. Maybe not even for any real purpose, maybe just to see what'll happen if he does. But it's pretty easy to guess what Shen's response to most forms of teasing and haranguing will be, as it's generally 'anger'. And 'violence'. He's a straightforward kind of guy, you know?
With Ash taking the initiative - Shenwoo realises a second too late that he should've gone for it, a mistake in judgement that costs him - the tall blond man starts to juke to the side, but he's not fast enough. The two arcs of the Ventose crash into him as he moves, sending him whirling out of control for a second before he manages to catch himself...
And then without actually /regaining his balance/, Shen throws himself into a lunge at the fiery Frenchman, aiming to plough through any guard Ash might raise through sheer force, before reaching to grab the other fighter and slam him bodily into the nearest wall.
COMBATSYS: Ash effortlessly dodges Shenwoo's Kouryuu-Geki.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Ash
Ash Crimson really is the most infuriating sort of person. Doing things just because, carefree in all interactions and daily dealings. It doesn't matter who fears him, or who hates him... with the exception of a select few. The Frenchman won't push Shenwoo's buttons so far as to create a rift between them, for instance. This is evident by his sacrifice in past. ... Although that could be considered Ash just ending the fight on his own terms, instead of getting beat down by that jumped-up model and his brawling ex-roommate.
Shaking his head upon the fire meeting its mark, the freckle-faced man collects the coiling, writhing energy into his fist and snuffs it out. He casually flips his long bangs back, saying flippantly, "Come now, Shenwoo. This better be fun. It's been too long, hasn't it?" And the God of Battle is lunging, reaching, attacking... Whatever this may be, Ash would like no part of it, so he redirects the arm threatening to capture his collar with a light, taunting swat, twirling away along the sidewalk with flourish.
But it doesn't last...
Leaning against the motion, Ash reverses the rotation on itself, his arms extending, jacket fanning out behind him. A slender leg arcs overhead in a brutal roundhouse kick meets ballerina pirouette, and the unfortunate Shenwoo may wind up booted quite soundly in the back of the head. All the while, creepy giggling rings through the air, following him, "Haaa!"
Perhaps in the future, the brawler will be the first to strike, so he isn't caught off-balance and unprepared. Don't waste any chances in life - those who seize the initiative usually are never left with regrets.
COMBATSYS: Shenwoo fails to interrupt Floreal from Ash with Tenrenshou.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Ash
COMBATSYS: Ash has left the fight here.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/--=====|
Unfortunately for Shenwoo, his tendency to commit /too/ completely to his attacks leaves him at a disadvantage when they miss. Ash proves to be more than up to the task of avoiding the brawler's assault this time, and so the taller blond stumbles forward, still off-balance, his dark eyes widening slightly as he turns to look and see where the Frenchman is moving to.
Shit, shit.
Shiiiiiiiit.
Knowing where the other fighter /is/ at least gives Shen some hope of being able to react, and so he goes with the first thing that comes to mind: He my have no natural talent or instinct for fighting, but his long years of experience have ingrained certain concepts pretty deeply into the self-styled 'God of Battle', and one of those is that sometimes in order to hurt the other guy you need to barrel /through/ their attack.
In the space between two steps, Shen shifts his weight, and twists himself around, swinging one leg out in a precariously positioned thrusting kick aimed at the other fighter; it misses, his foot grazing uselessly past Ash's side as the flamewielder twirls through the air, which means the berserker does in fact get solidly kicked in the back of the head, sending him into a headlong tumble that ends up in a front roll along the ground, Shen twisting so that as he comes out of the motion he's facing Ash again in a low crouch.
"Tch," he mutters. Stupid... Tricky... Frenchman!
Perhaps Shen would be delighted to know that the Frenchman believes differently, except he'll never say so without good reason; to him, the brawler has plenty of fighting instinct. It's unrefined and prehistoric in nature, but still otherwise present and fully functioning. In the future, if the God of Battle were ever interested in correcting such flaws, committing to a better game plan than the predictable, 'punch it until it stops moving, in whatever way possible' might be an excellent start.
... Of course, to get the point through Shenwoo's thick skull, one would probably have to wait until the berserker just grows a better brain. That's never gonna happen. Oh well. Just keep on keeping on, pookums.
