[ video - thursday morning ] [ exaclan warning mini-event ]

[stoppedhiding]

[ He really doesn't want to do this. But if he doesn't, he knows it's not his head it will be on. There's really nothing he can do, and it will happen anyway -- all Golbez is doing is acting as a mouthpiece.

At 8AM on Thursday, the announcement happens. ]

Somebody in Rakuen has fallen below zero raks. The penalty will now commence.


[ The first victim is Sis Strider. From there, once every hour a different person will be selected for a five-minute warning penalty until America has zero or more raks. In order, the following victims include Dave Strider at 9AM, John Peixes at 10AM, Nunnally vi Britannia at 11AM, Jade Harley at noon, Dirk Strider at 1PM, Jake English at 2PM, and Bubblecup at 3PM.

As each victim is affected, they will appear on the Exaclan viewing screens and on computers connected to the network. Feel free to thread that out here, or in a new post if you would prefer.

There is no IC indication of who the culprit is unless he confesses to it himself. ]

Comments

[kingdomsgambit]

[ He sees David -- it was blurry, but he could recognize that form anywhere -- and tries to shake off his hands, which only makes the pain worsen. ]

[ He lets out a pretty pained groan and tries to shoo David away. He fought for his kingdom. Sure enough, he wasn't hurt like this, but if a soldier could march on with a chopped hand, he could deal with this minor headache MAKE IT STOP ]

I'm fuh -- fine, fine, finefinefine, go away!

[ He drops to the side, in danger of hitting the wall. ]

[theillbeatknight]

[David catches John when he falls, pulling John to rest against him. Despite John's protestations, he's clearly not fine. David pulls out the PDA to request help...

...but the screen is showing them, and won't do anything else. He lets the PDA drop to the floor and runs his shaking perfectly steady fingers over the back of John's neck, hoping to at least relieve the pain somewhat.]

[kingdomsgambit]

[ FUCK YOU, HE SAID GO AWAY ]

[ ka;lkgl;akgs ]

[ Okay, but having David support him gives him an excuse to stop supporting himself on two legs because that is a shitty thing to be doing right now. He could focus all his energy on keeping himself from not screaming (it's more of pained gasps at this point) and applying pressure to his forehead. He's sweating and shaking now. He can't see a damn thing anymore so he closes his eyes and waits. ]

[ welp, there goes his pride. he can't really say he cares anymore at this point. ]

[ When his head finally clears, he's panting. He tries to steady himself on two legs again. ]

[theillbeatknight]

[Hours seem to pass (it's only minutes, he knows) and all David can do is hold on to John and wait. There's nothing more he can do right now, and the amount of pain John is in worries him. Things like this aren't supposed to happen; he's supposed to protect the king, but how to protect someone from a headache?

...but with them showing up on the PDA, it's already happened twice that day; the woman that first showed up and that alternate version of himself. He didn't recognize the woman, and he could understand this afflicting a version of himself, even one that's just a kid. But why John?

Finally, John seems to be recovering. He's mostly succeeded at getting his hands to stop shaking, and he moves them to rest lightly on John's shoulders in case he tips over again.]

[kingdomsgambit]

[ John slaps the hand away. He raises his chin and his posture is stiff -- it's his typical stubborn, royal brat pose. ]

I told you to leave me alone, Sir David. Do not disobey me again.

[theillbeatknight]

[David pulls his hands back and lowers them to his sides. The one John slapped clenches into a fist, and he can feel his nails digging into the palm.

He's tempted to stare back... but it would be disrespectful, and this isn't quite his John, and before he answers Peixes he lowers his eyes and gets down on one knee.]

As you wish. My apologies... your majesty.

[Unless, of course, something like this happens again.]

[kingdomsgambit]

[ This feels... really weird. :( He looks at David knelt before him, and now he wants to kick himself. They are friends... aren't they? David was only trying to help. ]

[ He swallows his pride. ]

No, um. Please rise, David.

I'm sorry.

[ He kicks the ground childishly, his imposing demeanor faltering. He's less kingly and more confused teenager now. ]

That was, um. Inappropriate of me. This is not Prospit, and I am not your king, and I'm sorry. I shall go. I hope you will not be furious at me when we meet again.

[theillbeatknight]

[When Peixes tells him to rise, he does, only to look him directly in the eyes because this is important.]

Regardless of what country we're in or whether you remember me, you are my king.

[If John tries to leave, he won't get find any resistance. David doesn't want him to go, but he isn't sure he wants him to stay.]

[kingdomsgambit]

[ "That's silly," he thinks of saying. "I do not want to be your king. I want to be your friend." He figures now is not the time to be saying that. ]

Ah. [ He closes his eyes and tries not to wince. ] All right.

[ He wants to say something else but his mind's drawing a blank. Besides, he already apologized, and there's nothing... nothing else he could do. ]



[ So he leaves. And proceeds to be inconsolable for the rest of the day. ]