2020-09-28 - Teenaged Wasteland II: Lumberjacks vs Wolverines

Finch Celaeno has no memory of her adult self, or that she'd be Finch de la Vega some nine years from the age she currently appears to be. The 17 year old junior looks far different than she will in the future. Her hair is long and flowy, with bangs, her makeup is stylish and, oh God, she's in a cheerleader uniform. Just like she was in real life in high school, when she was trying to blend in despite everyone knowing her mother tried to kill her. Or, well, now they all seem to think she tried to kill her mother. Fuck you Gray Harbor.

The athletic teen has her pom poms at the ready, bouncing on her toes as she watches from the sidelines with the rest of the squad. Her smile is bright and her spanks are tight, let's go Lumberjacks!

Joey is known for being quite possibly the meanest sunnovabitch at this High School...who is not the principal. He also has a 0 bullshit tolerance for excuses or someone talking shit about his students so there is that too. it's a form of tough love he has, but if you work hard and listen he's eh, prickly but pretty fair? He will absolutely throw down with the Principal and tell her to bite him un-ironically.

In track pants and a t-shirt and matching jacket with the school logo on the front larger on the back the coach prowls the side at the end of the bench slowly keeping hi eye on that Cobra Kai mellonfarmer (Language! this is a High School and teachers are supposed to set an example or something!).

Aidan doesn't look all that different than his usual self, honestly -- an inch or two shorter, which still leaves him about 6', and skinnier, but he's not exactly thick in the real world. He's still got that shock of unruly dark curls, though the style of dress doesn't quite match up, in that he's apparently on the basketball team. Fair enough, with the height. He may not have actually played in high school -- hell, he may not have exactly attended a high school -- but this version of him seems pretty enthusiastic about it, chasing down the court to try to steal the ball from that Wolverine who's just managed to get his hands on it.

Cecil has recovered well from his sprain, though he's still got a wrapped ankle. Why the dorky foreign exchange student with no friends is at a b-ball game is anyone's guess, but he seems to be here to support the home team. He sits in the bleachers, a little off to the side and by himself, in new-looking jeans, a button-shirt, and a sweater-vest. It's argyle. He looks around as though he's aware of exactly how out of place he is, but damn it, he's going to have the American High School experience if it kills him. And it might.

Finch is in the middle of cheering on number 5, when the elbows get thrown into Aidan. "Those fucking cheaters!" she hollers, before slapping a pompomed hand over her mouth and glancing guiltily at Coach Kelly. When the asshole elbow thrower passes down the near sideline she launches into a cheer full of bounce, high kick, bounce ROUNDHOUSE TO THE FACE of the Wolverine.

"Oops!" she declares, faux-apologetically as she waggles her poms in the guy's face. "I didn't realize I was that close to the sideline. So sorry!" is declared in the tone of "Toe pick!" from the Cutting Edge. Murderbird 1, Wolverines 0.

Nicole is also wearing a cheerleading uniform, her extraordinary hair, which doesn't look TOO different from the future Nicole, only, highlighted blonde a bit brassier than professional, is pulled into a ponytail with a big huge ribbon in the school colors wrapped around it. Her forehead is also sporting a bandage from where she was recently beaned in the head by asbestos... I mean ceiling tiles. She is cheering and then, jeering when they foul on Aiden. "Cheap shots! What, too scared to play for real? Gotta play dirty cuz you can't beat us fair and square!?" She yells out towards the other team.

Joey watches , green eyes focused like a pointed accusation give the Cheerleader such a look, but she doesn't get yelled at. Those barrel arms drop, fists on hips and clipboard in hand turns to focus on why the kid's saying this. The guy has a bark that would make a drill sergeant stand down. "REF! You gonna call that malarkey on that cheating-cheater-who-can't-ball or am I going with his parents to the dang school board?" The pulling up of those lower eyelids says it all. There will be words, maybe more if his player gets hurt. But serious on the language, yo. The school system has a standard for decorum and that other coach ain't following it! "Kinney, don't you frikken die on me out there, get the ball away from that little nosewipe!"

