July 16th, 1 Day From The 53rd Hunger Games

3:00 PM, Training Centre Floor 11

Lovino spent the next two days of training focusing on weapons. It wasn't like he needed any more help on finding edible food—he lived in District Eleven, he did it for a living. He also watched the other tributes carefully, especially Feliciano. The younger boy reminded him of himself somehow. He sort of looked like him too, and it freaked him out a small bit.

He kept an observant eye on the other tributes, especially the girl from ten. Isabel wanted to ally with the small girl, apparently, so he took it upon himself to watch her every move. He needed to make sure that she wouldn't kill Isabel in her sleep if they teamed up. Though he didn't really glean much from his observations, he decided that she seemed quiet and gentle, soft blond hair coating her fair face in pigtails, glasses resting on her nose.

The boy from her district was always hovering near her. She looked a bit annoyed about it. Lovino didn't remember much about the pair other than the fact that the boy had volunteered. Odd for an outlying, non-Career district.

Feliciano and the boy from Five tended to hang around the boy from Seven. The boy from Seven kind of intimidated Lovino. He seemed stern. The girl from his district stuck close to him as well. She looked young and fragile, very small.

The Careers were terrifying. The boy from Two wasn't very tall, but he looked terrifying, with a wide, mischievous grin and a knack for knives, he seemed deadly. His district partner, a girl with light blond, almost white hair, rivalled his skill. Feliciano was a dwarf compared to them, though taller than Lovino himself by a small amount. Lovino was uncertain how he had managed to be allowed to participate. District One was filled with volunteers. It was hard to believe to Lovino that no one considered volunteering for someone who didn't have a chance. Either Feliciano was faking it or his District hated him.

The tributes from Four weren't much to look at despite being Careers. Unlike Feliciano, the boy tribute, named Oliver, did sit with the other Careers at lunch the three days of training, but he seemed gentle and polite. He even scolded the boy from Two for cursing! The girl stayed away from the Career table completely. She was small, the smallest of the bunch. Lovino figured that was probably a good idea.

Lovino had paid close attention that final night of training to the scores that were announced, based off their private sessions. The girl from One scored a seven, a bit low for a Career, though Feliciano's four made it look glamourous. The pair from Two scored tens, while the small boy from 3, Kiku, got a 7. Lovino wasn't sure how he pulled off that one, though he was more surprised at the 8 given to the boy from Four. So the polite boy did have some uses. His partner scored a three, much too small to be considered a threat. The boy from Five got a 6 while the boy from Six scored an 8.

From Seven, the small girl received a meagre two. Her much more intimidating partner received a 9. Lovino assumed that he just threw axes around with those muscular arms of his. The girl from 8 received a nice score of 9. The boy from Ten got a 8; the girl only a 5.

Isabel's face flashed across the screen, followed by a 7. Lovino was impressed, but knew that his own score would never match that. He wasn't strong. He was resourceful, smart, but not brave. He was clumsy. Sure enough, a four followed his picture.

Antonio gave him a sympathetic glance, though he could tell very well that Antonio was already betting on his death—well, technically stylist weren't allowed to place bets, but he didn't blame him if he did. He didn't blame him in the slightest. He was still a Bastard, though. That wasn't going to change.

The day after that was just as bad. Constant fake conversations with his mentor to prepare him for his 3 minute long interview with Feliks Łukasiewicz, constantly being told that the way he was answering was too crass and crude for a smaller, less intimidating tribute. He wouldn't be able to pull off the snark. Well, too fucking bad. It wasn't like he had a chance at winning. Manon helped him a bit on posture and presentation, which was actually much less torturous.

However, he was still nervous as the group of twenty four mounted the stage and took their spots in the half-circle around Feliks and the spot designated for the person he was talking to, currently the girl from One, a pretty girl who was rather flirty, and a bit pretentious. However, also a bit polite. Her hair was pulled into a bun, a crown made of gold and onyx crown resting on her head. It was clear her stylist was already declaring her victor.

Feliciano was next. He smiled widely and took a seat next to Feliks. It was clear that his stylist had much less faith in him, though legally he was restricted from betting. He wore a plain blue suit, void of all embellished jewels or fashion statements. Not really something one normally saw from District One. Feliciano waved to the crowd with a small laugh, though Lovino could see a flash of fear in his eyes. He knew the boy wasn't stupid.

Lovino found himself playing close attention. Just like in the reaping, the last name Vargas confused him. There was no possible way that two tributes from two completely different districts had the same last name. Virtually impossible. Feliciano did look like him, however.

"So, Feliciano. You're one of the youngest tributes from District One, like, maybe ever. Are you ready for the games?"

Feliciano stumbled over his words, as if unsure how to answer that without maybe him sound like a baby who wouldn't survive the bloodbath. "Y-es, I…well… No, but I'm really fast! A-and I'm going to do really good." He looked nervous, as if he wasn't sure how well he'd answered it. He'd probably been coached on answering these questions without looking like someone who had no chance. Lovino's heart hurt.

