u s e l e s s {jessica one-shot}
Jul 23, 2017 5:33:53 GMT -5
Post by lance on Jul 23, 2017 5:33:53 GMT -5
It's hardly ten past noon and yet she's been there for close to two hours, all thoughts of sticking to something anywhere remotely close to routine tossed out of the window in favor of a grueling undertaking that had quickly become something akin to tradition over the last three years.
She'd done it during the Seventy Fourth after the Hammerfell boy had grown overconfident and fallen to the furry feline muttation. She'd done it last year during the Seventy Fifth after Shaw and Demheaux had squandered the best odds they'd had in a full decade.
And now, she was repeating it this year, for with each action came an equal and opposite reaction - in this case, the year of their best chances of victory had been followed with a year of the worst showing that her home had displayed in the thirteen years since Cricket Antoinette had brought home the crown.
It, of course, was destroying every single training dummy at her academy in a taxing display of strength, endurance, and pure stubborn will.
The first go, done on a whim, had taken four and a half hours. The second, expected this time,
had just barely clocked over the three forty five mark.
This one, not only expected but also prepared for, she hoped would break three.
Muscles scream in agony, sweat glistens on tanned skin like a polished tile floor, and yet she does not stop, her arms shaking as another dummy head crumbles beneath the head of her mace.
Aline Larkin, skull caved in by a skinny fifteen year old with a bat.
No one should be underestimated.
The next one is approached from behind, its fate quickly matching that of its predecessor.
Gregor McGregor, head smashed from behind by a girl from Five while trying to kill the boy from Eleven.
Do not devote all of your focus to one opponent when surrounded by twenty three.
With a mighty heave, the mace is thrown, smacking into dummy number three full in the chest and knocking it over.
Cassiopeia Shaw, knocked off of a rooftop by a lone girl from Eight.
Repeat: No one should be underestimated.
A knife is grabbed, and she stabs number four in the arm with the closest thing to a smile that she can muster plastered on her face.
Saummerand Demheaux, blindsided by his own district partner in the Finale.
Your enemy is anyone and everyone - even those that also hail from the place you call home.
She leaves the knife in the arm and grabs a sword, slicing the left leg off of number five.
Anise Himura, lost by a fraction against an opponent that was her equal in terms of skill.
Every attack, counterattack, and miss can and will count.
Number five and six go hand in hand. The former loses their legs to two swift slashes, while the latter is promptly taken down when she tosses what remains of five onto its still form.
Ivar Hammerfell and Asriel Dreamurr, both devoured by a Gamemaker controlled swarm when one tried to take out the other.
Above all, survival is paramount.
The knife is withdrawn from number four with her free hand and is promptly inserted into the head of number seven.
Hela Loptrdottir, taken down by an otherwise unassuming mutt.
The wildlife in any arena was not to be trusted.
She next grabs a single arrow from a quiver and sticks it through the head of number eight in a nearly identical fashion.
Torka Hammerfell, grew too overconfident and thought he could take down a hellcat with an unfamiliar weapon.
Always play to your strengths in the arena.
Number nine goes down with a clean stab through the heart.
Rachel Violette, allowed compassion to draw her into the clutches of an enemy alliance while she was in no shape to fight or flee.
Never let the heart rule the head in any and all things.
Number ten loses first their left arm and then their left leg, not to symbolize their own downfall but rather one of two opponents that contributed.
Achilles Muto, attempted to take out a lower district girl while underestimating a wounded Career.
As long as someone has life, they have the potential to be deadly.
Number eleven's right leg gets neatly severed from their body with one clean stroke.
Heathcliff Travers, attempted to slay a dragon while ignoring other threats that were just as deadly.
Each and every potential threat must be analyzed and countered.
Number twelve becomes the victim of one, two, three throwing knives scattered across its body, before a smack in the face with a sword hilt sends it crashing to the ground.
Astrid Shaw, lacked the wits to make an otherwise extraordinary run count.
Brains were just as important as brawn when it came down to it - perhaps even more so.
Number thirteen is downed with a single smack with the flat of her blade.
Andesite Obsidian, chained himself to two meat shields yet lost his life before either of them due to sheer incompetence.
Choose your allies wisely, if you're going to choose any at all, and don't get caught in ambushes.
Number fourteen loses their head - or part of it, anyway, for her slice cuts somewhere below the eyes but above the mouth.
Beretta Corleon, lost to a psychopath and a blind girl despite possessing such advantages as bone armor and a horse.
