Aigrette Luxor, age 17
District One Female
If it were up to her, Aigrette would have volunteered last year. Jade told her as much.
"I mean," her sister was saying, waving a hand around for emphasis, "those two last year were pathetic."
"Not even reaching the top eight," Aigrette interjected. Jade nodded vigorously in agreement, almost tripping as the two sisters walked to the square for the reaping. Streams of people flooded past them, many staring at Aigrette, the chosen volunteer for the girls. But neither really noticed, too engrossed in their conversation.
"I mean," Aigrette said as a Peacekeeper pricked her finger to sign in, "it's not like I'll just go batshit crazy and kill everyone in sight." She waited until they were out of hearing range of the Peacekeeper before whispering to her sister, "I'm playing these Games on my own terms. I don't care what the Capitol says."
Jade's smile disappeared at that. She pulled Aigrette into a hug, murmuring, "You need to be careful," before heading off to the fifteen year old section. Aigrette frowned and walked into her own section. How did Jade not know that Aigrette would only play by her own rules? After all the times they had talked about it?
It was dangerous, yes. But the Hunger Games as a whole were also dangerous. Either way, the Capitol controlled her life, whether she lived or died.
Eventually, everybody filed into the square, and the reaping crew took the stage. First the mayor gave a speech, wishing the future tributes luck, then introduced all the victors. Once he was finished, the district escort, Aurora, took the microphone. Aigrette smiled.
It was almost time for her to become the first tribute in the 95th Annual Hunger Games.
Theseus Francium, age 18
District One Male
Theseus ran his fingers through his dirty blond waves, while listening to Aurora up on stage. This was his year. The year he would volunteer, the year he would win the Games, the year he would bring honor back to District One. He grinned his famous Theseus Francium grin, the one that made people fall over themselves when they caught sight of it. Beauty might have been a dime a dozen in One, but Theseus knew how to use his.
After all, beauty was a weapon.
An effective one.
If he came across as just another pretty face, then the others would overlook him. And Theseus was fine with that. The more the others underestimated him, the more surprised they would be when he won.
"Let's begin, shall we?" Aurora piped into the microphone. Theseus cleared his mind, focusing on the event at hand. "Ladies first!"
Aurora strutted over to the reaping ball, the sun catching the glimmers of gold and silver in her absurd dress. She plucked out a slip and read the name, "Miss Shine Laurento!"
"I volunteer!" Aigrette pushed her way into the aisle, long black hair swinging, her arm outstretched. She ran up the steps, a triumphant, if a little wild, smile on her face. Theseus knew Aigrette's biggest weakness was her aversion for conforming. He could use it against her if need be.
"Now for the boys!" Aurora announced, crossing the stage for the second time. Theseus tensed. "Our male tribute is Bright Lumiere!"
"I volunteer!" Theseus shouted, strolling up to the stage, smiling. He kept his shoulders back, his chin up. He accepted Aurora's hand up the stairs, and said to her, "You're looking lovely as usual, Aurora."
She blushed. "What a kind young man you are. Here you are District One! Your two tributes, Aigrette Luxor and…"
"Theseus Francium."
Aigrette Luxor, age 17
District One Female
She should have expected it. Theseus trying to win over the escort before they even reached the Capitol. Before people even knew his name. He did not play fair.
Good thing Aigrette wasn't planning on doing so, either.
She looked down at the square as she waited in the Justice Building to say her goodbyes. Younger kids were celebrating being free from another reaping. As if they had to worry about going into the Games in District One. Rarely did the volunteer back out. But it still happened.
The door opened, revealing Jade and their parents. Jade rushed in, hugging Aigrette just as she had before the reaping.
"You better come back," Jade told her jokingly. She pulled back a little so Aigrette could look her in the eyes.
"Don't worry, I will," she promised. And she meant it. She was going to come back. She couldn't leave Jade.
Her mother swept Aigrette up into her arms, her father closing in, too. "We're so proud of you," her father said. "All that hard work at the Academy paid off, huh?" Aigrette just smiled and nodded.
"You need to be careful with Theseus," her mother warned. "You know how he is."
"I know, Mom."
"And be careful in the arena, too," Jade interjected. "You never knew who else you'll be in there with."
"I know. I'll be fine, just you watch," Aigrette told them, rolling her eyes. And she would be fine. She'd be better than fine.
She'd become a victor.
The Peacekeeper opened the door. Their three minutes were up. Aigrette's mother squeezed her one last time. "I love you. We love you. Take care of yourself." And with that, they were gone.
Aigrette just clenched her fists. Why did they tell her to be careful so many times? Of course she would be. She wasn't stupid.
Didn't her family believe in her?
Theseus Francium, age 18
District One Male
Theseus watched the door, waiting for his parents to arrive. He kept thinking about how he acted at the reaping. After all, first impressions were everything. Hopefully, he came across exactly how he wanted. Confident, courteous, but most importantly, the stereotypical pretty boy from District One.
"Theseus."
Theseus turned, and saw his parents standing in the room with him. His father had his arms crossed, and his mother's eyes were bloodshot like she had been crying.
"Oh, my dear boy," his mother said, her voice wavering. "Why do this? You were free after this year."
"The Academy chose me," Theseus said. They had this conversation before, but now it was too late for his mother to try and dissuade him from entering the Games. "And I want to do this. I'm supposed to do this. And I can win. I have training, which is better than most of the other tributes."
"There are other trained tributes," his father pointed out.
"And I can beat them. Trust me."
"We just don't want to lose you," his mother whispered. "We love you."
"I love you too, but I need to do this. You have to trust me," Theseus repeated.
They didn't get the opportunity to answer. The Peacekeeper came in, saying his parents had to leave. Once they did, it didn't take long before someone else hurried into the room and into Theseus's arms.
"Royal," Theseus murmured, bringing his boyfriend closer to him. He knew Royal didn't necessarily approve of the Games, but he supported Theseus in his journey towards them
"You need to win," Royal demanded. "I don't care what you have to do in there. Come back to me. Please."
Theseus placed a gentle hand on the side of Royal's face, angling it upwards. There were tears in Royal's beautiful green eyes. Their lips met.
"I'll come back," Theseus told Royal, then kissed him again. "I love you."
"I love you too." A pause, then, "Promise me you'll win."
"I promise, Royal."
Our first tributes for the 95th Hunger Games! I hope you all liked Aigrette and Theseus. I really enjoyed writing them.
As always, reviews are welcome and appreciated! If you have any criticisms too, feel free to leave them in the reviews. Constructive criticism is always helpful as a writer. :) See you all next time in District Two!
-D9T