Alex Vs Haze (open)

Bingo. Alex had managed to leave Haze speechless for a few seconds. Sure it was achieved by him swearing but hey it worked so the survival professor was calling it a win. Although Haze clearly found the idea of swearing absolutely abhorrent but Alex only shrugged. "I only swear when no appropriate word exists. By the way metaphors are nice but sometimes it's best to let them go. That last one made it seem as if you meant all of her achievements were because of you. As for risk assessment, take a look at what type of school this is. We train huntresses and huntsmen here to fight Grimm and other threats. Half the time we don't get to choose where we face our opponent and have to be ready for anything. Considering that my training with Averia was going to be hand to hand combat there was no chance of a missed attack hitting a bystander or an observer. Other training would've been semblance and for that we would've moved into the training arena. Just how short on smarts do you think I am?" Alex deadpanned. He wasn't backing down anymore then Haze was.

At the mention of looking into Haze's history, Alex at first wanted to refuse just despite her, but that wasn't how he was going to win this argument. "Alright. Since you asked so nicely I will look at your record. Feel free to look at mine by the way. You might learn something as well. Though considering the first 4 Grimm I ever killed was done when I was 15 and had no training from anyone or myself and the battle was done with a simple gardening tool while protecting over a dozen other people with no semblance to fight with or aura to protect me, I'd say we're both gifted and leave it at that." Alex said as he started to look up Haze's record. If she would or wouldn't didn't really matter to him since he doubted that she could think any less of him. Being born as a slave on a forced labor farm was hard for anyone, but living that life for 15 years would leave everyone scarred. However living that life and then not only surviving a Grimm attack but being the single reason why anyone else survived the attack was something anyone would be astounded by. The only person he couldn't save was his mother, and that did hurt, but Alex had made it through by saving 12 others. Then living on his own in the wild for a year before finally showing the security recording of him fighting the Grimm with nothing but a wooden shovel to a small time hunter school where he was accepted and finally provided with a home. Alex had been through a lot, and he had a rough life, and it had remained rough. In a way it still was. Thinking about his past helped Alex calm down a bit. It reminded him of what he fought for and the main reason why he was commenting on Haze's self proclaimed godhood.

Finally Haze's record was up on his phone. "Hm. Born with a diamond spoon in your mouth, you got everything you could've ever wanted and were never told no. You did accomplish quite a bit, and won many rewards." Alex said out loud while looking down at the scroll in his hands before looking up at Haze again. "But that doesn't matter. What to know why? Because I'm not questioning your capabilities. Never was. You earned those rewards and this job. The only thing I was questioning was you calling yourself a goddess because of my experience with other people that called themselves deities growing lax in their capabilities and falling flat on their faces, a couple of them ending up dead as a result. I'm not your enemy; I'm trying to save you from that fate. You can either accept that fact or you can't."

Alex's scroll beeped at him, showing that the next SYNE Post was up, and his name was mentioned in it. Curious, Alex took one look and then laughed. "Well would you look at that? I knew someone was watching us but I didn't think it was someone from the SYNE Post! They reported it and even Leena commented on our actions, saying that the student body could learn something by watching the two of us duel! How about that? She likes the idea of us having a duel!" Alex said with a smile before putting his scroll away and looking back up at Haze. "By the way, trickery is a sound combat tactic, but by fair fight I meant neither of us try to kill the other. Alright? So with that, Professor Haze, I once again challenge you to a duel. Do you accept?"

Eminence Haze rolled her eyes, "Yes, a School for the next generation of huntsmen and huntresses, so naturally we want the newer and less experienced to become critically injured while taking their first steps around the academy. We want them to wander off the airship, into the courtyard, and be struck in the crossfire from a more experienced student and a teacher. You claim it was hand to hand but she coated the ground in ice and you used your semblance to. I also recommend you get a dictionary, do you not know the words; I believe that to be a falsehood, or, you cannot seriously believe that? Either of these would have fit the hole you filled with a slur perfectly well and got across your meaning without being so immature and unprofessional."

"If you're going to lie and make excuses so plainly to my face then I cannot imagine the lies you've told Pyrite, nor your other students," The ultimate huntress commented.

The Goddess sighed once more, bringing a gloved hand up to lightly rub her temple, "And I was told no, again you're being presumptuous. I was told no at several turns, and I fought those no's to get my own way. No's from those who believed, as you said, one with a diamond spoon in their mouth could never become a true huntress. Would become the likes of an entrepreneur with a trophy-husband, ruin the world for their own personal gain through mines or pollution. I was said to drop out of the academy I went to. Told no by my classmates at every turn. I dispelled those claims, I have neither been married nor even in a relationship, I own no mines nor factories."

Madam Haze snatched her scroll up, looking to the news page, While it is natural that they would want all the details on a star like myself, to do this without even a word to me... Well; I'll tell Niko, Eliera, Winston and Sienna what I think of it in class. Regardless of whether the headmistress endorses it or not, she would not want a fight that ruins her courtyard. Nor would she want her favorite little cabbage ruined before the entire school."

