Cooling off... (Open)

[ChocoRem]

Being 5'2'' would usually be a handicap for a boy 17-years-old. Usually. For Rem it meant being invisible, anonymous, a wallflower. Underestimated. Exactly the way he liked it. Though, it wasn't like he was popular to begin with. Still, with a studious outlook and quiet, mysterious air about him, several of the native #42 students found it within their rights to dig into his past. What they found wasn't really damaging, just really annoying. And that was why he took the trouble of luring them to the storage room in the Covered Pool Area and mercilessly beat them to bloody piles of bruised and battered meatsacks.

"...I hope you fools've learned to mind your own business..."

The statement was said just for the sake of saying it. None of the six punks that lay scattered over the storage room floor were even conscious. He had their blood on his hands, literally, a fact he'd seemed to have forgotten as he briskly strode out of the room, barely sparing the time to clean his glasses and replace them on his face.

"..."

The area was deserted, quiet. The water in the pool swished and swashed serenely as Rem pulled his trouser legs up to his knees and sat with his bare legs dangling into the pool.

"Nice..."

[James Everwood]

James thought he would take a swim, since swimming was something he could do quite well. He wasn't on a swim team or anything, he just did it for the exercise. Of course on this particular day when he made his way to the pool, wearing swim trunks and a white t-shirt that he was getting ready to take off, he saw unconscious bodies and looked over to a boy who had his feet in the pool. It was something he found somewhat peculiar.

"I'm going to go out on a limb here," He said pointing with both index fingers at the unconscious bodies, his head turned towards the boy sitting by the pool, "And guess that they weren't like this when you got here....."

What the hell is wrong with this place, everybody decides to solve their problems with fighting....

James wasn't exactly a fighter. He knew how to take care of himself, and he was pretty fast, but the truth was that he would much rather do the civilized talking out of problems rather then skip to the beating up thing. Of course, the fact that this small guy could have done all this worried James. Since he was a taller guy and even he knew that it'd be hard for him to take on five guys without looking a little roughed up himself.

[ChocoRem]

"I'm going to go out on a limb here,"

Rem had heard someone approaching. It wasn't as though this person would be trying to hide their footsteps. They had no reason to. Still, Rem was always aware of his surroundings. Painfully so sometimes. He glanced over his shoulder at the boy.

"And guess that they weren't like this when you got here..."

"Quite astute of you."

His voice was drenched with sarcasm, but his tone kept it at a civil level. He removed his glasses once more, attempting to wipe away a few droplets of water that had somehow gotten onto its surface. He owed this person no explanation for his actions, however, it seemed he wouldn't be left alone otherwise. Putting his glasses back on, he gave the newcomer a wistful smile.

"They simply needed to learn some manners. I was happy to oblige."

[James Everwood]

"Well you know what Confucius said, 'Consideration for others is the basic of a good life, a good society, and a pummeling to those who don't abide to this'," He said sarcastically, as the boy cleaned his glasses. He wasn't sure at all why he was so determined to speak his mind on the subject, but it was just the fact that this guy would go through all this trouble to beat up five guys and act so casual about it.

James kicked one of the unconscious body only to hear a grunt, "Whatever it was I'm sure they won't ever do it again. Or if they do, they won't do it to you anyway. I know I wouldn't want to fight you, especially since you have four times as many eyes as I do." James recognized the kids as regulars but he didn't know this kid.

"Let me guess," He said, observing the kid with his eye, trying to remember if he had seen the kid around the school this year, "You're one of those transfer kids huh? What's your name?"

[ChocoRem]

"Well you know what Confucius said, 'Consideration for others is the basic of a good life, a good society, and a pummeling to those who don't abide to this. Whatever it was I'm sure they won't ever do it again. Or if they do, they won't do it to you anyway. I know I wouldn't want to fight you, especially since you have four times as many eyes as I do. Let me guess, you're one of those transfer kids huh? What's your name?"

He had remained silent during this boy's little speech, his head still half-turned to face him.

"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't the proper etiquette in your country..."

Stress on 'your'. When he was done, Rem turned to look at the clear calm water ahead of him.

...but isn't one supposed to introduce one's self before asking the name of another?"

[James Everwood]

"Well I wouldn't call it MY country, I just work here. Now if I were the President then I'd assume ownership, but yes you're right I'm sorry," James said, bringing his hands together in a form of non verbal communication. He was big on the non verbal stuff for emphasis, "I'm James, James Everwood. California born and raised."

He then stuck out his right hand, but then withdrew it, "In light of blood perhaps we should skip the whole hand shaking phase."

This kid is extremely direct... where in the world is he from....

"So then, if this is my country, I suppose you aren't around from here?" He asked, still wondering if he'd get an answer to his first question. The guy gave James the creeps for some reason. Perhaps it was the blood, but it could have been how he handled five guys and didn't break a sweat. Either way James was really baffled by guys like this. They just seemed kind of heartless. Almost insane in certain aspects.

