thecapitol | even a natural born fighter can find cause to break sometimes

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even a natural born fighter can find cause to break sometimes

Who| astrid and anyone
What| not getting the best first impressions on her first day
Where| training center (district 6 suites, halls/elevators, training room)
When| 7/31
Warnings/Notes| mentions of death

Astrid had grown up knowing nothing but how to fight. She came from a world where warring against dragons was once all that she had known, where there was only ever enough time to think of survival and whether she could be up enough of a defense to live for another day. But that had long since been over. It was years since the Vikings had made peace with the dragons, learning to live amongst them, obtaining the privilege to go about each day with harmony and the opportunity to just laugh without the constant fear of dying.

She never imagined being thrown back into a world like that, not in this way anyhow. Filled with strange foreign gadgets and nothing at all familiar from her home, all she's told is that she would be fighting for her survival--a tribute, they called her, yet all she can wonder if she had somehow been a sacrifice to the gods. Perhaps, that's what this was, a test of some kind. But even so, nothing explain this strange place she had been brought to. Where was Berk? Where were her friends? Where was Hiccup?

a ↠ district 6 suites

Insulation might be one of the first things she really takes notice of, oddly enough. But when you experience nine months of harsh winters in your home, it wouldn't take long to catch on to the incredible new sense of warmth that overtakes you. Not that the lack of cold truly made her feel better or safer in this situation anyway.

The entire floor was incredibly large, noting the almost endless amount of rooms that she'd learned belong to others much like herself. She finds herself in the common room, carefully touching the incredibly soft, bench-like furniture (Were those safe to sit on? Why were they so soft?) before noticing the moving paintings on the wall.

Except they weren't paintings at all, recalling someone mentioning televisions and that they would display everything she needed to know--about the "games", the Capitol, the tributes. She studies the screen with a mixture of confusion and curiosity, noting how the pictures seem to "speak" as well. But she hardly pays mind to the spoken words, not when suddenly the most disturbing deaths are displayed for her to see, horrifying images that even someone such as herself, so well acquainted with war, grows sick in the stomach just to watch.

The sequences switch through fast, but she has no doubt when she sees a well-known blond twin on the screen and subconsciously rejoices for a quick second at the sight of a familiar face before suddenly there's a bite at the neck and all she sees is Ruffnut being eaten alive.

A struggling gasp is all she can manage, the screen already switching to yet another gruesome death as if the one of her friend no longer mattered, just another number in the toll of all these people losing their lives so instantly lacking reason. If it weren't for an empty stomach, she'd have lost all its contents in that moment, not that it would do anything to help with taking in the next sight.

Hiccup.

It was only on the screen for mere seconds, but she knows that ruffled mess of hair and peg leg anywhere. And in a quick flash that she's convinced is an illusion, she watches as the love of her life gets stabbed in the chest, not even having put up a fight, falling hopelessly into death.

b ↠ halls / elevators

It wasn't exactly easy to be in the best of moods after seeing hundreds get murdered right before your eyes, including a close friend and your lover. But she needed to figure this place, figure out why she was here and what she needed to do to get out as soon as possible.

But this place was so large, odd contraptions scattered about, strange moving boxed rooms that took her up and down the height of the building--everything was too otherworldly, things she never could possibly understand. So in addition to the anger already dwelling up inside, frustration becomes a familiar friend as she wanders hopelessly through the different floors of the building, a lost Viking with no idea how to get out.

c ↠ training room

Finally, something familiar to her. Even if she's disgusted about this new environment, the sight of the double sided axe that she quickly takes in her hands brings an extreme comfort to her. Suddenly, she's much more protected. Even if it was just in this room, holding it brought forth a new sense of courage that she had yet to experience since she came upon this new world.

She swings around the axe with ease, and for a few moments, she forgets everything she's already seen that day, everything she's learned and her mind relaxes as her body becomes accustomed again to what she had always known well how to do: to fight.

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She almost puts on the defensive when she hears the voice and normally she'd raise up her axe in front of her to prepare for a possible fight. But she's been told that the fighting and killing is meant for the arena, that she was safe when in the capitol, for the most part.

So even with axe in hand, she keeps it low as she turns to the source, reminding herself that not everyone was out to kill her. Not yet, anyway.

She's a bit surprised when she catches sight of his face, noticing the peculiar structure, but not as shocked as she would have originally expected. She's taken note that things were very different in this new world she's entered and that she'd be coming across a lot of unfamiliar things--and people, apparently--so it was best to just let it go and accept it fast.

"I just arrived today," she responds, still a bit cautiously by instinct. "Sort of found my new home in here already though."

"You look like someone who knows what she's doing with that axe." It's nice to see since so many of the people who come here have no training in weapons or how to survive. "I'd say welcome, but you've probably had the rundown how this place works, which isn't all that welcoming in the end."

He's actually surprised she didn't run or try to get away as fast as possible. That was one of the reactions most people had to seeing him come walking around or talking to them.

"Although, you seem to be adjusting well for just arriving here today."

