Testing the territory (Open)

[Adrian Kreever]

((OOC: Yes, it is terribly long and dull, but please bear with me, it's been too long since I've done a thread like this, and I haven't QUITE had enough sleep lately. I hope you can find enough interest in it to reply despite all of this ^_^))

It was a cold day, very cold. Winter was coming hard and fast, leaving people's breath hanging in the air, roads slick with half-formed ice and icy mist in the air. It was wonderful.

Adrian thought so, at least. The cold had a calming effect upon him, always had, chilling his heart so his brain could work undisturbed. This was his first day here, at the reviled Public Highschool nr. 259. People here were supposed to be little better than savage animals, waiting for any moment of weakness to strike and take a target down because... they could. It wasn't quite as bad as that, of course, the news had a tendency of pushing things toward the more dramatic angle, but some of it had to be true. Nothing could stop him from hoping, at least. Someone had to put the beasties down.

Today, in honor of this being his first day, he had decided to wear the same he nearly always wore: A grey hooded jumper, a black pair of workman's trousers and a pair of safety shoes. That protective layer of steel in the shoe's tip really added that extra oomph if you kicked right. This was his first day, it was all but a part of the agreement mother and father had signed that people would test him today. One might as well come prepared when one now fun's going to happen.

He had just attended his first class, psychology, one of his favorite subjects, and to his surprise the class had been relatively calm. No, it had actually been calm, something he couldn't remember having seen anywhere else in years. The surprise had faded when one of the other students, a new guy like himself, had sighed demonstrtively and rolled his eyes. The teacher's reaction had happened instantly, leaving Adrian stunned and the not-so-silent student on his way to the school's infirmary. So that was how the peace was kept? Interesting, more names for the list. After class Adrian added the finishing notes to his note-block about Kohut's theory and headed for the lunch area. Kohut had been a bright guy, but like all people with theories his was incomplete, and emprical testing was all but impossible if one didn't want the Mayflower effect.

Adrian deliberately mumbled this on the way out of the classroom, also deliberately being among the last ones to leave. He took what he considered to be a detour, hoping to be alone with his not so subtle pursuers. It worked. Someone placed a hand on his shoulder and Adrian turned around, making sure his face was the right mixture of fear and surprise to exact the reactio he wanted. Another success. "Would you lookit that, boys?" The ape snorted, standing almost a head taller than Adrian and being almost twice as wide. "It looks like my new pal here's gonna do our homework for next class, ain't ya pal?" The ape's leering grin had that mock friendship and joviality in it that made Adrian smile at te thouht of what would follow. He took care add a few nervous quivers to keep up the act, just a little longer. "W-w-well, I-I suppose I could make a few extra c-copies" He had invested many hours in front of the mirror practicing that stutter. It seemed to work.

The grip on his shoulder tightened slightly as the neanderthal leaned, his breath causing Adrian to recoil slightly, in spite of himself. Someone had moved up behind him. "Well, ain't that nice? Ain't that nice boys?" he looked around at the two or three other mindless brutes who nodded in agreement, smiles of dull joy on their faces. "Th-th-there's just o-one th-thing" "Oh?" The grip on his shoulder tightened as the neanderthal Alpha positioned his face right in front of Adrian's, and the thug behind him took a step closer, probably preparing to grab his arms and hold him fast. Behind the mask of feigned fear, Adrian was bubbling with glee. "And what might that be?" Adrian dropped the mask, his face now displaying a grin of unreigned madness and his eyes shifting colour for just a moment. "I'd rather go skinny-dipping in a septic tank than be contaminated further by your rotten breath."

Adrian had planned this almost from the moment he had turned around. The Alpha roared and attempted to smash his knee into Adrian's groin, a move countered by Adrian's own knee at just the right point to send the Alpha back with a cry of pain as he clutched his stricken joint. He was still standing, though, that did merit the slightest of respects. Adrian's foot, still in the air, lashed out backwards and caught the guy behind him in the shin with the shoe's hardened rubber heel, followed up by a vicous elbow to the centre of his stomach sent him to the ground, rolling and clutching his stomach. Alpha had almost recovered by the time Adrian landed his next blow, putting all his meagre weight behind a lunging punch that impacted in the center of Alpha's Solar Plexus. He fell to his knees clutching his stomach like his fellow, Adrian grabbed hold of his head, shattering Alpha's nasal bone bone with a devastating headbutt before swinging his arm around in a wide arc at the temple, sending Alpha unconciouss to the ground with a dull 'thud'.

