WINTER IS COMING

[JACK SAWADA]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=eeeeee][atrb=width,500,true] [STYLE=width: 100px; height: 100px; border: 10px solid #111111; float: left; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 5px;] [/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 30px; font-size: 18px; font-family: arial; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: -3px;]NO GUTS, NO GLORY—[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; background-color: #212121; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial; width: 450px; padding: 1px;]THAT ISOLATED SHELL OF PROTECTION EXISTS NEVERMORE.[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; color: #606060;]WORDS 742. MUSE ATLAS MARCH. TAGGED VAL. NOTES THREAD STARTER WHAT CHOO THINK DIS IS?![/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; background-color: #f3f3f3; text-align: justify; width: 430px; padding: 5px; border-left: 7px solid #111111; border-top: 7px solid #111111;] AT THE MOMENT HE WAS HUNCHED OVER A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER that would eventually be a cheat sheet. The corner stone of cutting corners when you've failed to study because your dad wanted you to do rock-climbing without equipment. Sometimes he envied kids that didn’t have to fight for their survival…literally. Brushing his knuckles with the back of a hand, he still had bruises from last week’s exercise in combat tactics, and the fundamentals of surpassing limitations. With a piece of bandage attached to his cheek that was given a nice graze from the side of his thumb, he attempted at being inconspicuous. Seemed to be the trend for him at least, but at 10am it was hard to stuff down the chuckles when you thought it was a good time to be clever. Jack failed to see the teacher looming over his shoulder and the paper was promptly crumpled. “MR. SAWADA, seems you have better things to do than listen about America’s western expansion? You would think in a world history class you would want to prepare for a POP QUIZ.” Mr. Hediki had it out for him, Jack always suspected but to be so inherently creepy, that was a first. Hediki was all of 5’6 probably one of the most portly teachers he had ever had. Hediki was probably why he hates midgets so much. The students around him shot daggers, it was on, but even with the daggers he was more upset that his cheat-sheet was lifted. Fingers drummed on his desk, as the pop-quiz was passed out, leaving Jack with no free time to pull out the books necessary to resume his illicit pandering. By the time the test finished the class was over. Heaving a heavy sigh Jack collected his things and milled out with the rest of the class to the next period—Economics. There was a four minute break between classes that only provided enough time to get from one room to the next—but he always managed to get distracted. What would it be this time? Oh yeah…Sawada Senses were tingling. About ten feet away Jack could smell trouble and its name was Hirada Nobu—wasted no time punching a locker next to a girls head. She screamed, but all Jack could really think about is her relation to him. They were obviously familiar because Hirada wasn’t exactly known for going out of his way to harass women. However, Jack didn’t exactly spring into action, he strolled there was no way the girl was getting hit on his watch, so there wasn’t any pressure. “Oi Hirada!” Hand waved back and forth, so eager to grab the blundering Neanderthals attention “Why are ya messin’ with that girl?” when he got closer she was inspected, and deemed attractive enough to save. “Get out of here Sawada before I punch you instead.” Oh those High School comebacks, they were just so delightful how could he not respond? “Well then I suppose you shouldn’t be taking the piss in front of my locker. On with you, but leave the girl, it will be your penance for holding me up.” The moment Jack turned to talk to the girl, before he could even get her name there was a fist flying to the side of his head. Aiming the play the martyr the fist connected, a solid punch if he had to say so himself one that he took proudly. Jack’s head careened off of the locker’s face and his knees went weak just for a second. Hirada wouldn’t let that be the end of his barrage as a punch to the stomach lifted Jack off the ground it seemed like his ribs wrapped around the fist wholeheartedly. Then a few of the boys around him and the girl chuckled, the made mention of a few things like him butting his nose in where it didn’t belong. Once Jack stabled himself, he delivered back on the gift. Hands were brought up around his face; backpack had been dropped because it only weighed down the shoulders. Exhaling out, as he shifted forward standard boxing stance and as he dropped center of gravity Hirada stared puzzled. Peculiar positions perplexed his soon to be vanquished foe, because the first body shot was devastating. Hirada would have been launched down the hall if Jack hadn’t grabbed the collar of his shirt, after the very audible sound of cracking ribs. [/style] [style=font-size: 10px; text-align: center;]TEMPLATE BY SAMARECARM OF OTE + BTN[/style]