"And to conclude, one; how many of those who referred to themselves as deities were hunters of my caliber. Two; it would hardly be informative if we did not go all out. Would it? Regardless, I do not plan to fight you. To waste my time and effort on a playground tussle is pointless and besides, in an area like this my fighting style would certainly cause far too much collateral damage. To the environment and potentially to students."

Alex frowned as Haze commented on him and Averia dueling out in the open in the court yard, where anyone could've been caught in the cross fire. She actually did have a valid point; while most new coming students had to have some combative skills to be accepted to SYNE Academy, they still would've had less experience and most likely weaker armor that might not be able to handle a more experienced student's enhanced weapon. Haze also had another point on both Alex and Averia using their semblances out in the open like they had been a moment ago. The survival professor scratched his chin, let out a sigh and nodded. "Alright, you have a point there. Facing Averia out in the open here was foolish on my part. From now on all of the combat training I have with students will be either in a training area or off campus grounds where a bystander won't get hurt."

However what Haze said after that made Alex's fingers clench into fists. Did she just go there? She did just go there. All of Haze's comments about her being told no all of her life went in one ear and out, nor did Alex hear anything about her commenting about her being a goddess. What she had said a moment ago hit a nerve with Alex... the nerve that made him mad instead of hurt. "Did you just call me a liar?" Off to the side Silvana had returned to eating her apples, but when she heard Alex's comment about being called a liar she dropped a half eaten apple and looked up at her partner with surprise... and a little fear.

"I tell you that I've seen hunters, scientists, teachers, and military leaders believe they were perfect and were thus untouchable only to lose their lives or jobs due to them slacking off in maintaining their skills... I tell you that I'm concerned for your safety because I don't want to see that happen to one as capable as you... I tell you I'm on your side and I'm not trying to demean you... I tell you I'm not questioning your skills or accomplishments... and you respond by saying I've been lying this whole time?! And not just to you but also to my students?!" Alex fumed, clearly starting to lose his temper. Several years ago Alex might of just attacked Haze right then and there, but he didn't.

Instead, he gritted his teeth and tightened his fists so much that his fingernails dug into his skin to the point that one might think he was going to cut his own hands. "If you're going to be making accusations like that then I suggest you be careful. Some people would've attacked you right after you said that. I'm not going to stand here and let you insult me like that! You have no idea who I am so you have no right to make such a claim!" Alex fumed. If Haze pushed him a little farther he might snap.

"And you have no idea who I am, yet have made many many claims. If someone did attempt to assault me, as you propose, I would have handled them. I am the teacher of combat strategies after all, though most of my classes may lack actual combat my knowledge of it is vast," The Goddess informed the man, cocking a brow slightly at his actions.

"You know, had you an attitude as self confident as mine, you would have brushed that off as though it were next to nothing. Akin to a feather blowing in the wind, something very minor coming toward you to explain the metaphor. An attitude like that will get you killed in confrontation with the creatures of Grimm, do simmer down. You are acting rather like a child playing adult," The Goddess sighed, rummaging through her bag. She placed a hand on her mace, rather unsure that this male was safe to be in contact with. He had sworn just a moment ago and demanded they fight, who knows. Perhaps he would attempt to rush her, "Have you considered anger management? I'm sure it would do wonders for you."

"You make claims that you're not trying to demean me nor offend me immediately after doing so, it's rather hypocritical. I called you a liar in relation to not having another phrase you could use as apposed to swearing when that was clearly not the case. I was correct. One who is willing to swear at another member of staff is likely to swear elsewhere, in the classroom for instance."

Alex simply sighed as Haze stated that she'd handle anyone who attacked her, however when she mentioned that her combat classes lacked combat he couldn't help but look at her puzzled, his outburst of anger starting to subside. That was how Alex's emotions worked nowadays; if they got too hot he might yell and perhaps swear but he wouldn't harm anyone. Once that first yell or two have come out his temper begins to subside, as if the quick yell acted as a pressure relief valve. Temper vented, the only thing he could was calm down. Alex rarely fed his anger. "No combat in a combat tactics class? That strikes me as a little odd; after you teach some battle tactics to your students doesn't it make sense to take them to the training arena so you can observe them practicing using those tactics?" Alex asked in a calmer tone.

Oh great; now she was accusing him of lacking self confidences? The survivalist professor chose not to reply to that set of comments, since the purpose behind this argument was starting to grow distant in Alex's eyes. As for him lacking self confidence... that was a simultaneously correct and incorrect. While teaching, battling, or looking after Lucy Alex did the best he could do and never truly backed down so one could say he was confident in his capabilities. On the other hand during several battles in his past Alex was the only one that had survived the conflicts while friends, family, teammates, and the love of his life all ended up dead... which was a huge blow to him and his resolve. So the question of if Alex had self confidence went unanswered.