Just because you have the upper hand does not ensure victory.
Number fifteen, like number nine, gets pierced in a metaphorical heart.
Dustyn Chase, stood his ground despite being at a clear disadvantage.
Pride is not worth losing your life over.
Number sixteen is likewise stabbed, though this time her blade goes through its eye.
Orion Hammerfell, taken out in a single strike by an opponent that was arguably his inferior in every single way.
Repeat, again: No. One. Should. Be. Underestimated.
Number seventeen receives a gaping wound across their stomach, then a stab in their chest for good measure.
Circe Lyon, took her own life after losing her fight with her emotions.
Emotions cloud judgement, and are virtually useless when it comes to survival.
Number eighteen meets the same fate as number sixteen with a clean stab through the head.
Olivia Revenue, fell for a Gamemaker's trick and lost her life to a cleverly constructed replica.
Always be wary of the tricks of Gamemakers.
Number nineteen prompts the introduction of a new weapon, and with a grab and single swing, soon becomes the proud owner of an axe helmet.
Elya Johnwayne, victim of a stray projectile weapon tossed by an otherwise forgettable district eight boy.
Keep your reflexes sharp and your anti-projectile tools nearby, whether they be weapons or armor.
Number twenty receives a deep gash on the back of their head for their trouble.
Mason Hammerfell, overwhelmed by sheer numbers in a feast.
Never, ever, ever allow yourself to be surrounded or outnumbered or both.
Number twenty one receives numerous gashes across its body even as the muscles in her arms scream in protest, finishing with a single slash across its back.
Hedvig Fabre, likewise overwhelmed by an entire enemy alliance that included a rival Career.
When it comes to the Bloodbath, always, always be aware of your surroundings.
Number twenty two receives exactly two wounds - first a single slash across where the eyes would be, then a nearly parallel strike across the chest.
Asa Reau, killed by a fourteen year old girl from Ten in the darkness.
If at any point you are impaired, there is no shame in fleeing.
Number twenty three, like several before it, gets stabbed cleanly through the heart - though in reality, this was the only instance where such a wound had actually happened.
Valerie Leotos, made the mistake of angering the wrong District Twelve.
Anyone can be a deadly opponent if angered enough.
Number twenty four receives a throwing knife to the eye before losing its right arm to a sloppy slash.
Dan Johnwayne, attempted to fight a One, both Fours, and a giant mutt at the same time.
Never ever bite off more than you can chew. Fight one thing at a time - it's not like the other opponents will be going anywhere.
Number twenty five loses their head, quite literally.
Tiger Chautin, victim to an unlucky strike from a scrappy District Eleven.
Re fucking peat: No one should be underestimated.
Number twenty six gets stabbed through the neck.
Ares Pine, underestimated the retaliatory strike after betraying his last ally.
If you decide to go for allies, their deaths at your hand should take one attack and one attack only.
Number twenty seven, like twenty one, receives several gashes before she relents in favor of molten limbs.
Hannah McEwen, betrayed by her ally and swarmed immediately thereafter.
Be careful who you choose as allies - and ensure that you always have an escape route if necessary.
Number twenty eight follows the example of twenty five and finds its head neatly separated from its shoulders.
Beatrice Birch, failed to ensure that her opponent was dead and lost her head because of it.
Never take anything for granted, whether it be death or skill.
Her breaths are starting to become short and ragged and her arms are growing shaky from exertion, but nevertheless, she persisted, drawing her blade across the back of the head of number twenty nine.
Kyle Jones, lulled into a false sense of security before an ally took advantage of his weakness.
Trust no one, only yourself.
Number thirty receives a quick, sloppy stab in the face.
Jaime Lyon, taken down by a dart jaguar the day after slaying a much greater mutt.
Even the most unassuming of opponents - human or muttation - could possess a deadly touch at any time.
And, with one final scream, she lashes out at number thirty one with nothing but her bare hands, one wild punch smacking into an arm with as much force as she can muster.
Entaelia Lanine, lost focus after the bloodbath and fell to a much more inferior tribute.
Never, ever let your guard down.
She collapses to her hands and knees, the latest stretch complete.
Thirty one individuals had gone and died in the Games since their last success, bringing only dishonor where there should have been glory.
With a little speed, a little luck, and every ounce of skill she could possibly muster, the next year would reset that clock once again.
