Thicker Than Blood Start

[gamemakers]

For Tributes with keen eyes, they'll notice that Peacekeeper presence seems increased and yet infinitely more ineffective in the last few weeks. Peacekeepers seem harried, as do the Stylists, and most of the Escorts titter and plot without alerting the Tributes as to what, exactly, is so exciting. They simply say that this weekend they'll know.

And so it happens that on the weekend in question, the Tributes are woken by their Escorts early and brought to a restaurant for a hearty breakfast. The restaurant is nothing spectacular, although they seem to be trying to make an impression on the television cameras that float around. The sleepy, cranky meal goes by and then the Tributes are led back to their Suites for a mandatory meeting.

Sitting on couches and the floor, in chairs and on windowsills, standing off to the side - people from the Tributes' homes are waiting to greet them in each District Suite. Some are confused, some accepting, some frightened and some elated to see their beloved. Either way, it should be an eventful reunion.

Comments

District 9

[etcircenses]

Damon Macready for Mindy

[nickcageasbatman]

The splendor and style of this place only gave option to a number of situations Damon could believe he was in.

Either he had died and this was the waiting room to heaven or hell...

...actually no that was pretty much the only situation he could muse up in his confusion.

Sitting politely at a table he eyed a glass of water suspiciously. He'd watched the silent servant (What did they say his name was? Avox?) pour the water himself for Damon as well as some of the others in the suite...none of them had dropped dead yet.

There was cucumber in the water. What kind of hippie bullshit was that?

Taking off his glasses he cleaned them on his sweater and was struck once again by how completely unsettling it was to be wearing the clothes he last remembered putting on before his death as Big Daddy. Who'd have thought the after life had a waiting room?

Tim Burton, Beetlejuice. That's who.

He smirked, unable to resist a good reference even now. Running his worn fingers through his thinning hair he wondered what sins these other figures had committed to cause them to have to wait here.

One of the figures looked suspiciously like a Batman villain, was that on purpose? Cosplay? Or maybe just Damon's overactive imagination having a bit of fun with him.

Oh well, glancing out the window at the city stretched out below, heaven or hell it was quite a site to behold. He'd never seen New York look so clean and glistening as this city did. Every color his artists eyes could perceive was on display in one form or another.

Re: Damon Macready for Mindy

[hit_girl_mindy]

Another day, one more to keep her fingers crossed for Harley. It was a weird way to start it though, that was for sure: more peacekeepers today, of all days, and why the hell had they brought them to that restaurant? Too many questions were unanswered, and she knew she had every reason to be suspicious. Something big was about to go down.

Mindy thought she was ready for anything. Surprise attack. A visit from that president. Her mind was reeling with possibility.

When she was led back to her suite, she could see a gathering of some people. Family? She could see resemblances to some-

She stopped dead when she saw a face. His face. A face that shouldn't have been here, because that was impossible. Riley is here danced around her head, but she couldn't hear that. She couldn't begin to gather the words. All those nights spent remembering that night, wracked with guilt, and what the hell do you know? They brought him back.

Mindy tries to say something, but its caught in her throat. Last time he saw her she was bound to look different: healthier, certainly more muscular. But him? He looked as he had that day.

It was if that thought stopped her from staying rooted on the spot. She burst forward and ran right into him, hugging him with everything she had.

Re: Damon Macready for Mindy

[nickcageasbatman]

He heard the sound of footsteps on the floor increasing and getting louder. Turning just in time to see her he felt his heart stop and his blood run cold before she crashed into him and hugged him with amazing power for a girl her size.

He returned the hug in kind, practically falling out of his chair to kneel down and bundle her in his deceptively strong arms.

"Oh baby girl...what happened?" He groaned in sorrow. "Why are you here?"

Still unaware this was not the afterlife.

Re: Damon Macready for Mindy

[hit_girl_mindy]

She didn't say anything for a moment, just hugged him, HARD. God, those bastards. Bringing him here without so much of a warning. Goddamn fuckers, bringing him here. But shit, could she complain? He was literally her only link back home, the only person she even wanted to see and he shouldn't even be here.

"Daddy." She said softly. "God no, the question is why are YOU here? You remember what happened, don't you?"

There was so much she wanted to say, but she needed to know how far all of this went first.

Re: Damon Macready for Mindy

[nickcageasbatman]

"Of course I do." His voice was a hushed soothing sound after so long, but there was an edge to it. A hint of paranoia. Could they talk here? If not here where?

He'd thought he would never hold his daughter in his arms again. His final memories with her were of pain and pride. Burns covering most of his body, his lips burned off, eyelids almost melted closed as his blurry vision searched in the darkness for her face.

And yet here they both were, perfectly fit and healthy, and Mindy looked positively radiant. Like she'd been to one of those fru fru health spas. Damon had sent her mother to one on their honeymoon and the resemblance was striking.

