Roy, where did you send your tribute in?
Warning: There is occasional swearing in this SYOT. Nothing worse than the s word but this is a warning all the same. It's most notable in the Careers. In fact I think it's only in the Careers and possibly only once.
Any repetition is intentional.
District 1: Felix Hailstorm
It's so boring in District 1 before Reaping Day. We're not allowed to train and everywhere is closed, waiting to see who'll be the next District 1 victor. The other Districts probably whine about how cocky we are; but it's true. We're the best.
And I'm going to be the winner this year.
I don't give a shit what anyone else thinks; 'It's just Felix,' 'Hey, you're Antonius' brother aren't you?' or even worse, 'Isn't that Maximus' little brother? Maximus is gonna be the next victor for sure, he's the best.'
Always in my family's shadow.
I'm always someone's brother or my father's son. I'm never Felix. I'm always just Maximus' brother.
I don't try to make a name for myself. I don't need to- yet.
All I need is the Games. I have to win the Games and it'll be Maximus who's in my shadow. I have to do it this year- there's no other option. If I let Maximus volunteer first I'll still be his brother. It doesn't matter that he's a year older than me, a year better trained than me. If I don't get to the Capitol until next year I'll still be Maximus' little brother.
Just imagine the Capitol.
"Hey, look! It's the little brother of the victor from last year, Maximus!"
"How do you feel following your brother's footsteps?"
"Is it tough trying to live up to your brothers?"
"Do you think you'll be able to match your brother's achievements?"
I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts. There is no other option. I'm going into the Games this year and Maximus is staying behind. He'll be the one sitting at home watching me get the glory. It's not going to be any other way.
I will not fall to him.
I will not fall to anyone.
Never.
District 1: Aglaeca Grenier
"Dammit!"
Not now, why can't I hit the freaking target on the most important day of my life? The only time I'll ever need to practice again and I can't get it right.
I start throwing the knives wildly; I don't care where they land. I just want to hit something. Anything. The only thing I could ever want to hit more is a District 4 tribute. One of those smarmy little gits that call themselves a part of the Careers.
They killed my sister.
Now I'm going to kill them.
I don't care if mother dearest doesn't think I'm 'ready.'
She's been training me every second of every freaking day of my miserable life since I was four. Who cares about friends, about having a life?
Clearly not them so they can't say when I'm not ready.
I will volunteer this year and I will kill those District 4 sons of bitches with my own hands. I don't even care that much about winning. Screw my parents, I don't care about the money, I'm in it for the revenge.
Even if I did win, why would I ever give any of it to them? They've turned me into this revenge-obsessed machine. It's their own damn faults of they don't reap the rewards.
The final knife slams home into the bullseye, right when I'm at my most furious and that only makes me more pissed off. I can't hit a single freaking bullseye when I want to and then finally I do when I'm chucking them randomly just to feel the satisfaction of the slamming I know they make upstairs.
Of course this convinces mother dearest to come down the stairs and look at my pathetic performance.
"This isn't good enough Aglaeca, honestly, it's terrible. How are you ever going to win with a throwing arm like that," she shakes her head angrily.
"Quite frankly, mother, I don't give a damn what you think," I reply venomously, "I'd even go so far as to say I couldn't care less about anything that comes out of your mouth if I tried."
"You will not come upstairs until you get every one of those bullseyes young lady!" she screeches, turning red, pushing out the girth of fat she carries. As if she would ever be able to hit even one of those targets, let alone the centre.
"Fine. You want to see me hit those bullseyes? Just you watch."
As the anger boils up inside me I rip the knives out of the wall, not giving a donkey's arse about the gouges they leave in the wall.
Bullseye, bullseye, bullseye, bullseye, bullseye… I hit every target I throw at except the last one. Because I don't aim for the target; I aim for my mother's podgy little head.
I even manage to twist the knife so that the flat side skims over her hair before slamming into the wall behind her.
As soon as she recovers she screeches, "NO LUNCH AND NO DINNER. YOU ARE GROUNDED!"
Ha, as though I was ever anything else.
