i see you, you hear me | u / n / e (day 1)

MATTIO
Librarian

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i see you, you hear me | u / n / e (day 1) Jun 19, 2023 15:41:15 GMT -5

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Post by MATTIO on Jun 19, 2023 15:41:15 GMT -5

U L Y S S E S.

I wander from the group, just for a moment. With an arena as vast and dense as this, it's important to get a sense of the world around. Gryphon in tow, I round the Cornucopia's clearing in the direction of one of the forests. I'm only a few steps deep when the surrounding area makes me feel as though I've been lost battling the canopy's darkness for ages.

If you know what you're looking for, the vegetation in the forest can come in handy. Easier than hunting down small creatures and then killing or cooking them, I'd say. With one hand on the gryphon's ruby red side and the other feeling through the variety of plants, I search for anything that might help with Caspian or Jayson's injuries, as well as firewood to keep warm.

Through the corner of my eye, deeper in the forest, there's some movement. I stop, stopping the gryphon with an outstretched palm ahead of its chest. "Sh…" I whisper, moving toward one of the bigger trees to hide behind. Of course, that won't do anything to hide the giant brown and red creature, but maybe something of that size would ward the other tribute away. I can't get a good look at their face, either, and whether or not they're someone who would attack me or leave me alone. I look over to the clearing that I've clung to, where I hope the rest of my group remains. I've got my heels turning, ready to book it as soon as it's safe to run out.

It's then that the gryphon turns its head and brushes against mine with its wings, the rubies pinching at my skin. "Ow!"

Table by Rave

Last Edit: Jun 20, 2023 17:29:37 GMT -5 by MATTIO

arx
Retired Staff

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literally so gay, doing so many crimes

i see you, you hear me | u / n / e (day 1) Jun 20, 2023 13:09:57 GMT -5

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Post by arx on Jun 20, 2023 13:09:57 GMT -5

[newclass=.numairImages1]max-width:400px;transition:4s;transition-delay:15s;margin:(25px 25px 25px 25px);[/newclass]

[newclass=.numairImages1:hover]max-width:400px;filter:drop-shadow(5px 5px 0 #644b87);margin-left:25px;margin-right:25px;margin-top:25px;[/newclass]

[newclass=.numairLines1]width:200px;height:1px;box-shadow:2px 2px 2px #644b87;background-color:#000000;margin-left: -10px;margin-top:10px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","numairImages1"]

NUMAIR

[attr="class","numairLines1"]

"Helloooooo- The Beast, is it?" A croak of discontent. "Apologies, sorry. I obviously meant- My Royal Highness, The Beast?" An annoyed huff and roll of the eyes, tail flicking across his nose rather roughly. "Seriously?" Numair rolls his eyes back at the flaunty thing as it did the equivalent of- flex? At him? Numair responds with something between a smirk and a scoff tainting his words. "THEE Royal Highness, The Beast?"

In all honesty Numair was trying to remain hidden, silent, stealthy. But the moment something close to what must be excitement shimmers in the creatures eyes is the moment he breaks; it's physically impossible for Numair not to offer up a smile, a giggle, a few hesitant and incredibly anxious pats. "Quite the sunny little dragon you are, huh?" The thing sure looks funny strutting proudly between trees too close together for it to properly spread its wings.

You hardly look the part to be a spy with microphones for ears and camera lenses for irises.

His silk cloaks of purple matched the way he blended into the shadows of the forest. He'd no idea where the royal highness of blonde and muscle had been able to disappear to, but Numair assumed it must be the way this place was designed, the way dark orbs made you feel when you were bitten by them. He curses the Capitol—quite suddenly, ashamedly, and without real thought—for not growing bored of watching regular, unenhanced children kill each other.

But of course what's even more troubling—Why do we let them control us? When did we start agreeing the easiest way forward was to just keep letting this shit happen?

Numair peeks from his spot beneath a thicket of thorns that somehow didn't cut at his skin or catch in his clothes. Fairytale, storybook type of a magic, y'know? Something he was sure the Capitol both hated and adored; he supposed he felt the same.

