Open! Nikolai is not having a good week.

[namesaquestion]

WHO: Nikolai + you (open); one closed prompt to D33.
WHERE: All over Heropa
WHEN: August 2nd, after he learns of Red's arrival.
WHAT: Nikolai's pretty much throwing a tantrum because that is the correct response to everything, and looking for fist fights. Come fight him? Or try and talk to him? Or do both?
WARNINGS: Mentions of parental abandonment, one fourteen year old with issues all over the place, fist fights. Will be updated as needed.

[He barely resisted the urge to throw the communicator down the alley he'd ducked into, choosing instead to stuff it into a pocket, with extreme prejudice.

Red was here. Red, but older? Hmph, who cared. A brat was a brat, and it was the same brat who'd ruined his life. Who'd turned his father into a coward. If it wasn't for Red, the man he would never have up and left like he did. Nikolai was sure of it, and to hear the brat claimed to be sorry? No, never. He wasn't, and Nikolai was far, far too emotionally charged, too wrapped up in his own bitterness, and far too angry to even consider that it might have been the truth.

But he didn't want to think of it, didn't want to think of the memories the brief chat had dredged up. They were stupid memories anyway, and a shake of his head and a wipe of his eyes didn't help. Neither did throwing the metal barb he'd made during the 'talk' with Red at the wall. It only clattered to the ground uselessly, as if it dared to mock him. Useless like his pokemon, and there were no trainers here that were worth the effort of battling. Just wimps and weaklings and bleeding hearts, and he needed a distraction. Anything to take his mind off things he didn't want to think about. Thinking about them only pissed him off.

A walk, maybe. But a fistfight sounded a lot better, and it'd blow off some steam. He hadn't had a good rough-and-tumble in a while. Maybe he could start something. That sounded like fun.

Unfortunately, this means that anyone who seems even remotely in his way is going to be literally shoved out of the way as he walks aimlessly around Heropa.]

What are you, stupid? Move already, before I really make you!



CLOSED TO D33
[By the time he comes home, he'd been in at least one fight, and was still fuming over Red as he entered the house, slamming the door behind him, uncaring if it echoed the house. If his housemates were smart, they'd stay the hell out of his way.

He needed a sink. His knuckles were bloody and he probably didn't look that crash hot but whatever; the first sink he could think of was in kitchen.] Hey, wimp. Move.

[He needs the sink, and he isn't above literally shoving you out of the way to get to it. Which he'll be doing anyway.]

Comments

[ghoulking]

[ Nikolai is angry and Kaneki is depressed (he's always depressed, to be fair, but these last past days have been a lot worse). He hasn't gone out of the house in a while, only to visit very specific people and do very specific errands, and once he is done the plan is to always go back home and just mind his business. He isn't in the mood to talk to others, neither argue, but sometimes that's inevitable isn't it.

With a bag in his hand, Niko passes by him. Wonderful thing about Kaneki: you can't actually shove him. He is like a brick-wall and unless there is super strength involved, actually shoving him would require Kaneki to allow it. Sure, Nikolai can push Kaneki's arm aside, but move him from his spot won't be easy.

When he hears the angry snap, Kaneki slowly turns his head to look at the kid. Should he argue back? Or maybe the fact that Niko is unable to push Kaneki out of the way would be enough to point out that he's the idiot one here, because you are in a world with a lot of super-powered people and not all are nice or willing to take abuse from a brat. ]

You couldn't make me even if you tried. [ or say that, Kaneki could say that and he did.

Anger explosion in 3... 2... 1... ]

Keywords.

[namesaquestion]

[Y E P. He doesn't care if Kaneki's like an immovable brick-wall, if he's superpowered, or whatever the case is.

There's an excuse for violence that Nikolai is grabbing with both hands, because violence and anger solve All Very Important Emotional Dramas^(tm), right?] Oh yea? Let's see about that, huh?

[At least, Nikolai currently thinks so, and he's going to back his words up with a punch aimed for the face.]

[ghoulking]

[ Kaneki could stop him. Grab his hand before he hits, tell him "NO" like you tell a child, lecture him a bit about how dangerous it is for him to randomly punch people when he doesn't know who he's fighting. Also fighting is bad, don't fight.

