Paradise: The 72nd Hunger Games
Chapter Twenty
Districts 1, 3, 9, 10, & 12 Justice Building Scenes
A/N: While I was writing this, I got a review from Persephone Fae. All I can say is… big lesbian energy… you'll like this. Also, I haven't got to do any happy crush scenes with anyone this year, so pardon me for that, I know it might not be exactly what was envisioned, but I like doing at least one a year. Besides, a lover is the best motivation…
Aislie Dellarouse –18- -D1- POV
I sit alone in the Justice Building until the Peacekeepers come to fetch me. Everyone already knows that I'm volunteering. No one needs to come see me. And they don't.
Blaze Herrscher –18- -D1- POV
I assume that I'm going to be alone in the Justice Building, so I'm surprised when the door opens and Glory walks in.
"Hey," I say. "What'cha doing here?"
"I just wanted to see you again," she says. She comes over to me and hugs me. "Promise me you'll come back. For me."
"Of I course I will, Glory," I say, hugging her back. "What's this about? You alright?"
"I'm fine," she says. "Just worried about you. And just… take this," she hands me a folded piece of paper, "and read it once you're on the train. Okay? Promise me you'll read it."
"Of course," I say. "Why, Glory? What's going on?"
"Just…" she pauses, then pulls away from me. She stands on her toes and – leans forward and kisses me. Then she turns and leaves the building, almost running. She's out of the room before I even had time to process what happened. I debate whether or not to open the note now. I'm confused as heck, but if I open it now, when Glory told me not to, and she finds out… or maybe it's something I can't read here. I better wait. I tuck the note in my pocket and wait. A few minutes later, the Peacekeepers come to take me away.
Valencia Bisset –16- -D3- POV
I'm taken into the Justice Building, and almost immediately, my parents come rushing in.
"Oh my goodness, honey! How could this happen!" Mom shouts. She runs over to me and hugs me, tears in her eyes. "At least you've been training… you'll do your best to survive, won't you? Survive and come home?"
"Of course," I say. "Of course I will. Don't worry."
Dad comes and, amazingly, hugs me too. "I love you, Valencia. You're strong and you're smart. You can win these Games. You need to win these Games, okay?"
"Of course, Dad," I say. "I'll do my best."
"That's all I can ask," he says. "Thank you."
Both of them pull away from me. Mom looks at me, tears still in her eyes. "Just one thing. The girl you volunteered for… why?"
I swallow hard. This hasn't exactly ever come up and is not the way I thought it would. "I… I… I have a crush on her. I like girls." I blurt those two sentences out so quickly that I'm worried they might not understand.
Mom and Dad share a look and smile. Mom's smile is weak but earnest. "We always suspected you did, honey," she says. "We're just happy you told us. This isn't exactly the way we hoped you'd tell us, but… we're glad you did."
"You're… not angry?" I ask.
"No, of course not," Mom says. "Why would we be? Love is a beautiful thing, no matter who it's between."
"Thanks," I say. I hug both of them again. "You guys don't have to leave, do you?"
Mom and Dad pull away and again share a look. Mom gives a coy smile. "No, we don't. But that girl – Eris, she's here for you. You probably owe her an explanation before you leave."
"Oh, right," I say, suddenly feeling very nervous about something that's not the Hunger Games. "I guess so."
"Oh, don't worry, dear," Mom says. "I have a feeling it'll turn out alright. We love you. Just come back alive, okay?"
"I'll do my best," I say.
"Good," she says. Then, her and Dad leave the room. Eris walks in and I feel my heart rate increase.
"Hey, Valencia," she says. She knows my name? Oh, wait, I shouted it out to everyone. Right, okay. Wait… she knew it before I did that. At the Reaping, she caught my arm… And she's in tears now. I walk over to her and hug her. She looks sad and I can't bear to see her like that. So I hug her, rubbing her back softly.
"It'll be alright," I say. "It's over. You're going to be okay."
"But… you won't," she says through tears. "And…" she sniffles, pulling her head away from me, but keeping her arms wrapped around my back. She takes a deep breath. "That's almost worse."
"What?" I ask. "Why? You don't know me. We're not friends, we're not… anything. We're just… you're just… you know me. And I… I have feelings for you, because I watch you and I know you and I love you and – crap. But you don't know me is what I mean."
"You love me?" She asks, evidently surprised, but with another emotion that I haven't seen before and can't read.
