Training - Day Two
Adele Sun, District Two
It's still dark as I open my curtains and pick out my training outfit. We don't technically need to go to the training center until 10 am, but Azalea and Tiger Eyes want us to go to the training center for a few hours before breakfast each day so we can get a head start on the other careers. This has been really easy for me since my parents have that same rule at home. I don't know if I'm naturally a morning person, but I'm definitely used to the routine and I'm determined to win. I think anyone can be a morning person if they're determined enough.
I finish getting dressed and take the stairs down to the training center - alone, as usual. I guess Ryker can't be bothered to get up early and even attempt to win. I know that he doesn't want to be a career and he honestly probably doesn't have much of a chance of winning anyway, but wouldn't he want sponsors of his own? Wouldn't he at least want to try to win? This is what I don't get about all these rebels, or the resistance or whatever the hell they call themselves. They don't seem to care about their own lives at all! It's weird and kinda scary. It's like they're all a bunch of brainwashed sheep.
"Hey Adele!" Marina waves at me as I enter the training center.
I guess I'm not the only one who's trying to get a head start here.
"Hey Marina! I didn't know you came here in the morning."
"Today is my first day. Honestly, my mentor is kind of hopeless."
"Wait, really? I thought Aqua was really good. Like she helped a twelve-year-old win the games, right?"
"Yeah, she is really good. And also obsessed with Triton. She's technically my mentor, but she acts like she's Triton's mentor and basically ignores me all the time."
"Damn, that sucks," I say, grabbing my go-to sword from the rack.
"The other mentor, Clifford, has basically become my mentor too. This would be okay, but I don't think he really knows what he's doing. It feels like he just won out of luck."
"Clifford Perch?" I ask, "He literally did. After the feast, there was a tsunami that wiped out all of the tributes except for him and his district partner. Apparently all the other careers were dumbasses that never bothered to use the pool at their training centers, but anyway. His district partner already had this really deep cut on her leg from getting attacked by this other tribute and the salt in the water made it super painful. So this guy literally just swam for a bit until his district partner couldn't take the pain anymore and stopped swimming."
"Wow, okay. I guess it's a good thing I'm doing some extra training."
"Honestly, you'll probably be fine though. You seem really smart and your district partner really doesn't seem to be too bright, does he?"
She laughs, "No, he's not! You should've seen the look on his face when Aqua asked him what his strategy was. He literally thought he could just win by looking good and getting sponsors."
"No way! I knew he was kinda dumb but damn."
"Yeah, and he's like really obsessed with himself! He thinks he's so hot and assumes that I just automatically also think he's so hot. I bet that I could win just by pretending to be in love with him. He would definitely buy it."
"You should! It would be so easy and it would get us tons of sponsors. You know the Capitol loves a good love story - real or fake."
-/-
"How was today's session?" Azalea greets me as I come in.
"It was definitely productive," I say. "I practiced my combat with the sword, knife, and axe. And I think I really got to know the girl from District Four."
"You weren't alone?"
"No, the girl from District Four decided to start practicing in the mornings too. Apparently, her mentor is basically useless, so I decided to give her some pointers. Now she trusts me and I can predict her strategy."
"That's excellent. Wait, why does she think Aqua is useless?"
"No, not Aqua. Aqua decided to focus on Trition, so now Clifford is her mentor."
She makes a face, "Yikes! Don't get too confident, but this girl does not stand a chance!"
"She really doesn't. You know, I think I'm the only one who is actually completely focused on winning. Silver and Gold are obsessed with each other. Triton's obsessed with himself. And Marina says she hates Triton, but she obviously has feelings for him. Once one half of each couple is gone, the remaining two will be useless. I bet they won't even want to win after that."
"That's great! I love to hear that! But remember, you cannot get cocky. Use these weaknesses against them, but never underestimate them. They may be unfocused, but they are still highly skilled trained careers."
-/-
Mercedes Wagner, District Eight
"Hey!" I wave at Savannah and Dennis as they come in.
"Hey, how's it going?" Savannah says.
"Great! I just figured out how to use the spear and the axe. Here, wanna try?" I hand her my spear.
"Sure! Do you guys already know how to use any other weapons?"
"No, the peacekeepers in District Eight are really strict about training. You can get whipped for it in the town square if they catch you training illegally."
"I've never trained either." Dennis says, "Our mayor doesn't really care if we train, but I don't really stand much of a chance of winning either way since I'm an uncoordinated tribute from District Thirteen."
"Well, now's the perfect time to learn. C'mon, let's go learn how to throw knives!" I say, directing him over to the knife-throwing station.
He shrugs, "Okay, but I probably won't be any good."
"Maybe, but there's probably something you're good at."
"True. Where is everyone else?"
"I have no idea. I told everyone to come early so we could practise without the careers showing up."
"Hey guys!" Alvena walks in just as I finish talking.
"Hey Alvena!" Savannah says.
"Sorry I'm late! My mentor wanted to talk about strategies over breakfast."
I shrug, "It's cool! We still have like a half-hour before everyone else gets here."
"Do you know how to use any weapons?" Savannah asks.
"I've used guns and flamethrowers before, but I don't think they'll have those in the arena."
"It would be cool if they did though!" Dennis says.
Savannah rolls her eyes, but Dennis continues. "Seriously though, imagine pointing a flamethrower at the careers and just destroying them. Or maybe just destroying all their food and supplies. Maybe I'd actually stand a chance."
"Flamethrowers are actually kind of hard to use though!" Alvena says, "You have to aim carefully. Otherwise, you can set a whole village on fire. Especially with how the houses are made in District Eleven. You can also set your clothing on fire."
"Oh, nevermind. I think I'll stick with the knives." Dennis says.
"That's probably a good plan." Savannah chuckles.
I glance at my watch.
'Where the hell is Zap?" I ask.
"Maybe he forgot to set an alarm," Dennis suggests.
"That sounds like something he would do." Savannah agrees.
"True!" I agree, "He better hurry up though because we only have fifteen minutes left until the careers show up."
"Hey, do you guys wanna do one of those arena simulations for our last fifteen minutes?" Alvena suggests.
"Yeah! Let's do it!" I agree.
"Hey guys! What's up?" Zap casually appears in the doorway.
"Where were you?" I ask.
"Did you forget to set an alarm?" Dennis asks.
"Nah, I was never planning on setting one in the first place," he says.
Alvena frowns. "Then why did you agree to meet us here early?"
He shrugs, "I dunno. Mercedes and Savannah seemed to be all on me about being a team player and shit."
"I mean, not really seeing as we couldn't convince you to actually show up," I say.
"Why would I need to? I've got this." he insists.
"That's what lots of tributes say!" Savannah argues, "But guess what happens to most of them? They get killed by some mutation created by the gamemakers."
Zap rolls his eyes, "Are you guys forgetting that my dad's a victor? He forced me to train every single day for the past twelve years of my life. I've got this, alright?"
"Whatever, just make sure you come to the meeting after supper. It's on Floor 13." I remind him.
"Yeah, okay. I'll be there."
A/N: Sorry for the long wait between updates! I was honestly just having a really hard time finding inspiration to write for the past little while, so I took a break for a bit.
I hope you liked this chapter! What did you think of these tributes? What do you think of the career and rebel alliances so far?