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.
actually112: (Get ready to fly!)

[personal profile] actually112 2014-08-22 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
It's a dragon. A living dragon.

He has to resist the urge to pet her, to feel the scales. Somehow, that seems deeply disrespectful, even though he'd do it with one of the original airbenders no problem.

Then he releases her and backs up a little, not wanting to provoke the dragon's temper.

"Do you need some help with those skates?" He could take them off pretty easily with his hands.
letthemburn: (not so fireproof)

[personal profile] letthemburn 2014-08-24 06:46 am (UTC)(link)
Petting isn't much something that Iskierka is used to. Still, she seems mostly curious as opposed to angry. Especially given that Aang proceeds to ask about the skates.

"Oh yes, if it would be no trouble."

She won't deny that shredding them hasn't been quite enjoyable, but having an actual pair of hands will help get them off in a hurry. And that means that she'll actually have the footing she wants as opposed to being left half-unsteady on a pair of entirely superfluous blades.
actually112: (Aw baby Hope)

[personal profile] actually112 2014-08-25 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
He nods and leans down, shuffling closer to the dragon's hind legs and unlacing the skates.

"Okay, I think you can pull your feet out."

He holds both the skates so the dragon can more easily withdraw from them.
letthemburn: (not so fireproof)

[personal profile] letthemburn 2014-08-27 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
She doesn't need to be told twice, pulling her feet out of the skates neatly - first the left and then the right, without any consideration for the fact that it means that her claws are momentarily in close proximity to Aang's hands. Fortunately, she's also more interested in getting a good hold on the ice than shredding anyone's hands today. In fact, her claws are digging into the ice as soon as they're down again.

"That is much better, thank you."
actually112: (I'm a normal school kid! I swear!)

[personal profile] actually112 2014-08-29 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Don't worry about it."

Aang skillfully avoids the claws. He's dodged more directed things before, and he just picks up her ice skates and lets them hang loosely at his side. No need to leave them lying around and make the ice more dangerous than it already is. "Do you need any help getting off the ice?"
letthemburn: (not so fireproof)

[personal profile] letthemburn 2014-08-30 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
She doesn't shake her head, quite. She's not really got the right sort of neck for it. But she makes a gesture that's perhaps the next best thing, under the the circumstances.

"That will be easy," she answers. "It is only a little slippery, and much soft than rock besides. It was only those things that made it at all difficult; that they're gone will be ever so convenient."

Enough that she'll be able to get back to the actually interesting part of the Arena much easier, and that's certainly a plus, by her standards.