[VALERIA DELUCA]

---

She really should be in class, she knew she should be, but...how could she?! The day was practically perfect! Nice bright and sunny with just the right amount of clouds with a nice light breeze that was just calling for her. She could be in her class, learning algebra...something that she's easily passing as it is, or she could be outside in her roller blades, doing trick in the courtyard because she can.

It was easy to figure out which one she rather go with.

So here she rolling around the courtyard at an incredible speed, jumping, twisting, turning, landing without fault or wobble. Skating backwards, forwards, breaking out into pirouette's at the tip of the first wheel. This wasn't odd, at least not for her, she was always skipping classes to do this, she was even scouted numerous of times to join the gymnastics club because of her movements on the blades. But it wasn't that easy for her, being on wheel made it feel like she could take off into the sky at anytime, gymnastics just didn't have that same rush like with her blades so there was no way she could join no matter how much the other girls wished for.

Hearing the bell ring, made her sigh in disappointment, she could just remain outside, but her next class was history and she needed to attend those classes. While she was doing great in everything else, History was holding her back as one of her lowest marks. Besides if she didn't improve, dad was going to give her extra training and she hated extra training. It was something similar to cutting off your arm, survival, but it hurts like hell every inch of the way from the experience to healing from it.

Rolling herself over to the door way she began taking off her blades, and slipping back into her indoor school shoes. She needed to put these away and grab her books before she headed out for class if she wanted to make it in time and not get late.

Of course like that was going to happen.

Hearing a girl shriek made her eyes narrow in response as her instincts that were literally trained into her kick in as she began running down the hallway to the source, turning the corner just to see her baby brother receive a punch to his gut sending him back into the lockers which was starting to get the attention of other students as well. Instead of being worried like a NORMAL sister would she just sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. This kind of shit AGAIN? Why was he always out to try and protect others that didn't need it? Her baby brother was a sucker for a damsel in distress, that was for sure.

Watching him, she observed as he fell into a very familiar stance, “No...” She whispered her eyes widening as he lashed out in kind and her control snapped. Running forward to the scene and once she was within distance, planted her right foot as she twisted on it to deliver a sound round house kick to the side of Jack's head with her left leg “YOU FUCKING MORON!” She shouted in rage, using that move in school?! What was he thinking?! No matter if these were bullies they were still fucking kids not trained mafia assassins! Jack could literally kill one if he was too careless.

Fuck of course big sis is going to show him how its done.

