Description: After seeing some chaos break out at the Dream Amusement Park, Aranha becomes curious about the capabilities of Annie Murakami. After the two make good their escape, the two engage in a bit of fisticuffs.
The sun is hanging high in the sky over Southtown. It may not be the warmest of months - and this may be an understatement - but spirits are always soaring in the Dream Amusement Park. With the holiday season coming to a close, the place is not so busy as it has been; though a considerable number of people still mill to and fro, laughter and the eternal babble of conversation filling the air. For someone who can sense emotions, it's a little overwhelming!
So it is that Annie Murakami, child of fate, heiress to a mystical power, stops just past the entrance with her ticket in hand, staring open-mouthed at the vibrant signs and crazily whirling rides. "It's beautiful..." Awed, her mouth is set in an 'o' and her amber eyes are opened wide. As she is jostled by a passing child, she blinks rapidly before glancing back over her shoulder, artful pigtails swishing. "Have you ever seen anything like it, Qui-zi?"
Nobody seems to mind as her companion slips underneath the barriers without paying, tail swaying back and forth as she brushes up against Annie's right ankle and replies with a loud purr. Grinning, the slender psychic bends down and scoops the cat up in her arms. "I don't know about you, but I'm not in the mood for Dragons and ancient prophecies today. This is where the fun begins! What should we check out first?" Chattering away to the animal as though it were her best friend, she starts to join the mingling crowds.
Aranha for his part, wanders aimlessly as he tries to figure out whether he's going to play the games or go on the various rides. With his particular brand of child hood he didn't really have one being forced to grow up faster than he probably ought to. Now that he doesn't have as many pressing concerns, he's going to take advantage of it by having touches of the child hood he never had. In small doses. No need to make yourself look crazy now.
Speaking of looking crazy, he does catch the sight of a girl talking to someone who isn't visible to his eye and it causes him to raise an eyebrow. Of course he just assumes that it might just be her talking a bluetooth headset. He doesn't have a perfect full on view of her. The psychic might be receiving a bit of curiosity from his direction. But he doesn't quite stare. Eventually he just moves towards the line in the direction of a roller coaster.
"I never expected the outside world to be so... busy. Or this colourful! I always knew we spent our time with a bunch of fuddy-duddies, but did we really miss this much?" The girl makes absolutely no attempt to lower her voice, and doesn't even look down at the animal she is addressing. Southtown may be full of oddities, even freaks, but she's still attracting a fair amount of attention. Though more from the adults; after all, the younger children are generally aware that pets can talk.
"But then, I suppose you /have/ seen some of this, huh? Did you ever come through Southtown on your travels?" She glances down at Qui-zi, raising an inquisitive eyebrow, then canting her head at a presumably imagined answer. "I see. Oh!" Annie suddenly breaks out a wide, pleased grin as she squeals softly in delight. "Look! A rollercoaster! I've read about these..." Although she probably shouldn't have. She is not the only person here to have missed out on a normal childhood.
Making her way rapidly past those flocking toward the attraction, she pays no heed whatsoever to the forming queue, cuddling her beloved feline close as she ducks inbetween the waiting people. "Excuse me!" She accidentally hipchecks a small child, pausing to awkwardly give him a hand up as the parents stare at her in amazement. She... isn't exactly appropriately dressed. "Sorry!" Smiling sheepishly, she turns and drops beneath the legs of a rather burly man, ending up at the front of the line.
Which is when a hundred or so paying customers process what has happened.
"Hey!" "What's she doing?!" "BUTTER! BUTTER! DIRTY LINE CUTTER!"
Annie whirls around in confusion, listening to the hubbub for a few seconds. And then her lower lip starts to tremble as she realises the these comments are directed at her. "W-Why are they so angry, Qui-zi?" The mountainous man in front of her takes a step forward, cracking his knuckles, all too eager to be the hero to the mob. "Yeah!" A voice shouts from the back, "THROW HER OUT!"
This is about the point when Aranha does start staring. Well at least at the point of her hip checking the little kid and the movement between the legs of the burly man. In the case of the movement between the legs, the Dancing Spider gets the suspicion that there might be a bit more to this girl than was originally suspected.
He steps out of the line to side to watch to see what will transpire. While he doesn't like when a general good mood is ruined, he doesn't exactly like acting without information either. Besides that burly guy has stepped up. And while he would normally champion the cause of children, he has also learned first hand that kids can occasionally be just skilled as the adults in the fighting world. Exhibit A: Momoko.
A mental image of the news paper article of him ending up laid out on the ground next to his fellow capoeirista in a Neo League fight forms in his head.
Aranha will undoubtedly be able to tell that the petite blonde /moves/ well, though this could equally be indicate of her skill as a gymnast or dancer. Watching her initial reaction to the brute does nothing to suggest she is anything special, as she takes a step back, warily canting her head to one side to search for possible escape routes. Beyond this, she just looks confused - at least until the moment for action comes.
