[Open] This Place Isn't Fit For Royalty

[shiningeyes]

Who| Miss Gritta and Sandy, and also OPEN
What| Despite a thorough exploration of the castle, Gritta's luck fails her early. At least there was a nice lunch.
Where| The Bay and various places in the Castle
When| Early-to-mid Week 2
Warnings/Notes| Death, eye injury in the last prompt



[A - Castle halls, Monday night]

If the choices were inside or outside, Gritta would opt for inside. Rats and bats were less horrifying than sunlight and far larger wild animals, and the castle had a certain familiar charm to it. The day was spent sleeping in one of the many rooms, door barred and a stick on hand for rat discouragement. And once the sun began to set she stirred and rose and readied herself for a night of careful exploration.

Though she didn't know if the rattling noises and moans were other kidnapping victims or something more alarming and sinister, she was determined to not be afraid. Ghosts were certainly real, but she could scare them off if worse came to worse, she was sure. A member of the Shadow Line royalty could do no less. But at the far end of the hall, form faint, was someone familiar. "...General Schwarz?" Someone dead. Someone who she missed so very, very much. A tall figure of a man, in a long coat and military cap, clattering chains hanging from his coat and sharp features like finely-polished steel. "General!" Someone who seemed to have paid her no mind, and who was turning the corner and leaving. "Wait! WAIT!"

All caution is thrown to the wind. She breaks into a surprisingly speedy run for someone of her size, chasing after the ghost, rounding the corner with no care for what might actually await around it.

[B - The Bay, Tuesday night]

When she had found her own rose, Gritta was certain to follow the instructions attached to it. They seemed arbitrary, but the most arbitrary things could be the most important. And so she was blessed with both relief from the stench that permeated everything and an evening that was fever free. Zed, on the other hand.... Zed had not been so fortunate. And in an effort to help him, she has gone back out to the bay to try and see if it's not too late to make him better.

It's not going well. She's had to tear some fabric away from her fairy dress to wrap around the stem, for this rose seems determined to prick her fingers at every opportunity. And it might be a lovely night, but there's no cover from the woods to the water and back again. She's wide open to a possible attack from the beasts that she's sure that she has heard roaming about. And between the faint glowing flame above her head and the equally faint glow of her eyes, she surely sticks out like a sore thumb. But what must be done must be done.

...there. One dipped rose. Now to find her way back to the Emperor, hopefully undisturbed. "...ah!" But what's that? Who's that out there? She looks about anxiously, already edging slowly away from the water.

[C - Castle feast, Wednesday afternoon]

What a relief to come across proper food, after days of nibbling at the rations that fell from the sky. The commotion elsewhere in the castle and the smell of delicious things was enough to rouse her from slumber and brave the sunlight shining through the castle windows. The scent is easily followed, and the sight of tables piled with good things to eat is so glorious right now that she doesn't think to question why this is even happening. Questioning can happen on a full stomach. And her stomach very much needs filling.

Contrary to her somewhat grotesque appearance, Miss Gritta has very good table manners. Though she is packing away an almost comical amount of food, she is employing a fork and a knife, dabs daintily at her mouth with a napkin, and is very polite and grateful to the Avoxes refilling her drinks and passing new helpings of roast and buns and sweets as she clears her plate. Dare you approach? It seems unlikely that you'll be devoured, too. You're not nearly as well-prepared as the feast is.

[D - Castle corridor, Wednesday afternoon, Closed to Sandy Marko]

Full to the brim and feeling a bit sleepy for it, Gritta is making her way back to her little room of sanctuary. Something nice has finally happened, her spirits are lifted, but it is still much too bright to be safely out and about. So much sunlight is shining through the windows, here. It's enough to make her feel a little faint. So she needs to hurry, hurry along, no need to check around the corner, she can't hear a thing, after all....

Comments

[shiningeyes]

That tripping and falling has spared Phillip for a few moments, for Gritta's footing remains sure and she runs clear on past him. It's only when she hears his desperate begging that she stops and turns back around, listening carefully and holding very still. Bonnie...?

"I'm not Bonnie." The poor man... did he mistake her for someone else? Someone important? She starts to walk back the way she came, very much unsure as to where he is, but wanting to help. Her heartstrings have been tugged at. "I'm not her. It's alright. I'm not going to hurt you! Please, please, calm down...."

[voiceinthephone]

In Phil's panic-seized mind, the strange voice slowly but surely takes his hands and gently pull him away from the security room. That wasn't Bonnie's voice, far too sweet in what they said. Bonnie would have ripped the man by the neck and dragged him away into the costume room. This one wanted him to calm down, to help him.

With his eyes still dilated, Gray said in the firmest tone he could muster, "W-Wait there, I-I-I won't hurt you either but give, give me a moment, okay?" And as proof of that, he put his knife away before he peeked again. Well, she didn't have the rabbit ears, and she was dressed in some sort of outfit. But good lord, she was big.

[shiningeyes]

Sweet in content, and sweet in tone, too. An odd thing to be coming from something so large and monstrous-looking. "I'll wait. I won't move. Take your time.... it's alright." She's comfortable in the dark, and it's unlikely that anything will sneak up on her, or so she feels.

