Mini Arena 3

[etcircenses]

The kids are picked up from the daycare bright and early, but by the Capitol instead of their parents. It's just like old times in the arenas, with only children to contend.

25 - 24 - 23

Stylists are starting to get used to the mini-arenas, though it doesn't mean they've been allowed to dress tributes in whatever they want. All the tributes will be dressed as proxy copy of a respective video game character. All tributes are reminded about the ticket rules for this round.

20 - 19 - 18 - 17 - 16

The platforms lift them up, and there is no cornucopia to be seen. The only way tributes will be able to help and protect themselves is if they go out of their way to harm another tribute and get the tickets, which will be tallied by their watches. The lights of the games flicker and glow within the dark. Classic video game fight tunes play overhead. Before them lay a great and stretching obstacle course, filled with animatronic enemies and various other hazards.

11- 10 - 9 - 8

They've all been warned, don't step off your pedestal early. They have also been warned to put on a good show. That's all this is about, a good show. None of them have been told that there can be multiple winners this time around.

5 - 4

3

2

The sound of the gong plays crystal clear across the opening. The games have begun.

[OOC: Remember, this is forwardated by a week.]

Comments

[a_minute_younger]

Gary is in a hurry for several reasons--the fact that this is a race notwithstanding, adrenaline from injuries and the lingering paranoia that some of the people he's fought previously are chasing him fuels his progress forward, in spite of the cuts and bruises marring the exposed skin beneath the rips in his costume. The fact that the large water bottle hanging at his side is empty is telling for his mood, which is less than peachy when he comes up behind Kenny and tries to run him off the side.

"Come on, shorty, move faster or get out of the way!" he snaps, and aims a shove at Kenny's head for good measure.

[korosu]

At this point, Kenny's own water bottle has about a quarter of the stuff left. He's been trying to ration it out, but it's so good, and all this climbing and leaping through the jaws of death makes him get thirsty pretty easily. In his own mind he's a force not to be reckoned with; he will not stand for any more of these stupid assholes trying to screw him over. So when this douchebag yells and shoves at him he whips around with fire in his eyes, snarling like a fluffy pink chihuahua.

"Eat shit and die, pigfucker!" Even if the words are muffled beyond comprehension, the naked rage within them is quite plain to hear. Especially since he grabs onto one of the ropes and proceeds to use it as leverage to launch himself forward, the top of his hard skull aimed for a place that only a "shorty" like him could manage.

[a_minute_younger]

Gary does not have time to regret his decision; too busy moving forward, assuming that he would be able to easily brush off this younger opponent, the last thing Gary suspects is for Kenny to strike back. In the nuts. Again. Gary is not fond of this apparent trend. He crumples backwards, towards the rope mesh on his side of the bridge.

"You tiny sonofabitch!" the teen hisses through clenched teeth--the only warning he'll give before lurching out a hand to attempt to grab Kenny by his fluffy parka. If he's falling into the ropes, he sure as hell is going to try and take Kenny down with him.

[korosu]

Kenny was all ready to brush himself off and move on, but this guy's not going to make it easy for him now. He's barely taken a step as the other boy falls back before a set of fingers wrap around a thick section of fabric and yank him down.

He's kind of flailing now, some garbled muffled noise escaping him as he kicks out with his skinny legs, hoping to connect... somewhere. Anywhere. Gary's face, his arm, his balls again, whatever. One wildly grasping hand seeks purchase on the top of his head, likely grabbing a fistful of the guy's hair in the process, before Kenny proceeds to make a grab for one of the ropes. Kicking and shrieking all the while.

"FUCK. YOU!!"

[a_minute_younger]

A more sane Gary would rationalize that Kenny is apparently having some kind of conniption and try to carry him somewhere less dangerous, where he could pin him, keep him there and wait for him to calm down. A Gary that's practically frothing at the mouth from spiked punch is looking for a more permanent solution to this problem.

Kenny's flailing punches and kicks find their marks many times over, enough to stir Gary into a frenzy while he tries to recover. Some abuse later and he decides that he can strike back. Gary hasn't let go of Kenny's coat; he uses it as leverage, hoping to hold the younger boy still by the scruff of the neck, lets out a feral howl, and aims a headbutt at Kenny's forehead. One headbutt for another is only fair, right?