Feliciano was asked a few more questions before the buzzer went off—Lovino learned about his sister—and the girl from 2, announced as Natalya Arlovski ,(1) stepped forward. She was reserved, but dark, the words coming out of her mouth gloomy and dangerous. Apparently, she had one older brother who died a few years back and had volunteered to make him proud. Luciano, well he just seemed off his rocker, completely nuts.

The girl from three was sweet and giggly, and very pretty and feminine. A tad bit obnoxious, but not in a bad way. Besides, everyone knew that Feliks was much, much, much more so, as well as arrogant and vain. For half of their interview it was her talking about her cousin's wedding, but somehow it became a topic about pets. Apparently Feliks was a pony person and the girl, Michelle, had three small fish. Lovino rolled his eyes, relieved when it was the boy's turn.

Kiku didn't seem to impress the audience much. He was quiet, and subtly answered the questions asked of him without actually doing so using as little words as possible. He revealed nothing, but made no real impression. Too small, too vague, too calm, too wily to possibly win, Lovino could already see it in the rich folk's eyes. What idiots. This kid got a seven. He had to have some ability. Somehow. Lovino wasn't sure what it was.

The tributes from four continued to be sort of boring to him, though Oliver seemed to get the audience's favour by complaining about the manners of the other tributes. Of course he did. Pretentious manners were the only morals that the idiots from the Capitol believed in. Killing children and dissidents were something to be celebrated, but god forbid anyone be "rude."

The girl from five had a headstrong personality, he could say that much. She apparently had a cousin that she liked to debate with. Lovino wasn't trying to pay attention to the interviews by that point. He got jolted awake by the one from the boy from Five, an alarming, egotistical, confident tribute with bright red eyes and a mischievous smirk. Feliks asked him if he was planning to win and he referred to himself as awesome. How stupid. Like he really had a chance of winning, a boy from outlying District Five.

Well, Feliks was blown away by the cockiness of the boy, it seemed. The interviewer looked almost pleased that someone here had guts. Lovino rolled his eyes as the tributes continued. The girl from six was silent, but Lovino figured that she could get away with it with her height and stern features.

Meanwhile, her district partner was a bit interesting, wild blond hair in every direction, even a bit spiky. When asked about whether or not he had a special someone at home, he said no… But… The way he listed off his family members names when asked about them made Lovino think otherwise. The way he spoke about this "Lukas" just didn't sound much like family. He swore he wasn't paying that much attention to notice the slip, no way.

Other than that, the boy from Six seemed almost mischievous, a bit of a party animal. When the small, timid, gentle girl from Seven took the stage, Lovino was stunned silent. He found it hard to believe that she was sixteen, older than himself. She barely looked old enough to be in the Games. Though, if the Games were run the way that Lovino wanted them run no one would ever be old enough. The Games were a sham. They weren't to punish the Districts for a former rebellion 50 years ago at all, they were to divide the Districts so they would never unify ever again.

That was why some Districts like 1,2, and 4 were given preferential treatment, why the Capitol turned a blind eye to the illegality of training tributes before they reach the Capitol, a policy the Capitol themselves instituted to make it fair. This was why Districts 10, 11, and 12 were the poorest. Even within 11, there was hatred towards the well-to-do merchants who didn't have to work the fields and take out tesserae.

The Districts couldn't unify when the remaining twelve were thrown at each other in competitions, when rich people got the better of the deals. Not when children's lives were at stake. The rules were simple. Twenty-four children went in, one came out. The winning district would be reunited with their brave survivor and every family in the winning district given a free food package for a month. It was disgusting.

The buzzer went off, and Lovino found himself looking over to the boy from Seven, tall with blond hair that his stylist slicked back for him. Honestly, he kind of preferred him like this than when his hair was down during training. It looked more right on him. And honestly, made him look even more terrifying. The boy—man—was wearing a green suit, a firm look on his face, poised, determined, confident, and emotionless. Ludwig Beitel, his mind supplied.

Even Feliks looked intimidated. "So, like, um…. Do you intend to win?" His discomposure was obvious, and Lovino was uncertain why in the hell he had received this job in the first place… though the sass he had seen him show the announcer was maybe part of it. Along with his clear flamboyancy, the literal embodiment of the mindless Capitolian society. Actually, come to think of it, yeah. Lovino did know why he received this job. He was a big mindless drone, like the rest of this city.

Ludwig seemed unimpressed. "I do intend to win." He agreed cooly. "The other option is death." He said it so matter-of-factly, Lovino couldn't tell if the latter part was a try at dry humour or seriousness that was unintentionally sarcastic.

Feliks and his tiny brain rolled his eyes. "Well, death really isn't fashionable, anyway." This, Lovino was pretty sure was seriousness. Feliks was stupid. Just because he was stupid. Lovino wasn't sure if it was the dumb job that made him look stupid either, though maybe. "Anyway, any special people at home?"

