IC:

"I forced a tie in the combat exams. He wasn't pleased."

Alistair answered Tirren quietly, watching the unfolding situation attently for a few moments. Most people would have been content to stay back, allow those clearly more experienced in combat to intervene, to keep him from having to fight. In fact, the light burns that still remained on his hand sent a tingle of pain up his arm, as if reminding him what happened the last time he was in a fight. What would likely happen if he tried again.

But the situation wasn't right, and he couldn't let it stand as is. Silently, he buttoned the top few previously-unfastened buttons on his coat. With a deep breath, he activated his aura with a thought, feeling it sputter to life, focusing all of its power on defense. And then, without another word, he took a few steps forward, interposing himself between those who had come out of the woodwork to stand against the jock and the musclebound antagonist himself. 

Truthfully, all of the little voices in the back of his head were telling him that this was a bad idea. And it probably was. But how could he walk into Beacon with his head held high when not only did he barely scraping through admissions, he had to be defended from one arrogant jock on the way to the school? What impression would that leave?

"I appreciate the intervention." He said to Addica and Daiki, tone decidedly more calm than it was a few minutes ago. "I really do. Call me old-fashioned, but having to be protected from my own problems doesn't sit well with me. If I can't deal with one asshole, than I really shouldn't be here, should I?"

That said, he steeled his nerves, and turned to look at the jock. Alistair was a bit taller than average, but his opposite number still stood a head taller, bulked out with decidedly more muscle.

"For you, I have but one suggestion. Walk away. You didn't lose, nor did you win. Neither of us did. We both made it into Beacon, so neither of us came off the worse for how things went, either. " A pause, as if he was pondering whether or not he really wanted to say what came next. But when he did speak again, despite the edge of nervousness creeping into his voice, he did so with all of the bearing he could muster.

"If your pride won't let you do that, then take your best shot. We'll see if you can beat my so-called junkyard scrap the second time."