ARENA 11-PaneMall

[etcircenses]

It’s pre-dawn when the Tributes are roused from their beds and sent to their tubes. Those who’d been imprisoned for the past few weeks had their heads covered before transport to the staging area, and there’s an air of confusion surrounding just about everything that’s happening until the stylists and managers arrive on the scene and try to calm everyone down. The reunions may be happy, but they're sadly very temporary.

The first clue that something strange is happening comes from their clothing: figure skating costumes with bright colors and sequins and ice skates strapped to their feet. Some may even find it difficult to stand with the blades on their feet, but as they're placed into the arena, all becomes clear. The mall skating rink seems quiet and quaint, especially after weeks of uncertainty and stress. Too bad the peace and quiet can’t last.

20

19

18...

Above the ice rink (which houses all 100+ Tributes) there are floors with shops looking over them. Large, bright fluorescent lights dot the multi-storied ceiling and create a warm, nostalgic glow to the place. Benign music is piped in from various hidden speakers to compliment the intended mood of fun and commerce.

17

16

15…

The countdown continues and the Tributes, some of whom haven’t seen each other in weeks, stare at one another helplessly. That is, until one of them boldly decides to speak.

"We're expected to fight here today," Steve's voice suddenly cuts through the tension in the room. It commands attention without demanding it, a conviction of truth in his tone.

14

13

12...


"To turn on each other through fear and self preservation. And we could give them what they want. A bloodbath," here he pauses longer, lets the reality of his statements sink in. Let people realize what he's saying, that this is a choice.

"Or we can choose not to fight. To instead work together," an option so many seem not to even realize they have. "No one here has to die by our hands today," he knows his speaking won't be without consequence, but he does want to believe he'll be the only one to pay for this.

"This is a risk. One many of you are hesitant to trust, let alone take. But everything we do here is a risk to ourselves and those around us," nothing in the arena comes without putting your life on the line.

"I, for one, am willing to take this risk, to choose not to fight," Steve looks around the room, making eye contact with a few people as he does. He's not telling anyone what to do, this is for them to decides for themselves; their freedom of choice.

But he's got faith in the his fellow tributes. "And I've got a feeling I'm not alone.”

… 3

2

1…

After the countdown ends, there’s a moment of utter still and silence. Then...

BOOOOOOOOOOOM

The room seems to erupt with noise and concussive force. The explosions are so violent that the muzak is paused in its tracks and shakes some of the Tributes off of their pedestals, and after the ice fog and smoke clears, it becomes apparent that fifteen of the Tribute pedestals and exploded there on the ice rink. Fifteen corpses lie mangled on the bloody ice: Deanna Winchester, Danny Fenton, Fili, Kili, Kain Highwind, Perry Kelvin, Julian Bashir, Clint Barton, Karkat Vantas, Sirius Black, Rahm Kota, Cinderella, Bunnymund, Robin, Rock Lee, and Rokk Krin.

The center of the ice rink remains completely intact and stocked with a few dozen keys of varying shapes and sizes. This is the Cornucopia and the Gamemakers are compelling the Tributes to skate for it.

The gong rings out, and the countdown's voice announces “The Arena is now open.” The Games have begun.

Comments

[earthborn]

Honestly, Shepard's just glad to see him alive. Her face is a checkerboard of bruises and scars, and she's carrying her skates after a brief struggle with the laces, quite as if she intends to use them as a weapon. The socks stick to the ice somewhat, particularly with the blood, but at least she isn't falling on her ass, so there's that going for her.

"You look like shit, Rogers," It might be a joke, but she isn't smiling. Then again, that might just be the way half her face is black, one eye still swollen under the blurred eagle-scar left behind by the Capitol's brand, "It's a hell of a thing."

