One for the Money [DP Cinematic PvP]

[Talia Napolitano]

Thread Title: One for the Money
Participants: Talia Napolitano vs. Chika Hirabayashi [Cinematic]
World: Human World
Death Setting: Permanent Injuries Enabled
Rating: R
Location: Just outside Karakura Town.
Special Conditions: Cinematic PvP. Utilizing Talia's x2 Coupon, so thread rewards are doubled.
Circumstances: A Bount has been causing a bit of chaos just outside of Karakura, and a 'Shinigami' has decided to come and clean up the problem.

SPOILER: Click to show

{

TYWB Double TP Coupon (Click Here)

}
Name: TYBW Double TP Coupon

Effect: Made to celebrate the continuation of the Bleach anime with the TYBW arc, this coupon can be used on any thread started on or after October 10th, 2022, and is valid until January 1st, 2023. When used, it will double the TP reward of the thread, up until the most recent completed page (adventures/quests) or post (other) if the thread is not finished by January 1st. This is a one-time item.

[Talia Napolitano]

Ah, to be alive in the dead of night. Such was a rather fun situation for Talia to be in; to say that she simply enjoyed basking in the nighttime culture was a massive understatement. Well, that was a bit of an "interesting" way of putting it; she simply enjoyed the people. And by that, Talia enjoyed the revitalization she could get from them. After all, she was a Vampire.

Smiling to herself as she walked down the street, strolling underneath the moonlight as she saw fit, she began to ponder just what to do with her night. Perhaps she'd do a bit of shopping? Mm, no; she didn't exactly have a desire to pick anything up from any of the nearby stores; truth be told she didn't much care for interacting with "lesser beings" if she could help it. There was just no point. A waste of time, if you would.

Though, she did notice rather quickly that she was starting to get a bit... peckish? That was probably the best way to put it. She was definitely looking for something to eat; someone to drain dry. Naturally? Humans were the way to go. She couldn't help but try to think of any alternatives. Were there even any? Probably at some point; she'd remembered that "Shinigami" existed from... What was his name? Silvano? She thought so. Regardless! She knew full well that she wanted to get something, and wasn't planning on waiting.

Strolling down the street, dancing about as she saw fit, Talia eventually found someone walking all on their lonesome. A rather timid-looking girl, seemingly unfamiliar with the streets she walked. Tali couldn't help but smile. She'd found her first victim for the night, and certainly not the last. Perhaps she'd take her time with this one? She wasn't sure. That'd come later, though; for now she was going to focus on the hunt.

Walking up behind the woman, with a gentle tap on her shoulder, Talia gave her a sadistic smile. "What might you be doing out here on your lonesome?" She asked, almost startling the girl. As she stopped moving, and Talia took the opportunity to circle around her, she sized up her prey for the evening. "Surely you know it's not safe to walk around alone at night, hmm~?"

As she finished speaking, it seemed that the woman couldn't muster up words to refute Talia's own. Excellent; she was going to make easy food. Gripping the woman's hand rather tightly, Talia began to walk. "How about you follow me and we can get you to a bit of a safer spot~?" As she finished, the woman's face flushed with nothing but panic. Surely she had some semblance of what was going on? She wondered what ran through her head. Lord, how she loved those thoughts.

Pulling the woman into a nearby alley with a rather exceptional amount of force for someone of Talia's stature, she made sure the woman was out of view before throwing her further into the alley. Walking further in, Talia paced about, drawing ever closer to the woman. Both knew quite well that this woman's fate was sealed; it was only a matter of time before the Bount enacted her plans.

Standing right next to this woman, Talia grabbed onto her shoulder, ignoring any protests or shouts from her. Flowing a bit of reiatsu toward her jaw, and causing a small surging of blood from her own tongue, a pair of crimson fangs formed around Talia's own. From there, with a simple bite down on the woman's neck, Tali began to drain the woman of any semblance of life force she'd had. Quickly, and rather forcefully, the woman was being drained of her vitality. Eventually, slumping to the ground and very evidently dead, Talia sighed. "Ah~" she smiled, "that's one down, perhaps more for the evening?"

