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 Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 2:44 pm
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 3:17 pm
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 5:10 pm
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 5:16 pm
The door creaked open and Soneko once again found himself in the massive tower known as the Club Orion. Empty. He wasn’t surprised, seeing as how that seemed to be the nature of the place whenever he came. He would sometimes stumble across somebody and have a chat with them. But it seemed like there wouldn’t be any of that tonight. Heavy boots thunked dully with each step he took on the hard wood floors, and he immediately headed to the right, towards the bar. Aside from the stadium, this was his favorite place in the building. Not that he’d ever done too much there but have a few drinks and almost get into a few fights. His choice of clothing gave him the appearance of some kind of street urchin. His blue jeans looked as though they’d been stuck between a rock and a hard place, as they were wrinkled not only from the fabric gathering at the ankles due to his boots stopping the cloth from falling any further, but from being worn more than once in a few days without being washed. They had a hole in the right knee and the backs of the ankles were ripped, probably from dragging on the ground. Above his pants was a plain white T-shirt with spots of faded red, possibly blood, and what looked to be oil construed across it. His hair was messy, but still straight and framing the sides of his face, save a few stray hairs. A slight five o’clock shadow had made found its way onto his face for the first time in a long time.
As he came within reach of the stools in front of the bar, he lifted his right foot and stood on the stool, stepping forward onto the bar top with his left for a moment. Bending his left knee and then extending it, he lightly hopped off of the counter top and landed firmly with his right foot on the ground. All of this was done in one very fluid movement, almost as if he’d done it many times before. He took a knee behind the counter and opened a cupboard, figuring he’d indulge himself in a drink. Something different. He looked around until he saw an unopened glass bottle with the words ‘Wild Turkey’ written across it.
‘Wild.’ He thought to himself. ‘Why not?’
He grabbed the bottle and looked at the contents of it. A brown-ish pewter color made his curiosity turn. Something different, that was for sure. He unscrewed the top and he could immediately smell the drink’s power. He wasn’t familiar with the scent, as his home planet didn’t have alcohol. He brought the neck of the bottle to his lips and felt a strange burning sensation as the liquid made its way into his mouth and down his throat. He could feel the heat of the drink all the way from his mouth, through his chest, and to the pit of his stomach. It was a weird mixture of pain and delight. He figured he’d stick with it. He stood back up and placed the bottle on the counter before placing his right palm on the countertop and jumped, letting his body go parallel with the bar for a split second, then landed with both feet back onto the other side of the bar, where he had a seat on one of the stools. He felt something jabbing into his right hip and looked down, having almost completely forgotten about his daggers strapped around his waist. One blade cover on the side of each of his legs, held up by some kind of belt. He reached down and tapped two fingers against his right leg, hearing the sound of metal clashing against metal, almost as if he was checking to see if his blade was still in there. It had to have been if the handle had been jabbing into his side.
He had originally come here looking for a fight, because damn, had he been itching for one. He had been very displeased with the lack of life in the tower simply because he didn’t have a partner to spar with. But he wasn’t about to leave because of it. He figured he might as well stay for a little while and enjoy the silence. At least finish his drink. Who knew? Maybe somebody would show up before he was done. He heard a scoff in the back of his head.
‘Fat chance…’
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 5:31 pm
<>
It seemed as though fate might not be as cruel as previously imagined, for no sooner than the man muttered "Fat chance" did a young kitsune male enter the club, with grey eyes brimming with youthful innocence, denoting a life full of much more peace and much less conflict. His shoes clacked against the hard floor as he took a sweeping glance around, noting one figure who appeared particularly isolated at the bar. Not being much for drinks, he decided to accompany the stranger on the grounds that he didn't have much else to do.
"Good evening," he said brightly, not smiling but polite all the same. To avoid intruding on his would be company, young Kenta decided to take a seat once he reached the bar so that the man he addressed would not feel confined by his presence. His black pants rustled a bit against the seat of the stool, and his gloved hands creaked as he folded his fingers into one another. All in all, he looked as though he were dressed to kill. Even his vest appeared more like armor than casual wear.
However, after he sat, he could really think of nothing else to say. The boy had never been particularly big on starting conversations or making friends without appearing awkward, but such was life, especially at his age. So he kept quiet to be ignored or received by his company at will. If nothing came of their meeting, then so be it.
