IVY
After many grueling battles, Ivy ran into Taki at last.
The two women sized each other up, each disliking the other after mere seconds of evaluation.
"I'd heard rumors of a leather-wearing woman warrior questing for the evil sword," Taki said. "I must say your tale has grown in the telling."
"Just what is that supposed to mean, ninja?" Ivy bristled.
"Oh, nothing, really," Taki said dismissively. "Only that standards for female fighters have fallen somewhat since these Soul battles began."
"OH?" Ivy huffed. "And how do you figure that?" Taki sighed and crossed her arms in a show of forced patience, as if explaining something to a small child.
"You're going to make me come right out and say it, aren't you?" she said, exhaling again through her thin mask. "Look at yourself. You obviously lack even basic modesty and class, especially for one supposedly noble-born."
This really made Ivy mad, for Taki had hit a nerve. Ivy knew she wasn't really of noble blood, and the thought gnawed at her sometimes. She managed to retain her composure before retorting.
"If I lack modesty, then what does that say of you, you whose cleavage I've heard juggles like a court jester's act?"
Taki didn't miss a beat. "That *was* a problem in the past. But as you can now see--" she said, doing a pair of high, acrobatic flips, "--I have acquired much better support without sacrificing comfort. Or shape, I might add." Taki chuckled, then continued when Ivy seemed at a loss for words (her zippy comeback having been shot down easily).
"I notice you've removed your body stocking, revealing more flesh than ever. Truly shameful."
"That thing got disgusting with sweat in battle," Ivy grumbled, "and it's not like it ever really concealed anything. Kind of like your nearly transparent outfit. Explain that!"
"This uniform is intended to distract the male demons by displaying my, *ahem*, flawless figure," Taki said. "No need for jealousy, dear." She chuckled again.
"Me, jealous?" Ivy scoffed. "I'll have you know that I am the desire of fanboys from your homeland to the New World. Why do you think I would be jealous of your yellow-skinned self?!?"
"I *think* you protest too loudly," Taki said. "You can't fool me. That tight leather, your push-up corset and every cinched strap is designed to hide your flaws, restrain your cellulite and accentuate your few positives." Ivy couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"I'M hiding? YOU'RE wearing a MASK!" she raged.
"Some masks are honest and true, as paradoxical as that may sound. This is merely a piece of cloth to aid me in demon hunting," Taki said calmly as she pulled the half-mask down from her face. "Your mask consists of caked- on, overlayered make-up and deceives yourself as much as others."
This was the final straw. The time for talk was abruptly over. Ivy drew her enchanted sword, screaming, "I'll tear you to pieces!"
Taki sighed, replacing her mask. "You just can't take a little constructive criticism, can you?"
(Author's Note: I was a fan and hardcore player of the arcade version of Soul Calibur for almost 3 years before I ever got the Dreamcast version, so differences between the versions really stood out to me. One was Ivy's costume change; in the U.S. version, she had a purple stocking covering any exposed flesh. The other big change: in the arcade version, Taki had a much bouncier bustline than in the home version.)
After many grueling battles, Ivy ran into Taki at last.
The two women sized each other up, each disliking the other after mere seconds of evaluation.
"I'd heard rumors of a leather-wearing woman warrior questing for the evil sword," Taki said. "I must say your tale has grown in the telling."
"Just what is that supposed to mean, ninja?" Ivy bristled.
"Oh, nothing, really," Taki said dismissively. "Only that standards for female fighters have fallen somewhat since these Soul battles began."
"OH?" Ivy huffed. "And how do you figure that?" Taki sighed and crossed her arms in a show of forced patience, as if explaining something to a small child.
"You're going to make me come right out and say it, aren't you?" she said, exhaling again through her thin mask. "Look at yourself. You obviously lack even basic modesty and class, especially for one supposedly noble-born."
This really made Ivy mad, for Taki had hit a nerve. Ivy knew she wasn't really of noble blood, and the thought gnawed at her sometimes. She managed to retain her composure before retorting.
"If I lack modesty, then what does that say of you, you whose cleavage I've heard juggles like a court jester's act?"
Taki didn't miss a beat. "That *was* a problem in the past. But as you can now see--" she said, doing a pair of high, acrobatic flips, "--I have acquired much better support without sacrificing comfort. Or shape, I might add." Taki chuckled, then continued when Ivy seemed at a loss for words (her zippy comeback having been shot down easily).
"I notice you've removed your body stocking, revealing more flesh than ever. Truly shameful."
"That thing got disgusting with sweat in battle," Ivy grumbled, "and it's not like it ever really concealed anything. Kind of like your nearly transparent outfit. Explain that!"
"This uniform is intended to distract the male demons by displaying my, *ahem*, flawless figure," Taki said. "No need for jealousy, dear." She chuckled again.
"Me, jealous?" Ivy scoffed. "I'll have you know that I am the desire of fanboys from your homeland to the New World. Why do you think I would be jealous of your yellow-skinned self?!?"
"I *think* you protest too loudly," Taki said. "You can't fool me. That tight leather, your push-up corset and every cinched strap is designed to hide your flaws, restrain your cellulite and accentuate your few positives." Ivy couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"I'M hiding? YOU'RE wearing a MASK!" she raged.
"Some masks are honest and true, as paradoxical as that may sound. This is merely a piece of cloth to aid me in demon hunting," Taki said calmly as she pulled the half-mask down from her face. "Your mask consists of caked- on, overlayered make-up and deceives yourself as much as others."
This was the final straw. The time for talk was abruptly over. Ivy drew her enchanted sword, screaming, "I'll tear you to pieces!"
Taki sighed, replacing her mask. "You just can't take a little constructive criticism, can you?"
(Author's Note: I was a fan and hardcore player of the arcade version of Soul Calibur for almost 3 years before I ever got the Dreamcast version, so differences between the versions really stood out to me. One was Ivy's costume change; in the U.S. version, she had a purple stocking covering any exposed flesh. The other big change: in the arcade version, Taki had a much bouncier bustline than in the home version.)