ThatCharacter

Danganronpa: Tower of Carnage (Finished!)

@Aewin @BrokenPromise @Ariamis @Melo @Mateotis @MyCatGinger @Vocab

Calvin sat, watching everyone slowly trickle into the room. Lucas Carsen entered, introducing himself in a slightly formal tone. It was obvious he had spent time with Krista, judging by the way he spoke of her, yet Calvin found a little bit of joy in the fact that she would not be joining the group this morning. Hearing a pun would have made him lose his mind.

Mondatta came in, and offered a speech that spoke of Shona and hope. Something about it left a bitter taste in Calvin’s mouth, but he simply nodded. The monk was old, and Calvin saw little point in arguing with one so set in their ways. Whereas he once would have relished the chance to argue, now it felt stupid.

Mary and Noel were chatting amicably, as were Shaun and Caora, who had become a duo Calvin had not expected. Looking at all the infinites, Calvin realized how little he knew of them. The one he had found to be tolerable was now gone, and he felt a deep sense of isolation that he hadn’t felt for many years. Solitude had always been of comfort to Calvin, who rarely spoke with his forgehands and enjoyed the act of burying himself in his work.

He was awoken from his reverie by the loud entrance of Monokuma and the Carnage sisters. Well, some of them. Both Nariko and Alexandria were missing. Nariko would later be revealed, but he didn’t know where Alexandria could be. Nor did he care. He felt much the same way as a gift box slammed into his chest. He let it fall to the ground, and only after a few moments did he lean down and pick it up. In a normal state, Calvin would have launched into a tirade demanding to know what the hell was happening, but he slowly realized it was a repeat of yesterday, albeit with a greater theme to it.

The token and a chance to gamble was tempting, particularly with the suggestion that there might be alcohol involved. Calvin made a mental note to check it out, but was interrupted from his reverie by Davis looking at him straight in the eyes.

“What the hell happened last night?”

It was a simple question. Calvin wanted to lie, wanted to avoid having this discussion as much as he could, but he realized he needed to come clean. There were too many sets of eyes all staring at him intently.

“I…” A deep breath. “I fucked up.” He related the tale of his being given Alexandria’s handbook, and access to the crematorium, and his realization that it could be used as a sort of makeshift forge. “Shona asked me to help…” He felt himself shudder, and clenched his fists. He wasn’t about to break down in front of these people. “I lost track of time. Alexandria showed up, and I think she was ready to let me go, but – Something else came. A robot. Not like the carnage sisters. It had a giant fucking gun. Was ready to shoot through her, and me.” He was looking at each infinite directly, taking a moment to observe their expressions. “They took me. I don’t know how the sword got to Shona. I wish it hadn’t. Maybe then, she wouldn’t have…”

The veins in his neck were bulging. His face was bone white, all the blood seeming to flow out of it. If anyone touched him, they would have been shocked to realize how cold his skin was. His normally hearty complexion was wan and pale.

“I killed her. That sword wasn’t made right. It was amateur work. And if I hadn't been a fuck-up, she would be here right now.” He looked up at the group, and opened his mouth, as if to say something more. Words failed.

Danganronpa: Tower of Carnage (Finished!)

Collabing with @Mateotis and @MyCatGinger was a nightmare that I will not soon wake from.

Looking forward to doing so again! : )

Danganronpa: Tower of Carnage (Finished!)

Calvin hadn’t slept last night. His first thought had been to return to the forge, continue his work, but the thought of seeing Alexandria or any other carnage sister made him feel sick. Instead, he had spent the night locked in his room, sobbing over Shona’s damaged blade, an indication of his failure. By the time the morning announcement played, his eyes were red and bloodshot.

At some point in his grief, a letter had been slipped under the door. He hadn’t bothered to look at it, and had almost forgotten it, until he noticed a flicker of movement by his door once more. A second letter had been slid under. Calvin stood slowly, and walked over, picking up the first. He immediately recognized Alexandria’s handwriting.

HI HI ^-^

I think we need to talk about last night. I made you waffles with ice cream for breakfast. Come to my room. Hurry before it melts!

XOXOXOXO,
Alexandria

Bile rose in his throat. Cursing loudly, he tore the letter in half, and paced around his room. It took him about 20 minutes to muster the courage to check the second letter, which he knew came from the same robot.

Ohz Nohz! 0-o

When the icecream started to melt, I was worried that it would get the waffle all soggy, so I set the waffle in the furnace. It melted the ice cream and burned the waffle up! Q-Q Until I learn your schedule, you'll have to make due with a breakfast sandwich. It's almost as good though!

