~ Tнє Pαяα∂σχ Hσυѕє ~ now back to regularly scheduled chaos

She'd been sleeping before blinking in, so of course, things were a bit hazy and very wobbly when she was forced upright. Fortunately, being woken up abruptly wasn't an abnormality. The cold was- everything felt chilly, chilly and crisp and uncomfortable. Shade opened her eyes to metal flying past her- downward, she realized. The platform she was on seemed to be what was sending cold shuddering through her- the one downside to being barefoot all the time. Lifting one hand, she set it gently onto the glass, tapping on it with one long nail and frowning thoughtfully at the very confined little tube she was in. Oh dear. Hopefully this wasn't some sort of horrendous loop of insanity the house had cooked up.

Welcome, Speaking of... The voice only cemented the chill she was already feeling, shoving a prickly chill up her spine and over her shoulders. After hearing the voice, her eyes flickered around the little tube, trying to find where it had come from. Was it the house? Or someone enrolled to speak through a microphone? But technology didn't work here, she remembered, and there was no such device to be seen. Her eyes narrowed and her ears flattened. You have been specially selected for this room. Ah, so it was the house, then.

When you reach the top, you must wait on the plate for one minute before proceeding with the room. She sighed with relief, at least theres a top.
Your goal, you might ask? In this room, it's very simple. Survive. Succeed. Be the last one standing. Do whatever it takes for that to happen. Whatever it takes.

That made her stiff with uneasiness. Survive? An obstacle course, maybe? That sounded fine, she could do that. But... "The last one standing," made something in the pit of her stomach squeeze and churn. Who would be in here with her? Hopefully nobody she knew... Shutting her eyes tight, she breathed out through her nose. Whether they were strangers or not didn't really matter. This was still giving her a strong, growing stronger feeling of dread.

Sudden light made her grimace and stumble into the back of the tube and shield her eyes, squinting through the light as it broke through the glass. When finally her eyes adjusted, she looked around the now visible terrain, and her jaw dropped when she saw who was with her. Some she recognized, some she didn't... But there were so many people. Oh no. Oh no...

Wait...

She peered closer at one of the tubes across from her and her heart skipped a beat on its way into her throat.

There was Hook.

Relief hit her like a wave, heavy and hard but ever so soothing as it washed over and warmed her until the chill was gone. She pressed herself against the glass facing him, smiling and lifting one hand to wave and try to get his attention, then jerking her chin towards her to see if she could get the idea across that they should team up.
This was good- everything would be okay now. She was still a bit anxious, truthfully, given Hooks reputation... But it would be fine, they had each other and it would go about as smoothly as things could go in the house. Frankly, with him there she wasn't particularly bothered about how things happened. Maybe it would be good for him; practicing being a pacifist.

HG room - Vincent and Hook

After living more than one lifetime on a vessel such as his, Hook could say with confidence, that he was an incredibly difficult person to make motion sick. Even now, when the floor spontaneously started to rise beneath him while mid-step, he managed to settle himself on the new surface with little trouble. In a moment of confusion, he looked to secure himself against the glass perimeter that encapsulated him - frowning when he saw it was slowly sinking past him with each second he inched closer and closer to whatever hell awaiting him.

While he was not a particularly patient man, he stayed still as he waited for the room to explain itself to him; and consequently, the sound of a voice stirred no reaction from the pirate. He was already busy looking up towards the exit he was quickly approaching, wondering if he could guess what it was before the room told him. He didn’t manage to guess correctly quick enough, however and as the words went on they slowly brought him to shut his eyes. Squeeze them shut, in fact, and his fist clenched at his sides. His jaw became locked into painfully firm position, a realization biting up his throat. He didn’t open his eyes until a haze of red and orange hit his eyelids, and he willed himself to open his gaze to a brightly lit arena.

Whatever it takes.

His chin dropped, and he looked over the arena with a stern expression. All these blinkers, and all these weapons, it was painfully obvious what this was going to turn into. He knew how these types of rooms worked, and he knew how these types of rooms ended. People stopped playing nice quick in these situations, whether the House had its part in it or not. Him staying clean, like he promised, wasn’t going to last long - and it wasn’t going to make the House happy. The House knew his instincts, and it knew he could put them to use in a room like this. Betraying the House’s expectations for him wasn’t going to be an option.
It wouldn’t be an option...

He repeated the thought in his head slowly, though it faded reluctantly as his vision focused on the blinker standing on the pedestal directly across from him. He opened his mouth to speak, to yell out to her, but the thoughts in his head caused him to bite down on whatever he was planning to say. They locked eyes, and now she was beckoning him towards her, expecting him to join her in this endeavor. She was glad to see that he was going to be around help her...but he knew he couldn’t. He wanted to nod back to her, but as his gaze slid across the others in the room his stomach sunk. People stopped playing nice quick in these situations...and half of this place wanted him dead. Guilt churned in his stomach as he looked back at her, his eyes wide. It took him a moment, a moment he spent staring blankly at her, until the last of his senses finally clicked into clarity; and he firmly shook his head.

