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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 9:59:00 GMT -6
Wren woke up early and decided to spend his morning studying some past games, since he mostly ignored them while back home. He figured the drinking group would be sleeping in and hungover, but he hoped to run into some other friends from last night.
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 10:01:50 GMT -6
Wren had a lot on his mind. He hadn't even seen Gillian in days. He tried to stay focused while watching the past games on the screen...
Millie what do you know???
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Post by Sharlot Cuprick on Dec 7, 2015 12:16:46 GMT -6
Sharlot wandered into the Media Library early the next day. She wanted to get there to study up on the previous Hunger Games before the training center flooded with tributes. As she plopped down at a computer terminal, she noticed Wren at another terminal across the library had beaten her to it. When Wren looked up, Sharlot immediatly looked away. Ugh, what was she doing? She had to make up for yesterday's awkward exchange with Gwendolyn. Time to start over.
She booted up her computer and started typing. A blip sounded on Wren's computer and a message appeared on his screen:
"Hey Wren, I'm Sharlot. Sorry it's awkward to message you from across the room, but talking is somewhat difficult for me... Anyway, did you have a good time at the feast yesterday?"
Sharlot shyly looked over at him to see if he would reply.
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Post by Eloise Sugarglider on Dec 7, 2015 13:52:41 GMT -6
Loise felt a dead weight pulling down on her from the inside. It might have been all the new foods she had tried last night, or the knowledge that soon she would be pitted against other children in a death match. If she lived through this, could she live with herself knowing she had killed another child just like herself? Another child stranded in the games just trying to get back home? Loise wandered out of her room trying to find a way to get out of her own head. There was work to be done.
She had woken early and had not slept well. She had what few clips she could remember from the previous games stuck on repeat in her head. Those who made it the farthest, those who won, what did they all have in common? Why couldn't she remember more of the previous tributes. She needed to study. She wanted to make it out of the first day of the games and back home. Home....
Loise found herself in the media library with two other tributes who obviously had the same idea. She remembered Wren from the night before, but didn't know much about Sharlot. She had gone to her room after dancing last night, instead of mingling more, which may have been a short-sighted decision, but she had always been better at meeting people in smaller groups. 'At least now I have time to get to know the tributes who are serious about their training' she though to herself.
"Mind if I join you? I'd like to watch some of the old clips and see if I can develop a strategy."
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 14:25:10 GMT -6
Wren noticed Eloise just as he finished reading a message from Sharlot. Wow. I guess I did make enough of an impression last night. I didn't think anyone would remember me.He typed a reply to Sharlot... " Hey Sharlot. No worries. I kinda noticed your...situation last night. Please don't think me rude for asking (I'm just a big fan of honesty) but are you an avox? And yeah, I did have a good time. I just knew I had to get to bed at some point. Are you having any luck with friends/alliances? I imagine not everyone is patient enough to really listen to you, which is a shame. You seem smart. Wren pulled up a chair and patted the seat, indicating for Eloise to sit. "Sure thing. I haven't thought much about strategy yet myself, but I know I should be considering alliances. There's no doubt the bar club from last night is ahead on that aspect." Allies? We can chat in my hotel room and invite others to plan, if you trust anyone else. I think I trust you.. |
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Post by Eloise Sugarglider on Dec 7, 2015 14:57:21 GMT -6
That works for me. I haven't talked to too many people yet but Sharlot seems alright. I think you're right that some alliances have already been made but we can talk about that in private. What's the code? |
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 15:03:34 GMT -6
Wren liked the small group atmosphere in the media library. He was beginning to feel more comfortable, considering the dangers that lied ahead. Room key is 7692. Haven't heard from Gillian at all...kinda sad about that. She seemed useful.
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Post by Millie Cartwright on Dec 7, 2015 15:17:20 GMT -6
Millie didn't exactly know if she was SUPPOSED to be at the training facility anymore but being a past victor the Capitol didn't care much where she wandered off to. Probably because of the constant attention she was sure the cameras hidden all over were giving her.
She walked past the library. There were memories both good and bad tied to this location and she had made it a ritual to visit her old nook after each game. However, this year she found herself visiting it before the games even startetd.
"This has got to be the year things change," she thought to herself with conviction, "...it just has to be..."
She was hoping to meet Wren here later tonight but she was having second thoughts. For all she knew he was a peacekeeper...
Poking her head in the room she noticed three tributes currently occupying the library. On further inspection she was surprised to see that it was the same three tributes she had been chatting with last night.
Deciding that this was fate or something like it she walked into the room, "Hey, fancy meeting all of you here again!"
