*Nightwhisper
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"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jan 29, 2017 16:33:02 GMT -5
(Don't worry about it!)
(Me too! It feels nice to be free again. XD) (LOL!) (Then maybe we'll find a way to win them over later on. I'm sure there's something Lumi can make them a little less grouchy towards her.)
The elf listened to her account of things with no sign that he believed or doubted her words. His job was to bring her testimony to the Council, and nothing more. He didn't need to ask any additional questions or dig deeper into the events that had happened. That was the Council's part of the trial. "Very well," he muttered once her testimony was completed. "If you will follow me, I will show you to the Council. I assume you have told her the proper way to act." He directed the last statement to Baltore.
"I was just getting to that," Baltore admitted. Loran and him had both agreed it would be better to wait and explain the workings of the Court the day before the trial. However, since the trial had sprung up unexpectedly, neither of them had gotten the chance to explain to her.
"Of course," the guard muttered with a hint of irritation. Turning back to Lumi, he began to give her the simple instructions. "Don't speak unless you are asked a question, you are to bow when you approach the Queen, and do not make eye contact with any of the Council." She was just a lowly human after all.
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Post by Holly on Jan 29, 2017 19:02:38 GMT -5
Lunch had been the highlight of the school day. Tori was slowly becoming more comfortable with PDA, though it didn't stop the small blush from forming as he decided to tickle her. For once, she was glad her laughs weren't loud just for the sake of not drawing more attention to them. If only there was a place they could go that wasn't as noisy to enjoy lunch. As the last bell of the day rang, Tori moved with the flood of students heading out of the doors. Her eyes scanned the crowd around her in attempts to pick out Alec's copper hair. She wasn't surprised when she couldn't spot it. Chances were he was either by her locker or outside. Taking a detour, the girl headed for her locker. She needed to grab another book anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to check there first for her boyfriend. Maybe by the time she finished, the hallways would have cleared up enough for faster passage. While Alec was waiting, a couple guys he recognized, old buddies of his, started a snowball fight just for fun. What better way to celebrate a pretty snowfall, after all? Alec decided to hop in and join the fun. Laughing, he packed a snowball and threw it at Cory's shoulder. He missed, but was suddenly a part of the shouting, throwing fun. The crowd of students thinned as kids streamed out and headed home. Alec glanced again at the doors to look for Tori--and found Jason instead. Suddenly his blood felt hot. This was the guy who had nearly killed his girlfriend. If Alec had ever known hatred in his life, this was it. The snowball in his hand suddenly had a new target--Jason's face. This time, he didn't miss.
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Post by Holly on Jan 29, 2017 21:34:20 GMT -5
Alec bent to scoop up another handful of snow and shrugged as Jason stalked closer. "Nothing. I missed. Sorry about that, old chap." His tone, though, was anything but apologetic, and his eyes were hard and cold as steel. He packed the snow into a ball while he watched Jason, inwardly seething. "You know how it goes sometimes. How our own amusement ends up as a punch or a snowball in somebody else's face." Try to deny you understand me, you coward.
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Post by Holly on Jan 29, 2017 23:07:05 GMT -5
"You mean the peace and quiet like Tori almost left behind after you almost killed her? That kind of peace and quiet? If it's peace and quiet you want, why is it you harass the only actually quiet person around here? Make up your mind, idiot, because I'm getting mixed signals from you." He was breathing hard, vaguely aware that he should probably be attempting not to let his anger get the best of him, but knowing he wasn't in the mood to try. The longer he looked at Jason, the more his insides burned. "She almost DIED because of you!" He hadn't meant to say it aloud, but it had burst out anyway, so desperately that even the friends he had been horsing around with a moment ago were showing actual concern now.
"Alec, man, just--"
"Don't tell me to 'just,' Kyle!" Alec warned him.