SPOILER: Click to show

{Talia's Stats & Skills}
Type: Struggler

Stats & Skills:

Strength: 50 [75]
Speed: 60 [60]
Reiatsu Strength: 40 [52]
Spiritual Pressure: 45 [31]
Instinct: 50 [50]
Senses: 40 [30]
Energy Sensory: 40 [30]
Healing Expertise: 0 [0]

Light Aura: 0
Dark Aura: 100

----------

Strength of Will: 1
Acting: 1
Charisma: 1
Street Fighting: 1
Pain Tolerance: 1
Stealth: 1
Anti-Stealth: 1

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool}
Reiatsu: 310/310
-25 for Schere Hände.

[Chika Hirabayashi]

Taking a deep breath, and preparing to enter the Senkaimon, Chika couldn't help but smile. This was going to be her first mission into the Human World! She really couldn't even begin to contain her excitement! After all, this was quite the opportunity for her! This was the first real chance that the girl had to really prove herself, and she needed to make sure this was going to go well.

First and foremost, she didn't want to disappoint Miranda! After the time they spent training with one another, she really found herself looking up to the woman; so much so, that transferring to Squad One wasn't something entirely out of the question. Though, there was a lot for her to consider before any of that happened! After all, she still wanted to take the opportunity and meet with her Captain when she had the chance. She wanted to know what he was like before making any kinds of decisions like that.

Regardless, though! That wasn't the time for thinking like that; Chika needed to focus on her mission at hand! For starters, she knew that there had been something causing a number of problems in Karakura Town. Or, at least, just outside of the town. Information regarding what exactly this problem-causer was unfortunately wasn't information that Chika had access to, but what was she to do otherwise?

Walking through the gate, and appearing in the Human World shortly thereafter, Chika stretched her shoulders as best she could. Seemed that the Human World found itself to be rather cold; a slight shiver ran through her spine. Hopefully this was something that was going to end soon, though she wasn't quite familiar with the weather patterns within this world.

Regardless, the girl steeled herself. She knew that she needed to get started on her mission and damn it she needed to get it done in a reasonable time frame! With that, it was time for her to get started with her journey. Making her way to the ground, and keeping a hand ever-ready on her sword, Chika found herself wandering around the empty streets, wandering around as necessary in order to pick up something; anything of a trace.

Luckily for her, it seemed that a rather concerning individual had made herself prominent on the streets; someone dressed in what looked to be medieval attire, pulling a woman into an alleyway. Almost immediately, Chika felt concerned. Just what was this woman doing!? Furrowing her brow, and following close behind the woman, Chika squinted her eyes as she watched the woman.

And, within a few short moments, she watched the life of that poor woman be taken; almost "consumed" by this vampire woman. Watching this, Chika felt a rather notable feeling rise up; she felt herself grow frustrated, angry. She wasn't about to tolerate something like this happening. She couldn't tolerate something like this happening! She just wouldn't stand for it!

"Hey!" She called out, placing her palm on the pommel of her Bakkotō, "how dare you think you can take a life like that!?" She made her intentions on the matter rather well-known at this point. There was no way that this woman was a normal human. She had to have been her target for the night. Perfect opportunity to show herself, that was for sure.

Drawing her weapon, and slowly pointing her blade toward the ground, Chika furrowed her brow once more and eyed down the girl. "At the bearer of the Starcursed Brand, I promise I will bring justice to the life you've just taken!" Tightening her grip around her sword, Chika prepared for what was to come. Was this woman going to make the first move? If she didn't then she was well-prepared to do so herself.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Chika's Stats & Skills}
Type: Fighter, Version 2

Stats & Skills:

Strength: 40 [30]
Speed: 40 [54]
Reiatsu Strength: 40 [30]
Spiritual Pressure: 60 [81]
Instinct: 40 [40]
Senses: 40 [40]
Energy Sensory: 40 [40]
Healing Expertise: 0 [0]

Light Aura: 100
Dark Aura: 0

----------

Strength of Will: 1
Weapons - Katana: 1
Acting: 1
Martial Arts - Hakuda: 1
Martial Arts - Hōhō: 1
Pain Tolerance: 1
Stealth: 1

[Talia Napolitano]

As she finished consuming the soul of this poor woman that found herself wandering about during the evening, it seemed that someone had the gall to follow her. She wasn't exactly opposed to the idea; after all, it meant more of an opportunity to consume for her. Though, it seemed that this woman was a bit... Odd? Perhaps that was the best way to put it. She seemed a bit off.

