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.
hit_girl_mindy: (GTFOH)

[personal profile] hit_girl_mindy 2014-08-20 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, she was the one picking at it! Who even DOES that?!

"Yeah, actually, I am. I figure you're gonna want to win this one Good luck on your own."

She knew she'd slow her down, and she understood that.
shedevilwithsword: (Ready)

[personal profile] shedevilwithsword 2014-08-20 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Sonja does, apparently.

"I don't wish to win anything." She saw that last winner's circle. It was not something that the red head wanted to be a part of. Sonja didn't wish to give them such a satisfaction of making her into some sort of show pony for their amusement.
hit_girl_mindy: (Mists (Mindy))

[personal profile] hit_girl_mindy 2014-08-20 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Mindy was quiet at that. She'd heard some people say they didn't want to win it, but she never pictured she'd be one of them. This bothered her.

"All right then," she said quietly. "Then just chose your way to die, on your own terms. Not that you need me to tell you that."
shedevilwithsword: (Default)

[personal profile] shedevilwithsword 2014-08-20 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Sonja noticed that and sighed. "Not all battles should be won or fought."

Though she wasn't exactly going to choose how she died! nor would she make it all that easy.
hit_girl_mindy: (You're gonna die.)

[personal profile] hit_girl_mindy 2014-08-20 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah. Then again, now that I think about it, I can't picture you doing my job of standing around and catering to sponsors."

She knew that she wouldn't go easy, of course. It was HER, after all.
shedevilwithsword: (Smirk)

[personal profile] shedevilwithsword 2014-08-21 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
Yes you can, you can so picture it right now, Sonja the Conqueror wearing business attire and talking business stuff. It would so be worth it.

"Hm...no, I suppose I couldn't do that."
hit_girl_mindy: (Eyes wide open (Mindy))

[personal profile] hit_girl_mindy 2014-08-21 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
"If you find someone you can help out, that's your business. Me, well, I make my priorities. I already won this fuckshow once. I'm not thirsting for it like them. But I'm going to make them remember how I won this shit last time."

And if Mindy could do that, obviously so could Sonja.
shedevilwithsword: (Come)

[personal profile] shedevilwithsword 2014-08-21 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
"Are you saying that you don't need help then?"

Because really, Mindy could probably use any help she could get. Along with others who were imprisoned. They were being left out, high and dry after all. With little hope for aid from the outside.
hit_girl_mindy: (Civil clothing (Mindy))

[personal profile] hit_girl_mindy 2014-08-21 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
OK, maybe she was being hasty there. Saying she didn't need help meant refusing aid, and while she could try to go along as she could, Chibi Usa needed the aid.

"How could you help?"
shedevilwithsword: (Ready)

[personal profile] shedevilwithsword 2014-08-21 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
"In anyway that I can."

Whether that be fighting or just plain surviving. Sonja would lend an extra hand to lighten the work load. Besides, Mindy seemed to know more about this place than her.
hit_girl_mindy: (GTFOH)

[personal profile] hit_girl_mindy 2014-08-21 06:08 am (UTC)(link)
Mindy considered this.

"I'm sure they'll have resources for drink and for weapons, they always do. But its food I'm after, something I can stockpile. I'm going to be adding someone to my party soon, and its important she stay fed. The fighting won't start right away, but when it does, we'll need a place where we can combine our strength."

She paused. "Like you, losing's not a big deal to me. I won already. But there's someone I have to protect."
shedevilwithsword: (Come)

[personal profile] shedevilwithsword 2014-08-21 06:29 am (UTC)(link)
"I see...then protect them well."

It was left unsaid, but Sonja knows food is a scarce commodity. And to add another mouth to the mix would make it harder to keep everyone fed. Even if food and water was provided, you still have to stockpile everything carefully.
hit_girl_mindy: (Black and white (Mindy))

[personal profile] hit_girl_mindy 2014-08-21 06:32 am (UTC)(link)
"I plan to."

Food was always was the worst thing to come by, and made more so by Mindy's punishment. It was bad enough her body had been pushing its limit, but worse when they were lacking the nutrients needed to make her able to stomach it all.

She wiped her forehead. "Wish I had a little of your endurance."
shedevilwithsword: (Ready)

[personal profile] shedevilwithsword 2014-08-21 07:51 am (UTC)(link)
Endurance was both a blessing and a curse. She had gone hungry on more than one occasion and knew how to deal with it. But she also went hungry much more quickly than others because of her athletic build it was a double edged sword.

"It does come in handy at times."
hit_girl_mindy: (sultry for some reason)

[personal profile] hit_girl_mindy 2014-08-21 07:54 am (UTC)(link)
"I usually have it up the ass, but...the torture lasted longer for me than you, remember? Body's still dealing with the aches and rattling bone here and there. My face has definitely felt better."

Oh, she has the speed and strength still, but she was getting dizzier and feeling less energetic with the lack of food.
shedevilwithsword: (Default)

[personal profile] shedevilwithsword 2014-08-21 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course it did, she knows that Mindy was there longer. How could she not? It was the entire reason behind the rescue attempt.

"Then perhaps we should find something to help you heal."
hit_girl_mindy: (Black and white (Mindy))

[personal profile] hit_girl_mindy 2014-08-21 08:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"If you can find one," Mindy said. "Like I said, I'm looking after the girl. I hope I get a first aid kit, but if I can't, well, I got something to do until I'm spent."