[aboveangrybees]

The brand on Steve's face edges his mouth, enough that smiling or talking breaks the scabs, reopens the wound, letting fresh blood drip down his face and along his jaw. He's already reopened it by making the speech and his pain tolerance is incredibly high, so he doesn't bother to keep from talking. Smiling he does keep from doing.

"Imagine so, not that you're looking much better," his tone is dry, but there's a humor if you squint. Never say he doesn't take the chance when presented. "I knew the risks," for the jailbreak, for the speech, all of it.

[earthborn]

"Eh. Soldiers die in war," She is really very tired and, after a minute, looks down, then bends to pick up the bit of detritus with the hand that's not swollen with broken bones. It's a key, neatly engraved with a number, which had stuck to her sock on the way over, "Look, I should warn you. One of my crew is..."

Maybe that was premature-- she glanced around, taking stock. Yeah, no such luck.

"...Jack's not gonna react well to any of this. Lot of tattoos, partially shaved head. If they turn the power back on, you're kind of up a creek, so I'd advise you to stay out of her way, if you can. She'd kick my ass even on a good day, and today is not a great day."

[aboveangrybees]

It's relieving to hear her say that. It doesn't make him feel any less remorseful for the lives lost, not at all, but it's like a weight is off his shoulders to know at least one person - someone he respects - understands war and what comes of action and bravery. Like he said, he knew the risks of taking a stand. And regrets nothing.

He listens intently to her warning, knowing if she was thinking it was worth mentioning, then it was worth him paying attention. Especially, if Shepard is admitting this woman could kick her ass, definitely a warning to heed.

"I'll keep her in mind, avoid if I can. Will I be someone she'll target? Or just a friendly warning?" He needs to know if she'll be gunning for him, that perhaps just seeing him might provoke her.

[earthborn]

"She was raised in a Cerberus facility with the intention of turning her into a weapon. She knows me, and my people; we have a good history, so we might get a pass, but..."

She thought about Jack, only passably reasonable at the best of times. No students or responsibilities to ground her, no real rules beyond the ones she'd always lived by. One year wasn't enough to make a real code of ethics stick, not really.

"Like I said. You look like you can take it," Perhaps not right now, at this moment, he didn't, but the perception of vulnerability wouldn't do him any favors either, "I'm gonna say, if you're breathing, you're a target. Good luck."

[aboveangrybees]

Shepard and her crew might get a pass. That says a whole hell of a lot.

Despite himself, he feels his mouth twitch up ever so slightly when she says he can take it. Sure, he's not as bad off as Shepard, but they both know he's not in any shape to take on someone who's likely in much better condition. But the the twitch of a smile doesn't linger.

"She sounds like a pistol," he gives her a nod in understanding. "Well, thank you, it's good to have an idea of who to watch out for," he does appreciate the warning. It's something he can pass it on to his other allies. "Sounds like you could use some good luck yourself."

[earthborn]

"More like a grenade, with the pin pulled," It wasn't a matter of whether or not Jack would explode, it was a matter when, and of which one of them would be caught in the blast radius. There was nothing she could do to stop it, the way things were, "She's alright, when she's not..."

Shepard gestured in a vaguely encompassing fashion. The whole Capitol had seen footage of the Hulk in action, so maybe Steve probably knew the feeling.

"Something about odds being in your favor, right?" that's a dismissal, of a sort; she turns away, "Good hunting."

[aboveangrybees]

Yeah, Steve has a history with grenades, so he's still not scared off, but it does give a better idea of her being a more uncontrolled destruction that controlled like a pistol. Shep's right to think he'd understand the feeling. He's never been in the path of this kind of destruction, but he's fought along side it.

He really wants to help her, she looks battered, far beyond his own state, but he knows she's unlikely to accept it. Much more likely to accept it from her crew than Steve. Besides, she's a tough woman, he doubts her injuries will slow her down too much anyway.

"Sounds about right, at least a fighting chance," he says it in parting, making no move to stop her. "Fare well, Commander," not a goodbye, just expressing his hope she does well.