[Round 3, Rest Day] And They Said: Let There Be No Light.

[utopiamods]

Characters: ALL
Format: ANY
This log is: OPEN
Location: ALL OF CAMPUS
Summary: In a flash of lightning and the deafening roll of thunder, the power goes out across Utopia Academy.

It's early in the morning when it happens, about six o'clock. The clouds were gathering gradually through the night, the rain only getting heavier from the near-constant downpour during the previous week. Lightning crackles across the sky, the water around the academy is violent and the waves are high. And in a particularly loud clap of thunder, what lights were still on go out and the academy is plunged into darkness.

Comments

Re: Forested area near the Gym/Library

[waddles]

"Training?" Rafiel couldn't help but repeat a little dumbly. Sitting in such horrible weather was... training? Such a strange beorc practice... Regardless, if Zoro was certain of what he was doing than Rafiel wasn't going to question it. It simply wasn't his place to, after all.

Instead, he regarded Zoro's latter question with some minute amount of surprise. Had his frail state been so obvious? Or was the swordsman merely that perceptive? Either way, Rafiel was reluctant to answer. Yes, help would certainly be welcome but he could hardly ask Zoro to interrupt his training. So, after a moment, he merely decided to answer truthfully.

"Help would certainly be appreciated but I can manage as I am." Though already he was starting to feel weary from battling the elements. Doubtless, once he returned from visiting Huashi he was going to have to take a long rest.

Re: Forested area near the Gym/Library

[shishi_sonson]

"Training," Zoro replied in an affirmative tone, pairing it with another silent nod. Pitting his body against the rain, against nature, was sure to increase his stamina - it had worked in the snow, after all.

He inhaled deeply then, drawing in a breath through his nose, held it, then exhaled through his mouth. Once he was through, Zoro opened his eyes once more to the world, the stunning depths of his chilling gaze unleashed, he pushed himself off of the ground and rose up to his full height and posture.

"I'm about finished here anyway, so I'll come along," he said after a brief pause. Turning towards Rafiel, Zoro then suddenly started to smile rather darkly. "But maybe you can help me out too."

Re: Forested area near the Gym/Library

[waddles]

There was something breathless about Zoro's eyes in that moment, Rafiel noticed. A beautiful clarity that seemed to stretch into eternity.

As the moment passed and Zoro pushed himself to his feet, Rafiel stood back a little to let him and continued to watch him with ill-concealed interest. There was something almost charismatic about this beorc, he thought. Something that made him think of the many people he had met back during the war. People like Micaiah, Sothe and Tormod. All wonderfully strong, determined and capable souls. It was enough to make the frail and delicate Rafiel envious of their strength.

Still, as Zoro turned upon him with an almost wolfish smirk, Rafiel tilted his head slightly and blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Re: Forested area near the Gym/Library

[shishi_sonson]

Zoro shrugged casually, though the intesity on his face never left. At the moment, he only had one thing in mind, something that had been hindering him since his arrival.

"It's not a big deal," he said, chuckling faintly at Rafiel's initial concern. "I'm looking for a Player, and I was wondering if you were one."

Training outside, rain or shine, only got him so far; Zoro needed access to more of the facilities, and being alone as a Weapon left him barred from entry to far too many things on campus.

"If you are, I'll lend you my strength," he added, sounding perfectly serious. "I'll even teach you how to use me if you need it, so long as you're ready to win."

Oddly, Zoro said 'me' when describing his Weapon, as if the blade he were to lend a Player was his very soul; maybe it was even more odd that he said it all without a hint of hesitation, but such was what it seemed to him - if someone where to use his katana, they were taking him in hand and embracing his strength and his ideals in the process.

Re: Forested area near the Gym/Library

[waddles]

Of course, Rafiel interpreted this request as someone who desired a player in order to battle and win tokens. Something he was incapable of doing.

Before the swordsman could finish speaking, Rafiel was already shaking his head with a crestfallen expression on his face. "I'm afraid I cannot help you. They have yet to announce the players for this round and even if I were, I am unable to fight." He explained solemnly, appearing to be genuinely sorry that he was unable to help Zoro.

Re: Forested area near the Gym/Library

[shishi_sonson]

That disheartened look on Rafiel's face brought an unsettled one to Zoro's; briefly, his eyes squinting, he turned aside and seemed to study Rafiel's expressions, wondering why he would be so disappointed over such a small matter as not being a Player.

After the pause, though, Zoro shrugged, trying to convey to Rafiel how overall unimportant the issue was. He shook his head, then gestured to a distant direction so that the two could resume the search for Huashi.

"Never mind. It doesn't really matter," he said calmly. "I'll look for someone another time. Let's just find the monkey and get you out of the rain."