Colosseum - Spectator Thread

[Strazio Rockwell]

　　The large man stood in awe at the young girl’s marksmanship. He rubbed his bulging belly and stroked his rough beard. With exaggerated movements he leaned over slightly and looked down the firing range. After a pause he turns back to Jade and a thin smile slipped across his lips before clapping for the girl.
　　
　　“Yes, well done, well done! Please choose your prize miss!”
　　
　　Jade smiled from ear to ear and turned to Valerie, “go ahead pick the one you want!”
　　
　　Valerie laced his fingers together and brought his hands up to his face before cooing, “Thank you Miss Harley, I am forever in your debt!”
　　
　　Val’s eyes danced across the rows of plush toys and interesting trinkets. He knew what he was looking for, but Strazio’s soon-to-be present was strangely absent. Panic began to set in as he frantically scanned the prizes. His friends disappeared from his world as disappointment swelled within his body. Woe and grief gripped the emotional mage’s heart, oh how disappointed Strazio would be, he thought. But, hidden beneath a pile of plush elephants he saw his goal. Peeking from beneath the blue bodies sat a simple plush turtle. Its beady eyes looked up at the excited verdant mage and he scooped up the green creature. With a spin he laughed an put the small stuffed animal on his head.
　　
　　“Follow me my little companion, I know the perfect home for you.”
　　
　　His whimsical world came back into focus as the crisis was averted. A new friend had come to join their carnival adventure, and how rude it would be not to introduce himself properly. The brightly colored mage stepped forward holding his hands in the air. His fingers danced and his hands made strange symbols.At first glance one would think it was a magical incantation, but in truth it was simply a symptom of Valerie’s burning desire to constantly be in motion. Lacing between his fluttering fingers a rope-like stem twisted around his hands. The flower bloomed into a multi-layered spiral of bright red and ochre. With a flourish he plucked the fledgling blossom and pushed it in front of Karkat’s face.
　　
　　“For you! My new friend!” He gleefully exclaimed.
　　
　　“What?” Valerie’s horned friend raised his eyebrows and took a step back.
　　
　　“This is a Cyranian Bloodsprite, it is a token of our new bond of friendship!”
　　
　　Karkat interrupted him by restating the question at hand, “what?”
　　
　　Valerie pause for a moment, unsure of how to deal with the disgruntled troll. A genuine smile can melt even the coldest of hearts, and so he grinned from ear to ear. Karkat glanced to Jade for help, but only found a giggle from the dog-girl. The flustered troll looked back to Valeria and asked.
　　
　　“What, just what is this bullshittery you are presenting to my face?”
　　
　　The poor mage deflated as Karkat’s disdain was made painfully apparent. He pulled back the flower and twirled it around in his hand. “Awh, come on Karkat don’t be rude,” Jade admonished him. Karkat pursed his lips and look at Jade, his eyes shot a “are-you-fucking-kidding-me” look at her. She furrowed her brow at him and Bec barked.
　　
　　“Fine,” Karkat sighed and stuck his hand out towards Valerie, “I’ll take your stupid flower.”
　　
　　The plant mage clapped his hands together excitedly and handed the flower off to Karkat. Around them the carnival began to die down as the next set of fights began to start. Valerie frowned as he thought of Strazio trudging off into another death-match.
　　
　　“Oh I sure hope he’s okay,” Valerie spoke with a twinge of worry in his voice.
　　
　　“Who?” Jade asked, “your student?”
　　
　　“Indeed,” Valerie laughed for a moment before continuing, “he has, uh, temper issues, and he tends to do stupid things when he is perturbed. He’s competing in this silly tournament, and I wouldn’t be the least surprised if he proved victorious; that is of course if he doesn’t allow his anger to get the better of him.”
　　
　　Karkat raised his eyebrow at Valerie’s description and asked hesitantly, “your student, what is his name?”
　　
　　“Oh, his name?” Valerie paused, “why I think he calls himself the Guardian of Darkshire or some witless moniker like that, but his real name is Strazio Rockwell.”
　　
　　There was a pregnant silence held between the three as Jade and Karkat realized who Strazio was. Valerie’s student had hurt Gamzee, hurt him pretty badly. Around them the fair seemed silent as the fog of tension enveloped the trio. The first to slice through the veil was the candy-corn horned.
　　
　　“He’s dead you know,” Karkat spoke with a twinge of venom in his voice, “I heard people talking about it.
　　
　　“Oh my, how could that happen?” Valerie choked on the weight of the news.
　　
　　“Karkat,” Jade began, but was cut off by her friend.
　　
　　“Jade, that’s the guy who almost fucking killed Gamzee and you’re hanging out with that psycho's teacher?”

　　Valerie held up his hands in defense, “despite being his tutor I do not share his furious disposition. I have no desire to harm anyone, and I certainly go not condone Strazio’s actions. However, it does greatly burden my heart to learn that he is indeed expired, oh poor misguided Strazio.” The green mage lamented and put the back of his hand to his forehead in an over-the-top display of grief. This was certainly not the first time he had to detach himself from Strazio’s actions. In fact it was quite often that the verdant mage had to smooth over social interactions for Strazio, the man’s temper was something of legend. Anxious fidgeting filled his hands as he prayed that his new found friends would not abandon him for that acts committed by his pupil.