Fisticuffs Fundraiser! (IC)

[Geez3r]

Fulcrum obviously wanted to measure Atlas as well. They both knew that if one of them could just clock the other with an uber punch at any moment and floor them, so they both wished to err on the side of caution. That's what Atlas thought anyway until Fulcrum started to "old English boxer" herself around the ring. He cracked a smile and nearly dropped his guard right up until Fulcrum started attacking him.

That got his attention real quick. They were a series of probing attacks, either that or she was a very poor boxer, most likely the former. Atlas's large arms made blocking the attacks relatively easy, but he knew as soon as she found her rhythm, she would probably be able to punch him in the face whenever she wanted. Atlas bid his time, doing some bobbing and weaving of his own, waiting for his chance and then popped Fulcrum with a sharp left jab.

[quotemyname]

"Here we go!" Colt cheered as the bout got underway. Even though he was holding Grim in one of his arms, he managed to put his drink in the seat's cup holder. He threw a few mock punches with his left hand. "Get'er Atlas! Get'er!" He called, cheering for his poker buddy. "Reckon we outta start stockin' up on'a drinks. Heaven's knows he's gonna want one after this here fight." He said to Grim.

[Gizmo]

"You got a bucket?" Jack asked wryly when Colt suggested preparing a beverage for the massive Russian. Snarking aside, the swordsman's eyes never left the fight below. While an out and out slugging match was hardly his combat method of choice, the sheer power being tossed around in the ring below fascinated him. For all his recklessness, Jack was pointedly aware that a moment's lapse in concentration, a stray bullet, a lucky shot were all it would take to kill him. Well, kill me again, anyway. That knowledge helped him to focus and grounded him in reality. The idea of being able to bounce bullets from one's skin and shrug off blows that could shatter buildings boggled his mind. There's metas, and then there's metas, he mused, shaking his head.

[Dariusprime]

The distinctive dull thump of tissue impacts, practically bread-and-butter to fighters, was noticeably absent from the beginning of this match. Even Fulcrum's sloppy opening barrage reverberated with distinctive sharp pops. Atlas' counter attack really sounded off, echoing through the stadium like a car hitting concrete. Considering that both fighters were not just metaphorically "built like tanks", the analogy was a sound one.

Which made taking the punch that much more impressive. A few in the audience gasped, but Fulcrum was none the worse for wear. His arm slipped over her guard and connected hard, but she absorbed it smoothly. Although not acknowledging it consciously, she had been hit worse. Not much worse, yes, but harder. Some little part hoped he couldn't hit harder, but that was somehow...doubtful.

Instincts told her to go for a counter cross. Following his arm's retraction, she pushed in close and landed a solid one across his temple. Getting punched hurt, but hitting him was like hitting titanium. What the hell did he have for breakfast? Impervium?

Nonetheless she smiled through the mouth guard, doing her best, ie worst, snooty English accent, "Nice counter, old chap."

[Heritage]

Like the other heroes present, Grim was fascinated by the contest, letting out little sypathetic yelps when either fighter actually connected.

"See, I'm conficted here; on the one hand, it would be nice to see a girl actually win tonight, but on the other, Atlas is my bud. Argh!"

Setting aside her snacks, Grim wriggles upright and calls forth a wooden nickel, only this one has Atlas' grinning face on one side and Fulcrum flexing a bicep on the other; flipping it high in the air, the changeling slaps it on the back of her hand, takes a peek and shrugs.

"C'mon, girl, show that Russkie who's boss! Woo-hoo!"

[Geez3r]

The ropes around the edge of the ring actually moved from the force of the impact of Fulcrum's punch as the tiniest drop of blood dripped off of Atlas's forehead. The only one likely to see the red liquid was Fulcrum, as one might expect it was quite difficult to see on Atlas. The wound it self stopped bleeding after that one drop and was quite superficial except that it meant that Atlas could in fact be harmed, it would just take a bit of pounding to lay the big man out.

