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Post by alexander on Mar 22, 2012 22:39:04 GMT -5
A lazy afternoon, quiet, sunny. And utterly boring. For once, a day free to do whatever he pleased instead of trying to remember as much about the biology of plants as possible. And good god, who the hell gave a flying fuck about plants? They literally were good for nothing but eating, and even then, most of them tasted like puke. Lex couldn't stand it, he despised every moment he had to painfully drag up some dim memory of xylems and bundle sheath cells and the Calvin Cycle. Photoplast I, Photoplast II, electrons... his mind ached with it all. He wished that he could just spend his entire time doing something he liked. Practicing his element, as exhausting as that was.
Or playing the guitar. Lex was proud of his newest riffs. He was seriously starting to rip it up lately, and he had often contemplated putting up some sort of advertisement for band members. A bass player, a drummer, a second guitarist, and... a vocalist. Lex would never lift his voice, even if others complimented him on it. Well, those who could appreciate the quick brutality of the metal that Lex leaned towards. But even when he sang more softer melodies, he tended to get compliments. From his mother. And what did Mom ever count towards anything? She thought he was some kind of angel, even when he came home with a sheepish grin and the police constable frowning behind him. Besides that, she had proven her judgment seriously flawed when she married Michael again (Lex refused to call him anything resembling father. It, to his delight, annoyed the hell out of Michael).
And lord if he was ever going to let his father, of all people, hear him sing, or even play the guitar. Or see him pull off his moves with his element. His stomach twisted with anger just thinking about the man. He wasn't welcome back in Lex's life, in Lex's heart. He forfeited that, and this grudge was stuck in Lex's heart for about fifteen years already. He wasn't about to let it go any time soon. That was how much he held on to his hate, that he would estrange his mother and never speak to his father. Unhealthy, people told him. But when had Lex ever done anything healthy? He smoked, he fought, he generally made people hate him. And he didn't even care, truly, about what others said about him, what went through their heads when they looked at him, lean muscle and steely eyes with a bad attitude. If they were indifferent, fine. If they thought he was scum, or intimidating, even better. He'd show them all something to piss themselves over in the end, with just one giant middle finger to the world.
And so his thoughts swirled in his head, filled with anger and annoyance. It always festered inside him, and it was natural that Lex should finally release it all periodically. It was unhealthy to bottle such things up, wasn't it? Not that he needed an excuse to start hitting things. Even if it was healthier to ignore his anger, he'd embrace it all the same. And so it always had been with Lex, when he sat on the shore of the lake and looked out across the waters. He wrinkled his nose slightly, eying the still surface as if it might possible jump out and try to attack him. He wouldn't have been overly surprised. Anything involving water was detestable. When Lex was younger, he'd almost drowned in a similar lake. A long story, one that he always blamed on (who else) his father. But nonetheless, he'd been adverse to it ever sense. He found kindred spirits in his fellow elementals, who hated water just on principle, even if they'd never had a near death experience involving it like Lex had.
Pocket, then. Cigarette in the mouth. Flip the lighter. Inhale. Exhale. He glanced around himself. People were in the distance, but no one close enough to possibly flip him shit for having a smoke. If it were a student who decided to get whiny with some faculty member, he could always harass the hell out of them as revenge. And if it was a faculty member... well, he supposed he'd just have to put out the cigarette and give them the glare of death. He hated authority. Couldn't stand having to bend his will to some asinine rules created by a dumbass group of people completely removed from the problems and experiences of their students. Honestly, he was one of those types who'd probably revel in anarchy, Mad Max style. Riding a motorcycle through the desert, just a shotgun and a hot babe... yeah, that'd be the life. Lex would be totally down with that sort of lifestyle, the life and die by the gun sort. Hell, he'd never even used a gun before, but he'd learn just to be a badass. One day.
For now, he didn't have the money to afford any high caliber weaponry, nor to go around trying to figure out how to show the thing straight and without accidentally blowing his own skull out. That's what this place was for, wasn't it? All this beautiful scenery, all these idiot people with their self-centered problems. He exhaled smoke, and his cigarette spluttered with little flames that wouldn't be normal for anyone who didn't have an affinity for fire. Lex chuckled then, to himself. He might grumble all he liked about people being more concerned with their little social groups, but sometimes, in a good mood, he could acknowledge that he wasn't much different, really. He fell into groups as well, and protected those he considered his friends. He talked shit about people he didn't like. The only difference was that no one was going to call Lex on it. Not unless they enjoyed eating a fist.
Maybe, he thought, maybe he would start some trouble, just for the hell of it. The afternoon was too slow. He was sitting by the lake, thinking for God's sake. When did Lex ever spend a moment reflecting on shit like this? He was a man of action. He ought to go out to town, and start pushing someone around until they decided to give him a good brawl. And then he'd put them down, go home, have himself a victory smoke, and sleep all the happier. He was nodding to himself now, starting to stand up and stretch his full six foot one inch. A plan was a plan. Time to find trouble.
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Post by DEVIN JAMES THATCHER on Mar 24, 2012 10:19:02 GMT -5
 Devin narrowed his eyes against the sun, a sharp focus on the boy standing a fair distance away from him. He held a circular disc in his hand, wrist twitching with anticipation. The other male clapped his hands together once and put one hand up into the air in wait for the Frisbee, a smile on his face. "Come on DJ! Toss the damn thing!" Smirking, Devin flicked his wrist and in one fluid motion the disc left his hand and soared across the grounds towards his companion. The boy caught it with ease and flipped it in his hands a few times before nodding to Devin. "Nice catch! We should definitely host some sort of Frisbee tournament at some point. That would be hella fun." The other boy nodded and laughed. "I agree. That would be epic." He tossed it back to Devin, who had to make a few running steps back to catch it. The day was incredibly warm--almost uncomfortable--but he was managing okay. His shirt was tucked into his back pocket, leaving his slightly tanned skin to absorb the sun's rays. A few girls sat up on a small hill nearby, watching the boys play their little game and giggling and chatting. Devin normally would have gone over to talk to them, but his eyes had only been for one girl. He and his friend tossed the Frisbee back and forth several times before the blonde placed his hands on his hips and shook his head.
