thearena | [open] marching on, it's one foot then the other

Entry tags:

[open] marching on, it's one foot then the other

WHO| Thane and OPEN.
WHAT| Thane's just been tossed into murder island and he is not very pleased with it.
WHEN| Week 2.
WHERE| Cornucopia, Fantasyland.
WARNINGS/NOTES| Starting with the basic possibility for arena violence / attempted murder, nothing specific yet but will update as needed.

The explanation given to him had been far more than simply unsatisfactory. He had considered fighting back, attempting to get out, but when he'd reached for his biotics they were not there and without them there were too many to successfully come up with a plan for in the short space of time he had before suddenly he was being put into what he had been told was the arena. Given longer than five minutes, perhaps, but he had not been.

It was a moot point. He was in the arena now, a place where apparently he must be on his guard against everyone else. He would not kill for these people. He had taken no contract and his arm was still Shepard's, no matter where she was (and where was she, where was this place and what was happening?). But if he was an adequate representation of the people in this arena, it was only going to get more dangerous the longer he lingered in one place. He must move, and now.

There were buildings close by. Perhaps they would provide adequate shelter and if he was lucky supplies. He would go as quietly as possible through them, remain out of sight and quiet. And once he found shelter he could sit and think, consider what was going on and how he could get out.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He centered his stance, solid and sure and looking to make clear that he had no intentions of moving towards him in any threat. Wariness in a situation like this was only natural, and he would not make any worries worse by his actions. The least he could do in this situation was to alleviate it by his manner. "I see. And you are - a trained soldier?" It was a question whose answer he thought he already knew, but it could not hurt to inquire regardless.

"No. I was a student." Was because he isn't entirely sure he'd still qualify as such even if he hadn't been brought to Panem. "I can think of only one person I know who was a soldier prior to being brought here."

The conversation was rapidly putting him at ease, but it raised a number of questions even so. Shouldn't this man have already been familiar with the Games, at least in so much as Enjolras was himself? "I cannot recall seeing you at the Capitol, Monsieur."

"Only one?" He would have to reevaluate his conclusions, then. He had assumed too much based on himself, something he knew much better than to do. But why were they bringing noncombatants in when they wanted a fight?

The only conclusion to be had was that they wanted deaths, and lots of them, and were ensuring that there would always be people it would not be difficult to kill. It was not a pleasant one, but there was nothing comfortable about this situation. "I have only just arrived in this - arena. What were you a student of?"

"Ostensibly? I studied the law. In reality, I would have sooner pursued philosophy." His expression softened slightly, the gradual flow of their questions into an actual conversation putting him increasingly at ease. Enjolras wasn't exactly sure why his academic interests were relevant to this man, but if it could forge some bond between them, it stood to reason that he'd be less likely to attack.

Listening to Thane's words as he attempted to puzzle through a tactful way out this encounter, a thought occurred. "If you weren't in the Capitol then you really don't have any idea what's going on here... Do you?"

"Your earth does have it's share of interesting philosophers." He had read and enjoyed some of them in his time, though he still favored his own culture's philosophers above others. That was simply natural, really. While the specifics of what he was studying were perhaps not important, it all served to build up a picture of a man.

Understand someone and you knew how to beat them, even if in this instance he had no intention of trying to hurt Enjolras. "I was given a brief explanation, and some have explained aspects to me. But I am still new to it all."

"I had assumed that they would at least want us on a level playing field in that regard, even if out differences physically only served to amuse them." The utter depravity of the Capitol and its citizens would never truly cease to amaze him. While the concept of the games, one District choosing (or rather having chosen for them) a representative of questionable strength and training to fight it out with another in an Arena that seemed rigged against them was stupid and ineffective enough, doing so without at least informing said representatives seemed ludicrous. There was no equality here, little to no pretension that each District had just as much of a chance of winning as another. Surely after the participants were selected, pulled from other worlds like they had been, it was all more or less over. Those who were physically more capable, and better trained for this environment, those who had no qualms with killing, would triumph. Those like himself could only hope to survive for as long as possible.

He pursed his lips, the train of thought quickly souring his mood. There were countless other political systems more effective and more human. Enjolras simply couldn't see why this one had been selected. "What more would you like to know? It would be a pity to be killed and not know the purpose of your own death."

"Their methods are certainly suspect." And that was at their very best, in his evaluation so far. He could not determine what the purpose was yet, beyond people's entertainment. He knew enough of the world to know that there were people in it who would find this entertaining, but enough in one place with the resources to accomplish something such as this? It did not seem possible, and yet apparently it was.

It was a surprisingly generous question, and he bowed his head for a moment in acknowledgement of Enjolras' helpfulness. "Death's purpose is always the same. But I would ask if you have ever met those who organized these - Games."

