how big is this school? (open)

[Samantha]

Samantha had finally begun formulating a plan. momentum needed to increase however, currently there was no... orginization. none that she could decipher. she needed to speak with mekiel echigo, and more importantly Mr. A, let him know about the students she had been talking to, and what the possibility of having him present at a meeting was. calls to be made, small errands, important nonetheless. others still needed some work, ric she needed to spend more time with, patrick was a curious character, though she had only run into him that once...

ah, a private eye into the mind of samantha, realizing her mind had been wandering she snapped back into her moment, looking around her. lunch time. all the students where out, sitting in their little cliques, mingling, eating lunch, seemed peaceful, like a normal high school. she smiled, no fighting in sight. the word of a group forming to create peace had been spreading, in response students that believe in the message seem to be more prone to avoiding violence, seemingly lowering the amount. but that was only here, in her view, one small corner of the school. there could be several fights all going on right now for all she knew. how would one even keep track? you would need a team. divide the campus up into areas and have members watch each area. seemed a little orwellian for her tastes though, you had to allow people more freedom than that. if these kids where behaving well enough, why should there be great fuss somewhere else?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

somewhere... else...

"HEY FUCK YOU DICKHEAD"

"no. FUCK YOU DICKHEAD"

"FUCK YOU DICKHEAD"

the boys walked on jeering at each other

"FUCK YOU DICKHEAD"

they entered the east wing of the school where samantha was observing the serenity.

"FUCK YOU DICKHEAD"

boys

" nonononono! FUCK YOU DICKHEAD"

until the ginger pushed the blue eyed boy. the blue eyed boy looked around to see if anyone saw, his eyes met Samantha's green one's, he suddenly turned back around swinging at the ginger. Samantha sighed. why do some of them always think they need to look tough?

the two boys had devolved into a grapple on the floor, she walked up to them. ""Excuse me" she said clearly. they both looked up, stopping their squabble with eachother. "there are people trying to eat lunch in peace, mind solving this somewhere else?" the boys looked at her a moment longer, then at each other, they where buds anyway right? they got up and walked off. now was that so hard?

but it couldn't be that easy. there would definitely be people who where less reasonable. definitely people who wheren't just fighting their friend because they needed to fulfill some deep psychological need for control or attention. people who where fighting each other because they hated each other, people who absolutely refuse to walk a mile in the others shoes. the lessons they shove down your throat in hallmark specials, but so few rarely actually learn. so what was next in this big campus?

[Brad White]

A clap, that was what came next, and it was slowly followed by a few more, it was the sort of clap that usually came at the beginning of a full blown round of applause but no applause followed. "It's nice to see someone break up a fight with words round here, instead of trying to do so physically themselves." Brad spoke loudly from where he had been watching.

Had no one else been nearby he probably would have tried to ask the pair to stop the fight himself. Walking the short distance over to the girl, he watched the backs of the two previously bickering boys as they left. As he got closer to the girl he was glad to notice that, the girl was actually shorter then him, it was nice not to have to look up for once.

"Though I do wish that their wasn't any fights in need of ending with words or otherwise." Brad mused aloud, sounding hopeful but knowing that such a thing was probably not going to happen. "Violence is stupid most of the time." He said, not really talking to the girl, but using her as a excuse to voice his thoughts without looking like he was talking to himself.

Brad had recently decided for himself to learn how to fight but only so he could protect others and only when it was absolutely needed. He hadn't started yet but seeing people fight over petty arguments and pride made him feel slightly sorry for people in general. He knew he wasn't perfect but at least he tried to not resort to fighting at a drop of a hat.

[Samantha]

The clap had indeed been a little surprise, she blushed, unused to being recognized for her actions she waited for the redness in her face to fade before turning around, right about the time the boy said

"It's nice to see someone break up a fight with words round here, instead of trying to do so physically themselves."

She nodded her head in thanks to him and smiled as he walked over, he was only so much taller than her, but it was nice to not have to crane her neck up to look at him, the little tilt was fine.