"And a nice punch zere yourself." said Atlas as he continued to circle Fulcrum, barely breaking stride. Let's start ratcheting it up. Atlas waited for his moment and then connected with another solid jab, this time a right, nearly in the same spot Fulcrum had hit him. Fulcrum and the crowd noticed this punch was even stronger than the last, and the force field rippled a bit from the concussion the blow caused. The fact that his glove was now a little torn also probably had something to do with it.

[quotemyname]

"I think it's fascinatin' how they all c'n punch so hard their gloves tear." Colt mused. "'An here we all are gettin' KO'ed on'a first few punches. I really hope this'n last fer a while."

"C'mon, girl, show that Russkie who's boss! Woo-hoo!"

Colt shot Grim a dirty look for a moment. But then he just smiled and shook his head. Picking up the strange nickel from her hand, he examined it and laughed a little. "Tell me this ain't how ya make all yer decisions." he pleaded.

[Gizmo]

"Pfft, I didn't get knocked out," Jack snorted absently without looking over at the cowboy. The swashbuckler clucked his tongue disapprovingly. "Fake accents? Really?" Cupping his hands around his mouth he shouted at the ring. "Make a joke about his pants never ripping inappropriately! Big Red! You've got more'n a foot on her! Make a short joke!" Jack paused before adding, "Oh, and punch each other, too, I guess!"

[Dariusprime]

Yeah, punch each other. Atlas was very good at that, and Fulcrum didn't hear a thing Jack yelled. Mainly because that right jab cleaned her clock. She brought her guard up, but the action was too little too late. The last thing she remembered was a violent blur across her vision and a boom that sounded like a bomb going off. The world blacked out for a split second, and she missed the field's pulses or the echoing counter ripples.

To the audience, that jab flipped Fulcrum over bodily, dumping her gracelessly onto her stomach with a heavy thud. A second or two later, she pushed up to her knees, wobbling from the jolt and spit out chunks of mouth guard. She mumbled something under her breath, but considering her disorientation, it was thankfully unintelligible. In hindsight, she would be surprised she didn't get launched against the force field.

From the perspective of Jack, the fight had another side. Warming up had increased her energy aura considerably, but not too much above her earlier excitement. When the first punches flew, something strange happened. The corona of black energy blossomed around her and spread black, wispy tendrils out toward Atlas. Their sensation carried a patient, inevitable sensation, like they were probing Atlas' energy pattern for weaknesses. After taking the hit, they retracted reflexively, wrapping around and disappearing as her output dropped sharply.

[Geez3r]

Fulcrum wasn't the only one floored by that punch. Atlas was flat out stunned that actually worked. He had expected her to shrug off that last attack like she did his first. All pretense of the boxing match forgotten, Atlas started to approach her to make sure she was alright. Before he had even taken the first step however, she was already getting to her feet.

Atlas' relief was plainly visible as his shoulders sagged and he let out a long sigh. Oh course she's fine. It'd take more than that. Remembering finally that he was in a boxing match, he retreated to his corner while Dark Star began his rather short count and Fulcrum got to her feet. From his corner, he turned to the people who had already fought "Zis is vhat happens in a boxing match vhen ze competitors follow ze rules..." to Ace and Colt "...and vhen zey actually zrow punches." he finished looking at Grim and Jack.

[quotemyname]

"Hey now, I reckon if y'all don't have nothin' nice ta say, don't say nothin' at all." Colt called back. "Y'all gotta be good't more'n one form'a combat, if'n yer gonna survive where I come from. But he, if'n punchin's all it takes round these parts..." Colt shrugged, adding, "Least we made sure the audience had'a diverse showin'."

[Heritage]

"Pfft, I didn't get knocked out,"

Grim frowns and flicks a spoonful of ice cream at Jack. "Dude, I was not knocked out; I passed out on my own recognizance. There's a difference, y'know."

"Zis is vhat happens in a boxing match vhen ze competitors follow ze rules..." to Ace and Colt "...and vhen zey actually zrow punches."

