[open] My Voice Can You Hear It?

[inrestlessdreams]

Who| James Sunderland and open!
What| Week 1 and 2 Catchall, as Sunderland makes his way to the Castle
Where| The Field, the Village, The Forest and then the Castle
When| Weeks 1 and 2
Warnings/Notes| Spoilers to SH2

[a. Week 1 - field]

James may not have the survival skills of other Tributes but he does know what to do after the blood spilled: run. Run away as fast he can and into the fog. There was a certain intimacy to the miasma, one that reminded the clerk of where he came from and how he managed to last as long as he did in the town of quiet spirits. But this time around, there was no monsters or the underlying judgment of the haunted soil. These were living, breathing, thinking people and all were in the frenzy to get their supplies and rack a kill. How could anyone do this!?

Either way, James ditched the jester hat, and hell, even the ridiculous outfit, leaving him only with his pants and undershirt. Bright colors only attracted an attack and if he's headed into the fields or the forests, the last thing he needs is attention.

"Mary," he whispered into the radio, clasped onto his hips, "If you're there...don't move."

Was James telling himself this as a way to comfort himself? Or to feed the delusions?

[b. Week 1 - Forest]

The last time James had gone into a forest, it was right before meeting Angela, and this foray wasn't that much different from then. To hide within the trees was familiar, but attempting to hunt an animal with just rocks was difficult to say the least. The whispers of the strange ones, the murmuring woods didn't unnerve him, but he was damn sure he was being followed or something.


[c. Week 2- The Village and Castle]

By the second week, James deemed it safe enough to venture back into civilization. There wasn't much left but he could make due with everything he could find. Maybe even break off a table leg as a weapon, he had experience with these sorts of things and losing his plank to Kieren was...unfortunate.

Well, at least there's something to look forward For all the time, Sunderland kept an eye on the Arena's centerpiece: the Castle itself. There was fire, a hearth he could enjoy and keep safe as long as the castle holds out. He feels confident enough to make the trek, and cross the obstacle course that was the moat and entrance.

Whether or not he actually succeeded was up in the air.

Comments

[inrestlessdreams]

The question startled Sunderland from his wayward thoughts, and back into the Arena they were all stuck in.

"I don't know...food? Maybe a voice I can recognize? No one's here to tell me what exactly's going on but my Escort said it was a fight to the death."

Clearly this man either had no survival instinct (like him) or found a way to win the games. What James didn't consider at the time was the reason he was so comfortable: he had no fear of the unknown.

[whydoyoushine]

It's more being habitually used to easily outclassing anything and everything he's come across back home, and not having been shown otherwise here in the Arena that keeps Zed so nonchalant about everything. It lends itself well to a lack of fear--of anything. "Yeah, they like just dumping people in here without any explanation." That is what they had done to Zed the first time, and so Zed assumes that is what everyone else has to go off of. "But it's really a fight to the death."

He shrugs. "Kind of a pain, but if you really want to try, you're welcome to it." And there's a grin with that. "Not that it'll end well for you."

[inrestlessdreams]

The grin is what ges James on the defensive, more so when the words fall into place. "I-I don't want to hurt you, or anyone...stay back!"

The radio made no sounds, but Sunderland had to remember this wasn't Silent Hill and the monsters would be right in front of him now, he'd never be able to tell.

"You're enjoying this place, aren't you?"

[whydoyoushine]

"Jumpy there, aren't you?" Zed just smirks. "Why wouldn't I enjoy this place? It's very...homey." There's a sort of absent wave of his hand at the scenery, which is generally dark and spooky.

[inrestlessdreams]

Well now, any other man would take the smirk and carry on their merry way into whatever death the Gamemakers had in store for them. James is not any other man, though in retrospect, he should have been.

"You're creeping me out," without even the old table leg, now stuck somewhere in Kieren's throat last he checked, all he had were rocks and any sharp-edged tree branch he could find. By all accounts, he was surviving on scraps and sheer luck. "Get away from me..."

At least he's trying to run away this time and not go into dark tunnels where the monsters are.

[whydoyoushine]

If James were to make any prolonged eye contact with Zed, that creepy effect would only be intensified, not unlike accidentally catching a glimpse into some infinite black soul-sucking void.

Zed's more amused than anything at this. "Creeping you out, really?" He actually laughs. It's a slightly bitter one. "Wouldn't be the first time I've heard that." His smile becomes a little more sinister. "And if I don't get away?"

[inrestlessdreams]

In his attempts at defiance and courage, James kept his eyes on the stranger. The familiar dread and hopelessness began to reap along his nerves and into his everything. "Then I'll fight you...you're no better than the ghosts here..."

Okay, now that was in poor sense and decency, he'd later think but it's with this same drive that he tries to land a punch on the man. Even though he has even less experience in melee.

[whydoyoushine]

Zed just laughs at that declaration of intent to fight him. "You really think so?" He's an experienced melee fighter, and even with the limits placed on him by the Arena, he's faster than a human would be. He sidesteps that first hit. "Is that all you've got?"

[inrestlessdreams]

Zed's taunting only serves to aggravate James even further, this guy was really getting on his nerves. Why was he going against what little common sense he still had? What would he gain from fighting this Tribute?

For one thing, wiping that smug grin off his face. He knew that face, Eddie had it before he went mad in the meat locker. So Sunderland grabbed a rock and tried to bash his way ou of this one, "Gimme a branch and I'll show you!"