But he... doesn't. It doesn't matter.

Kaneki takes the punch and it's as if he doesn't feel it. He did feel it, but it felt more like a pap to the face. And the ghouls looks so unimpressed with it that he can only sigh after ]

Do you feel better?

[namesaquestion]

[For a second, Nikolai thinks he's got this in the bag; Only, not.

There is a yelp as Nikolai comes away with a sore fist, held protectively close for now.] OW!

[The most affronted, and non-plussed, look ever.] W-What the -? You get unpunchability or something as a power?!

[Niko, that's not even a word.]

[ghoulking]

Hm- something like that. [ it's not a lie. Kaneki is just omitting the part about being a cannibalistic creatures who has tentacles on his back. Details Niko doesn't need to know yet ]

Did you hurt your hand too bad? [ kaneki offers his out to check out Nikolai's hand. ] I didn't hear a bone breaking, but you might need ice on that. [ if Niko used all of his strength, probably ]

[namesaquestion]

[There's a sour look at the confirmation that Kaneki's basically unpunchable, but he doesn't punch again. He's looking to punch people, not brick-wall wannabes.] I dunno.

[His jaw sets at the question, scowl working its way onto his face that eventually settles into a mullish glare, even as he takes up the offer of having his hand looked over.] Never hit anything that hard before. All the things I've punched aren't brick-walls.

[No broken bones, but it is going to be sore for a while.]

[ghoulking]

[ there is that, at least. If Niko had punched again, then Kaneki would have been a bit more... scary.

Kaneki takes his hand with his gloved ones - yeah, even with this heat, he wears gloves - feeling the knuckles to see if anything is broken and moving Niko's fingers ] You'll probably be fine, but they might bruise a bit. If they get swollen or there is too much pain, you should have a doctor look at it.

[ kaneki isn't a doctor, but he knows his things ]

You shouldn't attack people without knowing what they can do. This could have gone a lot worse for you, Nikolai.

[h2no]

[it's kind of annoying, he has to admit, when you're not interested in seeing someone but proximity brings you together. archie could've done without seeing niko for a couple weeks, but here he is. on some random street in heropa, watching the kid trying to start a fight with some random person. he looks down at mightyena and makes a face. the dog pokémon makes a small boofing noise back.

guess he better do something before the idiot gets arrested or knocked on his ass.]

Mightyena, [he says, casually.] use Scary Face on him.

[namesaquestion]

[It's for the best; it gives the person time to get away from the angry teenager.

Who's now doubly upset that an outlet for his Very Important Emotional Drama^(tm) has left.

Not that spotting Archie makes it any better, and he just about flips his lid, making a beeline for Archie.] First that brat appears and has the gall to say he's sorry, which he's not!. Now you. What, are you following me or something?

[He may or may not be about to take a litter swing at Archie with a fist. Fuck pokemon, fist fights are where it's at.]

[h2no]

This city ain't exactly huge.

[he recalls mightyena before niko gets close, still uncomfortable with the idea of his pokémon being near the kid, and just... lets him take the swing. archie is BUFF ENUFF that he barely feels it.]

What are you on about? Why are ya starting fights?

[namesaquestion]

[He didn't even notice the pokemon until it was recalled, but even then it's not given much thought other than Ít's not there'.

Niko on the other hand? is a teenager and he's coming away with a sore fist, held close for now.] Him. Red. The brat that ruined my life! That ruined everything!

[h2no]

[DON'T PUNCH ABS BRO]

Red? [oh, that guy.] ...How'd he ruin your life? He beat you in a battle real bad or something?

[namesaquestion]

No! [It's growled, and when he speaks again, there is an undercurrent of pure hatred.] He turned my dad into a fucking coward when he took down Team Rocket.

[d33tached]

[If anything, Niko certainly knows how to make an entrance. D33 doesn't turn from the sink as he listens to the boy approaching. The "wimp" will get him little reaction.

[The shove, however - now, that was not a smart move.

[D33 realizes that Niko isn't a threat to him. But this guy has been trained from the time he was seven years old to snap at the presence of a threat. And he does not react well to being touched - especially aggressively.

