Open, Shudder! The Teacher on the Outside (Kiyr Barrial)

[Emily Suddenfield]

"Q" crouched in the center of the teachers lounge, mask pulled up over her jaw, mouth and nose, leaving only her eyes visible. She'd left a note for one of the teachers- the blonde that had fought the initial invasion force of "Renegade" many months ago. She'd wanted to revisit the woman but never really had the opportunity. Now that most of the gangs outside of her own, "Aftershock", had left or been forced to disband, she could see to pulling apart the administration at the seams.

Forearms resting on her thighs, she waited patiently as the school bell rang signifying the end of the school day.

"Here we go...."

Stats:

Attack: 30
Speed: 30
Defense: 26
Perception: 24
Energy: 10

[Kyrie Blaze]

The blonde teacher in question had just spent the last period in a cacophony of sound. Some of it decent, some of it...in need of improvement. But, the point was, they were learning. And one of the positives of them still being young - and which may have helped by the fact they were sort of a rebellious bunch that largely didn't give a crap - they played through their mistakes without stopping, which was important in that it was a good habit. The rest of the ensemble in higher levels wouldn't skip back so they could fix their mistakes.

The day had come to a close, however, and while the blonde would have wanted to rush home and scoop her daughter up, she still had duties to finish at the school.

But first..! Tea! She could almost automatically go through the motions, now. It had become a routine.

She normally moved in to the staff room and flicked the electric kettle on and proceeded to tidy up the remnants of the other traffic. And Damien might be along after a while, which was generally his habit. After the quick but thorough clean Kyrie circled back to the cupboards and pulled down a large mug and bag of earl grey and set it near the kettle.

But for now the blonde quickly set her domain to rights, ending with the glossy old pain—oh? A letter? Her name on it? The tiny woman blinked as she opened the note. There was a single letter in quotations, which followed the directions of a time and place. Teacher's lounge, 3:15pm. Come alone.

The blonde frowned, already wary. Wary enough that she pulled out her phone and snapped a photo of the note before sending to Damien, along with a comment below saying he could be close if he wanted, but, not to interfere for the time being. "Q" was relatively known nowadays, but a gang leader wanting to meet alone was cause for caution.

Still, the blonde made her way towards the lounge, tucking her phone - silenced - into the inside of her blazer with the ridiculously small cat figurine. Her car keys were lightly grasped and she made her way to the lounge as usual, but it was anything but routine that would happen once she got there, she assumed. The blonde cautiously turned the handle and stepped inside, closing the auto-locking door behind her, her eyes already questing out the person she thought would be waiting even though she was a few minutes early.



ATK 21
DEF 20
SPD 27
PER 26
ENE 24

[Emily Suddenfield]

"Q" kept her eyes on Kiyr as soon as the blonde entered. The room had been cleared away, all furniture moved to the outside. Mats had been setup all around the room as well to protect them from smashing things. The floor was matted, and the place completely empty despite the end of school.

"I've brought this school to heel."

She tapped the mat gently with her left hands index finger, still crouched.

"I've avoided the teachers because you all answer to the one I plan to overthrow- Zack Asiv. However, your actions confuse me. Despite the clear connection between 260 and our administrator, you fought back when "Renegade" attacked. You helped the students he's been deceiving. So....rather than start at the top or bottom, I'll start on the outside, where you are. Clearly, whatever he plans he has not brought you on board. I'll steal you from under him."

She was barefoot, pushing her body back to it's feet.

"I want you to join Aftershock."

[Kyrie Blaze]

A fight. Yes, but the presence of mats was somewhat confusing. Less evidence, perhaps, or...

The blonde took it all in as the gang leader started to speak, and her brow drew downwards and began to furrow.

"At the time I certainly was not aware of the connection at the time...but even if I was I doubt it would have stopped me. I also fail to see how you would steal me from under him when I clearly do not have an allegence to him, aside from the fact I am faculty. Still, I have some personal issues that my joining your organization would not reflect well upon me with, nor do I have any incentive to join. Why?"

She could clearly see that at the very least, "Q" was looking for a fight. Likely to test her mettle and skill.

[Emily Suddenfield]

"Q" waved off concerns.

"I don't possess the access to information necessary to determine your allegiance aside from your actions. Your actions tell me you seek to help the students. As for any personal issues....allow me to assuage your worries. "Aftershock" members are unknown to all people, even the other members. Only I know who is who. We have designed face masks, like the one I'm wearing, that utterly hide your identity. We have met before, you and I, yet looking at me now all you know me as is "Q". Whatever personal issues you have would remain personal- your life would remain your own. On top of that, you wouldn't have to worry about answering to anyone in my group- we do not have a formal power structure. We meet every now and then to discuss the progress of our mission, but always under guise. You'd be given another name to differentiate you from the others....but everything you are would remain a secret that would be yours to share."

