AN: I do not own the Hunger Games. Here comes District 1! Check the end of the chapter after reading for ways to participate in the future of this story.
18 District 1 Female
Butterfly Bindi Mariposa
Interested In: Men
The girl in the mirror staring back at me is the definition of beauty. From the top of her head, blonde curls drift down elegantly and well past her shoulders. Not a single strand is out of place. Her tan complexion is memorizing and her green eyes need nothing to compliment them, though just a smudge of dark eyeshadow does give them an extra pop. Her lips curl into a sneer; she is deadly gorgeous and she knows it.
I know it.
I fluff my hair out, careful to only accentuate my curls and not ruin them by forcing my fingers through them. My look needs be perfect today if I'm to impress the Capitol.
Most of the tributes from my district waste their lives training. They enroll in the academy or elect private tutoring to both deplete their parents' funds and supposedly prepare them for the Hunger Games. By the time they volunteer, they can wave a sword around or throw a spear, but they've lost connection to what really makes a victor.
You don't have to look further than the past victors for proof. Without any exceptions, they all had star power. For most of them it was their beauty that drew the Capitol in, but regardless of whatever they possessed, there was something about them that made the most important, rich, and powerful viewers fall in love with them. The games are easy if you know this truth and how to wield it to your advantage. If you can make the Capitol adore you, nothing can touch you in the arena.
The gamemakers won't harm you, they'll likely protect you from whatever natural forces may threaten you unless they want to risk riots in the Capitol. Sometimes the gamemakers will even help you out. Another advantage comes with sponsors. It doesn't matter how skilled you are or how much time you trained growing up; if you have enough sponsors, which you will if you make the Capitol fall in love with you, you have everything you need. Hungry? Sponsors send food. Thirsty? Sponsors send water. Injured or sick? Sponsors send medicine. In need of a tool or weapon? Sponsors.
While the fan-favorite tribute and soon-to-be victor is having their every need satisfied, those that foolishly neglected to realize the importance of making a good impression will be starving, dehydrated, hurt, sick, and dying alone. It's a very simple system. If you can figure it out, the games become a joke – anyone can win.
And that is exactly what I plan to do this year.
"Butterfly?" My mother taps on the doorway and hesitantly hovers as she waits for me to acknowledge her.
"Yes?"
My parents are upset by my decision. No matter what I've said to them, they can't seem to understand why I want to volunteer. They think I'll die – that I'm too weak, which hurts to hear from them of all people, but I will prove them wrong soon enough.
"Is there truly nothing I can say to make you change your mind?" My mother's face is red and her eyes puffy. It's embarrassing. She's a naturally beautiful woman, obviously since she gave birth to me, but tears make her downright hideous. I roll my eyes.
"No. My mind is made." My voice is stern. I turn my face back to the mirror and adjust my hair.
You would think the world was ending by the ugly cry that escapes from my mother's lips. I dread that she'll fall into a hysterical weeping fit as she has frequently since I announced my desire to volunteer. Thankfully, she takes a deep breath and steadies herself with her hands pressed gently on my shoulders. She finds my reflection in the mirror and forces a smile.
"I would do anything to stop this," she says. Tears slide silently down her cheeks. "Anything in the world. But if there is truly nothing that can be done…"
"There isn't!" I snap. "Now stop it. You aren't going to be like this on stage, are you? That would be absolutely humiliating to both of us."
Her face freezes in shock for a moment. My mother is the mayor of District 1. She'll be on stage today with the escort and past victors and I cannot imagine it would look good for anyone involved if she sobs through her speech.
"I didn't finish. What I was going to say was that if there is nothing left to say, it's the time to give you this."
She produces a small black box from the pocket of her dress and opens it to reveal a silver pendant encrusted with diamonds. As she pins it on the front of my dress I notice it is shaped like a butterfly, my namesake. I look to her in the mirror and find a smile, a genuine one this time, that is almost identical to mine.
"Mom, it's lovely."
"You needed a token, didn't you?"