He was an extremely hard person to make motion sick, but the pirate suddenly felt ill.

—

Vincent was not a particular fan of tight spaces, and both hands were pressed against opposing sides of the glass around him almost the instant he arrived. Pale eyes moved across his isolated pedestal for a moment, resting steadily ahead of him as a voice began to speak. Nausea swelled in his stomach with each word that was said, though he stared forward with no expression. Showing fear, more so than ever, was going to get him killed in a room like this.

When he was finally standing level on the ground of the arena, his posture had returned to it’s usual lax and his usual smile was on his lips. He brought up his hand and pulled his fingers through his hair, taking in a breath of the forest air. Then, dropping his hand with a soft exhale, he went to work. Every blinker in this room was going to play a role in this room, whether it was getting killed, or them killing others - what he needed to do, was find who he wanted to keep him alive, and who was going to live long enough to do it.

Myrnin, amusing as he was, would get him killed one way or another. Hange, who seemed innocent enough, was unreliable in this situation. L was just as defenseless as he was. Dipper, he was child, but their relationship had been set up for the sole purpose of benefiting him in this kind of room. The Doctor was too arrogant for him to tolerate. Aizawa was no friend, but the teacher seemed like he could survive. Enjolras was a fool, but people liked him, and he had the spirit of a fighter. And Daud, well...

He saw the man on one of the pedestals near him and grinned, turning a suggestive glance towards the goodies in the middle of the arena. He then faced the assassin once more, weight casually set back on his heels. “Will you manage without me around to take your fall?” He mused, winking to him with a chuckle. The smile remained, though slowly became more menacing as he looked back to the pile. No firearms...what a shame. He’d have to make due somehow.

Myrnin | Lodge | Rex and Touka

The only way that Myrnin could have possibly been slammed against the wall by Rex was if Myrnin had let him. That's exactly what he had done, a small whimper issuing from his mouth. Not because Rex had hurt him, that seemed very unlikely, but Touka had disappeared. Both physically, and whatever attempt he'd been making to reach her psychically.
Gone.
Rex's words flowed in and out of his head without really touching the sides. He could comprehend the soldier's expression, of course. One of intense anger and pain. It was the same anger and pain he felt, though it wasn't directed at any person in the House. The fact that Rex was mad at him didn't really seem to resister his confused mind, and even his hold wasn't something which worked into Myrnin's head as anger. Instead, the vampire broke down sobbing, large tears pooling at the edge of his eyes, and he leaned toward Rex, arms wrapping around his shoulders in a desperate sort of hug.
She was gone. One of his best friends and she was gone. He hadn't lost anyone in so long. They just ... stopped coming. But Touka? This hurt. He'd been around since she was small. It made him feel small.
The emotions, what he had attempted to share with Touka, spilled over. His eyes, while the edges of them were bleeding the same tears, weren't red with emotions. They were a pale, washed out view. Like someone had wrung them out of most of their colors.
His sobs were verbal, wet things, and it seemed like strength had been drained from his limbs. He was almost using Rex to hold himself up. His chest felt empty. His head more so. Emotions were flowing out of him like a water faucet poured away its content. Nothing remained. It was all bottled up and then shaken out, Myrnin's thoughts spiraling out of control.
Maybe it was only then that part of Rex's words reached him. His emotions and thoughts seemed to snap back into place.
He wasn't sure if Rex had been able to feel any of the waves of love and sadness which had been meant for Touka, but they rolled back up inside of Myrnin and he was left too full. His tongue was tied up in his throat, but he just clung, limp, to Rex, still crying softly. He wasn't sure he even had strength to contradict Rex. If he even could. He hadn't been able to hug Touka for real. He hadn't been able to look at her. All he'd been able to be was be present, as best as he could.
But he couldn't work that in.

Hunger Games Room | Kelsier

Jump. Kick. Slice. Stab.
Kelsier was fighting three Hazekillers at the same time, and he thought he was winning. One of them went down on their knees for just a second, fear flashing in their eyes, and he swung his glass dagger forward about to catch them in the throat.
And then that was all gone, and he was in a tight space.

Too tight.

“House….” he growled, voice tight with warning, and yes, even fear. It always reminded him of Hathsin, spaces this small and cramped, and he felt his heart start to beat faster as he realized he was trailed. He stretched out his arms and hit glass walls, encircling him completely in a small tube that was….wait.

