dev 11 - test for sus

"Ya, Lilith and dude called Despair. Bunch of losers, I tell you!"

Sus' starts punching the ground, snorting furiously like the angry little boar he is! This encounter left the kid with a nasty scar, a physical and emotional one. "Sus will bring true despair to the both of them! People underestimate Sus, King of the Jungle, King of the Beast!"

"But when Sus will finally stop messing around, people will respect Sus! Will beat the CRAP out these BITCHES!"
(Sus)

"Sounds like them."

Hats, hurting people like that, definitely fitting the description. Though, at such reaction, he certainly finds degree of amusement- and while he knows it will be really long until he could match someone like Despair... Lilith, on the other hand?

That's a more likely challenge.

"You got this." But something is telling him Sus might be a little too enthusiastic about this.

"Just be careful about Despair, yeah? There's a reason he was around for so long and undefeated." And it'd be a shame to see this guy go too soon.

"Come at him like... extra, super prepared and super strong."
(Nathan Cruor)

Ajax would observe Miyoko's fight, it was rather interesting - time magic and fire magic flying at each other with metaphysical energy thrown in the mix. Gravity magic was also very annoying to deal with.

His attention turns to Nathan for a moment, "Hey, how are you feeling? The fights last night were really cool. You did good." Ajax would pat Nathan's shoulder once, because he saw how upset he was in this fight!

"So how are you today, Nate?"
(Ajax Reynold)

Saki Oshikawa is now observing Miyoko Hayako

To think he might be fighting him tonight.

The insane plan of a particular half-Sarradian woman was in notion, and at all this talk, Nathan almost instinctively reached back to his bag with necessary belongings for this sort of thing; you can't come too prepared when faced off against people that terrorize Agartha as a whole.

Where the rest affirm his words, he squints after he's spoken to, glancing at Ajax as if breaking away from a single thought.

"Huh? Oh."

"A little grumpy. I wish I was older for tournament, maybe I'd actually get further than second round. But... yeah, I'm not very outfitted to be taking a lot of blows right now."

"I'm okay otherwise. Just... thinking."

As usual. His gaze trails off again.
(Nathan Cruor)

Sus' crosses his arms under his chin and watches the spars going on over there. The little dude's been losing over and over, against girls, eww.. but that wasn't what bothered him the most. Claiming to be the King of the Jungle, King of the Beasts and not win a single brawl against anyone wasn't making him sad but it certainly think. How could he run his mouth and shout at the top of his lungs if he's still weak, huh?

GAH! Don't think! That's for pussies!

The child can be found slamming his head against the ground, driving away all these dummy dumb thoughts! Sus will get there, he just needed to grow! After beating himself enough, the boar kid looks up at Nathan who also seemed to be lost in his thoughts and he slaps his calve!

"BIG BRAIN! Stop overthinkin' you don't want to cook what's inside your head! Did well at the tournament, you and I will win next tournament! Sus' telling you, my dude!"
(Sus)

What a contrast.

The young Cruor was actually the one to sink in thoughts often, but that's just required in his situation - when you get confronted by people that would actually see you dead the moment they find out about your heritage, or the people that would try and get at you for similar reasons..

Such planning is just needed.

Despite Sus being fairly simple about it, he did have a point in Nathan's view; overthinking too much tends to breed anxiety and doubt, and while at first it was met with a surprised squint, it eventually turned to a tiny smile.

"Yeah. You're right. Would be pretty bad to do that."

He could actually use a little bit of simplicity in his life. Isn't he supposed to have fun at this young age, rather than sink in all those worries?

"We will win for sure."

"You been getting stronger with any magics? Or trained your body instead?"
(Nathan Cruor)


"MAGIC?! DUMB, SUS DOESN'T USE STUPID TRICKS!"


Sus lets out a clear and loud snort, no magic here, that's for pussies! Is Nathan insulting the King of the Jungle here? Of course, the little savage has dwelved into some special fields but he doesn't consider that as magic. He calls that…

"I breath hard and use instinct to fight seriously!"

Now what is breathing and what is this so called instinct? Nobody knows yet! "I ain't farting stupid flames like people do! Gah!"
(Sus)

You ask and you get.

Just as he thought he could use a little more simplicity in his life, Sus practically pours it all over with the way he goes. Not that the Cruor was complaining, of course- it was somewhat amusing in its own right.

