Everything's New, Nothing's Changed

[Sean Timson]

Sean stood high on the peddles of his bike, coasting onto the school grounds. His hood flapped a little in the wind, but not enough to bother the transfer student. What a peculiar design he thought of the buildings to himself as he scanned for a bike rack, but alas the racks revealed themselves to be already full. A sigh escaped Sean's lips as he pulled his bike up next to one of the trees and hopped off.

Taking a look around as he chained his bike to the trunk, he noticed that other than a few relatively fresh gouges in the walls, the school seemed relatively well kept. Sean wasn't fooled though. He recognized the subtle signs of violence that left their scars on the architecture. So, another covenant of the strong and the powerful rule by force it seems, Sean decided. Sean slipped his riding glasses into a pouch attached to his bike's water-bottle holder and ran his fingers through his hair to sort out some of the odder shapes the wind had made with it

Noticeing that he was not alone, Sean turned around to face the pair that were approaching him. One of them was at least 6' tall, and had a runner's build and the other had a huge gut that made him seem to be almost as wide as he was tall. "What's up?" Sean inquired, even thought he could tell that these two weren't looking for conversation.

"You know who's tree that is, tard?" the fat one barked to the freshman. Students in the immediate vicinity took notice in the situation, probably recognizing the potential entertainment value of watching the new guy get beat down.

Sean shook his head, "Nope", keeping his tone neutral, "I just got here, and didn't see anyone's name on it." A crowd started to form a circle around the trio, blocking off the most obvious routes of escape.

"Then I think it's time for your first lesson!" The tall one shouted as he swung out his fist toward Sean's face, only to be blocked by the defenders quickly raised forearms. The crowd started cheering as the action began, drawing more to the circle.

Sean was staggered by the blow, but quickly regained his footing, just in time to see fatty charging at him. Sean knew he couldn't get out of the way, so he kicked out with his right foot, the steel toe of his boot connecting violently with the outside of fatty's thigh in the "dead-leg" spot. Fatty's leg collapsed beneath him, sending him tumbling into Sean's legs and taking out the transfer's footing. Sean could see what Skinny was about to attempt and kept his arms up as a kick sent him flying a few feet away. As Sean regained his footing, the crowd shoved him back toward his opponents. "This isn't exactly fair, now is it?" Sean taunted his aggressors, but was ignored.

Suddenly, stars exploded into Sean's vision and he noticed the ground seemed to be falling toward him. Dazed, he fell to all-fours pain in the back of his head began to pierce the adrenaline and Dusty turned to see a girl standing above him with a clenched fist and a triumphant smile on her face as she delivered a kick to Sean's ribs. Fatty and Skinny were approaching as well. Right as the 2 boys were about to kick Sean in unison, Sean grabbed the girl's foot in his arms and twisted, pulling her into the kicks instead of him. Sean couldn't help but laugh on the inside at the surprised shouts they made.

Sean staggered back up to his feet as the trio attempted to regroup, shaking the last of the stars from his sight. He would retreat, but the crowd had no intention of allowing that.

[akada]

"Mm.. I believe this tree is school property?.. I could be mistaken, maybe I should confiscate it?"

He asked with a slight smile there on his face, that massive form towered above the crowd, especially given the fact he was well over seven feet tall. He had always been the big kid, but this was ridiculous. To make matters worse, he seemed almost like he was some sort of walking tank, body bulging outwards with each move of said form causing sinew to ripple all throughout his chest, legs, and arms. Hands shifted themselves and he would have pushed his way through the crowd with a simple push to the side and walking through. He looked like he belonged in some circus somewhere given his size, but he had on normal clothing, at least normal in terms of this place. A white t-shirt, a set of brown kahki pants, and an unbuttoned black silk shirt on over the shirt. Massive white sneakers enclosed his feet.

"Oh.. was there a fight going on here?"

