The degree's of Summer. (Open)

[Odin Reeves]

A light ring of sweat formed around the skin-tight collar formed around Odin's neck as he stepped off the elevator onto the fifth floor of his dormitory. Summer seemed to be rising in temperatures each and every day, only getting worse the further they headed into the month of May. As for Odin, he had never felt such heat as this and was beginning to become parched more and more through-out the day. Unable to get past lunch without breaking a sweat he found himself storing several clean t-shirts in his locker should he need to change in between periods.

Yawning softly he neared his apartment door, removing his key-card from his wallet with a lazy slump to his usually firm persona. After several attempts to garner the small green light of acceptance from the locking mechanizum he gave the door a quick pound with the bottom of his fist, shoved the card in once more, then twisted the handle with a stead-fast haste. Either it would open through force, or through acceptance, he didn't care which.

Despite it's relucatance at first the door did in fact open on it's own. Thrown back with one hand the open window slammed the door harder then intended, making Odin jump softly at his own strength. Despite the open window his apartment felt like the inside of an stove kept on low for a slow roasting effect. Instantly feeling the heat meant refreshments were in order to counter act the heat. Dropping his books on the table in an unknown haste he hadn't cared that one slipped off the edge and connected hard with the floor.

Having pulled out a frozen glass mug from his freezer door and a pitcher of ice-water from his refridgerator Odin enjoyed the crisp cool drink, all until he noticed the red-blinking-two on his answering machine.

The first was his father calling with the same routine phone-call made every week. -How are things? Lifes good on this end. Your mom's trying to get some more over time.- If Odin was lucky his father would fill his machine's tape with a story of one of his most recent hunts. Some were boring, usually ending up with small chase through a back-yard before the intoxicated criminal was caught, but other times he was relished with stories of a fight, sometimes were excessive forced was used.

Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those times, leaving Odin's brain back to the world of thought rather then keeping it in hibrination during the peek of excessive heat.

The second recording, however, was one a much more serious tone. It came from a doctor at Hircine's General Hospital, referring to Odin's most recent visit after his lastest participation in Hircines underground tournaments.

"Mr. Reeves, I'm calling to with your test results from last week. Your body, while in superb physical condition, is suffering from elevated degree's of fatigue. On top of this I've noticed re-occuring injuries in your ribs and knuckles that should be taken care of. My advice is for you to take it easy for at least 3 weeks. If possible just relax and go about your normal daily routines, only keep away from extensive physical activity.

Let your body rest, and if you wish come in within the next week to schedule a follow-up exam to see how your body is doing."

Parting with a friendly farewell Odin was left there with the frosty mug in one hand, letting it rest against the counter top as his body slumped forward on the stool. The first thought that came to mind after processing the information was just as blunt as normal. "Aw, fuck." This thought alone took an extended duration of moments, the true time-frame unknown as he stayed there in a lazy heap.

"Now what'll I do to pass the time?" His voice echoed inside his head as he spoke down to the rapidly warming drink of ice-water, slowly returning to room temperature. As though sent down by the heavens to help him pass the time there was a knock at the door. Second time this had ever happened, the first was a sophomore girl mistaking his room for another. It wouldn't have been a problem, if it wasn't midnight and she had been out drinking that night.

Lazily spinning around on his stool he slid off it's medium toned red leather cushion and walked up to his door. Resting one shoulder on the frame he pried the other open, answering the knock with a sort: "Hello?"

[stern]

"Hello Odin."

If you were to make a list of people Odin were to most likely suspect would be knocking on the door, chance's were Stern would not even appear on it. They had only met once before, in a tournament back at Varron. It had been Odin's biggest lost at the school from what rumors told, and Odin had most likely kept the memory longer than Stern had.

Though he would be smart enough to probably guess Stern was here for more important things than a rematch.


He stood, taking up most of the space outside the door way. He was one of the few people Odin who probably admit to having more power in his body than him, though Odin may knwo from the fight some of it's limitations. He was dressed in his usually fine manner, which was odd for such a hot day. In the end thought, he showed no discomfort at the weather. It was as though the sweat stayed in his pores, lacking the courage to come out and defy his will.

"I need to have a little chat with you. You wouldn't be mind sparing a few minutes would you?"

[Odin Reeves]

[Note, Despite not having a room-mate Odin lives in a two-bedroom dorm.]