"Sounds nice."

"Can you show then?"

He already suspected it's either fire or energy magics, but... he wouldn't tell Sus about it now, would he? He might take it as offense.
(Nathan Cruor)

The little savage rubs his rear, after his brawl against Aliah, he could barely feel it. Yup, shameless aswell.

"It's not stuff Sus can show that easily nor control, the breathing and instinct stuff can't be seen and only works when in danger!" Though, Sus reaches out for the feather on his belt and moves it closer to the boar head's nostrils.

"But when Sus sneezes!"

He pushes the feather deep into the boar's muzzle and when the child actually sneezes, for a mere instant it seems like Sus fades from existence and appear on the side of Nathan! "Sus becomes so fast no one can catch him, gahaha!"

"When Sus sneezes, everythin' around the King of the Jungle stops for a second!"
(Sus)

"Only really works when in danger, you say?"

Both malicious and mischievous thought appeared on his mind. Nathan, after all, was Aurora's son - and the Cruor family just tends to somehow fall back on these... certain patterns with their behaviour. Something that lingered with the dark.

At least, it was timid in this case, more or less.

"Hm..." It's certainly interesting to observe him fade like that. Perhaps he was trying to tap into spiritual force? Into energetic fields? Or just align himself with the winds to be impossibly quick? There were many options that could work that way.

But one thing is clear, and that's Nathan's want to test it.

The staff with the bell is drawn; much like the mischievous thought that appeared on his mind, it buzzedwith intense dark energy, much like it was calling for people around it- and when the bell rang, it almost like the sound tugs at someone's being. Like it tries to control.

And the heat around young pyromancer only grew greater, the air surrounding him threatening to combust in flames.

"Why don't we test it?" The bell is pointed towards Sus, this heated air directed at him too; even now, it felt uncomfortable, almost painful - comparable to the hot steam that singes the flesh.

"Hm?"
(Nathan Cruor)


"Huh?!"


Sus looks straight towards Nathan's direction more specifically the massive bell he's holding within his grasp. The savage can feel the heat building up around Nathan, though, the darkness lingering within his bloodline?

Nope, the King of the Jungle doesn't feel that.

In fact, Sus doesn't feel threatened at all! He's not considering Nathan weak but he doesn't feel bloodlust nor a murderous intent towards him. Sus was also pretty much "limited" when it came to… well, clues! He's not retarded though!

He lets out a clear and loud snort!


"I DON'T PLAY THE BELL, YOU DUMMY DUMB! DO I LOOK LIKE A DUMMY DUMB BELL RINGER?!"


Nathan's invitation to test out Sus' abilities was misunderstood from the boar boy. He thought BIG BRAIN wanted to play music with him or some shitt like that, that's what big brained people do afterall!
(Sus)

Misunderstandings happen... but the Cruor wouldn't let that linger for far too long.

By now, he's gotten far too amused and interested by this. It's much like a game of cat and mouse, where he feels as if he's the former and tries to toy with things- or people- around him. While Sus may misunderstand the original intent, it will become clear very, very soon.

"Oh?"

"That's good. Because I wasn't looking to play the bell."

The emergence of Starfire. The brilliance of cosmic gold, coupled with the flickering blue stardust, infused amidst the sparkles of the flames; the heat was rising by each second, and the original intent to play music could no longer be seen - the heatwaves were running rampant around the young Cruor, and under this shade..

There's almost a grin on his face.

He enjoyed these moments thoroughly. As much as he wanted to walk out of Aurora's shadow, sometimes, he's been taken by this.. and the weapon he holds, the ring of the bell, it only suggested that much to him as well. At times, only he could hear what it says.

"Let me make it clearer for you."

The flicker of stardust shines once, and it is immediately fired at the core of Sus; should he avoid dodging it in any way possible, it'll definitely thoroughly burn him- the explosive potency of the stars locked within.

Everything about it screams danger. And for him? It should be clear as the cloudless day.
(Nathan Cruor)

"Some more than others, don't you think?" He lets his gaze settle towards them for a few moments.

But then the gaze settled on Nathan and the person with the boar head. His eyebrows were furrowed as he turns over towards them. Questions that were rising were probably about be answered already.

