thearena | By default, Frozen spoilers are possible

Entry tags:

By default, Frozen spoilers are possible

Who| Elsa and whoever stumbles upon her
What| Elsa has just arrived and is exploring
Where| The second floor
When| Week 2
Warnings/Notes| Nothing I can think of

Everything was a blur. Elsa still didn't know what was going on or how any of this was even possible- but despite that? Despite her fear and confusion? She was... relieved. For the first time in forever, her powers weren't going crazy. In fact, they weren't even there. After her meeting with Anna, she'd been so afraid and so worried about what would happen, that suddenly being powerless felt good. For once, no one was in danger of getting hurt.

It was strange- no matter how afraid she felt, nothing happened. That realization was oddly calming and after the first hour, she'd pretty much calmed down completely, save for the obvious confusion she felt at being sent into this strange, foreign place. Despite her calm, she still tried avoiding everyone she could. When you live your life under the fear of hurting people, it was hard to convince yourself that you wouldn't hurt them even if your powers were gone.

Despite that, curiosity was overwhelming. All of this stuff around her were things she'd never seen- all her life she had been sheltered mainly in the one room of the castle and suddenly there was so much to explore, so many strange things to be seen. At the moment, clad in her icy blue pajamas with snowflakes all over them, she could be found walking cautiously through the wax replicas. They were so lifelike, it was almost scary and after a few moments of perusing them, Elsa could feel the edge creeping up on her.

When she turned to face one in particular, she couldn't help but let out a gasp. He was tall, with grey skin and long, jagged shaped horns. It was a creature unlike anything Elsa had seen before and she brought a hand up to stifle her gasp, eyes widening in alarm, despite realizing it was fake after a few moments. The creature was just so... alien. After a few seconds of nervous staring, she tentatively reached out to touch the life-like statue of the creature, only to stop as she caught movement out of the corner of her eye-

"Who's there?" she asked, hand paused in mid-air as she turned her head in the direction of the disturbance.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The wax museum was creepy as hell, even by Joel's standards - but being creeped out never stopped him from going into a place. Not when he was seeking supplies, and not when he had a campsite to protect, a perimeter to check while Ellie got some much-needed shut-eye.

He wouldn't deny the chill the wax sculptures sent down his spine, but they were just wax. Still, and lifeless, and harmless. It was the moving things, the things that made noise, that he had to be on the lookout for.

His little threat assessment of this latest arrival to their little zone was pretty low - she was clearly afraid, clearly unarmed, clearly not an experienced hunter or killer. Shit, she could probably use some help, he thought.

Ellie was making him soft - but she'd want him to be nice. So he carefully stepped out from behind a nearby statue, his hands up in the universal gesture of I'm not gonna hurt you. Which didn't mean she wouldn't still be nervous around him, but hey, he did what he could.

"Maybe next time don't go announcin' yourself so loud," he said. "It's best to keep quiet." Not everyone was as nice as Joel, after all.

And that was really saying something, because he was not a nice man.

Despite the man's obvious surrender, Elsa was still on guard. As he stepped out form behind the statue, she took a step back, arm moving into a defensive position over her chest- as if that would stop him if he attacked her. Under normal circumstances, ice would be swirling all around her but not anymore.

Of course she knew of the alleged killing game going on here, but she hardly believed it. Surely no one would just attack, would they? People had to be better than that, right?

"The statue-" she gestured to it with her other hand. "It caught me off guard." Elsa took another step back. "Who are you?"

Maybe not quite so stupid, then. At least she was trying a defensive posture, even if it would be totally ineffectual if he actually attacked her.

"Joel," he offered, by way of - well, politeness, he supposed. Ellie would be proud. "My name's Joel. What about you?" Having names would go a long way to bringing the threat level down.

Definitely not stupid, no. Elsa had lived all of her live in isolation and as such, even by default she was wary of other people simply for their own sake. So even if the threat of death wasn't apparently imminent, she would be on guard.