The shapeshifter adopts of look of mock-outrage. "Oh no he din-it! That no-good Rooskie is beating up our women and stealing our jobs!" Throwing off her robe, she leaps off Colt's lap (still a little wobbly, but otherwise a nice dismount) and lands outside the ring, wearing sneakers, cut-off shorts and a garish USA T-shirt. Thrusting up her hands, she creates a large placard that reads 'KICK HIS ATLAS!', and procedes to march back and forth in front of the seats, hollering and working up the crowd.

Ah, this takes me back. :D

[Dariusprime]

Fulcrum sat there a moment, collecting her thoughts, and stood up without difficulty. Although stunning her something fierce, the punch didn't do any serious damage, or at least nothing more serious than what happened to Atlas. She wasn't bleeding, but judging from squint to a left eye, it was going to sting soon enough. Jogging in place, she popped her jaw and smiled to Atlas.

A change in tactics sprang to mind. She was really glad Atlas was on good side, because facing him in real battle would be a nightmare. He appeared to not only be stronger and tougher, but at first blush an overall better fighter than her. Although she didn't want to do it, the only way she would buy herself time and a shot at pulling this out was to go completely on the offensive. He already landed two powerful blows without much effort. That only made him that much more challenging and fun!

The decision made, she approached center ring. In passing she waved off a mouth guard offered by an attendant. The device really wasn't going to do much. A hit to the face alone had made her bite through the other one. The fresh one wouldn't survive a single jaw hit as far as she was concerned. It wouldn't be protecting much of anything, let alone teeth.

Steadying herself for the coming storm, "Now this is fun!" said Fulcrum while raising guard.

[Geez3r]

Atlas had to recover for a minute in the corner, not from any sort of injury, but rather the fact that Grim's antics had caused him to double over in laughter. Wiping a tear from his eye, Atlas regained his composure and stood up to his full height. "Good to see you on your feet." he said sincerely to Grim.

"Zat it is." said Atlas as he retouched gloves with Fulcrum in the ring. "Ve should spar after zis more often I zink." He circled Fulcrum a bit out of her reach, so that they could have a bit of a civil conversation for a moment before going back to the fight. Once Fulcrum had answered and the two were ready to continue, Atlas gets back into his more familiar distance.

He measures Fulcrum for a moment before letting her have a strong right to the stomach, and the results are rather destructive. Altas's glove simply explodes from the force of the impact and the ripples in the force field become full on waves. The ropes around the ring are forced out, nearly to the point of breaking.

[Gizmo]

Jack instinctively threw a hand up to block Grim's frozen projectile, and came away with a cold and sticky hand for his trouble. "Well, yuck," he grimaced, waving a concessionist over to grab a napkin. He nodded to Colt as he wiped his hand clean. "Word up, cow-brother. You think I stay this pretty by letting folks punch me? Discretion is the better part of not getting your ribs cracked. Again."

He was distracted from Lynn's costume changing antics by Fulcrum's shifting aura. It definitely seemed to respond to the paragon's use of her powers, but their was a distinct malevolence to it that seemed to act almost independently. Jack cracked his neck uncomfortably; even from this far away and through Dark Star's force field, the tendrils of black light felt like a minor chord with long finger nails clamping down on his shoulder. Inclined though he was to mind his own business, the swordsman resolved to speak with Fulcrum privately about it. If she was spilling that kind of bad juju in the West End, it was definitely his concern.

Altas' latest massive blow triggered a sudden flashback to the demon invasion, and Jack winced involuntarily, leaning backward in his seat and gripping the armrests. A hit like that would have broken him, just like massive demon's had. Never happened, he reminded himself unconvincingly.

[quotemyname]

"You'n me? We're just too pretty ta have our faces messed up." Colt pointed back at Jack, "Look at that chiseled jaw! Who would want to lay a finger on that?!"

"Now, Grim, ya play nice, y'hear? No playin' wit yer food." Colt grinned and gave her a wink. All in the interests of jesting. Still, in the interests of showmanship, he was sorely tempted to put a few bullets through her sign. He restrained himself and settled for just giving her an adoring look.

