He loves the shadows. [ o p e n ]

[dying]

Who| Thane, Gannicus, and open!
What| Thane spends early week 2 in the shadows.
Where| Between Main Street and the Amusement park.
When| Week 2.
Warnings/Notes| Fighting, and things.

Thane liked the shadows and the fog. He had spent so much time hiding and lurking there. It was what he had been good at all of his life, and it was like this arena was built for him. His health, of course, was a consistent concern - and one he wasn't ever allowed to forget. He considered it in each movement, every step that he took. He made sure as he moved there was never anything in excess. Nothing that he didn't find absolutely necessary.

The time spent in the shadows, though, meant that he had to find his companions. There were a few places he could start. He decided to make his move away from the houses and towards the amusement park he had spotted earlier. Certainly, even if he didn't find his companions there, there would be people who would enjoy a show.

He kept himself alert, quiet, and made sure that each movement was measured and careful. He would take in anyone before he approached them - whether approaching them was with the goal to strike, or to maybe start that rare conversation.

[ ooc; feel free for either! if you'd prefer one or the other, just let me know or send a message! ]

Comments

[justoutrunyou]

Sandy stared sullenly at the last of her supplies.

With Pruna gone the supplies could have lasted her longer, but Sandy realized all too late that she had forgotten to ration things more carefully because she missed her friend and felt guilty for her death.

Shepard was scouting around and had left Sandy in more or less safe area while she did so. The Commander had already made sure the area was clear of monsters before letting Sandy rest on the front steps of the run down house.

Hopefully she wouldn't be gone long.

The young girl fiddled with the jar of pickles finding her fingers were slipping on the lid. She grumbled and growled at the jar, "Don't make me use the Axe on you."

She was not aware that she was not alone.

[dying]

Despite the fact that Thane had convinced himself that killing was alright in the arena, he promised himself that he wouldn't hurt a child. The capitol was responsible for the deaths, in the end, but he wouldn't let the blood be on his hands. So he watched her for several moments. Talking to a jar of pickles wasn't exactly conducive to keeping quiet and staying alive here.

"I'd not make noise," he said, coming from the side of the house, behind her. He was careful about his behavior. Even the smallest one can bite if provoked, so he was very careful about appearing non-threatening.

[justoutrunyou]

She gave a start and fumbled the pickle jar in her hands. It bounced awkwardly from hand to hand before tumbling to the ground. Only by luck did she stick out her foot and catch it to stop it from hitting on pavement.

Letting out a puff of relief the gangly girl shot him an unamused look. Her short hair was unkempt after time in the arena and her face had dirt on it. Bags under her eyes were a clear indication of how she'd been sleeping.

Just another tribute really.

"I've been quiet for so long I feel like I'm going to explode." She complained sullenly. "I just want to scream until my throat hurts. I hate this so much."

She would have been more wary of him but she knew he was Shepard's boyfriend just by having kept an eye on Shepard. Even if they hadn't been formally introduced.

[dying]

Thane watched her fumble, and was quietly observing. She wasn't wary of him. That was concerned, in part because most people were cautious around him. Even those who knew him and he considered comrades were cautious at times. He recalled, in brief, her face from conversations with Shepard, although he had never spoken to her personally.

"Most people hate it here." He moved in closer, stepping around her. "You do what you must to survive, that is all."

[justoutrunyou]

"Yeah..." she lamented with a sigh picking up her pickle jar again and setting to work on the lid once more "That may be surviving, but I wouldn't call it living." She grit her teeth and with what looked to be incredible effort the lid popped off the jar and she grinned at the tiny victory. Before taking a pickle for herself she held the jar up to offer one to him.

"Is surviving really enough?"

[dying]

"While in here, yes," Thane answered. Especially for someone her age. She shouldn't be (in his opinion) murdering people or responsible for the death of another person. He could only imagine the type of damage it would do to a child.

"Do you want to continue coming back here?" Thane asked. It was less about winning for the sake of it, and more about getting out of the arena and not having to fight. He could handle it, and death didn't bother him. But it wasn't for everyone.

[justoutrunyou]

"Well no." That was a stupid question wasn't it? How crazy would she have to be to want to stay here?

"But it doesn't feel right. Giving them what they want, it's so easy to give up hope and just...kill and betray and go cold." And after how long she'd endured all this pain it would feel like the biggest loss of all.

[dying]

Thane didn't like the idea of just giving them what they wanted, either. He would never consider it going cold, though. It was so easy for him to turn everything off. There were times that he just didn't feel a thing.

That was the only way to handle the arena.

"Then living, and staying alive is the only way to cease coming here," he answered.

"You're not giving anyone anything. You're simply doing what is best for yourself only."

[justoutrunyou]

That sounded reasonable.

Cold as ice...but reasonable.

"And the rest of the world? The rest of these tributes who would be stuck here when I'm out? What do I do about all of them? Just take care of myself?"

let's roll

[gladiayyygirl]

The concept of an amusement park was entirely lost on Gannicus. There was nothing like it in his own time - nothing at all - and so the intrigue of the Ferris Wheel's silhouette had drawn him in. It stood on the horizon like sine terrible behemoth's skeleton, all ribcage and twisted bare bones, intelligibly alien and tantalising all at once.

