♟Victor Village

@D03♟Nichkhun♥ {RA}[SH] "It wouldn't be the worst way you could go." Intending the retort as a joke, Victoria grinned and laughed softly, only realising after a few seconds the irony of her statement. He really could die. It was pretty likely to say that in the next few weeks, Nichkhun could be nothing more than a corpse decomposing into the soil. Or even worse, tortured and manipulated with by the Capitol, experimented on like some sort of guinea pig. He would be gone just like so many others that had come into her life only to abruptly die or become so brainwashed that they had to have their own name repeated back to them. The revelation stiffened her shoulders and sent a violent shiver down her spine, turning back around to face him and no longer having the heart to even pretend like she had been mad or upset. Instead she shuffled closer worriedly, watching his peaceful expression from where he lay and wondering how long it would be there for. In hindsight, she hadn't noticed when this sudden attachment to the male had developed or even originated, and couldn't quite recollect what exactly he had done to gain her trust and care. She was excessively worrying about him in fact, something she usually only did with one person nowadays. Swallowing the hard lump in the back of , Victoria prodded his side under the covers and knotted her eyebrows in concern. "Don't die, okay? I'll be lonely if you go." A little surprised at the words that had left , but unwilling to take them back now that they had been said since they were in fact, as Victoria now discovered, true, the female shrugged weakly and seemed to almost wither in his presence as a result of the sudden exposure of sensitive emotions. "Just don't..."

@D02♟Victoria♡❦ Resisting the urge to burst out into a fit of giggles and laughter with every single sane inch of his body, Nichkhuns bite on his lower lips only strengthened in an attempt to bite down an incoming chuckle. And although he told himself that it was all for fun and games and meant nothing serious, he could not help but allow a small part of sincerity in his actions, and although the intimacy was only for an act, there was no denying that he himself felt just a little light-headed and breathless at the closeness than he had originally hoped for. Falling back into the covers at the other's shove, the male eventually let loose of the laughter held down beneath his chest and broke into a series of hearty chuckles, remaining unaware of the female's tinged and heated cheeks. "Should have asked if I was a before you let me in the house, but sorry hon' too late now." Mischief obvious in his voice, Nichkhun's laughter was quickly interrupted with the other's kick, frowning, he himself dared to slip under the covers as well, muttering under the comforter. "And I should have noticed your overly violent abusive behavior before I stepped into the house. I swear, one day I'm going to die in your hands before the Capitol even finds me." Scowling playfully, he rolled onto his back and fluttered his eyes shut, though still very much conscious, mouth curled up in a small smile.

@D03♟Nichkhun♥ {RA}[SH] Shaking her head dismissively and rolling her eyes, Victoria muttered a quiet but amused "God you're such a drama queen..." before giving in and laughing. She raised her eyebrows and grinned, honestly pretty entertained by his little act. Playing along, she briefly jumped up to push down teasingly on the pillow, pretending to smother him and laughing harder as she pulled away. It died in quite abruptly however at the sudden closeness and change in mood, catching her off guard. Victoria hesitated - just for a second - before coming back to Earth at the stupid expression on his face, waiting for her to react just so he could further. Cheeks hot, she shoved his chest back and disguised the sudden odd, tight and uncomfortable feeling that squirmed unpleasantly in her ribcage with a look of disgust, shying away beneath the covers. "If you turn out to secretly be a , I won't hesitate to kick your . Just so you know." Shooting him an unimpressed look and turning over in a pretend-grump so that she faced the wall instead, the female let a leg slip out from where they curled beneath her, nudging him hard enough to match up with her act, although not so much that it would seriously hurt. "Go to sleep, byuntae. Busy day doing nothing tomorrow." Grinning at the wall despite herself, she buried her arms beneath the pillow, an old habit that hadn't even died in the arena.

@D02♟Victoria♡❦ Resisting the urge to chuckle and smile at the other's automatic assumption that he was planning on kicking her out, Nichkhun sufficed on burying himself deeper into the pillows and shot the other a hurt expression. "Ouch. Why, you don't want my company? I see how it is, wow I thought we had something there." Shaking his head playfully in mock rejection, the male lowered his head, clutching his heart in exaggerated pain and pretended to voice out a few sniffs to add onto the effect before glancing back up, this time, lower lip pushed out in reenactment of a pout. "I cannot believe after all this time we spent together, you only thought so low of me. It hurts man, it hurts a lot." Shaking his head in an act of disappointment, Nichkhun shoved a pillow on top of his face to hide the big grin that was dying to escape during his entire act before composing himself eventually and flinging the pillow away, the previous pout turning into an evil smirk as he inched his face closer to Victoria until they were only centimeters away, close enough that he could feel the other's hot breath against his skin. "Unless you were worried I would do something else, in which case..." Letting his voice trail off teasingly, he dared to move just a millimeter closer, caught up in the moment, wiggling his eyebrows exaggeratedly as he did so.

