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Post by Lite on Mar 2, 2013 8:03:44 GMT -5
Felix Grayling
Felix took a hold of Coral’s hand with one of his, and then cupped his other over it. He held her gently, as though he didn’t wish to hurt her. Felix listened to Ember as she spoke to him, listened to Jan, and their words meant a lot to him. They meant almost as much as the tears Lily were silently crying for Coral. Felix exhaled slowly.
“I wish I knew.” He said quietly, not trusting himself to speak clearly should he have done so any louder.
The bells chiming as a parachute descended down from the sky made Felix pull himself back into reality. He placed Coral’s hand on her stomach, and then placed the other gently on top. He closed her eyelids, “Goodbye, my dear friend,” Felix pressed his lips gently on the tribute from district four’s forehead, lingering for a moment as he fought back the tears that threatened to return, “We’ll see each other soon.”
He took a hold of the parachute, finally, and opened the capsule. Felix took a hold of the audio recorder and he hesitated. It was as though listening to the message sent to him by one of the mentors would just make everything a little more real. But Felix had to hear it.
The boy from district seven wrapped his arm around his district partner, pulling her into him as he called the others over. He played the message.
Rory’s voice was a welcome reminder of home. Felix listened to her message, listened to her praise of him and Sassinak, of her glee that any of the nine remaining tributes would make good mentors. Felix’s eyes brimmed with tears as the message came to a close. He held the recorder to his chest, “Thank you.” He whispered, and he placed the recorder in the pocket of his blood stained jacket.
He took out the instructions that had come with the recording device, “We need to send her body out to the water in a longship... So that she can...” Felix choked back a sob, “I’m sorry.” He said. Felix held the instructions away from him, “I-I can’t. This machine reads me the letters but... It feels wrong. I, I can’t. I don’t want her to be gone. I don’t want her to go back to the water, I want her to be back here. Back with us.” Felix let out a shaky breath.
“P-Please. Anyone else, please.” He would pass the note to whoever wanted to read it.
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 5, 2013 11:11:46 GMT -5
As the audio message from the Victor of last year's Games played, Lily could help a small smile creeping onto her face as Rory's sentiment was conveyed to the group. Though not of District 7, the words of the Mentor still meant a lot to Lily by the time Rory had finished speaking.
A long moment of silence passed before Lily stepped forward, gently taking the note from Felix's shaky hand, her fingers resting on his for a brief moment to convey her empathy and understanding.
Lily took a few seconds to read down the instructions so she could summarize the gist of it for the others.
"Looks like first we're going to need some kind of makeshift boat or a raft..."
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QuinnTalon
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Post by QuinnTalon on Mar 5, 2013 11:27:13 GMT -5
Jan Colton; District 9's Volunteer: The Boy Who Would Watch the World Burn[/u][/i][/color]
Rory's voice over the speaker wasn't unexpected. If any of the Mentors would come through, it would be here. For all he knew, Lyme may have been trying, and knowing her she'd have been much mroe subtle. They seemed to just...get each other that way. He gave a hint, she gave one back, and through it all they communicated in their own language.
Apparently, those from District 7 were a bit more straight forward.
The statement about 'a wise boy from District 9' had tears welling in his own eyes though. Jace had been wise. He'd known and seen more than anyone would ever know.
You can never go home again....
He'd known, from the beginning, that even if he'd won the Games last year, that he wouldn't ever be able to go home again. He'd sleep in the same bed, eat at the same table, and work in the same fields, but he'd never be the same person he'd once been.
Jace Colton would never be able to truly go home again. And neither would Jan...
...But for very different reasons.
And in knowing that, there was freedom. In knowing that he'd truly lived. Jace had asked him to live a life for the both of them, and Jan had done it. Regardless of how short that life had been, they'd had a life.
One that Jan--with everything he'd manage to accomplish and set in motion here in the Arena--could be proud of, and he only hoped that his brother was proud of it too.
Jan moved to Coral. Felix was in no condition to lift her up, so he did. Picked her up as if she were merely sleeping....
"We do it. We give her the best we can. Then we drink a Parting Glass to her--to everyone we've lost here--, and we have our day of rest."
His eyes met Ember's, and he took a breath. His one regret in this was... ...It wasn't a regret. It was a sorrow. It was a love like his father had with his mother. Like Jace had always dreamed of. That spark of instant connection. That love that could last lifetime after lifetime...
They never got to have it. It never got to came to true fruition in this life. They would die, and The One Willing they would die on each other's blades. IT was how he wanted it to happen.
Her tears were answered with his own, and he nodded.
He understood.
The last thing I want to see, if I have to die, is you..you loving me.
He'd tell her that. He'd tell her that in a moment alone.
"Someone find Izzy and Boom-Boom. We need to fix up Izzy and Cotton, and then we have a funeral.
"I swear to The One, Felix....Sass...District 4. We'll do it right."
A look to Lily. "Can we use the stretcher? Boomer's good with building things. Let's see what he can rig up."
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CuteLikeMurder
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Mar 6, 2013 13:36:38 GMT -5
Ember Clay: District Twelve Female Tribute, “The Girl Who Loved to Play with Fire” They’d feast today. Heal each other. Talk about home. Become friends. And rest. Then tomorrow… Tomorrow they’d slaughter each other. But not for the Capitol. Not for the Hunger Games. But for the unlucky one among them that won this whole accursed spectacle. Because one of them deserved to go home. Ember packed up Brass’ food and set aside his armor for Cotton or Isolde. Though, even she had to admit that Cotton would probably fit the armor better than Izzy. The nets and the makings for traps went into her pack. The cooking gear was placed by the food. And Coral’s gear was placed in a pile near Brass’. She wanted to go hunting again. But that would have to wait. They still had Coral to bury. When Felix spoke her head dipped up. She listened to the mentor’s message from district seven and wondered what her own mentor thought of the whole idea. She could see the Old Man now, making that face of his. He probably thought she was crazy. But maybe crazy enough to survive. She glanced at Jan. Survive, perhaps but at what cost? She wiped away the tears away from her face and smirked. Mine…It was a good thought. Ember read over the instructions. “Looks like we need to give her three things before she’s ready to meet the One. A boat to carry her to the otherside, coins on the eyes to pay the ferryman, and food for the journey. We put her on the boat send her onto the water then we set fire to the boat, saying a prayer to her family and to her district.
