Now or Never- Match 1 {Jamal}

[Ashton Kay]

‘Tournament’, that’s what they had called it anyway. In reality, Ashton knew it was just a show. Just a front for something much more dangerous and Ash wanted to know exactly what was up. From the first week he had been on this island he knew that there was no getting out unless you fought your way there. So, when he heard what the prize was to leave this fucking place he knew it was too good to be true. He knew that it was trick and something serious was about to go down. After the last battle, after losing so many of his friends, Ashton couldn’t handle the thought of losing someone else. So, if he’d have to knock a few heads together to find out, that’s exactly what he was going to do.

He stood waiting on his side of the arena, his shoulders slumped and his hands in his pockets. He looked perfectly at ease, and yet from a distance it was completely different. His green eyes were darker, a storm of anger brewing in them instead of his normal bright, joking color. His jaw was clenched, the muscles in his neck tight with tension. And yet, he managed to maintain a clear expression, almost as if the ginger was bored. When in fact, his mind was stewing over the fact that all of the contenders in the first bracket were battle front. It’s not like he’d even get the pleasure of beating the living shit out of a prefect, he would have to be far more careful and controlled.

When he saw another figure walk towards him, Ashton instantly recognized Jamal. Gator boy. The kid who made amazing food. The kid who had the thing with the cute octopus girl. While Ashton had trained with him and knew more about him than he probably should, he couldn’t remember a time that they had a long conversation and actually talked. The ginger wasn’t exactly sure if not knowing the kid that well made it harder, or if throwing punches at a close friend would be. Exhaling a heavy breath from his nose Ashton began walking over to Jamal, meeting the boy half way. “You ready?” he called out as he rolled his shoulders and tried to relieve some of the building tension in his body.

“No going easy, alright? I want to see all you’ve got,” Ash said, a cocky tone edging his voice as he smirked at Jamal. Ashton knew he was one of the longest residents of Ashford, and he knew that he always trained half the kids here. So it was safe to say he was feeling a tad confident, but he didn’t let that cloud his mind. He knew that the kids here were constantly pulling out new tricks and he had to be on top of his game. He couldn’t be taking on too much damage now could he? Once the bell sounded for the round he slid backwards, watching Jamal for his first move and poised to counter.

[Jamal Duclair]

Jamal didn't know Ash that well, he had seen what he could do but he'd spent most his time in the kitchen or spending time with Myra ever since the day she walked into the kitchen. Jamal was fifty fifty on his chances. He knew he wasn't getting off the island. More likely the high ups were showcasing how good of weapon they could make out of Gifted or use footage for some sort of stupid anti gifted propaganda video. But this was a way to blow off some steam and have some fun, friend or enemy he'd knock someone out if he had to. He wasn't sure he could beat Ash but he'd fought some tough men in his time. He rolled his neck to one side, and returned Ashton's cocky grin, snorting."Let's see if you're all talk Popsicle." He cracked his knuckles and took a run at Ash. Waiting for the inevitable counter attempt.

[Ashton Kay]

Watching Jamal sprint forward, Ash couldn’t help but feel a little deflated. Even with the tournament most likely being a trap, he was still itching for a decent fight. Something to let his powers fly and give him a little release. Yet, with such a simple first move he couldn’t help a little disappointment pool in his chest. Shaking the feeling off, he on tucked his arms and shook them out. Letting out a sigh through his nose he flicked his hands forward. The movement activating his ice manipulation and causing the ground to be covered in a two inch layer of ice. Now this arena was with, and all thanks to a little flash freezing.

“All talk and no play makes Ash a dull boy,” He said easily as he switched from his casual position to that of a battle ready stance, “and I hate being boring.” If Jamal happened to slip up on the layer of ice underneath him than the ice around him would move to form a heavy band of ice over his chest and extremities. A band at least four inches thick should hold gator boy down for a little, now here’s hoping he would actually topple over on the sudden terrain change. However, Ash wasn’t one to just throw out one attack and hoped it worked.

He preferred to have a little insurance when it came to his battles. Not to mention he liked nothing more than getting down and dirty. So, after a moment he darted forward. He wasn’t exactly running, but instead he was more or less gliding along the ice. A little added speed as the ice underneath his foot propelled him forward. As he drew closer to Jamal he adjusted ever so slightly, ready to throw a heavy punch to his gut. All the while, Ash’s face fell from his joking attitude to one slightly more serious as his entire being shifted into a more focused and battle oriented form of himself.

[Jamal Duclair]

As expected Ash had tried to take out Jamal's ability to move so Jamal's response was to spit on it. The thick greenish grey globs sat on the ice and sizzled as patches were slowly dissolved, Jamal fell forward but used his palms and knees to catch himself. With the momentum of the ice slick he slid on his knees and used his arms to catch the blow and popped his scales. The scales on his arms absorbed the blow and Jamal kept sliding froward, he opened his arms and tried to close them around Ash and if successful try to get off a body slam to disorient him right off. While Ash was getting more and more serious Jamal was still smiling as he slid. "Sorry Nose Nipper a little Ice and gonna do much against me. Think just because I grew up in N'Orleans I ain't ever seen ice?" Jamal wasn't sure if the cold would effect him in gator form but he was sure it would help keep his heart steady with all the movement and strain. So Ashton may have helped him more than hindered Jamal.

