Description: Pepe is back in his home town, visiting family and amazing villagers with his tales of the big city. Antoine's wandering path has let him into that same village. He may be looking for a fight, but the native is cautious about roughing someone up in his home town again...at least where anyone can see. Will the stranger get his organs harvested in the alleys of a rural Mexican village? How will natural talent fare against hard work?
Ah, Mexico! It's been so long since Pepe's been back!
Well, not really. A few months? Still, everything seems fresh and new after being shipped off to the States. Why, there's that same old man sleeping in the alleyway! The same festive streamers strung across the only main road that travels through his suburb! The same late 20-something waitress at that bar, flashing that same smile to the same work-weary men!
...Wait, there's nothing fresh and new about this at all. Not even the red hand-shaped mark on Pepe's cheek is different; a wonderful 'welcome home' from the same woman that's been hit on every third day since he'd was thirteen. Fast forward an hour or two, and everyone in town knows that Pepe's back. Is it the string of enchanted (harassed) women? The flurry of freshly-disciplined (beaten) punks that like to pretend that they're old-timey villains? The rescued kittens (...I have nothing for that)? At the moment, the young man is standing outside of the only school the city has. Everyone goes to this old building from Kindergarten until graduation. The younger kids are running around him and making noise about souveniers and gifts. The adolescent ones are trying to ask him what kind of girls they can find over in the U.S., questions that are often rewarded with slaps from one of the girls in the small group. Why would anyone ask about that?! Not when they can ask what sights there are to see in Metro City, as well as whether he'd met any big stars! Oh, small town life...
The time in Mexico is a bit longer than his usual trips. The place is actually one that thrives on a lot of atmosphere. There are places to explore, people to see and meet... Some of the more important things was witnessing some of the ruins and the other aesthetics of the country and culture.
Not only that, but Antoine was rewarded with meeting many fighters. In particular, there was a fight against a wrestler and a holyman.
Now? Antoine makes his way through the district, passing by the old building. He glances over to see hte people around, notiing the sudden crowd of people surrounding something. The wayward traveler carries that duffelbag around, thoughtful of his surroundings, "Hrm? I wonder what's going on there..."
The ebony-skinned man stretches the arms up, then he scoots the bag closer to his back before he walks ahead to see the commotion.
"And then, he was all 'No, I'll really do it!'" Pepe seems to be pantomiming something now, one of the dark-haired girls held against him, one arm around her neck, but far from tightly. His other hand is held outward, holding onto a stick like one would normally wield a switchblade. "And then pow! Bam! I kicked the knife right out of his hand!" At that point, he tosses the stick back onto the ground, the thing rattling in Antoine's path. This sets the younger crowd off, imagining a scene right out of their cartoons. It's obvious that he's reenacting some sort of mugging that he'd come across in the dangerous Big City. Things like that don't happen much around here anymore, after all; not since the big gang fight that got his father to ship him off to Sunsh--METRO City.
All of a sudden, the dashing young Mexican spins his 'hostage', twirling her around and leaning over, holding her with arms about her torso, supporting her like bare-chested, wind-swept studs do with their willing sluts on so many romance novel covers. "So I rescued her, and then...and then...!" Just as he's leaning closer himself, he catches sight of Antoine walking up. He's never seen this guy before. It's just as well; soon enough, there's a call from the open school door, the schoomarm yelling for the kids to come back to class. The break is over! In another flashy, twirling motion, he lifts the girl in his arms upright once more, presenting her to the rapt audience. "Well, that will be a story for later. Now go on, study, study!" With disappointed noises, the small group is ushered back into the building, leaving Pepe alone with the curious newcomer.
"Welcome!" he says, a big smile on his face and his arms open wide. "A tourist? Are you lost?"
There is something about the story that brings a smile to Antoine's face. Maybe it's the fact that it's being told to the kids who are in rapt attention, or maybe it is the fact that the guy proves to be a fighter as well. As that stick is tossed to the ground, he quietly watches it roll over to his feet.
He starts to walk over towards the group, just watching until the flirtacious young man spins the woman and nearly kisses her.. until Antoine is spotted. That is when the people disperse. He grins while the man now gives him his attention.
