Round 4 | Day 4 - [See the Setting Sun]

[shishi_sonson]

Zoro Roronoa vs. Sherlock Holmes

Weapons: Theta Buckley, Lloyd Asplund
Location: Main Courtyard
Time of day: Late Morning

If the truth were to be known, Zoro actually felt a little nervous about this battle. 'Nervous' may have been the wrong word to use, though - excitement, however, was too strong on the opposite side. Either way, there was a thrill to be sure, one that sent a current of pure lightning running up and down the length of his spine.

But why? Zoro had faced dozens of opponents before; strong ones, enemies capable of ripping apart galleons with their bare hands and foes as fast or as powerful as gods, so a powerless battle here would hardly be anything dramatic.

While there was something to be said about the danger of having his real, hard-earned strength removed and being forced to fight without it, the thrill today came from fighting with a less-than-orthodox weapon; more specifically, the thrill of not knowing if he could win in such a fashion.

Standing in the center of the courtyard, though, Zoro showed no sign of his inner discomposure. As always, his arms locked over his chest, he stared straight ahead with an aire of discipline, while still somehow exuding the unequivocal sense of tangibile bloodlust and ferocity. With Theta beside him, his Weapon of choice for his second battle of the day, he waited for his opponent to arrive.

Zoro glanced at her from the side, but he did so as briefly as possible, hoping she wouldn't notice. The challenge had been issued so quickly that he hadn't even had a chance to practice with her 'weapon' - marbles. An unconventional means of fighting to be certain, Zoro had thought of a few crazy ways that he might be able to fight effectively with her, but as the saying goes, 'all the best laid plans'...

He wanted to win, though. Not just for himself, for the chance to determine how successful his training had been, but perhaps for the long-shot chance to prove to Theta...well, prove something to her about her attitude. He hadn't quite figured out just what yet.


"Hmph..." he grunted, sounding oddly impatient for someone who normally prided himself on his conduct. "C'mon, buddy. It'd be great to get this over with."

Comments

[shishi_sonson]

Releasing his grip, Zoro steps back, but the fire in his eyes have not yet been extinguished. As he glares at Sherlock, his body screams at him, urging him to continue the fight and not allow this to go unchallenged - it was cowardly! It was dishonorable! It was...well, clever, but still!

But he can't. It has nothing to do with the rules of the system, though; he is simply physically unable to go against his own code of conduct, murky as it was.

Zoro straightens his clothes, brushes a few loose strands of grass from his shoes, then holds his head up confidently as he regards his victorious opponent. It did feel a bit odd to walk away from a fight without having gained any new sense of strength or not to be suffering from any new wounds, but signalled by a soft sigh he exhaled from the pit of his lungs, he knew that the fight was truly over.

He opens his mouth to speak, but...nothing emerges. Nothing comes to mind.

Instead, he turns towards Theta. Masking his frustration, he nods to her.

"I'm sorry," he simply says, then turns and begins to walk away.

[bitofafiction]

Sherlock finds that reaction very... curious.

[earlofpudding]

And the entire time, Lloyd has been lingering off to the side. He did stumble a step when the staff Sherlock had given him for safekeeping vanished -- due to the fight's end, not the emitter -- but that was all. The scientist has been watching quietly, intently, otherwise.

Thankfully no one here knows he's usually more chatty than this, but that smile on his face. It's like the cat that ate the canary.

[ergaleomancer]

Theta watched Zoro leave, not sure if she should feel victorious in his loss to Sherlock...or cheated by such an underhanded means to victory. She'd wanted Sherlock to win, but....

She nodded in reply to him, then turned her attention to Sherlock. "Now for the truth, Sherlock. How did you do that? I doubt it was 'magic' at all."

She turned to look at Sherlock's weapon in the fight, taking note of his overly pleased expression. She'd want to talk to him later, but for now she merely nodded politely at him.

[bitofafiction]

"It is not mine to tell, I am afraid." He smiles apologetically. "Let it suffice to say I have access to unusual resources, and I did not wish to chance losing an ordinary battle against such a formidable opponent."

[ergaleomancer]

She frowns softly, not sure what to say to that. All in all, it sounds like it's her fault, then. She nods quietly, trying to smile again. She manages, but it's obviously for politeness' sake. "Oh... I'm grateful you went to such lengths for me."

[bitofafiction]

He shrugs.

"I'd have done the same for anyone. You wanted to leave him; he did not let you. I won't stand for that."

[ergaleomancer]

"Mm...he wasn't so bad once I had a chance to really talk to him..." She sighed, shaking her head. "I just got upset that Suzaku lost. You're not going to get in trouble for your 'magic trick', are you?"

[bitofafiction]

"The administration is generally quick about registering their displeasure. If I am not in trouble for it yet, I am not ever likely to be."

[ergaleomancer]

She nodded quietly, her smile firming up at that. "Well...I suppose as long as there won't be trouble~."

[bitofafiction]

"I am sure if I want trouble I can find other ways to get it," he says cheerfully.

[ergaleomancer]

"We~ell," she says, drawing her word out dramatically. "If it's going to be ~fun~, then perhaps you'd better invite me along for whatever you come up with~."

[bitofafiction]

"You may be sure I will consider it."

As to whether or not he actually issues such an invitation, well, that depends on his assessment of the risks.

[ergaleomancer]

Her face, for a moment, is the picture of shock. Then of careful plotting. Then she reaches for his hand, playfully whining. "Sherlo~ock, you wouldn't leave me o~out, would you~?"

[earlofpudding]

"I see no reason for him to include you, either~."

Suddenly, Lloyd. He lives to be an interruption. As ever, he sounds awfully cheerful, but at least he has cause today. Today's been a good day! He's walked over to give Sherlock a pat on the shoulder. "Good show! But if we're done here, I think it's time to go."

[bitofafiction]

"I will at all times include exactly those persons whom I think suitable to the task at hand," he says, smiling very prettily at her. "And if you will excuse me, I have some business to take care of, but I look forward to speaking with you again on the subject of trouble."

[ergaleomancer]

Theta was stunned wordless, which was a very unusual occurrence. Nonetheless, she was flabbergasted and couldn't come up with a single thing to say to him. She just watched him, wouldn't even stop him trying to leave. Of course, without that other young man around, she'd corner him to talk to him in the dorm later, she firmly thought to herself.