Fortitude: Round 3 Start

[mamarosa]

The morning after the sleepover, Dolorosa is quick to get all of the Conquest students out the door to save them the wrath of Day and Santana. She gives her students a little more time but still hurries them so she can start the assembly on time. She didn't want her school to be in any disadvantage.

Some may notice that her ever present smile is a bit wider today, as she stands behind the podium, two prefects in tow. That's right, two prefects. Lelouch has reached prefect status and stands besides the ever cool Nanami. Dolorosa is eager to begin her speech.

"Welcome, my students. Last time we were here we suffered a gracious defeat, but I am happy to announce that this is not the case this round. We have obtained victory over Round 2, and I would like to say that I am proud of you all. You all fought wonderfully and no matter if you won or lost your match, Fortitude came out on top."

"If this were Conquest, or I a different troll, I would urge you to keep winning, to keep defeating Conquest, but we are not them and I am not different. Instead I would like to extend a congratulations for this round, and hope you try your hardest next round. Win or lose we can show that we are a cohesive school, here for more than just battle. I am proud of all of you, and just as we were gracious losers, I expect you all to be gracious winners as well."

"I'm sure you have all noticed the extra Raks you have obtained for winning the round, I hope you treat yourseld to something nice. Without further ado I will announce the battles that occurred this round."

Behind her, the battle records appear.

She starts with the Fortitude battles, "I am always proud when there is little fighting within our school, but I do encourage competition, so I would like to congratulate Dahlia for defeating Yuri, and Yuri for defeating Oichi." she applauds a bit.

Next up, the interschool battle, "For those who fought Conquest and won, I would like to congratulate Dave for defeating Marik, England for defeating Suzaku, Dave for defeating Suzaku, Oichi for defeating Suzaku, Dave for defeating Estonia, Marisa for defeating Nephenee, Dave for defeating Gino, and Yuri for defeating Gino." She applauds again.

"My last congratulations go to Dave, Marisa, and Oichi for winning the roung and helping Fortitude achieve victory!" And some more applauding.

The screen behind her changes again, "This round's Players are...

"Rebecca Harcourt
Dahlia Hawthorne
Shion
Lelouch vi Britannia
Madoka Kaname
Karkat Vantas
Kamui"

"Fight well everyone, I'm proud of you!"

Comments

[koyo]

( Rebecca and Shion were two of his students. Dahlia had been one of his weapons before in the past. Lelouch was his room mate. And he recognized Madoka's name but couldn't quite recall a face at the moment. That left the last two names.

Karkat Vantas and Kamui. What strange names.

Well, those two will be fine! For now, Spain will try to look for the ones that he knew first.

Unless one of the other two really need him. )

[unbridledfangs]

[As Dolorosa begins calling out the names, Kamui dispassionately looks on from where he stands, not entirely sure why he's present at this meeting when there seems to be no purpose. He does actively twitch, however, when she calls out his name on this list of supposed "players." Exactly what does that entail?

When the speech is over and he still has questions, he decides it's best to ask immediately, and so he turns to the person closest to him. In this case? Spain.]

What are the duties of a player?

[koyo]

Hm? Are you new? ( Spain has never seen this person before so he must be. ) Well, you fight. You have to find people who aren't players and ally with them.

. . . And you should give them their rights too.

[unbridledfangs]

[There's a single blink as he considers this information, before mentally shrugging. If that's what it takes to blend in, so be it.]

Are you one of these "people who aren't players"?

[koyo]

Hm? Yes, this round, I'm a weapon again.

( A pause, )

And you're a new player, I assume?

[unbridledfangs]

[Have a nod Spain as he calmly holds out his hand.]

How do we "ally?"

[koyo]

( Spain can see where this is going and he keeps his hands to himself for now, )

The Player will promise to protect the Weapon. And in return, the weapon accepts.

[unbridledfangs]

What does the weapon pay for the price of protection?

[The question is simple and sincere. After all, there is nothing that can be gained without fair price.]

[koyo]

( Spain frowns at this question, )

When you're weapon, you don't have any rights. People can do anything to them. But if a player promises to protect a weapon and is kind, the weapon will help the player fight.

[unbridledfangs]

[So... a weapon gives their strength to the player if the player gives them protection. That sounds fair.]

An odd world. [And then louder:] Let's vow then.

[koyo]

I have one condition. ( He isn't going to have a repeat of the last round, ) I want to have all my rights.

[unbridledfangs]

[Have what seems to be an offended look, Spain.]

That is part of my "price" isn't it? Yes, you will have them.

[koyo]

( At this, Spain smiles and will finally take Kamui's hand and shake it. )

Then it's a deal. My name is Antonio, and you?

[unbridledfangs]

Kamui. [Hands shaken, he then says very blandly:] As my weapon, I vow myself to your protection.

[koyo]

I accept. ( Taking his hand back, he places it to his chest. ) You should have a glove. Put it on and place your hand here.

[unbridledfangs]

[Noting the shield that appears on Spain's hand, Kamui pulls out the glove from his pocket and does so, sliding it over his hand. Once it's on tightly, he then places his hand, palm flat, against Spain's chest before his eyes narrow.

Without needing to be told, he draws back, bringing the spear with him. Unfortunately, he seems slightly unprepared for the weight of it and he nearly drops the weapon before catching it with his second hand, his eyes flashing yellow for a moment before fading back to their pale blue.

Apparently even unaware of his eyes' shift in color, he instead straightens, bringing the halberd with him and frowning. Why does it feel heavy...?]

[koyo]

( He wishes Kamui had waited for an explanation. He was ready to explain that his form was a halberd and that it was heavy and to be careful not to drop it. Alas, Kamui doesn't wait though. By now, Spain is used to the ritual and there's little reaction from him. . .

Until Kamui begins to drop it. Spain is ready to reach out and catch-- a sigh of relief when it's caught and he looks back up at him. )

Ah- haha, that was close! You should be careful, you kno--?

( Wait, what was that? His eyes just-- did they just? )

[unbridledfangs]

[Kamui looks along the length of the weapon, noting how it seems to be an average halberd by all accounts. If so, it should feel much lighter than it currently does in his hands. The fact that he has noted it's weight, however, leads him to believe that something is not right...

Calmly stepping back, he gives it a quick twirl, noting how slowly the blade moves through the air as he does so and how much effort it requires to do that single movement. As his hands travel along the length of the stave, spinning it this way and that, he finally brings the weapon to a halt, pole aligned vertically with his body with the bladed end against his feet.

Clumsy and slow (by his standards) but manageable.] It should do.

[And then he's turning back to Spain, blinking slowly.]

[koyo]

( There is nothing wrong with the halberd, okay. But Spain is aware that it isn't an easy weapon to wield! Hah, not even Prussia was willing to put up with one back home.

Spain makes sure to look at Kamui's eyes carefully, he even comes closer to see. )

I thought I saw something. . .

[unbridledfangs]

[As Spain closes the distance between them, his eyes narrow with mistrust at the nation, causing his eyes to flash color again, this time staying yellow.]

What are you doing? [No Spain, he doesn't really trust you. Mind, he doesn't trust anyone in this world for... some reason.]

[koyo]

I thought so! ( And he steps back, standing up straight and proud, ) how did you do that? Your eyes changed. . .

[unbridledfangs]

[... was that it?]

It's a reaction to being threatened. It's normal for my kind.

[koyo]

Well, it isn't normal to me.

. . . But what do you mean by 'your kind'?

[unbridledfangs]

You haven't noticed? [Strange, for some reason he thought this simplistic human would be more sharp than that.] I am a vampire.

[koyo]

Haha, and you drink blood and kidnap pretty women?