With his perfectly executed kick and equally flawless landing, the flamewielder couldn't ask for a more ideal outcome. Touching down gracefully on the pavement, his back is to the recovering berserker, "Je t'aime, you're getting slow for your young age." One blue eye is visible as he regards the other from over his shoulder, louder, less creepy laughter escaping past the fingers he politely hovers across his mouth. Ash is clearly amused. So much that he glows! Quite literally, even!
Hand outlined by strange, glowing green chi, he touches two slender digits to his lips. The energy, by all outward appearances, seems to transfer to that cheeky grin, so when he gestures at Shenwoo, hand palm-up, Ash exhales a blown-kiss of emerald fire at him. What a freak!
COMBATSYS: Ash successfully hits Shenwoo with Brumaire.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Ash
That's not fair. Sometimes Shenwoo kicks things. Or headbutts them.
But it's true that Shenwoo is going to keep on keeping on, because that's what he does; bullheaded stubbornness is as good as being flexible any day, isn't it? That's Shen's opinion anyway, and that's the only opinion he's likely to listen much to.
"Mph," the brawler grunts in irritation. "I'm just slow because you're boring me!" This is a lie. Ash is, as ever, one of the toughest opponents Shenwoo has ever faced: Even if some people are /stronger/ than the flamboyant French flamewielder, Crimson's peculiar mix of ability, cunning and knowledge of the brawler's strengths and weaknesses makes him in many ways the God of Battle's /kryptonite/.
The fesh eruption of green flames - in the form of a blown kiss, of all things - bears down on Shen, who from his low crouch starts to move to the side... But he underestimates the speed of this /unfamiliar technique/, the eldritch green flames clinging to Shen's right arm as he keeps moving regardless.
Once he's got his momentum up, Shenwoo /twists/, throwing himself into a lunging strike, throwing his left fist forward in a turning, rushing punch, applying mass, strength and circular momentum behind his /most famous of attacks/.
"GRAAAAAAAAH!!"
COMBATSYS: Ash blocks Shenwoo's Gekiken.
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Shenwoo 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Ash
Shenwoo is bored? What a strange thing to say!
Strange and... suspicious.
Turning to face the berserker properly, popping an errant stray bubble of verdant chi with one exquisitely painted fingernail, Ash quirks an eyebrow in silent query. The thought comes to him to call the God of Battle on what he understands to be a blatant lie, but he doesn't. Instead, let the expression alone can attest to his doubt. Shen can't be bored - it's not possible. He hasn't beaten the Frenchman yet to date. Oooooooooh!
With a swift motion of the head, Crimson flips long platinum bangs away from his freckled face, exposing it fully momentarily. He's about to toy with his hair to occupy what little time there is inbetween strikes, but there's no point - the self-styled, Shanghai-born fighter is pretty punctual when bringing the punchings. Shenwoo attacks immediately afterwards, and Ash's own flames somehow seemingly add to the fury of the incoming, rushing punch. Just like in days of old, the flamewielder is going head to head with the speed and power of Gekiken. How will he do this time?
In a single split second, the slender fighter is already fully aware of how he will defend himself, and so he acts. Both arms extend and intercept the fist, knuckles smacking audiably into his bare palms. Rocks on the pavement are ground to dust under his feet as Ash is pushed back, and then the Frenchman looks up through the hair in his face... He smiles in the most horrible of ways. "Maybe today just isn't your day." Knee up to his sternum, the pale, lean flamewielder attempts to place the sole of his shoe on Shenwoo's chest to push him back.
COMBATSYS: Shenwoo Toughs Out Ash's Light Kick!
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Shenwoo 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Ash
Well, Ash could have a point.
Maybe today /isn't/ Shenwoo's day.
The brawler's broad slash of a mouth pulls into an amused-but-still-wolfish grin as his punch is intercepted by Ash's hand, the flamewielder's strength dissipating all of Shen's remaining momentum handily, which potentially puts him in a bad situation?! There are, after all, few attacks that Shenwoo throws himself as completely behind as that one, leaving gaps in his defenses, leaving him slow to react... But then, you don't have to be fast to just up and take the hits.
