deercountry | The All-Trench Karate War

[she was still kind of in shock that she'd won, but she certainly wasn't going to question it too deeply. she finds herself genuinely wanting to win it all. she's not letting herself be unsure about whether or not she can, for fear of, what was the phrase? psyching herself out?]

Nonsense, you look fine.

[the hair around Rose's face is a little frizzy with the effort exerted and she really should re-do her bun. the last thing she wants is all of that hair getting in her way during her next match]

No, they really don't. Is it true that they have a giant robot of some kind? I've heard that they do. And let's see...[she examines the leaderboard] Someone named Jessica? I can't say that I've ever met her before though.

Sasuke is obviously spending most of the tournament observing his students, giving them feedback after each match to let them know what they can improve on, whether it's in general or in their next fight. He isn't always the best at explaining it, always having relied on his own instincts rather than a set of guidelines to better his fighting techniques, but he's doing his best, and hopefully it's enough.

If he's not talking to his students, then he's probably sitting down with his own snack for just a moment of peace and quiet. Onigiri that he brought from home is definitely enough to hit the spot. He's not used to being around this many people willingly for so long and it's... exhausting. If it looks like he's hiding, it's probably because he is.

After the tournament is said and done, though, and particularly after his own match against Amaterasu (he lost, but barely, and given how strong she is, he's actually okay with that), he's easy to find to answer questions for anyone who has them. He's standing mostly off to the side, just out of habit, but he at least stayed put and didn't rush off after. Someone's learning how to people a little bit better here, apparently.

... Baby steps.

Edited 2022-05-23 01:02 (UTC)

[Luz grinned, honestly pretty pleased with how far she'd progressed. She hadn't thought that she was actually going to beat Keith at all, so this had actually pumped her up a bit]!

Heh, thanks! You look pretty good too! Hey, do you need help putting up your hair?

[Luz had seen it too, apparently]!

They're pilots that combine in lion mechs to form Voltron, a huge robot that is supposed to be the savior of the universe. Never seen the combined form, but I HAVE seen the lions, in memories.

I don't think I know her either. I'm facing Sayo! Not sure how that one will turn out.

[It's time.

Since he first arrived in Trench Ozpin has been a constant thorn in his side. (He hasn't. Ozpin has done next to nothing wrong aside from say something that jus REMINDED JOHNNY OF THE ACTAUL PERSON HE HAS A GRUDGE AGAINST.) But it was finally time for them to settle this in the ring like men.

Johnny approaches the wooden right and only pauses to tighten his headband and roll up his sleeves before stepping onto it. Memories of Ozpin training Akechi, of Ozpin's network post offering training in exchange for fairytales, of Ozpin brushing him off at every turn flash through his mind. But there was nowhere to run now. They would have to face each other and only one could emerge a winner. ...Unless it was a draw. But what were the odds of that?

Johnny looks to his opponent and falls into a fighting stance.]

Alright, Dongspin.

I hope someone brought a fishtank because you're going to be squidchunks by the time I'm done with you.

They recognize the look in Midoriya's eyes as one of analysis in the face of brutality. Chara is a whirlwind of speed and attacks, but even still, they are being evaluated, measured, planned against, and Chara knows they've made their first mistake in allowing Midoriya to be on the defensive.

Very well, then. They leap back, landing on the balls of their feet. Their own eyes turn sharp as they regard him. "Not bad."

They can still turn this into what they're used to, what they've mastered. Their lips upturn into a smile. "Your turn, now."

[Chara doesn't react with shock and horror. They had responded to all of that with nothing but a corrupted sneer, seeking to toy with all parties to their rotten heart's content. That feels embarassing in retrospect.]

You know, I don't think I ever learned who it was he murdered. Friend of yours?

[They hum. It's not something they can relate to. When they tore ~~Asriel~~Flowey limb from limb, they felt nothing but the cold satisfaction of another number going up. Killing Sans hadn't satisfied them for long, killing Asgore hadn't been revenge by the time they'd reached him, killing Toriel...

