Mags she/they Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 20 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said: “That, I understand. Make no mistake. And I say, with all due respect, that ever since the war, the average quality of life in the districts compared to the states… Life is clearly better in one than the other.” "And you are clearly biased, more, perhaps, then others." But Forrest's grin faded. "I may not be the right person to come to with this request, I'm a maker of games, not policies. That said it I might be able to pull some strings. The question is, what will you do for me? To hand my rival something they so clearly want without benefit would be ridiculous."
Through the Living Hope Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 51 minutes ago, Mag said: "And you are clearly biased, more, perhaps, then others." But Forrest's grin faded. "I may not be the right person to come to with this request, I'm a maker of games, not policies. That said it I might be able to pull some strings. The question is, what will you do for me? To hand my rival something they so clearly want without benefit would be ridiculous." “This isn’t for the overall benefit of the States. Because we were formed by the pain of tributes and their families, we want to extend a hand to the victor. I would be willing to negotiate a peace agreement with whatever leader I would have to speak to.”
Mags she/they Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 27 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said: “This isn’t for the overall benefit of the States. Because we were formed by the pain of tributes and their families, we want to extend a hand to the victor. I would be willing to negotiate a peace agreement with whatever leader I would have to speak to.” "It isn't?" His grinned returned. "Are you sure? Intentionally or unintentionally this will cause major political unrest. With such a public figure as the victor leaving the Dystopia right after the games, people will talk . . . 'If the Dystopia's greatest hero can leave, I should be able to as well.' They'll want to escape in the thousands, and I'm sure you can see how that would cause trouble for the my friends running the state. They'd be rather annoyed with me if I allowed such a thing to happen--I'd loose hard-won connections." He set his coffee on the desk. It'd gotten cold already. "To give you a newly won symbol is a great sacrifice, surely you can see that. So, I ask again what you would offer me and my colleagues."
Through the Living Hope Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 9 minutes ago, Mag said: "It isn't?" His grinned returned. "Are you sure? Intentionally or unintentionally this will cause major political unrest. With such a public figure as the victor leaving the Dystopia right after the games, people will talk . . . 'If the Dystopia's greatest hero can leave, I should be able to as well.' They'll want to escape in the thousands, and I'm sure you can see how that would cause trouble for the my friends running the state. They'd be rather annoyed with me if I allowed such a thing to happen--I'd loose hard-won connections." He set his coffee on the desk. It'd gotten cold already. "To give you a newly won symbol is a great sacrifice, surely you can see that. So, I ask again what you would offer me and my colleagues." “That makes sense. Would you consider something on the lines of dual citizenship?”
Mags she/they Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 3 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said: “That makes sense. Would you consider something on the lines of dual citizenship?” "And how would that benefit me, friend?"
Through the Living Hope Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 12 minutes ago, Mag said: "And how would that benefit me, friend?" “As I mentioned before, we could negotiate a peace agreement. Neither country wants our next door neighbor as an enemy. We can also make our borders stricter.”
Through The Living Glass She/They Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 21 hours ago, Mag said: Sharlin hadn't expected it, the mistake of turning her back only occurring to her after it was too late. It was funny, the pain shooting through her neck was hard to focus on with the horrible cracking sound of the knife slamming into her. Her body instinctively took a breath in and she started choking on the blood. It tasted bad. He was in front of her, Sharlin saw him coming. She tried to shoot him again as he came, but her hand was shaking and she couldn't breath. The shot went wild, and the loud BANG shook her to her core. The tomahawk sliced into her stomach and it's momentum set her crashing fully into the ground. She caught a flash of her long brown hair mixed with the pool of blood slowly spreading from her throat. If she could have, Sharlin would have giggled. It looked just look black glossy curls on bloody white tile. Those stupid black curls. Everything went red. Not angry, painful red. Red carpets and scrubbed up blood stains. Red stifling silk robes and red bows and hard red chairs. Sharlin gripped her gun tightly, it was still comforting in her hand, the way a gun had always been. A little piece of power for the powerless. The eyes opened again, no longer angry in their staring. They were just watching, witnessing it all. Who watches a play and then looks away during the closing scene? She didn't blame them. She was there too. Black curls and a faceless stare winding out of the shadows between the trees. Sharlin would have liked to see the ocean when she died, but a dead sister would have to do instead. --- Sharp watched the knife go through Sharlin's throat helplessly. He watched as her blood started running in between various leaves