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Post by erin on Sept 7, 2011 15:39:15 GMT -5
The sun beat down on Ethan, basking him and his friend in a warm glow. Shoes off, he dug his toes in the sand enjoying the nice weather. He hadn’t donned swim shorts for the occasion, but instead wore colorful plaid shorts and a white T-shirt. A pair of purple Ray Bans shielded his eyes from the sun. He didn’t instead to swim or tan by the lake; he just wound up here simply because it was somewhere to go. The lake wasn’t very crowded, surprisingly enough, and Ethan enjoyed the lack of people. Sure, he loved being around people, but sometimes quiet wasn’t a bad thing. Ethan always felt like there was a certain expectation he had to live up to. Everyone expected him to be the happy, loud, upbeat guy but sometimes he wasn’t in the mood to play that role. And being by the lake was comforting; anywhere by water put him at ease.
A casual conversation drifted between the two boys, nothing of importance. In the distance, Ethan thought he saw the figure of Joshua Dale. Upon further examination he confirmed this. Suddenly, a thought came to his head, something he had heard a few days ago. “You know,
[/color]” he began, facing his friend, “ I heard something about that Joshua kid the other day.” He indicated towards the boy. “ I heard he’s been in a lot of trouble. Like police trouble. And not only that,” he said, pausing for effect, “ but I also heard he’s even killed someone.” He emphasized on the last part, trying to get the desired effect out of his friend. In response, he raised his eyebrows. “ I’d certainly want to stay clear of him…” he added. Now, Ethan wasn’t one-hundred percent sure on this information. He hadn’t heard it from what you would call a reliable source. Heck, any sort of gossip wasn’t true. If anyone knew this, it was Ethan. Tons of rumors were spread about him when he was a kid and tween. They hadn’t really gotten to him however, he had mastered the art of brushing them off (or at least he made it appear that way). He just always loved a little drama. Maybe it was his passion for the arts that drove this, he didn’t know, but he did know that he could sometimes be a big mouth. And this factor may have just caused a problem for him as he realized Joshua had been closer than he thought, and he may have let the phrase “killed someone” slip a little too loudly. And the fact that both he and his friend were looking at Joshua didn’t help either. [/blockquote] tagged: Joshua Donovan Dale[/color] words: 447[/color][/size]
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Sept 7, 2011 16:27:23 GMT -5
He hated the lake. There were always far too many water students lurking about even on a good day and so Joshua had learned to steer clear of it. Besides, the fact that he couldn't swim factored into his dislike of the place. Why would he want to hang around the damn thing if he couldn't get anything out of it? He had not wandered onto the grounds with the intention of hanging around that area. Instead, he was merely passing by when he noticed a couple of the students looking in his direction. He paused and scowled at them for a moment, just in time to see one of them turn to the other and start to speak. He was close enough to the pair that he was able to catch brief snatches of the conversation, and the moment his name came into the picture he had a feeling that there was going to be trouble. They're talking about me, aren't they? It was hardly surprising. Hell, there were enough rumours about him to fill a small novel in this school. Most of them had started as soon as he'd betrayed his side in the war in favour of an Earth elemental. Most of them weren't the least bit true.
He stepped closer and listened to what they were saying. Police trouble? Well, that was true. He'd had a couple of run-ins with the cops recently thanks to unfavourable circumstances. Still, that didn't give this bastard the right to go spreading it around. A lot of assholes in this school seemed to think it was funny to spread lies and half-truths about other people to make them sound informed. Really, it was only going to get them into trouble if the subject of said lies and half-truths found out. Like now. Then Ethan added insult to injury--killed someone? He'd never killed anybody. That turned his irritation into something more akin to rage. Oh, that was it. The two turned their attention to him and he didn't even try to hide the fact that he'd heard what they were saying. "Would you?" he said snidely in response to the latest comment. "You seem to be doing such a wonderful job already." No, Ethan hadn't steered clear and Josh was determined to make him pay the price of that--he was already set on the fact that this was going to become a confrontation.
He didn't know this boy. They were not in the same grade or element, but that was all he could deduce. At the moment he didn't really care either way. All that mattered to Josh right now was the fact that this loud-mouthed brat was going around telling people that he was a murderer and that he was definitely not happy about this. "I'd be careful if I were you," Joshua said lethally, "else that rumour of yours might just become a fact." Would he really kill the guy? No, Joshua didn't think he had it in him to kill someone unless they really deserved it or threatened his family in some way. Plus, murder was illegal. Would he fuck him up a little, given the chance? Sure. If this kid was bold enough to start or spread rumours then he had it coming to him anyway. "Why don't you ditch that friend of yours and tell me what else you've heard about me?" It was accompanied by a steely gray glare.