Re: Damon Macready for Mindy

[hit_girl_mindy]

She could hear that paranoia, of course. It was something they both knew instantly: assessing their situation, making sure that where they were talking was safe. For now, right now, what the hell could they do to her? She was talking with her DAD. They brought him here for some reason.

"Come on, we'll go outside," she said, taking his hand. She led him out, leading him out of the tower.

"This is where I live now," she informed him. "Basically, me and Kick Ass too out D'Amico, but before I could start going to school, I was brought here. This place is where we train and live and stay. People from different world and universes and shit, all to compete in their games."

Re: Damon Macready for Mindy

[nickcageasbatman]

Damon allowed her to lead as he had led her so many times before. Strange faces, humanoid creatures and even stranger outfits were all around them as they left the suite and road the elevator down and out of the tower.

He was distinctly aware that not too far back they were being followed. He didn't turn his head to look but as he held the door for a woman entering the tower he caught a quick glance of one of Mindy's handlers and a peacekeeper. He didn't know who they were of course and could feel his hackles rising.

As Mindy began to explain he did his best to soak it all in. The first part made sense and made him smile with pride, little Hit Girl has fufilled her destiny of killing Frank Damico, the biggest scum bag in New York.

The rest of it left him puzzled. Different universes? And what games?"

"Hold on now...what do you mean?"

Had Mindy actually somehow gone one step past being a masked hero and gone into an honest to goodness comic book plot?

Re: Damon Macready for Mindy

[hit_girl_mindy]

"You noticed the guys watching us, didn't you? Of course you did. That's a peacekeeper. Those games I was talking about? Here's basically how it breaks down: you know those shitty reality shows we'd laugh at? Imagine one where a bunch of guys have to survive in this constantly changing arena filled with danger, and only one person can live it. Imagine that all the other people basically have to kill each other. When someone dies, they get brought back to life back here while the arena goes on until someone wins the whole damn thing. There's a lull, and then it begins, all over again."

She gestured around her. "That's what this all is. You want to think I'm lying, but those strange types of people you saw tell you otherwise, don't they? It's real, all of it. This place is held together by the authorities in charge, and they brought us here to play the games."

Re: Damon Macready for Mindy

[nickcageasbatman]

He listened with a deadly seriousness about him that was usually only reserved for "Big Daddy." Not mild mannered Damon Macready.

Because if what Mindy was saying was true, there wouldn't be much use for Damon in this new world, this was a world built for a fighter.

But first and foremost he was a father.

"If there was ever a time that I wanted to hear you say you were fibbing now would be it." He muttered stroking his mustache anxiously.

"So where does that leave us? Contestants in this game of survival?"

Bro Strider for Dave - OTA

[plushaeusrumpified]

It's safe to say that Bro's landed somewhere amongst the 'accepting' spectrum of reactions. Really, it's that he doesn't give a fuck that he's here. Hell, it's a downright welcome change to the blackness that is death. As a guardian, he'd never "qualified" for the dream bubbles or some shit like that, so he'd been the real dead. The dead that ain't got a chance of coming back.

He'd known that, he'd accepted that.

But even those who accept death aren't gonna look a gift life in the mouth, yo. Yes, he finds this a little weird, but he's not going to question it when he's pretty sure that whatever powers that be could just as easily flip the switch and engulf him in the darkness of death again.

So he's there, cooperating, kinda wishing he had Lil Cal or something for familiarity's sake alone. Everything is so clean, so colorful. It's a little sickening for somebody used to the dorito stained apartment of ye olden days.

After a while, he lets out an impatient sigh, drumming his fingers against the seat he's sitting in. He'd been told Dave would be there eventually, which is the only reason he's sitting still for even a moment. Otherwise, he'd be up and exploring already. "Something exciting can happen any time now, yo. You know, more exciting than being brought back from the fuckin' dead, anyway. Not sure how you'll top that, but hey."

[shenunigans]

Dave hasn't quite been here long enough to learn the turns and tricks of the capitol. He's been pretty damn oblivious to the whisperings for the most part, so he'd been pretty sure it had all been building up to this breakfast. It might not be the fanciest spread, but anything that isn't instant or alchemized is pretty damn good to him. Still, he's no morning person and he's no social person, so he kind of just resigns himself to eating in silence and straying toward the end of the pack of strangers as they head back for their "meeting". Whatever they're talking about, he hopes they can wrap it up quick enough and get the hell out of the suite so he can nap in peace. He's regretting staying up into the wee hours of the morning immensely at this point.

What he doesn't expect, when he rounds lazily into the suite, is to see someone familiar. Not just anyone familiar, either. Probably the most and least familiar person in the world to him. The guy who raised him and taught him everything he knows and then went and died and missed his important character development.

