Charlie (
lovelyassistant) wrote in
thearena2014-09-13 11:15 pm
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Entry tags:
[OPEN] I've seen the world, lit it up as my stage now....
Who| Charlie and OPEN!
What| Charlie faces up to a reminder of where she came from. She isn't taking it so well.
Where| The Don't Starve themed store.
When| Early Week 3
Warnings/Notes| Angst, possible mentions of death, entrapment, and starvation. Your characters are welcome to either assist or attack while she is vulnerable. IF ANYONE SITS IN THE THRONE, they will find that there is a mechanism that will 'trap' them there. It's a gimmick, and is easy to break out of given a few seconds, but may be put to use if a fight breaks out.
Honestly, Charlie had figured it out right away - right at the start of the arena, in passing, she had worked out exactly what this store was and what it was doing here. It was about her, about where she had come from before this place...but most of all, it all meant him. She couldn't work up the nerve to think about him - where he must be right now, now impossibly, inescapably far away from where she was - and yet survive a death match at the same time. She needed to keep moving, she told herself.
Now it was weeks in, and she had barely made contact with anyone at all. She was tired, she was lonely...and most of all, she realized she couldn't wait any longer. The audience out there was likely dying to see her walk through this door, and someone out there might wind up being her lifeline. Like Harley had said, even if she felt like she was alone...someone was watching. Someone was waiting for the show, and if there was one thing that she knew beyond a doubt, it was that the show must go on.
Biting her lip, she walked through the door, makeshift spear in hand, the boots she had acquired tapping softly against the checkerboard tile that comprised the floor. All around her were familiar things made to feel unfamiliar, and her eyes rested upon them in turn, one by one.
Stuffed toys made to look like strange hounds and birds.
Flat, stylishly drawn cut-outs of trees and bushes all over the walls.
Foam toy axes and picks and spears.
Piles of twigs and rocks and plastic flower crowns.
There were so many things staring her in the face that she knew that she barely knew where to look - until her gaze fell upon the centerpiece of the store. Two statues of a wicked-looking man, surrounding a huge black throne. Charlie's hands clapped to her mouth, muffling her whimpers. She knew the man in the statue. She had even seen these statues on the island, giving her glimpses of the one she most desperately wanted to see again. Here they were, even farther removed from their subject.
They accused her, somehow, standing there looking so wicked. Looking nothing like she knew he was.
Stumbling back, she fell to the ground in front of the throne. The people had their show now. The glittering, smiling, poised figure that had been so careful until now sat sprawled on the floor, put her face in her hands, and cried. She knew she was vulnerable. She didn't care.
She was tired of being alone.
What| Charlie faces up to a reminder of where she came from. She isn't taking it so well.
Where| The Don't Starve themed store.
When| Early Week 3
Warnings/Notes| Angst, possible mentions of death, entrapment, and starvation. Your characters are welcome to either assist or attack while she is vulnerable. IF ANYONE SITS IN THE THRONE, they will find that there is a mechanism that will 'trap' them there. It's a gimmick, and is easy to break out of given a few seconds, but may be put to use if a fight breaks out.
Honestly, Charlie had figured it out right away - right at the start of the arena, in passing, she had worked out exactly what this store was and what it was doing here. It was about her, about where she had come from before this place...but most of all, it all meant him. She couldn't work up the nerve to think about him - where he must be right now, now impossibly, inescapably far away from where she was - and yet survive a death match at the same time. She needed to keep moving, she told herself.
Now it was weeks in, and she had barely made contact with anyone at all. She was tired, she was lonely...and most of all, she realized she couldn't wait any longer. The audience out there was likely dying to see her walk through this door, and someone out there might wind up being her lifeline. Like Harley had said, even if she felt like she was alone...someone was watching. Someone was waiting for the show, and if there was one thing that she knew beyond a doubt, it was that the show must go on.
Biting her lip, she walked through the door, makeshift spear in hand, the boots she had acquired tapping softly against the checkerboard tile that comprised the floor. All around her were familiar things made to feel unfamiliar, and her eyes rested upon them in turn, one by one.
Stuffed toys made to look like strange hounds and birds.
Flat, stylishly drawn cut-outs of trees and bushes all over the walls.