Upon noticing that the three of them seemed to be watching the past Hunger Games like it was something to be studied and emulated she recoiled a bit inside but she regained her composure and tried o put on a winning smile.
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Post by Eloise Sugarglider on Dec 7, 2015 15:29:08 GMT -6
"Hello Millie! I'm surprised to see previous tributes here so involved in the games. Agni spoke yesterday, but do you have any words of wisdom?"
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 15:29:25 GMT -6
Wren noticed Millie entering. "Hey! Glad to see you're still hanging around." I'm skilled in stealth...so I'm trying my best to remain vague to the others. But I'm not a peacekeeper. Just trying to stay neutral, on the outside |
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Post by Millie Cartwright on Dec 7, 2015 15:45:06 GMT -6
Millie chuckled, "Yeah Agni is quite...proud of his time in the arena."
"Me, not so much," she continued and motioned to the screens, "I'm sure you've seen the way I spoke about them during my Hunger Game."
She considered the question at hand while sneaking in a quick wave to Wren. She still could not get a good read on this guy...
"My only advice," she said at last, "Is to surround yourself with the type of people that can say they don't want to be here while wearing a smile."
"There are people that want to be here and they'll kill you in a second to win, there are people that say they don't want to be here but don't smile try to see if you can change that, and there are people that smile...just smile and they'll be the ones that stab you in the back."
"But if you can find people that you can trust, that you can share some love with and aren't in it for the glory," she concluded, "hold on to those people."
"Just..." she added somberly, "just know that no matter how much you care about them you have to be prepared to lose them."
A flash of confidence came to her face, "But that doesn't mean to just roll over and stop fighting for a different outcome. I couldn't achieve it but history doesn't need to always repeat itself."
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Post by Sharlot Cuprick on Dec 7, 2015 15:53:23 GMT -6
A crowd was already forming around Wren. Sharlot watched their conversation from across the room. She typed back to Wren.
"Yeah, I'm an Avox. Peacekeepers caught me and cut out my tongue three years ago when I hacked into the Capitol's security systems. It was a lot easier than you'd think... But yeah this lack of tongue thing is really making communication a challenge..."
"I haven't had any luck with alliances. Gwendolyn seems really nice, but she may have already moved on to more outgoing tributes. Maybe this is a bit forward of me, but I figure we don't have a whole lot of time: Would you want to work together in the Skill Training? It might be a good way to test out if we work well as a team."
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Post by Millie Cartwright on Dec 7, 2015 16:00:11 GMT -6
Millie's ears perked up at the uncommon sound of a computerized voice. Upon scanning the room her eyes brightened, "Sharlot! So nice to hear your voice at last!"
She offered the girl a hug. If Millie's gut was correct Sharlot was the embodiment of Primrose Accord and she couldn't be happier to see her again.
...but maybe that's just because she reminded her of Kimber...
"As for Gwen, don't count her out," Millie offered, "I noticed her glancing over towards you from the bar a couple times last night ya know."
She smiled, "If all else fails go with your gut. If you think Gwen is someone worth having on your side approach her. You have nothing to lose!"
Millie thought for a second, "If it helps I could even bring some more cupcakes..."
"Those always make peace accord go smoother."
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 16:35:39 GMT -6
Wren overheard Millie and chimed in. "I dunno. Gwen seemed pretty thick in with those guys at the bar. They headed back to someone's room together. Sounded like they were up pretty late. He read Sharlot's message and felt anger boiling in his veins. This was exactly why he didn't pay much attention to the games in the past. He felt much more comfortable with cutting down trees and plants than harming anything with a heartbeat. Fuck the capitol. Fuck peacekeepers. Fuck these games. Let's stick together as long as we can, yeah? Wren typed back to Sharlot. " Eloise and I have been spending time training, individually. Maybe a tactics or puzzle related course would help with teamwork? Everyone would be watching, though. So you'd just have to be okay with them seeing your grouping and performance." |
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Post by Millie Cartwright on Dec 7, 2015 16:44:40 GMT -6
Millie shrugged, "at the end of the day you have to be comfortable about who you align with."
"Though you're right," she continued, "you are going to want to team up with others in the skill sessions. The ability to work as a team is valuable to the sponsors."
"Just don't close the door on anyone until you have a real good read on them..." she added, "You'll see all the tributes mulling about individually so get to know them."
"He seem genuine but..." Millie's thoughts trailed off.
Millie watched as Wren typed on Sharlot's keyboard. "He knows she can HEAR just fine right?" she thought in amusement.