XOXOXOXO,
Alexandria

It was like nothing had happened. Calvin had appreciated Alexandria’s ultimately fruitless attempts to protect him the night previous. Almost had felt a hint of respect for the robot, even though she creeped the hell out of him. But now, all he could see was Shona’s corpse, smiling as blood oozed out of it. All he wanted to do was get out of this game, get away from the robots and other Infinites. There was only one way to do that though. And Calvin wasn't sure if he was ready.

------------------------------------------------

Stepping out of his room, Calvin looked around. The group had made an agreement to meet every morning, and for a moment, Calvin had half a mind to ignore it. He wasn’t in the mood to talk with people, but then again, he wanted answers. And he knew people would have questions of him. He began to walk to the break room, when he saw Daimyon crouched in front of one of the elevators. He began to walk, when he saw a woman laying down in front of the Infinite Poet.

Rushing over, Calvin examined the girl. There were no outward signs of injury, and he did his best to calm his rapidly-beating heart. He looked at Daimyon. “Did you find her like this?” He asked. His first instinct was that she was another infinite, but new ones had already been rotated in last night. Why was she late?

Pulling out his e-handbook (he had left Alexandria’s in his room), he opened the list of patients. In addition to Lucas Carsen, Bliss Buckly and Noel Hawthorne, who had all wisely given Calvin space in the aftermath of last night, there was a new face and name added to the list.

“Marianne? Hel-“ Calvin had knelt next to Daimyon, and saw on the girl’s hand a small coat of what appeared to be dried blood. He looked up, and saw that it lined the walls of the room. “Jesus.” Was all he muster, as he looked in open-mouthed awe. It didn’t scare him, for some part of him knew the girl was alright, but he suddenly became aware of the scent, which was cloying and overwhelming in this moment. He took a step back, looking at Daimyon, curious if he was involved in this in some way.

@MyCatGinger @Mateotis

Danganronpa: Tower of Carnage (Finished!)

@ThatCharacter Calvin is becoming a Nazi? Well that was sudden.

@Vocab

Things change quickly in the Tower of Carnage. (JKJK CALVIN'S A NICE GUY WHO DOES YOGA)

Danganronpa: Tower of Carnage (Finished!)

Working on a post right now. Calvin is ready to salute the sun!

Danganronpa: Tower of Carnage (Finished!)

The past minute played itself over and over in Calvin’s head. Felix entering the fray. Shona cleaving her way through the carnage sisters. Felix tackling Calvin. A spear appearing inches from his head, and going through Felix’s shoulder, just as Calvin was getting ready to stand up to join the fray. Felix collapsed, pinning Calvin underneath the dead weight of the muscled free-runner, and for a while he could only listen.

From his position on the ground, he only saw Shona for a brief second as she faced off Monokuma. Then, Alexandria charged, and for a moment, he could see nothing, hearing only the final ring of a sword against the creature’s spear. He knew it wasn’t enough, just by his craftsmanship.

He lay there as the votes were announced. Normally, he would have been furious about the votes against him, but he had no time to think. The centaur came to Calvin, pushing off Felix and setting him free. He stood slowly, shaking as he looked at the group. Most of their faces were white, and he finally turned to face the corpse of the Infinite Knight, slumped against the wall with a smile on her face. He ran to her as some of the infinites were shuffled out, but he didn’t care.

He knelt in front of the body, shivering. Daimyon was there, delivering some sort of poem that made Calvin want to tear his hair out. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. He never should have made her a sword in the first place. “I told you.” He muttered, looking at the sword that was covered in blood and damaged dramatically thanks to the Carnage Sister’s onslaught. Breathing in deeply, he picked up the sword. “I fucking told you!” His voice rang in the hall. He took a few seconds, breathing heavily and trying to calm down. After a few moments, he turned to the rest of the group, his face a grimace and the damaged sword dangling from his hand. "What the fuck happened?" It wasn't a real question. He just wanted to somehow understand how to respond to what had just occurred. He wasn't sure if he could.

@BrokenPromise @Mateotis

Danganronpa: Tower of Carnage (Finished!)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Wow. That was really good. I'm very excited for whatever the hell is going to happen now. But Calvin is not. Well done, Broken.

Danganronpa: Tower of Carnage (Finished!)

Calvin was sweating. Unable to move, he looked around as people slowly entered the room. He was impressed and surprised by the number of people who came to support him, but the noble actions of his fellow infinites brought him little comfort in such a situation. He couldn’t speak without his throat catching, and so he sat, watching people react to Monokuma’s announcement.

The game was a terrible one, and for a few brief moments, Calvin felt his blood boil as a bitter retort rose to his lips. It died away just as fast as it came, as he realized just how close he was to death.