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Post by Holly on Jan 29, 2017 23:40:58 GMT -5
Alec wasn't sure whether he realized that words were never going to get him anywhere with Jason first, or if he threw the snowball first. Still, he threw it into Jason's eyes with a roar and charged after it, full on tackling Jason to the ground like some weird kind of berserker/football player. And then he was punching him. Probably not as hard as he was sure Jason was about to punch him but Alec's recent trips to the gym weren't totally without payoffs. Even the few second of connecting with Jason's chest and face felt worth it. "You almost killed her! YOU ALMOST KILLED HER! She almost died because of you! You b*****d! Put her down to feel like a big man? Do you feel like a big man now?! Huh?! Picking on a scared little girl because she's a little different? YOU NEARLY KILLED HER!" After which outburst, he called Jason a string of unsavory names that probably would have made his mother pass out from the shock and shame.
But the odd satisfied feeling from landing a punch was gone now. Alec didn't feel like Tori's defender, like he was meting out justice, like he was demanding revenge for the loss he'd almost suffered. He didn't feel strong or brace or even stupid, which was probably a more accurate descriptor that the other two. He didn't feel like himself. It felt wrong. He was hitting somebody, he was screaming, he was crying. In front of a rather large crowd.
Well,Jones, you've done it now. But don't go down without a fight. Cry later. He couldn't quite stop the leaking tears, but he did pull his consciousness back to the present. The present where he had just attacked, literally, a very large and very angry high-schooler. Shoot.
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*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jan 30, 2017 0:02:10 GMT -5
The snowball slammed into Jason's eye, causing him to give a small cry of pain. It might have just been snow, but at a point blank range and all of Alec's fury behind it, the impact was pretty big. He didn't have time to recover or brace himself when the other boy barreled into him, pushing him to the ground. The first few punches landed with no resistance. Then, Jason's own anger began to boil. He blocked the next punch before sending his own aimed for the shouting boy's jaw. Alec had the uperhand for a moment, but Jason was larger and went to the gym a lot more than he did. So it wasn't hard for him to flip the boy and switch positions so he was the one spitting insults and raining blows.
Tori walks out of the school in time to hear the last half of Alec's rant. Then the sound of punches filled the air. It was hard to miss the crowd that had gathered around the fighters, so the girl quickly ran over to see what was going on. It took her a lot longer than she wanted to weave through the people. If she could have screamed, she would have, if only to call for some kind of help. However, all she could do was watch in shock at as her best friend showed a side of himself that she had no idea existed.
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Post by Holly on Jan 30, 2017 0:13:51 GMT -5
When there's a will, there's a way. Unfortunately, that sentiment doesn't go very far in an unevenly matched fistfight. Still, Alec managed to evade at least a few hits and work in a couple more of his own. Infuriatingly, nothing he did seemed capable of getting Jason off of him. He didn't like being pinned.
But with the next hit to his face, he knew he had bigger things to worry about. Like a broken face, for example.
Finally, his friends interceded. Probably because the snow by Alec's head was slowly turning red. He wasn't going to want to look in a mirror for awhile. The five boys' combined effort was enough to haul Jason off Alec, but not enough to keep Alec from lunging for him again, like some scrawny idiot with a death wish.
But a few more brace souls had joined the Restraining Team by the time the principal and basketball coach arrived on the scene. I'm in for it now, Alec thought. The whole left side of his face pulsed painfully, and he groaned and leaned on Martin, who had been pulling Alec away. It was only then he caught Tori's eye.
She looks terrified.
What have I done?
(I never do well with fight scenes, but I think this one was okay! Whew! Ha ha.)
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Jan 30, 2017 0:21:26 GMT -5
Missy headed out the door, closing it behind her with one last wave goodbye. Mika gave a sigh once she'd left, still very sorry he'd dragged her out this late, and that Destiny had to deal with so much in one night. "I really didn't think she'd rush out here so fast..." He apologized again. "Still, you should probably get some sleep. Do you have enough blankets and pillows?"