Aidan is looking quite focused on trying to dodge the other team as he moves, so despite their reputation it's a shock when those elbows manage to actively find their way into his, uh, way. And his ribs, mostly. He yelps, eyes widening, as the intent becomes clear, and his muscles tense up as if bracing for the impact -- which apparently works out okay for him, because while the two who don't get a foot to the face (go cheer team!) get him, there's enough room in that wince for some of it to be empathy rather than entirely on his own behalf. And he's still able to breathe deeply enough for a slightly pained, "Yessir!" at the coach's yell, redirecting the indignant anger that was starting up a real good glare for the culprits into sharper focus on getting that ball again. ...and probably on keeping track of all enemy knees and elbows, too.

Cecil smiles at the sophomore selling kettle corn and says, "Oh, yes please." He doesn't look much older than twelve, himself, despite being sixteen. He buys a bag of the stuff, and he's about to munch on some when the elbows fly, the cheerleaders kick, and Joey steps in to take care of business. He sits poised, kettle corn to his lips, and he stares. "Cheater!" he says, admonishing the Wolverine in question. He hucks a piece of kettle corn at him after he's been kicked in the head.

Finch is beaming vibrantly at her clever use of Cheer-Fu, the latest in martial arts, or something. She gives Coach Kelly a look of surprise, like she has NO IDEA how that happened at all! Totally an accident, Coach! Totally! Look at that wide-eyed innocent expression! Look at the pom poms! Straight-A student there!

The response from the player she clocked gets a glare from Finch, whose brow furrows at the strange shade of his eyes. She moves over to Nicole and huddles with the other fabulous-haired cheer queen. "Do his eyes look weird to you?' she whispers, casting another glance over her shoulder.

Nicole totally did not see Finch accidentally trip or kick or interfere with that other player. Nope. That's her story and she's sticking to it. But when the creep glares towards Finch, Nicole is taken aback by the look of his eyes. As her fellow cheerleader approaches, asking her if she notices, Nicole nods, reaching up to sweep her bangs to the side. "Totally. Like, yellow. Who has yellow eyes? Euw." She is frowning, keeping her eye on that basketball bastard... that is, until he crosses by Coach Kelly. Brown eyes go wide as she gets a look at the hottie until she realizes she is staring. Quickly, she turns away and says back to Finch, "we're going to have to keep our eye on them. No way are we going to let them get away with that shit."

NO, her cheeks are NOT red from blushing. It's from blusher, and.. and.. exercise.

Joey grows back across to the other coach, "Way to lead by example, ya point stealing fartgobbler. Way to set a fine example for those kids." Ooooh direct accusation there. Someone's upset in the most TBS Action movie way possible. Looking back to Finch he murmurs, "Not your fault, Celano. They instigated it. You and Stein don't let those little germfarms get too close. They need to learn manners." Eyes are locked on the opposing coach's and if the Ref thinks Joey is NOT going to hold him to task and litigate the havoc out of the rules of good sportsmanship in the most aggressive means possible that ref is going to need to reexamine what he thinks he knows.

Ha! Aidan's ribs may be feeling a bit tender, but at least he has the balm of righteousness to soothe them! And also possession of the ball. He gives the ref a bright, friendly grin and a, "Thank you!" as it's handed over, and heads to the free throw line with his head held high and maybe just a little more drama than strictly necessary, just to let the Wolverines marinate briefly in their foul fruits. He narrows his eyes at the net, aims, and throws -- and it's in! He breaks into a wide grin, and on regaining the ball, takes the next -- and the next. All three succeed, and the grin on that last one comes with a triumphant little "Yes!" and fist pump to go along with it. The home fans are probably pretty pleased, too.

Cecil starts as he glimpses something not quite right in the eyes of the Wolverine he's beaned. He looks a little uncertain about his moment's bravery, and he visibly relaxes when the players all go back into play. He munches on the kettle corn as he watches, and he claps for Aidan as he makes the free throws. "Oh, well done," he says. "Well, done!"