"Uh… yes?" I say, blushing. "I mean, uh, I'm sure you don't feel that way, I'm sure you don't even like girls, but…" she kisses me. Deeply. After my brain recovers from the original shock, I kiss her back. I kiss her like there's no tomorrow, because, for us, there might not be. When she pulls away, I'm crying now too. At the thought of losing her because of my death. And of my death, but more at the thought of losing her. "What?" I ask her through tears. "You…"
"Shh," she puts a finger to my lips, moving her hand off my back. Her blue eyes glimmer. "Have you ever noticed I never had a boyfriend?"
"Uh… no?" Her finger is still over my lips, making talking hard.
"Or that I was flirting with you?"
"What?" I ask, utterly surprised.
"You really are clueless, aren't you? All those times I bumped into you in the hallway weren't on accident, Valencia. They were because I liked you and wanted to start a conversation. You never did though, you were always so nervous. It was actually sort of cute. Just like you, most of the time. But anyway, clearly you weren't watching me for that brief period of time I dated Katie –,"
"You dated Katie?" I ask, shocked. "Your best friend?"
"Yeah," she says. "Just for a little bit. Since we were such good friends and she wanted to try out girls, since… well, it's not my story to tell," she giggles a bit, evidently recalling a good memory, then focuses back on me. "But anyway, yes, I like girls. And I like you. A lot."
"I… don't know what to say, Eris," I say. "I just… I volunteered because I wanted to save your life. I couldn't bear to see you die. I didn't think you'd care about me nearly that much, although I hoped that I'd be able to tell you how I felt before I left, I didn't think you'd feel the same way. But… now I guess I know why I'll be coming home. You and my parents, of course."
She smiles. "You better come home. You're the first person I've kissed. And I'd like to do it again."
"Wait, really?" I ask. "It didn't seem like that was your first kiss."
"I guess I'm just naturally talented," she jokes. "But there's not a lot of lesbian girls in District Three, in case you haven't noticed."
"I only need one," I smile and kiss her again. It's another long kiss that lasts not nearly long enough. We're interrupted by a Peacekeeper who sounds genuinely apologetic. "I'm sorry, Miss Bisset, but your time is up. We have to take you to the train now."
"Oh. Okay," I say, pulling away from Eris.
"Wait. Just one more second," Eris says. The Peacekeeper, who had stepped to my side, nods. "Here," she takes off a small bracelet. "Take this." It has three threads. One blue, one gold, and one blue again. She blushes as she hands it to me. "I had this made to give you, one day. It's our eyes. The colors. Your eyes are so beautiful, I know that it's weird, but I just had to. I know you're not a material sort of girl, but… please, take it. For me."
"Of course," I say. "Thank you." I put the bracelet on. "I value it more than anything I own. It's beautiful, just like you."
She blushes and gives me a quick peck. "Okay. We shouldn't keep them waiting any longer. I love you, Valencia."
"I love you too, Eris," I say. She turns and leaves. Watching her walk away, my heart almost breaks. But no. I will come back. For her. I love her. I can't not be with her. I will do my best and I will come back to her. As I follow the Peacekeeper out of the room, he whispers to me.
"You remind me of me and my husband when we were young. I… I'm sorry," he says.
"It's not your fault," I say. "But thank you."
"Yes, but… I still do their bidding… oh, never mind. But I am sorry. And this conversation never happened, okay?"
"Of course."
Mouse "Mo" Conen –18- -D3- POV
I don't expect any visitors, so I'm mildly surprised when my estranged sister comes in. I guess I shouldn't be. After all, she did try to reconnect with me after I killed Father, but I couldn't forgive her for leaving me with him. Maybe now is the time for forgiveness.
"Mouse?" She asks. "I know you don't want to see me, and I know that nothing I can say will make you forgive me, but… I just wanted to say that I always love you and… I am sorry. Truly sorry." She steps forward. "Please, Mouse. Please forgive me."
"I –," I start.
"Wait!" She gasps. "Is that Mom's?" Dayta points to my pendant, Mom's pendant, really. It's a golden chain with a rose on the end. She steps forward and grabs it. "How did you get this?"
"I… found it," I say.
"Why do you…" her expression turns to anger. "Did you take this from her?"
"No," I say. "I took it from the fire after I killed Dad."
"You… you killed him?" She looks shocked.