He watched as Mondatta voted himself, and as others locked in their votes. Looking across at his fellow infinites, he wasn’t sure who to go after. He knew nothing about these people. While he watched his fellow infinites make displays of voting themselves, Calvin chewed his lip. He couldn’t risk it. He was restrained, but turned to Geina, speaking to her in a low voice and stating his vote to her. Nodding, she pulled out his e-handbook and entered it for him, never lowering her gun. His sister was waiting for him back home.

“Everyone, please.” His voice was hoarse, and his eyes were red. “Vote.”

Danganronpa: Tower of Carnage (Finished!)

@Mateotis Broken set me up. I had no idea I was going to be kidnapped or anything like that! Yes please, send help for my poor summer child who just wanted to make a sword and go to sleep.

Danganronpa: Tower of Carnage (Finished!)

Calvin felt a lump in his throat, looking about warily as Monokuma wrapped up his speech. He needed time to process, and mostly stood there, quietly thinking. Things were going too fast.

Shona kept her hand on the hilt of her wooden blade. "The bear doctor has yet to kill anyone, so it is impossible to gauge the seriousness of the threat." She told Damiyon. "At this time, all we can do is play it as safely as we can. I encourage everyone to remain in their rooms during the night of carnage. He is a stickler for his rules, and if he can't catch us off guard, there's no one for him to take hostage. Unless, we're not everyone..." She would not panic, but that didn't mean that the situation carried some urgency with it. She made quick steps towards Calvin. “Sir, I wanted to speak with you earlier...” the knight looked at her surroundings. “Come to my room.” Shona didn't wait for a response. She took Calvin's hand in her gauntlet and started to walk towards her room. Her other hand was already on her E-handbook, prepared to swipe as soon as she got to her room.

"Shona just wait- Jesus!" Calvin was surprised by Shona's sudden change of manner. Too much information was being thrown at him in too short a time. This Shona was not like the one he had shared drinks a few short hours ago.

The knight released her "captive" and spun around to look at him. "Time is of the essence, sir." Shona was someone who seemed to let most anything just slide right off of her, but she looked really irritated right now. "Do you have anything to say that can't wait?" She was already sliding her handbook through the card reader.

"I mean, what the fuck is going on?" He planted his feet, but something about her manner gave him pause. "What about the others? Shouldn't we talking about this shit?"

The knight took hold of Calvin's shoulders, not seeming to care who saw her like this. “Calvin, there's something I need you to do, and if we don't meet now, you might not get the chance to do it later.”

Davis hadn't entered his room yet. He was standing in front of it, totally godsmacked, with his handbook in hand. “What the hell Calvin!? We talked about this!” Calvin, suitably incensed, flipped Davis the bird as he was pulled into the room.

Shona shut the door behind herself. When the door shut, she started to take large breaths. “I'm sorry.” She pulled off a gauntlet and pushed her hair out of her eyes. “I just don't feel comfortable talking in front of the others about this. But I'm a knight, and you're a blacksmith. Possibly the best in the world. I know this sounds desperate, but I need you to make me a weapon for tonight. Possibly armor too.” Shona looked at the ground. “I'm not asking for miracles, I'll take anything over this costume and my wooden sword.”

Calvin winced. What did she know? "I don't know Shona. That's- I couldn't even make anything if I..." Calvin looked down to the ground, biting his lip and clenching his fists. The leather was soft, and conformed easily to his tics. He had wanted to keep the crematorium secret, at least for a while longer. But with the night of carnage coming, and the threats made by Monokuma, Calvin wasn't sure he had much of a choice. He looked up, staring Shona directly in the eyes. "I could - I could maybe make something. Won't be pretty, though."

The knight smiled. “Good.” She leaned her sword up against the door, scabbard and all. “I don't need a pretty sword. So long as it's balanced correctly, I should have no problem holding it. It does not need to be sharp, not for my enemies anyway.”

Calvin nodded, raising a finger. "It'll be plenty sharp. Just won't last long."

Shona continued to unstrap and remove the rest of her upper armor. “I'm sure I don't need to tell you how useless this armor will be in a real fight. I'm not expecting plate mail, and a weapon is your primary responsibility.” When Shona got her breast plate off, she was left wearing a sweat-drenched tank top. It was saturated to the point where you could see her bra. The armored “costume” must not have been very well ventilated. “Alright, I guess you need to take my measurements now for the armor.”

Calvin's swallowed, but the lump in his throat didn't seem to dissapear. He had rarely met with actual knights to create armour, and when he had, they usually brought along someone who knew all of the specifics of measurements. The few odd times he had to make something, one of his forgehands had figured out measurements. Calvin nodded trying to slow down the blush that had crept across his cheeks. "I don't think I'll have anything ready for tonight. I'll be lucky to patch together a sword in so little time."He turned his head to the side, scratching the back of his neck.

