The Gladiator Meme

[maliceaforesock]

Blood and Glory


There is nothing quite like the arena, the cheer of the crowd, hundreds of pairs of eyes all watching you, the way your life balances on the edge of the blade. They say there are two kinds of fighters, those that value survival above all, and those who value victory.

Maybe this has always been your world, and the arena has always been a part of it. Or perhaps you've been brought here against your will. But surely you know the expression: When in Rome...


Rules
1. Comment with your character and canon.
2. Include things such as scenarios, settings, and whether you'd like to play as an AU or something the characters have been dragged into.
3. Good fighting.

ARENA VARIANTS

Historical //
Whether it's 300 BC or 300 AD, whether you're slaves, volunteers, or a member of the city's favorite team, you're in Rome or something like it. I hear the sand makes the blood easier to clean up.

Fantasy //
Mythical creatures set loose to be battled, magic in the bindings that keeps you in line, this life may be even more dangerous. At least the architecture is pretty.

Space //
You are on a large ship, or perhaps an entire planet, that exists only as an arena for battles to take place, with exploits beamed across the galaxy.

Your Own World //
Turns out even in familiar places there are people bloodthirsty enough to want to see these sorts of battles. The arena might be makeshift, or re-purposed, or even a new stadium made for the purpose, but the sentiment behind the games is the same.

SCENARIOS

1// Man vs Beast
Today your opponents are not other gladiators, but animals, or monsters. Try and stay alive.

2// There Can Be Only One
Both of you have made it to the end of the battle, but there can be only one victor today. You must come to accords in one way or another, or else persuade the crowd to have a change of heart.

3// Fresh Meat
One of you is a veteran gladiator, the other one has just been brought in, willingly or otherwise. Time to haze the greenhorn, or take them under your wing.

4// Biggest Fan
One of you is not a fighter at all, but you do enjoy watching the battles, and now you have a chance to meet your heroes.

5// Picking Sides
The next battle will be between a number of teams, you'll need to find your partner ahead of time if you want a chance.

6// Crowd Pleaser
One of you is a known favorite of the masses. The other... isn't.

7// Protector
You've made an agreement. No matter what happens or who arrives in the arena, you will keep your friend alive.

8// Night Life
One of you is not a fighter, but you are close to their level, there to entertain the fighters after the arena has quieted for the night with things like drink and dance.

9// Volunteer and the Impressed
One of you is there because you want to be. The life of battle and fighting for fun just appeals to you you're ready to throw yourself into the ring. This is causing some friction between you and the others.

10// Revolt
You've made your plans, there's a weakness in the arena, and come the next show, you are all getting out.

11// Good Hunting
One of you have been thrown into the arena with little more than the shirt on your back. The other, in full armor with a few nice toys to use. The end result seems simple, doesn't it?

12// Patron
One of you is a person of wealth who would liked to get more involved in a gladiator's life, such as providing them with some useful perks. The other of you could really use a leg up.

Comments

[yourwill_myhands]

[Historical is fine. 3, 5 or any preference?]

loki | mcu

[villainry]

[ he deserves to have his ass kicked. probably fantasy/space, may or may not be the gladiator, I'm happy with w/e. ragnarok compliant. ]

idk what are numbers

[fiercestwarrior]

[ For a long time, Sif was convinced that her banishment would not stand. She may have lost some of her previously unshakable faith, but she still could not imagine that Thor would not hear of it and thus return home to convince his father to overturn his decision.

As she is being escorted through the underbelly of an arena, hearing the muted roar of the crowd somewhere above, that faith can officially said to be shaken.

The shame and frustration of the defeat that brought her to this point still burns in the pit of her stomach, and she feels somehow less herself without her Asgardian armour and her own sword and shield.

The simple leather that has been strapped to her body now feels more fit for sparring than what she knows is going to be a bloody battle, and she does not trust the twin blades she has been equipped with to serve her well at all. The point here is for her to die, after all, that much she feels quite certain of.

The roaring of the crowd grows louder, and some sand sifts down from above as the stomping of their feet shakes the structure to its foundation.

She keeps her breathing slow, pulling her focus further and further inward, every step being taken with purpouse and attention and she nears the entrance to the arena. She hears herself being announced, but the exact words don't register because they don't matter. All that matters is the gate before her that is about to open. All that matters is that her hands are ready to pull the swords from her back.

The gate opens, and she is temporarily blinded by light even as she quickly dashes to the side in case something is being fired at her right from the start.

It is only when she stops to take stock, swords now in her hand, that she sees who it is that she is facing... ]

gannicus ( spartacus )

[gladiayyygirl]

I'm so late here but I had a fight with my external harddrive

[manwithhonor]

[ BUT WANT SOMETHING WITH THEM? ]

apollo ( the authority )

[solarcharged]

[glaivesworn]

Nyx can't say exactly how long he'd been here-- more than a few months, less than a year. Probably. Can't say exactly how he'd gotten here either, except that the magic used by the scientist-sorcerers of this world seems to pick indiscriminately, dragging people of all shapes and sorts into the Arena without regard for whether they could survive. Most don't. The spectators don't care, screaming and howling with bloodthirsty yearning each new moon, when the fresh meat is brought forth and culled, the herd thinned out into a mere handful of survivors.