He seizes up briefly, freezing in the spot and staring through his shades in bewilderment, hunching up as a stylist gives his shoulder a nudge and spitting out the first thing he can even think to say. "This is fucking sick." He doesn't mean it to sound so abrasive, not to Bro anyway. It's the Capitol he has a big damn problem with. But he inhales, exhales and tries to get the hell over it when he moves closer to him. "Sup, Crypt Keeper. You look fresh."

[plushaeusrumpified]

Fortunately for Dave, Bro doesn't notice him while he has his little moment of frozen bewilderment. He's too busy picking at the food they've laid out, wondering why the hell there isn't something more simple. Like doritos, or pizza. All this fancy-ass shit isn't really his cup of tea.

When Dave speaks, Bro looks his way. A brow is raised at his first remark, wondering just what the hell kind of greeting that's supposed to be. Are you trying to give him manpain? You're gonna hurt his feelings there, kiddo.

He scoffs at Dave's next statement, and ends up tossing the shrimp he'd been examining over his shoulder. "That's because I've bathed in the plush asses of my enemies. It keeps me young and pretty, to be fuckin' honest." Most people bathe in the blood of his enemies, but nah. He prefers something more intimate. Yeah.

Bro raises his shades, making a point to squint heavily at Dave. "Somethin's different about you. You get a haircut?"

[shenunigans]

Tell him about it, Bro. Dave has found he can get his hands on most food, but it's usually a more expensive, lavish style than he's familiar with. They really put the supreme in cheese supreme, but sometimes he just wants something simple. Fat chance of there being anything simple at a shindig like this, but the spread looks better than what he had for breakfast. Actually. It doesn't look too appealing, mostly because he feels a little like he's going to lose all of his breakfast all over his shoes. Don't even talk to him about manpain, asshole. Dying was the easy way out of having to face feelings.

"That explains the smell." He observes. Not that there is a smell, of course. Everything here smells like roses and flowers, it's like they're trying to cover up the smell of bullshit every time they talk. Something isn't right about this and every part of him just wants to walk away from the situation. Maybe it'll hurt Bro's feelings, if he has them, but it'd suck a whole lot less than the inevitable fuckeryfest they want to spiral this into.

He can't help straightening up a little under the scrutiny, only to sag his shoulders in a half-assed attempt to maintain his cool. Of course he looks different, it's been a damn long time since they saw one another in the flesh. Bro hasn't changed a bit, though in Dave's opinion he didn't ever change over the thirteen years they spent together. Dave isn't so lucky, hormones probably hit him like a freight train. He feels taller, is he taller? He never bothered to find a tape measure, but he hasn't answered the question.

"It was a sixteenth birthday present." He lifts his shoulders in a shrug, moving his arms to fold them loosely. Cool, cool cool cool. He can do this. "It's been a while since you kicked the bucket."

[plushaeusrumpified]

Dave's remark actually has him lifting his arm to sniff his armpit- he isn't the king of legendary showers for nothing, and the seed of doubt has been firmly planted. Of course he smells wonderful, though. They wanted to clean him up real good for this, so he got to take a legendary shower in a Capitol shower. There were so many settings his head had almost exploded. So he smells fucking awesome, thank you.

"I smell better than you, kid," he shoots back, leaning back so he can prop his feet on the table in front of him. He's used to Dave smelling like cheetos and teenager, he really doesn't know what he actually smells like. He doesn't care enough to get a closer whiff.

It's the latter comment that really gets to him, though. The surprise doesn't show on his face, at least, but he's floored by the fact that it's been three years since his death. "Well goddamn." Bro honestly doesn't know how to feel about that, all things considered. Mostly he just feels like he's probably missed a lot, like the loser who comes in late for class or something. After a moment, he stands up and strides over to Dave.

He's definitely taller, Bro'll give him that. Other signs show the three year difference, but it's pretty remarkable how much he looks the same. "Sucks to be you- I'm still taller, bitch." Because what else are you gonna say when you feel awkward and shitty for dying?

[shenunigans]

The fact that a single comment has Bro sniffing himself like that is telling of his insecurities, but Dave can hardly notice it. He's thinking too hard on everything else. The fact that Bro is here, in the flesh, sniffing his armpit and it's a little bit like old times and nothing like them at all at the same time. It's a hard line of thinking for a young Dave to process.

"I smell great." He immediately defends. "I have a new cologne. It's French. It's." He doesn't know French.. What did he eat for breakfast again? "Omelet du fromage."

Yeah, that sounds right, but the victory doesn't last long. He's tensing up again when Bro strides over. He's really larger than life to Dave now. He always held him up at hero status, then he died like one. Having him walk right up to him like this is something he never thought he'd experience before. "Who the fuck are you? The ghost of Christmas obvious? You're still ancient compared to me, man." Were. Whatever. "Hey, if you can fit through the door frame, do you wanna blow this popsicle stand?" The quirk of his brow indicates that being alone would be much, much better right now.