[JACK SAWADA]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=eeeeee][atrb=width,500,true] [STYLE=width: 100px; height: 100px; border: 10px solid #111111; float: left; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 5px;] [/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 30px; font-size: 18px; font-family: arial; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: -3px;]NO GUTS, NO GLORY—[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; background-color: #212121; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial; width: 450px; padding: 1px;]THAT ISOLATED SHELL OF PROTECTION EXISTS NEVERMORE.[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; color: #606060;]WORDS 497. MUSE ATLAS MARCH. TAGGED VAL. NOTES MY BEAUTIFUL FACE!![/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; background-color: #f3f3f3; text-align: justify; width: 430px; padding: 5px; border-left: 7px solid #111111; border-top: 7px solid #111111;] JACK LOVED TO FIGHT, of all the things that he was capable of, even without flames in a situation like this—fighting was his lifeline. It is why he trained; this is what he woke up for. Sure he was being a bit chivalrous; but the girl seemed to be in honest danger. The fact that he disliked Hirada, well that was just a bonus. He knew the damage sustained would be a minor setback for his now encumbered opponent, Dad always said go for the body before you go for the face. Blood trickled down the side of his head; it was from the punch to the temple. The possibilities at this point though were endless and Jack’s engine was revved up. Mouth twisted into a sinister grin and leaning forward just slightly it could have gone a myriad of ways, with a headbutt or maybe a judo throw into the lockers. But instead Jack was the one that had been put into check, out of his blind spot was a kick that made him stagger away from Hirada. Poor boy was dropped to his feet that weren’t ready to support the weight, so Hirada collapsed. Teeth clenched together, rage started to build while whipping around to the disturbance. Blood still boiled in his veins—if it had been anyone else besides Val he would have went on a rampage, but instead he responded only as a sibling could. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!” Over his yelling Hirada could be heard groaning on the floor—students had started to gather. Taking a few steps forward, he pressed his forehead against Val’s looking her straight in the eye, tempted to headbutt for payback. With students there came teachers, one in particular was on the scene faster than you could say: “MR.SAWADA!” the portly bastard waddled his way between the mass of students, one could only imagine how long he had been at it. “This kind of behavior is unacceptable!” Hediki sandwiched himself between the two of them, pushing on Jack’s chest, and Val’s midsection to separate the pair. Though Jack was still very much upset, and very much not letting this go. From the front pocket of his shirt, Hediki pulled a ledger, it was usually used to issue hall passes but in this instance it was disciplinary. By association Hediki would clump Val in with Jack on this one so both of them were going down to the principal’s office. “Let this be a lesson to you.” He ripped off two sheets of paper, handing each one to the respective criminal. Jack seethed, the paper was snatched away then he made a gesture down to Hirada. “You deserved the brunt of it.” Jack shoved his hands in his pocket, then headbutted a bystander for the hell of it—just so happened he found one of Hirada’s lackies. Peeved not only that Hediki intervened, but his own sister stopped him from playing Judge, Jury and Executioner. [/style] [style=font-size: 10px; text-align: center;]TEMPLATE BY SAMARECARM OF OTE + BTN[/style]

[VALERIA DELUCA]

If looks could kill, Jack would've dropped dead. The glare was kept even as he placed his forehead on top of hers, glaring back. She didn't falter at it, she never did, because out of the two of them, she was the one that was a danger. There was a reason that she used a kick and not a punch, hers would've attracted more attention. Even with the explanations she still couldn't control the sudden burst of power caused from her sun flames that was on reflex more then anything, and it was very destructive when a punch from her landed on anything. So she tried to not use her arms at all if she could.

She sneered back, Come on, do it, do it and I'll show you what happens when you headbutt your big sister for being an impulsive little fuck head. She thought venomously. His attitude was getting out of control, all he was doing was picking fights lately, against school-yard bullies, freaking punks on the streets, it was getting WAY out of control.

Even though their father wanted then to grow up in a normal setting, they themselves were anything BUT normal. They could serious hurt or KILL someone and Jack didn't seem to realize that and it was pissing her off. Even as the teacher pushed them apart and handed them slips she kept the sneer across her lips even as she took it. Roughly pushing past the teacher she followed after her brother growling, “What the fuck is wrong with you Jack?!” She spat hot on his heels.

“Why the HELL do you find it acceptable to be a goddamn BULLY!?” She snarled out making no move to touch in just in case her strength was too great if she did. As angry as she was she didn't want hurt him, she never wanted to hurt anyone least of all her brother. “You think DAD wants to hear about this kind of behavior?!”