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 5:57 pm
He had heard the door open not soon after that last thought had crossed his mind, but he didn't care to look. Given the people that Soneko knew came to this place, he knew that whoever it was would be able to sense another presence in the building. Whether or not they decided to engage him was their call, and he wasn't interested until they did so. He felt a a strange, almost innocent aura around the boy that had entered. Even if that was the case, he knew better than to judge a book by it's cover. He heard the boy speak a simple greeting. Even his voice seemed to radiate an almost childish tone. He couldn't see the boy, but just by hearing his voice, Soneko knew that this was a younger person.
"Evening yourself." Soneko said over his shoulder, not casting so much as a glance in the boy's direction. Instead, he took a hold of the bottle in front of him and gulped two large ones, leaving the bottle a quarter empty. Still not entirely used to the drink, his head shook ever so slightly at the strange sensation it sent throughout his body. He set the bottle back down with a clack! as the boy took a seat not far from Soneko. He looked to his right, catching the boy's appearance for the first time. He'd been right, the guy was one of the younger inhabitants of the Orion.
Still, he couldn't help but get the feeling that the boy, though he seemed to be a little young, had something unique about him. It seemed that way for everybody that he'd ever seen at the Club. It wasn't long before his mind started to wander. He'd come here for a fight, and there just so happened to be somebody who piqued his curiosity sitting just a few feet away from him. Whether or not the boy would fight, Soneko didn't know. Of course he wouldn't leap at the boy right now and attack, though that one part of him willed him to do it. But as he had gotten accustomed to over the years, he pushed that side of him to the back of his mind and decided to find out a little more about the kid before attempting to have a match with him.
"What brings you out here? Waiting for somebody?"
That was one question that had crossed his mind. Why would the boy have just randomly shown up? The place was dead. The only reasonable explanation he could think of was that the boy must have had some business to do here. Or maybe he was coming here to relax? He might have even come here for the same reason Soneko did, but for some reason he thought that would be a little far fetched. Not many people would travel through the cold forests of Canada just to find somebody to fight. He reached for the bottle and took another swig while awaiting a response from the boy.
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:07 pm
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:08 pm
The kitsune watched Soneko silently as he turned to take a look at the boy. He could tell that this man had probably made certain assumptions about him before turning around, which was fine, although he was curious as to whether he had satisfied or disappointed. Although he was keen on analyzing people himself, he never liked the thought that someone was watching him...really watching him, when he spoke. Discomforts aside though, it was not something he was not accustomed to, so he dealt with it as he too was measuring up his acquaintance.
"What brings me out here? Well..." he sat silently in thought for a moment, trying to think up a good answer. The hesitant part of him reared itself as he thought, always being the timid one among unknown people. "I guess nothing really. My..well someone close to me lives here, but it would surprise me if we met. I just come in randomly now and again to see what fate might have in store for me."
Looking out toward the open club, away from the bar, the kitsune propped his elbows against the bar casually, taking note of Orion as it usually is...empty. "It seems though that there won't be much excitement here though. Same as always I suppose. Doesn't surprise me."
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:29 pm
He seemed a little uncomfortable. For what reason, Soneko had no idea, but he moved his stare away from the boy and scanned the back wall of the bar. He wasn't looking at anything in particular, just taking in the structure of the place. It was well-built. Deity must have had one hell of a time putting this place together. Then again...--Wait, did the boy just mention something about fate? Soneko was never big on the idea of fate. Destiny. Whatever they wanted to call it, he didn't believe in it one bit. The idea of not being in control didn't sit with him right. He believed that he got where he is today by making certain choices, not because he was destined to do so. Soneko could help but snicker.
"Fate, huh...?" He said, putting an almost sarcastic tone on the first word.
Nothing more needed to be said about the subject. That was all the boy beside him needed to hear in order to know that Soneko wasn't a fan of the idea. And though he didn't agree with the 'fate' part of what the boy said, he did, however, understand popping in randomly. So the boy knew somebody that lives here. That meant he wasn't some stray who had stumbled across the tower, Soneko now knew at least that much about the boy. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
And then he said that there wouldn't be any excitement. So the kid was bored. He seemed to be of a good enough age that he wouldn't feel bad for having a match with the boy. He was sure he could hold his own. But he did have a point. It did always seem to be quiet around here. At least these days. Soneko recalled a time where he wouldn't be able to come into the Club without seeing at least three other people doing something. It reminded him of the Sinners back at home. It had been a bustling...Well, he couldn't really call it a community, but something of the sort. And then they drifted apart. Even though he wasn't close with too many people around here, he had a kind of empathy towards the usuals here, as they seemed to be drifting like the Sinners had done all those years ago. Bringing his attention back to the present, he looked back at the boy.
