Owner	Pose
Elektra Natchios	Their tribulations back in New York had led them to Japan. And that trip has led them to this moment. To facing with the Fingers of the Hand and Madame Gao herself. For even ninja Clans had honor, and this had become a matter of such. Entering the large chamber most of the faces are in the gloom even if they are *felt* to be there. In the shadows. Waiting, watching. Ready to pass judgement. Silence fills the room but for their footsteps as they approach the dais where a row of five figures sit at. Below them is Madame Gao, smiling like a grandmother would, watching the two like a cat looking at prey. Elektra makes her way closer, a bow offered up to the dais and ..., starts speaking in Japanese. At length. Occasionally she gestures to June, one of the Fingers speaking in return until eventually Elektra speaks in english. "June has become my protege, and as such an attack on her was as if Madame Gao was attacking me directly. And we do have rules about attacking one another directly." She smiling sweetly towards Madame Gao before looking up at the Fingers. One of the Fingers looks directly down at June, sizing her up, "Is this true? Speak up."
June Connor	June's response to the catlike grin is a sneering mockery of it in return without words back at Gao. She bows, but only as much as is the minimal required that she can manage to get away with.     June's attention shifts to the person who addressed her. "I was just doin' my fuckin' job," she says. "Youse all decided to pull me into this bullshit. I didn't ask for any of it." She stops, and realizes she wasn't direct in her response. "Yes. That's a yes," she adds belatedly. She glances from the Finger to Elektra, and back again to the Finger.
Elektra Natchios	Elektra is already starting to shake her head at June's response when eventually the girl answers directly to it. Yet there's a look in her face that the harm is already done with what she said. Because sure enough Madame Gao starts pulling on that tread. "Oh? And what exactly was your ..., job, young June Connor?" again with the grandmother smile. She looks so nice and warm too! Her voice open and rich as if inviting June to speak up and say the truth. Because she's so harmless. Is there mind shenanigans going on? Maybe so.
June Connor	June isn't always the brightest, but Gao's tone tells her that there's a trap that she's about to walk into. She opens her mouth, and before she even knows what's coming out of her mouth, she responds out of a habit that was engrained into her. "The reach of the Han-d," she stumbles on the last word, as if she realized the nearly brainwashed response was coming out, but then finished it anyway, it was too far gone to bother stopping. There's a twinge of fear that hits her, her heart pounds with the realization that she, of all the most stubborn snots out there, might actually be brainwashed to a degree.     Her cheek twitches. "Bitch, I will fuck you up," she growls, suddenly raising a finger at Gao accusingly. "Cuz I did what you fuckers wanted." She heaves an angry breath. "I followed your fuckin' rules, and you tried to kill me for it." Her teeth clench her tongue ring again, and grind back and forth, screwing and unscrewing the post in an agitated manner. Sorry Elektra.
Elektra Natchios	That first answer doesn't leave Gao happy. But then June goes unhinged and Gao smiles a wolflike smile as if June had just walked into her trap. She even has the gall to back off an inch, "See, Fingers? This girl has no respect for her Elders. The same way Elektra doesn't. I suppose they are of the same mold. They are not worthy of being part of our organization, we should dispose of them." she suggests, so helpfully. Elektra has remained quiet, unusually so but there's the traces of a faint smile on the corner of her mouth. Are things going exactly as she planned? Who knows? But eventually she speaks up, "Madame Gao forgets our old customs. When disagreements between those of our status happen we can call a trial by combat." To which Gao immediately replies, "I demand a trial with champions. I am too old for a fight now." she says. "Very well. June shall be my champion." Elektra replies in a smoothing manner, as if she had planned it all along! The Fingers remain in silence for a time but then nod. "Very well. Then it is decided. A fight to the death, the winner shall decide the fate of the other."
June Connor	June's gritted teeth hold a second longer. "Wait, wut?" she says like a stupified teen when the realization hits her. "Me?" She gives a confused look to Elektra. She mutters to Elektra under her breath as best she can, though Gao can probably still hear her. "You kidding? You could kick way more ass than me," she says in frustration. Not that this point was ever in question. June has lost as many fights as she's ever won.     It's possible that Elektra had expected this, but there's no art of subtlety that would suggest June really had expected it. "Can we like, WWE tag team this shit, right?" she asks Elektra.
