Introduction
Cambria Carmine — 29 years
Master of Ceremonies
Year of the 150th Hunger Games
"Come on, just tell me, already."
Ferrox let out an ungodly snort, throwing himself back against the couch. He had been teetering across the room for a solid twenty minutes, half-empty whiskey glass in one hand and the other one making grand gestures as he went about. He blinked open his bleary eyes, meeting hers for a brief second before downing whatever remained in his glass.
"I don't know why they made you Head if you can't even handle your liquor," she pointed out.
"That's an unfair assumption, Cam," Ferrox hiccuped, letting his head drop across the back of the couch. His dark, evergreen hair was bright against the pale cream of the fabric.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Just don't come crying to me when you fall asleep on the bathroom floor tonight."
Ferrox let out an honest laugh this time. "You know you'd help me."
"Not a chance in hell, asshole. I've done that enough," she said. She peered into her own glass. It was mostly ice at this point but she threw it back, grimacing at the watery taste.
They lapsed back into silence. The thrum of the television in the background was the only noise audible in the room, replaying some sort of over-dramatized soap opera. An Avox walked near silently into the room, examining the half empty liquor bottles on the table across the room. She twisted the lids back onto some and grabbed the empty ones before removing herself from the room.
She could feel Ferrox's eyes on her as she watched the Avox leave.
"Do you need something?" She asked, turning back to look at him. He grinned back at her.
"Just wondering why you want to know the Quell twist so bad, is all."
"Because I do. Aren't friends supposed to tell each other shit like this?"
"Madam President would have my head, dearest Cambria. So, no." Ferrox rose shakily back to his feet, holding his hands out for balance. This time it was her that snorted.
"Dominika would forget the second you crawled back into her bed, Fer."
He whirled back around to face her from two steps he had managed to take back to the table.
"That, dear old best friend, is an outrageous accusation," he exclaimed in mock horror. Without another word he turned back around, waving his arms frantically as he swayed back and forth. Cambria could see him smiling even from here.
She rose to her feet, unsurprisingly more steady than him. She could always drink him under the table, even when they were teenagers. Cambria shoved him in the shoulder as she went by, sending him sprawling half onto the couch, his legs lying limply on the floor. She snatched up one of the bottles from the table, not bothering to read the label, and wandered back the couch, kicking Ferrox in the leg before she resumed her position at the end of the couch.
He stretched his arm holding the empty glass across the couch towards her. She tipped the open bottle towards him, watching the amber liquid splash into his glass before she pulled it back, filling her own.
"I see your goal now, Cam. You're going to give me alcohol poisoning so I'll tell you the twist on my deathbed," he slurred, taking another drink.
"Of course it is," she entertained. Ferrox reached his hands towards her, making frantic grabby motions with the empty one. She rolled her eyes and set her glass down, grabbing his forearms to haul him back onto the couch. Once he was settled, she grabbed her glass again, laying back across the material so her head rested against one of his thighs. Ferrox looked down at her, eyes blurry. He flicked several silver-blue strands of her hair out of his lap.
The glass was cool from where she had it rested against her stomach even through the rather thick material of her shirt. Ferrox shifted incessantly for a few moments before deeming he was in a comfortable spot, tucked into the meeting place between two cushions.
"Okay, I've got it," he said after a moment. "I'll tell you if you marry me."
"Oh, not this again."
"But you promised me you would!"
"When we were like five, Fer."
He pouted down at her, flicking her once in the forehead and nearly hitting her in the eye.
"Alright move, Cam," he instructed.
"I'm comfortable."
Ferrox grumbled something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like profanity. He jerked his leg up, nearly succeeding in kneeing the back of her head. She sat up with a sigh, squinting at him as he tried to get his legs underneath him.
"What are you doing?" She asked curiously, eyebrows raised.
"Telling you the Quell twist."
"Why do you need to stand on the couch?"
"For effect, dammit!"
His legs were shaking by the time he finally got his feet under him, knees quaking together and leather-clad feet dug deep into the fabric of the couch. Cambria looped an arm around one of his knees, leaning herself back against his leg, closing her eyes. She could feel the make-up smudged underneath them and sticky at the corner of her lips, but she couldn't find the energy to care.
"Alright, so," Ferrox began. He paused for a moment, trying to arrange the thoughts spinning his his head. "So, I think it's going to—"
"You think?" Cambria interrupted. Ferrox nudged one of his feet against her.
"Don't interrupt. Anyway, so we're just gonna put all of the kids in one bowl—"
"That's an image."
"Shut up. So, they'll all be reaped together. Regardless of District or gender. And whatever else matters. So we could end up with like, half the arena being District One kids. Or some Districts might not have any tributes at all. It'll be very interesting."
Ferrox wobbled from his position on the couch. He glanced down at Cambria. Her eyebrows were furrowed, face painted into something that resembled confusion and another emotion he couldn't even name. She remained silent for a good while, still supporting him with one arm.
"That was a lot less dramatic than I had anticipated," what was she finally decided on.
"Holy shit, you're impossible."
Meet your Head Gamemaker and Master of Ceremonies, who are both probable drunkards. Well, Ferrox more so than Cam. She just does it for the shits and giggles of making him wobble around.
Details are all on my profile regarding Tribute numbers, the Quell Twist if you're confused, and the form itself. Tributes through review will not be accepted. I'll read them, for my own shits and giggles, but that's about it. Any other questions can be directed to me through PM or however else you want to ask. Updates will be posted regularly on my profile. This story is not first come first serve and there will be no reservations because of the Quell Twist.
I look forward to seeing some tributes from you guys.