He asked with a tilt of his head, noticing Sean, and then the other three which obviously seemed roaring to have another go at the boy, who was outnumbered, but according to what he had seen from the back of the crowd, not out thought. A hand moved down and landed onto Seans head. Turning him slightly, offering that odd little smile he always held on his face, but at the same time, it seemed to be the sort that was peaceful, almost totally relaxed.. hard to believe given the fact he was built like that. A gentle giant?.. oh.. when the situation could be used for said actions.

"Will you unchain your bike for me please?"

He would have waited a moment.. allowing the boy to do as he asked, while those massive arms slunk around the trunk of the tree and clenched fingernails inwards, a stomp of his right foot caused a slight vibration to be sent through the ground and then the sound of dirt being forced out of the way and roots snapped off were beginning to take toll as he began to force it up out of the ground. It wasnt like he was hoisting up some big red wood tree in the middle of the forest, but that monstrosity could life well over 2000lbs, and back at 552 had only one person that could match it. Ark. A man known for hurling cars at the police. Ironic that in turn Hiroko's was being used to intimidate some kids picking on a freshman.

[Sean Timson]

Sean tenced and barely held himself back from reacting violently from the hand on his head, not due to any malace towards Hiroko, but purly from the adrenaline buzz. Glanceing over his shoulder, Sean could tell this guy's bad side was not somewhere he wanted to be. "Will you unchain your bike for me please?" the giant spoke to Sean. Sean took a few breaths to clear his head, then finaly replied "Sure, I just don't want it getting stollen."

Sean calmly went over and unlocked the chain and pulled it back from around the tree, coiling it up around his fist as he went. He didn't expect trouble, but just in case the giant was merely playing with him, he would have quick access to a weapon of opertunity. Hopefuly, this could end with just a few bruises and Sean could continue on. Sean expected this would not be the last fight he would get into. His deceptivly small build had gotten him picked on since grade school, and he knew how to handle himself, but he wasn't an inherently violent person. Life just seemed to be violent toward him.

[chihiro]

Chi hummed to herself merrily as she crossed the grass on her way to her next class, a light bounce in her ballet flat clad step. It had been a rather good day so far, and it showed on her face in the form of a mild smile, her dark eyes twinkling. The corners of her delicate mouth turned downward in a look of confusion, however, as she approached some kind of hustle that seemed to be going on. A fight, from the looks of it. She slowed her steps, clutching her books to her chest as chocolate eyes peered at the scene in front of her. One boy seemed to be unchaining his bike from a tree, his clothes were covered in dirt though, so she guessed he had been part of the scuffle. Then there were three other students with sour shocked looks on their faces, staring at a fifth individual, a tall man with blonde hair who seemed to be taking control of the situation.

Wait...that's Hiroko! Chi recognized the very tall man, she remembered him from the sidewalk that day. A fleeting thought crossed her mind about Zaro, she wondered how she was doing. Maybe she would pay them a visit like he'd offered, it would be great to see her again.

The dark haired freshman made her way to the front of the gathering crowd, less confused and more curious. "What's going on?" She asked aloud, more to herself than anyone in particular.

[Sean Timson]

"Stupid shit, that's what's happening," Sean's voice was barly over his breath. "Just the same old thing that happens to the new guy," Sean spoke loud enough to be heard this time. Sean carried his bike away, shoving through the crowd even as it began to disperse. He met eyes with Chi's for only a moment, his expression one of irritated acceptence of his situation. This had happened to him half a dozen times before, each time he had transfered to a new school. Some upperclassmen always wanted to establish their dominance over the new guy. Unfortunatly for them, Sean was tougher than he appeared, and his unwillingness to fight was due to a sense of decency rather than an inability to win.

Leaving the crowd behind, Sean walked over to some thick bushes that bordered the school grounds. Picking up his bike, Sean hurled it into the bushes, hopfuly deep enough that noone would notice it, or be willing to take it. The discomfort of retrieving the bike was nothing that Sean was unaccosumed to, and it beat the hell out of having to walk home. "It's not on school property now," he chuckled quietly to himself. He turned to return to school.