A song for the season

[Deleted]

((OoC: A little late but oh well.))

“It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes
And his clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say”

A delightful light melody came from the music room. The voice optimized the cliché “the voice of an angel”, though this “angel” was male and ironically known by the nickname Saint. Sure pillar’s were supposed to keep order, usually by violent methods but Saint abhorred violence. It never made any sense to him, words were a much safer and more civil way of getting this accomplished. But being a pacifist in a school system like this was never easy. The music always helped Saint calm himself and be at peace.

“Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight”

Having been gone on vacation with his mother for one of her research projects, Saint had gotten to relax out in the world, away from the violence. But nonetheless, this city was their home now so they had to come back and Saint would have to resume his position as the school’s Student Body president. Though he thought it odd that he had not been replaced by someone while he was away. Whether or not that was a good thing would be found out at a later date.

“He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes”

Caught up in his playing and singing, Saint did not notice that someone else had entered the room. His eyes were closed and the pillar was playing from memory. It was such a lovely song, especially when played around the Christmas, even Winter, season that he memorized for that reason. As he neared the end tears started to form at the corners of his eyes. No secret that Saint could be quite emotional about certain things, music and poetry in particular.

“So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said Mama's gonna look so great
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about”

Finishing the song, Saint wiped his eyes gently before looking up and finally noticing the person who had entered. Self-conscious but polite, he smiled as a tinge of redness came to his cheeks.

[lee]

Rumors had been spreading that the old pillars that once abandon the school long ago had started to slowly reappear into the fold completely unaware of what has been going on. Most people in the school still feel like the pillars and captain are nothing more, but a joke that cannot install any source of order to the point of not caring. Yet for the most part that opinion has been right since most of the pillars ran away from the school and the one that stayed is to caught up in a failing love life to do anything. Of course there are some idealist fools who actually believe that the pillars and that the captain will actually do something to bring peace to the school. Those fools are few and silent as The Exiles gain more and more support as the days go by.

In any case for some strange reasons Cliff, the rising gang leader, seems to take some interest in these returns and wishes to determine there usefulness. As of now he feels that their appearance is nothing to worry about, but it never hurts to be on the safe side.

Entering the room with the door open stood a lone freshman wearing a green tee shirt and dark blue jeans. As he stood near the entrance of the door the freshman then pulled out his cell phone and flip it open to display a text to the pillar.

Track down and strip the pillar of his honor in a one on one match.
Victory must obtain using honorable ways.

Leader

In a loud voice, the freshman then said out loud, “I have orders from the top to track you down and strip you of your honor. What do you say?”

[Deleted]

In confusion Saint raised his brow at the green clad student one seemed to be throwing down a gauntlet of some kind. Not for why he was being targeted, that was simple, he was the student body president and a pillar at this school, which made him a target to most students. No his confusion had more so to do with who exactly the “top” was and why they were targeting Saint, and more so, the pillars at large. If it was a student lead organization, than their plan would be simple. Having underlings take out the pillars and then the leader takes out the School Captain and takes over. But there was no guarantee that it was student led, it may have been Asiv or those “Gods” for all Saint knew. Of course the text message wouldn't help since the student body president didn't have his reading glasses on at the moment.

For a couple moments Saint strummed gently on his guitar debating these boy’s words and how he was going to respond, since he wanted to avoid a fight at all costs. Needless to say, the pillar did not enjoy actual fighting, sure a friendly spar or a boxing match, but not what most of the kids in this school wanted that resulted in one or both having to be taken for medical attention. He took a sip from the water bottle that was set down by the stool’s leg before turning to the other freshman, with a gentle smile on his face.

“I would have to decline your request, especially if you are looking for a fight. There would be no reason for us it get into some altercation over some sort of foolish sense of pride or convoluted duty. Now I’m sure whatever may be troubling you can be sorted and solved by the use of words and done in a civil manner. We do not have to resort to barbaric methods like using our fists. What do you say?”

[lee]

Closing up his phone Lee place it in his pocket and with a grin of disappointment said, “I was told that you were a coward. You left this school in chaos after a devastating attack that left us leaderless with no sense of order, and here you are now. After all that time you are finally back, and you want to talk?”

After that comment Lee’s fist started to tighten up as they tremble a little. In a broken voice Lee said, “You abandon us, and all you want to do is talk? Well you may sit comfortably looking down on us with your little title you get to keep, but trust me when I say…”

Looking up with fierce eyes Lee shouted, “You don’t deserve your pathetic title after you abandon everyone here including the captain!”

Outside the room hidden behind the wall listening closely was a gothic sophomore known as Kurt Bloodworth. With a grin on his face the sophomore thought to himself, So is this why he sent such a weak kid to face the pillar? To display the suffering of being abandon by those that are suppose to protect you. Interesting.

Inside the room the freshman then said bitterly while looking down, “If it wasn’t for our leader then the captain would be dead, student defenseless, and the school in chaos. What gives you the right to call us barbaric when you are worst?”

[Deleted]

Was this how the entire student body was feeling? If it was, then Saint had to be close to being the most hated student in school. Naturally the smile left his face as the freshman continued his lecture. Though it may have been better to take this road as it allowed the boy to vent his anger towards Saint without unnecessary violence. Unfortunately the pillar knew others would not do such things and would just flat out attack him in mass to in act some sort of revenge. Slowly his gaze shifted to the floor in shame, it wasn’t as if he could refute anything the freshman was saying. He had let everyone down, the students, the school, the other pillars… Mitsuki. For a long moment he just sat there making no movement or noise, just letting everything settle before he spoke again. He took a deep breath before glancing back at the freshman, a small smile braving his face.

