Sunday, August 19, 2012

To Be A Richer Man


<KiruGM> It's become customary for you all to meet outside Ohtori's tower and ride the elevator up to the student council platform, which is about a third of the way up.
<KiruGM> A few words here about the tower.
<KiruGM> It is a curious construction, rather fragile-looking, eighteen stories tall.
<KiruGM> Entering from the front, a glass dome covers the first four floors in a capacious atrium
<KiruGM> The tower is quite broad at its base, and houses a lot of classrooms and offices in its first four floors.
<KiruGM> From there it narrows, and the jutting platform from which you all weekly overlook Ohtori campus is the only thing on the sixth floor besides the elevator lobby.
<KiruGM> None of you, so far as you are all aware, have visited higher floors.
<KiruGM> Nevertheless, the elevator is slow enough that you have some time to examine one another before reaching the Student Council meeting space.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko machine-gun taps an expensive pen on a notebook, not looking at any of her fellow council members.
* Kita_Kiyone presses her hands against the elevator-cage walls, queitly revisiting what she wound up yelling at her duel. The rumors about her and Althea's final break-down have spread around campus since. Likely full of inaccuracy and close-enough truths for discomfort.
* Kseniya_Opasnost contemplates murder, once she's sure of the target. She looks rather cheery.
<Inoki_Aoi> "What a pleasant afternoon."


<KiruGM> Kamiko is, as yet, the only member of the Student Council not to have dueled a member of the student body in the tests which apparently make up the qualifying round for Ohtori's dueling game.
<KiruGM> Thus far, your only liason to any kind of authority over your actions has been Demi Kurouto, a mysterious but cheerful senior who displayed the raison-de-etre of the games when she showed you all an enormous floating castle above the school, and promised that the Duelist who beat all the other Student Council Members could gain entry to it and claim its power.
<KiruGM> Demi appears before you now as the elevator doors slide open, smiling as always.
<Kurouto_Demi> "Good afternoon, Student Council members."
* Inoki_Aoi murmurs "It is, is it not?"
* Kurouto_Demi beams at Aoi
<Kseniya_Opasnost> "It is a lovely afternoon."
<Kurouto_Demi> "And all the lovelier, Opastnost-san, for the fact that we are drawing ever nearer to the real beginning of the duels for Ohtori Academy's revolution!"
<Kseniya_Opasnost> "I look forward to them immensely."
<Kurouto_Demi> "Only one heat remains before we enter the next phase, which will give the winner the power to change the world!"
* Inoki_Aoi glances at Kamiko.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko is still machine-gunning her pen, and staring at the panel of buttons.
<Kurouto_Demi> "Please, feel free to join me on the platform."
* Kita_Kiyone files out of the elevator, looking out over the platform's railing.
* Kseniya_Opasnost joins Demi on the platform, postponing murder plans for the moment.
* Inoki_Aoi steps out with the others, looking pensive.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko shoves Max out onto the platform, and stabs the topmost button on the elevator panel like a mongoose attacking a cobra. As the doors shut, she says, "goaheadandstartwithoutmeI'llbedownshortly"
* Kurouto_Demi hitches slightly seeing Kamiko disappear up the elevator shaft
<Kurouto_Demi> "I...uh..."
* Inoki_Aoi 's eyebrows raise.
* Kseniya_Opasnost turns around and stares at the elevator's departure.
<Kseniya_Opasnost> "...maybe she needed to use the restroom."
<Inoki_Aoi> "Are there protocols involving delay-of-duel, Korouto-sempai?"
* Kita_Kiyone rests her chin on the railing, clearly not giving a damn about what the 'president' of the council has just decided to do.
<Kurouto_Demi> "Well, I was going to say that the first step in change is acknoweldgement, and to ask you all to voice the changes you want to see in Ohtori."
<Kurouto_Demi> "I'm sure we can visit with Kamiko about her goals at another time."

* Kita_Kiyone murmurs, "changing the world after razing the first to foundations... Just to build it again?"
<Kurouto_Demi> "Thus far I have asked you to examine the school as a whole, and to conceptualize the changes you want to make."
<Kita_Kiyone> "No, the changes will be the people inside the world. Scenery is forever scenery, only actors change it."


