Shifting Of Power [Alkaiser, then open]

[William Fletcher]

ooc: First of all, apologies for not much to work with, but I'm sure that like me you'll be able to spin something regarding the Paragon switch as well, right?

ic:

His chair creaked under his weight, not quite designed for the 265 pound mass of the Irishman who needed to use it for the class, and he shifted uncomfortably as the hour ticked by...Another English Literature class, another day of things he already knew but could really care less about. Despite this, he made the effort to not walk out for a change and instead concentrated on the book in front of him, even going so far as to stand and quote a few lines of verse when so asked to do so. His teacher probably thought he'd won the lottery for that accomplishment...

However, for Will, his mind truly rested elsewhere. Since the opening of the new school a few blocks away, and the resulting transfer of many of Hircines figureheads along with it, he'd been curious to a number of things. Not least was the question of who was left to ascertain control of the student body. Darren Blayne, the former captain, had graduated. Tiao Lei Shen had been transferred. Kurtz O'Neill had vanished without trace...The former leadership had gone to shit, and for someone who'd normally have considered this a blessing, Will was confused by the odd sense of unease he felt with that.

Understandable, of course, because he had heard the same stories everyone else had about Hircine before Darren and the others took control. It was absolute madness, with the same stereotypical bullshit that was everywhere these days. However his nature might have played, he knew one thing to be clear; he quite liked the fact that the school was quiet. When people weren't trying to give him shit, he could have a peaceful day and get through with minimal effort. Frankly, there was a touch of concern in the brash youth that those peaceful days might come to an end. Who was left, really? Two transfers that had come from Varron. Fair enough, he had respect for that group, but he knew nothing about their positions. One, Tyler Scott, had intervened in a small scrap that had emerged in the cafeteria, trying to calm the situation, and that garnered a little notice from Will, but fact was that he seemed TOO inclined to the peaceful approach. The other, he admitted inwardly, he had no knowledge of aside from the fact he'd gained honorary pillar status from Tiao Lei Shen.

That wasn't enough for Will....He'd contemplated pushing against the pillars before for his own amusement, the captainship had previously been nothing more than a title for someone to him, but now it seemed like something he could actually use, and twist to his own advantage along with the school.

However people looked at it, Will was a quiet fellow. He rarely involved himself with trouble, despite his association with Revelation which was based on a common interest, to remove MacMillan, and was known for having a relatively noble streak in him. His nature as a brutish fighter always stood there, but that was a factor in his favour. He was powerful and knew it, and compared to whoever else could take the captainship, he believed himself stronger and more suited. If that were the case, he was going to take it, by force if necessary. There wasn't anyone left to contest their title, except Tyler and the other one, and he wanted to go after the other one first. Tyler could likely be spoken to before a fight, but to gain respect of Tiao Lei Shen, nobody did that with mere words...

Glancing to his side, he batted the side of his deskmate, one of the few seniors in the class who knew him well enough to not be scared of being in immediate proximity to him...

"Hey, this o'her pillar lad, the ane tha' Tiao appointed, whit wis his name...?"

"Oh hell, I'm not too sure...It was...Steve, something or another, I think..? Why'd you ask?"

"Nae reason, jus' curious..."

"No shit, Will, you're thinking of going after the captainship!?"

"Oi! Keep yer feckin' voice doon, aye?" His eyes shot sidewards at the louder than necessary remark, his own a fraction louder that caused a head or two to turn before dismissing it, "Mebbe, it depends if the other guy isnae up tae the job or no'...."

An incredulous look on the other guys face spoke volumes before he actually replied, a shakier tone with a hint of excitement in it, "Will, do you know what would happen if you became this schools captain? I mean, we're talking about a total reform change for the heirarchy here, dude!!"

"Aye, mebbe so, but if it keeps a' that shite away fae oor doorstep, I'm content tae take whatever flak comes mah way..."

"So...What are you gonna do?"

