The 31st Annual Hunger Gamest - Night 1

:bangbang: Please be aware that, while no sim has been harmed in the making of the Hunger Games, there are themes that could severely trigger you! These include, but are not limited to: homicides, bullying, blood, mentions of a panic attack and abusive behavior. Readers beware :bangbang:

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Towards the Eastern side of the Arena, a Tribute is silently chasing another - not to kill but, oddly enough, to talk. It's the male from District 7, Cutter, following his District partner. He clumsily steps on a branch, making Cleaver swiftly turn around in panic. She seems to turn from scared to annoyed when she sees that it's him.

Cleaver(7): What the hell do you want?

Cutter(7): I want to team up! You can the alliance when I find the others too, we can help each other!

Cleaver(7): How can I trust anybody else not to kill me?

Cutter(7): We promised not to kill each other, we-

Cleaver(7): We are in the Hunger Games, you dimwitted imbecile! No one's word is true unless it's a death threat! And tell me, once it's just your precious allies left, won't you still have to kill them? Or will you "stick to your word" until the Gamemakers pick the Victor at random and kill everyone else?

Cutter(7): I... well...

Cleaver(7): But of course, knowing you, you wouldn't let it come that far. Would you?

Cutter seems at a loss for words. Cleaver holds his gaze for a bit, before shaking her head.

Cleaver(7): Of course, you have not changed. I pity those poor bastards who took you in their alliance. I hope that next time I see your face, it will be in the sky once you're dead.

Cleaver jogs off and, finally, Cutter does not follow, instead going in the opposite direction. Well, that was a waste of time. He hoped she would be over it by now. Still, so long as she keeps to herself and doesn't warn any of the others, it should still be okay. Someone will deal with her eventually.

Tron and Magpie went south. They try not to speak too loudly, as they aren't sure they are truly alone.

Magpie(12): He let me go. Lion, I mean. I thought he'd wanna kill me.

Vinci(3): I guess he doesn't want the blood of someone from his District on his hands. I sort of understand him. Still, I do hope they kill him for it - he's still strong.

Magpie(12): Yeah, I hope so too. No offense to his parents, but he'd just be one less Tribute to worry about. Should we try to find the others?

Vinci(3): I guess we should, although I kinda want to wait and see who survived the Bloodbath.

Vinci is not convinced that they will ever find anyone - the Arena is no doubt massive. It's a miracle he was even able to stay with Magpie. But at least he knows he has allies in the game.

Tron is not too far from them. He stops to catch his breath, exhausted from running so hard and for so long. At least he made it out, and that's something not everyone can say.

Canary(11): The cannons...

With the Bloodbath over, the Gamemakers sound the cannons for the first deaths. Six in total, which surprises her - she expected at least two more. She catches her breath for a moment, then gets up and sets off again.

Lazuli is crouched on the ground, inspecting the footprints left by some other Tribute, amd she can feel her brother quietly stewing behind her. He's in a foul mood, which isn't great for anyone.

Lapis(1): So? Are you done?

Lazuli(1): Yes. Male, on the heavier side. My guess is the guy from 5.

Lapis(1): How can you tell?

Lazuli(1): The sole of the male boots is different from the female model's. Plus, the boot looks like it sunk pretty deep in the mud - because he's heavy.

Lapis(1): Cool. Let's go get him. Want to do the honors when we find him?

Lazuli(1): Why? Feelin' lazy today?

Lapis(1): No, I just want to make sure you at least contribute something to the Alliance.

Lazuli scoffs as her brother laughs - she knows not to take his jabs at heart by now, but it's hard.

Lapis(1): I'm joking, I'm joking. I saw you get that girl earlier.

Lazuli(1): Mh. But it's better if you get him, I want to stay fresh. You know, for Bass.

Lapis(1): Right, let's all pretend it's that and not-

The sound of a cannon shocks them. Who could have died? Maybe someone who got wounded but managed to run off?

Lapis(1): You think it could be Bass?

Lazuli(1): Maybe. We should go back and check, just in case.

She has barely finished speaking before her brother sets off, oddly e}/xcited. She should feel that way too, this is supposed to be the pinnacle of her training - but she does not. All she feels is dread.

Bass did turn out to have something to do with the cannon - unfortunately for Lapis, he's still alive.

Lazuli(1): Bass, what the hell is wrong with you?!

Bass(4): He let his District par'ner go! He ask'd for it!! Oh, don't look at me like you weren't thinking it too, Lapis!

Lapis(1): Do you know the difference between us? I didn't kill any ally, you did. You think what he did makes it right? His District partner's no threat. Even my sister could get her.

Lazuli(1): Gee, how sweet of you.

Bass(4): And you think you're any different? I know you're just waiting for me to drop my guard before you kill me! You can't stand that I'm stronger than you!

