ARENA 11-PaneMall

[etcircenses]

It’s pre-dawn when the Tributes are roused from their beds and sent to their tubes. Those who’d been imprisoned for the past few weeks had their heads covered before transport to the staging area, and there’s an air of confusion surrounding just about everything that’s happening until the stylists and managers arrive on the scene and try to calm everyone down. The reunions may be happy, but they're sadly very temporary.

The first clue that something strange is happening comes from their clothing: figure skating costumes with bright colors and sequins and ice skates strapped to their feet. Some may even find it difficult to stand with the blades on their feet, but as they're placed into the arena, all becomes clear. The mall skating rink seems quiet and quaint, especially after weeks of uncertainty and stress. Too bad the peace and quiet can’t last.

20

19

18...

Above the ice rink (which houses all 100+ Tributes) there are floors with shops looking over them. Large, bright fluorescent lights dot the multi-storied ceiling and create a warm, nostalgic glow to the place. Benign music is piped in from various hidden speakers to compliment the intended mood of fun and commerce.

17

16

15…

The countdown continues and the Tributes, some of whom haven’t seen each other in weeks, stare at one another helplessly. That is, until one of them boldly decides to speak.

"We're expected to fight here today," Steve's voice suddenly cuts through the tension in the room. It commands attention without demanding it, a conviction of truth in his tone.

14

13

12...


"To turn on each other through fear and self preservation. And we could give them what they want. A bloodbath," here he pauses longer, lets the reality of his statements sink in. Let people realize what he's saying, that this is a choice.

"Or we can choose not to fight. To instead work together," an option so many seem not to even realize they have. "No one here has to die by our hands today," he knows his speaking won't be without consequence, but he does want to believe he'll be the only one to pay for this.

"This is a risk. One many of you are hesitant to trust, let alone take. But everything we do here is a risk to ourselves and those around us," nothing in the arena comes without putting your life on the line.

"I, for one, am willing to take this risk, to choose not to fight," Steve looks around the room, making eye contact with a few people as he does. He's not telling anyone what to do, this is for them to decides for themselves; their freedom of choice.

But he's got faith in the his fellow tributes. "And I've got a feeling I'm not alone.”

… 3

2

1…

After the countdown ends, there’s a moment of utter still and silence. Then...

BOOOOOOOOOOOM

The room seems to erupt with noise and concussive force. The explosions are so violent that the muzak is paused in its tracks and shakes some of the Tributes off of their pedestals, and after the ice fog and smoke clears, it becomes apparent that fifteen of the Tribute pedestals and exploded there on the ice rink. Fifteen corpses lie mangled on the bloody ice: Deanna Winchester, Danny Fenton, Fili, Kili, Kain Highwind, Perry Kelvin, Julian Bashir, Clint Barton, Karkat Vantas, Sirius Black, Rahm Kota, Cinderella, Bunnymund, Robin, Rock Lee, and Rokk Krin.

The center of the ice rink remains completely intact and stocked with a few dozen keys of varying shapes and sizes. This is the Cornucopia and the Gamemakers are compelling the Tributes to skate for it.

The gong rings out, and the countdown's voice announces “The Arena is now open.” The Games have begun.

Comments

[seestheman]

Clara's got a slight burn on her right arm from the explosions along with a few cuts and already looks a little worse for the wear. But at the moment, none of that matters because Dave's right there and god it's good to see him again. With the skill and grace of someone who's obviously spent their formative years learning how to ice skate, Clara makes her way over to Dave and envelops him in a tight hug.

She doesn't say a word, because really, there's nothing she can say, so she just holds him close and rubs his back in small circles as if testing to make sure he's actually here.

[shenunigans]

Dave is glancing around for familiar faces and suddenly overwhelmingly aware of the fact that he knows a lot of people. Even just the short week in jail is making him a little bewildered by suddenly being able to reach out and touch anyone without being seriously injured for his efforts. Yet, somehow, that doesn't make it any easier to approach people.

Luckily, he barely needs to worry about that, because Clara is taking care of it for him. He grunts in surprise, having barely noticed her approach. His arms are limp at his sides, as usual, but he surprises even himself when he feels himself lean into the embrace.

"Hi." He says, like it will alleviate the feelings he's trying to ignore. "I'm alright." Comparatively speaking, anyway.

[seestheman]

If Clara's gotten to be good at one thing over the years, it's being aggressively affectionate. Which is why she didn't ask before hugging Dave in the first place and still doesn't ask when she tightens the hug, as if she's terrified that he'll slip through her arms like smoke or sand like he has in some of the dreams she's had since she heard about the jailbreak.

It occurs to her that maybe she should admonish him for going in there, but it was for his family and she can understand that. Hell, she probably would have been right there with him if it weren't for the fact that the Capitol has had her by the purely hypothetical balls because they had Alex until moments ago.

"No you're not," she replies. Because of course he isn't. None of them are, really, but he especially isn't after everything he's been through. "But that's okay, you will be." It's an odd thing for her to say, considering she's usually the type to try to pretend that everything's okay, but right now she can't. "I'm so happy to see you."