* Shimabukuro_Kamiko paces back and forth in the slow-moving elevator, going over her points for razing the Nemuro Ruins.
<KiruGM> The elevator slowly climbs, too slowly for your taste, but slowly enough for your fellow Councilmembers to think over the ways they would have a different world.
<Kseniya_Opasnost> "There's not enough security here. I mean--not as in guards, exactly, but people aren't /safe/ enough. That's something that needs to change that's based entirely on people and how they interact with each other."
* Kurouto_Demi gives a deep nod, nearly a bow
* Kita_Kiyone turns around, staring at Aoi and Max. She raises her eyes and looks towards the sky, towards the top of this very tower.
<Inoki_Aoi> "There seem to be so many mysteries about this school.  No one knows why certain things are, or why certain things happen, or who does what and when and where."
<Inoki_Aoi> "With more transparency, perhaps the student body could better work together so that everyone might reach their goals."
<Kurouto_Demi> "I see!"
<Kurouto_Demi> "And you, Kiyone-Sempai?"
<Kita_Kiyone> "There is no fairness left in this world. People harm or are harmed, ignorant of those injured. The results are broken and ruined and need to be fixed before the injury has begun."
* Kurouto_Demi enumerates on her fingers
<Kita_Kiyone> She adds quietly, "If he had loved me first, I wouldn't be in my situation."
<Kurouto_Demi> "Security, clarity, justice."
<Kurouto_Demi> "The admirable goals of a fine group of Duelists!"
<Kurouto_Demi> "I hope each of you feels deeply the honor this school holds you in, that it has bestowed on you these gifts."
* Kurouto_Demi bows deeply and motions for you to leave with her.


<KiruGM> MEANWHILE
<KiruGM> Kamiko is riding up to the top floor with her notebook.
<KiruGM> She counts each level after leaving the Student Council platform: One...two...three.
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "And at the most basic, the Nemuro ruins are /unsafe/, there are many students at this school that come from extremely litigious societies, and it would be in the school's best interest not to leave them such an easy opportunity"
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko shakes her head and violently scratches out text in her notes.
<KiruGM> At the ninth floor, the doors open, to your disappointment, and you face a beglassed receptionist behind a massive oaken desk.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko straightens, her back ramrod straight, and she marches to the desk. Three steps away, she bows at the waist.
* Yuuko peers at you
<Yuuko> "Do you have an appointment?"
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "I'm sorry, I do not. I was hoping to see whomever is in charge regardless. I am the Student Council President, Shimabukuro Kamiko."
<Yuuko> "Oh!  Yes.  One moment, please.  Have a glass of water, if you like."
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "Thank you."
* Yuuko gestures to a small trickling fountain
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko does not move from her position on the carpet.
* Yuuko exits through the door behind the desk
<KiruGM> The lobby is done up in a typically ornate Ohtori style, with white stone vines climbing the walls.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko looks for a stairwell up.
<KiruGM> The only exits you see are the one behind the desk and the elevator.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko narrows her eyes.
<KiruGM> Based on your knowledge of the tower, there should be considerably more space behind the door than in this lobby, on the order of three times more.

