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

[leftthesafetyon]

Meryl left the tokens alone in favor of another factor- research. She discovered that her weapon was a fencing sword, which meant that she had to learn the basics and fast. The book she hastily borrowed was in her bad, but she was moving her hands around, trying to imitate what she read about.

"Hey." Meryl greeted back. Socialization was beginning to be a huge factor in her stay here, for more reasons then one. Still, she wasn't going to complain about meeting new people.

[themouthofhell]

"What are you doing?" she approaches curiously, watching the movements of Meryl's hands.

[leftthesafetyon]

"I'm trying to memorize a few things." She responded, as if she as used to this. Practicing new combat maneuvers she only read about in the school's courtyard was actually something she was quite used to. Sheesh, it really was like old times.

[themouthofhell]

"Memorize..." Oichi looks thoughtful for a moment, before perking up, as though she's remembered something. She comes a pace closer, so that they are an arm's length from one another. "Ichi is looking for someone to play with. Will you play with Ichi?"

[leftthesafetyon]

Play with? She wasn't quite sure what she was talking about, but she might as well. "Well,just what do you want to play, anyway?"

[themouthofhell]

The corners of Oichi's mouth quirks up, as though she were about to smile. "This place's special game. Ichi is a Player, chosen special for this round. Are you also special? Like Ichi is."

[leftthesafetyon]

Ah, so it was a fight she wanted, then. Meryl was looking forward to this moment, but she didn't expect it to come so soon, even if she was looking.

"I'm a player, and I'll fight you, if that's what you meant." There was nothing truly special about the circumstances, as far as she was concerned. She was just a soldier on her way to battle, however fake it was.

[themouthofhell]

"Yes, yes... a fight. Let's gather up our arms and fight," Oichi is eager-- as excited as she can get.

A fight is something familiar to her, and though this is but a game she intends to throw her all into it. Memories are at stake, and ah, how precious memories are.

[leftthesafetyon]

"I'll meet you after I find my weapon." Meryl was slowly matching the sense of enthusiasm.

Meryl wasn't sure if her little escape plot would work, but in the meantime, she wanted nothing more then to fight- to win and prove herself.