"Oh my God, girl, are you crushing on Coach Kelly? He's like, OLD and shit," Finch whispers towards Nicole, looking appalled at her friend's choice of crush. Then she sniffs like she's empirically a better judge of crushes. "Mr. C was totally the hottest teacher anyway!" And now he's fired so, so much for Clayton's schoolgirl fanclub. She follows the yellow-eyed Wolverines player with her gaze, however, a frown painting her face and her pom poms clenched tightly.

She bounces up and waves the pom poms as Aidan makes all his free throws, screaming for the player like a proper little cheerleader. She turns to the crowd and starts a chant of "Kinney! Kinney! Gimme a K! Gimme an I! Gimme a Double N! Gimme and E! Gimme a Y! GooooOOOOO Kinney!"

She flips off the Wolverine cheerleaders, shielding the gesture from Coach Kelly's view with her poms.

"Swish!" Nicole lifts her pompom into the air as she cheers for Aidan after his last free throw is sunk. Her wrist moves in the same manner as if it was releasing a basketball in a throw, only, she doesn't let go of her flashy pompom. Watching out of the side of her eye as Joey lets his opinions be known tot he opposing coach, Nicole tries not to smile. What can she say, bad boys are kinda hot, even if they are like, ancient.

"Don't you worry about us, Coach Kelly. We have our guys' backs." Does she say she won't let them close? No, she does not, but she's with Finch. No one's gonna get away with hurting our team. Except, Finch's focus is on something else for a moment. "No! I do not!" she protests (too much?). "And he's not like, that old, is he? Mr. C was older, and he was kinda cute. Besides, most of the boys here are juvenile delinquents." If only she knew what was in store for her soon enough, and how true that statement would wind up being. But, Finch is leading a cheer and Nicole joins in, shouting loud as they spell Aidan's last name. The stupid Wolverine cheerleaders earn a sneer from her. To be honest, that whole school is starting to make her mad.

Joey flips the clipboard under one arm so he can clap with stern approval, "Good shot, Kinney. Stay agile. Keep your weight centered. Goooood." Looking to his players he assesses for injuries and says to Roen, though informatively, "You owe me a lap for language tomorrow. Good work out there." As far as ancient goes? He's over 18 so therefore should be absolutely qualified as ancient. Good. The assurance that she and Finch and squad have the team's back gets a slow nod. Good.

His eyes squint as the kids try for a foul but good training is paying off! There's a faint look of satisfaction. The opposing coach bears his teeth at Joey. Andd Coach Kelly? Well he stares him dead in the eye. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the quarter used to flip for the game, holds it up so he can see, and slooooooowly folds it in half without blinking of removing his eyes. It's silent Coach-eese for touch my players and I will end your 'Monday to Friday' career as a coach, you pointburglar.'

If Aidan blushes at the attention, it doesn't manage to show up visibly against his complexion, but he does look look a tiny bit sheepish along with the pleased as a teammate goes for the high-five. He gives the coach a decisive nod for the instructions, and does his best to follow them. Gotta do your part for the team, right? This all makes it easier to ignore the soreness of his ribs as they go on, though not to ignore the swarming itself, and as he takes a quick step to one side one of those elbows is close enough to brush the fabric of his tank top. There's a hint of a wince for the twinge of bruised muscle trying to instinctively protect itself, but it doesn't stop him faking the start of a jump and then taking a real one, sending the ball soaring high toward the net over the head of the Wolverine who jumped too soon to block it. It's a good arc, and when it fwiffs through the netting Aidan gives another little jump, grinning. They are totally going to win this game!

Cecil's corn! He scrambles to save what he can, but all but a few kernels spill onto the gym floor. "Hey!" he says. Then, sitting there with a mostly empty bag, he comments to no one in particular, "He wasn't sorry." He bows his head and, for a moment, just looks sad. Poor unhappy nerd. It's villainy to go after a man's corn, man. He perks up again though as Aidan catches nothing but net. "Take that!" he says, pumping his fist.

Finch keeps close to Nicole, because they both noticed the weirdness, and she knows to stick with the people here who are aware of things. Otherwise you end up eaten by the Principal. Right? And well, there goes the neighborhood as some of the Wolverine players turn into were-wolverines. "Oh shit. Time to turn up the cheer-heat, ladies!"

