etcircenses: (War)
Panem Events ([personal profile] etcircenses) wrote in [community profile] thearena2015-12-29 06:05 pm

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Who| All those on the liberation mission and all those being made to fight against them.
What| The liberation of District 1.
Where| District 1.
When| This week.
Warnings/Notes| War, violence, death. Please warn for more in headers.

The nearest to the Capitol in both relationship and location, District One is a sight to behold. Unlike the other districts where things are obviously poorer and dirtier, District One looks and feels like a smaller (and slightly cheaper) version of the Capitol. The architecture from the City Hall to the corner stores is Roman based and with the whole city built on the edge of a lake, it seems to glimmer when the sun hits it right. With half the goods to be found in One based on precious jewels and metals, the shops hold their own kind of glimmer in the windows.

This is the prime vacationing spot for wealthy Capitolites and the place looks the part.

Unlike in some areas, this may be the only place outside the Capitol where someone might suspect the war isn’t happening. The Capitol doesn’t want it’s citizens thinking there’s something to be concerned about and it’s clear in the way there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong at all, the only noticeable difference is the Peacekeepers. Previously laid back and generally unconcerned with their routes, are now more attentive, keeping watch for anything or anyone undesired.

Those soldiers from the Capitol will notice they receive plenty of smiles and hellos and general niceties one might expect from a district sitting in the palm of the Capitol. However, the real note that shows that perhaps not everything is as it seems on the surface is in the way the citizens look at the rebels. Although disguised, the people of District One know a Capitol tool when they see one and they know when they’re looking at someone who doesn’t fit that image. And yet, nothing comes of it. There’s a flash, a look of knowing in their faces, but they smile and give hellos to the rebels as well, as though they’re aware of what might be going on and simply refuse to lift a finger to change it.

And why should they? Luxury does not always buy compliance. Still, it would be wise to tread lightly no matter which side you’re on. Things aren't always as the seem. And it would seem there are many marks of both sides here. Goodness and Peace can be seen, sometimes with a question mark beside it. There are those who wear red wrist cuffs for Haruto and some with jade green dots under their eyes. There are bigger, bolder images of Quintus and Beck seen around. On one wall, a painting of Emily and Beck's hands together can be seen. A home-made banner on one house proclaims this is our home.

The war is starting, and in the back of everyone's mind is a familiar phrase; may the odds be ever in your favor.
sizeofyourbaggage: (let's do this then)

[personal profile] sizeofyourbaggage 2016-01-04 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
This didn't used to be the kind of war that Sam was used to, fighting a battle in the middle of a city right under people's noses while they had no idea what was going on. But after working with Steve, after over a year of being on Panem, it feels more natural fighting like this.

He's almost surprised that they're letting him in it at all - but then, the rigged wingpack and the threats against Jet are more than enough to keep him from trying to make a run for it. He's on injured Peacekeeper duty, moving through the streets and circling above the buildings of District One, keeping an eye out for any downed Capitol soldiers so he can pull them out to get them medical attention - and before they can be seen by too many citizens of the district, he suspects.

But it also means he can keep an eye out for his friends. He can't go back with them any more than Terezi could when he found her during the last battle, but he can at least reassure them that he's alive, that he's still on their side and he's gonna fight to get back to them.

His goggles make it easy as ever for him to scan the ground and pinpoint exactly what he's looking for, and eventually he spots Albert leaning against one of the buildings.

Sam shoots past him, dropping down to land a few blocks over where he ducks into a store to buy something - is given something, and he's not sure if that's because he still has some lingering fans who are glad to see him back in the Capitol or because the shop worker is secretly pro-rebellion, but that doesn't matter. It's just to keep up appearances, as though he's only taking advantage of the luxury that the rebellion couldn't offer.

Then he doubles back on foot until he finds him again. What he really wants to do is yank Albert into a hug, but he'll wait for a moment, just in case Albert's a little wary of him now that the black and red of his flight suit has been replaced by a white uniform with a giant crimson Capitol symbol.

"Hey," he greets, holding his hands out, palms up. "It's me."
Edited 2016-01-04 01:40 (UTC)
silberfuchs: (serious face)

[personal profile] silberfuchs 2016-01-04 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
"Sam..."

There's no smile, but there's something in his tone like a sigh of relief that doesn't come close to excising all the tension. He's glad to see his brother, especially in one piece like this, but he has already decided he has to use the device in his pocket for Terezi. Sam's a military man and like Albert he can handle a little more fighting. The girl, though... it's already been too long.

But on a quick once-over, Sam does't seem to have a collar.

Maybe...? It's probably too much to hope.

"Do they have you rigged?"

No 'good to see you.' No 'are you alright.' He can't afford it right now. Instead, it's business. The mission. Or else he'll be asking for far too much more than he can handle right at present.
sizeofyourbaggage: (do what you have to do)

[personal profile] sizeofyourbaggage 2016-01-08 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
It's all right, Albert doesn't have to say any of those. His tone says the first one for him - and really, at this point doesn't need confirmation that Albert would think it's good to seem him alive - and Sam doesn't want to have to answer the second one.