Stern Mason, Odin had barely seen him at Varron, let alone expected him to get transferred to Hircine High as well. The sight of seeing him filling the doorway from Odin’s perspective was peculiar, odd, and in a way uninviting to the repeating senior. Yet, the prior opponent spoke calmly, collected, without a hostile word in his approach. Perhaps it was the heat getting to him, or his lack of attention to school detail, but he saw no harm in a little chat, or in filling a few minutes of his time with company.

“Sure, why not. Come on in.” Giving a gentle push to the edge of the door he opened it up as wide as the frame it was attached to before pushing himself from the wall-frame connector. Turning his back to the larger man he proceeded deeper into the heart of his humble abode. A sip of his drink reminded him of the heat, the sweat dripping from his pores even more so.

“Would you like some water?” Intent on being an okay host he offered as he stepped out of the path seen from the hallway and returned to his fridge, opening the freezer and removing a few more ice-cubes that plunked softly in his glass. He returned back into sight as he paused at the coffee table a few feet from his kitchen. Setting the glass down he remained standing, ready to set out and fetch that drink should it be accepted, but offered a seat the individual wishing a moment of him.

“So, what’s all this about?”

[stern]

"No thank you, I don't intend to take up that much of your time."

Stern watched as Odin moved about his home, going to his kitchenette and generally making himself comfortable again. He offered Stern a seat, to which Stern merely shook his head. He had no intention's of making the visit particulerly long, and intended to leave soon after. This was a buisiness, not a social call.

"As a student of Hircine, you know I've been active as of late. As a former Varronn student, and another who took part in our little gang war, I doubt you wouldn't suspect I'm up to my old tricks again. I'm not going to tell whether I am or not, but it should be obvious whatever I'm doing is the topic of discussion."

Stern turned to face Odin's new position, looking over to him from his position near the door. His hand came to rest ono the back of the seat he was offered, but no other attempts to make himself comfortable or restrict his movements were made.

"I win by outhinking my opponents Odin, not by brute force. That means I need to get my facts straight. You, however have become an enigma of sort's in this puzzle. I know you'll fight in what is to come....but who you'll fight for is still a bit of a mystery. From the information I've gathered you have contacts of sort's with Leon's and Maverik's little alliance, however......"

Stern's voice trailed off, though whether it was due to being lost on how to say what would come next or f he was just causing dramtic effect was anyone's guess. It was equally possible he just wanted to give Odin time to adjust to the fact that someone had been watching him, and Leon's alliance, time to sink in.

"....my less....acceptable resources tell me you made a deal to become part of the Hircine underground fighting circuit with one of those Pillar's. Granted, I don't know the details of the deal, but I can guess what the consequences would be if you were to break it. What I want to know is, are you going to side with Leon in this game, or are you afraid you won't be able to compete anymore if you go against the Pillars?"

Stern came out to the point he was apparantly there to make. One perculiar that would probably stick out the most was that Stern had neglected to mention his own side a a possible choice for Odin. It could simplly mean he thought Odin wasn't interested, but it could also mean he didn't want Odin involved in his affairs for some reason. It was another matter for Odin to think about.

[Odin Reeves]

“Not really.” Odin’s voice only peeked up to be that of a soft-spoken thought as Stern spoke of becoming active recently. Perhaps he was simply ignorant to everything around him, but Odin didn’t particularly care for gossip around the school, and never truly figured to pay attention to what he was unable to see. Still, he remained quiet for the most part, only his thoughts breaking piping up under his breath. Taking a seat across the table from where Stern stood he made no motion to show he was paying attention, just let his head drip down to the wood finish of the coffee table, his eyes staring at a dark glossy swirl as he clutched his cup of ice-water.

Hearing Stern’s words brought a puzzled look to Odin’s face, it seemed he was becoming part of something more complicated then he usually sought out. He seemed to be a wrench thrown into the mechanics of Sterns play, simply by being himself. This intrigued the hircine senior, enough so to raise his head and fully direct his attention toward the large figure that loomed over him. Once Stern had finished speaking, his dramatic pause doing little to draw Odin in further, from his point of view, he cradled his drink in his left hand. The frost on the cup had long since disappeared, but the cool presence of the ice was welcomed in full force as it kept the cup cold.

Taking a final swing of his drink he filtered the water through his teeth until the last drop had dripped, then let an ice cube fall through. He chewed on it softly, contemplating his words in reply as the recorded message repeated it’s words in the back of his mind.