On his travels to inspect the Wheel, somewhere between Main Street and the Park, Gannicus had almost forgotten that he was in this arena to kill. Almost.

A shadow on his flank caused him to pause and he quickly turned his gaze - hidden and filtered through the reds and purples of his heat vision glasses - in the direction of something moving. Something not quite the red and orange of a human, but shaped like a human nonetheless. Knife drawn, he crouched and sank silently in to the shadows without a word.

[dying]

Thane moved quickly each step, he thought to be unseen. He, of course, did not know that he was being watched, especially when there was no nearby movement. He moved - getting closer and closer. Each of his steps was fast, and silent. He was taking advantage of the fog, figuring that even if he was heard or seen, he could make sure that he would beat any opponent before they had a chance to react.

Had he known that heat vision goggles were within the arena, perhaps he would have used another strategy, but if he was spotted - there was no going back. His biology of preferring hot, dry climates was not advantageous when it came to them.

He approached, and it was when he got really close that he realized there was likely another person there. He doesn't announce himself, but instead he gets in close. He's ready to defend himself, should he strike. If nothing else, Thane will decide to bide his time and make the first strike.

[gladiayyygirl]

Heat vision goggles were only good for so long - now that he has seen his opponent and his opponent has seen him, they were nothing but a hindrance. Gannicus whipped them quickly from his face and cast them aside, stepping forward from the shadows in the same motion. Closing the distance was a matter of a few long strides and Gannicus was only too happy to be the first to move out in to the open.

He doesn't see the need to announce his presence with a cry or a greeting, either - there was nothing to be gained in saying anything, so he kept his thoughts to himself. The man before him wasn't quite a man - a shocking and strange thing, to be confronted with green skin and oversized black eyes in the middle of this strange arena - but Gannicus forced himself to take it in his stride. Pushing his revulsion and surprise down with an iron will, he hefted his pipe in his lead hand and the small folding knife in the other and made a sharp dart to the left, pipe swung long in an attempt to catch the man's knees and sweep him from his feet.

[dying]

Thane shifted to the right, the fog had partially obscured the weapon, so to be sure it would not hit - he lifted his right leg. All he was certain of was that he didn't want to get hit by it. His knees would be the perfect spot to slow him down or stop him, at least for a moment. Getting knocked over would be death here. It only took a moment to get killed. He had a few things to do before he would be at peace with dying in here.

He much preferred a fight that was with his hands. He would use his fists, even though he had a knife that was sent to him. Somehow, it was the best way for him to realize that his opponent had died. The knife was in the pocket of one of his jackets.

It was clear, to anyone, that his hands were empty. He had only the clothes on his back.

The attack made him more cautious, though, of the person he was now going to fight. He had weaponry, and he seemed to know how to use it. Thane knew better than to underestimate everyone.

[gladiayyygirl]

The sweep of the lead pipe had been an attempt to knock his opponent from his feet, yes, but there was another purpose; a test of sorts, to gauge how quickly he reacted - or if he reacted at all. His opponent had been quick, inhumanly quick, and Gannicus knew he would have to step up his game if he had any chance of bringing the man - the creature - down.

Continuing the sweep of the lead pipe he turned, whipping his head around quickly as he allowed the momentum of the swing to carry him as he brought the knife around to bear, this time in a raking slice designed to cut across the face. Another test, another attempt to push his opponent back as the sweep brought him another step closer in to his opponent's personal space.

[dying]

Thane wasn't playing, but he would add distance. While a cut on his face wouldn't kill him (he'd wager, depending on how deep the cut), he'd prefer to meet Shepard without any serious damage having been done to him. He knew he couldn't avoid some damage, of course, but he could certainly try.

He took a step away and do the left, he had to keep moving, dodging, at least until he could get close enough to use his hand or knife. He had a feeling this person was not about to let him do any of the above, though.

He had fought many humans before, but not many tried to hit him with a pipe. Once he had the ability to reach him, touch this person before him, Thane knew there was something he could do about the weapons and the person.

He made an attempt to get in close, though, depending on his speed to bring him there.

[gladiayyygirl]

His opponent was speedy, Gannicus could see. Speedy and capable of dodging out of reach, which was a deadly tactic all of its own. Gannicus knew it could be the first stages in an attempt to tire him out, and he relaxed a little as he settled in to the familiar pattern of reading and reacting to his opponent's moves.

A ripple of movement in his opponent's body meant something - every little detail had a wealth of knowledge hidden in it. His opponent moved in, trying to close the gap, and with a sly grin Gannicus turned his opponent's own game back upon him and dodged backwards and away. How do you like that? the grin said as Gannicus leapt our of arm's reach to maintain the distance, spinning and lashing out again with the lead pipe as he lands.