“You’re right. I let you and everyone else down… and if the students all wish it, I will resign my position as Student Body President and assume full responsibility for everything that has happened. I have no excuses. I am sorry. Perhaps my replacement will be far more capable than I.”

Everything Saint had said was completely sincere. Of course, first he would have to meet with the captain and apologize to her personally, also inform her of such resignation. His gaze again shifted to the floor as Saint dwelled on his shortcomings again. Though, from an outsider, Saint did have an excuse, though the pillar didn’t see it that way. Ever since the encounter with the gods in the school, parts of Saint’s repressed past had been surfacing in nightmares. It had lead to increase sessions with a Psychiatrist and a prescription for anti-psychotics. He had never been that mental stable to start with… now he was… well, on the inside, a complete mess, though he tried to brave the world and keep that hidden from the public. After another moment he spoke, without looking up, in a low tone.

“… would that help?”

[lee]

Hearing the pillars pitiful plea of repentance Lee kept his angry tone and posture. In the same shaken tone Lee then said being brutally honest, “Like I said you are a coward. You only talk and talking won’t cut it here.”

Looking up with a scornful tone Lee then snapped into a fighting position with his legs carefully spread out shoulder length apart, his left arm was place behind his back, and right out front inviting the fight.

Flashback:

Earlier that day Lee had entered the school when his phone started to ring. Bringing it up Lee answer, “yes leader what do you need…Yes I got the message…What there is more…Ok I got it.”

~End~

Looking at the pillar now with a grin of excitement Lee then said, as if his goal was just to inspire for a good clean fight, “I have a message from my leader he wanted me to give you. He said that the sins you have committed are those befitting that of a coward, but he is impress that you had the guts to come back.”

After a breath Lee then continues, “You have lost the respect and honor of being a pillar, and yet, he will not allow you to leave that position until you get that honor back. Because that title is now worthless and no one would want such a worthless object.”

With a friendlier smile as if suggesting a ulterior motive for coming Lee finish off with, “My leader wants you to know that the time of talking is over, and if you ever want to be a man. Then you should learn to grow up, and take action. Decide on the life you want to take now. What do you say?”

[Deleted]

It soon become blatantly apparent that this boy would not leave until he had fought Saint and, as much as the pillar wished to avoid such useless confrontation, he would not be spilling his stories to this kid. He let the verbal abuse continue with a somber disposition. The word coward had very little effect on Saint no matter how often it was used. A coward feared fighting… Saint could, and would, fight… when it was necessary but being a pacifist meant Saint preferred peaceful means of solving problems. Or was it fear? Did he fear that little child at the back of his mind? That child that could do all the things that he couldn’t… maybe he was a coward.

For a long moment Saint sat their and seriously debated giving in. But the more he went over it in his head, the more he decided against it. He had enough screams haunting his sleep without this boy’s being added to the group. Slowly, the pillar placed the guitar down on the stand nearby and took out the bottle of anti-psychotics from his coat pocket. Taking two pills before washing them down with another sip from his water bottle, Saint rose to his full height while turning to face the kid who was starting to out stay his welcome. The stool was position right to his right as the pillar stared at the kid who had been challenging him for a fight. As he lowered his hands slowly into his pockets, in a relaxed way, Saint eyed the boy trying to get a preemptive read.

Then, in an instant, Saint threw out his right leg and sent the wooden stool careening through the air toward Lee. Of course, it wouldn’t be to likely for the first blow to land, so Saint watched Lee’s reaction carefully as he dashed after the chair in long quick strides. Whichever way, save for backward, the boy dodged the pillar planned to be right on top of him, his left leg primed to catch the kid on the bottom of the jaw at full force. But there are always unforeseeable kinks that can set anyone’s plans off.

[lee]

Once the chair was flung at him Lee jumped to his left, and with his left arm behind his back and right to the side trailing Lee charge in straight towards Saint as he was approaching. With in a split second the two where colliding against each other, Saint threw his left leg for a kick towards Lee’s jaw.

Ducking down slightly ad rotating his body Lee dodge the first attack. After that dodge Lee when then lower his body even more and throw a sweep kick towards the calf of saints legs. If he didn’t avoid the attack then he would of lost his balance in the match and be open to another attack.

[Deleted]

Instinctively seeing Lee drop into the sweep kick, Saint used his plant leg to push off the ground as he bent over backward placing his hands just behind Lee’s passing leg. Once his hands were firmly on the ground, the pillar pushed off with his upper body propelling himself away from Lee. In midair, as his legs come back under him, he craned his neck to be able to watch and see if his opponent was pursuing for another attack. One advantage on being flexible. He also kept his arms out in front of his body just in case.

Once Saint had landed and gotten his feet back under him, assuming Lee wasn’t already rushing in for some kind of attack, he would begin to rock rhythmically on the balls of his feet. His body swaying with a beat that the student body president kept in his own head. It was essential for the fighting style he had learned while staying in Brazil. Capoeira, though more for show, could be quite effective if executed properly…