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Post by erin on Sept 10, 2011 8:11:34 GMT -5
Ethan hadn’t expected the guy to hear him. It just slipped out, like it was nothing. He didn’t know Joshua, so the rumor or whatever it was didn’t mean anything to him. Ethan always found himself paying for his big mouth. Words slipped out before he could stop them. His friends have learned to not tell him any secret because he has let them slip more than once. It isn’t that he does it on purpose (most of the time). He does, however, love to stir up a little drama. And this event was definitely turning into the kind of thing Ethan loved.
Most people, especially ones with his fighting track record, would back away. They’d tell the other it was just a misunderstanding, or didn’t mean anything by it. Ethan wasn’t that kind of person. Sure, he’d gotten pushed around plenty of times in his life. Yes, he’s been in a few fights. And yes, he has mostly lost said fights. However, Ethan wasn’t going to back down from anything. Stupid? Of course. Ethan tended to act before he thought and it often wound up in situations like these.
Ethan stood up instantly when Josh approached. “I’ve got this,
[/color]” he muttered to his friend, who in turn scampered off. He wasn’t much of a friend to begin with. Ethan always found himself hanging around people he wasn’t fond of just for the company. Ethan stepped forward at Josh’s threat. “ Oh really?[/color]” he said, raising an eyebrow. “ I’m so scared,[/color]” he added with sarcasm, a hint of a grin on his lips. Now he knew he was asking for it. He just kept digging a bigger hole for himself. “ It sure sounds to me that you’re getting defensive about it,[/color]” he sneered. “ If it isn’t true, why should you care so much?[/color]” Ethan had no clue if the rumor was true. Most of him believed it wasn’t; it sounded pretty far-fetched to anyone. A small part of him was telling him to walk away, but he quickly quelled the thought. He’d gotten himself into this, and he wasn’t about to back out.[/justify] tagged: Joshua[/color] words: 355[/blockquote][/size][/color]
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Sept 10, 2011 15:26:14 GMT -5
Surprisingly, the friend of the other boy's left pretty quickly. Joshua had been expecting that he might have to put up a little bit more of a fight but it seemed like he had been wrong. He would do anything to help and to protect his friends but apparently Ethan was not so lucky. He was feeling better about this confrontation already. Josh was not so cocky and over-confident that he thought himself invincible--no, the gang had proved to him that he was very much mortal by almost killing him (twice). He even had the scars to prove it. However, he also wasn't a coward. If he was going to go down he would go down fighting. Josh didn't know the meaning of 'give up'. Plus, he was taller than this guy, probably older and thus he was most likely stronger as well. We'll see how many rumours you'll spread about me once we've had a little chat, he thought vehemently, fingers curling into a tighter fist. He resisted the urge to start a fight right here and now--wait for it...
Eyes of sharp gray narrowed as Ethan mocked him. "You've either got balls of brass," he said nonchalantly, "or you're an idiot. I'm betting on the latter." Those with strong fighting reputation at this school usually had their names floating around every now and then. The fact that he'd never heard of this boy--was that a good sign, or a bad one? Then again, Joshua didn't often partake in rumour-spreading and gossip. The fact that a lot of rumours circulated about him was an instant turn off there. Besides, it wasn't his thing to put others down when he didn't know the facts. He knew how it felt and so he was not one to sink so low that he would do the same thing himself.
Defensive? Joshua arched a smooth brow in Ethan's direction. "I care," he said, slowly and deliberately as if talking to someone simple, "because these rumours are untrue. Is that really such a hard concept to grasp?" There was an almost scathing air to his tone as he spoke now. He had decided not even five minutes in that he hated this guy and everything that he stood for. "Clearly you don't know the next thing about me." If Ethan did know about Joshua and about which rumours were true and which were not, perhaps he might even be a little worried. There were rumours about violence that did have facts mixed within them. Joshua Dale had a violent temper that was easily ignited and unfortunately for Ethan it seemed he was fast finding a path to his short fuse. He had not lost his temper yet (it would have been obvious if he had) but that did not mean that they were in safe waters. No, Josh didn't always have to lose his temper to start a fight.
"I think the better question here," he said, "is what the fuck gives you the right to spread lies about me?" A brief wave of heat swept through the area, a forewarning. He had not attacked Ethan yet but that was only because he was coming up with a strategy. "It's dangerous to dabble in things you know nothing about. You just might piss off the wrong sort of people." You didn't need to be a genius to read the subtext in his words. He was getting irritated with Ethan, rather quickly at that. Would the other boy back down and flee like his friend had, or was he truly stupid enough to turn this into a confrontation?
