Brrrrr

[frozenfractalsallaround]

Who| Elsa and OTA
What| Elsa gains control and builds an ice house
Where| Her ice house somewhere in the arena I don't know
When| Shortly after hellrena starts
Warnings/Notes| N/A

PREFACE
Elsa had just been getting used to it all. She'd met up with Dave, received numerous sponsor gifts and managed to settle down well enough, avoiding danger as best as possible. Dave had seen more trouble during the arena than she had, a fact that she felt bad for. But that seemed like it would change soon. As everything in the arena changed, Elsa felt the heat for only a few moments.

Because as soon as it all started and the fear began gripping her, ice began spreading under her feet. It seemed to compete with the heat, melting and refreezing before fear won out and the ice solidified completely. Why did this have to happen? Why did they have to do this to her, why couldn't for once an arena just be power free? She knew why; for the entertainment value. Maybe things had gotten too boring or they felt the arena needed something more.

Either way, she was beginning to panic. The ice was spreading from beneath her feet. She knew that if she didn't get away, she would hurt anyone in the immediate area- most likely Dave. But just as she moved to run, she heard a voice- Shepard's. In her head. All the times before the arena spent going over and over methods of control. Shepard had sacrificed so much of her time in order to help Elsa learn how to control her powers and fear, and there Elsa was preparing to run. She felt bad for that, as if she was letting Shepard down. She thought of all of the people she would be letting down, if she ran and just gave up.

Anna. Hans. Harley. Shepard. Dave. The names and faces flashed through her mind, and around that time the ice began to melt under her feet. She attributed it to the heat, rather than realizing it was love thawing the ice. That maybe her brief hold on control was allowing the new heat in the arena to melt it. Either way, she seemed to be holding onto control well enough for the moment. Elsa's mind went back to the techniques Shepard taught her to keep herself calm.

Feel. The emotions were a part of her. They were a part of her, they didn't control her. So she allowed herself to feel them, rather than try and push them back. She let the growing anxiety and terror wash over her- the ice flared up again, solidifying and spreading, covering the ground. Snow flurried in the air, unable to melt as her magic kept it going. The ice below her feet began cracking, as jagged edges rose up as the fear ran through her.

But then she stopped it. It wasn't easy, it was a slow process. But acknowledging that it was part of her and allowing herself to feel it gave her the strength to control it rather than the other way around. Shepard had taught her well and Elsa had come a lot way since the day she had approached Shepard to train her. Then, she couldn't put a stop to the fear, but after a lot of work she had learned how to. She still felt it, it hadn't gone completely- but she was the one controlling it now. Once more, the ice stopped. The snow in the air fell to the ground in raindrops.

Elsa broke into a smile. She'd stopped it- she'd really stopped it.. Unable to stop herself, she laughed. She had her powers back and they were under her control! "I did it… I really did it." She still as if she were in disbelief, but there was a happiness in her voice that hadn't been there for a very, very long time.

After a few moments, she allowed herself to look around the area- the fog had lifted, the buildings decayed. But most apparent was the heat- she could already feel the sweat beading on her forehead now that she'd stopped the ice. She reached up, wiping at it with the back of her hand. As she did, her mind wandered to the other people in the arena. How many people would succumb to this heat?

No. She wouldn't let that happen. For the first time, she felt like she was in a situation where she could help people with her powers. Never before had she been in a place where she could do that, but now thanks to Shepard she could do it. She flexed her fingers, looking around slowly for a good spot. It was time to put into practice the rest of Shepard's training.

Elsa settled for a good place, took a deep breath, and then slammed her foot to the ground.

OPEN

A half hour later, Elsa was finished. It wasn't her ice palace- no, not even close. If anything, it resembled the buildings that had crumbled, though on the smaller size, perhaps like a large shack. It took a lot of effort to get it built, a certain amount of attention to detail during the building process to ensure that the heat rising from the ground didn't melt it in places before she could get it done. As she worked, she couldn't help thinking back on her time one the mountain as she built her palace. For the first time since that night, she felt… free, even in this cage of an arena. She was in control of her powers and she was doing something to benefit other people.

