Fortitude: Round 5 Start

[mamarosa]

Once again Dolorosa stands on the stage with her four Prefects, Nanami is finally out of her coma and the three other Prefects stand on either side of her. It should be a familiar scene by now, Dolorosa smiling out over her students, but maybe she looked a bit happier than last round. That can only mean one thing...

"Hello, my students, another round has come to an end and another is starting anew. We were the victors of round 4 and just as you have in past rounds, won or lost, everyone fought well," she takes a moment to applaud her school, "I am so very proud of all of you, each of you are coming more and more accustomed to the school and excelling, even if you believe it to be unfair. With this unity you will all do great things here. Don't let me down."

"I hope you're all enjoying the bonus of extra Raks for winning the round, I suggest you all go out and buy yourself a treat, I am particularly fond of the chocolate that Recette sells in her shop, but you're not here to hear me talk about sweets, let us get to the battle records." behind her, as per usual, the Battle Records show up on the screen.

"I believe we had more Fortitude battles this round than any round past, but let us congratulate Nanashi for defeating Jade, Spain for beating Nanashi, Inui for defeating Spain, Dave for defeating Gamzee, and Jade for defeating Marisa."

The interschool battle records appear on screen, "For Inter-school battles we should congratulate Jade for defeating Cirno, Spain for defeating Suzaku, Nanashi for defeating Golbez, Spain for defeating Golbez, Dave for defeating Suzaku, Jade for defeating Suzaku, and Marisa for defeating Cirno,"

"Lastly, we should congratulate Dave, Jade, and Spain for winning the round," Dolorosa begins to applaud for all the victors.

"And without further ado, the Players for round 5 are:
Dave,
Marisa,
Jade,
John,
Daenerys

Have a wonderful round!"

While the screen usually remains on the names those who are going to be Players for round time, it unexpectedly cuts over to the Conquest assembly. Dolorosa looks up at the screen and covers her mouth, she knows what's coming and knows that she doesn't want her students to witness it.

"Losing the round, as bad as it is. Is not what has made me angry today." Okay it was a big part of what had made her angry, but, "On Friday evening I was attacked, in my office. We have told you time and time again, it is not our fault you are here, taking your anger out on us is not necessary or smart." Her eyes glinted again, "I have my suspicions as to who my attacker is, and they will learn. That disobedience is met with punishment. That I cannot be threatened, and it is unwise to try." At that she turned to Flynn and he crumpled, her and Satana focused the warning penalty on him. The pain would be too much for him to stand or talk. It lasted for ten minutes,anyone who moved or talked was hit with a warning penalty strong enough to sink them to their knees. When it was over she stepped away from Flynn, who was curled up on the floor. It would be a few moments before he had the strength to stand. "Dismissed."

Throughout the broadcast Dolorosa tries to cut the stream but nothing works, Fortitude students won't be punished for moving or talking but it is still something she does no want them to witness.

"Please remain calm my students," she says in a shaky voice as the stream cuts out, "I'm sure everyone will be fine."
 

Comments

[knightime]

Dave had shuffled to the back, away from everyone else. He woke up back in his bed, like nothing had happened. He almost wanted to disregard it as a dream, but his clothes were slightly damp, along with the sheets. He had just soundlessly changed into them and headed to the assembly. He didn't bother going by the cafeteria, and he'd probably avoid eating for the rest of the day, unsure whether he could even stomach anything today.

He had drowned. His hands strummed against his leg nervously, no PDA in his pockets to keep in busy. He had to go find that later, if he was feeling up to it. Dave kind of just wanted to go back to sleep. He didn't sleep well anyways. It was fitful and he felt drained. Just the memories of Saturday, still fresh in his mind. There was no way he'd let Nanami approach him again. He knew she just watched him die, and somewhere in his murky memory, someone else was involved. He can't remember who it was exactly though.

Watching the students from Conquest being so thoroughly punished just made him feel sicker.

Shit, he was just going to leave as soon as this assembly was done. This was going to be a bad round, he was sure.

[bloodandfire]

Daenerys approaches him tentatively, she had been there when he was drowning, even tried to save him but was a moment too late. He was dead before she got to him. But here he is, alive. She looks at him incredulously.

"Excuse me," she says finally to get his attention before lowering her voice, "Didn't you drown? How are you still here?"

LOL WHAT IS TACT?!

[knightime]

She couldn't see the dirty look he gave her. Wow, he knew people were tactless. How about I stab you and then hand you a piece of gum and ask how the weather is while I'm at it? Fuck you.

He just shrugs though, no longer able to converse with people. He needed to get his PDA back, but he didn't even want to deal with people now.

SORRY, DON'T KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD

[bloodandfire]

She may not be able to see the look, but she can tell by his body language that he wasn't happy with the question, "Forgive me, my question was rude. I am more worried about your health. Are you doing okay?" Daenerys doesn't know that he can't speak, even if she spoke with John before. But then again maybe it's best that she doesn't know, she may as why he bothers to keep his tongue.

TACT IS FOR SQUARES

[knightime]

Oh my god, everyone is asking him this. Why. Does everyone know he died? No, that's just paranoia. But this at least answered the question about that someone else he couldn't make out.

He nods at her. He can only just keep pretending he's okay. He doesn't want her to worry. He could take care of himself...hopefully.

DANY SO ISN'T SQUARE

[bloodandfire]

Hmm, he still isn't speaking to her. Maybe she offended him more than she realizes, or maybe, "Can you not speak because you have water in your lungs? It would be amazing to still be living after that. I am positive I saw you die..."

LMFAO THIS CONVERSATION

[knightime]

He needs to smash his head against a wall, oh dear god. This is so stupid. He doesn't know what part of it is dumb even. These questions. The fact he can't actually reply. Or maybe her stupidly mentioning about him dying. HE GETS IT. He drowned and it was the saddest thing.