"...Elsa," she said after a few moments after he had introduced himself. "Queen Elsa," she clarified- as if it would make a difference whether or not she might get attacked. Surely people would have more respect for a queen, right?

If she expected any kind of reaction besides bemused indifference to her little Queen announcement, she was in for a shock. Joel just sniffed faintly and glanced around them at the wax figures.

"I'm pretty sure nobody cares what kinda title you wanna call yourself. We're all here to kill and die, regardless." He sighed, and softened a little. "You must be new, huh."

Elsa tried not to let her expression fall. It had been a long shot and she knew it. Of course no one would care if she were queen here. Titles didn't seem to matter much, but she had still hoped that it might.

Ignoring his first statement, she gave him a nod. "I arrived no more than an hour ago, two at most," she said. A moment later, she found herself blurting out the question that had been on her mind since she had gotten there. "Why is this happening?"

Why. Joel's mouth twisted a little at the question. She sounded so young, to be asking that. Adults, in his experience, rarely asked why, because they quickly learned that terrible things happened for no good reason, most of the time.

The why often didn't exist, and when it did, it was usually not a good reason.

"Far as I know, because rich folks in the Capitol think it's fun," he said honestly. That was his perspective on it, though he'd only been here maybe a week, tops, and hadn't actually seen the Capitol for himself, yet. All he knew so far was the arena, and what Ellie and the others told him. "And because they can."

Elsa hadn't learned just yet how awful the world could be. She'd lived her entire life in the castle, isolated from everyone else. The worst that had ever happened to her were her parents dying. So she was very much naive to the ways of the world- especially when it came to stuff like this.

Her brows furrowed in a mixture of confusion and anger. How could they think this was fun? She almost asked, but she had the feeling he wouldn't really have a satisfying answer. No one could, really.

"I...I see." It wasn't a satisfactory answer, but she would take it anyway. People who ruled over other people were supposed to be benevolent, not this. That was how she had been taught- to be kind and caring, even in her isolation. Not to rule with an iron fist. Oh, how very, very far away from home she felt.

After a moment, she felt the need to ask another question. "What do you suggest I do now, then?"

It was so strange, being asked advice from a young woman who was clearly an adult, who should clearly have some notion how to take care of herself, even if she came from a much nicer place than this.

"Find allies," he finally said with a shrug. "Be careful, but find some you can trust. Stick together."

Allies... who could be an ally here, when it sounded like everyone was out for blood? Elsa wanted to argue, but at the same time it seemed like it was the only advice that could be offered. It might have been difficult, but she was starting to get the sense that nothing here would be easy.

So she nodded. "Alright, I'll try. Thank you for your help, Joel. I really do appreciate it."

"Yeah," he said by way of accepting the thanks. He wasn't very good at the niceties. After a moment, though, he reached around to his backpack with a sigh and dug around for a moment, eventually producing a rather stale sweet roll.

He offered it to her.

Elsa was set on edge when he started rummaging in his backpack. Of course he had been fairly nice this entire time, but for all she knew he was about to get some sort of weapon out. So when he revealed the sweet roll, surprise showed in her face.

Hesitantly, she stepped forward and took it from him. "Thank you..." She gave him a smile. "I'll make this up to you, you have my word."

Joel couldn't imagine how this woman could possibly be of help to him, so he just shrugged it off. "Just... pay it forward, or somethin'," he said with a wave of his hand. "Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet. Stay away from the elevators, that's a kill zone."

Don wasn't there. Not anymore, at least.

He'd still been searching for Mindy, at that time, when he noticed the newcomer. He'd nearly called out to her, until he looked closer. She looked familiar. Almost uncannily so. But he wasn't sure who she was, who exactly she reminded him of ~~a newcomer? Or...~~.

So when she'd called, looking, Don disappeared. However, she didn't seem to be much of a threat. She had no weapons or supplies. So he spoke; however, he used the museum's acoustics to his advantage, for once, the echo hiding his precise location in the shadows.

