keep me : : {safe} | (Drace/Opal/Cleo/Locust)

[dars]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=style, border: F0D592 solid 2px; width: 500px; padding: 0 0 0 0px; border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 0px 0px;][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true]

[/td][/tr][/table]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: 0A0B09; border: F0D592 solid 2px; width: 500px; height: 181px; padding: 0 0 0 0px; border-radius: 0px 0px 43px 43px;][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true] I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones enough to make my system blow welcome to the new age, to the new age welcome to the new age, to the new age whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive It was a shame that, in order to get some decent food, a person had to be on their way to death's valley with a one way ticket. It hardly seemed fair, but didn't stop me from having my fill of whatever was put in front of me. I plopped another slice of a green fruit with tiny black seeds into my mouth. A sweet and sour taste filled my mouth, and I didn't know if I liked it or not. This time, I chose a chunk of an orange fruit with a melon-like consistency. Again the taste was strange, sweet but in a way that I didn't really notice it. Okay, so they weren't my favorites, but I had grown up eating oranges. I turned to Cleo and said I would be back. Thinking about the tangy fruit made me want one. Eventually I found a bowl of them on the far side of the room. I grabbed a couple, and began heading back to the table, but suddenly I stopped dead in my tracks. I squinted my eyes to be sure that what I was seeing was real, or if I had just looked too quickly, but I only confirmed what I thought I had already seen. Two girls were staring at me, sizing me up as if I were a meal, and I had no idea what to do. Finally deciding to continue over to my seat, I quickly turned to Cleo. "Two girls were staring daggers at me just now-" I said. I knew it sounded strange, and I planned on explaining a bit further, but I couldn't, because suddenly there was a figure in my peripheral vision. I wondered why a person would want to- No, not just a person, two of them. The same two that had just been staring me down moments before. Both of them had dark hair, but one of them was quite a bit taller than the other. I faced Cleo again, widening my eyes so as to say "See? I told you!" and then turned back to them. They obviously had something to say, or they wouldn't have been just staring at the two of us, so I spoke, the mechanical tone I used when gambling present in my tone. "Hey there.. Can we help you?" Not rude, not sweet, completely neutral. Perfect. I remembered being back home, trying to use that very same tone on Valencia in order to get her to comply with what I had to say, but it never worked. Somehow, she had always been a challenge to me, and now she was gone. Taken from me so easily that I was left blindsided, with no direction. My hands clenched. Why did I keep doing that? I might as well have accepted that I wasn't going to be able to forget about her, no matter how hard I tried. Maybe I was just being too selfish for not wanting to let her go, but I couldn't help myself. Other than Damea, Val was the only thing that ever happened to me that I knew wanted to have with me forever and always. She was the only thing I knew I had made the right decision about before I made it. (Gambling put me in some tight situations.) I couldn't help comparing her to Cleo, and as beautiful as Cleo was, Valencia was prettier. As challenging as Cleo was, Valencia was the one who's finger I was wrapped around. And even though I was glad I met Cleo, I still dreamed about Valencia. Suddenly, I felt like going to the third floor, locking myself up in my room, and breaking anything I could get my hands on. But I couldn't. There were a lot of things I couldn't do. I wanted to run away, I wanted to hold Val in my arms again, and I wanted Damea to talk me into talking about the little fights between her friends, but I couldn't have any of it. I was stuck here, in a building full of people I haven't known for more than a few days, and wouldn't even have the time to remember the names of the majority of. I was stuck here, where there were no second chances like back home when I had gotten Damea and I those contracts. Here, you either flourished or failed. Sadly, I already knew what I was going to do.

