[OPEN] What you see isn't always what you'll get

[undercoverprincess]

Who| Cinderella and OPEN
What| Getting to know her fellow tributes.
Where| In the District 11 Suites and The Training Room
When| After her network post.
Warnings/Notes| There are two parts to this log, so you can reply to whatever floats your boat! Warnings about possible arena talk, should be it.

So she'd woken up on a cot, stripped of her possessions that seemed even the least bit dangerous, and now she was... here. Cindy couldn't even care about them taking her things. C'est la vie for the gun and the knife, but that was standard spy protocol. You relieved anything of value from your enemy when you had the chance, and you checked and double-checked about the state of any weapons, and then you figured you had the upper hand.

In this case, they did have the upper hand. Cindy had never heard of the Capitol before, but this place was...pretty crazy, but in an almost pleasing way to her. Lavish parties, having everything you wear and look like picked out by a stylist, who's only job it is is to make you look your best? If she stayed here, she'd never have to go out and get her nails done again.

Anyone in the District 11 suites could see her wandering around with a slightly dazed expression. She needed to figure out what was needed here. Did they want ditzy blonde? Did they want pretty princess? Did they want snarky bitch? She'll have to figure it out soon, though.

------------

God, if she had any training rooms that looked like this, Cindy would have become the best spy in half the time it took her. While that was still hundreds of years on any mundy, Cindy still would have killed to get to this pile of weapons and other training supplies. Ah, but killing. That's what they were supposed to do in a little bit, wasn't it? They were supposed to start killing each other. And Cindy had seen a lot of kids running around, along with a lot of killers and other such... people. She might be one of the best assassin's in the business, but she didn't do it for money. She did it for Fabletown. So what was she going to do it for, if they weren't here?

But first to start out. All of her real training, she decided, would take place when no one else was around; before most people had woken up, in fact, maybe around six am or so. She could sleep in all she wanted after, because when she came back down for some training, maybe a little after noon, she got to put on her act.

She'd go around and as people questions, she'd flirt a little (and a lot), and she'd try to learn something she didn't actually know. Like knot tying. She could do with learning how to tie some better knots. Maybe throwing a trident or two. But that was what she did when she was in the training room: mornings were spent doing what she needed to do, and afternoons were spent checking out the people she went to for help.

Comments

[savedbyasong]

Shion had woken early because he couldn't sleep. Nightmares and he hadn't even been put in an arena yet.

He was currently in the training room, just as it was relatively empty and therefore there were less people to see if he broke down whilst trying to handle weapons.

Which was why he was currently staring at the rack of weapons looking like he wanted to cry.

[undercoverprincess]

Early was when Cindy did her actual training. She didn't want to get rusty, but she had to downplay her skills at the same time. And since it seemed like everyone partied hard at night and slept in late during the day, what better time then to work out in the early morning when no one else was up yet?

Sure, she could party hard with the rest of them, but she'd learned how to get back on her feet just as quick when she was done. While she was winding down from some knife throwing and debating on what she wanted to get done next, she noticed him. Poor kid looked like he was going to cry.

"Lots of different weapons to choose from," She said conversationally as she walked over. "Just don't drop the heavy ones on your feet."

[savedbyasong]

He jumped at the voice and looked at her with terrified black-purple eyes. "I..." She didn't seem like someone from the capitol, more likely another other worldly tribute.

"I'll try..." He swallowed nervously, "Not to I mean..."

[undercoverprincess]

Those were definitely some interesting looking eyes. Most Fables had relatively normal ones, and she'd never seen anything like it that wasn't out of a movie. But wasn't that always a bad sign in movies?

"Maybe you should try something light, first?" Cindy smiled. He was like a rabbit, ready to run. "I was trying to use those knives first, at least if you drop them you have enough time to move your foot."

[savedbyasong]

Knives, Rat used a knife and Shion had watched him enough times that he could mimic the movements, even if he probably didn't have enough strength to do any damage.

"If you want to use them I can wait..."

[petitgamin]

Gavroche stared at the weapons in the training room like they were something from another planet. Well, another time almost certainly, another planet was doubtful. He picked up a knife, holding it in his grip and making a few stabbing motions like what he had seen Montparnasse do a few times, before pulling a face. Nah, this weren't him, he weren't into the violence.

[undercoverprincess]

God, these really was sick. She'd been watching those tapes of little kids killing each other, and one part of her was glad she and the other adults had been brought in. At least they had a life, and these kids didn't have to give up theirs. But there were still kids being brought in, too.

She really hoped this was another Pinocchio. "You look like you're trying to grab a piece of meat off a plate," Cindy remarked from her position near the spears.

[petitgamin]

"Cor, that'd be a sight," Gavroche replied easily, "meat on a plate. Aen't never seen the like." He turned to look at her, then gestured towards the spears. "You gonna use one of them on someone?"

[undercoverprincess]

"Plenty of meat on plates in this place," She wasn't going to let it unnerve her, but if a kid hadn't seen meat in a while back home? That was never a good sign. There were starving people back in the Homelands, but she'd never had to worry about getting something to eat.

