Armand "Armie" Machina, 5, District 5
Training Day 3, 7:51 PM
~(C'mon), Sing with me, sing for the years,
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears,
Sing it with me, just for today,
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord'll take you away...~
"I just feel so stupid," Amara moans, planting her forehead into the silver walls of the elevator.
Zarach and I both glance at each other, neither of us having any idea what to do or say to her. Scratching the back of my head, I look pleadingly at Zarach, who offers up a sigh before walking over to Amara and awkwardly giving her a light pat on the back.
"C'mon now," he says gruffly, "don't get worried about it, you haven't even seen what your score is yet."
"Ya, but I know what I'm gonna get," Amara murmurs into the wall. "I just sat there and cried like a baby."
"Amara, I don't care what score you got, and I don't think anybody else will either."
"Ya," I quickly add, rubbing the back of my neck "I mean, I bet I got like, a zero."
Amara giggles at that, sniffling and wiping her eyes as the elevator pulls to a stop at the District Five floor. "You really think it doesn't matter?"
"I promise," Zarach replies, his voice much softer.
"Okay," she says quietly, her lips forming into a smile as she turns away from the wall. Her eyes land on me and she laughs, biting her lip to suppress it. "I bet you a. . . . chocolate bar that you scored higher than me though."
"Deal," I say, offering up my hand for a handshake, causing another wave of giggles from Amara as she makes an unsuccessful attempt to keep a straight face as she accepts the handshake.
"A pleasure doing business Mr. Armie," she replies in her deepest voice, causing another fit of laughter from both of us.
"Hey," Zarach offers up, a smile creeping onto his lips. "Any chance I can get in on this bet? I think could go for some chocolate."
Amara hits Zarach's leg jokingly, rolling her eyes as I giggle uncontrollably. "So, didn't you just say that we had to get going because the scores were gonna go on any minute?"
Zarach rolls his eyes, ruffling Amara's hair as he steps out of the elevator, the two of us following closely after as my laughter slowly begins to die down.
We enter into the living room of the D5 floor, and a quick look at the clock says that it's already 7:53, which means the scores will start being shown in just a few minutes.
The three of all take a seat on the couch in front of the television to wait for the scores to start, snacking on the chips and pizza that's been set up for us. All the while Amara teases Zarach relentlessly, with him returning fire to the point that my belly starts to hurt from laughing so much.
The elevator dings, and all of us cut off our conversation, my last giggles dying as we all look over to the entrance to see who else could be coming to the floor.
"Maybe Fey convinced her escort to let her come with us to see the scores?" Amara questions excitedly.
Our question is answered as my mentor Audra steps through the doorway, smiling at me kindly as she spots Amara and Zarach seated next to me. "Hi Armie, are you and your friends getting ready to watch the scores?"
I nod my head, and to my left Amara waves to her, while Zarach just nods tensely.
"So you two must be Zarach and Amara then, right?" Audra questions, still hanging by the doorway. "Armie has been telling me about you, a pleasure to finally meet the two of you."
Amara giggles at the comment as my cheeks flush red, while Zarach shifts in his seat uncomfortably. "So you're the D5 mentor?"
Audra nods. "Yup, me and the old sot Caleb, at least when he's not hung over in bed all day!" She raises her voice to a shout for the last part, with an unintelligible return coming from one of the bedrooms down the hall.
She rolls her eyes in return, and I snicker as a smile creeps onto Audra's lips.
"So," Zarach interjects suddenly, "are you Armie's mentor then, or. . . ."
"Yup, I got Armie and Caleb has Fox."
Zarach visibly relaxes, but before Audra can question him on it a buzzing sound goes off from her pocket, and she leaves the room, mentioning something about having to take a call.
Once Audra leaves, Zarach immediately picks up a pen and a notebook off the table and begins to focus on the television, where the scores are just about to be revealed.
Amara looks at him warily, grabbing a chip and popping it into her mouth as her eyes narrow, trying to figure out the sudden change in behavior in her district partner.
On the screen the interviewer, an older man named Apollo Thompson, is getting ready to reveal the scores, telling the audience what all the different scores mean. Just before the actual reveal starts Audra pops her head in through the doorway, and tells us that she's going to go down to the lobby and will be right back, leaving us alone again as the scores start.
First up, from District One, the young Glory Fairfax with a score of. . . . five.
"Wow," Zarach exclaims, looking surprised as he jots something down in the notebook.
"I wish I could get that high of a score," Amara mutters.
Zarach pats her on the shoulder, features warming up as he offers up a smile. "Hey, don't worry about it, she is two years older than you, ya know."
"And a Career," I add, remembering the word Zarach used to describe the alliance of all the kids from District 1, 2, and 4.
"I guess," Amara says quietly.
Next, the self-proclaimed "golden boy" of District One, Aurum Lark, with a score of. . . . nine.