Foam toy axes and picks and spears.
Piles of twigs and rocks and plastic flower crowns.
There were so many things staring her in the face that she knew that she barely knew where to look - until her gaze fell upon the centerpiece of the store. Two statues of a wicked-looking man, surrounding a huge black throne. Charlie's hands clapped to her mouth, muffling her whimpers. She knew the man in the statue. She had even seen these statues on the island, giving her glimpses of the one she most desperately wanted to see again. Here they were, even farther removed from their subject.
They accused her, somehow, standing there looking so wicked. Looking nothing like she knew he was.
Stumbling back, she fell to the ground in front of the throne. The people had their show now. The glittering, smiling, poised figure that had been so careful until now sat sprawled on the floor, put her face in her hands, and cried. She knew she was vulnerable. She didn't care.
She was tired of being alone.
no subject
Harley Quinn was almost unrecognizable from the first time Charlie had seen her. She was in a red and black stitched together dress, torn up stockings, boots, gloves and a jester hat. Her face was painted white with black eyeliner for a mask, as well as black lipstick.
Under the makeup her branding was still visible on her cheek.
"Lookit the cute puppy!" She squealed once more scooping up the stuffed hounds cuddling them close...apparently oblivious to Charlie's sorrow.
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Snapping her head up, she grabbed for the spear resting beside her...until she realized who she was looking at. The same woman who had helped her off the ice. The mark on her face was the same, and there was really no mistaking that voice.
Still choking on her tears, she scrubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand.
"...They come in packs. They're not so cute then."
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"Glancing around now she nodded at the statue. "Take a look at that guy. The statue should be called "Mwahaha mine is an evil laugh." She giggled.
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But then Harley kept talking.
Dainty hands became fists, and Charlie's gentle, pretty little face hardened, voice ringing out in a bark. A sore spot had been hit, and she didn't trouble herself to wipe away the new tears that welled up.
"He's NOT LIKE THAT!"
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"Ooooo~" she cooed "Is he special to you? Maybe a special place in your heart?"
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Charlie winced, clutched her hands over her heart, and hung her head to let the tears fall.
A resounding 'yes' if there ever was one.
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"Aw sweetie, it's OK. Tell Mama Harley all about it. I know a thing or two about love."
And from the look of that statue, this guy wasn't too far off from Harley's kind of guy.
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"...It's...it's complicated, but he...I used to work with him. I was his assistant." She was struggling to gather her thoughts...desperately reaching to get some kind of focus back and pull out of a potentially dangerous emotional breakdown. Harley seemed nice, but...what if?
She drew a slow, steadying breath, folding her hands in her lap.
"He didn't...mean for any of this to happen. It isn't his fault."
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"Tell Doctor Quinzel all about it now, where did it begin?"
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"...Like I said, we...we worked together. I was his assistant. He just...I didn't know that the magic he was performing was real. He didn't tell me, and I didn't find out until the accident but...he treated me so well. He...it felt like he cared about me, y'know? Maxie was my best friend...."
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And now? She fantasized about his screams.
"So what was this accident?" she pressed eager to see where this romance became tragic.
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But really, she wasn't quite sure she wanted to know the kind of skeletons that were in this particular woman's closet. She allowed herself to be led onto the dark topic Harley was questioning her about, frowning and leaning into the cuddle.
"...The big finale. It was gonna be Maxie's greatest trick ever, and then it...turned on him. He had this book, see - shadows came out of it when he asked them to. I always thought it was just some illusion. I mean, what else could it be? But then we were doing the act, and these hands came out and grabbed him...and then they grabbed me. They pulled us in."
A huge tear dribbled down her face and fell to the floor.
"I never saw him again...I don't even know if he wound up cursed like me."
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"A curse? What kinda curse?" She pressed and planted a gentle kiss on top of the girl's head to keep soothing her.
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"...I think they turned it off here, somehow, but...back on the island, as soon as it got dark...." She shuddered, thinking of the change, of the pain that she endured night after night just on the edge of oblivion.
"I turned into a monster. I don't know what kind. All I know is I woke up every morning and had to clean up the bones."
Charlie wasn't just another pretty face, is she?