Colt could legitimately say that each of the punches thrown by the fighters in the ring hurt. Each time a fist connected, it rattled his teeth and shook his ribs. This was enough to reaffirm that he had no interests in going up against either Atlas or Fulcrum at any time. He was once again reminded how happy he was to count these people as his friends rather than his enemies.

[Dariusprime]

"Yes, we should. It would be nice sparring without worrying about taking his head off," answered Fulcrum as she circled, "We'll have to compare workout schedules. I head over to Dana's a three times a week."

Fulcrum assumed her guard and cautiously waited out Atlas. Telling yourself to act more aggressively was one thing, but actually doing it was another matter entirely. She was looking for an opening in his guard, something she could use to slip inside. Rushing head long into his reach just wasn't going to cut it anymore. His technique was understood by this point, but instead of the counter attack, Fulcrum tucked and dodged. The bulk of the punch was blunted but still rattled her.

That's when she made her move. The consequences of what she was about to do were well understood. Even right up against him, where counter punches would be awkward, her defense was all by non-existent. Instead she threw everything she had into a rapid fire one-one-two-three combo. Unfortunately, the results were less than spectacular. The jabs and cross cleared the road ineffectively, and the big finish, a close left hook to the ribs, impacted his massive right arm. Telegraphing the punch through his guard just didn't generate enough force because of her positioning.

While Fulcrum mentally noted to brush up on combos, the two fighters were giving the audience one hell of a show. The ropes had just began snapping back when the combo started, straining them outward with each blow. The hook hit with such power that a visible shock wave emanated, snapping the connecting ropes of a corner post and bending the metal outward with a shriek. The lines whipped against the force field, adding to the chaotic waves and distortions.

[Geez3r]

Atlas had lucked out in this fight, he was disproportional to most competitors. He had much broader arms relatively to his body so his guard was a bit better than someone of his skill would normally have, and that little extra bit had saved him from what would have been a text book knock out blow.

Atlas mimicked Fulcrum's aggressive style and went for an immediate counter attack. He took a defiant step forward and poured all his weight behind a full on, bare knuckle freight train. The force was so massive that the glove on Atlas's other hand exploded from the sheer force of the recoil. A visible shock wave spread out from the point of contact, decimating what remained of the ring, blowing out its supports, sending the whole structure crashing to the ground.

Dark Star's force field buckled, cracked and was destroyed, but not before the quick thinking elemental was able to redirect most of the energy up and away from the crowds. The force was enough to knock standing back down into their seats and relocate hats a few rows back, but no damage was done. It would later be announced you could hear that punch over 2 miles away.

[angrydurf]

Ace had sat back and observed through most of the ringside banter. He cheered as the blows were exchanged along with the rest of the crowd but didn't want to detract from the titanic battle before them.

He smirked at Grimalkins chimerical antics, and Jack Of All Blades rapier wit, though he also took note of the young mans hollow expression at a particularly savage blow. Perhaps there was more then met the eye with the agile fencer.

As Atlas landed what He was certain to be a knock out he ducked his head and absently grasped the brim of his hat to keep it from flying away, "Well thats all she..." He said before he looked up to see the staggered but still standing Fulcrum, "Or not. GOOD SHOW, Give him what for Fulcrum."

[quotemyname]

Like many in the rest of the crowd, Colt's hat suddenly decided to depart his head after that last blow. "Who nelly!" Colt cheered as he grabbed at his hat. Swinging it through the air, he called out, "Helluva fireworks show, y'all! Keep it up!"

[Gizmo]

"You know I heard that," Jack agreed, pointing back at Colt when the cowboy posited that the pair of them were just too pretty to be damaged. Smirking, he turned back to fight just in time for a massive wave of kinetic energy to temporarily white-out his energy sense. "Dios...! That's just... that's... wow." he finished lamely. His mind positively boggled at the amount of force Atlas had just unleashed, but it wasn't until he realized that Fulcrum was still standing that his jaw dropped. The verbose rogue found himself sputtering, for once at a loss for words.

