round 3: stage interviews
If given a choice he would have liked to skip this part. He was asked only a few quick questions about loyalty to god and his district- there were much more interesting people to interview.
Such as Johanna who took the opportunity to exposed her anger with the situation, (and her immaturity) - but he had to admire her passion.
Last to be interviewed was Katniss and she left the biggest impression, both for her dress and for her motion to hold hands. She caused all the competitors (even the psychotic ones from District 1 and 2) to hold hands in an act of solidarity; these were people, human beings with emotions, lives, hopes, and fears- they were not actors or puppets. Even as the power cut out, leaving just a shadow, the message was clear, they stood as symbols of hope and courage but also as people.
Johanna went back to her room to change out of her costume. She went to the chapel. she had a feeling she might find him there. During her winning year she knew many of the competitors to go to the chapel to pray one last time. But if god loved them he would not have let them get chosen (after all there were plenty of people who would go their entire lives never having been chosen.) Needless to say Johanna was not on speaking terms with god at the moment.
Sure enough she found the very depressed district 9 rep.
"hi," she said taking a seat next to him. They sat in silence for a few minutes. She refused to extend herself any further then a greeting. If he didn't want to talk she would just leave.
"you gave quite an interview." he said cracking a smile. His hands were shaking badly and looking at his face it was clear he had been crying.
"I'm not going to say i understand what you're going through- I guess in your time if you stayed quiet they would allow you to live out your life in peace, with the people you love." she said. After all she was a more recent winner and to make keep the more recent winners in line the government took from her anyone she ever cared about. She lived in luxury surrounded by fans and fakes.
"but i do know you won your year the same way as i did; by waiting it out and..."
"i waited it out completely." he interrupted her. "the people i fought to actually win were already pretty badly injured- it was all luck." He said in the same way he always said it; sadness with a hint of anger.
"I guess that explains why you still have your soul." she said holding his hand. His hands were rough and callused from a life time of hard labor, but something about that seemed sexy.
"you have your soul; your emotions have to come from someplace." He said. As he said this he placed her hand on his chest, as if to motion where the human heart would be.
"have such a pure soul" Johanna said, looking in to his eyes, " worthy of god's love and mine."
With that she kissed him; he could feel the hidden passion in this usually (emotionally) cold and but now so very hot female. It didn't matter that tomorrow they very well could be destined to kill one another; in this moment they both need each other to complete the missing part of themselves- to hold onto the part that was still human.
As his hands drifted down her body he could feel them tremble slightly but he couldn't be sure if it was because of the stroke or that he wanted her so badly.
She grabbed his hands and took them into hers, "let's go to my room."
With saying those words she gave him one last kiss that felt as if she was drawing out his very soul.
As they made their way to the room he felt almost normal; as if being with her had turn back the hands of time.
She opened her door. And before they were through the entry way the two became intertwine once again their lips pressed to one another as their hands hurried to undress.
He slammed her into the nearby wall as he undid his pants and let them fall to the floor as he hoisted her legs around his waist. The two kissed as he slid his rock hard member into her, nearly slamming her in to the wall with every intense thrust.
She let out an almost feral moan as she dug her nails in to his back.
They had loud passionate sex for what seemed like hours (it probably seems like hours to anyone trying to get some sleep). She was not a virgin but it had been a long time since she felt a man's touch. And this man knew exactly how to touch her. She liked it rough and hard; he had the raw power she so desperately craved.
After they lay naked in each other's arms, bodies covered in bruises and sweat, high on the afterglow, Johanna started asking random questions.
"could you ever love me"
"would you leave your wife for me"
The words that fell from his lips were, "i would do anything for you". He stroked his hands down her back, resting on her hip. He was so captivated by her, the moment seemed almost seemed too good to be true.
That's when she noticed it; his hands were still shaking. In the chapel she assumed his hands were shaking because of his emotional state, but it was clear now that there was something wrong with him.
He was beautiful, but if he was too sick to defend himself- it would affect her chances of survival. But for now, she kissed his chest, and went to sleep to the sound of his heartbeat.
She did not bother to sneak him out of her room the next day, "what?" she glared at the District 7 managers as she walked him to the door and gave him a kiss goodbye.