Round 1 - Preparation Stage

[gameannouncer]

Introduction
There was a drum roll and as you entered into this world. You are surrounded by cheering crowds, bright lights and cameras. You have just been announced as a tribute for a specific district and this begins your adventure into the Games Arena.

There is a lot to do before the Arena opens. The audience must be informed of all your vital stats so they can place their bets. Are you going to win because you're the strongest? Are you going to win because you're sneaky and smart? You won't see any of that however. The next few weeks are going to be filled with the following:

[Please thread below in any or all of the locations. It would help if the subject of the top level comment could list where the tribute is just so it makes it easier for other characters to tag in.]

Training Arena
There is everything that you could ever need in the training area. There are teachers around 24/7 who will be more than happy to teach you the skills needed in the Arena.

Such as: hunting, wilderness survival, tying knots, camouflage, botany, weapons use, general fitness experts and anything else you believe may be required.

It might save your life to go to at least one of these tutorials. There are also gyms and equipment which will help you focus on specific skills such as climbing, swimming and anything you may think of. 

In this Training Arena, you will have access to any weapons your character may have back home in canon. They will only be available in the training arena so you must leave them behind when you leave here and when you make your way to the arena. 

There are also public and private training facilities so you can choose whether you want to show everyone your skills or hide everything until the arena stage.

Rule: Any tributes that physically attack each other before entering the arena will be punished upon the games beginning. This is announced to the tributes as they are released to their own devices.

Publicity Shoots
It is up to your prep team to make sure the public love you. That's what they get paid for. As Battle Royale is school themed, you will be taking lots of school based photo shoots in the following uniform:


Look familiar? Well, in this game it doesn't matter whether you're in the white or black uniform so take your pick at whatever you think will look nicer. These will be the uniforms that you enter the arena in. This may be your last chance to look pretty and your last chance to be remembered.

Private Dorms
At the end of each day, you have your own room to retire back to. Each district has an entire floor to themselves and each floor has two giant dorm rooms.

There is room service for each dorm room and you can order whatever you want. Really, anything. You're about to go to your death so you might as well enjoy the remainder of your life. You are free to go to each other's rooms if you want to visit. Make friends, make enemies, or scout out your competition.

These rooms are state of the art. You have a large shower where it feels like the water is coming from multiple directions and a range of fancy soaps, shampoos etc. You can even choose to have a bubble bath if you want.  The bed is large and covered with the blankets and sheets your character most adores. There is also a giant wardrobe with any outfit you would like to wear available at a touch of a button.

Each tribute will also have 2 avoxes following them around when they are in the private dorm area to get them whatever they need and clean up after them.

Private Social Area
There is a living space with games, other hobbies and an eatery for people who don't want to eat in the solitude of their dorms. But why aren't you in the training hall trying to make sure you stay alive in the arena? This is where you'll find out the gossip of where you are, what's going on. You can speak to your prep team to learn about why you're here, what your role is and the fact that you're probably going to be dead in a month. And probably at the hands of the person eating at the next table and smiling innocently at you.

Other
You are welcome to create anywhere else you want to be. Want to watch a movie? Go ahead. Want to visit a library? Yeah sure. The Game Creation team have designed a little city for you to play in before you enter the Arena so if you are certain that an extra day in the training facility won't make you live much longer anyway? Might as well go out and enjoy yourself. It's on me.

Note: Wherever you are or whatever you're doing, there is a chance that your actions will probably get broadcasted to the public on TV.  

Comments

training area

[alienates]

[ karkat, of course, witnesses the strange event.

after he finally, finally, stopped fighting with everyone of authority in the area, he decided to actually see what this place has to offer. he goes from station to station, rudely commenting on everything as he tried it all out because honestly? they all suck in comparison to his sweet sickle. why even bother with other weapons.

it's when he's fiddling with a bow and arrow (he has zero intention of actually using it because it reminds him too much of equius) when he... sees the portal. curious, he drops the items in his hand and walks on over. ]

So, was that a space thing? Or... void? Shit, sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the two aspects.

[tornaway]

[the sudden voice behind her startles her just a bit. she whips around a little faster than she'd have liked; to be caught in a moment of confusion and weakness like this isn't exactly ideal. if she had been in any other state of mind, she might have been more curious about Karkat's noticeably less-than-human appearance (she'd wanted to ask since his and Nepeta's introductions in the beginning), but... she's more than a little distracted at the moment. there's a hesitance in her voice, a metered kind of uncertainty in her phrasing.]

It... was something that shouldn't have happened. I don't know how it did.

[she's being cagey and vague about the issue, yes, but she's not lying, either. (again, she'd be more curious about this "aspect" thing, but. other pressing matters.) she thought she'd lost the power to control tears when... well, she'd died back in her world. Karkat might not be getting the answers he's looking for any time soon, if he's ever going to at all.]

[alienates]

Oh. [ he squints at her slightly. normally he would not really give a fuck about some powers that a person who has zero relation to him would have, but this girl is going to be facing against him soon? he has no idea if she's an actual good person or maybe some psychopath who has no problems with killing a few people. either way, gathering as much intel as possible is the way to go.

so. what the fuck was that. ]

Yeah sure that makes complete sense. Thanks for solving that mystery for me. All of my curiosity has been completely and utterly sated.

[tornaway]

[Elizabeth isn't usually one to be snippy, but she can be if provoked. Karkat's sarcasm puts a heavy frown on her face, her brow furrowed. she's still a little disoriented from the shock, but she can at least respond appropriately to being sassed.]

