week 2

[airlockedmods]

Week 2

[The second week in the Champion Excellence Program kicks off on a somber note. Chitanda, Toby, the Griffin- all three of them gone, two of them in one fell swoop. If anyone thinks to check the profiles on their P.I.P.s they will find that the dearly departed Champions' profile photos have been greyed out.

Right on the dot at 7 am the mechanical woman's voice chimes to awaken the remaining champions on Sunday morning, as she has for the past week. After the initial wake-up call though there's a new message tacked on:]

Congratulations, Champions! By surviving your first trial, you have unlocked the second floor of the ship. A new mini map has been added to your P.I.P.! To access the second floor please stand on the teleporter and select the floor you wish to be teleported to.

[The new floor isn't the only thing floating around the ship though, at least metaphorically. When the Champions are awakened they have regained one new memory from the ones they've lost. Starting again on Sunday, as well, Jamie and Bolton will be back to their usual office hours in their usual locations.]

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday


[ooc: welcome to week 2, everyone! Check-in has begun and don't forget to submit your memory regains!]

Comments

TUESDAY

[airlockedmods]

Incentive: If You Can Dodge a Wrench, You Can Dodge a Ball

[theoverseers]

[Tuesday morning rolls around again and, just like last week, the voice that wakes them every morning adds on a message for all of them to gather in the gym after lunch for an announcement from the Overseers and, if possible, dress comfortably.

Post-lunch, once all the teleporting to the second floor is over and done with, Jamie is already waiting for them in the gym. His mood seems to be vastly improved from the last time they saw him as a group, standing straight with his arms crossed over his chest and a pleased, almost smug expression on his face. He's traded in his cardigan and slacks for a grey sweatshirt, jeans stained with different shades of red-brown, black, white and blue and white sneakers. A metal whistle hangs from around his neck.]

Morning, everybody! Hope you guys enjoyed your lunch because I have something real fun planned for you. [He claps his hands eagerly.] I think I've made it pretty clear from the beginning the last thing I want is you guys killing each other. So instead of a motive today we're doing a team building exercise that I'm hoping will help you guys work off a lot of built up frustrations.

[Jamie lifts the whistle to his lips and blows a quick phweet. A moment later Bolton comes into view pushing a large wheeled laundry basket filled to almost to overflowing with red foam balls. He's also changed his clothes, swapping out the suits and hideous sandals for, well, this. Why does he have aviators? Answer: why not? With the basket fully in view Bolton stands just behind Jamie, arms crossed and looking surprisingly nonplussed about the whole "this is not murder motive" thing.]

For the probably vast number of you who have no concept of the context clues going on here we're going to be playing dodgeball! I've already separated you into two teams [He taps the screen on his PIP and a list immediately pops up on the screen of each Champion's PIP.] Obviously you're welcome to decide team leaders on your own but I personally recommend Xander and Lightning.

Now the rules are super simple: each team is going to go to an opposite side of the gym and when I blow my whistle you're going to have to pick up balls and throw them at the other team. [Behind him Bolton is busying himself with picking up balls from the basket and throwing them across the gym in random locations.] If you get hit, you're out and need to go stand against the wall. Headshots are off-limits and if someone gets hit in the face the person who threw the ball is out. The first team to lose all their players loses and when one team wins three rounds they'll be declared the winner.

The winners will be getting a special treat courtesy of the Benefactors: an ice cream bar down in the cafeteria! The losers get to clean the showers for the rest of the week. A refusal to participate means you're automatically on the losing team no matter which one you started on. [Jamie glances down at his PIP, skimming over the screen like he's reading something.] What else, what else? Oh! In the interest of fairness, any non-natural strength or magic is going to be temporarily nerfed for the duration of the game. [He taps his screen again and all at once the Champions with any sort of super strength or magical abilities feel their PIPs become noticeably heavier, like they have a small weight attached to their arm.]

And speaking of fairness! [The look on Jamie's face shifts slightly, he's still smiling and keeping his energy up but there's a slightly devious edge to it.] Since we're unexpectedly down to an odd number of champions, Bolton has graciously offered to join Team A and even things out! [Bolton stops tossing balls across the gym and turns to look at Jamie, raising an eyebrow and letting his sunglasses fall down the bridge of his nose. Jamie looks back at him, expression unchanged.] Wasn't that nice of him?

[He turns his attention back to the group of champions.] Any questions?