<Yuuko> "Hi!  Thanks for waiting.  Please come this way!"
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko bows again. "Thank you."
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko follows Yuuko.
* Yuuko motions you through the door into a large, round office with massive landscape paintings covering the walls.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko 's eyes dart around, still looking for stairs up.
<Yuuko> No stairs, but two figures in the room, a tall thin Westerner and the school's Headmistress, Kanae Ohtori.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko follows Yuuko's lead and waits to be introduced.
<Yuuko> She has a pinched, wrinkled face, and a tight bun of platinum-dyed hair.
<Yuuko> the Westerner smiles at you over his shoulder.
<Ohtori_Kanae> "Miss Shimabukuro.  I hear you have some plans for the Nemuro ruins."
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko bows. "Thank you, Mistress Ohtori. Yes. As you are surely aware, Nemuro Hall has been left to decay after the tragic fire many years ago. It is a safety hazard, and a spot of blight in the otherwise beautiful Ohtori garden."
<Ohtori_Kanae> "Yes, yes."
* Ohtori_Kanae shoots a look at the long-legged man, who leans on the desk and smiles at Ohtori.
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "The Student Council proposes to raze these ruins, and establish a conservatory on the site, including, as I show here", Kamiko points at a crude diagram in her notebook, "a tasteful memorial to those who died in the tragedy."
* Ohtori_Kanae takes the plans from you and examines them through a pair of winged reading glasses.
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "I apologize for intruding on your business, Mistress Ohtori, but the process by which these plans may be realized are somewhat obscured, and I had hoped to shortcut through wasteful bureaucracy to achieve a goal beneficial to every student at your school."
<Ohtori_Kanae> "I think you may be mistaken.  While there was a serious fire at the site back in the Seventies, no one was harmed."
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko bows. "I am sorry. The sources I consulted must have been in error."
<Ohtori_Kanae> "Though I'd certainly like a memorial to the money we spent on computers."
* Ohtori_Kanae laughs dryly, a single cough
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko smiles obediently.
<Ohtori_Kanae> "Anyhow, your motives are sound, but buildings are expensive.  Do you have any plans for fundraising for these proposed changes?"
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko pauses for the briefest of moments. "We have not finalized any plans, but there have been discussions of a fundraising performance by the school orchestra in conjunction with the theatrical societies."
<Ohtori_Kanae> "Mm, very canny.  Soak the parents to see their darlings play."
<KiruGM> The tall, fair man uncrosses his legs and sits bolt upright.  "How crude, Kanae!"
<Nile_Turner> "I'm a little concerned about exploiting growing students for their parents' cash, frankly."
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko bows to the westerner and diffidently replies in English, "But we are the darlings of our parents. Nothing is too good for us."
<Nile_Turner> "It's their emotional well-being I'm concerned about.  Performance can be so...draining."
<Ohtori_Kanae> "Nile, it's a wonder your eyes aren't brown."
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko flicks a glance at Mistress Ohtori.
<Ohtori_Kanae> "Miss Shimabukuro, we'll bring your proposal up at the next school board meeting and look at potential revenue streams then.  Hopefully within six months we'll have a plan finalized and we can start gathering funds and getting permits."
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko squeaks, "six months??"
<Ohtori_Kanae> "Until we can have a plan finalized.  Probably."
<Ohtori_Kanae> "Mr. Turner, do you want to see Kamiko out?"
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "I'm sorry, but aren't you the Headmistress of this school? Can't you simply... make it... happen?"
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko blushes.
* Nile_Turner makes a moue
<Nile_Turner> "We all have our limitations, I'm afraid, Miss Shimabukuro."
* Nile_Turner unfolds from his seat and opens the door wide for Kamiko
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko bows deeply to Mistress Ohtori, and, eyes downcast, makes her way out of the office.

* Nile_Turner smiles sympathetically at Kamiko.
<Nile_Turner> "Don't be disheartened!  The passion of youth is the only thing that ever changes our calcified institutions."
* Nile_Turner circumnavigates the desk and presses the elevator button, casting a glace back at Kamiko
<Nile_Turner> "Going down?"
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "I had hoped to go straight to the top. There's always someone whose will can cut through the resistance of the masses."
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "But, it seems I am destined to go down."
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko bows and thanks Mr. Turner.
<Nile_Turner> "Good luck!  I'm rooting for you."
* Nile_Turner waves as the wrought-iron doors slide past each other and the elevator descends.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko blinks back tears and looks to see what button she pushed... Did she push a button?
<KiruGM> The elevator chimes gently as it hits each floor.  Eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two...one...zero.
<KiruGM> You're below the ground level now, in a concrete-walled space.
<KiruGM> a long tunnel lies ahead of you, with bare lightbulbs set at long intervals.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko takes a deep breath and composes herself before the doors open.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko strides down the tunnel as if she owned the place.
<KiruGM> We'll rejoin your underground adventures in a moment.


