[Backalley Sprawl V1.0]

[Kaj]

[Add-on File: "Bar: Psychopath"]

Kaj was sitting and enjoying his drink, the airy trance and heavy bass strumming his blood like a skilled musician's hands on a lyre. The liquor was cheap and sugary, but at least he wasn't just sitting around like some dex addict or rapist... Or, as of the moment, he wasn't sitting at all.

Kaj was flung from his chair in a heap by an overpumped Samurai wannabe, his hair pulled up in a crimson topknot and his arms thick and powerful with what was likely storebought muscle.

The wannabe let out a chortle, thick and disgusting, before he kicked the stool, it's neuwood body crashing into splinters against the side counter as Kaj shifted away. The sound of his laughter was picked up and amplified by the man's cronies, guffawing like hyenas. Kaj shuddered for a moment, before his unlikely savior arrived. The bartender stood between them, holding his shotgun in the faces of the thugs.

"All of you, get the heck out of my bar. I don't want any troublemakers -- You can settle your bad blood on the street and stop bothering my patrons." Slowly, cooly, like overdrugged panthers, the five gang members slid from the bar.

And then the kindly bartender turned into Kaj's damnation.

"You too, y'damn bit of drek. I don't want them to be coming back in here after your scrawny ass."

[Hawk]

Music was the fruit of the soul. The very essence of humanity's urge to create, forced into a tangible element. Something people could experience... it was a sharing of mind and body, intertwining and becoming one with the listener. Every person and their music melded in some way with those that listened to that music. Of course, some noise just faded into the background. Some embedded itself in people's minds. This particular music was heard only by one person, inside his own head. Barely tangible, yet there none the less. It made life pass by in a subtly more pleasant manner. Though some things were unpleasant no matter how they were looked at.

The unearthly green eyes of one of the par patrons observed the tense scene of mild violence with a flicker that most denizens of this particular city did not possess. It hinted at something deeper than a mild tolerance for life... perhaps an enjoyment? Really, it was of little consequence. Right now, the imaginary tune playing in the man's head did little to settle the thoughts and emotions that arose over the downright deplorable actions of the supposedly yearning to be Samurai. The man watching, who's name happened to be for most intents and purposes 'Hawk', could tell right away that it was barely worth the effort to observe... this fellow's actions had less worth than the clothes he was wearing which, by appearance, he had scrounged out of the same dingy alley he himself had emerged from. Hawk sighed at the mild tousle over the affair... Hawk wasn't one to get needlessly involved. But tonight, for some reason, he felt like being a bit more active. Maybe it was the fact that his trigger finger was itchy from lack of use, or that the fellow who had been turned upright by the oafish brute, excuse for a 'runner wannabe kind of struck a chord in him... he looked like the sort that deserved the help.

Smiling grimly, Hawk fingerd his trusty pistol in the depths of his coat, to ensure it was still there. He never liked to be anywhere without it. Feeling it in his hand comforted him, in a way. Hawk polished off his drink (bottled water) and stood from his stool. Hopefull this would be over without too much hassle. Hawk didn't bother to say anything... surely no one would take interest in his reasoning, or what he intended to do to help the poor fellow who had been shoved in such a harsh manner. Hawk was no doer of good... though in a general sense, this might up his Karmic points in some small way. So, quietly, and ready for whatever would go down, he walked out the door of the dank bar and on to the street. Hopefully the fun hadn't started without him...

[Yuuji]

The music pounded loudly in Yuuji's ear and her right hand lofted up and forward to the base of her cheek, watching the people dance hypnotically to the beat. She came here on nights when things ended up being dull in her profession and watching idiotic people come here for a night's worth of freedom made it all the more amusing. One man on the dance floor had dared to lock eyes with hers, his movements broken down to show he was drunk. Yuuji turned to look away at the bar, seeing a male being tossed around and the bartender stop out and around.

She was sure she saw Kaj from somewhere and her eyes narrowed down to get a better look, now seeing the bartender with a shotgun. No one else seemed to be noticed, half of them were probably caked. 'What is going on?' she wondered to herself, stepping away from the tube she had been standing by for what seemed to be an hour. Should she really stick her nose into other people's business? It seemed rough, after all. She seemed focused only on Kaj's next movements.

[Kaj]

Kaj's body slowly hovered out, lingering inside for those last few moments to breathe what could very well be his last breaths that he could manage to take without a machine to help him do it as he lay prone in a hospital bed.

