ARENA 02- let's get this party started

[gamemakers]

There is a different tension in the air. This is the first time anyone has been returning to the arena, and it changes things. For the tributes that know, for those prepping them. It's all under the surface, waiting. The prep goes the same as before.

The tributes are taken from the Training Center, one by one, and placed into the hovercraft that will take them on a long, tense ride to the Arena. New tributes have a tracking device implants in their arm, old tributes have their's activated, a move so similar, so swift it would be hard to notice.

Left alone with their stylist, each tribute is dressed quickly, light colors, cotton fabric, sturdy boots. Nothing waterproof, and nothing that will help against cold, dark nights. Then they are set into the clear tubes, and go up to whatever waits above while the voice counts down.

25 - 24 - 23 - 22 - 21

It late evening, but the summer sun is still high and the day is hot over the ruined city that rises up around them. The air shimmers with it, hot, heavy, pressing down on the tributes.

18 - 17 - 16 - 15

The cornucopia, the only bright, new thing in sight besides the pedestals they stand on shimmer brilliantly in the sun, all the life saving supplies scattered around in, tempting and deadly.

9 - 8 - 7

They've all been warned, don't step off your pedestal early.

4 - 3

2

The sound of the gong releasing them echos into the empty streets. Let the games begin.


[OOC: Don't forget the OOC Arena post, especially those of you running for the Cornucopia. Every single one of you ought to post to this post. There will be a Cornucopia thread, and anyone else feel free to post as you will. Please add a tag with your character's name.]

Comments

[cowardfacinghappiness]

"Oh," says Momoko, disappointed. So much for that. "Consulting, sounds...nice. Pleasant."

"Oh, yes, I do," says Momoko, and it's not even really a lie, though her grandmother is far from her biggest concern. "And I'm worried, of course, she's old and not quite right in the head, you know. I'm sure my father has no idea what he's doing."

[jadaryl]

Eliot lays a hand on Momoko's shoulder. "Hey, she'll be ok," he said, looking in the girl's eyes. "If he finds he can't take care of her himself, he'll probably hire a nurse to care for her until we can find a way to get you home. Actually, he might do that anyway so he focus on finding you."

He takes in her disappointment. "I said we're officially a consulting firm. Unofficially, what do doesn't involve much consulting. We help victims of crime that can't get help through the usual channels. Like these two songwriters in Nashville who'd had their music stolen.". He grins at the memory. He'd enjoyed that job.

[cowardfacinghappiness]

She almost feels a little bad Eliot's sympathy. She's not used to having other, nontargets around when she's doing her play-acting. She doesn't let it show, instead just gives him a watery smile. "Right, I'm sure you're right. He'll think of something like that...eventually. Probably. As soon as he notices I'm gone...whenever that is." Momoko definitely feels a twinge of guilt at her last-second improvisation. She's never doubted her father's love for her, but she's never really considered it anything of value either, so why shouldn't she use it as a tool for survival? He wouldn't mind...

Momoko tilts her head, trying to understand. "You're...lawyers?" That doesn't seem right.

[jadaryl]

A tiny warning bell sounds in Eliot's mind. The girl's eyes kept shifting to the left, much like Sophie's while on a con. "I'm no lawyer," he says. " That would be my brother. No, the team and I, we have... alternative methods for that sort of thing."

He finds himself telling the story of the con they had run in Nashville about a year ago. He was proud of that job.

[cowardfacinghappiness]

"Ah. You're criminals," says Momoko, nodding, smiling in amusement at the story despite herself. That explains a lot, though Eliot doesn't seem nearly ruthless enough to be a real criminal. Maybe it's an act?

[jadaryl]

"Yeah.". Eliot's eyes dance playfully as he admits it. "Although it took Nate two years to admit it."

[cowardfacinghappiness]

"What kind of criminal doesn't know he's a criminal?" Momoko frowns.

[jadaryl]

Eliot's grin grows even wider. "A former insurance fraud investigator," he says. "He was in complete denial. We were the thieves and he was the honest man who masterminded us."

[cowardfacinghappiness]

Momoko is bewildered at how obvious Eliot's amusement is. What's funny about a coworker in denial? "That must have been bothersome."

[jadaryl]

He shrugs. "It was a bit at the time," he admits. "But looking back on him telling us to steal a ski resort with one breath and denying that he was thief with the next? We all laugh about it now."

[cowardfacinghappiness]

Momoko shrugs, still not understanding. "Sounds irritating. I hope he was at least skilled at stealing. Or 'masterminding'."

[jadaryl]

"He's very good," Eliot admitted. "And he's got a good heart. He's gotten us out of situations I was sure would either get us killed or arrested. And pulled off the con at the same time."