A/N: Hi guys! I've been playing around with this idea for a couple days, and after talking to my friend Jord (hi Jord!) I decided to write it. I want to clarify this isn't going to be a rewrite of the books with Delly filling Katniss' place, there will be some similarities to the books, I may or may not follow the same general plotline, but there will be major differences (hence this story being a SYOT, more on why at the end of the chapter, along with the submission form). This is my first time writing for THG so please feel free to correct me if I get any details wrong! Have fun reading.
Delilah Cartwright was no stranger to misfortune. Her mother had died giving birth to her brother five years prior, her best friend had been reaped the previous year (she was from the seam, something looked down upon by many of the merchants, but Delly could make friends with almost everyone), and then she'd almost lost her brother in the winter. But she still considered herself lucky; most of the kids in 12 did, because she'd never been reaped.
But her experience with misfortune was part of why her heart bled for those around her, and right now, it was bleeding for Peeta Mellark, the baker's boy. It wasn't hard to see that he adored Katniss Everdeen, a girl from the seam, who often treaded squirrels with many of the merchants, and someone had started a rumour (or maybe it was true, she didn't know), that Katniss and her best friend, Gale Hawthorn, had a bet, that if neither of them were reaped this year, she'd marry him. Delly wasn't too surprised, this was around the age many seam girls and boys married, needing the income of a minor to be able to afford anything, and she knew when Gale went to work in the mines after school that only one of them would be able to hunt. It wasn't enough to feed both of their families. And Peeta had missed his chance to see if he had any chance, any hope, of the girl he'd admired since they were children loving him back.
It wasn't a secret that his mother wasn't the nicest person either, and Delly had a feeling that part of what had kept Peeta so determined all these years was to impress Katniss somehow, and now it didn't matter, but he still had much to hope for, in Delly's opinion anyway. She shook her head lightly, as if clearly the thoughts from her brain, and a sigh followed as she picked up her reaping dress. Only two more years, and a merchant child hadn't been reaped in almost 10 years now, she just hoped that if that trend didn't continue, it wouldn't be her. It was a cruel thought, she knew that, to hope another child got sent to their death, but when it came to the Games, all of them were selfish, hoping for their own safety over others.
She couldn't bear to leave behind her family, her father, her brother, or her cat. She'd had a dog, but one of the seam children had killed and eaten it, she didn't blame them, they needed the food, though after that one of her friends from the seam had made it clear that Delly's cat was not to be touched, seeing how distraught she'd been over the poor dog. At least it had been quick, she supposed, seam children were not cruel, she knew that, they valued the life, used all the parts of an animal somehow, there was a respect there. She appreciated that.
She stared at herself in the mirror as she finished dressing, blonde curls framing her face, her white dress simple, they may have been Merchants, but they certainly couldn't afford much. Delly considered herself lucky, her father was nice, he indulged her occasionally, giving her some of the old shoes that people would bring (so the fabric could be recycled), some of which were dance shoes, mostly from the Mayor, when visiting diplomats would gift them to Madge (who didn't really dance). It was something Delly found comfort in, teaching herself ballet, ballroom dancing; she was light on her feet. Maybe that would help her if she was reaped.
No use delaying it then, time to go to the square, though she still took her time descending the stairs, smiling at her brother, refusing to let any fear show on her face. She would be fine, absolutely fine. She had to be. After giving the smaller boy a kiss on the forehead, and nodding at her father as they all left the shop, her small, pale hand finding her brothers, squeezing it in reassurance as he bounced alongside them. She smiled at Madge as they passed each other, even she wasn't safe, though they found ways to cheer each other, and she stood next to her as they entered their pen, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze too.
Delly couldn't do much for people, but she could try and make them happy.
She tuned out the words of the woman on stage, her outfit struck Delly as odd, but if it made her happy, that was what mattered, she supposed, and then it was time. The woman seemed oddly cheery as she reached in, unfolded the paper, and Delly sucked in a harsh breath as the woman opened her mouth to read it.
It wouldn't be her, it couldn't be her, and after all, her name was only in once.
"Delilah Cartwright," the words rung out clear, and sharp, and the world stopped. It crashed, it burned, and she saw everything she loved ripped away, as she felt the gently hands of Madge guiding her out of the pen, gently nudging her towards the stage. She was on autopilot, everything seemed to be spinning. But she would not appear weak; she would not let it show.
After all, this would be on television later. So she took another deep breath, pointed her chin in the air, and stood steadfast. She didn't know where the bravery came from, but she would not let it move, and then she realised that it was time for the boys, time to know who would be joining her in this death sentence, and the words brought another pang to her heart.
"Peeta Mellark," again, the words were clear, a cheery note to them. How could this woman be anything but? She was from the Capitol, and while Delly tried to see the best in everyone, even she struggled when it came to them, when it came to this.
He looked defeated as he joined her on stage, and as the woman clapped, trying to join the others, Delly could see that Peeta was as numb as her, so she reached out, and grabbed his hand, to remind him he wasn't alone. She'd known him since they were children, and in that moment she decided she was determined to help him survive, after all, if he was a Victor, maybe Katniss would look twice at him. She wanted her friend to be happy.
They were merchant children though, and she could see that those from the seam weren't too bothered – perhaps even glad it wasn't one of theirs this year. She couldn't blame them, she would feel the same if she had spent close to the last decade watching her neighbours, friends, family, march off to their deaths.
And then they were off, waiting to say goodbye in separate rooms. It didn't take her long, she promised her brother she would do her best to return to him, made her father promise to feed the cat, and hugged them both, so tight her arms and ribs were sore. She knew it may be her last chance.
And then Madge came, and she offered a token, a small pin, Delly knew it had belonged to her aunt, a tribute in the last Quarter Quell, and she had to suppress tears, just barely managing it, and she held the other girl tight too, made Madge promise to take care of herself, offering a small nod as Madge left, and she was led to the train.
How odd, that she was the one going to her death, yet all she could think of were others. She wasn't important anymore, they were, they had to be happy, and she'd make sure to do them proud.
She had too.
A/N: There's the first chapter! I hope y'all enjoyed it! To expand on why this is a SYOT; I figure if Delly is reaped instead, this should cause ripples, and cause others to be reaped instead of the originals. Plus, it helps me keep this from turning into a blow by blow rewrite of the original book, with Delly just replacing Katniss. Feel free to let me know what you think in a review! I'll be uploading one more chapter before I start looking at the other tributes, with Delly and Peeta watching the other reapings (though I will write the chapters with a focus on the tributes, as though it was reaping day like this chapter), with two districts per chapter, working back from 11 to one. The SYOT form will also be on my profile so you can copy and paste it.
EDIT: I got a review correcting me about the capitalization of 'merchant', my bad! I thought I remembered it being capitalized within the books, and also added some clarification about Delly's feelings towards the trend of merchant children not having been reaped in almost 10 years (that she hoped it continued out of fear for herself being reaped).
SUBMISSION RULES:
Two tribute submissions per person.I'll take 4 submissions for each spot before I close it (the status of this will be in my profile).Please send me your submission in a PM, this way I can contact you if I chose your tribute and need more info about them.
SYOT FORM:
Tribute Name:Tribute Gender:Tribute Pronouns:Tribute Age:Tribute District:Volunteered?:Weapon of Choice?:Small description of personality:Strengths:Weaknesses:Preferred opening ceremony costume?:Interview angle preference:
