The Missing Piece

[wizardplease]

Who| Haruto Soma, various people, and possibly you!
What| This arena isn't going how Haruto hoped it would, but he's determined to survive it anyway. Even if he has to go it alone.
Where| Around? (By the river, then the caves.)
When| Throughout weeks 1 and 2 (see prompts)
Warnings/Notes| - death in Nitou's prompt


Very Early Week 1 - Closed to Kousuke Nitou

It was a reversal of fortune from the last arena that the pair were in. Haruto was the one who had scored some supplies and come out of it fit and fine, and his rival was the one that had the worst of it. And sure, he teased at first, when he found the guy semi-conscious and not particularly lucid hiding in the underbrush, but there was genuine worry beneath it. A broken nose and some broken ribs shouldn't have left the guy so... out of it.

But he'd helped him away, kept him moving and talking until nightfall, and found a sheltered spot in a cluster of trees to sit and rest and attempt to make camp. Attempt being the operative idea here, because Haruto was no master of wilderness survival and somehow making sparks to ignite tinder via rubbing two sticks together was something he hadn't gotten much practice in back in the training room.

"Alright, alright... this time, I've got it. This time!" Aaaand he's right back at rapidlly rolling those sticks back and forth, hands getting numb from friction and the evening's oncoming chill, determined to make this work and not look like a hapless idiot in front of Mr. Mayo.


A - Mid-Week 1 - Teach a Man To Fish and Maybe He'll Actually Catch Something

Fishing's maybe not the best choice of activity to be attempting. He's down by the river in a spot where he's fairly sure he can hear and see people coming along, having fashioned a fishing pole out of a long stick, unravelled threads from his shirt, and a safety pin from the first aid kit he had managed to grab from the cornucopia. He has baited it with a pickled radish from the jar of preserved vegetables that he had also gotten. He's pretty sure he's doing this wrong. Or at least not sufficiently correctly. He has had no nibbles, and he has twitched at every rustle of the wind... and he can't stop thinking about how much easier this would be if Nitou was here.

He is not going to dip into the 'medicinal' vodka that Nitou sent him earlier in the day. He is not. He is going to catch a damned fish, eat the damned fish, and absolutely not get killed by bloodthirsty jackasses sneaking up on him. That is the plan. It is, if not a good plan, at least not completely terrible, and he is going to keep at it. At least for a little longer.


B - Early Week 2 - It is Cold and Everything Sucks

Things were better and things were worse, this far in. Haruto had found a cave that wasn't occupied and provided some shelter from the wind and snow. With a proper fire-starting kit, He had managed to get a small one going. With a parka instead of a just a little windbreaker, and not one but two blankets, he could insulate himself from the chill. There was nothing much to do but wait for the snow to stop, nibble at his nearly-gone food supply, and ignore the ache in his gut that he wasn't sure was hunger or guilt.

Back in the Capitol, it was easier to pretend that everything was fine. There were distractions galore. He could always find a reason to be in someone's company, to be in the middle of something, so he'd have no reason to dwell on how badly he had been screwing things up. He had failed a theoretical Koyomi, failed himself and slipped in to despair, and now failed to keep Nitou from dying. He had to learn to be more than just a wizard, that was becoming very evident, but how? And when? And what could he be, that would be just as useful as a miracle worker with magic powers? What could ever replace that? Useless as he felt now, what point was there in gathering up with others? He'd slow them down. He'd fail them, too, he was sure.

...are those footsteps crunching in the snow outside? Friendly or hostile, they're a welcome distraction from all those bleak thoughts. He rises slowly, quietly, listening for more.

Comments

B - Week 2

[tricksandmischief]

On the other hand, Loki had been doing far better in this Arena, despite being without his usual powers. He had discovered, thankfully, that his natural resistance to the frosty temperatures was still intact and so he didn't feel the chill as much as most would here. That was an advantage at least so far, before the weather became any worse.