A grin slowly spreads across her face despite still-burning muscles, and almost gingerly she reaffirms her grip on the hilt of her sword.
It might be a possibility, but it was one that was still nearly a year away.
And there was a lot of time - and a lot of dummies - to kill in the meantime.
She'd done it during the Seventy Fourth after the Hammerfell boy had grown overconfident and fallen to the furry feline muttation. She'd done it last year during the Seventy Fifth after Shaw and Demheaux had squandered the best odds they'd had in a full decade.
And now, she was repeating it this year, for with each action came an equal and opposite reaction - in this case, the year of their best chances of victory had been followed with a year of the worst showing that her home had displayed in the thirteen years since Cricket Antoinette had brought home the crown.
It, of course, was destroying every single training dummy at her academy in a taxing display of strength, endurance, and pure stubborn will.
The first go, done on a whim, had taken four and a half hours. The second, expected this time,
had just barely clocked over the three forty five mark.
This one, not only expected but also prepared for, she hoped would break three.
Muscles scream in agony, sweat glistens on tanned skin like a polished tile floor, and yet she does not stop, her arms shaking as another dummy head crumbles beneath the head of her mace.
Aline Larkin, skull caved in by a skinny fifteen year old with a bat.
No one should be underestimated.
The next one is approached from behind, its fate quickly matching that of its predecessor.
Gregor McGregor, head smashed from behind by a girl from Five while trying to kill the boy from Eleven.
Do not devote all of your focus to one opponent when surrounded by twenty three.
With a mighty heave, the mace is thrown, smacking into dummy number three full in the chest and knocking it over.
Cassiopeia Shaw, knocked off of a rooftop by a lone girl from Eight.
Repeat: No one should be underestimated.
A knife is grabbed, and she stabs number four in the arm with the closest thing to a smile that she can muster plastered on her face.
Saummerand Demheaux, blindsided by his own district partner in the Finale.
Your enemy is anyone and everyone - even those that also hail from the place you call home.
She leaves the knife in the arm and grabs a sword, slicing the left leg off of number five.
Anise Himura, lost by a fraction against an opponent that was her equal in terms of skill.
Every attack, counterattack, and miss can and will count.
Number five and six go hand in hand. The former loses their legs to two swift slashes, while the latter is promptly taken down when she tosses what remains of five onto its still form.
Ivar Hammerfell and Asriel Dreamurr, both devoured by a Gamemaker controlled swarm when one tried to take out the other.
Above all, survival is paramount.
The knife is withdrawn from number four with her free hand and is promptly inserted into the head of number seven.
Hela Loptrdottir, taken down by an otherwise unassuming mutt.
The wildlife in any arena was not to be trusted.
She next grabs a single arrow from a quiver and sticks it through the head of number eight in a nearly identical fashion.
Torka Hammerfell, grew too overconfident and thought he could take down a hellcat with an unfamiliar weapon.
Always play to your strengths in the arena.
Number nine goes down with a clean stab through the heart.
Rachel Violette, allowed compassion to draw her into the clutches of an enemy alliance while she was in no shape to fight or flee.
Never let the heart rule the head in any and all things.
Number ten loses first their left arm and then their left leg, not to symbolize their own downfall but rather one of two opponents that contributed.
Achilles Muto, attempted to take out a lower district girl while underestimating a wounded Career.
As long as someone has life, they have the potential to be deadly.
Number eleven's right leg gets neatly severed from their body with one clean stroke.
Heathcliff Travers, attempted to slay a dragon while ignoring other threats that were just as deadly.
Each and every potential threat must be analyzed and countered.
Number twelve becomes the victim of one, two, three throwing knives scattered across its body, before a smack in the face with a sword hilt sends it crashing to the ground.
Astrid Shaw, lacked the wits to make an otherwise extraordinary run count.
Brains were just as important as brawn when it came down to it - perhaps even more so.
Number thirteen is downed with a single smack with the flat of her blade.
Andesite Obsidian, chained himself to two meat shields yet lost his life before either of them due to sheer incompetence.
Choose your allies wisely, if you're going to choose any at all, and don't get caught in ambushes.
Number fourteen loses their head - or part of it, anyway, for her slice cuts somewhere below the eyes but above the mouth.
Beretta Corleon, lost to a psychopath and a blind girl despite possessing such advantages as bone armor and a horse.
Just because you have the upper hand does not ensure victory.
Number fifteen, like number nine, gets pierced in a metaphorical heart.
