Let the bodies hit the floor (Principal Alexander)

[pinefresh]

It had been a long week for Pine at Hircine, too long for his taste. Since his first class Pine had been bullied non stop for both his name and the fact he came from Varron. It didn't seem to matter that Pine was intelligent or well disciplined or easy going all that mattered was that he was an easy target for jokes. These kids didn't seem to be overly tough or violent just rather annoying. Pine hadn't even seen something that could resemble a gang around the halls. The school seemed to be orderly and well policed.

As for former Varronites, there were few. Pine had heard that Kyu or whatever the kids name was had become School Captain. There was no doubt the kid was a good fighter considering he was Kazuki's little pet but School Captain was a stretch. How was Ein tolerating such mindlessness, where was Kvist to start shit, where was Alkaiser to challenge the Captain, where the hell was everyone??? Then like a sledgehammer it hit Pine knocking him right off balance, he was alone. There were no real Varronites here anymore more importantly Pine did not know what happened to them. That only meant one thing for Pine, he needed to find out.

While Pine thought of who to ask one of the groups of kids that bothered him constantly decided to come and surround him.

"Hows it going tree boy?" One of the boys in the circle said with a laugh and the others followed suit.

"Fine I suppose. By the way, what happened to all the Varronites that came here?" Pine asked the boy who had tried to taunt him.

"Why lonely? Looking for your loser friends perhaps you stupid piece of shit." Another boy in the group responded while the others laughed.

Pine smiled sweetly and took a step toward the boy who spoke last. "Listen, here is how it is going to be. I am going to ask you a question and you are going to give me a straight answer. Fail to give me an answer and I will not be responsible for what happens."

The boys seemed slightly taken aback by Pine's words and unsure of what to do.

"So where are the Varronites?" Pine asked again this time using a slightly more demanding tone. The tone of a man whose temper was being held in check by one little thread that really just wanted to snap.

The brave boy in front of Pine took a step toward him and looked back at his friends. "Did you hear that bo...."

The kid never finished the sentence because Pine's foot to his jaw stopped it. The boy didn't have time to react to the elbow which knocked him out. There was blood all over the students face as he bled from his mouth and the bridge of his nose. The second boy went down even easier as he was not able to process what was going on fast enough to react.

"Lets try this one more time shall we. Where are the Varronites?" Pine asked as he cleaned the blood off his hands. It seemed his whole desire to avoid being noticed was not going to hold up. Pine had finally snapped and these kids were going to pay for their past insults. Pine moved to strike the next boy who seemed to have lost his nerve when three teachers intervened.

"OFFICE NOW!!!!" The most senior teacher yelled at Pine.

~Office? That's perfect, may be I could get the answers out of the principal.~ Pine thought to himself as he looked at the boys then the teacher. With an amazing shrug Pine replied, "Alright there mister prof lead the way."

Not five minutes later Pine was forcefully sat in a chair in the Principals office. He was told she would be in to see him in a couple of minutes. Pine scanned the big wooden desk in the room and his eyes fell on the name piece on the desk. ~V. Alexander... Now why does that sound familiar.~ Pine wondered as the door behind him opened.

[Victoria Alexander]

Victoria was over seeing a project she was dealing with that involved a few teachers. It was something she got excited about but it was closing in fast and she would have to hurry to get things done. Stopping what she was doing as her name was addressed she stood strait up as her secretary standing at the door instructing her that she was needed in her office.

"I'll shall be on my way."

She then turned towards the teachers and smiled.

"Please see to these things and get back to me as soon as you can but please to keep a hush on things. I do not want the school or my counterpart to know what I am planning. Do you understand me."

Moving out of the room in one swift manner to meet up with the secretary she was instinctively handed a folder.

"The student was caught striking a boy in the hallway and is waiting in your office. Here is his folder."

She had thanked her secretary and then opened the file. The picture of the student was familiar but it wasn't until she saw the name that it stuck a cord with her. It was Pine. She had remembered him from Varron. It had been a long time. Reading up on his file she had discovered his tardiness to the transfer.

Walking up to her office she opened the door, walked in and closed it behind her. Looking over at her shared occupants side she was not surprised that he was not at his desk. Looking at the back of Pine she spoke sternly before moving around her own desk and standing behind it.