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Post by erin on Sept 12, 2011 17:15:48 GMT -5
Well, Ethan couldn’t say he hadn’t run into something like this before. After seventeen years, he still hadn’t learned his lesson of keeping his big mouth shut. Nor had he learned the lesson of when to let things go. That moment would have been a good time for either of those lessons to sink it, but Ethan was too thick for that. Or you’re an idiot Josh had said. Yes, that would pretty much describe Ethan. He surely wasn’t fearless—although he definitely could take a few punches. No, Ethan usually acted on impulse which was why he found himself in situations like these.
Ethan didn’t know Josh, and part of him felt a hint of sympathy that he had heard the rumor about him. Ethan could be the spokesman for being the topic of a rumor. And he could be the first to tell you they were usually untrue. He wouldn’t be acting so confrontational if the guy hadn’t shown the same towards him. Of course, he couldn’t blame him. If he was in Josh’s place, he’d be reacting the same way. Ethan, however, would feel pathetic if he had just let him go on by. He was the type to fight fire with fire (not literally in his case) even if his fight back didn’t match up with his competition. He’d been pushed around too many times growing up to let himself be walked over anymore. This mentality had become part of him as he got older, but wasn’t always a good one. He often pushed things farther than they needed to go just to make it clear that he wasn’t being passive.
This trait also accounted for Ethan’s mouth. Not only did he get involved physically, but he loved to run his mouth. Sure, his dramatics had helped him along with his talent in the performing arts. He was sure his love for the arts was a factor in his behavior. He loved to be heard and enjoyed making a spectacle out of things. This was no exception.
“Maybe I don’t,
[/color]” he responded to Joshua saying he didn’t know him, “ But I’m just saying what I heard.[/color]” That was better, right? Ethan tried to somewhat hold back his bite, but that was most likely the extent of it. Nothing gave Ethan the right to spread any sort of rumor about a kid he didn’t know, he knew that. But it never stopped him in the past. “ I can say whatever I’d like,[/color]” he snapped, taking a step closer. “ And are you the wrong sort of person?[/color]” he sneered. “ What are you going to do about it?[/color]” Well, maybe he shouldn’t have added that last part. But for Ethan, it was always part of his act. He just hoped he’d be able to back up his words.[/justify][/blockquote] tagged: Joshua Donovan Dale[/color] words: 469[/color][/size]
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Sept 12, 2011 19:35:57 GMT -5
If he had known that Ethan had been the subject of bullying and rumours growing up, Joshua would nevertheless have felt no sympathy toward the other boy. He was rather irate at the moment and certainly believed that having rumours spread about you in the past was no excuse to go around spreading things about others in return. Josh had long since been the subject of nasty rumours and speculations but he didn't go around and try to make everyone else miserable by saying things about them. No, instead he attacked those guilty directly or else just did his best to ignore them. Not that it didn't hurt sometimes--indeed, hearing rumours about how everyone thought he was a bad guy for Nell was not the easiest thing in the world. He just didn't allow this to turn him into someone who would do the very thing to others. His gray eyes narrowed in extreme contempt and dislike. "Hearing things doesn't make them true," he replied coldly. There were a lot of things about him that weren't true. He didn't like the sort of person that Ethan was fixing up to be.
Ethan made a bold and perhaps stupid move when he snapped at Josh and stepped closer to him. The Fire graduate visibly stiffened and a spark of rage flickered through his colourless optics. "Not about me, you can't," he said darkly. He could feel the anger threatening to consume him as usual and cloud his judgement. He'd fought it off for this long but right now he was just itching to start a fight with this kid. Alright, so maybe throwing punches was no better than spreading rumours but it wasn't like Josh went out of his way to be fair and just all of the time. Ethan certainly wasn't; why should he extend such courtesies?
The boy was cocky. Why was he so brave and convinced that he could stand up to Joshua like this without counter attack? Josh wondered for a moment whether this dude was just a young looking senior or someone that could otherwise easily best him, but in the face of his temperament the thought was only fleeting. Ethan could have been at a professor's level of talent at the moment and Josh still wouldn't have been very likely to back down. "I'm definitely the wrong sort," he retorted with a glare. He was not sneering and jeering as Ethan was, but he also was not yelling. Josh was not often a person who got extremely loud or boisterous during an argument. Speaking in quiet or at least mild tones was enough for him to convey his point and his mood--especially when those gray eyes were glaring as they currently did.
