Rage Lies Latent(Invite, Mature)

[Alkaiser]

"Fuck this!" the boy screams with a shove. Steve falls backward a few steps, allowing himself to be shoved. He was surprised and surrounded, the situation quickly becoming volatile. "I'll never accept it!"

--A while earlier--

Alkaiser sits quietly, enjoying his lunch with a few friends. A couple members of the football team, a pair of ex-Genaht, some random allies...it was certainly a rag-tag bunch that had him in common. Barzahd was now the third pillar of this school, and he owed it to all of these men who helped him in his rise. For now, he had to leave them, however. His position required some business to be taken care of, so he sets off to collect some information.

Steve passes through the courtyard, searching out his target, a man named Seth Calloway. Seth was the apparent leader of a highly influential gang on campus; Revelation. Alkaiser had been instructed to keep tabs on the gang whilst helping them to achieve their immediate goals on the way to a final operation that would dethrone the tyrannical watchers. Seth was nowhere to be found, however.

"Excuse me," Steve addresses a group of students enjoying their lunch. They look up to him with an uninviting glare, but seem to be listening. "My name is Steve...Steve Barzahd. I'm looking for a man named Seth Calloway. Do any of you know him?"

"Steve 'Alkaiser' Barzahd?" The nearest student contests. He was loud enough to be heard from half the courtyard away. A few students begin to stand, and nobody seems to be wearing a smile anymore. "Is there any other?" the freshman asks innocently. The older student, apparently a Sophomore or Junior, rises from his seat, looking very unimpressed. It occurs to Steve that his search had just hit a block in the road, as this other guy had completely ignored his question.

"What the hell is so special about you?" Barzahd remains silent after the ambiguous question. The boy begins to walk toward Alkaiser, and he begins to walk backward, not understanding what is prompting the tension in the air. "You're the new pillar, huh? A Varronite, appointed one of the highest offices in the student body? What the hell is Darren thinking?"

With that sentence, everything was cleared up. Steve knew now what the problem was, as he looks through the crowd for Varronites. They're outnumbered and have long since let this conflict die, so they look down to their plates. In a sense, he was screwed.

"Now now, this is about the watchers. We need to prioritize here and--"

"Horseshit! This is just another bid to take our school from us! That's all you greedy bastards have ever wanted! Well I'm not gonna let it happen just cause Darren is too quick to forget!" Somehow the crowd was rallying behind this man and his violent convictions. Alkaiser could see that diplomacy had just gone out the window. As more students begin to rise in support of the aggressor, Steve realizes just how nice it is to have the support from the his followers that he does, and the security it affords him. It's a tad too late to worry about that now though.

--Return to the present--

"I'll never accept it!"

The boy lunges in, throwing a haymaker hook at Steve's head, which he hastily steps to the side of, pushing off the boy's elbow to divert his attack. "I'm only trying to hel--"

"Shut up!" the Junior student comes back again with a combination, which clips Steve on the shoulder. The sloppy follow-up shots miss, giving Alkaiser a wide opening to trip the student and make a break for it. The boy drops down relatively harmlessly, bouncing his head off of the grass. Alkaiser motions for a tactical retreat only to catch a kick in the hip. "I can't believe they're actually buying into his crap...Where the hell is a squad of watchers when you need them!?"

Steve hops back to look at the second aggressor, who comes at him, fists flying. Barzahd grabs a hold of a wrist and an elbow, tossing the kid into a group of other advancing fighters. He couldn't keep this passive-aggressive style up for long though. He may need to hurt some people seriously if this madness keeps up much longer.

[Conner]

"You really think its a good idea to side with the Pillarship?" weasel boy, Mae-Lim's usual personal lackey questioned Conner. Lucky him that he had the same lunch period as the pissant.

"Do I look like a fucking diplomat? Out of the Four Horseman, I was the only one not at the meeting. Don't you think that hints at something?"

"I...I don't know...I'm just sayin'. I heard Tiao and the new one Nathan had a meeting with Ein Gilsin."

"You think I'm afraid of Gilsin? You've heard what I've done to him."