"Alright man, I'm done for now. Gonna go and chill by the lake for a little bit." His fellow Earth tucked the disc under his arm and nodded, approaching Devin to clap a hand on his shoulder. "You mind if I join?" Of course Devin was not the type of person to send anyone away, especially in a public place such as the lake, so he shrugged and smiled before making his way towards the water. They talked for a little bit, laughing and joking around like typical males do. Devin was hoping to spend some time with Josh at some point during the day, but figured he would call him in a little bit in case the man decided to study at the library or was at home with Nell. He never really knew what Josh did during his day when he wasn't volunteering or working, so could only make assumptions. "Hey, DJ, go long!" His friend shouted, waiting for Devin to make a run for the Frisbee. He smirked and took off at a sprint, head turned to focus on the bright blue disc that elegantly floated towards him on the summer breeze. "I got it, I got it!" Just as Devin jumped up to grip at the floppy plastic, he accidentally bumped into someone and fell backwards. He now sat on the grass, looking up at the obstacle with a bewildered expression on his face.
Had Devin been more aware of the element this guy came from, he might have simply gotten up and walked off towards the lake without much of another word, but he was not privy to such information and instead of taking off he merely tilted his head a and offered a sheepish smile. "Sorry man, didn't mean to practically headbutt you. Should have watched where I was going before trying to catch the Frisbee." The boy he was with seemed to recognize who Devin was talking to, and managed to skirt around the pair before walking towards the lake to wait for his friend. Devin took notice of this but did not call out to him; maybe he was gonna go and dunk his face in the cool water and relax. He was not the type of person to question everyone's motives. After sitting there for a second or two, the Earth student pulled himself to his feet and brushed off his shorts.
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Post by alexander on Mar 25, 2012 0:10:28 GMT -5
So there he was, minding his own business. For the moment. It was a nice day, sun was shining, a breeze was flowing. Of course, Lex was planning to go start something. Funny how life worked, in that it dropped an opportunity right in his lap. Or, rather, it slammed itself into his body with enough force to nearly cause Lex to face plant. He managed to catch himself with his arms just in time, or he'd have been eating dirt. Staggered and shocked, he slowly climbed back to his feet, little pieces of grit clinging to his elbows and the knees of his pants. He glowered at the stain like it was some kind of insect he'd enjoy squashing. And then, slowly, he turned his head to face the object in motion that had decided to put itself on an impact course with a very, very ornery ball of barely contained rage.
The look he gave the offender was perhaps even more deadly that that directed at his pants. His thin lips tightened into a hard line as the boy spoke, like some sort of gabbling idiot, obviously a thick-skulled water or earth who couldn't tell his head from his ass. The moron seemed to think that he could excuse his idiocy with a simple laugh and a toothy grin. But that was not quite how things worked in this world. Especially when Lex was hoping for someone to start something. And oh, this provided quite the most convenient opportunity. He didn't even have to leave campus, and he was spared the trouble of looking for someone with an pretty enough face to be worth breaking in ten places. Lex looked at his chosen opponent, and spotted some girls in the distance, perhaps observing him in his little game. Bonus. He would bring this guy crashing down, and all of his little girlfriends would get to watch him burn.
Levelly he gazed, and finally twisted into a smile that held only the cruelest of mirth behind it. Fire twisted from his fingertips and danced up his arms, swirling gently around his tattoos. He exhaled smoke, though his cigarette had fallen out of his mouth when he was pushed off, and now lay spluttering its last on the ground next to his shoe. He stepped on it and crushed beneath his heel, his eyes on his target's face the whole time. "And just who the fuck do you think you are, huh?" he asked, his voice low and threatening. He took one step forward, fire curling in his palms, as he teased his powers. A few years ago, this sort of display would have been agonizingly difficult. Now Lex could do it with a thought. He was proud of how far he'd come, and wasn't afraid to use such displays to intimidate an opponent. However, looking at this weakling, he doubted he would have to resort to his true abilities. He could flatten this kid with his knuckles alone, he was quite confident of this. No one ever said that Lex lacked in his ego.
Two more steps forward, his body was tightening like a spring. His muscles were bunched up, ready for action. His pupils constricted with anger mixed with a bit of glee. This would be a blood bath. "I don't need your faggoty ass invading my space." He advanced more now, suddenly he was coming right up into the boy's face, his eyes wild, his teeth bared like an animal. He pushed. A quick shove that spoke more volumes than any of Lex's aggressive words. This wasn't just him blowing off verbal steam, like most of his kind would. Lex was not just an angry asshole. He was one who wasn't frightened of spending a little time in the clincker, who would make someone's life a living hell for looking at him twice. He made good on his threats, and today, Devin had made a very grave mistake in coming within twenty feet of Lex's proximity. If he had been in any other mood, he might have just snarled and blew wind until he got bored with the whimpered apologies and walked off. However, it was someone's unlucky day, instead.
"What do you have to say for yourself, assfucker? Got too much shit in your eyes? Maybe I should fucking clean them for you." He flexed his hands again, with more dancing flames. Lex was definitely a grandstander. The boy had swagger, and he knew that not many on campus could challenge him and give him a fair fight. Like any bully, he was quite fine with taken on weaker targets. However, he did not mind an equal challenge. Lex was never one to back down - much to his own chagrin when he was on some occasions beaten down and barely able to stagger away. But ah, live and learn. Or, rather, live and never learn. It seemed to be Lex's motto, at any rate. The only thing failure made him consider was how he might better destroy his opponent next time, rather than consider it might be best to stay out of the way of people with greater strength than himself. Intelligence had never been his strong suit.
Not when he could shove his fist into some cocky person's throat and make them choke on it. He looked Devin in the eyes, never glancing away or blinking. Classic alpha dog attitude. The first to blink, to look away, was the loser of more than a staring contest, but that of the question of dominance. Time to teach this pup who was the bitch of the group. Maybe if he whimpered Lex would let him go with only a black eye and some bruises. Maybe. This was going to be so much fun.