"Another Tribute." He watched her reaction from his hiding place. "Who are you?"

Elsa would have been a lot less on edge if whoever was there had shown himself. At least if she had a face, she could see who or what she was dealing with- she could make a judgment on whether or not whoever it was, was a threat. But because he'd chose to slink off into the shadows with his echo-y voice, she could only assume by default that he was a threat.

"That tells me nothing!" she called out, twisting and turning, trying to get a glimpse of whoever it was. "Show yourself- please." She sounded like she was edging on desperate. She would feel so much better if she could just see him.

Shell it all. There was no way he could say no to that. He couldn't tell if it was an act or someone genuinely scared, but...if he just turned and walked off, he'd only be adding to his guilt and hatred. Which he had plenty of. Which he really didn't need more of.

So, after a moment of hesitation, a shadow suddenly appeared to Elsa's side, as if out of nowhere, landing softly on one knee. His blank eyes stared at Elsa from underneath his bandanna. And he was completely silent, for a moment, trying to figure out whether to say "don't be scared" would either help the situation or end his run in this Arena there and then.

Particularly given the fact that, hi, Elsa, there's a giant ~~but actually probably shorter than her~~, rather intimidating-looking turtle now in the visual vicinity.

Elsa took it all back, not seeing him was far better than the reality of the situation. She'd thought the statue of the troll had been alarming, but when the large green turtle appeared out of the shadows and next to her, she really wished she hadn't asked it to come out.

With a gasp, Elsa stumbled back- only there wasn't far to go as she found herself pressed against the wax statue she had been looking at only moments ago. Luckily it seemed fairly sturdy and didn't fall over.

"Wh-what are you?" she asked, eyes wide as she flattened herself against the statue, as if hoping she might pass right through it so she could run away. It wasn't like anything she had ever seen before- yes she'd seen turtles, of course, but never one so... so big.

And talking.

"A turtle--" Don's eyes widened slightly as she pushed against the statue, and he held a hand up. "I'm not going to hurt you. But...also...you might not want to do that. It might come to life and...attack you."

'Attack you' was about that he realized that what he was saying sounded - among other things - utterly ridiculous. At least it probably did to this poor woman. Especially coming from him. But in contrast, Don wouldn't put it past the Gamemakers to decide to have the statue come to life, just to put her in a chokehold. Either to force him to save her, or simply to make the crowd think he was in love with her or something--

...Shell, I must sound like a lunatic to her! I can't imagine how crazy I'd sound if I said that too!

--then again, he wasn't that far away from a time when he had been one. Maybe it wouldn't be such a stretch for her.

He very much did sound like a lunatic to her. A turtle. A walking, talking turtle- a talking turtle telling her a statue could come to life and kill her. Despite how crazy it sounded, she let out a gasp and sidestepped away from the statue, moving away from them and moving several steps back away from the turtle as well.

"Just... just stay back." He might have told her that he wouldn't hurt her, but the fact of the matter is that he was a talking turtle and turtles just do not talk. "How are you doing that? Are you magic?"

"...No," Don replied, shaking his head. "I'm not magic. I'm real....I'm just a mutant. That's all."

If he thought that curling up in a fetal position would calm her down, he would do it. He didn't think it would, though. Looking as small and harmless as possible was probably not going to work when it was clear that this woman thought he was some kind of mythical illusion.

His response made her feel a little guilty. The more she talked to him, the less of a threat he seemed. She didn't know what a mutant was, but it didn't seem like a bad thing.

"Well... I don't know what that is, but I guess you aren't so bad, are you?" She gave him a tentative smile, though she still didn't move to get any closer. "But you know what? Even if you were magic, that wouldn't mean you aren't real. I... made a snowman, once. He was magical and still very real."

That wouldn't mean you aren't real.

No, he wasn't made of magic. Science was his progenitor, in nearly all respects. In terms of his 'realness'...