[Heritage]

Grim's glamoured placard was blown to atoms, and the petite heroine was literally knocked on her ass by the force of the Russian's punch. Rubbing her butt as she shakily rose to her feet, the shapeshifter could only gape as she pulled a full-on Keanu.

"Whoa."

Eyes still locked on the remians of the ring, she gingerly made her back to her seat, and sat down quietly next to Colt.

[Dariusprime]

A battered Fulcrum knew only one way of overcoming that megaton warhead Atlas called a fist. Dodging at this range was impossible, and holding up tissue paper would be more effective than a regular block. It was the big one, the finisher, his body funneled into one hand. So like every self-respecting and spectacle-loving super hero, Fulcrum decided to do something completely crazy.

She counter punched! She met him head on, a gloved right fist slamming knuckle-to-knuckle. The force of the impact, shock wave not withstanding, rippled up the arm and shoulder. Her whole right side went instantly numb. Her face twisted into a snarling grimace as his overwhelming power still threw her arm back against her chest. She braced with everything she had, determined to ride out the hit. Even as the ring collapsed beneath her, it split and warped, crashing debris outward from her footprints.

The Blue Bombers were her personal morphic gloves, custom made to survive virtually anything she could dish out. Nothing on this earth could survive firepower of that magnitude. The right glove and tape disintegrated at the moment of impact and joined the remnants of Atlas' glove somewhere in the stratosphere. The shock wave rent the other, blowing out the seams and stripping it right off her hand. The tape unraveled amid the fury.

Everything was all blurry and buzzy. She faded in-and-out unsure as to what was happening. Finally a voice, distant but distinct from the ringing, penetrated her haze. Of all people, the voice belonged to Ace, unintelligible but clear. Her eyes focused, a maniacal glint to them, and she poured her all into a final hammering set of blows. Sparks and glass rained down on the fighters from the overhead lights.

KRAKOOM! KRAKOOM!

[Gizmo]

Just as Jack's vision was clearing from Atlas' kinetic onslaught, Fulcrum unleashed her own full power. The paragon's aura lashed out, a thousand tentacles of macabre anti-light flaring up and ripping at the very fabric of the world. The bulk of the sickening emissions wrapped around her arm, drilling into the Russian, but the serrated strings flew out to whip hungrily at everyone in the audience. For the energy aware swordsman, it was like his brain and stomach experiencing whiplash in two separate directions.

Blindly he tried to leap from his seat, but his knees buckled and he fell, nauseating vertigo making the arena spin about him. Shuddering, Jack emptied his stomach over the cement stands, vomit mixing with a trickle of blood from his nose. "Hurghnagh..." He struggled feebly to get his limbs to obey his mental commands, but it was all he could do to keep himself propped up on his hands and knees as another wave of vomit poured forth. "Gotta... hgh... pe...people... away... ngh..."

[Cyroa]

Dark Star shook his head. He had known this was a bad idea from the start. His original shield caught most of the shrapnel and shockwave from their titanic punches. It caught most of the shrapnel from the detonating ring of course. But he wasn't quite prepared for the massive force released. His shield crumbled, disintegrating under the pressure. He got most of the damage at least, though Jack seemed to suffer some minor trauma.

Dark Star was far from happy with the two of them. They could have severely hurt some of these people. He gestured, altering the gravity slightly to lift them both off the floor as he flew down to hover over/between them. It would only be a few inches at most, just enough to get them to stop fighting, not embarrass them. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A TIE!" He looked down at both of them, and in a much quieter and disappointed tone addressed them as the crowd roared. "You two could have hurt someone! You should be ashamed of yourselves. This was a 'friendly' match, not a opportunity to cut loose. I am very disappointed. You should know better." His voice carried no farther than them, but any who knew him could tell his mood quite easily. He shook his head and floated upwards, away from the two fighters. He looked amongst the crowd to make sure no one was injured, pushing his disappointment and sadness away until after he was sure everyone was ok.