"...I'm thinkin' a wee meet-up wi' this 'Steve'. Cannae be tae hard t'find..."

Later, after a few more classes

His efforts to put word out to 'Steve', apparently also known as 'Alkaiser' for whatever reasons, should hopefully have paid off, and as he stood on the main thoroughfare for the school he waited for the guy to make himself noticed. He doubted someone who'd aimed to take the captainship through the ranks would risk refusing a situation like this, where he was being called out, and Will was aware of that fact. He knew people would have heard about his intentions, but so far only a handful seemed to bother paying notice, and as such, he was partly glad. If a fight broke out, he wanted few people to witness it, but many to hear it. The visual of violence often betrays the moral behind it...After all, people go to war for noble causes, but nobody wants to see the bloodied bodies of dead soldiers...

'Come on, where are you...?'

[Alkaiser]

(OOC: Don't worry, I don't need much. I hope you don't mind, but I'm playing this thread as if it's after my other thread, so that I might have the knowledge about the paragon switch. If that's a problem, I'll simply edit it to make it sound as if it's somewhere in the middle of my montage of ass-kickery Also, hopefully you don't mind this being so short, but most of the detail of events leading up to this moment were already disclosed in the link that I provided.)

The Day had been awfully rough on Steve Barzahd. He knew he still had one place to be, however, no matter how unfit for it he was.

The truth was that his shoulders ached, his side was sore, the back of his head was still only freshly clotted, and his brain was strained from paranoia. He walked with a small limp, although he hid it quite well through pride and a harshly clenched jaw. Steve still had some reliable contacts in this school that didn't want him dead, and each of them had the message that Fletcher wanted him to show in the main corridor late in the school day.

Steve strolled into that thoroughfare with his chest out and his chin up, knowing full well that he could easily be ambushed once again before he even made it to speak to Will. Much to his surprise, he arrived untouched. Fletcher was ridiculously tall, despite Steve growing an inch or two over the summer, and he was quite well put-together as well. If Barzahd were the type to take to intimidation, he surely would have been at this point.

A big grin flashes across the sophomore pillar's face as he playfully addresses the man standing before him. "Hey big guy, what's on your mind?"

Damn, did he wish that he didn't already know the answer to that question.

[William Fletcher]

ooc: Right, since it's appearing that nothing will happen in your thread aside from conversation, I'm gonna get this written now. I'm tired of waiting Apologies for shortness.

ic:

"Oh, I don't know...Been thinkin' about the captainship an' all that."

Shifting his eyes down to look at the younger male, he gave no visible reaction to the grin, his hands still hooked in his pockets as he leaned against the sandstone wall behind him. Eyeing the small youth, he let a flick of an eyebrow rise precede the next of his words.

"Fact is, Steve, ah'm thinkin' that it might be better suited bein' led by someone else."

Pushing off the wall, he slipped his hands from his pockets and slowly approached Steve, stopping with a few feet between them and sighing quietly. He wasn't here out of malice. To him, it was just an obstacle to pass by, nothing more, nothing less. Steve had gained his pillarship through Tiao, and Tiao wasn't here anymore. Things were to change, and he would be in the run for it.

"Ah'm after that captainship mysel', and wi' you as one o' the people in the way o' that, ye'd know yersel' that this would have happened one way or another."

With a pair of short steps closing the gap between them somwhat, lifting his hands without warning, he would shoot out a sudden jab to Steves head with his right fist. The closer range would make it harder for the smaller fighter to evade, but conversely, his steps in might have already alerted the young man to what was about to happen. Regardless, some of the passing students would stop at the sudden change, their passing glances changing to full attention when the punch was thrown.

"Tae keep it all official f'r ye, this is a challenge for the captainship. It's oan you tae decide to take it, but don't think I'll no' come after ye again...So, will ye put yer hands up?"

