Exhibition Match!

[utopiamods]

Day vs. Nanami Yasuri

Weapons: Santana Lopez and Dolorosa
and

Dolorosa vs Santana Lopez

Weapons: Nanami Yasuri and Day
Location: Battle Arena
Time of day: Evening

As evening falls all the new arrivals are directed towards the battle arena in the centre of town. It is large, as large as a football pitch and there is seating all around. In the centre of the battle area there is a tower with a clock. On each side of the tower there is a screen.

The lights are on and it's obvious something is about to happen. Take a seat, enjoy the show.

OOC: The battles will be put up in two threads. Mingling can be done before the battles, during, between and after!

Comments

[kingofpoisons]

"Welcome, one and all, to Rakuen..." The voice really didn't sound enthusiastic, but it seemed to be trying for some kind of enthusiasm at the very least. The screens activated a moment later, showing a red-haired woman wearing a faint, tired smile. "I am Dunleavy Mallorough, your Mayor. Um, I hope that you have begun to settle in to your new home. You are about to witness the very reason you are here: the world's famous Exaclan system."

The camera panned down to the battle arena, showing an overhead view of what everyone could see from their seats. Showing the two prefects with two other women standing - or, in Nanami's case, sitting - arrayed in a line in the centre of the arena. The feed panned back to Dunleavy, who had in the meantime been joined by a young girl. (some people will recognise her, since she probably tried to push free walnut bread on them at some point.)

"The first battle will be between the Head Prefect of Fortitude, Nanami Yasuri, wielding the shield Way of Suffering, and the Headmistress of Conquest, Day, wielding the whip Athena. This battle marks the last time they can fight as Exaclan Players for a very long time, so, as you can imagine," Even the mayor sounded like she didn't believe her own words, "It is a momentous occasion for them." The girl next to her started clapping enthusiastically, even if the audience didn't react at all.

"Players, draw your weapons!" Nanami drew first. Dolorosa stepped towards her with a smile and a nod, and didn't even flinch as her frail partner drew out the massive shield that was her weapon. Way of Suffering appeared on the screen at the same moment as a flash of light sparked from the centre of the shield, a star bursting into the air and fading just as quickly. A pale shimmer surrounded Nanami as she adjusted the shield on her arm, and she seemed to be regaining colour in her cheeks. Holding it clearly made her stronger somehow, but Dunleavy didn't seem like she wanted to explain it.

Day smirked at her, seemingly seconds from sticking out her tongue or pulling a face, and approached Santana. Another starflash and Athena appeared on the screen. Unlike the subdued - if large - shield, Athena was a long whip crackling with a sickly green fire. Day finished the piece of bread she was eating and squared up to face Nanami. The two Weapons stepped back, prudently.

"Ready... Fight!"

And the battle began. Day took the offense, which, considering that her opponent was only carrying a shield, made sense. Every time the whip hit the shield, green fire crackled around it. At a particularly heavy blow, the Dolorosa flinched and took a step back, but made no noise that would have distracted the two fighters. Dunleavy began a commentary.

"Day makes the first strike, but that's a good block from Nanami. Her whip is fire element, but it's also poisonous. You know, if you hadn't noticed from the green fire..." They danced around each other, the shield blocking and absorbing every blow from the whip. Every attempt Nanami made to get within striking range was thwarted by equal parts fire and biting trash talk, both of which she shrugged off. Just as it seemed like the audience were in for the long haul with both sides at an impasse, Santana grinned and snapped her fingers.

"Ability activation recognised."

Both Players paused. Nanami sighed. Day laughed. A microphone appeared in Santana's hands, and she began to sing.

The mayor went pale, still on-screen, and seemed to be shaking at the microphone. The girl next to her grabbed her fingers in one hand and the microphone in the other, and resumed the commentary in her place.

"Um, so... Athena has the super-cool ability 'Invigorating Melody', so when Santana sings, Day is way stronger. Is this the end for Nanami?"

It could've been. Athena had almost doubled in both size and the intensity of its flames, and Nanami had been forced back even further, circling just within range of the snapping whip... Except for one detail, which the commentator seemed to have missed. She was getting closer and closer to Santana.

It happened in an instant. The slight girl almost disappeared, turning on one heel and sprinting to her opponent's singing Weapon.