He recognized Daniel Ulysses, a boy from District 11—he'd had a dog with him at the Reaping, huge mutt with huge teeth and lots of power behind it's movements despite where it came from. It'd been difficult for Numair to get past the drooling and the teeth to pay much attention to the way he'd been holding himself while he was at home. The stage and the lights and the grandeur of the Capitol unfortunately make performers out of everyone; Numair wasn't sure the boy from eleven's interview—"They're a lot nicer than I expected!"—had been one he whole-heartedly believed.

But it was worth a try, right? But maybe, only secretly. And only from a safe distance. And hidden away, cloaked by purple shadows.

[camouflage activated!]
[numair black leaves HIS VIAL FROM RE HERE with ulysses]

Last Edit: Jun 20, 2023 17:58:41 GMT -5 by arx

"I run on the road, long before I dance under the lights."

Jorg
Merchant

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Wishing I was Ryan Gosling’s Ken, Knowing I’m Scott Evan’s Ken

i see you, you hear me | u / n / e (day 1) Jun 20, 2023 14:16:34 GMT -5

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Post by Jorg on Jun 20, 2023 14:16:34 GMT -5

♛

Elijah walks west from the Cornucopia, thinking that the forest has to have a water source, and clearly, it is not in Death Forest. If Elijah can't find water, he can scavenge for food and other items. The whip from the Cornucopia is nice, but Elijah would appreciate a weapon that he is more familiar with. Elijah tries his best to remain silent and stealthy, but he has always been kind of gawky, so he hyper-fixates on any crunch or snaps he makes, wishing that others would not be as perceptive of him and Elijah is of himself. Escaping the Bloodbath has given Elijah temporary peace of mind, but now that they are venturing out past the Cornucopia, the fear slowly settles in.

Elijah made sure he was decked out in decent protection before he left in case he ran into anything, but this experience was still unnerving. He finds valuable plants around the forest and collects them for his allies. He also manages some firewood to help cook anything they might need to do or keep them warm at night. What catches his eye, though, is a set of clawed hands, a weapon that Elijah feels more comfortable with. He analyzes the knife, appreciating how it fits in his hand, when Elijah hears a sharp "Ow!" far too close for comfort. Elijah takes a step back, not noticing the decent-sized branch next to him before he steps on it, snapping it in half. Elijah looks up and locks eyes with the boy from Eleven, whose name he doesn't remember.

"I have no fight with you today, Eleven," Elijah states as he holds his hands up. "Just trying to get some supplies. Are we good for today?"

[Elijah collects medical and edible plants, firewood, and Fey Blessing – Clawed Hands (Knife) from forest]
[words: 285]

[credit to kaplan]

MATTIO
Librarian

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Pronouns: he/him
last seen Apr 27, 2024 22:03:52 GMT -5

i see you, you hear me | u / n / e (day 1) Jun 20, 2023 19:03:53 GMT -5

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Post by MATTIO on Jun 20, 2023 19:03:53 GMT -5

U L Y S S E S.

As if my lack of stealth wasn't enough to ward off any sense of confidence, the crack of branches and leaves from up ahead tells me: you might've been caught, Ulysses. Instead of keeping glued to the tree, I round the trunk to get clear sight on who's ahead. District Ten… Elijah, I think.

"I have no fight with you today, Eleven." Better not, I'd say. Judging by the plants and firewood in his hands, Elijah may have had the same idea as I did today: forage, collect, and prepare for the night ahead. "Are we good for today?" Flashback to earlier in the day, when Caspian, Torian, and Jayson fought for control of the Cornucopia. Lara, from Eight, and Numair, from Four, were the last two in the area. My allies showed kindness in the warnings and lowered weapons. And me? Well, I just sat there, catching my breath and keeping an eye on the center in case any tributes returned. They didn't, thankfully, so I didn't have to raise a finger.

It would be uncharacteristic to attack. Through the thick forest, I'm not sure I'd like my odds anyway. Although… "That's fine by me," I pat the rubies on my gryphon's wings. "I think this lion… eagle… gryphon, would wipe the floor with you anyway." I start to usher the bejeweled creature onward. I speak louder now to reassure Elijah that I'm on my way, against conflict entirely. "I'm a lover, not a fighter." Am I? I tap my fingers against brown trousers, trying to think of anyone I've gotten close enough to love.

Tap. Tap. No, family doesn't count! Tap. Not a lover, but also not a fighter.

Just a dude, existing in a world that's proving to be one hell of a challenge.

