WEEK TWO MATCH CEREMONY

[potatomance]

ᯓ⭐ WEEK TWO MATCH CEREMONY

Welcome, kiddos and kiddettes! To Week Two of this bullshit!

Once again, everyone is led up to the roof with the same seating set-up as before. Riri is cheerfully bobbing in front of the fire and as people arrive and get settled, it waves its little wand to offer Greeting Sparkles.

"I guess we'll see if you're taking it a little more seriously this week. Probably surprising no one, our overachieving Marty is gonna be up first this time, but who knows how it's gonna go next week?

Anyway, sit down, shut up, and unfortunately let the guy speak."

Comments

[ozzz]

[He nods, then takes a generous swig of his drink before setting the glass down on the counter and sliding out of his seat.]

The garden should do.

[Without waiting for her input, he turns around to head for the door that'll take him just there.]

[alcoheal]

O-oh, we're going now.

[She's not sure what she expected. She's the one who needs to burn off the energy. It isn't even really a complaint, just her usual surprise that he behaves exactly as he says he will.

Manuela drains her glass in one long pull, leaves the empty glass behind on the bar to be cleaned up later, and hops to her feet to follow him. She's still completely steady, so she takes several quick, long strides to catch up with him in the garden.]

This is just to blow off steam. I'd take any kind of physical activity to do it.

[ozzz]

[Mithra nods. And what better activity than destruction? At the same time, she's so cranky these days that he wonders if the sweet fragrance of the flowers will help her calm down. The outdoors area for sparring isn't nearly as relaxing.

Once they reach an opening in the garden that affords them a little more space, he slows to a stop.]

Here's sufficient. [He turns, facing Manuela.] Well? What would you like to start? A chair, a table . . . perhaps the bed?

[alcoheal]

The bed? [she repeats in mild surprise. As soon as she says it, however, the thought of lighting one of those bucking broncos on fire as repayment for all the times it threw her off in the middle of the night runs through her mind. It suddenly seems like a very tantalizing option.]

I'd have settled for a training dummy or two, but I think you'll find I can throw a chair farther than you think.

[ozzz]

Is that your wish? Very well.

[He waves his hand with a brief incantation. Suddenly a chair, looking suspiciously like one of the bunch from the main viewing area, appears between them.]

[alcoheal]

[She jolts as the chair appears, taking a single step back. A moment of shock passes across Manuela's face. It wouldn't be difficult to imagine she's wondering if she's already had a little too much.]

Is that real? [He's going to take that literally, Manuela thinks with a twitch of irritation. She can tell it's real. Probably.]

I mean, is that from inside the castle or did you make a new one?

[ozzz]

[A new one? How absurd. Making a whole new chair is such a waste of energy when there's furniture all over the castle.]

It's from the castle. That's as far as my magic can currently reach. [He takes a step back.] Will one suffice? If you want more, I can bring it over easily.

[alcoheal]

No, this is just fine. They probably won't notice one missing... not with some of the other messes we've caused.

[And she does give the chair a swift, decisive kick to the backrest, sending it toppling over and away several feet. The hard recoil from kicking something so solid doesn't hurt, but any lingering doubts about it being some kind of illusion are dissipated instantly.]

[ozzz]

[He watches the chair go toppling a short distance. Somehow, this demonstration of simple violence is very fitting.]

Was that all?

[Does she want a second chair? Or a bed to set on fire? Surely she has more than one kick in her.]

[alcoheal]

["Was that all?" Please.] I'm just getting started.

[With the few feet now between them and the collapsed chair, she blasts it with a Thunder spell, toasting its upholstery.

Ooooh, if only she'd seen fit to bring a sword with her. Ever since her encounter with the Death Knight, Manuela's been keener on watching her back, but she can be excused for thinking one wouldn't be necessary at a formal event like the match ceremony.]

[ozzz]

[He's known for a while that there are humans—and other creatures—out there who can cast spells like this. That's how he feels, even if he can't recall many of the details Rutile crammed into him after returning from one such round of this ridiculous show. Consequently, the blast of thunder is hardly a surprise, though Mithra finds himself blinking expressionlessly regardless—continuing to watch, wondering what will come next.]