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Post by DEVIN JAMES THATCHER on Mar 25, 2012 16:15:01 GMT -5
Oh fuck. Was the only thought that ran through Devin's mind. It rolled itself over and over again as the taller student glared at him, the cigarette just a minor bump in his focus on the Earth elemental. He swallowed hard, unable to fully function or come up with an effective reply right off the bat. He did not deal well with confrontation and obviously this guy thought that this intrusion was intentional. "Someone who accidentally bumped into you while trying to catch a Frisbee," Devin tried to keep his voice level and calm, but on the inside he was sobbing and crying out like a little girl. He wanted to run, to turn and leave this kid to his fiery anger, but knew it wouldn't work. Devin was fast, but not that fast. His muscles tensed, preparing for the worst as he took a few more steps towards him, the flames encompassing his arms. Shit...I should have known... The level of control scared the blonde. What was he going to do now? His eyes flicked over towards his friend, who tried to act as though the scene did not exist. Like shutting your eyes during the scary bit of a movie. Devin could have sworn he felt his heart stop as he advanced on him again, this time actually taking a small step back. The man's eyes were dark and full of sheer anger; if it were possible, little flames danced within his pupils as blue eyes met their gaze.
"Y-you're actually invading mine, being as you stepped up to me." It was hard to keep the hitch in his voice hidden, watching the man snarl and tense up like a viper ready to strike its prey. Devin was indeed a mouse, for he would rather turn tail than fight a battle he had already lost. There was no chance. However, being around Josh had helped him find some semblance of confidence, even if it was very faint and layered with fear. Next thing he knew, Devin found himself back on the grass, his shoulders aching from the force of the shove. What was it about these Fire elementals that made them want to pick fights with people who were not even worth messing with? They could easily find someone who actually put up a fight, but Devin supposed that would make things too difficult. Preying on the weak made them feel strong. Devin knew he was weak, well...weaker in element. He was physically strong and could fight, but refused. He wouldn't throw a punch. More often than not, the assailant grew bored with their punching bag not responding and left well enough alone. He could only hope Alexander would respond the same way. They stared at one another, Devin not flinching away. He knew how these people worked, what they liked. Fighter or not Devin refused to give this guy any satisfaction. However, if he could run away screaming at the top of his lungs, crying for someone to come and protect him...he would.
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Post by alexander on Mar 25, 2012 21:17:38 GMT -5
This one had a bit of spine on him. That was quite annoying. But all the same, it made it all the more satisfying to punish someone who thought they were the shit. Lex didn't appreciate anyone else strutting about and pretending they were top dog when clearly he was the only one who had the right to that sort of title. Maybe it was some sort of stupid kid bullshit that he felt he had to prove his dominance all the time. But Lex, frankly, never felt so much life as when he was in a fight. There was something pure and energizing about striking flesh, the pure pleasure derived from pain he would only feel later, when his adrenaline high was gone. Perhaps that was the truth of it; Lex was a danger junky, through and through, and even if he didn't need to demonstrate his superiority all the time, he could never resist a good showdown.
If Lex had been an actual dog, he might have smelled Devin's fear. The younger boy was hiding it pretty well, no doubt, but Lex could see immediately that he'd never been in a fight before. He fell over easily from a simple shove, as if Lex had thrown all his weight into it. He had not moved out of the way, not thrown a counterpunch (which Lex would have thrust up his forearms to catch and following up with his own faint-two-three punch). He lay on the ground like some sort of fish out of water, staring up at Lex with a sullenness, a sort of defiance that was pacifist all at once. It caused Lex to frown deeply, his eyes narrowing. It was irksome, really, to have someone who refused to fight back, but also didn't go the opposite way and beg for mercy. Not to mention somewhat bemusing. And Lex hated anything that did not conform to his expectations, as a general rule.
Fine. He would make the bastard scream for mercy. He couldn't abide any sort of dissent, even the kind that didn't involve violence. He slammed his shoe down on the chest of the Earth boy, peering down and blowing smoke out of his mouth. He noted that the poor sod's companion had taken his leave. Quite typical, really. People were the most despicable creatures that would abandon their friends in their hour of need. Lex had learned that from a very young age. It was why he had grown up to have absolutely zero expectations as far as friends went, even tried to drive some of them away. Everybody wanted something, and true caring was hard to find. They were posers and bastards. The only person Lex had ever known to actually give a shit about him was his own mother, and she was... a special case. Someone who was so innocent that she needed protecting from herself.
With great force he pounced quite suddenly, grabbing the other boy's shoulders, rolling him onto his stomach. He placed one knee in the center of the Earther's back, grabbing a handful of hair in his fist. Lex held the other boy prone and in an indignant position, his neck muscles taunt as he lowered himself down to give orders in a cold and vicious voice in the ear of his victim. "All I hear coming from your mouth is bullshit, you smart ass little prick. And I don't fucking appreciate that sort of behavior, do you understand me?" His grip tightened and he grasped tightly to jerk Devin's head around in affirmation, no matter what the boy might say or think otherwise. "Now, I'm sure you want to come out of those without your dick broken off and shoved into your own mouth... so I'll let you off easy, because I'm a real nice guy, see? But, since you love the dirt so much, my little friend, I'm sure you won't mind eating it like the fucking worm you are."
With his free hand, he scooped up some grass and mud, holding it in front of the poor fellow's face, a nasty smile on his face. It was just too ironic. Lex really had to compliment himself this time, admiring his handiwork. "If you want to fucking leave, you'll do it!" he warned more sharply, jerking the teenagers hair once more. Lex probably would do as he said he would. He wasn't an unreasonable person. Probably.
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Post by DEVIN JAMES THATCHER on Mar 25, 2012 22:37:18 GMT -5
Devin watched as Alexander seemed to assess him from where he stood, probably wondering what to do now. Beat the shit out of me? Was the first thing he thought of, swallowing hard but keeping his gaze firm. No narrowing of the eyes, no twitch of contempt, no hard stare down. He was simply...looking at him. His insides were in a giant knot of fear, but Alexander couldn't see that. Or could he? Just as Devin made an effort to get up, the large fire elemental jammed his foot down on his chest to hold him in place. It hurt like hell, and a look of pain crossed his features. Was this all the Fires wanted to do? Beat the shit out of innocent students who had no intention of harming the other? It was mindless, cruel, and unnecessary. That was why Devin never threw a punch back, or retaliated in a fight. There was enough fighting as it was. If it was not him, it would be some other poor soul wandering on the grounds that did not anticipate someone like Alexander pummeling them into the ground. Some people truly had the worst superiority complexes. A drive to make sure people thought they were the shit. Devin had been bullied enough in school to understand it, and expect it.
Once again, Alexander took Devin by surprise and roughly flipped him over onto his stomach, causing the blonde to huff out a gasp of air and a muffled groan of pain from the impact to the ground. Damn, this guy was strong. He let out a cry of both surprise and pain as his hair was yanked into a clump on the back of his head, Alexander's breath hot and smelling of cigarette smoke as it passed over his face. "Hear ya loud and clear," Devin replied through gritted teeth, now starting to quake like a leaf. No satisfaction. No satisfaction. The words were repeated over and over again to try and keep his focus on the prize. It was becoming more difficult as his back ached and his head throbbed from the tight pull, the man clearly not eager to let up easily. Alexander forcefully turned the blonde to face him, the fear in his eyes a little more evident now though he tried to hide it. It was hard not to hear the words spewing out of his mouth at this point, being as he had nothing else to look at or distract him from his assailant. At first, the assumption that he would begin with punches then do the more degrading acts of malice afterward seemed likely, but clearly there was room for error. Devin's pupils dilated in shock as Alexander scooped up the dirt and mud, holding it in his face. The guy wanted to watch him lean forward and take a bite, chewing and swallowing just for the hope that he was not going to get his ass kicked afterwards. Did this guy honestly think Devin was so stupid? He had been the punching bag for too many years. "We both know you won't let me leave," Devin said, struggling to speak. The pressure on his back and the position of his neck severely inhibited him. "You know, I've never been a fan of mud pies." Ever the one to toss in humor at the wrong time, Devin knew what the consequences would probably be. Was he scared? Shitless. Was he used to it? It came with the territory of being an Earth who did not raise his hand against anyone. It was to be expected.
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Post by alexander on Mar 26, 2012 1:09:17 GMT -5
How could one be so passive and yet so defiant all at once? It was definitely grating against Lex's nerves. He tightened his lips further when Devin refused to do as Lex commanded. It was true, that Lex might not keep his word. He didn't usually lie about such things, but sometimes deceit was necessary. Sometimes, in order to get what one wanted, there had to be a little bit of a fib here or there. Manipulation, true, and Lex despised it when it was done to himself. More often than not, however, he just spouted off whatever he was thinking at the time. It was the reason he got into so much trouble. Lex couldn't resist telling a teacher just what he thought about them and their retarded piece of homework that was obviously written last minute with numerous spelling mistakes. Hypocritical indeed that he could dabble in lies yet could not forgive those who did as well, however.
Feeling like an idiot holding the clump of dirt, he smashed it right into Devin's face anyways, smearing the mud all over him with as much vigorous brutality as he could muster. Considering that Lex was lean but still muscled, it was a fairly decent thrust. And then he turned Devin onto his back, pressed his knee into the boy's stomach, in order to shove all of the air out of the victim's lungs. He grabbed the boy by the throat now, staring him right in the eyes, close enough to spit venom if Lex had been so gifted. His gaze was angry. He had been defied, more than once. This little shit was obviously going to have to have twice the beating. Perhaps, then, next time they crossed paths, he'd learn to bend the knee and submit to Lex's will. And besides, he was going to be the example Lex was going to set.
"You're going to bleed, you little shit," he promised. And then he pulled his arm back, and shoved it forward, snake quick. He aimed his knuckles for the face, first the left cheek, then the right. A little lower now, right on the jawline. Not right into the teeth, so that he lost any. Bruises and cuts were usually less trouble that broken bones if somebody decided to squeal. Which wasn't too often; there was bad blood between the alliances, but it was hard to control children with this much power in their hands. How could one, especially when likely all of the staff had been embroiled in these conflicts in their own academy days? Besides, Lex rarely used his powers in a fight, mostly just his fists. He had heard the rumors as well as anyone what happened when people abused their ability too much, especially in public. Around the normals, Lex was doubly careful to not let anyone see him with fire. But here, on school grounds, a couple burns probably wouldn't get him in serious trouble.
Lex feared few things. One of them was being stripped of the fire within. It was the one thing that seemed to define him more than whatever else he was. Without it, he assumed he'd be a husk, and would wither away and die quickly.
This was why he did not try to burn Devin. Instead, he let his knuckles do all the work. He moved down the face, and gave a few hits to the torso, one-two-three. He worked with precision, especially since this guy was obviously not really putting in the effort to defend himself. That only seemed to infuriate Lex even more. He wanted to make him scream and beg, or else to fight back. He didn't like this whole quiet defiance. It wasn't right at all, it wasn't supposed to be this way. Lex found himself mindlessly hitting now, not even really paying attention to where his punches landed. He just supposed that he would stop when the boy looked like he could barely twitch without hurting. Lex had only once hit a boy into unconsciousness, when he was twelve. He'd been expelled from his school, and had to attend a new one. That was how he first started building a reputation as a true troublemaker, not just some kid with a loud mouth and a cocksure attitude.
And look at him now, just about the same as he was almost ten years ago. Slamming some kid just for not watching where he was going, for not adopting the right stance when Lex challenged him. A very light mistake, something that any normal person would forgive. There'd have to be a whole lot of therapy before Lex even came close to normal.
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Mar 26, 2012 12:42:04 GMT -5
Joshua stayed with a small group of his friends as they lazed in the summer sun, the Fire graduate working on a lab report he had due for chemistry. The sun soaked through his skin and gave him a feeling of contentment and so he worked slowly as he tuned in to the idle chatter around him. He was not the only one working, the group having decided to take their homework outside for the day, but he refrained from joining the discussion so as not to lose his concentration. Normally he finished the lab reports in the class but he'd left a few of the non-critical things for later, things which he was now filling out. Once he was finished he yawned, stretched, shook his head to clear it. The sun made him feel cat-like sometimes, like he could fall asleep under its warm glow and be perfectly happy in snoozing the day away. That was not how Josh worked, though, and so he slid the papers back into his back and stood. A few of the group glanced at him curiously, asking without words what he was up to. "I think I'm going to hit the library," he said, and as this was Josh that needed no more explanation. It was a nice day and all but he had studying he wanted to get to and he could always enjoy the bright sunlight from the tall library windows.
