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[center][sub][i][@Duoya] [@Sickle-cell] [@Migyudon] [@Old Amsterdam] [/i][/sub][/center]

[hider=Post #1]Taking her leave from the conversation, as more would-be punters approached the desk, Automaton finally started making her way towards the main event. There was something slightly unnerving about the sensation of the field, but it didn't bother her too much - after all, it wasn't as though any of her abilities would stop working. Besides, she had no reason to use them anyway, and seeking out any more fights seemed like she'd be asking for trouble.

More trouble than she was already in, anyway.

[color=cyan][i]Sixteen to one.[/i][/color] She wasn't sure if it was better or worse than she'd been expecting, but she was starting to wonder if letting Askaryan sign her up for things was the best idea. Or [i]anyone[/i] she'd just finished slicing open, really. Not that he decided the matchups, but that didn't mean it wouldn't be at least a little bit his fault when she ended up on the scrapheap. The guy at the betting stand's advice was something to keep in mind, maybe - she didn't have to stay in until she got the Juggernaut treatment. Good of him to let her know it was an option.

[color=cyan][i]Probably should've gotten his name, really.[/i][/color] Eh, she'd thank him if she didn't die. Only seemed polite.

After all, she was here for development, not outright victory. Compared to some capes, it was only a matter of time before the power difference got out of hand. So once she had what she needed, it made plenty of sense to stop. Fighting smarter, not harder. Even holding her own in the fight would be enough to make a decent impression, considering how outmatched she was, and she didn't have much to gain from fighting to her last breath. There was [i]way[/i] more that she had to do before she went six feet under.

Walking down to prepare for her fight, she did her best to relax... or at least [i]would[/i] have, if it weren't for the roaring applause that rose from the crowd, and the arrival of someone that made her eyes narrow with irritation. Maybe it was the fact that Whetstone seemed so relaxed after the mess she'd dragged Robin into, or maybe it was hearing the crowd roar for the self-righteous bitch, knowing she was one of the ones at the top.

And yet, for reasons unknown to anyone but herself, seeing it brought a small smirk to Robin's face. Nodding to herself, she turned away from the Gladius leader. There wasn't much she could do here and now, after all, and besides; Automaton had a fight to prepare for.
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[center][sub][i][@Duoya] [@Sickle-cell] [@Migyudon] [@Old Amsterdam][/i][/sub][/center]

[hider=Post #2]Mag was tired. But then, that wasn't anything new. What with all the fighting going on nearby, it had been impossible for her to get any sleep. She'd have struggled enough if she'd been in a bed, but stuck on the streets? Even if she'd been able to get to sleep, she'd have had to stay awake in case some super-powered psycho came barrelling down the alley. After all, if she didn't listen well enough to avoid all of this, then she'd have to...

Glancing uncomfortably at the mural behind her, a chalk sketch of a tiger done in a rainbow of colours, she frowned. It was beautifully done, there was no question about that, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of lingering discomfort. As beautiful as the art may have been, it still felt like a security measure. Or rather, a last resort.

Using your powers where the wrong people could see only opened you up to being a pawn. Or people expecting you to do things, and fight. It was frightening, especially after hearing everything that had happened even today. Still, the noise had died down, and she probably could have managed to get some sleep if she decided to now - so why wasn't she? A short rumble of protest from her stomach answered that question pretty effectively; she hadn't eaten a thing since yesterday.

Normally, she'd go find a store and borrow a few things, but that had gotten a whole lot more difficult after tensions rose, everyone in the city being on edge. Of course, there were shelters around too, places to find food, but her own paranoia meant she couldn't work up the courage to go to one. There was no doubt in her mind that her parents would have filed some kind of missing persons report; it wouldn't do for them to lose their little status symbol.

She'd been walking for a while before she came across a large gathering. There was a building, some sort of booth... and most importantly, lots and lots of people. People meant food, they meant money - and hopefully everyone would be paying more attention to whatever event was happening than to her. Deciding she didn't have any better options, she nodded to herself, pulling her hood up to cover her face and heading inside. There was an odd feeling as she approached, an uncomfortable empty chill, like she'd lost something important, but she dismissed it and walked inside.

Only to see what looked like a cage, along with row upon row of seating. Some kind of arena?

As Whetstone entered the room, Mag finally realised exactly where she was. She'd heard rumours about this, but finding herself in the middle of the Circus, surrounded by [i]capes[/i], was pretty much a nightmare made reality. Paling, she froze in one of the aisles, stammering an apology and darting to the side as someone nearly walked right into her. Glancing around the room nervously, she hoped against hope that she wouldn't catch anyone's attention.

But avoiding notice was easier said than done - despite being as superpowered as anyone there, the small teenager couldn't have looked more out of place if she tried.[/hider]