<KiruGM> What are the other Councilmembers doing after the meeting breaks up?
* Inoki_Aoi heads off to the library again, appearing lost in thought.
* Kseniya_Opasnost has homework to do, and a tutoring session to prepare some materials for.
<Kita_Kiyone> Kiyone's intention was to hang out around Himemiya Memorial, mostly to figure out what she's doing outside the confines of where she'd normally be expected to be.
<KiruGM> and Max?
* MaxFaust is quiet and staring with eyes like dinnerplates and dark circles beneath the eyes
<MaxFaust> m'fine
* MaxFaust is wandering to and fro across campus with no apparent rhyme or reason
<KiruGM> right!
<KiruGM> Things are quiet at the library, Himemiya Memorial Garden, and campus in general.
<KiruGM> Even the bees are subdued.


<KiruGM> Below the earth, Kamiko, you can hear the sound of distant music.
<KiruGM> Distant terrible music.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko grips her pen like an ice-pick and keeps moving forward.
<KiruGM> At some point the concrete-lined tunnel opens up slightly and you're in a small room which has been furnished with a beanbag chair, a stereo, a mattress, and a huge number of mostly-empty cans and bottles, cigarette butts, and empty food wrappers and containers
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko looks for an inhabitant.
<KiruGM> Tadashi stumbles rapidly to his feet when he notices you enter, over the roar of crude nu-metal.
<Tadashi> "H-hey!"
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko gives Tadashi a look of utter contempt and looks for an unopened can or bottle.
<Tadashi> "How did you even get down here?"
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "Elevator. How did YOU get down here?"
* Tadashi glares
<Tadashi> "It's my place."
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "Must be nice. I suspect you didn't have to wait six months to get it, either."
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko looks at the squalor. "Do you have ANYTHING that hasn't been opened already?"
* Tadashi 's eyes flick quickly toward a mini-fridge nearly hidden in boxes and wrappers.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko slumps against the wall, "I'll have anything you haven't put in your mouth."
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "Tadashi, what does it feel like not to have anyone expect anything of you?"
* Tadashi looks belligerent
<Tadashi> "People expect all kinds of shit from me."
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "And if you fail to live up to those expectations?"
<Tadashi> "Then they think they can walk into my fucking place and drink my fucking beer."
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko nods.
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "Do you know how to get to the top of this tower?"
* Tadashi looks around
<Tadashi> "Tower?"
<Tadashi> "Are you sure you're not already drunk?"
* Tadashi tosses you a can
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko fumble-catches it.
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "Down this hallway is the Ohtori Tower elevator. It's where I cam from. How do YOU get in here?"
* Tadashi looks sly
<Tadashi> "I've never seen any elevator."
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko looks at Tadashi out of the corner of her eye. "You're a terrible liar."
<Tadashi> "All right.  There's a stairway under Nemuro.  I cover it with bricks and shit most of the time, and then I can get down here when I need to."
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "Is THAT why you don't want that awful eyesore cleared away?!"
* Tadashi shrugs
<Tadashi> "I think it's pretty."
<Tadashi> "You know, it's fucked up, but it's still nice to be around."
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "It's imperfect, it's ugly, it's a monument to failure."
<Tadashi> "Yeah, whatever.  Anything you build is gonna crumble too, and it won't look half as cool."
* Tadashi tosses a beer can over his shoulder
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko glowers at the floor. "You're right. Anything I built now WOULD crumble. Nemuro is a symptom. I need to cure the /disease/"
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko straightens up and bows to Tadashi.
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "Thank you, Tadashi-san. Your squalor has given me clarity."
* Tadashi looks at you like you're crazy
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko heads back to the elevator.
<Tadashi> "Well, if you wanna get the fuck out, it's that-a-way."
* Tadashi points in the opposite direction from which you came
<Tadashi> There seem to be no buttons on the wall next to the elevator shaft.
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "SHIMATA!"
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko jams her pen as hard as she can into the wall, and stalks back towards Tadashi's lair, face burning red.
* Tadashi watches Kamiko pass through from his beanbag chair
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko scowls and mutters imprecations as she exits.
<KiruGM> You pass down an identical long corridor with bare lightbulbs, until you reach a set of stairs.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko stomps up them, lost in dark thoughts.
<KiruGM> at the top is a piece of plywood, which when you push it aside, reveals you to be in the center of the Nemuro ruin.


