Let There Be No Light PV Group Locked

[quote] [quote]Maybe, in retrospect, it was a bit unnecessary of Cassie to take out her portable chess set in the courtyard. She'd meant for the gesture of training in public to appear intimidating, but honestly... chess was a lot harder than her papa had told her it was when she'd asked to borrow his set when the first task had been announced and she was a backup for the Beauxbatons team. Now, of course, Cassie was an actual team member, which meant that becoming a chess master was a much higher priority. Still, she was trying to play against herself, and without pawns, which was all a bit confusing, but it would be valuable training! She could learn to play chess better! She could anticipate her opponents' moves! She could-

Oh. An opponent.

Cassie looked up from her board and paused for a moment, giving herself time to come up with the perfect reply to the Durmstrang champion's insult. "And you look just as stupid as ever. Maybe you should go to the library and stay there, it will save you the trip." Yeah, the emphasis on the words the boy had missed when he'd spoken wasn't really necessary, but it might serve to rattle him. "In fact, some revision might be a good idea. How are you ever going to stand up to us in the tournament, Yefim Rumyantsev, if you can't even remember our names?" Unlike Yefim when speaking to her, Cassie pronounced her adversary's name perfectly.

Amusingly, the girl turned out to be an even better target than he imagined. She would retort by mocking his English, pointing out how imperfect it was with the emphasis in her own speech. He had only learned English as a means of belittling people in a way they understood, it hardly mattered if it was perfect. After all, in Russian they didn't have any need for such useless connective words. Some people, especially these Frenchies, just needed extra words to have something to do to make them feel important. He knew most people did not have the pure motivational power he had, nor the absolute feeling of purpose to drive them.

His smile would curl devilishly, tickled at the insults to his intelligence, and the need for him to study more. That was good news, it meant his competitors thought he was foolish and unprepared. Just as planned. He had zero intention of defending his name and honor, everyone would know the truth once the immortal soul inside him laid waste to the planet. Until then, he intended to elicit more whining and screaming from the hapless girl, for the crime of thinking she was safe.

”On legs. Obviously.” Yefim would joke, walking closer as he did. ”Check out this move.”

Before she would have the chance to stop him, Yefim would hop up on the sitting bank Cassie had laid her chess board on, and smashed his boot through the wood. It would be loud, and pieces would fly in all directions. Then, another incredulous laugh. If she was funny after just a few off-handed comments, how funny would she be now?

The Hex Wizard was vastly approaching, and to be quite honest Gray had barely practiced for the upcoming events. In his eyes he really didn't need to, it would only give him unneeded pressure leading into the events. Whatever was to be was going to happen, although failure wasn't going to be on the cards for Hogwarts. The other schools were strong, no doubt about it. Hogwarts on the other hand, was always one step above.

Walking through the quiet area of the courtyard, he was taking his time to return back to the common room when his eyes picked up something unusual. Two visiting students were talking to each other, but it seemed more of a confrontational one than a friendly conversation. He'd normally ignore such a pointless matter, yet when a bigger lad was standing over a smaller girl like that it only meant bad news. As well as that, it was simply cowardly.

Slowly coming to a halt, he watched on in annoyance as the boy broke the chest board in half, sending pieces flying across the courtyard in a ruined mess. Sighing to himself, he began walking over to the pair with a purpose. Even though both were his upcoming opponents in the games, he couldn't just stand there and watch a bully do that on his school grounds.

"Hey! Bellend!" Percival grunted at him before standing in front of Cassie and pushing him roughly on the chest "If you think you can do that on our grounds you have another thing coming" how dare he bring such an attitude to their school, he was a guest, and they were not meant to act like this.

"I dare you to try something now..."

Durmstrang-uniformed Valentin heard Yefim’s voice from afar, and while unable to make out the words, he was naturally drawn in by curiosity and his desire to join up with his friend. Durmstrang’s famed “White Seeker” was still barely in earshot when his keen eyes picked out the shapes of a Beauxbatons girl and some black-haired boy shoving Yefim in the chest. Pale, thin Valentin was already tall at a wiry 5’10”, making his long legs sprint even faster than in his renowned “speed demon” childhood. In the past, Valentin might have drawn his wand in rushing to the defense of his dear Fima, but following the damage he’d inflicted on Mikael, Valya came to habitually try physical solutions first. Running at top speed directly at the Slytherin, Valentin aimed to send the boy flying with an unrestrained full-body collision.

Near-professional athlete that Valya was, he knew how to aim and how to leverage his bodyweight for all it was worth. Being smart and well-versed with high-speed physics were unnecessary bonuses on top of his daredevil experience, which had taught him many times that it didn’t matter if something was lightweight if it simply went fast enough. Such was the principle behind any projectile aimed to defuse a threat. The only warning Percival got was the sound of Valentin’s dashing feet before the white lightning struck.