Don felt his voice nearly get stuck in his throat. He'd been dealing with that, but that moment wasn't the best time.

"...Yeah. No, that's..." He nodded, quickly changing the subject. "Listen, I'm not sure what they told you about the Hunger Games...what do you remember?"

Edited 2014-02-10 22:28 (UTC)

Elsa was a little confused by the sudden change of subject, though unaware that what she had said was causing him such difficulty. "Er..." She knew plenty, but she wasn't sure where to even begin. "I know we all apparently have to kill each other. That's... all, really."

"...Basically. Its for the Capitol of Panem," Don replied quietly. "Do..you have any experience in fighting?"

It was not easy to be awesome and hunting all the time, especially when you got tired. Mindy would try to rendezvous with the girls when she could, but they were constantly moving, and honestly? So was she. The price paid there was that eventually you got pretty smelly, so you had to freshen up every now and again. Mindy had just come from a quick touch up when she came upon a woman...a strange, sort of stately type, with white hair and this face of bewilderment.

No killing. Not now. That would be fucked up.

"Uh, hey," she said, feeling still less imposing in her racoon PJs. "Might want to cut the parousing to a standstill. You are wide open for an attack."

It was admittedly hard to be afraid of someone in such a ridiculous costume. If it hadn't been for the heavy subject Mindy had brought up so quickly, Elsa might have chuckled at her outfit. But instead, her expression turned very serious and she took a step back, on guard for a sudden attack.

"Surely someone wouldn't-" She sounded exasperated and skeptical, "do that would they? Does anyone actually follow their orders to... to kill?"

"Are you kiddi-well no you're not obviously. Yeah, they can and they will. If a person doesn't kill you, the Capitol has a way of making things more interesting for the favor of those watching. Basically, we are a spectator's sport. So don't stay unarmed in one spot for long. Some people here don't give a shit if you're new."

Elsa listened to everything with a mixture of indignation and horror. How could anyone actually follow these orders to kill? It was barbaric and terrible and Elsa couldn't believe that she was actually in a situation like this. But it didn't make sense- where was human decency in all of this? She knew people could be awful, but this was a new low that she'd never seen before.

"I'm not sure what to even say," she said after a moment, keeping her voice as steady as she could. "This is a lot to take in, I..." She took another step back. "Are you one of those people?"

Mindy gave her a look. "If I was, would I be telling you all about it? I don't just go and kill a newbie. They deserve at least one Arena under their belt, just so they know what's happening. I was lucky to have that going for me the first two weeks. After that. well, minor setback. Won't happen again if I can help it."

She watched the girl with vague interest. "At least your pajamas aren't as ridiculous as mine. You have a name?"

"Oh..." she murmured, feeling a little relieved, before the reality of what was being said hit her. "How kind of you." There was a touch of dryness to her voice, though she lightened up a little at the following comment. She'd been so on edge she really hadn't even noticed how silly those pajamas were. Elsa brought a hand up to her mouth, suppressing a chuckle before turning serious again. "Elsa. I'm Elsa."

Right. Sociable. Mindy could be sociable if she really put some effort into it, right? Mindy cleared her throat.

"Mindy. So yeah Elsa, that's our situation, for this Arena anyway. Hate that it has to happen this way but then no one really gets it any other way. They throw you in and then the chips fall wherever. I'm guessing its not so cutthroat, where you're from."

Elsa shook her head. "No, it's... much friendlier. You really don't have to worry about this kind of thing. I mean, sure I imagine there are people out there who do this kind of thing or who would be willing to murder a queen for her throne, but... I haven't ever personally dealt with anything like this before."

Mindy chuckled. "What's that phrase? 'Heavy is the head that wears the crown?' You're lucky you don't have people scheming to take what belongs to you. But this place, well, its part of their game. Otherwise, why keep bringing us back to do it all over again, so when we die a little part of us accepts that fate?"