The other two man-apes stood frozen in shock and surprise before running off to whatever crack in the walls they'd crawled out off. Adrian turned towards the other guy, the still consciouss one, probably the Beta, who had managed to fight himself back on all fours. Adrian was no trained martial artist or anything, so the kick that sent Beta thrashing into oblivion was more like the kick of a football-player than that of some kung-fu movie star. It still did the job just fine, as it always did.

No sense in eating his lunch inside, kids like these were always obnoxious little brats and while he enjoyed that as much as the next guy planning on kicking in their faces, lunch-time was meant to be had in peace. He had scoped out a peaceful location outside the other day, and found it pleasingly empty devoid of human life when he set foot there again. It was an old bench, the paint had peeled off long ago and left nothing but dark wood, and the tree that leaned over it made it feel almost safe. The bench was at the top of a hill that overlooked the outdoor sports area, but right now they were empty. Placing his rucksack next to the bench and fishing out his lunch and sat down to eat it in peace, with the cold and the mist as his only company. Or so he thought.

[Kevala Badoer]

(ooc: Hope you dont mind if I pop in here! -waves and then bounces off to post- ^_^ )

Kevala had been having about as good a day as she could expect from this place. The usual being picked on, harrassed, and made fun of added to the list of things that she did not want to deal with today. She had just finished class, and though she was not hungry, she needed to get out of here before she snapped and hurt somebody.

So, she would turn in the hallway, black combat boots hitting against the tile as she headed toward the front of the school. Dressed today in a pair of flare leg jeans and a black tank top, her long brown hair falling down in waves around her slender form. Icy hues scanning the area as she thought of where she wanted to go. She supposed she could go to the back of the school. Or she could turn around and go to the roof.

But as she reached the front doors, she would reach into her backpack, grabbing out her shades and slipping them on.

No, she knew where she wanted to go. Slinging her backpack onto her shoulder and reaching out to push the doors open. As the door fell open, allowing her room to move through, she would sigh as the scent of the fresh air hit her. She loved being outside, though today it was exceptionally nice. The sun feeling nice upon her delicate flesh.

Slowly her feet would begin to move, this time carrying her toward her retreat. Only to arrive at the bench beneath the tree and find another already there. Part of her wanted to grumble and growl out in protest, but instead she shook her head and let a smile curl upon her lips.

She had not seen him before and there was no need in being mean to the new kids. He had yet to do anything to her. Right?

Softly her tone would slip forth as she leaned against the old tree. Eyes scanning over the new person from behind her shades.

"Hello there. I see I am not the only one to enjoy this spot?"

Her arms crossing over her chest as she ran her tongue over her lower lip softly. No real reason fot it other than the fact that she wanted to. She would keep her eyes on him, fully aware that he could be mean and choose to attack her. But she was not one to usually start anything with anyone.

So for now, she waited. It was all she could really do right?

[Roy Atenwood]

(OOC: Hope nobody minds a third.)

Roy barely suppressed a groan, looking at where he was going ot sit and drink his tea. Assam tea, to be exact. He had no idea if it was out of season or not, he was still learning tea, but that was beside the point.

"...hello there. To the both of you."

Reaching into the rucksack on his back, he pulled out a surprisingly compact collapsible table, and a stool of the same nature. Then what appeared to be a battery powered hot plate. Out followed a tea pot, and a thermos full of the blood red Assam tea, still steaming. Setting the teapot on the small hot plate, he produced three cups, and poured tea for each of them.

It was only polite, after all, though probably a little strange.

"It's cold out here. Have some tea."

[Adrian Kreever]

((OOC: Yay! -waves at both-))

"Hmmm" Those were mockeries, but you'd best not attract further undue attention to yourself like that. There're bound to be people here of far greater ability, and lesser gullibillity than Alpha and Beta there. Let's lay low for a while. Adrian was running the day so far through as he ate. He had heard rumours of some of the people here, and even found an obscure video or two on net. He would have to be patient. He could prey on people outside the school until he felt sufficiently secure in his abilities.