"...Lost?" He considers, "It's hard to say. Cannot really be lost if I am aiming for any place in particular. I am just going where the path takes me." Antoine adds, "I am a tourist, I suppose. But moreso, I am just a simple traveler." He hefts the duffle bag up, offering a nod.
"Antoine." The wushu-dressed young man extends his hand out towards the stranger.
As it's explained to him, Pepe stands tall and straight. His hands--not fists--rest on his hips, or more accurately, on the sash at his waist. His chest is out, shoulders back. Perfect posture, indeed! His eyes look over the bad as it's presented, which in turn brings him to look at Antoine's feet. Are his shoes intact? Are they ratty? Any holes? No man should have to walk on ruined shoes in this place; rocks everywhere!
"A pleasure, Antoine!" He speaks clearly, but not loudly. His smile is wide and reveals an impeccable row of pearly whites, and damned if one can't imagine a glint off of one of them. "Me llamo Pepe," he answers, already turning aside and gesturing toward one of the short benches set against one of the school walls. It's a common thing, like someone just took big rocks and fashioned some vaguely-decorated ends through which a flat slab is supported. "Sit, sit! Make yourself comfortable!"
The Nike Shox, believe it or not, are very much intact. It is amazing that the shoes have managed to survive a lot of things. Fights, travel through the deserts, so forth. Antoine has taken good care of those shoes in the midst of his travel. The shoes contrast the traveler himself, who looks a bit beat up and worn from his travels. However, he does seem to contrast his beaten appearance with his upbeat and more good-spirited form.
"Mucho gusto, Pepe."
The young man offers the older man a smile, then he looks over towards the benches. While he gestures for him to seat along the bench, he decides to heed the advice and takes a seat. He sets he duffelbag beside him, looking over at the older man, "This is quite a place. I have seen a lot, from the ruins to many other fighters..." He chuckles, "There is a lot of tradition here that makes me smile."
Pepe remains standing, for he has no reason to sit! He's not tired in the least, and it's only for hospitality's sake that he tried to get this guy to take a rest anyway. There's a nice shade offered by the building, after all. It gets hot in that direct light!
"Oh, this isn't much, but it /is/ home." On second thought, he does take a seat! Parking his kiester upon the stone, he leans back and lifts his far arm, resting it along the top edge of the bench. His left leg pulls up and rests on the other's thigh, accentuating just how loose those pants are. Well, the pant legs of his jumpsuit, anyway. "Though, I'm just here to visit too, to be honest." He lifts a finger, however! The f-word has gotten him all paranoid or something, as he leans in and shushes Antoine. "Do not say that word! The people here don't like people...scrapping." Not after all the trouble they had with him, anyway. Hell, he's already on thin ice from bashing up the bullies earlier in the day!
"Heh, I suppose." He considers, "Even in my home, there is still much that I have yet to find." Which, he should make his return to reflect when his around the world trip is over. However, he looks over at the man when he its down, tilting his head slightly.
"A visit?" He smiles, "...It's always good to visit your home." This further accents his goal to deal with things after his travel. Confusion spreads when he suddenly shushes him. He looks quite stunned at first, but the confusion is still painted, but he's a bit more calm.
"...Why is that?" He runs a hand over to the back of his neck, "...I always figured people liked watching two martial artists testing their skills."
Pepe's lips spread thin, and then his head lifts up a bit, turning about. He especially watches the glassless windows of the school, looking for any kids (or worse yet, teachers) that might have overheard the conversation. Odd that the local would look so cautious!
Finding no one immediately watching him, he jumps up to his feet, hands back to dust off his rear end. That done, he beckons the other guy to follow with a wave of his hand! "Come with me, amigo, let me show you around town!" Now his voice is back to normal, the pleasant smile and bright expression on his face once again. And yet, no explanation!
Isn't this the type of deal where the tourist is lead into a trap and they are suddenly chopped up, losing their livers, or something akin to that? Something like Candy Mountain, or one of those incidents where they do bad things to the tourist for drugs.
...Nah.
Antoine is a bit naive, considering his youth, decides to follow the other teenager through the town without a second thought. After all, learning more of the town is always a nice thing. "Sure!" He then causually glances over towards Pepe, "So where are you visiting from anyway? Going into college as well?"