But there was a feeling here. A feeling that it could turn out to be very dangerous and fleshed out to be violent. And as much as he enjoyed the violence, he was more-so worried about who will come out graveling.

Couldn't be Nathan, right?
(Hendrydal Waeswynn)

Tired. Just having woken up from her slumber, the tiny Sugar made her progression down the pathway with a wobble, and though it were dark, the land lit by lantern and fire provided her with a good view of those who resided in the eastern fields of Gehenna. Fatigued as she were, Nathan's sudden hostility isn't completely registered the second she's to view it, but as a good few blinks are taken, alongside a couple more tiresome strides, she does eventually raise a brow at the scene.

"--Nate.. what are you.." Mumble mumble. Deirdre wasn't up for working out petty arguments like this, a sigh escaping her in hopes the boar wearing boy were to dodge, and even though unacting for now, the flicker of ember is made apparently if one were to observe those hands still partially concealed behindthe girl's back.

"..Nate, I've been meaning to speak to you, I trust.. you won't try hurting that child further, ah- and don't retaliate, uh.. boar headed one? Probably'll make things worse." Completely unknowing of the situation's reason for sparking up to begin with, all she could really do were offer a vague request, alongside her own.

What's is it with everyone getting at each other's throats around here?!
(Deirdre Sugar)

Holy shitt!

Big brain ain't a fucking coward for sure! Sus' not particularly known to be strong but stuff escalates real quick with this little bout of a boar. A bad word thrown at him and he starts to curse and shout at the top of his lungs so can you picture how fucked up Sus would get if someone attacked him? There's no magic button to turn off a little berserk, it has to go on until it eventualy runs out of juice.

Despite Nathan's best efforts to explain him what's going on here, Sus would not understand. The Cruor was possibly facing the dumbest and clueless child he would ever stand before in his entire life, so what happened then?!

Sus did not move an inch!

This flicker of Stardust struck the kid right in the middle of his core! The momentum and the power of the spell was so greast, it actually bended the little savage into two! Sus immediatly fell on his back with flames lingering on his abdomen, burning skin and withering flesh!

The boar kid was like dead for an instant, not moving a finger, not breathing anymore! It all happened in a flash, in only a few seconds Sus was crippled by a single blow from Nathan. But then, Sus sneezed from under his mask and the flames extinguished as if they were sucked out of reality. The burnt flesh was no more, there was nothing left but a clean and healthy patch of skin as if Nathan didn't even attack Sus in the first place.

Though, Sus slowly pushed himself up, hands reaching in his back to pull out two thin but serrated blades. These were destined to tear through one's flash in the most violent and painful away possible and Sus, was actually very mad..


"YOU SON OF A FUCKING STUPID DUMMY DUMB KITTEN! YOU WANT TO FIGHT ME, BIG BRAINY BITCH?!"


He snorts so hard, smoke comes out from the boar's muzzle.
(Sus)

Calemvir proceeds to scratch his head at the... interesting scene before him, an expression of mild bewilderment clear across his features.
(Calemvir)

Sigh.

In troubling times, if people were honestly going to engage into fighting with those that resided in the same settlements as them, she wouldn't have it. Deirdre would take a step forward, being sure to act as some sort of barrier, all the while allowing herself to emanate that usual flow of holy light in an attempt to quell conflicts and newfound wounds alike.

"..Leave each other alone, if you two are to battle it out, so be it, but I'm going to prevent it by any means." Promises the teen, hands still pressed against her back, though now the slightest of hostilities coming fourth, flame circulating digits which curled into teeny tiny fists. Needless to say, she'd grown tired of it.

Tired of this pointless, pointless display of power.

"..Plus I need to talk, can't have you both at each other's throats.. hhmn."
(Deirdre Sugar)

Kimiari whispers something.

Neo was bored at home as no one really seemed to be around, so she allowed herself to wander over to Gehenna again for a bit. Maybe she'd see a familiar of face or even get Xeph to enchant her staff to its full potential sooner rather than later.

When she arrived, she'd see a group of people however and stop right in her tracks to see what was going on. There was a kid in a boar mask yelling at another kid and then boom.. they were on fire. Then huff they weren't.

Yellow fox like eyes stayed on the boar headed loud mouth. Before the teen could say anything though Deirdre spoke up.
(Neo)

Nathaliel whispers something.

At last he was getting it.