Was he moving?

Welcome.

Kelsier whipped around, but the voice was coming out of nowhere and everywhere. The House. The House was speaking to him personally? No, that didn’t make sense, there had to be others here, all probably in the same predicament as he was, stuck in a tube and zooming upwards. He reached for his glass dagger, but his hands met air and he frowned.

You have been specially selected for this room.

“No way.” He snarled sarcastically, and hit the glass as hard as he could, flaring pewter. A moment later he regretted it, since whatever was coming would probably need all the metals he could get, and he only had one vial left. Or did he. Would that be considered a weapon? He checked, and exhaled through his teeth in relief as his fingers brushed the vial of metals, untouched in his pocket. He was going to need that, he knew he was.

When you reach the top, you must wait on the plate for one minute before proceeding with the room. Your goal, you might ask? In this room, it's very simple. Survive. Succeed. Be the last one standing. Do whatever it takes for that to happen. Whatever it takes.

He breathed in sharply as his head came above the grass, yes, grass. Then the rest of him, and the plate slowly came to a stop. His eyes flicked towards the other frightened faces he saw, some pale and looking a bit ill, some flashing back at him. At least he could breathe again, and better than ever in this open air untouched by ash. He looked around, letting himself wonder in its beauty for a long few minutes, before the words sank in.

“No.” He said softly. He wouldn’t fight these people for the House’ sick enjoyment. He wouldn’t stain his hands with more innocent blood, he absolutely refused this time. He may not have been around for the other room on many people’s minds, but he had killed Nico once, and that was more than enough for him.

Nico. Was he here? Kelsier hoped not, he really hoped not, the boy didn’t deserve this. Then again, he doubted anyone here deserved any of this. He scanned the group of faces, recognizing few of them, and then his eyes landed on the weapons and he stiffened.

At least he found out where his dagger went.

Hunger Games Room | L

L reached out without looking behind him, reaching to take the ice cream cone Watari was offering him. And then suddenly he wasn’t.
He drew back his arm as it slammed into a smooth, circular surface and shook it, wincing. He hated it when things didn’t go as he expected them to, and blinking was nothing if not unexpected. He turned, looking for a way out of this...glass tube? That was going up? There seemed to be no way out, however, and though he didn’t give up exactly, he did realize that whatever was out there might not be all the worth leaving for. There could be packs of starving wild dogs in that darkness, for all he knew, and he didn’t really want to test the House if he could help it.

Then he heard the words, and his whole body went still, even though he’d come out and was standing in open air now. Faces surrounded him, some familiar and others not. He scanned his surroundings carefully, and then he saw the supplies in the center of the arena.

Yes, the arena. He recognized what this was. This was the Arena Room all over again, this was the House deciding it wasn’t done with them. Why not, when there were so many things left to work out? He looked, and yes, there was Myrnin, standing on a plate not far away. Of course he was here. And after L felt he’d reached some kind of understanding with him in the Jenga Room. He stared at the vampire, eyes dark and unreadable, and then he looked back at the timer.

One minute wasn’t long. He knew it would be over soon, and this time, he was at the start of the room, which meant he was going to die a lot faster. He was mortal, he was human, he didn’t have powers. The best he could do was kick really hard. And he didn’t even have any candy to fuel him.

He wasn’t accepting his death just yet, though. He positioned his feet to run for the supplies, knowing he wouldn’t last long without them, and forced himself to relax. He could move faster if he wasn’t tense, after all. Then he looked directly at Myrnin, and smiled a little. It was the most encouraging expression he could make.

Rex | Lodge | Myrnin

Rex broke down further as Myrnin began to cry. The weight of holding Myrnin up suddenly seemed to become too much and together they sank to the ground. His words caught in his throat as he cried, half clinging to Myrnin despite wanting nothing more than to punch him. It hadn't been about them. It had been about Touka. Nobody was supposed to go alone if it could be prevented. Myrnin cheated her of that, because Rex couldn't remember her.

He knew his life. He knew that any blink could be his last. He knew he was going to die. When he died, who would be there to remember Touka? She had to be remembered, and now the only ones who knew what had happened to her were an expendable soldier racing blindly toward the end of his life and the vampire who would live forever. And the only one of them who could carry her forever had abandoned her when she needed him most.

Rex hated Myrnin, even as he cried into his shoulder.

Hunger Games Room

Ononoki's golden colored hat appeared first as the doll girl rose out of her designated tube. She was told by a booming voice over a speaker that she was not to move off her platform until one minute was up, and it was apparent from the invisible forcefield around her that she could not move off of the platform even if she wanted too. While other blinkers squinted their eyes in the light, Ononoki stared with unblinking eyes ahead of her. Luckily, the House had positioned them so that if they stood still from their starting point, they would already be facing the cornucopia. She evaluated it from afar with her hands at her sides, standing straight as a pole with no notion of affect. Just another room. Just another situation others must have gotten her into, that she would have to get out of.