Stats: STA 8 ✦ EVA 14 ✧ STR 2 ✦ WIS 15 ✧ARC 1 ✦ ACC 15 - Ency
Abilities: Keen Eye ✦ Charmer ✧ Evasive Maneuvers ✦ Fearless
@Lucia Fox - @Flash Holmwood - @Percival Gray
Note: The outcome is open, depending on how you want things to go.

Before Yefim could really enjoy the reaction his acting out would get him, he was approached by another bloke that seemed unmistakably British. After being at WartyHogs enough times over the years, it was becoming easy to pick out the genuine accents and fashion trends. This one looked to be about Yefim's age, though he clearly wasn't very smart if he thought he would be able to stand up to him and not regret it.

Holding still a moment to see what the boy had to say, he would watch the boy's hand lift and shove at him, tracking its movement with his eyes yet not making any motion to evade. Like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike, he would look disturbingly calm and happy. This look may not have terrified the two fearless competitors, who no doubt had already seen their fair share of unhinged teenagers, but perhaps that bravery would be their downfall.

This eerie moment would be punctuated by the sound of rapid footsteps approaching at high velocity. Yefim would not need to look to recognize the pitter patter of an attack Niffler speeding forward to defend his champion. Yefim would reach for his wand, knowing a fantastic accompaniment for the blazing white Seeker-- a blinding bright light. It seemed only fitting, though there was no way he would be able to cast it before Niffler made his mark-- the man was infamous for his lightning fast speed and accuracy. THe full force of it might not be as devestating as a punch from Yefim's fist, but it didn't need to be. In his attempts to dodge the speeding bullet, Yefim would have no trouble sealing the deal.

[quote] [quote]Cassie squinted at Yefim as he wandered a little closer. "What are you-" But then it was abundantly clear what the Durmstrang champion was doing, because he brought his foot up and let it crash down upon Cassie's papa's chess board. Splinters and bits of wood flew everywhere and Cassie could do nothing but stare as her only way of training was destroyed. "You- you-" Cassie's mind had gone foggy. She couldn't even think of a good insult, and she barely noticed that she'd slipped into French by accident. The only thing she could force herself to do was to stand up, attempting to stare the bully in the face (a difficult feat considering the hight difference).

Before she could say anything, Cassie felt herself being pushed a little way backwards as a boy - a Hogwarts boy? - inserted himself between Yefim and Cassie. "Hey!" Cassie didn't need someone else to fight for her! She could take on this kid any day! Although... it was nice to see that Hogwarts didn't tolerate destruction of property, especially from a guest. As the Hogwarts boy dared Yefim to carry on with his attack, Cassie sidestepped him and folded her arms. "After all," she added to the boy's statement with a nonchalant shrug. "If you don't think you can beat us in the Tournament you're free to try now."

Cassie had barely gotten the last syllable out when a blur of white streaked into her vision - another boy, Durmstrang presumably, who barrelled into the Hogwarts boy. In a split second, Yefim had drawn his wand and there was a flash of light and Cassie covered her eyes instinctively- no. The Beauxbatons representative forced her palms away from her eyelids and squinted through the light towards the taller boys. "That was a coward's move," she spat, and attempted to punch Yefim as hard as she could.

Percival didn't know it yet, but he was leading himself into a trap. Hearing the pattering of running he turned fast enough to get a tackle into his stomach. Gray leaned over and grunted when the air was knocked out of him from the lighting fast student. However, as he was getting pushed back the Slytherin digged his heels into the floor to stop himself from falling backwards.

As he wrestled with the other student, Yefim raised his wand and produced a blind charm that made his vision quite blurry. Percival squinted his eyes and continued to fight for position with his attacker. Thanks to his vision being impaired it was going to be harder to fight back properly against the white head, but if he kept calm and composed he wouldn't have to worry too much. With Cassie making a beeline for Yefim, he was able to focus this student alone.

Trying to use his strength, they seemed to be at a stalemate. He wasn't going to take him down just yet, he needed to soften him up a bit before he could do anything properly. Lowering one of his arms down, he suddenly formed a fist and threw it upwards towards his chin to try and land an uppercut. Gray needed to act now if he was going to help the girl with Yefim, who was the one to blame for all this happening.

Valentin’s attack synchronized with Yefim’s blinding flash like pure, sweet lightning. It sent chills through the white seeker as, in a split-second, Valentin relived the moment a true bolt had sent him into Death’s arms. This kind of thrill was the sweetest gift Fima* could give Valya – all at once, the champion communicated understanding, harmony, and connection while also achieving a brilliant tactical union as fast as a ray of light. A delicious surge of anticipation shocked through Valya's nerves and brought a blazing grin to Valentin’s face. At times like these in particular, the white seeker felt pure, unbridled love for the champion.