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"Well they know how to turn it off and on for sure. They do the same thing with my powers. But sometimes in the arena to spice things up they turn the powers back on so...watch out for that."
She continued to tenderly stroke the girls head cooing softly.
"You don't have to worry as much. Alot of us are fighters so if they try to use that part of you, there's a pretty good chance we'll be able to fight you off."
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Oh. She had been worried about that, and now she had confirmation. Harley's reassurance was well-meaning, but not as heartfelt as she probably hoped.
"...I hope so, but...the people on the island knew how to fight, too. At least...most of them."
Some of them were only children.
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Long fingers brushed Charlie's cheek.
"But I wouldn't be afraid of the beast inside you. She's as much a part of you as your love for him. You just have to understand her better to control her."
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If she won, she could live in the Capitol. Not having to worry about the darkness would be nice...but...that would mean that she might never see Maxwell again. The thought hurt. On the other hand...would she ever find him again anyway?
For now, she abandons the train of thought.
"...Do you think I ever could? I don't know how to begin to control it."
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"I've known people like you. People who can control into big powerful creatures that they couldn't control. But with enough time and effort and understanding? They changed that."
She smiled optimistically.
"That monster is a part of you. Maybe not a part you like, but we all have a monster inside of us. And we can either rip ourselves in half trying to fight the monster, or embrace it and point it at the things we don't like."
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"...How...do I control it, then? How can I even try to start?"
The question wasn't spoken in argument - it was an honest question. Looking for help, looking for answers.
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"Well you've come to the first step of any process. We admit that we have a problem but we want to solve it. You know that you have this monster inside you, and you know you can't get rid of it. So say out loud what you are going to do."
Positive affirmation had power even in this world.
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"...Charlie? What's wrong?"
Beyond the obvious 'we're in a death arena and everything sucks', of course.
"Are you hurt?"
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"...No, I...it's not that. I...all of this...."
She gestures vaguely to her surroundings, keeping her eyes down and away from the statue lest she choke up again.
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"Is this... are these things from your island?"
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"...Yes. It's...it's all from the island...."
Her eyes are down now. She doesn't want to look at the statues anymore.
She doesn't want to think about what that horrible throne is, either.
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"Is there anything I can do? Would it help to talk about it, or would you just like me to stay with you?"
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She considers Signless's questions...and answers without answering either of them.
"...Back on the island, I was a monster, you know."
Her tone is a little hollow, husky with tears.
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"What do you mean, you were a monster?"
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"...Just what I said. I was a monster. I killed...so many people. I did terrible things. And I can't...remember any of it."
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"If you can't remember it, then how do you know for certain that it was so very terrible?"
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At least she feels like she can trust him with this - he isn't running away, he isn't admonishing her for what she's telling him. He's being a friend to her. She needs that.
"Every night, it would take over, and I would wake up the next morning to find messes. Blood. Once or twice I had SKIN in my TEETH. I'm...pretty sure that paints a picture."
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"That doesn't make you a monster. That makes you a person who did monstrous things that they had no control over."
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Leaning over, she rests her head on Signless's shoulder, drawing a shuddering breath to try and steady herself. "...I still...feel like it was my fault, somehow. Like if I was stronger, I could have stopped it...."
A beat. She looks to the statue for a moment.
Somewhere inside, she knows that she needs to blame herself...so that she doesn't blame him.
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Without knowing what she was thinking, Signless has just answered her internalized worry, and her eyes drop away from the statue. No. Not his fault, either. It's not.
"...I guess it doesn't. At least...at least it's not here. At least I don't change here. I have the nights."
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"You're safe from it here." At least for however long until the Capitol decides to undo whatever blocks it in order to wring some more entertainment out of it, but, details. "You can move forward now even if you can't undo the things that happened in your past. You have the nights and you have people that care for you."
It feels strange to suggest that being in the Capitol is in some ways beneficial, but he's not naive. He knows that for many, their lives here are better than their lives back in their native universes. It would be simplifying the situation to cartoonishly black-and-white levels to suggest otherwise.
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She manages a tiny smile, doe eyes locking apologetically with Signless's.
"...Thank you. That...makes me feel a lot better."