"I guess I know a thing or two on how to use it," she tries to say it casually, but she can't help but bring up a proud smirk. It was definitely one of her strongest qualities, working that axe, and she was never too ashamed to admit that. The smirk goes away though, remembering that yes, she was currently in a very unwelcoming place right now.

"Well, it was pretty obvious that I wasn't going anywhere even if I tried. Might as well not waste any time and not lose practice, right?"

"Good way to look at it, although you're ahead of most of the people here." If she was as confident as she seemed he had a feeling she would do well in keeping herself alive in an arena. It was more than he could say for most of the teenagers or adults he had met. Most of them survived through sheer dumb luck, which honestly amazed him most of the time.

"If you ever want a sparring partner that knows a few different things, I'm usually down here if we're not stuck at an arena or some event for the Capitol's enjoyment."

Astrid's almost not really surprised to hear that not everyone was too good with a weapon. It should be giving her a bit of relief in that it meant she'd have a higher chance of winning in the games, except all it really tells her is that she'd be forced to have to kill people who couldn't even properly defend themselves. And there was no comfort in learning that.

But she ends up smiling just a bit at offer with an accompanying nod, despite not wanting to open up too much to the people here. "That'd be appreciated. I don't really know a lot of people here yet, and my boyfriend's not really the sparring type."

"Not the kind of guy to pick up a sword and start hacking away at a practice dummy?" Not that Garrus could blame him, he preferred guns and hand-to-hand over using a sword or a knife. He was pleased that she accepted his offer for a sparring partner, it was good to see a few people wanting to keep up a level of skill in protecting themselves.

"He's more of a talk-and-make-peace kind of guy," she responds with a sigh. She had always liked that about Hiccup, but in a place like this, it was more of a liability for himself than anything. All the more reason for her to stay in practice and be strong enough to protect him.

"He's pretty good on the back of a dragon, but ... it doesn't seem like there's too many of those around here, huh?"

"Dragons, I'm not even sure what those are so I'm going to say no." He'd have to ask about what that was, sometimes being an alien was inconvenient when talking to humans. He didn't understand half of their references, but he was learning, slowly.

"Talking and making peace is a good thing to have, sometimes, but other times you just need a plan that involves explosions and punching." Which wasn't saying too much, but if she was more of the latter type they'd be a good pair to work together.

It was one thing to not see any dragons around, but it was definitely a surprise to find someone who didn't know what they were. Then again, she didn't exactly know what he was, so it was fair for him to have the lack of knowledge.

"Hmm, well, dragons are essentially giant reptiles with wings," she says simply, never actually have to describe them before. "Most of them breathe fire, though there's hundreds of different types. They can be pretty tough but they make for really loyal partners." Just talking about was making her miss her own partner, Stormfly. How was that girl holding up without her?

"I agree though. Hiccup's very convincing most of the time when talking things out, but," she shrugs with a sigh. "Not everyone's willing to listen, so sometimes you have to get a little physical. Which is where I usually come in."

"I think I met one of those, tried to trample me to death in the first arena I was in." Managed to outrun Garrus to the cornucopia too, but he was going to blame the tall grass on that one. Once she talks about Hiccup he can't help but look amused.

"Sounds like the pair of you make a good team. Although in this place hopefully he can use a shield or is smart enough to run when the weapons come out. You seem to have that covered. You'll find in the arenas that most people will listen, but there are a few that are just doing what they're trained to do. No amount of reasoning will change their minds about taking you out. Still, talk to enough people here and you'll find allies. Most of the people that look like monsters will likely help you out, most of us just happen to be mutants or aliens."

"I'm not entirely surprised. They're pretty deadly if you get on their bad side. I'd almost expect they'd take advantage in using them here." Though it'd definitely be beneficial to her as a dragon trainer if they were to be used again. Though it wasn't as if she'd want to kill anyone with one.

"Yeah, you're not the first one to bring up allies. Seems it's the popular strategy around here," she notes it with a light laugh, thinking about her earlier considerations. "To be honest, when I first got here and I learned of what we had to do, I said I'd avoid talking to anyone if I could. But ... it's easy to see we're all just in the same boat here. No one's chosen to be here, so it's really hard to blame anyone for that."

So most of his words, she's come to understand. Though the last one only brings about a bit of confusions. "Mutants and aliens ... ? I don't think I've ever heard those words before."

"They probably would use dragons, but for them it's more entertaining to watch us murder each other as sport. It's all about entertainment for the citizens here." He shook his head, it really was the worst kind of place that Astrid could have found herself in. He certainly didn't envy her or Hiccup, especially since the Capitol would likely use either one of them against the other for control.

"There are a few tributes that are just looking out for their own backs, but the majority of us have an agreement, only kill someone if it's necessary or they attack you first. Mostly it's just ruled of engagement." Like in any fight, most decent people weren't going to kill someone unless their life was in danger.

But when she asks about mutants and aliens, he has to think a moment for the best way to describe it. it's the first time he's had to describe what an alien is to anyone.