One meat-imbued hand reaches out to secure a grip on Annie, only to find thin air as she relocates with considerable speed. A split-second later a chunky-booted foot claps down upon the man's shoulder. "I'm beginning to see," she murmurs, back to addressing the cat still resting against her breast, "Why they told me it was so dangerous out here." She flips from her point of balance, drawing an enraged roar from the wannabe bouncer as he stumbles and turns to try and capture his prey. But she comes down on the other side of the fence separating out the queue, a faintly melancholy expression on her face as she looks at the crowd.
She was so looking forward to trying the rollercoaster.
With the girl gone, much of the hubbub starts to settle - after all, people only cared about their place in the line. Some continue to heckle, at least until Big McLargehuge starts to systematically shove his fellow parkgoers aside, one or two at a time, pushing back through the throng rather more violently than Annie did. At this point, park security has come running to see what the fuss is about, and ends up waylaid by an elderly businessman who has witnessed the whole thing. Much frantic gesticulating is made toward Annie and her aggressor. The guards do not look impressed with either.
Yup... Aranha's original suspicions were right and his own curiosity gets the better of him. He personally leaps up on the shoulders of the person closest to him that looks like they could support his weight and he begins run on the sea of shoulders as he makes his way towards the fence that Annie has already cleared.
When he gets close to the fence, he hops up and over and upon hitting the ground drops into a roll before he heads in Annie's direction. "Hey! May I talk with you for a second?"
For someone who doesn't sense emotions this would be all the more reason to run, however, Aranha doesn't seem to have any ill will.
When Aranha reaches her location, the much-maligned psychic is still in the midst of deciding what exactly to do. The pair of security guards has broken off, one intent on stopping the behemoth currently pushing his way past - or through - the last group of families. By the rugged cut of his jib, he probably has some history as a small-time gangster. The stream of creative obscenities he has been yelling and muttering only add further credence to this theory. But Annie has other concerns in the besuited, bebadged second guard making his way toward her... and, of course, in the Spider.
It is the latter who gets her instant attention, expressive amber gaze scanning him silently from head to toe before she looks up and smiles. "You're very interesting," she concludes, tone relaxed and inquisitive, "Will it take long? We've got some..." She trails off, glancing aside as suddenly her cat squirms from her grasp and hits the ground at a considerable pace. The security guard is /right there/. "...Running to do!"
Annie reaches out to unceremoniously grab Aranha's hand, taking off after her canny pet. Assuming he follows her, they'll make their way toward a cluster of administrative buildings, ducking and diving as needed. She won't hold on to him insistently - though he will find her capable of keeping up with anything short of the most breathtaking parkour manouevres. She tries to lead him toward one of the flat, expansive rooftops - they offer a quick exit out of the park, and should slow down their pursuer more than adequately!
"Based on what I saw back there, I think we could talk and run at the same time." Aranha's hand gets taken and they both begin their run away from their pursuers the guard and the small time thug. Sure he was confident in his ability to take them both out quickly. He didn't want the trouble that would bring.
"I have a deal for you." Joining her as she ducks around buildings and taking his own path to the rooftop by vaulting over fences, leaping onto dumpsters and bouncing from wall to wall while still keeping himself within conversational distance.
"I suspect some things about you, and I think I could help." The two eventually get to the rooftop and he glances back at the pursuers. "Of course, whether or not I can help depends on whether I'm right about those things I suspect."
Trouble is rarely worth having. If Aranha were the type to have made such a scene, to have asserted his strength without caution or regard, the littlest Murakami would not have taken his hand - or agreed to run with him - no matter how much she may crave excitement. The dark-skinned capoeirista has a sense of nobility and goodness about him though he remains, as the girl remarked, 'interesting' in spite of it. He may not be a pure man, but Annie does not believe he is an evil one.
And so she smiles at him as they dash and hop their way to relative safety. Her own skills are different to his - relying much more on the height of her flips and jumps than on momentum and unusual angles, moving with less efficiency but showing considerable grace and flexibility. At one point she almost runs clear into a fence, but rights herself at the last second into a vertical handstand, flipping off and catching up her running buddy in quick lunging strides.
"What do you suspect about me?" She calls out as she draws level with him, crouching low into her haunches and letting out a jubilant 'hup!' as she springs up on the roof beside him. Pausing to adjust the hem of her revealing dress, she glances at him with the flush of exertion on her cheeks. "That I'm good at running and jumping?" She's teasing, of course, flashing her teeth as she grins, crouching down to ruffle the fur of her cat, who has actually kept slightly ahead of her during the trip.
"What do you think, Qui-zi? Can he help us?"
The feline glances at Aranha and lets out an enigmatic 'mrowl'. No help there.