"Though I do wish that their wasn't any fights in need of ending with words or otherwise."

he lacked eye contact and focus on her, he was musing, speaking directly as the thoughts came to no one in particular. most people wouldn't have caught that but samantha was guilty of the practice herself. so this was how it felt being on the other side of that. interesting. she didn't mind so much

"Violence is stupid most of the time."

she smiled again. "Glad to hear you say that, sounds like ending the violence is becoming a trend" she said with a little laugh, this boy was reading her mind, she was begining to grow amazed that with so many who believed in not using violence that there was such a violence problem. "I'm samantha" she said putting her hand out to shake. possibilities here were endless

"if I may ask, you're pretty passionate about nonviolence, and I am with you, do you have a particular reason?" she asked sweetly, it wasn't that she didn't trust him, it was just begining to grow curious how people who didn't want to use violence came to see it that way with it being so rare around here.

[Brad White]

Brad shook her hand gently. "Brad." He said simply the handshake was strangely formal but he wasn't going to just ignore it. "No real reasons really, I just don't agree with unnecessary violence is all." He answered the question.

"Sadly though violence is a part of being human, it will never stop completely." He stated, and he wouldn't mind if someone prove that comment false. "So I just expect and avoid as best can." He knew avoiding it wasn't always possible, emotion, from greed to love seemed to lead to violence, and even the best composed people could lose control.

"How bout you, what your reason?" Brad asked flipping the question back on to Samantha. He didn't have a proper reason but seeing as she asked, she might have her own.

[Samantha]

Brad, he handled her gently but it wasn't from lack of strength, a handshake was a good way to get a feel for a persons character. he spoke plainly his reasoning simple, if not simply logical, why would one approve of unnecessary violence?

"Sadly though violence is a part of being human, it will never stop completely. I just expect and avoid as best as can."

She nodded "Violence is more of our animalistic side, it doesn't have to be indulged, i would say indulge a less destructive aspect of your inner animal if need be" she said, sounding more like a hippy than she had intended "Violence is occasionally necessary, but its rare" she finished "some people just don't cooperate without a fight" she mused herself, saying it simply out loud and less to anyone specifically.

"How bout you, what your reason?"

she thought about that, she could bore him with all the details of her past and how she came to loathe violence but it hardly seemed the time.

"It's a long story, I'll tell you later" she said simply with a smile before adding "I'd only asked because you appeared to have a personal connection to it... there was something more she wanted to say, she wasn't sure if it was time yet though. meh fuck it

"I want to end the violence at this school forever, I just thought you might be interested in something like that" she said with a little laugh her emerald eyes locked to his, it had been a little forward, but they had only met because she had stopped violence from happening. she laughed about the subject but was absolutely serious, her lighthearted nature she hoped wouldn't make him think she was joking

[Brad White]

Brad suppressed the urge to laugh, making sure not to let it show on his face. It was a admirable goal, if it wasn't nearly impossible to achieve. Though he had said before that he wouldn't mind being proved wrong, why not try and prove himself wrong.

"I'm interested, if your willing to say how on earth you really plan to do that. The only thing people round here listen to is violence, and you can't really stop violence by using it."

He wasn't going to even consider helping someone who said they were going to use violence to end violence. He wasn't that stupid. All violence does is breed more violence.

"If you have a peaceful plan though, I'm more then willing to listen to it." He added, he doubt a peaceful approach would work either but what was the worse that could happen, people attack them for it, people got attacked for just looking at people wrong so why not get attacked while trying to do some good at least.

[Samantha]

"I'm interested, if your willing to say how on earth you really plan to do that. The only thing people round here listen to is violence, and you can't really stop violence by using it."

she nodded, his skepticism was music to her ears, he didn't think in fantastic terms, more in realistic, it was a good sign. "I don't know about that, I was able to stop a fight just now with words alone. though I'll be honest I don't think that would work on a more... dedicated fan of violence" she said

"If you have a peaceful plan though, I'm more then willing to listen to it."

she shrugged, considering him for a moment. "Peace is absolutely our goal, and we will be pursuing that goal through peace" she said evenly "That being said, there will be people who will resist our peace with violence, what we will need against them isn't so much violence but a way to show them their stubbornness to their old misgotten ways is no longer necessary" she said, mostly to him but again begining to muse. "To say there will be no violence whatsoever involved is a lie though, in times of change conflict will naturally arise, to think you can change anything without someone disagreeing and being willing to fight you about it is foolhardy" she said.

"What we're looking for is not a fighting force though, but a defending force, regulators to keep the peace. the pillars can then regulate the regulators." she turned back to him her eyes meeting his "I'm sorry, I really ought to start at the begining for this all to make any sense" she said with a good natured laugh. she didn't know if he knew anything about the pillars, the school government, the corporal punishment rules, or any of the other sourounding elements he ought to know for this to really make a lot of sense.