[ChocoRem]

"Well I wouldn't call it MY country, I just work here. Now if I were the President then I'd assume ownership, but yes you're right I'm sorry. I'm James, James Everwood. California born and raised. In light of blood perhaps we should skip the whole hand shaking phase."

"My my... James Everwood. As American a name as any I've ever heard before..."

Rem's tilted his head slightly, considering the boy's words. In slight confusion, he glanced down at his hands and simply chuckled at the blood there.

"You can call me Rem Aoyama."

How could he have missed that. Oh well. He dunked his hands into the pool and gingerly scrubbed the blood free from his palms and knuckles.

"So then, if this is my country, I suppose you aren't around from here?"

"I've only been in this country for a year. I'm from Japan."

Having let the chlorine-treated water work its magic on the blood on his hands, Rem clenched his fists slightly and cast a sidelong glance at James, his eyes sharp and calculating as ever.

"You seem like a smart person, James. I like smart people."

He swished his legs back and forth in the water, kicking up a tiny tsunami that disturbed the water only momentarily.

"I hope we can... get along quite nicely in the future..."

[James Everwood]

"Japan, huh?" He said. He thought about what the kid about liking smart people. And James began to get a little worried, he wasn't exactly the smartest guy. So he decided to try and hide that he could be a bit simple at times. After all, how smart could a sixteen year old kid who works construction be? Especially when he was barely getting by on C's when he studied. Still he wondered about the guys in the pile.

"Aren't you a little worried they'll wake up again? I mean guys like these may be simple, but what they lack in intelligence they usually make up for in strong numbers.... and hot girlfriends.... but mostly the strong numbers. Although I'm usually more afraid of the whole hot girlfriend thing....." James mind started to drift a little thinking about cheerleaders and how many cheerleaders he could get if he were a big tough guy. He liked football, and he was big and kinda tough, but he had hardly any time at all to join a sports team. Usually he was only at the practices because of his work.

Ahh... in their uniforms and pom poms, flipping in slow motion......

James drifted into dead space thinking about cheerleaders for a few moments....

[ChocoRem]

"Japan, huh?"

Rem could literally see the little hamster taking a jog on its wheel inside this young man's head. Deep thought was an intriguing thing. It hit people differently. For Rem, he'd simply drift off into moments of unexplained silences. For James, he could see it on the young man's facial expression. He gave a slight smile.

"Aren't you a little worried they'll wake up again? I mean guys like these may be simple, but what they lack in intelligence they usually make up for in strong numbers.... and hot girlfriends.... but mostly the strong numbers. Although I'm usually more afraid of the whole hot girlfriend thing...."

At that, Rem burst out laughing, a quiet, reserved one at first, but then a full fledged cackle. He had to hug himself to catch his bearings again.

"Hot girlfriends...yes, I am...well aware of these hot girlfriends. Stacy, Lawren, Jessica, Tailyn and Melissa. I'm...actually well acquainted with them all...very...well acquainted. It appeared that this fact was only part in parcel of what these guys needed to...'talk' to me about."

A wistful smile creased his lips.

[James Everwood]

"Hmm.... Stacy... something about Stacy makes her sound like the best one," He said, still daydreaming. In his mind Stacey was a tall blond with long wavy hair. Short skirt, jumping up and down in slow motion with perfect teeth. But then something clicked in his head and he remembered what the guy said, "Ahh, well I'm glad you weren't the aggressor in this situation, I suppose if they had it coming I shouldn't be so worried."

He walked over and stepped to the edge of the pool a few feet down from Rem putting his legs in the water, "I'm kind of worried for the school. Do you know anything about the Pillars? Something about them doesn't seem right to me. Then again, the whole fighting to see who's in charge thing also seems a bit weird to me. It just seems all 'macho man'ish."

James was getting off on a tangent but he honestly didn't know what to make of any of the transfer kids from that other school. They seemed completely insane to him. Especially with how fast they got pillarship in the school. If he weren't a chicken and a bit of a lame fighter he would probably try to do something to change that.

[ChocoRem]

"Sometimes...."

Rem began to stroke his chin pensively, offering an amiable glance toward James as he sat beside him.

"Sometimes the use of violence is not only necessary to achieve peace and stability, but to maintain it as well..."

His voice exuded a serious tone, but then he chuckled and shrugged.

"That's probably what they think anyways. If history is any guide, we can see that their logic has some ounce of truth within it..."

Rem took a deep breath and then sighed, leaning backwards slightly, propping himself up with both hands behind him.

"The Pillars I know by name alone. Their reputations seem pretty standard...for Pillars anyways. Their backgrounds...their way of doing things... are just some of the things I wish to find out myself."

