and I don't think we can solve 'em // bad blood, day 1 cont.

pup
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and I don't think we can solve 'em // bad blood, day 1 cont. Jun 20, 2023 19:40:27 GMT -5

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Post by pup on Jun 20, 2023 19:40:27 GMT -5

It stares me down with two wide saucers that are much too large for its small face. The deep black in its eyes against its wings shimmering in the fading light stop my hands as I finish my work. A short distance from the others, I had been smashing more birdhouses to create armor modeled off of my cast.

Pulling the wood stuck together with the spiderweb-like netting over my chest, I slowly stand up. No sudden movements when a mutt's around.

"I'm sorry if I broke your home." I say quietly, my hands up. My sickle is in my bag, and slowly my non-broken hand grasps the hilt. We're in a staring contest, the pixie floating in the air on wild wings and me with my feet firmly against the ground, prepared to strike before the creature can.

Suddenly, its eyes shift from deep pits to something gentler, kinder. My grip loosens on my weapon, and I stare at the creature in wonder rather than in fear.

Mom?

Breaking away, the creature floats away. My hand falls away from my bag and reaches out for it. "Wait-" I say quietly.

I shouldn't do it. I shouldn't leave Xaa and Will and Luna. Pausing for a minute, my hand outstretched, I make my decision. The fairy has to mean something. It might be something terrible, but nothing that can take on those eyes could truly be malicious. I've seen those eyes look over the most disgusting wounds and debilitating diseases with the upmost care. Those eyes can do no evil.

I chase after it.

Vines push through the trees like angry tentacles, tripping me and grasping at my legs. The pixie disappears for moments, then reappears, sticking its head out from behind a tree before flapping away. As I run, a buzzing noise begins. At first its a quiet hum in the distance before it gets louder and louder.

Soon, pixies swarm before me. It's a trap. I should have known better.

I turn to make my escape, but they have blocked off the path. Without hesitation this time, I pull my sickle from my bag. Crouching slightly, I prepare to swing if any of the mutts come near me. The rainbow swirling around me is mesmerizing, but I shake my head, trying to keep focused. It's impossible to pinpoint one in the crowd, though. Their blue bodies and shimmering wings meld together into an impossible mass.

One lands on my nose out of nowhere. My eyes cross, trying to stare it down. Before I can I can swat it away, it giggles and jumps off of me to rejoin the crowd.

Then, swirling once more, they disappear, leaving me on the edge of the woods.

The trees, once green and thick with life, give way to a scene of rotting fruit and tar dripping like blood off of corroded branches. At the edge, there's a battle. Green looks like it's giving way slowly to the death creeping into it.

I cover my nose, trying to force back the bile rising in my throat.

Footsteps begin to fall somewhere behind me, and I know it's my allies. Turning, sickle still in one hand and my other pulling my extravagantly-laced button-up shirt up to cover my nose and mouth, I talk before anyone can start yelling at me.

"Sorry," I say, trying to fight the shame in my voice, "I'm not sure what happened. Something just came over me."

I look back at the sludge.

"I found something new at least. Not sure what it is."

[actions to come in maint!]

^{table by ryan!}

Last Edit: Jun 20, 2023 19:41:29 GMT -5 by pup

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minie
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and I don't think we can solve 'em // bad blood, day 1 cont. Jun 21, 2023 2:40:25 GMT -5

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Post by minie on Jun 21, 2023 2:40:25 GMT -5

We trekked along in the forest we found ourselves in. The picture-perfect scenery was too good to be true. The illusion that would only exist between the pages of children’s book. Back at home, we had a library filled with old books. Some going back to when our family resided in seven way before the war started. Books filled with tall tales of the mischief that goes on in the forest. The creatures that lived there and the trouble they would cause. Mom always said that when I could not sleep as a kid, I found comfort in the stories. There always was something about a nasty scheme that would put a smile on my face. The knowledge that I was a step ahead of my latest victim.

That all being said, I should have known better than to stick my hand in the leprechaun’s home. The way its unnerving porcelain eyes followed me as I took a step to my right and then to my left. Almost as if it was taunting me to come a little closer. Not unlike the games I played with the other tributes in the training center. Teasing them, mocking them, placing wagers that I knew I could not loose. I recognized my own game when I saw it.

Still, I felt compelled to stick my hand in that little doorway hidden behind the figure. The adrenaline that was wearing off from the bloodbath, dripped back into my bloodstream in a less intense manor. I could feel my heart beat just a bit faster with excitement, the stress alarms in my body sending off their signals. It was not much, but in the moment it was enough.

Until the damn thing bit my finger.

Then it came alive.

What?

I was sure now; I was most definitely still tripping from last night. Who knows exactly what was in the cocktail I bought from that man in a bar in the middle of the night. At least it was doing its job. I let out a slight cackle as I watched the leprechaun flip me off and scurry into his house. I would say it was even a bit cute, if it did not physically assault me moments before.

Looking ahead, I could see that Luna and Thomas already started moving ahead as Will stayed behind waiting for me. She seemed almost impatient today, as if she was waiting for me to ever threaten her life so vaguely or something along those lines. Isn't she just adorable. She put up her fight in the training center, rolling her eyes and spitting words of fire back at me. I knew deep down that she liked it, she liked me, otherwise she would have never stuck around this long. Hell, I sure wouldn’t have.

I directed my eyes to the finger the creature bit, only to be met with my next surprise. My acrylic nails took on a new form, they were knives. Actual knives growing out of my fingers. Fuck yeah! I lifted my hands up and slightly tilted my head as I examined the blood red blades. They were absolutely marvelous, the slight slicing noise they released as I twirled them through the wind was heavenly.

