Mercy, we found you here...

[L△LIA]

[bg=292226][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=style,width: 450px; border:1px solid #000000; opacity: 1;] and so lying underneath those stormy skies she'd say oh i know the sun must set to rise this could be p a r a — p a r a — p a r a d i s e Chaos isn't the right word, but it's the first thing that comes to mind. This is something else, something more predictable. Controlled even. I can feel the cameras zeroing in; hear the echo of Caesar Flickerman's commentary; sense the way the entire Capitol is leaning a little closer to their television sets. Yet, none of this makes it less beautiful. Bodies leaning into each other as if gravity were something that held us to each other instead of to the earth, each of our limbs seem to twist together in the haze of the downpour until we are working in tandem. It is as if we are a leviathan and I — I am the adrenaline, the push of blood through our veins. It's an infectious idea, this thought that I could propel us all into motion just by sheer force of will. That blood mixes with the water and the earth until the landscape is red with... What? (Inside me there is a voice that preaches reality. This voice has no faith in tightropes or sword swallowing and I do not know where its words come from, only that these questions cannot be my own. I do not understand them any more than this voice understands me. And yet this voice insists:) What exactly is the landscape red with, Cricket? What about the earth between your bare toes? And to my conscience I reply: Fate. [Attacks Belle] [dice=200+2000] [Shallow Cut On Right Shoulder — 3.5 Damage]

[/blockquote][/justify]
[/td][/tr][/table]


[/center][rand=216537915997611853428552966289504374035402850161146737303540559616]

[aya]

We used to wait
Sometimes it never came
We used to wait
Still moving through the pain

Owen Rook —

[/i][/color]

His blade missed the girl entirely, the first time it had missed a target — that he had missed a target — all day. With a scowl, he ripped the point of his blade from the muddy earth it had buried itself in, spraying the loam everywhere. He was lucky that he hadn't hit a snake; who knew what kind of angry hissing and reptilian siege that would've caused. The girl Owen had tried to redirect his blade towards had taken off running, but he and Asunder were now amidst a throng of tributes; with the small size of the space, it felt as cramped as the Bloodbath had been. There was nowhere to flee for Owen, who was in the thick of it. Not that he'd've wanted to.

Sword brandished in his left hand, satchel kept out of the way by his right, he looked around for two sorts of tributes: immediate threats and easy targets. There were plenty of threatening tributes, naturally; they'd been fit enough to survive the bloodbath and seemed just as eager to hunt as Owen had been. He recognized a handful of the Career district's tributes, paying particular attention to the girl who'd gotten the twelve (Owen distinctly remembered her taking a swing at someone with a dagger clenched in her toes.) Again, she seemed to be focused more on the others than on him, so he dismissed her as an immediate threat to his safety. As there did not seem to be any of those after his short analysis, he brought his longsword toward her in an arc, thinking of no reason to conceal the small grin that had spread across his face.

[attacks Belle, longsword]
[dice=200+1000]
[Shallow Cut on Stomach -- 4.0 damage]

[/size][/blockquote][/justify][rand=8121451165061444137221664888784349110783590003852663244653958827]

[Nofo]

you’d be damned to be one of us girl
faced with the dodo’s conundrum,
I felt like I could just fly
but nothing happened every time I tried
what happened here these aren't even lyrics

Okay Emerald, maybe she should leave now. There was so many people there, it was like Bloodbath 2.0. In fact, it really was another Bloodbath. That girl, Faye, she already died. Okay, Emmy didn't want to be next so she turned off in another direction and ran off. She would have to find River again. Dying would not suit her very well. No kill on day one... Damn it. wait no attack belle.

[attacks Belle; Battle-axe]
[dice=200+11000]
[11186 -- Deep Gash on Back -- 8.5 damage
(Axe)]


ooc; pleaseeeee leave me alone

dare to be one of us girl
facing the android’s conundrum
I felt like I should just cry
but nothing happens every time
I take one on the chin

[/center][/justify]
[rand=92939916352915229512045979357568297631929524145747789051342687308]

[sbeeg]

With the rucksack slung over his shoulder and its few contents smacking him in the back, Viridian ran to the edge of the pit. There wasn't any other choice he could see, it was either get run over by the tributes still grappling for supplies or plunge into the fray of scales and fangs. Sliding down the edge of the pit wasn't the hard part, it was landing in the mess of serpents that was the problem. They wriggled against his skin and Viridian forced himself to his feet, trying to get rid of the creepy crawley feeling shivering up his spine.