"I doubt I could even if I wanted to," She said easily. "I'm not really a throwing things kind of girl. I heard you can use it to get fish in a river, but who really uses a spear nowadays?"

[themediator]

Suze had spent a good portion of her day exploring the Capitol as she had every day since she was revived after the arena. She had just returned to the 11th common room and had just sat down with glass of lemonade when Cindy walked in.

She looked lost. At least that's what Suze thought she looked like. Maybe if she hadn't been a complete ball of rage when she had woken up, that's how she might have looked upon arriving at the Capitol. The woman didn't look familiar from all of the television broadcasts either. Was she a new tribute? Or someone from the Capitol? She didn't think just anyone was allowed up there though.

She sat up straight and set her drink on a nearby table.

"Hey. You're new?"

[undercoverprincess]

She was lost. Of course, waking up and being told everything had to mean that you were certifiably insane. But since Cindy knew she wasn't, then there was something else going on here. Magic? It definitely looked like magic on the outside. But it also stank of technology, and Cindy was just. So done with this. So. Done.

But this room was ravishing. And as she looked around, she realized that she was famished, as well. It had to have been a few days since her last real meal. So while she expected food, she didn't expect other people to be around.

"Seems like it," Cindy said, walking over. "Are there more people here?"

[themediator]

Suze nodded. "Everyone they placed in this district," she replied. She wasn't sure how many there were yet, but she was working on it. "I assume someone told you what's going on already?"

[undercoverprincess]

"Guess it's good I don't mind sharing," She sighed, going to take a seat. There was a lot to take in here, and she was more then a little tired. "Oh yeah, they gave me the big speech when I woke up. They could have been a little bit gentler about it, but I have to say, so far all of this?"

She waved a hand around. "Is making the perks a lot more perk-able."

[the_hit_list]

Tim was already in the training room when the blonde woman arrived, practicing with a mace to get a feel for swinging something comparatively shorter and heavier than the staff that he was so comfortable with. It was tempting to do nothing but train with the familiar, but he'd seen the selection. Yes, there were a few staves and bos, but most of the weapons were far more inherently dangerous. It was easier to get a lucky shot with a sword or spear than it ever would be to kill someone with a staff - even a heavy quarterstaff would be difficult. The length was cumbersome when you didn't know how to maneuver it.

And so, the mace. He had to get up early to work out with the new weapons, because he wasn't about to let everyone see his weaknesses. The afternoons were showing off - target practice with the various thrown blades, workout sessions with the bo-staff or sparring someone hand-to-hand, free running all over the room, making use of the rings, rapes, and nets everywhere.

He wasn't doing too badly, but Tim wasn't aiming all that high. It wasn't about hitting the dummy with it, although he takes an occasional swing at the arms or knees. He only wanted to get a feel for how to grip each type, how to incorporate it into his fighting without causing him to leave large openings, and how he might be able to use it to block an attack from a similarly armed opponent.

When he noticed her presence, Tim gave the dummy one final kick to the face and headed back to the weapons racks, returning the mace as he watched her.

[undercoverprincess]

As soon as she stepped into the room, she took it all in. The one door they all came in. The high ceilings and hardwood floors with mats situated everywhere in case someone were to fall off anything. The different areas that you could work with, with all kinds of things. Making fires, learning how to tie knots, spear throwing, archery, knives, medical and edible plants, the list just went on and on.

And the place where the gamemakers sat. That balcony thing above them, where it seemed to be in prime position for people to look down at you. To study you. There didn't seem to be anyone up there right now, unless they were sitting far back, but she wasn't looking at them. There was something else up there, something she could see out of the corner of her eye. But there were only a few people here, so she better get started.

What was she feeling in the mood for? She liked her knives, she hated guns (not that she saw any around), she wasn't a fan of archery but she could do it if needed... ah, there we go. She went for the swords, picking up a sharp rapier and testing it out before picking up a small broadsword. She kept the boy in the corner of her eye as she set herself up with a dummy. He was watching her, she was watching him, and she needed to cut some arms off of a dummy. Before she started, she glanced back, throwing blonde hair over her shoulder and smirking.

"So what are you playing around with next? Or are you just going to watch?"

[the_hit_list]

"I was going to watch," Tim said with little pretense. He was going to study her and see how she moved, if she was any good, and make assumptions about how she would be in the arena. But if she knew that, it would alter everything. He wasn't going to get an accurate read now, because she would only give him a performance if she was smart. The question was too pointed. She'd be smart.

Tim looked over the weapons again. Pick up something he knew or didn't use? Show off or work like he planned. He sighed. He didn't have the luxury of private training sessions, and he had to accept it. If she was smart, whatever she learned about him - she'd keep it close to herself or a few friends, because arming the full field with knowledge wouldn't be a good move. If he was good or bad, nothing was to be gained by telling everyone, when leaving him an unknown could mean that they'd take each other out and leave her with two less problems.

"Spears, I think. Maybe swords. Are you any good with that one?"