Dave scratches his head before shaking it again and taking a large breath to indicate his lungs. He opens his mouth and says he can't talk. No words come out though. He really doubts she can read lips, but he's running out of options pretty quickly.

[greenspaces]

"Dave?"

She hasn't seen him in at least a day, finding only his PDA beeping at the side of the lake. But now they're all players -- and she's got to do something, since they can talk to each other and at least hug this round. Jade places a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

[knightime]

He literally flinched, turning sharply to see who grabbed his shoulder. He immediately relaxed once he recognized Jade's voice and appearance.

He nodded though. It was such a stupid lie. It was so obvious he wasn't okay. And he wouldn't know how to explain losing his PDA either. That thing was basically an extra hand for him.

[greenspaces]

"That's not okay, that's being upset."

Her voice is small -- she's immediately assuming he's upset with her, of course, because that's what she's used to. Any difference in her friends' demeanors is automatically to be assumed her fault, because she's supposed to take care of them. Jade pulls her hand away, shoving it into her pocket and pulling out his PDA.

"Um. I went looking for you yesterday, but I found your PDA by a lake. You must have dropped it or something..." she's awkwardly staring anywhere but at him. "Sorry. If I made you mad."

[knightime]

Oh fuck. He made her sad. Now he feels even worst. He shouldn't be tossing his anger around just because he up and died (although dying is a pretty valid reason to be upset...). He takes the PDA from her and starts typing into it. He puts it back in his hand. He could have just texted her, but if she has it, then he feels like he doesn't really have to talk too much then.

im not
mad
i mean
im not mad at you
i guess i am mad though
upset???
just
yesterday wasnt a really good day for me

He hopes to god she doesn't ask why. He doesn't have any good lies that would explain why yesterday sucked. He doesn't want to tell her he died. Even if this was one of his closest friends, he didn't like talking about dying.

[greenspaces]

She relaxes as soon as she reads that he's not mad at her. Phew. She was worried that being unable to find him was some sort of test -- one that she failed, obviously. It wasn't until late at night that she had found the PDA, and by then she needed to go back to the dorms or risk getting punished.

But of course, Jade being ever inquisitive, she asks the question he dreads.

"But...why?"

[knightime]

He lets out a silent sigh, before taking the PDA from her. He hands it back to her after a minute or two.

i think
i might have died

He's looking away, pretending to be interested in perhaps the people around them. Just anywhere that wasn't her.

[savedbyasong]

"Dave?" Shion spotted him, and saw the state he was in. He was shaken himself after seeing that on the screen, so angry that such a thing could happen. That they were expected to stand around and let it happen.

For the moment he focused on Dave though, he had been chosen as a player again and it was bound to be taking its toll. "Are you alright?"

[knightime]

He glances at Shion, uncertainly. Wow, today is Dave run into everyone ever day. God, he just can't win.

He nods at him. Okay. Maybe he might make getting his PDA back a priority. This is stupid.

[savedbyasong]

Shion frowned, even though he had nodded Shion knew enough about Dave to know he wasn't alright, and it would probably take him a long time to admit it, so he tried a different angle. "What happened?"

[knightime]

He holds his hands up. What exactly do you want him to say? He doesn't exactly have any way to properly communicate, and the ASL lessons weren't far enough to get anyone else to hold conversation yet.

So he really can't give you an answer to that right now. Whoops.

[savedbyasong]

Shion frowned, noticing the lack of PDA. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his, handing it over so Dave could type.

"What happened to yours?"

[knightime]

He starts typing into it. He hates that Shion is worried about him all over again, but he definitely wasn't telling Shion he drowned.

i lost it somewhere
i was gonna go find it after this assembly ended

[wakingsavior]

No escape that easily Dave, especially because John was expecting you last night and you never showed and he might've eventually fallen asleep in his own room, but he was worried. He misses the announcement of players looking for Dave (assuming he wouldn't be on the list), and would've missed the transmission from Conquest if it weren't for the horrified looks on everyone's faces (though he shudders with horror and looks away before the end), and finally finds him in the back of the room.

<<'Dude, where were you last night?'>>

[knightime]

Oh hi John. He was supposed to abscond before you were gonna spot him. Why do you guys keep catching him before he can abscond?

<<'Something came up. That's all.'>> He's running out of lies, dude. That was a terrible one too, since he would have notified John that he wasn't going to be around, anyways. He can't just keep making up all these stupid lies and saying he's okay. He's not okay, and this is stupid.

[wakingsavior]

<<'Oh, well... okay.'>> John looks a little dubious and a little uncertain, but if Dave doesn't want to talk to him about something, that's ok. <<'I just texted you a few times and you didn't answer, so I was worried.'>>

[knightime]

<<'I kind of lost my PDA.'>> He kind of mentally slaps himself. That is something he shouldn't admit since he was much less open about signing then John was. His PDA was attached to him at all times. Even if the batteries were dead. He could have easily said the batteries died, fuck.

[wakingsavior]

<<'Shit, how'd that happen?'>> John knows how attached to that thing Dave is, and he's kind of worried about how he's going to handle things. <<'Do you have enough to get a new one if you can't find it?'>>

He feels like Dave's avoiding telling him something. He isn't sure if he should ask or not, and goes for "not" this time.

[knightime]

<<'I...dropped it.'>> Okay, he's just going to put his face in his hands. How do you intelligently say, I dropped my shit without saying someone slapped it out of your hand?

<<'I was going to look for it after I took a nap.'>> This is kind of true. He'd eventually go look for it. Or just shell out his raks for a new one. <<'From a scale from Strider is suave as usual to don't quite your day job, how stupid and obvious am I?'>>