Elektra Natchios	"You do realize the WWE isn't real, right?" Elektra says in a not-so-helpful manner back to June even if there's that faint smile lingering on her lips still. She reaches to place a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Don't worry. I am certain you won't let me down. As long as you remember our lessons." there's an emphasis there on that last part. As if she's wanting the girl to remember something. And considering she knows how low attention span June is she most likely means something that happened recently. Maybe even on the trip! Gao smiles evilly now and gestures, "I name Kwan, my right hand." a man steps out of the shadows, tall and wiry. He is carrying a jug wrapped against his hand. Filled with alcohol? Maybe. When his eyes meet June's he eyes her, up and down and apparently finds her wanting for there's a smirk that appears on his lips before he bows to Gao, speaking a few words in Japanese. One of the Fingers then speaks up, "The ritual shall now begin. You have ten minutes to go get dressed and then we shall have our tea ceremony." he instructs the two combatants.
June Connor	June sighs. "Yeah, because letting you down is completely the first concern on my mind right now," she says. She gives an eyeball once over Kwan, giving the best resting bitch face she can manage, and then turns to face Elektra. She doesn't say anything else, but the expression is 'well, let's get this over with.' Behind the facade though. She's a terrified young girl who fears that she's about to die.
Elektra Natchios	Does Elektra notice the facade? Maybe, for when they are led to the back rooms and once June has changed to a fighting outfit Elektra rests her hands on the girl's shoulders. "June. As I told you before, we all have a part to play." she tells her, seriously. "I trust you to do what you know best. Do you trust me?" She then asks the girl. A gong is heard and they are called back to the main room.
June Connor	June ties the gi around her waist, looking at the door she will have to walk through. She doesn't shrug off Elektra's touch, or respond to it much at all. "Yeah, what I know best is doing dumb shit that gets me in a hell of a lot of trouble," she answers cynically. "And no. I don't," she says bluntly. Aim't to sting? Maybe. But then, June doesn't really have a history of trusting anyone. She sighs as the gong goes off, and rolls her shoulders, trying to shake the nervous tension from them. It doesn't work. "I guess we'll find out if you know what you're doing. Or if I know what I am." She starts walking to the main room.
Elektra Natchios	"Good. Maybe there's still hope for you. You would do well to remember my lessons though, no matter how much you don't like me." When June says she doesn't trust Elektra. The assassin takes her hands off June's shoulders when that gong is heard and they again join the main room. The center has been vacated where only a small table lies at. A table for two in the japanese manner of being close to the ground. Kwan is already there, taking long swigs out of his bottle. He smiles tauntingly at June before walking towards the table to sit down. One of the Fingers again speaks. "As is Tradition the combatants shall sit down, drink our tea before facing death. A reminder of where we come from, of the traditions that uphold our Clan for no matter how times evolve we still hold true to what made us what we are today." the voice ceremoniously. The gong is heard again and Kwan sits down. Once June does the same a veiled woman begins to approach with a tea kettle to pour on each of their cups. Was there a faint nod between Elektra and that veiled woman? But then Elektra is watching June attentively. Expectant.
June Connor	June walks to the table, and takes a deep breath, looking at the tea. She takes her seat, resting on her knees with an unnatural quiet, though a glance up to Kwan is offered. A quick quirk of the eyebrow, that slight hint of flirtiness. It's caused hesitation in several fights she's had in the past. No reason not to at least give it a little seed for his mind to distract him at a critical moment. She glances at her cup, and the kettle. She remembers the poison kettles, holding a hole to pour poison or safe tea from the same spout.     When the tea is poured, June immediately takes her tea in both hands, gives the ritual rotation of the cup to smell it... and offers her cup politely to Kwan. Is that the tradition? Nope. But she remembers that a two-handed passing of the cup is a sign of great respect. It does make refusing it a rather awkward thing to do.     As for June? She just pretends that this is the natural course of the tradition. Either they will reprimand her and bring disgrace upon themselves for rudeness, they will go along with it and who knows what Kwan will do, or he'll also not genuinely drink, and they will just lower their expectations of her as an idiot, hopefully to lower his guard in a fight further. Any way she cuts it? She comes out ahead.
Elektra Natchios	The attempt at flirting has Kwan visibly snorting and shaking his head. He clearly doesn't think they are equal, "I have heard of you." he then whispers in a low tone while they wait for the tea, "Elektra's little pet. Wonder when she will get tired of you and discard you." then a smirk. "But ah, wait. We won't get to that point as you won't live past tonight.." Rather confident words! And spoken low enough as if he was offering a compliment of some kind due to the faint smile on his lips. The offer of the cup has him arch a brow but once he has done the proper procedure with his own tea cup he does an exchange, offering his own to the girl. Once the cups are exchanged he takes a long drink from the cup, "Fighting always leaves me thirsty." he tells her opponent.
