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

[allurprincess]

"She's the only one from our school," Sora argued, not liking the idea that an ally as important as Karin didn't feel comfortable around Tsuki. "I don't think it would be an imposition... You're both smart, I'm sure you'd get along." That was a bit of a stretch; Sora had to admit Tsuki didn't really get along with anyone but her, for some reason, but she didn't want to see Karin go without a Player.

"And you're a knight who protects-- Oh!" Yet another thing she wanted to tell him. Clearly she'd been saving these up all week long. "There are other knights here. Actual knights, just like the story!" She looked around, on the off-chance one of them was close to enough to call over, but with no luck. "You can meet Suzaku tomorrow! We've been training together."

[persuades]

Getting along? El laughed inwardly, a derisive laughter inside his mind.

"You may want to ask Aoi first. She might have problems having a guy from school being her weapon."

If only Sora Himoto knew that the one person Tsuki Aoi wouldn't be able to stand was most likely him. Intelligence had nothing to do with it; there wasn't enough logic and rationale in the world that would make them 'get along' together. And given that girl's stubbornness, no matter how amusing it would be for him, she would probably and adamantly protest the idea.

And there's that line again, one that she kept repeating to him. The knight who protects the --

"Actual knights?" This school was even more getting interesting. "Are they fighting to protect their princesses too?"

[snakesonaprincess]

As Tsuki began to leave the area, she couldn't help but catch Sora's voice, happily talking to someone. Curiosity got the best of her, wondering who it could be that she was talking. Sora was a naturally excitable person, but she seemed particularly happy to have encountered whoever it was. Something nagged at the back of Tsuki's mind; a slight unease she couldn't quite shake. And so she moved closer, hoping for a look at whoever she was talking to.

And as she saw him, she froze. No. No no no no no. How could he be here? This was the worst possible turn of events. She had considered it a possibility, especially considering the others that had come from their school, including Tougyu. But she had hoped, against all hope, that at least he wouldn't appear her. She froze up, her face registering a look of shock and despair that was rather unusual for someone as impassive as her. It mirrored the look El had been so fondly remembering just moments ago.

But as quickly as it came, she did her best to hide it. Especially in front of Sora. The last thing she wanted was for Sora to realize just who her "ally" really was... the realization of how many girls she had handed over to the Demon King himself would be too much for her to bear.

[allurprincess]

"Yes, to protect Lelouch and Euphie," she smiled more gently this time, before her general enthusiasm overtook her again. "You should meet Lelouch as well. Ah, if that's okay? You don't have to avoid people here, like back at school, so I thought it would be better if everyone knew each other."

And then either her built-in princess radar pinged, or she happened to look away at just the right time, because, "-- Tsuki! We were just talking about you."

[persuades]

"I suppose since it's a new school and all, I wouldn't . . ."

El slowly faltered upon hearing the name, looking up and beyond the shoulders of Sora. A polite smile almost immediately appeared on his expression upon seeing the person the other had addressed rather brightly, the subject of their conversation for a while now. He was wondering when he'd 'bump into' her in this school after seeing her name.

He nodded slightly in acknowledgment of the other girl, noting how impassive her face was as usual. The ice queen as always, though El wanted to know how long it would take until that expression crack with him around.

"Speak of the devil," he remarked lightheartedly with another chuckle. "Or at least, that's how others put it."

[snakesonaprincess]

"...this is our second time meeting now, isn't it? Mister Aragiya," Tsuki said coolly, her voice not betraying what she was thinking at all. So he would continue to play that foolish charade, even here? She wanted nothing more than to reveal him, but she knew she couldn't. She'd have to play along as well, for now.

"So you're here as well now. How... fortunate." She turned to Sora, unsure that she could even manage to continue wearing her mask if this continued on for too long.

[allurprincess]

The tension was entirely lost on Sora. Or rather, considering the tension that usually followed Tsuki around like a cloud whenever Sora introduced her to one of her other friends, it was misread and only fed her resolve to have them get along.

She wavered a little at Tsuki's expression but rallied; her smile determined. "I was just saying that, since he doesn't have a Player yet, he could be yours!" Interruptions weren't really possible by this point, she was intent on getting the entire plan out before Tsuki shot it down or Karin protested again. "I know you don't know each other very well, but he's our ally and I trust him, and with both of us you'll definitely be able to win the round!"

[persuades]

"Ah, but -- "

El managed to feign an expression of sheepishness as Sora rambled on, not even correcting Tsuki with his name. He didn't really have any plans to interrupt her; she could plan and plot as much as she wanted and he'd simply go along with her, continuing his little game with her. After all, it was never a boring day when she starts planning out what she intends to do.

When she finally paused - probably for air - El smiled again, this time, towards both girls. Knowing Himoto Sora, she would force this idea on them until someone finally gives in. And he might as well, since a part of him was looking forward to playing with Tsuki Aoi as well. She seemed gracious enough to play along with him. Then why not include her in the game, yes?

"I don't mind being paired up with Miss Aoi." He scratched his cheek. "But like I said earlier, she might find it uncomfortable being paired with me. I wouldn't force her if that's the case."

[snakesonaprincess]

"You want me to be... his Player?" Tsuki asked, her tone rather guarded and quiet. She had known this question was coming, but it was still mind boggling. And El was playing along as well. Of course, she realized he had no choice to. In fact, he was probably enjoying her discomfort at the idea; relishing the fact that he knew just how much this would bother her. And yet her expression remained neutral as she merely nodded.

"Alright, that is acceptable," she said. She wouldn't give El the satisfaction of saying anything else. If she protested, that would inevitably required her to explain why. And she couldn't do that... not now, not just yet.

[allurprincess]

"Great! That's great, Tsuki," she beamed from one friend to the other, shoulders slumping with the weight of her relief. "Do you need to say the vow? I think that should have done it..."

Even as she asked, she'd turned to face Karin and taken each of his hands in turn, checking them for the mark. When they both proved blank, she moved to his collar, and began to unbutton his shirt with the unnerving ease of five princesses' worth of practice.

[persuades]

El had seen Sora do that to her princesses before, with Oashi to check the mark of ownership on her. But he had never expected her to do it on him. To say he was surprised would be an understatement. And for a moment, he almost automatically grabbed her hands and forcefully tore them away from him like he usually did with the other guys in the council. Only to stop himself, remembering who it was in front of him.

It wasn't Mitarai or Kuchinawa. He had to remember that.

He did try to look embarrassed, at least if only to balance out the confidence of the other girl. Normal. It was a normal emotion in this kind of situation. "I'm hoping Akane doesn't see what you're doing, Sora."

[snakesonaprincess]

Tsuki just twitched slightly as she observed; there really was no reason for her to protest or stop Sora, but it still bothered her. Perhaps irrationally. She watched intently for the mark, curious to see whether or not it had appeared. She hoped it was - she had no desire to make any sort of vow to El. Even if she was his Weapon back in their world...

And so her expression hardened a bit as she watched Sora unbutton his shirt and saw nothing there. So her simple acceptance wasn't enough?

Very well, she had to get this over with, whether she liked it or not. She quickly strode over to the two of them, grabbing one of El's hands even as Sora still held his collar. "I will own and..." she paused, unable to even force herself to say that she would protect him. "I will own you," she simply stated, deciding that should be enough to satisfy the system.