@D03♟Nichkhun♥ {RA}[SH] Smiling a little and nodding, Victoria watched him with his dramatic movements and language and chuckled in amusement. She could see the flicker of complication register across his thinking expression, waiting patiently and quietly for his final conclusion, feeling somewhat relieved at the sound of it. The way she saw it, on a selfish level, at least if he was in the arena then she could feel a little less helpless to his wellbeing and safety when the Capitol would inevitably attempt revenge. Less to distract her so to speak, not worrying about what was happening back home. Or what she was now forced to call home whether she liked it or not. "Mm...well. There's no use planning it out meticulously I guess. Just see how it goes." Shrugging a little and already regretting her words, Victoria felt at a loss with the decision of leaving it alone until the time came, despite having absolutely no control over the matter. It made her nervous when they couldn't plan. There was a bigger space for errors and dangers. Letting the silence settle and questioning the strange gleam in Nichkhun's eye, the female watched him warily, waiting for some sort of catch. "...What are you planning? What's that look for?" Narrowing her eyes suspiciously, Victoria let a small grin form unwillingly, suddenly on edge. Worrying that he was expecting her to leave and wondering if he'd said he was tired to hint at her departure, she snuggled into the comforter determinedly. "I'm not moving if that's what you're thinking."

@D02♟Victoria♡❦ "Nope, not even close. Ah, they're missing out." Chuckling lightly, he sighed in exaggeration, clicking his tongue as he did so. "But thank you, I try." Nodding to himself and giving a half smirk towards the female, Nichkhun propped up his rather long legs on top of the bed and settled for crossing his legs as he sat facing Victoria, head tilted just a little towards the side as he weighted the idea. Neither option seemed logical nor rational, both staying and sneaking in to the games meant nothing in terms of lowering the percentage of him falling into the Capitol's hands, this lifestyle he chose never offered a single comfortable and worry-free day whether or not he was to hide in a sewage somewhere in fear of getting captured or hiding in the confinements of the arenas, both offered no advantages and he was deemed to look less pathetic if he chose the latter. "Hm, most likely, although at the moment I have no idea on how I'm going to get access to the arenas in the first place. Guess I'll just have to go with the flow of things meanwhile, it should workout in the end, it always does." Voice trailing off in uncertainty towards the end of his sentence, Nichkhun shook his head lightly in an attempt to momentarily distract himself from all the burdens he has to take on with a small, makeshift yawn before stretching out his arms, sneaking a mischievous glance at the female before plopping his body straight down on the bed with a low grunt. "Damn I'm tired, all this rebel work really did wear me out." Grunting and mumbling until he was comfortably settled down with his arms behind his head, the male shook off his socks and glanced down at the other, biting down a smile.

@D03♟Nichkhun♥ {RA}[SH] Ignoring the soft protests from the male, Victoria smiled and curled fingers around the hem of the blanket, pulling it closer. Opening her eyes when he replied and shrugging off the jacket and the scarf the rest of the way, she looked up at him. "I can imagine you're not their favourite person." Chuckling into the pillow and reaching a hand out, she poked his stomach. "Well done though." She bit her lip to resist the urge to say more, holding onto her private admiration for his accomplishment. She herself had only made it past Capitol security once, and even the ultimate goal then had been self destructive. Had succeeded, but nevertheless hadn't expected to get out alive. The fact that she had was a miracle.
"So, you gonna...be in the games at all?" Immediately her brain woke up, rattled by the idea and weighing up both options. Not there; on her own, would have to find somewhere for him to stay, constantly worrying about whether or not the Capitol had got him or not. There; how would he get in, not alone but both of them in danger at the mercy of the game makers. Recognising the overthinking mess in the forefront of her mind, Victoria swallowed and took a deep breath, propping the pillows up so that she remained lying down but could pay attention without falling asleep.

@D02♟Victoria♡❦ Murmuring an agreement quietly under his breath, the male gave an absentminded small nod to finish off the statement, wiggling his toes without a certain purpose other than to regain back the heat it should originally retain as he did so. However, at the sound of the other's strained and exhausted voice, Nichkhun instantly glanced up in concern, eyebrows folded in worry at how tired Victoria looked and he momentarily blamed himself for keeping her up again after she was able to finally get some sleep done. Immediately pushing himself off the armrest and half jogging up the stairs, two steps at a time, he found himself back in his previous temporary room with the female once again huddled on the bed and a small smile appearing on his face, the male shuffled closer to the figure and gently poked her arm playfully. "Oi this is my room, you're going to get the sheets all dirty with those on." However, in contradiction to his statement, Khun only picked up the blanket tossed neatly to the side and draped it gently on top of Victoria, making sure that it covered her from neck to toe before settling himself on the side of the bed when he was satisfied, although longing to be lying right beside her but deciding against it in fear of the other's discomfort. Head turned towards the female as he played absentmindedly with the loose fringes around the corners of the blanket, he stated quietly, "Mhm, that's it until the games start again, at least for now and from what I have heard." the male gave a small shrug and looked towards the distance in thought. "Not really, all that I'm sure of right now is that I'm definitely not on the Capitol's good side, and if I were to return to the games, I'll have to figure out a way to enter without them discovering my identity."