As it turned out, he wouldn't make it to the library before something disrupted him. In fact, he didn't make it past the front doors. A critical gray stare fixed itself on the scene unfolding, recognising the Fire graduate and then, with a mixed feeling of concern and absolute rage, the victim he was currently wailing on. Devin. It did not take a whole lot to set him off, but the pure anger that consumed him then could only be reached by a few means. One of them? Hurting his friends. You did not touch Joshua Dale's friends and think you were going to get out of it unscathed. He may not always have won his fights but he put up a hell of a challenge for whoever was involved. If he ended up in the medical wing the least he could do was drag the other party with him. He allowed his bag to slip from his shoulder, not even caring that a rather expensive laptop was nestled within it, knowing that it would only hinder him. Much as he wanted to he did not run or jog toward the scene, wanting to conserve his energy as much as possible so that he could thrash the living shit out of Lex. That was his prime desire right now. He wanted to kill him, really, but murder was illegal and Josh didn't break laws that serious. He didn't think he could deal with being a murderer, anyway.
Unlike his best ex-friend, Joshua had very little issue with unloading his powers onto someone in the event of a fight. They were one of the strongest assets he had and Josh did not always believe in a fair fight. There was nothing fair about what Lex had done to Devin, so why should Josh be the honourable one? Besides, in his powers he had the slightest of edges over Lex. If they were to meet on a street corner in front of mortals, a fight with only fists, Josh supposed it could go either way. It had in the past. He'd lost before. Here, on the grounds of the Academy where people ran in fear of a furious Fire elemental, here he was practically king. A junior in college, one step away from the top, only the seniors and professors above him. Lex was neither, one year lower, and for this fight Josh planned to use that to his advantage. He would not dare risk using his power when Lex and Devin were so close, however. He'd been training himself to control what his element did and did not burn but it would be too draining to contain the fire so that it did not hurt Devin and it burned Lex. No, he'd make sure they were separated, first.
When Lex was still beating on his best friend, Joshua came up from the side and kneed him as hard as he could, not using his fists considering his height and the fact that Lex and Devin were still on the ground. With that as distraction, he shoved the other graduate away from his best friend and called upon his power. With a sweep of his hand the flames ripped along the ground, using the grass as catalyst, something to burn. He aimed it at Lex but also branched it off so that it shielded he and his best friend for a moment. If Lex did not remove the barrier he would need to lunge through it, hurting himself in the process. Josh was counting on either of those things to create a delay long enough for him to help Devin out. He offered a hand to pull Devin to his feet, wincing internally at how beaten up his best friend really seemed to be. "You look like shit," he said with a strained half-smile. "Try to stay out of the way, man. I don't want you to get hurt." Josh was not one to try for subtlety with his powers. He liked huge explosions of fire, rippling waves of heat, blasts that consumed everything within reach. If his friend were to get in the way of the two Fires facing off, he didn't want to think about the results. Turning back to Lex, Joshua narrowed his eyes. "Hey, asshole, looking for a fight? If you were that desperate you should have given me a call!" His tone was caught between a snarl and a sneer, mocking and yet displaying the pure anger that coursed through his veins.
[Hope this isn't too powerplayish - I can change if it there's anything amiss~]
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Post by DEVIN JAMES THATCHER on Mar 26, 2012 13:19:56 GMT -5
Against his rather strong will, the fire graduate shoved the dirt into his face roughly; he felt his nose aching from the pressure, the dirt preventing proper breathing. Every time he inhaled the dirt built up a layer on his tongue and throat, Devin coughing and spluttering to try and get at least one good intake of oxygen in. A faint whimper gurgled in his throat, but he did not fight nor retaliate. He never did. No matter how badly he felt Alexander deserved a good punch in the face, Devin was not going to be the one to do it. Landing a hit would mean stooping down to his level, and he had no interest in using his fists to solve every problem he encountered in life. This strongly reminded him of Lauren, of how she preyed on his weakness to try and gain the upper hand. Belittled his worth, tried to drag him down and make him feel like he was nothing. After a time of dealing with a woman such as Lauren, you learn how to build up an immunity to the harsh words and push through it, knowing that responding would only give them satisfaction. Obviously Alexander was not pleased by his response--or lack there-of--and took it upon himself to lay on the physical blows.
Devin found himself on his back, body curling upwards from the impact to his stomach. Tears burned at his eyes as he tried to breathe, the pain almost paralyzing. His eyes were wide and full of fear as the man approached his face, threatening him with words that he knew would wind up becoming reality. A bully like this hardly ever went back on their word. First a hit to the left cheek, then to the right, each blow causing Devin to launch his head to the side and squeeze his eyes shut to try and keep from crying out. He grunted, groaned, even let out a few more faint whimpers, but did not outright beg for mercy or toss in the towel. Not yet. Admitting defeat or stopping to plead for cease fire would only encourage the onslaught of fists, the ones meeting his face painful enough as it was. Stars flashed before his eyes, chest heaving as he continued to try and breathe. Devin wanted to cry out, to say something, but he didn't. All Alexander could probably hear was the crack of knuckle to skin and bone and the grunts emitted in between. The pain was debilitating. Then, as though by some random miracle, the weight had been lifted off of his chest and he could breathe again. Eyes fluttered open to try and find who it was that removed his assailant, knowing that Alexander would not have relented so quickly without uttering some sort of smart ass comment or telling him how low on the food chain he was. In his struggle to find focus, a blast of heat hit Devin in the face, startling him. Fire. Lots of fire.
Vision blurred from pain and tears, he could just make out the man now standing over him amid the flames that lingered nearby. Devin reached out and took his hand, trying to find his footing. "Yeah, well, I feel like shit," Devin sputtered, spitting blood onto the grass below. He could feel his face swelling up already, skin throbbing and screaming out from the wave of blows dealt to his face and chest. With a very weak nod, the Earth student stepped back away from the two Fire graduates, trying to recollect himself. "All I did was try to catch a Frisbee," He stated weakly, letting Joshua know that Devin had done nothing to warrant such an aggressive beating. No one liked to ask for help in a fight, to show that they were incapable of handling themselves, but Devin was not the sort to care. He was not a fighter, never had been, and never planned to be. There was no shame in it. No shame at all. Had he been in a better state, Devin would have been more fearful of the flames that danced along the grass, and fearful of what his best friend was capable of.
