[open]

[gluteus]

Who| Maximus and OPEN
What| Around the arena
Where| all over disneyland
When| various times over the week 2 and 3
Warnings/Notes| see ooc note if you're planning on tagging in, please!


His ear had become infected.

Not a horrible infection, but a nagging, itchy one - and he felt a deep and sudden longing for his friend Juba and his maggots. He couldn't observe it closely and he decided he didn't want to - there was nothing he could do about it save tear strips from his cape for new bandages every day, and wrap the bright orange fabric around his head.

And hunt.



[ooc note: because i'm trying to catch up and do a lot of things at once, i'm willing to do seperate intros for each thread that people want to have with me. So if you want to tag in, pm me with details of what you'd like and I'll write up another intro for you! that way i can keep everything straight in my head and know where he's meeting up with people and when. c:]

Comments

[polyturtle]

He was still alive. He couldn't understand it. Of all the people to be alive-

And he still couldn't find Lottie. He was getting progressively more worried, as he hadn't caught the previous deaths being flashed into the sky. Was she even still alive? And if so, how was he going to help her in his condition?

It was at this point that he caught Maximus in his line of sight. He caught the sigh of relief in his throat, instead quietly sneaking over to the gladiator's location as stealthily as he could, only speaking when he was certain he didn't need to shout to be heard.

"Maximus?"

[gluteus]

Maximus nearly cursed when he heard the voice. He hadn't heard Don's approach as he'd come from somewhere on his left - the missing ear rendering his ability to hear nearly useless on that side. He relaxed when he saw who it was, lowering the folding knife that had come up instinctively.

"Donatello. Still alive, then."

[polyturtle]

"More or less." At this, Donatello slumped down onto the ground, a few feet away. "Minus an appendage, but I guess it could be worse at this point."

Like infection. How the shell did he manage to evade infection? Had someone taken care of him while he was out of it?

[gluteus]

Maximus stepped over, frowning at where Don's arm should be as he crouched down beside him.

"A greater loss than mine. Was it your sword arm or your shield arm?"

[polyturtle]

"Well, I...neither." Which likely sounded odd to the gladiator. at least at first. "I use both arms in my style of fighting, for offense and defense at any given time. I can compensate with the arm I have left, but...it will be more difficult fighting, that's for sure."

[gluteus]

"You don't favour one over the other?" Maximus wondered to himself if it had something to do with being not quite human, but he didn't say so outloud.

"How did you lose it?"

[polyturtle]

"Not generally." Donatello shook his head. "Sigma. The man with the metal arms did it. He seems to have it out for Tributes who have killed."

[gluteus]

"So nearly all of us, then," Maximus said with a slight smile as he turned the idea of a man with metal arms over in his mind.

Walking with Gods and Monsters indeed.

"He sounds like a formidable creature."

[polyturtle]

"He is." Don sighed. "That worries me. Not...that he's formidable, but the fact of who he seems to be targeting. What is the point? Almost everyone here is a killer. What point would it make?"

Other than to say it was wrong to kill, but it was a bit hypocritical. That much was obvious.

For Wyatt :: After Morrigans Death, Near Thunder Mountain in Frontierland

[gluteus]

Maximus picked his way through Frontierland, hoping to find something more useful than the bloody folding knife he'd received to slit Javert's throat, but turned up empty handed.

Morrigan's death was weighing heavily on his mind, and he'd forced himself to keep busy.

Part of him wished he'd come across Wesker or a like-minded tribute...

It wasn't a foe that he spotted across the destroyed landscape, however - It was a friend. He stowed his folding knife and made his way quickly and quietly over to Wyatt.

[the_marshal]

A cat had strangled itself in one of his snares, thrashing and twisting, until it was bound up like a roped calf. Wyatt didn't want to cut the snare, didn't want to waste the twine, but after several, unsuccessful attempts to untangle the furry, muscular body, he gave in and started cutting, his knife flashing against the dark fur.

He muttered to himself as he worked, regretting the loss of the snare, and feeling a twinge guilty that the beast had suffered so.

But, on the up side, the cat would keep them fed for a few more meals and it's wild fight to free itself had knocked a hole into the corner of the wooden building the snare had been set behind. Inside, light winking off the blade as he'd approached, had been a sword. Long and lean with a bronze handle.

Granted, he wasn't much of a swordsman, but Wyatt wasn't about to look a gift-horse in the mouth. The blade waited at his side, just within reach, as he cut the cat free.

[gluteus]

He was so releaved to find Wyatt that he smiled as he approached, flashbacks of eggs and birds and ice in his mind. He glimpsed the lucky blade at Wyatt's side. At least one of them was armed. Good. He hoped Wyatt knew how to use it.

Not wanting to startle the man, but also not wanting to alert anyone in the area, he was quiet until about ten feet away - then he let his footfalls be louder, taking a deep breath.

"A shame about the snare," he said calmly.