"Of course. How do you think that fire was started?" I ask.
"But… but… you're not fit to have her pendant!" She yanks at the chain, trying to pull it off my neck. No one can take my pendant. It's my most important thing. It's the only thing I have left of Mom. No one can take it. Not even Dayta. Within a second, I have my knife, the one that I always carry, out and in her stomach. She gasps, her hands clutching the bloody wound in her stomach. "Mouse?" She croaks as she falls backward.
"Sorry, sis, but no one can have this. It's mine," I say as I tuck the pendant under my shirt. Peacekeepers rush in from behind me.
"On your knees! Hands behind your head! Drop the weapon! Drop the weapon!"
"We need a medic in here, now!" I feel a rifle butt on the back of my head and realize I have no choice but to comply. I drop the knife and clasp my hands behind my head, dropping to my knees. I feel a pair of handcuffs clasp around my wrists and I'm yanked sharply upwards.
"Next time, frisk the kid, darn it! Frisk the f-g kid! Who didn't frisk the kid? The President will hear about this!"
"I don't think that's a good idea, Sir. He'll blame it on you."
"On second thought, we'll leave that out of the report." I'm turned around and marched towards the back door. I hear more voices behind me.
"Will she live?"
"She should, as long as we get her treatment at the hospital now."
"Let's go, then. Does she have any family?"
"You're looking at him."
"The kid's crazy, isn't he?"
"You're asking me?"
Alita Whicker –17- -D9- POV
I'm marched into the Justice Building not long before my family comes in. My parents immediately rush to me.
"Oh my goodness, Alita!" Mom shouts. She hugs me and so does Dad. They're both crying.
"How could this happen to my beautiful daughter?" Dad asks.
"I'm sure it was rigged," I say. "Because of all the anti-Capitol protesting I do."
"We can assure you that the Reaping was not rigged, but any more talk of this will get your time cut short," a Peacekeeper says from behind me.
"I–," I start.
"Don't, honey," Mom says. "Don't, please."
I sigh. "Okay. I love you, Mom, Dad, Farr, Shay. I love you all. I will do my best to come back and you guys shouldn't worry about me if I die. Which, unfortunately, is likely, because this whole system is rigged and you all know it. We need to do something about this and –,"
"Okay, that's enough," the Peacekeeper says. "Everyone out. Miss Whicker, please come with me peacefully or I will be forced to tranquilize you. And trust me, none of us wants that." My family hesitates, but he raises his rifle pointedly and they leave. I sigh and turn towards him. "Do you know that you're working for an oppressive regime?"
"Maybe," he says, gesturing for me to walk in front of him, out of the room, which I do. "But you see, Miss Whicker, I am the one who is the oppressor, so it all works out for me."
"Unless someone rebels and you get killed fighting them," I say.
"I guess. But that's not going to happen. Unless you're planning a rebellion, Miss Whicker?"
"No, of course not," I say. "But still, don't you think that our government is fundamentally flawed?"
"There are some issues," he agrees, "but none of us can change them, and they're not that bad."
"What would you say are the flaws?" I ask, curious about a Peacekeeper who would admit that Panem is flawed.
"I can tell this is going to be a fun train ride," he says. "For starters, the mayors…"
Toby Green –17- -D9- POV
I arrive in the Justice Building seconds before my entire family – including Lola. My parents are the first to hug me.
"We love you," Mom says. "We love you so much. Please, promise us that you'll come back."
"Of course I will," I say.
"Just stay low. Don't ally up, just be by yourself, make a camp, hide your fires though, and set traps, and just wait. Wait for the others to die, wait until the finale before you kill. Okay?" Dad asks.
"Of course," I say. Next is Dennis and Sam. Dennis has Elsa Junior (named after my mother) on his shoulder and Sam has Nova walking by her side.
"Toby… I'm so sorry. I wish that I could have volunteered for you. I would have," Dennis says.
"Thanks," I say.
"I know I'm not exactly family, Toby, but I wanted to say that I'm still sorry for you and I want you to come back. I know that you'll make an excellent uncle to Nova and Elsa. You already are and I want you to continue to be."
"Thanks, Sam," I say. "And we are family." I give her a quick hug, which she returns.
Chelsea and Kieran are next. Chelsea gives me a hug, crying. "Please, come back, Toby. I wanted you to be here when our son was born."
"I'll do my best, Chels," I say.
"And if you don't make it back, I think we'll name him Toby," she says. "But please, come back."
"Thanks, Chelsea," I say. "Like I said, I'll do my best."
She smiles, her demeanor changing. "That's always my little brother. I'm sure you will."
"Good luck, Toby," Kieran says. He offers me his fist and I bump it.
Then Molly comes up to me. She hugs me softly. "I love you," she whispers before pulling away.
Thomas does the same, a hug and an, "I love you."
Then Elspeth. "I'm sorry, Toby. I could've volunteered. I should've."
"Would've, could've, should've," I say jokingly. "It's alright, Elspeth. It doesn't make it better for anyone else if it's me versus if it's you."
"I guess," he says. "Still, I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it," I say. "Love you, bro."
"Love you too," he says.
Kitty comes up last. "I'm sorry, Toby. Come back, okay?"
I kneel down to her and hug her. "Of course, Kit. I'll do my best just for you, I promise."
"Good," she says. "I love you, Toby."
"I love you too, Kit," I say, then stand up. Mom looks up from Kit and then sighs.
"Well, I suppose that we should be going. We'll leave you and Lola alone. I… we all love you, honey. Come back to us," she says.
"I will, Mom," I say with a smile. She gives me a weak smile in return and then leads my family out of the building. I turn to Lola, who rushes over to me and hugs me.
"Oh my goodness," she says, burying her head in my shoulder. "I almost couldn't take it. I'm so sorry, Toby. I'm so sorry. I love you."
"Hey," I say, gently stroking her hair. "It'll be alright. And it's not your fault. You didn't draw my name out of that bowl. And I love you too, Lola. More than anything."
She sniffles and looks up at me. "More than anything?"
"More than anything," I repeat. "You, Lola, are my past, my present, and my future." And it's true. We've been together since we were both fourteen. She's the only girl I've ever dated, the only girl I've ever kissed, the only girl I've ever done anything with. And she is the love of my life. She is the reason I will come home and she is the light of my life, the reason I get out of bed every day. I love her. And then I realize that I should say that to her. "Lola, just, listen… please. I love you. You are the only girl I've ever been with, the only girl I'll ever be with. You are the reason that I get out of bed in the morning and the reason that I will come home from the Hunger Games. Okay? I love you. You, Lola Marie Avery, are the love of my life."
She smiles. "That was… beautiful. Thank you, Toby. And you… you are the love of my life. Come back to me, please?"
"Of course," I say. "Anything for you." And then I give her a long kiss. A kiss that tells her that although I'll do my best to come back for her, that I will fight, and I will kill for her, it might not be up to me. When we part, I say again, "I love you. More than anything."
She smiles softly, then takes the chain of her necklace in her hand, undoes the clasp, and hands it to me. "Take this," she says.
"But… Lola. It's your grandmother's locket," I say, shocked at the gift.
"Yes, yes it is. I expect it back. Just… I want something to remind you of me in there, okay?"
I nod. "Of course, Lola. I love you."
"You've said that a lot," she notes.
"I know, but… it's true and I can't think of anything that I feel more right now," I reply.
"That's good," she says. "I… I love you too. I wish you didn't have to go, I wish…" she starts to cry softly again.
"Hey, no. It's alright," I say.
"No, no, I'm fine," she says, straightening up. "I love you, Toby Green. You are the most important person in my life and I expect you back soon. Okay?"
"Okay," I say.
"Time's up," a Peacekeeper says from behind us. I nod.
"I love you, Lola," I say. Then I kiss her one last time before I'm lead away to the train.
Freya Huede Swindlehurst –15- -D10- POV
My family enters the room in the Justice Building immediately.
"Freya!" My father shouts. He comes over and hugs me, with Mom not far behind. "How could this happen?" He asks.
"Well," I begin, "with a base chance of four at fifteen years old, not taking any Tesserae –,"
Dad laughs, despite the situation. "That was a rhetorical question, Freya."
"I know," I say. "I was just teasing."
"That's what I love about you," Dad ruffles my hair. "So smart. And a good sense of humor too."
My mother smiles. "I love everything about you, Freya." She hugs me. "You'll do well in the Games. You have a good head on your shoulders. Just make sure to make some allies. I know you don't like talking to people, but I think you'll have to if you want to win these Games, okay?" I nod.
"Of course, Mom. I had already reached that conclusion myself," I state. "The good news is that that boy, Rudolf, the Male Tribute, I sort of know him already. Maybe we can become allies. That will give me one out of the gate already."
"Wonderful," Mom says. "I love you, honey."
"Me too," Dad says.
"I love you both," I say. They step back, and my siblings step forward.
Sedge speaks first. "I'm sorry Freya. I love you." He comes forward and hugs me. When he lets me go, he says, "Now, I think that you need to get both a short-range and long-range weapon. You don't want to be at a disadvantage to someone with a bow, but you don't want to not have a melee weapon either."
I nod. "Good thinking, Sedge. I'll make sure to take that under advisement during training."
"Outstanding," he says.
Merino is next, depressed from his usual energetic self. He comes up to me and hugs me. "I love you, Freya," he says.
"I love you too, Merino," I say to him. "Don't worry. I'll do my best to come back."
"I know," he says. "I hope I'll see you soon." I just nod, tears forming in my eyes. Kit comes up to me. Kit, the little girl who always wanted to be just like me. She has tears in her own eyes and is sniffling as she hugs me, her little head hitting my stomach again.
"Don't die, Freya. Please," she says. "Pretty please?"
I kneel down to her eye level. "Kit," I say, "I promise that I will do everything in my power to make it home to you."
"Are you sure?" She asks.
"Of course," I say. "Because I love you, little Kit."
"Good," she says. She gives me a big hug and I return it, picking her up and off her feet. When I set her down, Mom sighs.
"We should be leaving," she says. "We love you, Freya."
I nod. "I love all of you guys too." Then they leave and I'm alone until the Peacekeepers come to take me. As I walk to the train station, I think of what I said to Kit. That I would do everything in my power to make it home to her. But is that true? Would I kill for her? Would I kill Rudolf for her?
Rudolf Urs Huber –16- -D10- POV
My family walks in after a minute of me sitting alone.
"Rudolf," my father says. "You had better win those Games and share that money with us or else. Got that?"
"Yes, Father," I say, not bothering to note that if I win the Hunger Games, he would probably not be an obstacle to me doing whatever the heck I wanted. Not to mention all the Peacekeepers that would protect me if he tried anything. Father strides out of the room, but even though Father leaves, Orford and Nox stay.
"I'm sorry about this," Orford says. "I wish that I could have volunteered, but…" I nod.
"I get it, Orford. And it's not your fault. Thank you," I say.
"I… I wish there was something I could have done too," Nox says.
"Thanks," I say and leave it there. Nox, despite being younger, probably stands a better chance in the Games than I do, being bigger and stronger. Oh well, he doesn't see it that way and was too stunned anyway. I don't blame him for not risking his life for me.
"I love you, Rudolf," Orford says. "Just promise me one thing."
"What's that?" I ask.
"That if you win, you'll take us with you. Off the farm, to a nice house with you in Victor's village. Away from Father. Please," he says.
I nod. "Of course, Orford. You want in, Nox?"
Nox nods. "I know I may have it the best of you, but it's still not fun, and I hate the way he treats you two."
"Okay then," I say. "When I come back, I'll take both of you with me to the Victor's Village. I'm sure that Father won't be a threat to us there."
Orford nods. "Thanks, Rudolf. I love you."
"I love you too," Nox says.
"I love you guys," I say. They come forward and we share a group hug before they let go.
"I guess we should be going," Orford says. Nox nods, and they turn to leave the room.
"Bye," I call out after them, and then, they're gone. Soon, a Peacekeeper comes to escort me to the train. At least Freya is my District Partner. I'll have to ask her to be allies. I just hope she'll say yes.
Everest "Eve" Asher –12- -D12- POV
My friends and brothers burst into the Justice Building all at once.
Timmy, Arlo, and Petey all come up to me quickly. Arlo and Petey are crying, and Timmy is teetering on that ledge. I hug the three of them. "I love you all," I say. "And I'll do my best come back to you, I promise."
As I hold them, Beverly speaks. "I'm sorry, Eve. I… we…" she gestures to herself, Eisha, and Jonnie, "should have-"
"No," I say. "Stow that crap, Bev. Any of you. None of you are more prepared than I am for the Games. None of you should feel bad, you did the right thing. I just want one thing from all of you."
"What's that?" Jonnie, my closest friend, asks.
"Take care of each other, okay?" I ask. "And especially these three," I gesture to my brothers.
