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[leiche]

Who: Jeremy Fitzgerald, OTA
What: That care package is only confusing him further.
When: Beginning of week 2.
Where: Forest and surroundings.
Warnings: Mention of head injuries and various FNAF related grossness.



This is hardly what he expected the afterlife to be like.

He wasn't exactly religious or spiritual. He'd always figured that whatever the end of the line would be, he'd deal with it when he got there. Just because he's here a little earlier than he'd expected had nothing to do with his surprise upon finding out what awaited him after death was just more of it.

Kill or be killed is what he was told. But I'm already-- was what he wanted to answer with, but he was only shushed, told to try his best, and then he was out in the middle of it all. He'd stepped out into what could only be described as a warzone, bodies and blood scattered about and his only instrinct - once he could force himself to move - was just to run. Run, run, keep running, hope you don't pass out.

He has no idea how he made it this far, but he's just glad he's remained conscious. It hasn't really hit him yet, the seriousness of the situation he's in. As far as he's concerned ... well, he's still very, very dead. How much worse can it be to die again?

For a long time, Jeremy wasn't even aware of his surroundings. He just ran, and found someplace to hide whenever he heard a noise. It seemed to go well for the most part, and the forest he finds himself in now is certainly different than anything he'd ever known. It's near one of the quiet, shallow ponds that he decides to take a break, sitting down near the water's edge and breathing heavily from the journey. And then he takes out his findings from the odd little parachute that nearly knocked him in the head earlier in the day, keeping a water bottle by his side as he reads the note again.

"Keep moving ... sorry for-- for what ha-happened. Need help, find ... Luna, Sansa ... Firo, S-Sandy, Daryl, Kar...kat, Nick."

He reads it to himself again, before rolling his eyes, crumpling the paper in his fist and letting it fall to the side. "Fat load o'good names do m-- me now."

It doesn't help that the same hallucination has been following him around since day one, usually in the corner of his vision but sometimes - like now - right across the pond from him.

"God-- fuck off, already," Jeremy grumbles at the shadow, frustrated enough to flip his middle finger up at the damn thing as he rubs his scarred forehead with the other hand. What a headache this is. "Leave me alone."

Comments

[didnothing]

"You can't...remember anything?" For a second she sees Kyle in Jeremy's place, drugged and amnesiac to the point where he couldn't remember his own name, before reminding herself that this is the here and now in the Games. Still, Luna wonders if someone could be messing with the Tributes via chemical means as well as everything else she's seen the Arena. She can't exactly put it past the Gamemakers, and it could make for some good drama for viewers too.

But that's far from the only possible reason for Jeremy's current problems, and generally the simpler explanations are the more likely ones. Better to start simple, too. "I can't help with your memory, but right now we're in the middle of the Hunger Games. People fight to the death here, and then they'll be brought back to life to do it again...but I'm not interested in hurting you. I promise." Important caveats in case he feels (justifiably) jumpy right now.

[leiche]

It wasn't so much that he didn't remember anything at all - he knew his name, he knew what had happened back home, and he knew that he was here in Panem now ... but it was a lot of blanks otherwise and everything else was a hazy blur. Being thrust into a new world was one thing, but being forced to run for his life for being killed by not only other tributes but any number of monsters as well, that was something else entirely. He wasn't sure how anyone was supposed to handle it all.

"... i-if you say so," Jeremy shrugs as he answers. He's sure he can trust her at her word, for now at least. The panic's easing off, at least, so he's not shaking as much. "I get ... why we're all h-here. I just ... I don't know h-how I-- I blacked out, at home, now all this is ha--happening."

[didnothing]

Had they taken him from his home directly into the Arena? Luna had thought waking up in Panem just before the Games had been bad; coming directly into the Arena sounds even worse. Of course given her history she can't throw too many stones, but she'd found the whole thing objectionable when it was her administrators behind the plan and it doesn't sit any better with her now. Given that, she really wishes she could help Jeremy more but unfortunately she doesn't know much more about the hows than he does.

"They have ways to take people from other worlds and bring them here. And they seem to have...different ways of achieving that, if needed." She wavers more on that point, because she knows firsthand (sort of) how strange and impossible those methods can be. "But I'm afraid I don't know any more than that. I'm sorry. I've only been here a few weeks myself."

[leiche]

Well, at least she tried.

It's not like he could blame her. A lot of people were likely in the same sort of situation, "newbies" like himself. Either they knew how this world worked and could offer advice, or they couldn't and were trying to help anyway - but the arena was very dangerous. Anyone, or anything, could come storming in at any point to take out a couple easy targets. She seemed nice enough to not deserve a fate like that.