As he emerged into the night air and the alleyway, there was a slight glow emanating from the end of a cigarette, dancing lazily in the night air as it was attached and then taken away from the mouth of the wannabe. Kaj smiled cockily, his sense of self-preservation going out the window in exchange for the logic that if he was going to get his ass kicked, he might as well look good doing it. "Smoking's detrimental to your health, scumbag. Then again, you're probably more plastic than meat, so it's not like you have anything left worth damaging, you drek-head."

Well, nobody said it was good logic.

[Hawk]

Hawk strutted calmly out into the night air, an expression of mild amusement still on his face. It wasn't that the antics of the folk around him were particularly amusing... it was just that in the face of such strife in tragedy as presented to one by the monster of life... if one didn't laugh, what else could they do? Being reduced to a sobbing heap was to no-one's advantage. Maybe that was part of the reason he found himself coming to this fellow's aid... the wannabe's looked like they were the kinds to waste a life. Hawk liked to think he would be kinder... though, for these fellows, they might be better off dead.

Hawk caught the thin fellow's remark to the head loser as he exited the bar. Maybe he had made a wrong choice? Oh well. Nothing to do but get to it now.

"Hmm. 'Scuse, fellows. Couldn't help but notice that five against one is hardly fair. However much that deplorable habit might be hurting your chances, there, chum..." Hawk gestured lucidly to the head honcho of the gang of five opposite himself and his temporarily perchance ally. He cast his eyes to the side at the fellow. "Mind a bit of help?" he enquired.

[Yuuji]

Yuuji's eyes followed Kaj's form up and out of the bar, for some reason she figured that she should just stick behind and watch everyone else. But she came here looking for entertainment; Kaj seemed an outlet for just that. Picking up the pace she followed after Kaj's movements, eyes motioning from left to right to make sure no one was picking up something out of the 'loop'. Once she had left the bar's entrance and the night's air caught the tips of her fingers. She didn't only see Kaj, but someone else was inquiring for help.

Bending herself up on the tips of her boots, she stared out towards the five men who by all means, seemed very disgusting. Frowning to herself she took a few steps forward to stand on the other side of Kaj, leaving no words for the wannabes. "And I as well?" this had to be one of the most eventful nights, surely if this strange fellow said no, she'd watch anyways. Of course, she had her eye on Kaj the entire night and was waiting for him to move from the bar. Disappointedly, the odds had to end this way.

[Kaj]

Kaj just smiled in the way that implies that an angel from heaven has just descended before his eyes, dazzling him beyond belief and filling his inner being with the utmost fire of hope. He reached to his side, pulling out a whip made of a single silken strand, and snapped it with a vibration that rung through the air and one's blood like harpsong.

The thugs, of course, were not impressed, and the leader spat his cigarette to the ground, crushing it under his boot in a way that implied that Kaj and his unlikely saviors were going to be next. His katana whirled from his back, and several knives and clubs were procured from his entourage.

[Initiative]
Ally: Hawk: 86%
Enemy: Thug III: 78%
Enemy: Thug IV: 68%
Enemy: Thug II: 56%
Ally: Yuuji: 53%
Enemy: S.Samurai: 31%
Enemy: Thug I: 8%
Ally: Kaj: 6%

[Hawk]

Hawk grinned further than the circumstance should have allowed, and drew his trusty firearm from the depths of his coat. Hawk always felt complete when he had the firm handle of his pistol within his grasp... knowing that with a little more than a though, he could send a trail through the air, the tip of which consisted of burning pain for any who would enter its path. Of course, people were often reluctant to do such a thing. Hawk felt it was sometimes his job to help them in that respect.

Of course, it wasn't as though he was the type to toss ammo about here and there, firing his gun of as he pleased, whoever got in the way was a casualty of his profession. Hawk shot with discretion... he was not heartless, nor senseless. Though in a situation like the one that had arisen tonight, it might have payed to be both at times. Hawk's grin faded into a subtle smirk, as he twirled his pistol in his hand, scanning the opposition for an optimal target. Finally, he settled on what one might have considered an unlikely foe - merely one of the thugs who was soon to regret learning what it was like to be on the business end of Hawk's showy yet efficient pistol skills. Ceasing his twirl, Hawk took aim as best he could, and fired. He could visualize the bullet flying from the firing chamber, into the barrel of the gun... then outward faster than the eye could see, leaving an invisible tail in its wake. Hopefully soon to embed itself in its intended target. Hawk wasn't sure about many things in the world, but one that he /was/ sure of was that he seldom missed...

[Yuuji]

Yuuji's gaze had to a spark to it when she noticed Kaj had accepted the help through a facial expression and gesture. Without hesitating she reached her left hand behind her back to grasp the end of the staff and pull it out from her carrier. Letting it drop down to the ground she slanted it forward and closed her eyes in concentration. Using her photographic memory she visualized one of the thugs to the right of the leader. Once she had gotten the target in place, she opened her eyes and was staring at the target envisioned. After the warm-up stage she would be all set.