He isn't really all right, but he could be worse.

Not that he wants to answer that question, either, and his jaw sets as he jerks his thumb back over his shoulder, pointed at his wingpack.

"Yeah."

The Capitol's always had a terrible sense of humor.
silberfuchs: (excuse you)

[personal profile] silberfuchs 2016-01-12 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"I see." There's a visible clench to Albert's jaw, the flicker of something across his face like indecision, and then that careful blankness again as he puts out the cigarette in his hand and puts the butt back in the pack for later. If Albert knows anything, it's how to conserve.

"Do you know the off-worlder locations for your side?" Business. It has to be business. He can't ask how he is, really. He can't ask where Jet is, he can't do anything for either of them right now, but Terezi. They'll all feel better if Terezi is recovered safely. He has to focus on her. On the Troll girl with the precocious smile who'd defaced the D3 halls in the tower more than once in crayon, who'd helped reaffirm his own belief in love more than once. Who deserves to be protected and who they've failed enough already.

Though as he doesn't say her name immediately, Sam could easily construe Albert as looking for someone else.
sizeofyourbaggage: (this could be bad)

[personal profile] sizeofyourbaggage 2016-01-18 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
It's hard, keeping this distance between him and Albert, when he's used to the two of them being open and honest with each other - maybe more than either of them intended sometimes. At another time, it might worry Sam how quickly Albert retreats into just business, but, well. It's not like Sam isn't finding himself doing the same thing.

He doesn't tell Albert that he doesn't know where Jet is, that he hasn't seen or heard anything from him since they both went down except the videos that the Capitol keeps showing him. And he sure as hell can't tell Albert what's in them, not when Sam doesn't know if they're true or not.

But that makes Albert's question harder to answer, and he considers his words carefully before he replies.

"I know the general area, yeah. I saw Bucky and Terezi before we went out."
silberfuchs: (over the shoulder)

[personal profile] silberfuchs 2016-01-19 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
He's off his game, and he knew it the second he'd asked Sam to reveal enemy movements aloud. Who knows if they have him bugged, if they'll take this out of his hide somehow later. He's very likely just made things ten times worse for Sam while he's in the hands of the Capitol, even if he'll still forge on with his plan.

He hopes Sam will forgive him.

With a nod, Albert raises his hands and begins to sign instead of speaking. It's short and to the point, a quickly spelled command that he hopes Sam will simply trust him with.

Get Terezi.
sizeofyourbaggage: (goggles)

[personal profile] sizeofyourbaggage 2016-01-21 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
Honestly, Sam hadn't planned on coming back from this battle in the Capitol's good graces. Maybe he should be playing it smarter, keeping himself safe even if it means catering to want they want - more than he already has to - but it's just not him. If Albert's got something he can do to help, even from the Capitol's side, he's going to jump on it.

And there's a wave of relief when Albert tells him to get Terezi. Even though Sam had left Jet's name off there, there'd been a part of him that was worried that Albert would ask for him anyway, and Sam would have to confirm that he couldn't get to him.

All right, maybe that has to do more with the biggest failure weighing on Sam's mind right now, but still. It's a relief that it's something he can do.

He flashes Albert a salute, followed by a short sign of his own. 'Rendezvous?'

Once he has Albert's response, he'll take off in search of Terezi.
silberfuchs: (The party don't start)

[personal profile] silberfuchs 2016-01-26 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
'Fourteen blocks East, five South.' Albert signs quickly. It will put them soundly into a warehouse district of the main city. A little closer to where there may be actual fighting, but away from any arguably innocent civilians should the worst occur.

Albert watches Sam take off, wondering again with a pang where the hell Jet could be, and then folds himself into the crowds on the streets, winding his way among thoroughfares and back alleys alike to reach the rendezvous point without chance of being followed.
pythianjudgment: (pic#7427729)

[personal profile] pythianjudgment 2016-02-08 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
At this particular moment, Terezi is running support several blocks away. Once again, no weapons have been provided to her. She only has her orders to keep the wounded off the streets and tended to out of sight. It's imperative that the citizens not be alerted to the level of warfare going on around them. There's an ear piece that has been provided to her this time for listening for instructions and directions, and a transmitter for communicating back her understanding or request for supplies.

Sam might spot her overhead, making her way calm but hurriedly through the streets to the most recent site of the bloodshed.
sizeofyourbaggage: (let's do this then)

[personal profile] sizeofyourbaggage 2016-02-15 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
It's easier with Terezi, because they're on the same side - both in reality and in technicality. He doesn't have to circle back around when he sees her, because if there is anyone with eyes on him while he's in the air, they'll have no reason to be suspicious of him swooping down to talk with another person who's supposed to be helping the Capitol forces.

He folds his wings in a little when he drops down a few feet in front of her, though he doesn't snap them in all the way.

