Everybody Was Kung-Fu Fighting

[revenancemods]

Characters: All those who signed up for Struggle
Content: Struggle!
Location: Twilight Town, Sandlot
Time of Day: Morning
Warnings: It's a Struggle, so there's going to be at least some combat
Notes: The rules of Struggle are simple: Each player has 100 colored orbs attached to their gear (usually a vest and helmet). Knock off and gather your opponent's orbs while keeping your own. The person with the most orbs at the end of the time limit wins the round. Special powers (magic and such) are not allowed - the vanilla humans need a chance to win too. Have fun!

It's a bright sunny morning in Twilight Town - or would be if it had mornings to speak of - but that's not what has the town all abuzz. No, that would be the fact that today marks the start of the Struggle tournament. All are, of course, welcome to come, so the question is really a simple one: who out there is ready to Struggle?

Comments

The Peanut Gallery

[unrecovered]

Just because you're not participating in Struggle doesn't mean you don't want to watch! Plus, the Moogles have jumped on the opportunity and are selling freshly-popped popcorn. Surely you can take an afternoon to watch your friends whack each other over the head with foam bats.

[This is for anyone who'd rather watch than participate in the tournament; you don't have to interact with Wash if you don't want to.]

[unrecovered]

Wash knew exactly two things about Struggle: it involved foam bats and York was going to be competing. That was more than enough to convince him to make his way into Twilight Town, fight past a group or two of Nightmares, and pick out a spot at the sidelines of the makeshift arena set up in the sandlot. He was in his armor - it was moronic to go in a fight against poisonous Nightmares without it - but had taken his helmet off, setting it on the bench next to him. Fang perched on the helmet, Melody sat alert on his other side, and Wash shared the popcorn he'd gotten from the Moogle with them both. Time to see what this was all about and hopefully have some good laughs in the process.

Roxas vs Kairi

[seasaltkeys]

[Roxas hadn't been expecting this.

When he signed for the tournament, he hadn't really looked at who else was involved. He was expecting Bolin, and maybe a few others but he hadn't even known that Kairi was here, and now they were opponents. It was weird.

Still, he had to focus. He had a reputation to uphold as a champion struggle player, after all. He couldn't loose it fighting someone he'd really only met once but knew oh so well.

It bothered him, and he shook his head, trying to let go of it.]

[4letters4ninja]

Ziva didn't know much about struggle, but whatever it was, it sounded way to entertaining to miss. So, she showed up at the Sandlot, Abby and Fluffy not far behind, looking forward to the entertainment. Seeing Wash, she wandered over, appearing to his side.

"This seat taken?" She asked, motioning towards the empty spot.

[skysmirror]

Being paired up against one of the grown-ups didn't worry Xion much. She'd dealt with opponents that height and taller before. While she didn't know York well, that didn't mean they couldn't have a friendly match.

One final check of her gear, and she was ready to go. Looking over to him, she offered a small smile. "Ready?"

[unrecovered]

Fang perked up at Ziva's arrival and squeaked at Melody. Quick, move! Get in his lap so she can sit there! C'mon!

Melody blinked for a moment, cottoned on quickly, and got up, prancing into Wash's lap and settling down again. Ziva did make her person happy, and she could encourage that.

Wash perked up a bit when Ziva arrived too, though he wasn't aware that he had. He blinked at Melody's abrupt movement. "Guess not." He nodded towards the seat - it was hers if she wanted it. "Did you see the Moogles have popcorn?"

[sexyimpact]

With nothing really better to do, Etna had decided to show up to watch this "Struggle" thing that was going on. Hopefully it would be at least a little entertaining. If not... well, she'd figure some way to make it more entertaining, certainly.

If nothing else, at least it was an excuse to stuff herself full of junk food. Not only did she get a bag of popcorn from the moogles, but an armload of various candy and snacks that she deposited in a pile beside where she sat--perched on top of her own meow wow.

