Here's the District Seven Reapings, A Woman's Place! As the title may imply, this chapter needs some content warnings. There's sexual harassment and misogynistic slurs in Aspen's section and misogyny in general in Thomas's section, so if this might be triggering I'd advise you skip those specific sections. Anyway, on with the chapter!
Aspen Winters, District Seven Female, 13
Aspen is mad at the world.
Not just because it's the day of the Reaping, though that's part of it. Not just because she was the leader of the household at thirteen because her parents were incurably sick. Not just because her best "friend" Grei betrayed her by telling the Peacekeepers, the whole district about their illness and getting ostracised due to possibly carrying the disease.
While all that angered Aspen quite a lot, the main thing angering Aspen right now is that she just got hit on. She knows she looks older than many girls her age- she's definitely more developed, to use more savoury language than he did. But that didn't excuse the fact that he hit on her in the first place, and that he was so awfully rude!
What he said sticks in her mind, fuelling her anger. "Hey sexy, how much do you cost?" She didn't even realise what he was implying at first, asking what he meant. "Oh, you'd give it up for free? Naughty girl." Once she realised what he was implying, she stated she was only thirteen. "And I'm only sixteen, babe. No need to tell the Peacekeepers."
Aspen tightens her hands into a fist as she continues the walk home. She remembers glaring at him, before he said "No need to be a stuck up frigid bitch about it." When she told him exactly where he could shove it, he said "No need to act so unladylike, slut. I'm sure all you're good for is your body, anyway."
So she punched him. Right across the nose.
While the boy was still reeling in shock, she stormed off back home. A good thing she did, else the Peacekeepers will be on her ass in a second. She digs her fingers deep into her palm, to the point it hurts. Finally, she sees the one corrugated iron shack she knows is her own, and knocks on the door so hard she could beat it down.
Cedar, her twin brother, opens the door. "Aspen, what happened this time?" he says, resigned.
"I got hit on by some creep." she says, digging her fingers in so hard she can feel the trickles of warm liquid running down her palm. "And I punched him in the nose."
"Jeez, it's like you're trying to become an Avox." Cedar sighs. "It's not like they even like this "little diseased girl" that they think you are."
"Thanks for the pep talk, brother. Real inspiring."
Cedar breaks out into a grin. "Anyway, we've gotta help fix up the kid's meals before the Reaping- wait what happened to your hand?"
Aspen unclenches her fist, noticing the small, bloodied cuts made by her nails. "We should probably bandage this up before the Reapings, shouldn't we?"
"On it already, sis!" says Cedar, ripping off pieces of a ragged blanket and wrapping them around her hands. "Can't have you all bloody in the Games, right?"
Aspen laughs, and all she can think of is at least if she's reaped no creep will hit on her.
Thomas Collins, District Seven Male, 16
Thomas is still fuming over that stuck up slut in the street while he's at the Reaping.
She punched him! Him! If he had his way he'd have the Peacekeepers right on her, but she'd stormed off while he was still in shock. And so now he stood around boys he hated, holding his broken nose in one hand trying to stop the bleeding and wiping the blood off his t-shirt with the other.
Wouldn't it be karmic justice if she got sent to the Games? He'd laugh and laugh and laugh if that happened. Serves her right. He'd gave her the time of day out of all the other horrible people in this District, and she rejected him!
Good as any reason to volunteer, he supposes. He knows he's going to do it anyway. Surely anything is better than being in District Seven. He hated everything about living here, but most of all he hated the people. They were all a bunch of dumb sheep, while he was the only smart one in the District.
Thomas is brought out of his angry brooding when the escort, a thin and sexy-as-hell woman he can't be bothered to remember the name of walks onto the stage. Another reason to volunteer- there are plenty of hot chicks in the Capitol who'd love a slice of the Victor pie.
He doesn't really care about the big speech she's given- it's the same every year. So he just focuses on the escort until she says the name of the girl tribute. "Aspen Winters."
He can't help but laughing when he sees the same brown haired girl walk towards the stage that he oh-so-generously expressed interest in earlier. She looks so calm and serene, but when she sees him laughing she shoots him an icy glare.
Before the escort can even read out the male name, he screams out "I Volunteer!" He saunters up to the stage, shooting Aspen a vicious grin. Not so bitchy now, he thinks, before Aspen cuts off his thoughts.
"Oh my god!" she shouts. "I can't believe this. You hit on me earlier today knowing I was thirteen, and now you're fucking Volunteering with me? Just leave me alone, perv!" Still a bitch, he supposes. Some women just never see sense.
The escort timidly- like a good woman- asks his name, and he says "Thomas Collins. Future Victor, you'll see!" he confidently explained. He ignored the boos from the crowd. They're just jealous, being the small minded ants they are, that he'll leave the vice grip of Seven and make his own way in life.
He starts laughing again on his way into the Justice Building.
And there we are! The firey Aspen by EmberLex, and the kind of awful Thomas from santiago . pocini 20. Sorry for making Thomas sorta an incel, I just thought it made sense with the personality. I hope you liked these tributes! Who's your favourite? (I have the sneaking suspicion it's not Thomas.) Next chapter is the Mentors, then the eight, ten, eleven and twelve Reapings, then we're onto the pregames!