As the woman shouted toward Talia, she couldn't help but smirk. It seemed that this woman felt that she was owed something. That she was owed this woman's life, whether she wanted to protect it or otherwise. Just who did she think she was? Some kind of divine savior? Scoffing in suit, Talia decided to respond back to her with a similar amount of attitude and emotion.

"And who on earth do you think you are?" She spoke, dropping the woman's body to the pavement and turning to face Chika, she couldn't help but give the woman a sadistic smile. One that certainly showed the appearance of general derangement. Did this... Shinigami know whom she was messing with? It appeared she did not. "You're one of those Soul Reapers, no?" She asked, holding her hands to the ground, palms open toward Chika.

Almost immediately, Tali broke out into a sprint toward the woman. If this Shinigami was ready to engage in combat, whom was Talia to turn that down? Closing the distance between the two, Talia prepared to strike the damned woman. Pulling back her left hand, currently clawed with her own solidified blood, Talia looked to slash directly across the woman's chest as best she could. If she had the option, she was going to cleave through this damned woman.

Raking down with her left hand, Talia quickly pulled that one back and leaned further into the girl, looking to strike with an upward swing of her claws just as quickly. Whether her mark was made on the woman or not, Talia took a step back to put a bit of distance between the two. "How well do you think you can handle against a creature of the night, little Shinigami?" She wanted to see how many strings she could tug at with this woman.

Taking up a defensive stance, holding her claws outstretched in front of her, Talia took a moment to analyze her opponent's stance. Glancing at her footing, her grip on her weapon, and other general traits about her, she knew full well that she needed to figure out the weaknesses in the woman's stance and tear them apart as best she could. She wasn't going to let this woman walk away if she could help it, that was for sure.

Taking a note of the woman's footing, Talia smirked. This woman couldn't've been more than an amateur at best. Once again closing a bit of distance between the two of them, sprinting as fast as she could, Talia jumped into the air in order to feign a strike against Chika. Instead of coming overhead with a blow, she instead dropped to the ground when she landed.

Throwing her leg out to the side, and spinning around her center of balance, Talia threw her leg behind the woman as best she could in order to trip her and take the woman to the ground. Should that happen, it'd likely be all over from there; she'd drain the woman dry if she had the opportunity to pin her to the ground, that was for certain. She had no intentions in letting some Shinigami walk about and interrupt her night.

[Chika Hirabayashi]

As this woman sprinted up toward her, Chika took a deep breath. She was certainly faster than anticipated, but that wasn't a problem. At least, it wasn't going to be. She wasn't going to lose to such a foe; such wasn't the fate of the bearer of the Starcursed Brand! She couldn't let herself fall to such a fate; she wouldn't've been able to return to Miranda if something like that happened, that was for sure.

Though, it seemed that Talia was planning an attack in a way that was fairly unexpected for the young Shinigami. As her hands seemed to line themselves with blood, and Talia looked to rake downward, Chika found herself taking a short step backward in order to block the attack with her Bakkotō as best she could. And, for the most part? She did rather well. Her guard dropped after the attack, which would've been okay, if it weren't for the fact that Talia had another strike she was planning to go in with.

Cleaving directly across Chika's chest with razor-sharp claws, the girl couldn't help but wince back in pain as she felt the slashes dig into her skin. Taking a step back and steadying herself while Talia also put some distance in between the two of them, Chika ground her teeth together as the Bount spoke. Just who did she think she was!? "'Creature of the night'? Don't make me laugh!" She retorted, "you don't stand a chance against the bearer of the Starcursed Brand!"

Pointing the tip of her blade toward her opponent, and taking up a defensive stance, Chika glared at the vampire lady. "Give up now, and cease your reign of terror! Perhaps then might I go easy on you, foul creature!" If Talia wasn't going to refer to herself as a person, why did Chika have to? Talia was more than willing to talk smack. Chika simply decided to return the favor in this regard.

Though, it seemed that might've set something off in the Bount, because she once again began to charge the girl. Readying her sword once more, and preparing for an overhead assault from Talia, Chika braced for impact. Only thing was that that impact never actually came. Instead, Talia landed rather quickly, and struck from low. Sweeping her leg directly into Chika's own with a look to take the girl down to the ground, Chika found herself a step ahead.

Throwing her blade into the ground in order to catch herself, Chika threw herself into the air. Briskly dodging the attack thrown her way and preparing one of her own, Chika drew her blade from the pavement and spun herself downward with an overhead strike. She wasn't going to give this woman the chance to dodge such a close range attack if she could help it!