[shenunigans]

Despite being surprised by the suddenness of it all, he can't say he's legitimately surprised that she'd do it at all. He kind of picked up and disappeared without a word, not knowing how long he'd be gone for. Honestly, he's starting to feel like a bit of a jerk for it. The pressure of the past week coupled with the absolute disgust at seeing Karkat blown to pieces has shaken him enough that he doesn't feel too bad lifting his arms back up to hug her properly. It isn't tight by any means, but it's progress. He can't help feeling weird just cuddling in the middle of an Arena.

"I got away without a brand and they barely roughed me up. I think I can claim fine rights here." He responds dryly, pulling back to get a better look at her and balking when he notices her arm. Funny how being without shades makes all of his emotions more apparent. "Why the hell are you nagging me about being alright- you're injured you crazy lady!" He's almost sputtering at her for how worried he is. "Happy my ass." He grumbles, trying to navigate closer to the wound so he can inspect it.

[seestheman]

Hey, it's more than she would've gotten from him a couple weeks ago, so she'll take what she can get and be proud of his progress.

"It isn't anything worse than a sunburn and a few paper cuts," Clara says. And, okay, it's worse than that, really, and hurts like hell. But she doesn't want to worry Dave and is a pro at keeping a stiff upper lip when it comes to pain, like the way her arm throbs. "I know a doctor who can look at it once I'm done finding people." Which isn't exactly a lie. She's pretty sure that, if Dr. Norton's in any shape to, he'll patch her up.

[shenunigans]

Dave gives her a deadpan stare for her trouble, a brow slowly raising so she knows just how much he believes that. It sort of hits him in that moment that it could have been her exploding along with his friend. The more he tries to pretend he isn't feeling a little sick over it, the worse he tends to feel.

"Find 'em while you can." He suggests. "They blew up my friend before I could get to him." He doesn't care how bitter he sounds, he casts a glance past her as if looking for his remains before he crinkles his nose and moves just a little closer to peer at the wound. "You never know, you might find a liquor store or whatever. You can disinfect it and then you can save a little something-something for when shit gets too real." What he's saying is, take care of yourself.

[seestheman]

She didn't know anyone who died on the platforms that well. Bunnymund was from her district, so she had seen him around, but never interacted with him much. Karkat...well, Karkat had jumped out of a tree and they effectively killed each other, even if Sabriel had come along and delivered the final blow so Clara didn't suffer for too long. But hearing that Dave did lose someone only makes her hug him tighter.

"I'm so sorry," she says, as if that could bring his friend back, before giving him a sad smile. "And you shouldn't know a thing about needing a little something-something when the going gets fucking awful." Which she's already well versed in, considering she's married to Alex. "And don't you worry about me, I'm more than capable of handling a few bumps and bruises along the way and that's all this is, really."

[shenunigans]

Dave is blissfully unaware that Karkat went the full asshole and started murdering innocent people. Honestly, the time difference did a number on their friendship. He remembers being best friends, Karkat remembers hating him. He'd felt too awkward to really try bridge the gap.

"It's no big. I'll laugh at his sorry ass when we get back to the Capitol." There's the barest hint of uncertainty in his voice at that, like he isn't sure it'll happen. "Please, I don't touch the stuff. If I want to take the edge off I'll stand up really fast." He rolls his eyes, pulling back just a little. "So am I." He says with more certainty. "Just don't let it get infected because like hell I'll ever amputate it."

[seestheman]

And Clara has no intention of telling him, especially considering the fact that she doesn't even know that him and Karkat were friends. Even if she knew, she wouldn't tell him. He doesn't need to know that.

"You better," she says with a small smile as she reaches up to ruffle his hair at that standing up remark. "I promise, I won't do anything to risk losing it. I'll go find Alex's doctor from back home so he can even make sure it's fine."

[shenunigans]

"You always know just what to say." His pan could not be anymore dead, especially when she ruffles his hair. He can't help pulling a betrayed face at her for it.

"So uh.." Boy doesn't know how to end a conversation, so he shrugs at her like he's waiting for her to make a choice for him. He never claimed to be socially competent. "Yeah."

[seestheman]

"I get that a lot." There's a small, not entirely forced laugh in her voice before she gives him another, much quicker hug as it occurs to her that she needs to go and find Alex, before the Cornucopia gets worse. "You take care of yourself, alright? I'll find you later, I promise."

[shenunigans]

"I'm not surprised." He snorts to himself, his arms raising around her despite himself when she hugs him again. Maybe it's because he doesn't want her to endure another awkward, one-sided hug or maybe it's because he genuinely wants the comfort, but he refuses to address it once it's over.

"Yeah, I know. I'll eat my greens, get a full eight hours and make my bed." He leaves out the sarcastic Mom and he isn't entirely sure why. "Cool. You better be all in one piece." He warns before wobbling back, needing a moment to adjust before he can find the momentum to skate away.

[seestheman]

Considering the last time she was in an Arena with Dave, she watched him fall to his death, getting a hug back near the start of one's a huge relief. Not that it lasts long since she doesn't want to embarrass Dave.

"Same goes for you," Clara says with a laugh before watching him skate away and then following his lead, back to trying to find Alex.