Arena 15: In The Eye Of The Capitol

[etcircenses]

For the majority of you, this has become a familiar morning routine. Escorts come to pick up their Tributes and Stylists quickly see to setting them up with the bland and thin grey suits, much to most of their dismay. You'll not hear a word said in complaint though. The staff has gotten the threat to them loud and clear. Only the daring will be willing to offer even a mere "good luck". Peacekeepers quickly collect Tributes to send them off into the launch tubes. If you're from the Districts, it may be one of the last things you ever see.

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What everyone rises up to is not much better a sight. It's a war zone out here in every sense. Those native to Panem will recognize the sight before them, having seen it every year in a propaganda tape. The wreckage of District thirteen. The Cornucopia sits at the very center. Offworlders might recognize some of the weapons there, and if not, then they'll certainly be able to spot some familiar scenes far on the outer edges of the arena, perhaps even a beast or two they know well from their worlds.

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It's muddy and damp and there's plenty of wreckage to cut one's self upon no matter where it is Tributes run. The Cornucopia tempts the Tributes in for its bloodbath. Districter and Offworlder alike, there will only be one winner.

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1

The gong rings out and a voice announces; “The Arena is now open”. The Tributes are free to make their choice; to run or to fight. The Games have begun.

~~~

By the end of the night, one child from each District will have their face shone up into the sky, the first twelve killed at the Cornucopia. Only twelve to go...

Comments

[shiftingurbulls]

Ellis learned his lesson well from his first Arena, he turned tail to find shelter and food away from the mess. But to see a Tribute stand so... still worries him to no end. Poor lady looked like she was out of it, maybe saw way too much in the 'Copia.


Not willing to take a chance, he whistled to Luna to head away from her spot and get her to move, make her not look like the easiest targets to kill since the creation of the term "lame duck".

[didnothing]

The whistle startles her, and Luna whirls around to get a look at the culprit. There's a man there watching her, and despite herself she's a little unnerved. He hasn't said anything, just whistled. What is that supposed to mean?

It takes a second to realize she's been standing in place for a few minutes with the Cornucopia still within decent range, and that very well might be it then. But still, she calls out to Ellis: "I'm sorry! What do you want?"

[shiftingurbulls]

"For y'all t' get outta there an' get in the forest!" Ellis beamed with just a little bit of apprehension towards the clear newbie. He knows his mentors are watching and he's learned to be relentless but...just look at her!

"C'mon! You look more lost than a deer in the headlights!" he added, "I'm Ellis by the way, District 4! Wha's yer name?" Nothing like a little familiarity to help with the survival.

[didnothing]

The comment about looking lost brings a rush of heat to her face, and Luna knows that she must be turning red. Ellis is right enough, she's not exactly well-equipped for all this, but still she feels a little embarrassed somehow and she has to keep herself from stammering a little when she answers. "Um, my name is Luna. I'm from District 6. It's nice to--well..."

Nice to meet you doesn't quite cut it right now, so she breaks off there and looks out in the direction of the forest, then back towards the direction she came from. She looks more alert this time, no longer lost, but it's clear that the Cornucopia is still on Luna's mind. With every second more people may be dying, and she's here debating over introductions.

[shiftingurbulls]

"Pleased t' meetcha miss Luna!" The accent is as lively as a firecracker in the increasing dread as he leads her towards the forest rather than back to the clusterfuck that is the Copia. "Y'all need t' keep movin', some of the Tributes ain't too friendly these parts an' I don't think a proper lady shouldn't be out here!"

He wasn't a bleeding heart and he kept his weapon close by, but something about this one strikes Ellis as innocent and not long for the Arena.

"Let's head on up, we can split from there."

[didnothing]

The comment about her being a proper lady flusters Luna just a bit, although she appreciates the sentiment. That Ellis is ushering her away from the Cornucopia is a little more conflicting, because her instinct is to go along with him and get away from the danger but her conscience is still protesting her lack of action.

Still, it takes a moment for her to speak up. "Um--I was wondering if there's anyone back there who might need help. I could help them if..." She realizes that Ellis will find that strange, and he would be right to. But the idea of leaving others behind is probably different for him than it is for her right now.

[shiftingurbulls]

El shook his head, his entire demeanor showed the resignation of a man who had been there. "Honey...there's really no one left in there tha's breathin' an' could use your help. Trust me...I've been through one of those runs an' I wasn't lucky. It's not tha' I wanna be cruel an' drag ya away but there's no use wastin' yer breath on wha's left."

His first Cornucopia entered with him roasted alive, and he'd rather have this kind tribute survive a little longer. Maybe that was cruel of him to think in terms of how useful strangers were.

[didnothing]

"I...oh." There's a lot of sadness in those few words, both for the people who have died today if what Ellis says is true and for Ellis himself. There's really no amount of time that could have properly prepared Luna for the horrors of the Hunger Games, but a week most certainly hasn't done it.

She's quiet for a moment as she digests the thought, and then Luna looks towards the forest Ellis has been leading her towards. "We should keep going, then." Her voice is weaker this time, but it is steady. "Your plan sounds likea good one."

[shiftingurbulls]

"Yer heart's in the right place, ain't every day I find someone so nice like ya," El offered her some condolences, he knows that newbies either make or break during their first week. He had faith that the Capitol could reward people like Luna, make them feel like they were decent people.

Then again, they have the Hunger Games and kindness is just another way of making television drama. He remembered something in school about the Romans and it feels like even the Gladiators could suffer the same fate as the martyrs. There's a few things that can be learned from all this as he met Luna halfway and escorted her into the Forest. "Y'should focus on findin' friends right now."

[didnothing]

"Friends...right." It seems like Ellis doesn't count himself among that number, although Luna can't really fault him for that especially given where they are. Someone more malicious than him might have taken advantage of her earlier state to score an easy kill, and even a "proper lady" could be dangerous to trust right now. Luna will certainly be happy to regroup with her friends, even if it doesn't sound like an easy task. She actually has friends to speak of now - there's all of District 6, for one, and she likes to think that Phi still counts as an ally if not a friend - but it's still a large arena, and limited to human perception it will be hard to find a few specific people in here.

Thinking on that, she smiles at Ellis in acknowledgement. "I will. Thank you for all your help, Ellis. Maybe we can meet again later, at a better time and place."

[shiftingurbulls]

The gratitude is payment enough for Ellis as he let Luna run off and he gave her a gallant bow towards her. "Honey, just make sure you've got things under control an' keep safe!" he saluted and grabbed what he could to head deeper into the forest but not before giving her one piece of advice, "If ya hear any cryin' in dark buildings, do your best t' not go in there. Y'deserve better than bein' torn apart by a zombie from my world."

Witches were murderous monsters but they were efficient at luring kindhearted victims, like Luna.

[didnothing]

"Um...okay!"

Luna watches Ellis go in slight bewilderment before turning in another different with a lingering feeling of unease. She appreciates the help, of course, but the warning is more than a little startling. Zombies?

She makes sure to take it to heart, though. Dark buildings, crying, probably zombies. Avoid if possible. Got it.