"Just don't worry about it," Zarach replies.
"Ya, I mean, I didn't ally with you cuz I thought you were gonna score high, I allied with you cuz you were nice." My face is red as I finish speaking, and she blushes too, looking towards the ground, a hint of a smile on her lips.
"Thanks, Armie," she says softly.
From District Two, the enthusiastic young Career, Fiona Graham, with a score of. . . . four.
Zarach chuckles, shaking his head. "I'm sure she'll love getting one point lower than Glory."
I look over at him confused for a second, before my mind goes back to earlier today, with the argument between the two before the Private Sessions.
"Ya," Amara says, giggles breaking up her voice, "I bet she's super happy right now."
And the stoic Peacekeeper from District Two, Alerio Weissman, with a score of. . . . nine.
Amara's giggling continues, and I can't help but join myself, as Zarach just rolls his eyes, scribbling furiously in his notebook. "I'd pay to see how Aurum is dealing with that one," he says, just sending the two of us into more laughter at the mental image of the hothead from training screaming at the mute boy from Two.
From the electronics District, the excitable Lei Park, with a score of. . . . three.
"Surprised he managed to even get that high," Zarach says.
"I'm not," I say, finally managing to cut my laughter off, "I ran with him at one of the stations, and he was really fast."
"If being fast gets you a high score, I bet you got a twelve, and then you'll owe me that chocolate bar," Amara teases, stifling her laughter.
"I'm not that fast," I reply.
"You're faster than me," she says.
"That's not saying much," Zarach interrupts, popping a chip into his mouth. Amara glares at him while I do my best to suppress my laughter.
And also from District Three, the mysterious Alt Lovelace, with a score of. . . . seven.
"I thought she was more dangerous than she looked," Zarach mutters to himself.
"She's the girl who kept on staring at us without saying anything, right?" Amara asks.
"Yup," Zarach confirms.
From everybody's favorite fishing District, the tiny Celaena Reynar, with a score of. . . . two.
"She seemed nice," I say. "It's too bad she had to ally with the Careers."
Nobody else says anything after that, Zarach keeping his head in his notebook while Amara grabs her second slice of pizza of the night.
And the second tribute from District Four, the lovely Marina Rivera, with a score of. . . . eight.
As Amara takes a large bite of her pizza, Zarach chuckles, shaking his head. "Somebody has an appetite today, this and the sandwich a few hours ago? I don't think I've ever seen you eat so much."
In response Amara punches Zarach in the shoulder lightly, not bothering to try to talk back with her mouth full, instead settling for an over-exaggerated warning glare at him.
My stomach twists as I realize that I'm up next, though I quickly settle myself down, reminding myself of what I told Amara earlier. My score doesn't matter at all, nobody is going to care.
From District Five, the young Armand Machina, with a score of. . . . two.
"Heyyy!" Amara exclaims, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "Who just got the same score as a Career a year older than him?"
"Barely a year," I reply embarrassed. "And it's still not a twelve."
"Hey, I got the two part right, didn't I? And you still don't turn six for a whole 'nother two months, so I'd say you can say you're still a year away."
I roll my eyes. "Ya, whatever."
Also from District Five, the dashing Fox King, with a score of. . . . five.
Nobody says anything, all of us sitting in an awkward silence as we wait for Amara's score to be revealed.
From the transportation District, the adorable Amara Ekkal, with a score of. . . . one.
Letting out a whoop, she giggle madly at me. "Guess who owes me a chocolate bar?"
"Guess who got the same score as a Career?" I reply, voice broken up with laughter.
"Guess who's the adorable Amara?" She responds giddily.
"Glad to see you're not taking it too harshly," the voice of Audra calls from the doorway.
"Armie got the same score as a Career, so I think we're doing pretty good so far," Amara replies jokingly.
"Great to hear," Audra responds amusedly.
And her partner from District Six, the intimidating Zarach Eleazor, with a score of. . . . eight.
"Intimidating?" Zarach asks, mocking offense.
Amara hits Zarach in the shoulder, keeping her other arm wrapped around me still as she goes on the offensive against him. "Who cares about that, you got an eight! That's the same score as the girl from Four!" She pauses for a moment, thinking something over in her head. "We are District Four!"
I giggle at the thought, and Zarach chuckles, shaking his head. "With how much time you guys have spent swimming I don't think it would be that far-fetched."
From the lumber District, the electric Boaz Ash, with a score of. . . . four.
Amara facepalms. "Ugh, that's what I should have done! I could have swam!"
"Huh, I kind of forgot about that too," I admit.
"How could you guys of forgot?" Zarach asks incredulously. "You guys only spent about half of training there."
Amara and I both glance at each other, before looking back to Zarach and shrugging.
From District Seven, the towering Kieran Colton, with a score of. . . . five.
"Fey is up next," Amara comments. "I wonder what she got."
