etcircenses: (Default)
Panem Events ([personal profile] etcircenses) wrote in [community profile] thearena2014-08-18 09:38 pm

ARENA 11-PaneMall

It’s pre-dawn when the Tributes are roused from their beds and sent to their tubes. Those who’d been imprisoned for the past few weeks had their heads covered before transport to the staging area, and there’s an air of confusion surrounding just about everything that’s happening until the stylists and managers arrive on the scene and try to calm everyone down. The reunions may be happy, but they're sadly very temporary.

The first clue that something strange is happening comes from their clothing: figure skating costumes with bright colors and sequins and ice skates strapped to their feet. Some may even find it difficult to stand with the blades on their feet, but as they're placed into the arena, all becomes clear. The mall skating rink seems quiet and quaint, especially after weeks of uncertainty and stress. Too bad the peace and quiet can’t last.

20

19

18...


Above the ice rink (which houses all 100+ Tributes) there are floors with shops looking over them. Large, bright fluorescent lights dot the multi-storied ceiling and create a warm, nostalgic glow to the place. Benign music is piped in from various hidden speakers to compliment the intended mood of fun and commerce.

17

16

15…


The countdown continues and the Tributes, some of whom haven’t seen each other in weeks, stare at one another helplessly. That is, until one of them boldly decides to speak.

"We're expected to fight here today," Steve's voice suddenly cuts through the tension in the room. It commands attention without demanding it, a conviction of truth in his tone.

14

13

12...



"To turn on each other through fear and self preservation. And we could give them what they want. A bloodbath," here he pauses longer, lets the reality of his statements sink in. Let people realize what he's saying, that this is a choice.

"Or we can choose not to fight. To instead work together," an option so many seem not to even realize they have. "No one here has to die by our hands today," he knows his speaking won't be without consequence, but he does want to believe he'll be the only one to pay for this.

"This is a risk. One many of you are hesitant to trust, let alone take. But everything we do here is a risk to ourselves and those around us," nothing in the arena comes without putting your life on the line.

"I, for one, am willing to take this risk, to choose not to fight," Steve looks around the room, making eye contact with a few people as he does. He's not telling anyone what to do, this is for them to decides for themselves; their freedom of choice.

But he's got faith in the his fellow tributes. "And I've got a feeling I'm not alone.”

… 3

2

1…


After the countdown ends, there’s a moment of utter still and silence. Then...

BOOOOOOOOOOOM


The room seems to erupt with noise and concussive force. The explosions are so violent that the muzak is paused in its tracks and shakes some of the Tributes off of their pedestals, and after the ice fog and smoke clears, it becomes apparent that fifteen of the Tribute pedestals and exploded there on the ice rink. Fifteen corpses lie mangled on the bloody ice: Deanna Winchester, Danny Fenton, Fili, Kili, Kain Highwind, Perry Kelvin, Julian Bashir, Clint Barton, Karkat Vantas, Sirius Black, Rahm Kota, Cinderella, Bunnymund, Robin, Rock Lee, and Rokk Krin.

The center of the ice rink remains completely intact and stocked with a few dozen keys of varying shapes and sizes. This is the Cornucopia and the Gamemakers are compelling the Tributes to skate for it.

The gong rings out, and the countdown's voice announces “The Arena is now open.” The Games have begun.
medecin: (sad)

[personal profile] medecin 2014-08-26 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
It was a good idea, and it was a noble one, Joly would give Steve that. It was the sort of attempt that he would have thought worth a try once. Even now, he felt a little bit of hope, considering the words must have reached some of them, the way they had reached him.

"Rather." Joly agreed, his brow crinkling up a little as he thought of that. He had spilled enough blood for his own lifetime, at home, in revolution. He wished not to kill here until it became the only choice. "I can only hope our efforts to keep it off are not in vein." The pun slipped out, right there at the beginning of the arena with Joly barely noticing it had happened.

"I will look for you if I am able to make it happen." He suspected that he would need allies to guard it, so the first order of business was finding, and making certain that the others of his friends were all right. They could discuss and hopefully implement it soon enough.

"I wish that it was not needed, but..." Joly jerked his head toward what had been the cornucopia, and then sighed. "At any rate, thank you. For at least trying."
aboveangrybees: by <user name="famira"> (132)

[personal profile] aboveangrybees 2014-10-13 06:48 am (UTC)(link)
The pun gets the slightest of smile that's gone as fast as it came, more an upward twitch of the lip. It's not really the best time to smile, but the pun was too much, he almost had to shake his head at it, but the feeling passes fast.

It's nice that some people understood what he was trying to do. He's not dumb, he knows he made a lot of enemies among the tributes, he knows that the Capitol tried to make him a villain for it and will have succeeded with most. No, to many, he's the one who got those people killed, or even to some the one who killed them.

He gives a nod, it's nice to hear it but it's not needed. He didn't do it for the recognition or the appreciation, it was in an effort to help people.

"It was worth the attempt," he means it. "I'm Steve by the way, Steve Rogers, might help to know my name if you come looking for me."
medecin: (pic#7905693)

[personal profile] medecin 2014-10-14 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
It's funny, how the smallest things can make you laugh, even at a time like this, isn't it? Joly's returning that smile, even though the time and place aren't the best for it, really. Of course, it's just for that moment, because they probably have to move, not that he's exactly great on skates, but he can balance at least.

It makes Joly want to mention Steve to the others, actually. Sure, Steve took a giant leap there, and made his thoughts pretty clear, which might be dangerous but...he'll maybe run the thought by Enjolras, and get his opinion.

"It was, at that. If they did not manage to control every aspect of this place at once, or watch so closely, there might be a shot. And my name is Joly. Thierry Joly. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances, but these aren't so bad to start. I...good luck. You've won a moral victory, you know. Even if it is only for yourself. There is much to be said for doing the right thing when it might cost you."

aboveangrybees: by <user name="easycompany"> (006)

[personal profile] aboveangrybees 2014-11-02 02:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, Steve never knows how to do greetings in settings like this. Saying it's nice to meet you just never sits right when you're surrounded by gore and most people probably rather see you dead. Still, Steve nods his agreement that at least it's not too bad, there's worse ways to meet in the arena.

"If there's one thing you can always count on me to do, it's the right thing," Steve means it. He's reliable for a lot of things, but doing the right thing above all else you can count on him to do. He doesn't need to win anything so long as at the end of the day he did his best to be a good man and do what's right.

"Thank you, good luck to you too, Joly.
medecin: (mirror)

[personal profile] medecin 2014-11-03 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, it's one of those things that, well, there aren't a lot of ways to come up with making exact social niceties make sense. Even so, that really is rather comforting as a thought.

"The right things are definitely needed now." He's reminded of his friends too, and feels, well, a little better for it.

"It's an honor, anyway."
aboveangrybees: by <user name="famira"> (066)

figured we could call this done?

[personal profile] aboveangrybees 2014-11-19 07:01 am (UTC)(link)
Steve gives him a nod,mag reeling that the right thing is definitely needed now. They all need it, they all need a chance they seem deprived of in the setting they are in.

"An honor for me too, I hope you fair well," he says it in parting as he moves away to try and find his own companions, though the chaos won't make that easy.
medecin: (close up)

Sounds good!

[personal profile] medecin 2014-11-21 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
Joly nods, giving Steve one last thumbs up before he starts off as well. Now, then, to find those he has not managed to connect with for the days right before this!