Aramis Rosegold [D1 tribute] (knightofgrapes) wrote in colosseum, @ 2014-02-16 15:09:00 |
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He knew he wasn't the only one who could feel there was tension in the pack now. It had been some time since he had killed Cypress, and Aramis had run through the entire gauntlet of emotions during those hours. The initial high and ecstasy at having killed again, this time even more intoxicating than when he had killed Eli -- Cypress had been the big kill he had been leading up to for days, and there was something about hearing the boom of the cannon as he delivered the deathblow that he couldn't put into words. Agonising pain in his face and leg when his adrenaline ebbed away. Anger and resentment at the seeds of doubt Cypress had planted in his head, a parting blow that ate at him more than any of the physical wounds. Confusion and abandonment when no sponsor gifts arrived. Relief, then fear when the rest of the pack returned, wondering if they would be thrilled or jealous he had killed the boy from Seven, or angry that outliers had raided their supplies while he was on guard duty, even if they'd gotten a kill out of it. For a long moment, he even worried if any of them would kill him right there while he was slumped against the wall of the locker bay, delirious with pain and unable to fight back or run away -- the rare moment when a Career was an easy kill so early on in the Games. He bet Ariel and Zipporah had thought of it, now that he was tied with Brock and Miranda for two kills while they each only had one, and one of the biggest outlier threats that had been keeping them together was gone. For one delusional moment, he even wondered if Sephora would be desperate enough to go for it, whenever she returned, even if she had just saved his life earlier. He wasn't even sure where he and Brock stood anymore, even though the two of them had got along spectacularly for allies from different districts (the word for this was 'bros', apparently), even when they had been so unlike each other. Sure, the other boy was his usual serious, good-natured self, and Aramis had done his best to be bright and charming despite how much pain he was in -- but he thought of Brock quickly being sure to make it known he wanted his mace back, and his own unusually tight grip on it before returning the weapon, as if reluctant to hand over what he knew would give the other boy a huge advantage against him in a fight. Aramis knew he could still take him on with just a dagger against his mace -- he'd just done it with Cypress, even if he had just been an outlier -- but in his current sorry state, he didn't think he could win just yet. And he knew he wasn't running anywhere soon with his limp. 'I could use a sword right about now.' District 1 needed medical supplies more -- both now and especially if they ended up abandoning the pack first -- and hopefully his mentors and sponsors would get the right message, but that didn't play well for the cameras. Even through his pain, Aramis would always have that mask on -- he smiled and winked at the cameras once he had limped out of ear-shot from the others, fighting the urge to groan at how half his face somehow throbbed with both sharp and dull pain. 'Don't forget I said I'd dedicate it and name it after one of you if I got one.' And with that and the sound of another cannon booming, he returned to the others. The alliance was still on for now. |