On top of that he had been sent more supplies from the Capitol and he was well equipped with food and water and knives, even a first aid kit and some fire starters of his own. He'd also run into very few other tributes so he was surprisingly healthy and uninjured.

Right now he had taken it upon himself to clear out as many people from the caves as he could find. Maybe if he could take some out his odds would be even better and he could survive the distance and outlast them all. Maybe he could even win this time and his boast would finally pay off.

There was a crunch of his boots in the snow, so he paused, also listening. Did anyone hear? Stealthily, he continued forward, a knife in his hand.

[wizardplease]

Haruto holds that crouch silently for a few moments more, and then moves as slowly as he can to pick up his own knife from its spot beside him. Just that bit of motion results in the sound of fabric on fabric, though, and then he's holding back the desire to make a frustrated sound. But no. That would only make it worse, if there was actually someone out there. While he'd like to think that it's some poor confused, freezing person that just needs help... well, there's no promise of that. So he stays silent, waiting to see if someone or something makes an approach. Let it make the first move. Or let it just be a figment of his imagination. He'd be fine with that, too.

[tricksandmischief]

Loki pauses again. He can smell the scent of something having been burnt. Probably a fire for warmth or for cooking. Was it someone who has already left the area or were they still here?

He frowns slightly, letting his eyes adjust better to the inside and takes a few more steps forward. His tall, lean form may be recognisable, even as a dim silhouette.

[wizardplease]

Haruto's mind is already racing to puzzle out just who that silhouette in the cave opening belongs to, but it's not entirely relevant, is it? They're there, and they're coming in. And if they're coming in, they likely know that someone's in here. Time to just go and break the ice.

"We don't want any!" Which is just as true as it is joking, in a way. If this person is going cave-door to cave-door handing out stabbings, he is not at all interested. And now, with his existence definitely revealed, he shrugs away his blankets and rises to his feet, still clutching that knife.

[tricksandmischief]

The shadow pauses at the voice.

Yes, Loki recognises it and he takes a moment to decide what to do. Besides Thor, Haruto was the only other person who even attempted to help him in anyway before, but this was still a game of death. Kill or be killed. His earlier encounter with Thor had proven that. His brother may be been in some delirium when he tried to attack Loki but it showed that probably nobody could be trusted in this environment.

However, it wasn't Loki's style to just burst in and kill without purpose. Haruto hasn't instantly attacked him so he will respond in kind. Later, who knows? But for now...

"Haruto? Is that you?"

[wizardplease]

"Loki?" There's surprise in his tone. Of all the people he hadn't expected to wander by... well, okay, there were all kinds of people he hadn't expected to wander by, but he and Loki seemed to be developing a habit of run-ins where at least one of them were run down and not at their best. It's enough to put some laughter in his voice when he speaks again.

"What're you doing running around out there? Looking for somewhere to camp?" Because as far as he knew, this so-called god was someone that it wouldn't hurt to befriend. Or at least continue to treat well.

[tricksandmischief]

"I have a place." Well, he moved around but was keeping in the vicinity. "I was looking to see who else may be nearby," he went on.

"Are you alone?"

[infinitemayonnaise]

Really, Nitou would rather the teasing from his rival rather than the concern. He'd been insisting he was fine, absolutely fine, even if his head hadn't stopped throbbing and he'd coughed up a little blood when Haruto hadn't been looking. Even breathing hurts, thanks to those cracked ribs.

Now he was stuck propped up against a tree watching Haruto try and fail to make camp. How had Haruto managed to survive this long without knowing how to make a fire or make camp or do anything really useful? It is a mystery to Nitou. His poor rival, not knowing so much...

"Haruto," he groans as he watched his rival try and fail to get the fire started, "you can't do two of 'em at the same time!" So there's a bit of double vision creeping in there. Nitou hasn't really realized that yet. "Get one taken care of. Then you can do another!" And he's trying to pick himself up again to go over there and show Haruto how to do it right.