Yeeeees. Follow the bright and alluring young man, there is no danger. No danger at all.
Pepe gestures to things here and there as he leads Antoine toward the edge of the city. There's a high wall around most of it; it's indeed an old place, stucco and shingles /everywhere/. He points out the town's sole cantina, the housing area, the convenience store that he was told used to be a trading-slash-fencing post for famous banditos back in the day! But more than that, everyone apparently knows him. Oh, it's not that uncommon in small places, but most people stop what they're doing to wave and call out to the young man. He spends more time responding to greetings than explaining the area!
These sudden appearances slow considerably as the pair reach the edge of town. Most of the walls here are blank, protecting bedrooms from the abnormal heat that late morning brings. Only after conspicuously checking for other before does he let out a soft sigh, tension leaving his shoulders. He's obviously relieved. "Sorry about the sudden request, but like I was saying, people get all up in arms about fighting here." He looks up and tilts his head a bit to the side. Fingertips come and scratch awkwardly at the base of his exposed neck. "You see, they think fighting just leads to troublemaking, so any fighting at all is bad. It's so boring!" The dirt crackles beneath his feet as he steps away, his hands once again on his hips. "Ah, but your question! My folks sent me off to Metro City for college, so that's where I'm staying now. I'm just here to visit for the holiday break." That said, his weight shifts to rest on one leg more than the other. THAT leg bends a little so his toes can tap against the ground once or twice. "You said 'other' fighters. Does that mean you're a scrapper to?" His previous dejection about this drab town is swept away by sudden excitement, his lips tucked up in an expectant, dimpled grin.
The eyes take a glance over to the surroundings, taking in the deal of the houses and the store. This town has some history behind it. Some rich, some aren't. Overall, Antoine is smiling. It is not without noticing that his 'tour guide' is distracted. There is a bit of envy, seeing how popular and loved the guy is in his hometown. He furrows his eyebrow slightly, then he shakes his head. He does not miss his original hometown at all.
When they reach the edge of the town, the man looks at the walls and then the nature of the tour guide. When he finally seems to relax, Antoine offers a nod, "Don't worry about it." Then, he blinks when the explanation about fighting is brought to light.
That is when a frown stirs, "That's a pity..." It would not be all of that great to be restricted from fighting. In regards to the college, Antoine laughs a bit, "...You remind me of my friend. He's currently in college at Southtown." His eyes drift towards the man when his legs mess around.
"...Scrapper, I suppose..." Antoine shuts his eyes, "...I am a wanderer, seeking to learn about the world and other fighting styles." His eyes become more focused. "I wish to see what all of the people in the world possess. ...I found many of them fascinating thus far and many of their wills admirable."
At first, Pepe's curiosity is piqued! A friend? Is she cute? Is she /hot/? Wait...where's Southtown? All of these questions fight for dominance over his tongue, each one seeking to be the first to be asked...and then 'he' is heard. All at once, those eager thoughts dissipate entirely, going back to whatever fantasies rest in that head of his.
"Aaah, yes! Man, I really envy you!" His foot rests flat against the ground once again, both of his hands lifting upward while he gives a simple shrug. "That sounds like so much fun! So many places to see, so many girls!" His eyes close and he has this happy look on his face, the movie playing behind his eyelids already one of curves and warm company. And, best of all, no flying wrenches! He sighs out a short puff of breath before returning to the land of the Here and the Now. "And so many people to fight! You must have done a pretty good job on them, huh?"
The local native squats down, knees bent with his ass just resting inches above the ground. His arms wrap around his knees. It looks like he /should/ be tipping backward, but he...he just doesn't, like an egg balanced on its end. "So, tell me about the most--! No! No, back to your friend! How do I remind you of him?"
Many girls? Antoine blinks for a moment with a bit of confusion. The traveling warrior runs a hand to the back of his head, rubbing against it thoughtfully, "I suppose so." He notes, "...However, I just enjoy meeting the various fighters that in the world." He glances up to the sky, "You know? Each fight has been a learning experience. I have had a chance to reflect upon my fights against various opponents... Taking in their strengths, their influences. How far I still have to go."