17 District 1 Male
Thomas Gold
Interest In: Men and Women
Here's how I see it: whatever happens, my family lucks out in the end. Obviously, if I live I'll restore the memory of my mother and carry on the legacy she left after winning her games. Victory will also replenish the finances we lost after her death and give us all – my stepfather Gregg, my siblings Jace and Lisa, and myself – all we could ever need. On the other hand, if death awaits me in the arena they'll have one less mouth to feed.
Either situation is a win.
I never told Gregg I planned to volunteer; he would have forbidden it or at least done everything he could to change my mind. He must expect it, at least in the back of his mind. My mother had me training practically as soon as I was born, years before Gregg came around. And I've even personally trained with Gloss, a more recent victor of the games. Nobody does something like that without intending to volunteer.
I feel guilty about keeping it a secret after everything Gregg has done for me. Jace and Lisa are his kids, but I'm not. With my mom gone, he really owes me nothing, but time and time again he shows he sees me as a real son. I almost left school at fourteen so I could spend more time at the academy after getting a job training younger tributes. We really needed the money, but Gregg refused to let me leave school and found ways to bring in a better income himself. A lesser man would never have bothered, but Gregg is a good guy.
Momentarily, I start to reconsider, but I quickly push the thought from my mind. It's too late now. The escort, Marcellus Gold, is seconds away from drawing the names. I've come this far already and it would be wrong not to see it through.
"It's time!" Marcellus' voice rings through the crowd and cheers echo back. He digs his hand into the first glass bowl, the girls', and pulls a slip out roughly as a dozen others cling to his fingers and fall to the stage floor. Without much hesitation, there isn't a point to build the anticipation in a district where volunteers are almost always numerous, he unwraps the sheet and reads a name.
I can't even hear it over the shout of "I volunteer!"
A girl rushes to the stage and gives her name. The audience is agape.
"Isn't this exciting?" Marcellus says into the microphone. "You're the mayor's daughter, aren't you?"
Butterfly Mariposa gives her confirmation and something flickers in her eyes when Marcellus compares the girl's looks to Mayor Mariposa. Anger? I suppose I can understand. For my entire life, I've been a victor's son before I am myself. We all want to be something more than our parents' legacy.
Marcellus moves on to the second glass bowl and grabs the first slip his hand touches.
"Abraham August!"
"I volunteer!"
Thankfully, the other boys seem to respect that Gloss and many of the other trainers wanted me to be this year's tribute; I am the only volunteer. Good. I wasn't looking forward to fighting over the spot. It might have looked good for sponsors, but it most certainly would not have been nice to enter the arena already injured.
18 District 1 Female
Butterfly Bindi Mariposa
Interested In: Men
My parents are both in tears inside the Justice Building. I swallow my anger and force myself to ignore the fact that they don't believe in me as they suffocate me with hugs. Finally, I claw myself from their embrace and fix my hair.
"We love you, Butterfly," my father says.
"More than anything," my mother adds.
"I love you too," I tell them, masking as much of my irritation as possible. "I just wish you believed in me."
"Sweetheart, we do believe in you." My father's voice is gentle but uncomforting as he obviously rushes to say what he probably believes to be his last words to me. The peacekeepers will be here soon. "We know you can win. You will win. Just…"
"Promise us that you'll win," my mother picks up when he trails off. I see the doorknob turn as a peacekeeper enters.
"I promise." I get another hug from both of my parents and kisses on my head as we're told time is up.
The peacekeepers won't drag my parents out like they might another family, my mother being the mayor gives us a bit of a higher status, but still, we know not to push it. My parents pull away from me, whisper they love me again, and then I'm alone.
Good. My friends won't be as bad as them. They believe in me.
But after a few minutes of waiting, my heart drops. I sit in one of the velvet-covered chairs, smoothing my dress and fixing my hair, but no one's coming in. They need to hurry, I think. We only get so much time and there's probably half the population of District 1's teenagers out there. If I'm to say goodbye to all of them, they need to send them in now.