Ash's knee comes up and strikes Shen right in the sternum, but it doesn't even get a grunt from the Shanghai-born berserker, the subsequent foot on his chest enough to push the taller fighter back, but there's something not quite right, like he /let/ himself be pushed. Two steps back, and then Shenwoo whirls around again, his shirt tailing behind him and giving a brief glimpse of the tattoo on his back before that all becomes forward momentum again, the God of Battle going from 'standing still, or actually kind of moving backwards' to 'rushing at Ash at full speed' in the space of a blink. The terrifying velocity is familiar, Shenwoo's tall, lean form blurring, difficult to follow as he throws his left fist forward at Ash again, but this time a shockwave of pure force is along for the ride, centering on his extended fist and enveloping his entire body in a cocoon of raw power!
"SHYAAAAAAAA-!!"
COMBATSYS: Ash just-defends Shenwoo's Zetsu! Gekiken!
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Shenwoo 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Ash
Oh shi-- Here comes the pain train! Next stop? Likely Ash Crimson's face.
Before the assault begins, before there's even any definite signs, the flamewielder knows in his cold and blackened heart what's going to happen. He smartly figured this all out through subtle hints dropped by his friend-but-current-opponent... That menacing grin. How Shenwoo simply moves with the pushing foot upon his bare chest... They are all the Frenchman's spies.
Blue eyes, once half-lidded, widen instantly to their limits as the distance between the two fighters no longer exists - yes, it's surprising even though he predicted this - but Ash's thin lips still purse together into a long line of deep concentration and preparation. Not today, Shenwoo. He's not walking wherever he may go afterwards with a black eye this time. You'll have to take that beringed fist elsewhere, because Crimson is as vain as they come and hates threats to his visage.
Time seems to slow down around him, making the blurring figure of the brawler drift into focus, and as the energized knuckle-sandwich enters the Frenchman's personal space? He merely lifts a finger and tsks lazily, moving it from side to side in an annoyingly arrogant manner. The other hand has halted the strike, and infused with Ash's own chi, the boiling, bubbling conflagration creates the most unique of barriers. It absorbs and destroys the powerful shockwave, and all the energy of motion, before exploding away harmlessly in all directions. Some smoke and sparks remain hovering between them, and then the blocking hand becomes a face-seeking fist-missile.
COMBATSYS: Shenwoo dodges Ash's Medium Punch.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Ash
Oh, son of a /bitch/.
Shenwoo's clever trick and the application of his /fastest technique/ proves to be for naught, as Ash Crimson's trickiness and superior ability win the day over brute force. Ash's power is enough to negate the attack completely, leaving a very surprised-looking God of Battle to stand there, and then get... Punched in the face?!
Well, maybe not this time.
Ash's fist hits nothing at all, as Shen finds it in himself to actually react like he should, skirting back out of the way of the incoming fist and - keeping his weight and balance on his heels - he keeps moving, twisting around and then taking the opportunity to raise one leg again for that maneuver which makes the God of Battle the most boxerlike of bare-knuckle boxers: He attempts to slam Ash right in the side with one foot in a brutal, stomping kick, throwing his full weight behind the strike. "ORA!!"
And of course, if he manages to actually /hit/ Ash cleanly with that kick, he follows through on it, bringing his right fist down in a vicious overhand punch, intent on driving the Frenchman right into the ground. "GUAAAH!!"
COMBATSYS: Ash dodges Shenwoo's Fusen Kyaku.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Ash
One might think that the Frenchman never lived an honest day in his entire life, what with all these mentions of him being tricksy and sneaky... So unfair. He's not even doing anything underhanded to warrant such trash-talk. It's just tactics - Ash fights to win whenever pitted against the God of Battle. Can anyone blame him? If he didn't, the consequences would be most unpleasant and leave Ash with many bruises to remember such a grievous mistake.
Fist striking at the nothing suddenly present before him, the thin flamewielder is left over-extended as he misses, but hardly vulnerable. He's still very much alert, and a snap-turn of the head causes him to locate the brawling boxer quickly, blue eyes sizing the larger man up critically. Noting the raised leg, Ash can easily recognize the intentions behind it. He moves as well. /Forwards/. /Right at Shenwoo/, but not into the path of danger. The freckle-faced effeminate fighter wisely ducks beneath the barbarian's foot, popping up unharmed at Shenwoo's side.
