Arena 15: In The Eye Of The Capitol

[etcircenses]

For the majority of you, this has become a familiar morning routine. Escorts come to pick up their Tributes and Stylists quickly see to setting them up with the bland and thin grey suits, much to most of their dismay. You'll not hear a word said in complaint though. The staff has gotten the threat to them loud and clear. Only the daring will be willing to offer even a mere "good luck". Peacekeepers quickly collect Tributes to send them off into the launch tubes. If you're from the Districts, it may be one of the last things you ever see.

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What everyone rises up to is not much better a sight. It's a war zone out here in every sense. Those native to Panem will recognize the sight before them, having seen it every year in a propaganda tape. The wreckage of District thirteen. The Cornucopia sits at the very center. Offworlders might recognize some of the weapons there, and if not, then they'll certainly be able to spot some familiar scenes far on the outer edges of the arena, perhaps even a beast or two they know well from their worlds.

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It's muddy and damp and there's plenty of wreckage to cut one's self upon no matter where it is Tributes run. The Cornucopia tempts the Tributes in for its bloodbath. Districter and Offworlder alike, there will only be one winner.

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The gong rings out and a voice announces; “The Arena is now open”. The Tributes are free to make their choice; to run or to fight. The Games have begun.

~~~

By the end of the night, one child from each District will have their face shone up into the sky, the first twelve killed at the Cornucopia. Only twelve to go...

Comments

[foundafamily]

Someone who helps people? He wonders just what her job might be with a description so vague and makes a note to ask--they may not be killing anyone else here, but who knows when they'll need to kill time.

He pouts at that comment, much more offended than he probably should be. Arms folded over his chest, he looks off into the air. "I can't tell if that's supposed to be an insult or not." If he were thinking normally, of course, Firo'd realize that, yeah, not ambushing someone probably does make you a bad choice for the death games. But Firo so rarely thinks rationally, especially given that he's used to snipes and slights about his toughness or ability. "...But, no, I guess I'm not."

[didnothing]

An insult? It's only now that Luna sees the possibility there, and she holds up her hands in apology. "No, that's not what I meant! I meant that you didn't attack me even though you could have, so...I'm sorry. I thought that was a good thing."

Too used to the Nonary Game, probably. Luna can't help but associate the two when murder is a potential component in one and a requirement in the other, but unlike the Nonary Game trust and patience won't get everyone out of the Hunger Games. Still, it looks like she can trust Firo. Luna feels good about that, and she smiles to show it. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you don't want to fight. That makes us two of a kind."

[foundafamily]

For a second, Firo just watches her face; she really seems like she means it, and so he relaxes slightly. "Nah, it's fine, I guess." He should probably be the one apologizing for getting ruffled over nothing, but that doesn't occur to Firo.

It's cautious, but he returns her smile. "...I guess it is nice to meet somebody else who's not plannin' to go to town on all the other people here." There are more peaceful people than he would've thought, but still. The first few moments sizing a new person up are always tense, and it's better to end them with an ally acquired than a fight.

"Um, but... you know this might not make you too popular, right?"

These people do like their blood.

[didnothing]

"I might say the same for you." Luna's smile fades, but she doesn't sound upset - just thoughtful. The Cornucopia makes it hard to decide what to do, but on the subject of appealing to audiences her choices are much clearer. "You could have killed me when I was lost in thought a few minutes ago. If you did, maybe you'd be a little more popular. You certainly would have eliminated some of the competition. So why didn't you?"

She doesn't wait for an answer, instead reaching for her pendant before remembering it's stashed away back in her room, to protect it from disappearing or getting stolen when she dies. It's a lost comfort, but Luna will have to do without it. She continues on instead. "I'm sure have your reasons for choosing not to attack me, don't you? Well...I have my reasons, too. They might even be the same as yours." Broadly speaking, of course. It'd be strange for them to have the exact same motivations for not wanting to fight right now, but the end result is the same.

[foundafamily]

That she doesn't wait for an answer is something of a relief to him. Showing mercy is one thing, admitting to being the kind of guy who does so is another, much harder, thing. Much like home, this is the kind of place where doing so gets people killed.

He watches her carefully, wondering at that little motion that appears to be instinctual or something. What could her reasons be? He's certainly curious, and he sets about finding out, if in a rather oblique way. "For all either of us knows, one could just be keepin' the other one around to use 'em later. See if they can leech off 'em until it comes time to split up."