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Post by Iceheart014 on Jan 30, 2017 9:15:43 GMT -5
(So its a rough idea, but i was thinking that some people from Hopes past could pop up. Like people she used to rob stores and hang out with or something. Maybe she owes them money or something.)
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*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jan 30, 2017 16:44:31 GMT -5
"What's going on here?" Principal Matthew all but shouted as he moved through the crowd to the two boys. He looked at Alec and Jason in turn, taking in the scene. Jason had some bruising along his jaw and right eye, but he seemed to be in far better shape than Alec was in. The other boy looked rough.
Jason struggled to free himself from the grasp of Alec's friends, shaking free of them and stepping over to Matthew. "I was minding my own business when this idiot attacked me!" he spat, pointing to Alec. "Anyone can tell you he was to one who hit me first. I acted only in self defense."
Tori stared at Alec, worry and shock written on her face. She had only once seen him angry, and it was the day he had shouted at her mother while she was in the hospital. This was the first time he had ever gotten into an actual fight, let alone starting one. She wanted to go over to him, to make sure he was okay. The sight of his injured face made her stomach knot in concern. However, before she could make her way to him, the principal began to question him.
"Is this true?" Matthew asked as he turned to Alec. He knew the boy rarely made any trouble. Yet he was also aware of the tension between him and Jason these last few months. A fight was bound to happen, but he had thought Alec would have been wise enough to walk away from it.
(It was perfect!)
As soon as Missy left, Destiny looked up at Mika. "It's okay. She seems like a person who doesn't take no for an answer," she muttered. "No, I don't need anything else. This will be enough." She hesitated a second, glancing at the money Missy had given him, before adding, "You don't have to go buy me any clothes tomorrow. I'll be fine once I wash my others. You should use the money on food."
(I like it. It could start working in some of her backstory and kind of give Peter a purpose. He could try and help her stay safe instead of just staying home and waiting for memories to come back, while giving Hope a chance in the spotlight. Let's do it! ^^)
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Post by Holly on Jan 30, 2017 17:29:57 GMT -5
Alec would have been lucky to walk away with only a few bruises. Now he would be stumbling away with a black eye, a cut lip, and a face black and blue from his beating. He probably had a bruise on his chest, too, from Jason's knee. He was starting to feel very, horribly sore.
Still, he glared at Jason. "Funny you can act all innocent. I was just minding my business when you very nearly attacked Tori to death!" He turned to Principal Matthew. "Yeah, I hit him first." No point pretending that snowball wasn't aimed. "He's had it coming for ages now. I'm done sending emails and sitting on my a** and going to the freaking HOSPITAL while he walks around like he thinks he owns this place, and everybody in it!" He wasn't sure who he was yelling at anymore. At Jason. At the principal. At the world. But was he ever angry. Furious. It wasn't fair, it wasn't fair, and he couldn't even defend her, couldn't even make him understand, couldn't find justice anywhere, couldn't keep her happy forever, couldn't stand to lose her if-- if--
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*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jan 30, 2017 17:57:42 GMT -5
Tori couldn't stand it anymore. She jogged over to Alec and gently cupped his face in her hands, making sure no to hurt him anymore than he already was. Forcing him to look at her, she silently pleaded for him to calm down, her hands shaking somewhat. It was all she could to try and soothe his anger. He wasn't thinking straight, wasn't thinking things through. Even though she agreed that Jason should be put into his place, she didn't want Alec hurting himself in the process. Jason was her problem after all, and she didn't want him to be hurt on her account.
Matthew watched them for a moment before responding. "I understand your frustration, Mr. Jones, but picking fights is not the way to handle things," he said. "I will not tolerate fighting of any kind in this school, no matter what the reasoning behind it may be. And I'm afraid that I cannot let you leave here unpunished or your actions. You are suspended for one day. I'll be calling your parents to let them know. As for you, Mr. Barket," he stated, turning his attention to the other boy, "I would like to have a word with you in my office."
"Why me? I didn't even do anything!" Jason defended.