"Well, how 'bout we liven things up 'round here? What do you say to a little sparring match?"
Sure, he didn't know the boy, but he was sure that throwing hands would be a hell of a lot more entertaining than sitting at a bar having small talk. At least it seemed more interesting to Soneko.
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:29 pm
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:33 pm
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:42 pm
"Not a fan I see," Kenta remarked to the man's comment on fate. He wasn't inviting an explanation, but simply acknowledging that their views were different on the subject. The young boy personally was of the mind that not all things could be orchestrated by the mortal or even immortal hand alone. Sometimes, this thing called Life had to throw things at you whether you liked it or not, and you had to deal with it. Either way, regardless of what one thought it was as opposed to another, it was all the same to him in the end.
"A match?" It surprised the boy to be asked to actually spar with someone. He didn't even know how long he had been here, but for the first time in months, someone was inviting him to into a ring, warrior to warrior. Somehow or another, he felt honored at the thought. Never before had he felt worthy of the attention of an Orion patron that wasn't a cousin of his. In short, the thought delighted him and his bushy silver tail waved this way and that against his will.
"Sounds like fun," he said at length, actually smiling at the man who requested a match. The last, and only time he had fought in this place was when he was protecting Miyuki from three men of questionable and intolerable backgrounds. He didn't realize how much the upcoming match was about to mean to him.
"I'll see you in the ring." He didn't give his company time to respond before he was out of his seat and on his way down the hall toward the ring his uncle had built so long ago. It would be a while before his first fight there, but he was already very familiar with it.
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:42 pm
<<: razz lays Ten Thousand Fists:: One Hell of a fighting song.>>
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 7:08 pm
<>
A slight smirk played at his mouth when he noticed the boy's tail wagging to a fro behind him. It seemed he wasn't the only one who liked the idea of a spar. Not to mention how eager the boy had been to head towards the ring. Not that Soneko was complaining. It was good to have a fight where both parties are enjoying themselves. Combat was the thing that made Soneko feel alive. Even when he took a hit, it may not feel so great, but to Soneko, there was nothing more real than an injury from battle. Placing his hands on the counter in front of him, he pushed himself off of the stool and stood up, following the boy to the ring. This would be entertaining.
He made his way to the stadium, walking briskly to the ring. Stepping onto the elevated stone surface, he headed near the center of the ring. He stopped, moving his hands to the belt that kept his daggers in place. Unless the boy had some concealed weapon on him, doubtful, Soneko wouldn't use his weapons either. Wouldn't be fair. He unbuckled the belt and took it off of his waist, tossing them to the side and out of the ring. He mentally checked his attire. He hadn't even done it on purpose, but he had dressed in a way that would give him easier movement. Broken in clothing were the best for combat, as they wouldn't hinder a person's actions. He stood at stood, hands at his sides, his emerald eyes watching the boy, his body unwavering.
"Care to open the match?"
Soneko had developed a certain distaste for making the opening move in his fights. Thinking back, he had probably picked it up from a certain somebody. It didn't matter. His calm facial expression showed no concern, but he kept his eyes trained on the boy. He was a fox, Soneko could tell that from his tail. They're quick. He decided to keep his eyes peeled and expect anything.
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 7:23 pm
Kenta indeed was fast. It was something he had picked up in his training against his father, who wasn't particularly fast compared to those such as his uncle, who could probably outrun time itself if he tried. Nevertheless, being given the invitation to open the match, he took it willingly albeit reluctantly. Most people hated opening fights and Kenta was among them also, but he made the best of the situation, which meant that all his opponent would see at the moment was a blur of black hair and silver fur shooting for him like an arrow.
The moment before impact, the young kitsune vanished, reappearing behind his challenger, airborne, left foot rotating counterclockwise heel first for the crown of the man's skull. Was this an amateur move? Yes. Very amateur. It was probably the most cliche thing any warrior of his caliber could do.
That was why he didn't go through with it.
Instead he reappeared, two feet in front of his adversary, right fist barreling for his chest. There weren't a lot of things the boy knew, but he estimated that his timing for an illusion at such speeds would be enough to fool anyone, even if for a moment. Since he had no idea what he was up against, he couldn't give too much away too soon, but he had to take risks if he was going to get anywhere.
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