With the building finally finished, she stood back to admire it. It wasn't the prettiest, at least to her. But other people might be impressed with a whole building made of ice. By the door of the ice building lay various containers- whatever she could find that would hold water. In them were blocks of ice, melting at a steady pace. She imagined people would need water, and she had every intention of supplying it. After checking the progress of the water, she moved to step into her ice house, placing a hand on it and letting a burst of ice magic flow through it to keep it frozen. After that, she settled down inside and waited.

She only hoped now that people wouldn't be afraid to stop in for a visit.

Comments

[ruffntumblenut]

Sweat poured down Ruffnut's face as she shuffled down the street in search of shelter.

She had stripped down to only the barest of layers and her extra clothes were tied together and dragging on the ground behind he.

The clothes and her helmet were the only items of worth she had on her, the helmet wasn't worth much either. Clearly she'd cobbled it together from a pipe, a serving fork and a pot and wearing it on her head like she did in all this heat made her look like a foolish child.

When her eyes fell upon the ice building she was sure she must be imagining it.

That did not however stop her from running for it. She scrambled forward, tripping on the curb and stumbling to stay on her feet before she reached the front and slammed into it arms spread. The cold immediately bit at her skin and she sighed happily as steam rose up from the point of contact.

Vikings were hearty and durable people...but they lived in the colder climates. The only heat they were used to was dragon burns.

[frozenfractalsallaround]

Elsa had settled inside and was currently putting any finishing touches or repairing any areas that might've been melted- it was surprisingly hard to keep it all from melting, with the heat outside and rising up from the floor. It was perhaps the floor that was hardest to keep from being too slippery, so she was adding extra layers of ice wherever she could. As such, Ruffunt's sudden arrival inside of her ice house was pretty startling. She turned quickly, tensing for a fight only to realize that there wouldn't have to be one. She watched for a moment as the other person enjoyed the chill of her ice, and she couldn't help but smile. "I had hoped someone might find their way here to cool off."

[ruffntumblenut]

"Ohhhhh yeah." Ruffnut sighed lewedly as she clung to the ice a moment longer rubbing her face against it. When she was sufficiently soaked and chilled she stepped back wiping water from her face and grinning a crooked grin at Elsa.

She was a gangly girl, all arms and legs like a spider with a squashed face as if she'd been punched there alot. Some bruising around her neck and shoulders indicated she'd been in a fight recently. Her hair was done in some messy braids that were starting to fall out after rough living in the arena and her ridiculous makeshift helmet sat at a jaunty angle. She took it off to wring sweat out of her braids.

"I thought I was dreaming when I saw it! Like I'd gone crazy or something."

[halfa_hero]

"Holy crap, Elsa."

Danny was hovering near the ice shack. Actually hovering, several feet above the ground, and slightly glowing to boot.

"Guess you had a better handle on your powers than you thought."

[frozenfractalsallaround]

Elsa turned to face him, recognizing the voice almost immediately. What she wasn't prepared for was seeing him flying! It was one of her first times witnessing anyone else with powers. "Oh! You... wow!" She sounded genuinely impressed, though his words registered a moment later. "Ah- yes. I've been practicing with Shepard, it looks like she really knows her stuff."

[youbarium]

Carlos was stumbling through the heat, panting and unnerved, but not panicking. To be completely honest, the situation was sort of familiar. It reminded him of street-cleaning day, back in Night Vale. He knew he had to get somewhere cool, since these monsters responded to heat and light, but where to go? He'd already tried hiding in a refrigerator, and that had ended terribly.

When he felt the cool blast of air, Carlos would have thought he'd just imagined it if he hadn't been a scientist. But as a scientist, Carlos was not in the habit of doubting the evidence, and the evidence said that there was a cool place up ahead.

He approached the ice-house with confusion and wonder on his face, torn between whether to boldly investigate or run from what could easily be another trap. However, Carlos's nearly superhuman curiosity won out, and he walked right up to the ice blocks, placing a hand on its cool wall.

"It's solid ice," he muttered to himself, amazed. (Talking to himself about the things he observed was something Carlos was not unknown to do.) "Why is there a building made of ice out here? Is it a trap? Or is it something else?"

[frozenfractalsallaround]

Elsa was inside, tending to various ice house things- mainly making sure nothing was starting to melt so much as to make the structure dangerous. Overall, she was pleased with what she had made, even if she did wish she could turn it into a proper palace again.