Last one standing.

Did that mean she could kill the others, and get out of this place faster?
She considered it long and hard, but she did not need even the entire minute of waiting on that forsaken platform to determine that no, she would not be killing the others. She would not be killing anyone unless it was in self-defense, or the defense of someone else.
Ononoki's pigtails swayed with a turn of her head. Someone else to defend? She spotted several people she recognized, but most notable was The Doctor. She had begun to form a bond with that one, and it would be a shame to see her go.
These were the thoughts that streamed through Ononoki's head, flowing in and out like the wind. Not one thought entered or left that had to do with how she would survive, if she would run, or where she would go.

Aizawa | Hunger Games | yall

The ground beneath Aizawa's feet raced upwards, carrying him up. His hand immediately snatched for his capture weapon, only to grasp empty handed at his neck. Looking down sharply, he found all of his weapons and gadgets gone.

Welcome.
You have been specially selected for this room.


Aizawa's eyes narrowed sharply. Was this the voice of the 'House'?


When you reach the top, you must wait on the plate for one minute before proceeding with the room. Your goal, you might ask? In this room, it's very simple. Survive. Succeed. Be the last one standing. Do whatever it takes for that to happen. Whatever it takes.

He decidedly did not like the sound of that. Reaching the top, he found himself encased in a glass tube. Other people were placed in a circle around a cache of what seemed to be weapons and supplies in the center. He recognized some of the others. Others, most of them, he did not. Even so, he didn't like the sound of this scenario. A gladiator battle, for lack of a better descriptor. Aizawa's brows drew together fractionally as he caught sight of children in other tubes. As much as he would like to believe that the good in people would come out here, he knew it wouldn't.

Desperate people did desperate things.


--

Daud | Hunger Games | yall

The world shifted from a dark alley to a glass tube racing up. Immediately he noticed he was several pounds lighter and missing all of his weapons. Frowning, he clenched his fist. The Outsider's mark flared beneath his glove. A smirk settled on his face as he listened to the announcement. Specially chosen? Of course. The House knew his worth. He had gotten away with its last test.

Stopping at the surface, Daud quickly scanned the surrounding area. His gaze caught on Vincent, the smirk playing more freely on his lips as he heard the taunt. No, he didn't need Vincent for this one. This looked like it would be a much more free fight between everyone. His eyes narrowed at the pile of weapons.

No. Everyone would rush to get a weapon first. His fight with Touka and Myrnin had humbled him only slightly. He would escape into the forest and come back later for a weapon. He might not get his first pick, but there seemed to be plenty to choose from and Daud wasn't picky in the slightest. Besides, he could gain better weapons as he took others out.

The bloodbath that awaited the restless participants was only just beginning, in a matter of moments it would be displayed in its full horror. On the other hand there was another room much like the other, that was ready for the pool of individuals to reside in. Within this one room were four white, pristine walls plastered with highly defined screens displaying the woodland landscape that seemed unending to the visible eye. Not only did this room have various screens but the inclusion of chairs and stands with platters of sweet concoctions scattered throughout the area. The chairs were made from what one would see as white leather, the inside furnished by a dark velvet fabric. Luxurious as they appeared it there was a sickeningly strong smell of pine needles, akin to that of where the grand event was happening.

Unfortunately, this room would be experienced by many, the first being Eddie who was peering forth into a dark glass now switched out for the stark white setting. “Maria?” He called out hoarsely both his hands on the distinctly bright screen. He flinched at how damned bright the whole environment was - he quickly removed himself from the screen as the stench of the fragrance hit him full blast.

Welcome

Recoiling at the quick changes he grabbed the collar of his hoodie pulling it over his nose. Annie would get some nice candles to place around their apartment but the cat would keep knocking them off the shelves. The close but distant memory came with a pang of regret, a longing for what was once was his. “Look, if you want me to leave I will!” The reporter yelled back at the monotone voice lowering his ragged clothing down. His ego was already torn, why shred it to smaller pieces? He had been caught, that was how these things with the Life Foundation worked. “Go destroy someone else’s life!”

You have been specially selected for this room. When you reach the top, you must wait on the plate for one minute before proceeding with the room.

To say his blood turned cold was an understatement as whatever predicament he landed himself in was bigger than he assumed. Had the Life Foundation hid away another cruel act up their sleeve? That accursed voice didn’t match up from anything in his memory but the screens shifted to some plot of land. “Oh [oops!].” Eddie said softly once catching the familiar faces of a four legged friend of his. “Vicky, what did you get yourself into?” To see the wolf drew him back again to the aforementioned screen, his mind drawing a blank as to how she could have been found. Drake had power over the crash site from a while back that’s why the samples turned up missing, its a no brainer he would go after living beings. Animals were no shocker but grabbing people from the streets wasn't either. How far would they be willing to go?