Maybe the difference is that there's a future that awaits Jessica and Sayo. While there will never be a future for any of Chara's family, never again.]

Do you want to move on from it? From her?

Of all the people to paired against... but Keith knew better than to underestimate someone just because they were small, young, or female. After all, Pidge wasn't their strongest fighter, but she was their smartest, and that made her just as dangerous as the rest of them.

So, no. Despite some instincts in his head saying he should take it easy on her, he wasn't going to.

Unfortunately, Keith had been going through his own issues recently, and they'd been affecting his temper. He wasn't really in the best mindset for this fight, and, deep down, he knew it. But backing out because he wasn't "feeling" right would just make him a target for more ribbing from Johnny, especially after their fight during some of the training sessions, and Keith was not going to tolerate that. He had to be here, anger control issues or no.

The fact that it was just dramatics for the sake of drama drew a sigh of relief from the boy. The concerns about not being able to focus were... delightfully mundane.

"Honestly, Ange? That's exactly why I'm here."

He spread his hands over the table, at the massive amount of snacks he had prepped and the coolers of fruit to cut up underneath the table. There was a reason he hadn't ever considered entering a combat academy...

"I never saw fighting as entertainment either. In a small school outside the city, we don't have a lot of... uh, tournaments like this."

Fighting was for protecting the fields and homesteads from roaming bandits and potentially Grimm. Sure, people got into skirmishes over dumb things, but it was never serious.

"When Ruby's out there, cheer really loud. Yell encouragements. Maybe jump a little. That'll be good enough, probably. Or-- you can stay and help me if you want."

A

[It felt like this day had been building up ever since Johnny had first arrived in Trench. ...Or at the very least it had been building up since he learned of Ozpin's existence and their one sided rivalry began. But it had become so much more since then. Johnny's students had come so far- The kids themselves had the chance to compete and prove themselves and wanted it. Nothing could have meant more to Johnny right about now.

For the most part he can be found ringside cheering on, coaching and trying to inspire/bully to victory.

And sometimes he takes out his frustrations on people he don't deserve it.]

Come on Ref, That's an obvious fowl! where are you freaking eyes!? What are you, a fucking white belt!?

[And then he gets a look from the ref and he raises up his hands in placating gesture.]

Right. Right- Crazy fucking robot eyes. I get it.

B

[When his students aren't fighting he'll take a second to cool off. He's got a six pack of Coors Banquet on him and he's just cracked one open. If someone passes by he'll hold it up.]

Hey- You of age? Who am I kidding? Doesn't fucking matter here. You want one?

Shit's intense out there. The kids are really giving it their all.

[ He has tried so very hard to be gracious.

If he has anything, it is patience. Ozpin has taught a thousand hotheaded students; he has commanded a thousand crass soldiers; he is, put plainly, better than this. He is not going to rise to the bait of a man who still soothes his own ego with crude jokes and schoolyard bullying. He has not forgotten the clock.

But this confrontation was not his idea. He did not suggest this fight. It certainly isn't his fault if Johnny Lawrence, in his genuinely astonishing bravado and stupidity, brought this upon himself.

He is still absolutely bitter about having to set aside his cane. He doesn't deign to remove his white gloves or filigreed tailcoat: he can drop this pitiable excuse for a teacher without an ounce of effort. ]

This from a man who seems to wash up defeated so regularly I could set a clock by it.

[ (He's never been able to drag someone for dying more often than he does. It's refreshing.) ]

I certainly welcome you to try.

[See: Oscar Pine, skinny teenager who is friends with people on all sides of this silly tournament, with fluffy hair, an innocent face, and a slight but noticeable limp.

See also: the box of cut fruit he was carrying across the stadium to offer to the participants that were taking breaks between rounds.

Oscar paused and looked up at the man, knowing exactly who he was talking to and intentionally putting as much effort into seeming as inoffensive as possible.

Hi, Johnny. This is the kid who cleaned up your shit with Sayo.]

