Room 406

I am a normal member of society. At least I used to be. My home is a psych ward. Can I still be considered a normal member?

[emilioevers]

The Forest of Hands and Teeth | Forest: Tracking | Emilio & Kathleen

[kathleen-arel]

"That’s a very strange logic." Was I supposed to say anything else but his name? It didn’t really matter now anyways.

"I wouldn’t if you didn’t tell my that. Do you want me to?" I was in a good humor. Let him do whatever outrageous thing he has in mind.

[emilioevers]

"I'm a strange man. What else did you expect?"

Stop questioning dammit. I am trying to be smooth. But how can I be? I only learned so much from Eli and the pervy doctors at the hospital. I know enough. Plus my dad taught me stuff.

"Keep them closed please. I'm trying to be smooth and do this whole move when I turn you around and kiss you but you're making it difficult."

[emilioevers]

The Forest of Hands and Teeth | Forest: Tracking | Emilio & Kathleen

[kathleen-arel]

We’re all surprised with new stations today. They certainly give us a good insight on what the Arena will look like, not that does much difference. What it does tell me is that we should get as much training for these stations as we can. And they are outside too. Not sure if I like that.

They did a good job. This looks like a real forest. It’s actually quite pretty and calming. I’m distracted and gasp when I feel someone’s hands over my eyes, but my body relaxes as quickly as it tensed up.

"No I’m not."

[emilioevers]

She relaxed. That is a good sign. A very good sign. I just hope she can stay relaxed today.

"You didn't say Emilio so technically you are right. Will you keep your eyes closed when I remove my hands?"

Please say yes.

[eden-lily]

Think We Can Float? // Eden & Emilio

[eden-lily]

I hadn’t even thought to put a District and a Name with a Face. Thankfully he narrowed it down for me and I remembered that his name was Emilio, male tribute of Five. Kathleen’s partner. And according to Lucinda, he was a bit… off.

"I’m from Three," I said with a proud smile. "We didn’t build many rafts back home though." My laugh brought the trainer’s attention up from his task, a look of surprise stretched across his face at my happy attitude.

[emilioevers]

"A fellow nerd! It's nice to meet people with a brain." A brain that gets used anyway.

This training session should be very refreshing. Three was a nice girl.

"Are you ready to start?"

[emilioevers]

The Forest of Hands and Teeth | Forest: Tracking | Emilio & Kathleen

There she is. Her hair is down today. I like it when her hair is down. It's how it would be in my dreams. One day she will die too and she will finally understand me. Then we'll be together. At least I hope so. But I think life is meant for Kathleen. They work better together. 

Today will be the day that I teach her.

I walked up behind her and put my hands over her eyes.

"Guess who. If you say Emilio then you are wrong."

[eden-lily]

Think We Can Float? // Eden & Emilio

[eden-lily]

I smiled at his cheerful mood, and looked back at the trainer, who was preparing all the materials we’d need in order to make a sturdy enough raft to hold the two of us. Not that I would be much weight on it, at least hopefully not. 

"Have you ever done this before?" I asked, watching the trainer out of the corner of my eye. Wood was placed before us alongside an odd sort of string and some vine-like rope. A few other objects were placed in front of us, but I couldn’t conjure up a name for them. Back in Three, most people didn’t need to know how to make rafts, only computer chips.

[emilioevers]

I nodded my head. "I'm from Five. Up in the mountains but there's some beautiful water sources. My father was the one who dabbled with the water. Him and his buds would go on these outings. Whenever he took me with him it was usually when they were having some mini competition on who could use water power to get something to work. Occasionally they would try to build a raft then deck it out with power sources. It was very....odd."

I only know basics.

"Where are you from?"

[eden-lily]

Think We Can Float? // Eden & Emilio

After training with Rena, I decided I should probably take a look at the new stations that the GMs opened up for us. They all seemed so nice, it was really difficult to choose just one. I gravitated towards the lake and decided that now was as good a time as ever to test my luck with raft building. It probably would have been a good idea to learn to swim first, but we’ll see how this goes.

Just as I was getting settled into the sand surrounding the lake, I saw a shadow of a person darken the space next to me. I turned around, and blinking against the sun, attempted to make out who it was.

"Hi, there!"

[emilioevers]

New.

Why are they changing things? They are trying to throw us off. But it has to be for a reason. Everything has a reason. I will find out and then everything will be good. But for now I want to build a raft.

