gotta escape that void // cool kids+needles, day 3

[d9 kristof parks {ems}]

His heart, it races. Every beat echoes through his skull, like a hammer hitting a nail over and over, and no matter what he does, it doesn't go away. Yet he doesn't stop moving even when his lungs scream begging for a breath of fresh air. All the movements, the running, everything, it's all impossible, but the other option is dying a horrible death from being crushed under the weight of the mine. Shaking his head, he keeps moving trying to dodge rocks while trying to keep close to Marceline and Vali. Friends help friends, yet they aren't friends, and Hal knows this because having friends only ends badly.

But they are my friends.

Right?

Focusing on the moment is hard when a million thoughts trickle through his mind making it harder to know where he's stepping. The fear of falling down the abyss is stronger than ever before, and right now, all he desires is a chance to prove himself. A chance to show that he's more than just a kid from seven, but that's all he'll ever be, and it's something he's accepted. Maybe that's why he's here because everything is crashing down around him. Part of him wants to scream, yet it'll only make it worse. They're all pawns. Maybe Ivan was right -

No, I'll never admit it.

Weak minded individuals suffer the most, they never stand back up when the going is tough. In this live action show, every character chooses their own way, and Hal wants his name to be written in the stars forever even if he makes it out of this madness alive. The pain of it all wouldn't hurt too bad since the Capitol wants him dead anyway.

He sighs, gripping the axe tighter. It's terrifying knowing that something is close. Knowing that death could stand right around the corner, and maybe that's why he keeps going. Welcoming the grim reaper with open arms, inviting him in when everyone else pushes him away. Death is a possibility, and being at peace knowing death might come gives him the motivation to keep going, to push through, to ignore any sort of pain. Life is hard at the moment. Perhaps that's why he's afraid of falling, but everyone falls.

Only the strong stand back up and face their fears.

The only thing holding him back from success is himself, and it's time that changes.

He's more than a pawn - he's the queen, and he can't wait to put the gamemakers in checkmate.

Credit to Pogue <3

damage
FagG9lsUey4-94-9

[august vance d7b [Bella]]

Come on, keep up,” urged Marcus, surging ahead in an impressive sprint.

Xov was trying, but her legs were starting to ache, her body starting to hurt from more than just the bruises peppering her skin from the falling debris. This morning she had only eaten a handful of mushrooms that she had found near the creepy burned circle the day before. They had tasted a little like chicken, a little like the way ladybugs smell, and thankfully, they hadn’t killed her.

Their journey further into the dark abyss felt like it was going nowhere—the blind leading the blind. But she pressed on, trying her best to support Juno with the remaining force she had. He began to put more weight on his knee. That’s it, she thought, hope filling her cup again.

“I won’t lag behind anymore, promise!”

Little did he know he was driving her forward, too. One of the things moving her through this tunnel. She made a list of them to the rhythm of her jagged breaths; this strategy had gotten her through the bloodbath, so maybe it would get her out of this hellhole too.

One: my family is waiting for me. Two: Marcus and Juno are depending on me. Three: Juno is being tough, I can be tough too.

As an afterthought: Four: I really don’t want to die in a mine.

And it wouldn’t be worth it to make it out of this mine without Juno. As much as she tried to act tough, playing this game of hide-and-seek with fear, sometimes all she wanted was to hide behind him while he stood there tall and broad-shouldered, ready to defend. The feeling of safety she had with him was palpable, a grounding force keeping her soul in her body, more than the thread. She didn’t know how to be grateful enough for the gift of his loyalty in this god-forsaken place.

”Don’t worry,” she told Juno as she watched Marcus up ahead of them. ”I’m not going to leave you here. You lag, I’ll lag too.” She held a little tighter.

Marcus also seemed ready to jump into the line of fire for her at any moment. He was an enigma to her–the strong, silent stranger. But his actions spoke louder than his words. He was the kind of guy who breathed selflessness on the exhale. When he took that burn on his neck in her place, it left her with a hollow, guilty feeling. A debt she couldn’t repay.

What was it that she inspired in these two? Was she really worth their safekeeping? Or was she just frail-seeming enough to warrant their sympathy?

She didn’t want them to die, all their kindness flattened out like sad gimmicks on a TV recording. She didn’t know what to do about that. Only that she would try to keep them, like they were.

She felt herself growing nervous with the distance that Marcus was putting between them as he took the lead again. Her eyes swapped places between him and Juno nervously, like she didn’t want to let either of them out of her sight. As if at any moment, one of them could be buried under the rubble, taken from her. They were two planets pushing and pulling in her orbit, and she wished she could hold them tighter than her own gravity would allow.

”Marcus!” She called after him, mostly to keep tabs. To keep him talking. ”See anything? Any idea how to get out of here?”

[rolling for damage]

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4-9

[Kingston Cesaire D3A [Tom]]

❦

It's an eerie loudness as they move; rocks tumbling down. The crashing of wood and metal everywhere. Everything's chaos as she continues to move. The gamemakers truly wanted them to be stuck in the chaos. A laugh leaves her throat, quiet enough only for herself. The runes were protecting her, but there's ichor dripping from cuts and scrapes all over her body. A hum on her lips as she can feel the burning fire of it all; the heat turning to a chill as the gods always intended. Born to freeze, she can feel the way they all push out of the mines looking for the light at the end.

It's coming closer and closer; almost as if their endless race for the end will finally end. A huff in her voice as she leans forward, holding her sword at her side dripping with her own ichor. There's nothing but chaos in this world. Mortals dancing on the line of wanting to be gods and wanting to be nothing more. Twelve thought of three mortals as the real gods, but Vali could see what they were. False gods who stand above them all; playing games of their own. She could feel their eyes on them. Especially after her words, she could feel their eyes from somewhere. False gods. Blasphemy. Heretics. It amuses her how much they'll be in for after death. The gods of old and new will love them.

Vali's already blessed all of them in her. They'll reach the halls of heroes in the ultimate sacrifice for the gods above. Twenty Three souls sentenced to eternal honor, even if they're against one another. Vali's eyes flitter through the dark as she can feel herself getting closer to the chill of light. The gods will take them with open arms. Their sacrifices will be able to make her a goddess once more. Rise above it all and ascend once more. A laugh leaves her lips as she continues to move.

Daylight is in her reach as she holds her hands out. The sun is ahead. Her eyes can see the cold and she was ready to take it for herself. There was one final push. A final end to this chaos. A heavy breath on her lips as she pushes to see the sky once more. There's a major scrape against her side as she finally reaches the light. The shaking leading nothing but darkness behind her. A heavy breath as she basks in it for a moment. Her voice calm as she speaks.

"Daylight. We've made it."

[Rolling for Collapsing damage]
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4-9

[thompson harvard - d2b - arc]

and one more for the people in the back!

(filler <3, trying to wrap it up)

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