He smiles a bitter little smile as he thinks back to what Celebrus said a little while ago, the speculation about how a gangster like him might make allies only to collect with interest later. It still stung, even as he tried to joke about that very thing.

[didnothing]

Luna hasn't really considered that possibility, but she's not surprised by it either. In fact it's very familiar logic after the Nonary Game, and if there's one positive thing to be said about the Nonary Game it's that Sigma never let her down even knowing who she really was. The thought makes her smile warmly, despite how odd it may look to Firo. "Yes, it could be that way. You could use me if you wanted, maybe even without my knowing. But...I trust you."

It's a strange thing to say, especially to someone she's only known for a few minutes. But even if needless abandonment weren't against her principles, she wants to believe the best of Firo. And when he's already been kind enough to shown this much concern about her, there's little doubt in Luna's mind that this is the right thing to do.

[foundafamily]

His plan clearly is not proceeding as expected. Once again she has him surprised; he blinks and struggles to hide a wince of sheer confusion.

Considering his track record, such trust should be a compliment. Instead, now he's just getting more worried about this lady.

He folds his arms over his chest, frowning now. "Don't you know that's never a good move? You're way too nice without even knowin' anything about me, and that could get you killed one day. Are you really fine with somebody just usin' you to get ahead?"

Firo tends to assume far too much about people from a first meeting. For all he knows, she could have weathered things just as sketchy or worse as he has--but, no, that thought doesn't even cross his mind as he starts his lecture.

[didnothing]

The insistence that she not trust Firo comes as a surprise. Doesn't he want to be trusted? Isn't that a good thing? It's slightly less strange that he asks why she's okay with letting people take advantage of her, but that too is a novel question when she's been doing others' bidding all her life. Luna doesn't know how to respond, because somehow "Well, of course I am" or "That's my purpose" don't quite seem like acceptable answers right now despite being the truest ones. Telling Firo who she really is might help him understand, but much as he's been caring so far she still expects a flip in attitude if he finds out the truth and she dreads that moment - even if it is only natural.

She settles for a personal truth of a different kind. "My objective in this game is not to win, or even survive. I promised myself before the game started that if I had the chance to help someone, I'd take it...but it looks like I've failed at that already." Her voices fades from carefully even-toned to obviously disappointed, and her eyes flick back towards the Cornucopia for a second. "Still, I don't want to give up either. So I guess...if I can help you, I'd like to. And after what you did earlier, I trust you to do the same."

[foundafamily]

His eyes widen, and he looks away. Her goal sounds so much like the pact that he and Phil made. Firo couldn't be sad to have him safe out of the Arena, but there was an empty feeling to know that he was down an ally in the only thing he wanted to get out of these competitions.

Another team-up didn't sound bad at all. And, besides, this lady sounded like she needed someone looking after her, too, so he couldn't give her too hard a time, right?

"You can help people plenty a' times if you stick around. Don't beat yourself up just because you didn't go and get yourself murdered."

"So... fine. We'll help each other, and then we'll find somebody else we can both help."

[didnothing]

Luna's inaction still weighs on her mind, but Firo's proposal doesn't sound too bad. She can't go back and undo the past, but she can resolve to be better about it going forward (and sticking to it, this time). Right now that seems like the best course of action, even if it isn't the ideal one.

She nods in agreement, trying to maintain at least an optimistic attitude if not a very positive one. "You're right...or at least, I think that's a good idea. Maybe we can make more of a difference together." And maybe that's a little too optimistic given where they are, but as long as there are still people left alive she can hope.

[foundafamily]

It sounds like a start, so he smiles a bit. "Exactly. Me and another guy, Phil, we used to put our supplies together for people. So there was more from both of us than there'd be from one of us."

He taps his chin as he tries to think of another example. Maybe she doesn't need one, but Firo'll talk his tongue out of his skull if he's given the chance. "And, like, if somebody's gettin' ganged up on by a lotta stuff, then we have a better shot too."

[didnothing]

Firo's logic makes sense of a sort, but it's something else that catches Luna's attention. "Did you mention someone named Phil? That wouldn't happen to be Phil Gray, would it? He's my mentor for the Games, and he mentioned that he was in them until recently."

It's a small world if so, but Luna's also seen enough coincidences since her arrival in Panem that it almost wouldn't be unusual. It does sound like something Phil would do from what she knows of him - a week isn't a lot of time, but his kindness has already made a significant impression on her. And besides, how many Phils can there be that would go around trying to help people in the Arena? The likelihood of more than one isn't that high.

[foundafamily]