I was in an unusually happy mood. So when I saw the bright face of cheerful little one I decided to just be free.

"Do you want to build a raft? Come on let's go and play."

[emilioevers]

[emilioevers]

[emilioevers]

"You should consider it. Think how nice it will be. You won’t have to worry about making the wrong move. I’ll be the teacher and you’ll be the student. Plus maybe it will give me a chance to be in your shoes. So I can see what it’s like."

I stood up with her. I refuse to let...

[emilioevers]

"I do train with other people. I just like training with you more. Now student let's go wrestle. It will get the blood pumping. What say you,Kathy?" Wait. I want to do something. "Kathy will you be mad if I do something?"

[honeyxlemshasmoved]

Sighing, a small frown plays across her lips as she picks up a sword after listening to the trainers words and instructions. The first few tries, she fails miserably as she keeps missing or always mistakes...

[emilioevers]

Swinging and Missing | Zemira + Emilio | Swords

[emilioevers]

Emilio scowls. He doesn't like the way she is addressing him. She's angry for no apparent reason and it's aggravating him. "Yes you can. How about you stop the attitude and talk like a normal person." He picked up a sword and weighed it out. Not the best way to start a meeting.

[honeyxlemshasmoved]

Sighing, a small frown plays across her lips as she picks up a sword after listening to the trainers words and instructions. The first few tries, she fails miserably as she keeps missing or always mistakes the sword as a knife. Yet it may just be an enlarged knife, the sword seems to require more...

[emilioevers]

Maybe this would be good for him. A mental patient with a sharp object in his hands. What could go wrong right? He feels like he shouldn't be doing this but what other choice is there? When he arrives at the swords station, he sees the girl angrily swinging away. "Is there something wrong?" Emilio is well aware of his death but thinks it's best to stand clear of the angry swinging. Who knows what damage a blade could do to a soul.

[emilioevers]

Highest Point - Rooftop - Emilio & Kathleen

[kathleen-arel]

"Exactly." I consider putting his hand away for a second but decide not to. I like it there. "Maybe." Being here was so nice though, but it was obvious we couldn’t stay. We could get in trouble for arriving late. "Not going to happen. I’ll train with you but you can forget about the rest." Control wasn’t something I was ready to give away. It’s one of my most prized possessions.

Of course. “I did. It’s called adrenaline.” I turned around and stood up. “What I don’t know is how your charm fits in the conversation.” 

[emilioevers]

"You should consider it. Think how nice it will be. You won't have to worry about making the wrong move. I'll be the teacher and you'll be the student. Plus maybe it will give me a chance to be in your shoes. So I can see what it's like."

I stood up with her. I refuse to let her go.

"My charm fits into every conversation. I just never bring it up. But now that we are on it, you should have lunch with me."

[shea-gallagher]

Better Days || Shea & Emilio || Fire-Making

[shea-gallagher]

When he told me what was wrong with him, my heart dropped. He was sick, mentally sick. It struck a chord with me, even if I was physically sick. “I don’t think you’re delusional,” I said, trying to make him feel better. Clearly he thought I would be the same as the others and although I knew he wasn’t dead, I didn’t want to make him upset. “I know how you feel.” He wouldn’t know what I meant and I had a feeling he would ask, but I suddenly didn’t mind sharing with him. Actually, I didn’t mind sharing with really anyone at this point. It was just something I had to accept.

A few sparks flew off but before he could light anything, he put it down. He almost seemed afraid but I didn’t blame him. “My brother was good at this. I’d never bothered askin’ him how to do it though. I don’t know why.” I said as I picked up the materials and tried the same way he did. At first nothing came off but then a few sparks did. I continued on until it finally lit. The fire was real small but it was still there.

[emilioevers]

I stared at her like she was some foreign creature. Everyone tells me I'm delusional. Even Kathleen does. My parents wrote me off the day they forced me into the ward. "You...thank you. You're the first person to ever say that to me. It feels nice to be seen as a normal person." How does she know? She has never experienced death before. "How do you know?"

She should have. The only reason I backed away was because of the sparks. Sparks are a mockery of me. But I need to try. I need to do something.

"Was it just you and your brother?"

[quinn-atwood]

Reading Is Fundamental | Emilio & Quinn | Library

[quinn-atwood]

"I think that’s the glory about books, they have books on everything, from every subject that can literally teach you anything." I nodded, I never really talked like this to my friends back home, because they never really cared for this type of stuff but I enjoyed the fun and learning aspect about books. 

