Mini Arena 2

[etcircenses]

Tributes are woken early, and the hovercraft ride is a long one. Not the longest some have experienced, but they are clearly going far.

25 - 24 - 23

They land on the deck of the boat, and are ushered underneath, to the lower levels, quickly. Their stylists go from cabin to cabin, decking them out in over the top finery, before loading them into the pods installed into the corners of the rooms.

20 - 19 - 18 - 17 - 16

The platforms lift them up, and they are all ringed around a grand buffet table, loaded with a grand feast looking ready to sag down from the weight. Among the food are supplies, plenty of them, all for the taking.

11- 10 - 9 - 8

They've all been warned, don't step off your pedestal early. They have also been warned to put on a good show. That's all this is about, a good show. None of them have been told that there can be multiple winners this time around.

5 - 4

3

2

The sound of the gong plays crystal clear across the opening. The games have begun.

Comments

[libertin]

"Why would I trick you, girl? Do you truly think I am so dishonorable as that?" Watching her try and fail was agonizing though. She looked so helpless in the water, like a brick about to sink. Her fear was beginning to set Courfeyrac on edge.

He tried, perhaps in vain, to demonstrate how she should float. "On your back! Lie back, as I have done! I know it is cold but it is the only way! Do not hesitate, girl! You will surely perish if you do not listen to me!"

[gardienne]

Eponine bent at the knees, and slowly lowered herself into the water. She was so scared: it brought her straight back to the winter beneath the bridge and the rats and the men and her dad and how she'd found herself stepping into the Seine, except for Azelma making her come back.

But she did it, lowering herself until she was comfortable enough to lie her head back and try to lift her legs from the floor. Without the life jacket, she never would have floated; beneath her, her legs thrashed. But the jacket kept her upper body above the water at least.

"Like - like this?" How could Courfeyrac be so calm? "Monsieur -" she coughed as water went over her face - "Monsieur, what do we do? The water will be above us as we lie, soon!"

[libertin]

Courfeyrac felt sorry for her and also sad to see her miserable attempt. Even though she was somewhat successful, he could easily see that there would be no saving poor Eponine.

"We must try to swim to an exit. We must go up." He pointed above his head. "We will both drown if we do not get out of here."

He was sure that he would drown on his own. It would do him no good to try to save Eponine along the way. "Can you try to paddle? Use your arms to steer yourself along until we find a way out. Come, girl. Come!"

[gardienne]

"I am not a dog!" Eponine coughed as she continued to thrash. She moved forward a tiny bit, still trying her best not to panic.

"I know you don't like me, but there ain't no need to be rude, Sir." She tried her best to follow Courfeyrac, coughing as water splashed in her mouth.

"It's - it's salty! Oh - is that a door?" She twisted and pointed over her shoulder at a doorway sort of pointing downwards that was filling with water. "Can we go out there?'

[libertin]

Were he not in the process of nearly drowning, he'd have reprimanded her for that. He wasn't been rude. He didn't think her a dog. Well, he didn't think her more a dog than the others did.

"We must try to get out. Can you swim to it? Are you able?" He led the way, though he was not so strong a swimmer himself. At least he could make an attempt.

[gardienne]

No apology then. Eponine gritted her teeth. It would not do to get into an argument now. She needed Courfeyrac to get her out of the ship.

She splashed along behind Courfeyrac, swallowing more than she swam though, or so she thought. But at least her lifejacket kept her somewhat afloat.

"I... I din't exactly have time in Paris, Sir." She answers testily, gasping and snorting in more water as she does.

[libertin]

No, he supposed she wouldn't have had the time nor opportunity to learn, and he felt a bit of guilt over causing her to admit as much. Still, she'd had a chance in the Capitol. Why hadn't she learned there? Never mind, it didn't matter any.

He pushed forth, paddling along as best he could while Eponine flopped and splashed around. When they approached the passageway, he reached out to take her hand, grip failing him on first attempt. "Take hold of me, Eponine! You can float here but I may go under!"

[gardienne]

Eponine splashed forward a little bit, grabbing for Courfeyrac's hand. "I will hold you up, Sir." She said valiantly, as she gripped his wrist as hard as she could with her long, bony fingers.How she planned to follow through on her promise was anyone's guess, but Eponine was surprisingly strong. She might be able to support Courfeyrac for a little while.

[libertin]

He thrashed in the waves, trying to keep himself above water and he grabbed Eponine tightly, using her as a little life raft. It was unfair to do so, and he didn't expect they would be able to survive like that for long, but what other choice did he have?

"I am sorry. I don't think we will make it this time, my dear."

[gardienne]

"And now I am your dear." Eponine chokes out with a sad smile. The life jacket she wears prevents her from going under completely, but Courfeyrac's weight pulls her down as well, though she does nothing to try to save herself by shaking free of his grip.

"Just because we die... oh, but Monsieur, I am so afraid to drown. Will you..." She sighs, her tears mingling with the water droplets dripping from her hair to her cheeks. "Oh, I know how you must hate me, Sir. But please do not leave me alone. Please. Stay with me until we die."

[libertin]

"Of course I shall stay," he said, kicking his feet below the surface to try to stay afloat. The water sloshed up over his lips, coming dangerously close to his nose. "Please do not cry, Eponine. I am sorry to have let you down once more. It was never my intention for anyone to be hurt, let alone you."

Courfeyrac wanted to comfort her, to provide some sort of solace, but he didn't quite have it in him to do so. Instead, he reached to touch her cheek, shaking his head sadly. "Let's not be too scared. Whatever happens, we must be brave now, yes? You are a brave girl. I know you've some fight in you."

[gardienne]

"You've not let me down, Sir." Eponine gurgled. Her head was tipped right back in an effort to stop the water. "You know, I'm sorry? Sorry for everything. All of it." She nodded valiantly though, and coughed as she swallowed water.

"I thought to do this in Paris a few winters ago, when we lived under the bridge." She laughed. "I didn't think it wou-" She coughed as water splashed over her face. "We should just close our eyes, Sir, and hold hands unit-" But the water overwhelmed her that time, and she slipped her arms from the lifejacket holding her afloat, so that she would die the quicker.