Lazuli(1): Look, you two, clearly you let this get to your head. Bass, why don't you come hunt with me and let my brother mull this over at camp? Some distance will do two you good.

Bass(4): Yeah. Fine.

Diana blinks in surprise, but quickly follows them as they leave. Bass doesn't object.

Diana(2): Hey, why don't we go towards the mountain if you and Lapis haven't covered it?

Lazuli(1): We haven't, let's go.

Bass scowls after them, muttering things under his breath - sailor curses, mostly.

Bass(4): You girls get it, right? If he didn't stand up for us at the Bloodbath, who's to say when he could have betrayed us again?

Diana(2): Well, I guess now he can't betray us anymore...

Bass(4): Yeah, that's my point! Why can't Lapis see it?

Lazuli(1): My brother hates people who challenge him. Even at the Academy he surrounded himself with spineless fools who kissed the ground where he walked. My guess is that he liked Lion because he knew his place, unlike you.

Speaking her mind sure is liberating. She looks at Diana and Bass discreetly. Bass is smirking, Diana is tense. Watching her closely makes Lazuli realize that she has no weapon. None. Not even a small knife. The idiot! Well, since she's the only one who can attack, she might as well get it over with.

Lazuli kicks Bass to the ground and pins him down, the tip of her spear at his throat. She can feel him thrash around, his sword dropped, but she knows enough about combat to keep him to the ground.

Lazuli(1): Stop. You know I won't just let you off the hook. Make this quicker for all of us.

Bass tries to kick at her, but can't reach her. She moves to wrap her hand around his throat, cutting his oxygen to leave his weaker.

Bass(4): Of course, boss orders and lackey obeys. Should have known. Let me know when you grow a spine.

Lazuli(1): You won't have to know anything where you're going. Blissfully ignorant, just how you like it.

Bass(4): You're next, you know?

Lazuli(1): Quiet.

She finally stabs him through the chest, then pulls back to watch him choke.

It's utterly disturbing, and it leaves her stomach churning. The cannon booms, solidifying her guilt to the world: dear God, she just killed Bass. All on her own, and just because Lapis wanted him dead. And after Bass, who will it be? Can she even do it again? She will have to, or he will-

Lapis(1): Is he dead?

Her brother's voice chills the blood in her veins. She forgot he was supposed to follow them in case they needed help.

Diana(2): Yup. I forgot my bow, so Lazuli had to do it all on her own.

Lapis grins with a broad smile, looking at Diana, then at Lazuli. She can feel herself shiver, and tries to suppress it.

Lapis(1): All that matters is that he's dead! Let's go back, Julius made dinner for four.

Lazuli(1): Actually, I think this could be a great place for someone to hide. I'm going to stay back a little longer and check if someone else is hanging around here. 15 people is still a lot.

Lapis(1): You think they'd still be here after all the noise you made?

Lazuli(1): The path we took is literally the only one going up to the mountain, so they couldn't escape without crossing Diana. If they were here, they can't have gone far.

Lapis(1): Touché. We'll save you something, don't take too long. Oh, and get Bass' sword while you're at it. We could use it.

Once they're gone from her view, Lazuli shakily sits on the ground - right beside Bass' corpse. She places the sword in his hand, where it belongs.

Lazuli(1): I'm sorry, Bass. For what is worth, I'm sorry.

She didn't like the guy, but killing him has left a bad taste in her mouth. Or maybe his words have.

"You're next, you know?"

She is, isn't she? She takes a deep breath. She knows the best thing to do is to run off, but being betrayed would only serve to set Lapis off.

No. Obeying him is the best thing she can do.

Obeying him, and praying that he will not be too disappointed by her.

Silently, she retrieves the sword from Bass' hand and leaves the proof of her sins behind.

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Tributes Status

D1F - Lazuli. Career.

D1M - Lapis. Career.

D2F - Diana. Career.

D2M - Julius. Career.

D3F - Curie. Dead of pneumonia before reaching the Arena

D3M - Vinci.

D4F - Mare. Dead at Bloodbath (Bass)

D4M - Bass. Career. Killed in Day 1. (Lazuli)

D5F - Lumina. Dead at Bloodbath. (Lazuli)

D5M - Tron.

D6F - Streetia. Dead at Bloodbath (Diana)

D6M - Kopter

D7F - Cleaver

D7M - Cutter

D8F - Sealk

D8M - Cross. Dead at Bloodbath (Lapis)

D9F - Sunny. Dead at Bloodbath (Lapis)

D9M - Miller

D10F - Sheppe

D10M - Don

D11F - Canary

D11M - Red. Dead at Bloodbath (Julius)

D12F - Magpie

D12M - Leon. Career. Killed in Day 1 (Bass)