Walking the Beat (open)

[Kender Bard]

Duo leaned back and grabbed Ice's wrist, pushing it forward on its path to try and put him off momentum as he brought his knee up at Ice's stomach.

[Northen Light36]

Ice gasps for breath as Duo's knee connects with his gut and drops both knives. The ice blade shatters on contact with the ground, but Ice simply creates a new one as he jerks his own knee upwards, trying to connect with Duo's groin. A dirty trick, but that's what Ice is best at.

[Kender Bard]

Duo shifted awkwardly to save himself a world of pain and the ice dagger bits in deep in his thigh. He gives a shout of pain and drives his fist hard at Ice's face. "Dirty rat!" he snarls.

[Northen Light36]

Ice staggers back from the punch, but remains standing - barely. Watching, horrified, Seafoam whimpers and squirms all the harder, wanting desperately to go heal Duo's injury. Snarling, Ice sends another blast of half frozen water at Duo.

[Kender Bard]

Duo deflects it much the same he did before, but he wants to concentrate on building more power and so doesn't try as hard. The water and ice mixture hurts and leaves him with many little cuts, forcing him back another step. Duo murmurs a quick chant after touching his signs and then sends another powerful blast of water, taking the gamble of focusing on only one of Ice's legs. He wants to end this, and if Ice won't go down willingly, he'd help him to his knees.

[Northen Light36]

Duo gets his wish as the powerful blast of water knocks Ice onto his back. Seafoam gives a little cheer and squirms in the grip of Ice's pet thugs. For their part, the not too bright thugs look between Duo and their fallen leader, uncertain of what to do.

[Kender Bard]

Duo limps around to face the thugs. "Let him go," he growled, "Or you can all join him. " He doesn't take his eye off Ice even as he strides forward to grab Seafoam away from the boys. Swept up in the moment, he flashes Ice his old gang sign - thumb, forefinger and middle finger, ring finger and pinky.

[Northen Light36]

Ice glares darkly at Duo and Seafoam as he staggers to his feet. "Fine," he hisses. "You want the little runt, you can have him." Ice's tone suggests there's a silent 'for now' in that sentance. He's been humiliated in front of his gang and someone is going to pay for it.

[Kender Bard]

"Get out of my sight," Duo growled back, pushing Seafoam behind him. "You mess with one of our gang, you mess with all of us, and we're not going to tolerate trash in our streets." He gives Seafoam a little push towards the house of healing. "Come on newbie, let's go." He doesn't want to be rough with Seafoam but he figures the kid might be safer if Ice and crew knew that he was affiliated with a whole group, and not simply being protected, and there was no coddling of new kids.

[Northen Light36]

Seafoam looks at Duo in slight confusion, but starts heading to the House of Healing obediently enough. Ice and his gang stare daggers into Duo and Seafoam's backs for awhile, then turn and walk away, muttering to each other.

Seafoam doesn't relax until he's safely on the House's grounds and then it's only a swift sigh before he's all business, leading Duo to a chair. "Sit down sir, you're hurt. I'll get one of the healers for you." Quickly the small boy runs off to find Sparkle.

"Well Duo, it's been awhile since I saw you in here," Sparkle comments as she walks in. "What have you done to yourself, hmm?"

[Kender Bard]

Duo sighs and lets his guard down here, now cringing everytime he moves and cursing himself silently. "There's been trouble with the local punks," he grumbled. "Kids like that.. you gotta meet them on their own terms. So let's just say I donned an old persona and did a little undercover work." He smirked to himself. "And tell Seafoam I'm sorry I pushed him but I will be able to explain better some other time."

[Northen Light36]

Sparkle raises an eyebrow as she tends to Duo's wound. "Anyone would think you were still a child, Duo. You're a little too old to be getting into street brawls." Sparkle puts her hands on her hips and looks sturnly at Duo. "And just why were you pushing my charge around, Duo?"

[Kender Bard]

"To protect him," he says somberly. "He's an easy, fun target for the bullies, ma'am. We can't waste valuable resources keeping him out of scrapes, but Ace feels Ice is dangerous. We're going to do what we can legally, but we don't want Seafoam to be a victim, so we'll try to keep an eye on him. Beyond that, Ace wants us to teach him some self defense."

[Northen Light36]

Sparkle frowns, her expression darkening. "That little thug... I'll tell you, I certainly wouldn't be the only person glad if that boy was locked away somewhere. Self defence, hmm? Very well, I'll try to see to it that Seafoam has some time off every couple of days at least." Sparkle smiles slightly and adds, "It'll do the poor child good to be seperated from his studies a little."

[Kender Bard]

"I agree," Duo says. "Poor kid. Reminds me of Thavan." He flushes a little. "I'm betting Ace feels the same way and that's why he's taken such an active interest. You know how it is.." He fidgeted uncomfortably. "Eh heh, well, anyway, we're going to do all we can ma'am, and thank you for your support."