His face was blank and dull. He had no ulterior motive aside from the ambition in front of him to beat this obstacle in his way, and however Steve chose to respond he would just watch for the reaction. The few who stopped to watch were creating a small circle around them, curious to see exactly how things would play out between the pair.

[Alkaiser]

(OOC: I just realized how much of a d*ck I sound like with my narraration on this post, so I just wanted to say sorry in advance. I'm not in any way suggesting that your character is dumb, I just got that feeling on my second read through. Ummm...that is all.)

Steve breathes deep, clenches his teeth, and turns his head slightly. The blow lands squarely on his cheek with more force than he expected for an opening shot, causing him to step back. It stung something fierce as the muscles in his face shifted into an absolutely gigantic grin. The crowd gasps, some in sympathy for the charismatic youth, some in surprise that he still stood. Several men step forward but are halted by Barzahd's enigmatic smirk. It looked like something he had stolen from Seth Calloway.

"Gee...I'm uh...I'm all sold out of 'Captain.' I might try Tyler if I were you." Steve alluded to the fact that he and Kyukaku had a little chat earlier. As hard as it had been, he surrendered his blessing for Tyler Scott to pursue the captainship. Steve slings off his backpack, unzipping it nonchalantly in preparation to be even more of a smartass. The crowds loved it. After all, the two of them were now putting on a show, as the hall teamed with students wanting to know just who would be leading them into the future.

"I do think I have something that might be useful to you, though..." he remarked, pulling out a textbook and handing it to Fletcher, cover up. Even if he didn't take the book, he could easily see that the title read 'Politics', a class which Barzahd was absolutely thrilled to take. "You see all of these people? The ones that you're planing to take power over? Yeah, they're on my side."

No objections come from the audience. Alkaiser knew that even if there were, they would be few. He wasn't afraid to throw around his sway within the student body to make a point.

Steve couldn't tell if he was sincerely giving advice or if he was being sarcastic, but he liked where his wit was taking him, even if it was toward another fist to the face. He continues, "If you're going to become captain, you really should learn not to hit random students like that. It looks bad in front of your people."

"So I tell ya what, I'm gonna get going, but this was a good chat. If you need any more help I'm not that hard to find...pretty much everyone knows me." he jokes with the people around him. "And good luck with that whole 'fame and power' thing...it's a fun game if you play it right." Steve turns to leave, grinning at how sly he was. If he could fight as well as he could play a crowd, he would have a lot more coming to him than the captainship could offer.

[Seth Calloway]

(Speak of the devil, and he appears! Hope you don't mind that I joined. )

"That's good advice. Of course, there's consequences, even if you play it perfectly."

As Alkaiser turned to leave, he would find the similiarily grinning Seth Calloway standing directly in his path, his backpack slung over his right shoulder. The Junior's stay at Paragon had been thankfully short, as he had managed to convince his guardian to transfer him back to Hircine after only two weeks, but he had seen more than enough while he was there. The second he'd come back, Seth had demanded Tamara tell him who were the students most likely to fill in the void of power left by the graduating class. Only now had he managed to find Alkaiser and Will, and in a strange coincidence, the two had been in the same location, saving him both time and effort.

Having given Alkaiser ample time to react to his presence, Seth would slowly step to the side, no longer barring Alkaiser's path should he wish to leave, though his eyes would remain on the red-headed boy.

"You've done well for yourself in my absence, Steve, I'm impressed. If you truly don't wish to stick around, I'd like to speak with you another time. If you don't mind, of course."

The grin on Seth's face, however, suggested that he knew Alkaiser would not turn down his offer. Regardless of Alkaiser's answer, Seth would turn towards Will, far from wanting the Irishman to feel left out.

"I have to say, I'm surprised at you. You didn't strike me as the type to desire the Captainship, though I can hardly blame you. After all, if you wanted change, the best place to do it is from the top."

Seth trailed off, letting Will or Alkaiser speak their own thoughts on the matter, despite how little information he'd given as to why he was there. To the Junior, it was important to see just how these two were thinking before he began his own plans for Hircine.