"You've done plenty," Matthew replied in a tone that dared the boy to argue. It pained him to have to punish Alec when he knew the boy was only doing what he thought was right for his friend, yet he felt no such sympathy for Jason. He would see to it that something as done to stop anymore of these events from happening.
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Post by Holly on Jan 30, 2017 18:13:31 GMT -5
Alec's vision and world narrowed to just include Tori. He hadn't been watching her; she'd just appeared all of a sudden, holding onto him and begging him to hear her. To chill.
He winced when she touched him but didn't let the ache show on his face. Well, not the ache from his beating, anyway. But his eyes suddenly felt very wet, and he clenched his jaw. It's finally happened. I am actually going crazy for real. He reached up and wrapped his gloved fingers around her wrists and moved her hands away from his face. He glanced back at Principal Matthew, feeling like he was hearing everything on a delay. "Fine." He'd probably need a day to recuperate anyway.
He didn't let go of Tori until the other kids started moving away, just stood there tolling toward her but not really at her, holding onto her wrists. Trying to catch up with his own thoughts. Then he shifted his weight on his feet and groaned. "I think you're going to have to drive," he told Tori, his voice hoarse and raspy now.
"Are you gonna be okay, man?" Cory asked.
Alec waved him off. He appreciated the concern, but would have appreciated a little backup too. "Yeah. I'm okay." It was a lie and Cory knew it, but he just nodded and let him go.
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Post by Holly on Jan 30, 2017 19:29:11 GMT -5
Alec didn't really think he needed Tori's support, but once they started moving, he decided he did feel a little dizzy. He might as well let her feel helpful, and besides, it wasn't like he could get much more embarrassed anyway.
Yikes, did girls always feel this many emotions at once? No wonder they were so confusing.
He fished the car keys out of his coat pocket and handed them to her once they reached the car. He looked at her for a long moment, feeling like he should say something but having no idea what. So he just let the awkward moment be an awkward moment and climbed into the passenger seat.
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Post by Holly on Jan 30, 2017 20:41:04 GMT -5
For most of the ride, Alec was indeed doing his best not to grimace at the pain. Whatever numbness the adrenaline had offered had worn off fast, and everything felt like it was throbbing. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the headrest until he felt the car stop. "I'm not sorry," he finally said when e heard Tori unbuckle. He looked over at her, then moved to in unbuckle his own seatbelt. He winced and tried again, more slowly. "Maybe I should be. But I'm not."
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Post by Holly on Jan 30, 2017 22:09:41 GMT -5
Alec laughed once, the smile reopening the cut in his lip. "Ow." He pressed his sleeve to the bleeding cut and slid out of the car. As they trudged toward the door, he asked her, "Is this the part where the pretty damsel tends to the hero's wounds? ...Because I think I need a little tending," he groaned. Then wished he hadn't. "I can't get much more pathetic, can I?" he asked, shoulders slumped now. His eyes were dry again, but there were a few suspicious dark marks tracing down his cheeks. He let himself into the house and started on the slow business of pulling off his shoes without falling over. He already could barely see out of his left eye, and his jaw felt like it was the size of a baseball.
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*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jan 30, 2017 22:38:14 GMT -5
If there was ever a time she wished she could speak, now would have been it. Tori wanted to say something, anything to cheer him up. He was anything but pathetic. He was brave and sweet and loyal, and she just wanted to tell him that until he smiled and laughed. So instead, she just hugged him as tightly as she dared, her hands clutching the back of his shirt.
This wasn't enough, she knew it wasn't. A simple hug would never convey how much she loved him, and how proud of him she was. Alec had sounded so heartbroken as well as furious when he was shouting at Jason. It was only a reminder that she was the reason he had gotten o upset. She wanted to apologize for putting him through so much, for making him feel the need to take out her bully for her. If only she could find a way to stand up to Jason herself, then her boyfriend would be spared the beatings. No, a hug would never be enough to explain everything she wanted to say... but it was a starting point.
