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

[swordofzero]

Suzaku looked around the room for Lelouch, or Euphemia or even Gino as even though there actually wern't that many people in this school it was still extremely easy to loose people. Still trying to think about too many things at once he almost didn't spot Lelouch at all.

Turning back to where he had just been he hurried over but before he could say anything his eyebrows rose at who was sat with Lelouch. "Nunnally!" He was surprised to see her but also wary, the last he had seen of her had been when she had contacted them after Pendragon had been destroyed. She had announced to be their enemy...

Her eyes were open! When... what? He looked to Lelouch and back to Nunnally. "You can see!"

[forthward]

"Big brother...!" Nunnally couldn't help but smile at the sight of Lelouch. Not only was it still somewhat strange to see him again, but that couldn't battle the feeling of relief that he was still there, that it wasn't a dream.

And then, there he was, like Lelouch had said. It was so surprising, everything here so far. "Suzaku-san too!" Ah... that's right. He didn't know about her eyes. Or she thought so, she wasn't sure. It was just all very confusing, how everyone seemed to have different memories. Maybe that was this place's fault as well. She smiled. "Yes... I can."

[veepofchess]

"It's quite good news," he replied, when Suzaku saw how she could see. "I have a favor to ask of you, Suzaku." While his tone and face were pleasant, Suzaku would know that he was only wording it this way for Nunnally's sake. It was no mere favor, it was an order from a Prince to his Knight. "Take Nunnally and I as your Weapons, but only fight with mine. Should it become necessary."

[swordofzero]

Suzaku nodded, of course it was good news that Nunnally could see, he just didn't know how it had happened, how she had managed to defeat the Geass put on her by Charles. Still that was the least of the completely weird and inexplainable things going on and so he just nodded accepting it.

His smile faded and his posture became more formal at Lelouch's tone. He nodded and quickly went down onto one knee, "Yes your...," he glanced at Nunnally not sure of what she knew and what she remembered. He didn't want to confuse her or upset her. "Uh... Sure," he smiled nervously.

"I promise..." No promising to own Lelouch or Nunnally was just too weird, he started again, "I promise to serve and protect you Lelouch vi Britannia, Nunnally vi Britannia." Still on one knee he blinked, "Did that work?"

[forthward]

For what it was worth, Nunnally did probably not look as surprised about Suzaku's actions as she should have. Though she still felt this wasn't-- he shouldn't have to-- "S-Suzaku-san..."

[veepofchess]

Lelouch nodded when Suzaku was finished, and looked to his hand. There was the symbol, just like when he had asked the same of Gino. "Yes, it did." He was glad that Suzaku had taken the cue.

He put a comforting hand on Nunnally's shoulder. "It's alright, Nunnally. This way we all get to spend quite a bit of time together. Just like at school."

[swordofzero]

Suzku got back up to his feet glad that it had worked, he felt a little bit bad at Nunnally's reaction. He hadn't asked if it was alright with her at all, neither had Lelouch but it was done now and Suzaku smiled a small smile at her. "I'm sorry Nunnally, I should have asked you first... Lelouch is right though this way we get to be together."

[forthward]

Nunnally sighed a little and smiled. "It's not that... it's all right, Suzaku-san," she didn't quite feel all right about whatever else was going on, but this was... not the first of her worries. It felt like she knew more than they thought she did. ...and she didn't know how to say it.

[veepofchess]

"While we're on the subject of spending time together, I'd like to cook for all of us tonight." He ticked off people on his fingers as he spoke. "It would be Euphemia and Kallen as well as the three of us. I'll let you know when I have found a space to do this in. I'm certain there's at the very least a Home Economics classroom we can use after classes are over." Even he felt a twinge of nostalgia. The difficult part was going to be approaching Kallen. But he had a plan for that.

[swordofzero]

Suzaku raised an eyebrow, cooking did seem like a nice thing to do but it had been so long since Lelouch had done anything that didn't involve taking over the world in preperation for Zero Requiem, more fuzziness filled his mind, which Suzaku did the best the ignore. But still, it was strange but he nodded anyways. Him, Lelouch, Nunnally, Euphemia and who was the other name? Suzaku couldn't remember but there was something odd, something he couldn't put his finger on.

