peace like a river {critical hit/day 1}

[Knuckles]

d e r e c h o .

"i am a machine
i never sleep
i keep my eyes wide open"

Eager to move, Derecho gathers his belongings and slowly moves away from the tavern. Staying close to the start of the games isn't ideal.

I must get as far away as I can.

A frantic heart claws at his chest begging for some sort of escape, but his face remains clear of any and all emotion. It's hard to focus, hard to think straight. Maybe volunteering was a giant mistake. But it's too late to do anything now. The only way to stay alive is keep the fire of wanting to make a legacy for his family going instead of letting it die.

And now with every step, Derecho can't help but wonder where everyone is hiding. It only makes him grip the mace tighter. Throughout the course of training, the most important lesson was always staying alert as danger can lurk at every corner.

For now, pushing those thoughts away is far more important than letting them linger. It only does more damage than good, and besides right now Derecho knows focusing is more important than ever before.

Then his chin drops to the ground the moment he sees the river winding through the arena. All he wants is a chance to swim, a chance to feel the water again. It doesn't matter that it's dangerous - this entire arena is dangerous. But it calls to him. Natural water is so incredible, and even though this is made by the gamemakers, Derecho can't resist the urge to run towards it.

But don't lose focus.

It's still very possible for someone to linger behind and wait for the right moment to strike, yet he still moves forward running full speed to the river ahead until he's next to it sticking his fingers inside.

Every bad emotion flees his body as it brings him back to reality. This world isn't so bad despite the terrible nature of it. Sitting on the ground, he finds time to relax and a chance to forget about everything for a moment, but that only lasts temporarily as he's soon on his feet again searching for anything that may help him.

elegant

lyrics: Three Days Grace: I am a Machine


searching
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[kap]

Having limped along behind Derecho, weapon in hand, just in case, they started to approach a river. Honestly, Quinn wasn't even sure he knew she'd come with him. Hopefully that was okay. She didn't want him to turn around and attack her if he heard a sound come from her direction or something.

Reaching the river, she sat down near the edge. This was probably very different from the pool at the pool party in the training center earlier, so she was cautious. She could be pulled downstream if she messed with it too much, so she still kept a little bit of distance.

Glancing at Derecho every so often, Quinn kept an eye out for anything that may be around her.

As she glanced around, she spotted a tall obsidian booth with a sign that read "OPEN" on it. Quinn knew it could be a trap. It could also be something good, though. Dare she take the risk?

After a moment or so, Quinn hobbled over to the booth, and made the decision to cautiously step inside. Once she was in there, she took a deep breath. Why did what she was about to do, seem like the right thing to do?

"I guess since I'm here, and the only people that can probably hear me are the ones not in this damn arena, I might as well speak up..." she muttered at first. "That girl who broke my shin... Lux I think her name is. If she's still alive, I'll do my damndest to break hers too. Let her know how much that hurts. I know revenge isn't always a good mindset, but in here? Maybe it helps. Being a bitch helped her hurt me. Maybe I need to do the same."

She sat there for a moment longer before vacating the booth and going over to sit back by the river again, glancing at Derecho. Had he heard?

table by pogue

[Quinn gathers items and uses the confessional booth, searches for things after]

[Search Mechanic Roll]
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[mat]

k a i u s

Kaius follows them for what feels like ages. Concern marks his movements as they pass through trees into the clearing. The clearings turn into bridges over the slow moving boulder-filled water beneath him. Each move he makes is toned down to its minimum. His toes curl and bend as his steps are made only from the top of his feet. They just keep going, these two and there's no telling what distance is a safe one to follow without being creepy. As they stop to look around for supplies and resources, Kaius keeps a few dozen yards away, but still in eye view.

Derecho pauses momentarily to gather himself on the ground as Quinn separated herself more from her… ally? Kaius doesn't quite know what sort of labels they enjoy with each other. She wanders into a tall booth. The sign upon it, which once said 'OPEN', flicks like a switch to 'CLOSED.' When Quinn leaves it and returns to Derecho, Kaius takes his turn. He pulls the door open and slips himself within, mindful not to gather their attention.

But a tall stack of obsidian with a door is all it seems to be. Maybe a place of privacy, perhaps. "Whoever designs this stuff really went all out with the bizarre and unusual this year, haven't they?" Kaius leans up against the wall to catch his breath and tend to his injuries.

[kaius fills his canteen with water and collects a Bridge Troll Picnic Basket, does some confessing, and searches for things!]

elegant

SEARCH ROLL:
8pCzRR6sBD1-61-6

[Knuckles]

d e r e c h o .

"i am a machine
i never sleep
i keep my eyes wide open"

It almost feels impossible. Not even all the way up the mountain, and Derecho turns and leaves because it's too hard to see and breathe, yet every step back down feels like a weight is lifting from his shoulders. Every movement is becoming more painful. Every breath feels as though it may be his last, but right now going back to Quinn is more important than laying down and resting.

Water.

In the satchel sits a purified jug of water along with a liter of beer, and as good as the beer would taste, it'll only dehydrate him faster. Sweat drips from his brow even though it feels relatively cool, but after the exhausting work of trying to scale a mountain, nothing seems to ease the workload he put his body through.

And soon he hears the sweet sound of the river, and his heart leaps excitedly into the back of his throat, and he takes off running full speed ahead. All Derecho desires is a chance to gulp the water from the river, but instead he decides simply sticking his feet in it and walking through it is better than ever before. It cools his body, it cools his soul, it gives him something to look forward to. Chills move up and down his spine, and right now the only thing resting on his mind is finding Quinn again and making sure she's okay.

If she's dead it won't matter to me though.

Shaking the thoughts away, Derecho takes off his shoes and walks barefoot through the river heading back to where he was, at least he thinks he's moving in the right direction. This place all starts melting into one as the thirst takes over.

But maybe this is his chance to find something that can guide him further. Something to help him when all hope seems lost. What he really desires is a place to sleep and get some shut eye before the new day begins and more blood is shed. Sleep is important to restoring his soul, but maybe it all would be for nothing.

Once he's back to where he was, Derecho steps out of the water and heads back up to Quinn. "Sorry for being away for so long. I just wanted to go check on something."

elegant

lyrics: Three Days Grace: I am a Machine


searching
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