thearena | All of my plans, compromised. [OPEN]

Entry tags:

sigma klim

All of my plans, compromised. [OPEN]

Who | Sigma and you!
What | Sigma escapes from the Cornucopia and gets spooked by an Antlered Rabbit.
Where | The Group 2 Desert Arena, not far from 13G
When | The beginning of Week 2, at nightfall.
Warnings/Notes | Both allies and attackers are welcome! No fatal injuries unless discussed first, though, please!

After sprinting to safety from the fauna that chased him from the Cornucopia, Sigma settled on a rock some mile away to catch his breath. He'd come away with a fair bit of treasure to show for his efforts, and hugged a black chador to his chest. He wondered where Ian was, knowing the almost naked Tribute could use it.

It wasn't long until the sun went down, and Sigma watched the pale moon rise with slight nostalgia. Before he arrived, he hadn't seen the moon in Earth's sky in nearly fifty years, and it would normally have been a welcoming, reassuring sight. A sign, to him, that all was well, that its pure-white surface unpocked by buildings and construction meant he was in a time where humans could comfortably inhabit the earth. But he knew this moon was an illusion produced by the Arena's sky dome. It would bring him no comfort here.

The Doctor was tired, yet still unwilling to sleep. Instead he waited and kept his guard. Sometime into the night, Dr. Klim began to hear something quite... peculiar. Something impossible.

Drawn from the rock he'd been seated on, Sigma frantically began to search the area. He could swear on his life he could hear a baby's cry. He panicked for a moment, wondering if the Capitol would be so cruel as to throw babies into the Arena as fodder Tributes, food for their muttations. He panicked further when he wondered what he would do if he actually found it in time. But suddenly the crying stopped as Sigma met the eyes of a horned rabbit, its eyes reflecting yellow in the moonlight.

And then it screamed! Not a child's scream, this time, but with Sigma's own voice, though slightly higher pitched. Though Dr. Klim's stomach twisted, he knew it had to be a trick... he'd seen the sort of genetic manipulation the Capitol was capable of. Mimicking voices was not outside of their ability. But now he knew, for certain, his act had been seen through. Before he could draw his throwing knife out of irritation it was gone, darting ahead and leaving a cloud of dust in its wake, shouting as it went. Sigma covered his ears, gathered his resolve, and started in the other direction. Though he was considerably shaken, he knew if he wanted to survive without causing violence, keeping a level head was key...

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Eponine had been walking. Walking and walking and walking. Never, ever had she been so glad of the stupid floppy hat Valeria had secured to her head, or of the material scrap Parker had given her to protect her nose and mouth from the sand.

It was good to be with the other tributes - she likes Parker and Mona a lot, and Pierrette seems nice enough. But Eponine, as Sigma probably knew by now, liked to wander too. And in the darkness, it was easy to wander away.

She had been walking quite aimlessly, glad now of her long sleeved velvet dress and thigh length boots, but as always on the look out for things she could scavenge to share with the girls. For the last week, she'd been munching on cacti, foul as it was. But no proper food at all.

And then she stopped. Because somewhere, ahead of her, someone screamed. A death? Eponine listened for the cannon sounding - but it never came. So, cautious now, she moved forward, looking for the cause of the commotion. Didn't she know that voice?

And then - then a shape - was it a man? - was he coming towards her? Was he hurt? Would he kill her? There was nowhere to hide, so Eponine simply stood, shivering slightly in the wind, to meet her fate.

Sigma watched the woman ahead quite literally freeze in her tracks. He knew, then, that he must be a bigger threat to them then they would be to him, and so continued forward slowly. He was still slightly agitated, even egged on by the scream, but he took a deep breath in one last effort to calm himself. He hid his throwing knives in his sleeping bag, forcing himself not to use them for now.

As he grew closer, his cybernetic eye zoomed in and tried to focus in the darkness- he realized he knew the woman. The Doctor brightened. "Eponine!" Sigma called to her, breaking into a relieved smile and picking up his pace. "It's me, Sigma. Do not be afraid."

Eponine gasped out a breath she hadn't even realised she had been holding.

"Oh, Monsieur. It is YOU. I am glad! I had thought, perhaps... But I am glad it is you. Are you hurt? Did you hear the scream? Did you -"

Her questions came thick and fast in a relieved jumble of words. She had to stop herself from asking if he had killed. She didn't want to know the answer.

"Are you fine? Do you have company, Sir?"

The Doctor laughed at her excitement, and found himself so overcome with happiness to meet one of his allies that he almost gave her a hug, uncharacteristic as it was for him. Instead he found himself reaching forward to squeeze her hand reassuringly, just once. Other than Ian, she would be the first Tribute he'd had contact with since this Arena began, and Sigma had found he hadn't eased back into solitude very well. The desert heat bred exhaustion, loneliness and constant paranoia and he wasn't certain how much more of it he could endure by himself. "I am alright so far. That scream..." Sigma turned around with a grave expression, wondering if he could still make out the rabbit in the distance. He could not. "It seems there are animals capable of mimicry, here. That voice didn't come from any Tribute in this Arena."

He turned back to her. "There's nothing to worry about so long as we don't get fooled. We'll hear the canon blare before long if we truly have company. How are you feeling?"

She wished it had been a hug. He was a kindly old man, Sigma, when he wasn't yelling at her. But, a squeeze would do, and she squeezed back in kind.

"I am not afraid, Monsieur. I am not afraid to die. It is amazing though - what is the word I have heard? Whiggity -whackerty. It is whiggerty-whaggerty that they make animals like that. It cannot be a real animal, can it? Or only one from far away - like from the America? Or Africa perhaps. That is far away."

In response to his question though, she grinned. "I do not mind it here. There is some I wish to see - Howard - but he would not wish to see me - and Monsieur Marius. But I don't think he would want me anyway." She sighed, but brightened. "Sir, I am with three ladies here - Parker and Mona and Pierrette. Mona is nice - she knows a lot of things she tells me. Pierrette talks about Ma. I do not know who Ma is but she says she is watching - a sponsor, maybe? I hope so. I liked getting a present."

Sigma stifled a laugh at the new word Eponine had learned. That was something that was certainly not a part of his vocabulary, but he didn't have the heart to correct her. Eponine was so innocent and warm-hearted, and Sigma had grown fond of her company.

He also put off scolding her for her lack of fear for now. Rather, he smiled at her. "As someone who once lived in America, my dear, I can assure you we had nothing of the sort there." He was caught between wanting to meet and shake the hand of their lead scientists, and wanting to throttle them for their abominations.

Sigma made a face when Howard was mentioned. "I'll have to have a talk with that boy." Life was too short for silly arguments and pride. "I wish the best of luck to your friends, Eponine. ...Perhaps that other girl was referring to her mother?" From what he could piece together, it sounded to him like the sort of way a young woman with a dead parent would speak.

"Why would a dead person watch us, Sir?" She was blunt. "If it was rich, it would be with god. And if it were poor, well... probably in hell. Not watching us anyway. I know my Ma wouldn't watch for me or my sister... I do not know any more anyway. Here, I think there is no afterlife, no heaven, perhaps no god. Here you die and re-live so much. It would be a miracle in France - I would be praised and given a house and money and people would pray to me for coming back to life. But here, you are re-alive almost as soon as you are dead. I do not think there is heaven for us."

She took a small sip out of her near empty bottle of water, lifting the rag that covered her face so she could wet her tongue.

"Do not talk to Howard, Sir. He is a silly boy - but he would be cross... besides, it is not the same when people make us be friends. I want him to want me on his own as he used to before I ran away."

Sigma listened to her thoughts curiously. He supposed being poor encouraged troublesome behavior necessary for one's survival, but he couldn't think of many who were rich who particularly deserved heaven either. "If I were to die, I would like to watch over my children. Hypothetically speaking, of course," he says slowly. "But I agree with you. This is not the place to be sentimental and I'm not sure if I believe there's an afterlife that waits for us here, either."

The Doctor smiled sadly when he realized Eponine was correct. There was no use for a third party - if the two of them were to get over their fight, they'd have to do it on their own. He understood Eponine's desire for a sincere friendship. "You are right. Forgive me, it seems I have lost touch significantly when it comes to relationships." He'd thought Eponine naive, at first, but he was coming to see her as an intelligent young woman after all.

"It is just friendship, Sir. I think Howard thought - I let him think... But, should Montparnasse come. He would kill Howard for looking at me. He would kill anyone who looked. I am his - we are almost married at home. It is nice to be loved though. It was nice to think that someone really wanted me to be theirs."

She didn't look particularly thrilled with the idea of being married to Montparnasse, but it is just another of those things out of her control.

"There are a couple I would watch over." Marius. Howard. "But no. It is nice, though, that you would look for your children. Do you have many, Sir?"

"Is that so? I'm sorry. This 'Montparnasse' sounds like a violent man. But you will have many more opportunities to love and be loved, my dear. I would not worry." He didn't know anyone as unlucky as Eponine (except, perhaps, himself), and in a way, wanted to give her hope if he could not do anything else.

Sigma looked at Eponine blankly, at first, as if uncertain of how to answer. And then, deciding that the question did indeed make him happy, he smiled. "Just one. A boy, a bit older than you." He wondered if a statement like that would bewilder the poor girl, as he knew he must be quite old compared to most parents from her time. "There's also you and Howard, too," he said jokingly, and grinned.

"He is the sort of man who hits when I do not do as he says." She has received many a punch, many a bruise from her hard-fisted lover - and yet, it is so nice to be loved, she's so trapped in Paris that she keeps on going back.

"But he loves me as well... that's why he hits." And pushes and kicks and holds knives to her throat until she obliges and lifts her skirts and spreads her legs. But as much as she hated him, was scared of him, her voice was quite emotionless when she talked of him. It warmed considerably, though, when she spoke of Sigma's son.

"I think he is lucky to have you as a father." True, in her world, Sigma would be likely long dead. But in this world - no. It was all different, was it not?
"Are we really like your children? I already have a Pa at home - but I would prefer a Pa like you. I think you are like the nice kind gentleman that took Cosette away and gave her the doll. I had laughed - but when Papa changed when we lost the inn, I had wished and wished that the gentleman would take Azelma and me away too. He had a right temper, my Pa. Drove my sister's hand right through the glass of our window so it bled and the glass smashed - and then we were frozen the whole winter through. And when I didn't do as he was told, it was my belt buckle on my legs or my back. But I do not think you would do that, would you? I think you would be a good Pa."

The Doctor stared at her, hard, regarding her sadly even in his stiff expression. "...I see. I am sorry, Eponine." He made a mental note to protect Eponine, should her 'lover' ever arrive, or her father. In depression, there is quite a bit that will substitute for love, including abuse. Sigma knew this all too well, as Eponine's compliment made Sigma as happy as it made him despair. Dr. Klim knew he fell short of her expectations, and was ashamed. "He was not lucky," Sigma says seriously, suddenly looking and feeling much older than he was. "I hope to help you and Howard as much as I can, but I don't deserve to be called anyone's parent."

Eager to change the subject, as he was no good in these sort of situations, Sigma took out the canister of water he'd refilled days ago. There was only a small amount left, but it was enough for a meal - from his pack, he also removed a package of dry oatmeal. "Are you hungry, my dear?" he sighed.

"DON'T!" She yelled it at Sigma, stepping back a little. No - no, that she could not deal with. It was easier to accept the punches, the slaps, the kicks, the belt - his knife. Any of it - all of it. None of it hurt as much as pity. For a moment, she stared hard at Sigma, breathing hard through her nose. And then she darted forward, grabbing for his hand.

"Monsieur, I am sorry. Just - just please, do not say such things. Do not be sorry for me. It is how life is - I do not say it for pity. I do not WANT your pity. I were lucky in France, I tell you. Lucky. I will not call you my Pa, Sir - but I will think of you as my nice gentleman - and you are. I do not care what you say - you have always been kind to me - even when I robbed you."

It took all of Eponine's strength and resilience to shake her head as Sigma produced the porridge.
"I'm - I'm not hungry, Sir. I have been eating Cacti sometimes. I am okay. I do not want your food - perhaps your leftovers, if you will let me?"

Sigma took her hand automatically and with surprise, entirely taken aback by her reaction. He watches her silently, as though disappointed. Sympathy is the only way he knows how to relate to people anymore. "I did not mean to offend you," he says carefully. "But alright. I will not say or do such things anymore. Let us not talk much of the past anymore, alright?" He tries a smile, touching her hand with both of his gently.

Sigma turns his attention back to the food, a bit at a loss. He could see Eponine's obvious lie, and isn't quite sure why the children in this Arena won't accept what he offers. Were he in their position, he would have gratefully accepted help. Working together was what kept people alive.

Instead Sigma pours the package of oatmeal into the sponsor canister that held his water. "Very well, if you are sure." As it was prepared, the aroma of the food began to waft through the dry air, and Sigma would have never believed something so bland could smell so delicious.

"If it's leftovers you want, I do have a treat for you- it's too bittersweet for me and I don't care for it," he lied. He withdrew the litre of sweetened lemonade he'd found at the Cornucopia, unscrewed it, poured some into the lid, and held it out to Eponine. "I really don't like it, so please. Enjoy." Despite his protests, the container was still completely full and had no evidence of having been opened before now - he prayed Eponine wouldn't notice.

Orc was...not having a good day.

He was hungry, tired and had found another TV that seemed determined to show him the worst things happening to Howard. Currently his friend was laying on the ground bleeding after being clobbered by some woman. Orc's eyes were wide and he shivered through his rock skin didn't show it.

Howard looked just like Bette did after Orc had...

...the thought alone was enough to make Orc curl his thick fingers into a fist.

In the distance, the Doctor noticed the bright glow of the television before he noticed Orc. Originally mistaking the rocks for part of the terrain in the darkness, Sigma rushed forward to investigate the screen. Bright colours flashed at random and lit up the night sky, and as Sigma drew near, he was filled with a desperate hope that he'd see how his son was doing in the other Arena. Like the viewers at home, it seemed they had their own channel from which they could watch the Games.

But just as he was close enough to focus on the happenings on the monitor, he saw the fingers of the rock move and realized what he was looking at was not a hoodoo, but was decidedly human-shaped. Unable to contain his surprise, Sigma's eyes tore from the screen and he gasped - a golem?! Immediately he ducked and pressed his fingers into the sand, ready to push off into a sprint if he needed to.

Now he didn't dare look away from the other Tribute, though the video continued and Sigma wanted nothing more but to watch. His good eye looked up with fear, his cybernetic eye twisting and humming in its attempt to focus. "F-Forgive me. I didn't see you there-"

Orc jerked his round head up to look at the new comer upon hearing his gasp. His beady eyes narrowed and he made a low growl.

"I'm kind of hard to miss." And he didn't take kindly to people making fun of him like he felt was happening now.

Still cautious, Sigma met his gaze, his expression hardening from apologetic to serious at the growl. But if they meant to kill him, wouldn't they have already begun to attack? The Doctor now stood, but kept on the defense and spoke firmly.

"I meant no offense. I've only one eye, and have never met a golem before- none similar to you, in any event." He didn't dare turn to the screen yet, expecting a club across the head if he did. "I apologize. I only came to investigate the light." He gestured towards the television.

Edited 2013-07-06 04:05 (UTC)

He slowly turned, till he was standing facing Sigma. Sizing up the older but smaller man.

"What's a Golem?" He grumbled trying to sort through the fog in his head and determine the best course of action. He'd never lashed out at a grown up before...though he'd often considered it before his accident.

"Ah..." So he was wrong? Sigma's initial impression of a wise and weathered creature decades, perhaps centuries old was beginning to crumble. But perhaps golems existed that knew nothing of their true nature. Sigma was puzzled, and still expected an attack. "Golems are creatures granted life from inanimate matter to serve a purpose. They are usually made out of clay or rock, though some exist from my world whom are made from metal."

Unwilling to leave until he'd seen for himself what was shown on the screens, Sigma instead pleaded with the other Tribute to describe it to him. "What is going on? The broadcast is of the rest of us, is it not?" The colours he could see in his peripheral vision were certainly vivid enough.

This man talked like a teacher. It was a surreal experience for someone who had lived months without any adult interaction. It seemed almost...normal. Especially how he didn't actually understand whatever it was that Sigma had said about...whatever he thought Orc was.

So instead he stood aside and allowed Sigma to look at the horrors displayed on screen. Howard, a very obvious head injury. In the backround there were bodies.

Relieved, Sigma turns his gaze to the screen. Immediately his expression twists from comfort to fear. "Howard," he finds himself muttering under his breath, without thinking. Would he die? Did he kill those people? It was hard to tell without knowing the circumstances.

Then there was another image - a flash of some black-haired boy from District 7, sleeping and looking dead - but Sigma decides he doesn't care to see more and turns. "They might be doctored," he says quickly, in disbelief. "Emotional manipulation is one of their strong suits."

"Doctored?" Like with a computer? He didn't ask the second part because he already felt stupid enough. He'd heard of photo's being faked with computers but he'd never been able to tell unless it was something obvious like a dog head on a human body.

"So like...special effects?" He decided to go with a movie metaphor. He liked going to movies back when that was still an option.

"In a sense... they might use cuts or add things into the picture to make things seem different than they actually are." Sigma was intrigued, as it seemed this man was from a time similar to his youth. Films, special effects... But he did not ask, not yet.

Sigma buried his fear for his 'boys' and, though he still looked grim, turned away from the screen. "So take everything you see with a grain of salt..." He trailed off, thinking this might be a good opportunity to get introduced. It would certainly decrease his chances of dying. "Can I ask for your name?"

Orc was about to ask what that expression meant. He'd heard it before but no adult ever explained it. Instead he caught onto the second part and that was something he could answer at least.

"They call me Orc." He answered plainly. Because really he had long sense abandoned the other name. Orc was who and what he was now.

"Orc? My name is Dr. Sigma Klim," it was said without an air of superiority or pride, indicating the other could call him whatever he wished. Sigma held out his hand for a handshake. Perhaps a normal human would fear his bones being crushed, but titanium bones were significantly harder to break.

Orc looked at the hand as if he was suspicious of the open and friendly offering. Still he took the hand, his own thick gravel coated fist covering Sigma's and shaking it gently before letting go.

"You're a doctor?" He asked thinking about how important an ally he would be for others.

Sigma suspected his answer would be a disappointment. He knew that a doctorate in anything other than medicine failed to impress most, though his trade was infinitesimally more difficult. "A Doctor of Genetics, actually, among other things. But I suppose none of that is important here." This, of course, was a lie, having created death games of his own with this knowledge - but this was something Sigma would not tell even the closest of his friends here. The Doctor tilted his head curiously. "What about you, Orc? What did you do prior to coming here?" Perhaps his reply would finally satisfy his curiosity.

Orc seemed to consider how best to answer this question. While it shouldn't have been a hard one it still felt...difficult.

"I went to school." He started. "Then things got...weird." Which was the understatement of a life time. "Very weird." Where to go next?

"I hurt people. Failed people which got more of them hurt. People died. I should be..." But he wasn't as much as he wished otherwise.

"And now...this." He gestured at the world, there was so little that needed to be said, which was good because he had no idea how to explain the rest of the world outside of this desert.

Edited 2013-07-29 14:04 (UTC)

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All of my plans, compromised. [OPEN]

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woooah this comment sat for way longer than I thought, sorry

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