"I see you made yourself a little noticeable today. Mr. Treefellow. You must know that I do not like things run this way and your punishment will be swift. I will not go soft on a fellow Varronite, or so they call us."

She put the folder on her desk and sat down keeping her eyes on Pine. He had changed slightly since he left Varron. Him coming here pleased Victoria in knowing that one more student she had crossed paths with before seemed to be okay. But appearances were deceiving and so maybe she would be asking questions of her own to satisfy her curiosity.

"If you please tell me why you struck the student. I only get one story from the teachers and I wish to hear yours."

She placed her hands folded on her desk and waiting for any response either it be his story of what happened or anything that might pop into his head. If she remembered correctly she knew that he would not do anything unless provoked and Hircine was known to have a few loud mouths that she delt with daily.

[pinefresh]

"I see you made yourself a little noticeable today. Mr. Treefellow. You must know that I do not like things run this way and your punishment will be swift. I will not go soft on a fellow Varronite, or so they call us."

~Fellow Varronite? Like things run smoothly? Who the...Oh shit.~ Pine's thought was cut short as he turned his head to glare at the person making the comment. When his eyes fell on former higher up at Varron and not some complete push over his face took a pained expression. This wasn't someone he could intimidate or easily get answers out of, it seemed Pine had miscalculated and should have attacked the teacher instead.

He turned around in the seat, put his head against the back rest and closed his eyes. He knew the talking was not over yet but he needed a second to formulate a plan to get his information from this woman. He needed it fast.

Pine's eyes shot open when Victoria asked him why he had done it. The problem was she had the facts slightly wrong.

"It was two students actually boss lady and had your staff not moved so fast it would have been all five." Pine stated in a rather matter of fact way.

"Anyways, back to the question at hand, why? I could pull an Ein and ask you why not but somehow I doubt playing games will get me anywhere here. The fact is People have been trying to push me around day one. First they try to belittle me in class and in the halls with names and jibes mostly in regards to my name. After class they surround me and try to intimidate me. ME of all people, if they had any, ANY idea who I was these kids would be running for their pathetic little lives."

Pine had jumped out of his chair with his last statement and took a second to calm himself before he sat down. Emotion was the enemy when it came to battle and he needed to control it at all costs or else he would lose. Even here Pine was at war, not in the sense you might think of it but war takes many forms, right now Pine's words were his battle plan being executed against a Varronite in a place of supreme power.

"Now if I may ask you a few questions boss lady it would be greatly appreciated. I guess you could say it would be a courtesy, my last request, before you punish me."

[Victoria Alexander]

She couldn't help but smirk as he corrected the story. If he was to be accused he would make sure the right information would be present. She didn't have the full story but now with Pine's corrections she did.

Victoria had also seem the flame in his eye as he continued on. Referencing Ein, along the way. She hadn't much dealings with Ein personally but she knew that he would be one to turn things around. Ein was a quick and intelligent thinker.

Victoria sat silently letting him rant with his speech. Her eyes watching him as he would rise from his chair. Dedicated to his words and his emotion before settling back into his chair. By the time he suggested his own curiosity. She would indeed answer anything that she could but in return she expected the same. It was fair after all.

"Last requests? Im sure before the year is through there might be more than just one request. Think of me as a friend that will answer what I am able. After all just because I'm in a position does not mean that I know all. The idea of knowing all would be nice but would lack the interaction between others. That would just be so boring."

She couldn't help but smirk.

"So Pine. Tell me about your time here so far. I know you have had some trouble with students but have you atleast found a niche. Or something to enjoy or keep your attention while you are here?"

Victoria wanted to start simple.

[pinefresh]

~That did not answer my question at all... I'm game though let me see where this goes.~ Pine though to himself as she asked him about what would keep him here.

In truth there really wasn't anything accept questions keeping him here. Pine wanted to know what happened to all his friends and if any of them still existed here. Sure he had met a few people here and talked to them, but those two little girls would not keep him here. He had found out Nyra was in the city somewhere and was set to try and find her after school. Other then that there was nothing, nothing accept one little detail. The mere thought of it brought a smile to Pine's face.

