rakuen | Fortitude Round 7

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Fortitude Round 7

It should be a familiar scene by now, Dolorosa standing on the platform with her ever peaceful expression, flanked by her ever growing number of Prefects. There are five others with her now, Nanami, Lelouch, Yuri, Sonic, and Jade. It's hardly noticeable but Dolorosa is purposefully keeping her distance from Lelouch after some recent revelations. But nothing else has changed, everything else is normal and in order to keep the peace she begins her speech as if everything is normal. Although you may be feeling a bit sick

"Good morning, my students. I know you have had an eventful round, the first dungeon is always exciting and it is something you will always remember. I still remember my first dungeon," she smiles fondly but doesn't tell the story of her first dungeon, "This is usually the point where I announce battles, but because it was a dungeon round there was no battling even if there could have been. I am very proud of all of you."

That would be another difference, the battle records do not appear behind her, nor does she announce who won the round. Instead she explains that because the results of the dungeon have been publicized before she will save time and go straight on to the Players for this round.

"This is Round 7, everything goes back to normal this round. You are expected to to vow with Weapons and battle Conquest. Now that we have been here for some time and I know the abilities that all of you have, I know you have both the ability to win graciously and lose graciously. I am proud of all of you."

"Without further ado, the Players for Round 7 are:

Dave
Kanaya
Equius
Zoey
Anya
Dirk"

Her smile falters for a split second as she glances at the board behind her, almost expecting something like what happened during Round 5 assembly to occur again. After seeing that, no, the board was not going to light up and show Fortitude the Conquest assembly, she concludes her speech.

"Have a wonderful round everyone."

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[Becca didn't know this guy, didn't know if he was a player or not. But he looked interesting, and he had smiled at her. So she puts on a smile that she thinks is more convincing than it really is, and walks over.]

Hey. What's your name? Are you a player?

[He tries not to jump or pull back at the stranger's approach, and only does so moderately well. He does manage a nervous smile, forcing himself to get past his own social anxieties.] n-no... I'm n-not a p-player this round. My n-name's Alex.

Alex...

[Becca winces hard as the fog of lost memories slams down on her, preventing her from connecting the dots to another Alex that the school has stolen from her memories. She cries out in pain and puts her hand to her forehead.]

O-oh... Do I know you? I've got...a memory loss headache....

[He grabs her shoulders, helping support her in the pain.] N-no, you don't. I g-gave you my name though, a-and, well, I've had those sorts of headaches a long time, r-rarely so bad... I guess it's cause of the game they c-can be so strong....

So, you okay? I dunno if I should give y-you my name again...

[She yelps when her shoulders are touched, and reflexively moves her arms to knock his hands away.]

Sorry... I... I'm okay... I just get freaked out if people touch me. The headache's gone... I remember your name. It's Alex. But why did that give me a headache? I have no idea...

[Alex jumps back just as much when she moves quickly to knock his hands away, instinctively going to cover his head. Realizing they both were doing the same thing he drops his hands and his guard just a bit, laughing out of nerves.] N-no, I'm s-sorry. I, of all p-people, sh-should know t-ta not just touch someone, i-it was just r-reflex... I d-didn't want you falling an' hurting yourself....

Don't think t-too hard on why, o-or you'll just get another headache. You'll remember wh-when you're ready- I mean, when you g-get a memory charm.

Yeah...you're probably right... You're jumpy like me? Do you remember why?

... [He looks away,] Unfortunately.

...What happened to you?

... My father. He... [Alex rolls up the sleeve of the sweatshirt, showing a large burn scar over part of his arm, other scars layered on top, and around his arms. Even his wrists had scars from his skin breaking from being restrained.]

[Becca studies his arm, then rolls up her own sleeve. It's covered in many, many small burns, some over the top of each other, but clear enough to tell they're all circular burns--someone put cigarettes out on her. She compares their arms for a moment, then crumples to the floor in pain with her hands over her head.]

[Alex kneels to the floor with her, his arms hovering out if she wants them.] Shhh, d-don't try ta think about it. T-trying ta force memories j-just hurts.

[She avoids him for a few moments, panting and gasping and trying to get the worst of the fog to get out of her brain. After a few moments, though, she leans into him, any source of comfort right now is a good one. She slides her arms around him slowly, clinging tightly as she tries to get herself calmed back down.]

[He pulls her closer, petting her hair a bit and softly hushing.] I-it's okay. You're safe here.

[It takes a bit, but she calms back down. Oddly, it feels really comfortable in his arms, and she's loathe to pull away. Still, it's the right thing to do, and she slowly gets to her feet, brushing herself off.]

Th-thanks...

[He lets her go slowly, standing up with her, ready to catch her if she falls again. He smiles kindly at her.] Of c-course. I... I know how i-it is.... The g-game, I don't think it m-messed with too much of... those memories, but I have so many h-holes, I wouldn't know, and I l-learned that t-trying ta remember just hurts.

[She nodded weakly, rolling down her sleeve.]

I've been wondering since I got here...why I'm so nervy, and how I got these scars... I guess you know better than me now, huh?

[She tries to make light of the situation, but it's clearly bothering her.]

[He hid his as well, frowning a bit] P-probably... Obviously y-you weren't treated well, an' the scars a-are old enough that it's happened a while... It's p-probably why you're sc-cared ta be touched.... I'm the same.

[She nodded quietly, shyly reaching out to lace her fingers through his if he'd let her.]

Let's...find a player together?

[He flinched away again, bringing his hand up to his mouth as if she bit him. He lowered it smiling shyly and guiltily, but hooked his thumb into his pocket.] Yeah, l-let's find a p-player together!

[She didn't seem mad at him for having pulled away. She knew that feeling all too well. Instead, she flicked her eyes around the crowd.]

Dave's a player, I know Dave. But I don't want to bother him unless we get desperate..."

... I d-don't think I know any of the players... Dave... h-he was the one playing m-music earlier?

Yeah, that'd be him. But I've bugged him to be my player before... I don't want him to think I like him or something.

I-I... I c-could probably b-bug him? H-he seems way c-cool though....

If you want. He's not a bad guy.

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