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.

20

19

18

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.

8

7

6

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.

3

2

1

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

[infinitemayonnaise]

"Yeah, seriously. Go on, take it!" Nitou's nowhere near crafty enough to play a long game like this--he means it.

Granted, that doesn't stop him from tensing up a little when Karkat actually takes the sickle, because handing a guy you don't know a weapon he claims to have created is probably not a good idea when you're in a murder arena. But it doesn't seem to be playing out in a "Nitou gets horribly disemboweled" sort of way, and so Nitou is good with this.

And Karkat's happiness at this turn of events makes him feel pretty good about it, he's got to say. He's grinning now. "Hey, you stay safe, too. Can't collect on a debt if you're not here, now can I? I'm Kosuke Nitou, District 5."

[crabmunicator]

Karkat will just hope that Nitou's good enough to survive with the other supplies he's got. The guy has more than him even with the sickle gone, and they must be good enough with how little resistance he put up to lose this weapon.

"Kousuke Nitou," he repeats back, nodding. Then like a promise, "I'll see you around."

What happens then will be its own concern, but the end of the arena is still a ways off. He can afford to help his allies before then, and he's not about to backstab the guy who helped him this much.

After a look to check what's where, Karkat sets off. He's got someone to find, and time's not moving any slower.