Panem discussion

Not just for games. The arcade has games that contain information in them. You use your disc points to play and by winning you can get information or bonuses. But only if you beat your Program opppnent. And beating a computer at a game? Its tough stuff.

Bruce led Barely into the arcade and whistled "Wow..." he looked around from where he stood "What are these exactly?" he touched one of the machines.

Barley ran her hands over one of the machines. And a Program stepped out.

"Video Games." The program said cooly. Her voice crisp and clear. The Program smiled, "Want to play?"

Bruce swallowed and glanced at Barely "Should I?" he muttered, his hand on his disk. Prepped and ready.

The Program smiled and before either Tribute could react took the discs. "No weapons allowed. Only use discs if you are willing to play." After a few minutes it was as if the Program reset herself. "Want to play?" she asked again.

Barley swallowed uncomfortably, "Bruce. This feels bad. Like a trap." She said biting her lip uncertain. "What do the games involve?" She asked the Program.

"The Games are based upon skill." With that the Program took two chords out of a side panel of the game, "These go on head and acess brain waves. If you win you are given prize. If you don't then-" She paused and her voice became dark and manly "GAME OVER." Once again it shifted to its clear sweetness, "Want to play?"

Bruce glanced at Barely briefly "Should I?" he whispered

Barley bit her lip, "If you loose then you die though. That's hardly worth it." She paused and bit her lip, "Brain waves....hmmm" She trailed off thinking and then nodded at the Program. "I'll play."

The Program smiled and attatched the two chords to Barley's temple. Smiling, "Welcome to the game, Barley Millet. Choose your color."

Barley blinked, startled by how the game screen seemed to be inside her head, she could see it all. She could also see that she would be going agianst the Program as she played the game.

Bruce bit his lip "Dammit" he whispered, watching them with fear

Barley was completely tuned out as she chose her color, choosing blue over the orange. Immediately the game started up and she found herself as a little blue car with blue lines coming out the back. During the example round she frowned slightly as she learned the trick of the game.

Bruce sat down and watched, cleaning Damon's blood off of the arrow as he did so.

After a few minutes The Program pulled the wires off Barley's temples and stepped back. "Level six, completed. Prize awarded. Have a nice day." Giving the two their discs back the Program vanished.

Barley stumbled and shook her head, "1796." She said softly and shook her head. She blinked, and wasn't even surprised that she could see. The Wires had changed her brain patterns and healed her sight. Seeing Bruce she frowned, "Who are you? Where am I?"

Bruce frowned "My name is Bruce-- we are in the hunger games and you are Barely. You are in love with the victor Jonah. Do you not remember?"

A small parachute flew down from the window, inside was a single rose with a note Knew you could do it baby-- I love you. ~Jonah

Barley looked at the note curiously, "Jonah? Who is that? What are the Hunger Games?" She asked obviously confused. Save for the number '1796' everything in her mind had been wiped clean. Nothing left.

Bruce frowned and walked forward slowly "The hunger games is an arena where boy and girls fight to the death. You and I are both in the hunger games but we are working together. One boy and one girl can win..." he pulled Jonah's necklace and showed it to her "This is Jonah's. He has your charm bracelet and you love him. He is the youngest tribute to ever win." he watched her with fear.

Barley frowned, "That's silly. A game in which people die." She shook her head, "We should go now. The Program will appear again soon and ask us to play again." She nodded and took Bruce's hand. Pulling him outside she stood on the doorstep, having left the rose on the game counsul.

Bruce frowned and followed her out "Do you remember anything at all??" he watched the rose and frowned

"1796." Barley repeated. "I know my age. I know that simple stuff like how to walk and eat and that I need sleep and I know the rules of the game." She shrugged, "Should I have known anything else it's gone now." She nodded and shrugged. "Oh well." Barley had no memory of what she lost so she didn't know how to feel. All she knew was that she had to win the games. She didn't even remember that she had once been blind.

Bruce frowned "Well this is a pickle..." he muttered before sighing and notching his arrow once again "Where should we head now?"

[I want them to win XD]

[I figured that much xD ]

Barley shrugged, "We need sustinance." She looked up as a little parachute fell down and landed in her hand. Opening the box she frowned seeing a small charm with a joystick on it. "This..." She trailed off and shook her head. Putting the charm on the Jonah necklace she smiled. "Let's go get food."

((*eye twitchy*))

[yup!]

Bruce nodded "Alright, I think there is some food in the city. We could head there." he shook his head "You really don't remember anything? And what's up with the charm?"

[Jonah sent it or what?]

[nope that's her congragulatory gift from Grace]

Barley shrugged, "Don't know. And I really don't remember anything. Do you honestly think I'm just playing at being brainwashed?" She laughed and shrugged, "City it is." Using Damon's disc she headed off along the street towards the city.

[oooo kk XD got confused there XD]

Bruce nodded and started following her-- shocked that she could see all of a sudden.

Barley whistled joyfully as she walked, a tune that her mom had used to whistle when her mom did housework. Not that Barley remembered that, but she just thought the tune was common and it popped into her head.

(to the city)

Bruce sighed and followed her, on alert as they moved.