crying in the bleachers | slay v adepti v niko, day 5

umber vivuus 12b 🥀 [dars]
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crying in the bleachers | slay v adepti v niko, day 5 Mar 22, 2023 11:16:19 GMT -5

Quote

Post by umber vivuus 12b 🥀 [dars] on Mar 22, 2023 11:16:19 GMT -5

"Was I talking to you?"

Indeed, my complaint was that she hadn't been talking to me. She wasn't acknowledging me. She was instead trying to keep a friendship with a person who didn't want to do so. A girl much younger than either of them. A girl who'd chosen to side with Autumn. Now, work with me here, logically speaking, is the best time to gaslight a little girl when you were trying to kill her friend in front of her? Way I saw it, now was just about the most idiotic time in space to try and have a 'moment.' She was so close to understanding someone in the world's perspective besides her own, but unfortunately seemed to be too dim to do so at the end of the day.

Even her ally tried to step in and defend her, which I reckoned made sense for him to do so. Making a name for herself. What name? I'd almost taken the bait and argued my points, talked about how Vargen made it so much further and Fenrir was so much scarier. But once Svetlana launched into a series of vague half-thought insults, I didn't feel the need. I just widened my eyes at the boy as if to say, it speaks for itself.

Don't get me wrong- I didn't under estimate Svetlana. I'd seen what she did to Adan, and I could sense the crazy on her like a skin. People like her were capable of horrible, terrifying things. Things I certainly wouldn't have had the stomach or the gumption to do. The nitty-gritty, Daddy always called it. He told me that with some people, very victory came by tooth and nail, that some people were born to live and others to survive. I would've pitied her if I didn't also have to deal with her, but here we were. When she called me smart, bless me, my first instinct was some sort of pride that, at the very least, she didn't just see me as pretty. As a thing.

She saw me as a tribute.

But to be fair, Svetlana thinking I was smart was about the same as if Adan thought I was wealthy. When someone had not a dollar to their name, everyone who did was rich.

Now that she was finally looking in the right direction, I planned on saying absolutely nothing. Too many people talked in these things, I always thought. Stopping after every hit to throw out some holier-than-thou statement of morality- it was exhausting to keep up with. End of the day everyone wanted to be the hero, or hadn't you heard?

table coding elegant

[autumn attacks svetlana, sword]
0wjKM2PauOsword
[1001 -- Shallow Cut on Back -- 4.0 damage]

sword

Last Edit: Mar 22, 2023 11:20:34 GMT -5 by umber vivuus 12b 🥀 [dars]

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Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]
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crying in the bleachers | slay v adepti v niko, day 5 Mar 22, 2023 19:47:24 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy] on Mar 22, 2023 19:47:24 GMT -5

e l m - e r r i n g t o n

Filler because my life ceases to have a moment of chill this week:

Elm gives Niko a look^TM.

"It will if you keep talking," they sneer.

[Elm attacks Niko, spiked blunt]
qpzFGR8HJ5spiked blunt
14045 -- BROKEN JAW -- 7.0 damage
(Spiked Blunt) +1 Strength

spiked blunt

Last Edit: Mar 22, 2023 19:47:46 GMT -5 by Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]

warehouse

thompson harvard - d2b - arc
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crying in the bleachers | slay v adepti v niko, day 5 Mar 22, 2023 20:58:20 GMT -5

Quote

Post by thompson harvard - d2b - arc on Mar 22, 2023 20:58:20 GMT -5

I didn’t hear a single damn word from her afterward. Maybe it’s because Svet’s bark also helped put the girl in her place, but I’m shocked her reply did much. As the two others continue to swipe at Svet, I know she’s at her end, and she continues to try her damn hardest. It’s inspiring, really. She’s got the grit to keep fighting - harder than me, even, and I’ve hardly received a scratch since day one. But that may be coming to an end - part of me worries who these girls will target after Svet’s gone. I don’t expect it to be Elm, or at least for the one who talked too much.

I know I wouldn’t have attacked Dorothy, which if she’s anythin like me, it limits it to her helping Elm or killing me.