"Don't be such a baby," Stark would have said. "They're just fucking snakes, they're like a tenth of your size. Come on little brother, nut up." Gritting his teeth, Viridian stepped carefully over the mass of snakes, his feet sinking into their bodies and making the hissing grow even louder. One of them snapped at his ankles, but a quick jump to the side sent the beast slithering back to its siblings with its shameful miss. The mace Viridian still clung to was covered in crimson and he was prepared to bloody it more if any creature dared to bite him again. A swift smack to the head with the spiked weapon and they'd be done for. He had never killed a snake before. Training didn't prepare you for that, but the boy figured it wasn't any different from killing a person.

Hearing voices, the boy stepped among the serpents until he could see the figures around the bend of the pit. One of them was lying with the snakes, dead and others were standing around her. Then Viridian looked just in time to catch a glimpse of his district partner cutting the back of a girl's head open and her victim falling into the snakes' embrace.

The sight got his blood beating. Viridian's heart beat against his chest and his fingers curled into fists. Without even bothering to arm himself with his mace, Viridian flew into the group throwing a punch at the nearest target like he had int he Bloodbath to scrounge up the few supplies he managed to grab.

[Attacks Asunder]
[dice=200+5000]
[Block -- 0.0 damage]

His victim managed to block his attack and it wasn't until his prey turned around that Viridian saw it was the boy from twelve. Something dropped into the pit of his stomach as guilt rose in his gullet. Asunder Hayes. The average boy at the lunch table in the training center. The boy he thought he could actually be friends with.

[rand=407981258584186437418301932048053147408717777580025058606504462659]

[Deleted]

[bg=222222][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=style,width: 500px] and i am done with my graceless heart so tonight i'm gonna cut it out and then restart 'cause i like to keep my issues strong it's always darkest before the dawn Emerald's axe buries itself into some poor girl's skull, and I have to fight the violent churning of my stomach every bit as hard as I fought the other tributes. I did that, I remember now, I did that to some boy at the Cornucopia, a spray of blood staining my skin as my flail crashed into his brain. I feel even sicker. We both have murder in our veins now, the District One girl and I. There are still people in our way, though, blocking our escape. My knife didn't serve me very well, so I yank the flail from my backpack, swinging it carefully. I have murder in my veins now, and my compass points to more. [River attacks Elodie Magpie with her flail] [dice=200+12000] [Broken Left Collar Bone -- 6.5 damage] shake it out, shake it out shake it out, shake it out, woah and it's hard to dance with a devil on your back so shake him off, woah

[/blockquote][/justify][/td][/tr][/table][/center][rand=658987094415351703067108499817550227117714914493265281187044456601]

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

there's a sick little suicide in all that we do
you decide, which one's for you?

Another arrow flying true. Another target found.

He didn't have anything left in his stomach except that queasy feeling, sloshing around. And yet there he was still, still holding his bow, still ready. He lowered it, his grip loosening as the nightvision zeroed in on the bag Faye - that was her name! - had been carrying. It was probably a stupid thing to do, to be curious about what she had, what she had gathered in her too brief time. He felt the sting of salt in his eyes as he blinked away tears. Already the canon had boomed, already she was gone as he knelt among the remnants of the last day of her life.

Once again he was knees in the dirt, his neon clothes just part of the grainy, green world. Her harpoon laid askew, a cornsnake coiled around its neck. Asunder shook it off, having long gotten over creepy crawlies, and admired the weapon for what it was: a glorified pickax. He laid it over his lap to sort through the rest, and was amazed at what she'd gotten away with. He couldn't remember her in the Bloodbath, not much. Just another bloodied face. But she had done well.

And he had killed her.

He snotted into his sleeve, released the bag as he stood up. A paper fluttered, something bright as flame in the green illumination. He swiped at it, glanced at the list of things. It didn't make sense, until he finally decided that the word most vigorously crossed out had been snakes. They'd certainly conquered those. The rest of the items were strange but like everyone else of Faye's, he didn't want to much to do with it. But there was one item that he didn't want to belong to the list, to Faye, to anyone but himself.

He smeared his bloodied pinky, taking out the night.

He suddenly just wanted to get away from the letter, the bag, from everything. He turned to stumble back to Owen or anyone who would listen to his braying sobs and caught a flicker of movement out of his goggles. He brought his arm up just in time, blocking the punch as he turned haphazardly into it.

"Viridian?" He mouthed more than said, his throat raw. It was so stunning to see him there, even though he'd known he was a tribute. But after that dinner conversation, Asunder had almost forgotten all about him. Almost. He opened his jaw, found nothing else would come out and bowed his head ashamed. This is what it had come to. This is what the arena had brought them all to. Killing each other just for the chance to breathe a little longer.