Besides, mother dearest, tonight I dine in the Capitol.
Felix:
"Yo, Felix!" Gaius yells as he and Pontius jog to catch up with me walking towards the main square. At least they remember my name; they're probably the only ones and I bet they wouldn't anyway if I hadn't known them since I was 5.
"Yeah?" I ask as they finally catch up to me.
"Are you gonna volunteer next year?" he asks as we join the queue of Careers desperate to sign in and get a good view of the action. Most years they'd all be waiting to volunteer, but everyone's heard of Maximus Hailstorm; tall, dark and handsome, he wins every fight and competition he's ever entered, he can lift 100 kilos without breaking a sweat; he's pretty much the perfect tribute.
"Hell no," I reply.
"Why not? You'd be almost as good as your brother," Pontius says in return. There it is again, my two best friends and yet still they think of me as Max's little brother. I am going to come home, whatever they say, and I'm going to come home victorious.
"Because I'm not waiting until next year," I growl as they realise what I've said.
"But what about Max?" they ask in unison. Normally they're the jokers and this is just part of their act, but it just ticked me off.
"So you call him 'Max' now do you? Then why don't you hang around with him now if you think he's so great," I reply, trying to keep my voice low so no one hears us.
"Sorry, Felix," Gaius replies as they take a step back, they might be Careers as well, but I'm about half a head taller and really, really pissed off, "We didn't realise! Come on, don't overreact on us."
I tried to relax; after all they hung out with me because I was a joker, not because I wanted to be in the Hunger Games.
"Look sorry, guys," I tried to apologise properly when I recognised Julius Marx and a golden opportunity to make it up to them.
Julius was a cocky, rich and arrogant bastard who wasn't that great of a Career so he made it his job to boast and bring up everybody else's failures. We hated him since Gaius and Pontius weren't anywhere near the best Careers so they were some of his favourite targets; I hated him because he didn't pick on me because of Max.
He was trying to cut in line by sidling past us, so I stuck my foot out so he tripped into some of Max's biggest friends, getting in early to see his 'triumph.'
They cracked their knuckles as they turned around to see the puny, greasy Julius on his knees behind them. He was about to turn and see who had tripped him but the huge guys beat him to it, picking him up like he weighed nothing before throwing him out of the queue onto the pavement about five metres away. A few nearby kids stepped aside and watched disinterestedly as he splattered onto the pavement while Gaius and Pontius grinned wildly.
"Nice one man!"
"Yeah, did you hear the crack as he hit the ground? That was great!"
After I got high fives from the two of them, best friends again, we finally got to the books to sign that we'd actually been at the Reapings as the volunteering bowl was passed around. 30 years or so ago, the tributes would have had to just yell and run to the front where it all got pretty messy until someone was on top.
The Capitol decided they liked the brawl to volunteer but wanted it a bit cleaner, a bit easier to see the blood and gore. Instead, the volunteering bowl was passed around. You put your name into it if you wanted to volunteer and then when the Reaping started, whoever was on the stage and reached the escort and said their name first was the tribute. If their name wasn't in the volunteering bowl, the whole process was repeated.
Speed was the main factor; once you had the high ground you were virtually unbeatable.
The whole ordeal was carefully organised; age groups were spread out in a ring so that the front row was always the same distance from the stage if the volunteers pushed through to the front and there were several metres of space to fight before anyone reached the escort and spoke their name into the microphone.
I pushed politely through to the front of the 17s section; I didn't want to get into a fight for shoving through, either I wouldn't get through anyway or being even slightly injured would kill my speed. Plus; I wanted to seem like a boring Career, I didn't want to be remembered as the tribute everyone wanted to kill for being a threat. As good as coming onto the stage covered in blood would be; it wasn't my style.
When Max finally arrived, resplendent with his hair spiked, shirtless and wearing just his denim shorts, the crowd parted to let him through as he sauntered towards the front of the section; everyone thought he was going to be the tribute.
No! I snarled to myself.
"You alright, buddy?" Gaius asked as I realised he and Pontius had joined me.