He turns to face Pepe now, smiling. "I like learning from the fights that I have had." THen, he looks over to see him balancing hm up. "Oh, Quon? You both are pretty young and are currently in college. ...Both of you are fighters." There is a bit of twinkle in his eyes, "There is a bit of showmanship that you two share. However, there is also a great deal of sincerity and potential."
With the concept explained so clearly, why...there's no way Pepe could not understand! It's all laid out, right there!
And yet, as all the talk about leaning experiences and taking in their influence washes over him, he looks...uninterested? No. Perhaps perplexed. His left arm has crossed over his chest, the hand supporting the other elbow. That free hand scratches at the back of his jaw as his head is still tilted, looking at Antoine with a furrowed brow and a weird half-frown on his lips. "That's something people have to work toward?" The question lingers in the air, and he looks completely serious. You know how rich people can't fathom why poor people have to do their own laundry? It's like everything he knew about fighting had been turned upside-down to where not innate talent, but hard work, detemine the better fighter.
At this moment, Antoine takes the duffelbag and lets it set on the ground. He is more pleased with the fact that this is another fighter. He is a bit perplexed by his statement, which confuses Antoine a bit. He tilts his head over, "... Yes. There is a lot for fighters to improve on and get better at." He shuts his eyes, making his way out towards the space.
"...Some have innate talent, others strive for it. ...Even those with the former can improve on it, refine it..." He makes his way further towards the space, then he turns to face Pepe, "I wish to learn more of your style and about you..."
His right hand extends out, the right leg immediately shifts over as the legs bend. He takes up the fighting position, the eyes now becoming focused. His intentions are made known. "What drives you...?"
COMBATSYS: Antoine has started a fight here.
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Antoine 0/-------/-------|
What drives him? It's an odd question. The young man is visibly bored at all this talk about improvement and refinement. The corner of his mouth tucks in, further dimpling that left cheek. "You sound like an old man, you know? We've got plenty of time to worry about crap like that!" He lifts his hands, shrugging with the motion.
"But hey...
Ah, that posture. That form! Now THAT is something he's more inclined to answer. His hands both latch onto the collar of his jumpsuit, sliding it back off of his shoulders. As it falls back and off it his arms, it leaves his torso smooth and bare, revealing arms stronger than your average nineteen-year-old's. Once again, he sets most of his weight on one leg, the other pushing forward, bent at the knee with the toe twisting a tiny indentation in the dirt. "If you wanted to fight, then hey, all you have to do is ask!" He pauses, however, pushing out a finger in front of him. "And as for what drives me?" Both of his arms bend, hands balled into loose fists nearly like a boxer's stance, but wider, far less defensive.
"I don't know. Justice? Like some sort of superhero, maybe!"
COMBATSYS: Pepe has joined the fight here.
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Antoine 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Pepe
"I suppose." Antoine shrugs, "...My sifu always taught me to have some goal... a purpose. If you have direction, you can draw your art to take you to that direction." His eyes shift over towards the nineteen year old when he slides the jacket off of the shoulder to expose his muscles. While the body exposes itself, Antoine nods as he seems to be ready to fight.
"I see..."
Antoine shuts his eyes, "...If that is what drives through... I hope it will be your guide." A smile draws, then he tightens his fist. He lunges forward, moving to get close in in combat with the young man. He launches off of the ground to swing his legs out in mid-air with an outward crescent kick.
However, as the leg plants to the ground, he actually shoots his body forward to drive his palm to strike towards Pepe's chest.
COMBATSYS: Pepe dodges Antoine's Quick Punch.
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Antoine 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Pepe
Ah, damn! Now that Pepe's fists are before his face, he realizes that he doesn't have any gloves on! If he gets into a fight like this, starts landing punches, somebody's going to know that he got in a fight! He'll have to do without them, just this once.