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 16:56:28 GMT -6
Wren turned to Eloise, who had been quiet for a while. "I hope this doesn't offend you, since you're my age, but there's just something about you that reminds me a bit of my sister, Egret." That's probably why he was so quick to trust her, over other louder tributes.
He listened to Millie's advice. "That's true. I've just had a rough time in Seven with being bullied so I'm sorta reluctant to trust big, burly guys or loud people I guess. They made fun of me for hanging around with my sister. They'd say I liked to dress like a girl since one day I picked up a new dress for her, for her birthday. And because I'm the smallest lumberjack...But I'll do my best to talk to them all and give everyone a chance."
He glanced over at Sharlot, realizing he could just go talk to her, but she seemed more comfortable with him adapting to her mode of communication. If Wren was going to put trust in her, it was important to him that she feel comfortable with him as well. He had trusted his classmates once, but that was apparently a one-way trust.
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 17:02:42 GMT -6
Wren considered Sharlot's communication abilities in the Games...it would be difficult for her to give orders or request anything. He typed another reply, "Do you use any form of sign language? Or do you mainly just gesture? If we're going to work together at any point, that would be something for us all to consider.
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Post by Millie Cartwright on Dec 7, 2015 17:03:46 GMT -6
"The.." Millie Ventured, "Smallest lumberjack?"
Honestly it sounded like the name of an illustrated children's book but her curiosity got the better of her.
Millie was snapped out of her lumberjacking daydreams by Wren's voice. Who was he talking to?
"Oh, wow," she thought, "I hadn't even noticed Eloise was still here..." She had a way of blending into the background.
The more Millie watched these three interact the more she realized how similar they all were to the Primrose Accord.
"Look," she half mumbled, "If you guys are really serious about forming an alliance I know a private place away from the cameras..."
She glanced between the three Tributes, "You remind me a lot of some people I really cared about and I want to help. I'd really like to get to know you better if you'd let me."
"I don't know how much help I'll be," she added, " but I'll do what I can and If you'd like I can show you that...secret place. But you'd all have to be in agreement."
She smiled, "If your hearts aren't all in the same place an alliance won't be much help so don't make that decision lightly."
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 17:14:40 GMT -6
"Well...I mean, you'd expect a lumberjack to have huge arms and a beard, right?" Wren chuckled as he knew he didn't fit the stereotype. He mainly just climbed adjacent trees and made sure there was a clear place for the target tree to fall, free of people and wildlife.
We were actually wondering about a more secret place to chat. Eloise & I weren't sure if we were supposed to just use the hotel rooms for planning or if we could ask Vester for an alliance room, since my district-mate has been MIA and I'm not sure I can trust her. I'd love any help you're willing to give.
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Post by Sharlot Cuprick on Dec 7, 2015 17:50:27 GMT -6
Hear my voice? Sharlot thought, then realized Wren's computer must have been on dictate mode. Her face flushed. There really was no place for a private conversation here.
Suddenly she was embraced by Millie. Everyone here was so... touchy. It was weird, but kinda nice. Sharlot smiled and hugged her back.
An IM popped up on her screen.
Sharlot typed back, "I don't do well with sign language. Haven't needed it with my lack of personal interaction... But I'm REALLY good at charades and have very legible handwriting!" She hoped that would be slightly encouraging.
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Post by Millie Cartwright on Dec 7, 2015 17:55:50 GMT -6
(Out Of Character - I didn't realize that was all text and not outloud... I'll be sure not to assume next time.)
Millie waited patiently and watched the tributes talk amongst themselves. When they were ready to decide if they wanted to ally with one another they would let her know.
"It had been sometime since there was any life in that hidden alcove," she thought to herself. If all went well she'd show them the way behind that back bookcase.
"And heck," she added to her inner monologue, "maybe I could even justify being a mentor this year..."
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 18:06:59 GMT -6
Wren knew they wouldn't have time for writing things in the arena, but they had time to work together on gestures before the Games started. I'm in. Millie, if you know of a way to discuss things privately, let us know. Otherwise, I can message Vester about an alliance room. Sharlot, Eloise, you guys in?
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Post by Millie Cartwright on Dec 7, 2015 19:13:03 GMT -6
*Out of character Logistic Whisper* The Game Maker has allowed me to offer you the Secret Library Alcove if you decide to be an alliance. |
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 19:36:15 GMT -6
Wren sat back in his chair. Thanks! Waiting on replies... |
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 19:57:20 GMT -6
Eloise had found Wren in the hallway between training and watching videos, to catch up on some things. Eloise and I are both in. She said she was looking to getting a room, but if yours is quicker...? Would you mind including her in whispers about it?
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