"Well there's the running and jumping thing." He responds with a bit of mirth in his voice. "You're probably someone who could hold their own in a fight based on the way you dodged that guy back there. Reflexes like that can't be faked."
He turns back to see the guard moving towards a fire escape steps and he moves to cut that path off by pulling the steps upwards and just barely out of the reach of the guard.
"Secondly, you're not quite as socialized as the average person here based on how this whole thing started. In particular you seem to be unfamiliar with certain social mores like the purpose of standing in line." He rubs his chin. "This leads me to believe you've been extremely sheltered. Am I right?"
He avoids mentioning the fact that Annie seems to be talking to her cat. Besides he has seen stranger. He's had to deal with Naerose on a regular basis. But now he can see them approaching with ladders and he goes into a run and leaps off the building to the outside of the amusement park.
Standing in line...?
Her head tips to one side, considering Aranha with an intelligence that proves him correct by itself - if she is not dense, then she must have led a strange life free from 'normal' concepts. She seems able to figure out what he means now, though, as an expression of shocked realisation creeps across her features, and a dark crimson flush colours her cheeks. Standing up, she folds both arms about her bare midriff, appearing bashful or even ashamed...
Until suddenly she giggles, eyes flashing.
"It was /fun/ though, wasn't it?" Not worrying herself about the fact it's not yet over, until the first ladder falls against the building. Aranha is already gone, and without missing a beat the psion drops off the rooftop after him, landing in tandem with Qui-zi - and with nearly equal catlike grace. Peering at him inquisitively, she smiles and nods, rising to her feet and starting to dash past him. They should move a little further away, after all.
"I know how to handle myself, but this is the first trip I've ever made out of my hometown! The elders would never let me out to play or explore; they said I had too much to learn. I've read a lot of books, but..." She comes to a skidding halt beside an old maintenance shed near the boardwalk, turning to face Aranha who she trusts has stayed with her. "It's not the same as actually being here, seeing everything, breathing it all in!" To illustrate her point, she inhales a lungful of sea air, rising slightly off her toes as she exaggerates the gesture, her buxom shamelessly rising and falling beneath her provocative attire. "I'm Annie, by the way. Annie Murakami. Who're you?"
And in fact, Aranha is on the ground waiting for her. His lips curled into a slight grin. "Score one for Sherlock Homeboy." He snickers at his joke and then he realizes that if she is indeed as sheltered as was confirmed, it's possible she wouldn't even get that joke. It all depends on whether or not any of the books she read was written by Conan Doyle.
"I go by Aranha. And now that we're out of the park I don't think they'll pursue us much further." He turns around to the park. "Now I was kinda curious about those fighting capabilities of yours. And I'd like to put forth a wager. I'd like to test myself against you. You win, and I'll see if I can arrange it so you can actually get a chance to ride the rollercoasters next time. But no matter what, I'd like to see if I can help you get used to things in the outside world."
The perky psion listens to that proposition with a bright smile, which broadens as her newfound acquaintance, and potential friend, lays down his side of the wager. Her reaction is one of a girl several years her junior, as she hops off the floor and starts clapping, letting out a high-pitched squeak. "Deal!" She proclaims, taking a bouncy step forward to offer a handshake. "Although," her face falls, and she glances to one side, wrinkling her nose, "I don't really have anything to offer you, if you win."
From behind her, Qui-zi pauses in the act of cleaning herself and offers up a short, curt 'meow'. It almost sounds sarcastic. Annie glances over and laughs, nodding her head as she turns back to the capoeirista.
"How about I offer to go for coffee with you, one time?" She's read about coffee, and has decided it sounds like the type of thing she should be investigating. She may have read up on one or two other things too, as she bends over slightly, a mischievous grin on her lips. She shakes her extended hand as though to draw his attention back to it. "Is that a deal?"
The first image in Aranha has popping into his head is of his team mate, Wing Xiaoping completely flipping out into a jealous rage even though he has decidedly put her in friendzone due to her being too young. He shudders at that unpleasant image in his head.
Then there's her reaction which makes her look less mature than the person he's already established is too young for him to date, makes a bit of uncertainty creep in as well. "Ummm... How about we decide on my prize later?"
Annie's eyes narrow at that, should she hardly seems displeased so much as playfully suspicious. What the former burglar fails to realise is that she's actually taking a good, long look right inside him, though he might experience a slightly skin-crawling sensation entirely unrelated to Queens of the Streets or otherwise underaged propositions. And then the psychic nods brightly.
"I trust you. So, I should call you Aranha, huh?" Something about that seems to bother her, as she straightens up with a shrug, catching his eye again; though examining him in far less detail this time around. Not waiting for a reply, she turns on her thick, clumpy bootheels and takes a few steps away, falling into a rather sorry excuse for a combat stance. Her feet are turned inward, her upper body far too hunched over with fists bunched right up to her chest. It's hardly professional.
"Why do you go by Aranha if your name is /Sherlock/?"