"if empty insults is all you have autumn, then I am going to take pleasure in taking you down with me." She swings, and barely scratches, as if the gods wanted to watch her - us struggle. It was stupid. It felt like one of those games were the referees were just making bad calls against the team that’s obviously the strongest one of the two. It’s to limit a blow-out, you know? Somethin’ like what woulda happened if we got to face Six, or Five, or whatever Exy team would’ve formed from the backyard of their house. Somethin like my group out here, really, where none of us would be found alive in the same room back home. Maybe Svet I could see bein in my life - shootin the shit, she seems the type. But Dorothy and Elm, I’m not so sure.

Outside of Svet’s remark, we have gone silent over here - the other two are busy talkin to themself as they hack away. I watch Elm smack the dude with their spiked club. That is what I gotta get to doin. None of this shallow shit.

I already lost one sister yesterday. I ain’t gonna lose Svet today.

[kaitlin]

[attacks autumn, spear]
T9YdW4P53qspear
[dg 8.0 + 1.0 strength]spear

Last Edit: Mar 22, 2023 20:59:23 GMT -5 by thompson harvard - d2b - arc

pup
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crying in the bleachers | slay v adepti v niko, day 5 Mar 23, 2023 4:02:50 GMT -5

Quote

Post by pup on Mar 23, 2023 4:02:50 GMT -5

niko

It's becoming increasingly apparent that Elm is not a Niko fan. They have gifted him another crack in the jaw in response to his latest remarks. Stumbling backwards, he can't even cough without pain racking his body. He's not sure what he needs to support, one hand gripping his side in pain, the other waving the katana about desperately.

"It will if you keep talking,"

It feels like a cruel trade. Niko, slowly slicing Elm up with what feels like a few paper cuts in comparison to what they are gifting him in return. With each break from Elm's powerful weapon, Niko could feel his will to continue draining away bit by bit. Elm on the other hand, appears to continue to stand strong, Niko's sword having no effect besides drawing the smallest sample of blood.

The adrenaline courses through him, the pain receding to a loud whisper as he readies his weapon again. Each movement sends a reminder of his broken bones coursing through his body, but Niko knows he can't stop. Not yet. Not even as the limbs of the other tributes around him go flying and as the Elm bares down on him with their instrument of pain.

He opens his mouth to say something witty, but just as he begins to breath the first syllables, he needs to let out a gasp of pain. No, there's no more talking to be done here. Closing his mouth, Niko sets his grim face, trying to keep it steady and ignore the pain emanating through his jaw. His hands, gripped tight against the hilt of the blade, prepares for the next attack.

There's no more talking he can do. Elm had just done what Itzal, Mirage, and hordes of mutts couldn't do: shut Niko up.

And Niko doesn't really like being quieted.

attacks elm w/ katana
bmBqmfo08Osword
[sc because what else is new]

sword

Last Edit: Mar 23, 2023 4:03:12 GMT -5 by pup

^Made by the amazing Onyx^

✨ zozo.
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crying in the bleachers | slay v adepti v niko, day 5 Mar 23, 2023 15:31:15 GMT -5

Quote

Post by ✨ zozo. on Mar 23, 2023 15:31:15 GMT -5

She could scream at them to get out, get away, stay back. But terrible things aren't scared of their kin. At home Francine was that child that gave others the shivers. Eerie, uncomfortable, a whisper of a shadow in the dark. Nightmare, bedtime creature, scary story to tell in the dark.

But not here. Here, everyone is the thing that lurks underneath a bedframe in the dead of night. They're all just as terrible as each-other, forest things. Half-dead, just trying to keep the other part of them alive. Francine stumbles over the weight of her sword, grabs out at Svetlana, tries to pull her back. Pull the other boy off of Autumn. Anything, anything, please.

Her arms are lead. Tired, aching. She can't save them all, she can't save any of them. Not even the moon, lovely and warm. Francine may very well sleep alone tonight, left alone to confront the monster that is she and all her failures. She could scream, but it wouldn't matter. She's tried that once, twice, three times. Each time they've fallen. Adan, Steele - now Autumn, perhaps, and it's all her fault.

It's all her fault. It's all her-

(no matter what happens tomorrow, i need you to know it ain’t your fault.)

- fault.

Francine swings. It misses.

(there’s a lot of life out there for you to live. for both of us. i believe that.)

So does she.

She swings again.

table coding elegant

francine attacks svet, katana (sword)

UEJkGWUGEVsword

0

accuracy, day 5

sword

8

sword·sword

Last Edit: Mar 23, 2023 15:32:40 GMT -5 by ✨ zozo.

