Royally Screwed (Damien)

[Nicolas Constantine]

Nick ran. His headphones bounced up and down in time with his step and his hood trailed behind him, acting as a sort of parachute to make sure he didn't go too fast.

It was his first day and he had already managed to piss off a group of people who now wanted to assert their authority by beating him into the ground. He was a speedy kid, so there was a good distance between him and the group of about 4 or 5 students who were chasing him.

I just need to lose them somehow...

He quickly turned the corner within the labyrinth of the Arts Department corridors and hid behind the wall as the buffoons ran past the hallway down which he had turned.

He caught his breath for a second, as he was breathing hard, but he knew he couldn't stay in the same place too long, he had to get out of there. Looking backwards, Nick picked up speed instantly and continued to run down the hall but then BAM! ran right into someone, toppled over, and hit the ground hard.

[Damien Kross, Jester]

My coffee hit the ground with a splashing thud...

My coffee hit the ground...

My coffee...

Motherfucker, you did NOT just make me spill my coffee... I know you didn't. The perfect amount of creamer... The perfect amount of sugar... On the ground... I looked at the kid who ran into me, and I gave him an annoyed stare. He was goddamn lucky none of it got on my suit, because if it had, he would be a bloody mess right now.

"I hope you have a good reason for running through the halls kid." I said. "Or else we have a problem..."

OoOoOo, this kid's gonna get his ass whipped.

Maybe Jester. Maybe.

[Nicolas Constantine]

Nick looked up into a furious face. The red-headed kid's coffee had fallen to the ground as hard as Nick had.

I hope you have a good reason for running through the halls kid. Or else we have a problem...

Well Nick did have a good reason for running, but he was terrified. This kid not only was bigger, but looked quite important in his suit. He decided to play the weaker role, seeing how his position demanded it.

"Uh, uh, well you see, s-sir, I was being chased by a group of students who I allegedly angered and I was looking for them and not...you..." he said with a quiver in his accent.

Even though it appears that it pissed you off equally as well...

[Damien Kross, Jester]

"Alledgedly..." I repeated, mimicking the tone he used. "Makes you sound as if you're on trial... Then again, maybe you are. I'm one of the Pillars here... So, if you're being chased by some people, why don't you just show them to me?" I said, welcoming the thought of doing justice and getting more hoologans out of the halls.

Something ain't quite right about this kid.

I was thinking the same thing... But regardless...

"However, you WILL buy me another coffee from the cafeteria once this is over." I said with a stern authority.

[Nicolas Constantine]

A Pillar! Both the right and wrong person to run into. Well, he doesn't seem to want to kill me if I buy him a coffee, and he'll help me take care of my little problem.

Nick analyzed this Pillar for a few seconds with a stern face. He didn't seem to want to hurt him, but Nick could see some inner anguish within his eyes.

Definitely want to be on the good side of this one and it wouldn't be bad to make friends with a Pillar at all. Who knows, this guy might be nice, better play it well...

"Bloody hell, if you help me out, I'll buy you two coffees! I'm Nicolas, and you are?"

[Damien Kross, Jester]

"I'm aggitated." I said, putting the classic spin on the joke. I walked past Nicolas and turned the corner, seeing a group of five kids running down the path towards me. One started shouting for me to get out of the way... Hm... Apparently, not everyone knows I'm a Pillar yet.

The first kid to reach me had a fist buried into his gut, the poor junior dropping to his knees in squealing agony. The other four looked me over, debating whether or not to do anything. Only one of them tried.

The right punch he threw was dodged and used as a mechanism for him being flipped to the ground, my knee then dropping onto his cheek to keep his head down.

"Damien Kross, Pillar." I said to them, my face displaying that I was NOT in a good mood. "Now get the hell out of here."

Needless to say- they did. Quickly, might I add.

[Nicolas Constantine]

Nick starred in horror and glee as the unnamed Pillar took care of his assailants.

"Damien Kross, Pillar. Now get the hell out of here."

