Fortitude Round 7

[mamarosa]

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."

Comments

[pencilpremonition]

[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.]

[afraid_of_my_shadow]

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

[pencilpremonition]

[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...

[afraid_of_my_shadow]

[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.

[pencilpremonition]

[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.]

[afraid_of_my_shadow]

[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.

[pencilpremonition]

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

Let's...find a player together?

[afraid_of_my_shadow]

[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!

[pencilpremonition]

[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..."

[afraid_of_my_shadow]

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

[pencilpremonition]

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.

[afraid_of_my_shadow]

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

[pencilpremonition]

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

[afraid_of_my_shadow]

[Alex smiles a bit.] H-he c-can at least p-play good music.

[pencilpremonition]

[offers her hand this time, instead of just taking]

Yeah, yeah he can.

[afraid_of_my_shadow]

[He looked at her hand warily a moment before slowly reaching for it, but not yet twining his fingers with hers.] D-do you like his music?

[pencilpremonition]

I like MCR better.

[She keeps her hold light, so he can pull away easily.]

[afraid_of_my_shadow]

[Alex tisked and shook his head,] Emo b-bands are so m-middle school! [But he smiled at her as he said it in a kind, not a mocking manner.] But I g-guess they're okay.

[pencilpremonition]

What's wrong with emo?

[She spoke in mock outrage, though she was grinning still.]

I'm an emo, and I'm proud of it. I'm straight edge, too.

[afraid_of_my_shadow]

But it's not cool! [He laughed.] I d-don't know too much about the s-straight edge culture, b-but no alcohol, or drugs is something I d-do anyway....

[pencilpremonition]

I don't care about what's cool, I just care about what I like~.

[As far as straight edge and her reasons for that...she could feel the creeping fog, so she decided to let the conversation move on.]

[afraid_of_my_shadow]

[Alex avoided the sex for his own reasons as well.]

F-fine with me! I-I really don't c-care much, I-I was just teasing... S-sorry.

[pencilpremonition]

[She squeezes his hand gently.]

Hey, it's okay. I was teasing back.

[afraid_of_my_shadow]

[He smiles at her, reassured.] Y-you sure?

[pencilpremonition]

I'm sure. Relax.