The First Match

[realitymods]

Characters: Robespierre, Oliver Day, Spectators
Location: The Coliseum.
Time: Two days after Weber's announcement.
Summary: The first of the death matches.
Warnings: Character death warning.

Dressed as before, the man in the cravat stepped up to the edge of the Emperor's box. He held his smile, eyes scanning the audience and the combatants below him.

"Welcome to the first of too many fights. To start us off, Maximilien Robespierre and Oliver Day will engage in mortal combat, without the health bars. They have until the hourglass runs out to kill each other."

The man picked up the hourglass and turned it over so the sand was at the top. It held perfectly still despite gravity, waiting for its cue.

"It isn't a fair fight, but I think you've all realized by now: we don't fight fair." The man clasped his hands together. "Let the fights begin."

And the first grain of sand fell.

Comments

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

"But you're still watching," the Doctor pointed out. "Still doing nothing, 'cause you're just a mouthpiece. A stupid little puppet who's got a brain, but can't be bothered to use it."

Perhaps his words were a bit harsh, but he felt the situation warranted them. "Time to be a real boy, Pinocchio. Or I'm giving up on you."

[realitymods]

The harshness didn't touch him. "That's right, and you are not la Fata dai Capelli Turchini." His smile widened at the references to the fairy tale, and he wondered how familiar the Doctor was with the narrative. But it didn't matter. Let the Doctor walk away. Weber could have no fondness for anyone in the Emperor's throne. "So please don't try to make me human."

With his too-good hearing, he could hear every moment of the match below. At least they were being polite about it all. He could appreciate that.

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

"From what I've heard, you're wrong about that bit," the Doctor replied, though he did stand up from the throne. "Even puppets can bring down empires if they try, Weber. You ought to think about that while you're up here."

[realitymods]

"And I revel in the chance for thinking." He tipped his head to look at the Doctor for the first time, his hat still throwing him into shadow. "But please, I don't think you want to be here when your friend dies. You'll be bloodstained by association."

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

"Think it's a bit late for that, don't you?" He was already feeling the guilt intensely, for not being able to stop this. For failing Oliver again. "'Sides, you still owe me a cup of coffee."

[realitymods]

"I thought I was the one promised coffee." The reply was effortlessly flirtatious, as if Weber had completely divorced his mind from the context in which he had found himself. "But I think this match is almost over. Will you step out of the box for a moment? I need to announce the next battle."

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

"Wouldn't want to get in the way of your announcements, would I?" the Doctor muttered, but he left the box anyway. He paced outside the forcefield, wondering who was doomed to die next.