Insert shameless self-promotion of my new SYOT, Too Much Heaven here and slight mention about how it's accepting tributes.
Jonathan Firre, 12
District 9 Male
Two days before the Reaping
Jonathan's grandparents were not the least bit surprised to see him at their door again.
"What's the matter, sweetheart?" Grandma Firre asked, setting out a plate of homemade cookies.
Jonathan snatched up a cookie and nibbled on it. "Everything."
"That is quite the exaggeration."
"Well it's true! Everyone except the triplets is freaking out because of the Reaping twist and Dad's still making me study and review my schoolwork, but I don't have to be in school for another two months. And Glenn's being a butt again.""
"That's what older brothers do, dear."
"I'm sick and tired of having so many older brothers and sisters. When I grow up, I'm leaving in the woods by myself!"
"By yourself?"
"Okay...not by myself. I'm gonna get a dog. And maybe a wife. You guys can come live with me too! But that's it; nobody else!"
Grandpa Firre chuckled and patted his youngest grandson on the back. "Well, there's nothing wrong with a little alone time every now and then. Though I think we'll stay here, in our little house. You're welcome to visit as much as you like."
Jonathan grabbed a second cookie. "See, you guys get it." He felt his grandparents's dog, Texla, brush past his feet and he reached down to pet her. "Everybody else treats me like I'm a baby. I'm too young for this, too old for that, I can't do this for myself, I'm too short. It's annoying! And I'm not short!"
"It's called being a late bloomer, honey. You'll hit your growth spurt eventually."
Jonathan snapped the remains of his cookie in half. He held one piece down to Texla, who gave it a sniff, then turned away, more interested in the bag of dog treats Grandma Firre was reaching into. "That's what I said. Dad just thinks I should stop slouching or I need to add something to my diet. Mom just agrees with him because she says he cares for me. Well, if he did care, maybe he'd stop nagging me all the time."
"Oh, he does care for you," Grandpa Firre replied. "Your entire family cares, Jonathan. They just have a funny way of showing it sometimes."
"It's like that with big families." Grandma Firre tossed the dog treat towards Texla, who gobbled it up eagerly. "When you've got so many opinions clashing at once..."
"I know, I know."
"Now, you should probably head back home."
Jonathan nodded, then reach out to grab one last cookie before he jumped up from the couch. "Yeah. I think it's lunchtime."
Grandma Firre snatched the plate from him. "And I'm not about to be blamed for you spoiling your appetite! Come on, scat!"
"I love you too," Jonathan giggled as his grandparents each gave him a hug and Texla licked his hand before he made his way home. When he arrived, the house was filled with so much energy, that nobody had even noticed Jonathan left in the first place.
Autumn Farro, 15
District 9 Female
Four years, seven months before the Reaping
Ever since he figured it out, little Spring loved to run around on his own and more often than not, there was always somebody watching over him, to keep an eye out if he got into trouble and to pick him up and put him back in his bed once he got tired. Autumn thought she was responsible enough to keep an eye on Spring by herself, but her parents believed otherwise.
"Spring! Don't touch that!" Autumn jumped up from her seat and towards her little brother, but her father scooped him up first. Spring seemed slightly disappointed, probably wondering why nobody would let him near his father's scythe, lying against the wall in the corner.
"Alright you," Barrick chuckled. "That's enough running around for today. Time for a nap." He carried Spring off to his room, and Autumn was now alone.
Autumn went back to sewing, something her aunt taught her and an activity she was slowly improving on. It wasn't exactly easy for the 11 year-old, but she was learning. After a few minutes sewing two patches of cloth together, Barrick came back into the room. "Autumn, pick up your needles, please."
"I'm using them right now."
"While I don't want Spring to find them, because he might think they're edible. We can put all your sewing equipment in your room and we'll close the door so he can't get inside."
Autumn did as she was told. Once she had all her needles gather up in her hands, Barrick handed her an old wicker basket. Autumn dumped everything into the basket, then carried it off to her room. She heard a door creak open, which surprised her. Barrick was still in the living room and her mother was currently out with friends. Who could that be?
Spring.
Sure enough, he was stretching his arm as high as he could, clinging onto the doorknob. As soon as he saw Autumn, he started giggling and let go, almost falling backwards.
Autumn chuckled to herself, then carried the basket into her room. She glanced around for somewhere to put it, then decided to place the basket on a shelf. Even if Spring could get inside her room, there was no way he'd be able to reach up there.