@D03♟Nichkhun♥ {RA}[SH] Letting a chuckle out and shaking her head, Victoria smiled despite herself, shuffling closer as he walked to sit at the armrest of the couch. For some reason the action bothered her, concluding that it was probably because her head was still heavy from the nap and the unforgiving furniture had been so uncomfortable, longing instead just to crawl up in bed and go back to sleep and sensing the impending probability of having to stay downstairs if she let him settle. Nodding quietly and letting the slight roll of her eyes distract momentarily from the sudden rush of blood to her cheeks, or at least enough to buy her the half-second she needed to turn around, Victoria muttered "Good. That's good..." under her breath and felt thankful that the mission was finally over. Heading upstairs and brushing a hand against the banister the whole way up in case she should feel a little wobbly still, she stopped at the second floor, rubbing her eyes and leaving a decent portion of time for Khun to get the hint and follow her up. She had a few more questions still, but couldn't quite bear the effort of even forcing her eyelids open at this point. With a quiet sigh, Victoria just made her way to the nearest room with a comfortable bed, flopping down and curling up protectively. Frowning and suddenly becoming vaguely aware of the layers of jacket, thick boots and scarf that still sat snugly against her figure, the female wriggled in protest, managing to get an arm out and both shoes off the edge of the bed with a thunk. "That's it now right? Nothing left but the games.. have you figured out what you're gonna do?"

@D02♟Victoria♡❦ With the growing seconds and minutes of silence, the male grew more and more anxious as he watched the figure huddled tightly in a bundle, forehead damp with sweat in which he only presumed to be the outcomes of a nightmare as his eyebrows furrowed in worry, struggling to move forward even when every inch of his body longed for contact. And as the previously motionless bundle began to shift, he himself felt his body unconsciously beginning to walk closer to the approaching figure in the dark and it almost seemed too surreal as he felt the other's body against his, something too good to be true as he only pathetically left his arms hanging limply by his side, mouth opening and closing with no words coming out, but eventually he felt himself relax and his arms instantly curled around the female's waist, chin gently resting against the other's brunette locks, breathing in the familiar scent that he had grown fond of for the past months they have met, dwelling in the warmth of the dark yet comforting silence as they simply stood still in each other's arms, no words were exchanged, only quiet steady huffs of breath and the distant sound of the howling wind outside. As Victoria pulled away, Nichkhun instantly began to long for contact once again, unimpressed at the sudden gap in between the two but deciding to let it be, he shifted every now and then as to accommodate the other as she took off the thick, outer layers that were no longer needed, following her with his eyes as she made her way to the hallway and back. "I'm okay, look, I came back safe and sound. I tried not to make you worry too much." The corner of his lip turning up just the slightest bit, the male gave the female a small, teasing wink, enjoying the familiarity of doing so as he shuffled towards the edge of a sofa and planted himself on its armrest. "Capitol security was pretty intense but I managed to get her out just in time, had some troubles with maintaining the life stability as it was quiet dangerous on her end and even with my lack of medical knowledge, was somehow able to keep her alive long enough." Chuckling a little, Nichkhun glanced up at the female, biting his lower lip in thought and question as he did so. "If you were there it would have been a lot more sufficient."

@D03♟Nichkhun♥ {RA}[SH] Stuck somewhere between the realms of asleep and awake, Victoria struggled inwardly with the remnants of a bleary, panicked nightmare, heart rate having rapidly increased over the course of the last half hour or so. Waking with a start that nightmares often cause, it took a few minutes before the brunette could recognise the difference between dream and reality, exhaling heavily and finally opening her eyes tiredly when she had. Victoria brought a palm up to brush back the unpleasantly warm bangs sticking to her face, sitting up with a quiet groan at the awkward angle at which she'd fallen asleep and her stiff limbs that took a second or two of coaxing before they would bend the way she wanted. Glancing up briefly and suddenly spotting the tall figure opposite, broad shoulders looking even more impressive and intimidating from this angle, the female sat silently, just staring warily as if waiting for some other morphed version of his image to replace the one currently in her sight, waiting for the nightmare to resume. When it didn't, she pulled herself up and took the few rushed and wordless steps she needed to close the gap, burying cheek into chest and fingers clutching onto the back of his coat. Unaware and uncaring of how much time had passed when she pulled away again, Victoria looked up at Nichkhun with eyes of concern, the gap between both eyebrows furrowing in concentration as she checked him for bruises or scrapes. "What happened? Did you get her out? Are you okay?" Unconsciously brushing at his shoulders and moving to shed him of the extra, unnecessary layers, she disappeared briefly back into the hallway to hang them, coming back and fiddling with her fingers anxiously. "You seem okay."

The stars seemed extra bright tonight, or maybe it was just the male's own mind playing cruel, delusional tricks on him, but as the night sky lit up the familiar path towards a certain someone's house he already knew too well, Nichkhun finally felt a sense of relief and peace of mind that he haven't experienced for far too long. Shoving his hands in his pockets as his feet alternated in between slow and steady steps, almost robotically as he softly chanted 'Left, Right, Left, Right' underneath his breath as if to remind him of how to properly walk after a long journey, his fingertips brushed against the shiny surface of a now scratched and dented key, and Nichkhun briefly wondered how Sandara was doing, if he had made the right decision to leave her by herself after he had rescued her out of the Capitol's watch and nursed her back to health enough that she had a strong and steady life stability in order to survive. But at the end of the day, he had confidence that she had more than enough capability to fend for herself and he knew if they were to meet again, they'd both be greeting each other with a confident smile. Heaving a small sigh and giving himself a small nod, the male stepped onto the patio of the all too familiar victor's house before shaking his one hand out of his pocket and bringing it up as a fist towards the front door, yet hesitating to make a sound as he only rested his calloused fist against the cold, lifeless material, contemplating whether or not to continue. And although he screamed at himself not to, the dead silence and darkness inside the house and his own pounding heart gave him a rush of panic and anxiety, desperate to just spare another glance at her again, and so he gave a small, quiet and almost timid knock against the wooden door, yet it gave no response. Furrowing his eyebrows after a few more tries without success, Nichkhun eventually gained enough courage and wrapped his hand against the doorknob before turning it ever so slightly, but unlike the useless pounding against door, the doorknob turned and he was suddenly enveloped in familiar warmth. When he stepped in cautiously, he noticed just how warm it was inside compared to the loneliness of the village itself, and after a few more glances around the room, he eventually noticed a small bundle curled up on top of an armchair, long locks of brunette covering a portion of her frame, and Nichkhun instantly felt the familiar clench of his heart as he unconsciously began to shift closer to the figure but only stopped not far from where he was standing before, only allowing himself to watch the other silently in the darkness.