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Post by alexander on Mar 28, 2012 23:33:22 GMT -5
It wasn't until later in his life that Lex ever became acquainted with Murphey's Law. That is to say, that anything that could go wrong, would go wrong. He had been familiar with the idea of it, however; plans were always quick to fall apart, and Lex had taken that as evidence that it was better to take life without any idea what the hell was going to happen next. It seemed to work for him for the most part. While he had the occasional consequence of ending up in detention or jail for a few days, he'd never really been in serious trouble before. However, even the most spur-of-the-moment decisions, the quickest of improvisations, could end in a very unfortunate situation, he was finding.
Or, that was what he started thinking when a dull thud occurred in his ribs, causing him to flinch to one side reflexively. He was shoved then, and fell into a roll by combat instinct, coming back to his feet quickly, turning to face this unexpected attacker. Damn, he'd been so focused on beating the shit out of the dumbass that he hadn't kept himself aware of his surroundings. Lex knew there were problems with letting his anger control him. He didn't have the awareness or the finesse that others might have. On the other hand, however, Lex had a great deal of power within him, and he still had more to learn. It would be another few years before he peaked, and he was hoping that that top would put him well above his peers. It was another one of those dreams, like becoming a legend of rock, that drove him to try stubbornly against all odds. Even when he might never win.
Fortunately, he realized this was not a fight that was utterly impossible. However, it would be... challenging. Flames were rushing up on him. He raise a hand, and focused, diverting the fire from hitting him straight on, not stopping it totally but forcing it to go around him. Realization hit him when he saw that the fire was now an obstruction between him and the other two boys. One of them... Joshua. Anger surged anew in Lex, and gave him an untapped vigor. This was an opponent that he knew well. They used to be close, used to fight together, party together, tease and joke and put the other elements back down where they belonged. But he'd been corrupted, turned. Lex flexed his hands, once, twice. He could not forgive this betrayal. It was a sting to him, a wound that festered in Lex's heart where he had once trusted someone, given them his loyalty only to see it turned against him. And for what? A girl, a pathetic girl with a chubby face and had an affinity for plants. Plants! An Earther, an enemy.
And the friend of his enemies were also his enemies. Lex spat to the side when Josh dared to taunt him. He felt his fury fueling him, making him reckless. He would not back down, not here, not now. Pain didn't frighten him. Pain was temporary, but a wound to dignity could last a life time. "I thought you were too busy fucking your whore to bother," he snapped back, bristling. The other boy, the one whose name he did not know, was whimpering something to Josh. He could not here it, but the tone of it made his lip curl in utter disgust. Such a weakling... and Josh associated with these people, made friends with those who couldn't even fight for themselves. He was letting Josh do his work for him. "Fucking pussy. Josh must be fucking you, too." He shook his head. Enough taunting. He charged forward, straight towards the wall of flames.
But he threw up a shield of flames before he did so, forcing his own was through. His pants caught flame all the same, and his shoes were burning, but he was a Fire, he could take a little heat. Impatiently he patted out the flames, and turned to face Josh. Fire flew from his fingertips and his pupils contracted to pinpricks of frustration and pain. Not just external, but internal. He couldn't stand this smug bastard, standing there, helping that other boy. He ought to be helping Lex, helping defend the dominant element here. But he did not try to persuade Josh to turn against the other boy. That would be a waste of his time, and Lex was far too pissed off to try to forgive past insurrections anyways. That just wasn't how he operated.
Instead, he snarled let loose a barrage of fire balls, aimed wildly towards Josh. Some of them, perhaps, might even hit poor Devin, still in the crossfire zone. And Lex honestly hoped that they might, might give that little runt some discomfort, teach him to learn when to put his tail between his legs and beg for mercy. He hoped for many things, Lex did, when he followed up with a charge straight for Josh, a vicious uppercut in full speed, his fists clenched until the knuckles were white and he was breathless. There was no backing down now.
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Mar 29, 2012 1:31:23 GMT -5
Through the anger that darkened his eyes and make them glint like steel, there was the faintest touch of sympathy for his best friend. He could believe that Devin had been innocently minding his own business. He did not care about the circumstances of the fight at any rate, only caring that there had been a fight and that his friend had lost horribly to someone who infuriated him. That was it. That was enough to fill him with the hideous, unbearable anger that shattered his sense of calm and composure and turned him violent, dangerous. He gave a stiff nod that showed he believed Devin and then turned his full attention to his opponent. He remembered hands on his wrists, positioning them. "Like this, kid. Protect yourself, guard your face. Never turn your back on the opponent." The gang had ruined his life and yet taught him useful things along the path to destruction. He did not lift his arms in a position to block and jab, however, because the fire was working its magic for now. Not for long, he guessed. He'll rush it somehow. They were Fires, angry and fearless. A simple wall of flame was not going to stop Lex indefinitely, nor was it meant to. He would not waste his energy on illusionary tactics. It was a façade to protect his friend, nothing more.
There was a spark of pride within him as he saw that Lex was not able to disperse the wall but was instead forced to charge through it. Here, I am superior. It gave him a rush, a thrill, a hope that he could win. No, not hope. A chance. Joshua tried not to rely too heavily on hope lest it be crushed under a boot like a bug in the end. A lot of wrong choices could be made in a fight to affect its outcome. Alexander made the first by his choice of words. Joshua retaliated immediately and with a cold ferocity, sending a blast of heat directly at Lex's chest. It was harder to deflect than fire thanks to its near invisibility. It also drained his strength more but he did not care. "Keep your filthy mouth shut about my fiancée or I'll cut your fucking tongue out." His words were a growl, more serious than he cared to admit. Nell was dear to him. Insulting her was like pressing the most intimate buttons he possessed in terms of rage. Had he brought his knife with him, he might have tossed rules aside and pulled it out. He would have loved to have slashed the fucker across the face for the insults he spat against Nell so carelessly. It was a good thing he was not better equipped or a simple fight would turn into a jail sentence, though it certainly did not feel that way to Josh.