"Of course," she replies. "We're so sorry, Eve."
"It's not your fault," I state. "Don't feel bad. Besides, there's a chance that I might make it back."
"Right," Milo, my other best friend, says. "You know, Eve, I dare you to win the Hunger Games."
"You know I can never say no to a dare then," I joke. "I guess that means I'll just have to win. Darn it, I was planning on just losing, you know. Taking the easy route."
My friends laugh. "Good to see you can still have a sense of humor," Jonnie says. Then she comes forward and hugs me. Soon, the rest of my friends join in, until it's one big group hug. Eventually they let go.
"You should find some allies," Ivy tells me once we've all separated.
"Yeah," Tyrone agrees. "And you should make sure to get some throwing knives as well as a dagger or something. You don't want to be caught unawares."
I nod. "Thanks, guys."
"And make sure, whatever you do," Eisha adds, "to get out of the Bloodbath as soon as possible."
"Of course," I say.
"Your time is up," a Peacekeeper says from behind us. I guess we must have hugged longer than I thought.
"I love you, Eve," Timmy says. "Like they said, make allies, but… do what you need to."
I nod. "I love you too, Timmy."
"I love you, Eve," Arlo says. Amazing. He normally never talks unless he needs to. I'm still holding him, but I squeeze him a little tighter.
"I love you too, Arlo," I say.
Petey sniffles. "Come back, Evie, okay?"
"Of course," I say. "I love you, Petey."
"I love you too, Evie," he says.
"You really need to be leaving," the Peacekeeper says.
"Okay, okay," Ivy, always the rebellious one, says, raising her hands. "We're going. We'll see you when you get back, Eve."
"See you," I say. Then they're gone and I'm lead to the train.
Heller Horvath –14- -D12- POV
I don't know if expect anyone to come in the Justice Building or not, but no one does. Until someone does. Astrid walks in.
"It finally happened. You finally got Reaped, you brat," she says. "Finally, I get to get rid of you."
"Yup," I say. "Finally I get to not be around you."
"You were a curse from the day you were born," she says. "I'm glad to have you gone." Then she leaves, and no one else comes until the Peacekeepers come to take me away and onto the train.
Peter Mallard, Head Gamemaker, was awoken from a sound slumber by the sound of his phone ringing at some time long past midnight. It had been a busy day for him, what with watching the Reapings, supervising the finishing touches on the shark mutts, and then overseeing the arrival of the Tributes at the Capitol. He had passed out in his bed at eleven PM that night, hoping to get nine hours of undisturbed rest. That dream was dashed when the phone rang at what a glance at the clock revealed to be one thirty five in the morning. With a groan, he picked up the phone.
"Yes?" He asked irritably.
"Mr. Mallard," the voice of President Snow came through the line and Mallard immediately realized his mistake.
"My apologies, Sir. I didn't realize it was you. What can I do for you?" He asked.
"My daughter has some ideas for this Games that I would like you to incorporate," the President responded. Mallard sighed internally, barely suppressing the sound from escaping his lips. Lucy Snow had had plenty of ideas before, and most of them were bad ideas that wasted his time and he would later have to make up excuses to not implement. Or, at least, that's what he had heard from previous Gamemakers, and although he hadn't had the pleasure of dealing with the President's daughter himself, he did not relish the thought.
Nevertheless, he replied, "What are they, Sir?"
President Snow told him. And the more he listened, the more interested he became, and the more and more awake his tired mind grew. Finally, after the call was over, he couldn't go to sleep, and so grabbed his tablet from his nightstand and began to sketch out how he could implement some of Lucy's delightful ideas. Not all of them in this Games, perhaps. Some of them, yes. Some of them required more time than he had available, and the President seemed to recognize this. But some of them could be done as soon as he got up in the morning. With what might be described as an evil grin as he sketched something on his tablet, he muttered, "This is going to be good. Not for the Tributes, of course. But for the entertainment value… yes, the entertainment value…" For Lucy had told him how to execute the twist in the Games that he had been struggling with. And for that, he would be ever grateful to the President's daughter.
A/N: Well, well, well. Next up is train rides, then chariot rides (prepare for the assault of the horrible outfits!), then training, then interviews, then… the Games will begin! So, what does everyone think? Are you all ready for the Games? And May the Odds be Ever In Your Favor! –JStar14H