[William Fletcher]

'Tyler, huh? That makes things easier. Now I know exactly who else I need to deal with. Still, take away the ground from under him, and when he falls it'll be that much farther...'

Swatting the book away without even glancing away from the red-haired youth, he glared down at him as the sound of the paper rustling found the concrete underfoot. The cheek given in response, not even mustering enough backbone to lift his hands or throw a punch in retaliation, caused a vein to pulse slightly at his temple and his eyes to narrow somewhat.

"They're no' mah people, Steve. But then, ah don't need the support o' a crowd tae make mah point, which ye've done a fine job in makin' f'r me jus' now..."

Another step in brought him closer to the smaller youth, accenting the difference in their heights as Will had to tilt his head a little more down just to keep eye contact.

"...Ye're all a prime example of jus' how weak Hircine's becoming. Playin' yer clever politics, gainin' favour o'er the students...The captainship isnae about that shite. It's about who's the strongest, an' that's how I'll take it.", sweeping a flick back of his head at the growing number around them, he continued, "If the students want some arsehole tae campaign f'r better conditions, let them elect a student president. Ye're entitled tae a' that if ye want it so badly."

Even with Steve turning away, Will wouldn't make any move of his own, speaking to the youths back even as he found himself face-to-face with Seth, something that caused a slight change in Wills face as he noted that the younger boy had reversed his transfer to Paragon.

"Walk away, and ye're jus' provin' that ye've no' got what's needed tae be the captain or anythin' even close tae it. Ye think I'll be the only person comin' after ye? Wake up."

There was a grin on his face as the words came out, waiting to see if it caused any change in decision with the smaller boy, though when Seth addressed him, it faded back to the expressionless glare as he looked over to the leader of Revelation, shaking his head as he spoke before retorting without dropping a beat, "I'm no' interested in the captainship as a title, Seth. Just the personal recognition that'd come wi' it. I beat the strongest people this school has tae offer, an' I save mysel' a lot of time that'd be spent weeding out the lesser challenges first. Who cares about change? Who cares about the school? I'm doing this f'r me, nothing else. Let some other mug deal wi' leading."

Another shift in his face, very slight this time, as his eyes narrowed just a little more than they already were and his jaw tightened as he contained his words, speaking evenly and directing them towards Alkaiser again.

"If ye walk away now, the next time I come at ye, I'll no' be quite so public about it. Ye'd better watch yersel'...Even if ye're no' the one goin' for the captainship, ye're close enough tae warrant handling."

[Alkaiser]

"Actually, I think I might just stick around after all." Steve rebounds quickly, by now unsurprised that Seth had popped up. He was a batman of sorts, being exactly where he wasn't expected almost all of the time. What did catch Barzahd off guard was the fact that he was happy to see his former enemy. The times always had a funny way of changing bad to good and vice-versa.

A little switch clicked in Steve's head when Will mentioned Student Council's President position. That was...intriguing. It wasn't something that he had thought about much, but a seed was definately sewn. For now, Fletcher wasn't letting up, though, and had to be dealt with somehow. "Hmph...You're stubborn, greedy and vengeful...good for you. It sure will suck knowing that you'll lose your shot at captain to someone like me who doesn't even plan on making a play."

Steve turns to face his opponent. As much as he liked to settle things with words, backing down from challenges didn't make him look good in any light. Fletcher didn't really care what happened around him, he just wanted blood and prestige, and apparently Steve was just the guy to give it to him. "Well, Seth, I've got some advice here for you too. Save your breath. This guy just wants to smash some face."

Steve shrugs at the thought of senseless violence as something that he needed to accept in a place like this. His lecture on politics was falling on deaf ears, but it was Will's loss. He continues addressing the familiar twice-transferred student, "You can do what you want...but this definitely needs to be settled."