Along with odd individuals he stared at. A scraggly bunch they were especially the guy with a hook, wondering if the scientists did that cruelly to him. The homeless were his main goal to help, not many people would ever pick their side over corporations like the one that took him down. Given the chance he could get the man to come forward to the authorities with the story of how he was forcefully abducted. Another squinted glance Eddie lost the color in his face at how appalling this all was. “Take me instead.” He said under his breath closing his eyes. “Kids? Are you kidding me!?” To be covering all sorts of stories hardened one's nerves but this was an all time low. Disgust turned to anger, towards those who sided with the corporation’s desires to carry out this violation against humanity.The voice resumed its dull cadence in accordance with the timing.

Your goal, you might ask? In this room, it's very simple. Survive. Succeed. Be the last one standing. Do whatever it takes for that to happen. Whatever it takes.

“Take me!” Eddie pleaded urgently at the screen grabbing it by the edge which held its ground being attached to the wall. Unbeknownst to him the time faded away the minute felt like a hellish eternity. Gosh at times he could be dense, he was starting to find that out, evidently his cries went unanswered. There was more to the screens as the three other walls each panning in and out on the expression of those standing on their assigned plate. “Please, take me instead.” Moments ago he was furious at what was happening under his nose, the angry shell of a man now withered into a mourning one. The disheveled man bore his gaze into the strikingly clear monitor, his hands loosen their grip shakily. The bracelets on his wrist jingled making contact with the hard surface of the wall, Eddie’s daze held a tight grip on his mind. A friday night like this should have been spent moping in a shady lab wasting his life for a dead end career instead he was moping, watching at something he could have prevented.

At the beginning of this torture he wanted to find a lost friend but now he’d have to identify the bodies of those on screen later. Was this what they stuck Maria in that cruddy little cell for this purpose? “It should have been me…”



Monsters roamed the cheap candy store forcing the young boy to duck under a shelf of merchandise. Across the aisle he saw one of the skeleton heads erupt in laughter with the other following in pursuit. His eyes widened when a long black limb stretched out forward into his direction, a part of him wondered if the beast would really go through with hunting them. In his head, a series of thoughts took him by storm. In the blink of an eye the fearful blinker was crouched shoulders tense at the situation he was dropped in.

Dipper saw a slick tube flash in front of him replacing the monster that called itself the Summerween Trickster, the danger he brought on the group had trapped them in a lame store. Within that store his sister of all people couldn’t pick a better time to be mad at him - for candy! He frowned, he had been getting the group out and trying to raise their spirits clearly not having to deal with what presented itself as house business. “You couldn’t have picked a better time?” He sighed deeply raising his bare bone arms in defeat.

The voice had been blubbering about being chosen, even if he was special. The house managed to butt in like always forcing the blinkers to play pretend. He reasoned it would only take a hot minute which the house had also mentioned as the same time he thought about it. As any young fool would he looked around in stuper rising from his position to touch the glass. There wasn’t enough room to break it, whatever was holding him from going he couldn’t help to breath at the lack of monsters around him. Yeah, survival was hard with whatever the house would throw at them but with the stuff going down in his world it would be a piece of cake! Besides, if he wasn’t the only one around they could help each other “survive” until the house sent them back where they should be no harm no foul.

Goosebumps arose all over once his own platform came to the top seeing who exactly the voice had been warning him about. Not a warning per say but a reminder of what kind of dog eat dog world the house had just dropped him in. The sound logic blinkers helping each other had gone out the window. Of course seconds kicked by he couldn’t help but to cross his arms craning his neck to see those close to him. Many faces he had not known of until now, some friend, some foe, and some weird.

There stood a rabid blinker off in the distance who matched that of McGucket’s raccoon, whose name he had on the tip of his tongue. Such a sight caused him to frown deeper, shooting shifty glances around the strange hub to catch sight of a certain somebody. Then another one who had threatened as most adults saw fit, universally it would seem, none other than Myrnin. Vampires were a pain when it came to blood loss according to multiple sources, well, that and some dragons he saw at the corner of his eye. Certain blinkers he found worth talking to were there on the brightside. There was Will who knew a basic version of D&D - he could forgive him for the name if it was homebrewed. Vincent who was that type of guy to slack off, like a sauve version of Soos. Desiring to see Mabel again they’d be the key to crack this room wide open maybe the three could hang out after this show blows over.

