Conquest Round Five

[kingofpoisons]

Just like every week before there are announcements on every board, "Please report to the lobby at 12 noon for assembly." Anyone who get lost or try not to attend are dragged there by Santana.

And really, there is good reason not to go. Anyone who has seen the battle records for this week and can count will know that Conquest has lost. Anyone who was in the city two weeks ago, knows how Day feels about losing.

This time Day isn't just annoyed she is livid. Thanks to the attack on her person on Friday night. Adding that to the fact conquest had lost again. She is stood on the stage with Santana, Flynn, Feferi and Gino. When everyone is gathered she glares at them and starts talking, hitting anyone who doesn't shut up with a warning penalty.

"You lost. Again." She wasn't smiling, she wasn't even holding anything to eat in her hand, she meant business this time. "What is wrong with you? You lose by one round winner. If just one more of you had won the round, and really how hard is it? You would have won!"

She glared at them and everyone who had been players the last round would begin to get a headache that built. "I don't care about your excuses, I don't care if you tried your best. You lost. You are pathetic and you will work harder this round. You will work harder or you will be sorry."

The battle records appeared behind her. "Do I need to even go through them? Will hearing about how you losers failed make you fail less?"

"Golbez and Suzaku Kururugi, Golbez won," she shot a blast of penalty towards Suzaku, sharper and more violent then the ones she had used the last time they had lost. He buckled and she smirked. "Suzaku Kururugi and Sis Strider, Sis won." Another stab of pain, "Golbez and Tear, Tear lost but since she is incacipated in the infirmary due to Golbez's win I will deem that punishment enough. Congratulations Golbez, you put a fairy in a coma!" She actually sounded impressed.

Her mocking grin faded and she continued, "Our head Prefect Santana Lopez fought this round, winning both times of course. Congratulations Santana, Golbez, Suzaku Kururugi, I guess it's applaudable that you even tried." She still hit them with penalties though.

"Onto the battles that truly matter, against Fortitude." The page changed, "Suzaku Kururugi won against Sadaharu Inui, Cirno lost against Jade Harley," Here Cirno would get the stab of pain, only lasting a few moments but painful enough to make her stumble.

"Suzaku Kururugi lost against Spain, Golbez lost against Nanashi and Spain." More pain as she pressed onwards, Tear won against Nanashi and Sadaharu Inui, Suzaku Kururugi won against Spain, but lost against Dave Strider and Jade Harley. Are thirteen year olds too difficult to beat?" More pain went his way, "Cirno lost against Marisa Kirisame," and her way also, "Yuki Yagizawa and Sis Strider both beat Dave."

"Finally Santana Lopez won against Jade Harley, which is no surprise, well done Santana."The records disapeared from behind her and she shook her head, "Yuku Yagizawa and Sis Strider both won the round. I can only hope the next group follow do better."

With that the next round players came up on the screan and she read them out.

"Kotaro Mochizuki
John Egbert
Flynn Scifo
Brienne of Tarth
Lemina Ausa"

Usually this is where the assembly ended but this time Day raised her hand, gesturing people to stay still. Her eyes glinted dangerously.

"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 focussed 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."

Comments

[infallibleblade]

The silence at the end went for perhaps a mere half a minute before Nari realized what was going on. That all the people falling around him weren't experiencing anything compared to the man at the end, who was getting punished for a prolonged period of time.

But why? What was his punishment? Wasn't he an authority figure like them? Why were they attacking him if she only had "suspicions" as to who had assaulted her. With these questions on his lips, the taller man finally bit his lip and started moving forward, opening his mouth to speak. This wasn't right. Wasn't this sort of cruelty the exact thing he had set out to fix?

"Ma'am, please stop." He began, voice carrying through the silence as his feet started to carry him forward.

[kingofpoisons]

Day's eyes flickered with annoyance at the words and she flung a warning penalty at him, to level him to his knees before turning back to Flynn as the punishment continued.

[smupette]

This would be one place Sis thought to step in however. Why would someone risk himself like this? Why did people not have enough common sense to sit down and shut up. Quick as lightening (but not as quick as she usually could) Sis draws her blade and places the blunt end in front of Nari.

"Do you want more punishment than you likely deserve? I suggest you stop right there and don't move another inch. You don't deserve it." She would gently remind right now. It would be a much harsher reminder if this fool decided to try and defy her.

"There is no reason for you to put yourself out like that." Though Sis knew she was likely making a scene in todays meeting, she just couldn't bring herself to care. She was beginning to get tired of constantly being treated like a dog, and getting put down by Conquest authority figures.

[infallibleblade]

As soon as the punishment hit, Nari held out for maybe a second or two before his legs crumpled under the pain. And even then, only because he'd endured something similar once before. But it was the memory of that fear that paralyzed him, keeping him on his knees even as his mind raged furiously against the assault and only brought him greater pain.

(The dirt under his nails, the smell of pine and ash as he looms overhead with an ugly sneer.

"Remember this the next time you feel rebellious. Remember that I'll always know before you do, Blade.")

Finally, as the pain began to subside and the gray in his vision started to clear, he came to realize that he was looking at the blunt edge of a sword. Letting his eyes move up to look at the person holding it (his heart grew pained as it beat with fear, the memory of that one terrifying moment still locked in his mind's eye) he gave her a blank stare before closing his eyes.

"Nobody deserves it." He replied quietly in pained tones as his head continued to throb, even as he slowly lurched to his feet. "And I'm not the kind of person who wants to be able to watch it happen without acting."

[smupette]

Sis was aware after he looked at her that she needed to put the sword away. It was soon gone and Sis stood in front of this bumbling idiot. Only an idiot because he tried to speak up and do something about Day- and certainly wasn't the right time to do it.

"There is absolutely nothing we can do about it like this. If you want to see it stop then we will take care of it in due time." She adjusted her glasses. "Listen. Conquest needs to pull together right now. Not just for our safety and well being." She paused.

"But for our happiness as well. We can't work together unhappy. Now can we?" Not that Sis was going to preach any more or less than she had to. But the way they were being treated was completely ridiculous.

[infallibleblade]

And she was right, he knew that. Her voice carried the same tone of sensibility that Rhysir and Rivend's did, keeping him from making foolish mistakes that would hurt others. But then, he'd known for a very long time that there were things he could never fix, no matter how hard he tried.

But it was the sight of Flynn suffering soundlessly that made him agree the most. The knight was strong, he could see that, which made it easier to others to bear his pain.

"You're right." He finally agreed, his eyes moving from the stage down to Sis. "But how do we make them see that?"

Them being Santana and Day, because they needed to be saved from this place too.

[smupette]

"We let them see it on their own. I've spoken with both Sanatana and Day on several occasions. There is no changing their mind. We must win the round if we wish to succeed. We have to show our strength to them. Then perhaps they will forgive us in a moment of weakness. Though I know you think that is unlikely."

No, Sis was planning to let them see everything on their own. Just like she had raised her brother to do. "I don't want you to think this is being weak, or simply not doing anything at all." Because it wasn't.

"We simply have to avoid punishment to be happy, for now." Then they could better plan a way to over throw them if needed. "The way we are getting treated is unacceptable. They are in just as much a state of unhappiness as we are."

She paused again.

"They are no better than us."

[maidenknight]

As soon as she saw him speak to the woman at the front, she moved towards him. Some sort of instinct inside told her to protect, but with no sword and not willing to strike or injure a woman in any way, Brienne found herself almost completely useless.

"Are you alright?"