At least not yet.
Suddenly, she felt something heavy drop onto her foot. When Autumn looked down, there her little brother was, clinging onto her leg. He burst out laughing as Autumn tried to walk them both back to Spring's room, but she could only move her leg so much. Every time she lifted it up, Spring's grip tightened.
"Come on, Spring. You need to go to sleep. It's naptime."
"No!"
"No!? No, you don't want to sleep?"
"I dun wanna!"
"Alright..." Autumn sat down on the bed as Spring tried to climb up beside her. "But Mom and Dad want you to take a nap. What if I stay here with you?"
Spring seemed to have calmed down. He crawled into bed and curled up next to his sister. As they lay there, Autumn could feel her eyes growing heavy.
When Barrick Farro went to investigate, he found his two children sleeping next to each other.
Jonathan Firre, 12
District 9 Male
Reaping Day
As if Reaping days were chaotic enough in Jonathan's house, today was the first time in a while that him and his siblings, with the exception of the triplets, would be eligible. As usual, Jonathan found himself lost as everyone hurried around. He sat at the breakfast table by hismelf and slowly finished up the last of his food.
As Jonathan dribbled some maple syrup over a lukewarm pancake, he watched the commotion. Barty approached him, looking extremely tired and frustrated. "Jonathan! You didn't touch my training gear this morning, did you?"
Jonathan muttered a response through a mouthful of pancake. Ever since Barty announced he was planning on training to become a Peacekeeper, he'd been a lot harder to put up with. More irritable, more snobby...just an overall pain in Jonathan's ass.
"Well...it's gone! I'll go ask the girls if they've seen it, but I hope you're not lying to me!"
As Barty hurried off to go ask someone else, Jonathan finished his pancakes and dumped his dishes in the sink. They made a loud noise as they knocked over a stack of plates in the process. Upstairs, he heard a bunch of noise. Tori and Jessie were arguing about something, and Maisie and Alexandra had locked the door to their shared bedroom, but muffled singing could be heard inside. Jonathan made his way to the bathroom, where he found his oldest brother standing in front of the mirror.
"Hi Glenn."
Glenn didn't say anything as he ran the razor down the side of his chin.
"Why are you shaving?"
"Well, I want to look nice for today, don't I?" Glenn asked.
"It doesn't matter. You can't even get chosen."
"Well, I still want to clean up. Do you have a problem with that?"
Jonathan picked up the cap to the shaving cream bottle and tossed it about in his hands. "I bet it's because your wife made you do it."
Glenn threw down his towel. It flopped into the sink. "Get out."
"It's my bathroom too!" Jonathan protested as Glenn pushed him out, then closed the door in his face. Jonathan just scowled. "Hey! Just because you're the oldest-"
"Well, I'm mature enough to give people space when they ask for it!"
Jonathan stomped back downstairs. He heard someone bustling around in the kitchen and Barty accusing their father of taking his training equipment. Nobody heard him as he pulled the front door open and blinding sunlight shone into the house.
"I'm going to Grandma and Grandpa's!" Jonathan yelled over his shoulder before he ran off, slamming the door shut behind him.
Autumn Farro, 15
District 9 Female
Reaping Day
"I'm just saying, I think sickles are a lot more effective," Lina pointed out. "They're smaller, so they're easier to control."
Autumn had to admit, her friend made a good argument. "Yeah, but scythes look more badass."
"If we're basing this argument off looks-"
"Yes we are, because we both know scythes win."
Autumn and Lina were hiding out in a wheat field, ignoring the chatter of nearby workers. Most people chose not to work on Reaping Day, with the exception of those who really needed the money. Autumn's family was not upper-class, but they were still quite well-off so her parents were at home, watching over Spring.
Lina plucked a weed from the ground. "Scythes are just an accident waiting to happen."
Autumn thought back to the first time she had tried to use a scythe, and how she had no clue what to do with it. She absentmindedly traced the scar running down her cheek with her fingers. "Yeah, I guess that's true."
"Fair enough?"
"Fair enough."
Lina tore the weed in half, then let it flutter form her hands into the ground. "Ugh, I really hate summer. It's just too hot to do anything, really."
"Wanna guess what my favourite season is?"
"Nah. Too easy." Lina giggled. "Your name says all."
"Actually, it's springtime."
"Right...I knew that."
Autumn rolled her eyes. "Sure thing. But springtime is warm, but not too warm. And you get really nice breezes."