The petite pom pom shaker starts moving to her own beat. Her moves are sharp and crisp and athletic, as she tries to fire up the crowd. Literally, maybe.

FIRE ON UP,
FIRE ON UP,
SHAKE IT, SHAKE IT, SHAKE IT, SHAKE IT,
FIRE ON UP!

UP, UP ON YOUR FEET
LUMBERJACKS CAN’T BE BEAT!
EXPLODE, IGNITE,
THAT CHEATING TEAM LIKE DYNAMITE!

On that last line she tosses one pom pom in the air as a ball of flame coalesces in that hand, and she chucks it at one of the Wolverines heading for them. FWOOSH! He ignites.

Nicole's eyes go big as saucers as she watches half the other team turn into actual enormous wolverines and the other half just writhe on the ground like worms caught on a sidewalk in 100 degree heat. It takes her a moment to react as the wolverine cheerleaders start fawning over Finch and herself. "What? Oh.. yeah, I did it myself. Thanks..." But Finch is leading a cheer again. best Cheer Captain Finch! And Nicole takes her lead, shaking her pom poms and her ass as she cheers out the words. She is in awe, watching Finch create flame and toss it towards the monsters coming at them (did you see those teeth????) She tries the same, tossing up her pompom. Who knows, stranger things have happened, like principals eating students... but no, her own pompom catches fire instead and falls on the ground in front of her.

"Shit shit shit..." she starts stomping it out.

Oh!!! Oh by the grace of the rules heeeeeck no. But now there's someone hurting kids to win a game/ NO ONE wins when you hurt little kids. (you're under 20. You're all little. Coach Kelly believes in you, don't worry.) "REF! INTERFEARANCE." And now the coach is advancing? Oh he picked the wrong gym.

He doesn't look at the junior defensiveman and the backup point guard looking terrified as this guy storms over and Joey stands in front of them and walks slowly< "Hell naw dawg. You are not rolling up in my gym like you own it. " There is that moment where it is very clear this dude is not going to stand down not to the Principal, or the ref, the school board, or this bumper-biting son of a B-I-N-G-O. He doesn't punch exactly but sidestep grab the arm coming his way, step through and behind and puts his foot to the back of the opposing coach's knee dropping him to the mat.

"Say Uncle you Axe Body spray wearing poor example of a chaperone. The school Board is not going to put up with this horse pucky from you and neither am I you disgraceful chin pube." Teeth clench and he holds him there. "You ain't the alpha here. Say. Uncle."

Very suddenly it seems a lot less important what the score is, even if the score is good and Aidan was starting to feel pretty darn happy about things, ribs notwithstanding. That all goes out the window fast when there's screaming and fellow players (okay cheating assholes but still) doubling over like that. "Are you--" he starts to ask one of the closer ones, who falls to the ground, but in the moment of looking around for the someone who's better at things than he is to deal with this, his gaze falls on the one that's got a smaller kid caught, and looks-- about ready to eat him or something. "Hey!" he yells, hands balling into fists, "Let him go!" The glare he gives the Wolverine thing as he starts that direction is decidedly heated, as proven by the smoke that starts rising from the back of the remnants of the no-longer-player's uniform, flames starting to lick from it. Nearby, a couple boxes of the kettle corn seller's corn burst into flame as well, all their remaining unpopped kernels popping in the heat, and the seller squeaks, dropping the tray. Alas, more kettle corn never to meet its true and proper end...

Cecil knew school in America would be different, but not like this! He twitches. There are werewolves. And they're attacking people. He stands up, his ankle twinging. Still, he could make a run for it if he tried, right? Except that one who knocked over his corn is coming for him, and something snaps in the young Cecil's mind. Just a little 'snick' and he breaks. His soft hands ball into fists. There's a tic at the corner of his eye, and he lets out the high pitched yell of a poindexter that can take no more. Full nerd rage explodes out of him as he flings his hands toward the oncoming Wolverwolf, and he lets slip the lightning of war.

