Description: There are precious few times when Rugal's most violent underling is allowed to slip her leash and do what she will. In the wake of the fall of Myanmar, Vice has decided to do just that. She's on vacation, and having decided to beat down every participant in Saturday Night Fight, she has turned her attention towards the newcomer to the fighting scene: Lightning Spangles. Or, more accurately, Jezebel Faiblesse. Poor Jezebel is about to learn that not everyone who takes part in the fighting circuit is putting on an act... and the horror of that realization may mark the unfortunate actress for some time to come.
Well that wasn't THAT bad of a show.
Jezebel returns late at night, power-walking her way back into the hotel lobby. Certainly, she lost. But as she keeps an icepack pressed on her shoulder, she just keeps smiling. She managed to do a full advertising deal, name drop not just the promotion for the SNF, BUT several paid-in companies, and best of all, got her name out. It was clumsy, but it was improv!
Next time, she would square it away even better.
The Athens Hilton is fairly empty at this hour, with most of the activity clustered around the bar. The interior of the lobby is well furnished, with a large fresco and mini garden sitting in the middle of a lounge. The night clerk stands at the desk, looking rather bored. Jezebel scowls at the drinkers and late night revelers. At this hour, Jezze just wanted to curl up into her bed, and go to sleep early. She had that meeting with Jace in the morning, and she wanted to be bright and chipper for it.
Hopefully, nothing would distract her from that!
And then a porter is thrown through the doors.
The shower of broken glass and thud of underpayed Greek hotelier is followed instantly by the figure of Vice stepping through the rubble. She has had a good start to her vacation. A ridiculously one-sided fight against Raiden, followed by a second against Billy. Of course, she's on vacation. Whether she wins or whether she loses isn't really the important thing; that she gets in fight after fighter after fight is the important thing. But it is time to pick on the newcomer(s).
"LIGHTNING SPANGLES."
The Orochi-blooded secretary seems somehow to take up the entire entrance to the hotel, her shadow cast long and foreboding over the Southern belle. "I'm so *glad* I managed to catch you before you checked out."
Her eyes lock on the woman, as the reveling partygoers ... seem to calm down. There's an electricity in the air, now. A promise of blood and violence that Vice is just exuding in waves. There's no mistaking her for anything other than what she is, when she's in this kind of mood. A mood to let loose. No partner to hold her back, no mission objective to guide her wrath. Just her, and the chance to tear things up. To sate the demon inside her.
"I'm going to kill everyone here now." She says, and she... smiles. The fear and creeping dread settling into the crowd, sends a shiver down her spine. Oh yes.
"If you give up, I'll make it ~quick~."
Absolute terror.
That is what erupts over Jezebel's face when Vice comes roaring in. The clerk was no longer bored, throwing himself under the desk. The tension that rips through the air is paltable. And Jezze had no taste for the terror. "I wasn't I mean... who... who are you?" The woman stumbles back, looking terrified. Gone was the smile. Gone.
And in its place, was fear.
"I... I..." Jezebel stumbles backwards. "I.... I'm offf... I mean..." Jezebel whimpers, stumbling to the check-in counter, leaning against it. The crowd at the bar, recoiling as well, screaming and panicking... but the sheer presence of Vice kept them cowering in the corner. No escape. No way out. All was on the Lightning Spangles. All-American Heroine. But Jezebel wasn't holding herself like one. Recoiling away, the actress stammers, stutters out as she leans against the counter. The drawl was gone. In a flat, mid-western tone, she states very flatly to Vice, cowering. "I-I-I am not, Lightning Spangles."
"It's... It's just a character!"
Vice raises one eyebrow, "Just a character?" She repeats, "Huh. I thought your name was pretty stupid. But what do I know? The world is full of stupid people with stupid names who have stupid ideas." She's walking forwards now, and the porter is groaning. The one man actually injured so far.
Vice places her heel on the staff member's back. She begins to grind, working the shoe in hard. This elicits a high-pitched scream, and Vice's eyes haven't left Jezebel's. She'd hoped for more. She'd expected more. The way things had been going, she'd half expected the woman to flip out and turn out to have some amazing reserve of fighting talent. This, though? This is almost as good.
"Would you like to run away? Do you think it will help?" She asks, "I'll give you a head start. I'll count to ten!"
She draws her leg back, and slams it into the screaming, injured man. Snap.
"One!"
And again, she draws back, ready to go for the second...