[James Everwood]

"I don't know, I guess I always thought history was a convenient excuse. Like those people who say they are abusive because they had abusive parents. Or the people who are alcoholics saying it runs in the family. Stuff in the past has always been in different circumstances, different situations, and I think we should consider ourselves a different species or something then every human being before about fifty years ago. People really underestimate the peaceful effect of having quality television."

Was he serious? It was about 50/50 seriousness and joke. But he did feel like history was more of an excuse then a reason. Still, he'd be open minded about the idea, even though he wasn't a fan of violence, he wasn't about to just discredit someone elses beliefs because they weren't his own.

"In any case I hope peace can be achieved without violence, but I guess nothing can be perfect," He said, thinking about it, "So what happens if you find that these Pillars aren't up to par? Do you take them down yourself, take on the School Captain and take the title? It'd make you a target in the end wouldn't it? Or are you wanting to know as sort of a way to brace yourself. Kind of like when a nurse gives you a countdown before giving you a shot. Of course then she always goes on three instead of going on one....."

[ChocoRem]

"I don't know, I guess I always thought history was a convenient excuse. Like those people who say they are abusive because they had abusive parents. Or the people who are alcoholics saying it runs in the family. Stuff in the past has always been in different circumstances, different situations, and I think we should consider ourselves a different species or something then every human being before about fifty years ago. People really underestimate the peaceful effect of having quality television."

Rem's eyes narrowed and his eyebrows furrowed in slight disdain, which he made no attempt to disguise. Yet, he regained his wistful demeanor after just a few seconds.

"In any case I hope peace can be achieved without violence, but I guess nothing can be perfect. So what happens if you find that these Pillars aren't up to par? Do you take them down yourself, take on the School Captain and take the title? It'd make you a target in the end wouldn't it? Or are you wanting to know as sort of a way to brace yourself. Kind of like when a nurse gives you a countdown before giving you a shot. Of course then she always goes on three instead of going on one....."

"The history you're speaking of is an entirely different thing, based on the actions of mere individuals. I suppose...some of it could be attributed to the way the world works, after all, what is the human race if not made up of a plethora of individuals. In which case... I suppose the violence is an excuse of some sort. However, excuse or not, history has proven it a necessity. There will always be those who oppose the ruling regime. To expect peace to be achieved without some iota of force or resistance on either side is idealistic at best, just plain naive at worst."

And then he laughed. Honestly, Rem had never once thought of becoming a Pillar himself. As confident in his abilities as he was, he wasn't about to challenge, nor think about toppling them. Not without a well concocted plan, of course.

"Y'know, I'd never really thought of becoming a Pillar. But thanks for putting the idea into my head."

He had to readjust his glasses, which had slid down the bridge of his nose somewhat.

"Still, it's been my experience that being a target isn't as bad as one would hope. At least you know people are out for your head. Just as we are now, at the whims of the powers that be, waiting for our number to be up, for someone...or a group of someones to show up when we least expect and..."

He trailed off, mostly for dramatic effect, and then turned to fully face James.

[James Everwood]

After he trailed off and looked at James, James looked back with a smile and said, "Stab you right in the eye," He said, letting out a small laugh at the joke. He thought about it though, and it was naive to hope for peace like that. But he wasn't completely sold on the idea of naivety either. The concept in itself could be seen as somebody unwilling to believe, and then of course the idea of idealism could be seen as somebody with their head in the clouds. He just wanted to explore every option. He apparently gave the kid the idea to become a pillar, he wasn't sure exactly what to make of it but he thought he'd be OK with this guy as a pillar.

"Of course," He said, thinking about it, "Maybe if there were a group of your own, you could probably protect yourself a lot better. Just sort of a group of people to watch each others backs and make sure nobody gets hurt. Call it S.H.I.E.L.D. or something, get a guy with an eye patch to run it, name him Nick Fury and you got yourself a pretty solid organization. Or at least a good comic book story, one or the other."

He decided to stop rambling on, "But in all seriousness, I don't think you have much to worry about. The five sleeping beauties behind me can vouch for that."

[ChocoRem]

"...Stab you right in the eye,"

Rem chuckled at the way James chose to finish his sentence.

"Of course. Maybe if there were a group of your own, you could probably protect yourself a lot better. Just sort of a group of people to watch each others backs and make sure nobody gets hurt. Call it S.H.I.E.L.D. or something, get a guy with an eye patch to run it, name him Nick Fury and you got yourself a pretty solid organization. Or at least a good comic book story, one or the other. But in all seriousness, I don't think you have much to worry about. The five sleeping beauties behind me can vouch for that."

Rem laughed out loud once again, splashing his feet wildly in a childish way.

"It seems you have quite the fetish for Marvel Comics my friend. But yeah, seriously... I'm nothing on my own. I do have a group...my own personal S.H.I.E.L.D, if you will. I've decided. Will you be a part of my group? My S.H.I.E.L.D?"