[OTA] The Price You Pay | Jordan's Challenge to Seven of Spades

[heartsthespades]

It wasn’t a pretty fight. Of course, there were no pretty fights, not really. When Jordan had challenged in fencing when he’d been fifteen, that had been a pretty challenge, more like dancing than a battle. But this was different

Comments

[cutslikeaspade]

It was probably bad form that Ethan's eyes were bright and just a hint of a smirk rode his expression, watching Maddox Hobbs slither to the floor. Prices to be paid, and when steel entered into the transaction, blood was always the coin of the realm. He loved it.

Nevertheless, he waited aside the arena with a small first aid kit, nodding approval as Jordan veered over. "Congratulations, Spade Seven," he said simply.

[heartsthespades]

Jordan hadn't really given Maddox any opportunity to showcase his more intellectual skillset - theoretically, there had been one, after all - and he's wiping blood off his hands when he nearly runs into Ethan.

"Thank you, Spade Seven," he says, his serious expression lifting into a smirk of his own. "Playing nurse today?"

[cutslikeaspade]

Ethan shrugged. "Figured one of you might need one, so I volunteered." Gesturing with the roll of gauze, he asked, "Want to dress 'em out here or go back inside?" A smirk. "Personally, I think the former'd have a more lasting effect."

[heartsthespades]

"Out here is preferable," Jordan says. "I'm not in the mood to deal with the death glares from the remaining Hobbses right now." Maddox, at least, should have known. But he supposed he couldn't blame his parents.

[cutslikeaspade]

"Fair enough. C'mon, shirt. Off."

A fair nurse, Ethan had doctored his share of wounds over the years, many of them his own, he wasted little time in applying peroxide to the cuts and ice to the bruises, unmindful of any and all protestations.

"Well, you'll live, anyway."

[heartsthespades]

"Imagine that." Jordan murmurs as he shrugs back into the bloodstained shirt - for now, at least, Chives was having fresh sent. "Well, I'm sure the populace will manage to conceal their disappointment."

[cutslikeaspade]

"Don't be such a hardass, Jordan, God," Ethan rolled his eyes. "You just butchered Maddox Hobbs. And got away with it. This is a good day, brother."

[heartsthespades]

"Mmhmm." But he just shrugs it off for now and tilts his head at Ethan. "Should we go get a drink to celebrate once I'm not covered in blood?" Diana probably wouldn't appreciate it.

[cutslikeaspade]

"Sure. Classes are cancelled in light of your little show here, so I'm free for the rest of the day." He glanced back at the ring, where they were only just now removing the body from the floor and beginning to clean up.

Ethan smirked. "Gonna attend his funeral?"

[heartsthespades]

"So all of your students love me." Right now, at least; they probably wouldn't like him as much if he ever helped Ethan with training.

"I doubt it," he said, though, casting a look at Ethan. "What would the point be? Gloating? I don't need to gloat."

[cutslikeaspade]

"Hey," he admonished. "I'm not that bad a teacher, come on now. Some of 'em actually like flailing away at each other with sharp objects." Ethan smirked. "We did."