A palm clasped against his mouth in attempt to smother the hysterical screams, desperation and mortification fractured his dementia and shattered his trembling wails into indiscernible whispers, fingernails tightening around his jaw and bruising the tender muscle underneath. Kyungsoo’s sounds petered into sporadic inhales, gasps infrequent and sudden against the sweat-slicked skin, smearing blood across each cheek with relentless pressure. Their fingertips, steady and callous, constricted his movement and ensured silence, gauging and steadying and limiting their uneven breaths with blunt, bloodied fingernails. Trembling against the compromising position and fighting against the strength muffling him, Kyungsoo struggled against the palm and used the sweat to ease the sudden snap, streaking an inflamed pink as fingernails scratched across his cheek. His mouth freed enough to open against the fingers attempting to suppress his breathing. Kyungsoo then strained against the arm and angled his mouth upwards, teeth snagging and sinking into the juncture between the knuckle and the proximal phalange. Indiscernible among the shuffling and pulse coursing loud through his remaining ear, Kyungsoo couldn’t acknowledge nor yield to the offender’s words: pleas, threats, promises – pursuing instinct, defense as his teeth tore through tendon and severed capillaries. The arm slackened, relinquishing the pressure wound against his neck, and Kyungsoo persisted, eyes closing and teeth grinding, gritting until the muscle severed and the tribute reacted in resounding cry. A weight against his tongue and blood smeared across worn-raw lips, the amputated finger was abandoned among the shadows – disjointed speech and sound echoing through one ear as Kyungsoo pursued a sole thought: escape.

[ exiting to the city of panem ]

The tribute responded with another quick, effective forearm to the neck, targeting the nerve with alarming accuracy as the arm then shoved him forward, stumbling slightly without perspective of their surroundings. Identity shrouded by shadow and sheer strength, Kyungsoo yielded to force and maintained a straightened posture despite sightless guiding, securing his arms around himself in defense. He accredited the other’s strength and composure to an enemy, detecting earlier sounds and disposing a threat – struggle useless and sounds silenced. Shoe catching against brick and knees pressing against the edge, his cheek was forced against the gate as his body caught, the stranger’s arm wound threateningly around his neck and fingers digging into his jaw. Their intentions were clear, distinct and Kyungsoo attempted escape through distraction, arm extending blindly towards the other’s frame and striking the shoulder – a glancing blow. His movements were suppressed when fingers caught and clenched tight around his wrist, a knee bearing down on his spinal cord, forcing his abdomen against the gate. Before Kyungsoo could consider another strategy, fingers clenched more tightly around his jaw, arched spine straining against the knee and wrist twisted at an uncomfortable angle, increasing in pain.

“Why are you here?” The words were straightforward, serious yet surprisingly empathetic – despite considerable skill and intimidation, curiosity was the primary intonation. Assuring a response with increased pressure, Kyungsoo closed his eyes and conformed further, attempting to ease the pressure against his back and tilting his head as the fingers insisted. Their fingers parted enough for speech and ease of breathing, grasp relinquishing as his wrist retreated sorely and meekly around his waist. “What’s your objective?” Their voice remained curious, persistent, agitated through dwindling patience and the fingernails scratching at his neck, grasping at his hair and securing around his ear reaffirmed their consent. Still, remaining steady even underneath scrutiny, Kyungsoo refused to acknowledge their question beyond an inconclusive whimper, mouth parting only when fingers scraped against skin, puncturing capillaries and securing underneath cartilage as a palm pressed over his ear. The rivulets descending over their fingers smeared across his nape, seeping into the pressed collar as his scream was muffled to himself, fingers applying more pressure and severing the cartilage from bone, tightening around malleable flesh. His ear was partially amputated and blood poured profusely, cartilage and skin yielding and stretching against the applied force – straining, mutilating, severing until the voice was muted, sounds distorted and indistinct through a singular ear.

[ 2/2 | amputation complete! ]

