WAR GAMES

[shinsengumi]

10...

9...

This year, you will be participating in teams. Your teams, as sponsored, are as follows:

Aeva and Ystelle; Ashleigh and Larsen; Aubrey and Kieran; Brigitte and Ellias; Cabel and Joss; Cyrel and Hollingworth; D'Ivann and Helene; Drael and Kristopher; Griffith and Xian; Fila and Lisette; Indra and Zacharius; Ivy and Reece; Kol and Laurence; Leonel and Solus; Lucinde and Visvaldis; Malis and Vox; Oberin and Odette; Shryke and Siegfried; Talbot and Thane.

Should both members of a team survive, you will both be permitted to leave the arena alive. May the odds be ever in your favour...

2...

1...

Comments

[darkvision]

[Indra whirls around and looks in the direction indicated with a firm nod.] All right! Let's go get this done.

[If he's far too enthusiastic to be participating in a murderous game destined to kill over thirty-five other people, he's hardly about to notice or comment. After a while, though, he queries.]

So what do we do if we find someone else before we find... well, anything.

[phantasms]

Well, we kill 'em? We're not all shit worthless without a weapon, you know. [Zach grins as he goes to demonstrate, and then stops suddenly, looking around as though the cause must lie in sight.] What the fuck? I can't... my shadows aren't working.

[He tries again to be sure, reaching for that skill that's been a part of him for so long, that's never been out of reach. Nothing, and Zach reddens with anger and shock, voice rising.] What the fuck?! I can't fucking do it!

[darkvision]

[Truth be told, he had been ready to laugh, but when the reality of Zach being without his shadows sets in, he's suddenly serious—uncharacteristically so.] Seriously? You seriously can't? Huh...

[He fades off, shading his eyes with one hand as he peers towards the sky again.] I wonder if they wanted to even out the playing field, limit everyone somehow...

[phantasms]

I don't give a damn what the reason is! [Zach snaps, glaring at Indra as if he's now to blame for this.] Aren't they fucking with us enough already? As soon as we're done here I swear they fix me or I end them right there.

[And they're on camera, aren't they? Zach spins, announcing loudly;] You got that?! I'm--

[But his next words are cut short by the sound of cannon fire, and Zach visibly jumps back in alarm at the sudden noise before his eyes dart to meet Indra's. They both know what that means.]

[darkvision]

Shit, already? What the fuck... [His eyes are wide, as some of the natural fear at being found in a situation this dire manages to take hold—the reality of someone's death, coupled with Zach's mysterious loss of his power, has shaken him, and he finds himself wondering what the night will bring, if it will prove him blind...]

Okay, but... now we really do need gear of some kind. C'mon, let's go. I can't stand around here anymore.

[phantasms]

[Zach nods agreement, grumbling curses and quite thoroughly moody now, scowling as he falls into step beside Indra and they head on in their randomly selected direction. He has to stay alert, look for weapons or danger or some sign of that Cornhorn, but all he can focus on is the void where his shades are supposed to be...]