COMBATSYS: Annie has started a fight here.
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Annie 0/-------/------=|
Aranha does get that weird skin crawling feeling as he looks at the psionic fighter. There's a bit of discomfort for a moment but when the scrutiny is over, he finally takes a deep breath. He chooses not to comment seeing as he's about to find out really soon what that's about. Yup. She definitely didn't get that joke. Looks like Aranha has some 'splainin to do. "Sherlock Homeboy was a joke based off of a character named Sherlock Holmes. A character known for his analytical skills."
Aranha takes his own combat stance which actually is more like a dance than a stance as he sways to and fro. The unorthodox nature of Annie's own stance is taken into account, however, He thinks it's possible that her athletic ability might not let him take advantage of the flaws he can see in them.
With a sudden drop to the ground he whips a foot around to the back of her heel to hook and then pull her foot from under her and drop her to the ground. He wants to see how vulnerable that stance actually is.
COMBATSYS: Aranha has joined the fight here.
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Aranha 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Annie
COMBATSYS: Annie blocks Aranha's Quick Throw.
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Aranha 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Annie
"So then, I guess you'll be analysing my every movement?"
It's mused as much for her own benefit - the girl is used to speaking her thoughts aloud without really worrying about the consequences. After all, she has Qui-zi at her side, though by this point the black cat has wandered away to stalk around the outskirts of the nearby outbuilding. Looking for mice, maybe. Despite her apparent bond with the animal, Annie does not worry about her. She is too busy watching Aranha as he jives toward her. "Hm, I see!"
She's speaking /as/ she falls, which is the first sign that he may not have been entirely successful. The second is that her back arches and she throws her hands high, flipping up onto her slender arms and pushing her flexible body into a handstand much like the one she used to traverse a fence minutes ago. Hopping off to land on her feet, she springs immediately to riposte, raising a stocking-clad knee with intent to plant it in the man's midsection.
"Hup!" Then she hops again, driving a second strike with the same limb. "Haa!"
COMBATSYS: Aranha blocks Annie's Double Knee.
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Aranha 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Annie
Sure Aranha could've leaned out of the way of that attack but right now, he was attempting to see what he could learn about her. So he moves slightly slower than he was capable of as he raises an arm to catch the first knee strike on his arm before leaning away just as the second strike connects with his arm.
"Anyway, Sherlock isn't my real name either. But as for why I call myself Aranha, in my martial art we receive nicknames either as a joke or because it reflects the way we fight."
He attempts to slip around as she's planting her feet and beginning to return to her stance when he drops low to the ground with both hands and a single foot planted as he swings a heel horizontally across her face.
"Aranha is Portuguese for Spider."
COMBATSYS: Aranha successfully hits Annie with Strong Kick.
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Aranha 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Annie
Annie definitely overcommits with that second attempt at nailing her agile foe, further betraying her novice status as she actually takes a moment to pout rather than focusing on regaining her posture. So much for being psychic, as her eyes go wide on the incoming kick a fraction of an instant before it explodes against her jawline. There's a rather nasty *crunch* of bone as the girl goes flying back in an arc, landing heavily across her shoulders.
"Dragon be damned," she breathes, reaching up after a moment to check that her head is still attached to her body. "Oof." She gets up after a moment, hopping to her feet with just a faint wobble. She's hardier than she looks, but she /looks/ as though that should have killed her. Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are thick with moisture, which she blinks out as she shakes her head, directing a rueful smile to Aranha.
"Are you sure it's not Dutch for 'sledgehammer'?"
Letting that hang in the air, she brings her arms up in a cross-guard, taking a few steps in orbit of the capoeirista before slashing them outward. At the point of greatest extension, a prickle of power glows at her fingertipts. It does not feel chi; and indeed it is not. The resultant cruciform blaze of soul-searing violet may tell Aranha exactly what kind of fighter she is, should it make contact with him. It may also tell him something about himself.
"COM-ET!" The girl cries. Which is broken English... for 'comet'.
COMBATSYS: Annie successfully hits Aranha with Magical Comet.
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Aranha 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Annie
The Dancing Spider honestly didn't think he would hit with that let alone hit that hard which is why he wears a stunned look on his face. In fact he threw that kick in an attempt to test her defenses. And while that kick looked like it should've killed her based on her size, he can tell that she will at least survive it and get up though he wonders if he might have less time to figure her out than he would've liked.
"Yeah, I'm positive. My style originates from Brazil and as a result, the moves and people would have Portuguese names."
He then sees the violet cruciform head his way and he tries to get out of the way. He ends up finding that he waits just a bit too long to attempt to evade it and is hit bodily by the energy. If not for the fact that he's faced psionic fighters he would be somewhat confused by that type of energy even if he doesn't have enough knowledge to explain exactly what it is.