"Hello there. I see I am not the only one to enjoy this spot?"

I doubt any of us are enjoying it right now. Adrian looked up and cocked his head to the side slightly as he unconsciously made a low, almost purr-like sound that meant he was making a character assessment. He couldn't see her eyes, his purple ones scanning across featureless shades. Eyes told you more than anything else did. Don't be rude. You know she could hardly be an ally of those herberts. Ugh, fine. "Well, there's still room if you wanna sit" He indicated the remaining sapce on the bench with an absentminded wave of his hand. "View's nice" He offered, managing a smile. "Out here" He quickly added when he realized what he'd inadvertently implied. He took another bite of his sandwich, crushing jalapeño and salad. Then a third intruder arrived.

"...hello there. To the both of you."

"Oh, hello there" Adrian managed a smile, reaching into his bag and pretending to be looking for something long enough for his shakes of frustration to wear off and leave no one the wiser.

"It's cold out here. Have some tea."

You... what?! 'S probably drugged. Do you mean him or the tea? "Don't mind if I do" You've got to be polite, at least for now. Can't afford to be making enemies allready. Well, anymore enemies. Adrian reached out for the offered cup and lifted it to salute both of his companions. "Cheers" He managed to keep the smile looking at least half-way genuine. But he wouldn't drink, not until he saw his host having downed a cup without ill effects. It did smell nice, though. "So, what brings you two here?" Conversation needed to be made if awkwardness was to be avoided. Adrian didn't really mind, except that appearances had to be kept up. He couldn't wait untl later, after school when he could drop them completely.

[Kevala Badoer]

(ooc: Woo! New People!! ^_^ )

Kevala was watching him watch her. It seemed as though there was an air of paranoia around him, though she could not be entirely sure. Letting a soft sigh pass her lips, she would reach up, the shade of the tree enough reason to take off the shade, if not also for the fact that it was harder to judge subtle movements with something blocking your vision.

Icy hues would settle upon him as he spoke, her hand absently offering her a seat. She would nod, moving to take a seat upon the bench and about to speak when she heard the approach of another.

Her attention shifted. Wow! Another person she had yet to meet. Cool! Score one for Kevala...er...Score two!

She was always about making new ......well she was always about meeting new people. Leave it at that. It was rare in this place to truly call a person your friend.

As she watched the other male bring out a tea set and three cups she would cast him a soft smile as well. Her eyes scanning over him though quickly shifting back to keep tabs on the other male.

She did not know him, and in this place you learned to be a bit weary of strangers.

As the tea was offered she would smile and nod her head politely.

"Thank you. I do not believe I have had the pleasure. My name is Kevala."

Looking between the both of them, the introduction apparently meant for them each. Slowly her hand would extend, reaching out to take one of the cups offered and bring it to her lips. A light breath of air blown across it and then she would take a sip. If it was poisoned then so be it. She was not the type to really care anymore. She was sure that with a fast enough response she would be fine. Heh A near purr slipping forth as the warmth filled her.

As she settled the cup back up on the small table, she heard the male next to her speak. Her eyes once more shifting to him as she gave soft roll of her shoulders.

"I simply wanted away from the constant running mouths of those kids that would like to pick on me, fight me, or just otherwise piss me off.

You?"

She once more offered a smile and then turned back to the man with the tea, gathering her cup again to take another sip and wait for them to reply.

[Roy Atenwood]

"Me? Figured I'd pass out some free samples, see if I could drum up business for the tea shop I manage."

The mist rolling off of the blood red tea matched the mist swirling in the air. Roy's gray eyes weren't as cold as they once were, but still wary as he sipped his tea. He knew he needed to know the young man...it was odd, but he reminded him of an old friend. She was the one he was wary of.

I wonder where JC is now, and what he's doing...

"This I brewed myself, it's not as good as what we sell, sadly. Earl Grey is my specialty, not Assam."

He sighed softly.

"Roy Atenwood, yourselves?"

