Hey guys looks who's not dead!
Aaanywho, this is a collaboration between myself ( u/3515341/crimZonvampire) and my friend theredreaper ( u/3863235/theredreaper). You all should totally check her out, she's amazing~!
We're trying to put ourselves on a schedule so you should expect updates pretty quickly if that happens...
The first chapter is theredreaper's.
Hope you all enjoy!
Chapter One
What the hell just happened?
He wasn't doing anything wrong, he was just standing there. Just like everyone else in his district. Just standing there.
He slowly, shakily made his way up to the podium, up to the stage where the big District Three sign made it hard to miss. Up to where his freckled face would be broadcasted everywhere, for everyone to see.
His eyes were wide and tired from lack of sleep the previous night, his worst nightmare had come true. These games were going to be especially hard, considering it was a Quarter Quell. Tributes of the same age, that meant harder competition.
My name is Sollux Captor, and I have just been chosen for the Hunger Games.
Sollux stared down at his hands, he didn't want to see the sympathetic glances that were being cast in his direction, he didn't want to see everyone staring up at him. His dual-colored eyes and strange speech impediment always made people stare.
Why make them stare more?
His district partner was Aradia Megido. She wasn't too bad; she was kind of weird, but not a bad ally to possibly have.
Sollux was already calculating ways to win, deciding which strategy would be the best.
Should I go for brute force? No, I'm not strong enough; I'll bet the District One tributes would team up with me though... But I work better alone. He didn't need allies.
He didn't anyone to help him win. He was going to win. He was going to come back.
He was going to win the Hunger Games.
The train ride was smooth, like the big fields of grain they had in District Nine. It was light, all lit up, like the bright sun in District Nine. The food smelled nice, not like the lumpy, gray mush they got in District Nine.
Stop comparing things to District Nine! Jade scolded herself. You won't be back for a while!
"Are you okay Miss Harley?" Sufferer (well, that was his nickname), District Nine's mentor asked.
"Oh yes, just fine!" Jade forced a smile, "A bit nervous is all."
"I was in the same position as you once, I'm sure you'll do great." Sufferer comforted.
"Maybe." Jade took a bite from the food, the taste was surely the most delightful thing her mouth had ever encountered. The different flavors, the aroma, everything tied together to make a perfect combination!
"What the fuck?" Karkat gasped. "Why is this so amazing?"
Jade laughed, "It's Capitol food, silly!"
"I know that, fuckass!" Karkat snapped, Jade's peppy personality and positive attitude made him want to puke.
"You don't have to be sassy with me!" she snapped right back.
"Tributes, please! Stop fighting!" Sufferer scolded. "We don't need any enemies formed before we've even arrived at the Capitol!"
"Sorry…" they mumbled in sync.
"Let the tribute parade… Begin!" Doc Scratch, the president of Panem shouted.
The rainbow crowd cheered, the Hunger Games had begun.
"District One, Terezi Pyrope and Gamzee Makara!"
Head to toe in a red, scaly dress made out of sequins and a jacket to match. Some ridiculous sparkly dragon-type thing resting atop her head with a gog damn cape attached. Terezi Pyrope felt fucking fabulous. She had pointy red-lens glasses to finish off her outfit, her fabulous red outfit.
Her near-sightedness made it hard to catch the roses that were being thrown at her face.
But she did it, she caught one. A bright red one, she caught it right in her hand and pulled it close to her chest.
Gamzee Makara felt like he was floating. "Hey Terezi, this is one motherfucking miracle chariot." His dark purple suit shimmered with all the lights pointing at him, made the matching sequins dance light around them. "Miracles…" he whispered, waving his hand around in a morphine-induced daze.
District Two's chariot stormed out, the female tribute already yelling her head off.
"District Two, Vriska Serket and John Egbert!"
"Come on John! Cheer with me!" Vriska shouted, she raised her dark blue armored arms above her head and waved at everyone she saw.