Lightning Spangles would have leapt right for the woman. Kicked her right in the jaw. After tossing the man aside, she would lay down the law for Vice. Tell the people to run for it, while she distracted Vice. The crazed shewolf. THey would fight, and then, one by one, the people of the hotel would help her. They would rescue her. And then, through the power of teamwork, they would have struck down Vice, for Great Justice. Justice above all, with Lightning Spangles standing tall.
But this was real.
Jezebel stares in terror, sinking to her knees. "It's... It's just my character. Please, I don't know why- I..." She winces, covering her face as the she-wolf snaps the porter's spine. The tears come. This was real. This wasn't a staged performance. This was a serial killer, attacking her. Because of her. The woman offers her an escape. A heroine would stay, to save the people.
But Jezebel was no hero.
Jezebel runs for the entrance that Vice cut for herself, self-preservation. Maybe she could find a taxi. A car. Maybe she could leave her in the streets. She had to escape. She wasn't a hero. She was an actress, she just wanted to fight to promote herself. This was fighting to save people. The darkness of the Athens was begining to envelop her. The darkness within was beginning to consume her.
She had to get away.
The real horror of it is that Vice, amongst her many other flaws... is a liar.
She gets to 'four' before she is bored of beating the hell out of the unconscious man. Still more than enough time for Jezebel to get a head start, to flee out into the street, where the cold night air is like a sudden slap in the face; an escape from the oppressive atmosphere. Inside the hotel lobby is a nightmare world, an actual physical weight that presses in and around. Outside, that is lessened...
Until the howl.
"AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Vice flings herself through the window of the hotel in a second shower of broken glass, and hear head snaps left and right. She has a fifty/fifty shot of getting it right, so she lets instinct guide her and tears to the right. Whether or not Jezebel manages to get away, the chase is on! Her blood is pounding, and the raw terror she saw in the hapless actress' eyes has only served to excite her. The night is young, and if she has to spend it all tracking Jezebel through the streets of Athens, hunting her down like a wild animal...
She can think of worse ways to enjoy her evening~.
******************
"Miss Faiblesse, could you please explain what happened?" The lawyer stares into Jezze's eyes intently, but Jezebel felt nothing. A faint numbness, a trance enveloped her. "I was driving back, after the party." She speaks, almost automatically. Just like her lawyers told her. But the man asks another question. "What were you doing at the party, Miss Faiblesse." The numbness fades briefly, overcome by shame. "I don't believe I have to repeat myself, on that tack, I mean-" "What were you doing at the party, Miss Faiblesse?"
"I was drinking."
******************
Jezebel claws through the darkness, terror seizing her. She was being attacked. Why was she being attacked? Was this how Lennon felt in his last moments? How the LaBianca felt before the Manson Family came upon them. The dark depression was not helping things, the pains from her past consuming her. When Lightning SPangles faded away, Jezebel was alone with herself.
And she could never be trusted alone with herself.
Jezebel doesn't know how she reached the Athens Police Station. All she knew is that a police officer was escorting her inside. Everything was a blur. They were babbling in Greek, everything was Greek to her. She was trembling. She was afraid. Eventually, she realized they were talking to her. IN English. But their words still had no meaning. Jezebel swallows hard, and then, she sobs out. "She's after me... she attacked me in the hotel. She is hunting me down. She... she...." One of the officers stares at her, the question finally cutting through to Jezebel.
"Who is chasing after you, ma'am?"
"Well that would be me."
She's not even out of breath. Her voice is lower than when she was in the hotel, but then, she'd been excited. Enthusiastic. She had been about to let off steam! And then Jezebel had run. A running woman can't get very far from Vice, but when she runs to a police station, even she is given pause. For a few seconds at least. If Mature were here, she would be vetoed. Killing cops is never good. It always means more heat, more frustration. Then again, who is left to really scare Vice in the world's police? Chun-Li? HAH!
And now here she is. The man who had been outside the interrogation room is dropped with a wet, final noise. As Vice steps into the room, the lightbulb flickers alarmingly. "Its okay though. We're just playing. It's a FUN game, you see. She PRETENDS to be a hero, and I PRETEND to be a demon."
Her hand raises to her lips, and her tongue slides out to lick the dark, glistening substance from her fingers. These men are police officers, of course. They aren't helpless civilians; they live their lives running into violence every day. They have more defense, more resistance, to this than most.
But even they can't be prepared for this. At least the Shadaloo forces that had ravaged the world had wanted to control it; they wanted obedience and wouldn't kill just for the sake of killing (at least, for the most part).
But Vice? She just wants the world to bleed.
A scream breaks through the police station.
Jezebel covers her mouth, stumbling away from the murderess that had forced her way in. The actress cries out, stuttering, stammering as if it made a difference. "She wants to kill me! She's the one! Help! HELP!" The police we not prepared for this. But as the force scrambles, guns are drawn. And the call is given.