It's a shame that his new friend isn't going to need to suffer the same restriction! Pepe isn't so great at reading people; he just sort of reacts, he feels things. His forward leg pulls back, obviously soon enough to evade such a shallow kick. But for a punch to follow up, hidden in the crescent motion? Why, that's just dirty! Not dirty enough to clip him, however, as his upper body weaves to the left. "Hoo! Tricky bastard!" He doesn't stop, either. His left leg planted, it's like he's bowing forward toward Antoine, but also away. The evasion is woven easily into an assault as his right leg pulls up high, the young man doing an honest to god vertical split to try and drive his knee into the wanderer's skull.
COMBATSYS: Antoine blocks Pepe's Arriba.
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Antoine 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Pepe
While the fighter manages to weave his body away from the punch, that fist is flying straight towards the air, yet there is a follow up as Antoine takes a step forward to position his body for the man to make his move. While Pepe moves back and then back toards his direction.
That vertical split makes its way to drive the knee to he man's skull. Antoine, however, quickly brings his arms out to guard against the impact. As the knee strikes against the meaty part of the arm, his eyes narrow as he says, "Quite skilled..." However, Antoine quickly reaches for the man's side next.
Antoine leans back at this point, now planning to capture him and pull him into that roll. Should Antoine have him in his grasp, Pepe will be going on a nice little rolling trip. Antoine's body will roll back twice before his leg will launch out to polevault Pepe across to release him for a rough landing.
COMBATSYS: Pepe just-defends Antoine's Spinning the Loom!
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Antoine 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Pepe
Though his knee smacks into firm muscle instead of firmer skull, his leg pulls back as though bounced from rubber. The man's body naturally lifts up; the movement is natural, smooth. There's nothing at all calculated about it. "You noticed?" he quips back cockily, looking so smug as he returns to viewing the world upright.
It's a view that really doesn't last long.
He may be grabbed, he may be rolled...but Pepe makes no move to fight any of it! His lithe body curls as he's grabbed, the rolling motion not unlike a giant wheel. Even when he's kicked off, he simply flies through the air, his legs tucking up and righting himself as a cat does to land deftly on his feet. That done, he stands upright, flexing his knees by lifting and dropping a couple of times as he dusts off his pants. "That was kind of interesting! Is that one you picked up from someone else?" The question is asked as he settles back into his original stance, sighing out one big, long breath that loosens his muscles, now that they've begun to warm up.
COMBATSYS: Pepe focuses on his next action.
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Antoine 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Pepe
That cockiness is something that rubs Antoine off the wrong way. It causes him to furrow about it. The man's intriguing, but getting so cocky in the middle of battle? Disrespectful. Antoine rolls the man along the ground and manages to kick him off.
However, he sees the man landing on his feet ith no probem. He shifts his stance after flipping back up. "No, one of the techniques of Chongquan." Antoine mentions, and then he shifts his stance as he makes his way towards the target. He quickly brings his right hand up along towards the man's throat, but it stops mid-way for Antoine to spin his body enough to deliver a quick footsweep to take the other fighter off of the ground.
COMBATSYS: Pepe dodges Antoine's Medium Throw.
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Antoine 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Pepe
Again, Pepe sways around everything, both intentional attacks as well as feinted ones. He bobs and tucks, responding with unnatural reflexes.
"Huh, I've never heard of it."
As he's already leaning to the side, the only normal course of action to avoid the sweep is to pull his leg up and, using its momentum, flip himself head over heals and off to the side! He lands on one foot, right next to Antoine, and as he still has one leg in the air, well...why not try to bring it down upon the other boy's nogging again, a sharp downward swipe with a knee bending at the end for extra slice?
COMBATSYS: Pepe successfully hits Antoine with Medium Kick.
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Antoine 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Pepe
The way how the other teenager moves is quite phenomenal. It is hard to believe how agile he is, even against his feint and actual strikes. THe young man grunts to himself while Pepe manages to avoid all of the other attacks thus far.
When he brings the leg into the air and flip himself off, he blinks when Pepe lands next to him. Then, that foot comes down to plant against the skull. He is shifting his stance over to take in the blow so that he can get the momentum to strike towards the chest. Instead, the foot slams down on his head, smacking him nab dam to the back of the skull. Antoine's face plants towards the ground. A grunt is given as he grimaces to himself. His hands re brought to the ground and he starts to force himself onto his feet.
