District 4 Pre-Reapings
Chris Jones, 17, District 4
"Chris, are you okay? Do you want to go home? I think we can probably find a way to sneak out of here if you want..."
The sound of his girlfriend's concerned whispers shake Chris out of his trance as he returns his attention to Ariel, who's seated beside him. She looks beautiful tonight, with her long curls cascading over one shoulder. He's immensely grateful that Ariel is here with him, unsure that he could make it through the rest of the evening on his own. At least not with his parents breathing down his neck like this.
Chris squeezes her hand beneath the table, reassuring her as best he can, although his focus remains elsewhere. The night before the reaping was always particularly brutal for him, dredging up a number of painful, unfortunate memories.
It was strange to think that just a few years ago he would have done anything to be District 4's tribute. Now, his looming selection as this year's tribute was anything but voluntary. Looking around the training facility where his parent's annual banquet for the selected tributes had been set up, Chris cannot help but be pulled back to the 96th games.
He had been all of 14 years old at the training center's annual banquet, watching with wide-eyed awe as his older sister, Diana, had been selected as District 4's tribute, representing her district with unmatched pride. Diana had been a favorite to win the games, but a brutal battle between her and the boy from nine left both of them for dead, as a little girl from 11 somehow managed to emerge as victor.
It felt like a sick fluke, but nothing could ever change the fact that his sister was gone forever.
Diana's death had shattered his faith, but the early demise of his dear friend Ripple, just a year later, cemented his hatred for the games permanently.
Chris's parents, however, remained unshaken by every agonizing loss, desperate to reclaim victory for District 4. After all, the lack of recent District 4 victors certainly did not reflect well upon the Jones's training center. Chris's parents were willing to do whatever it took to achieve a win, even if it meant sacrificing every single one of their children in the process.
As if out of nowhere, the sound of clinking glasses fills the air as Chris's father calls for toast. A hollow pit forms in Chris's stomach as his father begins to speak about the "honor" and "valor" of the games and how proud he is of Chris and Adria for proving themselves as District 4's best and brightest.
It was the sheer hypocrisy of it all that sickened Chris. His father knew nothing of the pride or valor he spoke so passionately about. There was no honor in threatening Chris's life, just as there was even less honor in threatening Ariel's life, after Chris expressed his unwillingness to volunteer and throw his entire life away for a loose chance at perceived glory.
Now, here Chris was, backed into a corner with no way out. Perhaps, Chris had to volunteer tomorrow, but he surely didn't have to sit around and listen to his father spin grandiose lies about the games and glory. Leaning over to Ariel, Chris makes defiant eye contact with his father, who continues on with his speech unperturbed.
"Let's get out of here," Chris whispers lowly, "If tonight is our last night together, I'm not wasting it here."
Ariel seemingly perks up in response, nodding to herself as though she was already formulating an escape plan in her head. Chris watches her carefully, as suddenly she bursts into a loud coughing fit cutting off Chris's father entirely.
Stumbling away from the table, Ariel hoarsely croaks out, "I think I need fresh air."
To which Chris naturally adds, "I should probably take her home...I think the shrimp might have been bad."
Barely able to contain their collective glee, the pair rushes out of the training facility, breaking out into wild laughter the moment they're out of earshot. Linking fingers, Chris can't help but smile to himself as they stroll down the empty streets. For the first time all evening, Chris feels at peace.
If only he could stay in this moment forever.
If only he had a choice.
Adria Hawkins, 18, District 4
"Don't you look lovely tonight, Adria."
"Thank you very much, Pearl," Adria replies politely, recalling her mother's insistence to be on her best behavior tonight. Chris's dramatic exit from earlier in the evening meant that all the attention was suddenly focused entirely on her...not that Adria really minded that aspect of things.
And though she lavished in all the praise, all the compliments in the world couldn't quell her burgeoning restlessness. Normally, she, too, would have abandoned such a dull banquet by now, but even Adria supposed it wouldn't be a bad thing to remain on her trainer's good side, especially when her trainer's son would be volunteering alongside her.
"Between you and Chris, we're sure to have a winner this year," Adria's mother, Pelagia chimes in excitedly. The daughter of a Capitolite, Pelagia had always been a fanatic for the games, a trait Adria eventually developed for herself.
While her mother's love for the games was borne out of loyalty to the Capitol, the games had always been a sort of thrill fulfillment for Adria, as there was nothing she dreaded more than an ordinary life.
If not for the Games, she might have been doomed to the painfully average days of a fish farmer or worse, a professor like her mother. If Adria was sure of anything it was that she would much rather die in the Hunger Games than live on knowing the opportunity for glory and greatness had slipped through her grasp like a slick slab of cod.
"A shame Frederick couldn't join us tonight," says Pearl, turning to Pelagia, "I'm sure he is very proud of Adria, just as we all are."
"Well, I can say with certainty that Frederick is absolutely thrilled about Adria's selection," Pelagia replies, clapping her hands together. "Of course, we wouldn't be here without you and your years of training and support."
Pearl smiles, apparently pleased with this response as the two mothers go on to excitedly exchange recent rumors about Domitia Stone's rumored relationship with President Bird, all while Adria considers doubling down on Chris and Ariel's "bad shrimp" excuse to exit the banquet.
In times like these, Adria longed for her father who was currently away at sea. He was the kindest, most exciting man she knew and Adria was positive he could have turned this dry affair into a lively event with ease. Despite his quiet reservations about her volunteering, Adria could always count on him for support, wherever her taste for adventure took her.
Out of the corner of her eye, Adria spots her younger brother fiddling around with a training sword, loudly announcing her intentions to go check up on him before slipping out of the training facility, altogether. Surprisingly, just beyond the door, Adria finds herself face-to-face with her older sister Nerissa, who appears to be pacing around the building waiting for her arrival.
"Took you long enough to get out of there," Nerissa teases lightly, shaking her head.
"You realize that would have been you two years ago, if not for your last-minute rafting concussion," Adria replies, with a grin, "They had to pick fuckin' Ripple to replace you and we all saw how that turned out..."
Nerissa shrugs sheepishly, "I guess you were just smart enough to avoid all rafts right before the reapings. Now, we just have to hope you're smart enough to make it all the way through the games."
"I really do feel good about everything, Rissa."
"Well, however you feel, just do what I never could and bring it back home for District 4. We need to remind Panem that we're just as capable as those hacks from One and Two," Nerissa replies, "But most importantly, have fun while you're at it, okay? All these people just take the games far too seriously...nobody wants to watch that. Grandma says they're boring tv."
Adria nods, the feeling of adrenaline rushing through her veins in sheer anticipation for she knows is about to come. Boring wasn't in Adria's vocabulary and there was no reason to add it in now.
"You're right. I think it's high time I bring that win home for Four. Besides, what's a win without a little fun?"
A/N: So we finally got back to D4! A big thank you to averyrandomauthor for Chris and to SchroedingersKneazle for Adria. I really enjoyed delving into the interconnectedness of these tributes and exploring their contrasting outlooks on life, so I'm excited to hear what you think of them. After this, I will return back to numerical order, with District 8 up next! -Anya