"I know you're not afraid, you're the tough guy. That's why you weren't at the meeting. I'm just saying shouldn't we maybe be more wary of our newest allies chatting with your biggest enemy?"

Conner heard the words, but began to zone out as it went on. Strangely enough, he did care a little bit about what the turd was saying. His attention, however, was shifted towards the courtyard brawl. The watcher's wouldn't come, they were almost never outside the actual school walls. Facts like that were often missed by everyone else. Conner may not have been used for negotiations, but it wasn't because he wasn't bright enough. It just wasn't his cup of tea. He had the brain for war, nothing else. Just like that one god of war...Aristotle or whatever.

"Hell if I know..."

He'd trail off, beginning to leave weasel boy's side. He recognized the red hair as Alkaiser, not only a new pillar, but one who had left Genaht's side during their last battle. He showed allegiance before Revelation's power was as sure as it is now. For that, he gave him a bit of credit. Not enough credit to assume that he'd be able to take on the mass of older kids, though. Conner approached from behind, grabbing the shaggy hair of a kid that was closest. He yanked back on the head, driving his right knee up into the back of the skull.

The one next to him turned around, surprised about the sudden two front battle. Conner grabbed his collar, easily heft the smaller boy up to his toes. He slammed his right fist into the center of his nose, shatterin the cartilage, causing blood and tears to flow wildly from his face. Conner could hurt alot, but two against more than he could count (not a great boast) still wasn't going to end good. Instead, he'd use an intimidation factor.

"Hey, fuckheads!" Conner yelled, slamming his fist into the gut of the kid now. He tried to yell in pain, only to gasp for air. It was a pathetic show of blood, tears, and attempts to scream out.

"I'm not a Varronite, and I'm sayin-"

"Oh...god..!"

Conner annoyingly looked at the student in his grasp, hitting him in the gut again to quiet him before turning his head back to the others.

"And I'm saying if you don't realize that we're all on the same side, for now, then bad things can happen..."

Conner's right hand grabbed the left of the boy who was shakily wiping blood and tears out of his face. He twisted the hand sharply, snapping the wrist. He dropped the boy, allowing the crying, bloody, boy cradle his hand as he howled in pain.

"...You feel me? I know he does."

[Alkaiser]

Alkaiser looked up at the ruckus, seeing a new figure enter the courtyard with a bunch of fanfare. He hated to rely on someone else to fight his battles, but it was a sight for sore eyes nonetheless. Conner McGrath, the horseman of war, was the one to come to Steve's aide. "What luck..." He thought to himself.

Seeing your team single-handedly turned into a pile of person-pudding tends to demoralize in many ways. Almost immediately the instigator of the fight loses all of his support, and is stared back into his seat. He wasn't satisfied, but he wasn't about to make enemies with Revelation, and more precisely, someone like Conner.

"For god's sake, get these kids to the nurse." Steve barks at the remaining students in the courtyard. It wasn't a personal request, but one that he still felt responsible to make. Whether or not they followed these instructions was not in his power, and soon not even in his concern. Barzahd dusts himself off and approaches the horseman of war.

"Conner, right? Thanks for saving my ass. I'm Steve Barzahd, and believe it or not I'm here to help You."

[Mae-Lim]

(XD....I just HAD to....)

The tip taps of someone (quite light) running began to be heard, and almost a second after, the tip taping would stop and a sudden added weight to Conner's back would soon be felt. Mae realised the risk of Conner suspecting a sneak attack from someone as she grabbed hold of his neck with her arms to hold herself up. He was a fighter, so, it wouldn't surprise her if he'd of tossed her over his shoulder then or did some other kind of retaliation. Eh, can't live life without taking risks. Otherwise it just isn't fun.
She'd use her legs to clamp on his sides, added support since she didn't think Conner would appreciate being choked or anything, before wiggling herself up enough to have her chin rest upon her arm on Conner's left shoulder and look at the red-headed pillar with partially-closed eyes.

