I know you don't get a chance to take a break this often

[privilegecheck]

Who| Kankri and YOU! (With possible Venus cameos, if you'd like.)
What| General meanderings and interactions.
Where| All over the place, but probably the fourth floor in particular.
When| During early-mid week 3
Warnings/Notes| None so far!


A. Fourth floor patrols
With Venus's leg only getting worse, Kankri is taking more and more of the duties involved in looking after them and their hiding place upon himself. Patrolling always makes him nervous, because he knows he wouldn't attack an invader; but still, it has to be done, to ensure that they're as safe as can be and have some warning in case anyone's going to come after them.

He clutches his crowbar tight and does his best to look like he could use it to hurt someone, although he's doing his best to keep out of sight as much as possible.

B. Gathering supplies
Mostly, Kankri and Venus are doing rather well on the things they need for now. Of course, that won't last as the arena goes further, but for now they're all right. Still, he still goes on supply runs to supplement what they have; better to do so now than to find anything of use gone later. Besides, Venus is intrigued by the masks, so he's got to obtain some of them, right?

Comments

A

[disciplewhomsignlessloves]

The Disciple had spent most of the first few weeks holed up in her little hideaway in the skeletons, hearing others on this floor but ignoring their presence so long as no one found her here. Yet she began to sneak out more as time went on, more from a lack of ways to spend her time than real curiosity or need for supplies. There was nothing to hunt, no small chores that passed the time. Surviving on strange foliage and stale baked goods was all she could hope for at this point and she still had some of both tucked away in her space between some fake rocks and a mammoth leg.

She pauses at the sounds of footsteps nearby, hands reaching for weapons she doesn't have and then splaying to show off long claws.

"Who is it?" She whispers. She doesn't want to attack first and have it be someone she knows.

[privilegecheck]

Kankri goes very still when he hears that whispered challenge. Slowly, hesitantly, he peeks around the huge stuffed carcass nearest him - and his shoulders slump in relief when he sees who it is.

"Meulin, it's me. Kankri," he says softly. "I mean - not that Kankri - oh dear, this is never going to stop being complicated and awkward. Yes. Hello."

[disciplewhomsignlessloves]

At his reveal, she lets her muscles relax and steps forward, a little more into what light there is. While she feels it's obvious she would never hurt him, she holds her hands out just to make sure he can see she means no harm.

"I know--It's alright. It's going to be complicated for a while I'm sure." She doesn't want to suggest calling him or Signless different names, it's both their names after all. She looks him over quietly and tries not to let her surprise at his overall good health show. Is Signless looking this good even without her? She wonders.

"I'm glad you're alright, I haven't run into many trolls here since the Cornucopia. Not that I've been looking that hard."

B

[carnagecarnival]

The search for masks is one they share. At this rate, he might've thought he'd run out by now, but no. The masks of the arena seemed almost limitless. He wears one now, though it's long since run it's course for power offered. He hasn't just yet felt the need to tear it off.

He sees some up ahead, as well as someone else looking for them, and for a minute is mind blanks and he comes with nothing but the desire to take these masks before this motherfucker does. To take his hatch right. To show that anyone to take it would face the inevitable eventually, which would be him taking them apart. Let their sins not be unpunished.

It has him rushing before he can think and the sight of nub horns as he gets close does nothing to appease his anger. He almost doesn't stop. He almost lets the mask carry him on. He skirts to a stop. Too close. Too close.

His eyes are and his breath fast. He forces himself steady and shakes with the effort of it, until proper thought seeps in. He promised. He gave his word. He forces his club down and breathes deep. Out into where he can be seen he steps. He thinks maybe he imagined it all, vision making him see something else. But no. It's a Vantas. It is most definitely a Vantas. He can hardly believe his eyes when he realises which it is.

The greeting Kankri gets from him, the first sign he gives that he's there is, "How the fuck do you Vantas's keep managing at to live so far?"

[privilegecheck]

Kankri jumps nervously, knocking the mask he was reaching for off the wall. He bends to pick it up before he turns to answer his district-mate.

"I told you I wanted to survive," he retorts with a frown. "So that's what I've been doing. Really, it isn't so hard to listen to the death announcements."

He fiddles with the mask in his hands. "And you? How have you been managing?"

[carnagecarnival]

"BEEN BUSY WITH OTHER BUSINESS. If a death were to be missed it would hardly motherfucking matter would it? GOT FAR MORE THINGS IMPORTANT WHAT TO PUT THOUGHT ON." Which was... half true. He'd likely notice the death if it was someone like Mituna, Shepard, Terezi, Sigma, or Pruna- for all he didn't notice when that list of people got that much bigger. But he has been focusing on getting things done with voodoo. Gathering allies. Setting things in motion.