[wizardplease]

"Eeh? Two?" He looks down at his hands, looks back over at Nitou... and it's just in time to see the man trying to get up and help. He drops the sticks and bounds on over, trying to get a hand on his shoulders and to ease him back down into a sit. "I've got it! I've got it, Mayo. Sit down." Maybe he didn't really have it, but he was close to figuring it out, he was pretty sure. And he hadn't been beaten half to death. That's got to give him an advantage in just about everything out here.

[infinitemayonnaise]

"But you're not doing it right," Nitou whined. "And I'm doing a lot better, really!" Even if he didn't sound better. Even if immediately after he insisted he was better, he started in on a coughing fit that ended with him spitting a little blood on the ground next to him. "I've made a fire before, you haven't..."

[wizardplease]

"And that's why I need to do this. I'm not going to learn if I don't try, am I?" It is a lame excuse, but it's the one he's using, and he continues to try, hands on Nitou's shoulders, to ease him back down to a sit. "I've got it. Trust me, okay?" He'd never done it successfully, but he has to make it work, now. When you talk a good game, you've got to be able to deliver, and a Wizard always delivers.

[infinitemayonnaise]

"But you're not gonna even be able to try right if you don't have any idea what you're doing!" Nitou continues protesting as Haruto eases him down. The head injury is making it harder to think, and the pain in his side is getting worse. He's at least staying put and not fighting to get up...which isn't a good sign. "At least bring it over here, man, let me do something."

[wizardplease]

"Eeh, man, I have to make it over there! You can't move a fire once you've made it!" Although, having made the declaration, Haruto is suddenly unsure. He looks back at the sticks and tinder, then to Nitou once more. "...can you?"

A

[a_minute_younger]

Perhaps Haruto's a little too distracted by the fish to notice Gary creeping around in the forest behind him. The teen isn't terribly stealthy, even when he wants to be--and he does, he's discovered. Without his abilities to fall back on, it's worked in his favor to keep quiet while he's separated from his friends. Such as he thought he was a few minutes before now.

It's not until Gary closes in on his pass, looking for a shallow bit of the river to cross, that he realizes the figure crouched by its banks is, in fact, a familiar and welcome companion. All pretenses of stealth are promptly dropped as Gary comes trotting from the undergrowth.

"Hey!" he barks, instantly scaring away the fish. "Haruto, it's me! What'cha doing?"

[wizardplease]

Haruto is very surprised by Gary's sudden appearance. So much so that he drops the fishing rod, springs to his feet, and flails several steps backwards. "...Gary!" Oh great. It's him.

"I was fishing! Keep it down! Shh! There could be anyone or anything around here!" He's motioning for Gary to come closer and to, vaguely, get down and out of the way. Despite the reflexive feeling of dread that gripped him when he made his entrance, he does care. And worry. And not want him to die horribly out of the blue.

[a_minute_younger]

Gary might have been somewhat offended to know that the impulsive reaction to him entering the scene is dread, but what he doesn't know (or more commonly, decides not to perceive) doesn't hurt him. He's enthralled by how startled Haruto is, grinning and giggling the whole way down to the bank of the river. This is something Gary would count as a success.

"That's my name," he chirps, although he does at least say it in a stage whisper. See, he's trying! "Nah, I don't think there's anyone else. Otherwise you wouldn't have any fish!" A beat. "You've caught some, right?"

[wizardplease]

Trying, but not trying very hard. And if Gary isn't going to try, Haruto isn't, either. He sighs deeply and reverts to a more normal voice. "I almost had one." A lie. "But I think you scared them away." Not as much of a lie. He bends over to pick his makeshift fishing rod back up, and takes a moment to make sure the line is still in the water. "What've you been doing to keep yourself fed, anyway?" An important question! Is he going to have to share some of his future fish with Gary?

...not that he wouldn't anyway. But still.