I smiled, “Yeah she is pretty great. And that’s the plan Emilio, bring more honour to the Atwood name. More glory and praise - that’s the plan.” I paused thinking of what to say to keep the conversation alive, so I asked the first question that came to mind. “Has anyone from your family participated in the games?” 

[emilioevers]

"I agree! Plus they are adventures. Whenever you feel trapped or alone then just crack open a book. It will take you anywhere."

She's nice for a Career. I never expected them to be so nice. That's probably because she doesn't know that I'm dead yet.

"I know you'll do a great job, Quinn. My eldest brother. We don't talk about him. He died when I was two. My parents wound up adopting to try to fill the empty slot. That didn't work either."

I don't think about him. I never really knew him so there was no attachment.

[shea-gallagher]

Better Days || Shea & Emilio || Fire-Making

[shea-gallagher]

I immediately shook my head, starting to reach my hand out to comfort him but quickly pulled back as I remembered how he had reacted the first time I had done that. “I won’t think you’re crazy, I promise.” I wouldn’t either. I knew what it was like to have something wrong with you so I could relate, even if it was sort of in a different way.

"And if we don’t, then stop, drop, and roll." I said with a small laugh.

[emilioevers]

"I'm sick is what everyone says. Sick in the mind. I died a few years ago but they all say I'm delusional. Cotard Delusion is what they say. But I don't believe them. I know I died." I struck the flint and steel together. I needed to avoid eye contact. I don't want to see her face. They all see me as a nut case afterwards.

I saw a few sparks.

Sparks.

I set the materials down. "You should try." I admit that I was afraid for a moment.

[quinn-atwood]

Reading Is Fundamental | Emilio & Quinn | Library

[quinn-atwood]

"Likewise," I say with a smile. "Was there nothing to do in Five so you just went to reading as your pastime?" I asked then began thinking of a good answer to his own question. "Not much reading in One to be honest.. My parents have this big library in our house but I don’t sit down and read - I’m too busy training or doing other stuff. But if I have the time then I would sit down and read something that catches my eyes." 

I read the title of his book and nod my head by his book choice. I show him mine and half smile. “It’s my sister, Clove. She won before so I’m reading about it.” 

[emilioevers]

"I went to school and I did a tiny bit of work. My parents were strict about reading. They had me keep a log about it. Education was very important. Not that I minded. I liked learning and exploring."

She was very privileged. I didn't care much. We were upper middle class back home. Not a struggle in sight.

"Your sister must have been great. Are you planning on bringing glory to your family name again?" 

[emilioevers]

Highest Point - Rooftop - Emilio & Kathleen

[kathleen-arel]

A shrug and a little smile was all he was going to get by complementing me. “You’re delusional. But I don’t like telling you that over and over again. You wouldn’t have even talked to me if I did and I needed you to.” I raised an eyebrow at him. “Isn’t that a fairytale? I don’t like them.” I don’t know why I added that last comment, it was very unnecessary.

"I have no keys for you to steal now though, you don’t need to be persuasive." Still a little bitter. Yet, I laughed. "Death mojo? I’m not familiar with that."

[emilioevers]

"I would have hated you." I let go of her hand and wrapped my arm around her waist. "You're a strange girl. A strange girl who should train with me. I want to be your teacher for today. Today the goal is to get you to let it go. Let the control go for a little bit."

I can be persuasive anytime I want to.

"Death mojo is not giving a fuck about danger and other people. Did you know that death has a certain appeal? I am known to be charming."

[shea-gallagher]

Better Days || Shea & Emilio || Fire-Making

[shea-gallagher]

His comment made me freeze a little. “What do you mean by that?” I asked, wondering if Marcus had been serious when he said that Emilio thought he was dead. Or maybe he was just so sure he would die here, sort of like how I had been yesterday. Before I found my motivation.

"As long as it lights, I’ll be fine." I said with a smile, watching carefully as the trainer finished up what he was saying. Then he told us to try so I grabbed a few sticks and piled them up. "You want to do the honors of lightin’ it?"

[emilioevers]

I looked at her. She seemed stunned by my words. What if she's like the others? "You'll think I'm crazy. Everyone else does. But don't worry I'm used to it. I just wish it didn't happen as often as it did."

I picked up some flint and steel. I wanted to try this the old fashioned way instead of just using a match.

"Let's hope we stay burn free."