"Managing it all just as motherfucking well. I GOT MY VOODOO, MY CLUBS, MY CLOSEST, AND SOMETHING NEAR LIKE TO PROPER UNIFORM. What all more could a motherfucker up and ask?" He says. Like being in a cull game isn't even a problem. His eyes dart to the mask in Kankri's hands, then over to the display. Might as well gain the other while he can't. He doubts this troll could kill him if he tried, but he could always be acting bait in an ambush. He reaches up and tears at the mask to toss it aside. The sides of his face are already nothing but a mess of dried and running indigo, all chewed up and scabbed. He doesn't seem to care and reaches for the other mask to tuck under his arm for now.

"SUPPOSE HE SHOULDN'T ALL BE SURPRISED IF ONLY DUE TO PAST EXPERIENCE, BUT STILL IT LEAVES TO WONDER," He says. "Congratulatories up on not croaking first day." It doesn't sound like a very sincere congratulations. "YOU BEEN DOING THAT ON YOUR OWN THEN?"

B

[tis_allgood]

Cuthbert is hunting for other tributes more than for supplies. They have more things he wants, and he can eliminate threats before they come to him. He is more than a little surprised to see short horns come around the corner, because this isn't someone he wants to bludgeon.

"Vantas?"

He hisses, since that was easier than trying to guess which one it is when he can't see for sure.

[privilegecheck]

Kankri startles on hearing that voice. It's familiar, what with Cuthbert being one of the first people he met here.

"Er, yes," he says after a moment. "No propositions this time, if you please. Though I'd also like not to meet a messy end, I've been doing rather well on that front so far."

He remembers Cuthbert calling himself a "gentleman killer," and he's not sure he's safe with someone who would brag about that. Still, he'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

[tis_allgood]

Cuthbert is a bit taken aback. "You really think I would do you harm? You've given me no reason to, nor would I want to hurt you. There's truly only one troll I have my sight set on."

He holds his hands up in a (hopefully) universal gesture of not meaning harm. He does walk closer to Kankri though, no sense in whispering across the room to him.

A

[letthemburn]

Iskierka has mostly been staying up on the higher floors, but that doesn't mean there isn't reason for her to go exploring the other floor. She hadn't payed the floor with all the masks any sort of attention the first time she'd seen them, but now that she's settled in once again it seems like a perfectly good idea to go have another look just in case.

She doesn't seem to be concerned about being attacked either, but perhaps that's no surprise, given what she's heard from other people about dragons.

[privilegecheck]

Of all the things to see, a dragon was not something Kankri expected. Assuming it's something the Gamemakers have brought in, he ducks out of sight, but keeps watching the creature anyway. If it is something like that, he should figure out what it's here for so he can warn Venus that they need to leave if it comes to that.

His red hoodie does make him a bit noticeable even when doing his best to hide, though.

[letthemburn]

It's very definitely something that has been brought in. Still, she's friendly enough under the circumstances. Her continued lack of any sort of ability to breathe fire has seen to that. But she's still a dragon and proud besides - just because she is relatively friendly doesn't mean she will remain so.

Nor does she fail to catch the flash of red of Kankri's hoodie. It's really not at all the best color for hiding in, and she should know.
," she offers after a moment.
"You will never be any good at hiding in that

[celebrityskinned]

She hasn't slept in four days.

She tells Kankri it's because her leg hurts, but the fact that she uses her insomnia as an excuse to pace until the underside of her feet are grey and black dispels that. It's not a lie, not really. Her leg does it hurt, and it does make resting hard, and by now the flesh down past her knee is pinkish and swollen, tender. Red veins like roots travel down her thigh.

She takes her antibiotics as scheduled, and forces down food because she pukes up the pills if she takes them on an empty stomach. It's the only way Kankri can get her to eat.

When he comes back with useless supplies one day, she snaps at him. She doesn't apologize when he wilts. She turns her back and stares at the wall, then excuses herself and rips a fossil apart, strewing bones all over the marble floor of the hall.

She's staring at the ceiling with bloodshot eyes when Kankri comes back from gathering food from the cafeteria.

[privilegecheck]

The trip to the cafeteria is pretty fruitless. It's all been well combed over at this point, and there's hardly anything left worth taking. Kankri is dejected as he makes his way back to the elevators - it's relatively safe to use them to return to the fourth floor, at least, since his and Venus's territory extends to that area. He knows Venus will be disappointed in him again, and he hates feeling so useless when she's taken him in.

The sound of a Sponsor gift arriving breaks him out of his melancholy. To his surprise, the package is addressed to him when he darts in to snatch it up. He presses the button to close the doors and then for the fourth floor, and as it starts to move he peers into the package with a little smile.

It's food. There's so much food here, his stomach growls a little. It's only enough for a few days, but it's better and more filling than they've had in a long time, and it'll probably help Venus fight off the spreading infection in her leg. Accompanying the package is a little note: "Take care of Venus! -Cecil."