[dork_of_keys]

Sora was starting to wonder if this was the best idea. Sure, it was all in fun. But he had stuff on his mind. Then again, maybe this would help a little.

His Spirits were wandering around among the stands looking for someone they knew to sit with. More than likely, they'd latch onto Riku, or Namine. They'd probably latch onto Kairi too if she wasn't participating.

He wasn't sure what to make of his opponent, though. He hadn't met her yet, but he'd seen her network post. He couldn't even begin to guess whether she was just stressed by the circumstances or if she was always that sunny. He sincerely hoped it wasn't the latter. Still, that barely mattered where it concerned a bit of friendly competition. He gave the gear one more check over. He was about as ready as he was going to get.

Bolin v. Tidus - who do you want to win?

[buymedumplings]

[Bolin made sure his helmet was on straight and gave his bat a few test swings. He was glad he'd been practicing with Xion and Roxas because now the foam bat didn't feel QUITE as cumbersome in his hands. Oh, it still wasn't the kind of fighting he was used to, but at least he was no longer a complete rookie.

Bolin stood across from his opponent with an easy yet confident grin.

He felt ready.]

[4letters4ninja]

Ziva raised an eyebrow at Melody as she moved. She'd just figured to sit next to the spirit, not take her spot. Besides, she thought the protect-Wash-cat would want to stay right next to him. She sat down next to him, Fluffy landing in her lap.

"Ah, no. I did not. Think they know spirit enough so I can send Fluffy to get some?"

[allfunandgamesuntil]

York checked his gear again; he'd taken his armor off for this, since not everyone would be wearing it. He took Xion in with a wary glance. He wasn't really comfortable with this; sure she could fight, but she was just a teenager. It didn't seem right to be hitting her with a foam bat, even in a friendly match. So he stood there, arms by his sides, his guard entirely down.

"Are you sure this is okay?"

[unrecovered]

Protect-Wash-cat recognized at this point that Ziva was a protect-Wash-person. Plus, Ziva made her person happy. She approved of both of those facts.

"Do you really think you'll have any popcorn left by the time Fluffy gets back?" Fang had already made it clear he was pretty fond of popcorn, and knowing Fluffy, that wasn't likely to end well. After a moment, Wash tilted his popcorn towards her. "Tell you what. You buy next round."

[4letters4ninja]

Fluffy squeaked. He wouldn't eat it all. Just most of it. Ziva laughed at the look he gave Wash before turning away, as if in a huff. She tapped him gently on the ear, causing him to squeak again.

"Good point. Endless stomach, this one." She reached over, taking a bit of the popcorn and offering some to her bat in a truce. "Deal." She took in the fighters out on the sandlot.

"So, any bets on who will win?"

[unrecovered]

Wash smirked back at the disgruntled bat. Called it. "I'd ask where they put it all, but I don't think I want to know." He reached into the storage compartment on his armor with his free hand and removed a cookie, breaking it in two and offering half to each of his Spirits. Melody nibbled her half daintily; Fang scarfed his down and looked mournfully up at Wash, begging for more. "I don't think so," Wash told the bat. "I know North feeds you when I'm not looking." Fang just pouted, and Melody snickered.

Wash followed Ziva's gaze, looking up at the match. "York's going to get his ass kicked," he said casually. Statement of fact.

whichever! I don't have a preference. :)

[go_dream]

[Tidus had known waving a bat would be different from using his sword. He hadn't been counting on how different. He switched the bat to his right hand, bouncing quickly from each foot in all his energy. He hadn't worn his shield, though his normal armguard remained in place. He tested out the weight of the bat, examining it with his eyes.

He met Bolin's eyes and grinned back. It was cheerful, good natured despite this being a competition, but entirely focused. As soon as it was time for them to go, he ran forward, watching Bolin for any signs of movement and swinging his bat as if it were a sword.]