[ooc: Welcome to the week 2 "motive", friends! As you can see, motives are going to alternate between the two Overseers and Jamie's "motives" are going to be a wee bit different from the usual sort. We're going to OOCly announce the winner of this game tomorrow and we'll be judging based mostly on activity and obviously how the events unfold. Have fun, ya'll!]

[ratherdoweddings]

[Yurika immediately seeks out the rest of Team B.]

Everyone understood how to play, right? It's like we're back in school! Don't worry, we can do this!

[cyan_maid]

[A nod!] Dodgeball is easy enough! I really thought something more terrifying was in store - cleaning showers isn't the worst punishment for a loss I've heard of.

[Though why can't they get sets of gym clothes too...this sucks...]

[voltrounds]

[H e l p.]

[theoverseers]

[When Bolton goes to trade in his aviators for his real glasses (and get a pair of goggles), he leans in close to whisper to Jamie. Any Champions close enough will be able to hear

You're an ass]

[damnfourthemerald]

[Shadow sees Bolton on the opposite team. And bares his teeth in a scary little fanged grin.

Oh, this is gonna be fun.]

[theoverseers]

[Jamie's grin widens and he whispers back, just loud enough for any Champion close enough to hear

I know.

He adds something else, this time too quiet for anyone else to hear, before making a vague hand gesture toward Xander.]

[curdle]

[ what ]

What?

[ratherdoweddings]

It looks like we're lucky this week! Isn't this great? Let's try and figure out a strategy.

[kingshaming]

[Xander sees he has Seth, Togami, Sadie AND Bolton on his team- this won't end well. Kurumi, Ricky and Margulis he can at least expect to try

...Natsuhi he sees either going down right away or being a utter killing machine. No in between.]

Well, I suppose it's better then last week.

[theoverseers]

[Welp he's been sent over here so here he is.]

How are you gonna run this play, big guy?

[stitch_in_time]

You're actually serious.

[He knew Jamie was evil, but he didn't think it would be gym-coach evil.]

[ratherdoweddings]

Come on, Doctor! Everyone get in formation, he's going to blow the whistle soon!

[decarded]

[When Angelica shows up to the gym, the outfit she's wearing isn't exactly dodgeball appropriate. However, she doesn't seem perturbed by Jamie's announcement.

She just

rolls the stockings down until she's barefoot

and stares blankly across the gym at Team A.

You're fucking dead, kiddos.]

[kingshaming]

[You wanna go, yo?]

[ratherdoweddings]

They actually gave you clothes? Wait, this isn't the time. Let's do this, Angelica-san!

[voltrounds]

[PLEASE GO EASY ON

PLEASE DON'T KI

PLEASE GRANT RICKY THE MERCY OF A QUICK AND PAINLESS DEATH]

[bylight]

[At this moment Lightning is completely okay with Angelica being on her team.

And who cares what she's wearing.

TAKE THE OTHER TEAM DOWN]

Team A get!

[kingshaming]

[Once the teams divide, Xander turns to the others]

I will admit, I am... not the most agile person. Margulis can confirm this. So unless anyone has any objections I will take the front and draw fire- this will mean that taking out the other side will be up to you.

[He will tank, you guys gotta dps]

I'm sure I can avoid getting hit for a bit, but not for very long, so we must take out their strongest players right away.

[voltrounds]

...I'm not very good at dodging.

Or throwing.

[STILL NERVOUS GLANCING OVER AT THE OTHER TEAM IS THIS HOW SHE DIES]

Re: Team A get!

[misplacedxsheath]

Loathe as I am to admit it, White's strategy is sound. I also feel this is the time to mention I have training with thrown projectiles. And not just ones made of flame.

[refusedtoleave]

[He's getting the vaguely afraid look again. At least the bruises are a healthier shade of yellow instead of purple now?]

What are we supposed to be doing?

Team B. Why.

[bylight]

[Leader. Again. Why is she always the leader? Lightning sighs, crossing her arms and looking at the people on her team. The P.I.P. is heavier on her arm than before, but easily ignored. Not being able to use magic was fine. She was still plenty strong without it.]

Don't break the rules. Don't get hit and knocked out of the game on purpose just because you don't want to hurt someone on the other team. Right now those people over there are the enemy. [And] Unless you think you can catch the ball, don't take a hit for someone else.

[Pretty standard, right? Light glances over at McBurn before she goes on.] And if anyone on this team decides to be lazy, I will take you down after the match myself. Let's get ready.

GAME START

[theoverseers]

[Once the teams are set and on their proper sides of the gym, Jamie steps back against the wall and loudly blows his whistle.]

And go!