Heightened awareness and adrenaline urged him further away, sprinting aimlessly in irregular intervals and sporadic maneuvers, steps faltering and body protesting against excessive movement. Kyungsoo gradually slowed and pressed himself against the nearest surface, the smoothed stone a relieving pressure against developing bruises. Shoulders and abdomen aching in tender sensitivity, Kyungsoo positioned his shoulderblade against the wall and suppressed a sharp sigh among muffled inhales. His breaths coalesced and dissipated in condensing spirals, whirling away, scattering compsure and stealing warmth from chapped lips, teeth sunken brutally into the pliant flesh as nausea overwhelmed him. His vitals weren’t sustainable or stable enough for labor-intensive activity and each movement disoriented him further, throat convulsing and stomach lurching as gasps parted hoarse and harsh from trembling lips. Desperate for air and support, the instinct to retch swelled with each dry heave, eyes closed to unsteady surroundings and efforts concentrated on suppressing the irritation, the disorientation. He trembled in attempt, struggling until acid seared his throat and aded his senses in pungent odor. His arms trembled in support and shoulder slumped as coughs compensated for desperate heaves, choking gasps echoing his vulnerability. Pressing a clean sleeve against mouth, Kyungsoo muffled his steadying breaths – throat raw, acrid taste and quiet surroundings alerting his senses. The smell and lingering tastes irritated his eyes and quiet hiccups punctuated the unsettling silence as Kyungsoo stumbled away, arm reaching out tentatively for another surface, another guide. He hadn’t recovered, strength depleted and movements slow, and the consequences extended beyond inhibited movement. Unable to see and senses limited from exhaustion and descending shadow, the fingers suppressing sounds of panic was unexpected, elbow sudden and demanding in a swift blow to the juncture between shoulder and neck. Heart racing and limbs yielding as the offender applied pressure to the bruising juncture, Kyungsoo steadied himself and countered by crudely aiming his elbow backwards, feebly striking at the other’s torso and attempting to assess their stature.

[ 1/2 ]

@D01♙Taehyung♡{RA} [H] Allowing the male to shove him aside, Kyungsoo took advantage of their close proximity and attempted to secure their positioning, one arm extending to anchor around the other’s neck and foot aimed forward to kick at an ankle. They were off-balance and Kyungsoo’s attempt at compromising their legs was assisted by shifting positioning, using the momentum of their fall to position them sideways. His shoulder aimed towards the ground to brace and dispense the oncoming impact, his fingers pressed against the other’s knee, attempting to force the joint to collide first. With enough pressure and the unyielding surface of the pavement, the move – if successful in dislodging the other’s footing, interlocking their positions during the fall and forcing his knee against the ground – could fracture the bone through enough applied strength and at least ensure physical impairment from bruising. It would cripple the other enough for Kyungsoo to escape unaware and without potential pursuit, as the male’s specialty seemed in agility and brute strength, rather than defensive maneuvers. From earlier analysis and observation, Kyungsoo noted the male’s impulsive behavior and preference towards intimidation as a solution, disregard for consequences shown now in the unintended outcome of his attack. The stranger was superior in almost every physical aspect yet intellect and strategy prevailed over performance when they fell. His shoulder absorbed the majority of the impact, though still tender and sensitive from inevitable bruising, allowing him to recover quickly and roll away, arms tucked close in defense. Unsure whether the other fell or if his maneuver to disable was successful, Kyungsoo stumbled into a crouch when distance enough separated them, glancing briefly towards the deformed silhouette before using ground purchase and sprinting towards the nearest corner.

[ 2/2 ; will resume posts for amputation and exit tomorrow! o/ ]

@D01♙Taehyung♡{RA} [H] The silence descending among the shadows streaking bleak against the cobbled stone was tempered by constantly shifting silhouettes and scuffling sounds, exhales and the distinct sound of footsteps punctuating threats. Their movements were resounded with echoes and Kyungsoo cast a panicked glance around them – wary to be seen or heard, as the stranger taunted again in demeaning words. If suspicious behavior instigated violence, there was another, opposing motive the Capitol instituted as a measure of determination. A similar situation: incentive for potential and recent suspicion and circulating rumors spoke of a possible rebellion, an uprising against the Capitol and a contradiction to Kyungsoo’s allegiance. As tributes were set against various trails, their individual missions were an estimate of their ability through conflict, as the male’s was measured when fingers gripped at his hand. “It shouldn’t matter,” struggling against the increasingly strong grasp, Kyungsoo attempted to brace his forearm against the male’s shoulder, purposefully positioning his arm in defense as a knee forced against his stomach. “There isn’t a need to fight.” The bruising impact forced a sharp exhale, pained inhale and instinct lurched him forward, supported by the male’s frame and steady positioning. Temporarily disoriented, Kyungsoo recovered from coughing and countered the attempt, palm braced against the other’s knee in earlier defense as arms forced him downwards.

[ 1/2; with permission from Minho to continue. ]

Observing the train of events that occurred so suddenly, one after another before her eyes, Victoria jumped down from her very short height as she made to follow the two with their advances. She stopped herself, something holding her back, tugging at the reins and declaring this beyond her concern. So she did, and she stood and waited for the figures to disappear into the shadows once more, well on their way to the capitol. It would be surprising if they even noticed on their hurried journey that she had neglected to follow, and instead had simply stared and contemplated on the horizon for a good ten minutes before retreating back to her new "home" with resentful acceptance. Sliding into the solitary armchair beside the unlit fire and hugging her knees to her chest, thick ankle boots, coat and scarf still covering her in protective layers, Victoria stared at the immaculate carpet disdainfully, contemplating on rhe reason behind her abrupt nostalgic and careless episode. Her thoughts drifted quickly of course, deviating from the subject topic to wander off down less well-trodden neuron pathways. District two, faint reminders of the place, the family and the persona she used to possess, that she ought to still. What had happened? And more importantly, what would happen? Did she have a path, was she supposed to fulfil some unheard, unseen prophecy wherein she could sacrifice herself for the greater good? Or to become a permanent shoulder to cry on? Maybe even have true happiness one day. She knew that the last option especially rejected not only all logic, but also all principles she had ever lived by.
Quickly growing weary and yawning widely, Victoria let her eyes close and drifted off into a restless slumber right there on the armchair, curled in on herself in such an unconscious, pathetic and painfully useless attempt at replicating defensive strategies in her sleep, when the very real reality of it was that she was going to die.
And she was very aware of this fact indeed.