If anything, that caused an amused grin to appear over Cruor's features. He was most certainly lacking entertainment... and when Nathan lacks entertainment, things can be dangerous. After all, this cursed heritage that existed within him only fuelled it further.

Frustrations that came about from the other day didn't help either.

"You're slow to catch on, aren't you?" Even then, this was very far from the full extent of abilities that Nathan possessed. For someone of his age, it was certainly impressive - so much so that it could even rival some of the adult magi.

"You said you were going to battle Despair. You said that you're going to crush those upon the mountain." The winds were rising, picking up in velocity and power alike; by now, the tornadoes were appearing all around him in combination with Starfire, prompting a dangerous symphony like no other.

The floating, explosive particles surrounding him, hissing with the promise of flames appearing.

"What can you hope to achieve going like this, hm?"

"You'll need a little more wit and a little more strength if you want to beat them down. So show me what you can do."

In a sense, it was a lesson. One that ought to teach Sus how exactly one should handle such situations. Whereas Nathan wasn't going to straight up kill him… these people on the mountain? They actually might.

But... there were always people trying to stand inbetween, weren't there? A single warning is spoken.

"...Stand aside. I want to test him." A pause, and he adds with a shrug. "Or be caught in the crossfire, I suppose..."

And the barrage is immediately fired. Aimed at Sus, the flickering flames infused with stardust were sent his way. It would seem that he recovered well after the first...

So a little more can't hurt, right?
(Nathan Cruor)

Sus doesn't fucking care, he's going for that throat to punch it hard! Stupidity is coming out from Big Brain's mouth, better shut these words down! The boar strikes his chest with the hilt of his blades, he's about to charge Nathan with full strength and head first but there's an obstacle on his way.

And it's not something he can brush off that easily.

It's a girl.

Sus isn't against fighting women but, the dude promised he'd never ever harm or use his barbaric blades on them. A punch or two's fine but never make them bleed. A stupid reasoning coming from his past, Sus can't just charge towards Nathan nor allow him to be caught in a crossfire between steel and flames.

The boar immediatly rushes forward but it's not to attack Nathan, it's to "tank" Nathan's barrage of flames so Deirdre wouldn't get injured from Nathan. Sus screams in pain from under his mask, the impacts of the projectiles are carved in his back,burning and the savage child can't simply recover like he did from Nathan's first spell.

This sstrange ability wasn't something Sus could control…


"GAHH!"


Women are stupid, so stupid. They get caught in men's affairs and suffer because of that. Sus wasn't about to let Nathan burn the girl, no… he's the King of a Jungle, not a fucking pussy!


"NATHAN YOU SCUMBARE? HOW DARE YOU ATTACK WHEN A WOMAN'S BETWEEN US!?"


The boar kid falls on his back, exhausted and injured.
(Sus)

Annoying, annoying.
Kids were such brats at times.

"..It is true, those on the mountain aren't so easily crushed, at least without number.." Admittedly, for the children at both sides of her, she could make a strong assumption that the tiny Cruor were more able than that of Sus, and so she'd stay firmly planted where she were, the trademark of a holy user still spiralling around the premise.

"..You can test him, but as of right now I can't imagine this is anything other than a ill-intending attack, Nate.. stand down, both--" Sputtered at the girl, and even when such words were delivered in rapid succession to the last, it still served all too long, for the fourteen year old had already made it his mission to harm. Disregarding her own wellbeing, too.

"If.. you're going to be like this-- then how are you any better than that man himself?" An inquiry, though there was pain in her tone as she braced the incoming clash of magics, black garb quick to disintegrate at the sleeves, burning the skin underneath some, and in response she still tried to serve as some sort of means to calm an incoming calamity, quick to utilize the use of her prowess in crystallisation, tiny, tiny crystals beginning to circle that of the Cruror, all gradually becoming greater in size, and most importantly? Sharp. And if it weren't enough to make those frustrations clearer, fire and ember alike was quick to grow, a mere fist sized ball of flame progressing up that of her arm, and then making it's eventual circulation around the majority of her frame.

"..Stop it-- now, Nate."
(Deirdre Sugar)

So boring.

Yet, when Sus actually leaps out to take the flames for Deirdre, it puts up somewhat of a smile on his face.. knowing that he at least had enough courage to take on such things, even if he lacked strength or wit- but quite often, courage alone isn't enough, is it?

