[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/vgf9OWT.png?1[/img]
[h2][color=aquamarine]Tone[/color][/h2][/center]
[hr]

The dragonslayer had no luck today. As he marched back to the guild, having taken to heart the warning not to fly over the capitol, he grumbled to himself and stewed on the day's disappointments. It felt like the stars had aligned to prevent Tone from being able to cut loose and get some good practice. Kaden was a no-show, Zen was busy, and even in the woods he was getting harassed by guards. [i][color=aquamarine]Lame day,[/color][/i] he thought to himself. [i][color=aquamarine]But at least I got my bad luck out of the way early. Rest of the day will probably go better.[/color][/i] The self assurance wasn't particularly convincing as Tone continued to radiate an angry aura as he approached the guild hall.

As he opened the front door to the guild he saw that it was pretty much about as busy as when he left, only now with different people present. Fenixtear had gotten popular after all so even being gone for only a little while was long enough for the population inside the building to cycle out. His angry aura subsided as a devilish smirk crossed his lips. Among those present he could see the back of Kaden's head, as he was presently occupied by talking to Jasper the resident Exceed. Or at least Tone was pretty sure he was an Exceed. Unlike the other S class wizards of this guild who are more uptight and reserved, Kaden is a lot more free spirited. He wouldn't be the type to turn down a fight unless he had his hands tied with something else. More important than that: if he were spontaneously attacked he wouldn't turn down the fight even if he [i]was[/i] occupied with something else.

Tone shiftily navigated across the guild, stealthily approaching Kaden from behind to take advantage of this opportunity. As it stood there was no apparent figures of authority anywhere to be seen, a rare event in the guild hall. Nobody to deter or punish Tone for his recklessness other than Kaden himself, and Kaden will be too busy to flex authority when he's retaliating to a sucker punch surprise attack. [i][color=aquamarine]I'm sure he'll understand,[/color][/i] Tone figured as he stepped behind Kaden. [i][color=aquamarine]Besides, I'm sure we won't break anything.[/color][/i] With a grin he twisted his body around, bringing his right leg up in a spin to roundhouse kick the S-class wizard in the side of the head.

[b]THUMP[/b]

A look of genuine surprise replaced the devilish grin on Tone's face when his kick was blocked. The air pressure from the stopped blow continued on and mildly breezed through Kaden's hair, though the audible impact surely alerted him a split-second sooner. Tone looked to his right to see Ronan had caught his foot and stopped the sudden attack. [color=aquamarine]"Huh?"[/color] Tone had never seen this guy before, and something about his eyepatch and dead stare made him feel a bit uneasy. [color=goldenrod]"Striking an unsuspecting victim isn't very compassionate,"[/color] Ronan spoke, releasing Tone's foot and letting him stand back upright. [i][color=aquamarine]What's with this guy? Who the hell is he? Wasn't this guy sitting at the bar?[/color][/i] The dragonslayer took a step back, mostly to gain his distance from Ronan but also Kaden, whom would be none too pleased by the events unfolding around him (but not so unpleased as to launch into combat without question, unfortunately). [color=aquamarine]"Hey, I was only just messing around. Kaden would've been fine,"[/color] Tone defended himself, his smirk returning. [color=aquamarine]"Besides, who the hell are you? I've never seen you around before."[/color]

Ronan gave a polite bow towards Tone. [color=goldenrod]"My name is Ronan and I just joined your guild. Torys will give me the guild's mark momentarily, when she is done helping another who joined just before me,"[/color] he introduced, which would also serve as his introduction to the nearby Kaden and Jasper. Something about this man just felt [i]off[/i] to Tone. He always considered himself good at telling who good people were, so something feeling [i]off[/i] to him set off some red flags in his mind. The guy seemed nice enough but he was very strange. What grown men are joining magic guilds? This dude was easily the oldest one in the room right now. [color=aquamarine]"I'm Tone, nice to meet ya. But, uh, you're kinda gettin' in the way of my plan a little bit here. Kaden and I were just gonna have a little spar together, right Kaden?"[/color] While Tone thought he was being slick and might be able to still convince Kaden to have a go despite failing the surprise attack it seemed that he was going to be prevented from cutting loose again.