She supposed Mindy had a point, but the idea of anyone trying to take anything from her wasn't something she had ever thought about before. But now she was, and she didn't think she would stop thinking about it for a while. "So are you telling me everyone eventually just accepts that they must die over and over?" It wasn't something she thought she could get used to, but how was she to know what it was like? Maybe being here just changed you. "Have you accepted it? Does it really not bother you?"

"Does everyone accept it? That depends what you mean. Does everyone accept they have to kill in the Arena? No. They abstain and then get killed, just to be brought back again. But the things is, they don't have to accept anything: it just happens. It really comes down to the question: do you want to live in the Arena? Is it worth it to do it over and over. Can you take dying again and again even though you can't escape it? Or more importantly: can you kill, for one arena, enough that you're left standing and then you never have to again after?"

Anna didn't dare leave Hans's side since they were reunited. It was really for many reasons, but the main one was that she was absolutely hopeless on her own... Just, don't tell her that. She's still fairly certain she's at least a little intimidating.

They left his friend, by this point, so he could go do... something... or other. Anna really hadn't noticed since she'd been super distracted by how dreamy Hans looked ~~in this dream~~, even in those really weird pajamas. Truly, though, the gravity of the situation was not lost on her.

She hadn't spent much time on this floor, and she was beginning to see why. Chewing on her lip, she looked around and tried not to get too freaked out by it, but that was really easier said than done. Especially when they came across those creepy wax figures and a familiar voice.

"Elsa...?"

It's definitely not the outcome Hans had expected. He'd just been adjusting to the fact that he's here at all, that Anna is here and, by some miracle, that she doesn't seem to recall any of his misdeeds. It was all too terrible and yet too good to be true. Surely something would break his streak of luck, but he's holding out hope for the best.

He's a little wary about letting Starkiller wander off, given that he traded him a sword for assistance, but the three of them together had been so unbearably awkward that he'd allowed for him to scope for food or water.

It's already tense, making their way through what must be the creepiest level by far. Hearing Elsa's voice only intensifies that tension, he straightens almost immediately, glancing around suspiciously. "It could be a trap- Get behind me." He warns, drawing his sword and stepping forward. "Show yourself!"

It's almost immediately when Elsa's heart sinks, along with her stomach. She recognizes that voice immediately- and then the one that follows it as well. Anna. Anna and that man she had wanted to marry. They were both here? No, that can't be. Anna can't be somewhere like this.

Under normal circumstances, the entire room would be freezing at an alarming rate with how upset Elsa feels at this revelation. Despite that, she has to make sure it's true, that Anna is actually here.

She's already moving towards the voices when Hans speaks again and she sees them. A twinge of annoyance hits her at the demand, yet at the same time she's at least grateful that Hans is trying to protect Anna. It's a very conflicted feeling. Elsa stops a few feet away from them, eyes darting between Hans and Anna before speaking.

"Stand down," she says to Hans, standing a little straight. "I would never hurt Anna-" She stops for a moment, the realization that she can't anymore hits her alarmingly hard. "I can't anymore," she adds after a moment, her voice falling quiet.

Anna was already about to bolt towards her sister's voice, but as soon as Hans suggested it might be a trap, she recoiled closer to him. "A trap?" she whispered, as though the thought hadn't even crossed her mind. But she didn't question him further, he had been here longer than she had at this point. So, without any further questioning, she moved behind him and peered over his shoulder to try and see if it really was.

It was a little strange, seeing Elsa. (Also, seeing her in pajamas like that. But seeing her was still a little strange.) She presses her lips together and watches her, wide eyed and cautious, listening to her. Of course she would never hurt her, that's what Anna was trying to tell everyone in the first place... But that quiet admission that she couldn't. Anna was torn between rushing over to her and staying near Hans, Elsa wasn't always receptive towards her affection.

She cautiously pressed a hand to Hans's arm and looked up at him. "It's her... Please?"