If that were the case, Rin would be successful.

And quite often, Nathan isn't fond of observing courage alone. As such, the smile quickly falters.. and it is replaced with a frown. Especially when Deirdre seeks to intervene. Such things were oftentimes the reason he was burned out on dealing with people, failing to find amusement and necessary thrill when he needed it.

It almost made him want to fire off more.

"Ill-intending attack, hm? Perhaps if you've been around earlier, you'd have a better clue." But his staff isn't retracted, nor the fires disappear; he certainly notes the possibility of retaliation, considering all the things that Deirdre was suddenly doing.

"I'm going to test him, one way or another - and you're making it worse, both by hurting his pride and making me more annoyed than it otherwise would be."

Even then, he knew how to tempt fate - and others. A glance is given to the boar-headed youth, a tiny smile spreading over his features. There's a single offer made..

"What say you, Sus.."

"Step over here, and let's get this over with, hm? You wouldn't hide behind her, would you?"

This almost reeks of provocation. And truthis? That's exactly what it is...
(Nathan Cruor)

Nathaliel frowned as he watched the scene, arms folding across his chest. Yes, this was exactly the kind of stuff he'd tried to get away from, why did it come to Gehenna?

Was it following him?

That was a bad thought, one he didn't like. Instead of getting involved, the teen merely watched from the edge, standing next to Miyoko as he did. "Nathan, leave the guy alone." He called out, though a move wasn't made to do so. He didn't know enough about the context to start breaking things up by force.

"I dunno what he did, but there's no reason to kick his ass - or watch him kick yours. Come on, you've got better stuff to do!"
(Nathaliel)

Miyoko watched as Nathan fired off some of his magic towards the boy she healed that one time. Even though she said to not talk as much and let his jaw heal, Miyoko constantly saw him yelling his heart out. She was surprised he wasn't succumbed by the pain that was provided with all the extra movement. Oh well.

The strong aura of violence began to stench up the area. The Kitsune would just watch, however, as part of the Hero club she had to do something, right? This is what she pledged to do. To protect those who need it, even if they did not want said protection. Miyoko had no care to that. Rather, she did not care to let someone go unprotected when they clearly needed such.

"Hey.. guys let's not.." Quiet words fell from the kitsune's mouth as she spoke, watching the situation escalating little by little. Deirdre acting as a stand in even if her words didn't mean nothing to that of Nathan.

Well.. That's just how things were.

Her bow rose from her back, black flames radiating it's frame as she sent a blackened arrow towards Deirdre's form. Unlike her other arrows that pierced, this one would exploded into a shield that would surround her body if she were to be caught in the crossfire, even if dwindling the attacks that went into her.

"Hey, guys! Please be careful! I don't need to see any of you in a bed where I have to take care of you for doing actions like this!" The kitsune would shout towards the others, letting her bow settle back down upon her back. Magenta hues laid on Deirdre as Nathan spoke to her. He was a bit right, however.

"Everyone please calm down! Nathan and Sus, as you were; head to the fields to continue your testing, please! Deirdre, it's okay! No need to worry. Nathan won't hurt him too much. I won't let it happen either way!" she declared, walking a bit closer to make her words known to all of them.

"Okay?"
(Miyoko Hayako)

Neo looked on edge and concerned at first until she started to grasp the reason behind the tension of the two.. It made sense to the girl, and it didn't feel like it was wrong though it certainly looked that way on a surface level.

Still, yellow fox like hues rested on Sus, Deirdre, and Nathan until Miyoko appeared next to her and spoke. The Hayako seemed to have come to the same conclusion as her.

"I'll also watch, so don't worry. Both parties will be safe.", the mage affirmed.
(Neo)

It's good to have people that will back you up, is it not?

It serves him right, to be known and to be valued to an extent- the reputation was almost everything on Agartha, and those that failed to uphold it were often seeing themselves fall behind, crushed beneath the ever incoming change that happens across this continent.

"What good comes out of this?" There's a glance at Deirdre, and he teases her with something she should very well know about.

"For starters, he wouldn't be stupid enough to wander up the mountain, thinking he can take on the world..."

The tiniest of smiles. The reference should be clear to the young woman, but any further words are no longer ushered. Expecting her to understand it, the staff ever soslightly shifts to Sus, expecting him to take upon responsibility of all the claims and words made earlier. Surely, he would not back away from this..?

