#155 FLAIR (Seychelles)
Flair
Felicite Laroche / Lang Far
Character Sheet (Click Here)
Background
Felicite's mother along with three of her sisters fled Hong Kong for Seychelles fearing that the Chinese were going to take over the city from the British earlier than was planned. Her mother was a famous actress from the seventies in Hong Kong along with her sisters who were known as the Seven Sisters of Shaolin. Felicite's mother married a fisherman in Victoria. Her mother and her sisters set up a home, while her father kept out of the way on his boat.
Growing up with her mother and her aunties, Felicite heard countless tales of Hong Kong. In addition to the fascinating tales, Felicite learned the Seven Sisters of Shaolin style of Kung Fu. From the age of six, Felicite spent several hours a day studying under her mother and her aunties. Over the years Felicite quickly mastered the secrets of kung fu, eventually learning all the secrets of the Seven Sisters of Shaolin style.
Felicite always that living in Seychelles was too provincial for her. She longed for the Hong Kong that her mother and aunties spoke of. Felicite was barely eighteen when she stowed away in a freighter bound for Hong Kong.
Hong Kong was all that Felicite wished for and feared. In Hong Kong, Felicite made contact with her aunties that had remained in the city and stayed with them for awhile. It was her aunties who got Felicite into the movies. At first Felicite go a few bit parts, but soon the directors notices her natural beauty and grace. Using the assumed name, Lang Far broke into pictures. Her first movie was called “The Golden Mask of Madame Ling.” Far was great in the role, however, the producers failed to give the Triads their bribe, so the movie was never released. In fact Far has the only surviving copy of the film. Another thing that Far kept from the movie was the mask.
Her next film is the one that made her a household name in Hong Kong. It was film titled “The Princess and the Silver Sword”, in which she played the title role of Princess Butterfly. This was also the film where she met Peter Fu, one of the greatest stuntmen in Hong Kong. Peter played male lead in the film, and the two hit it off quite well, even though Peter was always accusing Far of always hamming it up too much. After the movie wrapped the two dated for awhile.
Both Far and Peter were quite wild in those days, and liked to live life on the edge. One evening they were invited by Smiling Charlie Man, a leader among the 14k Triad to a little party he was throwing on his private yacht in Victoria Harbor. As the party progressed, Smiling Charlie had his men bring out a huge circular mat. When laid out the Taijitu symbol was laid out over the deck. This was greeted by cheers by many of Smiling Charlies' guests. Far and Peter were intrigued by this. Soon a hulking Korean by the name of Kim Sun Lee came out on deck and took his place on the mat. The crowd roared at the sight of Kim Sun Lee. From the opposite side of the yacht came Song Zuang, a low level member of the 14k Triad. Zuang looked frightened out of his life.
“Today,” said Smiling Charlie Man to the crowd, “Song Zuang has transgressed against his family. However, the family, his brothers, are always forgiving. A test must be in order, a test that will show the Gods that Song Zuang is truly repentant. In this circle he shall face Kim Sun Lee.”
The crowd went wild. Bets were taken and Song Zuang was clearly the underdog. Even Far put a bet on Kim Sun Lee, but Peter demurred. Far chided him on this. However, the disagreement didn't last long because the fight started.
Like a tiger, Kim Sun Lee struck first with a flying side kick, which was amazing in itself because the Korean was so big. Song Zuang tried to dodge, but the kick clipped Song Zuang's shoulder sending him sprawling out of the circle into the waiting arms of the crowd. Without pause they threw Song Zuang back into the fight and the waiting Kim Sun Lee. Song Zuang was right in line for a punch straight to the face. He went down without a groan.
Again cheers went up, and money quickly changed hands. Far was quite pleased at how well she did. Smiling Charlie came and stood over the fallen Song Zuang, who was still unconscious and said, “The Gods turn a blind eye to you Song Zuang. The family rejects you. You have a day to get out of Hong Kong. Get him out of my sight.” With a flick of his hand Smiling Charlie motioned to his men to haul Song Zuang away.
“Not much of a fight,” said Far to Peter, but Smiling Charlie overheard her.
“So, you weren't entertained my dear.”
“Not really, poor Zuang didn't really have much of a chance.”
“Ah but that is all that life offers us my dear, chances. Song Zuang had his chance. His failure to succeed is what costs him most. Perhaps, you Peter Fu, would have more of a 'chance' against Kim Sun Lee?”
Far bridled a little at this. She knew her kung fu was better than that silly Jeet Kune Do that Peter subscribed to. Smiling Charlie should have asked her fight the Korean. She knew that she had a better 'chance' than Peter. However, before she could say anything Peter was handing her his jacket.
“Please hold this,” he said with a smile. Far was tempted to throw the jacket back in his face, but before she knew it, Peter was taking off his shirt. He certainly had a fine physique and Far kept her mouth shut. For some reason, Far mused, Jeet Kune Do practitioners liked to show of their chests. It was all Bruce Lee's fault.
With a spring in his step Peter jumped in the circle. However Kim Sun Lee was waiting for him. Letting out a wild yell Kim Sun Lee leaped into the air delivering a roundhouse kick, but Peter proved to be quick on the uptake, and got both arms up in a block, and while Peter slide backwards a few inches the kick lost a lot of its power. This also allowed Peter to follow up with an elbow strike to Kim Sun Lee's solar plexus that caused the Korean to let a loud whoosh as the air was forced out of his lungs. Kim Sun Lee rolled backwards in a ball, but with incredible grace was instantly back on his feet charging back at Peter. The crowd roared and more and more bets were made. With a sweeping kick, Kim Sun Lee took Peter's legs out from under him, and Peter fell hard down on the mat. A trickle of blood leaked from his nose as he hit the mat. A smile crossed Kim Sun Lee, first blood was his. Kim Sun Lee pounced. The Korean was in the process of delivering a front kick right down on a prone Peter when he reached up and grabbed Kim Sun Lee's foot preventing the Korean from delivering. With a twist, Kim Sun Lee was throw back into the crowd. However, this time the crowd parted and the Korean slammed back first into the railing and almost toppled over into the harbor. Kim Sun Lee was slow to regain his feet, while Peter waiting patently in the circle doing a little martial arts dance in anticipation. Sweat glistened on his skin making him practically glowing in the moonlight. Kim Sun Lee spat on the deck and with a roar charged. Peter was waiting for him. As soon as Kim Sun Lee came into the circle, Peter's knee came up slamming into the jaw of the Korean. Teeth shattered under the impact of Peter's knee strike. Without a sound Kim Sun Lee fell backwards out of the circle like a fallen tree. The crowd was stunned. No one thought that an actor like Peter Fu could so easily defeat a monster like Kim Sun Lee. However after a moment the crowd was cheering for Peter, everyone except Far, who had lost her bet. Handshakes and slaps on the back quickly followed. Far wanting to be the center of attention planted a passionate kiss on Peter as celebration of his winning, but inside Far seethed. She should have been the one to fight Kim Sun Lee.
After that night, Peter and Far grew apart. When Peter survived his incredible fall on the set Guns of the Plum King, Far tried to see him, but was politely and firmly told her mind her own business by the security guards at the door to his hospital room. That was the last time for a few years that Far heard anything about Peter Fu. Instead Far concentrated on her movie career, but that night on Smiling Charlie yacht ate at her. It should have been her. She had more style, more flair than Peter Fu. Far had to do something about it.
It was six months after Peter's disappearance that Far made an appearance at Smiling Charlie Man's yacht. This time no one knew her because she was wearing the golden mask from “The Golden Mask of Madame Ling.” Smiling Charlie greeted her cordially, but obviously wasn't happy to see her. The Immortals were said to have been seen in Hong Kong, and that could only be bad for business. Smiling Charlie feared that the mystery woman was one of the so-called Chinese super-heroes. However, when his guests were clamoring for 'entertainment', Smiling Charlie felt he had no choice.
When the first round of fighting started, Far jumped right in the middle of it. She performed Fang's Irresistible Kick against one breaking his leg in the process, and then turning in a whirlwind move performed Yumie's Powerful Punch on the other. The man fell backwards into the crowd spitting blood and teeth.
“There,” said Far, “I show you. I show you all, all it takes is a little style, a little flair.”
The crowd, and Smiling Charlie were outraged.
“I don't know who you are lady, but you've pissed of someone you'd rather not,” growled Smiling Charlie as he pulled out a handgun.
“Guns are for amateurs,” said Far as she leaped right in front of Smiling Charlie, “I prefer the flair of a flying fist and the style of deadly kick.”
Far grabbed a hold of Smiling Charlies' lapels of his jacket before he could even get his gun free. With a deft twist, Smiling Charlie was screaming through the air as Far performed Jun's Heavenly Throw. Smiling Charlie flew through the night sky of Victoria Harbor splashing down almost a mile away. Meanwhile other 14k Triad members swarmed Far. Blow upon blow rained down on her, but through it all Far kept to her feet thanks to the Ling's Iron Will maneuver. Far dished out crippling blows, and devastating kicks, and she felt that she was doing it all with the flair that she knew only she possessed. In the end none of the Triad members could stand up to her.
“Who are you?” asked the last conscious Triad through broken teeth.
“Oh who me,” said Far coyly, “you may call me Flair. You're little boys' club needs an airing out. I'm here to provide that. Oh stop looking at me like that. I'm not going to take over. That would be just too much work. Instead, I'm offering you boys a little something your probably familiar with, protection.”
“Protection, but you're just a woman,” said the Triad. This was the last thing he said before Far drop kicked him into the harbor.
A week later several members of the 14k Triad met with Flair and gave into her demands. Flair would act as a bodyguard for certain members of the triads and for this she would be paid handsomely, but make no mistake, Flair had style and her style was Seven Sisters of Shaolin style kung fu. Any Triad who got out of line would pay for it.
Personality
Far thinks she is the only martial artist who has any style, and is only too happy to point it out to any opponent. She's constantly pointing out to her foes their shortcomings, and mistakes. Most times, Far cannot resist taunting her foes. Usually her opponents find this disconcerting and thus give Far an edge against them. Of course there have been a few that find the taunting impossible to take and really blow their cork. Against foes obviously in a blood rage, Far will switch her tactics to a more defensive position and let her foe wear themselves out before providing the finishing maneuver.
Far makes no bones about it, but she doesn't like firearms. Those who use firearms against Far, usually get the worst end of the deal. Far has little mercy for those who pull guns on her. Far believes in the flair of flying fists and deadly kicks. Firearms are for the unenlightened and the desperate. Those who don't measure up to Far's standards are sure to get themselves hurt.
Like Peter Fu the Stuntman, Far has an actors need to show off. Her favorite way to show off is to beat the stuffing out of a hapless foe in such a way to demonstrate to the whole world what a great martial artist she is. Far doesn't go for simple punches or kicks. Her attacks always must have flair, grace, and usually end up with her foes spitting teeth.
Far also knows that she's very beautiful, and this is possibly the one of the reasons why she wears the golden mask as protection against blows to her beautiful face. However, even with the mask it's obvious to anyone who looks at her that Far is quite attractive. Far goes out of her way to remind everyone of this fact too.
Quote
"What you really need is a little style, a little flair."
Powers
Felicite is an accomplished martial artists, possibly the only one today who practices Seven Sisters of Shaolin style kung fu. The only others who really know the martial arts are her mother and her aunties. The style is quite flashy, involving wild punches and dead kicks. The style was developed by Felicite's mothers and aunties while performing in kung fu movies before the Chinese took over Hong Kong. In addition to the standard maneuvers that Felicite learned there were seven other special maneuvers that she has learned as well. Most of the special maneuvers are just more powerful versions of the Seven Sisters of Shaolin maneuvers, but a few of them border upon the surreal. Ling's Iron Will allows Felicite to ignore almost any physical blow, and often times she'll use this maneuver along with more standard maneuvers to devastating effect. One of the oddest maneuvers is her Min's Distracting Dance, which creates multiple images of Felicite, which most foes are unable to differentiate between the illusion of Felicite and the real one.
Felicite is extremely graceful and dexterous able to dodge not only bullets and arrows, but on occasion has even been able to dodge energy blasts. Naturally, Felicite is in tip top physical condition, on equal level to the most fit Olympic athlete. She practices her kung fu several hours a day, a tradition instilled in her by her mother and her aunties. Due to conditioning, Felicite is able to run and leap over long distances with ease. Felicite has also been known to run up walls as if they were vertical surfaces.
Felicite also wears a golden mask, which she took from the filming of “the Golden Mask of Madame Ling.” While wearing the mask, Felicite is protected from most flash attacks, and the mask also inhibits the use of mental powers against her.
Appearance
Felicite is of Eurasian descent. Her mother is from Hong Kong, while her father is of French descendent from Seychelles. To most people who meet Felicite or Flair for that matter don't realize that she isn't fully Chinese. Only those few who speak to her in English would note a slight French accent. Felicite is a small woman with delicate features. She has long dark raven locks, which she usually has pulled back into a pony tail. Felicite doesn't wear a standard costume, but wears a variety of silk cheongsams that has a slit that runs up over her thigh. Felicite believes this gives her more maneuverability. It also gives a view of her incredible legs.
In addition to her daring dresses, Felicite wears a golden mask that covers the majority of her face. While wearing her mask, it is impossible to see what looks like, and so far even the Triads have been able to like Flair with the actress Lang Far.