Once she landed, Chika looked to clear a bit more distance between the two of them, much like Talia had done before. Taking a quick second to breathe and catch her breath, she began her next plan of action. Rushing once again closer to Talia, and gliding the point of her Bakkotō along the ground, she looked to swing directly upward toward the girl's midriff.

Swinging her blade diagonally upward toward Talia's torso, Chika turned the grip she held on her weapon in order to bring it back down from the same angle; if she had the opportunity to block the attack going one way, the chance she was going to do the same coming from the other direction was incredibly slim. While she didn't expect to win off of such a strike, she surely expected to deal a bit of damage if she had the opportunity.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Life Force}
Life Force: 710/810

[Talia Napolitano]

As Talia herself swept underneath of Chika's leg, looking to take her off-balance, the vampire girl found herself actually quite surprised when she realized that she hadn't met her mark; no, instead it seemed that this Shinigami was certainly a bit more ready to dodge her. As she took to the air, spinning about and looking to land a strike of her own, Talia took a second to roll to her side.

"Gracefully" getting out of the way of the Shinigami's own strike against her, Talia got up from the ground and took a few steps back to catch herself. It seemed that this girl was certainly a bit more skilled than she was letting on. Just what was she planning to do with that kind of skill? That certainly remained to be seen, but if she was a bit more powerful than anticipated, Talia needed to be a bit careful about this.

Though, it seemed that thinking wasn't exactly a luxury she'd have at the moment. Breaking quickly into a sprint, Chika begun to make an advance on her. Throwing her arms up in preparation to guard, Talia prepared for whatever this woman had to offer. She wasn't going to let some Shinigami deal damage to her, that was for sure; she was going to put this girl down if she could help it.

As Chika found herself directly upon Talia, and slashed upward aimed at the Bount's chest, Talia used her own sharpened claws in order to bat the sword away from her and throw the weapon off-course. As the blade was guided upward, Talia leaned in quickly and planted a swipe across the girl's chest once more. If she didn't have the luxury of putting her down with one solid strike, then she'd certainly have the ability to debilitate her over time. She'd make sure of that fact, even if it killed her.

Though, one thing she didn't anticipate was for Chika to come back down with her strike. Noticing at the last second, and trying every so painfully to get out of the way of the second attack, it seemed that Chika had been strong enough to power through the incoming slashes made against her. Gasping in pain, and pulling herself back with a grip held tightly at her shoulder, Talia glared daggers into the foxgirl. She was angry.

Not wanting to waste any time on an advance toward the girl, Talia grabbed the woman's collar tight, before throwing her down to the ground. Given their rather distinct difference in physical ability, this proved to be a rather easy feat, all things considered. "You Shinigami are all the same!" She shouted, before kicking the girl full-force in the ribs.

Looking to send her rolling across the sidewalk, Talia slowly paced up toward Chika's body after her last strike. She was more than ready to utilize her full capabilities against this girl now, and was not afraid to show that fact. If nothing else, she was going to put this girl in the ground for thinking she could fight against someone like Talia.

"Someone needs to learn her place," Talia spoke as she stopped directly next to Chika, "and I don't have a problem teaching you before you die again, girl!" Grabbing the back of her Shihakkushō and pulling her off the ground, Talia gave the girl a quick second to stand up and catch her balance.

Before she could reasonably ready her guard though, a swift knee found itself meeting with Chika's stomach. More than just an attempt to debilitate the girl, this was meant as an insult; a show of power, that she just didn't have the capabilities of keeping up with such a foe. She sought to break this girl's will down as best she could before she took the foxgirl's life. Just how was she prepared to deal with that?

[Chika Hirabayashi]

As the woman before her took hold of her collar, Chika found herself caught off-guard almost immediately. Before she had the opportunity to throw a hand toward Talia's own in order to break the vampire's grip, she was already being thrown straight onto the ground with a rather tremendous amount of force. Bracing for impact, Chika felt herself almost bounce off the concrete.

While her life didn't quite flash before her eyes, Chika knew almost immediately that she was in rather excruciating pain. She pushed herself rather forcefully in order to try to move her body, but something didn't quite... click. She couldn't quite explain why, but nothing was moving. Was she going to die? Was she going to lose her life? She couldn't let that happen if she could help it.