"That's okay," Jeremy answers, lowering his gaze because that shadow (that's not really there but is still unsettling) is towering behind her now and if he doesn't look at it, maybe it'll go away. As for her, he doesn't want to be responsible for her lagging behind and getting hurt. "You sh-should go ... before something else h-happens."

[didnothing]

Luna's still hesitant to just leave someone having trouble like Jeremy is, but as things stand now it looks like there isn't a lot she can do to help short of finding a way to smuggle him outside of the Arena. And of course that's not happening anytime soon. There's a difference between trying to be helpful and trying hard enough to become a burden, and if he thinks she ought to go Luna doesn't want to overstay her welcome.

So she nods, clearly still anxious but decided all the same. "All right. But you try and stay safe yourself, okay? I know things must be difficult right now, but the important thing is to do your best to survive."

[leiche]

It's a relief when he hears her say she'll leave. Of course, it's not at all because he dislikes her company or anything, it's just reassuring to know that she'll have a better chance of making it through the rest of the arena if she doesn't waste her time on him. So he nods his head, with at least a little resolve to ... well, try. He can try.

Just as she's about to leave, however, Jeremy stops her for just a moment. "W-Wait--"

This part is always awkward, ugh. He hates his memory span sometimes. Most times. "... what was-- uh ... y-your name, again?"

[didnothing]

Luna halts when he calls out, and there's a little bit of surprise on her face as she listens to the question. Oh. That's a matter she's forgotten as well, isn't it?

She answers with a smile, for comfort's sake. "My name is Luna. I don't know if it will mean much for now, but...when we're both out, I'm one of the people chosen to represent District Six. There will be a tower where everyone lives, so you might be able to find people you've met that way." It really won't mean that much if he hasn't been filled in on the details, but there are more pressing things going on right now - and in the meantime, maybe he can remember just the number later on if he's interested. "And you? I didn't get your name."

[leiche]

Luna. He can't really remember if she had said so in the beginning of their conversation or not (she probably did, and Jeremy was too busy panicking to pay attention and remember it.) But at least he knows now, and he can make a conscious effort to remember her name next time they meet. If they ever do.

"... Jeremy," he answers, at least a little relieved that there's someone he can trust here. He's not sure if he'll ever see her again after this, but it's a little sliver of hope he didn't have before when he first arrived. At the very least, he can try to look for her after all this. She seems confident they'll both get out of here. "I'll, uh ... t-try to look for you. After. If I-- ... if I c-can."

[didnothing]

If he can? It's then that Luna remembers that Jeremy might not have heard about the fact that people come back afterward. It's almost an embarrassing oversight, given she'd had to be informed on the same point upon her own arrival a few weeks ago. "I think we'll be able to. Even if we're killed here...they have ways of bringing us back. I don't know the details, but that's what I've been told."

Whether that's good or bad depends on how one feels about dying repeatedly, of course. Personally Luna finds the idea exhausting, but it seems not everyone thinks so. Maybe Jeremy will be one of those people who appreciates the extra chance at life; or maybe not. Either way, it won't hurt to be just a little optimistic. "If we meet again, I hope it's in better circumstances."

[leiche]

It seems too good to be true, really. Pulling in hundreds of people from different lives and worlds entirely, forcing them into a fight to the death for their own entertainment, and then bringing them back from death? Such a thing shouldn't be possible at all. But, the more he thinks about it ... well, he was dead at the start, too. And he's here now.

"... I-I guess ... we'll see," Jeremy answers. It would be nice, he supposes, to see her again outside of the arena. Not that he knows what the outside is like, but still, it would be nice. "I ... I hope so, t-too."

But more importantly, he hopes she stays safe out there.

[didnothing]

Luna smiles just briefly, glad for a little hope but still doubtful of their overall situation. Both of them have a time ahead that will be long and tiring at best, and short-lived at worst depending on how things pan out. She tightens her grip on the first aid kit still in her hands and looks out through the forest. Luna can't do anything more here, but she is determined to make what time she has before she dies count.

"Stay safe," she says to Jeremy. "Don't be afraid to run if you need. Even if they've brought us here, we still have a choice in what we do...I want that to mean something." Then she turns to leave, because if she really does want to do something more then she ought to get going.

[leiche]

A little hope is better than none at all, he supposes. Whatever the outcome of this arena is, if he really does come back from it on the other side or not, having something to look forward to ... well, it's something. Jeremy's pretty certain he's not going to know anyone else here anyway, so if that is what happens, he can at least look for her. See how well she fares. If she makes it out, too ...

Best not to think about it like that. Instead he offers a small, barely there smile as he waves his hand, letting her go about her business. He waits until she's out of earshot, before sighing quietly to himself, "... you too."