It cheers him up immensely to know that someone thinks he's doing well, well enough to send him something that could save his and Venus's lives. He smiles up at where he thinks the nearest camera is and tells it gratefully, "Thank you, Cecil."

The doors open, and Kankri's practically skipping as he comes back to their little cafe. "Venus!" he says, quiet but no less excited. "Look, we got a sponsor gift! It's food, better food than we've been having lately. Have you eaten yet today? Because you really should have some."

[celebrityskinned]

It's not Kankri's fault that his voice sounds like the high-pitched mewl of a whining baby to Venus. She tries to tell herself this and she covers her eyes with one hand, one ear with the other. It's not his fault she doesn't have her medicine.

"I'm fine." She's automatic, flat, affected only in how monotone her voice is. She barely looks up, although as soon as the door to the pantry's opened her hand is at her knife. Her fingertips feel as if the blood's been sucked out and replaced with chalk.

She finally sits up, wiping sweat she should not be shedding from her brow. Her cheeks are flushed from the slight fever she's running. She starts to pace again, telling herself it's to keep blood from pooling in her leg.

"I don't want any. You eat it." She waves a hand.

B

[69problems]

Kankri isn't the only Vantas who's looking for supplies. The Signless has been holed up on the fourth floor for a while and food is starting to get thin, especially now that the supplementary food Pasha was kind enough to send him has run out and he's back to foraging. He figures he ought to stock up before all the supplies in the arena go bad, especially since he doesn't know when he'll next get a sponsor package -- it's by now probably very evident that the last arena is no guarantee of dramatic murders in this arena, which must be a great disappointment.

"Kankri!" he whispers when he sees the familiar horns. He knew Kankri wasn't dead -- no announcement -- but it's good to know he's also well enough to be up and about.

[privilegecheck]

"Oh- hello!" Kankri can't help breaking into a smile; it's good to see his alternate self safe, he's been a bit worried. He waves a little, heading on over to Signless.

"I haven't seen you in some time, but you look well. How has the Arena been treating you?" he asks softly.

[69problems]

"Well enough. No injuries or even near misses, yet, though I've had to be careful with food lately."

He looks Kankri over, ascertaining that he really is uninjured. He feels so strangely proud to see his younger self doing so well this far in -- even if Venus is helping him, it's still impressive that he's lasted three weeks.

"And you?"

A

[googledox]

"Oh, it's you."

Look at that, a familiar green face. At least he didn't seem overly hostile. Cautious, yes, clutching a laser pointer in his hand like it wasn't just a laser pointer anymore, certainly, but he didn't look as if he planned to attack Kankri.

[privilegecheck]

"Oh. You."

Kankri sounds equally scornful. It is like a disdain-off. He keeps hold of his crowbar, but doesn't keep it in any kind of attack-ready position.

Still. Even if this guy is annoying, Kankri doesn't wish him to suffer or die. Just to maybe be miserable a little. "Is there something you wanted?" he says after a few moments. "If you're looking to go further in this direction, the person I'm bunking with will not be half as polite as I am about dissuading you from it, she's quite on edge. In the interests of preventing conflict, what are you looking for? If it's food, I can spare a pastry."

[googledox]

"Why would you give me food when I've been nothing but hostile to you?"

Color him mystified.

Only actually he wasn't because it was the same reason he'd spare someone food when they'd been a dick. That's what remotely decent sentient beings did. But what villain would understand that?

B

[sleeplessinalternia]

Feel that, Kankri? It's the tip of Karkat's sickle tapping your shoulder while you're busy gathering up food supplies.

"Hey asshole," he says, not sounding particularly hostile. "How the hell aren't you dead yet?"

[privilegecheck]

Kankri freezes in fear for a moment - then relaxes with an exasperated sigh. "I wish you wouldn't do that," he mutters, but there's no venom in his voice. In fact he might even sound a little glad to see his dancestor. "And I'm not dead because I've been looking after myself and staying out of trouble, obviously. Is that really such a foreign concept to you?"

He straightens up, looking Karkat up and down. He's glad to see he doesn't look more hurt than he was last time. "What brings you out here? I thought you and Terezi were hanging around on the second floor for the most part."

A

[dividedgirlofmine]

There's a woman in a wheelchair slowly gliding her way along the fourth floor. She's a darker brown color, like Venus, and if Kankri looks closely he'll be able to see that her pants are knotted after a certain length.

Suddenly she stops in her tracks, and her gaze turns to Kankri. She starts wheeling herself toward him.

[privilegecheck]

It's easy for him to notice her, possibly even before she notices him - but Kankri doesn't duck out of sight, hardly even feels threatened. She's in a wheelchair, for grub's sake, and he'd be amazed that she was still alive if he himself weren't still here.

When she starts to head his way, he perks up slightly, curious. She looks intent, like she wants something. Well, there's no harm in being polite. "Hello," he calls, keeping his voice low so as not to attract others.