[color=goldenrod]"That would be ill advised. Combat indoors would've caused damage even without the use of magic. I am under the impression that Torys would be displeased had I not intervened,"[/color] Ronan began to lecture. Of course this began to irk Tone. [color=aquamarine]"Oh yeah? And did she leave you in charge of the place? You think you're some kind of hotshot that gets to decide what others can and can't do?"[/color] Ronan shook his head. [color=goldenrod]"I'm merely trying to do the right thing."[/color] So the implication was that Tone was in the wrong. His day was already not looking good and now this Ronan guy was being a jerk and getting in the way. [color=aquamarine]"You've got some chops to block my kick like that. Maybe you would be a good warmup exercise before I spar with Kaden."[/color] [color=goldenrod]"I do not want to fight you, it will only cause..."[/color]

A lightning fast jab only met air as Ronan turned his upper body away, never taking his eye off Tone even as his fist flew past him. His expression didn't change either, there was no look of surprise or anger or anything. Tone took this as disinterest and disrespect from Ronan, and annoyance turned to anger. With no pause he threw another jab at Ronan's face. Then another, then another. Each blow only met air as Ronan weaved around every strike. After a moment of this flurry Tone finally stopped, letting Ronan stand upright. [color=aquamarine]"Damn, you're pretty nimble,"[/color] he said, putting his fists up and taking his fighting stance. [color=goldenrod]"Well I don't want to take a hit from you if I can help it."[/color] A smirk briefly returned to Tone's face before jets of flame burst from his body, propelling his fastest punch yet directly towards Ronan's jaw.

A loud crack rang out through the guild hall as Tone's fist broke the sound barrier, kicking up wind in the direction past Ronan that blew around the hair and loose clothing of the hall's inhabitants in that direction. But as for Ronan himself he had leaned backwards just in the nick of time, narrowly evading the powerful blow. [color=aquamarine][i]How did he dodge that?[/i][/color] Tone wondered, but he wasn't able to process the thought any further. Ronan grabbed his outstretched arm with both of his hands, pulling back and down. As this yanked Tone forwards and off his balance Ronan continued the motion and stepped over Tone's arm to straddle it between his legs. Continuing in one fluid, expert move he twisted his body around the captured arm and locked his legs at Tone's shoulder with his feet firmly across Tone's chest. The two hit the ground with Tone's arm locked in an arm bar, preventing him from immediately getting up or effectively retaliating. [color=aquamarine][i]What the!?[/i][/color] Ronan held firm but didn't use all his strength, Tone knew this because from this position he could've easily just dislocated his shoulder or elbow. [color=goldenrod]"If you agree to cease fighting I will let you go,"[/color] Ronan said simply.

This only made Tone more upset. It was humiliating. He was pinned on the floor by a complete stranger seemingly effortlessly, in front of people who would surely make fun of him for it too. [color=aquamarine]"A wrestler, huh,"[/color] Tone said, trying to front like he was calm. [color=aquamarine]"I've never met a mage that preferred to take a fight to the ground."[/color] [color=goldenrod]"I imagine most mages wouldn't, but I am not a mage."[/color] Now Tone's eyes widened in surprise. [color=aquamarine]"Bullshit. There's no way a normal person could have reflexes like yours. Is this supposed to be dry humor?"[/color] Ronan released Tone's arm and the young man quickly rolled away and smoothly returned to his feet. After rolling his shoulder a few times just to make sure it didn't take any damage he stood up straight. [color=aquamarine]"That'd be pretty embarrassing for a dragonslayer to lose a fistfight to a normal guy."[/color] Ronan took his time getting back onto his feet, not speaking another word until Tone was finished. [color=goldenrod]"You did not lose, I knew you were holding back. But you shouldn't continue trying to fight your guildmates here."[/color] Now Ronan looked over towards Kaden and Jasper, giving the two of them a polite nod. [color=goldenrod]"My apologies to all of you for making a scene, I was just trying to help."[/color] This time Tone kept silent as he felt both anger and humiliation coursing through his veins. His instincts were telling him that this man was trouble, that something was wrong, but he bit his tongue and didn't return to a combat stance. He knew that Ronan was right that he was in the wrong for trying to get a rise out of Kaden by assaulting him. He didn't want to embarrass himself any further. [i][color=aquamarine]I'll get him back for this...[/color][/i]