Sorry, I've got my hands full. [He hefted the box to show Johnny-- with a subtle look of 'see? I'm helping.']

...Do you want a fruit cup? Or are gummy worm puddings more your thing? [Peering down, he tilted his head to get a better look at the contents of the box.] There's still some cut oranges in there too, if that's more your style.

[Oh, Ange is angry. Atsushi isn't used to seeing her like this. And as bad as anger can be, it's nice to see Ange coming out of her shell.]

I'm sure that it won't come to that... Ruby-chan is strong. I'm sure that she'll win the whole tournament without taking a single hit!

[About a minute before the match begins, a single, swift message is returned.]

Why a lemon? P.S. I would never 'go easy' on someone for that reason, and thank you for your concern, but I have the situation in hand.

[Thank you, sensei.]

If you do throw any number of lemons at me, I will consider them gifts.

It was between rounds, and the fervor of the cheering in the bleachers was making Oscar a little stir crazy. He only found some relief in cutting up all of the fruit he had brought and carting it across the tournament grounds to give to participants in person-- should they want it.

That included the adults.

Stopping short, he waved at Hayato to get the man's attention with a bright grin

"Hi! Hi. It's nothing big-- do you have a minute?"

[With his technical loss to Luz because of fouls, Keith was determined to at least advance in the brackets with the unarmed combat. VI was going to have a big challenge to deal with. Keith was pumped up and ready to go at this point, with some thinly controlled anger behind his moves.]

Oscar Pine didn't know this man, but there was a possibility that this man might recognize him. Anyone who spent enough time interacting with Ozpin or within the Clockhouse would eventually stumble upon the seemingly innocent face of the youngest under that roof-- a bright eyed kid that liked to help everyone in his radius.

Right now, that included the people participating in the tournament, whether he knew them or not.

During a quiet moment between rounds, Oscar scurried over with a neat little paper bowl piled up with fruit in his hands. Stopping a polite distance away, he grinned brightly and waved.

"Um. Hi. It's nothing much, but I cut up too much fruit... do you want some?"

[Well... Keith was frustrated for getting knocked out in only the second round, but at least it wasn't the first round. And Uraraka had put up a really good fight. He was impressed. Annoyed at himself, but definitely impressed by her. After he'd cooled down a bit, he took a few deep breaths and went to find her.]

Hey... [He held out his hand.] Good fight.

[Paul has no idea where to look, so ends up fixated on a point roughly between and two inches above Johnny's eyes, his cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink. This is not how he ever pictured talking about this with his sensei. Ideally, he never would have this conversation at all.

In a reflexive effort of self-defense, he blurts:] Yes, sensei. No mercy.

[Then Johnny's words actually sink in, and Paul's gaze drops down as he blinks, a faint budding of relief underneath his embarrassment.]

You're not upset I'm seeing one of the Professor's students?

What's a little stabbing between.... friends? Having been in Trench for longer than he had spent on Remnant after leaving his Aunt's farm, and having dealt with several trials alongside everyone... they were kinda friends at this point.

Like being friends with an alley cat that was as likely to give you a dead bird as they were to swipe at you.

Oscar grinned at Neo, just glad for the easy conversation.

"The festivities are kinda a headache. But, everything with that guy who insisted on the tournament is. I'm just gonna give people fruit cups and puddings and stay out of it."

[Keith was... frustrated. He'd let his temper get the best of him and just didn't focus enough. And now he was out of it after only the second round. He did his best to keep that annoyance at bay to watch Lance's remaining contests, though he had a feeling the latter was going to tease the crap out of him later for it, and then spent most of the rest of the time kind of moping and stewing and being his usual grumpy emo self.

He had a good number of decent bruises and scrapes, but nothing serious, at least. And he would venture over to get some food a couple of times through the event...

Most of all, after their fight during training, Keith was trying to avoid Johnny because he knew his temper was going to get him trouble again if he saw the annoying teacher and got any lip from him for getting eliminated so early.]