"Ahhh... You're one of those types. Lemme try something." He picks himself up off the ground and spins as he swings an arm out releasing a blue spider web of chi. This on the other hand does feel like chi.
COMBATSYS: Annie dodges Aranha's Weakened Web Shot.
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Aranha 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Annie
Using the time bought by her attack, Annie seems rather better prepared on this occasion, watching Aranha with an intent gaze as he goes into an offensive whirl. She isn't sure /what/ to expect - but she knows that something is coming, and as soon as the cerulean silk whips toward her, she is moving to evade, making use of those springy leg muscles to leap clean over it. She turns in the air, briefly making eye contact with the man should he look upwards.
"'One of those types'?" She makes the query as she starts to fall, twisting gracefully to land on both feet behind him, unwieldy boots serving their purpose in anchoring her immediately despite the slightly uneven ground. "You sound almost as though you don't like us..." Both curious and slightly - though ONLY slightly - concerned about her destiny in this brave new world, she does not let it distract her too much. She is already lashing out with a slicing backhand, looking to catch the Spider with a brief flurry of blows.
A slicing backhand comes first, followed by a palmstrike, then a straight punch that she throws considerably more of her weight behind. It's not a /lot/ of weight, unfortunately, but at least she has passion. "Hyaaah!"
COMBATSYS: Aranha dodges Annie's Combo Attack.
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Aranha 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Annie
"Nah. As far as I'm concerned. How you fight is how you fight. It's just different from what I'm used to is all." Truth be told, Aranha regards the psions as a curiosity because of how rare it is for him to fight them.
Annie's attacks start coming and what's impressive is his ability to maintain a conversational tone as he bobs and weaves under the slicing backhand, around the flurry of blows before cartwheeling under the straight punch. "On the other hand there are some out there who do not like that type of energy. By in large it doesn't matter to me."
He then comes up throwing a pair of elbows to Annie's face before suddenly dropping low to pull her feet from under her.
COMBATSYS: Annie dodges Aranha's Weakened Bad Beat.
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Aranha 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Annie
Annie flashes herself a little smile as Aranha so beautifully evades her blows. She would not generally describe herself as a 'fighter' - that's not her purpose - but she so rarely gets to do something solely for the enjoyment it provides. No matter what happens here, she has won a minor victory. It is, admittedly, also pleasant to see a good plan come together. Her opponent seems like he has a penchant for showmanship, his style appears to be all about it.
That seemingly over-extended punch served a purpose. So much for 'Sherlock'.
When the one-two combination of elbows comes her way, Murakami shifts her step deftly, that awkward stance once more belying the grace she has already displayed as she darts around the first and drops below the second. Bringing herself face to face with Aranha when he also goes low. "Too slow!" Her exclamation is cheeky, even minxlike, as she darts around him and hops up, accompanying the movement with a dynamic spin that carries her into his flank.
As she turns, however, the girl does not whip out a leg or summon more of that spiritual light. Instead, she bends almost double and presents her posterior, resplendent in skin-tight dress. "So why don't people like us?" She responds at last, as she attempts to flush the Spider out, with her butt.
COMBATSYS: Aranha fails to interrupt Quick Punch from Annie with Weakened Kick Combo.
-* CRITICAL FAIL! *-
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Aranha 0/-------/-----==|=======\=------\1 Annie
Aranha had something planned. Whatever it was is lost to the ether as Aranha finds himself slipping on a stick. This causes him to flip backwards landing on his butt which in turn puts him in prime position to receive a face full of ass. In what seems to be slow motion, the Dancing Spider gets bum rushed and ends up getting to look at the sky for just a moment.
"What is with girls who are too young for me throwing their asses and tits at me?" For a few moments he has an image of Tiffany going tits first into his face, this is followed with an image of him, putting a foot in Rainbow Mika's behind when she flies butt first at him, then he gets the unwanted instant replay of Annie's butt colliding with his face. "Why can't they at least be eighteen years old before they do that to me?"
After that, he works himself back to his feet.
"Hey!" The psychic protests as she straightens up and dusts off her rear end, trying to ignore that it's a little sore after the collision. It's one of those moments where her countless hours of forced studying come in handy; it's easy to dream away the painful things when you're used to ignoring the warbling drone of a dusty old windbag. Still, she pouts down at Aranha. "I never told you how old I am. I might be eighteen! I might be any age at all!"
Planting a hand on her hip, she starts to saunter forward with a 'hmph', giving the Spider the precious moment he needs to clamber to his feet before breaking into a short dash. Leaning down close to the ground, she coils herself up like a highly energetic spring, before unflexing her legs and leaping up (hopefully) underneath the African American's guard.
"Zuum~!" She intones, complete with adorable wiggle, lifting an arm in what amounts to a rather flimsy uppercut. A physical powerhouse she is not. But then, surely, Aranha already realises this. He has a little more to deal with in the violet flare of Psycho Power that envelops her heaven-slicing hand, aiming to tear that energy across his chest. At the apex, she retains some hangtime before bending up tight into a human ball, defying physics as she launches herself toward her falling opponent.