Finch watches the angry were-wolverine get singed by her efforts and have to stop in his onslaught, but there is another coming at the group of skirted teen girls, and she knows she and Nicole can't protect them all on their own. She turns and begins stamping her feet and clapping hard, like she's almost ritually summoning something, pom poms pooled on the floor at her feet, their shiny foil strands glinting in the light with mirror-like reflection. She launches into another cheer, one the other girls probably have never heard.

COME ON TEAM, WE WON'T BACK DOWN!
TEACH A LESSON TO THESE ASSCLOWNS!
DON'T LET THESE JERKS BECOME OUR CAPTORS!
FIGHT THAT TEAM WITH ONE OF OUR RAPTORS!

Wait, what? Coach Kelly is gonna give her detention for sure. And is she calling for someone to throw hawks and eagles and shit at the other team? Because they're the Lumberjacks, not the mighty falcons or anyth-... What the hell is that?

With a resounding SHRIEK which shakes the rafters, something positively...prehistoric comes barreling into the gym. Meet Finch Celaeno's BFF from the Veil, the mirrored Utah Raptor she's saved on two occasions. The Murderbird has her own Murderbird! The cavalry has arrived!

"Thanks," Nicole murmurs to the girls helping her put the pompom out. How embarrassing. No worries though, she doesn't have time to feel all self concious for long, as the other Wolverine is on the attack. She considers grabbing one of the Wolverine cheerleaders and using her as a meatshield, nut as she begins to reach for her, gasping because the thing is about to lunge, the floor creaks and cracks and teeth land in the floor just short of Nicole's shoes. She doens't even have the ability to scream in fear at the moment, only to breathe, far too fast.

Finch's cheer brings her attention to her and Nicole can't help but stare for a moment. How can she still be chee....

"What the fuck is that????" Coach Kelly can make her do laps later. Her eyes are now following the trajectory of the murderbird and she is trying to herd the girls away from it and the wolverine both. "Back up..." She isn't backing them towards the bleachers, which are also creaking, but at least further away.

not ok! The other coach is angling for a leg bite? Also an illegal move that is going to get a sleeper hold in return also trying to move my legs out of the way. jerk. Reaching into his pocket he rolls something that looks like an onyx egg out on the floor to safety. Keeping one's leg out of danger is not easy when the other guy has long teeth and snapping jaw that bite and claws that catch.

No detention today, gals. "Keep...cheering..." which is a strange request. The other call comes out with a growl, "And only five people on the court at a dang time!" THERE ARE RULES! Speaking of which hitting other players? Also unlawful by the rules of the game. With one arm he seizes the coach in a headlock barely.

Behind him there's a hatching and a serpent in metallic colors like hematite and brass uncurls with clawed feet and little dangernoodle snoot to boop and wings that flash in some brilliant coloration. Like an oil slick quetzalcoatl? No that's a dang basalisk! And Joey, not missing a beat, turns to force the Wolverine to look right at it with a grunt trying to force the issue to maybe (and weirdly) resolve non-violently.

The kid is freed! The werewolverine is on fire! Success! Aidan gets a whole second or two for adrenaline to stay firmly in 'fight' mode and even take a glance for who else might need a little more light in his life before it's clear his fire isn't being quite as effective as he'd usually hope. Also that he's got a Brand New Friend. His eyes widen, and he squeaks, turning to run. Maybe it'll give the fire time to grow! All that oxygen it gets from the guy having to chase him! He can hope.

He sees the hole in the floor ahead of him, as it feels like that burning weredude might be catching up, and a thought occurs; he focuses on it as he approaches, then leaps over. His pursuer's mind finds itself addled into seeing a solid floor, and he barrels right on over and into it, giving Aidan a chance to pull a bit further ahead again. Job #1: do not get wolverine-hugged by an angry burning weredude.