"That sounds nice," Lina sighed. "I like sunshine. But not too much of it, like we have right now."
"You don't like too much of anything."
Lina opened her mouth to protest, then glanced over her shoulder. "Shit."
"What?"
"Peacekeepers."
Sure enough, Autumn spotted the unmistakable white uniforms of Peacekeepers surveying the fields. "Are we allowed to be here?"
"If we aren't, I don't want to find out!" Lina jumped to her feet, grabbing Autumn's hand and pulling her along. Keeping their heads low, the two friends dashed through the wheat until they were a safe distance away and within proximity of District 9's suburbs.
"What should we do now?" Autumn asked.
"Can we go back to your house? Where it's safer?"
"How about yours? It's quieter."
"Fine," Lina grabbed Autumn's hand again and they headed off deeper into the suburbs.
Titanium Sherwind, aged 21
District 9 Escort
Reaping Day
They supposed things could be worse.
It wasn't that Titanium hated District 9 or anything. They just supposed it was a bit...lackluster. Yes, that was it. Perhaps, with a few extra touches, the district could be fixed up and look a lot better. Maybe some gardens too. Everything was just...so gold! honestly, a spot of green here and there could really do 9 some good.
Titanium had been considering getting a trim for their silver and gold locks and now, they really wished they had. It was so hot and they could feel sweat dripping down the back of their neck. At least they dressed for the weather, in a pearl-coloured toga with a shiny gold belt. Titanium glanced out a window and caught a faint glimpse of their reflection; they had forgotten to take out a contact, giving them one blue eye and one amber eye.
Damn.
"Man, I feel bad for whatever poor sucker is getting chosen. Chelsea's gonna train her kids to rip them to shreds."
"That's enough, Harper. Don't say things like that."
"What? We all know she hates me!"
"Harper! Keep your mouth shut!"
"Gonna have to agree with the lady here," Titanium interrupted. "She makes a fair argument."
Harper smirked. "I mean, yeah! I did ruin the Odair streak just a little!"
That was true. The death of Chelsea's older brother Malcolm Odair, at the hands of Harper O'Sheppard during the 148th Hunger Games was a big event for the longest time.
Benjamin looked tried. "Alright, I'm done arguing. I don't need another layer of stress to age me up more than it needs to."
Harper giggled. "But you look wonderful for your age!"
Titanium giggled too, but covered it up with a fake cough. "Shall we proceed then?"
Benjamin nodded, but Harper wasn't done. "Don't draw any of his grandkids! They're too cute to die!"
"Harperrrrr..."
Titanium decided it would be best to stay out of this argument. They waited patiently in the Justice Building, until they were given the cue they had been waiting for. As usual, the atmosphere was a heavy one and everybody seemed emotionally drained. Titanium could feel the heat getting to them, but they soldiered on.
"Right...god, it's hot...the lucky lady representing District 9 will be...Autumn Farro!"
A loud scream echoed through the district. Titanium watched, curious, as a young girl stumbled away from the other 15 year-olds, clamping a hand tightly to her mouth. Her dark brown hair was long and curly ans he seemed really tan, almost sunburnt. When she got closer, Titanium noticed a faint scar running down her cheek.
"Any volunteers? No? Typical. And the lucky lad is...ugh, if that Sun doesn't stop shining, I am going to murder someone! Anyways, the male tribute is Jonathan Firre."
Jonathan was a lot younger than Autumn, but Titanium was too annoyed to care. He was quite small too, with light brown locks of hair, bright green eyes, and noticeable markings from childhood adventures. Despite the heat, he shivered and folded his arms across his chest. When his eyes met Titanium's, Jonathan scowled.
"Hurry up tributes, shake hands! Then we can all leave and go inside!"
Once the Reaping was finally over, Titanium collapsed in an armchair inside the Justice Building. They began to close their eyes...until they thought they smelled something burning and they jolted awake. Harper burst out laughing. She was sitting in the chair next to Titanium and smoking another cigarette, much to the disapproval of Benjamin and a nearby Peacekeeper.
As much as Titanium wanted to complain, they were just too glad to be out of the summer heat.
With this chapter, we're officially more than halfway done the Reapings! Isn't that great!? As much as I like introducing the tributes, Reapings just tire me out. A lot.
Ah well, at least we only have 5 more to go.
Hope you guys enjoyed the characters in this chapter!
-Vr