Dustyn Chase, stood his ground despite being at a clear disadvantage.
Pride is not worth losing your life over.
Number sixteen is likewise stabbed, though this time her blade goes through its eye.
Orion Hammerfell, taken out in a single strike by an opponent that was arguably his inferior in every single way.
Repeat, again: No. One. Should. Be. Underestimated.
Number seventeen receives a gaping wound across their stomach, then a stab in their chest for good measure.
Circe Lyon, took her own life after losing her fight with her emotions.
Emotions cloud judgement, and are virtually useless when it comes to survival.
Number eighteen meets the same fate as number sixteen with a clean stab through the head.
Olivia Revenue, fell for a Gamemaker's trick and lost her life to a cleverly constructed replica.
Always be wary of the tricks of Gamemakers.
Number nineteen prompts the introduction of a new weapon, and with a grab and single swing, soon becomes the proud owner of an axe helmet.
Elya Johnwayne, victim of a stray projectile weapon tossed by an otherwise forgettable district eight boy.
Keep your reflexes sharp and your anti-projectile tools nearby, whether they be weapons or armor.
Number twenty receives a deep gash on the back of their head for their trouble.
Mason Hammerfell, overwhelmed by sheer numbers in a feast.
Never, ever, ever allow yourself to be surrounded or outnumbered or both.
Number twenty one receives numerous gashes across its body even as the muscles in her arms scream in protest, finishing with a single slash across its back.
Hedvig Fabre, likewise overwhelmed by an entire enemy alliance that included a rival Career.
When it comes to the Bloodbath, always, always be aware of your surroundings.
Number twenty two receives exactly two wounds - first a single slash across where the eyes would be, then a nearly parallel strike across the chest.
Asa Reau, killed by a fourteen year old girl from Ten in the darkness.
If at any point you are impaired, there is no shame in fleeing.
Number twenty three, like several before it, gets stabbed cleanly through the heart - though in reality, this was the only instance where such a wound had actually happened.
Valerie Leotos, made the mistake of angering the wrong District Twelve.
Anyone can be a deadly opponent if angered enough.
Number twenty four receives a throwing knife to the eye before losing its right arm to a sloppy slash.
Dan Johnwayne, attempted to fight a One, both Fours, and a giant mutt at the same time.
Never ever bite off more than you can chew. Fight one thing at a time - it's not like the other opponents will be going anywhere.
Number twenty five loses their head, quite literally.
Tiger Chautin, victim to an unlucky strike from a scrappy District Eleven.
Re fucking peat: No one should be underestimated.
Number twenty six gets stabbed through the neck.
Ares Pine, underestimated the retaliatory strike after betraying his last ally.
If you decide to go for allies, their deaths at your hand should take one attack and one attack only.
Number twenty seven, like twenty one, receives several gashes before she relents in favor of molten limbs.
Hannah McEwen, betrayed by her ally and swarmed immediately thereafter.
Be careful who you choose as allies - and ensure that you always have an escape route if necessary.
Number twenty eight follows the example of twenty five and finds its head neatly separated from its shoulders.
Beatrice Birch, failed to ensure that her opponent was dead and lost her head because of it.
Never take anything for granted, whether it be death or skill.
Her breaths are starting to become short and ragged and her arms are growing shaky from exertion, but nevertheless, she persisted, drawing her blade across the back of the head of number twenty nine.
Kyle Jones, lulled into a false sense of security before an ally took advantage of his weakness.
Trust no one, only yourself.
Number thirty receives a quick, sloppy stab in the face.
Jaime Lyon, taken down by a dart jaguar the day after slaying a much greater mutt.
Even the most unassuming of opponents - human or muttation - could possess a deadly touch at any time.
And, with one final scream, she lashes out at number thirty one with nothing but her bare hands, one wild punch smacking into an arm with as much force as she can muster.
Entaelia Lanine, lost focus after the bloodbath and fell to a much more inferior tribute.
Never, ever let your guard down.
She collapses to her hands and knees, the latest stretch complete.
Thirty one individuals had gone and died in the Games since their last success, bringing only dishonor where there should have been glory.
With a little speed, a little luck, and every ounce of skill she could possibly muster, the next year would reset that clock once again.
A grin slowly spreads across her face despite still-burning muscles, and almost gingerly she reaffirms her grip on the hilt of her sword.
It might be a possibility, but it was one that was still nearly a year away.
And there was a lot of time - and a lot of dummies - to kill in the meantime.