"Freeze! FREEZE!"
Roughly a dozen police officers, armed with guns and tonfas, represent the Athen's Police Department. Already, another dozen was being on the move. Guns trained on Vice, they begin to circle the woman. Cautiously. Nervously. Jezebel scrambles behind the front counter, escorted by a police officer. She was this woman's prey.
And she had to get away.
On some level, Vice is amused that they are pointing guns at her. As though guns would ever do anything but make her laugh. Where are their tanks? Their planes? All the weapons of mankind need to be leveled at her, before she even thinks about taking them seriously. It had taken tens of thousands to force her from Myanmar, and even then, she had been in favor of taking the fight to them.
Twelve men with pistols? She's /insulted/.
"IS THIS SUPPOSED TO SCARE ME?"
The Orochi-blooded assassin moves like a greased shadow. Let Jezebel run if she wants, if these people want to throw away their lives, then she will gladly take them! She's on the first one in an instant, the closest man suddenly finds that he's staring Vice right in the eye.
And those razor-sharp nails of hers are punching into his gut, fully intending to get the little party off to the right start with a simple disembowling. She'd wanted some fun, and if she's going to kill policemen, then she's going to have to see if she can beat her personal best.
COMBATSYS: Vice has started a fight here.
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Vice 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: APD has joined the fight here.
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Vice 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 APD
COMBATSYS: Jezebel has joined the fight here.
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Vice 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Jezebel
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APD 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: APD fails to interrupt Strong Punch from Vice with Covering Fire.
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Vice 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Jezebel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
APD 0/-------/=======|
Throw their lives away?
It was their job. As Vice lunges in, the man gasps, the nails driving into his gut. The other police hold, nervously, staring at the man. The Greek police officer screams. "SHOOT HER." He gags, as the other police hesitate. "SHOOT! HER!" As the man gurgles out his death throeus, the police officers finally open fire a moment too late, only beginning their covering fire well before they can stop her.
It was time for reinforcements.
Jezebel is meanwhile rushed to the back of the department, while another dozen police officers rush past her, attempting to zero in on the crazed psychopath that was tearing apart their entrance. An officer sits with her, as she continues to gasp panickly. "It's okay, ma'am."
"There is no way she can break through the entire Athens Police Department."
COMBATSYS: Jezebel takes no action.
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Vice 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Jezebel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
APD 0/-------/=======|
Vice swings the dying man into the path of the bullets, sweeping them aside carelessly. The officer might be trying to reassure her that the monster which is Vice can't possibly kill every officer here, but someone, perhaps, ought to tell Vice about that. This is what this holiday was supposed to be all about! Slipping the leash and letting loose. Whilst the fights she had taken part in had, sort of allowed her a little bit of that, they hadn't actually sated her bloodlust. They'd just beaten it down deeper inside her for a time.
Now it is out for the whole world to see.
Vice uses the desk of the police department, leaping onto it, and then springing, lunging like an animal from it to snare the next desperate officer. If she gets a firm grip on his head, she'll crush his face into the wall, and drag him along, grinding the plaster and brickwork before hurling him back into his companions.
All the while there is that laughter, high pitched, mocking. These are just men. Mere mortals. It is brave that they are here... but what can they really *do* to her?
COMBATSYS: APD blocks Vice's Gore Fest.
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Vice 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Jezebel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
APD 1/-----==/=======|
She was closing in closer.
The chaos of the front desk continues to rip apart the standing police force. Another desperate officer is snatched up, curling up into a ball as he is turned into wall art by the crazed secretary. Fortunately, at least when compared to his peer, he will live. His wrists may be ground to the bone, but he would live, with a police pension to sustain him. As Vice plays with her officer, the rest leap towards her, attempting to dog pile on her, to subdue her. Pin her down. Maybe they would neutralize her.
Maybe her hunger would be satiated.
Jezebel continues to curl up into a ball, murmuring to herself. How did this happen. What caused this. She didn't even know this woman, and already, all this blood was on Jezebel's hands. So many people were dying because of her, for her, and she didn't know why. Swallowing hard, she trembles as she rises up. The police wouldn't stop this woman. Nothing would stop this woman, until she reached Jezebel. Emerging out into the main area, the actress, chokes back her bile as she eyes the carnage. And yet, she inches forward. Jezebel would have to deal with her demon soon enough.
It might as well be face to face.
COMBATSYS: Jezebel takes no action.
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Vice 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Jezebel
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APD 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Vice interrupts Snag and Beat from APD with Outrage.
