And the Body Count Rises... (Gale)

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Gale groaned as he went to stand up. The Waveguard went over and kicked Gale in his side. He jolted to the side with a yelp, rolling to his side to catch the foot coming at him again. Gale pushed the foot up making the muscular man lose balance and fall back.

Standing up with a wobble, Gale limped painfully to the nearest chair to lean on. Henry stood up and was able to give Gale some more of his knuckle sandwiches when another man jumped into the fray and tackled him. Gale smirked when he was finally done with the guard but felt someone slip the chair out from under him. Gale fell until a hand caught his shirt and a kneed his stomach. Gale grunted five times, one for each impact before catching the leg the sixth time. Gale knocked the hand off his shirt and pulled himself up out of the way the man as he pulled his knee forward. The man slid until he did the splits, which was followed by a squeal of pain.

Gale turned once again to see a man running at him. Not able to turn himself out of the away of the third man, he stumbled painfully but the grip on his shoulders that the man hand now prevented him from falling.

[Ray]

The Kelp Bar erupted. Six attackers began to come at Ray and were intercepted in quick succession, causing him to growl in exasperation. The Guards had been one of the largest men in the establishment, and anyone near their size was mostly drunk. Something hit him across the shoulders. He fell to his knees and scrambled out of the way of a kick and back onto his feet, spinning to see who was to blame. This man was taller than Ray but he was spindly, barely sticks for his limbs. Ray dove in without hesitation, punching his gut and swatting away a clumsy punch to knee his groin. The man doubled over and Ray grabbed his collar, throwing him first into the corner of the bar then over the table that was now sheltering an unconscious Jonas. It was fantastic. There had to be at least ten people involved in to brawl now, striking and changing partners like they were at a square dance. The tables and chairs were holding up under the onslaught, which was really quite miraculous, though those in the immediate vicinity were mostly overturned. The fighters were in the mindless frenzy that comes with big bar fights, and Ray could not think of single place in the world he would rather be. Bruised, bloody and pulsing with adrenaline, Ray charged into the fray.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

The man who had strayed from Rayes' fight has backed him up enough to hit another man. The startled man turned away from his brawling partner to grab their heads and slam them together. Both Gale and the one holding his shoulders grunted in unison. With an angry look in his eye, the man let one shoulder go to pop the other man away. Gale used this moment to push his other hand off. He turned around and was about to book it to the door when the man snatched his neck, wrapping his arms around his neck.

Gagging at the sudden grip around his neck,he at first tried to pull the man's arms off but this proving too difficult for him, he switched back to his old tactics with Henry. His hands going past his head to the stranger's, Gale felt the man's face for his eyes. The man was startled by Gale feeling his face but started to move it around making it more difficult of a challenge for Gale. But by grabbing the man's hair and holding his head still, Gale was able to find the soft eyes and jab his slim fingers at them. The man roared and threw Gale to the ground, now holding his eye as well.

Gale's lips curled when he was thrown down to his hands and knees again,"CAN'T YOU LET A GUY STAND?!?!?!" Gale yelled at no one in particular and flipped over to his back, kicking the blinded man in the knee.

[Ray]

Time faded. Ray’s senses sharpened to the battle but dulled to the world until there were nothing but the eternity of flying fists, shouted curses and pained cries. The constant swirl of motion was… well, he hesitated to use the word euphoric, but it was something in that area. There was nothing but the moment, the next strike coming in and the next man to hit down. And so it was by mere chance that, in the process of bloodying someone’s face, his eyes flicked to the window and saw three figures in the night. They were far away, but they were walking assertively and their clothes were colorful. This had been fun, but the arrival of guards meant that it was time to go. Ray clubbed the man he was fighting one last time and left him on the floor, dazed. As expected, someone else stepped up to take his place but Ray had no more time for senseless hitting, and avoided the attack to direct the attacker into someone else. Having earned a brief respite, he looked around frantically for bookboy. There. Gale was fighting not one, but two opponents, and as Ray started towards him the angry roar rang above even the din of the crowd. Well, Ray thought smugly, someone’s got some spine after all. The blinded man stumbled back, clutching at his eyes while the man that had done the impromptu splits was standing and advancing slowly. Ray crossed his forearms and slammed into the blind man, sending him into the split-man. “Hey there,” he said to Gale with a grin. “Miss me?” Not waiting for an answer, Ray grabbed the artist’s collar and hoisted him to his feet. “Sorry to be cutting your fun short, but the curtain’s been called and show’s over.” Leading Gale by one hand, Ray slithered between brawlers, occasionally fending off a misplaced punch or stray elbow but still relatively unharmed by the time they reached the back door. In the confusion no one would miss them, and everyone else would take the fall from the guards. When they emerged into the alleyway he let go of Gale’s shirt and fell against the wall, laughing hysterically. oocI didn’t hear back from you when I PMed you, so I took a few liberties here. I’d be totally willing to change it if you want me to.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Before Gale was able to push himself back up to his feet, the blonde who started it all pulled him up. Saying a sentence or two, Gale hopped and stumble as he was dragged out, flinching away from the fighting going on around them. He moaned and gasped at times when he had to use his injured foot to keep from falling and being dragged literally. After a few moments, Gale was able to go with the blonde out with less of him being dragged. As overjoyed as Gale was to be away from the chaotic rumble, he would have like it better if he got out on his own terms and not being saved by Rayes.