"When it comes to people I have met, no. I have met two girls but both are too quiet and shy for my taste. Well one is and the other is just plain weird. The other guys here, well lets just say most of them need a lesson in fear and manners. The niche here is that you have no wolves to scare the sheep. I don't know what happened to the powerful Varronites but these people should be scared. You have no fighters to hold order besides Kazuki's pet Kyu or whatever his name is. Last time we fought it came out as a draw so I have no fear there. Even if he were to beat me one man is not enough to keep me down should I take a stance against the school. So I guess you could say what'll keep me is here is a lack of competition."


Pine leaned forward and rested his hands on Victoria's desk as if it were himself in charge and not her. In fact, now that he thought about it perhaps he did have the upper hand. He was sure the other Varronites especially the ones that served under him in Genaht would return to do so again. With a gang behind him Pine could easily shake the school system here to the foundations. Especially now with all the military training Pine had endured there was no way he could lose to a civilian.

"No doubt you have looked at my file and seen where I transferred in from. I spent an entire year learning to wage war. I spent countless hours studying history and combat tactics as well as practical application. If I wanted to, I could take everything that this school is and break it down until there was nothing left. Though judging by your current predicament that might not be such a bad thing." With the last statement Pine motioned over to the other desk where the second principal lived.

"So boss lady how does it feel to share power with someone lesser than yourself?"

[Victoria Alexander]

"Competition is always around but your looking at it in a different manner. School is a place for academics not acrobatics. Most students as well as old Varron students have found enough peace to look forward to the future and to improve their lives with knowledge. What good will fighting do when your too dim-witted to find an alternative life style after your unable to fight. In a way you have a time restriction with fighting. How long can a body sustain any amount of blows. Its only a matter of time before one hit becomes too many. These so called sheep will out-live and become more successful than someone wanting to place fear into them. Why waste time on such foolishness. I figure with someone with your current education you would find something more fundamental and productive to treat your need of violence. Course if you want to make things more creative around here there are always 'other' alternatives. I shouldn't have to remind you that I have and will always protect over what I am put in charge of. I am a very dedicated person."

Victoria's eyes went to his hands and then back to his face as she let him go on with his question about her shared occupancy. Her own hands stayed folded on her desk and she showed restraint at his disrespect. In the back of her mind she wanted to address his disrespect but knew that it would not do anything but make him address her as his enemy. 'You can not make peace with rivers of blood.' she thought, something that was said to her when she was young. She knew she only had to flick her wrist enough to catch him off guard but she was not in this position to injure or cause any more violence. In truth she would only defend herself if need be and she was more than prepared to do so if the occasion would arise.

"You say that as if you know who that person is. He too is a Varron transfer as well as a Hircine graduate. He is less likely to be tread upon lightly by your suggestive comments. Though I have always been more patient, more prepared if something should arise."

She quirked her eyebrow before leaning her elbow on the desk moving her upper torso closer to the middle of her desk.

"Course I shouldn't be worried about you now should I Pine. I believe that I can find something to keep you preoccupied if you should ever get bored."

[pinefresh]

"Competition is always around but your looking at it in a different manner. School is a place for academics not acrobatics. Most students as well as old Varron students have found enough peace to look forward to the future and to improve their lives with knowledge. What good will fighting do when your too dim-witted to find an alternative life style after your unable to fight. In a way you have a time restriction with fighting. How long can a body sustain any amount of blows. Its only a matter of time before one hit becomes too many. These so called sheep will out-live and become more successful than someone wanting to place fear into them. Why waste time on such foolishness. I figure with someone with your current education you would find something more fundamental and productive to treat your need of violence. Course if you want to make things more creative around here there are always 'other' alternatives. I shouldn't have to remind you that I have and will always protect over what I am put in charge of. I am a very dedicated person."

Pine chuckled slightly and moved his body back so he was relaxing in the chair. In a way Victoria had created a flawless argument. Why fight when all you need to do is look at the books and get the grades? The world revolved around something as silly as a GPA. Who you are and what you are seemed to be trumped by a small number from 0-4. So people worked hard for that GPA to get somewhere. That didn't change the fact a bully is a bully or a sociopath a sociopath, but today's world didn't understand that. Not that Pine had a right to talk with his 3.6GPA but the argument had to be made somewhere.

