|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:20 pm
Captain Painite decided that tonight might be a good time to practice with her new staff. She wasn't used to fighting with an actual weapon, though she had been using Mr. Saddles more and more like a lance before she had been promoted. So, she needed to make sure she knew her new weapon.
Also called Mr. Saddles, despite only bearing the former Hobby Horse's hair and reigns, which were now the grip in the center of the staff.
She was wandering the rooftops, as per usual, keeping out of sight while stalking for a target. Something easy. Someone who was small, or looked like a wuss. Someone who might not fight back, and let her get in a few good hits. Not a kid or anyone too 'girly', like those highschool bobble heads that often wandered around in packs. They would go down too easily.
She tried not to giggle at that thought.
No, she had to find someone somewhere in between, someone who would be sturdy enough to actually hit, but wasn't a senshi or anything that could actually pose a threat. And also no one with muscles, as she wasn't interested by being punched, even by a civilian. It was a tall order, but she was hoping to find someone who fit the bill, so she could get some weapon swinging in before taking their energy.
She wasn't planning on killing anyone tonight, at least. Even if she had learned that the hair on the staff would be good for absorbing blood, and keeping it from dripping on the grip. Strange, the information found on the internet.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:52 pm
Ian tried to walk quickly but look as normal as possible. Just his stupid luck he had dozed off in a coffee shop that evening. His parents knew he was okay and all, but still. He had wanted to get some work done on homework in the shop without all of the distractions of his room but, while he had made some headway, the red-haired boy had lost a good forty-five minutes with his face smudged on his textbook and his fingers curled around a cup of coffee.
The precious beverage was obviously not an adequate stand-in for sleep, and Ian had truthfully not been doing the sleep thing well lately.
Even with the more ethereal nightmares and dreams faded, getting attacked by that monster had left him with injuries that were kind of really uncomfortable whenever he tried to lie down. Especially annoying now that they had healed enough that the boy barely noticed them until he flopped down in bed.
Or draped his messenger bag too carelessly over his shoulder.
Shifting the weight of his books slightly, Ian yawned and tried to hurry faster. He had one of those feelings like someone was watching him, but it was probably just because he had had too many cups of coffee. Once he got home, he could just play some Three Kingdoms to relax, finish his reading, and answer homework questions until he finally felt like sleeping. And hope that he would not be up too late, or feel too terrible tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 7:25 pm
Painite spotted the perfect target before too long. She almost leaped right by him, sailing over the rooftops as quickly as she was. She skidded to a halt, though, jerking her body around and stumbling backwards for a few steps before she pulled herself the right way and ran back to the edge of the roof.
She looked around, hoping she hadn't lost that little glimmer of hope. That little light in the dark. That promise of fun.
That helpless target.
She spotted him not too far down the street and grinned, excitedly pushing her palms against the rail of the roof before jumping back. She took a running leap back up to the roof next door, retracing her steps perhaps but now each one had new purpose and vigor. She had to get ahead of him, which was easy enough for someone like her. Someone with a power boost, and who was running rather than briskly strolling home.
She had a purpose.
Leaping off the roof, she landed lightly in the alleyway, then hurried toward the mouth of it. He was heading this way. It was time for something classic. When he got close enough, masked by the shadows of the wall, she would jut the staff out suddenly.
To trip him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 9:01 pm
Ian was fairly sure that he was just too hyped up on coffee, and was about to check dig his phone out of his pocket to check the time when he foot caught on something and he rather suddenly found himself eating pavement. His messenger bag, burdened with a history textbook, yanked uncomfortably once more at his sore shoulders before hitting his arm as he landed on the ground.
"Damn it," he hissed, pushing himself to a kneeling position to examine his scuffed palms. Just what this day needed, seriously, he sarcastically grumbled to himself. The boy started to shrug off the strap of his bag to make it easier to get up when he noticed that there was someone standing there.
The red-haired boy jumped slightly away from her, mostly just because he was not expecting to see anyone there.
Then he saw the staff in her hands.
His pulse quickened again, and this time it was not coffee-related.
"Uh, hello?" he offered as he started to get up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:00 pm
And down he went.
It was just that easy, wasn't it? Sometimes everything felt like it was easy, particularly now that her ego was soaring since being promoted. She moved to follow up her move to trip him, not wanting to give him too much time to recover. He was, after all, her next target and he didn't want him scampering off in a huff because he fell down.
She grinned in the darkness at him.
Her figure, even masked in shadows, was not particularly intimidating. Standing a menacing five foot a couple inches, she rarely found someone she was taller than. But that just made it more hilarious when she out muscled tall, body builder types and stole their energy. They had no idea what a little form like hers was capable of containing.
"Hello there, little buddy," Painite said, then she moved to grab him roughly by the collar and pull him into the alley with her. He had little choice on that front, as she hauled him with most of her strength behind the tug. Enough to lurch him into the alley and, with a spin of her body and another jerk on his collar, toss him down to the floor, away from the alley entrance. The light was gone and they were invisible from the street.