"Now, then."

"She's no longer between us, and you don't have to front your concern over a woman." The Starfire so ever flickers. Even now, this weapon seems to generate the fires with stardust like no other, the bell gathering more and more.

Almost a threat to explode.

"Come here with those blades of yours, would you?"
(Nathan Cruor)

"If it's true that he wants to fight the people on the mountain then he needs to be strong.", Neo replied simply enough with a shrug of her shoulders, "This guy though brash and harsh.. and not using the nicest method for preparation just seeks to do that. He wants to prepare him for future hardships."

"There is no better way to test him than through combat, and even if he loses or gets hurt he'll learn from this I'm sure.. I know I learned a lot like that.", Neo said before training her eyes on the two guys she assumed were about to fight.
(Neo)

"I say let him fight, good experience that way." He said with the most simple of srhugs to come forth. He had some idea that Nathan wasn't going to go easy on them. Which is definitely needed. "If he does get hurt, that means he can be watched, right?"

"Better than having him sold off entirely, and die. I wouldn't want that to happen at all; I don't think anyone would want that to happen." He sighed.
(Hendrydal Waeswynn)

Miyoko watched as the commotion seems to dwindle down. A smile being the product of the solution.

"Great! And yes, Deirdre. It was with good intentions!"


To a degree...


Her sights drift towards the pair that were testing their wits. Mostly in Sus's case. Nathan was trying to make him understand that going near the mountain without a substantial group was practically suicide. Especially with his attitude, personality, and actions. Sus was definitely going to end up as food for some of the demons if he made a return to the icy mountains.

"I'll over watch! Making sure no one gets severely hurt. As a doctor, that is my duty!" she insisted, waiting for the boar head wearing boy to accept this.
(Miyoko Hayako)

The little boar kid is in a mess, his back's burned and his whole frame's aching but what's the most frightening is that the fight didn't even start to begin with. Although, that's not what affects Sus the most.

This little dude is used to pain, at this point, it's pretty much undeniable. From his weight and height, he looks to be a very young man but this sunkissed skin is already bearing many scars and Nathan just added some more in the lot.

So what makes him doubt here? Now that the girl is safe from harm, what's stopping him to charge head first towards Nathan and gives what he wants already? Well… he thought Nathan and his crew were his friends. Yet, they're all pushing him to draw his blades and fight. Is that how friends work with humans…?

For once, the King of the Jungle sounds a tad depressed.


"Sus thought you were his friends.. Instead of cheerin' for the King of the Beasts, y'all dummy dumbs pushing him to draw the blades when doesn't want to fight. Y'all want find excuses to cause me harm, humans wicked to the core. Not doing anythin' good on this rock. Y'all ate mom and left head behind. Now you're trying to push me and I dunno what to do anymore…"


He glances at his blades.


Weak today, but Sus willbe strong tomorrow.. I fight son of bitches who harm weaklings, force me to fight, ain't friends anymore."

(Sus)

"Don't be telling me a sob story."

Because he wouldn't listen. Agartha as it is would often be ruthless to him, and unless he learns that lesson, unless he learns to pick his fights well... then he isn't going to get far. One day, he'll say or do a wrong thing that'll cause him to lose everything - and everything he could ever have.

This? This is a necessary lesson.

"Grip your swords and fight."

Because he's left no other choice. This has been dragged on for far too long.. and while initially it was merely intended as a test to his ability? The constant pressure from others and stalling has only made Cruor that much more annoyed. They weren't supposed to be intervening on this.

"You'll discover just how not ready you are for this - for Agartha as a whole."

"And truth is? You'll even thank me for it."

A smile. But the words being flaunted are of no use, are they? Instead.. before any other word is spoken, the explosive barrage of Starfire is immediately directed at Sus. The brilliance of cosmic stardust, coupled in the fiery sparks of fire, forged together in a dangerous substance..

Would he endure? Would he stand? Would he fight?
He'll get his answer in a moment.
(Nathan Cruor)

What a pain.

Even if she couldn't serve to diminish that childish stubbornness they all carried, once again she'd try to pierce through with words, and yet perhaps it were all vain. Her mindset was far from the norm around Gehenna and the likes, and even if tough love were something she didn't necessarily disagree with, this didn't seem right. Not at all. Seeing no reason for the Cruor to want to teach this child, Deirdre remained hesitant and in disagreement until the very end of the conflict.

