I revisit my favorite person in the Capitol today! Just had to include Hadrian...
Hadrian leaned back, rubbing his sore arms. How long had it been since he could actually walk out of this place? He took a long drink of water, savoring the feeling of relief. Augustus was going to be interviewing mentors and Hadrian wasn't needed for that. How Augustus survived the non-stop games commentary, Hadrian had yet to discover.
Pushing aside the studio doors, his eyes searched for one face, "Gemini, it's so nice to see you." His hands reached out to her, and his lips brushed her cheeks. "I have the next few hours off." His shoulder slumped, and he loosened his tie. "You can spend some time with me?"
She brushed a loose hair from his forehead, "I know, I came from work to see you. I told Lafayette I needed to do some investigative work."
Hadrian sighed, "These Games have been so violent, so many dead in just four days." They walked down the corridors, heading towards the outdoors.
"Oh, Hadrian, the point of the games is violence. Sometimes I think you are too naïve."
He grinned, "Really, only sometimes? I thought every one of you Gamemakers thought I was a naïve idiot after that girl from six interviewed me." He leaned against the door, pushing it open with his back.
Gemini took in a sharp breath, "That wasn't my fault." They stepped outdoors, Hadrian placing an arm around her waist as they encountered the chilly night air.
"I know. Stella's one of the few tributes I'll actually be happy to see go. I do feel terrible for hating her, it's not her fault she was trying to score well. I mean we kind of make them act that way."
Her hand settled on his back, her voice dropping. "Don't say those thoughts out loud, Hadrian." Under her hand, his muscles tensed.
Hadrian sent her a surprised look. The sidewalk was swarming with people, it wasn't like anyone was going to hear him.
She leaned her head closer, "You should really visit my uncle someday, you and he would get along so well."
Hadrian tried to not look into her brown eyes. Instead he focused on the flashing faces of tributes on the multi-level screens adorning the tower down the street. "Your Uncle? Plutarch Heavensbee?"
Gemini smiled sweetly, "Yes, I think you and he are kindred spirits." She squeezed his hand. "Lafayette is going to kill me for taking so long. Especially with Maureen and Stella wounding each other."
Hadrian's nose wrinkled, "I feel terribly for Maureen, injured and all. I can't imagine being in that kind of pain." He squeezed Gemini's hand, giving her a shy smile.
Gemini had trouble believing Hadrian was really a fellow Capitolite when he said such humane things. Even her uncle with his own unique tendencies didn't tend to stoop to this level of humanity.
Maureen poured the water over her face, grimacing at the pain. The blood had coagulated, while her face still throbbed. She hoped the chill would dull the constant pressure, make it easier to ignore the ugly wound. Then someone would have pity on her and send some medicine her way.
She stuck her bottle back into the creek, filling it before dropping in more iodine. She took a long drink, her fingers touching her bloodied ear. It ached terribly. The knife had run from her ear, reaching her neck, before she'd managed to jerk completely away. Her eyes could make out the jagged lines on her neck, and she pulled her jacket collar up, willing herself not to see it again.
She ran her left hand over her fingers, feeling the puncture from Stella's teeth. A distant image appeared in her mind, she closed her eyes focusing on the long forgotten screen. It was a woman, some Capitol commentator was joking about killing with your teeth. A picture of a victor, her teeth hideously shaped. Had Stella randomly bitten her, or was it a ploy to garner sponsors? Using the tactics of a past victor wasn't unheard of, in fact Maureen imagined people liked it when you did that.
She laid back on the ground, resting her head on her pack. It had been disappointing to not see Stella's face in the sky tonight. Of course, she had no idea that the girl had a knife when she attacked her. But even the way Stella had held the knife proved she didn't know how to use it. A sense of regret crept into her stomach, it twisted and she bit her lips hard. That girl shouldn't have been able to cut her so bad, she was stronger than this.
Should she hunt Stella down tomorrow morning? Odile's face in the sky had assured her the Careers might lay low, and Marie was neutralized. Adam was still around, but he wouldn't attack her. She jerked as her head dipped, her eyes had closed. She pressed her fingers to the lids, forcing them open. Her head rolled back, and her teeth came down on her tongue. Too hard, she could taste the blood in her mouth. A yawn was working it way's out, Maureen didn't know if she could really force herself to stay awake. Maybe it would be better to let herself sleep, she could decide the next step in the morning. OR when she woke up, whichever came first.
Radiance yawned, trying to force her eyes to stay open. The two girls were taking the night shift, letting the guys rest from their injuries. Glaze had gotten the dart from his arm, but Chelsea announced that they couldn't do anything with Grel. Radiance didn't know anything about first aid, so hadn't argued about it.