“Lil’ Bit has the right thought. First we need a boat. Boomer could do it probably, right… I’ll go get him. And help Lace find Cot. We can heal them both… Then anyone else that got hurt.” None
Armor: Clothes: Weapons: Gear: Hit Points: 19/ 21Willpower:0/ 6
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Post by Lite on Mar 6, 2013 14:08:57 GMT -5
Felix Grayling“Marc Grayling was...” Felix hated being in front of all these people, speaking about his brother, as if he was gone. Felix didn’t feel like he was gone; Marc would always be there. Always. He’d always wake up to Marc’s big eyes, grinning with excitement because Sundays were the day that he got to go into the forest. Felix cleared his throat. He had to do this, because no one in his family could.
His father’s favourite has always been Marc. Ilex Grayling was a cold man, he was difficult to read. But he cared, sometimes too much, about the wellbeing of his family. His youngest son had always been the one to shine light on the darkest situations. Felix had been too sombre in his youth, Alder as well. Birch was too carefree. Marc was always realistic.
Marisse Grayling was beside herself. Her friends were comforting her as she wept as silently as she could. Birch clung to his mother’s arm, unsure of what exactly was going on. Alder was there, but his vacant expression and glazed over eyes told Felix that he wasn’t quite present.
“Marc Grayling was a boy beyond his years. He understood things, problems, that no eight year old should have understood. Rather than fearing it, Marc welcomed death with open arms.” Felix’s fist clenched, “He had a life ahead of him. A good life, with a family who loved him. And it was taken from him...”
“By the Capitol!” Alder was standing, shouting. The people of district seven gasped, the Peacekeepers already tensing, “Marc Grayling had no life ahead of him. He had the life of every child who wasn’t blessed enough to be born in the Capitol. He would have been placed in the bowl, just like the rest of us.” Alder, though young, had a strong voice, a strong posture. He breathed in, as if soaking in the rage of the district. Felix stepped forward, trying to take a hold of his brother.
“We all know it’s true!” Alder shouted. People started muttering things, considering what the young boy was saying. The Peacekeepers made their way to the front. “Marc escaped this. He was lucky to get away from the b*******s!” More gasps. “My brother was one of the lucky ones. And he knew that, that’s why he wasn’t afraid!”
The Peacekeepers made a move, but it was Ilex Grayling who stepped forward. He stood between Alder and the Peacekeepers, “Alder has been very troubled since the death of his brother. I assure you, he is not usually like this, and he will be punished.” Ilex took a hold of Alder by the arm, and he pulled him away. Alder and his father had a very long discussion, away from everyone else. No one knew what they spoke about exactly.
“I...” Felix didn’t know what to say anymore. His mother had stopped crying, Birch finally understood. And the Grayling family all knew that Alder was right. “The Capitol...” Felix breathed, “Coral...” He found himself clawing at the ground beside him. How long had he been doing that? He didn’t know. His memories had become so vivid since entering the Arena. He could barely tell the present from the past anymore. He stood slowly, using his crutches to stand. “Don’t drop her.” Felix said to Jan. “Someone take Kingston’s... Kingston deserves the send off too. He was innocent. More than even myself.” Felix took a sharp intake of breath. “I killed Savannah.” Felix breathed, “We killed Savannah.” Felix shook his head, “They killed her. The Capitol.” Felix breathed. What he was saying, thinking, he knew it was a punishable offense. But they had taken so much from him; Marc, Coral... Himself. “I can help Boomer with the raft.” Felix said finally. He had composed himself, he felt more himself. “After I tend to Cotton and Isolde.” Felix nodded.
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QuinnTalon
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Post by QuinnTalon on Mar 7, 2013 21:07:52 GMT -5
[Did a bit of a time-skip so we could get to the 'day of rest' portion of things. Feel free to move your character around, react to the funeral, move the funeral along...that sort of thing.] Jan Colton; District 9's Volunteer: The Boy Who Would Watch the World Burn[/u][/color] They didn't have coins. It wasn't something most of them had probably ever seen many of. Coins weren't things that poor kids from poor Districts had many of. Most of the little presents Jace had gotten for...everyone were done on trade. A little work for the butcher would win him a bit of meat. A bit of lifting for the baker would get a small cake for someone's Name Day... But coins? They weren't things Jan had many of. Not enough to bring into the Arena, at any rate... "It doesn't matter what it is that you have, Janus. Just that you offer it all." Ma said that. If anyone knew things like that, it would be Ma. "We don't have coins." Jan swallowed, and then looked down at his bracelet. His District Token. It wasn't much. A handmade bracelet with pretty stones that Sammy had made for him. That Sammy had put on his wrist himself the night before Jan entered the Arena. It was all he had. His hand moved to unfasten it. To untie the knot. It was all he had. He hoped it was enough, and as Felix and Boomer worked on making a raft, he wrapped Coral's hand around it. The One, he was sure, would understand. None of them had coins, in the Arena. He hoped it would be enough... We walk a while we sit and rest we lay it on the altar I won't pretend to know what's next but what I have I've offered[/i][/blockquote] "You both deserved better." He whispered it, and his eyes watered a little, looking from Coral to what was left of Kingston, and he looked for Ember. Ember, who was seeing to Izzy after Felix had seen to both she and Cotton. Tracker Jacker venom was hard to get over, but thankfully it was just one sting. "Say hello to my brother for me."
