Re: [punching, the redux]
Patrick did not have the slightest idea who he was, so Adrian was not alone in this. He had not had his mind merged with anything, but he was currently facing down everything he had always believed about himself, and he found it terrifying. His nightmares had returned with a vengeance, and he knew this was because of his waking stress. Shit was complicated, and the dude was perfectly aware that he was not currently chill nor at his best. It made this encounter something desirable for him, and it was not even a sense of guilt motivating him now (though this was perhaps evident). Dude, man, Patrick was pissed.
There it was. Have at it, man. Patrick was pissed.
Adrian had been most shitty since the books. Now, dude knew it was warranted, but it still stung. Adrian had been nasty, man, and Patrick was actually most looking forward to getting a few good punches in. It was not a kind thing to want, and it was not the adequate reaction for a guilty thief of a bro, but it was what it was, and Patrick was pulled taut from pretending he did not feel the shit he currently felt.
Hence, yes, man, the dude threw the first punch, and he felt good when it landed solidly beneath Adrian's ribs. Around them, the air was crisp and cool and green. Outside, and visible through the windows, the trees shivered and new leaves fell from spring branches.
Adrian began to guard, and Patrick grinned. "Fuck you, man. That is a bullshit comment. 'I don't want to hurt you.'" Dude scoffed, and he circled, arms up and bent at the elbows, fists guarding his face as he watched Adrian shift and close space. He took advantage of the nearness to aim another good, solid, under-jab at Adrian's side, where he knew it would make the dude smart with the impact. It opened him up to that swing at his jaw, but the dude did not care; he was not fighting careful. "When you punch someone, you want to hurt therm," he said, taking the punch to the jaw with a jerk of his head and stars clouding his eyes. But, man, the dude kept his footing, and he threw back multiple sharp jabs at Adrian's head, going for the sides and alternating as he moved quickly, expertly, from foot to foot.