"You can fight all you want, adapt all you want to the darkness this place has.

But...

To face this place head on, it's not something one can do alone. If you are to make a child fearful of even his allies, then there's no positive gain from this at all, friend.

He doesn't want to fight you, Nate.

Not even you could take those mountains alone, you must know far too well those who reside there aren't so easily put down. Drop you swords, quell your magics, there's nothing to gain from this scenario.

Only hurt.
You don't want to create another evil, do you?"
(Deirdre Sugar)

Nathan made his choice though, the others' words won't convince him and Sus, well, even though he's injured, saddened and weak, he has the spirit of the warrior inside. No fucks given, dude may lose this bout but next time he'll stomp him.

Nathan's been added to the list.

Once Sus bloom into the beautiful King he ought to be, he'll be without mercy towards him. Until then, Sus will have to endure a little more.. such is life, the rules of the Jungle that Agartha is.


"Sus will never be evil."


He removes the boar head from his features and tosses it to Deidre, finally revealing his face for the first time. Emerald eyes are locked on the Cruor, determined to give his best despite his current state.


"Make sure his flames don't touch my mom."


Yeah, he was reffering to the boar head. Without an ounce of hesitation, Sue thrusts into the flames to get up close. If Nathan wanted a fight, then he'd fight!


(Sus)

There is no other better lesson to introduce someone to Agartha.

Even then, he enjoyed bringing out something different from people, didn't he? To see them bloom into something more... something unlimited by their previous restrains. As far as he's concerned, Sus had his potential snuffed out by those that would defend him, by those that would treat him as a joke.

But this? This is his moment. His time to shine.

Even if that shining happens in the flames of the Cruor. When the boar mask is removed, he only smiles.. because he knows that for once, this one takes it all seriously- that he would not be hiding behind the demeanor of someone as light-hearted as all envisioned him to be. This is the actual test he'd have.

"You really are a buzzkill, aren't you, Deirdre?"

Despite all the words that she says, he treats it as yet another preach that he's heard a million times before; there were naught but few people who knew how Nathan clicks... and unfortunately for the young woman, she wasn't one of them.

Her words fall upon deaf ears.

"Worry not, Sus. These flames are only for you and you only."

With the emergence of Starfire, he has no choice but to resist. With all he has and more.
(Nathan Cruor)

The first launch of the flame is immediately turbulent, propelling Sus right into action.

A combination of cosmic brilliance and the flames were too much for him to handle, and that much was clear. There's a reason, after all, that the young Cruor was able to participate in the tournament despite the vulnerability that the youth provides, and even come around to actually put up a fight.

Just like he was taught, this lesson of strength is passed on.

"And you said that you'd be defeating them."

The flames engulf him. Each time he tries to move up against the Cruor, he finds himself surrounded in the shroud of red and blue, the explosions that come from Starfire pushing him around- much like a game of cat and mouse, he's often toyed with, the whirling winds steadily limiting the spacewhere he's allowed to move.

"You said that you'd be stomping them out.."

It burns so much. Yet, there's just something about how Nathan makes it happen, with the threat of absolute end being naught- instead, Sus is shown just how far he is from making such claims as something legitimate, from nearing to their strength.

"How, then, did you intend to take them down..?"

The notion is quite amusing to him. Just like he wounds his body with singed flesh, he wounds his pride as well. But... there's no particular regret in Nathan's eyes, it seems. Even now, when Sus is steadily reduced to whittled down state, unable to fight anymore, he stands over him, the emerald gaze matching his own.

"Do you really think you can do it all, when you can't even hurt me with your blades?"

No. Of course not.
And he had to realize that, his lacking, before he tries to make such dangerous claim his lifestyle.
(Nathan Cruor)

Holy shitt.

That's some high degree of humiliation here. It wasn't even a walk in the park for the Cruor, the dude didn't even move his ass from the couch. That's how weak Sus is compared to Nathan, it's truly heartbreaking to see a little kid getting toyed like that when all they have are good intentions.

The self-proclaimed King of the Jungle did not land a single blow. Not even once.

Sus displayed a great deal of agility by leaping around to approach his opponent but, it was all for nothing. The flames were surrounding him, making him just a prisonner within Nathan's grasp. There was just nothing he could against the dude.