[dying]

"Not bad," Thane said. His voice was low and gravelly in response to Gannicus' movement. It didn't necessarily sound like flattery coming from Thane, but in a way - it was. If speed wasn't going to do either of them any favors, he'd have to depend on brute strength. He jumped back to stay away though. That pipe gave him reach, and it seemed dangerous.

He positioned one leg back, steadying himself. Charging wouldn't work, dodging wouldn't work. His black eyes issued a challenge to him. The only good fight for Thane was one where his opponent was quickly dead. If this continued, his own stamina would start to wear down. He'd get slower.

later in week 2

[assassinat]

While the fog didn't make the odds of combat anymore favorable than fighting an assailant without a file attached to their name, it did even the ground for her a fair bit. Most people, Natasha had discovered, aren't capable of fighting someone as experienced as herself.

It only made the Arena more of a joke in her mind. In the end, their lives would be forfeit and for what? The thought sickened her, so instead of taking down people she only aimed to confuse them.

Paranoia made a very good friend as much of an enemy.

Having stalked her new target long enough, she dropped down behind him without warning. Either he'd appreciate it or he'd move to attack her; the latter would give her reason enough to take him down.

[dying]

People didn't sneak up on Thane. Never before, in his career, had it happened. There was a moment, when she dropped down, that he took pause, considered whether she was a threat, or if she wasn't. Of course, if she could sneak up on him - she was a threat to him.

The words came out in a raspy calm. "Impressive," he said. His voice was even, and didn't sound like he was impressed, although he definitely was. He would have to make sure to keep her face in his memory.

It was impossible for him, in his current state of mind, to not perceive her as a threat. He reached for his knife at his side, and moved his hand up to attack her, going for her right jaw.

[assassinat]

An attack rarely took her by surprise and she should have known this would be the likely outcome. Making a mental note to herself to not jump down in the path of strange aliens in the future, Natasha swerved opposite of him to bring her elbow down in his general direction.

A gambit, but she had to land a hit in order to determine just how hard to strike him in the future. Wouldn't want to accidentally kill someone after all.

[dying]

Thane moved, just a bit, and still got hit. She was fast, of course, but she did sneak up on him, so he expected nothing less out of her. He'd be glad to enjoy spending a few moments learning from this fight, figuring out who she was. Her blow was hard enough to hurt, but not hard enough to make him falter (of course, he would have to be dying to stop). He didn't want to kill her necessarily, but her being alive put himself, Shepard, Garrus - and any of the others she was watching - at risk.

The capitol could be to blame for it.

He ducked down low, shifting his body to move and swipe one leg out to attempt to get them under her feet and knock her towards the ground.

He was testing the waters with her.

[assassinat]

A freebie? Natasha's not all that sure as she lept up over his leg, mindful to not get either of their limbs tangled up. She isn't the fastest human around, but she's the fastest a human can be and seemingly ahead of his actions.

Almost as if she's already planned out their fight in her mind and had been playing it step by step. She's nimble on her feet, almost graceful. Agile, but light when it came to throwing hits.

Might lack the overall strength to take him down if that had been her strongest blow. Her gaze returned to the weapon over and over again, focusing in on that. Dangerous, but disarming him doesn't seem to be an easy feat at this very moment.

"What are you made of?" May as well attempt to rile him up.

[dying]

Most people didn't get a chance to rile him up. All that mattered was that the threat was neutralized and he got his pay. He should have expected her to jump. It would be an easy task for anyone who had some training in similar skills that he grew up learning.

He needed to know how fast she was, what she would aim for, and how she would fight. All beings had a weakness. Anyone could die here. He took a step way, one foot in front of the other. It was a position meant to be solid and strong.

He watched her for only a second, and rather than getting agitated by her statement, he answered her. His tone was that same cool calm he had in every conversation. "Flesh and blood." He shifted his body, moving to try and get behind her. The knife was nothing more than an accessory it seemed like.

He hadn't needed a weapon, but a weapon was sometimes a good deterrent for people.

He would go for her head this time with his first, since going for her knees and legs was unsuccessful.

sorry for the delay, had a bout of muse silence

[assassinat]

Her head is a good spot to aim for and it took her by surprise, having not expected anyone to go towards a solid part of her. Easier to stab the flesh, not so much a skull. With raised arms meant to protect her head from his attack, she stumbled backwards.

One thing is obvious: despite being nimble, her movements and reaction time were slowed. Exhaustion tugs at her mind while something else aided in the cause of her body's slow actions. Right now she only knows that this encounter had been a mistake and one that may very well cost her some blood.

all good <3

[dying]

He knew where to aim. Despite that she had lifted her hands to guard his attack, the fact that it landed and caused her to stumble back was a success for him. He would just need more actions like this in order to win with her. Even with her being slowed down, she was fast enough to keep up with him.

Enough was enough, though. For Thane, the only good opponent was a dead one. He would have the best chance to continue living as long as he finished quickly. He would start to slow down, and his body would start to give up. He didn't have a lot of stamina, which was why he made a point to keep his kills quick.

His knife was no longer a decoration, he held it in his left hand as he moved to get in close again.