[the_marshal]

The moment Wyatt realized he was no longer alone was clear, his shoulders tensed, his hands paused... preparing to reach with for the sword with one, the fingers of the other tightening on the knife handle.

He took a breath, held it, readying himself - but then his visitor spoke and Wyatt knew that voice.

His shoulders dropped, relaxed, his fingers went slack, resting in the cat's fur.

"Cat went out with a fight," he replied, finally looking up, a small smile playing around his mouth. "Can't say as I blame it for that."

[gluteus]

"No, nor can I," Maximus said, returning the slight smile as he came to a stop a few steps away. He glanced around, checking the area, but once he was sure they were alone he crouched down next to Wyatt.

"It's good to see you alive, my friend. And unharmed."

[the_marshal]

"As much as one can be, at any rate," Wyatt mused. There were small wounds, a bruising 'round his knuckles where he'd clocked Katurian, a few nicks across his fingers from carving down the rat bones into hooks, but everything else was internal - had been hacked away from his spirit, from his very soul.

Those one's the Capitol couldn't heal. Those one's stretched across the arenas.

His eyes slid to bandage wrapped over the side of Maximus' head and an eyebrow twitched. "Sorry, I can't say the same 'bout you." He nodded toward the injury. "Ya alright?"

[gluteus]

"Lost an ear. I'll live." He smiled grimly as he pressed a finger to it, pausing. "... Probably. If it remains uninfected."

He couldn't help but look at the sword, frowning slightly. He did not recognize the shape - thinner and longer than what he was used to. He wondered vaguely if it would require a different method of use...

[the_marshal]

Wyatt followed the direction of his attention and nodded sagely.

"Can't say that I'm well versed in it myself," he said as he resumed his work, knife blade cutting through the last of the tangled twine and his free hand turning the cat so he could get at its belly and start field-dressing it.

He smiled wryly. "But beggars can't be choosers, as they say."

[battlesleep]

He had continued his explorations, trying to search out and understand whatever space he had available to him. He had been trying to avoid people, but they were surprisingly prevalent and it was not always possible.

Such as now, and the other man must have been being very quiet for Thane to have not heard him before he came over the ridge. It was on the one hand an indication of skill that Thane could respect, and on the other an indication of possible danger. He started to move down the hill enough to get out of obvious sight of anyone else in the area, waiting until he was slightly closer to speak.

"I intend no harm." The words rest sour in his mouth, a reminder of the purpose they are all supposed to have here.

[gluteus]

Maximus always walked with his knife in his palm, though it was folded closed. He whipped around as soon as he heard the voice (one he did not recognize), blade flashing free, cursing inwardly at his missing ear. The fact that he was so easy to sneak up on...

He didn't attack, however, merely slipping into a defensive position, and he furrowed his brow as soon as he took in the face he was looking at.

It wasn't a complete shock, of course, not after Don - but he would never quite get used to seeing creatures that may well be straight from Tartarus.

"The question is rarely if you intend harm, but if you will bring it regardless."

[battlesleep]

Another reaction of at least slight confusion, but that was rapidly becoming the normal rather than any exception. It was strange, being an alien in a world unused to them, but not much stranger than anything else he had become accustomed to.

"Not unless I must defend myself." Serious and calm as he took up a steady stance, feet slightly spread and hands behind his back. Weapons seemed rare so far - that this man had one was likely a sign of something, but of what Thane had not yet come to a conclusion. "Will I need to?"

[gluteus]

This creature was a complete unknown, of course, but that fact that it spoke meant it was a tribute rather than something brought here to feed on them. It was impossible to gauge his strength, but if it was equal to a human's then Maximus stood a fair chance. He said nothing, for a long moment, but eventually closed the blade and replaced it in his belt.

"There are more than enough willing to make themselves foes to attack those that may be friends."

[battlesleep]

"It would seem this place is designed for such events."

But the knife being put away was good. This man moved like he knew how to use it, and Thane was not eager to fight anyone. He had yet to be entirely convinced there could not be some other way out of this situation. He did not want to die in a hospital bed, but he had not helped defeat the Collectors to die in some arena for other's amusement either.

"I do not find myself interested."

[gluteus]

Maximus eyed him for a long moment, his brows furrowed as he assessed, before he shifted his stance and relaxed slightly. He didn't move any closer, however.

"Few are, at first. But there are monsters among the men. And hunger drive the rest. I have nothing, if food is what you are looking for."

[battlesleep]

If the other was not going to move closer, then Thane would maintain his distance as well. It was both a means to assure Maximus that he intended no harm and to keep himself out of range of any attempt at a sudden attack.

"I am not searching for anything." Though sooner or later he will need to obtain food. He will have to find a way that does not involve attacking others. "Except perhaps answers."

[gluteus]

Maximus shifted, glancing around him quietly for a moment, making sure they were alone.

"Answers are few and far between, but I may be able to provide. It isn't wise to stay out in the open, however."