Of course, there were obviously some questionable pairs and grudges he’d come across in the house. Maybe he was standing near one of them yet his mind was on set to get this over with quickly. That being said he patted the inside of his vest idly to pass the time away to find at his own dismay an empty pocket. He casted a concerned look down at the inner pocket prodding it with a hand. Now there was a visible panicked glint in his gaze, a nagging voice at the back of his head he didn’t think of hearing. Trust no one was what had been hammered into him since the day he came across Journal 3. Precious time had been wasted, the others were obviously peeved, and one of his prized possessions had been taken from his person. That’s when he started hearing the pulse of his heart ringing in his ears reconsidering a previous thought. At heart he knew the truth ; he was surrounded by monsters. The author would agree one could never trust a monster.

Regretfully thinking about what a few others might have, they might have beaten him to the punch. Their eyes were basically targeted at the black cave where at the mouth sat many possesions some dear while others essential. Dipper’s eyes averted those who dared getting any signs of reassurance or any sign of a reaction. For those who had dared to look they would find a boy dead set on a mahogany journal emblazoned with a golden hand strewn about in the center. Unbeknownst to them he was going back to those he cared about, to reclaim the journal that would mean the world to him, whether they liked it or not.

Orpheus’ eyes – as they tended to be when he blinked in – were closed, his fingers strumming lightly over the strings of his guitar. A peaceful smile was on his face, though it was one that wouldn’t last long, especially as the harsh metallic voice broke through his concentration. His eyes snapped open and his fingers drifted down from his guitar to the floor, where he pushed himself to his feet.

“No,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. There was someone else in the room, though he could still see the screen from where he stood. No. This was the bad part of the House that L had told him about. This was everything he had been afraid of, everything he had promised to fight against. These people were going to fight, and they were going to die, and he was here. He was helpless.

“This isn’t fair,” he pointed out to the House, though he knew the observation was less than helpful. The House had no doubt heard his promise to L, and decided to prove to him that it didn’t work like that. Well, Orpheus wasn’t backing down that easily, even as he neared the screen and took in all of the faces. So many of them… some he recognized, even. His gaze cause first on Kelsier, the brave man he’d solved… well, not exactly puzzles, but something close… with, who had seen the House try to steal his voice. It hadn’t succeeded then, though Orpheus was becoming more and more convinced it could have, if it had really wanted to. Then Arlo, who would probably be able to fend for herself given how long she had been there. Finally, he spotted pale skin and a mess of dark hair, a white shirt and baggy jeans. L.

He reached towards the screen, wishing he could reach down and help them, save them, but he… he was nobody. Who was he to think he could stop the whims of the House? Who was he to think he could save anybody, help even one person? He was here, and they were all there, moments away from fighting for their lives, and there was nothing he could do.

We’ll make it even, he had said, and meant it. He wasn’t going to give up now, but he wanted to. Because even if he were there in the middle of it with all of them… what could he possibly do? Who was he to think that anything he had to offer would make a difference in a world where fighting broke out often? Where it couldn’t be stopped by song? Who was he to exist here, in a world where it seemed that music wasn’t allowed to exist, and if it did it had no impact. For the first time, he felt voiceless.

L | Living Room | strider

If L could have heard Orpheus’ thoughts, he might have challenged a few of them. Such as, ‘wants and needs’ probably had little to do with this at all. Or at least, ‘needs.’ L thought that “wants” probably did play a bit of a role in this, or maybe a lot of one. But “needs”? Did the House need them? That wasn’t something he’d really considered before, the idea that they were more than toys here. If he could have read Orpheus’s mind, he would have asked what Orpheus meant.
But he couldn’t, so he didn’t.
L nodded, listening to Orpheus’ words with interest. “That’s the problem.” He agreed, thoughtfully. “There’s no good way to make an experiment, because there’s no way to check the results, at least, none that I’ve found out yet. It’s possible there’s a way I haven’t thought of, of course.”
He shook his head slightly. “I haven’t personally tried it.” He admitted. “Though it sounds fascinating. I suspect it has been tried already, but there’s no reason we couldn’t do it as well, in case it hasn’t.”
He was grateful to Orpheus for not asking what he meant. He didn’t really want to think about it at the moment, or ever really, though he couldn’t exactly avoid it forever and he knew it. Still, it was nice to just...talk, without having to bring up a lot of baggage.
“Please don’t apologize for having ideas.” The detective replied. “It’s unlikely that you’ll think of anything that hasn’t already been tried, but it’s not impossible. And if there was a way out of here, it would be unfortunate if someone were to think of it and never mention it for fear of being wrong.”
L’s life was built on mistrust, on being so careful not to make a mistake that missed opportunities were no longer a rare find. L’s life was built on him staying in apartment after apartment, moving around so no one could track down the greatest detective in the world. Because there were bad people out there, people who would love to get back at the man who had caused them so much trouble. There were people L had gotten caught who now roamed free and able to take revenge, if only they could find him. A game of cat and mouse, where they switched off between their roles.
He listened, nodding as Orpheus explained. “I’m sure they appreciate it.” He said softly, thinking of the music with the strange properties he’d heard the other man play. “I have a hunch that they’ll need you even more than they realize.”