"I cannot really argue against your point as it is logical. There is however one small flaw with your argument and that is the people. You have faith that these people have changed enough to put who they were behind them and settled down. My run in with your students today says otherwise. These students have not put who and what they are behind them they have just tried to occupy themselves because they have no one to direct them. Which is why I want to know where Ein, Leon, Kivist, Dain, Alkaiser, and the rest of them are. I want to know where the leaders have disappeared to. No boss lady, these students have not settled down they are merely waiting for those who can lead them to do so." Pine reached down to his bag and pulled out his water bottle bottle and took a sip of his water. This was by far the most talking he had done in a while and it was making his throat dry.

Too bad Victoria was not as easy to provoke as most of the other Varronites had been. Sure she sat there calmly but there was no doubt she probably wanted to hit him. He would have enjoyed taking that hit and having everything end here but it was not to be that easy. Pine was now going to have to play along to get what he wanted, the answers that he was seeking.

The mention of something to keep him preoccupied perked his interest slightly. Here was his chance to do something productive for his cause. Perhaps Victoria would make a better friend than an enemy but there was only one way to find out.

"Something to keep me occupied you say? I'm all ears."

[Victoria Alexander]

“Let me first state that I never said they completely traded in their gloves for books. I merely said they took their priorities and switched them to something more productive. You can’t train a dog to fight in a dog fight and then wish him coddle a child without taking a snap at the child. That’s silly to think that you can take the instincts out of the animal. You can do both but with a sense of responsibility not only to yourself but to those around you that only want to see the best come from you. You may not know it now but no matter how hard you may try to deny, someone will always care or take concern of your well-being.”

She paused briefly fiddling with a finger on her computer mouse all the while keeping her eyes on Pine.

“Gilsin and Alkaiser have been and are still around. Thou do not beseech me with anymore or less information than that. Leon has as I have heard, hit the road. As for the other I have no liable information. Im sure once you have walked the streets you will find what your looking for. But I am also sure that if your intending to become a beacon so to speak. Im sure they will flock like moth to a flame. I myself being a fighter for so many years know that once any fighting begins its like an addiction that is hard to resist.”

She pushed her finger against the mouse sliding it away from her taking her eyes from Pine for only a second before directing them back at him. Her voice was solid and direct as she asked her question.

“Tell me what you know of Paragon?”

[pinefresh]

"Perhaps I misunderstood what you said and I apologize for it. What you seem to be missing is that there is no one to care for me. You see Victoria I was disowned by my family before I even came to Varron, my entire family. So lets skip the 'everyone has someone' crap and save it for someone who hasn't been literally tossed to the side like a piece of trash."

Pine was unsure why he had to mention such things to a principal, it was all in his file. The fact he had to actually come out and say it made him angry. If he did not need Victoria at this point he probably would have cleared the table and taken her down. Pine had learned long ago to separate himself from a situation so that the emotions would come later. To Victoria, Pine might look like he was day dreaming. Her comments about Alkaiser and Ein brought him back around really quickly.

~Good, I have allies that I can turn too~ He thought to himself which slightly brightened his mood. The only problem he had now was finding them here, but it was only a matter of time. It was always just a matter of time.

"Lets see...Paragon...rival school full of students as violent as Varronites. Other then that I know nothing. Also, as to being a beacon, of that I haven't decided. There is much to learn before I make a decision as to what I will do here. I still follow much of the ideologies of Genaht so my actions will not be rash. Rest assured though, I will figure something out and you'll be the first to know."

[Victoria Alexander]

Victoria gave a small shake of her head disapproving what he had said.

"You say that no one cares but you are mistaken. I care. You are my responsibility and your well being is my well being. I traveled miles, I have hitchhiked and walked my way here to find Varron transfers. To find those I have failed to protect back in New York. I will shed blood for them to make up for the mistake I have made."

She leaned back in her chair, crossed her leg over her knee and placed her hands in her lap.

"I promised myself that I would shed blood and sweat for not only Varron students but Hircine as well and I will always care for those that are under this roof wither they like it or not."

She then smirked.

