thecircus | Test Drive Meme

Welcome to Panem. You have been selected to participate in the 75th Annual Hunger Games!

Premise: This Arena is designed to be a small mock arena not all that dissimilar to the in-game arenas we run here at The Games. The party is similar to some of the gathering logs we have inside the Capitol when an Arena begins. Our hope is to give new and prospective players a place to get their feet wet, and get a feel for the fun (and bloody) mess that goes on around here.

This meme is open to anyone and everyone who would like to play. Current cast members, veteran and new, as well as anyone just wanting top drop in and have some fun!

How To Play.

Current cast members - you may tag into this arena in any way you choose, even cast members who aren't or are no longer tributes.

***An important side note, as it is within the confines of the Area in-game, all powers are lessened/nullified to bring any character down to a vincible level. (I.E. Make more magical/super-powered characters easier to actually kill for a normal person). Rule of thumb: If it's a physical difference, the Capitol will not mutilate it out (wings, etc), but other wise it's gone.

The Arena.

Tributes are raised in a circle around the Cornucopia; they are all dressed in safari outfits, including the little hats, and slathered in bug spray and sunscreen. They look amongst each other at the start of the Cornucopia. At the center of the circle is a fountain where a dancing hippo spits water into a circular pool around it. There's an engraving in embossed letters around the one-foot rim of the pool: PANEM NATIONAL ZOO.

Floating in the water of the brass fountain are supplies that the Tributes should find useful: medical kits, sleeping bags, and most importantly, weapons. Ropes, bo staffs, nunchuks, daggers and spears are all in ready supply a mere hundred yard sprint from the Tributes.

There are four paths away from the Cornucopia - into a swampy pit to the south, which, unbeknownt to Tributes, hosts alligators and crocodiles who've missed their scheduled feeding. To the west, into a dark building where boxes cut into the walls reveal that there were once tanks for creepy crawlies, but the glass has been removed. Through a gift-shop to the north, stuffed with plush animals (many of which are filled with razor blades, or other sweet little surprises). Or down an asphalt pathway to the east, winding through tall cages that may provide shelter from the other Tributes - but not necessarily the enclosure's inhabitants.

The countdown blares out in the humid air.

3...2...1...

Let the Games begin.

-/-

The Party.

Back in the Capitol, the Cornucopia is being celebrated with a lavish party. Animal couture is all the rage, and Capitol celebrities have dressed for the occasion by having their teeth elongated and their irises surgically altered to give the appearance of slit pupils. The wine is flowing freely, and the centerpiece of this particular viewing party is what appears to be a pig the size of a hippopotamus being roasted on a spit.

Screens throughout the large ballroom in which this takes place are showing the gruesome footage of the first bloodbath of what promises to be a delightfully ugly Arena. Tongueless Avoxes carry platters with little quail eggs in cups, silently offering them to all the guests. Caesar Flickerman, trademark blue hair now replaced by what appear to be feathers growing directly from his scalp, announces every gorey detail between oohing and ahhing over the dinner. Tributes die; Citizens feast.

Everyone who's anyone is invited.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"If you ask the people they munch on, I'm sure you won't find them thinking about how the poor creatures are just being used for the purpose of entertainment. More likely they're thinking 'ah, you fucker, stop eating me, my insides.' That kind of shit. It's not that I can't agree with what you're saying: I'm just not at the liberty of putting myself in the place of the monster. Got my tributes to think about."

In a truth, Luna was right. In theory, Luna was. But in reality, when she was watching her tributes attacked and savaged, she couldn't really muster the sympathy.

"That's reasonable." Luna agreed before adding "Though some would say that there's little difference between the Muttations and the Tributes except that the Muttations can't win."

Which was a roundabout saying that humans were not that different from the monsters.

"But we all are influenced by our positions in life. Our experiences."

"The difference is that the muttations are there for the purpose of blood, and only blood. The tributes are there for the sport. We're the performers. In order to live, we have to be smarter and more brutal than the monsters."

So yeah, Mindy actually agreed with you there.

"Oh, definitely. That's probably true even for you, right?"

She offered a gentle nod.

"Even if I try to make sure I look at things from all sides, I know where I begin." It was a very zen sort of statement despite being so simple.

"I've asked if it would be possible for the Muttations to win. Just once. They were not very receptive."

Yeah, this girl. There was something annoying about how she was technically right about the things she said, even though she knew they were wrong and pissed her off.

"Well, you know the answer will be no. Can you imagine if a Muttation won? Things were bad enough for them when Katniss did."

A slow relaxed blink, like she was in a waking dream.

"How do you mean? Katniss is one of our most celebrated victors."

Either it was a rhetorical question, or she didn't know about the rebellions.

"Sure she is. She was also a reason for the Districts to have hope the Arenas would end. She changed the game. So the Capitol did too, right? It's why WE are here now, and not the kids from the different districts. Well, not as many anyway."

Where was this girl's head anyway?

That was a very good question.

"The game changed yes, but that was not Katniss and Peeta's doing." Luna objected "According to the rules every quarter quell there are special rules in place. This never ending Quell is one of those special rules."

She didn't sound as though she actually believed it, she was simply reciting from memory. She wasn't even looking at Mindy when she said it.

"I'm not sure how Katniss kissing Peeta and surviving with him would make people think the arenas would ever end though."

"Should probably not fill your head with Capitol propaganda," she said, shrugging. "It was as much what they inspired that made the Capitol nervous. Rebellion. The idea that something like love could surpass concern for your well being, and more importantly, blatantly spitting in the face of what the games are supposed to be. They're punishment for your district, a reminder that in the end no one really wins."

Which, of course, was exactly how it felt to THEM.

To that Luna actually smiled. It was a dreamy sort of smile but better then nothing considering the blasphemous things Mindy was saying.

"It's such a nice thought isn't it? People feeling inspired."

The smile faded just slightly.

"It's a shame how fatal it can be for some people who don't use it properly."

Blasphemous? The way Mindy was hearing, it was the gospel truth.

"Yeah, I bet. Then again, gotta wonder what constitutes 'properly' these days. Don't want to step on anyone's toes, after all."

"Is that true? You haven't seemed to mind before."

Yes Mindy had developed a bit of a reputation for her crass and honest way of addressing people.

"I do like toes. They're like cute little faces without smiles."

"I'm trying to respect the Capitol."

God she sucked at it.

"Anyway...wait, what? Faces?"

"Is that so?" Even Luna didn't seem to believe it despite seeming to be just slightly to the left of stoned.

"Yes. They make excellent finger puppets."

"Yes! I am a mentor, you know."

FUCKTHEMFUCKTHEFUCKTHEM

"You're kind of a weird one, Luna."

"Thank you." she responded entirely earnest.

"And you are a very unusual girl for your age."

Understatement of a lifetime.

"Damn right I am."

She grinned. "Maybe that's what makes us so interesting."

Test Drive Meme

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party

Re: Luna Lovegood / Capitol Bioengineer / Party