However the toxic professor's next set of words did make Alex clench his fists for a moment, but only a moment. He might of said a few things that could be called assumptions, but in truth the only thing he was trying to do was save her from making the same mistake that his own team leader had made. That guy had believed his skills made him a god and thus unbeatable, but this caused him to get lazy in his training. It took Alex nearly beating him half to death with his bare hands alone while the team leader used his weapon, semblance, and dust for the man to realize just how foolishly weak he had become with his godly perspective. Now it appeared that Haze was doing the same thing, and Alex hoped he wouldn't have to attack her in such a way, but there was no true way to tell...

The sound of Silvana's outrage whinny drew Alex from his thoughts and causing him to look over at his partner, and his eyes went wide to see the war horse stampeding towards Haze with the intent to trample the female professor! Alex might be able to get his temper under control, but the feisty mare didn't even try. "SILVANA! DON'T TOUCH HER!" Alex bellowed, and the horse skidded to a stop, but she had to rear up onto her hind legs and then bring her front end down next to Haze to avoid hitting the toxic professor. However one could easily claim that the horse had tried to slam her hooves down onto Haze's head but missed. Only Alex's words would've convinced anyone differently.

"That is for them to hone on their own time, it's called combat tactics for a reason. Not general combat. Besides, to have a class where students clash fifty percent of the time and are expected to sit quiet the other fifty is far more difficult than assigning practice as homework," Haze sighed, hand still deep within her bag... it wouldn't remain there for long however.

When the horse began to loose control the golden scepter was drawn from the bag, held out straight to the woman's right. As the beast raised it's legs, seemingly to kick her, she rushed forward; aimed to smash the beast in it's underside before it could land properly. She continued her rush forward until she was a mere two meters from Alex, lowering the mace to her waist.

"This is what I was talking about, idiocy! Do you not think before you act? You really thought it was a good idea to let that beast observe you spar when it can't handle a simple conversation between you and another member of staff?! This is ridiculous What do you think you're doing?!" The Goddess hissed, weapon in one hand and handbag in the other.

Alex's eyes went wide as he watched events unfold in front of him; Silvana's hooves skidded across the ground as she tried to stop but there wasn't enough room for her to do so without hitting Haze, she reared onto her hind legs to give her the extra few feet she needed to stop... and Haze's golden mace slammed into the warhorse's chest.  Silvana let out a neigh of pain and surprise as she fell over onto her right side, a red mark forming on her chest where the mace had impacted her.  When Haze had turned and approached Alex she would've seen him running passed her and going down on one knee next to Silvana to examine his partner where she had been hit.

And as he did his eyes started to glow with an emerald green light as his aura started to swirl around him like a bunch of fluttering leaves.  It didn't take long to find why Silvana was still whimpering from the blow that under most circumstances she'd be able to shrug off.  Alex's head slowly turned to face Haze to glare at her, though the look in his eyes was completely lost because the emerald glow coming from them was bright enough to hid his eyes.  "Silvana's a warhorse.  I brought her with me to this training session with Averia so she could learn how to defend herself against more then just a human opponent.  She was doing only what she was trained for." Alex's voice was coming out with a snarl.  As he was speaking though a stout tree was growing around Silvana, forming a sort of horse hammock to lift her off the ground so she wasn't laying down anymore, but no pressure was on her chest as well.  A horse couldn't stay laying down on their side for too long or their organs would twist, so getting her upright was important.

As Alex stood up and turned to face Haze he was grabbing Oblivinator from his back and transformed the weapon into it's signature duel-headed meteor hammer form.  "She was stopping to avoid hitting you, as I had ordered her to.  You weren't in any danger.  But instead of simply stepping aside you instead broke her ribs." Alex continued as he held the left sphere up towards Haze, whom was at least 7 meters away, and began to swing both ends in a circle by his sides.

"Apologize to her.  Now." Alex demanded.  He wasn't giving her a choice.

"If this horse is truly a warhorse, properly trained and bred, it should have been able to endure that minor tap I gave it to it's underside. You, as the horse's owner, should apologize both to her and to me. For putting your horse into a dangerous position that would frighten it, and for then allowing it to attempt to assault another member of staff. Even if you had asked her to stop, a hunter's reactions must be quick and readied at all times. It was a natural counter, you should know this," Haze sighed, raising her empty left hand.

"Now, I know you're going to put your weapons away and seek forgiveness from us both, upon you doing so I will lower my own weapon and we can continue to pursue diplomacy," A thin line of purple expanded from the Toxic Teacher's right hand, wrapping around her shoulders and neckline like a coiled snake.

The mace in her right was moved across her chest, prepared to counter her opponent's assault should it come. The toxic tail around her neck prepared to lurch forward and put some distance between her and this opponent. Needless to say, she wouldn't be the first to attack. But her response to his own would most certainly be brutal.