My gryphon and I move back toward the clearing, evading patches of brown, green, and purple earth to evade getting lost further into the forest. As we make it out of the clearing, a shining blue liquid, encased in a slim but ever-apparent bottle, rests within the grass. I pick it up, shiny things… nothing could ever go wrong.

"Thanks whatever or whoever dropped this here. Maybe something pretty as this might cheer Caspian up." Karma is an ever-flowing wheel. "Uhh…" I rummage through my bag. This could certainly work as one of those take-one-leave-one sorts of things that my school used to do in the library. I part ways with a container of what looks to be some really sloppy food. Food, nonetheless, though! There were much nicer things to eat stored away in the Cornucopia anyhow.

We're in a death dome. The least we can do is be a little kind.

"Whoever finds this… um… I hope it doesn't make you sick!"

[ ulysses takes numair's vile and leaves his lizard gruel (food) for arx ]

Table by Rave

arx
Retired Staff

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last seen Apr 28, 2024 11:34:08 GMT -5

literally so gay, doing so many crimes

i see you, you hear me | u / n / e (day 1) Jun 21, 2023 10:22:11 GMT -5

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Post by arx on Jun 21, 2023 10:22:11 GMT -5

[newclass=.numairImages1]max-width:400px;transition:4s;transition-delay:15s;margin:(25px 25px 25px 25px);[/newclass]

[newclass=.numairImages1:hover]max-width:400px;filter:drop-shadow(5px 5px 0 #644b87);margin-left:25px;margin-right:25px;margin-top:25px;[/newclass]

[newclass=.numairLines1]width:200px;height:1px;box-shadow:2px 2px 2px #644b87;background-color:#000000;margin-left: -10px;margin-top:10px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","numairImages1"]

NUMAIR

[attr="class","numairLines1"]

Numair took the distraction and ran with it—quite literally, dashing as the leaves in the canopy twisted together on the breeze to compose a symphony that he could only think to describe as: a siren's song, a siren's symphony, chorus, lyric that he was interrupting with his footsteps.

He tucks himself behind another tree, light steps and the aid of shadow helping him to appear behind Elijah Ringenberg, tribute of District 10—"They always looked up to a specific Victor in particular and are happy that I get to follow in his footsteps 20 years later. I'm fighting for my faith."—apparently some strange sort of martyr? According to exact math that is. He wasn't certain, but it sounded like the plea of someone too trapped to know that escape would only take a whisper.

Numair couldn't help but wonder if that was a practiced line, something District 10 had been hiding beneath its Mace-Saffron-family-(wo)man-core fantasy story. Maybe Andal had just- brought it all to the surface? Brought the cameras and the lights and the flash, flash, flashiness to film all that- delusion. It was disheartening the way suffering just sort of- took over, leeched, rotted.

But still, Numair flanked them silently. He keeps his ears trained on any sudden noise that might suggest he'd been spotted by Ulysses or Elijah. He still had no idea where THEE sunny dragon of fur and feather had disappeared to, but it allowed Numair to slink into the shadows the same way he always had. Action might mean you always win a fight, but patience surely means your friends do. And so he made sure to listen carefully as they exchanged pleasantries.

"I have no fight with you today, Eleven." It sounded genuine, like maybe twenty-four names was a lot to remember because yeah, it is. Cutting that in half? There were simply way more memory tricks available to you. "That's fine by me." Numair halts when—as Ulysses very correctly puts it: "I think this lion… eagle… gryphon? Would wipe the floor with you anyway."—well, his friend looked even more grand and threatening than THEE one that chose him. And the glint in the creature's eyes? Yeah, that suggested detection.

Numair used the power of instinct more than the power of plan to leap to his next hiding spot toward the edges of the forest that begged him to stay. And so he stayed long enough to let the third of his name from eleven leave in peace, smiling only after he'd watched Ulysses disappear into the thicket of stone, vine, leaves, and ancient stories Numair had never even heard of.

Gryphons, huh?

[camouflage activated!]
[numair black takes the lizard gruel (food) left for him by ulysses]

part 1
I SEE YOU, YOU HEAR ME | U / N / E (DAY 1)
part 2 part 3 part 4

Last Edit: Jun 24, 2023 2:03:55 GMT -5 by arx

"I run on the road, long before I dance under the lights."