[And, besides. He'd warned Niko once already. Perhaps this would finally get it through the little brat's head.

[He whips around like a spring that had been coiled, grabbing one of Niko's arms and bending it roughly behind the boy's back, then shoving him face-first into the fridge where he can hold the other arm down with his body, successfully pinning him. And, just for good measure, he'll whip out his blade a moment later, pressing the sharp edge of the knife just barely against the skin of Niko's neck - right under the jaw, where any movement against it would likely be lethal.

[This kid might not know that, so he'll give him a little piece of advice:]

Don't move.

[namesaquestion]

[He'd been expecting D33 to move, to do something, to maybe give him yet another fight, be it pyschical or verbal, or whatever. A fight was a fight, he was looking it-

He wasn't expecting what came next, and he yelps-] Hey! What g-

[Face first against a fridge is not the ground though, meaning he thinks he can dislodge D33. He's about to kick up one hell of a struggle when there is a knife and-

Nope. He stills, eyes wide. Knife. Against his neck and the 'Don't move'thing is... not at all comforting. He was looking for a fight, not whatever this is, and there is zero effort to hide how thoroughly panicked and freaked out he is.]

[d33tached]

[So, this kid isn't a complete idiot - at least, he is capable of following the most basic of commands. That and he isn't stupid enough to try and fight back. D33 isn't above killing a child and he certainly isn't above hurting one if that's what it comes down to.

[Hopefully, if Niko can stay still for a minute and listen, it won't have to come to that.

[D33's speaks in a low voice, each word slow, heavy, and measured. The blade doesn't move an inch, nor does the man holding it.]

I've warned you once, Nikolai. It isn't wise to threaten me. It certainly isn't wise to put your hands on me.

Do you understand?

Don't nod. [There's a knife there, remember?] Just answer me.

[namesaquestion]

It was just a stupid shove! [The words are out of his mouth before he can stop them, and the thought of going for one of his pokemon is thought of, then ignored, and the impulse shut down as hard as he can then burried as deep as possible. It would not help at all, and he doesn't need to make any sudden moves.

If he treats this like stumbling across a mother ursaring with cubs, he should be OK.

But next time he comes home in a foul mood though, he's making sure to have one of his pokemon out. He's getting lax. If he was still travelling, he'd be dead or in a sorry state. City life has made him soft, dulled his reflexes.

But, that question needs an answer, not a reaction that would get him a cut throat. It also needs to not to circulate in his brain and attempt to dredge up the few times he was in serious trouble with his dad.] Yea, fine.

[Get off him already!]

[d33tached]

[Well, the kid does have a point. It's not as if he had outright attacked D33.
Even if he had, the older man doesn't exactly see little Niko as much of a threat (especially without his Pokémon). Even so, there is a lesson to be learned in all of this:

[Don't fucking touch D33.]

Very well.

[The man lingers for a moment with the knife still pressed against Niko's jugular, then takes a calm step back - but he isn't going to pocket that blade just yet. Hopefully this kid isn't stupid enough to try and attack him now that he's been released. Somehow, D33 thinks he'll be keeping his distance.]

You might look into learning how to control your temper. It is likely to get you into trouble one day.

[More trouble than being subdued by your merciful housemate.]

[namesaquestion]

And you need to not pull knives on people for a shove!

[It's pretty much spat as he whirls around, replacing all of the other fun emotions attempting to well up with anger and indignation. Those he's a master at. Either way, he's noted in his mind not to shove the other at the very least.

Freaking knife happy people he has to share a house with.] Hmph, whatever you say. Now move, I need the fucking sink.

[He really does.]

[versusseeker]

[And here Red had just been exploring the Porter cities (with Blue playing the role of the obnoxious tour guide, of course). Heropa had been their first stop after De Chima had been thoroughly covered - and only hours after he and Niko's coversation (so it had been a pretty busy day).

[Well, Red had been content to leave their little conversation as it was - for now, anyway. He certainly hadn't expected to run in to Niko later that day. And he definitely hadn't planned on being shoved. He stumbles a bit, clutching Blue's sleeve for support, then turns around to face his attacked with his brow furrowed in confusion--

[And then he realizes who it is. Giovanni's son. The red-headed trainer from the network. The man straightens where he had been standing, and he doesn't say a word, just eyes the boy carefully, waiting for whatever is to come next - he's fairly certain it will involve more yelling.]