She couldn't see Carlos approaching, but she heard a voice outside, though she didn't recognize it. The roof had been windy that night, and they hadn't spoken since then. Truth be told, she felt guilty for sending him away like she had. He had been friendly, and deserved better. So when she stepped out to see who it was, her face lit up in a smile.

"It's you!" she said, moving towards him. She noticed he was looking intently at her building, so she felt the need to clarify, "Oh, I made this... My powers came back. You're welcome to stay, if you'd like."

[youbarium]

He recognized her, of course; she might not know it, but speaking with Elsa that night had reminded Carlos of how unfair places like the Capitol truly were. It had helped him remember that just because he had developed ways of coping with totalitarian regimes didn't mean the regimes weren't wrong. When she smiles at him, he smiles back: Carlos is glad to see she's okay.

He's also glad to see that her ice powers are both useful and under control; he caught glimpses of what had happened in the last Arena.

"Would you mind?" he asked tiredly. "This Arena has been nothing but disaster after disaster for me, and I could use a few hours to rest." He looked terrible; his hair was mussed, his eyes red-rimmed, his lab coat torn and dirty, and his glasses cracked.

[blinddrunkenmaster]

This had been an interesting day for Kota. The fog had lifted, revealing the ruin of the town they had been thrown into. And most of all, he could feel the Force again. It wasn't as strong as before, no. It was weaker, and seemed to affect mostly him, somehow. But he could do what he had been able to do before losing that battle to Starkiller.

And now there was a building made out of pure ice appearing out of nowhere. He supposed it made perfect that there were other people with powers around, but still, it wasn't something you saw everyday.

He carefully approached the building, keeping an eye out for any threats. As curious as he was, the arena was no place let his guard down.

[frozenfractalsallaround]

Elsa was just stepping back outside to check and see if she needed to melt more ice for water when she saw him coming. She tensed up, noticing that he was an unfamiliar face. He didn't look particularly bad, but she knew looks could be deceiving.

"Hello?" she called out, half hiding behind the door frame of her house. "Who are you?"

[blinddrunkenmaster]

... If there was a way you could look more out of place in an arena of death matches, Kota didn't know it. Hiding behind the door like that, obviously scared, Elsa looked like someone that would be taken out very early in the competition.

Clearly, she had something up her sleeve that let her survive, given that she was all alone.

"I'm Rahm Kota," he said simply. Usually, he wouldn't waste time with introductions in this kind of situation, but given how calm everything around them was, plus the fact that he'd be introducing himself to her once they were out of there anyway, he felt like there was little point in delaying it.

[shedevilwithsword]

This was new, this was very, very new. At first Sonja had stripped off all of her layers. Using the clothing to help hold her supplies like a sack. Now? Now she was putting them back on as she entered the palace of ice, her pipe at the ready. Was this place a trap? Or perhaps it was a zone of rest. One could not be having their gladiators dying to soon after all. Still the place was bound to attract a lot of attention.

So much so that she readied herself for any eventuality.

[frozenfractalsallaround]

When Elsa turned to greet the newcomer entering her ice house, she gasped at the sight of her holding the pipe. The last thing Elsa needed or wanted was someone causing trouble- she could hopefully stop them, but she just wanted things to be as peaceful as possible. She held her hands up in a surrendering gesture.

"It's okay, no one will hurt you here," she said, trying to keep herself calm. She was afraid that it would come to a fight, but for now she was keeping a decent handle on her emotions. "Please, could you put that down?"

[shedevilwithsword]

Well this woman was even more jumpy than the She-Devil herself! It was kind of adorable and amusing to watch admittedly. But at the same time the warrioress did not blame her. Still Sonja was not about to drop her crowbar just to alleviate someone's fears. There was no real telling who, or what, this person is. Nor was it possible to tell if they had something in mind quite yet, something unsavory towards the red-head's health.

"Perhaps, perhaps not." The tool was no sword, but it held its own uses all the same. "I will not put it away when there is a stranger in my midst."