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

Credit to Cass for the table! <3

[cass]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=style, border: D28976 solid 2px; width: 500px; padding: 0 0 0 0px; border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 0px 0px;][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true]

[/td][/tr][/table]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: 010101; border: D28976 solid 2px; width: 500px; height: 181px; padding: 0 0 0 0px; border-radius: 0px 0px 43px 43px;][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true] Looking out from underneath, Fractured moonlight on the sea Reflections still look the same to me, As before I went under. And it's peaceful in the deep, Opal Shore was bored. It had been far too long since she had last laid hands on a plant. They itched and tingled and felt weird. It was not normal, in fact the entire situation of Opal Shore not touching a plant for more than an hour was absurd. It was driving her insane. Running a hand through her hair she stalked past the plants station once more, her eyes were glued to it. It had become a routine, she’d go around the arena, look at some things, play with a bit of rope or sword, or something really. Then she’d walk all the way back to the plants to glare at them greedily, her hands clenched at her sides as she resisted the urge to go over there and touch them and be with them. Ugh! It was frustrating! Even more so the lack of knowledge some people had! She had seen – actually seen people pick up wolfs bane and call it food. She had seen people pick up the dandelion and mix it with a poisonous, deadly berry. They saw a berry, they thought it was edible. Hell, not two inches away from a cranberry was the deadliest plant in the world. Even a prick, not even a drop, could kill you. And they did not care; it was like they did not even know! They probably didn’t. That was what horrified Opal more than anything. She had been dumbfounded by some people’s lack of knowledge, well, she could understand the lower districts, but even then they should know what could kill them and what could not. Exasperated she storms off unable to trust her two lips to remain silent any longer. The idea of being locked in an arena for days with people who lack such intellectual skills is one that is testing Opal’s patience. It was wearing thin as it is, slowly slipping from underneath her with each passing day in this world of torment. It was like being locked in a ball that repeated the same thing over and over again, and again. It was sour and left an awful taste in her mouth every time she turned left or right to have two narrowed brown eyes land on another poor soul. Another person that was going to die. It was even worse when she ended up staring at the little ones, the fourteen year olds, or the scrawny kids from the lower districts. To her own surprise she found her heart sinking in her chest when she first looked at the district twelve female tribute. She had been surprised, and honestly shocked to find the puny little child to be a year older than her. At first guess she had believed the girl to be no older then twelve. She was seventeen. Whatever deformity or disease she had, had treated her unfairly. To Opal no one deserved that kind of problem, she found that problem was the best way to describe it, after several minutes of pondering. After a few more seconds Opal found herself stepping away from the training and over to the area where the tributes could eat. Quickly she gave the area a once over making sure there was no one there she disliked. Shockingly she had already grown to hate a number of tributes. It was something Opal had never thought she’d succeed in doing; the generally placid young girl was normally unwilling to hate on anyone. But the clash of personalities in this training centre was more then she could stand. Sighing inwardly to herself she marched over to Locust Lovelace, the tall, very attractive district four tribute. The two had talked a lot of late and Opal was in need of an ally like the brown haired girl. Opal was no way in hell going into that arena alone. She had not yet breached the subject with Locust, but the two seemed to be in some sort of mutual agreement. To say the least, Opal liked Locust; she was smart, a quicker thinker and most of all not loud and rowdy. The girl spoke and said what she had to, but she was not up herself nor in anyway trying to boss anyone around. ”Have you seen anyone else of interest? Anyone that could be useful in an alliance?” She looked away, eyes scanning the area. Opal could not see anyone that could be of use. After another sweeping gaze she was about to give up and try another time, but was caught by the odd sight of the district three tributes. “What about those two?” She bumped Locust grabbing her attention. The two of them were close together, one with food in his hands. Forcing but another sigh of disbelief at the standards around her she stepped forwards. They would do. The girl looked like a right bitch. That could be useful, but then that could be annoying as well. Opal would decide that later on; kill her if she had to. The thought made her bite her lip. Why? Why was she thinking like that? That was not her; she was not some ruthless killer. Yet she was eagerly drawing up targets on people. She was falling into the career mindset after all. "Hey there.. Can we help you?" Now that was boring. It was the first word that spikes her mind, the neutral, dull, drawling tone. He was good at it. It sounded as though he was just trying to not let on any emotions. Nodding with slight approval Opal offers her hand out to the boy. ”Yeah, do you have any skills? Like can you do more than eat?” She asks indicating the bowl in his hands with a flick of her hand. “Don’t be offended. I just speak my mind, can’t help it sometimes. Other times I’m the shiest person you could ever meet.” Laughing slightly she offers them a warm smile. “I’m Opal. Opal Shore.” { Python, just let me know if anything in this post needs changing. I was trying to think of some reason for Locust and Opal to be together like that so yeah xD } Cathedral, where you cannot breathe, No need to pray, no need to speak Now I am under, Oh. And it's breaking over me, A thousand miles onto the sea bed,