[a_minute_younger]

Gary slumps slightly in disappointment. Haruto's right--he was hoping to bum some fish off of him, if there was any available, and the fact that there isn't already means his attention is wandering. For as much as he has been able to scrounge up, it's certainly not enough. This Arena, Gary lives in a constant state of hunger, not critical but just gnawing enough to make him desperate.

"Oh, you know," he sighs and casually wanders to the edge of the shore, kicking at the smooth pebbles while watching the line of Haruto's makeshift fishing rod ripple in the water, "some berries here, a few snacks there--winning over some of the other guys with my dazzling charm." Gary gives an exaggerated wink and props the collar of his parka. "Did you know Thorongil's got a thing going on? He's always got something cooking, every night."

[wizardplease]

Haruto frowns, but holds on to the shouting that he really wants to do right now. Gary, you are stirring up the water. Gary, you are scaring away the fish. Gary, you... just, you're Gary. Please stop. He soon drops his fishing rod down beside him and rubs his face with his hands.

"So you've figured out which berries aren't poisonous?" A pretty obvious question, seeing as the guy is still standing there and not dead... but maybe they're slow acting. Yeah. That's it. He brightens up when Thorongil is mentioned, though. "Right! Last time I came across him, he had rabbits. The tricky part is finding him again." Which is why he would really like to catch a fish at some point. It might be easier than tracking down mister wilderness soldier guy.

B

[belongsontv]

A cave is a welcome sight, more welcome than Milla would like to admit. She's roughed it for missions before, but she's always had her powers to back her up. Now, now she's on her own.

She's done well with the gift from Gary and her knowledge from training in the training center, but she's tired. She stops in front of the cave to tighten her coat for what feels like the millionth time. She's naturally distracted when she sees Haruto. She brightens considerably, distracted from how tired she was.

"Darling- I was wondering where you were."

[wizardplease]

"Milla!" The moment he recognizes that its her, all attempts to be careful and quiet are abandoned. He even rises from his blanket cocoon, and though he regrets it a little, his legs could probably use the stretch anyhow. He's quick to move forward and guide her towards the fire.

"I was starting to wonder the same thing. There's not a lot in here to do but... well, wonder." He grins, as though it's just easy and playful banter. "Come on, come on, sit down, warm up...."

[belongsontv]

It's not hard to guess how tired Haruto is- it's written as much on his face as it is hers. Even with the attempt at keeping things light.

"Surviving and wondering is the thing to do- certainly makes this considerably different compared to the last arena, darling." She answers with a flash of her own smile. The psychic has no complaints about being led inside. "Thank you, sweetheart, warming up sounds wonderful about now. Especially with such good company."

[wizardplease]

"Isn't it? They said this was a 'classic' arena, or something like that." He had two blankets, so now he's taking one of them, shaking it out, and draping it over Milla's shoulders. It's even still a bit warm, having already been in use for keeping Haruto insulated from the cold. "I'm not sure it's a lot better. Just different. You, uh, have much luck finding food?"

There's nothing cooking over that fire, she might notice.

[belongsontv]

"Different is certainly right." Haruto likely notices the twitch of a frown touching her features before its gone. Milla is accutely aware of the camera's everywhere. Her public face fades at the offer of the blanket. "Thank you, dear."

"Ah-" he pats her pockets, producing some ratty fabric curled around berries. The berries naturally aren't the freshest due to the heavy snow of the arena, but they are edible. She unwraps it, holding it between them with a more genuine smile. "Thankfully I spent some time at the plant area in the practice area. I've been going off of these for a bit."

[wizardplease]

Different enough that he's determined to not let Milla die on his watch. Not like last time. He shifts himself so that his seat by the fire is closer to the mouth of the cave. There's no telling who or what might come along. Paranoia comes easily here.

His eyes light up at the sight of the berries, though. He leans in to look, although he's not grabbing for any. "What're those? Where'd you get them from? Aaah, I didn't pay much attention to the plant practice stuff, I didn't think it was going to matter." He has the good sense to look embarrassed about this. You didn't need wilderness survival skills in space! Go figure, they didn't send them to space again.