"one thing is for certain, we could certainly use someone who is as peaceminded as you, perhaps you can help us come up with a larger non-violent solution" she smiled, if that could be brought forward it would certainly be a better plan than containing the riot that followed the announcement of no more violence in the school.

[Brad White]

Peace minded? He wouldn't call himself that but he took it as a complement from the girl. "That would be difficult to come up with, unless you can think of something that people would prize over the way they decided to live now, something that couldn't just be taken using violence, something the would have to be worth changing the way they decide to live I honestly don't see much chance of a completely peaceful solution." Brad explained, just because he was peace minded as she put, it didn't mean he was and good a creating plans.

"I don't have a problem with defending other from those who use violence in order to intimidate them. But that won't stop them trying unless you cross the line yourself and start using violence to intimidate them. Which doesn't really stop the problem, just make you the problem." This was starting to get to him now. The circular logic of trying to stop violence, needing violence in some regard which only meant it was being used by some else. Even if they someone pulled it off, it wouldn't be long until someone else came along and forced things to change once again. That seemed to be the way things work in this school at least

[Samantha]

"that would be difficult to come up with, unless you can think of something that people would prize over the way they decided to live now, something that couldn't just be taken using violence, something the would have to be worth changing the way they decide to live I honestly don't see much chance of a completely peaceful solution."

she thought about that one for a moment, offer them something better, a better system. but it wasn't so simple, the state of mind of some people here, this was their utopia, this would require thought later

"I can't disagree."

"I don't have a problem with defending other from those who use violence in order to intimidate them. But that won't stop them trying unless you cross the line yourself and start using violence to intimidate them. Which doesn't really stop the problem, just make you the problem."

"the world needs police sometimes" was all she said with a shrug. she was going to make bylaws for their group that would be resemblant

for a moment she considered him, she really respected that he didn't want to be involved in violence in any way whatsoever. if possible she wanted to get out of it without violence as well, there where definitely students who would not want to fight. at all. she had plans for solutions where no one needs to fight, but they where not fully formed enough to explain them. possible ways of tricking those who would want a fight into not fighting, or into some sort of containment... like jail? no... more like detention, which would need to be taken seriously again... there was much to work on.

"one way or another... there is a teacher, Mr. A, along with a growing number of students who are determined to end the violence. with a teacher on our side we could make it against the rules again, revoke corporal punishment from the school system. after the announcing of such a rule there would be people who would fight it, and so there would need to be people to protect it and the people who depend on it. of course in a stand off situation there is always a posibility for peace to arise" she said. it wasn't a threat, or even meant to persuade him, it was just something that came off the top of her head, some things she felt like informing him of were absolutely necessary for his understanding of the situation to be complete. "afterwards when peace has settled our group would break up and the pillars, or whatever student government is mapped out for the new rule system."

she paused for a moment and said "Nothing will ever be perfect, but that doesn't mean it can't be better"

[Deleted]

Jaus had been sitting idly in an adjacent chair, trying to follow the conversation. Of course the ideal of peace was what originally attracted his attention however the lack of feasible backing to it as well as the constant banter between the two unknown faces (least to him) was beginning to lose him. The apparent nodding off was becoming more present as he leaned back in his chair. The extension of his toe pushing into the wall and lifting his chair back on its hind heels swaying over.

*Ker-Smack!*

Head impacting with the ground as well as his entire back sprawled out on the floor like a starfish before quickly (and fairly ungracefully mind you) Jaus would struggle getting to his feet and running a calm hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry," a matched apologetic glance thumbing for the words to continue his speech. Shifty eyes consciously sizing up both parties' reactions to his spill and hoping that they wouldn't judge him too much on that matter.

"and pardon my intrusion but I've heard of similar things while I've been here."

A calm nod and smile associated with each neither condemning of the speech but rather introvert and willing to listen to their potential concerns before confirming his own input to the story. All the while forgetting to give his own introductions perhaps to his own excitable persona.

[Brad White]

A teacher was backing this possibly peace bringing movement? That was intriguing, but he didn't know if that was good or a bad thing really. Though it did make the chances of success, he could see those that might oppose it defiantly do so if a teacher was involve, few people had love for teachers due to the current system.