[Pff, pipe that was a Freudian slip, I meant crowbar. >.>]

[worldsaway]

The heat was nothing Thor couldn't handle, he's certain he's suffered through less pleasant conditions before, though he can't honestly think of any right now. Odd. What keeps him going now is knowing there are others suffering more than he could possibly be at the moment. With his powers returned, he feels more steadfast than ever, even if his hammer is missing and his ability to summon storms considerably weakened.

He could certainly be in a worse state, and he isn't actively seeking shelter, but when you see an ice shack in the middle of a sweltering hot, melting town, you can't help but get a little curious. Thor can't resist peeking into the building, wary of a nasty surprise but impressed by the magic nonetheless.

Again, his curiosity gets the better of him, and he's just going to reach out and splay one of those big hands over the ice. He lets out an audible grunt of approval, leaving the hand there for some time. If it's a booby trap, well, he boobied right into it.

[frozenfractalsallaround]

With how much interest had been shown towards her ice shack, Elsa realized that she doesn't have enough room to hold everyone. So she's just finishing up a small addition to the house in the form of an extra room. Thor might notice the wall he's touching get a little colder as she sends a wave of magic through the entire house, re-freezing the walls to make sure they aren't melting and endangering the integrity of the structure.

Once she's finished, she moves out of the aforementioned room into the main one, her eyes falling on Thor immediately. He's a large wall of a man, naturally demanding attention. "Oh, hello!" she says, a smile tugging at her lips as she realizes who it is. It feels like it's been ages since she saw him, but she remembers their conversation from when he first arrived. She had liked him, he'd been friendly and caring and it had left a good impression on her. Elsa's spirits are so high from the good feelings of controlling her powers that it's hard not to look happy at seeing him.

Elsa takes a step closer. "You're welcome to stay as long as you'd like- there's also food and water." She's received a few sponsor gifts, and she's trying to ration it and give some of it to anyone who might need it. "And how are you, by the way?" It was good to see a familiar face, she couldn't help being a little more chatty than normal. It probably helped that for the first time in a long time, she felt happy.

[worldsaway]

He does note it, quite quickly too. He'd been waiting for a catch, so his hand snaps backward in preparation for something sinister. He steps away from the wall to glance about suspiciously.

"It is as if I have stepped into Jotunheim.." He muses thoughtfully, turning when he hears Elsa enter and sobering up immediately from his suspicions, exchanging his frown for a smile.

"Greetings- ..You built this?" He nods, stepping closer to her as she approaches and giving her a carefully appraising look, as if trying to be discreet about making sure she's alright. "As well as can be expected." He gives his shoulders a small shrug. "Better now, I daresay. I trust you've been well? It is kind of you to offer help so willingly, I've not encountered many with the same idea."

[seestheman]

Clara had repacked everything that had come in Alex's pack (and then some, by some miracle) the moment everything started going to hell. Somewhere along the way, she had shed everything until she was down to the bottom layer of her clothes. And even with the slight respite of not wearing a heavy sweater, she still felt jittery and far more overheated than she should have been. So finding a building made out of ice was more than welcome.

She drew her folded knife out of her pocket and kept it close with a shaky hand, ready to flip it open if this was a trap. Which she'd hoped that it wasn't. God knows she needed a chance to mentally regather herself before she continued searching for Alex.

[frozenfractalsallaround]

Another one with a weapon. When Elsa sees her entering the house, she's once more on edge. If she had her way, there would be no weapons in her ice house. She herself had more than enough power to keep it defended, so if people could just put their weapons down...

"Hello," she said, trying not to sound anything but polite. "I would very, very much appreciate if you could put that away. I can promise no one will hurt you here."

[seestheman]

Clara seriously debates listening to the girl for a moment. On one hand, she could be lying and luring people in to kill them, so of course she'd want them unarmed. On the other hand, there's something about this girl that seems so earnest. Against every instinct that's telling Clara to keep her knife out, but still folded, just in case, she slides the knife back into her pocket and gives the girl a small smile.

"Sorry, I didn't know if this was something they put here as a trap. I'm Clara," she says putting a hand out.

[shenunigans]

Dave remembers Elsa talking about powers, but he also remembers her talking about a lot of things. It's been a long few weeks, even by his high standards. The sudden hit of heat isn't exactly helping his memory and his Texan genes are failing him under the harsh rays of the sun. He and Elsa were so white, he couldn't imagine them lasting long without shriveling like overcooked raisins. Or whatever. He maybe sort of might be starting to panic..