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Post by Holly on Jan 30, 2017 22:52:02 GMT -5
It was a start. Alec ignored the protests from his muscled and hugged her back just as tightly. I'm sorry I couldn't beat him. I'm sorry you still have to go to school with him. I'm sorry I scared you. Well, that last bit seemed worth saying aloud. But he wasn't ready to let go just yet.
But a few moments later, he finally did, resisting the urge to kiss her cheek because his face was so yucky. "I didn't mean to scare you," he told her, moving to shrug out of his coat. "I'm sorry. Tori? ...Could you get me some ice, please?" The half of his face that was still working normally conveyed an apologetic expression for asking her to fetch him things like a maid, but he could really use the help. "I'm gonna go--wallow," he finished, gesturing toward the couch. He shuffled that direction. If he'd known it would feel this bad to lose a fight, would he still have started it?
Probably. Because he was stupid and stubborn like that.
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*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jan 30, 2017 23:17:26 GMT -5
He had scared her, she'd admit that, but she was more afraid of what could've happened had his friends had not been there to break up the fight. Tori nodded quickly at his request, letting him go. Grabbing an ice pack should've been the first thing she did. She found one waiting in the freezer, and grabbed it and a dish towel to wrap it in. Before she left the kitchen, she fixed him a glass of water and an Advil to help ease some of his pain. Then she brought all of it back to Alec. The girl took a seat beside him on the couch, offering the supplies to him.
For a minute or two, she sat there, waiting to see if he needed anything else. There was probably a lot he needed, both to ease his physical pain and his bruised ego at having lost a fight. Well, technically he hadn't lost the fight. The principal had put an end to it before they could settle it themselves, which she was very thankful for. But did he see it that way? Probably not since he looked so defeated.
Alec? she signed slowly. what happened? I got there when he pinned you down. Why did you start the fight?
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Post by Holly on Jan 30, 2017 23:31:38 GMT -5
Alec had stretched out on his back with his head cushioned on a couple throw pillows. He pushed himself partway up again when Tori appeared with his ice. Ooh, and medicine. Duh. That was a good idea. "Thank you, sweetheart." He took the pill first, washing it down with the water, then lay back and gingerly held the ice against his face. What was he supposed to say to her now? It would be one thing if he had at least been pulled off of Jason--but really, Jason had been pulled off of him. Technicality or not, Alec lost that fight. Especially since the purpose of the fight was to try to drive home a point that Jason was still oblivious to.
He hesitated after Tori's questions, unsure whether she would understand. "I just--" He sighed and shifted the ice pack a bit. "I just really hate what he did to you. So I went rogue. I didn't mean to. He was just there, and I reacted. I never thought it was okay to hate people. I still don't. But I hate him. And I hate that I hate him. But, Tori, he almost took you away from me... I really couldn't have borne that. I still--" He stopped and took a few deep breaths. Shoot, why did it all have to hurt so much? "It still really terrifies me, thinking about it. I don't know." He closed his eyes for a moment, but that was really rude when your conversation partner relied on ASL, so he opened them again. "I wanted to make him understand, or at least make him hurt. Get his attention. But I couldn't even do that. I couldn't do anything but take a hit."
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*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jan 30, 2017 23:44:50 GMT -5
You did so much more than just take a hit, Tori assured him. Tears were threatening to form in her eyes thinking about. Alec, I love you, and I don't deserve someone who's willing to risk taking a beating just to defend me. I'm sorry you were terrified, I'm sorry I put you in such a situation, and I'm sorry you got suspended because of it. You got the point across to Jason that your not going to stand by anymore. Maybe he'll think twice before messing with you again. Leaning down, she very carefully brushed her lips against his, trying not to cause him any pain. Win or lose, you did our ancestors proud, and your damsel couldn't ask for a more perfect knight.
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Post by Holly on Jan 30, 2017 23:49:45 GMT -5
Bedtime for Holly. Will reply tomorrow. Good night!
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