and stems of undergrowth. The mist around Sharlins shadowy form coalesced into something more solid to his eyes. Sharp knew from past Games Sharlin only had a few seconds in his realm before she was pulled away into the next one--the one he couldn't enter. A horrible hope shoved its way into his heart. The metal spike was still stuck in Sharlin's body, maybe there was some way she could hold on from this side, the way he had done-- But it was already too late. She had sat up, but was already half gone. Sharp thought of something, anything to say before she went. He should apologize. He should say something comforting. All at once he was hit with how old he felt and how childish she had seemed to him. Sharlin was looking at him through the misty haze of this place. She didn't smile, but she didn't glare either. Her soul looked unstable, shaking and falling apart faster then normal. Some small fire remained in her eyes as her body slip away. "About rusting time," Sharlin growled as the last of her was sucked off into whatever lay Beyond. Sharp's voice was caught in his throat. Another grandchild dead. --- Forrest sat back in his office. The death scene played on several monitors in front of him, showing different angles. He ran a hand through his silvery hair, releasing the tension he'd felt during the fight. A little tinge of a disappointment rattled around inside him. All that work for nothing. Some may have called him foolish for gambling on the victory of a Sharp, but he didn't believe in curses and legends. He was old enough to understand silly superstitious were just a human way of explaining outliers and extremes. "Sir?" Maylee, his secretary, asked. She'd been working on some paperwork at a table behind his desk and pretending not to watch the fight from over his shoulder. "Should I . . . pull out some of our planning files for revisions?" Forrest pulled off the earpiece he'd been wearing to get the arena's audio and lay it on the desk. "Yes, I'm afraid we're going to have to start again from the beginning." Maylee adjusted her glasses and glanced at the screens in front of him. "Won't whatever winning tribute work? I mean . . . it's not like Sharlin ever really was the noble hero you were looking for." "Do you really think any winner of a death game would be?" She frowned. Forrest appreciated her eagerness to work around problems, but youth brought impatience. He sighed. "I had other reasons for choosing Sharlin, but there's no use in dwelling on it now." Maylee nodded, her curly brown hair bouncing. "I'll send out correspondence informing the others, I suppose you'll want to hold a meeting." "Yes." Forrest said, turning back to the screen. It really was a shame. There'd been more there then met the eye and he'd been hoping to pick it apart. Perhaps if he was lucky, this wouldn't be the last time he dealt with a Sharp. He had Intel there were a few others left somewhere out there . . . "Maylee?" "Yes sir?" She was already halfway out of the office's door, one hand on the door knob. "Get me a coffee." Hide contents Aerol panted, collapsing over top of Sharlin's body. . . . Is it over? she asked weakly. @Uninteligenius She felt numb. Not physically- that burned. But emotionally . . . She was so numb. Quote 2
Mags she/they Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 (edited) 1 hour ago, Spark of Hope said: “As I mentioned before, we could negotiate a peace agreement. Neither country wants our next door neighbor as an enemy. We can also make our borders stricter.” "Many of my associates would argue otherwise--they don't want peace, they want the land they see as theirs returned to them. Your sovereignty is not well respected here, not so soon after war." Forrest stood, pacing a little in thought. "But don't worry, warmongering and threats are not to my liking, nor do they serve my purposes. You were wise to come to me with this request. Unlike most, my interests aren't wholly aligned with the state--My country is an end to a means." "Why don't you agree to do me a few grand favors, and I'll see what strings I can pull. I doubt you'll get a similar offer elsewhere, most wouldn't even be willing to speak with you." 11 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said: Aerol panted, collapsing over top of Sharlin's body. . . . Is it over? she asked weakly. @Uninteligenius She felt numb. Not physically- that burned. But emotionally . . . She was so numb. Quote How are we gonna decide a winner between Raven and and Glass/Unintelligious? it's like how long will take them to bleed out vs how long will it take the monster to kill squall, which will be hard to rp out fairly Edited June 19, 2025 by Mag
Through the Living Hope Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 4 minutes ago, Mag said: "Many of my associates would argue otherwise--they don't want peace, they want the land they see as theirs returned to them. Your sovereignty is not well respected here, not so soon after war." Forrest stood, pacing a little in thought. "But don't worry, warmongering and threats are not to my liking, nor do they serve my purposes. You were wise to come to me with this request. Unlike most, my interests aren't wholly aligned with the state--My country is an end to a means." "Why don't you agree to do me a few grand favors, and I'll see what strings I can pull. I doubt you'll get a similar offer elsewhere, most wouldn't even be willing to speak with you." “It would depend on the ethics of the favor. If you ask me to commit a genocide, I’ll say no, but… what do you have in mind?” Quote That’s a good point.. @BlueWildRye Pellee’s voice hissed in the Greenspine’s ear. “You have done what you need to do. Three tributes remain, and two are bound to each other. Heard this one towards them.”
