Blaise Taylor, district eleven

Climb into the ring for a battle that you can't win. Swing as hard as you can swing, it'll still mean nothing. Should've seen it coming, it had to happen sometime, but you went and brought a knife to an all out gun fight.

[blaise-taylor-blog]

No Going Back Now | Blaise & Marcus

[marcus-darte]

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten - already ten tributes had lost their lives, ten funerals were to be planned out. To his tie his hands went, loosening its grip and sliding it off his neck - over his head. 

"I guess so - 13 more deaths ‘til the victor." he said with a deep exhale - his eyes wandering about his surroundings at Blaise’s question.

He shook his head - “With what they had at the training center no, I thought of an abandoned city of some sorts.” 

[blaise-taylor-blog]

"That could have been fun," I hesitated, "I mean, you know. As fun as an arena can be." I watched as he pulled off his tie, and my hand immediately went to my back pocket to check mine was still in there. I was relieved when I realised it was, knowing it could potentially be far more useful than just a fashion accessory.

"I guess we should move, anyway. Wouldn't want to spend too much time in one place..." In the back of my mind, I wondered where Carmela had gotten to. We had spoken before about allying but it seemed she had gone in her own direction - I just wasn't sure whether it was on purpose or not. "Any ideas?"

[blaise-taylor-blog]

No Going Back Now | Blaise & Marcus

We stopped running, breathing deeply to recover from the sudden rush. It had been total chaos. The blood, the screaming, it had all been so... exciting. I was about to speak, but the temporary quiet was interrupted by the explosion of cannons. I counted ten, and cursed myself that I hadn't stuck around to finish off Dominic. I could still taste his blood.

"Ten down," I laughed. "I guess that makes our job a little easier." I looked around trying to take in the surroundings, but it didn't give me that much of an idea. "So I guess this wasn't exactly what you were expecting either?" I asked him, referring to the arena.

[blaise-taylor-blog]

Blaise's Outfit

[thepanemgames]

District 11

Blaise Taylor: 9

Carmela Omri: 7

[blaise-taylor-blog]

Blaise Status Update IV

Stations: Axes, darts, traps and snares, slingshots

Interactions: Izara, Marcus, Harlequin, Finn, Carden

Injuries: Injured by Carden (again). Bruised foot from Finn.

Developments:

Nearly got into a fight with Finn. Another reason to look forward to the arena.

Caused punishment from Carden, device used until Blaise passed out.

Didn't get off on the right foot with Harlequin, but started over.

Alliance planned with Marcus.

Izara should hate the game, not the player ;)

[marcus-darte]

heavy ropes | marcus & blaise

[marcus-darte]

He shrugged, “Eh, what’s in the past is in the past - nothing can change it. But the Capitol uses fear and death to keep the districts in line - it’s kept us at bay for 40 years now, but it won’t last I can tell you. Eventually the ‘great empire’ of the Capitol will fall - there hasn’t been an empire to last long with the tactics they use.” 

Glancing around - he grabbed a long stick that was on the ground nearby, walking back towards where the trap was. An eyebrow arched after Blaise punched him lightly, “Are you asking to be my ally?”

With the stick in his hand, he used it to lean out of the knives’ path of flight and tripped the wire - having it be embedded into the tree bark close by. Walking over to in front of where the knife was - he stood in front of it, matching where the knife would’ve hit - in the shoulder. Giving a shrug, “At least it would’ve possibly hit someone.”

[blaise-taylor-blog]

I nodded. I hadn't thought about it, but look at history. How many empires had been felled against all odds before? Hundreds. Maybe the Capitol's time really was running out.

"And if it did, it'd hurt." The trap was far more complicated than I could hope to remember, but it could do damage if it was in the right place at the right time. I picked up a length of rope and tried some of the knots I'd seen Marcus using to make the trap with. This end of the rope over that end, loop here, over this, under there, pull the end. It took a few attempts, but I managed a basic one and smiled. Things were looking up.

"I might be," I smiled, knowing how ridiculous I could look if he told me to get lost. "I mean, if you were cool with that?"

[blaise-taylor-blog]

Let Me See Your Axe Wound | Blaise + Izara

[izara--nixus-blog-blog-blog-blog]

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his comments. I wasn’t the most conservative person, that was for sure, but I did have standards not to be with sleeze balls like this. “It’s really too bad you’ll get nowhere close to seeing me naked. Looks like you’ll be missing out on that little piece of heaven.”