"Hey," he greets, tone low but urgent. "I don't got time to explain, but I need you to come with me."
Edited 2016-02-15 20:28 (UTC)
pythianjudgment: (pic#7427742)

[personal profile] pythianjudgment 2016-02-17 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
Terezi stops short when Sam drops down in front of her, surprise registering on her face at his sudden arrival. She wasn't expecting him to be in this area, and his request is even more strange. She knows exactly where they mean for her to be, and there hasn't been any notification that those orders have changed.

He doesn't have time to explain, he says, but she's not certain that she wants to fly off with him without knowing what he's planning. She promised Kurloz that she would stay alive. If he's planning something reckless again, she can't in good conscience be a part of it. But she can't let him do whatever he's planning alone, either.

"That isn't part of my instructions," she points out, but she's certain that he knows that. "Where are we going?"
sizeofyourbaggage: (all right good point)

[personal profile] sizeofyourbaggage 2016-02-19 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
She's not the only one who promised to stay alive, and not take any unnecssary risks. Sam can tell she's hesitant, and he doesn't blame her, even if he doesn't completely know the reasons why. It doesn't occur to him that she's thinking of the time he went to Steve and Bucky to try to do something stupid.

"To someone looking for you." He's not willing to say Albert's name, or even give a location - if there's anyone watching them or listening in, they're gonna find out anyway when he takes Terezi there, but at least then Albert will hopefully have enough time to do whatever he needs to. There's no need to give them a head's up.

"Will you trust me?"
pythianjudgment: ([d] look to the sky)

[personal profile] pythianjudgment 2016-02-22 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Someone looking for her. Her first thought is the Initiate. They had promised to find each other the next time fighting broke out. He had contacted her during the crisis with the Peacekeepers, when their powers were out of whack. The thought of being able to talk to him face to face is an enticing one...

But there's a number of other people that Sam could also mean. She doesn't want to get her hopes up so soon. She holds out for another moment or two before finally nodding. "Okay. Let's go--but not outside of the city." That was the limit that she was allowed this time. She doesn't think that she has to remind Sam why.

Her arms lift up, signaling that he has her permission to pick her up. She doesn't imagine that they'll be traveling on foot to wherever he's taking her.
sizeofyourbaggage: (in flight)

[personal profile] sizeofyourbaggage 2016-02-22 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"Don't gotta worry about that."

He can't go out of the city, either, not with the way they rigged his pack. He doesn't add that, though, just steps in to scoop her up and launches back into the air. It's not too far from them, fortunately, especially by flight, and it's not long before he's dropping down to land.

Like he'd done when first meeting Albert, he doesn't go right for the location - but he risks landing closer, because he wants to do this as quick as possible.

"Two blocks to the right," he mutters, moving quickly towards the rendezvous point that Albert'd set.
pythianjudgment: (pic#7427729)

[personal profile] pythianjudgment 2016-02-22 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Terezi clings to Sam's neck as they fly, trying to suss out where exactly they're headed as they go. She's a little confused when they land and there's no one around, until she hears him mention that there's still two block to go.

"I can walk," she pipes up, squirming to be let down so that if they come upon any trouble, she can take care of herself. She doesn't need to weigh Sam down and have them both suffer for it. Not to mention it's considerably less suspicious than hauling her around like a bag of goods.
sizeofyourbaggage: (kinda like that)

[personal profile] sizeofyourbaggage 2016-03-28 07:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Sam sets her down when she starts squirming, because all right, yeah, she has a point.

"Ruining my dramatic entrance, snapdragon," he mutters to her as they move, but it's mostly absent. He's more focused on scanning for Albert, or any sign that they'd been followed.
silberfuchs: (smiling fondly)

[personal profile] silberfuchs 2016-03-29 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Does that mean I get a dramatic entrance instead?" He heard them coming before he saw them, having taken the time apart getting to the rendezvous point he'd set up with Sam to center himself. Yes there were so many people in dire need, but he's here for Terezi and to put her at ease, he needs to not look like the specter of death even if he feels that way. So he lets himself joke, lets himself grin, and steps out of the shadows as if it's some big reveal that he's there.

The grin turns softer when his white eyes take in her face. Even if she can't see the change, he hopes she can hear it in his voice. "I'm here to bring you home."

He doesn't mean 13, but she's a clever girl. He has no doubt she understands.
pythianjudgment: (pic#7427752)

[personal profile] pythianjudgment 2016-04-22 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
As soon as Terezi hears Albert's voice, she knows what this is about. It's not difficult to remember their last conversation, how she had let him inspect the device that kept her anchored to the Capitol's will. So try as Albert might, his appearance still comes as something of a shock--and a little bit of dread, tempered down and mixed with hope. There's only one reason that she can think of for Albert to ask Sam to come and find her.

I'm here to bring you home.

Suddenly, she's not sure if she's ready.

Terezi turns back towards Sam, a bit of helplessness in the way that her eyes are just a little too wide. It's only a momentary expression, as if she might find some answer with him, but she doesn't have the words to voice her concerns. She turns back to Albert, still looking a little distressed.

"You found a way to get this off?" She lifts her hand to the collar, touching it only very lightly.