"Hehehe, Vriska, you are so funny!" John mimicked her, his lighter blue armored arms too waving at everyone.
"These stupid hats are so stupid!" she yelled, her fake smiled stayed plastered on her face.
"I know!" John called back.
"District Three, Aradia Megido and Sollux Captor!"
"Thith is fucking thupid." Sollux whispered under his breath. His metallic-looking hat shot out a small bolt of electricity, the real stuff. Not some crappy fake shit, real electricity.
His stupid hat, his stupid shirt, his stupid pants. Stupid glitter. Who even used that much glitter on an outfit? Oh right.
"Come on Sollux, it's for the sponsors," Aradia droned through her teeth, she was smiling as wide as anatomically possible. "Just don't look stupid!"
Not like she was off any better, same stupid hat, same stupid shirt, but a form-fitting stupid skirt. And same dumbass glitter.
"District Four! Feferi Peixes and Eridan Ampora!"
"Wwhy do wwe havve to do this?" Eridan spat through a very forced, very stiff smile.
"Because it's part of the games!" Feferi, unlike Eridan, was actually somewhat enjoying herself.
They were both in shimmery-dark purple fabric that hugged their curves. Netting was draped around them too, Feferi's like a shawl and Eridan's like a cape.
"I didn't wwant to be in the games." Eridan grumbled. He pushed his glasses higher up his nose and hunched his shoulders.
"Well then don't ruin them for me!" Feferi waved at the crowd. The big headpieces they had balanced on their heads were wobbling around, as if they were fish.
"District Five!" Doc Scratch's voice was drowned out by the crowd; the only name that was heard was Dave Strider.
Dave waved, coolly, calmly. He was much too cool to let the Capitol get to him. He was Dave Strider. He was fucking awesome.
He was decked out, broken record hat, red cape. Red, awesome, cool cape. Just like District One, but without the lame dragon. He was Dave Strider, and he is awesome.
"District Six," again, Doc Scratch was unheard through the crowd. There was a name though, Tavros Nitram.
Tavros smiled nervously, he was visibly shaking, his silver outfit made him sparkle.
There sure are a lot of colors in the Capitol. Tavros thought.
The crowd cheered, completely unaware of Tavros' nervous energy.
They just want a good show, that's all they want. Maybe I'll make it home.
"District Seven, Kanaya Maryam and…" but again, Doc Scratch was muffled by the over-excited crowd.
Green. Green, green, green, Kanaya felt like a tree. A sexy tree. The dress she was wearing faded from brown to green as it ascended, and the collar was nonexistent. Well, Kanaya thought it was much too low for her taste.
Kanaya waved and smiled at the crowd, her skin was covered in a shimmery-something that made her almost glow.
"District Eight!" Doc Scratch shouted, "Rose Lalonde…" he was again drowned out by the crowd.
The sheer black fabric and matching makeup really made her stand out against the colorful crowd. Her pale skin shone in the dimming light, spotlights projected onto her and made it shine even more.
District Nine came out, dressed up in farmer getup. "District Nine, Jade Harley and Karkat Vantas!"
"I feel like a fucking hillbilly." Karkat grumbled.
"A what?" Jade yelled over the screaming crowd.
"A fucking hillbilly!" Karkat shoved his middle finger into her face, "you know what, never mind."
"Whatever you say!" Jade continued to ignore him.
District Ten came out, followed by Eleven.
"District Eleven, Nepeta Leijon and Equius Zahhak!"
"Oh Equius, I'm so nervous!" Nepeta squeaked, her flouncy blue dress quivering.
"Just relax." Equius gently patted her head with a slightly damp hand. I require a towel.
"Thanks Equius, I'll try to." Nepeta squeezed his hand and held on tightly.
District Twelve came out and that was it.
"Thank you, everyone, for coming out to support this year's tributes! It has been an honor hosting the Games, yet again, and we are so happy you could make it. Happy Hunger Games!" Doc Scratch recited.
The crowd cheered loudly.