He gave up, "Uh sure, that sounds fun."

[forthward]

That name-- of course. It felt strange, because something was missing, and Suzaku looked like he wasn't sure about something either, but still. Her sister was there too? She had no idea. But she broke out in a smile. "Sister Euphemia-- I... I didn't know she was here. Big brother, why didn't you tell me?"

[veepofchess]

"Forgive me," he said. "It seemed like this school was a lot for you to take in, so I did not tell you right away. But I'm sure she'll be very happy to see you've gotten your sight back."

[swordofzero]

Suzaku blinked, why did Nunnally not sound shocked that Euphemia was here. It was good that Euphemia was there, a miracle or a trick but back home she was dead and Nunnally didn't seem to think it was strange.

Still he didn't want to worry Nunnally so he just smiled, "Yes I am sure she will be very happy to see you! She will be very happy that you can see again." Suzaku made a note to ask Lelouch if he had any idea of how Nunnally had regained her sight, but he did not want to ask in front of Nunnally.

Of course there was still the fact she had joined with Schneizel against them even when Schneizel had destroyed Pendragon but she hadn't mentioned that either so Suzaku would stay quiet for now.

[forthward]

Something was off. Suddenly all the attention was on her, and Nunnally smiled uncertainly. "I... yes."

SUP

[themerryway]

When Euphemia sees Lelouch and Suzaku, her feet step towards them; when she sees Nunnally, sat there in her wheelchair, she stops completely. Her eyes go big and she rushes over, bright and excited.

"Nunnally!! I didn't know you were here! Ah, how wonderful. It's so good to see you again."

Re: SUP

[veepofchess]

And there she was. Everyone he cared for most was safe here. Well. Except one. While he'd been lost along the way, if Nunnally and Euphemia were any indication, Rolo may still yet come here.

With Euphemia's arrival, he glanced to Suzaku, and made a slight gesture with his marked hand, to show him to follow suit with her. But for now, he stayed quiet, and smiled as though he hadn't a care right now. He was genuinely happy everyone was safe, but at the same time, it was insulting since it was artificial at best, and a lie at worst.

Re: SUP

[swordofzero]

Suzaku smiled genuinly happy when Euphemia rushed over, well he smiled happily when she spoke and Suzaku realised it was her. It was still so, surreal, seeing her again, even though he didn't recognise her face. Seeing her alive and well. This place was strange, she should not be here but Suzaku was glad she was, even if that was selfish of him, because this place was not safe and it was not a good place to be, with them all being forced to battle.

He nodded at Lelouch's gesture. He wanted to protect Euphemia and like Sora had told him the best way to do that was to make a vow to protect her. However he didn't want to vow to her without asking her first, he had felt bad enough when he had done that to Nunnally, though she did not seem to mind.

"Princess Euphemia... I am a Player for this round," he gestured the screan though he was sure she had already seen it, "I thought... If you needed a Player... I could vow to you?"

Re: SUP

[forthward]

"Sister Euphie!" Nunnally smiled. It was amazing to see so many faces she knew gathered in one place. For some reason she couldn't figure out, Euphemia hadn't been... around at the time her brother... died. It was all very strange, and she tried not to think of it too much.

[themerryway]

Euphie listens to Suzaku then smiles at Nunnally, reaching her hand out to give the smaller girl's a squeeze. It feels familiar, somehow-- to be together with family and friends-- but she can't place just why.

"Of course," Euphemia says. "You're my knight... I'd be happy to vow with you."

[swordofzero]

Suzaku gave a tiny smile, it hurt to hear her say that. Because as her knight he had failed her and she had forgotten. He gave a bigger smile, so that she wouldn't realise anything was wrong and went down on one knee like he had to Lelouch and Nunnally.

"I promise to serve and protect you Euphemia li Britannia."