It was clear that the question was an invasive question wanting to know about his love life, and while Lovino had been told multiple times it was so Feliks could help the tributes out a bit if they looked pitiful, a sob story about a hopeful lover or sibling or whoever back at home, but he only asked male tributes this. Clearly, he just wanted to know which of the virgins who were all about to die were wanting to give it up for him tonight. Obviously. Because Lovino is a fucking mind reader. Duh.

Ludwig either didn't have anyone special, or was just smart enough not to take the bait. "No, no one special. Just my grandfather." The rest of the interview continued on until the buzzer went off, though Lovino hardly noticed it.

The girl from Eight stepped onto the stage. Elizabeta. She seemed nice, but composed. She played Feliks game well, answering his questions how he probably wanted them answered, but also humbling his down from his stupid high pony. She remarked on how she thought the boy from Five was flirting with her the first day of training and she almost whacked him. Gilbert, at least, seemed to find it amusing. Feliks asked her to say hello to her family back at home and she humoured him, actually doing so. Lovino was a bit impressed.

The next one to go up was a young male, Toris. He stuttered through his entire interview, but if Lovino had to pick of the idiots here to be Feliks' pick of which virgin to fuck, it was this one. Not for any particular reason, just because. And no, Lovino was not coming up with reasons to hate this idiot just because he was interviewing him!

He zoned out of the next two interviews, the tributes from Nine. All he heard was some rude spectator making a joke about the girl's endowments and Feliks sassing him. The boy went on about some cute pillow he was given. Or something. Lovino wasn't paying any attention. Like, at all.

It was almost his turn and he was doing anything to ignore that fact. His head turned to Feliciano slightly, catching his eye. Lovino looked in the direction of Feliks and stuck his tongue out a bit in a rude manner. The cameras weren't on him, right now anyway. Feliciano and the girl from his district seemed amused. See, he wasn't the only one bored of this dumb thing. Isabel rolled her eyes. "Lovi… stop it. You're going to embarrass yourself."

Lovino's plan to ignore the last few interviews failed when the boy from Ten took the stage. He was loud, obnoxious, annoying, and loud. He made Feliks look smart! Though that might be because it was revealed that this kid lived with a former victor.

And another reason was clear to him when Feliks asked the idiot the final question. "So.. you volunteered. Why?"

"Well, I wanted to be a hero!" He said. Lovino was unsure what this was supposed to mean. The boy, Alfred, gave a chuckle that sounded almost forced and added. "And glory and bravery is very heroic to me!" The girl from Alfred's district smiled a bit and they exchanged glances. Lovino was a bit confused. Killing people for glory is heroic? He almost made the mistake of muttering it out loud. He'll save the snark for his actual interview.

Isabel was next. She was kind, sweet, and flattering. He knew she would be. She was always so open and friendly. He glanced at the people in the crowd. They had to be getting tired of all these interviews with sweet gentle girls, stuttering, nervous boys, and brutes who were all either stern, idiotic, or assholes. No one could really be all that interesting to the rich people in the audience, looking for someone to sponsor. Could they?

The buzzer went off and Lovino got ready to do his interview. He fashioned his face into a stony look, but with a slight frown. He wouldn't give Feliks the satisfaction. "So, are you, like, prepared for the games? Do you intend to win?"

They were such stupid questions that the boy just smirked. "Nope, I intend to die in the bloodbath. So much fucking fun!" He let his voice drip with dry sarcasm. The other tributes were either getting a kick out of it or keeping their expressions emotionless. The audience was beside themselves as well. Lovino looked at them a bit, wondering what they were thinking.

"Whoa, now! Someone needs to just chill!" Feliks said. Lovino wondered if he hurt his little feelings. Whatever. Dumbass. Asking stupid questions and shit. Alright, alright. Anyway… anyone special at home? Or anyone who you would like to say hello to?"

"Yeah, I'd like to tell my cat that it's the only thing I'll miss. Wait…. Fuck that. I forgot. I don't even have a cat." He winked at Feliciano, who smiled slightly. Feliks sighed and asked him more questions, to which he just got more and more sardonic with his answers.

Lovino just smirked as the buzzer went off.

Feliks wondered as he walked away how a small boy from Eleven had so much personality...

1. Arlovski is the male form of the surname Arlovskaya. Because the country of Belarus does not exist anymore in Pamen-era, her surname would be Arlovski, not Arlovskaya, by American surname traditions, because Panem follows the American surname traditions. Technically, earlier in the story when they called out Czech's name it should have been something like "Novotný" because of the whole Panem thing for this same reason, but I'm not going back to fix it.

2. Hmm… I wonder who will win? Maybe Lovi ….. maybe it's Ludwig or Feliciano or Alfred….. duh duh duh… or maybe it's none of the above..

3. I mean no disrespect to Poland and stupidity! Lovino is just a condescending ass!

4. Sorry if you wanted an "everyone" point of view for this one, but it was just easier to do all through Lovino's point of view.