Now, in this moment, he felt nothing for the friendship that they'd once possessed. Lex was nothing more than one of the others that stood in his way and that posed a threat to all he held dear. The Earths were fragile in the face of the flickering flames and while he did not value himself as their protector, he would step in when it involved his friends. Devin and Nell especially, his best friend since the beginning and the girl who'd changed him completely. He would not deny that he'd changed for her if the Fires and Thunders accused as much. He did not think this change was a bad thing. He was more accepting, now, more friendly. He was not as much of an awkward recluse. The alliances were a part of the change that he'd made out of necessity rather than desire. He'd have liked to have kept his friends in the now 'enemy' elements and kept Nell as well but they hadn't given him a choice. He'd made his decision and he would stand by it with pride. The added comment about fucking Devin didn't phase him. Neither of the boys were gay and so it was hardly insulting. To Josh, it felt like Lex was now pulling words out his ass. It didn't matter. The condemning things had already been done, the fatal words spoken the moment he used 'Nell' and 'whore' in the same sentence.
Strategy was his first thought when he saw the fireballs approaching and in the next split second, he'd made his decision. Those that seemed in danger of striking Devin dispersed and the rest he allowed to come toward him, knowing that to overpower Lex's will was more draining than most things he could do. To take control of another elemental's flame was a battle of wills. It was easier the more senior one was to their opponent but it was by no means a walk in the park. His arm was burned as two fireballs hit in succession and he clenched his jaw against the pain. I won't give him the fucking satisfaction. He jerked his entire body to one side in order to avoid the uppercut, twisting around and aiming two punches in return. One to the jaw, the other to the temple. He could not stand for being so close, not wanting to leave himself vulnerable, so Joshua endeavoured to back up from his opponent several paces. Whether or not he would succeed would depend on Alexander's retaliation. He raised a hand and a swirling torrent of fire vaguely resembling a thin twisted barrelled toward Lex from behind. Joshua flicked his wrist again and a burst of fire appeared before Devin, far enough away that it would not hurt him. Josh hoped his friend realised it was a defensive wall and not an offensive one. Don't run away from it, god damn it.
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Post by DEVIN JAMES THATCHER on Mar 31, 2012 17:27:52 GMT -5
Devin could only stand and stare as the flames tickled the sky, lapping at the grass like a tongue to water. It was intense, intimidating. There was nothing more to do than stand there like a deer caught in headlights, wondering what was going to happen next. Would Alexander back down and leave things well enough alone? No, of course he won’t. He beat the shit out of me for an accident. A stray Frisbee and a moment of distraction led to a busted face and a searing chest of pain. There was no way this was going to end that easily. Joshua nodded, seeming to believe his words before he tried to back away even more. His feet were stiff, paralyzed with shock and fear. Should he run? No. Josh was protecting him and to run off like a little girl would have been just as bad as begging for mercy under Alexander’s fists. The assailant mentioned Nell, and Devin’s eyes narrowed. Anger coursed through his usually peaceful heart, and though it was faint a twitch of the fingers could be seen. Joshua had to have been ten times angrier if Devin responded, and at his next words his assumption had been made correct. No one insulted Nell around Josh and got away unscathed. No one.
Alexander jumped through the wall of fire as though it were a stream of cool water, and began the assault on his best friend. The fire balls came straight at them both, Devin lifting his arms in hopes that his face could be spared at least. Nothing happened. A gush of heat wafted past him, but nothing more. Looking up, Devin watched as two of the attacks hit his best friend in the arm. He wanted to call out, tell him to stop, but what good would that do? What good could he do? Josh dodged the first hit, and made an attempt at a counter attack. The blonde stepped back again, hoping that these punches would not stray too far and hit him yet again while he was already weak. Devin knew that the Earths did not have the greatest advantage against Fire, but if you dump a clump of mud or dirt on a fire pit the flames would surely diffuse and disappear, leaving nothing but simmering coals. Had Devin been in a better state of health and full of energy, he might have considered the idea but quickly tossed it away. This would do nothing for the fight, unfortunately. Intent on avoiding the crossfire, the Earth boy staggered back at the sudden wall of flames that burst up before him. He glanced at Josh, his heart racing with adrenaline and fear before allowing himself to try and find a state of normalcy. That’s not going to happen until this is over. All Devin could do now was watch and hope that Joshua would not come out worse than his opponent.
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Post by alexander on Apr 1, 2012 1:10:41 GMT -5
The retaliation for his harsh words was instantaneous. It seemed that Lex had found a verbal weak point, as well as an actual one. A mistake, for Josh, to reveal how sensitive he was towards Nell. He cared too much, Lex thought harshly. When a person let themselves get dependent, they got weak. Lex knew his only weakness, his mother, and he guarded her very carefully. Not that she really needed to be protected from his fellow students when she lived hundreds of miles away. As it was, however, no one else had really elicited enough passion in Lex to really prove a chink in his armor. He might be willing to aid those he called his friends, but he was not about to get his panties twisted like Joshua if someone insulted his allies, as few as they were. Well, no more than Lex ever got himself irritated by someone trying to start shit with him, intentionally or not.
He felt a blast of sizzling heat envelop him. He did not expect this, it was definitely an advanced sort of move that Lex would not have had the opportunity to master. His shirt sizzled and began to burn holes. Lex could on jerk slightly as a kneejerk reaction away from the pain, though his chest had definitely gotten scorched a bit. The burned hole now in his tattered shirt would be proof enough. Beneath one could spot the tattoo on the right side of his ribs, and the VS on his upper left chest. Now these ink markings were going to be joined by less artistic mutilations, though Lex would no doubt show them with as much pride to observers as he would the tattoos themselves.
Unfortunately, Lex wasn't getting quite as much hits in as he would have liked. He noted that Devin was being protected, both from his attacks and as well as by a new fire barrier. That didn't bother him too much, however. The kid was obviously some sort of freaky pacifist. He probably would not enter the fight at this point, not after already laying down for a beating. Besides that, he certainly did not need the extra trouble. Josh was ahead of Lex in learning, though maybe they were equals in talent. They both had physical fighting prowess as well, which Lex already knew, but was finding he didn't enjoy discovering what it felt like to be the target of this. His first punch missed, and the counter attack came very quickly, much more so than an untrained opponent would have. A crushing blow to Lex's jaw caused his head to jerk backwards, and he swiftly brought up his arms to block the second aimed towards his temple. His left arm took the hit, and he started forward when he saw Josh retreating back a bit, trying to make distance.