"Excuse me!" I rise and knock on the door. The handle doesn't twist when I try to open it, but finally, a peacekeeper opens the door. "Hello? Where are my friends? Shouldn't you be sending them in?"
The peacekeeper turns to another standing across the hall. I swear he almost smiles before he speaks.
"There's no one else out here."
17 District 1 Male
Thomas Gold
Interested In: Men and Women
"I'm not surprised," Gregg says as we sit in the Justice Building. "It would have been naïve to think you did all that training without reason, but I just hoped I was wrong. Your mom was paranoid that you would be reaped and no one would volunteer and I tried to tell myself you wouldn't actually volunteer yourself, you were just honoring her wishes."
"I should have told you, Gregg. I'm sorry."
He nods. His hand rests on my shoulder and he gives it a squeeze. "Just come back to us. You're my son, Thomas, no different than Lisa and Jace."
The pair, who are sitting at my feet, perk up at the mention of their own names. Their eyes fill with worry as they look up at me. I know their fear. They aren't mad at me, not even Gregg is, they're afraid.
"I will," I tell Gregg as I lean down to ruffle the twins' hair. Their fright dissipates a bit as they giggle. "And I'll be filthy rich when I do and none of us will ever have to worry about money or anything ever again."
"We just want you," Gregg says. "We'll be happy to have it, but no amount of money is worth as much as you."
I shake my head and a moment of silence falls over us before I speak again. "The next time you see me, I'll be getting married."
Jace and Lisa laugh.
"Do you think you'll fall in love?" Lisa asks. "Like Katniss and Peeta."
I'm not so sure Katniss and Peeta's love goes further than the television screen, but I won't ruin Lisa's childish ideas. We all have to grow up fast, but I've always tried to do my best to let the twins take their time.
"Maybe," I tell her. "If not in the games, then after we're married for sure. I'll have to."
Gregg quietly laments that he wishes my mother were alive to see the event and I agree. It's almost time to say goodbye. I hear the peacekeepers shuffling past the door and stand. Gregg rises with me and gives me a hug as Lisa and Jace attack with their embraces from each of my sides. We hold still for a moment.
"I love you guys," I say to all three of them and receive similar muffled responses as the door opens.
[Author's Commentary Section] (Feel free to skip this part)
AN: Well there goes the first chapter! What did you think? Leave a review and let me know! First, I want to thank Guest – Adeline W for submitting Butterfly and Zacksteel for submitting Thomas! I had a lot of fun writing both of these characters and I hope you enjoyed my interpretation of them thus far! Also, I want to thank everyone who's reading – you guys keep me going!
I tentatively plan to update at least weekly. What I mean by this is that no more than seven days will pass between each chapter being posted, but if I have the time I may just update every day or every other day or something like that. Basically, I'll be updating sporadically, but there shouldn't be more than a week to wait for the next chapter.
Now, to the fun stuff!
Remember that characters will be paired up. It's a bit soon (unless you think Butterfly and Thomas would make a nice duo) but feel free to comment which characters you'd like to see together as we go along. Every now and then a poll will pop up on my profile asking you to vote on different pairs (more of these will happen once every slot is full). Those polls, as well as your reviews, will be taken into great consideration when I am assigning the official pairs.
Chapter Questions
Opinion of Butterfly?
Opinion of Thomas?
Do you think these two would make a good pair?
What question(s) would you like to see Caesar Flickerman ask Butterfly?
What question(s) would you like to see Caesar Flickerman ask Thomas?
Don't feel obligated to answer all (or any) of those if you don't want! They're just to give me an idea of how everyone's liking the story thus far + giving you all a way to participate. For the Caesar Flickerman questions, they can be pretty much anything – romance/relationship related or something more traditional like they're background or skills. I may or may not decide to use some of them. Thank you!
Finally, thank you all for reading, reviewing, following, etc. Spots remain open for anyone who wants to submit more characters or any newcomers who want to submit their first! Submit via PM or review and make sure to check my profile for the most accurate, updated information. Thanks, again!