"What are you aiming at?" He taunts jovially, "I'm right here, je t'aime!"
Something horrible begins to happen then. Energy seems to flow freely around Ash, encircling him with an emerald, glowing aura... But why? What is he planning, laughing like he's having the time of his life, innocent behaviour clearly shrouding something more sinister underneath? Who can say for now, because all Ash does is reach quickly for the front of Shen's open shirt. Provided that he successfully snags the brawler, his elbow is brought in at the same time, as is a swift knee, followed by swift punches to the face and a final uppercut. At least Crimson has the decency to tuck those nails into his palms, rather than slash his friend open underchin.
COMBATSYS: Ash successfully hits Shenwoo with Vendemiaire.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Ash
"Ah?" wonders Shenwoo, his tone one of absent, understated surprise as his kick hits nothing but air as Ash manages to avoid the strike. Historically, this has been a bad thing: Missing means you don't hurt the other person, and it tends to leave you open to a reprisal, especially when the guy you missed is Ash 'total jerk' Crimson. Suddenly, said total jerk is right at Shen's side, far too close for anything that even vaguely resembles comfort, and the brawler knows he's in a bind. He tries to get his balance back in time, but there really isn't much of that available, and then the Frenchman is grabbing him by the front of the shirt...
Shenwoo knows, deep in his bones, that this is going to go badly.
Smashed repeatedly by Ash's attacks once he's trapped off-balance and off-guard, Shen then staggers back from the uppercut, his head snapping back from the force of the blow, his back arching dangerously as he stumbles, and then almost rights himself, and then ends up sitting on the sidewalk, cross-legged.
"Keh!!" the God of Battle grunt/spits in annoyance, folding his arms and turning his gaze to one side. "This is stupid, it's not going anywhere!" Normally, Shen is not one to sulk when he's doing badly, and this isn't really an exception... He just reacts to Ash a bit differently than how he does to most other people, and is actually willing to cut his losses. "I'm done."
COMBATSYS: Shenwoo takes no action.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Ash
Finally, not only does his fist strike true, but the accompanying knee, elbow and completing uppercut. The Frenchman releases Shenwoo when his head is smacked back, allowing the taller man to stumble away and regain balance on his own. In the meantime, Ash folds one arm in against his abdomen, the other held parallel to the body, long fingers absently toying with his platinum blonde hair. He waits for something to come next. Anything. Another rushing fist, a kick - the lean flamewielder's visibly tense and ready to react, but nothing happens...
Well, nothing besides Shen stumbling to sit on the curb, looking to be in a very bad temper.
Smiling indulgently at this turn of events, the fight leaves his frame, and he casually sashays over to where the brawler is. Plopping down, his eyes close, and Ash looks positively foxlike. "Saa, don't be such a sore loser." He chides carelessly, waving off any protests that the brawler might have, "Besides, better it ends before everything in this city closes down for the night." He taps a finger to his chin, hming, "We can pick up those presents I bought for you in France, ahaha."
COMBATSYS: Ash takes no action.
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Shenwoo 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Ash
As Ash steamrolls over any words he might offer in protest to being called a /sore loser/, Shenwoo just fixes the Frenchman with a look midway between 'disbelieving' and 'furious', but evem with the familiar warmth of fury building up in his chest he's well aware there isn't much point to trying to punch the smug off of that freckled visage, right now. No, some other time. One day, he'll beat Ash Crimson's skinny ass all over the place! And then... On that day....
Shenwoo will probably be really bored. But /right now/ it seems like a great idea.
"Hmph," Shen mutters, annoyed, as he gets up to his feet. Despite the battering he took, taking straight on hits that could've crippled a normal person, the half-Chinese brawler stands up straight, unbowed. "Fine," is the taller blond's irritable response. "Let's go, then."
Presents, indeed. Shenwoo doesn't believe that /for a second/.
COMBATSYS: Shenwoo has left the fight here.
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Ash 1/---====/=======|
COMBATSYS: Ash has ended the fight here.