Firo's face lights up, and he nods quickly. "Yeah, that's him! You really lucked out, you know that? He doesn't look like much, but he's a good guy. Smart, too. He'll help you out for sure."

He nods after that, as if to confirm his own assessment. Phil may be a very different kind of person than Firo, but he has much appreciation for the man as a friend.

[didnothing]

So he does know Phil. Luna brightens at that: if Firo is a friend of Phil's, then she's even more sure she can trust him. "I think so too. I'm glad to have him for a mentor. And, well, any friend of his is a friend of mine."

She can work with this. Luna's feeling more optimistic now, so she looks out to the desert ahead and then back to Firo. "Um...if we're going to go together, which way do you think we should go?"

[foundafamily]

“I wouldn't be so sure about all his friends—he’s too nice, you know.” Firo sighs, as if that’s an undeniable inconvenience to him. “…but he’s also not an idiot, so maybe you’re right.”

Speaking of idiots… She’ll get a blank look in response to her question. Planning? What the hell is that? “Which way? Normally I just walk around until I find somebody. Or trouble finds me.” He shrugs, looking at her expectantly. Somebody has to be the brains of the outfit, and it's not going to be him.

[didnothing]

"Oh." That's...some strategy. Luna's too polite to point out the fact that waiting for trouble isn't much of a survival strategy either, but perhaps he knows that anyway. It's her job to try and ensure that people stay out of trouble as much as they can, though, so with the Cornucopia behind them and the desert ahead the next step right now is clear.

"I think we should go into the desert, then. Unless you want to look for someplace else?" Lingering here for much longer doesn't seem like the best idea, but in Luna's mind it is ultimately Firo's decision if he wants it. She's just a GAULEM.

[foundafamily]

"I just said I had no idea, didn't I? You should really be more confident." The desert, to him, looks just as good as anything else. The gamemakers will make sure that there's something to make things hard anywhere, so it's all the same in the end.

He starts forward at an easy pace, waiting for her to come along.

[didnothing]

"Um...r-right." Firo's comment comes as a surprise, because nobody's ever suggested that she be more confident before; not that anyone's told her to be less confident, but it's never really mattered before. No use as long as the work's done, really.

She follows him further in with a somewhat more tense demeanor, looking around to make sure they're alone right now like she probably should have done a while ago. Further from the Cornucopia or not, there should still be some danger here.

[foundafamily]

Firo tilts his head, wondering if her comment is skepticism. "I'm serious, at least sound like you believe in yourself. You'll never scare people off if that's how you talk."

He's keeping an eye out right along with her; they may have better odds together than alone, but that still doesn't mean things'll be easy.

[didnothing]

What? Luna isn't quite sure where that particular comment came from. "I don't really want to scare people off. Not as long as they aren't trying to hurt anyone. But you have a point, I guess." Obedience aside. "If we were to come across anyone dangerous..." Luna doesn't really want to finish that statement, so she busies herself peering ahead in the desert.

"This place is as large as Phil said it would be." Not that she disbelieved him, but it is one thing to hear the fact and another to see the Arena for herself. "How much time went into building this place?"

[foundafamily]

That intimidating people isn't always a priority for others is something Firo forgets. He takes the concession as a sign that he doesn't need to explain (or lecture) any further. "Exactly."

The sheer size of the Arenas always surprised him as well, no matter how many he's seen before. "There's usually a few months between each Arena, and each time it's totally different... So at least that long. But lookin' at all the crap they put together in here, you'd think it takes longer, right?"

Who knows, maybe they spent years working on a whole bunch of these. Firo wouldn't put it past them.

"It's gonna change a whole lot, too. I don't know how, but they're always throwin' new stuff at us."

Start winding down?

[didnothing]

"Even more than this? It has to take more than a few months, if they build something like this place for every Arena." Working for Sigma and his efforts to create a single game over decades, Luna finds it very difficult to imagine the entire Arena reimagined and reconstructed every few months. Not even with the resources they seemed to have in the Capitol - you could only rush something like this so much, right?

But then again that's hardly the only mystery about how the Capitol operates, and she's not going to get an answer to that out of Firo. "Never mind. Let's keep going." A breeze somewhere blows sand in their direction, and she shields her eyes before squinting into the distance. "Maybe we can find a shelter somewhere."

Sure! Thanks for the thread!

[foundafamily]

Firo, on the other hand, has no idea about this kind of thing. But she sounds assured and seems pretty smart, so he nods. "I guess so. It does kinda seem like a lot, but... hey, who knows how the hell they put this stuff together." He's sure they have no qualms about working their builders like dogs.

Moving is a nicer idea than thinking, especially about the Capitol. "Sounds good to me." Still keeping a vigilant eye open, he'll stick near her side as they keep moving.