Indeed, with such a perfect, disorienting opener, Valentin had a prime opportunity to follow through with a truly powerful blow. Yet, after his first strike, Valentin found himself only slowly pressing into the other boy’s personal space. With this, Val and Yefim had given the two a warning, and they could have stopped there. Valentin knew it. He knew it, but the burning of his blood still begged for catharsis. Before he ever even showed up to the fight, Valentin’s fuse already flickered in the hot winds of yearning, so now… now couldn't he finally have things his way, limitless, without self-control?

“Hands off, boy,” rumbled the tall, pale athlete. Pulling his wand from an inner pocket, Valya could feel the stick’s own desperation. It wanted to fight. That damn thing always wanted action and began heating up any time it had been neglected for too long. Holding it now, Valentin’s nose wrinkled as he took in the smell of it emanating black tendrils of smoke. The bloody thing was ready to explode if it didn’t get its way, and sympathetic Valya wanted to ease its pain. Arm shaking with the flood of his adrenaline, Valentin bared his teeth and aimed the end of the wand at Percival’s throat. Yet, staring down the black-haired boy and drilling into his blue eyes, Valentin couldn’t let himself do it. This wasn’t the one. This wasn’t him. If Valentin couldn't have Romeo, god fucking damn it, why couldn't he at least have what the other had – a brother? Yet, burning this boy to the ground the way he had Mikael couldn’t make him into a brother. Much as Valya wanted an excuse to pulverize the other the way he, himself, wished to be demolished, it was fantastical to think some Hogwart could instantly understand Valya’s prayers and reciprocate on the deepest possible level.

With a foot falling backwards one step, Valentin’s face flushed with revelation. Wouldn't everything have been different if his mother had carried his unborn brother to term? The perpetually empty tower, built for one who couldn't make it to the light, stood as a memorial to the lost child. If he had made it through, wouldn't their mother have survived, keeping the rest of the family whole, too? Yet, even if he had been born, it wasn’t like Val could have expected to have the kind of connection he wanted, right? The ability to exchange blows and still have everything be alright, and the knowledge that he would never leave you… After all, what state was Romeo in with his own twin? A knot twisted into the back of Valya's throat as he longed to go back to those days of martial arts training with his co-captain. Why did they have to be so goddamn separate?

Trying to convince himself to pull his arm back down, Valentin’s eyes narrowed with self-contempt. Hadn’t Valya been putting too much on his co-captain, and what made him think that he could even treat a brother the way he deserved? This Hogwart was a perfect stranger and yet here Val was, ready to burn him down for his own enjoyment of fighting for Yefim’s honor. Seething through his teeth, Valentin held the wand fixed in place at Percival’s throat. No. Such fantasies are bullshit. The only thing that really mattered here was backing up his champion, decided Valentin. Shunting his own wishes back down once more, the seeker’s silver-amethyst eyes burned like molten steel into Percival’s.

“If you have a problem with Yefim, you have a problem with me.”

Stats: STA 8 ✦ EVA 14 ✧ STR 2 ✦ WIS 15 ✧ARC 1 ✦ ACC 15 - Ency
Abilities: Keen Eye ✦ Charmer ✧ Evasive Maneuvers ✦ Fearless

Languages Valentin speaks: English, Russian, German, Tatar, novice Italian
*Valentin = Valya, Valik; Yefim = Fima, Yefimka

@Flash Holmwood, @Percival Gray, @Lucia Fox

After the initial blitz, it looked like the two were successfully taunted into attacking. From Yefim's position, he was not blinded and instead cackled at the sight of them squinting and looking all angry. It was so easy to rile people up, even Niffler looked like he had been riled into a fever, grabbing for his wand next.

Yefim would keep his wand aloft, he was simply too strong to be punching a fellow competitor in the face in a way that would leave a mark. He was at least smart enough to know what he could get away with, and the way things were playing out, the girl and her Hogsnot Hero were the ones who looked like the aggressors. Even though she could not see well, and Yefim was watching her carefully to see where her punch would land, the French dame came at him with a raised fist. She would not be able to circumvent the speed demon, who was in front of Yefim and taking the hit she intended for the champion. Well-played, really, and revealing. Clearly she was not afraid of him, which was useful to know.

The Hogdork would not be so lucky, and he would not touch a fraction of a hair on the swift Niffler's supreme reflexes. That was good, it meant that this girl was coaxed into a violent rage and Niffler proved he would answer Yefim's call to action. Yefim could tell the white angel was prone to wanton sacrifice, and would take the cue to change gears.

"So angry." Yefim would mock the girl, knowing how well Valya could take a hit. "Think you win fists fight? Must being knight piece."

Would she try to keep fighting him? Would the ineffectiveness of her ally make her back down? Yefim couldn't help but feel an excited anticipation to see what she would do. Afterall, these two were just toys to him, and Niffler a sword and shield he used to keep them in line. If they were silly enough to continue fighting, it was not going to be pretty.