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Vice 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Jezebel
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
APD 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
The police come in. It is exactly what Vice wanted.
She swings her leg around, and with it comes a slashing arc of Orochi energy. The first man to close on her catches it full in the face, and she is already turning to the next, and the next. The air is full of blood, and although they put up a good struggle - a couple even managing to get close enough to hit her, through the concerted effort of many men working together - her leg is blindingly fast. Where she touches, people fall, screaming.
She is covered in the stuff, and when her eyes finally fall on Jezebel, her expression turns from one of predatory satisfaction, to surprise. There's far too many teeth, far too much exuberance in the suffering and anguish she has inflicted on these unfortunate souls. They had done it to try and protect her, and why?
Because Vice had been brought together, by random chance, with her.
Because she wanted to hunt out each and every person associated with that flight.
Because she *can*.
"This was a great idea." She says, finally lowering her leg, tossing her head back as she does. "I love it when they scream. You've been, excellent prey."
Has Vice's hunger been sated? Not really. It could never go away completely. But she has had fun with this one. She has driven her to the brink, scared her as deeply as it is possible to inspire fear in another person, and killed or maimed a great many people tonight. If she followed through and beat down Jezebel... mmm. It would be fun, yes. But it would be like killing a lion whilst it is still a cub. If she crushed her here, that would be the end of it.
Perhaps if she leaves her be... the next time they meet, ~Jezebel~ might try and kill ~Vice~. And wouldn't it be more fun to kill someone trying for vengeance and justice? Certainly more fun than killing a sniveling, confused coward.
"I'll see you some other time."
No.
That is what Lightning Spangles would call out. No. Get back here. Fight me like a real woman. Actually FIGHT me. Fight along the police officer, not behind them. Lead the attack, not cower behind them. Lightning Spangles would have had this happen now.
But Jezebel can't muster it.
Standing behind the blood fest, she can only retch, falling to her knees at the sight of the violence. She couldn't stand up to the aftermath of this woman, to say the least of her inheriant violence. But what an aftermath it was. The head count was surging now, the dozen police officers groaning and writhing on the ground. The remaining ten train their guns on the wolf woman, opening a full barrage on Vice. Jezebel tried to muster up the strength, the drive of Lightning Spangles.
But this was no show.
COMBATSYS: Jezebel takes no action.
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Vice 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Jezebel
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APD 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Vice overcomes Heavy Barrage from APD with Huge Thrown Object.
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Vice 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Jezebel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
APD 0/-------/------=|
Vice no longer has any interest in Jezebel. The woman is a mess. She barely has any interest in the police; they aren't a challenge. That much has been made painfully clear through the contemptuous way she has scythed through their ranks. It is sometimes easy to forget, when the world is full of so many people capable of standing up to them, how much carnage someone like Vice can inflict when there is nobody to do that.
She reaches down, and snatches up two men, not particularly caring if they are alive or not. The remaining police open fire, and their barrage of hot lead tears into the bodies of their comrades as they are hurled through the air with bone-shattering force.
"Try not to die before we meet again."
That mocking snarl given to the broken woman, Vice breaks into a run to sprint from the shattered and decimated police station. Whether or not she leaves any survivors, whether Jezebel has anyone here to help her pick up the pieces, is none of her concern. It has been a fun little trip.
But perhaps it is time she left Athens. Greece has been interesting, but after tonight? It is hard to imagine a way that the city could top itself.
COMBATSYS: Vice successfully hits APD with Huge Thrown Object.
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Vice 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Jezebel
[ \\\\\\\\ <
APD 0/-------/--=====|
Survivors.
Two of the men are caught up, and absorbed by the hail of lead. As they are hurled back into the ranks of the police. Three men are struck down by the final blow... while the remaining five fire after Vice, opening fire to the fleeing woman. The carnage finally comes to a gorey climax. 20 police officers, wounded or dead. All in the name of... Lightning Spangles. All in the name of the All-American Heroine.
Jezebel curls up in a ball under a desk, rocking back and forth. Nothing made sense. None of this made sense. Why did this happen to her? How could this happen to her? She wanted to sleep tonight, in a warm safe bed. A bed that would never come, not for a long time. Every time she closed her eyes, the horrors of the carnage surged back. One of the surviving officers begins to shout at her, trying to snap her back into the real world. How did this happen? Why did she attack you? Why did all this happen? And to that, the traumitized Jezebel has only one reply.
"... I..... I don't... know..."
Log created on 17:16:56 05/14/2012 by Vice, and last modified on 20:54:54 05/14/2012.