The young man asked for an introduction easily enough, his voice easy, friendly in the tense silence between the two others. With eyes as gray as the day around them, the boy clad in a black hoody and blue jeans smirked, his simple black motorcycle boots tapping the ground as he sipped his tea, observed the two of them...

Well, life's never boring, eh?

(OOC: sorry for the short posts.)

[Adrian Kreever]

"My name is Kevala. I simply wanted away from the constant running mouths of those kids that would like to pick on me, fight me, or just otherwise piss me off.

You?"

"Roy Atenwood, yourselves?"

Adrian, seeing the host drink from the cup, took a genuine sip himself. It wasn't bad, better than the shit-cheap varieties you could purchase in the lokal stores where only the rarest of people, customers and clerks alike, knew how to pronounce the names of their product. It was good.

The two others had introduced themselves, and in order to to appear polite and approachable, and also to stay within striking distance of these two new allies/enemies/whatevers, he decided. "My name is Adrian, charmed" He lifted the lent cup to each of them. So far, this school's quota of assholes seemed a good deal lower than he had first anticipated, but then again, he had only catalogued six people since class, and these were peacefull surroundings. Don't worry, there'll be plenty of targets. It'll be good not having to ben on guard everywhere, though. True, but don't forget what happens when you don- Of course I won't, I- Oi, you gotta say something, you're starin at nothing again.

"The teachers here are something... different, from other schools, aren't they? I saw one knock a student into hospital-shape in less time than I use to blink. Do they do that often?" Adrian's thoughtful look was mostly genuine, and what little was not he hid behind the lent cup, taking another sip of the tea. "Good tea, by the way, Roy" Adrian had coem close to calling him Ray, and even though that wouldn't have been a major crack in the Facade, even the smallest cracks would grow in time. "So, what do you guys study? I'm trying for psychology and philosophy, but they seem to be rather popular choices"

[Kevala Badoer]

She listened as they spoke. A smile curling upon her lips still as she let those eyes travel over the both of them. Finally once the silence was again offered she would let her own voice speak out.

"Yes, the teachers here are a bit intense I must admit. But you cannot blame them really. Look at what they have to put up with on a regular basis."

She thought this over for a moment, not sure what else to say on the matter as she reached out and took up her glass of tea. Another sip taken before she would finish speaking in reference to his other question.

"As for me, I am currently studying writing and photography. I have been taking a few college courses along with some classes here that I missed out on last year."

She would then fall silent as she waited on the other male to speak up now.

( ooc: So sorry for the shortness. I have not been feeling well. I will hopefully be able to improve on my next post. Again, sooooo sorry! X____x )

[Roy Atenwood]

"Oh, yeah. We can't blame them because they beat the fuck out of us, half the time for no reason. Look at the other students."

Roy sighed. This place was bullshit.

I sure fucking sigh a lot, eh?

"Just keep on the right side of things and the teachers won't crack down on you. And leave the weaker kids alone, and neither will I, for that matter. Though when I'M a teacher I'll solve my problems by TALKING to students...."

Roy wanted to be a teacher, really. It was either that or organized crime, for him. Hell, his tea shop was a front for his gun-running uncle. He liked protecting the weak, which was why the Xing family got involved in organized crime, but he wanted to do it through legal channels. And what better way than teaching? Molding GOOD people instead of bad. That was the major problem these days, too. Everyone wanted a piece of the pie, but nobody wanted to help others to it.

Well, Roy had plans to throw the fucking pie out the window.

Do I sense a comeback?

Possibly, Raven, but as myself...not you.

Fine by me.

[Adrian Kreever]

"Yes, the teachers here are a bit intense I must admit. But you cannot blame them really. Look at what they have to put up with on a regular basis. As for me, I am currently studying writing and photography. I have been taking a few college courses along with some classes here that I missed out on last year."

Adrian would smile and nod, he could relate to that. There was a time to talk to people and there was the kind of person who talked. He had never found himself much of either. Sometimes, wild animals needed to learn a lesson in humility, and sometimes, rabid dogs needed to put down. He continued to listen, adding a slight softness to his smile that was not quite synthetic. He was fond of artistic types, people who looked inside to find ways to deal with their darkness and then processed it into varying kinds of material, sharing their perspectives, peculiar tastes and passions. It was the harder choice, the better choice, the one that kept you from exerting that same darkness over others and drawing pleasure from their suffering. A noble sacrifice, in a way. You're rambling again, the other one's talking.