She wasn't sure what had prompted such a...strange action. While she seemed quite anti-social and cold, that's not to say she didn't have a "fun" side. It was just rarely seen. VERY rarely seen. Come to think of it, the fire-works were the last time she remembered getting excited like a child.
Can't always be gloomy. Today seemed like a random enough day to suddenly decide to be more cheery. Which didn't mean smiles and giggles, mind you, it just meant she wouldn't be biting anyone's nuts off for saying something.

Mae had managed to hear what Alkaiser had said, being in hearing range at the time (silently stalking forward) and seeing as she had most likely delayed the answer with her Stunt, she'd go ahead and speak instead.

"How exactly were you planning on helping Conner here?"

Her tone, as usual, was monotonous and soft. Regardless of her seemingly apathetic feelings towards knowing the answer to her own question, Mae-Lim was actually quite interested in knowing.

She had realised how she'd intruded in the conversation, not even stopping to think that maybe she wasn't supposed to be there. Even still she needed someone to hang out with and Conner was in the area. Boom! Hang-out buddy whether you like it or not (Logan was usually pretty similar with that so I suppose that was why Mae and he were often together). It was like a little sibling who ran to you at school at first sight of you in the school-yard. Actually, it was REALLY like that, minus the fact that Mae and Conner weren't related. 'Unless we consider Revelation a family?' the weirdest thoughts crossed her mind with Seth being the 'father' of that family and everyone else getting labeled with 'who they were in the family' (uncle, child, aunt...blah). With a shiver, she removed the thoughts immediately.

Mae slowly found herself slipping downwards. It was putting a strain on her neck as she attempted to keep her chin on her arm. She pulled herself up a little, treating Conner like a monkey-bar, in order to place herself comfortably again. Finding it too hard to hold on how she was at the moment, Mae wrapped her legs around him (probably around the stomach-ish area) and held on there like a Koala until she'd eventually decide to stand.

Maybe.

[Seth Calloway]

(Sorry for taking so long. I WAS invited, but if there's too many Revelation members here already, just tell me and I'll split.)

The entire spectacle had been very interesting to watch unfold, so much that Seth had decided not to interfere in order to see just how far the students were willing to go. He hadn't seen the very beginning of the conflict, but once things had gotten underway, the sophomore had decided to lean against a wall and observe. There was no rush to save the newfound Pillar, as Seth had not quite decided on what he would use the young man for, but soon enough, it didn't matter; Conner had been drawn to the conflict like the dog of war he was.

Seth had sighed at that point, shaking his head softly with a small smile on his face. Conner was very good when he had been given a task to accomplish, but left to his own devices, was wildly unpredictable. The fact that Seth often had to play damage control in order for things to move more smoothly had made him consider whether or not he needed to keep Conner on a tighter leash, but thus far, he'd decided not to.

His smile slowly faded once Mae-Lim had latched herself onto her fellow Horseman, mostly due to the fact that the cigarette he was in the process of placing in his mouth would be difficult to hold with his lips stretched from such an expression. The cheap plastic lighter managed to hold a flame long enough to get the tobacco burning, then promptly flickered out, causing Seth to stare at it in mild concern. A few testing flicks later revealed it was out of fuel, and with one last look towards the group, Seth crushed the plastic in a fist, sprinkling the fragments to the ground. Small droplets fell to the ground below, falling from where the sharp plastic had pushed through the skin on his finger in order to draw blood, but Seth paid it no mind. Instead, he walked towards the Pillar and the two Horsemen, speaking in a tone that suggested he would tolerate no argument once he reached a comfortable distance from them.

"He can help by telling us about Darren."

[Conner]

"Haha, you're here to-"

Conner was cut off by a sudden forward motion. The horseman had no idea what had just happened. He heard nothing approach, as it would be almost next to impossible at the volumes he spoke. Conner's first instinct was an attack, but as he moved forward, he realized how terrible of one it was. It was the weakest choke hold ever, who was attacking him, a little girl?

"What the hell...?

Yes, yes it was. Conner turned his head, seeing Mae-Lims face poking out just above his shoulder. Conner had seen some strange things, but nothing stranger than Mae being...affectionate. That just wasn't right. Still, Conner's confusion would go unanswered as Mae-Lim intead decided to ask a question of her own, taking Conner's words out of his mouth.