His chances of beating him weren't just low, they were pretty much none existent. Nathan's doing was just enough to shatter a man forever, make them quit their dreams and turn them into a fucking merchant for the rest of their life. The child remained silent, on his back, wounded, depressed. If Nathan's goal was to give him a lesson, it certainly failed.

Sus never felt so low before, though…


"I pity you, Nathan… Someone broke the good guy in you, yeah?"


The child exhales, it's been awhile since his real eyes could see the stars.


"Sus ain't like you though. Not because is weak that he'll quit dreams and King of the Jungle. Sus doesn't care if you humiliate him, pummel him... no. One day, Sus will be strong enough to protect weaklings and become true King. Ain't care if he'll take decades man.. I won't quit bein' a good boar because I ain't a coward. You failed breaking me, you dummy dumb dumb. You only motivated Sus to be harder on himself, giving one more reason to turn strong."


(Sus)

Watching the exchange with ambers searing the downtrodden teen would watch as another kid gets beaten down before him.

It was something he was used to by now, that starry and fire blessed child with his fancy clothes and whatnot in juxtaposition against the boar headed mongrel that was a lot closer to himself in mannerisms than he'd like to admit.

Apart of him felt for the kid, having nothing more than a beating heart and the grime on your back would make anyone a bit brash and sometimes incomprehensible at times as it was hard for the have-nots.

Though he felt the miniature swordsman as lacking some working brain functions here or there, that wave of emotion was shared.

"It ain't just tha' simple...

Beatin' a dirty drum ova an' ova aint gonna increase ya skill with it. Ya need time, an' ta learn bettah ways ta play it first."

Speaking to not just the two on the fields, but to the humid Gehennan evening air, he'd clench his fist seeing such a difference between the two.

"Do ya real' know what it means ta be barren? Ta not have anythin' but memories ta go off o' on what ya Momma looks like?

Give em a break, an' show em somethin' he don't know. Pain's somethin' he already holds. He's got it tha' he aint fightin' nothin' but a boar at best.. An' that he's a grubby piece o' shite.. If this is a lesson, least make it worthwhile.

Worth his time."

There was a slight shake of the boy's head here as he shifted and placed his hands in his pockets eyes focusing in on the exchange.
(Roderik)

The Cruor stood above Sus, hearing him declare all of that.

And then, there's an exhale. With so many things happening, and so many more about to happen... part of him felt like he needed this. It's much like a relief that comes after long, deep-seated fury that was bound to be unleashed one way or another. Even then, the demeanor of Nathan subtly changes as the time goes on.

A tiny smile appearing over his features while he nears closer.

"You still don't get it, do you?"

Even then, with Roderik's words spoken, he merely gives a glance to another; it's something that he already knew about, something that he had considered long before it was spoken. While the Cruor's lessons were harsh, violent even... their intention was never to break.

But to forge them anew.

"Silly you..." He approaches closer to Sus, a single hand laid over his head the moment he's close enough- unfortunately for the eccentric youth, try as he might, he'd not be allowed to remove it or writhe away. The pressure was too much.

He nears closer, a pair of emerald eyes staring into another.

"You'll die before you reach your dreams if you keep going like this."

A silent mutter, intended only for Sus and nobody else. Even then, he steadily comes to a rise, looming over the youth. His eyes narrowing steadily, but not in anger- it was something akin of... trying to tell whether he was actually able to perceive Nathan's words.

And if he wasn't? Well... he already did what he could.

"Don't pity me."

"This place is cruel, and you'll learn to think twice over before you do something. You'll learn to focus on your growth, and you'll learn that not everything is as simple as you think it is."

"And if you want to make an impact, any impact, then you ought to begin working twice as hard - rather than running about with those silly dreams. No successful hero has ever made it with such silly notion in their mind."

"And everyone realizes that you do what you must. Eventually."

It's only a matter of time before he does. And if he doesn't? Then Agartha will swallow him, simple as that. He wasn't kidding when he said that every hero had to realize this sooner or later.

"But, ah... you already have bravery, hm? Don't waste it chasing the shadow of what you could be."

"Come back when you're something more."

A brief, almost dismissive wave, and the Cruor was stepping away, leaving him alone.
(Nathan Cruor)