June Connor	June takes the cup, and despite the willingness to drink from her own opponent, she's still skeptical. "Well," she says, "At least we had last night." Of course nothing happened last night, but it's another attempt to plant a distracting image in Kwan's head. Truly shameless. She brings the cup to her lips, and pretends to drink it politely. She can feel the tingle on her lips, the slight whiff of something that doesn't belong. She places the cup back down on the table.
Elektra Natchios	Kwan narrows his eyes at June and then just gets up to his feet, leaving the teacup there and making his way to the center of the fighting area to wait for June. Moments later the gong is heard again, signaling it's time for the battle. Kwan brings the small bottle he carries with him to his lips and takes another long swig, rolling neck and shoulders as he readies himself for the fight. And is that some kind of drunken style technique? At least he seems rather bendy as he prepares himself, motions flowing and his smile more prominent on his lips as he regards June. "Come. Let's get this over with."
June Connor	June gets up, and looks at the bottle. "As soon as you put down your weapon," she says. She chews on her tongue ring a little more. "Or you too much of a lush?" she takes her stance, and bounces on her toes a little. "C'mon skeletor, whatcha got?" Now that she's in the moment, she's got that casual arrogance returning. Her fear is gone, now she has her game face back.
Elektra Natchios	"My weapon?" Kwan casts a look at the bottle after, blinks then lets out a laugh. "You are mistaken. I *am* the weapon. Not the bottle." he takes another big drink from it before throwing it to the side and stretching up to his toes and resume his warm up. It's clear he is skilled. Quite skilled. And he seems to be right at home in these kind of fights. One wonders how many he has killed to this day..! The gong strikes again and the man quickly lowers his center and dashes forward, quick attacks with the tips of his fingers as he attempts to get this over quickly and just take June out in the first moments of the fight!
June Connor	June started to bow at the second gong, that's what you do right? Apparently not. She tucks her head to one side, avoiding the first strike, second, she brings up an arm block on the third, and while she blocks it, she finds it hurts a lot more than she expected. She retreats until she manages to find a footing, and punishes his advance with a kick toward his shin to at least hopefully halt his advance momentarily. "Fuck man, you a little eager?" she grunts.
Elektra Natchios	The man's motions are fluid even if unpredictable, the attacks coming from odd angles as he goes for a few quick killing blows. All in vital areas. Blocking is barely achieved and it comes with the toll of it hurting like heck, the power behind his motions quite impressive. Perhaps even unnatural? It's known that Madame Gao is a Master of Ki techniques. Who knows what this guy may have learned? When June steps back and kicks at him he spins to the side and snorts, "Good defense, but shit offense. Typical." And then it's back to the attack for Kwan, the man attacking mercilessly. As for Elektra? She remains on the side, arms folded and watching quietly. Not a worry in the world!
June Connor	"Yeah well you have a drinking problem, so we all got our faults," June retorts, continuing to defend. After a few brutal strikes to her limbs, she's taken to mostly retreating from the strikes rather than defending them. This continues for an amount of time that seems endless. She's waiting for him to get frustrated at her continual evasion. It certainly makes the fight much less interesting to watch.
Elektra Natchios	The difference in skill is visible. This is not some ninja extra that the Hand hires out in New York, most young kids like June without real skill until they get a bit of training. No, this is the real deal. Would he even be a challenge to Elektra? Hard to tell, but so far he's being quite the handful. Of course that defending all the time brings some frustration to the man, specially with his altered senses from all the alcohol. And .., is that a sheen of sweat on his brow? Yet it's not been that long into the fight for one to be so tired. It could always be something else though.. What's true is that eventually the attacks start to slow down, almost as if the man was having trouble breathing. Which leaves an opening for June.
June Connor	June grins, a little cockiness of her own starting to come in. "What's the matter, getting tired already?" she asks, having used much less energy than he has. It may be an overstep, but she's feeling good now. She notices a slower attack, and she strikes, stepping in from the outsid, she goes for a pair of rib strikes under his arm. "C'mon bitch, what you got?" she chides him. "All talk and you ain't shit!" Yes her plan is working, but maybe she's celebrating a little too soon.
Elektra Natchios	While June's defense may have merit something doesn't seem fully right. Maybe it's the way the man starts to move slower and slower. Panting for air, eyes widened. Almost as if he couldn't breathe. The strike catches him fully and he staggers back against a pillar. A voice is heard from those assisting. Elektra's voice. <<Kare o korose!>> Which pretty much means 'kill him' in Japanese.