What was he going to do? It was immediately apparent that this was the wrong sort of question to ask Joshua Dale. He practically bristled where he stood and his fist was clenched so tightly that, had his nails not been trimmed, his fingers would be cutting into his palms. Without warning he stepped forward and swung that fist hard toward the other's face, creating a hot burst of flame which he sent toward him in the next. It was in Joshua's hopes that if he dodged one he would not be able to avoid the other--there was also the hope that both may hit, of course, but Josh tried not to get his hopes up in a fight. He was a strategist by nature--play to one's strengths, wear down your opponent and what not. He would just have to see how this fight commenced.
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Post by erin on Sept 14, 2011 15:56:28 GMT -5
Ethan had to admit, he felt a little stupid with his remarks. He was clearly asking for it here; his snarky responses were definitely not to his benefit in avoiding a fight. But it wasn’t that he was trying to avoid anything. He just wasn’t doing anything to prevent a fight from unfolding. He observed his opponent for the first time. Ethan surmised the boy was older than him, most likely a graduate. So there was already a strike for Ethan. He didn’t know anything about him except the rumor that had started this whole affair so there was little he could do to prepare for a fight. There weren’t any natural skills he could rely on. He had always lacked in physical abilities. And he couldn’t even rely on his kinesis because even that proved to be unreliable over the years. Ethan had never really used the power of water to fight. He slacked off in school and never really mastered his talent to the point where he should be. He wasn’t terrible but he certainly wasn’t top of his grade. Sure, he had a few tricks up his sleeve but nothing that would really help him gain the advantage here. Growing up, he became so outgoing because he wanted a big personality to make up for everything else he lacked.
Josh’s glare had started to freak Ethan out. Maybe the kid could actually do some damage; Ethan had no clue where his skill level may lie. He started to get nervous. Apprehension filled his gut as Ethan began to feel like fighting was the only way this was going to end. Nerves weren’t something that ever got the best of Ethan mainly because they were something he hardly ever experienced. However, now was one of the rare times they rippled through him. It’d been a few years since the last time he had gotten his ass handed to him and he didn’t want another occurrence.
Ethan clenched his fists. Well, if a fight was coming, then bring it on. He wasn’t going to stand down so the only option would be to fight back. He became increasingly aware of the lake behind them, feeding off of the comfort it gave him.
No matter how much he may have mentally prepared himself, Ethan was still off guard when the flaming hot punch sailed into the side of his face. He was somewhat more aware before the second punch came roaring into his vision and at least was able to draw a stream of water to cool the fist of fire before it too whacked Ethan. His face throbbed not only from the punches but from the burn. Ethan gritted his teeth, trying his best to shake it off. “Is that the best you’ve got?
[/color]” he said, balling his fists. Ethan wondered if he would ever shut his mouth. He mustered all the strength he had and sent it through the air with his fist, hoping to nail Josh in the stomach. However, he had never had much confidence in his punches. [/blockquote][/size]
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Sept 14, 2011 20:14:09 GMT -5
Joshua had no idea that Ethan was having second thoughts about their confrontation. Hell, it wouldn't really have changed a thing if he had. Josh wasn't someone that would take pity on the weaker man and avoid a fight just because his opponent was doubting his strength. No, if you picked a fight with Dale you were getting your fight whether you were weak, whether you were female--hell, he didn't really discriminate or allow any sort of handicap. He didn't hit girls by default but those that picked fights with him had it coming, or so he figured. Josh had strange morales that probably weren't socially acceptable by everyone's standards but that was alright with him. Whenever he did something, it wasn't to impress anyone but rather to make a point to himself. He didn't back down. He didn't lose face. He was up for whatever his opponents threw at him. He was not up for having a bunch of rumours and lies spread about him--really, there was enough going around already, did they really need to add more into the mix? Apparently Ethan thought so.
His colourless eyes narrowed dangerously when Ethan challenged him with a, "Is that the best you've got?" It was stereotypical in every way. Then again, this guy seemed to be fond of things involved with the social norm. He spread rumours, he gossiped--why shouldn't he also obey to certain things like that? "No," replied Joshua simply. Honesty might be intimidating in this case and he wanted this asshole to know just how irritated he was. Noticing that Ethan was a Water elemental, Joshua deliberately took a few long steps back from the lake. He wasn't backing down, he just didn't want this guy to be able to force him into the water in any way. Hell, he was just angry right now. If Ethan had enough balls to try and drown him he'd be fucking castrated by the time Josh was done. He didn't stand for that. He wasn't someone to normally use cheap violence such as weaponry but he could honestly say he'd stab someone if they tried. Plus, Ethan had no way of knowing his phobia of drowning. He was safe. "You'll soon be wishing it was," he added, completely serious.