The knight sighed. "I was afraid of that, but while you're here I'd still apriciate it if you helped measure me out." She reached into her nightstand and pulled out a string and some scissors. "For some reason there was a sewing kit in my room. It's not quite a tape measure, but I think we can cut the string to my measurements. what do you think?"

Calvin blushed a deep crimson, similar to that of a dying fire. "I- Alright." The string was unconventional, but would have to do. "I'll focus on the br- the breastplate? Should be able to figure out greaves and the like from there." He took the sewing kit from her hand, and took a step closer. "Pardon my uh- Just, lift your arms, and hold it there." Shona did as she was asked without fuss. She was looking straight ahead, unaffected by how close they were to each other. Calvin placed the edge of a line of string just below her arm, and pulled it lightly across her chest. He snipped the line, and laid it carefully on her bedside table. "I gotta ask, what do you think you're gonna be able to do with a poor sword? I- I'm not in doubt of your abilities, I've seen videos of you, and I know you're not going after one of us, but. That doesn't leave many options." He continued to measure as they spoke.

“Calvin, this world is filled with dualities. Men and woman, black and white, hard and soft, sharp and dull, hope and despair, there simply is no end to it. Some would tell you that each duality is a coin with two sides, and so both sides are united... But I don't believe that.” Shona turned her head to look at Calvin. “The duality that I have always been most interested in is that of creator and destroyer. One who spreads creation and one who spreads carnage. I have yet to meet anyone who has been both.” Shona lowered her arms so that the blacksmith could measure her shoulders. “I mean look at us. We're both relics of a by gone era. But our function in it is different. You create weapons, but I'm the one who uses them. Who else is going to protect us during the night of carnage if not me?”

Calvin bit his lip, snipping another piece of thread and mentally making a note of what colour lined up with what part of her body. By now, there was over a dozen pieces, all laid purposefully on the table. "Jesus, Shona." Calvin had expected many things of the Infinite Knight, but certainly not this. "We're not relics, alright? Whatever is happening is proof of that, okay?" Calvin's voice raised. "Everyone is going to question that, but the moment we're through is when we start doing the same." He was talking just as much to himself as to the Infinite Knight. "Those... things are bad news. Don't know much about all of their circuits and shit, but they're made of good metal." He let this comment hang. "I'm going to just get a quick idea of a helmet. Only doing a half helm, I think- a full visor would just get in the way." Despite their situation, it felt good to be thinking about armor and weapons and his forge, rather than whatever was coming tonight.

Shona curled her lips into her mouth. She waited for Calvin to make eye contact with her again before speaking. “You know I've killed before, right?” The knight's breathing changed. “Not just once, lots of people. I'm probably the only person here with that kind of experience. Only a destroyer can make decisive blows against their opponent.”

Calvin's breath caught. It wasn't the fact she had killed, Calvin could accept that. It was the way she spoke of it. Like that was all she was. A 'destroyer', to use her own terminology. Still, Calvin didn't know here well enough to put any sort of defence that wouldn't sound artifical. He merely nodded, wiping his brow of the sweat that had collected there. "Look. All I'm saying is, you won't last long if you hold yourself accountable for everyone's safety. We're all going to have to help each other out." He snipped the last piece of thread, laying it on the table. There were several dozen all laid out, a framework made of string for a suit of armour made of steel.

“I'm not suicidal, Calvin.” She sighed. “But we need to be ready for everything. And for that, we need to use our talents to the best of our abilities. For you, that's making weapons. For me, it's using them.” She smiled. “Besides, aren't we kind of helping each other out now?” With another sigh, her smile faded. “Thanks for not asking me about the people I killed. In turn, I won't ask how you how you plan on making all of this for me.” The knight gathered all the string and draped it over Calvin's arm. “Some things should remain a secret, shouldn't they?” Shona opened the door and gently pushed Calvin out of it. “Return when you are ready.” was all she said before shutting the door behind him.

“Not ready, huh?” Davis looked especially deranged, eyes locked with the startled blacksmith. “Guess she's looking for a man with a few more years on him, you CUNT!” Perfection opened his room up with an aggressive swipe of his handbook before walking inside.

"Fuck you, Davis!" Calvin was on edge, and almost charged the man before he entered his room. He sighed, turning back to Shona's door. What was she thinking? He could see her preparing mentally, much like he did when he was working on something that needed to be perfect. Unfortunately, he had no time for that. Muttering a few words, he ducked into his room, grabbed his set of poor smithy tools, and immediately popped out, headed to his forge.

@BrokenPromise @Mateotis