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.
69problems: <user name="debonairbear" site="tumblr.com"> (xtra | Spilled milk tears)

[personal profile] 69problems 2014-08-23 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
The good thing (for the Signless, anyway) was that years of trying to not die had given him excellent reflexes. He jerked away from the sudden attack, managing to keep his throat all in one piece.

The bad news was that he still didn't move fast enough, probably from a mix of stress and already being in less than peak condition thanks to the time he spent in jail. The blade of the skate caught one of his horns instead and glanced off, leaving a crack and making him stumble backward with a noise of pain. Great. This arena was off to a lovely start.
calledmenasir: (Warrior)

[personal profile] calledmenasir 2014-08-25 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Nasir hadn't expected a quick kill. His enemies here usually proved harder than that. But catching the horn was an unwelcome surprise, probably dulling the edge or causing notches in it.

Whether the blade was compromised or not, Nasir pressed forward and quickly spun with both skates facing out to tear at both Signless's chest and belly. It was a fast move and, while it left him exposed briefly, Nasir determined that his fellow Tribute had been caught off guard enough not to press advantage. He had faith in his own abilities as well.
69problems: 50shadesofgey (xtra | Hold me)

[personal profile] 69problems 2014-08-31 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
Signless had to weigh his options here. He could try to run, but he didn't trust himself to be able to run for long enough to escape someone this determined, or that there was anywhere to escape to in an enclosed area like this. He could try reasoning, but he had a sneaking suspicion that wouldn't work here.

There was only one course of action left, then. Ignoring the dull ache settling into his horn, he jerked back just enough that the skates, while they certainly connected, didn't leave more than tears in his outfit and superficial cuts. Long ones, ones he was going to be very annoyed by if they managed to get infected, but nowhere near deep enough to puncture anything vital. That was the important part.

Then he slipped in while Nasir was for just that moment left open and, not being terribly well versed in combat, attempted to just ram hard enough into him to wind him or leave him stunned.
calledmenasir: (Warrior)

[personal profile] calledmenasir 2014-08-31 06:35 pm (UTC)(link)
The move caught Nasir off guard. Slight as he was, Signless's body knocked him back and his feet scrambled for purchase on the tiled floor. He slid back farther away from the troll. He had to take a moment to fill his lungs again, then he moved forward again to press the attack but Signless had already bought himself precious time.
69problems: <user name="rumminov" site="tumblr.com"> (xtra | Drinking it in)

[personal profile] 69problems 2014-09-09 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
He certainly hadn't expected to really wind Nasir on the first go, extremely lucky as that would have been. Just running was a tempting option, but if his attacker could still move then he'd most likely just wind up dragging the fight somewhere else.

With that in mind he slammed forward again, trying to use Nasir's own momentum against him. He was pretty sure humans were a little less threatening than trolls in that if you hit them enough times they'd eventually give up.
calledmenasir: (I will avenge your abs)

[personal profile] calledmenasir 2014-09-10 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
That knocked the breath from Nasir's lungs. He fell but as he did he tried to slash Signless anywhere he could as long as the skate blade would sink into his skin.

But all too soon he was flat on his back, the bruises on his chest and stomach aching sharply as new ones joined them to turn yellowing brown into violent purple.

Still, Nasir was not done and he eased himself-- slowly-- onto his feet.
69problems: <user name="robokatar"> | <user name="everking" site="tumblr.com"> (10 | Hold tight!)

[personal profile] 69problems 2014-09-18 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
Why wouldn't this human give up? Part of him wanted to say 'please, please stay down so I can just leave', but anyone this determined probably wouldn't listen. The places those skate blades had cut into him stung but he ignored them, instead putting all his desperation into one last slam of his shoulder into Nasir's chest before he could fully recover.

If that didn't work he'd just have to run and hope his assailant would take long enough to get back on his feet that he wouldn't see any point in following. Or, at least, would give him a good head start.
calledmenasir: (Do not call me little)

[personal profile] calledmenasir 2014-09-18 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Nasir nearly went off his feet again but he'd braced himself for this possibility. He did stagger though. Pain went through his chest, burning with a fire that still didn't compare to what he had been through before. But he reeled back and panted as he fought the pain.

Then his eyes shot up to Signless, anger filling them in addition to the determination that had been there before.

He would not give up.
69problems: <user name="paperseverywhere" site="tumblr.com"> (xtra | Now I know why)

[personal profile] 69problems 2014-09-20 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
Well. That was it, then. It was time to cut his losses and run. He took a few steps back, eyes locked on Nasir's with an expression somewhere between apology and fear, and then turned and sprinted in the opposite direction.
calledmenasir: (Default)

[personal profile] calledmenasir 2014-09-20 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Once again, Nasir pulled himself together and made to go after Signless. But he quickly realized that he needed to find better weapons and take stock of the arena. There were too many Tributes. It was too crowded and if he exhausted himself he would be an easy target.

So he stopped. Signless would live-- for now.