.
♖ ♖ ♖ ♖ ♖ ♖ ♖ ♖

@D02♙Fei
post and roll at the "City of Panem."

@D03♟Nichkhun
GET YOUR OUTTA HERE AND POST AT THE CITY OF PANEM!

♖ ♖ ♖ ♖ ♖ ♖ ♖ ♖

She let her fingertips fall against the ragged pulse, wildly pumping blood that merely poured out of the flesh. No remorse was felt, only a dull indifference. Silently, Fei dragged a dart through, creating a flood. Blood pooled and gathered on every bend, every crevice. One last breath forced itself out of the girl's lungs, and then no more. The deed was done. Fei sighed, her hands stained with blood. She closed the mutilated eyes and gazed at the assasin, comparing her simple shoulder wound with the multitude of gaping holes and cuts in body. Another casualty.

Her eyes wandered around and settled on the tree. A jolt hit Fei as she realized that Khun and Victoria had been watching her take away someone else's life, watching her mercilessly torture a person, watching her every ruthlessly unforgiving action. Fei started to tremble, a shaky breath falling from her lips as she jerked foward, falling onto her knees. Her head was pounding and world was unbearably dizzying, a whirl of blurred memories and muted warmth and cracked reality. The sky took on a fractured appearance as Fei desperately gasped for air and comfort.

She stood up, tears and blood, and ran. [4/4]

Fei roughly shoved the girl and pinned her onto the ground. Her legs were securely locked around the torso of her attacker, and her forearm was pushing against the neck. Using her other arm, Fei used the of the gun and smashed it against the gasping girl's temple repeatedly, each hit bouncing off the skull. "Who are you?" she hissed, continuing her assault. She gave an extra hard smash for good measure but loosened her grip on the neck. The other glared but managed to croak out a few words. "I'm a C-Capitol assasin... targeting Wang Fei Fei."

Assasin. The type of people who'd murdered her grandfather. No. Fei would not suffer the same end so easily. "Oh, really? Well, I have some delightful news." Fei let her lips curve upwards, sickly sweet. She picked up a spare dart from the ground and traced the sharp point over the other's lower lip, outlining it almost. "I'm Wang Fei Fei, targeting a Capitol assasin." Fei twirled the gun in her hand. She forced the girl's head to twist painfully, to face the sky. The red dot appeared again, focused on the quivering iris of the assasin, vibrated but doubtlessly lethal. The pupils were excruciatigly tight from the blinding red light. Fei tugged at the trigger and the cornea was immediately shredded, rendering the eye useless. A shuddery gasp escaped the victim. It was from the pain and the rapidly decreasing level of oxygen. Fei's actions were cold, yet mechanical and methodical. She fired more shots into various orfices of the face, the throat producing an especially satisfying spray of blood. A strangling grip on the body was no longer neccessary. Fei began to drive darts into arteries and veins by hand, each jab a quiet apology to the heavens for her failure to save her grandfather. She sat quietly, retrieved a dart that was stuck in the body's stomach, fixing her hardened gaze on the thick vein, still beating in he neck. [3/4]

The dart did not seem to release toxins; its only purpose was to rip through flesh. She shut her eyes and pulled, jagged metal making disturbing suction noises as it severed capillaries and muscle. It had not gone very deep, but the point was smeared with blood. Fei growled, a low sound in , and she threw it down to the ground. She whipped around the tree and hurtled towards the bush, anger clouding judgement. Several darts whizzed by her, two grazing the skin but it was a miracle none had fully embedded themselves into her body. Fei dove into the bush and immediately hit a body, which she tackled. The two rolled out onto the ground, both raining blows on the other. Fei wrestled the dart gun out of the female's grasp and tried to ignore the vicious kicks the other was sending towards her tailbone. [2/4]

@khun and victoria

Fei chortled as she took the oxygen tank back from Khun. "Confident, aren't we?" She noticed him studying her leg with concern nevertheless. Sighing, she clouted him with a light fist and re-tightened the bandages, tugging until the cloth was taut again. "Let's g-" Her next words were cut off as she inhaled sharply, holding her breath. Fei's eyes flashed in the moonlight, brilliant and dangerous. She nudged Khun towards the tree, making minimal movement with her hands, to signal that he needed to go join Victoria in the safety of the shadowed branches. "Looks like he brought some friends," Fei muttered, displeased. She watched as the figure several meters away darted into the cover of a bush. A few moments of silence passed. She slippped behind another tree, glancing out every now and then. During her fourth check a tiny, pulsing red dot appeared on her shoulder, wavering slightly. Fei stared at it, dumbfounded, unable to comphrehend what it was.

A piercing pain shot up from her shoulder to her heart and Fei let out a strangled cry, the pieces falling into place. Darts. Another flew towards her and she had enough sense to clutch the trunk of the tree, the metal object lodging itself into rough bark instead. A shooter was after her. A long distance weapon. A personal weakness. [1/4]

@fei. tori.