"Nggh..." He quickly turns to face Pepe before he launches himself off of the ground, aiming to plant his foot over towards the man's head. That outward crescent kick strikes first.... and then the other leg comes out.
There is a bit of lightning emitting from the foot of the inward crescent kick before it slams down towards Pepe.
COMBATSYS: Pepe interrupts Crossing the Bridge from Antoine with Istak.
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Antoine 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Pepe
It's not as though Pepe is /trying/ to demean anyone. He just...does this thing, moves this way, and things happen. Of course it would be infuriating to someone who works so hard at what they love? If he were in Antoine's shoes, he'd probably get really huffy and start throwing punches.
But wait, they're already fighting? Whatever.
After smacking his sandaled heel dead upon the top of the other guy's head, Pepe takes a step back, shaking that foot as the dull vibrations resound through his bones. "Such a hard head on you," he says, lifting his head at the motion that follows. Not only standing, but...flying? Now THAT is something that the young Mexican can get behind. Even if he's not the one doing it, he senses something kindrid within him. It brings a wide smile to his face, enthusiasm renewed!
Once more, he doesn't think; he just moves. His body lurches forward. The first kick grazes across his chest, leaving a red friction burn in its wake. But that's not the important thing. It's that other foot coming down. Even as it moves toward him, his foot plants and his right arm lifts up, out. His fist meets that kick in a ferocious backhand, stopping it cold and jarring his bones. That little spark, however, ignites a well of electricity from Pepe's own body! The hand glows in a brilliant blue at first, then lets out enough voltage to blind anyone, were there anyone TO watch, as a ball of arcing sparks radiate from his hand, quite like those static balls that people rub their hands over...times like a thousand.
It is the advice that Antoine followed and gave to Farah. Do not think, but move. Antoine had continued to move, noting that the man would be within his reach. When the first kick grazes out along the man, the other foot shoots down to immediately surge the lightning engulfed foot down his head.
The young man slam the foot down, but not as much as he wanted to. It is instead knocked away by the fist, stopping it cold. He grits his teeth while the man finally reveals his own blue lightning. That arc of lightning radiates from the man's hand, traveling out towards Antoine.
"Nggghhhhh!!!" He reels his head back as the voltage as it surges around his body. He soon falls onto his back, twitching. He rolls along his back, grimicing. Soon, he works on reganing his focus as he has yet to actually touch the young man in the fight. He digs deep towards his resolve, feeling the flow of chi radiate around him as he locks his gaze towards Pepe.
"...So you too have lightning chi."
COMBATSYS: Antoine focuses on his next action.
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Antoine 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Pepe
"Chi?"
After Pepe pulls back and returns to the stance he'd held earlier, he's met with this concept. His brow furrows and his face bears a very clear, very perplexed expression! "What are you talking about? That's chi?" He apparently knows nothing of his own abilities. His moves, the lightening, his strength...just how far can natural abilities go? It's simply impossible to manifest something like that naturally. At least, in the amounts that this flighty Mexican playboy answered with. He stands flat-footed, lifting a hand to slap against his temple. "Wait, you mean other people can do it to?! That's amazing! Can your one friend do it too?"
COMBATSYS: Pepe takes no action.
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Antoine 1/-----==/=======|======-\-------\0 Pepe
"... Yes. The chi is the manifestation of those that others would consider unnatural." The young man shuts his eyes, then he furrows his eyebrows. While the Mexican playboy finally asks if other people can use it, "In one form or another. I recently met someone who... has a strange power. It is hard to explain, but you can feel that there is something odd and different from the type of energy that we use."
Finally, Antoine puts himself back into the fight, running to meet with Pepe once more. As he launches off of the ground, he twists his body to where he is performing an aerial cartwheel. Both legs are apart where one of them strikes down to the head. Essentially, a side somersault.
COMBATSYS: Antoine successfully hits Pepe with Splitting the Earth.
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Antoine 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\0 Pepe
"Huh! Amazing... So, there are more people like this." He clenches his right fist and looks at it. The hand--the forearm is trembling with excitement. There are so many others to fight, then, people that he might be able to actually go all out on! "Then, where can I find th--ghhk!!"
