#ttwopen

[ashtendewitt]

As much as Ashten wanted to take up the axes, she had a feeling it was best to steer clear of them until the private training sessions. That was when her best skills would be put to the test, and she didn’t need to draw too much attention to herself just yet, especially from the competition. So she had wandered around the different stations-- navigation, first aid, camouflage. Things that didn’t seem terribly important until the Tribute was dying because they didn’t know how to stitch up a wound or blend into their surroundings. 

But she knew she needed a back up in case she didn’t get an axe in the Arena. Something that would be a good substitute. So she found herself at the hand-to-hand combat station, stretching to warm herself up before she would find a sparring partner or a free trainer. Ashten started to head toward the mat when she spotted someone approaching. “Got any tips for throwing a decent punch?”

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[dreamsbornofgrain]

Over the past few months, Aspen Fields had become good at one thing and it was smiling. As the newest star of Panem, there was people demanding her attention at every turn. Twelve Districts, twelve parties and tonight was the grandest of them all. At least the mansion looked beautiful in accents of gold, blue, and white. It brought a smile to her lips for another reason.

Maisie Fields might have been reaped, but Aspen Fields had won the Games. “Oh, hello!” She greeted the person that had come to a stop behind her. Aspen hadn’t actually made it into the party yet, there had been too many reporters and interviews to do, but she was heading there now. At least she thought that was where she was supposed to be? Her escort had rattled off her scheduled appointments and important people she needed to meet so fast.

“Please don’t tell anyone I don’t know what I am doing,” she admitted softly with an shy laugh.

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[adrianafontaine]

The fighting had started and Adriana already needed a break. Quietly, she pushed her way through the Victors who were too engrossed to noticed she hoped. She told herself she didn’t need to be there a trainer. In a few minutes she would check to make sure both Kai and Misty were okay, but she wasn’t worried. District Four had an advantage with all this water. Not only did they know water, but they knew the risks and climate that went with it.

They would be alright.

Adriana on the other hand, needed some air. She hadn’t expected it would be so different on this side of the fence. Instead she kept moving towards the door.

“Could you...?” She motioned to the person blocking her exit from the room a moment hoping they’d let her past. “Please.” She added as an afterthought. All she wanted was for them to move and not start a conversation. “I just need some air quick...”

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[harlowvale]

Harlow hated the Bloodbaths. She always did.

Joule managed to escape from the chaos, which helped relieve some of the stress that had been coiling up in her gut all morning. She knew her own concerns had stretched beyond this year, went as far back as the 70th Games. Though as a Mentor, she had to watch, even as Gee had gotten killed by the little girl from Twelve.

She had to keep reminding herself that Joule was still alive, that she still needed them to help her get out of the Arena. But the mantra was drowning out of her head with the burn of whiskey running down her throat. She had tried to stay sober through this year, though also made that promise to herself knowing eventually it would cave. She could still hear the cheers and the shouting from behind her and she intentionally kept her back to the screen. She wouldn't look unless something was said about Joule. She didn't need to see the replays of the 'upset' from District Twelve.

The brutality of the Bloodbath was what always made her sick. And though she knew it wasn’t the same way she had lost Soren, she couldn’t help but correlate Gee’s death to his. To this Bloodbath with that one. It was why she had to get up from her spot in the viewing room and walk away, try to drown out the cheers and images of Gee’s death from her mind and get rid of the pain tearing at her heart again. 

Harlow set her glass down and gently nudged it forward in a silent request for a refill. A shadow had cast over the bar top on her right and she glanced over at the person taking a seat next to her. "Couldn't handle the excitement, either?" she asked, turning her attention forward again as the Avox refilled her glass.

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[vesperantonius]

After the trainer had tapped out on the mat, Vesper had let them out of the lock she had them in. She let go of his arm and unlocked her legs from around his to keep him restrained while she had pinned him down with the rest of her body. But the guy was strong, and it took a bit for her to knock him down a few pegs. She made her way to the side of the mat, red strands of hair falling from the braid she had and sticking to her sweaty skin of her brow and neck. 

She reached for her bottle of water to have a drink, feeling an ache in her shoulder. With a small grunt, she set the bottle down and rolled her shoulder, giving a small grimace. The trainer had tried to kick her legs from under her and she attempted to rebound, but her reaction time was off and she put too much weight on that shoulder going down. “Damn,” she hissed, rubbing out the ache in her shoulder.

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[cashmerelepointe]

“What do you think you’re doing?!” Cashmere exclaimed as she felt, what she assumed was a rogue dagger, graze the side of her arm. Someone clearly didn’t know what they were doing or got distracted. Novices shouldn’t be left unsupervised or well, allowed to touch the weapons.

“Well?” She asked the person beside her. If they were a tribute she had a lecture prepared. Mentors and other team members needed to be reminded how to look after their tributes and bystanders, well they would wake her side naturally. “Accidentally killing people is supposed to wait until the games start.”

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[thaliaohayon]

A reward, that is what Thalia deserved. Her tributes had been dressed immaculately for the parade and interviews and she had given them the support that they had needed. There was always a little bit of a lull between the Bloodbath and anything else happening and she couldn’t take the constant replays for another moment. 

She entered the lobby and saw a vendor selling ice creams just inside the front doors. A few Capitolite children and left with some gorgeously decorated cones, but Thalia just wanted a plain vanilla swirl. Gladly handing over a few dollars, Thalia let out a satisfied noise and turned to see someone looking over at her. “Do you want one? I’m buying!” 

// @ttwstarters

[annieecrcsta]

if annie was made to select her least favorite part of the games, the arena would be it. she had learned to manage as best she could during the lead up - the interviews and training sessions. even when her tributes received their private training scores and were judged henceforth. but, once the arena began there were few places or people who made her feel secure - and most of them were many districts away.

and so, annie cresta had found herself a viewing room in a relatively quiet portion of the tower and locked herself away. she hadn’t told anyone where she had gone, but she couldn’t stand to stay in four’s suite and see the tribute rooms that had just been occupied and were newly vacant only to be filled again the next year. 

she was able to successfully avoid much contact for the first day and found herself sitting in the same chair, with the same pencil in her shaking hand. she didn’t have paper, she knew that attempting wouldn’t help her. the silence was accompanied by the air being quietly pushed around as annie fidgeted with her pencil and took up as little space in her chair as she could. and then it was broken by the sound of an opening door and footsteps.

annie wasn’t sure if the individual had spoken or not because by the time she was able to push her mind out of the small corner she had been sitting in for the past few hours, the footsteps had only just stopped. so, she turned slightly and did her best to smile at whoever had just walked in, not being able to fully register who it was before her soft greeting. “hello, i’m sorry, was this room needed for something?”

open // @ttwstarters