There is a synthesis that Paul reaches for, the flowing lines of Bene Gesserit conditioning intersecting with the harder angles of karate. What he achieves is less mercury quick than he usually is, but still an improvement over his initial unsettling. If he can maintain equilibrium, there's no reason he can't reverse course-

Midoriya has never growled at Paul before. Sensei Lawrence's instructions to forget that Midoriya is whatever it is they are to each other, or to Kaworu in the stands, are not so easy to follow when Midoriya has that fierce gleam in his eye, kicks arcing out beautifully, forcing him to twist into the path of his punishing heel to avoid the brutal blow of his shin.

Another point down, one left to go, but Paul will be damned if he doesn't get his own contacts in. He takes the kick so that he can lash out with an answering palm strike at Midoriya's chest, his expression resolving into clear focus above his lingering smile.

[What a thrilling conclusion to such an exciting tournament!! But we are not done yet! No, no, after the teachers are done beating the snot out of each other, there is at least one more match.]

[Penny, who has been in the commentator stand, suddenly rockets up and out of the box a good ten feet, before gracefully gliding down to the actual ring. After a moment, Hayato, who has been the referee for this entire shindig, glances around like he's looking for her opponent. A few moments pass before he looks back at Penny, grins, and then climbs up into the ring.]

OI! JOHNNY! Mind making the calls for this one?

[This was definitely prearranged but what's wrong with a little drama, right? The crowd will like it.]

[It wasn't a secret that Hayato had reasons for not being apart of the tournament himself, despite a love of the sport, though he was generally pretty cagey about the details. A part of him is a little nervous? About fighting this openly as Hayato instead of Kamen Rider, but Trench had proved time and again that that aspect of himself was not something he needed to be afraid to show people. It would be okay to let loose a little, and have some fun.]

[Penny was about the only person he'd trust as a match partner, too, and hell, he could guess at her own reasons for not participating in the actual tournament. They could both use some fun.]

Ready? Let's try not to make them too jealous, yeah?

[When Chara walks off the ring after the semi-finals, bitterly victorious after Lance threw the match, they have a sour expression on their face. They're at the finals, in part due to their own cunning and ability that they've nurtured all on their lonesome. And in part due to Sasuke's brief training, which has had a rather quick effect in boosting their skills.

And because their opponent took one look at them and saw something they couldn't even be bothered to fight. Yes. Sour is a good descriptor of how they feel. In addition to slighted, cheated, patronized and insulted, and any other descriptor besides hurt.

So naturally, they want to clear this up with their sensei first.]

I would have completely wiped the floor with him and everyone knows it. What an utter coward. [It's important that he knows they didn't get this far because their opponent was a quitter, okay, they would be here anyway.]

[ The interim between matches also provides K and Penny a break from commentating, and during the latest K has taken the opportunity to stretch his legs a bit. Everything has gone surprisingly well so far, he thinks, feeling pretty pleased with himself for keeping up with Penny. They have a good rapport. He's also been conducting interviews — both formal and informal — on his own as the chance arises, which is what has him drifting over to the infamous Johnny Lawrence now.

The offer is met with a look of dry amusement. ] Technically I'm about 15 years too young... [ Hello yes he is baby robot who's only been in service a few years. Just a dumb joke. Despite alcohol having no effect on him, he accepts the offered beer, figuring it'd be rude not to. ]

Thank you. And they have been. The kids and the adults, I'd say. [ There's a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he regards Johnny, who's probably been the most... enthusiastic of all. ] You've certainly trained them well. And now I have to ask — any truth to those rumours about the bees and bears?

The All-Trench Karate War | Tournament Log!

no subject

sasuke | ota

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Re: Luz vs. Keith

no subject

Johnny Lawrence | Cobra Kai CW: Potentially offering alcohol to a minor.

no subject

B

no subject

Hayato vs Penny

no subject

HANDING ORANGES

Re: VI vs Keith

... how about an orange hand out?

After the Fight

no subject

no subject

After His Battles

no subject

no subject

no subject

B!