I got impatient waiting for my last Tribute, so here's the first Reaping. You guys really came through, and I only have five or six knife throwers. The only problem I had was that I have a lot of pickpockets. I can see why they'd be in the Games, but it's going to be hard to come up with so many distinct pickpocket characters. I shall do my best.

Ruby D'Arcy POV

"As a reminder to the people of Panem that they chose rebellion, the Tributes will be voted on by the people from each District."

I sat in front of the television with my father and his current wife.

I didn't expect that, I thought. I thought for the first Quarter Quell, the Tributes would be older. What with the dull as dirt 23rd Games and the only slightly better 24th, the Capitol must be itching for a good show.

"Looks like you're fine, sprout," my father said. "Everyone loves us."

Yeah. Everyone loves my father. He's one of the richest men in a poor area of One, and he loves passing a few cents to the beggars so they can "better themselves". He's arrogant, pompous, and completely repellant. Just ask his three former wives.

When Reaping Day came a week later, I filed in among the other girls my age and looked at the crowd. Most of the children seemed completely at ease. They were laughing and joking around- they had nothing to worry about. I saw a few of the "weird" kids around town nervously fidgeting, and I smiled encouragingly at one.

"What, is my skirt too messy, princess?" she asked. I looked away. Thanks to my lovely father, I never had many friends. That made me quieter, which drove even more people away. Maybe if I was a beautiful orphan I wouldn't have this problem.

The Reaping bowls only had one name in each in them, and Philomena, dressed in an oh-so-original sapphire encrusted dress, wasted no time pulling it out.

Please don't be me please don't be me. I'm not that terrible. Send someone else, please…

"Ruby D'Arcy!"

Shoot. Shoot shoot shoot. I'm going to die. I am going to die.

I found myself trembling beside Philomena. I think my eyes were so scared they forgot how to cry. I started hyperventilating and swayed on my feet, catching myself against the bowl.

"Aurum Niteo!" I heard a faint voice call. I looked up some time later and saw a boy I didn't know looking at me with concern. He steadied me with one arm as he held my arm overhead with the other.

The next thing I knew, my father was ranting about how they were going to pay for this, since he had contacts in the Capitol and I shouldn't even have been on the ballot.

"Unanimous? Don't worry, sweetie, I'll get you out of this," he said. "Just hold tight and enjoy a few days in the Capitol. Here, take this while you wait." He handed me a ruby ring. I looked at it dumbly, and he slipped it onto my finger. He patted me on the back and walked away.


Aurum Niteo POV

Another day, another of someone else's dollars. We honor tradition here in One, and my father and grandfather before me were "liberators". That is to say, we "liberate" money from people who have a little extra and give it to the poor. Of course, we happened to be poor, so that eliminated the middleman. Pickpocketing was illegal as always, but Peacekeepers didn't care if they could share a little in the profits. Far be it from me to not share. I'm an upstanding citizen.

My pad didn't exactly have the latest technology, like a television, or a sink, so I'd had to hear about the Quell twist from the big set in Town Square. I didn't think it would affect me. I'm a pickpocket and all, but I'm a good one. Nobody knows about me and nobody's going to vote for me. The Reaping would be over in a few days and I'd be in the clear.

I scouted the streets, looking for a good mark. My eyes fell upon a girl wearing a glittery dress and shiny leather shoes. Bingo. She was rich and she was a dame. Rich dames usually don't mind even if they notice me nicking a few bucks. They don't want to make trouble for me.

I sidled closer and looked her over. She wasn't a bad looker. She had nice enough blonde hair and nice enough blue eyes. Par for the course in One, but not bad. I nudged against her as I walked by.

"Oh, excuse me, miss," I said when she looked over. I tucked my hand in my pocket and started walking away. When I was out of sight, I looked at my haul and counted an honest day's wages. I chuckled and headed home early.

The next day, I was prowling another street putting in my time.

"Hey!" I heard a voice growl at me. I turned around and saw it was Poul D'Arcy, the richest, meanest man in One.

"What do you want?" I asked. He grabbed my collar and hauled me close.

"You getting fresh with my daughter?" he spat. And I do mean "spat".

"What you talking about? Lay off!" I said.

"Don't play innocent. I know it was you. I have my sources," he said.

"She snitched?" I asked.

"No. She said it was "no big deal", but I don't tolerate crime. Peacekeepers!" he called. Two officers ran over. As they were coming, he smiled oddly at me, then let go of my collar.

"What's the problem, sir?" A Peacekeeper asked.

"Sorry, officer. It was a misunderstanding," he said. When they were gone, he turned to me.

"Get out of here before I change my mind," he said. I cleared out.

I'd forgotten about it when the Reaping rolled around. I stood in the crowd checking for distracted marks and wondering who the poor sucker was who we voted in. Philomena pulled the female Tribute.

"Ruby D'Arcy!" she called.

Oh, not Ruby! She didn't snitch on me. She's a nice girl, I thought. She doesn't have a chance, either. Jeers and hisses flew from the audience. Someone threw a rock, and the Peacekeepers had to move the crowd out of reach. Ruby didn't seem to hear.

Philomena reached into the boy's bowl.

"Aurum Niteo!"

What? That can't be right. Nobody knows me. What happened?

I thought back to an ugly sneering face.

You.

I stood tall and strode onstage. Let him think I wanted to go to the Games. Ruby was bone white and looked about ready to faint, so I took her hand and supported her as Philomena presented us. Suck on that, fat cat. I've got my dirty thief arms on your daughter.

My father came backstage and sat by me.

"Tough luck, kid. You just had to piss off D'Arcy, didn't you?"

"Thanks, Dad," I said. He took my hand.

"Do your best, son. I love you," he said. He pressed a golden ball into my hand.

"It's the thief's symbol. Hold it with pride," he said. I intended to.


There you have Ruby and Aurum. I don't know if any of the Tributes really qualify as Careers this year, but I'm going to call them that. Gold balls are Saint Nicholas' symbol, and he's the patron saint of thieves. Aurum's father knows his history.