Steve's feet spread and his back hand raises to his chest, putting himself into an unaggressive yet prepared stance. To match his opponent, Steve's expression is all business. It was just dealing with another challenger...about the seventh today, by his recollection.

[Seth Calloway]

(Short, I know. Feel free to post without me for a bit, since Seth'll just be watching the battle.)

"Change will come regardless of your intentions, Will. Your success will only change the direction the change happens."

Seth's grin grew wider as he spoke, pleased with the Irishman's reasoning, almost beyond words. As headstrong and stubborn as the huge Senior was, he would certainly be easy to work with, should it come down to it. Already, the dark-haired Junior's mind was formulating plans on how to use this new information, though the fact that Alkaiser had decided to stay and fight was a welcome turn of events. While it may have seemed as if Seth hadn't heard Alkaiser at first, Seth would quickly put an end to that suspiscion, turning towards the Pillar once more.

"Sounds entertaining. I think I'll stick around."

The gang leader took several steps back from Alkaiser, giving the two combatants plenty of room to start their battle, though his amused look was quickly being replaced by one of satisfaction. If the two fought now, it would spur things ahead much faster in one respect or the other, something that Seth certainly couldn't object to. After all, the faster the situation regarding Hircine's Captain was resolved, the sooner something could be done about other, more serious matters.

[William Fletcher]

"Stubborn, vengeful...That much I'll admit to, but greedy....?"

Shrugging his shoulders at the accusation, he shook his head.

"Believe whatever ye like, Steve. Ah've already told ye, the school c'n be run by someone else."

Without another word, at the raise of the smaller youths hands, he approached again. Not making any conscious effort to raise his own yet, he would stride well within grabbing range without adopting a guard. Of course, this would leave him open to be struck, no doubt, but however that played out, he was concentrating on getting close enough to get hold of his smaller target.

'He's most likely got a bit more staying power than the average, so a methodical approach will be most suitable. Wild swinging isn't going to do me any favours...'

Whether or not he'd have to withstand a strike or similar in his advance, his left palm would lunge from its relaxed position with surprising speed, about the only such quickness the massive Irishman posessed, and aimed to grab onto the red-headed boys shirt. As close as he was aiming to get, within less than two feet, it would thus be a rather awkward motion to prevent, considering Will would not require any forward lunge to catch him.

Were he successful, he would exert that monstrous strength to drive his fist against the smaller boys midsection in an upwards fashion, akin to an uppercut for want of a better description, and then snap his arm back like a piston before shooting a right hook out, sweeping down to smash into Steves head. Or, at least, that was the initial target...

[Alkaiser]

Elementary. There was nothing about the charge that was surprising, yet Barzahd still wished that he was given something more interesting to work with. He was a performer, and charges were easily quashed at this level of fighting.

Among the basic skill set of Steve's arts was an immobilizing leg kick. For it to be correctly applied, he had to be in such a stance that his legs were properly spread, his arms close enough to him to maintain balance, and his opponent needed to be doing the moving. The rest was just timing, the lifeblood of speedy fighting.

Barzahd watches the legs of his opponent. Each one made the floor tiles shake under his might, and they were probably strong enough to avoid being broken at the knees even from such a fundamental attack as this. His left leg is the first to drop within range of Barzahd's kick, making the right leg the one to be struck. As that left thunder hit, Steve's right leg would lift into a flamingo stance, and then when Fletcher's right dropped Alkaiser's would fire out, aimed just above the knee.

What this attack was designed to do was create leverage with the joint to drive the heel down into the ground. In simpler terms, it meant that the charge would be put off for a moment because the aggressor would be caught temporarily flat-footed. This afforded the defender enough time to get out of harm's way or to fire a preemptive strike more effectively.

If the strike did succeed, Barzahd would use the extra time to juke out of the way, going the outside of the arm that was thrown at him. He didn't have a plot to go on the offensive yet, so all he was doing was getting into open space where he had more options. Equal ground was a lot easier to fight from.