Nodding along every now and then at the female's words and suggestions, he tucked his hands deep in his pockets and shuffled around in circles back under the protection and shadows of the hiding spot, eyes darting back and forth across the landscape in search of any abnormal activity or movement which at this point, he figured was bound to happen considering their current standing and the situation presented before them. Heaving out a small sigh, Nichkhun watched his breath in the darkness absentmindedly before directing his gaze towards Victoria, who was already beginning to climb up the tree nearby. "Hm, I can, just hold up I'll be right ther-" As he wedged his foot in between a small curve towards the side of the trunk, however, stopping himself immediately when a loud metal clink was heard by a gate. The sound was loud and the silent emptiness that surrounded them wasn't very skilled at sound proofing and he immediately went back to his previous position, muscles tense and waiting for any intruders. It was too late however as the moment he got down, Fei was already caught up with a stranger that proved himself as one on the other side of the mission, and before he knew it, they were slowly appearing further and further away. Cursing under his breath, the male glanced up at Victoria, ears ready and alert for any more potential danger as he jabbed a finger towards the direction the older female and the intruder had ran off, raising his eyebrows slightly in question whether or not they should chase after them. Fei's leg wasn't exactly in good condition but he had enough trust and sense to know that she would somehow find a way to defend herself and make her way back safely, yet the growing worry and curiosity only made him fidget and cringe at every little small noise. The time spent contemplating about the matter proved to be nothing but wasted minutes of counting, and as he immediately went into a defense position when he heard a ruffling through the trees, he only then recognized the figure as none other than Fei. Hiding back a proud smile, he walked closer and inspected the other up and down for any possible injuries, patting her back lightly as he did so, muttering an impressed "Well, damn" under his breath as he did so, glancing over at the newly collected item with curiosity. "Hell yeah I'm ready to go, let's go kick some ."

( i'm sorry i really don't know what i'm writing but had to get this up so ; n ; i'm sorry guise for being so late ugh )

(unrelated don't mind me)
After the normal day filled with both blood and gore, Krystal walked into her own home, eyes evident with exhaust and interior immediately crashing down as Soojung surfaced. It never really left her mind that it was her birthday once she noticed. It was just the eleventh one she'd spent alone though. Her birthday was like any regular day at this point, since she came to District Two, it was dismissed with a flick of the wrist and merely waved off. After pouting about it until she was actually mature enough, Soojung learned to dismiss it herself. There were some days when it wouldn't even come to mind that it was her birthday until she caught the glimpse of a calendar. 'Oh, it was my birthday two days ago. I'm actually a teenager now.' or 'It's my birthday tomorrow, I'm turning sixteen.'
Right now, there wasn't much she could do but take a bath, fix up her gaping wound, and at most — manage to ignore the clashes taking place just outside her door, the blood that her hands, but Krystal's will, had spilled today, light a candle, and make some powder hot chocolate. Getting into short shorts and a comfy grey sweater after fixing her wound, Soojung cranked up her heater. Quietly mixing the hot chocolate powder into the water, she head to her room again. Even now, when she had a fair share of friends, Kyungsoo definitely, and Taehyung, maybe?, it was impossible for celebration in such a mood, in which they all knew of the face-off taking place, that people were out there dying. It just wasn't simple to celebrate, because rather than celebrating coming of age, it felt more like you were celebrating the passing away of the enemy team. Krystal might have been like that, but Soojung wasn't. The more and more she thought about the Rebel from earlier, whom's death she had watched first-hand, the fact that people were facing life-or-death battles outside, the sicker she felt about herself. The more twisted and sinister she felt about herself, regardless of who was in control — her or Krystal. No one in the world is really fully sane, but both Soojung and Krystal are a bit overboard.
So in the end, her hot chocolate was left alone by her side table, no longer in the mood for the slightest celebration, whether it was cake lit with nineteen candles or hot chocolate. Looking out from her window, Soojung watched the snow slowly begin to coat the floor. She gulped down her guilt for everyone else, the people she — Krystal — had killed or hurt today, in the games. After all, her birthday was just the death of about a dozen people, just thanks to the Face-Off. Her own living meant nothing but danger for herself, for others. Her own birthday just marked another year of her killing innocent tributes who wanted nothing more than to be with their family. Soojung couldn't bring herself to go downstairs, to see the drippings of crimson at the entrance or stairs as she had walked up, or hear the sounds of pain and agony outside, the clashing of blades. Soohwa was watching her — what was he thinking of his little sister now? The little sister who used to smile innocently, cried over the simplest things — now the cause for multiple deaths and a surviving Victor of the cruelest games ever conceived.
Staring at the picture frame of her whole family — she was three, Yonghwa eight, Soohwa ten, before Soojwa had died. She didn't want to see it, to think about it. It was the only picture on her side table and the hot chocolate had long lost it's steam. Thinking back to her old days, the only reason she was like this was because her father made them move to District Two. They left Yonghwa and her mother died on the journey and — a loud shatter rang throughout the empty and quiet house. The glass and stainless metal lay shattered at the bottom of the stairs, not too far away from the bloody stains from her wound. She didn't want to see it, the disappointment she was bringing to Soohwa and her mother, and the satisfaction she brought to her monster of a father. That's all her birthday ever was.