She stood between him and his escape, the end of the alley footed by the classic insurmountable wall.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:59 pm
Ian stared at her, forgetting his bag for the moment as he stood up. He was about her height, promising to grow perhaps another inch or two, and would have been the first to admit that he was pretty wimpy. The stranger managed to intimidate him anyway; he was fairly certain that her kindly-worded greeting was not at all a friendly one.
Which she then promptly confirmed by grabbing him and throwing him down on the pavement in the alleyway.
"What's your problem?" he demanded, even as his arms windmilled while he fell backwards. Ian landed roughly on his bottom and hands, but at least managed not to break his wrists doing that. Scrambling to his feet more quickly this time, he shouted out as loudly as he could, "Help! Help!" but kept his eyes on the crazy woman who had decided to assault him.
Ian had, of course, heard about the random attacks all around the city that had been going on for months, coming at the hands of people and monsters alike. Just his damn luck that he encountered both in the same week.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 6:26 pm
Painite wasn't too worried about height, at least. It wasn't difficult to be as tall or taller than her, after all, and she had long ago grown used to dealing with people bigger than her. The bigger they are, the harder they fall, and all that rot.
Except she bought into it.
Of course, he wasn't exactly bigger than her, and she was feeling very confident. He didn't look like he could pose a threat, and he was, unfortunately for him, going to pay the price for being physically unimposing. She had literally picked him because he looked like an easy target, after all. But maybe he should feel honored in that regard: she didn't usually like going for the easy targets.
"Hey," she snapped, her tone much like one a chiding mother might dawn. Except she smacked him hard in the face with her staff, avoiding stabbing him with the pointed end. She grinned. "Cut out that crying for help stuff, buddy. If you're good, I'll give you a treat when we're done. I just need a little help is all, you know? Don't tell me you wouldn't want to help a lady in need."
She gripped her staff, then moved to swing the staff low and aimed for his mid section, just to see how it felt. He was, essentially, her new punching bag.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 9:00 pm
Where were the other ones who always showed up on television? The girls in the skirts who were terrorists but who were supposed to fight the monsters? Even last time, he had had to rely on Mister Darrow, and Ian was obviously nowhere near the library.
He had imagined situations like this sometimes, or had nightmares about them, but of course things always worked out there, or at least he woke up eventually. This time, though, the red-haired boy knew he was on his own, as he gave up on shouting and tried to catch his breath. Her mention of a "treat" brought further terrible things to his mind, solidifying his definite need to get away.
But then Ian's experience with fighting was predominantly limited to Dynasty Warriors and Super Smash Brothers. Well, and chess, but that was even less helpful. He understood how to punch, at least, and so he readied himself to fight if he had to, but planned fully to run as soon as he was able. He strongly suspected it would be well worth the $45 textbook replacement fee to never recover his bag if it meant saving himself.
The staff came in low and he caught the motion in time to block it with his forearm. Still, the impact hurt and he took half a step back as he shook out that arm quickly. Curse her and that long-reach weapon!
Still, though, perhaps if he could get in closer, he could get too close for her to swat him with the giant stick. Resolving to stand up for himself, in spite of already having a feeling he was screwed, Ian darted closer to the woman and aimed a jab at her shoulder.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:04 am
There wasn't anyone around to offer the young man any help. Or if there were, they weren't keen on offering it. In this city, people yelling for help often went unnoticed or simply ignored. Though the number of senshi in the city was high, there were still more helpless civilians than not: and that meant people vying to defend themselves. And stay out of the exact trouble Ian was in.
If anyone was walking by that alley, they weren't going to come down it on his account.
Painite grinned as the young man tried to look tough. What was he doing, clenching his fists? Did he think he was going to hit her? It was cute, in a way, and she loved it when they tried to fight back. So long as it was only trying, and not succeeding, she found it hilarious and wonderful. A show of spunk, which she liked.
"Oh, I see someone has some survival instincts," she cooed, watching as he blocked her hit. She pulled her staff back, watching as he moved toward her. It was interesting, seeing him fighting so hard. She could see his focus on his face, his need to defend and survive, but to him he was all but walking. As used to fighting senshi and sparring with her negaverse comrades as she was, his efforts were in vain.
Plus, he was running at someone with a sharp stick in her hand. Grinning, she lowered the staff, pointing the end at his shoulder even as he pulled his arm back to aim for her own. "Be careful, little man," she warned playfully.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 1:19 pm
Oh, of course she would try something like that. Ian squirmed out of the way a little too late, and the pointed end of the staff caught him in the shoulder even as his extended punch only reached about half the distance between himself and the crazy woman attacking him.
"Ah, that was stupid wasn't it," he hissed to himself, staggering back as he put his hand to his smarting shoulder. Misfiring survival instincts, maybe. Putting more distance between himself and his assailant, Ian looked around quickly behind him for any signs of makeshift weapons. Or anything helpful, really.