"Oh, yeah. We can't blame them because they beat the fuck out of us, half the time for no reason. Look at the other students. Just keep on the right side of things and the teachers won't crack down on you. And leave the weaker kids alone, and neither will I, for that matter. Though when I'M a teacher I'll solve my problems by TALKING to students...."

Can respect that, I suppose. Despite all that anger in his voice and eyes. We've seen worse. Undeniably. "Sounds sensible" His smile didn't change, he felt it still conveyed his emotions rather clearly. So, thus far the score stands 2/5 for sensible and non- at this school. Good odds! Yes, good odds... So far. "As far as I could tell, dialogue between teachers and students is not high on the list here. One must wonder how long this whole pillar-thing will last. Eventually someone'll tear the thing apart, one would expect. Unless the students here find some contructive way to channel this agner of theirs, they'll just turn it upon those who can't fight back" He chuckled with just the right amount of irony. "My apologies, I believe my little Freud just peeped out there. Who's to say this system won't work?"

He took another sip of tea, wondering whether or not hsi gamble would pay off, or earn him an express tour of the infirmary followed by a lengthy, all-expenses paid stay at the local hospital. The pillats themselves should be easy to recognize, reeking with self-importance and rotting morale, but everyone was a potential snitch. Relax, they'll have more important things to do than beat you to mush. There'll be people here actively trying to kill them. Point, but no point in unneccesary risks. "So, what do people do around here for fun? I just moved here since there were no other free spots in any of the local public schools, and I don't really now anyone here"

[Kevala Badoer]

(OOC: >.> To say she is a pillar or not...that is the question. -pouts- )

Kevala listened to this, okay so that was a bit of an interesting topic to bring up. But she would shrug softly just the same. She had nothing to hide.

"Being a pillar is not all that great. I dont see why the others get all stuck up and moody. Sure people wanna fight us, but meh, they do they do. I have more important shit I have to worry about right now."

Yes she was head of the school newspaper, yes she was one of the four pillars, but to her it was nothing special.

"I think it would work of people would gain the titles with the purpose of genuinely helping the school and the student body instead of their own personal reasons. But then when somebody does try to help others he is mocked and laughed at."

She thought back to the day Gabe had tried to help the school find a new path and to what it had eventually led to. The memory still making her mad.

"Some wish for the whole system to fall, to have a place governed by no ruler, to let each person think for themselves. But the problem with that is, people have not shown that they are capable of being without somebody to lead them, so the idea of doing such a thing is just .... laughable. "

[Roy Atenwood]

"Perhaps there should be a balance between law and chaos then, eh?"

Roy wasn't angry yet, but these discussions always made him mad. Very mad. 552 had nearly been taken over by "Reformists" when he left, something he shuddered to remember. A guy named Leon had really worked him over pretty good, and he could still feel the blows to this day.

"552, the school I transferred from, was taken over by idiotic reformists...but both sides were idiots. Beating the hell out of someone doesn't change their mind, it just stops them while they heal."

He laughed, refilling everyone's tea.

"Though beatin' up a bully works. Bullies are cowards. Show'em you can fight back, and they'll leave you alone."

(OOC: Sorry for the short post, guys.)

[Adrian Kreever]

"Being a pillar is not all that great. I dont see why the others get all stuck up and moody. Sure people wanna fight us, but meh, they do they do. I have more important shit I have to worry about right now."

Adrian's brow lifted in a show of geuine surpise a moment, before he let his eyes run over her. This was... something other than he had expected.

"I think it would work of people would gain the titles with the purpose of genuinely helping the school and the student body instead of their own personal reasons. But then when somebody does try to help others he is mocked and laughed at."

It was a dream, an ideal that would work in a perfect world. But then again, so would communism, democracy and countries ruled by royal families. The only reason democracy worked as 'well' as it did was because each and every leader had to work to please the electors more than the opposition if he wanted to keep the power that gave them such a hard-on. Most of the other systems didn't have that mechanism, and as such once a self-interested prick got in power, everyone would feel it. That was the only discernable difference between the world's various countries.