I only watched him out of the corner of my eye, he really had no technique. His arms would get tired if he held the axe like that after five minutes before he could even finish someone off. Bless his heart.

"I’d rather not remind you and simply allow you to see what happens when you do," my smile was sickly sweet as I leaned onto the dummy and let my axe arm rest. "Oh, but I’m sure your right hand is good enough."

[blaise-taylor-blog]

"Feisty. I like it." I winked. She was hot, but it wasn't like I actually wanted it to go anywhere. She'd be dead the same as everyone else in a few days as far as I was concerned. I was just getting bored, and this was how I had fun. "And I'll look forward to that," I said cheekily.

The bigger axe I'd taken was a mistake, it was too heavy to manoeuvre effectively. My bad. I watched the way she'd cleanly swiped at her dummy, the clean slices and almost crystal cut precision. She was a career, of course. I wondered what it must have been like, learning these skills from whatever age they starter their training. Having an expert instruct them in every way, teaching them the right way to hold weapons and shoot crossbows and fist fight and whatever else happened there. It was all so... sterile. Maximum effectiveness with minimum effort. In some ways, I was kind of glad I never had that. It clearly paid off as careers won most years, but I didn't imagine there was much sense of adventure. There couldn't be much feeling when you felt your blade cut through someone's skin or the excitement of your kill's blood rushing over your hands, because they must just be used to it. Maybe that wasn't the case, but I couldn't imagine much in any other way.

"I take it it's not your first time using an axe, then?"

[marcus-darte]

heavy ropes | marcus & blaise

[blaise-taylor-blog]

"From either, I guess…" my voice trailed off as I inspected his trap more closely. He was good at this. Really good. And he was right; it didn’t take a rocket scientist. I’d just have to remember what went where and, for the most part, the trap would work itself. 

My head turned as he spoke his last sentence, actually interested in what the answer might be. “I guess I always just assumed you guys were unlucky. But sure, I’d like to know?” I asked, and gave him my full attention.

[marcus-darte]

"Pressure from my family is nothing really - just die fighting, that’s all they ask. Now, if the Capitol Citizens want to see what each Darte have done over the years - I’d have to kill, make it far, sacrifice myself for my ally, die in a brutal, bloody fight or win." He shrugged, "I don’t care for what the Capitol wants - just going to follow what my family asks for."

Read More

[blaise-taylor-blog]

I listened intently as he spoke, having always accepted what I thought was a coincidence at face value. "Thats... crazy. I mean, I know the whole point of the games is to mess with the districts - no matter what excuse the Capitol might give - but that's taking it to a whole new level. I'm sorry it had to happen to your family." I was surprised, though there wasn't anything I'd ever put past the Capitol when it came down to it. The Hunger Games was an integral part of Capitol society, and they'd do anything to protect it and ensure its continuation.

"But hey, let's do it. Let's give them a good show, right? The best they've seen." I punched him playfully. It was no secret to myself - or anyone else if they'd bothered to ask - that I'd been sizing up my competition since I'd been here. I'd quickly made judgements on all the tributes I'd interacted with and done my best to figure out their level of threat to me. And it didn't take a genius to work out that Marcus was up there with the best of them. When it came down to tactical and strategical stations in particular, he was up there with the best of them, and with his family's history he was more than capable of putting on a fantastic show, possibly even coming out of it all alive and well at the end.

[marcus-darte]

heavy ropes | marcus & blaise

[marcus-darte]

"Maybe look both ways before getting in trouble then?" he said - finishing the noose and placing the handle in its grasp, grabbing the other rope that had been next to him afterwards. 

"A lot of people are curious about my family - so it’s fine to ask," he started tying one end of the new rope to the noose as he asked the question, “Well it matters which side of pressure you’re asking - the one from my family or from the Capitol citizens."

After tying the knot around the noose he ran lined the rope in a diagonal line towards where was sitting, grabbing a rock to anchor the rope, “Out of all the questions I get of my family, I never really get asked the big question - why is it that most years of the Hunger Games have Darte’s been apart of the games - if you’d want to know, I can tell you."