As he hadn't been paying attention in the least, Antoine's assault comes as a complete surprise! His head lifts /into/ the kick, immediately sending the teenager crashing into the ground. It's a fair hit, and he DID deserve it. "Son of a...wow, okay, that was a good one. I admit it!" He hunches up as his legs pull up under him. His right eye is screwed shut, wincing at the pain that's set his skull throbbing. From that crouching position, he leaps forward, nothing but a short hop. It's just to close the distance, to give him the position for a powerful downward punch toward the other guy's temple. An eye for an eye!
COMBATSYS: Pepe successfully hits Antoine with Hopping Fist.
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Antoine 1/=======/=======|=======\-------\1 Pepe
After the landing, Antoine offers the older teenager a simile. A nod is presented to the young man before he notes the fact that they are stilll in battle. The compliment earns a nod, "Thanks.." It was the only clean hit that Antoine got him him. Yet, in turn, Antoine sought to get close to the distance to where he can present the man a nice present for his trouble.
Unfortunately, Antoine is caught right against the temple with the flying fist. The fist that plants against his temple sends him reeling back. There is a devastating stumble as Antoine staggers and he grits his teeth.
However, he maintains his ground....
And shows the true essence of Chongquan.
His right foot plants to the ground, keeping him afoot. Then, his left leg extends outward and he slams it to the ground. The impact, along with the chi displaced with it, is enough to shake the ground as he extends both of his hands towards the man's chest. The palms push out, seeking to break through any defenses as he calls out, "SHAAA!"
COMBATSYS: Pepe dodges Antoine's Immovable Mountain EX.
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Antoine 1/-======/=======|=======\-------\1 Pepe
How does that saying go? The best defense is a good offense? It's something like that, right?
Upon touching the ground, Pepe doesn't stop moving. He rushes in, but his instincts tell him to back off. A followup punch is pulled short and the man pushes off with his foot, jumping to the side. He's never very far from Antoine, rarely out of his grasp...and yet he's so /slippery/! It must be through those instincts that he hops back again, a foot back if anything. It's just high enough for that ripple of chi to pass through the ground beneath him. THAT...that is a great trick! Perhaps when he's not intoxicated with the thrill of fighting, he'll ask how it's done.
Even though one eye is still clenched shut, the other is wide, his grin peerless. He's /enjoying/ himself! As soon as his foot touches the ground again, he uses that contact to push off, screaming in toward that oncoming strike...and he's gone. No, it looked like he was heading right for impact, but he's just /not there/. An inhuman reaction, he weaves to the side and back, muscles wrenching to cease his forward momentum and then resume it! Now ducking in, Pepe puts his full weight behind a short punch to the gut, as if an attempt to see how truly durable the mountain is!
COMBATSYS: Antoine fails to interrupt Fierce Punch from Pepe with Perfect Storm EX.
[ < > ////////////////////// ]
Antoine 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Pepe
COMBATSYS: Antoine can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Pepe 1/-------/=======|
The young man is very slippery, even when faced with the odds of Antoine's brutal strength and technique. It would probably hurt more if Antoine could make a clean hit. Unfortunaely, Antoine cannot make a clean hit at he present moment. Instead, the young man is faced with having to deal with the fighter..
Instinctively, as Pepe moves in to make a full weighted punch of the gut, Antoine takes a deep breath and he steps in. The cocky fighter may even see another trace of lightning surging from Antoine as he steps forward to close in the distance.
As the hand seeks to tear through the air as lightning surges to life...
The fist actually nails him in the gut; it is a slow heartbeat that thumps as the suspense unfolds. Antoine is caught before he collapses onto his feet. Gasping, he coughs and he grimaces. He lost this fight. "...Heh... nice..." The young fighter takes a deep breath, keeping both eyes shut. He has lost this battle.
Even though Antoine falls, Pepe is still jumping here and there, stepping to the side. His right hand is already lifted, the thing balled into a fist as he prepares to follow up with another overhead strike...when all of a sudden, there's no target left. At least, none that are still up and standing! He looks more surprised than anyone when he has to stop his punch, the act causing him to nearly lose his balance to the point that he has to skip OVER Antoine's body.