Cecil cringes as the lights pop and go out. "Sorry," he says, meek and mild. "I'm sorry." He spies another wolverine coming for the cheerleaders, and he flings his hands out again to shoot lightning. Without his nerd rage, though, he is no mighty warrior. The arc of electricity flies out, quite wide of the wolverine, and bonces off Aidan. Harmlessly, thankfully. Cecil's eyes widen. He pushes his glasses up his nose and calls out, "S-sorry!"

"Don't worry, Nicole, she's with me!" Finch declares, beaming with pride as Clever Girl eviscerates the menacing were-wolverine. She claps her hands excitedly, watching her best bird bud do her thing, freeing her to do her own against the ass who called her a bitch.

She launches into another cheer, clapping and kicking and bouncing.

RED HOT! WE ARE RED HOT!
YOU'RE NOT! YOU'RE NOT!
WE CAN FIX THAT YOU CAN LEARN!
WHADDA WE SAY?
BURN BABY, BURN!

At that last line, Finch does a cartwheel, landing in a crouch, and both hands curl together to form another fireball, launching it at Tyler, that douche. The flaming sphere splatters against his fur and he ignites with a FWOOOSH and the terrible smell of burnt hair. Then she whistles for Clever Girl and begins running for the exit at Gus' urging, waving the rest of the cheerleaders with her. "Let's GO!"

There is chaos all around her. Complete chaos. Nicole's heart is racing and she really doesn't even know which way to look. Some of the cheerleaders ran, some are doing god knows what, bleachers are breaking, there's blood, and fire, and electricity, and weird bird things, and TEETH so many teeth, and things turning into stone. She starts to hyperventilate a bit, hearing Gus call for everyone to run, she knows she should, but her feet won't move. Lifting her hands to her head, she presses in at her temples a bit, trying to release the anxiety, the fear, the confusion that resides in her mind. Opening her mouth, she lets out a roar of anger tinged with fright. Her eyes alight on a Werewolverine when she opens them, and suddenly, the beast's fur ignites. So too does the tatters of its jersey and they fall to the floor. Nylon material acting like a catalyst, setting the floor ablaze as well. "Fuck! Shit! Fuck!" is all she can yell, leaving the cheer calling to Finch for now as she turns to run towards the nearest exit.

Joey is not leaving without making a point. And there's that little flying danger noodle. Well that's something. Huh. The lady with the tower problem won't believe this, she was right after all. He growls at the statue, "THAT is what you get when you try to find a stranger in the Alps!" Not the usual expletive, but uhhhh yeah point made! Looking to Nicole he says "Laps later, Stein! EVERYONE WALK DO NOT RUN to the nearest ext NOW." No more accidentally. His hand reaches out not looking danger noodle in the eye but tells it, "Uh... thanks. c'mon this place ain't safe for you neither."

He's not leaving until his players are out safe. Roen, Kinned, MacArthur, Baxter, Bailey...good good." Looking to the ref two fingers, first and last, point. "Outside. We're talking, Ref. I'm lodging a complaint and you're signing it. This has gone too far." Now do things want to collapse? Maybe. Is he letting it fall and hit anyone? He might be subconsciously keeping the infrastructure together so people can clear out.

He is not looking at what happens with the other coach behind him.
Cool coaches don't look at the blazing infernos their cheerleaders make behind them.

Something feels very weird about all this fire cropping up and such a low percentage of it having anything to do with Aidan. The flames reflect off his eyes as he turns to watch it for a moment, and his fingers twitch, but--

--nothing seems to be attacking anyone right now, and Coach says go. So go he does, reluctantly, walking at a brisk pace but still drawn by the flame. It's a few steps left toward the door before he brightens up a bit. "Hey! This means we do win though, right? I mean that's gotta be a forfeit at least but we were up like 10 points!" And some of those were his! "Um. Do you think we should..." He glances back over his shoulder at the remnants of the other team. There... is not going to be much of a 'good game' line, is there.

Cecil hears his name, and he doesn't dawdle. He makes his way to the door at a brisk trot that's kind of like a penguin-walk given his bandaged and favored foot. "Sod this, sod this, sod this, sod this," he mutters under his breath, keeping a tempo for his great escape. Maybe it's not too late to go back to England. At least the bullies there don't need flea treatment.