She's seven feet tall and in a very battered and dirty fairy costume, and in this light? There is that resemblance to Bonnie, no doubt. But there's a sadness to her eyes, and her mouth's not quite the same.... maybe that's enough of a difference to make a difference.

[voiceinthephone]

The moment is well spent as Phil's eyes adjust to the stillness of night, and he can see the differences. This is not the murderous rabbit, this is a rather...big but spooked creature who is patient enough. She's sad...I was an ass to her, he thought before he crawled from his spot. Not part of the hazards either, she's dressed up as a tribute. Huh, today I learned. "Sorry a-about earlier, what's your name?" Gray asks as level a voice he can muster given his previous panic attack.

[shiningeyes]

She can see well enough in the darkness, and though there's quite a bit of shrubbery and foliage between the both of them, this is her first chance to get a good look at him. Humans are so similar, it's strange, their shapes are so uniform and their features are so subtle... so she's looking carefully and striving to remember well.

"Miss Gritta. Of the Shadow Line." And she gives a little curtsy as she says it, though her eyes never leave him. "...I was worried that something was after us both. But I believe we're safe for now."

[voiceinthephone]

As soon as Phil was out of his hiding spot, he returns the curtsy with a little bow. What a strange tribue this one was, so proper and apparently of royal lineage. "I'm so sorry about my, uh, my screaming," he quickly stated, grateful the night covered the embarrassment flushed all over his face, "You reminded me of someone I failed to protect." When he talked about the Ghost Children, they were always a person, not a bot or an it.

She was...looking out for both of us? he thought, She's a sweetheart...I hope she wins. "Were you doing something? I-I can help you out, least I could do."

[shiningeyes]

"Oh!" And now she feels even more sympathetic towards him than before. A gasp, and her hands fly up to be clutched emotionally before her. "I'm so sorry. It wasn't my intention to bring back bad memories." This poor man! In this horrible arena, and haunted by failures and the failing of his good intentions. So sad... she already wants to know him better.

"Ah..." But yes, she was doing something, wasn't she? Gritta casts a brief glance back the way she game, and then fumbles for the rose that she had most recently been dipping. "I was finished! The rose... the roses. Do you know about the roses?" Here, she can make up for frightening him. She can give him information.

[voiceinthephone]

The rose would earn Gritta a slight stare as Phillip thought about the strangely fresh rose, "Uh, no...heh, I've stayed in the village, kinda hiding from sight, you know? I wanna avoid combat as much as I can." Even if this was his second Arena, this was a weird addition to think of.

Gamemakers are bored and found some really, really flowery literature, he then groaned internally at his own pun, to the point that Jeremy's echo stated Don't you dare say that out loud.

[shiningeyes]

"Oh. That's wise. But... if you do venture out, there's a field of roses. I believe you'd find one with your name on it, if you looked. I found one with mine. And my... my friend's." The words feel funny in her mouth. Referring to Zed as a friend? That's not what they are. Not really. Close, but... it's so complicated.

She shuffles a little closer, holding the rose out for him to look at. "It smells very nice. Nicer than the horrible smell that's everywhere in here. I think that must be the idea."

[voiceinthephone]

Phone Guy wasn't always the suspicious sort but when he was, it was because something so pretty like a rose be in a death arena in the first place. It smelled like a flower shop downtown, and by the looks of things, it's pretty harmless. Yeah, it had to be a trap of sorts, or a mechanic he had no intentions of following through. Gray offers Gritta a smile, a sweet one, "You're a really sweet lady, you know that? Helping your friend like this."

He took this little outing to heart, even if it terrified him at first. Kind people still had a place in the Arenas it would seem.

[shiningeyes]

The compliment comes as a surprise, and she'd blush if she were the blushing sort. "Oh, I..." As it stands, she simply retreats a step backwards, head bowing and a hand coming to cover her mouth. She's flustered. "...It's the least that I can do." And he's her Emperor. There's a certain obligation there. "It's... it's important to work together, in a place like this!"

[voiceinthephone]

To hear someone talk so headstrong about helping others, even with the fascination the Capitol has with betrayal and drama, it's really refreshing for Phillip to see! He gives Gritta a fair bow of apology and reverence. "I should let you go, your friend will need that floor real soon if this is what will, uh, cure him right?" The night may be young but not every Tribute makes it to the morning.

"Oh!" Gray realizes and rummages some stale bread for her, "Uh, my apology for scaring you t o hell and back."

[shiningeyes]

"Yes, yes, I should go, that's what I've come out this way for.... it needed to be dipped in water. He hadn't done that to his. He's sick now. I hope that it will help...." And she seems ready to retreat and go on her way, but he has more for her.

"Thank you! You're so kind. There's nothing to apologize for." A bit of bread isn't much, but she'll certainly take it. Zed could use something to eat. He'd surely appreciate it. "I... I don't think I caught your name?" She doesn't want to leave without really knowing who he is.

[voiceinthephone]

As Phil walked away, he looked back to Gritta with a salute and more so when she was so polite. "My name's Phil Gray, Miss! Take care okay? You and your friend! A-And..." well screw it, it might as well be appropriate, "May the odds be in your favor, yours and your friends!"

As much the forest terrified the Phone Guy, at least he knows not every Tribute is here to destroy the competition. Some just want to help. With that, he sprints towards the Village again, with his faith in humanity somewhat restored.