Hange | Arena pt. 2 | here we go |

Hange heard someone shout, and their head turned abruptly, their eyes wide and wild as they locked on the source of the noise.

"Myr...ni...n." The word was halting and confused, like they'd forgotten how to form the sounds necessary to make up his name, and they squinted through the sun, momentarily distracted from their pain by the somewhat familiar person who had called them.

And then, the person threw something at them. Startled, they stumbled backwards and tripped, falling off the plate and onto the grass exactly one second after the end of the countdown. They hit the ground and rolled, ending up in a crouch, and scanned the clearing for a split second, before finding what they were looking for.

Woods.

In a flash they were gone, streaking at superhuman speed towards the cover of darkness, and then, through the trees. They would be out of strength first, they could feel that much...and once that happened, the sliver of sense they had left would desert them entirely. Get away. Get away. Get away. Get away.

Gin | Arena pt. 2 | here we go |

The instant the countdown ended, Gin sprinted off the platform, headed straight for the pile of weapons. If he could just get his sword....he reached the pile and began to dig, frantically flinging things aside until finally, his hand grasped a familiar smooth, wooden surface.

He pulled, and the sword came loose. He swung it around behind him instinctively, just in case there was someone coming up behind him, and his breathing died down to shallow, quick pants as he scanned the clearing, his gaze flitting over everyone in turn until he had an idea of who all was here. Any laziness in his eyes had vanished, replaced with a sharp, cold expression that made him look significantly more dangerous than he usually did. A plan. He needed a plan.

As far as he knew, everyone here was Amanto.

So, the plan was to run.  He turned and took off towards the woods, his sword held loosely at his side as he sprinted for cover.

The countdown was almost over, and Nico could feel the tension around him. He was terribly aware of the fact that everyone here was so alive. Even the vampires, even the immortals, they all had auras around them, and none of them deserved this. Not a one. The demigod’s heart stuttered at the realization that he was close enough to some of these people that he would feel it when they died. He would feel it like a knife in his own chest, like he was a balloon with his string cut. That was another thing about forming bonds with people, a side effect of his power. When the people he cared about died, it was like he was there, even when he was miles away. He felt the moment their heart stopped beating, or they stopped taking in breath, or, he supposed, in the case of vampires, their bodies just stopped functioning.

How many times would he die in this room? The least he could hope for was once. Somehow, the deaths of his friends hurt more than his own death ever would.

Nico twisted the ring on his finger around and around. 5. Deep breath in. 4. One last glance at the others in the room. The people who would all be dead by the end of this, with the exception of one. Who would it be? Nico wasn’t sure he wanted to know. 3. Breathe out, though it felt shallow and uncertain. 2. Nico remembered death. He had shaken its hand, had bid people farewell, but he had never lost anyone to it, other than Bianca. Other than himself. He might not lose anyone now, either, but it wasn’t a risk he wanted to take. 1. A strategy. He could see Kelsier’s glass dagger glinting just ahead of him, he knew he could reach it before the man did. If they could team up here… was that wishful thinking? Nico wasn’t sure he could tell the difference between delusion and reality anymore. 0.

Nico’s body moved of its own accord, launching off the platform and grabbing the dagger, though his own weapon was nowhere in sight. He had his powers to protect him, he’d be fine. His fist closed around the dagger and he looked up, trying to find Kelsier in the chaos. Trying to get it to him, to ask him to run with him… why? The question felt hollow. They were past wanting to kill each other, they had both saved each other, but why would Kelsier choose to ally with him here?

There were others he could go with. Victoria, or Myrnin… he had seen them both. He trusted them both with his life – with more than that, really. But now he was holding Kelsier’s dagger, and he wanted a do over. He wanted to prove they wouldn’t kill each other. And based on what he’d heard of other rooms… Myrnin wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice others if it meant the room ended more quickly. This was the House, turning them against each other. This was the House, sowing seeds of doubt. This was Nico, falling for it again.

The chaos was already erupting, and Nico couldn’t keep an eye on everyone at once. He had to find Kelsier, or he had to get out of there. Time was running short.