"Yeah," I replied, looking at the two of them. They were dressed in boring clothes, both in neat black slacks and t shirts, with their hair brushed, curly and black in Gaius' case, shaggy and red for Pontius.
I was dressed about the same except in black shorts and a blue button up t shirt, about the same as everyone else and almost the same as my brother except with a shirt. While his hair was dark with green eyes, mine hair was blond and my eyes were blue, a trait I'd always heard was more attractive. He was taller by a few centimetres and thicker-set while I was shorter but leaner and less bulky.
So why the hell was it that everyone thought he was the best? It wasn't personality; he was a total prick. He put a spider on my pillow when I was 3- not that I'm scared of spiders or anything- but it was huge and hairy- not that that's a problem. He always treats his girlfriends like dirt and he bullies and mocks his friends mercilessly and yet they think he's the best thing since sliced bread.
I barely even realised my daydreaming had covered the start of our glorious mentor's speech.
Jacaranda Mandragora was the classic Capitol escort; whiny, annoying and made of plastic (I was amazed she could open her mouth). She screeched about the wonders of the Games like a broken dog whistle and danced with delight as she prepared to start the girls volunteering.
The girl was clearly determined, slamming her two neighbours in the face with the sides of her hands as she sprinted and leapt onto the stage from a metre away, puffing "Aglaeca Grenier," into the microphone.
It was an impressive strategy, most of the volunteers would be from the 17s and 18s so coming from the 16s and dealing with her two nearest competitors as she began running was a neat way to leave an easy path to the stage.
I was tempted to check out my competition but now wasn't the time; I had to be ready to beat my brother.
He was clearly expecting no competition, but he was still prepared as the escort yelled, "Come on boys!"
Max sprinted for the stage, but I was faster. I could see the shock in his eyes as I just managed to get the edge to yell, "Felix Hailstorm," into the escort's mike.
Max looked the most furious I've ever seen someone look in my entire life. I expected him to start a fight then, even as the rumours spread through the crowd about us being brothers, when his eyes flickered towards the Justice Building. As he returned to his place in line I realised that he was just waiting for a better opportunity.
"Let's make the District 1 tributes welcome!" Jacaranda shrieked jubilantly as she almost ripped my arm out of its socket, pulling it into the air to show us off to the cameras.
As my brother glared, I smirked back.
Just you watch brother; I'll be better than you ever would have been.
Aglaeca:
Although she didn't know my plans for volunteering, my mother still fussed over every millimetre of my appearance. If my prep team were this bad I think I'd have to kill them. Good practice at least.
I was wearing a red satin dress that I thought way too short, but mother thought was amazing. If it were any shorter the Peacekeepers would probably charge me with Public Indecency before I could even volunteer.
How was I supposed to beat off the other Careers wearing an extended belt?
"Mother, how am I supposed to beat off the other Careers wearing an extended belt?" I asked as she plaited my hair together in different bands of braiding.
"You won't be doing that any time soon, so stop worrying," she replied, however seeing as she hated feeling threatened she continued, "Besides if you can't fight in a dress, who says you'll be able to fight in the tribute outfit."
Any sane person who has watched the Games?
"Any sane person who has watched the Games?"
Mother ignored that comment before she finally finished my hair with a flourish.
As soon as her hands were out of my hair I leap out of the chair and sprint out of the house before she can put me any of her ridiculous stilettos. They make useful weapons, but when you're running? They're bloody hopeless.
I join the queue for signing into the Reapings, annoyed to see how short it is. Normally it would be out into the street but if it's this short that means I'm late.
Dashing into the square I realise that Jacaranda's about to begin her speech. In some ways it's good because it gives me a chance to sneak through the bored kids waiting for the fun of the volunteering to start.
As soon as Jacaranda yells, "Let's go girls!" I sprint, not a thought but a reaction I've been training myself for the last 12 months since Leorica died.
I snap my hands out, chopping the two girls on either side of me in the face as I sprint forwards; most of the girls are from 17s and 18s so after knocking out my nearest competition in the 16s it's an easy run to the mike as I call my name into the escort's microphone.
Next is the guys, only one guy's meant to volunteering; some hunk named Maximus Hailstorm.