... The pain in his shoulder was not subsiding, and it was kind of painful now to move his arm, even with the rush of adrenaline. But Ian did notice that there was a disused dumpster further down the alleyway, blocking off perhaps a third of the width of the place. Keeping his eyes on his attacker, save for the occasional hurried glance over his shoulder, he backed towards the more limited space - as long as he was smart enough to keep from getting himself speared again, the red-haired boy might have a bit of an advantage in that the narrower space would limit the woman's ability to swing the giant stick around.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 1:35 pm
"A little," Painite said conversationally, as if giving him notes. Because that was a fitting little piece of condescension right there, "you probably should keep your eye on the large, pointed stick. In and out of context, I suppose, that's a good bit of information to keep with ya."
She laughed.
Though she was enjoying herself, there was an edge to her tone. A sharpness in her eyes. She was learning, every day, and growing as a force for her cause. Their cause. The negaverse. She served with all her heart, and was making small decisions, small changes, each time she hunted that, she felt, propelled her forward by leaps and bounds. She was not the same person as she had been as a lieutenant, though the differences would be difficult to spot by anyone who knew her. It was all in the approach, the thought.
She was thinking differently.
"Where are you going?" she asked, following him. She grinned, not knowing she was trying to avoid her swinging at him. There was still space to do it at the moment, and she took the opportunity as she gripped the middle of the staff, pulling it back like a bat and swinging it at Ian in an effort to see how effective it might be as a blunt force object.
So many things to test.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:03 am
Well, at least she was talking to him, the red-haired boy thought grimly, still keeping his fists up. No amount of martial arts movies, or ridiculous stunts on YouTube, or the tae kwon do lessons he had taken for eight months when he was six years old offered much help when it actually came to fighting someone like this. Part of Ian felt dumb for not trying harder to learn some sort of fighting technique again, what with all the crazy s**t that seemed to be going down in Destiny City almost constantly recently.
Though, also, weren't there supposed to be people out here to save him?
He was thinking too much, he realized, as the sudden swing of the staff caught his attention again. Ian would just have to improvise. And hope he could come out alive.
Ian jumped back as the staff came around, and felt a small thrill of triumph as the weapon noisily but harmlessly clanged into the corner of the dumpster. Hopefully he had saved himself one brusie there. There still did not seem to be anything that could serve as a weapon within reach, though, so he would still have to rely on just his fists.
Then, in a sudden burst of inspiration, he grasped the other end of the staff with one hand and tried to hold it against the metal side of the dumpster. Maybe he could hold it there and keep her from recovering the weapon, and move in closer to try again to take another swing at her. This at least partly hinged on him being stronger than her, or at least comparable, but, well, if he didn't try, the boy was going to get himself beaten up anyway....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:50 pm
Painite had to admire his spunk, at the very least. He was doing everything in his power not to get killed. Which, really, was admirable enough in anyone, but also fairly obvious. What human would just sit there and take it, if they realized they could fight back?
It wasn't that simple, though. Usually, people were just too scared to fight back. They couldn't handle it, really. She had seen civilians break down. Cry. Beg. Run, of course. Some fought back, but gave up into one of the previous before long. Or they just passed out. That was kind of like giving up though, and she didn't like it.
Draining someone she hadn't knocked out herself was just boring and a waste of her profound abilities.
As much as she admired a fighter, though, she couldn't help but chuckle at how futile his efforts were. He clearly thought he could hold his own against her strength. Because she was a girl? Because, what, he secretly worked out and was oh so confident?
He was wrong, whatever he was thinking.
"Hold on tight!" She giggled, switching her grip on the staff, bracing her feet, and then swinging the staff toward him instead of away. It surged toward him with surprising force, as if he weren't putting any effort into holding it at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:03 am
No, Ian was exactly correct - all he was really thinking was that he was going to get himself beaten up no matter how hard he tried. He was honestly blind to the fact that his attacker was female; the pointed staff was made of some pretty sturdy wood and that was really all th at mattered to him at the moment.
The boy stumbled as she reversed direction on him, and fell on his hands and knees uncomfortably close to the crazy young lady. He was starting to want to just give up now, though. Maybe if he stopped being entertaining, she would leave him alone. And his shoulder was really killing him; Ian could feel it throbbing with the same rhythm as his pounding heart.
Remaining on the ground, the red-haired boy curled up, covering his head with his hands. Maybe if he ... saw some opportunity to take another swat at her, he would take it, but for now, Ian was going to try focusing on being as boring as possible.
Why him?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:38 pm
Painite grinned as the human hit the dirt. Or... grimy pavement. Whatever, he fell to the floor and that was the important part.
Nodding her head in approval, mostly of herself, she imagined she was on to something with this whole fighting style. The length of the javelin was convenient, and allowed for her to use it in many ways, from long to close range fights.
She had gotten in a few swings, but now it seemed her toy wasn't interested in playing any more.
Sighing, she moved closer, careful but not too worried. He was still a civilian, after all. Even if he was playing possum, she could overwhelm him. She kneeled beside him, reaching her hand out to touch his shoulder.
Might as well get some energy out of him. Waste not, and all that.
But after this she would head home, leave him alone in the alley for someone to find. It wasn't her plan to go and kill the kid, she just wanted to get some use out of her javelin. Now she could get some energy for the trouble and scoot no out of there. No mess, no fuss.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