There was one thought in Will’s mind as the countdown wound down. Run. Get out of there. He didn’t have allies here, not really. There were people who were likely to go after him, and people that weren’t. The best course of action might, honestly, be to hide from both. His hands clenched into tiny fists at his side, and once the countdown hit zero… he froze. He couldn’t move. It was like his breath was stuck in his throat and he couldn’t get it out. He was going to die here. Really, truly die here.

Run! Jonathan’s voice sounded in his head, and finally it seemed like his body broke free of its spell, and he moved. It would be wisest to run away, since it seemed likely that plenty of people were going to go for the weapons, but Will had played D&D too often to be that foolish. He needed supplies, or he wouldn’t last the night. There were no NPCs here that he could talk to in order to get any of the supplies he forgot. It was just him against the House. A losing battle, a terrifying one, but the worst thing he could do was not fight it.

Even as he rushed forward, even as he grabbed a backpack and slung it over his shoulder as he ran, he wondered what he thought he was doing. He was running, faster than he had ever run before, but he was alone. Will Byers had been alone before, but only when both his mom and Jonathan were at work. Only when there was nothing to be scared of. Hawkins was small, there was nothing scary about it, until now.

Will Byers without a party to back him up was nothing. He wished he really was Will the Wise. Will the Wise wouldn’t be scared even as branches scratched at his skin and he tumbled through undergrowth so thick he thought he might get stuck in it. Will the Wise wouldn’t be scared of the House, he would just laugh at it. And he would take it down. Will the Wise was a protector of the weak, of the innocent. Will Byers, like it or not, needed protection. Best he start learning how to give it to himself.

Hunger Games Room | Kelsier

Kelsier’s eyes moved from the forest to the cornucopia, then back, and he shifted his weight uneasily, trying to decide what to do before the time was up.
He checked his metals. Low, too low. Well, if they were going to fight, he was going to have to fix that, wasn’t he?

Without giving himself time to reconsider, the Mistborn lifted his last vial of metals to his lips and drained it. He was about to throw the empty vial away, but thought better of it, since anything touching the ground before the time was up could have serious consequences he didn’t need right now.

He was going to have to go into the thick of things, he decided. Running away wouldn’t help anything. He wouldn’t kill anyone yet, but he needed a weapon to defend himself, since his metals by themselves weren’t going to accomplish much, especially considering how low on coins he was.

And then time was up. Kelsier was moving before he’d consciously realized what had happened, and then his brain caught up and he threw himself into his sprint, aiming to get to the weapons first without using any metals. He had a feeling he was going to need those later.

He failed. When he reached the cornucopia, other people were already there, grabbing supplies and some even hurrying into the woods with what they’d managed to get. He turned on his heel, cursing under his breath as he failed to find a weapon right away, and almost ran for the woods before his eyes caught on Nico.

Holding his glass dagger.

Hunger Games Room | L

L stood very, very still. Only his dark eyes moved, scanning the faces of the other blinkers for anyone who stood out, anyone he knew.
And there were people he knew. Myrnin, of course. Then he saw Czeslaw and his heart constricted; the boy shouldn’t have to go through this. None of them should have to, but children? He cursed the House silently, hating it so much in that moment that if he could have, he would have destroyed it right then and there. Even if it meant he’d lose the only friends he’d ever had, aside from Watari.

3...2...1...0

L took off like a bullet, speeding for the supplies as fast as his bare feet could carry him. He slammed into the wall of the cornucopia and staggered, recovered his footing quickly, and dove for a backpack, his hands trembling as he scooped it up and over his hunched shoulders.

Then he turned, surveying the surroundings, tense and ready to run. Think fast, think fast, think fast, he needed to figure out how to get out of this with the most people unharmed possible. Should he sprint for Czeslaw and try to protect him? Or Myrnin?
No, like it or not, he couldn’t trust Myrnin now. Who knew what the vampire would do in this room. Despite everything they’d talked about in the Jenga Room, this was a knee situation with new rules, and he couldn’t predict what the House would put in their heads.

Hunger Games Room | Rue

Rue waited, dread sitting deep in her stomach like she’d swallowed a pound of lead. No one but her understood what this was. No one but her knew what to expect.
It wasn’t fair at all. She was no Career, but she had been training for this over the last couple of days, and she knew more about what to do in this situation than anyone else here did. She was going to need that upper hand, yes, but that did mean she had to like it. At all.

She was going to run away. Supplies were important, but if this was like a real arena, she should be able to get what she needed from the woods, at least for a little while. She turned in place, tensed...and waited.

Time was up. Rue threw herself into a run, away, away from the cornucopia and the fighting and the bloodbath that was about to happen. Guilt pierced her like a hot knife, because she knew she should have stayed behind and done what she could to help, protect, anything to save her friends from this fate.

But she didn’t. She ran for the woods, as fast as she could go, and she didn’t look back.