A punch to the gut was a cheap shot, and he was always on guard for cheap shots. He didn't try to block it, merely twisted slightly so that it hit him more toward his side than his stomach. It still hurt--not too much, he guessed this guy wasn't a fighter by nature--but he at least wasn't doubled over and moaning in pain. The Fire elemental clenched his jaw and resisted the urge to burn him with everything he had. Joshua didn't make a habit of throwing everything into the fight within the first five minutes. He had a strategy and to wear himself out before he could execute it would be ridiculous. Smirking, he got an idea. Josh didn't use too much of his strength in the next attack--no, it was a feint. He sent it right toward Ethan and hoped that Water elemental instinct would make the guy counter fire with water. If he did, that would be forcing him to use his power. Josh knew from his many lessons throughout the years at the Academy that outlets and forests and bodies of water were not limitless supplies for the elemental that controlled them. It would still drain one's energy to manipulate, it just saved the hassle and extra drain of creating it from nothing. This guy couldn't last forever. Josh was counting on that.
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Post by erin on Sept 18, 2011 8:58:49 GMT -5
So much for a relaxing afternoon, Ethan thought to himself. Of course, he hadn’t expected this to escalate the way it had. He didn’t even have something to defend, like Josh did. He supposed he had kept it going because of his stubborn attitude and unwillingness to appear weak. But wouldn’t getting beat down look weak? Ethan didn’t get his own thinking sometimes.
Ethan took into account that Josh had taken a few steps back after he had used his power. Naturally, as a fire element he’d be weary of water. Ethan didn’t know if it was precautionary or something else, but he figured it was something he might be able to use to his advantage. A weakness maybe? Ethan decided water would be the key weapon in this fight, especially since his opponent was fire. Fire versus water…he should have had the upper hand here, he thought. But he knew it would take a lot more than that to beat Josh and truthfully Ethan didn’t think he had it in him
But he refused to let this doubt show. “Afraid of a little water? [/color]” he scoffed condescendingly. He was trying to be intimidating, but realized it was fruitless. When had Ethan ever been intimidating in his life? Certainly not when the boys in his class harassed him or when they beat him up and called him names. That was why Ethan strived to maintain this act; he often talked big game but could never back it up. If it weren’t for the fact that he had to prove the point that he isn’t the weak little kid everyone thought he was, he wouldn’t even be in this mess. The only reason he refused to walk away was because he didn’t want to be like he was when he was a kid; weak, letting everyone walk over him. He felt like he had something to prove to himself. And this was inevitably because of his father and his obvious disappointment his whole life. Ethan shook the thoughts from his head. It was no time for daddy-issues. He was glad when his fist made contact with Josh, even if not where he had intended. However, instinct kicked in when Josh sent his next attack at Ethan. He immediately swept up a gush of water from the lake to protect himself. It worked, and the water fell flat on the sand, darkening it from the rest. Ethan felt tired from it however, a little out of breath. But if he didn’t use his power then he had nothing. So ignoring the nagging in the pit of his stomach, he balled his fist and sent it toward Josh’s face along with a stream of water, hoping this would add more strength to the punch if it made contact. [/justify][/size][/blockquote]
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Sept 18, 2011 9:25:10 GMT -5
Joshua merely rolled his eyes slightly when Ethan tried to taunt him, realising that the Water elemental was grasping at straws here. It was true that the element of his opponent had been a bit of a setback but he was quickly realising that Ethan did not have the same frightening skill which Jacob had possessed when he'd come after Josh in defence of his sister--no, Jacob had been in college just like Joshua and the latter had gotten his ass kicked. Ethan was either holding out for some unfathomable reason or he didn't have enough skill to flatten Josh immediately. Though taught to fight a little in high school, it was in college when defensive techniques against the other elements came into play. Earth elementals could learn to draw stone to their advantage to stop a blast of flame dead in it's tracks, Water elementals could resist the electricity of Thunder, and Fire... well, Fire could do a little something of their own. "I'm not afraid of you or your little tricks," he said rather coolly, the icy edge to his voice not really matched in his expression, which currently displayed a deadly calm. He was not really calm--hell, no, he wanted to throttle Ethan--but he was concentrating hard, which gave the illusion.
The boy's attempts to intimidate him may not have been successful, but that did not mean that Joshua was not on his guard. He saw the fist coming toward him and readied a sharp blast of fire, sending it toward Ethan's fist in hopes to both evaporate the water and burn his hand in the process. Of course, this attention to detail also meant that he didn't have the capability of dodging the punch, so he was left flexing his jaw a moment later as it smarted with pain. "Better than your first hit, at least," he said with the faintest hint of a sneer. He was taunting Ethan trying to rile him up. Unlike the Water elemental, Josh didn't feel the need to intimidate. He was a tad cocky in the thoughts that his skill could speak for itself as long as he won the fight. (If he lost, well... that wouldn't be quite so pleasant). He was not invincible. This was something else that Joshua knew full well. He'd been bested in the past by quite a few, even if Jacob was still the most memorable of all those accounts. He wasn't really sure what had happened to the guy but the most infuriating thing of all was that Joshua couldn't even hold it against him and mark him down for revenge. Josh had, after all, caused danger and injury to Jacob's sister. That was fair game, surely. He knew that he'd certainly break a few necks without hesitation if any harm came to Annabel.