"She was the best swimmer out of all of us," I say, "I bet she got the highest."
Moving on to District Eight, the sweet Felicity Cardin, with a score of. . . two.
"Well, higher than me anyways," Amara shrugs.
"Not saying much," I tease lightheartedly, earning a sharp glare from Amara, and a light hit in the shoulder.
"You sure do like hitting us," Zarach jokes.
"You guys sure like saying things to deserve it," Amara shoots back, a silly grin on her face as she fakes a punch at Zarach's shoulder.
And her district partner, the enigmatic Noa Jacquard, with a score of. . . four.
"What's enigmatic mean?" I ask.
Zarach and Amara both shrug, though from behind us Audra responds with the answer, "It means mysterious."
"I'd agree with that," Amara says. "She always was kind of confusing."
"That's an understatement," Zarach mutters under his breathe.
From the golden hills of District Nine, little Izaak Ackerman, with a score of. . . . four.
"Woah," I exclaim. "He got as high as the girl from Two!"
"And he's a year younger," Amara adds. "I wonder what he did."
Shrugging, the two of us look over to Zarach, who looks just as lost as us. "I don't know guys, guess we'll have to wait and find out tomorrow."
I blink, the sudden realization of what tomorrow is hitting me.
"Oh ya," Amara says, reaching the same conclusion just as I do. "The interviews are tomorrow, aren't they?"
Also from District Nine, the underdog Otto Baxter, with a score of. . . . four.
"Yup," Audra answers. "Which is why once this is over you guys all gotta get to bed to get a good nights rest. The interviews have been extended from three to five minutes this year, which means they're gonna start at 4:30 and go until around 7:00. Factoring in time for the stylists and prep team, we're only gonna have until noon to do any sort of prep for what your angle will be."
Letting out a yawn, I stretch out my arms. "I don't mind," I yawn out. "I'm tired anyways."
From District Ten, the fierce Mabel Beech, with a score of. . . . five.
"Huh, maybe that girl's alliance won't be so bad after-all," Zarach comments.
"What alliance?" Audra asks curiously, taking a seat to the left of me on the couch.
"Girl from Ten asked literally everybody to join an alliance with her, managed to convince the pair from Twelve to join and the older guy from Seven kinda just didn't care," Zarach explains.
And everybody's favorite brave boy from Ten, Oake Sinclair, with a score of. . . . five.
"And they asked you guys' too?"
Zarach shakes his head.
"Why not?"
Zarach searches for an answer, but before he can offer anything up, Amara cuts in. "Well, they don't calm him "the intimidating Zarach Eleazor" for nothing," she giggles out.
Audra rolls her eyes. "I won't even ask."
From the eleventh district, the lovely Amandine Corra, with a score of. . . . two.
"Hey, you guys got a club going," Amara teases.
"Ya, too bad you can't join," I joke back.
"I got something even better, how many people get to say that they're number one?"
"Only one I think," Zarach interjects.
"Exactly."
Also representing the agriculture district, the analytical Shade Reinfield, with a score of. . . . six.
"Wow, Zarach," Audra exclaims, "looks like you're gonna have the highest non-Career score."
"Looks like it," Zarach responds sheepishly.
From the coal district, the handsome Nova Whipp, with a score of. . . . one.
"Awww," Amara fake pouts, wiping a few fake tears from her eyes. "I thought I was special."
Zarach ruffles her hair, muttering something under his breathe.
And finally, last but not least, the heroic Dakota Marshall, with a score of. . . . six.
Amara stretches out her arms, and no longer trapped in by her death grip I stand up, stretching out myself.
"Well," Amara yawns, "I'm gonna hit the hay, 'night Armie."
"Ya," I respond, waving as her and Zarach head off towards the elevator to get back to their floor, "I'll see you tomorrow."
A/N: There we are with the scores reveal! Not a ton happening this chapter, just some cheeky banter before we get into the interviews next chapter! The interviews will be split into 3 parts, and each one will be pretty long, with every tribute getting a full length interview.
Just would like to take a moment to thank everybody so much for helping me not only hit 100 reviews last chapter, but blow right past it. Your guys' support means the world to me, and I'm super excited for us to start getting into the games so I can reveal some of the plans I've had in mind for a while to you guys. But for now make sure to let me know what you guys think of my writing, and of Armie, Amara, and Zarach as they make their second appearance!
Trivia(1 point): Most surprising score/biggest impression you got?
Current Alliances:
Careers: Aurum, Glory, Alerio, Fiona, Marina, Celeana
My Keeper: Armand, Zarach, Amara, Felicity
The Kids Are Alright: Kieran, Spark, Oake, Mabel, Dakota, Nova
Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures: Alt, Lei, Fox
District Loyalty: Otto, Izaak
Since We Have To: Shadow, Amandine
Loners: Noa :(