Blake Rupert Hartley (onceakiller) wrote in st_margarets, @ 2018-02-06 15:32:00 |
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Entry tags: | character: blake hartley, location: class - self-defense |
Narrative: A Little Carryover
WHO: Blake Hartley
WHEN: Feb. 6
WHERE: Self-defense class
NPCs: Alison the vampire
Some days, Blake Hartley felt like he had an easy job, was settling into a nice leisurely retirement. Other days, days like today, he would rather be out in some of the world's most extreme conditions hunting some of the world's most dangerous monsters. That was preferable to the Dragonslayer than dealing with a hormonal teenager. Dead or alive, actual teenagers or decades to centuries old, the students of St. Margaret's really knew how to test his patience.
This was never more evident to him than during Self-Defense class, where students treated it like a second PE elective, an easy A, or as an outlet for their own pent up frustrations. There were even some who thought they were learning attacks, not deflections. Usually it was the boys who liked to show off, but every now and then, Blake encountered a girl who thought she was in the gladiator's arena out there on the practice mats.
He was watching one such student from across the room. She was paired up with a boy who was doing his best to practice the deflection move Blake had just taught them. Before he could coordinate his arms or legs right, she'd hit him and down he went to the mat. Then she'd laugh and crow, entertaining her friends who were waiting for their turn.
Alison was a vampire. She already had the advantage of speed and strength over the boy sprawled at her feet. Blake wasn't the sympathetic sort, but he didn't abide bullies for very long, especially when they were being counterproductive to the lesson of the day. When she did it again, struck before the boy was set up, Blake dumped his clipboard into the arms of his student assistant and moved in to correct the situation.
His limp was common knowledge and some days it was worse than others, but he was still able to walk lightly enough across the mats to not be detected by the vampire. Along the way, other paired up students stopped and watched curiously as he passed. Alison had her back to him, laughing with her friends until they fell silent, eyes fixed on something behind her. She turned and found herself face to face with the green eyed slayer.
"Hit me," Blake instructed. Other students were helping the boy she'd been paired with off the mat. They were gathering around, talking in hushed whispers. "Go on. Like you've been doing with him. Hit me."
Alison was unsure, but she was also too proud to back down. She knew what would get a laugh out of the whole class. She was quick, Blake had to give her that. She just wasn't quick enough to catch him under his guard. Her strike was easily deflected with an almost casual sweep of Blake's arm.
"Again." Blake deflected her fist once more, this time coming from the other side. This time, students were starting to snicker at Alison's inability to land a hit when it didn't seem their teacher was even ready to block. Alison glared, embarrassment mounting. "You're so good at hitting a defenseless target, aren't you? Again!" Blake repeated. "Again!"
The strikes started coming faster and the class watched as the vampire's fists moved in almost a blur. Mr. Hartley deflected each one with fluid movements as though it was a practiced choreography. His Krav Maga was flawless up until Alison took a dirty shot. With Blake's arms engaged with hers, she used her knee to slam into Blake's bad leg. She thought for sure this would redeem herself in her classmates's eyes. Everyone saw her go for the leg, including Blake. She didn't realize she had underestimated the old teacher until she was flat on her back staring up at the ceiling, numb from the neck down.
Her ears rang, a wave of nausea hit her as feeling returned to her extremities, and the room was hushed. They'd just witnessed something amazing, an advanced Krav Maga move that shouldn't have so easily disabled a vampire, but there was the proof, Alison, rolling onto her side to vomit.
Blake stood over her. She'd be fine, of course. He hadn't snapped her neck. "This is self-defense class. We practice defense and only defense. It's pass or fail. If I catch anyone else using what they've learn in here to rob another student of an opportunity to practice defending his or herself, you'll fail. Any questions?" The room remained quiet. Mr. Hartley nodded. "Good. Back to it, then."