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Post by Seth Judkins on Aug 19, 2014 23:21:19 GMT -6
Seth sat propped up against the wall. He was breathing heavily and his body was quivering. The other tributes arrived and Seth found himself surrounded by unfamiliar faces. At least it wasn't the Careers. Normally Seth would've been on guard and formally addressing the group of tributes, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Seth's weapon lay on the ground beside him. The Game Makers had really got to him.
"I don't know what the other towers have done to you guys, but I can't begin to explain what I've just been through."
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Kiki
Tribute
Posts: 60
District: 8
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Post by Kiki on Aug 20, 2014 12:10:09 GMT -6
Kiki had watched the hovercrafts land and made her way towards Seth's first. She found him lying not far from where the transport had left him. He looked to be in bad shape, but still had his wits about him. She recalled he had been the leader of one of the bigger alliances, and that he was ranked as the number one tribute going into the games, but times had changed.
Hearing Seth's words, Kiki thought about her own experiences. The arena had been kind to her, only a few burn marks speckled her body. Not quite knowing how to respond, Kiki just grunted, and began to patch Seth up by wrapping thick leaves around his wounds and creating a couple of makeshift splints. None of this would improve his health, but Kiki hoped it could stabilize him in the short term.
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Post by Alistair Kingsley on Aug 20, 2014 13:10:28 GMT -6
Al stepped off his hovercraft and approached Seth with the utmost caution, putting his weapon away when Seth put his away. There really wasn't a need to establish any kind of dominance, Al didn't have it in him. Although all weapons were put away, he still didn't trust any of the new tributes and made sure to stick by his District mate. Once he was within earshot, the boy looked up with defeated eyes. He still hadn't gotten over what he had just gone through in the South Tower and he was positive the sight of Ashton bleeding out would haunt him for the rest of his numbered days in here.
"I could definitely say the same, man." He really didn't have it in him to sass anyone out. Not today, not in here.
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Post by Seth Judkins on Aug 20, 2014 15:20:37 GMT -6
At first Seth flinched when Kiki approached him and grabbed his broken legs. Was she going to further torture him? But to his surprise she quietly and gently bandaged him. It didn’t help with the pain, but he appreciated the gesture of kindness to a complete stranger… a competitor even.
“Thanks,” Seth coughed. He had taken a blunt blow to the chest and it made speaking a bit difficult. “I’ve lost my whole alliance,” Seth continued. “Three of us were killed by District 1. Ox and Arnie ignored the distress signals I sent them. And even Ayla left me for dead.”
Alistair approached cautiously but finally sheathed his weapon.
“Don’t worry Alistair, I’m not going to attack any of you. What would be the point? There’s no way we’re all going to make it past this thing. I figure my odds of survival are 50-50 at best. And even then I won’t be able to make it up the stairs with these legs.”
Kiki continued to silently wrap Seth’s knees.
“I know you’re not much of a talker Kiki, but I can tell you’re a good person. You’ve got a strong will to live and you don’t seem to be letting these Games get to your head. It may be a bit forward for me to say it, but I think we can all work together or at least coexist. I may be broken but I can still defend us with my weapons and smoke bombs until the next shuffling of tributes. What do you say?”
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Post by Alistair Kingsley on Aug 20, 2014 15:43:44 GMT -6
Al wasn't sure how much he trusted Seth but he was so emotionally frayed from his friend's death that he decided to let it go anyway. He came closer and knelt down by Seth and Kiki, catching a glimpse of his wounds. "Shit. District 1's really got their shit together. And dude, Ox and Arnie were headed to you when we left. They didn't abandon you. Trust me on this one."
Holding eye contact with both Kiki and Seth, he pointed to Jaffie. "You also don't touch her. If you do, you get to go through me first."
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Post by Jaffe Maddox on Aug 20, 2014 16:06:12 GMT -6
Jaffe blushed at Alistair's comment about protecting her. "Thanks Al, I don't think Seth will do anything," she said.
Looking over Seth she pondered for a minute before saying "Sorry to hear about your alliance. We only met Ox and Arnie, but they actually were good guys... we're just kind of all in this terrible mess. I mean... part of me still feels we should have helped out Tristan... How is he by the way? Did you guys work together to fend off the Careers?"
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Post by Seth Judkins on Aug 20, 2014 16:34:44 GMT -6
“Tristan is a double-crosser!” Seth coughed furiously. He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and continued, “Unless you have had some profound bonding experience with him, do not trust him. Tristan agreed to help us fight District 1, but instead he attacked me and threw a net over me causing me to get trampled in a stampede. If you see him again, make sure you throw him into the lava before he can do something awful to you.”
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Post by Alistair Kingsley on Aug 20, 2014 16:49:56 GMT -6
Upon hearing Seth's words on Tristan, Al raised his eyebrows at Seth. "He threw a net and attacked you? Dude, he was half dead when we left him. Unless..." He released a big long sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "He's with them. Always has been. That's why he chose the North when we getting on those hovercrafts, he knew the Careers were there." There were so many people to trust and to not trust that Al was slowly finding himself unravel from his usual collected self. He knelt down by Seth and gave him some water. "I still don't trust you. At least not all the way. But you're lucky, I'm not a fighter. If there's fighting, I don't throw the first punch. And I have no reason to attack you at all, I'm a skinny little computer nerd. Couldn't take down an toddler, let alone another tribute. We just survive this level and take it from there and see what, and who, goes down with the Careers."
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Post by Seth Judkins on Aug 20, 2014 17:00:47 GMT -6
“It’s impossible to really trust anyone in these games, and that’s fine. As long as those Careers don’t win I’ll count it as a personal victory. Derrick was able to bury his axe in Ingrid’s leg so she’s the weaker of the two of them. If one of you ever run into them make sure to attack her first. Anton won’t be much of a threat by himself. Just don’t be afraid to make the first move. If you don’t, they certainly will. If you're wise you'll at least trust me on that."
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Post by Alistair Kingsley on Aug 20, 2014 17:10:39 GMT -6
Al stared at Seth as he spoke trying to hide the fact that he was so unsure of this entire plan. Attacking first was so outside of his agenda you couldn't see that shit from space, but if they were as dangerous as he said they were, and because they were Careers he fully believed they were, then the shot might be the only thing separating any of them from an inevitable death. "Didn't think Anton had any brain cells survive after training days, if I'm honest."
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Post by Jaffe Maddox on Aug 21, 2014 11:04:48 GMT -6
"Listen Seth," spoke Jaffe, "You're in really bad health. In fact, I don' think you're going to make it to tomorrow at this rate, even with Kiki's help." She grabbed Seth's hand in her's. "We could take care of Tristan for you and the careers... but we need your help. You see the arena is setup to reward tributes who kill... Maybe if we killed you it would give us enough of an advantage to take out the other players..." She looked into his eyes. "I know this all seems kind of crazy, but it's really just a mercy killing..." she finished looking over Seth's wounds.
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Post by Seth Judkins on Aug 21, 2014 19:00:38 GMT -6
As Seth listened to Jaffe speak he was enraged that she would propose a “mercy killing” for her benefit. But when he opened his mouth to retort he paused. Jaffe had the handgun in the cornucopia… Wouldn’t it be nicer to take a bullet than to burn to death by the dragon, lava, or a surprise hovercraft from the Careers? Then again, there was still a very small chance he could survive this thing.
"No," Seth said finally. "I'm going to see this thing through. "Put that gun away and save the sympathies for the time being. I have a feeling you're going to need that bullet. The worst is yet to come."
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