"But lets get back onto topic at hand. You are correct. Paragon is a more violent institute. They are also planning on causing trouble in which I need someone to keep tabs on them. Someone of course able to defend oneself as well as maneuver around with ease. Being that you seem to have a lust to teach a few lessons of your own. I feel that keeping you entertained will be a piece of cake. But to get strait to the point if you accept in helping with anything I ask. You will be exempt from any action taken against you. You will not be exempt from your work of course. Academics comes first. But I will sway the teachers to keep your work satisfactory unless you feel the need to be challenged."

Victoria took her eyes off of him, inspecting her nails.

"I can provide you with information but I'm sure will your past schooling you should have no problem in acquiring anything you may need."

[pinefresh]

~Dramatic woman but that's not enough. What you have does not fill the void left by my family. Good try though, maybe had we been in these circumstances at Varron I would have accepted it. Sadly you are too late.~ Pine thought to himself as Victoria readjusted herself and began to fiddle with her nails as if uninterested.

He doubted she was as coy as she was trying to play. He doubted that there were enough people like him so easily accessible for such jobs. Even as she gave him the terms all that he did was chuckle and let a vicious smile creep across his face. An exemption from all punishment while he was tasked out. That meant he could ask questions however he wanted and could easily obtain the answers he needed. Victoria clearly had no idea what she was about to let loose on the student population.

Then again perhaps she did understand and was hoping he would not make it back in one piece. Somehow Pine doubted she would come to his aid if he got into a major scrape. There had to be 100% deniability in the fine print he just wasn't seeing. Then again this all seemed too simple, he must be missing something. Perhaps he would find out if he just agreed to the terms.

"Yes mother my homework will get done." Pine said sarcastically with a small laugh. "I spent an entire year in and out of the hospital while I attended Varron and still managed to hold a 3.6GPA. This will be a piece of cake."

Pine leaned forward again so his hands rested in a folded position on the table. His eyes became serious as he slipped back into the army mind set and prepared himself for the orders to come. "So miss boss lady what's the first mission? Oh and please don't skip on the detail, I need to know everything you know to get this done quickly and as painlessly as possible."

[Victoria Alexander]

She didn't like the fact that he called her mother. She didn't look matronly hell if anything she looked good and she was not up there in age she was only a few years older than him. Waving the thought away she took a key from her pocket and placed it within the lock on her top desk drawer.

“I haven’t completed the documentation. But of course I did not know this would be coming so soon. I’d have hoped for more time. But you can never really control others and with your sudden appearance you just happen to drop in my lap at the perfect time.”

Turning the key listening to the click of the mechanism within the drawer. She opened it pulling it out quite a bit. Moving some papers aside she opened a secret compartment within the drawer and pulled out an IPhone.

“I know it doesn’t seem much but it will be something compact that you can carry around. You will have this in your possession for the next few days. You will return it and I will update or add any necessary information before giving it back. Please note that it has been equipt with those nifty passwords in which will need to be changed every day, it is up to you and your creativity to come up with them. I will have the master password to get into it whenever I like so please do not store anything you might want to keep secret.”

She touched the small electronic screen. Flicking through different menus before handing it over.

“You will have photographs, class schedules, as well as limited background information and home addresses. Please be aware there will only be the information that is required and nothing more. I can’t have you knowing the whole schools information that would be preposterous.”

She leaned back into the chair.

“You will not approach me without being sent to my office and you will not trust any other including my dedicated Secretary Assistant. Im sure that wont be hard to do. If Mr. Katsumoto is in the room you will receive your punishment that you and I both know wont be served. I will doctor your documentation to suggest that appropriate measures have been taken with your behavior but in the end your file will be clean. I can not stress how important it is to keep this between us. I can’t have the school board knowing I am taking measures on my own. I preferably would like a clean work record to continue on being in my position. Im sure Katsumoto would love to have a reason to get me out of this office.”

She glanced over at his empty desk.

“On top of the selected persons within your list. I do ask to keep tabs on Mr. Katsumoto as well. I have heard a rumor that he was seen in a public area with Paragons own Principle Davis. He’s a sneaky bastard and I have learned that to ignore rumors could be the worst move anyone could make.”

She paused turning her attention back to Pine. Victoria had said so much she waited to see if he had absorbed it and if he had anything to add or question before she would continue on.