It was enough. And from the look of Felix and Boomer? It was time. ---- They pushed the raft into the river, and Jan put his two apples and Coral's food from her pack on it. They didn't have coins, and someone would need to make a fire to light the brush on the raft with, but they'd done the best they could with what little they had. Jan just hoped it was enough. He stood with Ember, their fingers threaded together. Neither of them would have that. She didn't want the Capitol to have her, and he was beginning to hope that the Capitol would never have him. If they did, he'd be alive and kicking and rebelling in his own way. He hoped... ...Hope was expensive in the Arena, but he figured he could afford a little. They sang a lot in District 9. He wasn't sure how to pray without singing, and he couldn't think of anything really appropriate. He didn't know them well, so he'd leave the actual prayer to Felix. He at least knew Coral well enough to offer some sort of condolence to her family. To her District. Jan's voice wasn't noteworthy, the way Jace's was. No one would remember it as anything other than plain and ordinary, even if he could carry a tune well. He just wished for a flask to pass around, if only to have a Parting Glass. It felt odd, not to drink to the two of them. It felt...wrong. Of all the comrades that e'er I had, They are sorry for my going away, And all the sweethearts that e'er I had, They would wish me one more day to stay, But since it falls unto my lot, That I should rise and you should not, I'll gently rise and I'll softly call, Good night and joy be with you all. Someone shot off the arrow to ignite the floating pyre, and Jan had to admit one thing. If nothing else? District 4 had style. "Alright." He took a breath, looking to Ember. To the others. "Time for our Day of Rest."
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CuteLikeMurder
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Mar 8, 2013 10:26:02 GMT -5
Ember Clay: District Twelve Female Tribute, “The Girl Who Loved to Play with Fire” Ember watched Jan as he undid his bracelet. “Are you sure?” she asked Jan but she already knew the answer. Because she would have been sure. Well, maybe not sure but once she made up her mind about something sure or unsure, she was seeing it to the very end. Ember paid her respects to the fallen. She closed Coral’s eyes and made her that Kingston was next to her. “Tell my sister that you are friends of mine. She’ll take care of you both.”------- Her head was resting on Jan’s shoulder. She could feel the breeze roll over her damp legs and it made her shiver. Ember knew that she wouldn’t have such a service. No one back home would mourn her loss. Not her mother, not her father. None of them would care. She had to come to the Arena to find family. To find Jan. “Go back to the scared waters. Back to where your people from the beginning dwell. I bid you take their place among them. In the halls of the One Where the brave may live forever…” Off of anyone’s look she added. “It was a prayer from the funeral instructions.”Ember asked Sassinak to light the arrow and shoot the boat. Felix had been tending to Isolde and Cotton. And she couldn’t shoot a bow so well anymore. Ember watched the fire consume the boat until it dipped beneath the water. She sighed. “Good… I could use a nap…” None
Armor: Clothes: Weapons: Gear: Hit Points: 19/ 21Willpower:0/ 6
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Post by Seryna on Mar 9, 2013 15:11:13 GMT -5
Sassinak lowered her bow and watched the flames lick the raft, consuming Coral's body and vaulting her to some sort of Afterlife. The girl stared for awhile and finally sighed. It wasn't a happy sigh, a contented one.. but she finally released some of the tension and grief that she had been carrying. Her bow was slung over one shoulder and she took Felix's hand in her own. She squeezes his hand hard, clutching it tightly.
Lacey returns, gripping Cotton tightly by the shoulder. His eyes were still glassy and had a faraway look to him, but he wasn't muttering about insects any more. Watching the flaming raft float down river; Lacey stared after it. She steps up beside Sassinak and Felix.
"She was a suspicious girl." Lacey stated. "It was because she cared about you two so much. I could see how much she valued your friendship. I was honored to see it." Lacey pauses and reaches out, snagging Cotton as he waded into the river. Cotton stood ankle deep on the muddy banks, reaching after Coral's raft.
"Pretty." He lamented regretfully. "Going back to the sea?" "Yes." Lacey decided. "Back to where shes from."
The two stay beside Felix and Sassinak as the boat is consumed and fades away.
Two hours later, Boomer had been found at the camp. He had washed Isolde's wound and she now lay quietly on a mat, staring at the sky. She was uncommunicative for some time, but didn't look to be a harm to herself any longer. Lacey and Cotton had joined the camp and settled six feet from where Boomer watched over Isolde. Boomer stood and walked through the jungle, location Lily.
"Are you alright?" He worried. "I was worried about you."
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Post by Lite on Mar 9, 2013 16:11:03 GMT -5
Felix Grayling
Jan and Ember made the ceremony beautiful, and it made Felix cry again. Once he had finished doing all he could on Isolde and Cotton, Felix turned to the raft drifting away into the river. If he could have had his sight back for one small moment, it would have been to watch that. Because he knew that it was the most majestic thing that they would see.
He held Sassinak’s hand equally as tightly as silent tears rolled down his face.
Felix nodded at Lacey.
“To Coral’s family, the Cliff family, if you’re listening, watching...” Felix spoke clearly, loudly so whatever speakers picking things up would catch his words, “Your daughter was the bravest young woman I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet, and she risked everything for us. Not only does she bring great honour on your family, but on the entirety of District Four.” Felix exhaled a deep breath, “She deserved better than she received, but I hope you saw, I hope you can still see, how very much we loved her. I will never forget Coral Cliff, and I know that when the time comes that I should go to the afterlife, she will be standing at the gates to welcome me with open arms.” He placed his free hand over his heart, “It’s not goodbye, it’s just... See you soon.”
Felix stood still for a while.
“I want to stay until the raft, until they’re gone. Completely gone.” Felix said. He didn’t want the Capitol to touch them. Not even their ash.
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Post by Seryna on Mar 9, 2013 16:50:42 GMT -5
Sassinak nodded as Felix spoke, some of his word choices drawing fresh tears from her eyes.
"That was beautiful." She whispered to her partner. "Her last thoughts were of our well being. I know that I'm comforted by your words. I want to stay with you, if thats okay. "
The two stand side by side, watching as the boat slips away, consumed by fire and swamped by water. Even the hovership respectfully keeps its distance.
More loudly so that the allies gathered near could hear, Sassinak spoke. "Thank you for sending Coral off with us. She may not have been your closest ally." A glance under tear lined lashes towards Jan. "But she was true and loyal. Thank you for honoring her. Thank you for grieving for her with us."
Sassinak's voice catches and she squeezes Felix's hand for a moment. She is quiet for a moment, wiping tears aside and composing herself.
"Its... good to see you again." A small smile towards Jan and Ember, Lily and the newly approaching Boomer. Sassinak frowns for a moment.
"Where is Isolde? Is she all right?"
"She's over here." Lacey sits six feet from Isolde, glancing over as to remember that the girl from nine was starting to drift off to sleep.
"Hm." Lacey had the district 8 packs and the gear that she had gathered by her knees. She is setting a few items to the side, mentioning quietly.
"We brought some gear from the Feast for you, Felix. I know that Coral did, too. Come and sit down, please." She says gently. "Have some food."
Lacey picks up one of the pots that Cotton grabbed, dishing some stew into bowls.
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 9, 2013 17:10:14 GMT -5
Lily was silent during the whole funeral proceedings, watching the solemn affair with tearless eyes, quiet and respectful.
Coral deserved that Victor's spot more than she did. So much more. The girl from Four had gone home now, but not in the way she should have done.
It wasn't until two hours later a while away from the camp and the others that Lily's silence broke. As her district partner Boomer approached her she buried her face in his shoulder, tears of misery streaming down her face as she cried for Coral, and for all of them who also wouldn't be going home.
Life was cruel. The Games were crueler still.
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CuteLikeMurder
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Mar 9, 2013 17:52:27 GMT -5
Ember Clay: District Twelve Female Tribute, “The Girl Who Loved to Play with Fire” Ember nodded to Felix. “Take as much time has you need.” They walked in silence back to camp. Two hours of quiet. She studied her surroundings, listened to the nature around her like she had been taught to do by her sister. It almost felt like home. Only it didn't smell the same. And it was too warm. Come to think of it... it was nothing like home. But had to admit, she liked the quiet. A part of her looked forward to it. A part of her wanted a way to have Jan and a future. Ember was confused. So very confused. She watched Lily and Boomer embrace and her composure falters a bit. For a moment she imagines Lily's dead body at her feet and Boomer dead by her blade. Ember closed her eyes shaking the thought free. Whatever happened tomorrow, she'd never let the Capitol sully what she had created here. Ember put her good hand on Lily's shoulder. “See there is a heart somewhere deep down... That's not a weakness, little bit. That's a strength.” She glanced over to Isolde's sleeping form and breathed a sigh of relief. At least she was okay. Good. She went to Lacey and offered an apple from Brass' pack. “They got apples like this in District 8?” None
Armor: Clothes: Weapons: Gear: Hit Points: 19/ 21Willpower:0/ 6
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QuinnTalon
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Post by QuinnTalon on Mar 9, 2013 18:03:43 GMT -5
Jan Colton; District 9's Volunteer: The Boy Who Would Watch the World Burn[/u][/color]
I understand now, Jace. I really do.
He squeezed Lily's shoulder. He would have to stand and fight tomorrow, and maybe kill these people. All of these people who had become his family-of-the-Arena. It was pretty likely that he would die on the end of one of their blades....
He looked in his own pack. No food, but enough medical supplies to fix himself up. To fix Izzy up. They would all die tomorrow--some literally, one figuratively--but they could at the very least look and be at their best while they did it.
He took a seat next to where Izzy lay, taking an orange out of his pack. He had a bunch of fruit, and he'd given the apples to Coral. But he still had oranges. Bananas. Tins of cookies. A pot of lamb stew...
"Why don't we all sit together? Little Bit? Wanna learn how to peel an orange?"
He thought they were good, the first time he'd had one at that Feast the Capitol had given them. They were by far his favorite thing to eat right now, and he was willing to share. "These are really great. Juicy and sweet. I have two. We could split them in pieces and share... "
He swallowed. His wrist felt bare, but it wasn't a sacrifice unless you lost something, and he'd done it so that Coral could pay the ferryman.
"We could tell stories. Of home. Someone make a fire? Not like there's anyone else out there to see it and hunt us down...."
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Post by Seryna on Mar 9, 2013 18:17:49 GMT -5
Cotton has accepted Lacey's advice to eat, accepting a hot bowl of lamb stew with plums.
"We don't see many apples." Lacey admits, accepting the apple. She cuts it in half and hands one to Cotton. Cotton enjoys the apple immensely, crunching it noisily.
"My family mostly traded for plums. There are some in this stew. It is my favorite."
Lacey hands Ember and Jan a hot, steaming bowl of lamb stew. The girl from eight moves to Felix and Sassinak, pressing bowls of stew into thier hands.
"Come and sit." She encourages gently, trying to lead them back to where she sits with Cotton.
Lacey glances over towards Lily and Boomer, setting out two more bowls before her.
Boomer strokes Lily's hair gently, quietly letting her grieve. He remembers his own pain and guilt over Bailey's death. This death happened without fault of any one here, in his eyes. This was simply a tragedy, and he tells Lily this quietly.
Sassinak holds Felix's hand until Lacey forces food onto her.
"Do you want to sit with our friends?" She asks him. Jan speaks of a fire and Sassinak states quietly. "I can make a fire."
The girl goes to the center of the camp, six feet from where Isolde, Lacey and Cotton sit. The girl from district seven gets a fire started in record time.
The sun above dips low over the tree line. Twilight is coming.
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CuteLikeMurder
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Mar 10, 2013 0:36:14 GMT -5
Ember Clay: District Twelve Female Tribute, “The Girl Who Loved to Play with Fire” Ember had cozied up to Jan, taking off her “knife terminal” and flexed a hand that was no longer there. It was the strangest thing. It still hurt. She could still feel it. She wanted desperately to be whole; to look down and see two hands. Sometimes she almost let herself believe that this was all a nightmare that she’d soon awaken from. But then Ember told herself she was being silly. With her good hand she took Jan’s arm and draped it over her shoulders, leaning into him. If someone would have told her she would have fallen for someone in the Games she would have told them to lay off the morphling. Not only was he a fellow tribute but he was two years her junior. Stranger things had happened. Yea… like a tiny little girl from District Seven starting a revolution.Ember was almost sad she’d miss the fun. Aurora’s Rebellion was going to be a good one. She was sure of it. “Thank you, Lacey. Despite everything that’s happened, you’ve been upright and honest,” Ember said, excepting the bowl of stew. “Thank you. And I swear on my sister’s grave you until tomorrow at noon, you’ve got nothing to worry about on my end.”She looked at Cotton and chuckled. “You what you said about Coral... That's how Cotton is with you... Suspicious because he cares about you. I can see that. It's kinda how I feel about Charming... 'cept there's more to it with us... Ain't me and Charming's first go around.” She turned to Jan and kissed him on the cheek. “Won't be our last.”Ember smiled when Sassinak speaks. “Sass, a fire would be amazing. I’ll tell everyone a story about home.”Ember sat up a bit but never broke away from Jan. “District 12… I was born in Seam. The Clays have been in District 12 since before the Dark Days… Or so my pop-pop always told me.
“I remember one day, before my dad got hurt… before…”Ember took a breath and smiled, weakly her eyes welling with tears. She may have hated her mother but Ember Clay had always been a Daddy’s Girl. “Before things got bad for us… My dad took us hunting. Showed me how to draw a bow. I remember standing there in cold because he said that if you can draw a bow in winter when your teeth are chatting so loud you can’t think straight then you can do it easy during the spring when the deer come back…
“We were out there for hours… I cut up my hands pretty bad trying to shot the damn bow.
“When we were about to pack up and head home I asked for one more shot. I was like 7… maybe younger. And I stood in the snow notching arrow and I pulled that back as hard as I could. And sure enough I got the damn string all the way back. I almost turned to show my dad and tripped on a rock.
“Somehow I got off a shot and hit a rabbit dead on. I should have been angry. I was cold, covered in snow. But I had bagged a rabbit. And when I looked up at my dad I could see how proud he was… We both knew I’d never be an archer but I was his little girl and he was proud of me… That’s all that seemed to matter at the time.” None
Armor: Clothes: Weapons: Gear: Hit Points: 19/ 21Willpower:0/ 6
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Post by Lite on Mar 10, 2013 2:41:17 GMT -5
Felix Grayling
Felix was glad that Sassinak stayed with him, holding his hand. It made him feel like he wasn’t so alone. Losing Coral had made him lose much of his hope; she had all but carried the Sevens through the Games. Felix wondered if District Four blamed them for Coral’s death; had she allied with Brass and the Careers would her fate have been different? Felix knew Coral didn’t have it in her to be like Brass, or Glory, or Victoria, or Eclypse. Coral had been a good person, a kind hearted and a spirited individual. And it broke Felix’s heart a little more each time he reminded himself that she was gone.
For the first time, Felix pulled out his district token from the inside pocket of his outfit. The soft fabric, just a small square, with branches and leaves embroidered around the outline made Felix feel like he was at home again. He remembered finding it after Marc’s funeral, under his own pillow. Marc had left it to him, his most prized and expensive possession. Felix rubbed his thumb over the two letters, M and G. He traced them a few times, and he could see them in his head.
When they make their way to the camp, Felix knew it was horrible, but he wished that Coral were there in place of one of the others. He wished that he hadn’t just said goodbye to one of the most important people in his life. He shook the feeling off, the cruel thoughts, and he let out a small sigh before turning to Cotton and Lacey.
He placed the square of fabric back in his pocket when Lacey came all but forced them to eat. “Thank you.” He said, his voice flat and emotionless. He sits down close to the fire and listened to Ember’s story. He smiled ever so slightly, the curve on his lips feeling foreign. Felix held one of his crutches across his lap, toying with it. He had to do something with his hands, because he knew he was shaking. It wasn’t because he was cold. He was shaking terribly whenever he was too still, because he was holding back tears. He had broken down already in the Games, shown the Capitol that they’d won. He couldn’t give them the satisfaction again. There was no way he would let them keep on winning.
“Your father is probably proud of you now, Ember,” Felix said when she finished her tale, “Our parents, our districts. They’re proud of us.” Felix said slowly.
“I was never a good student...” Felix admitted, “When it came to studies, like history and all that stuff, I was never interested enough to even try. I was told that I would be of no use that way. But I loved when they let me make things. The workers brought blocks of wood to the school and they let some of us carve things for our parents. It was really, really fun. And in District Seven, before we... You know, take down a tree, we apologise for having to take its life. And I knew that, when I was holding that block of wood, I was holding something that had once been alive.
“Well I wanted to give it life again. I worked all day on that one small block of wood. I wanted to give my mother something that she could cherish, something we could never have; a dog. I worked so hard and it ended out looking...” Felix laughed lightly, “I don’t know why I thought it was a dog. But I was so proud of myself that I ran all the way home, threw the door open and shouted for my mother to stop cooking because I had a present for her.
“When I handed it to her she started to cry. It was then that I saw it had been horrifying, it looked...” Felix shuddered, laughing again, “But when I turned to throw it away, she shook her head and snatched it from my hand. She told me that it was a beautiful gesture, and that she loved it. She placed it in her favourite part of the house; a corner with a table that held a few portraits of us children. I had to see that damn dog every day and every time I loved it a little more...
“What I would do to see that dog again, she my mother’s fond smile every time she walks past it...” Felix realised that a tear was rolling down his face, “I got a lot better at making things, but nothing has ever meant more than the dog.”
Felix wiped away his tears with the back of his hand, his blind eyes seeing his mother’s face smiling at him.
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QuinnTalon
Staff Member
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For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.
Posts: 1,351
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Post by QuinnTalon on Mar 10, 2013 9:14:20 GMT -5
Jan Colton; District 9's Volunteer: The Boy Who Would Watch the World Burn[/u][/i][/color] A man didn't dishonor a person who broke bread with him. It was why when Lacey handed him that bowl of lamb stew, he nodded to her, offering her one of the bananas...someone had sent him. It was a peace offering, and it might not be much, but the symbol of it was what mattered. At least, he could only assume. "They're good. I always liked fruit. Couldn't get much of it where we were--it was always sent to the Capitol. Jace always managed to find it somehow..." He trailed off, swallowing. He'd tried very hard not to really talk about him. He wanted to be a Tribute on his own. A Volunteer on his own. Not just 'Jace Colton's Brother'. Call it his pride, but he wanted to be known for being himself. That...and he was nothing like Jace. Nothing. Ember was leaning against him, and it was one of those things that some part of him knew he'd never taken for granted. All the girls in District 9 he'd been with...they were just...to pass the time. Until he got here. Until he met her. It would sound a little cold to anyone else, but this? This was like what his Pa and Ma had. "The moment I saw your Ma, I knew she was meant for me. I had eyes for no other girl..." [/color][/blockquote] That was how he felt right now. Like he'd never have eyes for anyone else. It was why he knew that if he won this thing, there would be no life in a house on the farm with a passel of kids and a woman who loved him. His life would be...something else. He was living right here, and right now, and for as long as he had her, he was going to love her. When she kissed his cheek and said that 'this isn't our first go round', he smiled, kissing the side of her head. It wasn't. It wasn't their first, and it wouldn't be their last. Ember told her story about her Pa, and he knew he had similar things about his own. Pa loved all his children. Taught them all how to farm. How to live. How to love... Live and love with everything that you are, Janus. You never know what tomorrow will bring. The only one of them who really took their father's advice to heart was Jace. He'd never known anyone like him and never would. Never knew anyone who loved so fiercely and so completely. Never knew anyone who lived their life with such a simple grace and elegance. It reminded him of Ma. How she could live and love, even when they had next to nothing. Even when they took her 'Sunshine', she couldn't hate those people who lived in the Capitol. It wasn't in her. He wished he had that much grace. Felix's story about the carved dog...it was beautiful. "It's because she loves you. Because she loves what it represented. That you thought of her, and that you loved her. It was...it was how we always felt when my brother and sister sang together. They did it because they loved us."He supposed it was his turn, and he threaded his fingers through Ember's hand and swallowed. There were so many stories that it was hard to choose just one. He had a big family. A lot of good memories. Jan searched for one. Something happy. Everything kept coming back to one instance. One perfect moment. Before the Games had torn them all apart. "Everyone who's been to District 9 will tell you that our Harvest Festivals are things of legend. The whole district comes together to celebrate. They'll also tell you that in some way, we're all at the very least distantly related. Everyone has a big family, so when you meet someone for the first time, you try to figure out how far you are apart. Where you share a common thread...it's sometimes funny, because it can take hours.
"...Anyway. The Harvest Festivals. We sing a lot, in District 9. We sing, we dance...we're happy, for the most part. Don't get me wrong: We don't have much, but what we have we share. What we have...we offer.
"So...Jace spent a lot of that year sick. He spent a lot of his childhood sick. It's why he was smaller than me. Just...didn't get enough to eat. Couldn't keep it down. That sort of thing. Pa always said that being sick..it let him think. It's why he was so different from anyone you'd ever meet. He savored life, because he'd almost lost it so many times when he was little.
"And he'd spent a lot of that year unable to sing. In fact, he'd just gotten almost completely better by Harvest. We hadn't heard him in the fields for two weeks, and everyone wanted him to sing....
"He never sounded so good. They let him sit down on the stage, and the banjo and the guitar and the drums...he never sounded so good as he did that night. Pa and Ma danced. Max and I danced...it was probably the happiest night of our lives.
"We kept him up. District 9--our little piece of it--kept him up singing most of the night, and by the morning he was sick again. Could barely talk, his voice was so scratchy, and I was pretty angry about it. Angry at myself, because I knew he wasn't feeling his best, but he'd done it anyway. Had sung and sung and sung...
"...He was laying there in bed, and I was glaring and standing in the doorway, and Ma passed in front of the bed, and he just...smiled at me. I couldn't help it. I had to smile back.
"He knew I was mad, so he tried to sit up and Ma started to scold him, but he wanted to sit up, and he said--I'll never forget it---he said, "It was worth it.""
Jan had tears in his eyes as he remembered it. It wasn't much, but it was one of those memories that defined him. He learned a lesson that day. To never, ever take anything for granted. To see the good in every bad thing that happened... ...If Jace hadn't died last year, he wouldn't be here, and he would never have met Ember. "I learned something that day. That no matter what badness happens, good can come of it. My brother was happy. He was laying there, sick and feverish and hardly able to talk, and he was happy.
"It took me this long to figure it out. That he was happy because he'd been able to make everyone else happy. He'd been able to give people this incredible memory..." Jan wiped his eyes. "And if Jace hadn't died last year--if he hadn't come to the Arena and given his life, he'd never have touched all those people he did. And if he hadn't died...
"If he hadn't died, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't know...any of you. I'd still be...who I was. That selfish boy from District 9. I wouldn't have known you all.
"...You all were his gift to me."
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Post by Seryna on Mar 10, 2013 13:56:17 GMT -5
Lacey gives a small smile at Ember's observation. She glances over towards Cotton, who has settled against her contently. The effects of the sting are starting to work themselves out in his attention to the speaking around him. "You're right about that." Lacey observed. "Cotton and I knew each other before the Reaping. We bonded with Bailey and her friend at the training center... they weren't ready for the violence of the Games. They were so smart."
Lacey's smile is sad as she remembers her friends.
Sassinak sits beside Felix, frowning as he begins to speak. She is fearful that this is lamenting about Coral and her heart is so full of memories of Coral. As he speaks, Sassinak slowly begins to relax. She watches Ember, Felx and Jan with great interest. There is a smile at Ember catching her prey. A squeeze of Felix's hand at hearing of his talent back home. "I never knew that. I'd love to see more of your woodwork."
Its a gentle statement, but one of hope. Sassinak isn't focused on the inevitable battle. She's imagining Felix's home; wondering if its decorated with more of his woodwork that must be treasured by his family.
Isolde has barely recovered from her stings, but she has pulled herself together. Listening to the stories, she relaxes and begins to smile. She closes her eyes and speaks.
"I remember that, Jan." It was a peaceful smile from the tense archer. "It... seems so surreal, now. It was so beautiful. One of my favorite memories."
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Post by Seryna on Mar 10, 2013 17:22:50 GMT -5
The final tributes spend the night in peace. Perhaps some make preparations for the final battle, others tend to wounds or are simply relaxing. The Games has not been pleasant. The last few days have seen the tributes facing attacks from both mutt and tribute. The fire that destroyed the factory safe haven is also a reminder that the Game Makers have herded some of the tributes here for some reason. An exciting conclusion, perhaps. Yet for all of the worries that the Game Makers wouldn't stand for a night of peace, night arrives uneventfully. The Anthem plays and tells of the death of the career and friend. The anthem doesn't immediately fade from sight; the voice of a Game Maker booms down. "It has been decreed that in light of ingenuity, courage and compassion displayed in these Games, a rule change is now in place. Two victors, one male and one female, will be crowned in this Hunger Games. Happy Hunger Games!'The anthem fades with buzzes of excitement. How does your tribute feel? More hopeful that they may be going home? Curious as to the reason for the change? Morning light comes and passes. The sun rises high in the sky. If the tributes hesitate or linger; they notice a rising smoke in the neighboring arena locations. There is nowhere to run... and flames await deserters. Please do post any preparations your characters make - any traps laid, armor changes, food consumed, camouflage, first aid (and rolls) or other preparations. If its not clearly posted here in your next post, it didn't happen. I will be posting for Boomer, Isolde, Lacey, Sassinak and Cotton.
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Post by Lite on Mar 10, 2013 17:47:43 GMT -5
Felix Grayling
Two victors.
A male and a female.
“Wow.” Was all Felix said. He sighed. His eyes closed for a moment and he breathed before taking a hold of the bag that Coral had retrieved for him. He also pulled Coral’s bag towards him.
First he looked through his own bag. He immediately donned the falling buffe [+4] and looked at the vial of poison. He swallowed, hard.
It would be an easy way out, to just... Poison himself. He briefly considered it, and then he placed the vial next to him. He took out three arrows and lathered the tips. Felix took out the net and he threw it into the fire in disgust.
Brass had used nets, and it had helped him take Coral. Felix would not use such cheap tricks.
He pulled the falling buffe [+4] from Coral’s bag and handed it to Sassinak, “Coral would have given you this. I knew she would.” Coral, after hearing the announcement, would have done everything in her power to get Felix and Sassinak home.
Felix took the throwing knives and stowed them away for his own use. He now had poisoned arrows, throwing knives, and armor protecting his face and neck. Felix felt a little more comfortable.
But he’d seen the others take down Brass without barely any difficulty. Felix knew he wasn’t going home.
The game makers wouldn’t let him and Sassinak run. And he had no intention of doing so.
District Seven will be proud of him, regardless of whether he goes home or not. And he did everything he could to keep Sassinak here, alive.
Felix was ready to die.
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CuteLikeMurder
Staff Member
Gamemaker (HG Mod)
As if killing the bard impresses us.
Posts: 2,268
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Mar 10, 2013 18:41:13 GMT -5
Ember Clay: District Twelve Female Tribute, “The Girl Who Loved to Play with Fire” She hated getting pretty. She hated brushing her hair. She hated wearing a dress. She hated the whole thing. Besides, even at 12 Ember Clay understood that no matter what she did she’d never compare to her sister, Cinder.
They had gotten up early so Cinder could boil the water for their baths. She always let Ember go first so it’d be hot. But even that didn’t make the process any easier.
“Why do we have to do this?” Ember asked, pouting. Her little scarred arms were crossed in front of her chest. “Why do we care what we look like? **** the Capitol! And **** what they think!”
Cinder poured soapy water over her sister’s head and washed her hair, chuckling to herself. “Who taught you how to speak like that?”
“People?... The traders at the Hob… But why do we care?”
“It’s not for the Capitol. It’s for us. We’re a proud people. Proud people don’t run from death. We meet it head on. If we’re going to be sentence to die today, we’ll be clean, we’ll never wavier, and we’ll never show weakness. Remember what Grandma used to say?”
“If we’re going to die today let it be with blades in our hands and a curse on our lips.” Ember had woken up before the sun rose, careful not to wake Jan. She’d let him sleep. He earned it. She just wanted to make sure that she got back before he woke up. If this was their last morning together she’d make it count. The remaining district 12 tribute walked to the river and cleaned herself up. Not for the Capitol, not for the cameras. But for her people, for district 12, and because if she was going to die today, she’d die a citizen of district 12; she’d do this right. Ember dried herself out and put on her clothes and armor. He put on her knife terminal and trekked back to camp, drinking the rest of her water, after she made herself a cup of coffee. She was sitting next to Jan’s sleeping form when Felix got up and the annoucment sounded. Ember’s heart dropped. Her eyes welled with tears. This was just too awful. Not for her. If she had a choice, she’d take Jan. They’d walk out of her together. But that meant she’d leave behind, Isolde… Lily… Her heart went out to Jan… She wouldn’t make him choose. Ember bent down and kissed his temple. “Whatever happens, however this plays out. I will always love you, Janus Colton. Not a damn thing that could change that now.” None
Armor: Clothes: Weapons: Gear: Hit Points: 20/ 21Willpower:1/ 6
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Post by Seryna on Mar 10, 2013 18:54:19 GMT -5
"Thank you, Felix." Sassinak smiled as she donned the armor. "Yes, Coral was very devoted. I am so glad that she was our friend."Sassinak pulled out a container of medicine from her pack and continued the routine that she and Felix had gotten into - changing the bandages and pressing the cooling medicine onto Felix's legs and eyes. She does the same for her wounded arm, smiling a little as she remembered how Coral and Felix aided her with this. One way or another, it was ending today. There was a kind of peace there. She gave Felix a smile that conveyed her gratitude for his friendship, glad to have known him. "I'm glad that its not going to be terribly frightening. We are with our friends."No shark would devour them, there would be no dead friends stalking them. Sassinak took the medicine to combat her infection and slipped a small packet of antidote into her pocket. Sassinak looked at the medical bag that Coral had taken, taking a packet of CELOX out and slipping it into her other pocket. Isolde shared a meal of fried chicken and corn on the cob with the alliance that morning for breakfast. The girl donned her improved helmet and gave Jan's shoulder a squeeze. "Here we are. Your idea come to fruit."There was confidence in her. She was a good fighter; and she knew she wasn't harming her 'brother in law' or his beau. The rest would reveal itself. Lacey was orderly in her preparations as she helped herself to the bevor from Brass' armor and attached it around her neck. She took a Falling buffe (4 armor) from her pack and secured it on a protesting Cotton. Cotton pulls out (2) 15 gram Single use Packets CELOX from his bag. He slips one in his pocket and one into Lacey's hand. She slips it into her pocket. Boomer donned a +4 helmet from his pack. He took a long drink from his water skin and offered to refill skins with his gallon of water. He took several more drinks and studied his skin for a moment before moving away from the others. He shifts things in his pack, as though unhappy with what he finds. He shares four cans of food with the alliance. "All right..." Lacey strides over to the center of the ruined city, scythe in hand. "Lets do this." Cotton walks over, Lacey's old staff in his hand and his pockets bulging with medical supplies. He looks grim and tries not to look people in the eye. Lacey gives his hand a squeeze, favors him with a smile and a whisper. "We're together, little brother. We're either going to see our friends or we're going home. I love you. Now get that stick up." A playful wink ends whatever she said. 2013-03-11 00:45:07 Sassinak rolled 6 dice to "Medicine (Felix's eyes)" 5,4,9,1,3,2 (1 successes) Link2013-03-11 00:44:47 Sassinak rolled 6 dice to "Medicine (binding arm)" 4,10,10,2,3,3,1,5 (2 successes) Link 2013-03-11 00:44:31 Sassinak rolled 6 dice to "Medicine (cleaning Felix's legs)" 6,10,9,2,2,3,10,7 (3 successes)
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QuinnTalon
Staff Member
Gamemaker (HG MOD)
For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.
Posts: 1,351
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Post by QuinnTalon on Mar 10, 2013 19:16:58 GMT -5
Jan Colton; District 9's Volunteer: The Boy Who Would Watch the World Burn
Two Victors. One Male. One Female.
It meant... ...He looked to Ember. It was automatic. It was hope, offered like a carrot on a stick and Jan knew that it wasn't real. That it wasn't really 'hope'. It was a sentence to a life of Capitol interference.
The Game never ended for the Victors. Instead, they were forced to send their friends and family and loved ones to their deaths. To watch year after year. To fail year after year.
Because someone always died. For the most part, someone always died.
This wasn't hope. This was a sentence to a lifetime of torture.
The sentence, for him, would be knowing that his friends--his family of the Arena--were all dead and gone, and he only had one of them to console himself with.
There's a look across the little clearing to Felix. To Boomer. To Cotton.
They didn't deserve a life like that. Of being Capitol lackeys. Of being powerless. Of sending their family off to die.
He'd do his best to send them to the safest place he knew of. To the best person he could think of. They would either be alive, or they would be with his brother.
He woke up to Ember, and he smiled. Jan knew he had a nice smile. Some girls melted at his smile, and he'd found the one who hadn't. Who he could count on to probably slap him into submission when he started being conceited. When he started getting too full of himself.
"Good morning, Sunshine." She looked nice. She'd cleaned up, and he suddenly felt the grime on himself. He wasn't the sort of person to enjoy being dirty. He took a drink of his water, and started dressing himself. His armor including the new helm he'd been given in the Feast. The poison antidote is put in a pocket, two packs of Celox is put in other.
The other two are pressed into Ember's hand. "For you, My Lady." Where that came from he had no idea, but it sounded good. Sounded pretty...
Isolde squeezed his shoulder, and he gave her a grin. His plan was coming to fruition, one way or another. Whether it was for good or for ill, he knew this was what he wanted.
"Whether I like it or not. Either way, today is going to be painful."
He took a deep breath, and then kissed Ember. They would get out of here together, or they wouldn't.
"No matter what...I love you."
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Post by Seryna on Mar 10, 2013 19:43:53 GMT -5
Lacey stood for a few moments, but no one was eager to fight. "The problem when we all share stories..." Lacey grumbles with an incomplete sentence, sharing her thoughts aloud. "- is that we're all so damned likable. Except for maybe me." A flash of teeth, a grimace of distaste. This was truly repellent and it was difficult to do. Her eyes move over the assembled tributes and she chooses the only one she can truly attack and face herself in the mirror afterwards. After all, he's ruined her face for life. His is still so pretty... The scythe lashes out at Jan's feet. His instinct is to jump aside, but his legs aren't as fast as Lacey's scythe. The curved blade smacks into Jan's legs, causing him to fall onto the ground. The flat of the blade does not cut Jan. Jan is prone, no defense. Will spend the next turn rising.
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CuteLikeMurder
Staff Member
Gamemaker (HG Mod)
As if killing the bard impresses us.
Posts: 2,268
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Mar 10, 2013 19:44:45 GMT -5
Ember Clay: District Twelve Female Tribute, “The Girl Who Loved to Play with Fire” Ember blushed. And she wasn't a girl who blushed... like ever. But Jan Colton had that effect on her. Though she figured he had that effect on everyone. Just look at him... He was beautiful. “Forever and always, Charming,” she replied, sounding a little breathy. She kissed him again because hey, if she was going to die today, they were going to be doing that whenever they got a chance. “Forever and always...”None Armor: Clothes: Weapons: Gear: Hit Points: 20/ 21Willpower:1/ 6
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