"I have not met them, per se. Those of us who were brought here prior to the beginning of the Arena were required to display our skills for them so that they might assess our chances. For the purpose of wagering, I presume." His answer was flat and betrayed little of his opinion on the subject. As a point of fact, Enjolras found the entire presentation for the Gamemakers confusing and mildly pointless, but he was told that he had done decently by his mentor. He'd received a gift from a sponsor already, so perhaps there was some usefulness for the pageantry.

"Am I to take it by your statement that you view all deaths as equal? Surely you can think of something more worth while to fight for, to die for that these peoples' entertainment." While he was perfectly happy to answer any more questions that Thane might have, Enjolras couldn't resist the opportunity to pick a part and dissect something in the flippancy of his fellow Tribute's response. To one who had been prepared, almost eager to give his life for a worthy cause, the idea of a purposeless death was morbidly and terrifyingly fascinating.

"I see." More display, more pomp and ceremony all centered around this ritual of death and murder. He has killed a great many people in his time, but he never expected to be lauded for it, nor was he ever. A clean kill was a success, but nothing more than that.

He raises his shoulders for a moment at that question, neutral. "I can think of many things worth fighting for more. But once you are dead, the path to it is of less concern." It is something he must believe, or spend his time dreading the slow degradation of his body now that his purpose is gone. He will die in a hospital bed - was going to, before this. It will not make any difference.

"To me that seems a contradictory statement, sir." Enjolras smiled wryly, not really willing to let himself contemplate exactly what had driven him, in this place, to find someone's views on life and death humorous or amusing by any definition. The conversation was putting him at ease, which was probably very dangerous. In fact, he was certain it was very dangerous. Even discounting the man's appearance (which was incredibly difficult to do. No one else here appeared so incredibly inhuman.), there was still the matter of letting his guard down around another Tribute. They were all, on some level, conditioned to consider each other adversaries. Just because he was unwilling to play the game, didn't mean this man felt the same. Even if he seemed it. Enjolras' brow furrowed. Their situation was maddening.

"Will you fight, then? Avoid your own death even if it means causing the death of another?"

"Does it? It does not to me." Though he could imagine that his philosophy was not one that all people found reasonable to be adhered to. It was all as well. The question gave him pause for a moment though, considering. Would it even be worth it, here, to defend himself? Others certainly, but his life was not worth a great deal and if someone needed to kill him to survive. But that is not enough.

"I would defend myself if attacked, or others. If someone is attempting to take a life, they should be stopped."

"I agree. Anyone who attempts to take the life of another, or does so, should face punishment. I confess that I do not know where that leaves us here, however." How interesting this particular set of parameters would be were he allowed to ponder it in the peace of the Musain or at the Corinth. Instead he's standing in a fabrication of a ruined town in some foreign country, talking to a man who looks like some obscure demon, and fighting for a piece of the country in which he has no stake. He favored the theory over the reality significantly.

"As I said before, I won't be attacking you, sir. Nevertheless, we should leave this place before less amiable Tributes arrive and we're both forced to prove our convictions on the matter."

"I do not think this is a situation philosophy has allowed for. It must be determined by the case." It was not a situation he was pleased with, by any means, but as much as he might wish to save lives more than take them now - how was he to tell which lives were innocent and which were deserving of being ended?

"We have been too long in the open for a place such as this. I hope I have not brought any danger upon you."

"It's impossible not to bring danger in this place." Enjolras' expression was half-amused again, and again, he figured it wasn't something that should really be amusing. It was bitter for such a dedicated optimist to find elements of humor in something so depressing.

"My name is Enjolras." He paused, they were still too far away to offer any sort of proper greetings to one another, but their conversation hadn't been unpleasant. They seemed like minded, and, in another time and place, Enjolras would have liked to talk to him more. Appearances, for the moment, aside. "May I ask yours, sir? In case we are to meet one another again."

"Then I apologize." It was, it seemed, the most he could do in this situation. It did not sit well with him, but he would have to deal with a great deal of that until he found a way out of this situation.

He dipped his head just a little bit, an indication of a small comfort, instinctual as a means of showing that he was appreciative of the friendliness of the other. "I am Thane. I hope we will meet again in a better circumstance."

"You apology is unnecessary." And it was. If Enjolras hadn't been enjoying their conversation he would have left, as easy as that. It was necessary to be wary here, but if they were actually in immediate danger, Enjolras was equally responsible for it.

Nevertheless, he pulled away with a similar nod of recognition. "Likewise. Good luck to you, Monsieur Thane."

His wish was a sincere one, even as he turned to fade back into his surroundings and continue searching for somewhere safe to consider. "Thank you. And to you." He would pray for him, in this deathtrap.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[open] marching on, it's one foot then the other

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject