Welcome To Arena 08

[gamemakers]

Today begins particularly early by normal standards. Long before the sun, or even a hint of dawn arrives. When the world is still and black and quiet, save for the parties still raging on from the night before. Night owls still have not gone to sleep. Everyone knows what today is, even if you've only just arrived.

There is a palpable tension in the air as everyone is ushered out under the cover of darkness to board the hovercrafts. A stream of faces both familiar and unknown filter in and take their seats, and very little is said as tributes are strapped in and attendants make their rounds, activating tracking devices. There are no windows, no openings no view of the outside world as it passes silently, below. The journey takes hours. And when everyone finally arrives, there is no hint of sky or grass or cloud or tree. Just long concrete hallways and rows of uniformed peacekeepers that remind everyone to keep in line in the underbelly of the unknown.

One by one, each tribute is lead into a small concrete room where stylists outfit tributes in their only bit of protection for the next coming weeks. Little is given away by the clothing each stylists put their tribute in. No flair or flourish or costumed monstrosity this time. Just simple, functional mundane civilian clothing. Khakis, cotton shirts, boots.

There is little time to dress and say goodbyes. Only a few small moments left to gather your thoughts. And then, the countdown starts. A countdown displayed in holographic blue begins:

25. 24. 23. 22....

The smell of earth and grass and a general damp green fills your lungs as you rise, slowly into a large grass field. At first, its the only thing you can see in all directions until the pedestal locks in place.

20. 19. 18. 17....

In the near distance, the cornucopia looms. Massive. Copper. Even hidden by the grass you can see its spoils are plentiful, tempting anyone with even a mild curiosity streak to come explore. Some may see this as a warning sign already .

15. 14. 13...

You can see the others, around you. Their heads, maybe the shoulders of taller tributes, and very little else. If there is anything hidden in this field you would never know it. The grass is too tall and too thick to show what might be lurking near the ground.

10. 9. 8....

There is just a hint of a breeze and the lingering scent of recent rain. The humidity is more uncomfortable than the heat., its a thick, jungle-like warm. You can see a dense tangle of trees in the distance. Blue sky filled with towering white clouds. Its the sort of place where nothing ever truly seems to be dry. At least you might not have to worry about freezing to death.

6. 5. 4...

For just a moment, everything goes perfectly still. Perfectly silent.

The grass rustles.

You feel the breeze.

2.

1.

0.

You will have two hours until a short warning alarm will sound and the sonic fences turn on across the entire arena.

Comments

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"People tend to say 'don't worry' right before they stick a knife in your ribs around here. Just saying." He climbs a little bit higher into the tree. "But for the record, no. This is mostly stuff."

He pauses. "Do you watch the footage from each Arena?"

[formersurgeon]

"No. Although I'm thinking you do, right? The whole 'snakebite' thing."

She's thought that she should, but she kept putting it off. Even with her detective work, though, she just can't watch an endless stream of people killing each other.

"Why do you ask?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Consider it the first time in my life I did homework." He doesn't sound like he enjoys it. In fact, he sounds nearly sickened.

"Just curious whether you're going to see me as a threat or not."

[formersurgeon]

"I don't know you, so of course you're a threat. But, one, you haven't killed me yet, which is a plus, and, two, you know John, and he's been helping you. Which, as far as I'm concerned, suggests you're slightly less of a threat."

She looks back toward the Cornucopia again, listening for a moment, then turns back to Howard.

"So, what did you do that would make me consider you a threat?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"You know, I'd point out Sherlock to shoot that down, but that dude actually hasn't killed anyone. He's a total dick, but his hands are clean."

He waves a hand. "I'm not saying I am a threat. You could have watched me die four times and decided I really suck at this."

[formersurgeon]

She can't help but smile at that. "That's Sherlock. I'd say he's better when you get to know him, but no, he really isn't. He's also a friend, but I won't deny he's not exactly the nicest of people. Even if I'd trust him with my life."

She considers him for a moment. "How far did you get in the last Arena?"

She doubts he'll give her a truthful answer. She might not be actively afraid of him at the moment, but she also doesn't trust him. She suspects the feeling is mutual.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"That's an understatement. He makes me look cute and cuddly." Howard distinctly remembers the barbed statements Sherlock made when 'deducing' Howard's romantic troubles. Remembers being reduced to tears by a few cutting words.

"I made it to the last week. I always make it to the last week or the second-to-last week. I like it more in here, I think."

[formersurgeon]

Probably an honest answer.

"Makes sense, if you have to start from square one again once you're out. How many people have you killed?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard looks at her very seriously, with eyes made steely by more than just the light. "Define 'killed'."

[formersurgeon]

That's not a good sign.

"...caused the death of."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I've killed more people than I've murdered," he says, finding it almost poetic, in that sick, Edgar Allen kind of way.

[formersurgeon]

"Okay...how would you define 'killed' and 'murdered'?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Are you going to hold self-defense against me? Or an accident?"

[formersurgeon]

"I see. Of course not."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

He meets her eyes, looking down at her from his perch like a squirrel up in the tree. "I seen people with no kill policies end up with a body count in here. It don't mean nothing."

[formersurgeon]

Joan doesn't doubt it. She hopes she won't wind up killing anyone, but she is realistic enough to know it's probably only a matter of time. "All right, then. How many people have you murdered?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Counting people who killed me first?"

[formersurgeon]

"You mean...people you killed in retaliation?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I think 'public service' sounds nicer." Howard frowns.