A shrill whistle sounded outside the train station where all the tributes has been dropped off at a platform. Here they would meet each other for the first time and would all board the train to the other side of the capitol. All around people in fancy, brightly coloured clothes strolled past the platform each sending curious glances at the tributes when they arrived. The first to set foot on the platform was Romano, the grumpy Southern Italian was pacing nervously because his brother had ran off to see if there was a shop that had pasta and he hadn't returned. "Stupid idiota" He mumbled setting his suitcase of old worn out clothes down, he unlike the other tributes had though to bring his own clothes. Not that the capitol would let him wear them, but it gave him comfort in a way. Fresh tear tracks were also present on the Italians face but he had given up crying and his mouth twisted up into a fake smile. Eventually the younger Italian tribute made his way back to the platform with a packet of pasta in his arms. "Fratello?" Romano called as he saw him and sighs at seeing the pasta, however Feliciano ignored him. "Felicano" Romano calls again slightly softer then his usual gruff tone. Still he was ignored by the younger twin. Romano sighs loudly and pokes him in the side. "Fratello!" "what?!" "Your ignoring me" "You ignored me first…" Romano frowns. What was his brother talking about. "When? Feli" "Don't call me Feli" "but…" "YOU IGNORED ME WHEN I GOT CHOSEN!" Feliciano yelled causing people to stare at him with an odd look but he just turns away tears beginning to pool in his hazel eyes. Romano was shocked by his younger brothers outburst. "You just stood there. You ignored me. And then fratello you volunteered!" Romano whirled on his brother with clenched fists and a deep fire in the depths of his eyes. "Look I did it for you! Do you really think I would just let you go to your death?! I'm here to protect you stupido!" Feliciano inhales sharply wipes his eyes. "I'll kill you…" Romano narrowed his eyes and stares in disbelief. "What?" "You heard me… I'll…I'll kill you" "That's fine Feliciano because I would die for you" The youngest Italians heartbeat froze as he gazed at his brother before shaking his head and boarding the train followed by a capitol guard. "Romano…"
"Ah excuse me is this the platform for the ah tributes?" asked a small and nimble Chinese man with long silky black hair. It was Yao. The tribute Yao had asked happened to be Ivan Braginski. The Russian tribute nodded and turned to face him his accent quite prominent. "Da this is, I'm waiting to be told which carriage I should get on." Yao sighed in relief. "Good because I got separated from the guard that was with me when we arrived and iv been wondering around for hours" Ivan nods before suddenly laughing and points to a stuffed panda in the others backpack. "Hm? Oh this is panda" Yao explains with a smile on his face. "He goes everywhere with me, he is my good luck charm." "Ah I see, I have one too" Ivan replies pointing to a gold star badge on his coat with tiny engraved sunflowers on. "It's pretty, is it for the games?" Yao inquires stepping back to admire it from a distance. "No… this…this is just to protect me from my sister…" Yao opened his mouth then closed it. "oh" Ivan turned away and sighs. Yao was nice, too bad he was an easy target…
After a while one by one all the tributes had arrived, some more hostile and closed off than others. After Feliciano, Romano, Yao and Ivan had arrived so did Alfred, and Arthur. Alfred had decided now would be a good time to have a fresh burger as he could never find ones in own country due to the poverty and had wandered off. This just left Arthur to the others. Romano hadn't boarded the train yet and had convinced Ivan to try sneak up and scare the British tribute. Unfortunately as they neared him Romano saw Arthurs eyebrows and decided to back off. Ivan continued and jabbed Arthur in the sides and when the Brit tried to retaliate by cursing him he remembered he didn't have his wand and looked incredibly stupid. Ivan just laughed. "You're a odd little man aren't you?"