”Will, darling” I reflected on my past promises to her. ”Maybe I am the stabbing kind after all” my eyes hypnotized by my new toys. I quickly glanced up to her with a reassuring look ”But don’t you worry, I still think you are far too pretty to be maimed” I let out an ever so slight laugh almost undetected as I made my way to follow the other two ahead of us.

Wait there was Luna, but where was Thomas?

A puzzled look took over my face as I rushed to my friend from two. ”Darling, did the doctor really leave a cripple to fend for herself?” concern slowly took over my voice. I could not believe he would just do that, what if something was wrong. You never just abandon your pack. Hysteric thoughts raced through my mind as I frantically scanned through the woods. Up ahead the scenery shifted, an odd fog took over and the landscape reeked of death itself. Wonderful, that definitely seemed promising. In the midst of it all was Thomas just standing there.

”Over there” I pointed with my new claws to where our ally was standing and hurried myself over to him entirely ready to yell demanding answers for his reckless actions. Before I could open my mouth, he already began to apologize. I raised my eyebrow as he mentioned that he found something new. Something he did not know what it was. Everything about this placed seemed engulfed in a mystery. It was an arena like I’ve never seen before in the games. We have not been in here for long and it all seemed off. Maybe what I thought was the last bit of the drugs from the final night, were not drugs after all. Maybe there was a bit of truth to the tales from the woods of seven after all.

”Go on, my dear. What did you find?”

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Last Edit: Jun 21, 2023 5:37:53 GMT -5 by minie

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alex 🐺
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a la folie

and I don't think we can solve 'em // bad blood, day 1 cont. Jun 21, 2023 11:28:26 GMT -5

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Post by alex 🐺 on Jun 21, 2023 11:28:26 GMT -5

Will isn’t sure why she sticks by Xaa’s side as Thomas goes running off. Probably some sort of stupid misguided loyalty. Or a crush. Probably both.

Luna hobbles along after Thomas but Will knew enough about the woods of Twelve to know that this particular canopy and the connected woods were most likely designed to confuse and addle rather than provide safety and security. They were in the middle of the Games, after all.

Will tears off one arm of her stupid fucking outfit, stripping the filigreed material into a tourniquet that she could tie to the gash that was slowly coloring her right arm red. She pulls the knot tight with her teeth as Xaa turns to her, literal fucking knives coming out of her fingers.

“Will, darling, maybe I am the stabbing kind after all. But don’t you worry, I still think you are far too pretty to be maimed.” Will rolls her eyes, tugging the ratan sack up on her back as she trudges forward.

“You keep your knives to yourself tonight,” she warns, but it lacks bite and comes out part innuendo and part desperation. They finally find Thomas, but he’s surrounded by a forest that seemed to have been plucked out of the stuff of nightmares.

Will's heart races as she cautiously steps into the Blighted Woods, her eyes widening at the sight before her. The air grows heavy with an oppressive aura, and a sense of foreboding settles deep within her bones. The once majestic trees, because it was obvious that they were once majestic, now stand skeletal and withered. They loom above her like ancient guardians of a forsaken realm.

The atmosphere lies thick with an acrid scent that claws at her senses. The trees give off a pungent smell of decay, as if they mourned their lost vitality and were crying tears. Black, tar-like substance oozes from their bark, staining the trunks, dripping onto the forest floor and disappearing in a deep mist.

Through the gaps in the gnarled branches, Will catches glimpses of something or many somethings darting in the twisted foliage. The things move with a sinister grace and.....HUGE NOPE! ABORT!

"Yo, Thomas, this place looks super fucked, dude."

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the smell of night, inhaling stars.

ryan
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over the moon, where all the wild things are

and I don't think we can solve 'em // bad blood, day 1 cont. Jun 23, 2023 21:42:42 GMT -5

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Post by ryan on Jun 23, 2023 21:42:42 GMT -5

the leg still hurts, but the brace is doing just enough to keep all the parts in place. you are impressed enough by tommy for being able to do such a thing. you are at least thankful, even though you are not ready to give a man credit where it was due.

you are slower then the rest of them, but as they move through th eforest, you are at least able to keep up. the moon sickle is in your hand, you are ready for anything, even with a damaged leg.

however, the wind picks up, and two things seem suspicious. the slight headache already forming, and the smell.

you arent sure which one is worse, but you can feel something wrong with your head. you hang your head for a moment, "god, i cant tell what is worse, the sudden throbbing headache, or the smell." you look up for a moment, your hair more noticeable then last time. you figured it mustve been cut free during the bloodbath. there is enough light to notice the silver streaks in it. something you hadnt ever had.

"what in the world." you say, running you hands through your hair for a moment before the scent of wherever they were heading hits your nostrils. "this place fucking reeks." you are not subtle in your words. this is awful. did you have to go into this part of the arena.

of course you did, that was the only way you were going to find anything useful.

xaa mentions knives and stabbing and you are still confused as to why she wasnt involved in career training. she shrugged for a moment, realizing that wasnt important. "can we get through this part of the arena quickly please" you aren quick to say something, because that is the only way you are sure you are going to be heard.

however, you all seem to pause when you notice that tommy is staring at something weird. you dont say much yourself, mostly because you are trying to focus on not letting the smell drive you up the wall.

"i dont even want to know at this point what it is." you are just trying to survive at this point.

you all are.