"Mutant, usually from what I've been told, are humans that have some kind of super-human ability, or their DNA had been changed so they're still human but have something else mixed in with it. So, like, humans that can read minds or walk through walls, or be made entirely of stone." Even to him it sounded far fetched, but he knew a couple of mutants and was pretty happy to call them allies. "As for aliens, we're people that are not human that come from other planets that are not Earth."

"Entertainment seems like the only reason that seems to pop up so far in terms of why these games are happening. Still doesn't seem very valid, but I suppose there's very little that makes much sense around here." It certainly doesn't help that Astrid still doesn't really know what she's in for. Right now, this could all be measured up to be some kind of joke, but she had yet to face the realities of the arena.

"It's good to see that most people have that logic though. Despite what people tend to believe of us, me and the rest of the Vikings work purely on self-defense and the protection of each other. As long as no one tries to hurt my friends, I don't really plan on looking for a fight."

However, she sighs, knowing it probably wouldn't be as easy as that. "But even with that agreement, and with how long these games have been going, I'm beginning to doubt everyone stays violence-free for too long."

She's certainly intrigued by his description though, almost wondering if he's making it all up. Dragons she could believe in, but these things called mutants seemed impossible. Aliens were a little easier believe, having one directly in front of her.

"I can definitely tell I'm in a whole other world if everything you're saying is true. Seems more like things the gods would be able to do, not humans. I've never heard about planets, but I assume you're talking about other realms. If that's the case, I could see the idea that people may come from there here to Midgard."

"Eventually you'll run into violence. Fear is what they use to motivate people. Fear of death, pain, you name it, they'll try to use it against you in some capacity both in and outside of the arena. At least here in the capitol all you need to worry about is them slandering your name." Which was something he had both experienced and watch friends experience, it wasn't something he was going to advocate her getting into.

"I've met so called 'gods' and even they have their weaknesses. But you're kind of right in something with realms. If it makes it easier, planets are in the stars. You can see them sometimes, but they just look like other stars. But realms work, I'm from Palaven. Although most people here are from Earth, which I'm assuming is your Midgard."

"That makes sense. I don't think I'm the most fearless in all the land, but I prefer to have a bit of honor when it comes to things like death. But if Hiccup were in some kind of danger, I ... I probably wouldn't think twice about hurting someone for fear of his life."

Maybe that's why they brought people here together with friends and family. Maybe that's why people developed allies. Just another way to bring out murderous intentions if there's people around you'd want to protect.

"Earth, yeah. I've heard that term a few times already, so I'm guessing that's the more common name for it. But stars being homes to others? That's ... that's definitely new. Much easier to believe with what I've been learning though." She gives a light laugh. "After all, I just learned the world is round we've been to the moon."

"Well, technically you've been past the moon and visited other stars where I'm from. Those are also round, everything is generally round." At least when it came to space in his experience. He wasn't about to go into it when he'd likely be met with a blank stare anyway. he did admire her loyalty toward Hiccup, even if he had no idea who the person was in question.

"No one would fault you for killing someone if one of your friends or teammates were in danger, it's a common thing to find here. Although, I'll admit I've made some mistakes and people around here don't let you forget it anytime soon."

"The world just gets stranger and stranger." She's almost beginning to give up trying to full understand it with every strand of information that's been thrown her way today over how much it's changed. Had Vikings really been that naive about where they lived? Even the limits they once believed were completely false, seeing that the world just went on and on, even to the stars.

She's afraid to even ask what kind of mistakes. She realizes things'll probably only get trickier in terms of friends sooner than later. Who knows how things'll turn out in that arena.

"It seems kind of a pointless question by now, but is there really anything that anyone's fighting for? Other than trying to survive and protecting their friends, we've all been thrown in this together, right? Have people tried not fighting at all?"

It wasn't her usual idea, but having such a peacekeeping boyfriend (or at least he tried to), she knows that's probably what he would ask.

"Staying alive is the main goal, and in this place with the constant surveillance if you try to get people together to fight back it's pointless. The Capitol makes it clear that if you go against them they will kill you, or make you into an example." It's a grim topic and likely one that he shouldn't be telling someone who is new to the place. But she needs to be prepared even if it a brutal truth.

"Problem is, even if none of us fight, they'll find ways to instigate a fight, or just have one of their manufactured catastrophes kill a bunch of tributes. Plus there's the fear tactics, not everyone is as strong as others, scare a teenager too much, starve them, torture them, have them slowly dying of infection and hallucinating, perfect combination for a killing spree."

"It sounds like they've thrown us into Hel." She's been at war before, fought with the worst of them, but she was beginning to see more and more how this wasn't much of a standard battlefield. And as grim of a topic as it is, it's better to know now than not. If she was on her own, she might try to be a little more reckless, but she had Hiccup and friends that could be hurt if she made the wrong move.

"People come back from the dead, but somehow it doesn't sound like that makes it all much better. Sounds like just another addition to the torture. From what I've heard, it's like there's just no end to it."

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even a natural born fighter can find cause to break sometimes

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