"I think we need to move around. We'll just fall asleep sitting here." Chelsea picked up her bow as she spoke.
Radiance nodded, getting up to poke at the fire. She could hear Glaze snoring, and it made her want to crawl into a sleeping bag even more. Staying up all night was not really in her plan when she volunteered.
"So why'd you choose the bow as your weapon? It looks like a kind of annoying thing to cart around, I mean you can't slide it into a handy sheath like my sword." Radiance fiddled with her own sword, bouncing the end on the edge of her boots.
"I kind of like the idea of being able to kill someone at a distance. You know, never having to mess with them up close."
Radiance snorted, "That would have an advantage. I mean, their eyes, it's just." Her voice trailed, as she wasn't sure how to describe what she was feeling.
Chelsea glanced her way, "Why don't you try out my bow? Or have you messed with them before?'
"Oh, I've never messed with a bow, I've only stuck with hand combat stuff." Chelsea handed her the recurve-bow.
"So how much do you know?"
Radiance giggled slightly, "I hold it with this hand," She held it in front of her with her left hand, "And I'm going to pull back with my right?"
"Yep," she placed her hand on top of Radiance's guiding the string back, "You have to nock the arrow, and then pull back as far as you can."
Radiance grimaced as she pulled the string taut, "Is it always this tough?" Her left arm trembled as she struggled to hold the bow taught.
"Sort of." Chelsea placed a hand on her shoulders, "Angle it, and choose your target."
"Ok," Radiance squinted her eyes as she decided on a distant tree.
"When you're ready, go ahead and release on your right hand."
Radiance let go, surprised by how hard it hit her hand. She dropped the bow, holding unto her wrist, "Did you see where it went?" Her voice was sharp, as she assessed her wrist.
Chelsea shrugged, "It is kind of dark. But I think it went over there," She pointed to some shrubs.
"Really? It hardly went anywhere! Man this bow and arrow stuff is stupid."
Chelsea laughed, "It gets easier with more practice. And you have to develop a different set of muscles than sword play calls for. Anyway we can practice more in the morning, after I find my arrow."
Radiance shook her head, "No thanks, I'll stick with hand combat, practicing that would just be a waste of time for me." Not to mention a lot more painful than her trustworthy sword.
Adam tucked his knees under his chin, breathing warm air unto his fingers. A few feet away, Stella lay covered in his jacket. Since he'd run across her, the girl hadn't moved. An occasional moan was it.
Adam had placed her in a more comfortable position, covered her up and waited. Her face was swollen, her eyes a nasty hue of purple. Her own jacket was torn, and one of her shoes had come off. He found the boot had only landed a little ways from her.
He counted on his fingers, trying to learn which district she was from. Not a career. Not the tiny girl from three. Not his district. Was eight still in? Or what about eleven, had she gone at the bloodbath? He wanted to remember her name before she woke up, but that was becoming hopeless. If he knew her district, he just might remember her name.
One thing was sure, he couldn't leave her. Even if his mentor, Bren, was going berserk. She was hurt, and if he didn't stay things wouldn't go well for her when she did wake up.
Copper couldn't help chatting with Bren about Adam. Loki never acknowledged other mentors if they weren't directly involved with his tributes, but Copper's heart tugged whenever she saw a distraught mentor. Too often she was in their shoes, and always hoped her words could soothe their emotions.
"I just don't think he should stay. That girl from Twelve will track Stella down, and Adam's going to be in the middle of it."
"You're sure he will stay?" Copper spoke low, handing him a cup of coffee.
Bren nodded, "That kid is two nice. Once they have a family like he does, tributes are soft. And definitely guys like Adam."
Snider stepped over, "I'm sorry about Maureen. I really don't want her tangling with your tribute, either. When's the last time one of mine killed a five?"
A round of nervous chuckles. Bren lifted his hands, "I know, Snider, I'm not going to blame your district or you. I'm just not used to you having anybody make it past the bloodbath."
Snider clapped him on the shoulder, "Tell me about it, bro. But I wouldn't worry, I don't think we'll have to face Maureen in person again."
Copper hissed at him, "You can't give up like that. I don't think everyone's still blaming twelve, all these years later. Come on, their all dead."
Bren stepped back, "Whoa, I don't want to get in this argument. But Copper, you've got to give Snider a break, his district walks on eggshells."
"Eggshells would have broken a long time ago," A voice calls out from the other side of the lounge.
In an unusual display of frustration, Copper yells back, "I don't give you permission to talk, Annora! This is only between Snider and me."
Snider doesn't want Copper upset with him. He places a hand on her shoulder, "I'm sorry, but you know how Raquel and I feel. It's hard to be hopeful about any of our tributes."
Your thoughts?
