Being on the same page(Alkaiser, openish)

[Shuya Katsumoto]

“Move it…”

Shuya didn’t even look up to see who he had just told to move, but it didn’t matter. The student move out of the way as Shuya continued his pace, his eyes focused on several reports he was holding. Some of them were written by a student who had been stationed at Paragon Institute, others were simply complaint reports that police or other law enforcement had gathered about Paragon. Luckily for Shuya, he had some high placed friends that weren’t too secretive about their information. Shaking his head slightly he bumped into another student who made a small jump away from Shuya after the small collision, simply to show he wasn’t in anyone’s way. It annoyed Shuya that Paragon was seemingly on edge, but not ready to wage war. Time was ticking and he would soon be forced to find a victim… But those weren’t his current concerns, there were other matters at hand now.

Lifting his head up from his papers, the well dressed principal finally started paying attention to his surroundings, trying to pinpoint the person he intended to speak with. Someone had been acting like Kyukaku had been doing all year long so far. In a way, Shuya couldn’t care less, he had never reckoned Kyukaku as truthful captain, but hadn’t done anything to harm the status either. The re-bounce guy however had been an obvious case. Being the man right behind Kyukaku, it was to be expected that he would want to take over the title of captain. The news that he however at random seemed to have added some people to his own system as pillars was slightly nerve wrecking, especially with Shuya’s knowledge on most of these student’s backgrounds. It didn’t take him long to find the red haired student that studied here under the name of Alkaiser. As Shuya passed him and the group he was with he lowered his pace and stopped next to Alkaiser for a split second.

“Walk with me, mister Barzahd.”

He slowly picked up his pace again, expecting Alkaiser to follow suit. After all, the student would know that a conversation with the principals was both inevitable and advisable for someone who ran around saying he is the school’s captain. Shuya pressed his papers together, making sure none but the top was readable and he held them in the hand opposite to the side where Alkaiser was walking. He didn’t care if he could read the title of the first paper, saying ‘Paragon Update 7’, it wasn’t that secretive but he didn’t want everyone to see either. As the two walked out the front doors of Hircine High, Shuya made a direct left, walking away from his and Victoria’s office windows, to the more secluded part of the school grounds, directed towards the dorms. As they walked there, Shuya finally continued:

“So, mister Hircine High school captain… or so I’ve heard. You’ve been making quite a name already… and here I was thinking you would be heartbroken about Kyukaku’s departure, but instead you seem all too eager to fill his place…”

It wasn’t a sneer, more a simple remark… one he wished to be answered before he would continue to discuss any other matters with this particular student… or captain.

[Alkaiser]

(OOC: Sorry about my sporadic posting, but this is gonna be a hell week as far as school goes. I'll do what I can.)

Steve was taking an increasingly rare moment to socialize with a few of his friends. Most of his time was taken up by business nowadays, interfacing with the students and keeping the peace. Still, keeping a wide base of friends within the student body made negotiating solutions an easier job, and thus it became a necessary part of his. His training and schoolwork took up the rest of his time, so he valued these moments greatly. That being said, plans can change, and sometimes more important things come up. Today, one of those things would occur.

Barzahd hears a voice from behind him instruct him to follow. He looks over his right shoulder, then his left after initially missing his target. It was Shuya. Principal Katsumoto as he was now called was already pulling away from the captain. Steve gives a few quick goodbyes and jogs a bit to catch the principal, walking at a brisk pace himself.

After getting alongside the man, Alkaiser gives him a quick look over. Shuya carried himself very differently now. There was something almost presidential about the man. He walked completely upright, trying to look as dignified as possible for the students that he was made to supervise. Steve notices a file in his hand entitled 'Paragon Update 7'. Although Alkaiser wanted to be forward and just ask what was the matter, he knew better than to discuss whatever it was in the middle of the halls. With Katsumoto seeking him out personally, it was bound to be important. They took an opposite turn from the principal's office, and the distinguished student became extremely suspicious, yet he continued to follow.

When the principal finally spoke, it was not greeted with an open mind. After the run-around, Alkaiser gave a tiny jab back to the man.

"Well, I've had my hands full just filling his shoes. I'm pleased to see that you've settled in well also, considering the circumstances of your rise to power..."

Steve gives an understanding smile, not to be snarky but to simply indicate to the principal that while he's willing to play ball to stay within the man's good graces, he wasn't going to throw himself at Shuya's feet. After all, for him to do his job effectively he couldn't afford to become the system's bitch, even if that system was headed by a former friendly acquaintance.