Lifting her staff hastily she mumbled something under her breath, stepping forward to lean her weight onto the weight of her foot. As though heaven did more than answer Kaj's 'prayer' for help, a flash of lightening had came down towards the thug she targeted. Though with electricity, there was no for sure bulls eye.

[Crackling Bolt]: Deals 2-5 damage with a bolt of electricity.
Duration: 1 round, MP Cost: 4
Target Enemy: Thug III

[Kaj]

Hawk's bullet went straight and true, striking the second thug in the crown and sending his target sprawling back with a deep screeching sound that rang out through the alleyway, likely becoming unnerving, perhaps most of all, for the thug who had just been shot.

The third thug rushed at Kaj with his knife, driving the blade into Kaj's arm with a deep welling of crimson soaking up, just below the tattoo that graced his arm. (4 damage: Kaj)

The fourth thug's club was twirled and smashed into Hawk's side, although some of the force was carried away by the high-density fibers of his neuclothing, and the hit did little more than to wound him without real hinderance. (3 damage: Hawk)

The Second thug's chance for action was spent in a frenzied scream as he groped blindly at his forehead, trying to staunch the bleeding whilst he panicked wildly. Apparently, his job description didn't usually involve cranial trauma by gunshots. (No action)

Yuuji's spell called forth a pulsing flash of electricity which chained through the alleyway with a blinding flash, smashing into and wounding the third thug. He gasped as the electricity ran through him and arced into the ground.

The Street Samurai grinds fiercely! (Just kidding.) He stands there, katana-out, assessing the situation as though it were an old kung-fu movie and he must only fight when all his minions have been promptly and thusly defeated. Either that, or he's having second thoughts about all this.

The First thug also made a go at Kaj, hurling his knife from a short distance, and giving an amused and irritating screech as it sunk into the shoulder near his neck, it's blade driving in deep to Kaj's flesh, forcing him to exhale sharply in shock. (6 damage)

Kaj whirled like a spiralling dervish, his spiderweb whip sinking deep into the body of the first thug with a wild spray of blood rising from the deep laceration that travelled through his body most of the way. The thug fell back, clutching at his wound, still conscious and able to fight, but in rather worse shape for wear.

[Result]

Kaj: 11/21
Hawk: 20/23
Yuuji: 17/17 : 25/29

[Yuuji]

Yuuji's main focus was on the entire group all together, not wanting to take her eyes off of the movements to let her guard down because she was open to most attacks. Though she noticed a line of red from the corner of her eye and noticed that both Hawk and Kaj had been hit. Stepping back she looked between the two and then back to the group. Hawk was in more stable condition compared to Kaj. She needed Kaj to stay alive otherwise she would be failing in her 'helping out' plan and at her own personal reasons. Of course if one of the enemies decided to come in close-range, she'd have to place herself in a defensive stance and at the moment she remained neutral.

Decisions. Usually she'd take her time with the situation but time was against her allies. Fixing the tip of her staff towards Kaj, she focused her concentration on the bleeding form. At the moment she was searching for the wounds. Just for good measures she'd stick to the center, near to the torso.

[Bind Flesh]: Heals 10 HP to a biological target.
Duration: 1 round, MP Cost: 4
Target Ally: Kaj

[Hawk]

Hawk had time to observe the delightfully skilled impact his bullet made in the fellows head before he was forced to reel from the blow to his side. Had he time, Hawk would have done something of a congratulatory bow to his bullet... as if it was an old friend he was applauding on a job well done. Right now, however, his focal point of interest was the club whurring as it impacted his gut, and his reaction to this action. Of course, the immediate response was to fire a round point blank into this chum's face... but that may have been a tad foolish, somethign Hawk was not.

Using the mild force of the impact, along with his own keen reflexes to move, Hawk rolled with the blow, tumbling several feet before bouncing to his feet and carrying a bit more distance with his legs. Hawk cleared the crowd, before turning on his heel, transforming a simple spin into a whirl, drawing his pistol and pointing it outwards in the same motion. Eventually, his dynamic spin came to a halt, with his pistol trained near perfectly on the body of one more of the ever so pesky thuggish type fellows who seemed content to bear this through to the end. "Is this all a game to you chaps?" Hawk enquired, blinking and smiling jovially. "All right then... now I'm gonna play." And with that, as showy as ever, and hoping to make a point in doing so, Hawk once again pulled the trigger of his simple yet sentimental pistol. The shot rang out in the alley like a coin in an emtpy glass... and while the situation was analgous in some ways, the coin didn't often hope to shatter the glass with no hope of repair. Though perhaps that was a bit harsh...