"Sleep," she told the other, gently yet picked up perfectly by Santana's microphone. Once, twice, thrice she tapped the girl with the shield, and on the third hit, the arena rang with Status: Sleep and Santana crumpled to the ground, snoring.

"Oh, that's right! Way of Suffering has the Sleep power. If you're hit with it, you might be sent to sleep right then and there. I wish I had that power..."

"Recette."

"Er, sorry, Dunleavy."

The singing silenced, the whip reduced back to its normal length, the commentary totally ignored, the girl headed straight for Day.

"Ha! You cheater." The whip sped up, landing blow after blow on the charging prefect, who was no longer bothering to block the strikes. Just as she ran into melee range, she stumbled. Instantly, Dolorosa snapped her own fingers. "Ability activation recognised."

"This is the ability Cura!" Added the commentator, "Dolorosa must've thought her Player was badly hurt, to use that... she can only use it once, but it'll make you feel good as new!"

"Fuck," was Day's succinct comment of her own, as Nanami shimmered again, righted herself, and lunged the last step to crash the shield against her side in a rain of blows. Only when the Sleep announcement came, followed by a Battle: Over. Victor: Nanami Yasuri and Way of Suffering did she stop, and that because both weapons promptly vanished in a shower of sparks and she collapsed.

In the stands, during the battle

[veepofchess]

[He's trying to work off the migraine his run-in with Nunnally gave him. So he's by himself in the stands, watching the battle, and massaging his temples. He's about halfway there. He's not looking for a conversation, but feel free to try your luck!]

stands, during the fight

[duchy]

[Lithuania is glued to the--well, the side of the stadium, eyes flicking between every attack with an increasing amount of fascination every time. He's absorbing it with the intensity any child might something they were interested in. Feel free to question the wisdom behind bringing a small child into this sort of thing. Or encourage him, whatever.]

[bifurious]

[ Roxie's sitting next to Lelouch, leaning forward and watching. ]

They're pretty good. Never thought I'd see someone use a shield as a decent weapon.

[veepofchess]

[He shoots her a Look. What part of his body language implies he wants to be bothered right now] Anything can be your weapon if you have will enough to use it.

[bifurious]

I guess so. [ She's honestly impressed. ] I'll have to give that a shot.

[veepofchess]

Mmmm. [Ignore the loud girl. That headache is coming back.]

[traces]

[ As the battle progresses, Dahlia has buried her face in her hands as though she's unable to bear watching the horror of it all.

Of course, she's really peeking through her fingers to see what's going on. It's very interesting. ]

[duchy]

[Lithuania glances back at her, then looks again when he realizes--or thinks he realizes--she seems rather freaked out.]

If you're scared, you don't have to watch.

[traces]

[ She whimpers, and looks down at the boy next to her. ]

I... aren't you scared, as well? How can they do this?

[duchy]

They're not really killing each other.

[REASONABLE.]

I think it's just like sparring.

[traces]

S...sparring?

[ What would a small child like this know of that sort of thing? ]

[duchy]

Sure. I already asked, no one has to kill anyone else in the game.

[Smiling hopefully! Don't be sad.]

[traces]

...but it's still very frightening, isn't it? To have to hurt another person, even if nobody dies?

[duchy]

Sometimes. But sometimes you have to, to make things safer.

[traces]

[ ...she sniffles and covers her face again, shaking her head. ]

[duchy]

[No, don't cry. Frowning.]

Maybe they won't make you fight? I don't think girls usually do at home...

[traces]

...But those people fighting down there are all girls. Wh-why wouldn't they make girls as well as boys fight?

[duchy]

Oh.

[Yeah, she has a point, there goes his theory.]

Well... Maybe it won't be so bad?

[traces]

[ She just falls silent, trembling a bit. ]

[duchy]

[Nooo, he has to fix this!]

It's okay! Really! I can protect you.

[traces]

[ This little boy thinks he can protect her? What's he going to do? She's not the least bit impressed. ]

...Y-you... you can? I... I'm flattered, but... You shouldn't have to do that.

[duchy]

I've done it at home before. I can fight people for you, so you don't have to!

[Smiling again.]

[traces]

That's so kind of you. But please don't get yourself hurt for my sake.

[duchy]

If someone can't fight, it's the job of someone who can to protect them!