[blaise-taylor-blog]

"From either, I guess..." my voice trailed off as I inspected his trap more closely. He was good at this. Really good. And he was right; it didn't take a rocket scientist. I'd just have to remember what went where and, for the most part, the trap would work itself. 

My head turned as he spoke his last sentence, actually interested in what the answer might be. "I guess I always just assumed you guys were unlucky. But sure, I'd like to know?" I asked, and gave him my full attention.

[gmcarden-blog]

Bromance || GM Carden & Blaise

[gmcarden-blog]

"I understand." The boy was acting pleasant. I will do him a favor by giving him an option. “I use the device and crank it up a few volts to the point where you pass out or a throwing knife being thrown somewhere on your body. Pick wisely."

[blaise-taylor-blog]

I sat there, staring at nothing. I wasn't ignoring him; I was trying to weigh up the options. Passing out from that would be very painful, but a throwing knife stuck in me wouldn't be a holiday either. Especially as he didn't specify where the knife would land. A serious head wound and I was as good as dead already. A severed tendon and my chances of escaping the bloodbath would decrease almost to nil. I breathed out slowly, having made my decision. This wasn't going to be pleasant.

"I appreciate the option," I spoke slowly, unsure that I had entirely made up my mind, "and I choose the device. Please." I almost choked on the last word, asking nicely for someone to inflict enough pain on me that it would cause me to literally pass out from it. I gripped the edge of my seat, and raised my gaze to meet that of the gamemaker.

[blaise-taylor-blog]

Bullseye! | Blaise + Harlequin

[harlequin-artist-blog]

"You’re rude, I’m nice, you’re immature and I have better things to do that indulge a little prick. If you ask anyone I’ve interacted with they’ll say I’ve been a pretty decent guy around them but when someone acts like a dick around me, I’m definitely not going to be nice" I cracked my knuckles to ease my frustration and threw some more darts, each landing with a loud thud. I was done with letting my anger getting the better of me in life.

"Now, want to start over? I’m Harlequin, District Eight"

[blaise-taylor-blog]

Other tributes, and I might have taken it personally. But given the events of the day thus far, I decided it wasn't worth the effort of pissing him off even more. Even if he did call me a prick. When he was offering a fresh start, it would probably be idiotic to ignore anyway.

"Blaise, from eleven," I said firmly. I held my hand out, wondering whether he would shake it.

[marcus-darte]

heavy ropes | marcus & blaise

[marcus-darte]

"That could give you some trouble in the arena - but what did you even do to get on Carden’s bad side? I mean, he didn’t seem that bad when I talked to him - he even gave me an opportunity to do something I wanted to do for a long time." He arched an eyebrow, continuing on working on the noose in his hands - somewhat regretting what he said.

"It’s actually really simple, just tie some ropes together and set it in a position where a tribute would logically not see it and possible trip it. Your idea could work, you just gotta have the rope low to the ground and have it covered with something." 

"Why’d you want to know if I was related to the Darte’s by the way?" The last conversation they had was cut short and he didn’t get a reason to ask why, so now he was asking.

[blaise-taylor-blog]

I thought carefully before answering, knowing from experience that the walls here had ears and the gamemaker was sure to find out if I said anything I shouldn't. "I can get a little ahead of myself sometimes, you know? Unfortunately with Carden, I chose the wrong person to do that in front of." I didn't want to go into too much detail about my encounters with Carden - talking about them was one of the things that had gotten me in trouble in the first place.

I listened as he explained the trap, trying to memorise everything he was saying, but his next question caught my by surprise. I wasn't expecting him to have remembered that I asked that.

"I don't know why I asked, just curious I guess." I wasn't sure whether he enjoyed talking about it, or if it was something he'd rather not get into, so I didn't stray too far into the topic. "I just remember hearing about your relatives and put the name with it." It was weird, really. 'Darte' was a name almost synonymous with the Hunger Games given the unusual frequency with which they ended up in them. It was actually pretty cool to be standing opposite one of them. "Does it ever make you feel kind of... pressured?"

[gmcarden-blog]

Bromance || GM Carden & Blaise

[gmcarden-blog]

I chuckled.

"Surely that must have been difficult for you after he poured that box of rocks on your foot. Then you got in his face. How much I would have paid for you to punch him." This fool was trying to get on my good side. “Your apologies are worthless. What’s done has been done so don’t waste your words. They are limited after all. Chin up Taylor. Now I can’t let this go unpunished you realize that right?"