Before Brad had chance to continue the debating brain storm he guess would call it, a loud smacking sound of body and chair hitting floor pulled his attention away from Samantha. Another student tried to stand quickly, ending running hand through his hair as if that erased the ungraceful he had rose in.

The older looking student much taller then himself and Samantha apologized and then told them he had stuff similar to what they were talking about before.

"Really? How that turn out? Those who don't learn from the past are doomed or however that phrase goes."

The older student had probably seen a lot more of what had happened at this school then he had, especially when he spent so much time purposeful skipping class and avoiding other student he didn't know.

[Samantha]

Samantha jumped at the loud thud, it had caught her by surprise. the boy who had fallen rose with an apology, perhaps that he had been easedropping as he mentioned he had heard similar things, he seemed polite, not particularly gauged to any one side, just listening. Brad came back with a witty retort, though at that point samantha grew a little upset, brad was pessimistic, he wasn't allowing a bigger picture to develop and it seemed his brain was too busy with what ifs. that was okay though, she had patience and respect, and would use those moving forward.

"Are doomed to repeat it" Samantha finished the saying in its proper form with a smile which she swung around to their new companion as well. "the word has been spreading lately, it is no secret so i'm glad you've heard talk" Samantha explained easily

"I'm samantha, nice to meet you. and what's you're name?" she asked, holding a hand out to shake. " what have you heard?" she asked him purely of curiosity, she wondered if it was her message specifically or if likeminded others where also begining to organize

[Deleted]

Jaus remained still rubbing his head, as tough of a guy as he was it didn't mean that a bump to the back of his head didn't hurt. Then the other guy, Brad, made a retort. It sounded rather downtrodden and pessimistic, which of course forced Jaus to purse his lips speculatively. It went a little bit over his head as to how someone could already damn something without even trying it, then again as he'd said there were quite a lot of people just like that fully capable of dashing people's hopes and dreams against the rocks.

"Jaus Valentine, nice to meet you."

A jovial grin as he'd turned quick enough on a beat to shake her hand. At the very least there was another person who thought like Jayr to some degree he'd hoped. Then again only time would tell.

"More along the lines of what I've done." He felt a little proud at this moment feeling as though the SLF was a huge deal despite being in remissions at the moment, there was still quite a lot of upwards progress to work with there with a new breed of people.

"If you haven't heard of the Student Liberation Front, I'd take a look into that. Its been a bit slow recently but we've been doing a lot of good here.

There was still work to do, he had no illusions that they were perfect, the greatest defects were in the depths of their own organization. Something to work with of course for the future.

[Brad White]

Brad listened as Samantha corrected him, before she introduced herself to other guy. The guy did the same, Juas weird name. It was at the mention of the Student Liberation Front that Brad ear picked up.

"I've heard of them, tried declaring the system dead awhile back and someone started a riot against your movement, before the cops showed up and arrested every one they could." Brad said neglecting to mention that he had been one of those arrested when he had just been trying keep himself safe.

"That kind of proves people won't accept thing suddenly changing. Now if you could slowly change the system bit by bit rather then trying to change it all at once, that...that could work." Brad added musing to himself as what small changes could be made that would eventually add up to the system being changed completely.

[Samantha]

interesting, another group, and another leader. this man was proud of his works, though brad was apparently less impressed. though from what samantha had seen so far that didn't mean too much, brad seemed to be difficult to impress. he mentioned something about changing things slowly, this was an interesting idea, something that many who want answers right now would not think of. perhaps that was a way to go, though samantha herself would have liked to see the problem be fixed while she was still in the school.

Samantha had a feeling of what was coming next, it was unclear to her exactly what it was but it didn't feel quite like something she was prepared for.

"Sounds like an interesting group" Samantha said with a little chuckle "Unfortunately i have my obligations to my own, though I would think that cooperation in the future could prove us useful to each other" she said with a playful wink, she turned back to brad. "slow and steady wins the race. and you said you couldn't come up with ideas" she said with a little smile, he really didn't quite realize what he had, it was so sad, he had the exact out of the box thinking this situation needed and his input could be invaluable.

"I'd like to hear that plan elaborated sometime" she added.

she then looked back at jaus. "so is what he said true? about the riots?" declaring the system dead. not a bad plan when you don't have a teacher backing you. still a little reckless, but sometimes you have to make a bigger mess to really clean one up