"We don't know it's really her." He clarifies, he's already figured out that powers don't seem to work here after running into more than a few "magically inclined" people in his time. That of course doesn't mean he won't be wary, he needs to have a damn good reason not to trust Anna's judgement and fear her sister.

He remains wary for a moment as she appears, keeping his sword steady before glancing at Anna and nodding. He sheathes it and resists any ingrained urge to bow for the Queen. He's keeping silent this round, stepping back and allowing Anna to take on the situation as she sees fit. He has no reason to believe Elsa suspects him, but his heart is pounding and his mouth is dry as the situation continues to unfold.

Elsa knows Hans is right to be suspicious- given how strange and dangerous this place is, a part of her is relieved that Hans is being so protective of Anna. But another part of her wishes they could get over these suspicions and get to whatever lies beyond.

When Hans finally sheathes his sword and steps back, Elsa steps forward a little hesitantly. Despite knowing no longer has ice powers, it's still instinctual to be wary. The closer she gets to Anna and nothing happens, the braver she starts to feel. She still keeps herself guarded, stopping in front of Anna, her hands clasped in front of her.

"Hi..."

This is a little awkward for Elsa, considering her last memory is sending Anna away in distress. But now she has no reason to send her away, yet she doesn't quite know what to do regardless.

Anna wanted to argue with Hans, that it couldn't be a trap. She just knew it. Still, she reluctantly agreed he had a point... And couldn't have been more happy when he sheathed his sword. Anna stepped out in front of him, watching her sister approach them slowly, as guarded as ever.

Bouncing a little in place, Anna nearly launched herself at Elsa to hug her, to tell her how happy and sad all at once she was that they were both here. But it's about mid-launch that she catches herself and leans back, awkwardly tucking her hands behind her back. "Ah-- Hi!"

Too perky for being reunited in a death arena? "I mean... Hi. Hey... you're here, it's really you."

It was weird how much of a deja vu moment this was. Her mind was back in the castle when she and Anna had met at the ball. That fact was enough to make her laugh a little, momentarily forgetting the fact that they were in an arena where they were meant to fight to the death.

"Yes, it is... And it's you." She sounded happy about that. The fact her powers were gone was slowly starting to make her a little bolder. Her eyes caught Hans just behind Anna and her attention was diverted suddenly. "...And you brought him," she said, sounding a little more queenly. "You haven't ran into any trouble so far, have you?"

Her eyes landed on the sword Hans held, wondering if he'd had to use it yet.

The longer this draws on, the more apparent it is that Elsa doesn't seem aware of the circumstances they left on. Not to mention how awkward it still seems between them. He just feels like they were different together, last he saw. Of course, this makes being the third wheel even worse. God.

He isn't entirely out of the woods yet, he straightens and stands to attention as he's addressed by the Queen. Looking appropriately stern and polite and not as overwhelmed with uncertainty as he is.

She really needs to stop saying things that make his his heart stop mid-beat. "We've managed to avoid it for the most part, your majesty." Yep. Back to schmoozing. "Forgive me for my reaction, it's been one surprise after another here."

Dressed in medieval garb - the bulky dress the closest she could come to fairy tale garb in these strange mannequins - Ruby was convinced she made a strange sight. She should have changed back into her wolf pajamas, or better yet stayed hidden in the scene her stolen clothing had come from, blending into the background as just another peasant.

Instead she was here, standing frozen in front of Elsa. she'd been moving toward the cafeteria, in the hopes of making a little food. Somehow, she felt that plan had been thrown off.

"Hey."

There was something about seeing the other woman frozen and staring at her that made Elsa feel a little better. Not in a sadistic sense, but more a solidarity way. They were both a little frightened and both had been caught unaware of the other.

"...Hi," she said after a moment, lowering her hand and turning to completely face the other woman. "You startled me- I was looking at these statues and they are a little... unsettling."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

By default, Frozen spoilers are possible

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Mind a late tag? It has been sitting open in my borwnser a week. DX

Of course not! I apologize for my own lateness