[blaise-taylor-blog]

"It wasn't particularly easy, no." I replied slowly, trying to figure out what he meant. My words were limited? I wasn't sure I wanted to know the details just yet, so I forced myself to try not to read into it too much.

"Yes. I realise that," for the first time, I was getting truly nervous around the gamemaker. I'd fucked up this time and I knew it, especially after the warning he gave me before. "Can I ask how?" my curiosity got the better of me. I just hoped it wouldn't kill me as it did the proverbial cat.

[gmcarden-blog]

Bromance || GM Carden & Blaise

[gmcarden-blog]

"Sit child."

I jotted down a few notes. These need to be sent over to the party coordinators and my fellow gms. Now to deal with the problem child.

"After our last meeting I expected you to be a good child. But seeing as how you shot at Finn you obviously disobeyed my orders. Why?"

[blaise-taylor-blog]

I did as I was told, and took a seat. He had a nice office, I wished he'd spend more time in it.

"I tried to stop myself. I guess I just got a little ahead of myself... we're not in the arena yet, I realise that. I apologise, it won't happen again." I looked to the floor guiltily.

[marcus-darte]

heavy ropes | marcus & blaise

[marcus-darte]

"Caspian - he thinks I’m a smartass so he said to watch out in the arena - I guess for him." he shrugged and listened to what his day was filled with, “Sounds more interesting than mine - maybe you should try not getting into any more trouble before the arena. Make any progress on being close friends with Carden yet?" 

He grabbed a knife that was next to him and placed the handle in the middle of the noose and tightened it a bit to demonstrate what it should do - the noose not complete yet, “The noose would be tighten around the handle and in a bit i’m going to set up a triangle-like shape where if someone stepped on either three sides of the triangle the noose would tug and send the knife in the direction in which the rope was tripped. Or at least that’s what I’m hoping it’d do."

[blaise-taylor-blog]

I laughed, "trust me, I'm working on it. Trouble seems to follow me around, though. Or maybe I'm just a troublemaker... Or maybe a bit of both." I shrugged. "Oh, Carden and I are great friends. I'm not sure he feels quite the same yet, but he will. We'll be going out for drinks soon enough, just watch" I laughed again. As if that would ever happen, even if I did come back.

I watched with interest as he set the trap. "That's awesome... I'm not as great at the technical and survival stuff as I am with the weapons themselves," I explained. I'd never been particularly intelligent and I guessed that that played a part. "The most I can do is tie a rope between two trees and hope someone trips over," I smiled.

[blaise-taylor-blog]

Bullseye! | Blaise + Harlequin

[harlequin-artist-blog]

Kids like this weren’t good for my anger issues so like Calico said, better to ignore people than to rise to the bait. I looked at his throwing it was nowhere near as good as mine and for once I was glad I threw darts as a hobby. I narrowed my eyes at him and scrutinised him as much as possible before turning away and throwing more.

"Well I you’ve gotten that wrong" little shit.

[blaise-taylor-blog]

I was surprised when he didn't immediately try to rip my head off. I was glad, of course, but surprised. I collected my darts and returned to the position.

"Of course, what am I talking about! We're getting along famously." I threw another dart, thrilled that this one landed close to the heart. "You make such a good first impression..." I said quietly, under my breath.

[gmcarden-blog]

Bromance || GM Carden & Blaise

Time to come out of hiding. 

"Catya and Bellum can you please grab Blaise Taylor and escort him to my office. We need to have a bit of a chat." I walk away before they could answer.

Back in my office I start fiddling with my tablet. There is a party planned after the Private Training. I’ll have to give it the signature Stone twist so these tributes don’t feel like we are rewarding them.

[blaise-taylor-blog]

I didn't have time to turn and look when I felt two pairs of hands wrap around my arms and shoulders, but I didn't need to. I knew someone would have seen my accidental-on-purpose shot at Finn, and of course it was going to be Carden. I didn't put up a struggle as they directed me out of the training room and down a corridor, arriving at a door.

They forced me in, and finally let go. I rubbed my arm from where they had gripped so tightly, and waited to be spoken to. I wasn't going to lose this game again.