[Ashton Kay]

For a moment, Ash skid to a stop so he could take in the sight of Jamal spitting on the ground. Alright, it made a fair amount of sense with the acid spit so the kid could get some solid footing. Yet, as Ashton continued to watch he was shocked when gator boy decided to start sliding on his hands and knees Ashton couldn’t help but start laughing. The teen looked utterly ridiculous and it wasn’t nearly as effective as when the ginger used the ice itself to propel himself forward. Ah well, whatever worked for you, right? Right. Giving his head a quick shake Ashton righted himself and began skating forward once more, almost as if he was planning to meet Jamal head on.

That wasn’t what the battle front member had in mind, however. Instead, at the last second he created a ramp of ice. Said ramp was about five feet in width and just shy of two feet in depth. It would be more than enough to scramble Jamal’s southern brains for a few moments if he didn’t manage to stop in time. Which is exactly what Ash tried to avoid by waiting so long to produce the ice. For the moment, Ash didn’t worry about if Jamal rammed his face into the ice as he focused on landing on the second ramp a good five feet away from his opponent. He took the time to focus so he landed correctly on his feet, sliding to a stop shortly after.

He wouldn’t risk damaging his metal leg so soon into the competition. Alterations and fixing it were a bitch normally. On a tight schedule like this? It’d be hell, plain and simple. “Nah, but I’m surprised you didn’t trip on your face going from ice to solid ground and back to ice like that,” Ashton replied easily, spinning on his heels and spraying is hands in front of him. The second ramp he landed on flung forward with the motion, aimed to go flying into Jamal. If anything, he was bound to get a few laughs out of this fight.

[Jamal Duclair]

Jamal tucked his head into against his chest as he approached the ramp and he rammed his shoulder into it, breaking a five inch indent into it, he used the ramp to pull himself to his feet just in time to see the other ramp being launched at him. He grabbed his ramp with all his strength and slide it at the other to block it's path. He cracked his neck and knuckles, spitting some more acid on the ice. "I thought this was gonna be a fight not an Ice show!" He called out, spitting to break off even larger chunks of ice. Jamal hit the scales on his arms to warm himself up and took slow steps towards Ash, using his strength to break his feet through the weakening ice around him. "Because I expected to be impressed and humbled, so far I just feel like I'm fighting a figure skater."

[Ashton Kay]

Continuing to watch gator boy talk trash, Ash found his serious fade into annoyance and impatience. He was tired of the match and it was only a few minutes in. To the red head, it was clear the Jamal couldn’t give a very good offense besides spitting on his ice and making the occasional hole. If that was actually the case and not Ash just being overly confident, then there was really no point in dragging it out and hoping that he’d get a decent fight out of the southern boy. It was time to end the fight and be done with the entire event, at least for now.

Rising his hand, nearly lazily, ice shot up from the ground. Each in the shape of a rod, five inches in width and aimed for Jamal. The moment any of them made contact the ice would latch on to Jamal’s body and begin to grow. Meanwhile, Ash clenched his other fist and the ice under and around Jamal’s feet responded accordingly. Another layer flash froze under Jamal’s feet, which should have been enough to at least slow him down, if not stop him completely. But my like the rods aimed for Jamal, the ice under foot began to grow and leach their way up his legs. Their pace ever increasing and the layers continuing to thicken.

The ice all around Jamal worked to freeze him in his spot, shifting into a gatorsicle. Meanwhile, Ashton stood a good distance from him, his eyes watching Jamal with little interest. “Still feel like you’re fighting a figure skater?” He questioned, sticking his hands in his pockets as the ice continued to do his bidding. “You know, I expected some kind of fight. You’re mainly working off of defense right now and that’s no fun,” He said, glancing away briefly before looking back at Jamal. Ashton was half hoping that Jamal took on his gator’s cold blooded nature. With the ice surrounding his body and the temperature already dropping due to Ash’s ability, it shouldn’t take too long for the gator to freeze up.

[Jamal Duclair]

Jamal looked down at the ice approaching him and creeping up his legs, without any struggle he let the ice cover him and freeze him. He was motionless for a second then a crack formed on his chest, then two more, then cracks formed on his arms and legs and he smashed free of the ice layers. He cracked his neck and sucked in some air. "I see what you were trying to do there. Hoped the cold knocked me out, thing is, I don't feel tired, feel refreshed and my heart? Feels great, this cold air really calms it down. But, I'm really tired of this damn icy floor." He raised his fist in the air and punched the ice, sending huge cracks throughout the whole arena and ran at Ashton. "You want a fight? Stop hiding behind your ice and throw some punches son!" He swung at Ashton with his huge, scaled mitt. Really he was a bit thrown by the ice not instant knockout but still not fully on his feet, he just had to keep Ashton fighting.