[JACK SAWADA]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=eeeeee][atrb=width,500,true] [STYLE=width: 100px; height: 100px; border: 10px solid #111111; float: left; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 5px;] [/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 30px; font-size: 18px; font-family: arial; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: -3px;]NO GUTS, NO GLORY—[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; background-color: #212121; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial; width: 450px; padding: 1px;]THAT ISOLATED SHELL OF PROTECTION EXISTS NEVERMORE.[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; color: #606060;]WORDS 432. MUSE ATLAS MARCH. TAGGED VAL. NOTES BLINDFURY[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; background-color: #f3f3f3; text-align: justify; width: 430px; padding: 5px; border-left: 7px solid #111111; border-top: 7px solid #111111;]IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE, yammer everyone thought of him like some two-bit delinquent, that much he couldn’t really deny. But there were people that didn’t have the strength to defend themselves. Jack’s shoulder slumped, his step started to drag he heard Val behind him, there was a lecture on its way. The note was tucked into his back pocket, and his right hand slicked through his blond hair trying to figure out what was next. Everyone went on about his position, him being boss, leading the guardians and ring battles—but he just wanted to be anonymous for a day. Fighting Maybe it was just his way of reaching out, sad to say it’s not like he needed more attention. They all just seemed so weak to him, or at least that’s what he was supposed to believe—civilians. However, weren’t Granddad’s guardians just highschool kids? Why shouldn’t he build up his guardians from the likes of these instead of having them handed down to him? At that thought he lashed out, fist buried into a locker. Frustration started it’s poisonous climb up through his muscles, clouding his judgment. He had to calm Val down, and it had to happen now. Whipping around he collided with her. “Just shut up for one second!” Teeth grit, fists clenched so tight he felt his nails digging into the palm. “She needed help, YOU weren’t there! I didn’t use flames, I took him on with my strength, I took a stance I’m tired of seeing shit like this happen on my watch. You want me to be the boss right? Everyone wants me to be the boss, to take control! But we were raised normal, this is who we are, highschool children. Granted, Dad doesn’t exactly make it easy…but I am going to lead as a normal person. I AM normal, just an average boy in an above average situation. And Hirada wasn’t going to sit by idly while I tried to work that out diplomatically. HE made the first move.” Flailing his arms around wildly while he gave his personal disposition, then Jack turned away from her. “Why can’t I pick my guardians? Granddad did it..they were his friends.” Shoving his hands back into his pocket, he trudged. Pushing the door to the principal’s office open head hung, still attempting to cool off. Jack put one hand on the counter, leaning forward and making lovey eyes at the student receptionist, trying to get his mind off it “Well hellooo!” Without his sunglasses he felt naked, but he still managed to make her smile. [/style] [style=font-size: 10px; text-align: center;]TEMPLATE BY SAMARECARM OF OTE + BTN[/style]

[VALERIA DELUCA]

Val just couldn't help but ball her hands into tight fists. Her nails were digging into her palm but at this point she didn't care, “We were raised normal, does not mean we are.” She hissed back, they weren't NORMAL, no matter how much Jack wanted them to be. Being raised normal and actually BEING normal were two different things. Their father didn't make it easy sure, but that was to emphasis it, they were meant to do something greater then what they were currently DOING.

However what hurt her the most was his parting words. Bitterly spoken, and it was clear, he, her own BROTHER, didn't want his older sister to be his guardian. He wanted to pick his own guardians, and it was obvious from his tone, he didn't want her to be his guardian at all.

All she could do was stare at his back in disbelief, disbelief and hurt. She was trained for a good portion of her life, that she was meant to be Jack's Guardian, his Sun guardian. That was what she was raised with, that's what her training was all about, her not using her arms because of the destructive strength behind them, but instead using her legs. He was basically saying all the training she did, ENDURED just for him...was pointless.

And that's what stung the most.

Her head lowered so that her bangs shadowed her eyes before she lashed out, her fist moving up, curling back, before slamming into the wall. There was a loud impact noise as her knuckles connected, what should have resulted in her having a bruised knuckle if not a broken hand, instead a large dent with cracks filled the area, even spreading to the glass window planes along the a shatter.

She couldn't control this strength, she couldn't hug her father, or even pick up a glass since it just randomly kicked in. Is this why he didn't want her as his Guardian? Because...because she couldn't even control something as simple as her immense strength?

Her arm fell limply to her side before she turned around and started heading for the door. Screw staying at school, she was going to the skate park, or even better the rooftops. Her eyes stung but it didn't matter to her, not anymore, she needed to leave. Now.