June Connor	June sneers, giving her thumb a strike across the nose before she takes a few steps forward, going full ham into a double-footed drop kick against a target that's already up against the wall. Reckless and a trade from her amazingly conservative stance to an overly agressive one, she throws both feet at Kwan, heel first, knowing that hit or miss, she's going to the ground with the strike as well.
Elektra Natchios	The hit connects, making Kwan gasp and fall down to his knees afterwards. And even with June falling to the ground with that aggressive attack there is no follow up from Kwan, the man staying there as if unable to move. Or maybe June is just that good! But June knows the man's skill is greater than hers. Or should be at least. Madame Gao narrows her eyes. She knows something is amiss and points at Elektra. "You did this." she tells the assassin, "No honor." Elektra just ignores her for now, dark eyes intent on the fight happening. She is clearly waiting for something. Maybe for June to actually do what she ordered her to.
June Connor	June climbs back to her feet, a little more casually, and hears Gao's accusation. "Bitch please," she says through a pant, and the assholish smile she can manage as sweat comes from her face. "I did this. You try to fuckin' poison me?" she shrugs, holding her hands out to her sides. "That's fine, looks like you didn't let your boy in on the joke, though." She casually goes to Kwan's form, her heel now on his neck. A shift of her weight could end it. "We're shinobi. You want honor? Go join the army." And with that, she rears to throw her weight down onto Kwan's neck.
Elektra Natchios	When June starts talking there's an aggressive look on Elektra. Specially when she mentions poisoning. "Finish it." it's clear Elektra doesn't want June to continue spouting her stuff out for everyone to hear. Who tried to poison who in the end? Gao's eyes go wide and she looks from June to Elektra, "You .., you did..." she never finishes the sentence for when June cracks the man's neck so too does Elektra moves in a flash towards the elderly woman. A pointy end of a Sai erupts from the woman's back and Gao gasps in pain before falling back and down to the ground. Elektra remains standing, bloody sai in hand and looking around the room slowly. "The same fate comes to those who lose the trial." a beat, "So is our tradition." "Anyone else that wishes to challenge the validity of this?" Hardened gaze continues wandering around the room as if looking for any challenger, her demeanor death and blood now, only looking for an excuse to kill. No one speaks up now though.
June Connor	June lifts her foot from Kwan's neck. "Fuck. In. A." She rubs her shoulder from a rather particularly nasty shot she took earlier, and rolls her neck before walking out of the ring. She can let Elektra do the talking from here, that's fine.
Elektra Natchios	As no one speaks up to contest Elektra eventually slides the Sai back inside her jacket, "Then we are done with this matter. If it is mentioned again I will not be as gentle as I was with Gao." she warns the audience, eyes then going over to the Fingers. "And that goes for my protege." She chinjerking towards June before gesturing to the girl. "Come, we leave now." Though before leaving she offers the Fingers a brief bow. Not as respectful as it should be. "My thanks for your hospitality."
June Connor	June starts to leave, almost forgetting to bow, and turns around awkwardly for a moment to offer a similar bow. Her's probably doesn't come off as respectful either. More along the lines of 'oh yeah, forgot to do that'. She offers a peace sign, then uses it to salute. Oh Elektra's walking.     She turns around quickly and follows. She waits until she's out of earshot before speaking. "So... I kinda thought he wouldn't be so dumb," June comments. A swagger in her step. "I mean, it was the same pot, it didn't even look like one of those things where they like, use a finger here," she makes the motion, "And then another here to make it pour out the poison...and all that, y'know?" she says. "I mean, I traded cups so he'd get the poison, didn't think he'd ACTUALLY drink it. And the weird thing is, I'm pretty sure there was still poison in mine!" she announces incredulously. "How could he have not kno-" she stops. Yeah, she just put it together.
Elektra Natchios	Elektra Natchios says, "Has anyone told you talk too much sometimes?" Elektra comments while continuing to walk away, eyes front, back straight. They eventually get out of the house, all the way to that car that was shot at while they were coming here. "I mean, there's a reason I didn't tell you the plan before. We should have some respite now from further attacks, at least until they grow some balls to try." She gets into the driver's seat, "But it all went accordingly to how I planned it. Barely so." Voice cold and detached now. The assassin talking, not the other Elektra."
June Connor	June...actually doesn't have anything to say. Her brain is clearly breaking over the realization. She quietly follows. She gets into the car, staring forward. Yep. Just...nothing to say.