[korosu]

It definitely connects with a loud thump-- although it may sound all the more deafening to Kenny just based on proximity alone. And it fucking hurts. Like, a lot. He groans in agony and staggers backwards, momentarily stunned. His skull isn't cracked or anything but it sure as Hell feels like it.

At least one eye's gotta remain trained on the other guy, lest he get another jump on him. One hand clutching his forehead, Kenny lashes out with his fist toward Gary's face, even as his vision's blurred.

[a_minute_younger]

Gary is, at this point, suffering pretty badly himself; with Kenny's strikes compounding his already aching bruises, actually getting up and into a better position is quite the endeavor. He staggers sideways off the rope mesh and back onto the bridge, noticeably limping, just barely able to make it to the other side to rest before Kenny lashes out again.

The punch glances off Gary's cheek but carries enough force to twist his head and make his teeth ache. There's a pause as he drags a hand over the rapidly swelling lump. No blood. Okay. Gary strikes back with his other hand, aiming an uppercut at Kenny's jaw.

[korosu]

The uppercut is dulled, a little, by the cushioning his fluffy hood provides... but not by much. Especially since Gary is bigger than him and all. It throbs beneath the fabric, the place where Gary's fist connected, and it will likely leave a bruise later. Kenny lets out a muffled noise of pain, his foot automatically kicking out toward the guy's shin.

The longer this goes on, the more angry he feels-- the pain only compounds it. Rearing back, Kenny yanks down the bottom portion of his hood and proceeds to fling himself into Gary's direction again, half-leaping at him. The little tyke makes a grab for his forearm this time, fully intent on chomping through the damn thing. Costume, skin and all.

[a_minute_younger]

The attack was made on an impulse--Gary had no plans beyond just punching Kenny really hard and hoping for the best--so he's in no position to dodge any of the kid's counters. The kick to his shin knocks him to a half-kneel, holding himself up with the overhanging mesh with one arm. This happens to be the arm that Kenny sinks his teeth into.

"Fuck!" Gary lets go of the mesh. Almost immediately he loses his footing on the thin planks and starts to fall through.

[korosu]

"HAH!"

Kenny goes staggering backward (and fuck, that tasted kind of gross)-- but he's all pleased and triumphant as he watches his assailant go down. That'll teach that prick to fuck with him. "Shorty" his ass. The hood's adjusted back into place, and Kenny proudly struts past where Gary's left hanging.

Actually, it's more like half-stumbling--a combination from limping painfully and the unsteady structure beneath his feet--and half-scampering, but who's really keeping track.

"Bye, asshole!" A farewell kick's half-heatedly aimed at the vicinity of Gary's shoulder/neck/head for good measure. Kenny's not really paying attention. Getting the fuck out of dodge is vastly more important. This bridge sucks major balls, even bigger ones than this dude's.

[a_minute_younger]

While his abilities are still dulled, Gary nevertheless has very quick reflexes. He catches one of the planks with his elbow and wraps his arm around it on the way through; there's an unpleasant sort of snapping noise as the wood splinters but the ensemble holds, and holds Gary with it. He takes the next few moments to catch his breath, get a grip on the bridge with his other arm and pull himself up, hissing and cursing the entire way. The kick to his temple just seems to make him angrier.

Better run quick, Kenny.

[korosu]

He hears the movement behind him, and Kenny whips his head around, assessing what's going on over a shoulder. It's never good form to look back when you're trying to escape, but--

Yep, dude looks pissed off all right.

The bridge creaks and rattles under his feet, and Kenny grips the ropes tight, fighting back a yelp. This time he's not lunging for the other guy, but simply darting forward in an effort to get as far away as possible before Gary can catch up to him. In the hopes that he won't, ultimately.

I think that's a wrap!

[a_minute_younger]

As angry as Gary is, he apparently isn't angry enough--if he was, he'd be able to keep up with Kenny. He staggers and stumbles on the gaps in the bridge, clutching desperately at the ropes, but no amount of throwing himself forward and willing his legs to work can make him close the distance. Kenny will get away. Gary stops and lets out a long, feral howl of rage.

"That's right!" he shouts, voice hoarse. "You better fucking run!"