ROUND -1

[utopiamods]

This morning, the marks of ownership disappear from the bodies of every Weapon who was owned during the previous round. The woman from the introductory video appears on the Exaclan video screens across campus, and on all of the computer screens as well.

She doesn't look very happy.

"My, you weren't very enthusiastic this time, were you?" she says, frowning and waving one finger in disappointment. "That's no good. If you don't fight, you can't earn Tokens to buy your powers or your memories back! If you don't even have those, imagine how hard it'll be to earn Legend Fragments!"

She smiles; the shift from her previous expression is sudden and startling. "You know, if you hear the legend, you just might learn a few things!

"We didn't want to do this, but it looks like we're going to have to. Okay! From now on, Players, you can only go three days without fighting. After that, we'll start taking away one Token a day. And you want your Tokens, don't you?" She smiles even more widely, as though she has no idea why anyone might be upset at being forced into such a situation. "To get you all started, we've given you some free tokens! You already had three each, you know, and we've added seven more. That means you all have ten tokens, so visit a booth and get spending."

She pauses, and then snaps her fingers, "Ah, but only Players can do that, so if any of your Weapons want to buy something, you should do it for them, okay?

"I know you can do it! Believe in yourselves and each other, and you'll achieve utopia!

"Now, here are the Players for this round!"

The screen goes blank, and the following appears:

PLAYERS FOR ROUND -1:
Fletcher Tringham
Kevin Smith
Mei Chang
Meryl Silverburgh
Oichi
Suzaku Kururugi
Tsuki Aoi

Comments

[greennotgold]

Fletcher stared in horror at the screen. "Huh? But--but I don't want to fight!"

[allurprincess]

The first name on the list. Wasn't that... Oh no. Sora took a few seconds to spot him in the small crowd of students, and was then over to him in a flash. The one boy she'd met thus far who didn't want to take part in the game.

"Fletcher!"

[greennotgold]

"S-Sora?" He looked up at her, his face the very picture of worry. "Does--does this mean I have to hurt people? And own Weapons? I don't want to!"

[allurprincess]

She knelt by him, her head already shaking a denial. "No one can make you fight if you don't want to, okay? Ah! But..." She realised, belatedly, that this was exactly the situation they needed. He wasn't Karin, but she believed in him anyway, "There was a plan we had, before. Fletcher, do you think you could find the Weapons who don't want to fight either, and make vows with them? To keep them safe?"

[greennotgold]

"Ah--!" His eyes grew a little wider at the suggestion. If he managed to make vows with at least five of them, he wouldn't have to fight. He'd have won the round, according to the manual.

"Okay! Th-thank you!" He nodded. And then, after a moment's contemplation (since he couldn't comprehend why anyone would want to go along with this): "Um... do you want me to make a vow with you?"

[allurprincess]

Again, Sora shook her head. She was touched, but... "Tsuki's here," she said, simply, "She's a Player, and she might need my help. Even if she doesn't, I'm not someone who can choose not to fight."

Her smile was encouraging, nothing she'd said was meant badly, "If I talk to anyone who doesn't want to fight, I'll bring them to you."

[greennotgold]

That was too bad. He didn't want to see anyone fighting... But if she made that choice, it was up to her. He nodded slowly. "O-okay. Thank you! And, um, good luck."

This was a good plan. This could work. The only thing he was worried about was that he would "win" the round after vowing with five Weapons; he probably wouldn't be allowed to take on any more after that. But, well, he'd have to get to five first, and hopefully within three days.

[bitofafiction]

Some time later, it just so happens that Sherlock wanders past. Certainly not after eavesdropping on previous conversations, or anything.*

"Good morning," he says politely.

*lies!

[greennotgold]

"Um-- h-hi," Fletcher says, shrinking back a little and looking all nervous. He still doesn't know how to handle himself around strangers, and he's especially nervous after finding out he has to be a Player this round. He doesn't make eye contact with the older boy at all.

[bitofafiction]

Sherlock tucks his hands into the pockets of his jacket—which is still the one he arrived in and not any part of the school uniform—and stands a good distance away, close enough to talk but not close enough to crowd.

"I believe I heard you say you don't want to fight. Is that correct?"

[greennotgold]

"Um, y-yes." He nods. He hopes that isn't a bad thing. "Um-- are you a Weapon this round? If, if you want, I can, um..."

[bitofafiction]

"Yes. A pacifist Player would suit me admirably at the moment."

[greennotgold]

A small smile finds its way onto the boy's face. "Really? Um-- great!" He nods again. "Okay, then. Um, my name's Fletcher, by the way, and I promise to protect you." He thinks that's how it should go.

[bitofafiction]

"My name is Sherlock Holmes, and I accept."

Oh look, there's his ownership mark back again. He smiles.

"Can I trouble you for a general note of permission?"

[greennotgold]

Fletcher shows no signs of recognition toward the name. He just replies, "It's nice to meet you! Oh, and sure. I'll write one right now."

There's a pen in his pocket -- even if his alchemy has somehow been shut off, he likes to carry around something to write with, out of habit -- so all he has to do is head to the receptionists' desk and ask for a slip of paper.

It's only a moment before he has a note written out for Sherlock, signed and dated. Though, the date he's written under his name concludes in the year 1915, so perhaps something is off...

[bitofafiction]

"Thank you," he says, folding the note and putting it away in his pocket. "Good luck. I'll look for you if I need to purchase something from the booths."

1915: a useful number to know. He doesn't comment on it, though.

[greennotgold]

"Okay! I'll help you buy whatever you need," he says. "Um-- I should go find my brother and see if he wants me to be his Player..."

[bitofafiction]

Something about those words makes Sherlock smile again.

"An excellent idea. Goodbye then," he says, and turns away.

[greennotgold]

"Goodbye! See you later!"

That was easy. He already has one Weapon, and it's only been a few minutes.

[princesspowerful]

Molly may not be a Player anymore but she still promised to protect Fletcher and she sticks to her promises, so when she sees his name on the board, she goes looking for him.

"Fletcher! Are you gonna fight? Don't fight if you don't wanna, but then they take your tokens so do you hafta fight?" She babbled once she found him.

[greennotgold]

His lip wobbled in a kind of pathetic manner. "I--I don't know. Um--Sora says I should find all the Weapons who don't want to fight, and--and the book says if I get five I win the round and can't fight anymore..."

[princesspowerful]

She jumped up and down again, "Then find all the weapons who don't want to fight! Then you can win without fighting! Then you win!"

Obviously winning is the most important thing.

[greennotgold]

That was the idea. But could he really do it? He nodded hesitantly.

"Um... do, do you want to be my weapon for this round, Molly?"