can on a string - xov + lionel, day 1

[august vance d7b [Bella]]

⤜ x o v - ♥ - t h a o ⟶

The protection of her ancestral spirits had been more than she could had hoped for. This Xov was certain of after having escaped the bloodbath, not only with her soul intact, but with hardly a scratch on her. Hopefully falling down the steps on the way out of that creepy lodge had evened her luck back out, but she could never escape the sensation that misfortune was nipping at her heels. Dance, it told her, like a soft hissing sound in her ear, and she’d obeyed, her feet always moving.

Now she needed quiet, some place to say thanks. They’d listen even if she wasn’t alone, but for the last week she’d spoken to her ancestors only in private. It all felt out of place here, the distance more than the physical length of the train tracks. The natural setting that used to connect them was gone, replaced by this synthetic terrarium of the Capitol’s making. The result was like trying to listen through a can on a string.

Was this forest alive like the one she’d been raised in? Were the trees, insects, and animals here suffering like all of these children were? She doubted the Gamemakers were the best stewards of the landscape; it probably didn’t even cross their minds. This wasn’t a place to name and care for the living. It was a ring where they threw the beaten dogs in to fight.

It felt real, though; she had to give them that. Giant conifers grew and fell and decayed, jettisoned branches waiting patiently in the snow to be reincarnated as worm food or underbrush. A flash of blue among the snow-covered boughs reminded her the jays were hunting. In the forest’s eerie hush, she could still see such circles moving. Life enduring unbothered in the death dome.

If she could just have one ounce of that wisdom. Something inherent that kept the gears inside her moving when her mind only wanted to go in circles.

“Teach me how to live here,” she whispered timidly to the not-so-emptiness.

[rolls for familiar]
Bmzgg3N7iS1-8
(buffolak)

[scavenges tower]
1-7
(finds walkie talkies)

1-8·1-7

[k!ah]

 
lionel estrada

Xov Thao had punched in the face.

One of the lovely bruises that decorated my pale skin was due to her lovely fist collide with my handsomely charming face. Of course I had had to retaliate by slashing my knife across that pretty little face of hers. I had watched as a small slice of blood had appeared, so very satisfying if not only to wipe that smug look of satisfaction from her own.

And now she stood before me, eyes bright as she took the ice coated forrest around her, not noticing the small creature that stalked her from the shadows. A small creature much like the one who clung to him. Only her one didnt look quite so pathetic as Wren Jr. who was tugging on the his leg once again. I peered down at the little beast, "do that again and I'll find a nice little hole to toss you into," I grumble, but despite the threat I smile a little, even if it causes my face to scream in a sharp hiss of pain. Next time I saw Mr Pretty Boy, I was going to punch him so hard in the face that his skull cracked and his brain exploded.

“Teach me how to live here."

My attention is down back to Xov as I step- humble explanation of my stumble- into the clearing. "I could teach you," I start, my words dripping with a confidence that I had no right to considering my battered and bruised body. My ego, however, seemed to have missed the memo. Mouse steps up behind me, his rustling his wings against the cold. "Step one: don't forget to keep one eye over your shoulder. You would want to be caught unaware of a handsome rival sneaking up on you."

[august vance d7b [Bella]]

{ooc: sorry to everyone for posting late day 1, just wanted to be able to reference later for plotting purposes!}


⤜ x o v - ♥ - t h a o ⟶

“I could teach you,” said a voice from behind, nearly sending Xov out of her skin. Muscles bristled in her shoulders while she clutched the pike that was her only weapon.

She didn’t know what kind of joke the spirits of this forest—if it had any—were playing by sending her Lionel, but there he was, their hobbling, battered messenger. If this was their way of setting the stage for payback, then this had to be one sadistic forest. The boy in front of her did not strike her as the same one who had broken Juno’s knee. Her synapses just couldn’t connect the two images.

Lionel hurt Juno; then she’d punched him; he’d cut her. They were one blow out of balance. She knew she owed him another, but someone had clearly done the honors for her. She would be hard-pressed to find a spot to hit that wasn’t already bruised. Instead she let her curiosity speak, the grip loosening on her weapon.

”You look like a sack of bruised apples. I’m guessing someone got to you before I could give you one of these?” She gestured to the gash in her cheek that he had so graciously gifted her. The skin was still tender where it had scabbed over, blossoming pink.

In a way, she was relieved to have the burden of revenge off her shoulders. Less to think about while she was busy guarding her sanity. But they had gone too far, she had to admit to herself as she eyed him once more.

Lucky and Xylia, he revealed to her. Disgust weighed in Xov’s gut like a heavy stone. She knew she should have dropped all preconceived judgements of character when the gong rang, but still she couldn’t reconcile Lucky’s brutality towards Lionel with the charming boy who had invited her to his pool party. Well, the Capitol created all kinds of monsters. Even cute ones, like the stout little thing clinging to Lionel’s side.

Any monster that enjoyed spitting on Lionel while he was down was maybe the worst kind, she thought. Someone for whom she could shed all semblance of empathy, simply from being unable to relate.

As he finished his monologue, maintaining his trademark sense of humor despite how terrible he looked, Xov watched Lionel with hesitant curiosity. Niam used to say that humor was the medicine of the downtrodden. And Lionel laughed off his wounds like he had practice. Xov thought he, unlike Lucky, was more human than monster.

She held out a peace offering: ”I’ve been practicing my throw, you know. Next dart in my hand is going straight through Lucky’s other eye.” A smile played at the corner of her lips.

”You should get out of here now. I don’t need any more lessons from you.”