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[d7f amber bosch 🌿 tris]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=style, border: 8f275a solid 2px; width: 500px; padding: 0 0 0 0px; border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 0px 0px;][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true]

[/td][/tr][/table]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: 0A0B09; border: 8f275a solid 2px; width: 500px; height: 181px; padding: 0 0 0 0px; border-radius: 0px 0px 43px 43px;][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true] you're gonna catch a cold from the ice inside your soul After Drace alerts me of two girls who access us, and one replies to his neutral greeting with a hint of sass, I find my lips forming into a smirk. So, it seems, two career girls have wandered into the web I have placed around Drace and I. Soon the queen will have her army, I think to myself. I find myself standing up and tilting my head with my smirk still plastered on my face. '"Oh, we can do much more than eat, Opal," I start with a voice that is hinted with acidity, but not enough to shoo her off. "Drace will have to answer you personally, but I can tell you that I'm both smart and, though I'm not a skilled weaponry user, I can hold my own in a fight," I begin explaining in an attempt to hold her interest, due to careers being easily bored. I then start glancing Opal and her friend over. "I guess I don't need to ask if you and your friend can do more than stare," I chime, finding my sudden perkiness bitchiness surprising. "You're careers, no? Of course you're strong. And smart, apparently, for approaching Drace and I," I continue on. I outstretch a hand with slender fingers and force a warm smile upon my lips. "I'm Cleo Sullivan, and would you be interested in forming an alliance?" I'm Cleo Sullivan, and would you be interesting in joining my army of pawns?

[/color][/blockquote][/justify][/size][/td][/tr][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

---

Table: Cass

[/justify]

[Python]

When Opal wandered into her peripheral vision, Locust snapped out of her thoughtful trance and offered her undivided attention. What they currently shared was a fragile bond that would be severed and burned by the conclusion of the Games, but would prove to be beneficial in the early stages. She had pondered over the matter for days until Opal took the liberty of initiating a civil conversation that led to this formation of a temporary alliance. They were fellow careers, after all, and Opal had proven her worth with her lack of unnecessary brutality and overconfidence. She actually acknowledged Locust as a full-fledged career rather than a hatchling trying to extend her wings. She did not openly mock her techniques or criticize her ideas - in fact, she actually viewed a few of Locust’s motions and methods as useful rather than labeling them as inferior tricks.

Yes, I am a master of mischief, but there is a distinct difference between my tricks and my real techniques. Only sometimes did they overlap, and in those cases she would acknowledge them as clever tricks to incapacitate opponents. But she would not be degraded for her choices in battle strategy - not anymore.

"Have you seen anyone else of interest? Anyone that could be useful in an alliance?” Of course she had, she was in a constant state of observation scanning fellow tributes for notable traits and possible weaknesses. Her fellow careers from other districts were suitable members, but they had already formed ties of their own. The pair that was Locust and Opal was already one division - they would either remain a duo, or find useful stragglers. There were a few promising candidates, such as the tributes from district three, but she did not voice these thoughts until Opal spoke up. ”What about those two? she bumped her arm and gestured to the pair she had just been contemplating. ”They seem promising,” She replied, but she was now uncertain as to whether or not Opal was even listening anymore. Drace Vandel had just noticed their lingering eyes, and had spoken to them out of curiosity. ”Can we help you?”