She flexed her hands.

"As for why you...you're faculty. We could use someone closer to Asiv and the deans. Someone that can harmlessly pass information with the appearance of a silent, studious teacher. You are in a unique position to help. "Aftershock" is here to do just that. I have brought down almost every gang that exists on campus, and my people continue to patrol behind the scenes. Doing what the SHCP and the Pillars have been unable and unwilling to do while they are preoccupied with their power struggles."

She would watch this teacher, waiting for more questions.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Some part of the tiny blonde was laughing. Laughing because she was originally convinced to apply as a teacher to investigate any ties to Damien's disappearance, and now she was seemingly being roped in, further, this time for this, which she had - essentially - no emotional connection to it. Even the explanations for the masks did little to sway her in the face of the impending custody battle for her daughter.

"There would be one other person that would know, because he is someone I would not wish to keep something like this from, but, I am still disinclined to agree with your wishes on joining. My issue is something that will demand the majority of my time and energy. On top of that, I have little, if any, desire to join. Why should I choose to devote time and energy to your cause when my own is more pressing?"

Inside, she was squinting. Outside, she was watching intently. Calm and apparently quite unmoved, even with Q's subtle movements.

[Emily Suddenfield]

"Your question can be broken down simply- why should you care?"

"Q" put her hands behind her back, clasping them.

"The answer is not so simple. Why interfere against the Renegades? Why continue teaching? I care about these students, and the things that I have seen tells me they will come to harm sooner rather than later. Them...and the teachers that help their minds grow. Your personal problems aside, you are here. That alone tells me you want to make things better for us. If that's not true, and this school and students mean nothing to you, I'd kindly suggest you get out. Quit."

She would tilt her head a little to the side.

"If you stay, and simply sit on the sidelines in blissful ignorance, you're no less guilty of his crimes in my book."

[Damien Blaze]

Damien had already left by the time he got the text. He scowled, sticking the phone away after reading Kiyrs messages.

He'd promptly leave Panera bread, heading out to his brothers Nova and hopping inside to head back to the school.

OOC: Damien arrives in 3 rounds.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kyrie...sighed. She could see both sides, but...

Get away without being noticed and helping the students seemed to be the only two incentives. And now she was being told to quit if she wasn't doing anything?

"I want to be blunt and upfront for a moment." A risk. One she didn't lightly take. "My former in-laws are vying for custody of my daughter. My daughter, who is my world. She was part of the reason I came to this school against my better judgement. These kids aren't rotten, and I do care for them in my own way. As you have seen, I will even fight for their well being. If you see my holding back as selfish, I can deal with that. If the time comes and help is needed, I can do that. What I do not want to do is risk my daughter's future and be unable to see and care for her. While it is nice to believe in the masks, you are still asking for me to devote time and energy to this, and I do not know how long this custody battle will be drawn out on the other side. Having something like this in the back of my mind is not likely to help."

Her head slowly tipped. Truth be told, the blonde's mind had automatically been ticking away as to the identity of this "Q", but she couldn't place it. She could have easily been nearby with the attack or she could have found out through the grapevine. Chances were likely she had some emotional attachment, or maybe she was a vigilante, or any number of reasons. There was a couple ways she could verify they worked...

...and darn her curious, inquisitive mind.

A subtle frown drew her lips downward.

[Emily Suddenfield]

"Q" Listened quietly. The news of how serious her issue was did not outwardly seem to phase the dark headed woman, but her eyes seemed just slightly more...liquid. She would glance to the side.

"I understand. I understand the inconvenience of my request. The lack of rich rewarding promises and magnified ideals that speak to your heart makes you hesitate. The idea of being caught with a mask, with the "Aftershock" name attached to your own makes you afraid. While to me, the idea of standing up for those students and teachers you love and revere would send a message to your daughter that her mother will fight for what she believes in, you flinch at the possibility because right now you believe in and fight for her. That's respectable. Your motherly instinct says to do one thing, but the idea of helping others gives you pause."

"Q" let her hands hang back down at her sides.

"But from my perspective, nothing you have said would prevent you from joining us. How much or how little you contribute is up to you- if you want to join, but wish to wait until your custody hearing is on firmer ground and the risks to your personal life are smaller before you devote more ample time and energy is entirely your prerogative. As I said....we have no leader. Our contributions are our own. How much we share with one another is entirely on us. Our coalition merely exists as an alternative to the Chaos of the Student Hierarchies and the subterfuge rampant among the faculty. Our goals are forthright- protect yourself, and protect the school and students. Be honorable and just in your dealings and do not lie. Anything else you do or when you do it is on you."

