etcircenses: (Default)
Panem Events ([personal profile] etcircenses) wrote in [community profile] thearena2014-08-18 09:38 pm

ARENA 11-PaneMall

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.
bunnybrat: (Why is this happening)

[personal profile] bunnybrat 2014-08-19 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
"B-But they're all..." She can't bring herself to finish the sentence, and even with the tugging it takes a little longer than it probably should for her to stop looking at the bodies and look at Joel.

While still visibly horrified she does look at his outfit slowly.

"It" She hiccoughs and scrubs at a tearful eye with the heel of her hand. "It isn't stupid."

Even with the hairy-bear chest she thinks the outfit is actually kind of pretty, but then, Chibi-Usa also used to like watching things like Ice Skating when it was on TV.
aintyourdad: (Default)

[personal profile] aintyourdad 2014-08-19 06:25 am (UTC)(link)
"It's pretty damn stupid," he says gently, not for purposes of actually arguing with her, but as an attempt at distraction. Don't look at the bodies. Look at the kindly old guy with the sparkly costume.

"C'mere, let me help you get those skates off, you'll walk a lot easier without 'em."
bunnybrat: (Looking up)

[personal profile] bunnybrat 2014-08-19 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
"I think it looks good, like a superhero outfit."

She nods when he talks about taking her skates off and she moves her legs so they're more in front of her and starts working the laces. Then she stops and looks up.

"But I've only got socks on. My feet will get wet."

Yes Chibi-Usa. This is what's important right now.
aintyourdad: (Default)

[personal profile] aintyourdad 2014-08-19 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll carry you if you're worried about that," Joel says immediately, and then frowns a little before shaking off the sudden anxious feeling the mental image brings him.

This isn't that.

"Let's do it quick, there might be bad people around," he urges her.
bunnybrat: (Screams)

[personal profile] bunnybrat 2014-08-19 08:00 am (UTC)(link)
"Well..." She looks at her boots, thinking about if she's really worried or just so used to how things go in Japan with it's rather rigid formalities.

She looks up quickly when he tells her to hurry, so she goes about working hard and getting the puts off, luckily they slip off quickly enough.

"Done."

She starts to stand up, but still manages to fall before getting anywhere.

"Uwah!"
aintyourdad: (Default)

[personal profile] aintyourdad 2014-08-19 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
He can see it coming, the loss of balance, the flailing arms. He reaches out, catches her under the arms to keep her from landing completely flat on her butt.

Then he swings her up into his arms to get her off the ice - and away from the corpses - quickly.

"Just hang onto me." She's small, not heavy, Joel's had much heavier burdens in his life. It's just a couple hundred feet, tops, to the edge of the rink anyway.
bunnybrat: (Needs a hug)

[personal profile] bunnybrat 2014-08-21 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah!" is all he gets out of her as he scoops her up, and she clings to his shirt automatically, proving that if nothing else that she has a good grip and the ability not to accidentally choke people helping her.

"Okay."

Not so weirdly, Joel doing this has made her feel a little homesick, after all her own father would pick her up protectively and keep her safe as best he can. The thoughts make her cling to his shirt just a little tighter.
aintyourdad: (Default)

[personal profile] aintyourdad 2014-08-21 07:29 am (UTC)(link)
It's not a feeling he likes. He pushes it away, the terrible deja-vu. Just keep lookin' at me, baby. He sucks in a breath, reminds himself where he is and who this girl is - not Sarah - and sort of half-skids across the ice to the edge of the rink as she clings to him.

He's short of breath by the time he gets there, and sets her down, but it's not because of the physical effort involved. It's pretty unceremonious, when he drops her to her feet again, and his jaw is clenched as he looks away for a moment, collecting himself.

"There. You're - you're alright." Stay with me. "Not hurt, or anything."
bunnybrat: (Hmmmmmmm)

[personal profile] bunnybrat 2014-08-24 10:32 am (UTC)(link)
There's a second where Chibi-Usa stumbles before turning to look up at Joel, she knows she's not that heavy, and he wasn't skating at a speed that would need him to pant, she wrings her hands at him, even at her age, however she knows that he's looking away to take a moment.

"No. No not hurt. Just a little cold. But I'm okay." Then she can't hold back anymore. "Are you okay?"
aintyourdad: (Default)

[personal profile] aintyourdad 2014-08-24 10:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm fine," Joel says immediately, because what is he supposed to tell this girl? That carrying her suddenly brought him back in time twenty years, to the daughter he lost? That's not a burden she needs to have.

"I'm fine," he repeats, glancing back at her. "You see any friends? You can, uh. Stick with me until you find your people." If she has people. She's pretty new. Christ. He clenches his fists a moment, and takes another breath.
bunnybrat: (Looking up)

[personal profile] bunnybrat 2014-08-27 12:27 am (UTC)(link)
"Are you." She starts, but then shakes her head, thinking better of it. Getting on her tip toes, she looks around to see if she can see anyone she knows.

When she spots Mindy she points.

"I know her."
aintyourdad: (Default)

[personal profile] aintyourdad 2014-08-31 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Mindy. Of course. Well, that's something. Mindy shouldn't even be here, it's probably part of her punishment.

"Up to you, who you wanna go with," he says. "I have to find some more people before I leave here, it could be dangerous."

His breathing goes back to normal and it's almost like that little episode didn't happen. As far as Joel is concerned, it didn't.
bunnybrat: (On a swing)

[personal profile] bunnybrat 2014-09-02 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
"I can go to Mindy. I don't want to be any trouble for you."

She gives him a concerned look, still worrying about him, clearly.

"Are you sure you're okay? Maybe we can ask Mindy to come with us maybe? then there's more people to help you look for who you're looking for?"

Really she's just worried he'll start freaking out again and doesn't want him to be alone, just in case.
aintyourdad: (Default)

[personal profile] aintyourdad 2014-09-03 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm fine, really," he insists with a shake of his head. And it's true - it was a momentary weakness, nothing more. It's already a thing of the past. Moving on. He waves her off. "It's alright, go find your friend. There's Tess, now." He points. "It'll be fine."
bunnybrat: (Pose)

[personal profile] bunnybrat 2014-09-08 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
She pouts a little but then nods, she turns to start to leave but after a few feet she turns to look at him.

"When the arena is finished. Can we have cake together?"

After all she wants to thank him for helping and this is the best she can think of.
aintyourdad: (Default)

[personal profile] aintyourdad 2014-09-10 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
He's about to turn back to his own search, when her question draws his attention back to her.

"Cake. Uh, yeah, sure kid."

He means it, too. At some point, he'll happily take her out for cake, or whatever she wants.