[4letters4ninja]

Ziva laughed as she watched Fang pout, even as Fluffy was searching her hand for more popcorn. "I am pretty sure they have a miniature black hole in their stomachs, or something." She reached into the pocket of her jacket and tossed a treat at Abby, who was sitting patiently nearby.

"...Probably." Part of her brain was interested to watch his fighting form for training purposes later. And, another part was just waiting to watch Xion kick his butt.

[unrecovered]

Before Wash knew it, there was a smile growing on his face. Just a small one, but it was there nonetheless. Something about her laugh just warmed some small part of him and made him want to smile-

He caught himself and stopped, poker face snapping into place for a few moments before he realized that would stand out just as much as the smile and let it soften just a bit. He'd told York he could think about things, but he hadn't yet. He still wasn't sure he wanted to risk upsetting the status quo.

But right now they were here to watch York get beaten by a teenage girl, and Wash pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind for now. "Probably comes standard in the model," he commented, offering Fang a bit of popcorn. The bat immediately quit pouting and accepted the food with a squeak.

"Well, think about it," Wash nodded towards the arena. "Xion has one of those Keyblades and is good with it, skills she can use here. On top of that, York's going to hesitate because she's a teenage girl, and he still has to compensate for his blind spot. Unless he gets really, really lucky, he's not winning this."

[4letters4ninja]

Ziva wasn't paying attention, so she missed the change in facial expressions, focusing more on what was going on in the ring. She was still trying to figure out how the game worked and keep Fluffy from stealing the popcorn container.

"I would not be surprised." She said, tapping her bat on the ear again, letting him know she knew what he was up to. He made a huff like sound and turned so he was facing the sandlot this time. She shook her head. "I know I have seen this one eat more food in a day then I normally do."

Glancing back out to where the match was occurring, she smirked. "And I get this feeling that Xion would not like the hesitation." Meaning: York was really going to get his ass kicked.

[skysmirror]

"It'll be fine, really."

The Struggle bats were tame compared to what she'd dealt with before. Not that getting hit would be fun, but it was a part of the game and they had gear to make sure they wouldn't get too hurt. Really, she didn't see where York's hesitation was coming from. Then again, she wasn't used to grown-ups who had problems with hitting children.

She could reassure him for now, at least. If he wouldn't accept that, then she'd just have to find another way to show him that holding back wasn't a good idea.

[allfunandgamesuntil]

"Yeah, but...you're a kid. A teenager," York amended. Teenagers didn't tend to like being called kids. Even though they were. She seemed game, maybe he shouldn't worry about it. It wasn't like they were even sparring with live weapons.

[skysmirror]

No, Xion didn't like being called a kid, but mostly because she'd never really felt the term applied to her. Most children--or teenagers--didn't go on daily missions fighting beings that could kill them. There really wasn't any need to worry about a few hits with a foam bat. She tilted her head to one side, thinking, but before she could ask if it really made that much of a difference, the Moogle who was acting as referee came up to start the match.

[allfunandgamesuntil]

York shifted to guard a bit slower than he should have; she was taking this seriously and he owed it to her as her sparring partner to take this seriously too. He didn't try to go on the offensive, though; he wasn't that comfortable with this right now.

[skysmirror]

Of course Xion was taking this seriously. Even if it was just a game, she was going to give it all she had. Since York wasn't going to take the offensive, she did. His slight delay in guarding gave her a good opening for what would be a strong blow to his midsection if it connected well.

[allfunandgamesuntil]

It did and York staggered, the wind knocked out of him. Balls were flying all over, and clearly, he needed to take this really seriously because she wasn't going to go easy on him. York managed to regain his balance enough to look to recapturing what he'd lost and putting up a decent defense. Alright, he could do this. When he could breathe again.

[skysmirror]

Well, it looked like that had worked in more ways than one. Xion had managed to make her point and land a good hit. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to get any extra orbs before he got them all back, and with him going on the defensive, she wasn't likely to land another blow soon. Time to re-evaluate the plan. She took a step back, going into a defensive stance and waiting to see what his next move would be.