"Don't you judge me, mister!" Spinning rapidly, glowing with - and no doubt propelled by - that mysterious power, she aims to strike him several times before they hit the ground, she unfolding for a picturesque and well-judged landing. He... well, that depends on him, doesn't it?
COMBATSYS: Aranha dodges Annie's Zuum Cross And Fall.
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Aranha 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Annie
Finds himself laughing. "Ok. You make an excellent point." Of course the main reason he assumed she was younger was her behavior just before they started the fight. But on the other hand, he also knows a certain someone who not only is older than him but acts with significantly less maturity than what Annie has displayed.
He leans backwards as the uppercut travels above him and whistles as she begins to travel down.
"You know what? I think I figured out what the prize will be. I'll tell you my real name." When she lands, Aranha's on the attack again, lashing out with a blue glowing roundhouse kick followed by a energized spinning jump kick before spinning so his back is turned to her to flip backwards to deliver a flipkick down upon Annie's head.
COMBATSYS: Annie fails to interrupt Weakened Aggressive Dance from Aranha with Zuum Cross.
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Aranha 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Annie
Landing in a crouch, Annie remains there a moment as she nudges a thumb against her pose, grinning wryly across at her opponent as he comes toward her. That scything roundhouse comes in, and the slender psion pushes herself up for a second glowing uppercut, opening her mouth to again deliver the lyrical cry. But all that comes out is a gasp, that edge of power fizzling out in a snapping hiss as she is cracked by the entire sequence. Violet motes cascade through the air as she is dropped like a sack by the strike to her noggin.
"Saaaa..." She remains down for just a second, snatching a breath of air before rolling to her feet a few paces from Aranha. She rubs at the top of her head, where her very un-Japanese blonde hair remains surprisingly unruffled; it's probably a Psycho Power thing. "She did say you could handle yourself," she notes to nobody in particular, before processing what the man just said. "Oh?" She grins, dropping into her distinctly amateurish stance and beginning to bob rhythmically.
"Isn't that a little unfair?" She rejoins, miming a shrug with her raised fists, "If I win, I get rollercoasters, and if /you/ win, /I/ get to hear your name? You wouldn't rather go for coffee instead? I've got some savings. I can afford it! Besides," she beckons him on with a hand between words, in case he's been waiting for her to be ready. He seems to be at least a little chivalrous. "It wouldn't be a boy-girl thing. I don't think Qui-zi would approve."
"Heh. I guess. I don't want for much."
Aranha tilts into a handstand, now pretty sure he's gotten a general idea of what she's capable of decides he wants to step things up to see how she handles it when he applies pressure. "Ok. Coffee it is. As friends."
He then pushes himself towards her and scissors his legs about her legs and twists in an attempt to drop the female acrobatic fighter down to the ground.
COMBATSYS: Aranha successfully hits Annie with Strong Throw.
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Aranha 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Annie
Capoeira is a difficult art form to comprehend, to one not explicitly experienced with it, and the Murakami heiress has not been given a broad range of partners to practice against - or even been able to watch footage. She starts to slip aside as Aranha comes in, only to find her legs entangled in his before she can make it too far. She squirms in his unorthodox grasp, but succeeds only in dropping herself that much harder into the ground. The air leaves her lungs, leaving her coughing as she clambers up into a crouch.
She's moving on instinct when she makes it to her feet, trying to cut off her opponent as he is in the midst of the same activity. He's faster than her, truth be told he's just a lot better, but she gives it her best shot, springing into the air and bringing both her hands down to catch him with a sharp thrust to the head. It's late in coming, but turnabout is fair play!
Despite the pain and the trouble breathing, she is bearing a big smile on her lips as she comes in for a landing, whether or not she actually connects with her palms. 'Friends'. It sounds good. Give or take some bruises, the day just keeps getting better and better!
COMBATSYS: Aranha dodges Annie's Strong Punch.
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Aranha 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Annie
A bunch of factors come into play. Aranha's personal speed,the fact that capoeira tends to prefer making takedowns in out affairs and the fact that he was looking between his legs all play a role in how quickly he gets back to his feet. With a low crouching spin he pulls himself out of the way of the thrusting strike before he rises to his feet.
He pauses for a moment when he realizes what he just said. Not too long ago, he wouldn't have been able to refer to /anyone/ as a friend as opposed to associate but madness aside, he has come to look at Wing as a friend and he quite possibly could see Annie as a friend as well.
Aranha tilts into the handstand again but this time, he whirls around and around lashing out with feet before landing upright on the ground to resume his dance.
COMBATSYS: Aranha successfully hits Annie with Inverted Tornado.
