We can't all be winners. OTA

[justoutrunyou]

Who: Sandy and open
What: Sandy's got food, fire and warm clothes and she's looking to share
Where: Hiking through the forest on her way to the caves.
When: After the capture the patch event.
Warnings: None yet

Sandy had been lucky this arena. Too lucky maybe? But lucky enough and the support had flowed in for her.

Wearing extra layers of clothes, holding a torch she had made out of a thick branch and some socks she was a glowing orange light moving through the trees and throwing shadows out wherever she went.

A basket hanging off each side of her backpack she was on a mission. To seek out anyone who she could either help or bribe into helping her. She knew by this point there had to be some tributes who were in a bad way given the combination of weather and blood sport.

Maybe she could give them a little comfort, or if needed she could end their suffering. The thought twisted her stomach but it wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last.

It was a risky idea and she knew it. She was making herself a target with her sponsor gifts and a flaming stick in hand. But one way or another she was getting out of this arena with her soul in tact.

What was left of it anyway.

She was making a winding way through the forest towards the caves where she would explore further to see who was hiding out inside.
 

Comments

[voiceinthephone]

He nodded and laid his head against the tree, but not before requesting, "When I die, do you mind doing me a-and lay me down?" A silly request but it was nice to dream.

Vodka was the most bitter of all the drinks Phil has had over the years but anything to numb the pain. He knew better now, that to maintain some sort idealism.

[justoutrunyou]

"You got it." She promised as she let him drink from the bottle and then tilted it back away when he'd swallowed some. After all he may be dying but there was no sense in hurrying him along by drowning him.

"I think people will like you when you get back. You did some great stuff this go around. You helped me out which...well that could go either way I guess...but you fought too and that's the most important thing. You're gonna be fine soon. You'll feel better then ever."

Was she saying this to reassure him? Or herself? Was this the last time she'd ever see Phil? It was impossible to guess at how the minds of the game makers worked. Sometimes the most active and interesting tributes were gone after only one arena. Sometimes people who simply refused to participate got dragged along for several arenas. As much as Sandy professed to know her way around the games it was times like this she was reminded she didn't know half as much as she pretended.

[voiceinthephone]

"If they like me, i-it's because I was stupid enough to try and talk down a man with a gun. People love a good c-comedy," Phil spat out, self-deprecating and blunt only to himself. But something about her fear caught on and with his last few breaths, he said, "Take what you need from my stuff...I'll see you on the f-flipside okay?"

It was the same goodbye he would tell Jeremy and Mike in a few messages. That phrase was both assuring and noncommittal, just in case he didn't wake up. He didn't want Sandy to cry, or waste energies. This was just another death in the Arena, right? Phil didn't close his eyes all the way when the last huff of air escaped him, it was too much for him. But he did die with a smile on his face.

Inside the bag was his hunting knife, a few snacks and a half-destroyed bouquet of red roses. They were now Sandy's to take.

[justoutrunyou]

She stayed with him till the life faded from his body. It was a fascinating and horrific sort of experience she'd had before. Somewhere along the way the flesh ran cold and the body went from being a person to just...a thing.

She couldn't stay long she knew. It took both of her hands to lower him respectfully to the ground. Once he was there she made sure his eyes were closed before she snatched up his bag and looked inside. She could practically sense the Capitol hovercraft coming to claim the body and everyone knew you didn't want to be around when they arrived.

The roses gave her a moment to pause and she took them out of the bag. They seemed sad for how badly crumpled they were. She couldn't imagine a better use for them right now and gently lay the least damaged ones on Phil's chest moving his stiff hand over them like he was holding the stems. The rest of them she crumpled and sprinkled the petals around him. A much too elaborate and lovely resting place for someone as blue collar as Phil. But it was the best she could do short of a viking burning.

Though...maybe in the future that wasn't such a bad idea. Would that somehow keep the Capitol from bringing the person back to life? No...no that didn't make sense because there were extra bodies laying around back in the desert and dessert arenas.

With one last mournful look she bowed her head and whispered "Thank you." Before vanishing back into the woods with her picnic baskets, Phil's supplies and an extra weight in her chest.

And if she found Nick along the way? Well she probably couldn't promise Phil she wouldn't have some spite involved.