Josh didn't want to rely too heavily on his power in this fight, but he had enough of an advantage that he could hardly resist tactics of his own. Let the opponent know just how outmatched he was. A quick flick of his wrist sent a searing wave of heat over them both, and suddenly the already humid summer air felt as if someone had turned up the temperature. He could not yet get the air as unbearably hot as it was in and around the Fire dormitories, but it was still enough to be quite uncomfortable. "Don't suppose you took the time to find out anything about me before you started spreading your little rumours," said Joshua with a falsely nonchalant tone, "but I'm willing to bet I know a lot more than you do." He was in college, after all. He had years of skill on the other boy. It was sad, really, that they'd had to get off so wrong-footed. Like Ethan himself, Joshua had been--and still was, as the rumours showed--the subject of various forms of bullying over the years. He'd been beaten on and shoved around for a few years before he'd gotten involved with the gang and learned how to stand up for himself. I guess those bastards were good for something. He was no trained fighter like Ace or Asha, but he could throw a punch and he didn't go down in a few simple hits. That was enough for some.
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Post by erin on Sept 20, 2011 15:02:22 GMT -5
Ethan couldn’t deny the nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. Self-doubt washed over him as his cocky confidence began to diminish. A large part of him knew he had a small chance at victory. What did he have on Josh? Nothing. Sure, he had the benefit of being a water elemental but his skills lacked in this category. He didn’t even have the upper hand there. The voice in his head told him to let it drop now while most of his dignity remained intact. However, he couldn’t suppress the voice that kept urging him onward. This was the part of him that caused him to do stupid things. He knew he couldn’t rely on his physical abilities. And there was only so much of his power he could use until he would be completely drained. He never really found himself fighting here at the academy; he’d never really had to use his powers defensively before. He didn’t know his limit; he felt he was about to find out.
A small surge of pride welled in him as his fist collided with Josh’s jaw. However, this was quickly forgotten by the burning in his hand. Sure enough, Ethan was not fireproof. He may be able to put out a fire, but it didn’t always mean water beat fire. He’d just been proven this as Josh’s flame vaporized the stream of water surrounding Ethan’s fist. Ethan clenched his hurt hand at Josh’s comment. “Yeah? Well that’s nothing,
[/color]” he spat. He knew if the drive was strong enough he could actually cause someone serious damage. Heck, everyone had it in them if the time ever called for it. But Ethan didn’t have a strong desire to beat Josh. He was really only doing this for himself; he didn’t really care what happened to the other guy. Besides, Ethan couldn’t suppress the feeling in his stomach that he was fighting a losing battle. The doubt was starting to nag at him more, lowering his confidence. So, naturally when Ethan begins to feel his confidence ebb away, he opens his mouth. “ You don’t know a thing about me, either,[/color]” he retored. “ And what’s going on right here isn’t really helping me to think that rumor isn’t true.[/color]” Ethan knew he had no ground on this. Even though Josh had thrown the first punch, Ethan had instigated it. He had always been good at antagonizing people; he knew what buttons to push. Ethan instantly felt the heat when Josh made the air hotter. He felt himself want to slow down. It certainly wouldn’t help him when trying to reserve his energy. The new temperature and Ethan using his power didn’t seem like a good combination in terms of fatigue. He wanted to splash a wave over himself but knew it wouldn’t be the brightest idea. Not only would he be wasting his power, but it probably wouldn’t help much. Ethan clenched his fists, hesitant of making another move. He didn’t want to quit, but he was afraid of extinguishing his energy so quickly. [/blockquote][/justify][/size]
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Sept 21, 2011 4:28:49 GMT -5
Perhaps Ethan could do some damage if he really wanted to, but he wasn't and thus Joshua couldn't care less what he might be capable of in certain situations. Josh knew that the weight against the pocket of his jeans was indeed a switchblade and that if he felt himself in any literal danger he was more than adept at using it. But it wasn't an object he usually pulled out in a fight. It had nothing to do with wanting a fair fight or not wanting to have too much of an advantage over his opponent--no, it was the damage that very knife had done to him that made him wary of using it. A punch would leave a mark, but that mark would fade. A burn would leave a bigger one, but that too could be cured if the victim was intelligent enough to pick themselves up and head to the medical wing for treatment. A knife left a mark and that mark stayed. The slashes across his collarbone, his stomach, his face, his hand... all of the scars save for the curved ones on his ribs had been caused by his own damned weapon. It wasn't even the humiliation of this that bothered him, it was the fact that no one understood where he had got those scars so they, like Ethan, made up stories. That was why he wouldn't use the blade unless he was in real, serious danger.