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Aranha 0/-------/--=====|=======\=======\1 Annie
There is precious little time to react. Aranha's speed is to his advantage and more as he simply overwhelms the slender psion. She lands with the smile still on her lips, only to be confronted almost immediately with a spinning salvo of kicks. They strike as intended - without resistance - though there is a certain shift in the girl's frame that suggests she may have been looking to try something. And as she is knocked away, as the capoeirista resumes his dance, there is that distinctive crisp, shivering sensation in the air.
Annie can pick up on the sentiment radiated as part and parcel of Aranha's thoughts, and battered as she is it gives her a heartfelt boost. She does not fall from his assault, managing to turn her stumble into a pirouette, turning about with the smile still there - if somewhat pained. Her amber eyes are a little clouded, though it is hard to discern as a flare of violet light encompasses the blonde's supple form.
"Here's to coffee!" Her interjection rings out over the hum of gathering energy, which crackles across her skin, sets her pigtailed ringlets to rippling, leaping about hither and thither. Annie's eyes close as she bunches up her fists, Psycho Power exploding into a flashing cocoon. It does not feel bad, this energy, tainted in the way that so many others do. Encouraged and guided by her spirit, there is something warm and soothing about it. "Or to roller-" she lashes out with one black-sleeved arm, "-/COA-STEEEERS/!"
But suddenly it is not so soothing.
All of that energy comes streaming forth, coalescing into a gigantic crucifix, white at the searing centre as it soars toward Aranha. It's as fast as anything else the perky psychic has brought to bear... but many times stronger. It is a hint of what she might be, beneath it all. Of what she might become.
All of that energy comes streaming forth, coalescing into a gigantic crucifix, white at the searing centre as it soars toward Aranha. It's as fast as anything else the perky psychic has brought to bear... but many times stronger. It is a hint of what she might be, beneath it all. Of what she might become. But even this is only half of what she can summon, as upon the intended point of impact, her other arm sweeps around, disppeling what remains of that aura into a second cruciform blaze.
COMBATSYS: Aranha dodges Annie's Double Crossing Wrath.
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Aranha 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Annie
Aranha while he's fast, and hard to catch, hasn't always put his full effort into getting out of the way of the attacks. He's kept a little bit of his speed in reserve just in case he needed it for retaliation. He can see the large build up of energy even if he can't really feel it.
With the knowledge of something big coming, he decides he doesn't want to be there when it does. After all, a bit of that power put quite a hurt on him. This was a different matter altogether.
He drops down into a split under the first crucifix letting it sail above his head and pushes himself into a front handspring landing just as the second one comes. He leaps up high into the air over the second one flipping into the air as he tries to jump over Annie before lashing out with a kick to her back before landing on his feet.
COMBATSYS: Annie dodges Aranha's Light Kick.
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Aranha 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Annie
Though for Annie the thunder comes easy from her soul, it's a very committed attack, and as she follows through with the second searing cross she leaves herself seemingly wide open for the counter. And she doesn't seem to spot Aranha, her gaze remaining forward as her amber eyes flicker open, her body leaning into the sweep of her arm. Then, there is a repeat of the earlier incident with the burly rollercoaster bouncer, as Murakami is very suddenly and very definitely /not there/. All she leaves is a gasp on the winds.
"Where did you learn to fight?"
Her question comes as she bends overhead in a flip of her own, slender body flexing in the act, practically bursting from her tight little dress as she turns in the air and extends one of those heavy ol' boots. The thick, clumpy heel drops like a hammer, her assault aimed once more for the top of Aranha's head. If there is a flaw in her execution, it's that she gains a little too much hangtime prior to the kick - and telegraphs it with her chatter.
Not that she lets it stop her already running into the next sentence.
"You seem like you've been through a lot! Is it all about experience?"
COMBATSYS: Aranha endures Annie's Heavy Kick.
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Aranha 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Annie
Aranha turns around just in time to see Annie's heel coming down. He doesn't have time to get away from it. But he does have time to make adjustments. He shifts to side to catch the heel on his shoulder and raises his arms so he forms into a human cross which serves to keep her leg trapped in the air while she lands.
He waits for her foot to touch the ground before he steps forward to kick her heel from under her with an attack speed he hasn't shown during this match. Normally trapping that leg would be enough to get a person to fall but with someone flexible like Annie. A little something else is required.
Regardless of whether or not he's able to drop her, he steps back to respond to her question. "I learned how to fight in Metro City. I gained experience in fight halls and fight clubs through out that city, and was developed further through various experiences all over the world."
COMBATSYS: Annie blocks Aranha's Quick Throw.
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Aranha 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Annie
Normally, Annie is much enamoured of the humble cross. Simple, functional in symbolism, and somehow particularly pleasing to her eye, she makes use of the shape frequently in her attacks - and even wears a crucifix about her neck despite a spiritual affiliation that runs heavily contrary to this. But now the cross is turned against her! She's not entirely sure what is going on as she falls back to earth, her foot settling as expected before it is suddenly whipped out from beneath her.