[Shuya Katsumoto]

“And big shoes it are you need to fill… But I guess it’s more than understandable that you… of all his followers are the best to do so…”

Shuya smirked as Alkaiser mentioned something about Shuya’s rise to power. He wasn’t entirely sure how to take the comment but he found it entertaining to say the least. It was proof that the student wasn’t a simple follower… Shuya had no need to simple followers. Indeed, it was students who could think and act on their own was what the current situation needed. The only thing that had to be ensured would be that the students knew where the lines were and what the final direction was.

“I’ve settled in from the beginning, Barzahd. As for my rise to power, what more power do I need than the power to magically create smiles on the faces of all you students here…”

His tone was sarcastic, but even without it, Alkaiser would’ve understood he was being sarcastic. It was just something to let the young captain know that his function or power was not going to be discussed. Not here, not now… not ever, wherever. For now he just wanted to know what Alkaiser’s stand on things was, what he would do if eventually, the two schools would face each other. Shuya would only push them into combat, he wouldn’t be at the battle himself. He would have far more important matters to attend to.

“Now, Barzahd, what I was wondering. What do you feel you have accomplished as Hircine’s unofficial captain… and furthermore, what do you think you have that others don’t have to continue working in the best interest of the students as the either unofficial or official captain?”

It were two straight forward questions, questions Alkaiser had bound to expect. What did you do and what do you plan on doing. It was a simple matter of getting to know Alkaiser better and perhaps what his motivations were. But to say the least it were questions that Alkaiser had to be able to answer in a satisfying way, were Shuya even going to consider backing him up as captain. However, Shuya knew that Kyukaku would never return before the big event, so he was going to need someone to at least be able to rally up a large part of the student body. But were the students truly prepared to follow Alkaiser’s leadership in combat?

[Alkaiser]

"What have I done?" Alkaiser echoed. He didn't entirely understand where this was going. Was he going to have the title revoked? The truth was that he hadn't done much of anything except train and make sure that he was popular with the students. These were important, without doubt, but his laziness thus far was something that he was not proud of. After the paragon students laid siege to the dorms, Barzahd knew that something had to be done, but he wasn't sure of what.

"As a captain, I haven't done much as of yet. Keeping the peace, interfacing with the student body...the little things. I think it was what I did as a pillar that got me here. As for what I'm going to do..."

Steve had to think. He knew that he wanted to bring justice to his students for the attacks that befell them in the middle of the night. He wanted to teach his subjects how to defend themselves. He wanted to make sure that nothing would threaten them from outside their own walls again. "I'm going to make sure that our students feel safe in their own school again."

It was the best answer he could give. He felt like it summed up everything that he wanted to do, without sounding too arrogant or presumptuous. At the same time, it afforded him some wiggle room in the eyes of Katsumoto, should he get curious as to what exactly it was that Steve was planning.

[Shuya Katsumoto]

Shuya rose his right eyebrow as his question was repeated by Alkaiser, before he could answer it. Apparently the young man had no clue what to answer exactly since, apparently, he hadn’t realized too much yet. It wasn’t a big deal, Kyukaku’s departure hadn’t been too long ago so there wasn’t really too much Alkaiser could’ve done. Still, Shuya waited until the student was finished speaking entirely before he responded.

“Keeping the peace? And how exactly have you realized that? It was indeed the fact that you were Scott’s pillar that you are now seen as the new captain, but how do you think you can realize the safety of our students? Within the schools, yes… safety could be provided, but that’s also a task of the faculty. Our students are at risk outside this school… and I think you know that as well… The reason why they haven’t been fighting one another the entire time is because they are scared of a different threat…”

Shuya looked back at Alkaiser and finally stopped his pace. They had reached one of the most secluded parts of the school grounds and no one seemed to be hanging around here. Shuya didn’t really care too much about students, it was the faculty and in particular Victoria who he didn’t want to interrupt right now. He would send Alkaiser to her if he was to his liking… Else, there was no way this boy was going to be recognized as an official captain, creating only another wig between the students of Hircine. Slowly, Shuya took out a cigarette and lit it, as the cig went into his mouth, he awaited for any response he would get from Alkaiser, before he would continue.

“Tell me… what do you know about Paragon, and what do you intend to do to protect the students around here from anything that could come from their way?”