The use of the word “we” implied that this would be a package deal; if they were to recruit one, they would have no choice but to accept the other. She didn’t mind too much, really; alliances of four were usually the strongest in battle, though they tended to become rather unstable after awhile. They would have to tread carefully. ”I'm not opposed to an alliance. Opal?” She eyed her reliable ally, seeking mutual agreement or opposition. This was a group decision, and if Opal found any reason to deny their offer then Locust would trust her judgment. She wouldn’t even mind the lack of two extras, really, especially the girl - Cleo Sullivan, obviously a lady of wealth and prestige, not to mention arrogance - who seemed to carry herself confidently with a veil of ice shrouding hidden intentions. She wondered how long it would take for that veil to shatter. ”If we do agree to join, though, I would be more comfortable if you two acquainted yourselves with some weaponry.” She didn’t want to carry dead weight, after all. That would only be a burden and a nuisance, especially with this girl’s exaggerated personality. The boy she was not yet sure of - he was more reserved, somewhat more composed. She appreciated the contrast, but they still had to prove themselves effective in the battlefield.[/justify][/blockquote]

[dars]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=style, border: F0D592 solid 2px; width: 500px; padding: 0 0 0 0px; border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 0px 0px;][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true]

[/td][/tr][/table]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: 0A0B09; border: F0D592 solid 2px; width: 500px; height: 181px; padding: 0 0 0 0px; border-radius: 0px 0px 43px 43px;][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true] I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones enough to make my system blow welcome to the new age, to the new age welcome to the new age, to the new age whoa, whoa, I'm radioactive, radioactive My eyes glared daggers at Cleo. It was things like this that made me doubt her loyalty. Alliances talked about things like this before just blurting them out, so what were we? Cleo was making decisions that most benefited Cleo, and didn't care about anyone else's well fare. Still, it was too late to go back on her word now, though I suspected she would eventually. Anyone would. Her venomous lips smiled confidently at them moments after spitting poisoned words at them. A snake. Sneaky, lethal, and always hiding the truth. I couldn't decide if it irritated me, or made me happy that she was on my side. It wasn't that the two girls she asked for the alliance with were bad choices, they actually were fantastic choices. I laughed at the shorter girl's words, and even heard a small giggle from Cleo beside me. Admittedly, I had been eating oranges nonstop since the train ride, so I dropped it on the table in front of me, my hands in the air as if admitting defeat. She was pretty, long dark hair and olive skin. Her eyes were the color of the sunset, and her pearly smile was straight and genuine. Next, my eyes went to the taller girl, who held herself with just as much confidence as the shorter one, but her's seemed to be a different type of it. Where the short one (I decided to call her short stuff) seemed like she enjoyed showing her skills off, the taller one was more secluded about it. Her arms long arms were folded, and she held my gaze with relative ease. I liked her. I liked both of them. A lot. I nodded to the taller one. "I'm pretty good with knives, but I agree a little more practice couldn't hurt." I always had a pocketknife in my jacket pocket back home, just in case someone thought they were gonna make their way off without paying up. I had gained a fair amount of skill with it, at least knowing all the basics before coming to the capitol. The knives here were different, better, I guessed, sharper. It had taken me a few minutes to get my mind wrapped around them, and my hands used to using them, but eventually I had gotten it. The thought that I might not be able to have knives in the arena crossed my mind, but I pushed it away. I didn't even know what the arena this year was going to be. I hoped it was something simple enough, as there had been lots of arenas that were simply ridiculous. (I thought the worst of which was the one with all of the islands that little Aranica Petros won.) I hoped it was warm, because I hated the idea of dying in the cold of the night, shivering all the way up until the moment I took my last breath. I also hoped it was bright, because I had already spent too much of my life hiding in the darkness. Who knew? Maybe with an alliance this big we would get the wealth, and even if there weren't any knives, I still had my choice of a wide range of weapons. "Please, have a seat." I said, gesturing to the other side of the table.