It elicits another gasp from the psion, who realises her situation in time to kick her raised leg up, completing a full backflip that sees her land unsteadily on her feet, a shockwave running through her body as she makes a landing rather more ungainly than her usual fare. "I think," she begins breathlessly, suddenly lunging forward as Aranha finishes speaking, sweeping out a black-sleeved arm in a manner much alike to that used in her alarming expulsion of energy a few moments ago, "That I should follow your example!"
"Zuum!!" Abrupt, lacking the lyricism of her previous call, she lashes her hand out in a reverse knife-blade chop, her striking fingers lit by a sparkling crackle of violet as she lifts them in an arc to 'cut' Aranha from chest to chin with her soul power.
COMBATSYS: Annie has left the fight here.
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COMBATSYS: Aranha has ended the fight here.
COMBATSYS: Annie successfully hits Aranha with Zuum.
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Aranha 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Annie
Color Aranha surprised. On one hand, he suspected that she was agile enough to pull off that type of feat. On the other hand, he thought that she would've been too battered to land like that but she stuck the landing even if it wasn't exactly the cleanest one.
Aranha's body freezes for a moment. Just long enough to find himself slashed by that violet energy and sent backwards and into a roll before he comes out of it on one knee.
"No. Don't follow my example. I've done horrible things that should never have been done. I've endured things that no one should ever endure. Don't follow my path. Find a better one."
He then rises to his feet and dances in closer before spinning around with an outside crescent kick to slap the blonde psion with the outside of his foot.
COMBATSYS: Annie dodges Aranha's Spin Kick.
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Aranha 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Annie
Amber eyes watch Aranha carefully as he speaks, considering his words and the way he presents himself as he delivers them. It's a frank admission, and one that the little psychic appreciates; it proves her estimation of the man, and makes this a battle worth fighting. Because she could stand to gain the friendship of a very true soul. She smiles despite her fatigue, a warm glow infusing her cheeks as she slips back into her ready stance.
"I didn't mean to imply I would copy you completely," the girl says earnestly, shaking her head with an accompanying twitch of pigtailed ringlets, "But you've stepped out into the world, explored your options, and made yourself a finer person because of it." At this point, the capoeirista has closed in, and his rhythmic motions send that scything kick in her direction. Annie sways and drops, throwing herself into a sidelong skid that carries her past the strike to Aranha's flank.
"That's what I need to do!" Her proclamation comes as she spins to her feet, almost a tribute to her opponent as she kicks a leg straight up in front of her - showing off her flexibility - before swinging it out to clip against the side of his head. It's a blow meant for speed; stunning more than crushing, though she delivers it with passion and a tight expulsion of breath. "I need experience, Aranha!"
COMBATSYS: Aranha interrupts Light Kick from Annie with Hunting Season EX.
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Aranha 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Annie
Although Aranha developed this move recently, it shows why he has the nickname he does. The capoeirista/traceur leaps at the blonde with glowing blue hands extended towards her. The kick is quick however with his speed he only manages to get clipped by her foot before he grabs ahold of her shoulder and sends a quick burst of chi into her. After that initial burst he curls up pressing his foot into her abdomen then using both a secondary burst of chi and his feet to push her away and flip off of her and landing on a tree branch.
"Whew! And I thought I was tenacious." He then peers down at her taking a deep breath. He had to admit that it was a a fairly taxing fight.
That surprising counter-attack sends the dimunitive blonde bumping and rolling across the ground, in a series of feminine grunts and moans. The vestiges of cerulean energy still flicker in and out of her tight black dress as she bounces to an eventual halt, flopping onto her back with a somewhat relieved, predominantly pained sigh. She's bruised all over from Aranha's ministrations during their short fight, and doesn't have anything more to give.
"I try... my best..." She manages to gasp the words out inbetween deep breaths, glancing over and up at the branch-bound Spider as she lifts a hand to push a stray bangs from her eyes. Her fingers come away damp with sweat from her brow; it's taken a lot of work to keep up with the capoeirista, and though she rather more than suspects he was going easy at times... well. She's pleased with how well she presented herself in her first fight 'outside'.
"So I suppose I owe you a coffee," she says once she recovers the power of speech, still flat on her back and staring up at the sky. She doesn't sound displeased at all, just a little groggy and distant. "Later this week?" It's a prize she will gladly relinquish. Her errant black cat wanders over, from wherever she has roamed, nuzzling at Annie's neck before flopping down beside her. "It's been a long day for us, huh, Qui-zi?"
But she's got a long way yet to go.
COMBATSYS: Annie takes no action.
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COMBATSYS: Annie can no longer fight.
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COMBATSYS: Aranha has ended the fight here.
Log created on 06:18:06 01/04/2011 by Aranha, and last modified on 15:06:16 01/05/2011.