She would watch Kiyr a moment, trying herself to figure the woman out.

[Kyrie Blaze]

Kyrie had no clue about this younger - or so she assumed - woman's upbringing, so she didn't know if she would understand... But Kyrie herself was a fiercely independent woman, and as a mother she was hellbent on ensuring her daughter was safe, happy, and healthy.

"You said staying here and "turning a blind eye" so to speak would make me no better than them. How would that be any different than joining but doing nothing, should that be what the circumstances come to?" She could just about pinch her nose. Did it just come down to picking a side, so to speak? Because even if she said no, it wasn't like she wouldn't do what she had done before.

"I would also like the chance to test a mask out, for myself, beforehand. And, to what do I assume the mats are for, answer-wise?"

More questions. Someone was on a roll.

[Emily Suddenfield]

"The difference is in the message. The message you send my friends and allies, the message you send yourself. They'll know you're faculty, but won't know who. Most of all, when it's all said and done....you'll be able to stand tall, and I'll be proud to stand with you, knowing that despite the circumstances you still held your ground and fought a broken leader pushing a broken system."

Em would look around at the Mats.

"They're for our fight. I know you have a significant other, and children, so I figured fighting in a way that caused severe damage would be unwise. Going to court with said bruises would be even more unwise. The mats are to settle our contest without such inconveniences. Our gang decides our order of power by numbers. I am one, signifying the head. Not the leader- just the one to beat if you look to bring down our gang."

She would hold up a mask identical to her own.

"I'm out for a number two, and your years of experience would be helpful."

[Kyrie Blaze]

There was a slow and subtle tick to her jaw, a tension suggesting her teeth were pressing...quite firmly together, to put it one way. She couldn't believe this. In fact, some part of her still rebelled against it, if for the feeling that her arm was slowly being twisted. And would be twisted, whether she wanted it to be or not. It made everything in her want to explode outward. First the school - though, it was her choice in the end, as was this - and now this...

But, there was a creeping worry starting to slither up her spine.

What if, whatever this young woman thought was coming, did come, and went further than the school?

Her jaw ticked again.

That wasn't something Kyrie had considered, before. The custody was the most important part, but, she couldn't be blind to information, either...but she could only imagine what this meant she was getting into, mask or not. An eyebrow slowly quirked.

"Is that to say you will not be hitting me, then, or you simply will not hit as hard?" After all...bruises, as she said.

[Emily Suddenfield]

"Defeat is more than damage. There are plenty of other places to strike than the face."

She would leap forward, intent to take the initiative in the first strike. She would aim to plant her left palm under Kiyr's chin and push up while her left left would kick for her opponents right one, intent to sweep the legs out from under the blonde. He surprise assault was an image of things to come- whether Kiyr decided to join her or not, they still would fight. "Q" needed the blonde to know that Aftershock should be taken seriously. They weren't just some small time crew looking for a name.

If both worked, "Q" would jump backward and crouch, waiting for Kiyr to come back to her feet and fight back, the initial attack serving to also demonstrate "Q"'s point. That there were other places and ways to fight than hitting the head.

[Kyrie Blaze]

So it was--

And the small blonde should have better expected the first attack to come soon after. She sort of did, in fact, but the small space of the staff lounge meant a shorter space to travel...and, ultimately, allowed "Q" to gain the upper hand. As she lashed out with her hand and pushed her jaw upwards, Kyrie managed to gain enough frame of mind to bring her right hand up - inwards - to push her forearm to the outside at the elbow, which would collapse the gang leader's hand. She would have shifted, too - and started to! - but the leg was well timed!

Down to a knee the blonde stumbled, her palms hitting the floor.

...huh...

While Kyrie certainly knew there were other places to hit than the face, who knew if bodily bruises would somehow count against her if they found out. She exhaled and cleared her throat, moving back to her feet and discarding her low heels. No point in making her life more difficult right now by keeping them on. She rolled her shoulders slowly and tipped her head to the side, again. So, the fight was coming no matter which way it went? If Damien stayed away like she requested, he was sure to see the bruises after. The blonde gave a slight sigh. Right, then. If that was the way things had to be...

The blonde quickly stepped forward, hands coming up, somewhat in front of herself, relaxed and ready to go."Q" hit hard, and she had a feeling that first palm was pulled. Best be careful...and yet, even so, she wanted to go somewhat offensive.

Provided she closed the gap her right hand would abruptly straighten, aiming for the centre of her opponent's chest, with some oomph provided by a slight torque of her body, while her other hand was at the ready. She could have gone into a succession of attacks, but, she didn't know much at all about her opponent. So, while she could have chosen a quick set of attacks in hopes of breaking down "Q", she didn't want to open herself up.