*DISTRICT SEVEN*
*STARIA ASPEN*
*SIXTEEN*
Staria hugs her legs and rests her chin on her kneecaps, smiling dreamily. Even the though the Hunger Games loom in her future, right now she can appreciate her alone time, something she hasn't had in ages. One step at a time, right?
"Starry?" somebody questions.
"Hey, Jaykob."
"I'm so sorry."
Staria reaches up and puts a hand on his shoulder. "Can you just sit down and look at me and talk about something other than the Games?"
::
Her brothers visit next. Jericho is still covered in a fine layer of sawdust (nobody is District 7 is ever quite clean; they are always coated in wood chips and leaves, being from the lumberjack District) and Boyce is dressed in ripped jeans and a shirt three sizes too big (a hand-me-down from Jericho) but they're there, and that's what matters to Staria. Nothing is ever more important than family.
They don't speak. Jericho opens his mouth, but closes it when Staria subtly shakes her head. She doesn't want to cry right now. So they cling to each other's hands and draw from each other's hidden reserves of strength.
Staria knows that Jericho and Boyce think that they're just going to watch their sister die, but Staria has a plan. And she wants to win. And she has no qualms about hurting others if it means she'll come out victorious.
But she just can't say that to her brothers, who are devout pacifists after what happened to their parents. They can see it on television with the rest of the nation.
*SEBASTIANO SCHILLACIANI*
*EIGHTEEN*
Languidly, Seb arches his back and runs his fingers through his blonde hair, letting out a yawn. He knows he won't win (he can't, not if he isn't able to fight), but he can get sponsors. In his own opinion, he's like Finnick Odair, that District 4 victor: conceited, arrogant, good-looking, and he knows it. If he acts bloodthirsty yet charming (which he can pull off; he's not a bad actor), he'll probably be raking in the sponsors. He'll die comfortably.
"Hi, Seb," a soft voice greets him.
"Alexis." Seb smirks.
He plays an interesting role when he's with his girlfriend, one that even he doesn't quite understand. With Alexis, he's compassionate and understanding, but also cocky and controlling. Sometimes he can feel himself being too dominant, but it doesn't stop him. It's nice actually being in charge of something.
He's not exactly hers, but there's no question that she's his.
"How are you feeling?" she asks quietly, reaching over to give him a back rub and allowing him a good view down her shirt besides.
"Okay," he answers neutrally.
"You'll make it," she tells him, but without force. It's hard to tell whether she doesn't believe it or if she really just doesn't care.
"I know I will." He grins.
"You'll get a lot of sponsors - "
"Ah, just what I was thinking!"
"And you'll win," Alexis finishes.
"I will." Seb nods grandly.
"Time!" hollers the Peacekeeper.
"I love you." Alexis pecks her boyfriend on the cheek and wisps away.
He stares after her, wondering if he truly feels anything at all.
*DISTRICT 7 TRAIN*
As soon as the door to his room opens, Seb is on his feet. He won't be dragged away like some other tributes who thought they could simply refuse to go. One time a daughter of the mayor tried to bribe the Peacekeepers into picking another girl, and they made a horrible example of her in the arena, sending mutts after her barely minutes past the moment she had jumped off her metal plate. After they'd picked her bones clean, the crazy animals turned on the other tributes, leaving only ten alive. Overkill, perhaps, but certainly an efficient bloodbath.
He's scared. He's never even picked up a weapon other than a knife, and there is just no way in hell he'll ever be able to hurt someone with a blade ever again. Never. Again.
"Onto the train!" Wynter squeals, climbing on and immediately downing a glass of champagne resting on a small table. "We're going to the Capitol!"
Staria holds in laughter. What a ridiculous woman.
But the Hunger Games are coming, and both of the District 7 tributes need to focus on nothing but the Games if they have any hope of surviving.