"Dammit, what was that for you petching Vagik!?"If there was any way to get on Gale bad side, literally shoving him into a fight was at the top of that list. Gale wasn't happy at all and had no clue why Rayes was laughing at the whole thing. He must be insane. Yep, that's it. He's completely insane.

[Wrenmae]

ooc :

Ignore this post.

[Ray]

If anything, Gale’s shouted curse only made Rayes laugh harder. He held his pained and damaged ribs, doubling over in an attempt to gain breath. “C…” he gulped air and wiped away tears. “Come on, bookboy. I know you liked it.” Another fit of laughter overtook him and he sagged, gasping both for oxygen and in pain as each tremor of his lungs shook injuries that he’d not doubt be feeling twice as badly tomorrow. There were no broken or fractured limbs and his joints all seemed in order, but he was covered head to toe in bruises, his lip and nose were bleeding profusely while his forehead was covered in Jonas’ blood. He’d recover eventually, but it was safe to say that he wouldn’t be doing anything strenuous for a few days. His laughter turned to giggles he wasn’t able to completely stifle and his eyes glittered with happiness as he looked at the odd brawling partner he’d had tonight.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Gale gave Rayes and furious glare. How could he think that he liked getting pounded on by drunk men? Who would? Oh, yeah, this freak does apparently. And he's still laughing no doubt. And where did bookboy come from? Gale rarely read any books. Hm, tourists.

"You think I liked it? You almost got me killed!!"Gale yelled at him, pointing at himself with his first question.

Never having a near death encounter, Gale considered this the closest he has gotten. He hoped he won't break this record any time soon. He was sore, bruised, and angry. If this happened again he didn't know what he would do. He looked at the brawler with anger but some curiosity. Why would he choose to start a fight using himself? Especially if he thought if he was a "bookboy".

Gale felt like he was just going to shatter into a million pieces and collapse into a piled heap on the ground. Holding his bad foot off the ground, he wobbled. His stomach felt like a boulder was laying on him, his jaw and nose felt like someone was still pounding at them. His fist even ached. His ankle? Pfft, his ankle felt like it was broken now. Once again, he didn't know how that felt but he thought this was pretty close.

[Ray]

Rayes straightened, still chuckling but in control now. The man’s anger was fiery, but the fact that he was angry, not scared, said volumes. Ray was confident that he wouldn’t lash out at him, but even if he did it would probably just make things funnier. “Come on, now, you were fine. You almost poked two people’s eyes out. I should start calling you Bloodeye now.” He stepped forward, expression mirthful but still somehow serious. “Answer me this, Bloodeye,” he said with a smile, “and answer me true. Before tonight, had you ever been in a skin-on-skin battle, even taken a punch that wasn’t thrown to be funny?”

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Gale watched as his brawling partner took a few steps toward him. Raising an eyebrow at his knew nickname, the blonde rubbed his forearm which now was bruised from Henry. Bloodeye? What type of nickname was that? He'd rather go with Bookboy since it didn't make him sound like a murderer.

Listening to his question Gale responded,"Yes, I have. Had a dagger to my throat and sliced my side actually. It wasn't a pleasant experience. "

Tock might have saved his life but her anger towards him wasn't a pretty. Ruined his only shirt and almost cost him his "family jewels" as well.