<KiruGM> Almost immediately as you exit, Demi swoops down on you.
<Kurouto_Demi> "You are so late!  Come on, we've got to hurry!"
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "What? It can't be time already!"
<Kurouto_Demi> "The sun has almost set!"
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "But how?"
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "My shoes... my belt... I'm not ready..."
* Kurouto_Demi ignores that question and just hustles you to the fountain in the center of the forest.
<Kurouto_Demi> Once through, rather than ascending the stair, she pushes back a shrub near the foot of the stairs, revealing a small junction box.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko stumbles along, frustration and anger and depression and fear all combining into a endocrinological sedative.
<Kurouto_Demi> She presses a button, and a mechanical whirring begins, resulting in a small platform descending in the center of the spiral stairs.
* Kurouto_Demi steps on when it reaches the ground, and motions you on as well
<Kurouto_Demi> "Come on, come on"
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko gets onto the platform, eyes set on Demi.
* Kurouto_Demi curls her hand into a strange position and says something under her breath as the elevator platform begins to ascend of its own acord
* Kurouto_Demi does a quick spin and is suddenly dressed in the long, flowing gown characteristic of her duel-moderating uniform.
<Kurouto_Demi> From the folds of the gown, she produces a rose and a sword, one of which she hands you, placing the other in your breast pocket.
<Kurouto_Demi> The elevator reaches the top and she hustles you out onto the dueling arena.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko holds the sword in the same reverse-grip she'd used with the pen.
<Kurouto_Demi> "Rose of the noble castle, grant us your power, fortherevolutionoftheworld."
* Inoki_Aoi is seated on the observation platform, reading a copy of "Les Mots et les choses".
* Inoki_Aoi quickly puts it away and stands as Kurouto and Kamiko enter the arena.

<KiruGM> Another tall girl is up on the platform already, in a black uniform, her sword drawn and making uncertain little circles near her feet.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko whispers, "Haruka."
<Haruka> "The ghosts of Nemuro cry out, Shimabukuro!"
<Haruka> "Don't disturb their memories!"
* Haruka extends a shaky hand
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko tosses her beer can at Haruka's head.  The throw goes slightly wide, whiffing through her long black hair and bouncing off down the dueling arena.

<KiruGM> Round 1!  Everyone makes an inital roll for swordfighting!  With swords!
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 5>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Haruka [d10]: 2>
<Haruka> 5 Haruka, 10 Kamiko.
<Haruka> Make another roll to check if you can grab her rose.
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 1>
<Haruka> You can't.
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko futily scrabbles inside Haruka's guard for her rose.
<Haruka> However, your glise does break Haruka's guard and cut her upper arm rather badly.

<KiruGM> ROUND 2
<KiruGM> Haruka is at an attack penalty of -4.
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Haruka [d10]: 4>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 2>
<KiruGM> 5 for Haruka, 5 for Kamiko.
<KiruGM> Kamiko goes in to kick Haruka's legs out from under her, but Haruka successfully dodges Kamiko's kick and stumbles backwards.

<KiruGM> ROUND 3
<KiruGM> no bonuses
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Haruka [d10]: 2>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 4>
<KiruGM> 5 for Haruka, 7 for Kamiko.
<KiruGM> Both girls lunge at each other, but Kamiko is more deft!  She hits Haruka in the face with the flat of her blade.  
<KiruGM> Haruka is stunned and Kamiko's morale is boosted!  Kamiko's next attack is at +3.
<Haruka> "Owwww!"
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "I've barely touched you, you cow."

<KiruGM> ROUND 4
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 7>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 6>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Haruka [d10]: 1>
<KiruGM> Kamiko feints left, tempting Haruka into a clumsy attack.  When Haruka is close, Kamiko clutches at her rose, brushing it with her fingers but not managing to dislodge even a petal.

<KiruGM> ROUND 5
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Haruka [d10]: 10>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 1>
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko screams a most unladylike curse.
<KiruGM> Half-crazed, Kamiko simply runs at Haruka, swinging her sword wildly!  Haruka avoids her with ease.
<KiruGM> Haruka's next defense is at +4.

