thearena | Arena 15: In The Eye Of The Capitol

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...

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"I thought I didn't, I really did. I didn't think I could-" James sighed and tried to explain things in a sensible manner. "It's complicated but I didn't think I could actually have someone again after losing Mary. You don't know what it's like, to never move on and then suddenly realize you did and you never bothered to say goodbye. I drove my car into a lake, I was that desperate to be with her again."

And now, he wanted to leave Mary behind, sleeping forever at the bottom of Toluca Lake for Clara. He was devastated as he was conflicted. He didn't want to lose Mary's memory, he still loved her so much but...

"Now I don't want to go back to her. Why am I telling you?" His voice was dreamlike again, a man stuck in a memory.

Losing some lady... Never bothered to say goodbye... Car in a lake... Firo reeled back, nearly choking on his indignation. The distance between them would vanish, if he had anything to say about it, and he did his best to get his face up in James's.

"So you just fucked off on your wife?! The hell were you thinkin', asshole?!"

That didn't fit in with the part James said about wanting to be with her, but Firo didn't hold all of the facts in his head when concocting his version of events. He just heard what stuck out to him and based his picture off of that.

If there's one way to get James Sunderland pissed off, is to ever imply that he didn't love his wife.

"I did NO SUCH THING! I loved my wife! I saw that disease take every little bit of happiness she had and tore it apart! She was suffering when I-" When I killed her "When I took her to Silent goddamn Hill! I was by her side...I saw the light go out of her eyes. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SEE THE ONLY PERSON WHO MADE YOU HAPPY DIE."

Technically speaking, he only saw the aftermath when he removed the pillow after he was done. The yelling might attract other monsters but Sunderland was tired of this man's accusations. "I put her body in the back of my car and drove into the lake. Because I wanted to join her, not run away."

The sheer force of James's reply caught Firo off-guard, and what the man said had him further confused. It was a weighty issue the man was talking about, one Firo hadn't expected to get into.

Did that mean he was going to think it over and reply with sensitivity and grace? No, unfortunately.

"I've got no idea, huh? Come off it, you really think you're the only person who's had somebody die on you? Everybody loses people, so you're not special."

"If you already know what it feels like to lose someone," And now James turned vicious, not caring if it cost him an ally. This young man had no respect for anyone but himself, "then why do you judge me without knowing the full story? Or do you just think your way is the right way?"

Maybe some of Silent Hill's judgment remained in Sunderland as darkness seeped into his eyes. "Or are you afraid that maybe you've been wrong in some aspects?" He didn't expect Firo to keep up with him after this but at least he made his peace with the accusations.

Wrong? Firo'd been wrong about plenty of things, and he knew that--it came with the territory of being a total moron. But he was not wrong about this stuff--at least, he was sure he wasn't.

...All the same, he was plainly defensive. He drew himself up to his full (unimpressive) height to try to get in James's face.

"I don't need to listen to your sob story. You think anybody's gonna care about that? Get a grip, pal. I couldn't care less if regret makes you cry yourself to sleep every night."

At five-foot-eleven almost at six, it wasn't as if James was a giant among the Tributes but he did tower somewhat over Firo without letting up on his glare, "I know that but at the end of the day, you were still wrong to face things head on without a plan."

He was pretty damn sure that by the next clearing, Prochainezo would run off to get killed by the next monster he ran into. Why that was commendable is not up for Sunderland to decide.

"You head wherever you want to go...I'm sticking to the forest and see if any District children survived the Cornucopia. They need more help than we do."

"So what? That's none of your business." Hmph. What did this guy know, huh? Firo thought to himself, conveniently forgetting that James had helped him survive the monsters back there.

"And go wherever you want. I don't care." He'd just be sure to go the opposite way.

With one last scowl in James's direction, Firo turned on his heel and stalked off.

Arena 15: In The Eye Of The Capitol

cw: discussion of self-harm

and a warning for Firo's insensitivity

w h o o p s

Oh, James :<

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I'm so sorry, James... :(

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