[pinefresh]

Pine took the phone and looked at it. This was the closest Pine had been to an Iphone. Suddenly his keybo seemed highly inadequate and he wanted to keep this new toy. Maybe if he was good Victoria would let him keep it at the end of all this. Speaking of which, Pine wondered when the end of this would be and hoped it wasn't when he graduated.

"So this tool has the names and information of only the people you want me to keep tabs on, question, beat, or otherwise be aware of from only Hircine?" Pine asked slightly less enthusiastic than he did earlier. Pine would have liked information on Paragon students as well. He would have liked to find a few on their way home and question them without having to worry about repercussions on his part. No matter, he would go and speak to them soon enough, or they would come back to Varron to say hello. He was banking on the latter of the two.

The name Katsumoto rang a bell but Pine was not sure from where. ~Shuya Katsumoto...No, couldn't be~ Pine thought, but perhaps he would be safer asking.

"Katsumoto, you mean Shuya Katsumoto? If you do, wasn't he part of either Kvist's gang or of the nameless mass? If so, how did he get a principals position? Better yet why haven't you killed him yet?"

[Victoria Alexander]

Victoria couldn't help but laugh. True she wished she could have taken Shuya for a round or two but that wouldn't have solved anything. She has never and probably will never take a life as Pine so easily suggested. Course with his background, killing someone would come easy to him. It was only a matter of when and how.

"Pine you speak so freely of death. I should say that I try to prevent it if possible. Don't get me wrong it would be a nice thought but I have my own boundaries in which I stick to. I have had plenty of blood on my hands. But I would like to keep my conscience clean."

She then took a breath to become serious again.

"Those that are listed are of both Hircine and Paragon. Or rather I should say transfers. I have no documentation of anyone transferring from other schools but those that have transferred from Hircine High I still have access to their folders which may be outdated."

She watched as he glanced at the names on the list. She looked for any reaction from Pine before continuing on.

"This list can tie you over for a little while. You can also stir up some trouble over at Paragon if you like. Thou I would be careful if you get caught it won't be so easy to fix things. I would advise you pick your fights well. But you really dont need me to tell you that."

She then rose from her seat.

"If you do not have any other questions or concerns I believe this had concluded our meeting for today."

[pinefresh]

~Sometimes the only way to preserve life was to take it, or did you learn nothing at Varron?~ He thought as he looked over the list of people he was to deal with. Continuing to look down the list Pine also found the names of Hircine's Pillars. This would be useful information to have, he did not want to cross one of them unless he had too. He was not surprised to see his friend Alkaiser listed as one. Had Varron stayed open, either one of them or both would have been Pillars by now. Perhaps if Pine played his cards right he could earn that title here. At the very least he would like to gain his VIP status back.

"I don't mind if the information is outdated. I doubt it would have changed much since they left. At least we can hope nothing has changed since then."

Pine got out of the chair and stretched his arms over his head before slipping the phone into his pocket. Cracking his neck he moved toward the door. There was only one more thing he had to pass on to Victoria.

"There is only one thing. Shuya for all his faults, is not stupid. He is also very good at getting what he wants and how to cut corners. If he is in with Paragon you better watch yourself and your Pillars. If not, neither one of you will be around too much longer. Other then that just message me on the phone when you want to see me and I'll be sure to break someones face."

With a playful wink Pine walked out the door and on to his next class. A class which he was already late for.

[Victoria Alexander]

“I know that all too well.”

She said more to herself since Pine had already made his way out the door. Sitting in her chair she turned her chair towards the window. Looking over the school grounds Victoria leaned to the side, her elbow on the rest and her chin in the palm of her hand.

Things were not going to be as peaceful as she may have wanted it. No matter how hard she would try violence would always find her. It was only a matter of time. Looking out watching the everyday movement, she couldn’t help but wonder how long it will last before chaos ran the streets.

Victoria only hopes that the Pillars and the Captain were capable of handing the situation. She would have to rely on them along with the assistance of Pine. She couldn’t trust her cohort Shuya with him sneaking around as much as he did. She knew of his background and knew that he knew hers as well, what little there was of it on file. It was only a matter of time before she would have to confront him but with little evidence it would be up to Pine to help her.

Taking a breath in and letting it go slowly. Victoria turned her chair to face her desk.

"Its going to be a long school year."

-End Thread-