<KiruGM> ROUND 6
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Haruka [d10]: 5>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 6>
<KiruGM> Kamiko puts her sword behind and just straight-up tackles Haruka.  She goes down like a sack of potatoes, Kamiko on top of her.
<KiruGM> Haruka is at -3 to her next action, or +1 if it's a defense

<KiruGM> ROUND 7
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Haruka [d10]: 9>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 3>
<KiruGM> Kamiko punches at Haruka's head with her sword hand, but finds herself punching the crossed forearms of her rival.  Haruka bucks her off after a few moments and returns to a fighting stance.
<KiruGM> Kamiko's next attack is at -4.

<KiruGM> ROUND 8
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Haruka [d10]: 1>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 10>
<KiruGM> An incredibly deft sidelong roll puts Kamiko on her feet!  And an incredibly clumsy attack leaves Haruka's sword-point briefly lodged in a crack in the ground.
<KiruGM> Kamiko's next defense is at +4

<KiruGM> ROUND 9
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Haruka [d10]: 4>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 8>
<KiruGM> 6 for Kamiko, 7 for Haruka
<KiruGM> Haruka successfully retrieves her sword before Kamiko can kick it away from her, and wheels backward, her guard raised.
<KiruGM> so both Kamiko and Haruka are now at +4 to their next defense.

<KiruGM> ROUND 10
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Haruka [d10]: 5>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 9>
<KiruGM> 8 for Haruka, 16 for Kamiko
<KiruGM> Haruka attempts her own tackle, but Kamiko meets her blade in a grinding glise, bringing them up into a clinch!
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko whispers in Haruka's ear, "Stop fighting me. If we overpower the Rose Bride, we won't even NEED this silly game to get what we want!"
* Haruka is not responding to you, but looks distant and sweaty.
* Haruka is at -4 to her next attack.

<KiruGM> ROUND 11
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Haruka [d10]: 9>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 8>
<KiruGM> 11 Kamiko, 16 Haruka
<KiruGM> Haruka is the matador to Kamiko's bull, sidestepping her charge yet again.
<KiruGM> Haruka gets +4 to her next defense again.

<KiruGM> ROUND 12
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Haruka [d10]: 7>
-GameServ/#utena2012- <Roll for Shimabukuro_Kamiko [d10]: 4>
<KiruGM> 6 for Haruka, 7 for Kamiko!
<KiruGM> Kamiko's lunge gently flicks Haruka's rose off her breast, and it goes sailing up, up, toward the castle, before plummeting and exploding at her feet in a shower of red-black petals
* Haruka looks downcast.
<KiruGM> Bells begin to toll!

* Shimabukuro_Kamiko flings her sword angrily to the ground.
* Inoki_Aoi quietly scribbles in a moleskine notebook.
<Kurouto_Demi> "Congratulations, Shimabukuro-sempai!  You advance into the real duels!  Now is your chance to seize the power of revolution!"
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko breathes heavily, staring at the beer can across the grounds.
* Kurouto_Demi walks Kamiko to the elevator and accompanies her out of the duel forest.
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "You... think... after that... *hah* performance... I have any chance here? I'm... *hah*... a failure."
<Kurouto_Demi> "Sempai, the duels are determined by the quality of your heart.  By this measure, a difficult battle is no failure."
<Kurouto_Demi> "Are you all right to get home on your own, or would you like me to walk you?"
* Shimabukuro_Kamiko glowers at unseen enemies at her feet.
<Shimabukuro_Kamiko> "I'd... rather... be alone..."
* Kurouto_Demi smiles and bows slightly, leaving you on your own.

* Shimabukuro_Kamiko cries in the dark all the way back to her residence.
<Kurouto_Demi> You walk home in the fading light, passing Nemuro Conservatory, the last rays of the sun catching the very top of the glass roof.  You can see the roses and grapes climbing the walls inside, almost eclipsing the memorial to fallen students.
<Kurouto_Demi> Sleep well!
<Kurouto_Demi> ~TO BE CONTINUED~

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