"Some wish for the whole system to fall, to have a place governed by no ruler, to let each person think for themselves. But the problem with that is, people have not shown that they are capable of being without somebody to lead them, so the idea of doing such a thing is just .... laughable."

"Humans are flock animals by nature, and even in this modern day when the old instincts are filled with rot and the virtues born in us by hardship waste away, the weak will always look to those appearing stronger for guidance. I guess that's what the Pillar system is supposed to be" He paused to chuckle his self-ironical way. "I'm sorry, I do ramble. If people are left without guidance, I believe, they'll seek the patronage of those that seem more successfull than themselves and/or trying to emulate these. When left with absolute freedom of choice, we tend to copy the actions of those around us, so yes, it is laughable. At least, that's what I believe." It was nice, sitting here and just talking. We should do this more often. Whatever, just be careful you don't let your guard down.

"Perhaps there should be a balance between law and chaos then, eh?"

There was a definite hint of irritation in his voice, something Adrian left a mental note of and then left. Order, and Chaos. There'll never be balance, the conflict between them is akin to the seasons of the moon, one will submerge the other only to be driven back and devoured so it may all begin again. Whatever, he's not done talking.

"552, the school I transferred from, was taken over by idiotic reformists...but both sides were idiots. Beating the hell out of someone doesn't change their mind, it just stops them while they heal."

"Thank you" Adrian nodded as the cup was refilled. This was good tea, he would have to remember to stop by that tea-house some day. Conflict for its own sake typically manifests as two groups composed of exactly the same kind of people warring because that's all they know how to do. Yes, thank God, eh?

"Though beatin' up a bully works. Bullies are cowards. Show'em you can fight back, and they'll leave you alone."

Adrian chuckled. "Beating them up stops them for the moment, at least. It won't take the violence out of them, though" Hyppocrite.No risks, no gambles, no regrets. "But I guess fear and negative enforcement, like violence, might be the only way to break their habits. Who's to say?" The chuckle that followed had a little too much of his real feelings in it, the cold more apparent than he preffered it to be. Say something new, don't let it sink in. "I guess some people just can't express their feelings as well as the rest of us aspire to. Art, I like to think, is born from the same feelings, drives and passions. When we write, compose or paint I like to think we're in touch with the same parts of ourselves that bullies try to pound away into numbness" He chuckled and took another sip of tea. "I'm sorry, I seem to be rambling a lot today"

[Kevala Badoer]

She would nod softly, listening to the both of them speak as she leaned back into the seat and took another sip of her fresh tea. A soft, content little sigh passing her lips as she settled there and let them both finish talking.

"I do find that my darker side comes forth in my art. Anything I take photos of or paint comes out a bit dark. Not that I mind, but it does seem to keep the demons I hold inside at bay for the time being.

I have much darkness dwelling within me, begging to come forth at any given moment. I take pictures and paint and write in order to keep them away. It is not that I fear them, it is that I do not wish to unleash them upon those I would think to call friends."

She shrugged softly, turning to look at Adrian as he spoke the last bit. A smile curling onto her lips as she shook her head.

"No no, it is alright. I have the same habit from time to time. It is very rare to find somebody to engage in a real conversation with around here. It is usually always about fighting or who is who or who did what. It is rather frustrating."

She would then nod, her eyes turning back to Roy as she smiled and took another sip of tea.

"Thank you again for the tea. It is lovely."

[Roy Atenwood]

"I can say "Tea is a universal language" in six languages. It's part of the job....but it's true."

Roy smiled. His tea WAS good, though he wouldn't admit it to himself....it was a problem he had. He could acknowledge the achievements of others, but not himself. Artistically, he was an amazing guitar player and singer, which was something he let himself have.

"Art wise...does music count? If so, I play the guitar and do a bit of singing. Mostly soft rock stuff. Little bit of grunge and black metal. Black metal is only when a friend wants me to cover for an absent band member, though...Really don't like doing it, it sounds like tossing two cats in a washing machine."

Roy barked out a good natured laugh at that little sentiment, trying to ease the bit of tension he felt. Black metal really did sound like that to him, no rhythm, no rhyme, no reason.