This wasn't going to be something to Lex's advantage. Fists were his best shot in this battle, since pure fire was much more likely to bend towards Josh. As evidenced by the back Lex was blindsided from behind with a jet of flame that seared into him. He staggered forward, and his eyes watered. He grunted through his lips, but managed to push his momentum onward, though his back was shivering with pain and blistered skin, with pieces of cloth melting and fusing into it. Anyone who wasn't with such an affinity to fire would probably have been unable to remain standing for that one, but he could naturally deflect some of the flame after initial contact. Still going forward, he ducked his head low and this time sought to work the body, throwing off some punches, his hands engulfed in fire to add some extra power. He went right for the abdomen before making a south paw swing towards Josh's nose, breathing heavily from pain that was half-ignored, half-unfelt, as well as sheer exertion from controlling fire and physical combat all at once. He was going to feel this in the morning, that was for sure.
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Apr 2, 2012 18:49:43 GMT -5
If Joshua had truly thought that Nell was a weak point for him, there was a good chance he'd have kept his mouth shut about her. He did not like the idea of someone taking advantage of his weaknesses and so he kept them under lock and key as best as he could. He loved Nell and he figured that anyone with half a brain would be able to tell that, so snapping when she was insulted came with the territory. The insult against Devin hadn't irked him nearly as much. He was protective of his friends but spitting verbal venom wasn't usually enough to make Joshua strike. They were words, nothing more. They wore out their welcome. As long as that bastard doesn't touch her. That would make him snap. He could not stand anyone trying to hurt Nell, especially not if it was because of him. That was his fiancée, he didn't want her to be used like some sort of tool against him. If he had a problem with someone he usually took it up with them, violent or otherwise, rather than dragging loved ones into it. That was too low even for him.
His lips curled into a satisfied sneer when he saw that his move had hit its mark. That one's for Nell. It was people like Lex that really brought out the sadistic side of Joshua. He did not usually take pleasure in the pain of others, enemy or otherwise. It wouldn't do for a doctor to enjoy inflicting pain, would it? This guy, however, this guy hurt his friend and insulted his partner in an incredibly short period of time. He deserved to burn. Josh wanted him to be in as much pain as physically possible. Meanwhile, the Fire graduate was glad that Devin seemed to be alright for the time being. Well, as alright as someone could be when they'd been used as a punching bag just minutes before. Hang in there, man. He'd make sure that his best buddy was truly alright once the fight was through but Joshua knew that he couldn't turn his back on Alexander. To turn your back on an opponent that was still standing strong was to invite yourself to terrible injury. I'm not that stupid. He also wasn't stupid enough to think he had an advantage when it came to physical fighting. They were even, there. His fire was the only thing he had, so when Lex got close, Joshua got tense.
It seemed his opponent caught onto what he was doing, for Lex did not allow him to put a fair enough distance in order for the fight to take a turn to his side quite yet. Damn it. It was then that he used his fire to try and distract his opponent enough that he could get away from him. He had a grudging admiration for his ex-friends pain threshold and perseverance as he pressed onward despite the burns that would now be inflicted on his back but at the same time, this worried him. Don't let it show. To let your opponent know you were at all concerned for the fight's outcome was not ideal. So he kept his expression fierce, neutral, unwavering. Unable to block the hit to his gut, Joshua doubled over for a moment with a grunt of pain, throwing up his arm to stop Lex from hitting his nose. The last thing he needed was a broken nose distracted him from his goal. Fuck. Fuck. The pain was pretty bad and he thanked the fact that he could handle it as he staggered back slightly, forcing himself to straighten up despite how much being slammed in the gut had actually hurt. His arm stung, too, the fire that had engulfed Lex's hand leaving a shiny burn along it. I'll get it fixed later. Healing himself would be really stupid.
I need... distance.
He stepped back just enough to bring up a huge pillar of flame between them, draining his strength but also being large and hot enough that it would take time to go around and a lot of pain to run through. He kept his hold on it, knowing that to do so was taking more of his energy but also that it would be harder for Alexander to disperse it. With the pillar as his defence, his shield, Joshua paced back quite a bit and then reshaped the pillar, brought it into the air and then sent it in a torrent of flames toward Lex. It almost resembled a flamethrower without a gun. Joshua realised that he was panting slightly and this concerned him. Fuck, the fight was sapping his energy. No way, I've gotta last this. He couldn't lose, for then what would happen to Devin? Heck, Josh would probably be worse off than Devin if Lex got the better of him but at present he was more worried about his friend. With a flash of fierce determination he decided to use his powers to try and outlast the sophomore in terms of stamina. All I need is to keep my distance. He waved his hand in a circular motion and a ring of fire appeared around his opponent. Smirking and doing nothing more with it, he aimed three small but hot fireballs toward his chest. Try and block them, Lexy. Let's see how much of it you can take. He only hoped that he could take enough to win the fight.
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Post by DEVIN JAMES THATCHER on Apr 2, 2012 23:30:51 GMT -5
Devin jumped back a little more as the two fire graduates continued to fight with one another, clearly neither interested in letting up their attacks. Alexander was strong, his punches pretty well calculated, and a few of them made a landing on his best friend. Devin wanted to step forward, to touch Josh and ask if he was going to be okay, but that would be fruitless. Of course he’s not okay. Stupid question DJ. His friend was doubled over in pain, but seemed to take it well enough as he tried to continue pushing onward without allowing too much down time. He made a few hits himself. Devin could never muster what they did, to make such physical contact with another person. It was what made him weaker, more vulnerable, and easy to pick on. He just could not bring himself to fight with other people physically. If he needed to fight—like for a friend—then he would surely try, but not without great hesitation. It was simply not built into his personality. The boy made himself the punching bag, but he felt less guilt that way than if he would to harm another person.
It was amazing how much power they had, how strong they were. Devin had a lot of strength with his element, but nowhere near this magnitude. Once he got into college he wanted to build himself up even more, build up a defensive that would be more difficult to penetrate. Stone manipulation was not out of reach, but difficult; Devin was determined to reach that point, even if it did take a little extra work. It was fights like these that made him realize how important it was to gain his strength. That way, he would not feel the urge to throw a fist as often. He would be able to defend himself in other ways. Ways that might actually prevent more than one person from being injured. The flames were intense, heating his skin as though he were standing next to a bonfire. The boy took yet another step back and to the side to avoid the ring of fire Josh created around his opponent, the fireballs aimed right at Alexander. He could only wonder how long it would take before they wore themselves out, or if one would fall before that point.
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