[plushaeusrumpified]

Bro gives Dave an unimpressed look. "So you rubbed a fucking omelette under your pits." That sounds fucking gross and he gives Dave's hair a ruffle before pushing him backwards by the side of the head.

"And hey, making ghost jokes is one of those 'too soon' things, yo. Don't be so damn insensitive." Yeah, he really doesn't fucking care. It's not like he died for no reason, he did it to protect Dave's ass. Even if it was a feathery Dave. But whatever, that's beside the point.

"But yeah. Let's bail, I'm bored of this place. Please tell me there's something more exciting than this?" Because so far he isn't very impressed with what he's seen. "Where the shit are we, anyway? They told me jack shit. Then again, they offered me a shower. I don't look a gift shower in the mouth." Showers are his weakness right along with plush asses- the only thing that would make either of them better is to pair the two.

Ivy for Harley

[toxictouch]

Grain. Could be worse. At least her girl was backing a winning team.

Not that being snatched away from home was really pleasant.

But it could be worse.

She sprawled gracefully back on one of the chaise loungers, keeping herself very aware of the image she made. Sexy, a little lazy, and calm.

In reality, she was observing everything. Just in case.

<3

[revvinguptheharley]

Harley had been led around by her nose all day and frankly was getting fed up with it. She was a victor now! A mentor! Shouldn't she be getting all the cool behind the scenes secrets that Eva knew? Shouldn't she have had a crowning party yet!?

But all those protests were blown away as she came into the common area of the District Nine suite and saw a familiar pile of lush red hair resting so perfectly upon a green head.

"Ivy..." She whispered in shock before squealing at ear splitting levels drawing all the eyes onto her.

"IVY!!!" She shot from the entrance like a rocket arms open wide throwing herself at her long lost friend.

Re: <3

[toxictouch]

With an indulgent grin, Ivy held her arms open to accept the ball of energy that was Harley. It felt good to have that familiar presences snug against her.

Even though to her it seemed she had seen the blond yesterday, it didn't take many clues to see this wasn't true for Harley. And that worried her.

"What trouble are you getting into?"

Re: <3

[revvinguptheharley]

Harley squeezed like she was afraid that even the slightest bit of loosening her grip would result in Ivy being ripped away from her again.

"Oh you know, the usual. Stung by hallucinogenic bees, chased by raptors for hours, poisoned more then once, fighting next to Bruce Wayne and his adopted kids till they were all horribly murdered." She rattled off rubbing cheek to cheek with Ivy.

"Now I'm a mentor! People respect me and stuff! I don't know why." She laughed and despite herself felt tears welling up in her eyes. For a moment she felt like she was flying, only to be dragged back down by the weight in her stomach knowing that this was the opportunity she had to apologize for her mistakes back home.

[toxictouch]

"Sounds like you're doing good for yourself here."

That was a bit of bitterness. Not at Harley, but at the fact that this was something Ivy would be leaving. That she really had nothing to do with. This was Harley's adventure.

And wouldn't she love to be on it.

[revvinguptheharley]

Harley caught onto the bitterness but wasn't sure why. So she decided clearly what her friend needed was cheering up.

"Well yeah, things have really been coming around for me. I haven't even thought about...you-know-who in months!"

A lie, a clear and bald faced lie. But Ivy might appreciate it. In the meantime Harley was dragging her friend towards a door that had a wooden sign on it with three black diamonds on it. Harley's logo.

"And now that you're here with me everything is perfect!" She declared throwing open the door to reveal the jungle she had transformed her room into.

The carpet was still red, and there were obvious signs of Harley everywhere. A box of cereal, a mountain of plush toys, various gossip rags and toys all over the place.

But the biggest eyecatch was plants. Plants all along her walls. Ferns and small trees and flowers. Not as healthy as they would be under Ivy's care of course, but given what she had to work with Harley (And the Avox servants) were doing wonders with the space.

[toxictouch]

"Well, that's good." She said in her drawl, content to follow Harley out of the now crowded room.

It wasn't that she entirely believed her, but at least if she was claiming it, than she was doing better than nothing. Maybe this place would end up good for her.

"Oh, such pretty babies!" She cooed, going to run her fingers over the leaves. Really, all things considered, Harley was doing a wonderful job.

And she didn't notice any clown paraphernalia around here.

[revvinguptheharley]

A few dolls, but nothing resembling the Joker, also some Shirts with her face on them posters and things.

"It's just...I been thinking about you alot since I was brought here. I kinda screwed up big time and made you really mad...and I never got the chance to say I was sorry. So some guy, a mentor here named Maximus, big beefy guy. He suggested that I keep some plants of my own to honor ya!" She blushed hotter and grinned hopefully. Ivy wasn't as sappy as Harley was unless it came to plants.