He simply shrugged when Ethan made a retort. He hoped that the other guy was feeling every drain that he gave himself because he was incredibly bitter at the moment, but he didn't really care about him as a person. "I know that you're a liar," he said. "That's enough for me." It was a little hypocritical--everyone lied, Joshua especially. But lying about yourself and lying about other people were too vastly different things. Joshua lied about his past, his life, hell, he even lied about how he lost his virginity to cover up for the fact that he didn't even remember it. But he'd never lie about someone else. If the facts weren't there then he wasn't going to invent them because he knew from experience that it could be both hurtful and incredibly enraging. He probably wouldn't have liked Ethan even if they'd met under different circumstances simply because he hated most of the Water elementals, but there would have been a difference--an attack probably would have been unjustified. Right here, right now, he felt like he was justified.
He gave a soft snort of contempt when Ethan next spoke. "Oh, I'm not going to kill you," he scathed. "Wouldn't be worth it." Not only that, but people went to jail for murder and from what he'd seen of a jail cell was enough to keep him from doing any large-scale crimes and landing himself in there for good. And it really wouldn't be worth it to kill someone for something this stupid. Not that he had a problem with hurting Ethan. No, hell no. He hoped that it hurt. He hoped the little bastard felt every hit and that it left marks that would remain for a week or something, maybe more, maybe less. He didn't want this guy to think about messing with him again so he was going to make his point. You didn't talk about Joshua if you didn't want some sort of a confrontation. The guy had almost no patience and an incredible temper, so spreading rumours about something like that was as antagonistic as putting a 'kick me' sign on your own back. It was a stupid thing to do.
Surprisingly, however, Ethan didn't attack him again. This suited Josh just fine. He liked it when the ball was in his court and he could tell that the younger student didn't have as much fight in him as someone like Jacob had. Plus, as Ethan was beginning to realise, there was no motivation. Jacob had been defending his sister. Joshua was defending both his pride and his innocence. Ethan was just defending some stupid rumour which he knew nothing about. "Tired?" he taunted, but did not attack. He didn't plan to take this further than was necessary. As long as Joshua won he didn't really care what state his opponent was in by the end of it. He could leave someone with a simple scratch or he could leave them unconscious, the Fire elemental really wasn't picky. If Ethan was ready to give up the fight then Josh wasn't going to attack him when his back was turned, but if he attacked again the graduate was certainly going to retaliate.
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Post by erin on Sept 25, 2011 9:35:53 GMT -5
The heat beat down on Ethan and he started to really feel the drain he had been ignoring before. He knew he couldn’t keep this up much longer; besides, what was the point? He was still standing. That was already a step up from every other fight he had been in. Usually, Ethan wound up on the ground, bleeding and bruised. So, this would be new for him. He quickly debated his next move. Should he act or not? Josh hadn’t made another attack. Maybe he was trying to get Ethan to make the next move. So, why should Ethan give in? He didn’t want to do what his opponent was expecting; that’d make him look weaker. However, his pride was nagging at him. The whole reason he had fought back was to protect his pride. Not for anyone else but for himself. But that had never gotten him anywhere in the past; and didn’t fighting back make him just as wrong as the one who started it (well in this case, this was technically him as well)?