"Uh." He bends over, peering down at the guy. After a couple of seconds, when it seems obvious that he isn't going to jump back up, he kneels down next to him. "Sorry man, was that too much? Are you hurt?" He looks well and truly concerned...and not only because of the fact that if word gets out that he beat the living hell out of someone that badly, he's going to get one hell of a scolding from his old man, no sir!
He had been beaten. Then again, he was very much outclassed, just like in his fight against Pullum and Ash. "Heh..." Antoine's demeanor is friendly, despite the beaten and tired start, "Nothing that I can't recover from." He shrugs, then he slowly starts to stagger up, "... Really, don't worry about it. A fighter must remember to learn from their battles, win or lose. They cannot dwell on it too much, only reflect the advantages and disadvantages. That is the path of a warrior."
Antoine looks over at the teenager, lifting his hand over to his cheek. "I'll manage... It was a great fight. And I got to see your style." He grins.
Pepe helps Antoine get up however he can: offered hands, yanking him up, that kind of thing! He pats and dust off wherever he can, though is far from suffering upon his new friend the embarassment of a full TSA molestation-patting.
"The path of a warrior sounds really rough," he admits, tilting his head to the left and looking skyward. He touches his right temple, and with it, draws a sharp wince, a hiss through clenched teeth. "Aaaah, jeez." He's going to be asked where he got this, and then...ugh. "Oh? That's right, did you learn anything from it?" He's wearing one of his grins again. He didn't learn a damned thing, except for, perhaps, 'be faster' and 'do not get hit by feet, stupid'. "Ah! Why don't you tell me over a drink or something, my treat for beating you up!" His expression drops all of a sudden, however. "...You do drink, right? Or don't you? Maybe water?" The drinking age here is 18, after all, but not in the States! Imagine his surprise at /that/.
The young man lifts his head up, taking the hand that's offered to him. When he grasps over to the hand, Antoine finds himself pulled up. Straightening himself upright, the young man starts tomove around. Then, he offers a smile, "...The Path of a Warrior is way of life." He then smiles a bit, "Unfortunately, I cannot quite consider that yet. It takes me a bit to reflect back upon the battle. During the battle, I try to avoid thinking, but instead acting."
He makes his way over towards the duffelbag. Reaching over towards it, he drifts his gaze over, "During a battle, a warrior must not think about anything, only act. You are the embodiment of that principle." He admits. Then, he laughs, "I don't drink... water works. However, we can talk more over a drink." He muses, "Live once, right?"
Oh, thank god. The guy doesn't seem angry. In fact, he seems pretty jovial, all considering! Now that Antoine is standing on his own power, Pepe tugs up the jacket part of his jumpsuit and slips his arms back through it. With that done, he zips it back up, returning him to /nearly/ the same state he'd been in previously. All it takes his his hands running through his hair to straighten out the locks, and then they flop down in their shaggy fashion, even covering up the swelling spot on his temple, so long as he doesn't move too quickly.
"Exactly!" Wait. If one only lives once, why not try the...ah, whatever. The boring day has had its monotony broken. Even if it didn't SEEM boring, a good fight is something he hasn't had in a long time! "Then come, you can rest up at my place, and maybe later, I can show you around the ruins and stuff while you reflect on whatever it is you want." He starts walking back to the main part of town, once again beckoning for the other guy to follow. "This has been a fun day, Antoine! I'm glad you came by!"
COMBATSYS: Pepe has ended the fight here.
Antoine got what he wanted. It was a fight and a great learning experience. His trip in Mexico, overall, has been rewarding. There are a nice number of great fighters and he could learn a thing or two from them.
The young man now makes his way towards the duffelbag lying on the ground. His attention turns toward Pepe while he scoop it into his arms He quirks an eyebrow, offering a smile to the older teenager. He lifts his shoulders up, then he offers a grin, "Alright. That works." He then starts to follow Pepe. "I am glad as well."
~ Quon. I found an individual who, like you, tends to have a bit of showmanship. However, there is a great deal of sincerity in him. He'll go far. I will continue to improve. ~
Log created on 10:51:17 11/19/2010 by Pepe, and last modified on 17:57:38 11/19/2010.