He looked at the discarded pile of Faye things, and after dislodging a snake, he kicked a few in Viridian's direction. "Please, just... not me," he said, in a voice that was very small.

And so focused was he on the boy in front of him that he didn't even notice the jug roll away.

[ Gives empty water jug and Faye's list to Cricket. Gives knife and needle and thread to Viridian. ]

banner credit: thg's izoe
song: the matches sick little suicide

[Spesh]

As I'm looking for my allies, a nice little water bottle, empty of course, drops in front of me. I pick it up and stuff it in my bag.

And then I see my allies, all in a battle. This isn't good. Even worse, somebody is attacking Elodie. Actually, multiple people are. This is going down. I see a tribute, I guess I should kill them. It isn’t that I have anything against them, they’re just in the way. I don’t think I’m going to win at this point, as I’m not even sure about how many tributes died as of now, I’m just happy to not be one of them. I would like to add to the total, though. So I run at the tribute I see and attack them.

[attacks River with knife]
[dice=200+2000]
[Shallow Cut on Right Forearm -- 3.5 damage]

[Picks up sponsored empty water bottle.]

[/color][/size][rand=9476782728452235486137097468599740979766985401518388660254422575]

[L△LIA]

[bg=292226][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=style,width: 450px; border:1px solid #000000; opacity: 1;] and so lying underneath those stormy skies she'd say oh i know the sun must set to rise this could be p a r a — p a r a — p a r a d i s e The sky becomes the ground as I tumble forward, my feet rising up to press my toes to the clouds — a mimicry of River and I's handstands during training. I only hold the pose for half an instant (but it feels like hours, the overcast gloom brighter than stage lights as the faraway audience holds their breath in anticipation and I... I bask. Selfish and shallow, I let them love me with all the hope their curiosity can muster, gathering it up in the spaces between my eyelashes, the hollows of my ears, the notches between ribs: anywhere there is even the smallest place within me to fill) before pushing into a merciless back-handspring and lashing out at the girl unlucky enough to have become an obstacle in my path. [Attacks Elodie] [dice=200+2000] [Miss]

[/blockquote][/justify]
[/td][/tr][/table]


[/center][rand=143904087788457988748697695113961532185267730629757752769088947]

[Danny]

I look back to see Elodie being targeted, and I know she's not the classiest woman, but she's my friend. fillerr.

Attacks River--Thrown Knife
[dice=200+9000]
Deep Gash on Hand -- 7.5 [rand=840823940234258829257870139554143595374686410650610331340902484953]

[sbeeg]

Fear rose up in the boy like lava in a volcano. There were others coming and Viridian was only one person. He couldn’t hold off more than two, no matter what his sister or training told him. The fact that there were people after him sent conflicting emotions through Viridian’s stomach. Flattered that he was considered a threat, or terrified that armed children were coming after him.

He was prepared to run, ready to race off and leave the danger behind but someone stopped him. Asunder from twelve, the boy he needlessly attacked was handing something out to him. Without thinking, Viridian clasped their hands together and something filled his palm. He didn't wait to see what it was, just grabbed it and ran from the group, leaping over snapping serpents and dodging knives that were filling the air.

When he was far enough away, Viridian looked into his hands to find needle and thread and a knife. Viri punched him and he returned the favor by giving him supplies.

He stopped in his tracks, his feet entangled with the creatures below, and looked over his shoulder at the group that had long forgotten him.

"Thank you."

Viridian flees the area.

[Spesh]

I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is f***ing awesome

The next thing I know I'm fleeing. Elodie looks like she's in pain, but she's managing to follow my lead in fleeing. I wasn't quite sure what or who hit her - I didn't see the attack - but her left arm looks droopy. And I remember, that's her dominant hand. What the hell are we going to do in the tent now? Actually, that kind of sucks, but I shouldn't be worried about that now. I'm just worried that Elodie survives this. Isn't that the reason why I charged in and attacked with rage?

I do actually care. That's a problem.

Elodie doesn't want me to care; she only wants to be 'friends with benefits'. I just can't say the same for myself. If only I was just protective of her like I would be of a little sister. Actually, forget that though. What type of guy has sex with his younger sister? It's far more than that. I just care on a personal level that she doesn't get hurt, because I care about her. Not love, it's far from love, but I care.

That said, I'd still kill her if we were the only two left.

Anyways, the rain must be getting to the snakes, as they seem to be dispersing. My body is drenched not only from the rain, but also from the bloody humidity. I pause for a second and take my shirt off, placing it in my satchel without thinking twice. The insides will probably smell, but it's the games. At least the rain will help with the humidity, probably.

But it can't help with Elodie's arm. The rainwater constantly pouring down on it. Pounding again and again. Like my sandals against the ground, which slow me down considerably. It's the same for everybody else though. I'd take them off if it weren't for the snakes and mud. Every once in a while I think I'm clear, but then I find one right in my way, slithering in the mud. Will this expanse of hell ever end? I sure hope so.

But eventually this pit seems to end , or the snakes really seem to lessen and lessen. I've constantly been checking over my shoulder to make sure Elodie is close behind. I should have went back and helped, I should have carried her. I was just too worried about my own life, not enough about my allies.

Does that make me a threat to their safety? To her safety? I place my dagger in my belt buckle. I refuse to threaten any of my allies, especially Elodie.


When I turn around, I see Elodie standing at the edge of the clearing. Benat and Essence are probably somewhere close, I don't really care. Well, this is just slightly awkward. I can tell she's in pain, it's obvious, but I don't know what to say. "Well, hi. You're, um, hurt?" I inquire, stupidly. I remember my shirt's off, which would probably be awkward around anyone else. I hustle over to her and take her spear, "Don't bother holding those... Let me see if I have anything in my bag," even though I know I have nothing of benefit.

To make matters worse, I'm sweating, so opening my soaking wet bag is doubly hard. There's nothing but my shirt, a tent, and a few - a tent! I put her spear down and take out the tent, quickly setting it up with skills, "Come on in, your highness," and I bow down, ironically with my shirt off. But instead of waiting for her, I carry here in through the open flap, before closing it basically all the way once we and all the stuff are inside, "I know it's hard to stand, but laying down is just going to be impossible, and I don't know how to help your arm," I say, sighing.

So then I kiss her on the forehead before gaining sense of myself again. Then I take my flourescent blue shirt out of my bag, maybe it will work as a sling, before sitting down, "Sorry," I say, "you can lie on me for a lack of other surfaces, though I might be a little sticky... Not from that, no... Also, any ideas of how to make a sling with a shirt?" I mumble, playfully yet hopeful..

Honestly, I just hope Elodie makes it out of this pain okay. It's not like we have any painkillers.


[William has fled the thread]
[Also, William picks up sponsored medkit and uses a kneedle and thread once for -5 damage, along with using 5 feet of bandages for -1 damage, for a total of -6 damage.]

I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is f***ing awesome

^^thanks for the awesome header Onyx

[/color][/justify][/size]

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

there's a sick little suicide in all that we do
you decide, which one's for you?

WIP WIP WIP ASUNDER IS LIKE WHAT THE FUZZ

[ Asunder attacks Essence; harpoon]

[dice=200+3000]

[Shallow Cut on Neck -- 4.0 damage]

banner credit: thg's izoe
song: the matches sick little suicide

[rand=564441266702488118782556289806962851687335176393436777514428831637]

[aya]

We used to wait
Sometimes it never came
We used to wait
Still moving through the pain

Owen Rook —

[/i][/color]

What was at one point organized chaos quickly devolved into chaos of the purest sort. There was blood everywhere, more tributes dropping like flies, and more people coming and going. He thought he caught a glimpse of the girl he'd swung at earlier reentering the massacre, and was about to finish her off just because she was a familiar target, when a boy rushed in right in front of where Owen was standing. He wielded a knife and didn't look too terribly bright; Owen swung his longsword at the girl instead as the boy barreled right through to the other side.

[attacks Essence longsword]
[dice=200+1000]
[1048 -- Shallow Cut on Left Shoulder -- 3.5 damage]

[/size][/blockquote][/justify][rand=23585066525265574603205678984522818459689500741664239206789061427]

[Danny]

essence flees + uses first-aid on william + uses needle and thread

[Nofo]

you’d be damned to be one of us girl
faced with the dodo’s conundrum,
I felt like I could just fly
but nothing happened every time I tried
what happened here these aren't even lyrics

There's William, that tribute from the Bloodbath she'd attacked a few times. She had gotten pretty good hits at him, and now she had a feel for her weapons. Oh okay, now they were attacking River. Alright, they better flee. "Come on, River! Time to move" They were going to get killed out here now. William was fleeing so there was no time to attack before escape.

"Bye everyone! See you soon!"

[Emerald flees and uses first-aid on River]

ooc; pleaseeeee leave me alone

dare to be one of us girl
facing the android’s conundrum
I felt like I should just cry
but nothing happens every time
I take one on the chin

[/center][/justify]