Mags she/they Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 2 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said: “It would depend on the ethics of the favor. If you ask me to commit a genocide, I’ll say no, but… what do you have in mind?” @BlueWildRye Pellee’s voice hissed in the Greenspine’s ear. “You have done what you need to do. Three tributes remain, and two are bound to each other. Heard this one towards them.” "Commit genocide?! I just said warmongering was not to my taste!" But Forrest was chuckling as he said it. "I want nothing so violent. How about this: Correspondence between myself and your leaders, as well as permission for select agents of mine to pass freely through your land. I'll personally see to it that things remain on a private scale, of course. Leaders of the dystopia needn't know of such advantages."
Through the Living Hope Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 Just now, Mag said: "Commit genocide?! I just said warmongering was not to my taste!" But Forrest was chuckling as he said it. "I want nothing so violent. How about this: Correspondence between myself and your leaders, as well as permission for select agents of mine to pass freely through your land. I'll personally see to it that things remain on a private scale, of course. Leaders of the dystopia needn't know of such advantages." He chuckled as well. “That could work. While we navigate that I’d like to give your agents escorts- not for any distrust, but to prevent harm to our citizens. I would agree that correspondence should be possible.”
Mags she/they Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said: He chuckled as well. “That could work. While we navigate that I’d like to give your agents escorts- not for any distrust, but to prevent harm to our citizens. I would agree that correspondence should be possible.” Forrest frowned. "I'm rather adverse to that idea. My agent's business are their own, and it needn't be known by others. I asked for them to pass freely after all." He sat down again to be eye level with the man. "Rest assured, they will cause no harm, you won't even notice their presence. If something unfortunate were to happen, I'd take full responsibility." Edited June 19, 2025 by Mag
Through the Living Hope Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 4 minutes ago, Mag said: Forrest frowned. "I'm rather adverse to that idea. My agent's business are their own, and it needn't be known by others. I asked for them to pass freely after all." He sat down again to be eye level with the man. "Rest assured, they will cause no harm, you won't even notice their presence. If something unfortunate were to happen, I'd take full responsibility." He nodded. “I can accept this. If it makes any difference, the dual citizenship could be enforced so that they spend at least half of their time in the districts.”
Mags she/they Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 1 minute ago, Spark of Hope said: He nodded. “I can accept this. If it makes any difference, the dual citizenship could be enforced so that they spend at least half of their time in the districts.” "That wouldn't be necessary, and the time they spend and where should not be monitored." Forrest insisted. He waved to Maylee, who had finished writing out a draft of the agreement. She handed it to him, and he checked it over. Forrest then handed it to the Ambassador to read as well.
Through the Living Hope Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 1 minute ago, Mag said: "That wouldn't be necessary, and the time they spend and where should not be monitored." Forrest insisted. He waved to Maylee, who had finished writing out a draft of the agreement. She handed it to him, and he checked it over. Forrest then handed it to the Ambassador to read as well. He read through.
Mags she/they Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 8 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said: He read through. Maylee handed him a pen to sign the document at the bottom, in official agreement.
Through the Living Hope Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 4 minutes ago, Mag said: Maylee handed him a pen to sign the document at the bottom, in official agreement. (Assuming it matched the conversation and didn’t have fine print,) He signed it.