Don't you think I'd have an answer if I knew?

[...that was admittedly a bit on the defensive side, she realizes after the fact. while she does know what it was, she legitimately doesn't know how it happened... but if she really could control them again, could it be an advantage in the arena—her ace in the hole? she can't share information like that so openly. a part of her feels terrible to have had that thought in the first place, of actually planning to participate in this farce, but... she still has to be prepared in some way.

she might have some preemptive remorse about the whole thing, but she doesn't know if anyone else does.]

[alienates]

[ karkat is pretty sure she has an answer, it's just that she won't tell him. which... he can't really fault her for. if they're all going to have to go around killing each other, then why would you give up your skill set so easily to your enemies?

he can't fault her, but he can still be goddamn annoyed that she won't talk though. ]

You'd have an answer. Maybe not for me, seeing as you're probably going to be trying to skewer me or whatever the fuck your weapon of choice is later. But I've got my eye on you, lady, you and your weird potential space slash void slash who the fuck knows powers.

[tornaway]

[she may not appear to be dangerous at first glance, but he's wise to say that. she doesn't think of him as an enemy—she still hasn't completely accepted the mindset of "wow, these people might actually try to kill me next week"—but... he's definitely not making friends with her. which may also be the smart thing to do.

raising an eyebrow, she coolly asks:]

Do you think I'm a threat?

[alienates]

[ this is a delicate matter, and it could potentially affect how his experience in the actual arena will go. karkat should heavily consider how to answer elizabeth, while weighing the pros and cons of each response that comes to mind. ]

Of course I consider you a threat, what the fuck kind of question is that? [ or he can say that.

hopefully nepeta is actually doing a better job at befriending people than he is, jegus. ]

How am I supposed to know whether or not I can trust you? We barely know each other! You could be all friendly one minute-- not like you have been, by the way, you've been unhelpful as fuck-- and the next you could stab me in the back. And believe me, I have met so many traitorous assholes that at this point I'd just be like, "Ha ha ha, that rascal! She just murdered the fuck out of me, just as expected! How charming!"

[tornaway]

[jesus ok Karkat. she's startled for a bit at the intensity of his response, her eyes wide as he speaks—rants, really. but once he finishes, they narrow once again. she can't say he's wrong; in fact, it's a perfectly logical way of looking at things. he's described a legitimate tactic, which, while she's not planning to employ, could very well be something others may be using. she can at least give credit to him for being honest about his feelings.]

Fair enough. [she could leave it at that, and she's tempted to. but she continues:] I hope you realize that even though none of us are here to make friends, yelling at others like that is a good way to make enemies.

[... she honestly doesn't feel that way toward him, annoying as he may have been, but again, that doesn't mean others wouldn't consider him a target as a result.]

[alienates]

[ ok but yelling at others is literally how he made all of his friends. it has obviously worked for him so far, so why change it up now? well, aside from the fact that his life is now on the line and his fate depends on all of these other tributes, but. except for that small fact, karkat sees no reason to change how he operates. ]

This is literally how I always talk, human. You shouldn't be so culturally insensitive. I'm starting to think you're alienist.

[tornaway]

[for a brief second, she takes him seriously, and her past naivety shines through with confusion evident in her expression. she suppresses it relatively fast, though, with the stern look returning in its place. congrats to him that he got to break her at all, I guess??

flatly, she replies,] I think you just like to get on people's nerves.

[alienates]

[ and people say he's bad at trolling.

karkat crosses his arms defensively, even though she is absolutely right in that fact. he probably would be acting this hostilely if he wasn't already in such a sour mood regarding the whole situation though. ]

Please. If I was truly attempting to get on your nerves, you would definitely know. I'm just trying to keep my defenses up. Unlike most of the people here, I actually have more than just my self to take care of. That's a lot of fucking pressure, okay?

[tornaway]

[she raises her eyebrow a little at that. he'd come across as a little self-centered, and she could definitely see him as the type to only worry about that. but this is a new revelation. there is his district partner, the other... "troll," she thinks they're called?]

More than just yourself?

[alienates]

[ shit he gave away too much.

actually, no, there is no way nepeta isn't telling everyone that they're friends so there is no point in hiding that he knows her. ]

Yes. For your information, since you are one nosy human, I was brought here with my best friend [ karkat stop ] and we are going to win this game together. Like best friends fucking do.

[ he is fully aware that the chances of both of them getting out of this are very low. ]

[tornaway]

[she's silent for a moment. it's quite a noble thing to say; he's just full of surprises, she guesses. trolls sure are weird... but then again, couldn't the same be said of humans? she allows herself to relax a little, a bit of the edge taken off her voice.]

That might be the first thing you've said that I can respect.

[she realizes it's kind of a dick thing to say—maybe Karkat rubbed off on her a little while they've been talking—but at least she's telling the truth??]

[alienates]

Wow, fucking great. Because that's what I have been looking forward to here. Your respect, very specifically yours. Thanks... wait. Who are you?

[ he... figures he should probably know who all these people are since they might be trying to kill him? maybe introductions should be a thing that should happen. ]

[tornaway]

[yet another weird thing to ask. her surprise at this point is mostly due to her not being able to gauge Karkat's reactions. she's never thought of herself as a particularly good people reader, but she didn't think she was this bad...]

Elizabeth. I don't think I got your name, either.

[may as well play along, right? no harm in that; they're not in the arena yet.]