[undercoverprincess]

Truth be told, she wasn't that great with swords. At least not broadswords, which was why she had picked it up, rather then going with the rapier. That one she actually knew the right way to handle, Bluebeard had taught her well. But she wasn't going to show that off, even if it was to only a few people in the room. She didn't know these people. Fabletown rule number one: never reveal yourself. Bigby expanded on that with a rule about never revealing what you can do, but by this point, Cindy considered them one and the same.

But this was a kid. But even kids could be killers, wasn't that what this whole place was about? "Not really," She replied, looking down at it. "But it looks easier to use then a spear. You have to aim and throw, at least with this it stays in my hand, where I can control it." A lie and a truth all mixed into one. It made it seem like she was telling the truth in body language, and that was good enough.

"Seems a little weird, doesn't it? Having all of us train in the same room, usually at the same time, from what I'm getting? It makes it seem like we're all buddies working out at the gym, making sure to spot each other as we lift weights," Cindy grinned. "Giving each other pointers on what exercises work better, and what protein bar we should be eating, but instead, we're helping each other get better at killing each other."

[splendid_roman]

There was only so long Ian could hide from everyone, especially when District 3 seemed to have people who delighted in making him get out of bed much earlier than he wanted to. Instead he'd opted for hiding in a crowd. In the training room people were busy training. Ian didn't care much how good anyone was at anything, he wasn't going to be fighting them next arena. But the punching dummies were good for taking his anger out on.

[undercoverprincess]

Hiding wasn't going to do anyone any good. And Cindy didn't do well with hiding anyway. She needed to be out and around people, partying, drinking, having a good time. She was a social butterfly. But here, in this training room? She got to be a social butterfly while she did some work out things. Just the ones that would be able to be passed off as 'keeping in shape' workouts.

And this guy, whoever he was, had the right idea. It felt so damn good to just beat the hell out of a dummy who couldn't fight back. Maybe she'd step up and use a knife next time, but she stopped, wiping sweat from her brow.

"Who's face has got you so angry today?"

[splendid_roman]

He stopped, probably needing a break anyway, and he used his sleeve the wipe the sweat from his face. "The Gamemakers, of course." There could be other people, he supposed, but no one was going to be able to annoy him quite like they had. "At least I have him to take it out on," he said, indicating the dummy.

[undercoverprincess]

"Some of them are pretty way past their prime with just a little too much surgical implants," Cindy had to laugh. "I wouldn't mind hitting a few in the face with a shoe if I didn't think it would leave a mark that could be turned into some new fashion in this place." She looked back at her own dummy.

"What's even the point of all this training? If we're all going to die anyway, why bother teaching us how to not die?"

Training Room

[revvinguptheharley]

Harley was a girl who loved her sweets.

But to keep up with that she knew she needed a daily work out. And so today as she trotted in to the training center she cast eyes around at the people currently active in it trying to decide where to begin.

Shrugging off a towel she did some warm up stretches having swapped out the training center jump suit for a pair of short shorts and a workout top. Nice and close to her body, enough skin showing that she felt cool and breeze.

Slender gymnast muscles flexed and stretched as she went through some simple poses, then began more complicated stretches showing off her flexibility. Some of the male tributes and workers for the facility always stole peeks at her when she did this and it gave her a little boost of confidence.

Re: Training Room

[undercoverprincess]

The guys in the room weren't the only ones stealing peeks at her. Cindy was, too, though she hoped she was a little bit more discreet in it then they were. But the girl could move, and it showed that she did a lot of moving around usually. And here Cindy was trying to figure out if she should be pretending or not when it came to working with any of these weapons. They had a ring course, which might be fun to do.

God, how could they all come here and do this every day? Cindy threw the last knife she had at the dummy, not even caring where it landed, even when it was right in the center of the bulls-eye. Sauntering over to Harley, she tilted her head a little to the side with a grin.

"So, either you're a gymnast back home, or a cheerleader. Am I right on any of those accounts?"

Re: Training Room

[revvinguptheharley]

Leaning backwards into a perfect U bend with her body and two hands planted on the ground she grinned up at Cindy, upside down and even sillier looking.

"Convicted Clown Felon." She corrected and then giggled "Before that Psychologist. And before that Gymnastic scholarship that put me through college." As she explained she brought one leg up into the air, then with the slightest push off her other leg and alot of control over her back and arm muscles she moved into hand stand.

"How about you?"

Re: Training Room

[undercoverprincess]

"I'm glad you told me the first time, otherwise I would have had to keep guessing," Cindy laughed. "And I'll be honest, you really do not look like a psychologist." And here she could have gone with the clown felon bit, but it seemed like a pretty easy thing to joke about. Besides, who knew what any of them really were? It wasn't her job to judge.

But this woman was really putting her to shame, she needed to get back to the gym whenever she got home. "Oh me?" She grinned. This was a situation where she could tell some truths while still having it sound like just a joke.

"Just a shoe store owner. But before that, I was a super spy. And before that, I was a fairytale princess. I always like keeping my options open."