“If I’m going to play, I should probably learn the rules. I don’t know Leon, I’ve never spoken to him, I’ve only heard him rant. Competing in underground tournaments is only a hobby; one I believe I’ve overcome. Going against the pillars, however,” A brash smirk curled through his lips. “seems like some fun.”

Standing from his chair he did so by lifting his body with the chair before pushing it back. Stepping out from behind the table the took his glass with him, opened the freezer and dropped the remaining ice cubes in a plastic margarine container before turning his glass upside down and setting it in the sink. Speaking directly to Stern he kept his back turned at first, peering down at the drops of water exiting from the rim of the glass.

“So, a more blunt answer would be, I’m not only Leon’s team. I take it that’s what you want to hear?” As he asked his question he turned around, his palms pressing against the edge of the counter as he stood in a slumped position with his feet propped away from his body.

[stern]

"Actually, I'm not particularly interested on who's team your on, more just curious as to what side of the grander conflict your on...and if your not on the Pillars, you basically on mine."

Stern said the last piece in what most would consider his true voice, the one of the puppet master of Varron. You didn't have to be allied with Stern to be working for him, and as long as you were involved in his business, the vast majority were being used by him.

"Though somehow I find it hard to believe your done with the underground....some people can't let go of fighting, if they could we all would. I hadn't even consider your wanting to leave a possibility....then again, you haven't exactly left yet, so I'm not going to take much value in your words."

Stern seemed to speak of personal experience, though it seemed that he wasn't really the fighting type. Odin knew first hand how well he could, but Stern had shown nothing but restraint in regards to combat and an avoidance of it. The question was whether everything before was a farce, or everything now.

"I think I've heard enough though....I guess I shouldn't be surprised, your obviously the type who looks for challanges...I'll see myself out."

Stern turned toward the door, and reached out to it. As he touched the handle, his hand suddenly jerked back, as if he had been shocked by static. His momentary pause in movement gave away there was more to it though.

"A word of advice....from one devil about another.....we don't tend to make deals without a backup plan. I suggest if you intend to go against that Kurtz fellow, you be prepared....like me, he doesn't solve his problems through brute force. Considering his connections outside the school, I would recommend you end your arrangements tactfully....or you may find you won't be able to leave them at all."

Stern's hand returned to the knob and swung the door open briskly stepping out into the sun once again. His eyes narrowed to shield themselves from the painful rays, probably Stern's first acknowledgment of the uncomfortable weather. He turned to corner quickly, and began to walk toward the door. He left Odin alone with his thought's...perhaps wondering if Stern had told him the real reason he had shown up.

[Odin Reeves]

“Eh.” Odin’s parting word to his fellow student was nothing sort of rude while showing the boredom in his voice. The advice given seemed to drift about the room rather then into his mind as Odin stared blankly at the floor in front of him. His eyes looked to the side just in time to see the door close, or rather see the shadow produced from the door close and heard the sound. Stern’s words seemed to be doubtful of those that Odin spoke, but no one could truly know what was on his mind at any given time. As Stern said, he seemed to be a enigma.

Pushing himself from his kitchen counter he stepped right across the dormitory and stepped into his room. The words of the doctor ever present in his mind, pushing past those of Sterns in importance. Grabbing a fresh pair of cloths he discarded his current one’s in his laundry hamper and moved on to the bathroom. Such was the pleasure of having no roommate.

Throughout his shower he kept trying to think of something, anything he could do in order to pass the weeks by while his body recovered from his excessive amount of training and combat. Continually he came up with a blank before going over ways in which he could still train, only not as severely. Only problem is that in the end he knew he’d push himself until his body collapsed, and so it was discarded.

Finishing his shower he neglected to shave, as he had done since the tournament, combed his hair, and changed into a black tee with knee length running shorts. He re-hung his towel with a proper two-part-fold and made his way back into the kitchen for another glass of ice water. His mind still trying to deduce some way of keeping busy without hindering his healing.

As he sat down with a fresh glass of water he thought back to any event remaining present from the past few weeks. Only one memory was still strong, his trip to the zoo where he happened to meet a lovely young lady. Subtly his mind drifted over from thinking about his time at the zoo to a new reoccurring thought. ‘I wonder what Valencia is up to…’