But he didn’t want this guy thinking he could mess around with Ethan not that he was much of a force to be reckoned with. He hardly made a mark on Josh; a couple decent punches. On the same note, Ethan could walk away without much damage either. A few burns and a bleeding lip? He’d seen much worse. But he wasn’t done running his mouth. “Wonder what new rumor will pop up after this one… I don’t think this is going to do much to help your cause,
[/color]” he said, sarcasm dripping off his words. “ And you’re not the only one who’s been a victim of rumors. But I don’t go swinging punches whenever I hear one.[/color]” Ethan was aware of his hypocrisy. If he had abided by these rules, he wouldn’t have fought back. But if Ethan was deciding to back out now, he didn’t want to leave without making his bitterness toward Josh known. “ Tired?[/color]” he repeated. He stood up a little taller and slowed his breathing, realizing he had been out of breath. “ I could keep going. But doesn’t look like I’m going to,[/color]” he said, referring to the fact that Josh hadn’t made another attack. He was on guard for anything coming. He didn’t know whether Josh shared Ethan’s new found belief of walking away or if he still wanted to defend his name. Whatever happened, Ethan made sure to be ready.[/justify][/blockquote][/size]
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Sept 25, 2011 12:42:07 GMT -5
Ethan apparently wasn't going to take the hint and back out now when he had the chance, so Joshua wasn't going to stand around and dawdle, either. He wasn't the type that took pity on someone for being an idiot--no, Joshua was the type that would act on impulse and instinct, thinking about the consequences only later when they actually arose. So when Ethan spoke, his lips curled into a bit of a sneer. "You'd better not be the one starting those rumours," he said threateningly. "They can talk about how you got your ass kicked all they like, I'll just say you deserved it." In truth he knew that the rumours would likely never be in Joshua's favour. They'd probably twist it around to make it sound like Ethan had been the innocent victim, or something. Maybe those that hated the Water elementals would enjoy sneering and jeering at Ethan's loss but seeing as those that hated Water tended to hate him as well at the moment, it didn't seem like it would be positive either way. He didn't care. All he cared about was the here and now, the fact that Ethan had enraged him and he wanted the brat to pay for it.
Joshua scoffed. Is he seriously trying to lecture me about this? he thought incredulously, not sure whether he should laugh or just hit him again in order to prove that he didn't give a shit about right and wrong. "I'm not thick," he said with a shake of his head. He knew that he was not the only one that people talked about. He knew that they would jump on anything about anybody and twist it into an interesting story to share with their mates later on, but that didn't mean that he was alright with people going and telling everyone that he was a fucking murderer. Now he knew how Nell must have felt when they'd said she killed Cynthia. No, Nell's much nicer than you are, he thought sardonically. That was true. His girlfriend hadn't gone around decking everyone but that was because Nell wasn't a violent person. Josh was. We're an odd match, he thought, again with sarcasm. "Oh, good for you," he said in a patronising tone. "Would you like an award?" He hated this kid. He could not stand him. He didn't like his attitude, his element, nor the way he went spreading rumours that Josh knew weren't true.
On your own head, so be it. He showed no external reaction to the fact that Ethan wasn't going to back off--instead, Joshua merely waved his hand and caused a hot wall of fire much like a flaming wave to head toward the other boy rather quickly. It was his fault for not taking the chance, that was Joshua's reasoning on why it was alright to attack Ethan when he was just standing there. Joshua was trying to make his point here and if he had to have Ethan on the ground and unconscious by the time this fight was through then he was going to do just that.
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Post by erin on Sept 27, 2011 17:37:05 GMT -5
So maybe Ethan knew he was fighting a losing battle. Maybe he had given up already. And maybe he was starting to realize he should’ve shut his mouth in the first place. “I’ve got better things to do than make up rumors about you,
[/color]” he retorted. “ But that doesn’t mean I’m going to deny anything about you I might hear. Certainly not.[/color]” So, the lesson hadn’t sunk in yet. If there is one thing you could say about Ethan, it’s that he is consistent. He’s consistent in his personality; not once has he ever lost the real him. But he’s also consistent in picking the wrong decision. Doing and saying stupid things. He prefers to act rather than think. But this was one instance where he had decided to think first; instead of attacking Josh before, he decided against it. However, he was starting to think it might not have been the best idea. Violent wasn’t a word typically used to describe Ethan. Prideful was. Countless times as a kid he’d come home bruised up or to the brim with tears, as if his father didn’t see his son as enough of a disappointment. Even when he was a kid, Ethan could tell his dad wished he was like other boys. And getting beat up wasn’t something that improved this attitude. Bet he’d be proud of me now, Ethan thought sarcastically. He figured his dad would be happy of the fact that he hadn’t run away. He’d want him to take it like a man. Whatever that meant. But Ethan shook it from his head. The only thing that mattered right now was getting out with some of his dignity left. Ethan thought he had mentally prepared himself. But half of him was expecting Josh to drop it. Apparently, he didn’t think that through enough. Ethan certainly wasn’t ready for the wall of fire that came raging at him. The first thing he felt was the heat. Before the fire had even touched his skin he could feel the heat surging toward him. Instinctively he waved his arms over his head, causing a wave as tall as him to rise up from the lake and wash over him. But it hadn’t stopped the fire completely. Ethan was slapped by the wave of fire before the water doused the flames out. He could feel the burns already forming as he dropped to his knees. The gush of water had done it. Ethan was completely drained and he quickly found he lacked the energy to get up. “ Well, congratulations,[/color]” Ethan said between breaths, his words full of sarcasm and bitterness. He tried to stand, but stumbled and fell back to ground, gritting his teeth as he made his best effort to stay conscious.[/blockquote][/justify][/size]
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