"You Shinigami are all the same!"

What? What was she talking about? She couldn't quite figure out just what Talia was talking about, but she wasn't sure that she wanted to know. Did she have some bad experiences with Shinigami? Was there something she wasn't sharing? It was difficult for her to say, and very difficult for her to shoot a response back to Talia. Her voice just didn't seem to be working, and she wasn't exactly sure why.

Though, one thing she was able to vocalize was a pained groan as she was effectively punted out of the alley and across the sidewalk. Rolling about and continuing to skitter across the ground, Chika eventually found herself coming to a stop. If she had to guess, the girl was left with a number of broken ribs, and a rather large amount of internal damage. Fighting from there on out was going to be difficult.

Though, it seemed that there was more to this abuse. As Talia walked up to her, Chika turned her attention as best she could to the vampire girl. Though, one thing struck her as off; Talia picked her up from the ground. Albeit forcefully, and notably agitating a number of the wounds that she was just left, but she did help her up off the ground. Said help was short-lived though.

"Someone needs to learn her place, and I don't have a problem teaching you before you die again, girl!"

She couldn't let herself die. She couldn't hope to let herself die; that much was something she found rather frustrating. She wasn't going to let that happen, damn it! As Talia grabbed the girl's shoulder, and slammed her knee into the Rogue, Chika found herself ready to crumble. But, regardless, she couldn't let herself fall just yet! She wasn't going to!

As she dropped down to her hands and knees in pain, ready to find herself throwing up, she did what she could to steel herself. Forcing herself to stand up regardless of the pain she'd been forced to endure, Chika glared directly into Talia's eyes, fully ready to try and continue the fight. Gripping her blade ever tighter, Chika started to speak.

"D-Don't think for a second," she started, gritting her teeth and forcing herself to speak, "that I'm going to go down to the likes of you!!" As she finished shouting, Chika raked her arm up as quickly as she could toward Talia's chest in an attempt to deal a rather potent amount damage to the bount.

While she wasn't sure what was going to happen with her attack as she landed it against the woman, Chika knew full-well that she needed to drive the woman off as best she could else she just wasn't going to survive her attacks. Perhaps this was going to be that deciding attack? She couldn't quite tell, but lord only knew that it needed to count if she was going to do anything to this woman.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Life Force}
Life Force: 310/810

[Talia Napolitano]

As her knee smashed into the Shinigami as hard as she felt was necessary, Talia felt very simply that this fight was over. The girl seemed to be in little condition to actively defend herself, and that much was obvious. Talia was going to actively capitalize on that, given she very readily had the opportunity in order to finish off this woman.

Though, it seemed that she wasn't quite ready to go down. "D-Don't think for a second, that I'm going to go down to the likes of you!!" As Chika's words finished, her eyes immediately widened. Just what was this woman planning!? It seemed that her thoughts were cut short, as a rather noteworthy slash found itself across the woman's chest.

Grasping her chest in pain, and taking a few steps back, Talia similarly gritted her teeth to the woman that just dealt a rather definitive blow to her chest. Taking another step back in recoil, Talia couldn't quite believe what was going on. This woman was insane! Just how tenacious was she? She was genuinely angered, but looking down at her chest at the moment, she was in no position to heal after such an attack. Any more exertion was going to put her down first.

"Ngh," she sputtered, "damn you!" She shouted to the girl, very notably frustrated with the strike laid upon her, "gods, you win this one, Shinigami. I promise you that one of these days I will be the end of you." Grasping tightly at her chest, Talia began to consider her options.

For one, she could've stayed and fought at the moment. She might've had the opportunity to win the exchange if all went well, but what if it hadn't? That wasn't something that she could've reasonably risked; if she had the option to stay and fight, and this Shinigami decided to continue to do so as well, what was the chance that she was going to live?

Where it stood, Chika was tenacious. She seemed to be able to take quite a beating. And, while Talia could dish them out without problem, it seemed that Chika was much more suitable at taking these hits. Considering her options, she needed to leave. She didn't really have much of a choice otherwise. Cutting her losses with a grunt, Talia did what she could to run toward a nearby wall, before simply phasing through the structure itself. She wasn't going to stick around.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool}
Reiatsu: 285/310
-25 for Geist.

[Kitai Yoru]

57 Paragraphs, 570 TP, doubled to 1,140 TP due to Coupon