A few months. Maybe a year. Fighting the whole time.

His fights are popular among the Arena's spectators, but Nyx is pretty fucking sure that it has less to do with his own fighting prowess and more because of his reluctance to kill. There's a lot of laughter when he pulls back from a fatal blow, when he leaves a downed opponent and takes the penalty-- shock after searing shock from the magical harness worn by every fighter in the Arena-- without a sound. And a hell of a lot more laughter when he's forced to end it, blood dripping from his blades, his hands, surrounded by the charred corpses of the gladiators who couldn't let it end at a draw, wouldn't take the outs that he gave them. Sometimes they changed things up, applied handicaps just for "fun", pitting him against the fresh meat, stripping him of his magic, or taking away his blades and forcing him to fight with his fists, to emerge victorious bloodied to the elbow.

Nyx can't allow himself to be killed. He has an adopted country and a job to return to, a sworn duty to uphold and a war to win. But their laughter haunts his dreams.

And of course, popularity has its price. Over time, Nyx finds himself pitted against stronger and stronger opponents, more and more fights where mercy is a luxury he can no longer afford and survival is the best he can manage. Today is no different. He'd heard the whispers about his opponent, the bets, the odds stacked against him. Doesn't matter. Blades in hand and head held high, he walks once more onto the cold sands of the pit.

Steve Rogers // MCU

[shieldborne]

[The chance of him being here voluntarily is virtually nil, but plot with me. Preferred prompts are: 5, 7, 9, 10, 11.]

[jedi_librettist]

11 sounds like fun. With Ben's powers, he has a decent chance at holding his own unarmed unless he gets overwhelmed by hearing everyone in the audience. Unless you'd rather Steve be the one unarmed?

Aunty Entity // Mad Max: BTT

[aunty]

[Remember where you are. This is Thunderdome. Death is listening, and will take the first man that screams.

...okay, it doesn't actually have to be Thunderdome, but she's probably a patron or observer either way.]

Furiosa / Mad Max: Fury Road

[seventhousand]

[She is a baseline human with no magical powers or strength enhancements, so if your character has those and they're fighting, they'll have to be nerfed unless she's just there as prey. But she's also relentless and unfamiliar with mercy, so she has that going for her. Team-ups, alliances, and revolts are particularly welcome.]

Thor Odinson | MCU

[asgardsthunder]

[ oh, this again? ]

Re: Thor Odinson | MCU

[hashtagnotallfrostgiants]

[Hey, want to AU Ragnarok so Loki ended up as a gladiator when he landed on Sakaar? Then Thor's first fight can be with someone he's great at beating up.]

Athos | The Musketeer (BBC)

[themusketeer]

(En guarde)

Dia Starfall | Star Wars OC | F/M for shipping or smut, ota otherwise

[pathfromdarknesstogrey]

(Trained assassin, Force User, and wielder of a Lightsaber, Space, or Space/Fantasy probably work best)

Yuri | YOI | OTA

[ragefairy]

[Kid dances around on knife shoes and already wants to fight EVERYONE...]

cu chulainn (lancer) | fate/ | ota

[lannaire]

Captain Rex | Star Wars, The Clone Wars | OTA

[insurrexion]

[Bioengineered enhanced human clone with an extremely questionable grasp on the definition of 'agency'.]

Linette St. Paul | World of Darkness (OC - Bastet)

[fearful_symmetry]

[Weretiger berserker. What could go wrong?]

NUMBERO UNO!

[sixthehardway]

In nothing more than a loin cloth Logan stands in the middle of the arena. They didn't give him any weapons. Just uncuffed his shackles and shoved him forward until he finally felt the sun on his face. Dust fluttered up from where his feet stomped across the hard soil.

He tilted his chin toward the sun and groaned at the pain it caused his eyes. Where the fuck was he? There was a loud roar. Maybe an animal. Maybe a crowd. Mighta' been both.

Nephele | Mistborn OC | OTA

[nepharious]

Vladimir [Ward] | Battletech

[degreased]

[Best in mech vs mech format]

I am Star Colonel Vladimir, of Clan Wolf. Who is the freebirth who dares challenge me?

Illya Kuryakin | The Man from UNCLE |OTA

[red_peril]

[1963 movie version or Modern AU available]

Theseus | Immortals OTA

[theseus_of_kolpos]

[historical or modern AU available]

Ben Solo (AU) | Star Wars

[jedi_librettist]

[There is absolutely no chance he's here willingly. Especially interested in scenarios 3, 7, 9, 11, and 12.]

Loki | MCU

[hashtagnotallfrostgiants]

Uvogin | HXH

[bigbangbeery]

[Violent thief who lives for going all out on anyone. Would absolutely be down for this kind of thing.]

Leon Powalski | Star Fox

[falcoff]

[Sharp shooter and mercenary, skilled in blood sport. Can be humanized if need be.]

Aether Brandier | Original | M/F

[halfremembered]

[rideofthescrapper]

(( Have at a Brunnhilde. Maybe as a fighter Aether is a patron to? ))

Keith | Voltron: Legendary Defender | OTA

[tempredmental]

nyx ulric | kingsglaive: ffxv | ota

[glaivesworn]

[ down for fantasy or alien kidnapping or dark ffxv au. >:3 ]