Next Antonio and grumpy Gilbert arrived. The albino nation (soon to be ex-nation but whatever) headed straight for a vending machine. "Mein gott these things are amazing! I thought they all got destroyed years ago!" Antonio followed closely but remained silent. He hadn't spoken to the other male because when Gilbert found out his friend was also in the game he refused to talk to him. His reasoning unknown. Anyway Gilbert had managed to find some money lying around and shoved it into the machine and got out some crisps. Antonio sighs and walks away and boards the train having been told hes in the second carriage. There he spotted Feliciano. "Hola!" He decides that since this would all end badly making a friend wouldn't hurt. Feliciano looked up in surprise. "C Ciao…" The Spanish tribute sat down opposite the Italian and took in his dull expression. "What's wrong amigo?" Feliciano clutched the pasta in his arms more tightly. "I told my fratello I would kill him" "why did you do that? Surely you didn't mean it right?" Antonio was a bit freaked out but tries to get the other tribute to continue talking. "No! I love him, I was just angry" Antonio nods and thinks. "I f you want I could talk to him" Felicano doesn't reply for a while just sits fiddling with the pasta packet but eventually he replies. "This is wrong" "what is?" "The hunger games! Were here to die I may not be smart but I know this is it for us, all of us!" Anotnio narrowed his eyes and shook the other tribute lightly by his shoulders. "Don't talk like that now where is your hermano?" Felicano gulps and points ahead to the first carriage where the outline of the Southern Italian could be seen sitting down in a chair arguing with a tall blonde tribute. "Ah I see okay" Antonio stands up hopping off the train and onto the other carriage, skipping and sitting down next to the eldest twin. "Hola" Romano narrows his eyes and glowers. "What do you want bastardo" Well he's nice….
Finally Francis, Elizabeta, Natalia and Matthew all arrived together and since they were late just hurried to the platform. Ivan had started running as soon as he saw his sister arrive. "Ivan dear brother!" She took off running after him and the chase went on until some guards had to restrain her and separate them. "Please Natalia calm down" Ivan whispered nervously. "But brother…"
Elizabeta was stood on her own next to the Prussian tribute as he had made his way back to the platform and clearly Elizabeta couldn't see Matthew. "Ahem" Elizaveta coughed loudly waiting for Gilbert to notice her, which he did and he looked her up and down before answering. "Hallo your from…" "Hungary" Elizabeta replied nervously playing with a lock of brown hair. "Were you chosen?" She asks quietly trying to make conversation. "ja I was" Gilbert nods supporting a grin. "How can you be happy about something like that?!" Elizabeta groans in disgust and turns to walk away. "Stupid careers…" But Gilbert had grabbed her wrist. "Wait nein.. I just…wanted to impress you…" "Impress me?" Elizabeta was confused and turns back letting him still hold her wrist. "Ja…whats your name?" Gilbert asked shuffling slightly closer. Elizabeta blushes. "My names Eizabeta" She smiles nervously. "Well Elizabeta, my names Gilbert and I promise to protect you…"
Suddenly a speaker clicked and Effies voice could be heard once again from the speakers. "Attention can all tributes make their way to the train, please leave any of your unfashionable luggage and clothes behind. The speakers went off and the tributes began to walk only to stop as the speaker clicked again. "Alright tributes could tributes from Italy, Spain, Hungary, Prussia and Canada make their way to the first carriage" Felicano was already in the first carriage and stayed seated watching as Gilbert walked into the carriage grinning, followed by Elizabeta and the quiet Matthew. Antonio had to backtrack and hop back a carriage dragging a grumpy Romano behind him. "Finally may all tributes from Russia, China, England, America, Belarus, France and Germany please go to the second carriage. Once there choose a seat and enjoy the foods the capitol had to offer you. Until later" With that Effies voice died away and the second lots of tributes walked onto their appointed carriage.
A sign at the front of each carriage read: "Tributes, each of you will receive a piece of paper with a message on, a gift from your country e.g. a comfort item. Do with them as you wish. Stay seated while the train is in motion." Each message and Item would be different and unique to each tribute.
Continued in part 3- what will the tributes get?