BlueWildRye he/him Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 53 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said: “It would depend on the ethics of the favor. If you ask me to commit a genocide, I’ll say no, but… what do you have in mind?” @BlueWildRye Pellee’s voice hissed in the Greenspine’s ear. “You have done what you need to do. Three tributes remain, and two are bound to each other. Heard this one towards them.” Quote What about Murr? The Greenspine wasn't happy to follow the Gamemaker's orders, but it wasn't as foolish as its predecessor, the Redspine, was: recklessly joining the tributes it was supposed to hunt and asking another tribute to kill it so that it could further defy the Gamemakers. The Greenspine didn't have the same flaws as the Redspine. It wasn't hindered by foolish emotions. But the Gamemakers didn't intend the Greenspine to be smart, ruthlessly smart. So far, it hadn't revealed its plan. It wasn't about to now. For now, the Greenspine would continue to work under the Gamemakers, until its chance came to escape. The Greenspine rushed at Squall, claws bared, vines shooting to its sides to prevent him from dodging or running around it. The only thing Squall could do was attack, or run the opposite way. Towards the other tributes. @TheRavenHasLanded
Through the Living Hope Posted June 19, 2025 Posted June 19, 2025 2 minutes ago, BlueWildRye said: The Greenspine wasn't happy to follow the Gamemaker's orders, but it wasn't as foolish as its predecessor, the Redspine, was: recklessly joining the tributes it was supposed to hunt and asking another tribute to kill it so that it could further defy the Gamemakers. The Greenspine didn't have the same flaws as the Redspine. It wasn't hindered by foolish emotions. But the Gamemakers didn't intend the Greenspine to be smart, ruthlessly smart. So far, it hadn't revealed its plan. It wasn't about to now. For now, the Greenspine would continue to work under the Gamemakers, until its chance came to escape. The Greenspine rushed at Squall, claws bared, vines shooting to its sides to prevent him from dodging or running around it. The only thing Squall could do was attack, or run the opposite way. Towards the other tributes. @TheRavenHasLanded @The Aspiring Archivist Quote Do you want to continue? You haven’t responded to several pings..
The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns Posted June 20, 2025 Posted June 20, 2025 2 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said: @The Aspiring Archivist Quote Haven't been pinged since I last posted here. Sorry, this is off and on so irregularly that I forget to check if it's active. Murr trudged onto the island, shield hanging heavily from his hand. Images of death and bloodshed flashed in his mind, gifts from the Aviar mixing with memories of war. His sister... he was fighting for his sister. She was dead. What had her name been? He continued the stumble through the forest. The visions and pure instinct were the only things keeping him on his feet and out of the patches of toxic plants and dangerous insects. Three or four birds circled him now. He couldn't quite tell, as his normal eyesight seemed to blur and double. Had he hit his head somewhere? 1
Ookla de los Cuervos he/him Posted June 20, 2025 Posted June 20, 2025 16 minutes ago, BlueWildRye said: The Greenspine wasn't happy to follow the Gamemaker's orders, but it wasn't as foolish as its predecessor, the Redspine, was: recklessly joining the tributes it was supposed to hunt and asking another tribute to kill it so that it could further defy the Gamemakers. The Greenspine didn't have the same flaws as the Redspine. It wasn't hindered by foolish emotions. But the Gamemakers didn't intend the Greenspine to be smart, ruthlessly smart. So far, it hadn't revealed its plan. It wasn't about to now. For now, the Greenspine would continue to work under the Gamemakers, until its chance came to escape. The Greenspine rushed at Squall, claws bared, vines shooting to its sides to prevent him from dodging or running around it. The only thing Squall could do was attack, or run the opposite way. Towards the other tributes. @TheRavenHasLanded Squall flips over a fallen log and starts sprinting away.
Through the Living Hope Posted June 20, 2025 Posted June 20, 2025 23 minutes ago, The Aspiring Archivist said: Murr trudged onto the island, shield hanging heavily from his hand. Images of death and bloodshed flashed in his mind, gifts from the Aviar mixing with memories of war. His sister... he was fighting for his sister. She was dead. What had her name been? He continued the stumble through the forest. The visions and pure instinct were the only things keeping him on his feet and out of the patches of toxic plants and dangerous insects. Three or four birds circled him now. He couldn't quite tell, as his normal eyesight seemed to blur and double. Had he hit his head somewhere? There was sound deeper in the jungle.
The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns Posted June 20, 2025 Posted June 20, 2025 5 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said: There was sound deeper in the jungle. Murr went in the direction of the noise, trying to come up with a clear thought. Why was he walking this way, anyway? He had many questions, but couldn't seem to find the answers to fit them.
Through the Living Hope Posted June 20, 2025 Posted June 20, 2025 2 minutes ago, The Aspiring Archivist said: Murr went in the direction of the noise, trying to come up with a clear thought. Why was he walking this way, anyway? He had many questions, but couldn't seem to find the answers to fit them. @Through The Living Glass @TheRavenHasLanded @Uninteligenius
BlueWildRye he/him Posted June 20, 2025 Posted June 20, 2025 1 hour ago, TheRavenHasLanded said: Squall flips over a fallen log and starts sprinting away. The Greenspine chases after him, pushing him further towards the other tributes.
Recommended Posts