They all ran with their tails between their legs. So that was his name. Damien Kross. The name had a sense of pride and power to it, as Nick analyzed each syllable. This was definitely a kid Nick wanted as a friend or at least an ally.

But the question is, does he want me as a friend.

[Damien Kross, Jester]

"You had better have two dollars in your pocket to buy me some God damned coffee, or else you'll wind up like this guy here." I said, putting my dress shoe atop the head of the one kid who was too injured to run away with his friends. "And I'd hate to have to do this to another young student..."

Nice first impression...

You think?

Hi, Damien Kross, Pillar. Wham! Blam! Snap! Break! Buy me coffee! That's what you just came off as.

So, you were being sarcastic...?

......*facepalm*

[Nicolas Constantine]

Wow, this Pillar thing has seemed to have gone to this kids head...

"Young student? Suspecting that you're a Senior, believe it or not, we're in the same class! You may be a Pillar, but the only thing that means is you're higher up on the social ladder than me!"

Nick's eyes widened. He realized that he had just opened his mouth to the wrong person. That rarely happened to him, and he was especially surprised as Damien was the one who just saved his ass. Nick thought of the only way out of this one.

"S-so don't be the one threatening me after you spent your time saving me from those guys. And two dollar coffee? What kind of a person would I be if I got you a two dollar coffee!?"

[Damien Kross, Jester]

Wrong answer.

My right leg would swing around with all the speed I could muster- which was quite a bit- to sweep the kid onto his back. Maybe I would have to teach him to speak properly to a Pillar.

"Talking down to a Pillar like that and playing it off with a coffee remark is quite impolite... and stupid..." I remarked, looking down at him.

"Learn some respect."

[Nicolas Constantine]

One instant Nick was up, the other he was on the ground. It didn't hurt much, but it was unexpected. Nick got back up and rubbed his ass.

There's gonna be a bruise there tomorrow...

Nick looked at Damien directly in the eyes with a furrowed brow.

"Did you enjoy that? Was that satisfying enough for your Pillar-sized ego? Why don't you just talk to me like a normal human being?"

Nick couldn't stop badmouthing Damien. But then he wondered; why couldn't they just talk like normal human beings without all these politics involved?

Nick stopped and regained his calm. He froze and thought to himself briefly.

"I-I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me... w-would you like that coffee now?" he said with a zombified stare.

[Damien Kross, Jester]

"Fine." I said, taking a step back from him. "And yes, I did enjoy it. I saved your ass from those kids, so the least you can do is show some gratitude."

Wow Damien, chill out.

Go to hell Jester... I'm not in the mood.

You get your panties in a bunch over spilling some coffee?

....someday Jester, you'll understand...

[Nicolas Constantine]

Nick looked into Damien's eyes and saw the inner anguish was still there. Maybe this kid was always like that. Nick, however, was done with his own antics, even if Damien wasn't. He decided on an attempt to start over.

"I guess we got off on the wrong foot, could we possibly start from scratch? I'm Nicolas Constantine." he said as his accent became businesslike and stern. It was unlike him, but he had to be serious towards a serious fellow.

Nick extended his hand towards Damien in hope that they could now get along.

[Damien Kross, Jester]

"We can start from scratch." I said, giving in and taking his hand. "Damien Kross, to some, Jester, Director of Media."

I tried to take on the situation with a new light, trying to put aside how badly I wanted the coffee that was now creeping across the ground in a massive puddle of tasty java...

"So, how bout that coffee?" I asked with a grin.

Still with the coffee...

Silence nonbeliever!

[Nicolas Constantine]

"We can start from scratch. Damien Kross, to some, Jester, Director of Media."

The two of them shook hands.

"So, how bout that coffee?"

"Definitely. I could go for some myself after all of that," Nick said with an embarrassed smile,"That usually doesn't happen to me... I mean, don't get me wrong, I could have taken on one or two of them easily, but not five."

Nick started to walk, leading them towards the canteen.

"Hm, and the Director of Media. I'm guessing that puts you in charge of the whole art department?"