Instead there are two, and the second one makes it first, calling, "Felix Hailstorm," as he slides to a halt beside the escort.
While Jacaranda attempts to dislocate my shoulder, I grin wildly to the audience.
So they were brothers? This is going to be… interesting.
Felix:
As we're ushered into the Justice Building I finally get a look at my fellow tribute. Tall and fit with short, coppery hair; I don't think I've seen her before. She seemed determined when she was sprinting for the stage but now she's smiling wildly as we're led into separate rooms for the goodbyes.
Clearly they're saving the family for last as Gaius and Pontius are lead into the room.
"Hey Felix, great job back there, you even beat your brother!" The 'even' sticks in my throat but I let it pass, I'm still too pleased about beating Max.
"Yeah, but you better win; who else will make us the butt of all his jokes?"
"Thanks guys, and don't worry about me winning, I've got it in the bag," I reply, smirking at them.
"Good luck, mate, we'll be rooting for you!" they call as they leave to allow me some last time with my family before the Games.
At first it's only my mother and father. Father is silent, just watching me. His eyes have the same glint as mine get when he's trying to cover his emotions.
Mother is sobbing as she hugs me, "K-keep safe, o-okay?" she asks as she drenches my shirt. I bet she wouldn't do this to Max; it's just me because I'm her 'baby' while Max is the 'big, strong one.'
"Of course, I'll be back here in a few weeks and we can live in one of those big houses in the Victor's Village," I reply, patting her back while Father keeps staring, his hands behind his back and giving nothing away.
We stay like that for the rest of her visiting time, her crying into my shirt while I hold her tightly against my chest.
Finally the Peacekeepers escort her out and she still tries to reach for me as she's pulled away- possibly forever.
Next is Antonius. Alone.
I know what that means. It means that Max is visiting alone as well.
He keeps a slight distance away, trying to seem like Father, but I can see his eyes are slightly misty.
"Fight well, okay? Make sure you aim before you shoot, you can always spare a moment to fix your aim, and it'll gain you less than it will cost you. Get in with the Careers and stay there as long as you can, I know you can best them and you don't want to get caught out early by some upstart from the hick districts," he says, trying to stay calm, "Oh, and don't let the spiders get you, yeah?"
If this was Max I would punch him but it isn't, this is Antonius, my 20 year old brother who joined the Peacekeepers in District 1 and, despite his teasing, is the only friend better than Pontius and Gaius.
"Thanks, brother," I reply as he too is finally escorted out.
Finally it's Max and I don't know what to expect.
He looks like he's trying to keep a lid on his anger as he growls, "If you don't win, I'm never gonna speak to you again, got it?"
"It would be sort of difficult," I joke in reply, but this tips him over the edge.
He smashes his fist into my nose and I can feel the cartilage snap like someone splitting my face in half, but this is the opportunity I have to finally beat Maximus one last time but as I'm about to punch back, the Peacekeepers drag him away.
I don't care if I die in the Games or if I come back victorious, all I know is that I am never sleeping under the same roof as Maximus Hailstorm ever again.
Aglaeca:
The only visitors I get are my parents; surprise, surprise.
What else isn't surprising? The fact that all they do is get pissed off.
"What on Earth do you think you're doing?" screeches Mother. Father doesn't say anything but moves closer to her to show where his allegiance lies, "You're not ready, or did this morning not teach you that?"
I was expecting that, what I didn't expect was the sudden breakdown of tears from my mother, "Just come back, okay?" while my father pats me on the shoulder and we have a family group hug.
This is the first time we've done anything as a family that was… nice that I almost regret volunteering.
Almost. The fires of revenge are still too strong to quench and I still need to kill. So instead of sinking into the family moment I try to harden my mind. I will not think about family. I will not think about winning.
All that matters is to kill.
I hope you guys liked it, it might be a little bit long but I wanted a good chance to sort of get into the characters' heads before the Capitol. I haven't updated the tribute list because someone said I forgot their tribute and I want to try and get as many people involved as possible.
Next up: The Creepy Twins