Mae wrapped her legs around Conner, showing the Horseman of War that she didn't intend to dismount. Frowning, Conner grunted, the wrapping of Mae-Lim's legs causing him to exhale in surprise. It seemed like it was a reunion all of the sudden, as Seth's voice spoke up. The tone was different that the usual casual yet polite voice Seth spoke in. To get a better view, Conner turned his head over his shoulder. Instead, he saw Mae-Lim's face yet again.

"God Dammit..."

He sighed, wrapping her legs with his own arms as he began to take small steps to turn his whole body around to face Seth as he awaited Alkaiser to speak.

[Alkaiser]

"Eh?" Steve is startled at the appearance of Mae-Lim, who appears from over Connor's shoulder. She was so cute and playful today...it was definitely a different Mae-Lim than he had been introduced to in the courtyard a few days prior. Steve was puzzled at her dynamic character, but nobody can be quiet all of the time.

"Actua--" Steve is interrupted before he can speak by none other than Seth Calloway himself. The Revelation leader answer's Steve's question for him, although the answer was not the one Alkaiser would've supplied. "Darren...Darren! Right." Steve thinks about it for a moment, then comes back into the conversation wearing his pillar face.

"Darren is a trusting guy. He believes in you all...for now. Nobody's gullible enough to believe that all hell won't break loose after this is all said and done though." Alkaiser levels with the powerful group. Now he's starting to settle into the role of mediator, like he always does. He continues, "That being said, Darren is a bit curious to find out what your plans are. I've done my homework, though, and already know what's up."

This is the part where Barzahd takes a shot in the dark. Up until this point, he had been addressing all three of them, but he had to focus on Seth for the moment. He had to make sure that he could convince him of his worth, so a little dramatic flare in his oratory would go miles.

"The Pep Assembly, right? The whole school in one room...it's really a no-brainer when I think about it. The way I help you is up to you, but I'm gonna be up front. I control the football team...and they're all going to be on that floor getting psyched up for the season. Needless to say, that's a huge pawn to tip the advantage in your favor, but you have to let me in on the plot."

Now to drive it home. A speech like this is designed to make your audience think they have a choice, even though there's none to be made. So the question is this: "You wanna know about Darren? We can have tea-time once the watchers are out, but not a moment sooner."

Alkaiser looks across the faces of the horsemen. He didn't blink, and he didn't breathe much. This was his first task, and if he messed it up, he would have a lot of explaining and improvising to do. Plan had to be organized, plan had to be smooth, and it all had to be done soon.

"So, what are your thoughts?"

[Seth Calloway]

Seth listened carefully, his eyes never leaving Alkaiser during the entire time the younger boy spoke. There was no desire to even acknowledge the other two Horsemen at the moment, only the wish to understand the School Captain as best he could from words alone. However, it seemed Alkaiser had something else in mind, apparently offering the football team in return for knowing more of what Seth had planned for the Pep Rally.

Plans that he hadn't even divulged the full details to even the most trusted of his Horsemen.

"As long as you're being up front with me, allow me to be up front with you. The alliance between Revelation and the Pillars is one of convenience, not necessity. We are providing the Pillars the distraction you want, while you've supplied us with the distraction we want."

With a flick of his cigarette, Seth cleared the ashes and continued.

"Anything that would be assisting us, in turn, is assisting yourselves. Whether you decide to handicap our efforts or not is a question of whether you wish to make things easier for yourself or not."

Seth would then pause for a moment, taking a deep drag of his cigarette. The nicotine did wonders to soothe his ragged nerves, ones that he didn't know were on edge at the moment. Sighing slightly, he knew he had to reign himself back in slightly, or this meeting would go all wrong.

"But... you're right, so far as your guesses go. The Pep Assembly is where our stand will take place, and as you've likely guessed, there will be violence. How you and the football team react is up to you, but if you were to decide to make things easier for us all, I'd suggest just doing what feels right at the time."