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

[grapeeater]

... Just one person. She called me a Kamen Rider? She seemed to know vaguely what Armored Riders were, which is... weird.

What about you?

[dancermai]

Oh! You mean Hiyori? She's been so nice to me and we've talked a few times.

[If there was anything suspicious about that girl, Mai hasn't picked it up. In fact, they've eaten together before and had wonderfully cheerful conversations.]

I've also talked to the other girl in my district and Nepeta...

[She's been actually making a few friends, sadly.]

[grapeeater]

I guess. She was very strange.

[Mmm... well.]

You've always been good about making friends... and charming people. Sometimes I think you don't realize just how easily you do it.

[dancermai]

[She smiles at the thought and shakes her head in response.]

I don't think so. There's this one person I talked to...

[She leans back in the seat and stares up towards the ceiling now as she speaks.]

I think he'd kill me as soon as he got the opening.

[grapeeater]

[He frowns at that. He thought there might be someone like that. He sets his fork down and leans against Mai.]

This place... is ruthless. It only makes sense that there'd be some people like that here, too.

[dancermai]

[She sighs quietly, not really wanting to talk any more about what their future was going to hold. Instead, they were having a nice moment here now. She just wanted to feel everything this moment could give her for now.]

So...did your prep team give you the white uniform or the black uniform?

[There was a shy smile to her now, wondering what Micchy would look like in such a formal outfit compared to what she usually saw him wearing.]

[grapeeater]

Ah... the white one. It looked a bit like my usual school uniform, actually. It was comfortable. I didn't mind the publicity shots, really.

[dancermai]

[She answer made her smile brightly.]

I wore the same uniform!

[It's the little things that you need to focus on in moments like this after all. The small bits of happiness.]

I want to see you wearing the cute uniform, Micchy. I bet it'll get you all the sponsors.

[grapeeater]

Maybe they'll show us the pictures later. You probably look really nice in yours. I bet your picture will be better for that.

[dancermai]

Promise that you'll show me the photos if they give them to you.

[She tugs at his arm playfully and then laughs. This almost felt...normal. Like they were back in their garage with the rest of the team.]

Do you think...the team are missing us...? I...I hope they don't find out where we are.

[grapeeater]

I will.

[He pulls his arm around her gently.]

... I'm sure they'll be okay.

[Until everything happens...]

[dancermai]

[She allows herself to be pulled up against him, closing her eyes and relaxing into this light embrace. Micchy has always been the reliable one in their team. The smart one.]

We'll win this, Micchy...we'll get home...

[grapeeater]

Yeah. You'll get back there, and everyone will be really happy to see you...

[He strokes her hair gently, trying not to shake. He's... afraid, but what's more important is keeping Mai alive so she can get home.]

[dancermai]

[The attention is very comforting but there is a small part of Mai that feels a hint of guilt. It feels like she's taking advantage of him here and she wanted to give back all of the support that he's been able to give to her since their arrival. She needs to get stronger and be able to protect as well as be protected.]

You'll come back with me...we'll find a way. We'll both get back.

Everybody wants to see you too.

[They'll figure it out. They have to.]

[grapeeater]

[He hesitates, and just lets out a slow breath.]

Just concentrate on surviving. Maybe we can work on dodging tomorrow. It's like dancing, in a way. Just knowing how to react to what comes at you...

[He feels vaguely guilty for redirecting the conversation, but it's not like telling her would help. It would be a very long conversation, and it wouldn't help her survive.]

[dancermai]

[She takes a deep breath and releases it in a soft sigh. Then there is a light smile while she allows herself to laugh at the turn in the conversation.]

Like dancing...

[At least she'll be able to use something she's good at. It would be a nice change of pace to do something she's done before.]

We can have a break and practice our routine too?

[grapeeater]

A little...

[He sighs, and... allows himself a sad smile.]

I haven't danced in a while. It might be nice... just... don't mind me being a little rusty.

[dancermai]

[She laughs in response and shakes her head.]

No...you can't be rusty, Micchy! You came to practise all the time with us and we even had our own little solo in the routine.

[grapeeater]

Mai... like I said. It's been a while for me. I...

[He glances down.]

I haven't danced in almost a year.

[dancermai]

[Her eyes widen in surprise.]

A...A year! Wait but just last we--...

[She trails off, slowly remembering all this strange information that Micchy had told her previously. Information that sounded like he came from the future. It was strange but...it would fit? The frown is evident on her face as she's trying to piece it together. She'll probably never understand to be honest.]

Then...you really did leave our team?

[grapeeater]

... Things changed at home. I don't... really know how to explain it all, just that things have changed. And you need to cherish the time you have with the team when you get back.

[They'd made it out, but...]

The Inves Battles are very dangerous. More than you even realize. Not everyone is what they seem.

[dancermai]

[She looks down at her hands, the very same hand that held onto the lockseed. How could those little virtual creatures have been so dangerous? The thought of that sounded almost ridiculous but when Micchy spoke, his tone was so serious that she had no reason to doubt him.]

I want to cherish the time that I have with you here now...

[grapeeater]

... We don't really have a lot of time to do that. We need to make sure you can survive the arena...

[dancermai]

We can just...not think about the arena for a little while.

[This one thought that was constantly looming over them was beginning to wear everybody down.]

Do something different..

[grapeeater]

Yeah... we could go for a walk or something. It'd be nice to... just kind of watch the clouds or something.