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[cass]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=style, border: D28976 solid 2px; width: 500px; padding: 0 0 0 0px; border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 0px 0px;][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true]

[/td][/tr][/table]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: 010101; border: D28976 solid 2px; width: 500px; height: 181px; padding: 0 0 0 0px; border-radius: 0px 0px 43px 43px;][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true] Looking out from underneath, Fractured moonlight on the sea Reflections still look the same to me, As before I went under. And it's peaceful in the deep, Opal, at this precise moment was not sure whether or not sure was more offended, or astonished at the rude and astonishingly blunt attitude of the district three female, Cleo Sullivan. The first words that slipped from those icy lips of hers were spiked with acidity, there was almost enough of it in there to make Opal turn right now and walk away, marking Cleo Sullivan with a big ‘x’ and calling her target number one. Even if I did that, could I killer her? Can you do I to any of them? But she held, her feet staying firmly planted to the ground. Biting her lip in the hope of saying nothing back she turned her eyes to Locust, to see how the other girl had responded. After only having met the two had grown oddly close, not in the way of friendship, just yet, but more like acquaintances that had a thin veil of trust. There was trust there, as strange as that was for a tribute, Opal did trust Locust, the girl was clever and intimidating, she was silent and powerful, and instinct told Opal she would not betray her. The next words that spilled from those poisonous lips of hers were just as impressive of her last, which hadn’t been impressive at all. It was not entirely healthy to ally with people that lacked the skill of weapon usage. Being able to hold your own was good enough, and being smart was of course needed, but when you were going into a game where people killed each other, well not being able to defend yourself was a letdown. Opal Shore did not want to have to be baby-sitting incompetent tributes. She needed strength, and power, people who could help her and people who would work well with herself and Locust. She knew she could say none of this, Opal was not a bitch, she was not rude or stuck-up, however, she was smart enough to know that the key to success was good allies and she was not sure if she was looking at the right people. Then the snake lunges, sinking her fangs in. Poison, this girl was poison, she was sly and cunning, just like a snake. "I guess I don't need to ask if you and your friend can do more than stare," she says, the cheerfulness in her tone bordering on full blown sass. "You're careers, no? Of course you're strong. And smart, apparently, for approaching Drace and I." This girl was obviously full of herself and form another glance Opal could see that she was from a wealthy family. Opal, herself, was from a wealthy family, her last name gave her that title, but Opal was not really part of what you could call the ‘wealth’. She was the dirt digger, the when that rarely cleaned up and preferred the outdoors to the indoors. Biting back the need to hit the girl in the face Opal took a nice deep breath, she drew her attention away from the slender, fragile, Cleo and let turned her gaze over to Drace. He at the moment was staring daggers at his ‘ally’, Cleo Sullivan having just suggested an alliance. The sight caused her to smirk. And yet, it also did not help to suggest that these two worked together as a team. It appeared that the pair was more like slave and master, Drace got no input to what Cleo suggested, that was obvious enough. However, Drace did not surprise her by saying anything, in response, after another moment he seemed to accept the proposal. ”I'm not opposed to an alliance. Opal?” She could feel Locust’s eyes on her, Opal meet her gaze; her mind unsure if whether or not this would be dangerous idea. It most likely would turn out horribly, but then if it did Locust and herself could leave the dysfunctional pair behind and strike out on their own. With that thought in mind she gave Locust a hesitant nod. ”If we do agree to join, though, I would be more comfortable if you two acquainted yourselves with some weaponry.” Opal glanced, again, found herself decidedly happy with having Locust as an ally. ”I agree, before this deal can be made we need to know what you are capable of.” Drace nodded at Locust, Opal found him more interesting than his district partner, she was much too full on. "I'm pretty good with knives, but I agree a little more practice couldn't hurt." That pleased Opal, knowing that the boy had some basic skills was better than him having none at all. It was harder to teach someone who lacked even the fundamentals, then it was to teach someone who had the basic grasp and knowledge. "Please, have a seat." Drace indicated the seats opposite them with a sweep of his hand. Opal shook her head. ”Thank you, but no. I’d rather you showed us what you were capable of before we make this alliance formal. That way we don’t rush into anything, yes?” The last part was directed more to Locust, her gaze having flickered over to the tall girl. They would figure this out together. Cathedral, where you cannot breathe, No need to pray, no need to speak Now I am under, Oh. And it's breaking over me, A thousand miles onto the sea bed,

[/td][/tr][/table][/center]