..And then Elsa does something amazing. Hella amazing. All Dave can do is sit on his ass and watch while she works her magic, resisting the urge to rest his chin on his hands as he does... For the most part. Once it's all together, he'll stand and dust his hands off as if he had any part in helping this be a thing.

"When you said you had ice magic, I was kind of looking forward to chocolate." He peers into the door before taking a long step forward, probably not being as careful as he should be on an ice floor. "This is really- w- Yeah- Nope." He stutters out half a sentence as his foot slides out from under him, no skittering can stop his ass from hitting the floor with an almost dramatic thud. "Nailed it."

[frozenfractalsallaround]

This is the second time that Dave has ended up on the floor thanks to her. This time, however, Elsa is a lot more amused. It's clear from her expression that she's trying to hold in laughter, a hand coming up to press over her lips as she stares down at him.

Biting her tongue.

Trying to do anything but laugh.

But then she cracks and breaks into heavy laughter, and it feels good to laugh. With how stressful the arena's been, it's just really nice. Of course she feels bad, but she knows Dave is probably okay so she doesn't feel too awful. "You sure did," she gets out after a moment, clearing her throat to try and push the laughter away. "Do you think the floors could use a little padding?" she asks thoughtfully, giving him a mischievous smile. Now she's feeling playful thanks to the laughing. "Let me see if I can do anything about that..."

She holds her hands together, creating a flurry of magic between them, before throwing her hands out. In a puff, a snow cloud explodes over Dave, blanketing him and the area around him in snow.

[shenunigans]

Twice since they've met, Dave has fallen on his ass. Really, the first conversation he had with her he might as well have fallen on his ass for how awkwardly that went. Elsa is obviously more trouble than she's worth, he oughta get up and leave right now, especially since she's laughing at him!! Only he can't seem to get a grip of the floor well enough to stand, so his feet skid back and forth before he gives up and just purses his lips up at her.

"Hey, don't laugh. You're lucky I didn't break my assbone. You'd have to carry me around the whole time and something would probably eat us." He's not defensive, you're defensive. "What the hell is padding gonna do about- Nope. No you don't." He starts to stand again, feet skidding as he struggles to push himself upward. "If I have to get up I am gonna turn this castle around-"

He starts, but he's promptly cut off by the blanket of snow. Just like the last time, he'll lie there without making a move to sit up. Maybe if he stays there long enough, she'll think he suffocated and feel bad like she should feel bad!! It's also partly because after coming in from blistering heat, this really ain't so bad.

[earthborn]

There was a very distinct sensation that came with the sudden re-enabling of her biotics. It was familiar enough, for someone who'd been in prison. Like putting a fresh amp in after so long without the usual feedback, the gravity-awareness sizzled and tingled over her skin like a wave of full-body pins-and-needles. It caught Shepard unawares and staggered her badly enough that it took her an hour to shake off the lingering numbness, and longer to realize that it wasn't fever that was making her hot. And that was when she saw it.

Nice thing about Elsa's little display, it wasn't just cooling the ambient water-vapor, it was cooling the air around it, sending little eddies and breezes out into the surrounding are, like cool fingers swirling around Jane's ankles. It stood out in other ways, glittering blue-white in a world of hazy greys and rust-tones, clean when all else was filthy.

Christ, it was hot-- Shepard decided to make an appearance and was pleasantly surprised to find, "Elsa? This is...your doing?"

Knock knock, you've got a space marine at your door.

[frozenfractalsallaround]

Elsa is quite honestly counting on all of that to be noticeable, because the intent here is to get people's attention so that they can come in for shelter. By this point, she's confident enough to think that she can fend off whoever might try and attack her. After all, she doubts anyone would appreciate a frozen heart if it really came to that. Or, well, a frozen anything else.

But when Shepard makes an appearance, Elsa is positively thrilled, because this is all thanks to Shepard. If it hadn't been for the other woman, then Elsa never would have learned how to get them under control enough to make it happen.

"It is!" she says, and there's a touch of glee in her tone. "I did it, I finally got them under control!"