"Ahaha, je t'aime, you're not mad at me, are you?" Calling it as he sees it, aware of that rising fury building once again, does Ash actually care? The answer is 'probably not'. He just isn't phased by things like that, and the disregard shows... His smile grows even brighter and saccharine sweet at the expression that graces the barbarian's features. Try and knock it off if you dare, Shenwoo. Wasn't it said earlier that he's the brawler's 'kryptonite'? The God of Battle is nothing in comparison - Ash really couldn't tell whether or not his friend even improved, either. The man must be about the same as before.
Rising from his chosen spot on the curb moments after Shenwoo stands, Ash fusses over the dusty back of his jacket, swatting the dirt off while saying, "I like traveling light, so I mailed them." Satisfied soon after, he claps his hands twice together, then slides both into the coat's pockets. The Frenchman stands there at ease, and looks quite comfortable doing so, "Then we can go for drinks and that... karaoke thing you like. My treat, oui?" They haven't seen each other for so long that Ash is actually feeling generous today. It's worth repeating that he's happy to see the Shanghai-born mutt, plus he didn't have to search for the other, which contributes to his cheer.
By this point, it's likely that they've started walking, and if not, the Frenchman just grabs Shenwoo by the hand and pulls him along the sidewalk while he babbles pleasantly, "I've got so much to talk to you about, and what have you been up to? This city hasn't changed at all." A pause. What, does this doubting berserker deny the existence of 'presents'? Rude. Ash really did think of his punch-happy friend while in France. There's a few new silk shirts, like a white one with intricate black dragon embroidery, or the black one with red flames. "Have you received an invitation for the King of Fighters?"
And maybe once Shenwoo's good and drunk, Ash won't have to spend the night in the hotel. It'd be nice to return to the apartment that he once called home... No doubt it probably looks like an atomic bomb went off, and he would bet own his own life that the brawler hasn't been eating properly.
The worst thing about Ash Crimson, if you were to ask Shenwoo right now, is that he's like a cat. A big, weird French cat. He just takes off for a while, then comes back when he feels like it and acts like things haven't changed at all.
Naturally 'the worst thing about Ash Crimson' varies wildly based on when you ask Shen and what Ash has done recently to irritate the brawler.
"Wha-?!" Shenwoo starts to say as he gets caught by the hand and dragged off, ass it is insinuated that he loves karaoke (he does not, that was clearly more Duolon's pastime) but the idea of actually making Ash pay for drinks instead of it being him for a change suits Shen's sense of balance just enough that he doesn't voice any actual protest, instead letting himself get dragged along.
"Of course I got an invitation," Shenwoo replies; he doesn't need to ask if Ash did. "Why, you gonna go? Doesn't seem like your style." Much too serious for the likes of Ash Crimson, isn't it? But, no doubt Ash would have his reasons for actually going.
The worst thing about Ash Crimson, if you were to ask Shenwoo right now, is that he's like a cat. A big, weird French cat. He just takes off for a while, then comes back when he feels like it and acts like things haven't changed at all.
Naturally 'the worst thing about Ash Crimson' varies wildly based on when you ask Shen and what Ash has done recently to irritate the brawler.
"Wha-?!" Shenwoo starts to say as he gets caught by the hand and dragged off, but the fact that Ash actually remembered one of the brawler's interests besides 'punching people' and the idea of actually making Ash pay for drinks instead of it being him for a change suits Shen's sense of balance just enough that he doesn't voice any actual protest, instead letting himself get dragged along.
"Of course I got an invitation," Shenwoo replies; he doesn't need to ask if Ash did. "Why, you gonna go? Doesn't seem like your style." Much too serious for the likes of Ash Crimson, isn't it? But, no doubt Ash would have his reasons for actually going.
That's... actually a very accurate assessment of his behaviour, honestly.
Moving on though, Ash merrily trots towards the closest post office, which is where the packages were conveniently sent, arm swinging as he pulls the brawler down the street. "Who's to say that it won't at least be interesting?" He remarks thoughtfully, "We should gather together a team. The tournament would be a good opportunity for you to fight the cream of the crop, as well. The absolute best that the world has to offer." The Frenchman is intentionally steering the conversation away to other topics, mainly what appeals to the brawler, because... let's not spend this time talking about him and why! That's not important at all.
Hopefully Shenwoo will be on-board. The others might not be so easy to gather together, whomever they may be...
Log created on 21:12:24 10/17/2010 by Shenwoo, and last modified on 18:19:33 10/23/2010.