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

[aboveangrybees]

Her reaction has Steve immediately stops in his tracks and holds up his hands in a gesture to indicate that he means her no harm. By no means does he want to make her panic or freak out, so he keeps his distance. He knows words don't always mean a lot, but this is quite the young girl, who is freaking out, so he needed to use words until she was comfortable enough for him to approach.

"Woah, hey, I'm not here to hurt you," Steve keeps his voice gentle and calm, hoping to calm her in turn. "I won't come any closer for now, promise."

If she looks at him, he takes a step back, his hands still held up. "I just want to help if I can."

[arrhenphobia]

While Mariko could hear Steve clearly, even over her own screaming, she still couldn't fully register the words he was saying to her. Not when the panic was this strong.

It was only after running out of breath (which, granted, didn't take much time) that she stopped her shrieking and yanking on the door handle. She breathed slowly and heavily both in and out, trying to calm down from her panic attack as his words finally sank in to Mariko.

He was here to help. It was most likely lie. A cruel lie to make her to let him closer so that it'd be easier for him to attack her. But then again, water was still rising rather quickly and with no way out she'd end up drowning in no time. She was doomed either way.

Without letting go of the door handle, Mariko hesitantly looked over her shoulder to face the man again. When she saw him backing off a little, she felt more courageous and calmer than before. It felt like she had the control over the situation.

"I--" she started as the tears gathered back to her eyes. "I don't want to die. Not again!"

[aboveangrybees]

This was the first time he's seen anyone react this visceral over his years of war, not even in the last arena. But it hasn't been often in his life that he's cornered someone unintentionally, especially a young girl. So, he's just patient, lets her reach a calmer state all on her own, lets her take the next move.

Though, when the water reaches waist height, he feels a small spark of impatience. He keeps that to himself. Rushing her won't help anything.

"I don't want you to die either," he doesn't want anyone to die and maybe she'll believe the earnest tone or maybe she won't, but he's being very honest. "Let me help you, I can get us both out of here."

[arrhenphobia]

"Don't lie to me!" She shouted back and clutched harder on the door handle. "I know you are just going to pull me underwater to drown me! I know what people like you are and I can see right through you and your sweet words! So don't lie to me!"

Even though her voice turned back to screaming nearing the end, there was no panic or anger in it. She was just barking desperately, trying her to best to stay strong and not to give in to this stranger.

[aboveangrybees]

Steve actually just raises his eyebrows at her, clearly unbothered by the accusations she's throwing his way. She clearly doesn't know what people like him are, because if she did, she'd know he wasn't going to do any of that. Still, she was scared and cornered and he couldn't blame her for being cautious.

"Look, I can't prove to you I'm not lying unless you let me help you," what could he say to convince her. Well, he could just be totally honest here. His voice is just steady and calm and honest, "If I wanted you dead, I'd just leave, not stay here risking my own neck. I can help you, but that's something you have to decide, kid." And that's just the harsh reality, she's as good as dead unless he helps her.

[arrhenphobia]

Mariko bit down on her lower lip. The man was right and they both knew it very well. She was just barking at the poor guy, standing in a freezing water for her, and wasting their precious time. The reason within her told her to give in and let the man help, but still the fear-filled instincts kept nagging not to trust him.

But really? What other choice did she have? The water still kept rising faster and at this rate they both will end up dead.

"I." She closed her eyes and took deep breath before looking at him again. "You can move closer. Slowly."

[aboveangrybees]

Okay, it was progress. He wonders what it is about him that's terrifying her so badly, but right now isn't the time to find out. Besides, it might not help to know, it could be something about himself that he can't change.

"Alright, slow," he can do slow and so he does. The water does impede his movement, so slowly walking wasn't difficult. He kept his hands up and obvious, not hiding them or any of his movements. "My name's Steve, I'm in District 9," talking helps some people, so might as well see.

[arrhenphobia]

It really did help that she was able to stay in control of the situation. Mariko watched carefully each of his movement, telling herself in her mind that she could send him away at any minute she wanted to.

"Mariko," she says with a quiet voice, her grip tightening around the door handle the closer he gets. "How do you plan to help me?"

[aboveangrybees]

"Miss Mariko," he nods respectfully in a greeting way. He's glad she's not screaming again, so, since it seems to be working, he just continues as he has been, making no sudden movements. His voice is calm and mostly steady, "Well, you can get on my back and I'll trudge through the water til we find a way up. Then you're free to go your separate way or continue on to the deck together."

It's a simple plan, but he doesn't have a while lot else to offer right now.

[arrhenphobia]

"What?" She asks, her face turning white like a sheet and eyes widening. "No no no no no! That is out of question! Completely impossible!" So much for staying calm and in control of her panic. He was telling her to touch him. He wanted her to wrap her arms around him. The idea of it alone made her shiver both from fear and revulsion.

"No! I can't do that! It's-- no!" She cries out, while still trying to catch her breath as she began to hyperventilate.

[aboveangrybees]

Steve immediately stops, eyebrows going up. She's back to screaming. Great. Well, the only part she could really be freaking out over is the touching.

"Hey, okay, no piggy back, got it," well, he can try to think of something else fast. This water isn't getting any shallower. He's working a little blind here, kid.

"If you can brave the water, we'll use my jacket like a tether, so if you slip or the current gets strong, you won't get swept away, that better?" Best he can think of. The water height was only going to work for so much longer before it was too deep for her. He kind of wishes he hadn't lost his rope now.

[arrhenphobia]

"I- I can't!" She whimpers and tried to calm her breathing down. "No. It's..I can't touch a man!" Normally Mariko never had any troubles with expressing her discomfort around men, but for some reason it was difficult this time. It didn't feel right.

She turns her head away from him to hide her tears and counted to ten in her head, taking slow deep breaths.

"But it doesn't matter anymore. We are both going to die here!"