“and men said that the blood of the stars flowed in her veins.”

umber vivuus 12b 🥀 [dars]
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crying in the bleachers | slay v adepti v niko, day 5 Mar 23, 2023 22:08:55 GMT -5

Quote

Post by umber vivuus 12b 🥀 [dars] on Mar 23, 2023 22:08:55 GMT -5

This was the part I was dreading. It was hard enough, seeing Francine have to finish what I couldn't. But now there was this: the boy from Eight's spear glided through the skin of my back my butter. I groaned into a shriek into a sigh- this. She was going to see me die. She'd see it again and again if she was going to survive, but- me. Maybe I was a narcissist but I liked to think I... Well, I'd like to think I mattered. At least to one person- at least to her. And I hoped she heard the words I said and believed them to be true. I hoped-

No.

I wasn't dead yet. And I promised her I would try. I couldn't help the steady sobs, the whimpers. I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to be here. I wanted to run and escape and I wanted Francine to somehow also get away and I wanted to hide someplace none of the other tributes would dare to go, maybe the deepest part of the forest or the highest point of the mountain, and I wanted to stay there until the end. But it wasn't reality; it couldn't be. Please, please, please-

Svetlana's lifeless body at the ground next to me, the boy from Eight probably still thinking he could save her until- BOOM. The sound of a cannon rattled through my bones. I stumbled away, heels catching on the back end of my skirt and sending me to the rocky ground. I clamored desperately as I tried to right myself and put more distance between us. Francine- Me. Me. Elm- No. Austin, I-

My mother's hand tugging my chin higher into the air. I-

wanted

to live.

"No!"

I think I hoped it would be enough to save me, but I knew it wouldn't be, deep down. Did I run? Did I choose myself? Eyes flicked to Francine, then to Theo, then to my own blood smeared across my palms.

I stayed.

table coding elegant

[autumn attacks niko, sword]
xOAm6pemdlsword
[1137 -- Shallow Cut on Right Bicep -- 3.5 damage]

sword

Last Edit: Mar 23, 2023 22:14:42 GMT -5 by umber vivuus 12b 🥀 [dars]

^{I AM A GARDEN OF BLACK AND RED AGONIES}

Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy]
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crying in the bleachers | slay v adepti v niko, day 5 Mar 23, 2023 22:35:06 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Sunrise Rainier D2 // [Thundy] on Mar 23, 2023 22:35:06 GMT -5

e l m - e r r i n g t o n

That shut him up.

I’m taken aback by the power of my own hands. I step back with deep hesitation, gazing at the boy with wide eyes. I did that?

He’s crumbling beneath my weapon, and I’m bloodied but not falling.

He replaces words, words, words – too many words – with gasps of pain. Silence. He looks like a fish gasping for life in open air, and I’m standing in front of him with blood on the spikes of my weapon.

I’m too distracted by his pain, at first, to notice Svetlana fall to the dirt. But I do notice her. I don’t know who hit her – Autumn? Or the other girl? – and once I see her, my attention won’t leave her. Every ounce of rage that I had for the boy dissipates in a second, replaced by a void of sorrow pooling in my chest.

”Svet!” I exclaim, stepping toward her. But this is still a fight. There’s still…

Autumn, standing there. And the other girl whose name I don’t know.

They did this.

In that moment, I feel so much confusion and rage that I can’t move my body. My eyes flit between Autumn and the other girl, trying to decode what just happened, trying to figure out how it could be that Svetlana, the most terrifying of us all, is dying in the dirt.

None of this makes sense. I don’t want to die, I know that now, but it doesn’t… it doesn’t make sense why it would be her and not me. She’s so much stronger than I am.

”Autumn?” I ask, body frozen in time and space, unmoving. My eyes shift to Autumn's ally. Confusion mingles with fury in my chest.

I rush to Svetlana’s side. Everyone is close, right now. Too close. All I want is the space to mourn this girl, to give her a moment’s peace before the end, but Autumn… Autumn’s still fighting. And she might have killed Svetlana. Doesn’t she know that this is over? That it’s time to go, and fight another day?

”GO!” I scream at her, kneeling before Svet’s dying frame. But god, she’s still fighting, and all I want is for this to be over.