[namesaquestion]

[Niko's half a step passed Red when re realises who he shoved, and his eyes practically light up with cruel malice.

Well, this wasn't what he was expecting to find, but far be it for him to pass up a chance to pummel the brat (never mind he's an adult now, nope) into the ground.

Where Red belongs.] You.

[The yelling will come after; right now? He's aiming the hardest punch he possibly can at Red's gut.]

[versusseeker]

...!

[Okay, so. Maybe it doesn't involve more yelling. Just one Shellder of a sucker punch to the gut. Niko is pretty small compared to Red, but apparently he's pretty good at channeling all of that pent-up anger, because the punch hits the older trainer hard - nearly knocks the wind out of him. He stumbles back, half reeling from the shock of the situation, half from the hit.

[Pikachu, however, is still in perfect working condition and is just about to lunge for Niko when Red manages to grab it and pull it back, shaking his head. The Pokémon whines at its trainer, cheeks still sparking with electricity - small shocks that Red is more than used to by now. There's no doubt that one good Thunderbolt would leave Niko incapacitated, but Red isn't here to fight no matter how badly this kid wants to and he won't have his Pokémon attacking other humans.

[He straightens again and faces Niko, eyeing him coldly but calmly. Want to land another hit there, kid? He won't stop you. But there are more honorable ways of settling this.]

Battle me.

[namesaquestion]

[Punching Red is satisfying on a visceral level, and it's something he could do again and again. Take it out on the older trainer. Take everything out on him and it'd still feel good.

Nikolai barely even blinks or pays the pikachu any mind. It's expected that a person would keep a pokemon from attacking another person. That he came close to being lunged at barely even registers in his mind.

He almost, almost says yes to the battle. Almost. But Archie's lecture is still too fresh in his mind. Not to mention the small fact that somewhere in him, he knows Red is So Very Out of His League.]

Against a wimp like you? No way. You wouldn't even be a challenge.

[He smiles; it's not nice, and he's going in for another punch, studiously avoiding eye contact of any kind.

No need to trigger Game League rules when he doesn't mean to.]

[versusseeker]

[As modest as Red might be, he certainly knows that he is no "wimp" and, judging by his history, he also knows that he is, in fact, quite often a challenge. The fact that Niko is turning down a battle based on those grounds, well. He's just not buying it. And honestly, not being able to use a Pokémon battle to settle this issue leaves Red all the more baffled.

[He's also getting a little tired of being hit, so after granting Niko another punch or two, Red will eventually take a step back and release his Charizard anyway. A little hard to deck somebody when they've got a Furreting dragon standing in front of them, isn't it Niko? And this big orange dude ain't going nowhere.

[Cover me, Charizard.

[The mighty thing glares down at Niko, a puff of thick smoke escaping from its nostrils as it huffs and gives its wings a wide stretch, sufficiently covering Red (and Blue if he's smart enough to get behind them as well).

[He turns to his rival then.]

We should go.

[As much as you probably love watching Red get the snot beat out of him.]

[halloflamer]

[Sorry Red, were you expecting anything from Blue other than him being doubled over in laughter? Okay, so he started laughing when Red got socked, because let's face it, Red getting punched in the gut by a tiny brat half his size was funny (although he did manage to stammer out an 'are you okay?'); but no, the laughter really kicked up for Niko's refusal.]

Are you Furreting kidding me!? [He gasps out between his peals of laughter, shoulder-slapping Red. Sorry, he's hardly paying attention to all this drama, he's busy wiping the tears from his eyes.] Red would pulverize your team! There wouldn't be anything left for you to heal! Bahahahaha!

[He's letting himself get tugged behind Charizard, because sure, why not, but he briefly ducks his head over Charizard's wing to grin ferociously back at Nikolai.] Pffhaaah! Pikachu would just look at your Golbat and send it to Pokémon Tower! Pfffaaahahahahah!

[Look, at least his obnoxious shittalk was directed away from you for once, Red.]