[Target Enemy: Thug I]

[Kaj]

Hawk's bullet screeched through the air, striking the bloody form of the first thug dead in the chest, sending his already massively-hemhorraging form to the ground. The docwagons would likely be arriving soon to save his life, so it was a mental note in everyone's mind to finish this up within a few minutes.

The third thug made his way at Kaj again, whirling in a painful arc with his blade, the steel lacerating the decker's flesh and casting out a spray of blood, although the wound could have been relatively worse. (4 Damage)

The fourth thug made his way at Kaj, his club smashing into the side of Kaj's ribcage. The thug seemed to have a penchant for striking there, it seemed. (4 damage)

The second thug, regaining his bearings, made at Hawk, smashing his small club into Hawk's cranium. However, he was not what one would call the strongest of all the thugs, and his choice of weapon somewhat limited his ability to incapacitate his enemies. (2 damage)

Yuuji's spell bathed Kaj in a soft green glow, and he felt his body turn icy as his wounds decided, under the flow of magic, that it would be a jolly good idea for them to seal themselves shut with a spurt of sudden growth. (+10 HP)

The Street Samurai made for Hawk, spinning in a wide arc and opening him up like a can of sardines, so to speak. His katana was sharp, and for a wannabe, the plastic and the skill seemed to be fairly genuine, forming a painful combination. (10 damage)

Kaj spun again, the razor edge of his whip streaking down and through the second thug, rending open his ribcage and causing a flowery spray of blood by backlashing his whip. The thug dropped to the ground in a heap, his life force ebbing away quickly.

[Result]

Kaj: 13/21
Hawk: 8/23
Yuuji: 17/17 : 21/29

[Hawk]

Of course, Hawk had been /mildly/ anticipative of the fact that he might get hurt in all this. He hadn't expected much by way of injury. He /certainly/ hadn't expected the raz0r-sharp neusteel of a Katana blade to slice through... well, any significant part of him. Had he the time or wherewithall, he would have sighed, and noted that these were the risks one took when helping random strangers. Of course, in his current state of being, Hawk was in no condition to do a great deal of things. Right now, the foremost among them, was experience pain. After that... maybe some more pain. He'd have to check his appointment book.

Hawk spat blood onto the grimy ground, the taste of moist tin highly noticeable in his mouth. It wasn't exactly unfamiliar... but Hawk preffered a good blue soda, or pure-ish water. He was no fan of the taste of his own mortality. Of course, there was only one answer to this when he thought about it. Namely, show his opponent what the business end of a bullet tasted like. He imagined the aftertaste was not nearly as pleasant as the initial burst of flavour. For him, anyways. To the one doing the sampling... who knew?

Normally, Hawk would have pulled a retreat first, and fired after, but something inspired him this time. He decided that if this somehow competent yearning razorboy felt entitled to invade his personal space, and what's more than that, slice him open like that, Hawk decided it would be only fit to give him the close up and personal kiss of the barrel of his gun. He always thought it was a competent lover... often left people shocked and breathless. Hawk would have chuckled, were he not in so much pain.

The smirk on his face by now hanging on as a grimace of questionable emotion, Hawk lifted his pistol to a near point-blank position with the boisterous Street Samurai's face, and fired, before tumbling backwards. His stomach might be dripping blood, and soon, possibly, entrails, but he was nothing if he couldn't roll and sprint with the rest of them. And so, his backwards roll complete, Hawk sprung to his feet, and made good the distance between himself and his opponents, hoping they would think twice about approaching again as he held his pistol out defensively.

[Yuuji]

Yuuji was definitely helping the best way she knew how, and that was providing that the stronger ones would continue forward with combat while she stayed back and healed. If she was about to be attacked she would do the proper thing and defend, not run away. Because she was standing a little near to Kaj she took a few more steps back and to the left of the group that had surrounded around Hawk. Focusing her attention on him she took a deep breath in. A hit to the head could have meant a lot of things, even a concussion. Noticing that he was still stable to fight, she'd heal.

Knowing neither of the two, she was still helping. One of them could have been the person she was searching to get information on, and hopefully if they made it through alright the reward would be that information. That was all luck, of course. She felt invisible to the group, which was good. To be concealed and to draw less attention to herself. From someone else's point of view it might have looked as though she was just watching afar.

[Bind Flesh]: Heals 10 HP to a biological target.
Duration: 1 round, MP Cost: 4
Target Ally: Hawk