( SHHHH RP-WISE IT'S STILL TECHNICALLY SOOJUNG'S BIRTHDAY DON'T QUESTION [awkward moment when the two friends she have are amputating each other]
how 2 rite bootyfully )

@D08♙Kyungsoo♥♡{CC} [H] The bleak darkness that seeped in, draining out all color and light from their surroundings, played as V's friend as the potential offender in the situation, the words that he spoke and the things that he did most likely coming across as provocation for a fight. He assessed the male in front of him, attempting to gauge how strong he was, how agile he was. There wasn't much he got out of it, but it made V feel a bit more comfortable with possibly getting himself into a fight. The male's voice rang out in the empty courtyard, bouncing off the mocking grandeur of the buildings and eliciting a soft echo. "What are you going to do if I don't?" V challenged, his eyes narrowing slightly in concentration, feeling the tension rise in the air between the two. The male's voice was firm and unyielding, with little effect but bringing much amusement. How many times had V heard those words previously? The four sharp intonations did not change his mind nor deter him from the original course of action he decided to take, and upon feeling the impact of the male's shoulder against his chest, V became only increasingly obdurate. His awareness heightened, and he felt the attack before he saw it. Lifting his hand to catch the fist aimed for his face, V went for a quick knee to the stomach before moving to roughly shove the male down onto the pavement.

.
♖ ♖ ♖ ♖ ♖ ♖ ♖ ♖
marker.

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Leaving the body behind to go to a more secluded area, Krystal slowly stripped her jacket and white runner off. Stretching her runner, she wrapped it around her wound, making it as thin as it could get. She could've very well have gone into her home, but she felt as if there was no time. Her crap of a bandage slowly blossomed with the crimson from the gaping wound, though she'd have to put up with it. Quickly scanning her surroundings, she could only see faint outlines of luxurious mansions and few unrecognizable silhouettes in the distance. Slipping her leather jacket on again and this time, zipping it up, Krystal began to walk towards the exit with the same air of nonchalance she had walked in with, killed the female with — the same nonchalance as always.
(exit post.)

@D01♙Taehyung♡{RA} [H] In attempt to avoid incessant conflict, Kyungsoo hadn’t considered the peculiarity or disquieting qualities to the stranger – the deliberate exaggeration of words, the measured, distinct pronunciation of syllables, the leisurely, almost disinterested, tone. His sentences were stressed in their demand for an answer and his cocksure attitude was incessant, supported by vanity, pride and the delusion of dominance. As the stranger’s movements had mirrored his in equal apprehension, Kyungsoo felt scrutinized, studied and suppressed when dismissing himself, gaze faltering as suspicion ran cold through his veins. The stranger had acted with disquieting aggression to previous movements and, despite innocent intentions, each response was regarded as a potential threat. Although the male’s features weren’t familiar, Kyungsoo associated his apathetic, confident demeanor and suspicion as characteristic of a Career – pompous and impulsive. Regardless of differences in experience or skill, the other probably thought himself as superior, whether in strength, speed, stamina or brutality and the fingers around his armed confirmed his suspicion. Unable to distance himself more than another step, Kyungsoo pulled against the other’s grip, refusing to turn around even as taunting, threatening words were spoken in warning. Tugging against the strength of the arm handling him, he muffled a distressed sound under a quiet grunt, positioning himself sideways to pull with stronger force. The fingers around his arm were constricting, flesh yielding easily and Kyungsoo exhaled the anxiety building at the advantages the other had. Their surroundings were darkening and the remaining people within the courtyard were either against or indifferent to his allegiance, helpless without structural advantage.

“No,” His words were determined and measured in temperament, followed by another, stronger attempt to pull free. “Let me go.” This was his final warning, tone defensive and adamant. Kyungsoo couldn’t be scared – not without support, not against a Career. Shifting backwards against the male’s grasp around his arm, Kyungsoo used the positioning to his advantage and shoved forwards, shoulder angled to strike the other’s chest. His arm was freed with the sudden movement and Kyungsoo aimed the back of his hand and knuckles towards the male’s jawbone, striking upwards and using the momentum gained from freeing his arm to hit harder.

@D08♙Kyungsoo♥♡{CC} [H] V's eyes traced the male's gestures, wondering what exactly was on his mind. V stood his ground cautiously, expecting a surprise attack of some sort yet never quite registering a sign of aggression from the male standing in front of him. He waited. V continued to follow the male's movements, thinking what his next move would be, but it was almost as if he felt awkward watching the male in front of the door, opening his mouth as if to ask a question, closing it without speaking a word. V's eyebrows were already raised in inquisition when the male approached his current position, trying to make sense of the words that were spoken, the words that weren't spoken. What was he supposed to do in a situation like that? V felt uncomfortable, to say the least - not apprehensive or frightened, just uncomfortable. Then the desire to know what this male wanted with Krystal hit him, his mind flickering back to the memory of the girl he had encountered not too long ago. Was this person an enemy, part of the Capitol Careers? Was he a friend of hers? Or did he have the intention of hurting her? The way the male's voice had come in shushed whispers, the way he knocked so gently on the door told V that it couldn't have been the last, but he didn't want to overlook any possibilities. At that thought, V's muscles tightened slightly, and upon catching the smile that the male gave him, his mind rang out in false alarm. Before the cognitive reasoning became obvious that it probably wasn't the best idea to cause distress to a stranger already clearly startled by his appearance under the shadows of the moonlight, V reached out and grabbed the male's arm in an attempt to keep him back, his fingertips curling around the male's thin frame tightly - more tightly than would make for amiable measures. A taunting smirk of mischief curved on the corners of his lips as he spoke, and without realizing what he was doing, he let out a soft chuckle. "Hold on a second."