Azzura Selene (District 1 Escort)
I don't think I have ever been this nervous in my entire life.
I don't know how that's possible. I thought I had reached peak nervousness a few months back when I was waiting to see if I would be assigned to a district this year. And if I was, which one. But apparently, there is a whole level above my previous peak, and I'm on it.
First, it took my team three hours to do my hair and makeup, a process that on a bad day should take between forty-five minutes and an hour. Because I had to keep running out of the room to throw up every ten minutes.
Then I threw a cup of hot coffee at poor Dahlia's head, though that really was more her fault than it was mine. She was the one who handed it to me even though I was shaking harder than a bartender mixing a cocktail.
And then, to top it all off, I tripped over my own feet as I was getting off the train and destroyed my dress. This is why I'm wearing this sunburst studded monstrosity instead of the breathtaking little cream-colored number I spent a small fortune to buy for my first reaping.
I'm not sure how things could get any worse.
"If it's any consolation, I think you look even better in your backup dress than you did in your original one. The turquoise sunbursts contrast very prettily with the gold in your eyes."
"Thank you, Dahlia, that's very kind of you to say." Even if it is a bald-faced lie. "And for what it's worth, I'm sorry I threw that cup of coffee at you. I don't know what's gotten into me today."
"You're nervous. It's not a big deal. I'm nervous too."
"You are?" I know I sound stupid asking that, but I'm genuinely shocked that she's nervous. She hides it so well.
"Of course I am. This is a big day for both of us. I'd have to be some kind of mutant or a robot not to be nervous."
"Well, you hide it well. I wish I was half as good."
"Hiding your emotions is easy. It just takes practice. Not that you'll need it."
"What do you mean?"
She doesn't answer my question. Instead, she offers me a coy and knowing little smirk before gracefully gliding past me and out of the Justice Building to the roaring approval of the people of District One. Leaving me alone with just my thoughts and the steady thump of my heart for company….
I can't do this…. I really can't do this. What if I screw up? What if I read the names wrong? Or forget my speech? Oh god, what if I forget my speech and then I read the names wrong?!
"And now it is my pleasure as your mayor to introduce our new Escort. A woman of refined charms and endless wit…."
I have to get out of here. Oh god, why isn't there a side door out of here?!
"The one–"
WHY ISN'T THERE AN EXIT?!
"The only–"
I'M GOING TO DIE!
"Azzura Selene!"
It takes every ounce of restraint I have not to vomit as the peacekeepers stationed by the door effortlessly throw open the breathtaking marble monstrosity. Bathing me in the warm and welcoming embrace of the mid-summer sun and lifting my spirits as my ears are treated to the sweet sound of the slow but steady roar of welcoming love emanating from every corner of the district square.
It's at this point that my instincts and training take over. And before I have a chance to stop myself I'm skipping, I kid you not, skipping, out of the relative safety of the Justice Building and onto the stage proper. Where I am immediately greeted by an even louder and warmer chorus of playful laughs and cheers as all of my previous concern and apprehension is quickly washed away by the tidal wave of support and appreciation the crowd is giving me.
I quickly zero in on the bank of cameras circling the perimeter of the square and offer all of my friends and family watching at home in the Capitol a playful little smile. Then I do a quick lap around the stage, shaking hands and exchanging chaste kisses with everyone in my path before finally taking my place behind the podium just as the roar of approval I had been basking in finally begins to die down.
"Good morning District One! As you no doubt remember your mayor saying, my name is Azzura Selene, and it is my absolute privilege to be your new Capitol Escort.
"Now I'm sure you are all just as anxious as I am to get this show on the road, especially these strapping young men here in the front who are all hoping to be one of the lucky two selected for the once in a lifetime privilege of competing in a quarter quell. But we do have something that is incredibly important to take care of first.
"So, if you would all be so kind as to turn your attention to the screen coming down behind me, we will take care of the patriotic formalities real quick so we can get back to the reason we are all here today. The selection of the two brave young men who will vie for the honor of becoming Panem's next Hunger Games champion!"
It takes the crew a couple of seconds to finish lowering the screen into place, and once it's finally is it takes a further minute for the production team to figure out the projector and start the movie. But after that, everything runs relatively smoothly.
The picture is clear, the sound is good, and the audience is appropriately enthralled. It's breathtaking, it's heartwarming, it's patriotic, it's tear-inducing, and it's over far too quickly for my liking.
But I don't have time to worry about that. I can always rewatch the video on the train if I so desire, and I have every intention of doing so. But right now, I have a job to do and a district full of eager potential tributes waiting for me to do it. And I can't do it if I'm crying.
So, I do everything I can to force myself to stop, which works about as well as I expected it would. And after a few seconds of silent sobbing. I finally manage to compose myself enough to brush away the light dusting of tears that managed to slip past my swiss cheese-like defenses and spin back around to face the crowd with a smile on my face and an excited twinkle in my eyes.
"So I know everyone is ready to move on to the actual reaping, but I'm hoping you'll allow me this small moment of frivolity to gush about how much I love that movie.
"It's been my favorite part of the Games for years. But this is the first time I've really listened to it, and as an escort, it takes on a whole new meaning. I finally understand how important my role in the Games is, and I'm honored to be a part of them and to be serving as the Capitol Escort for the greatest district in Panem, District One!"
The crowd absolutely explodes at that, and since I know it won't hurt anything to let them play it up for a bit and show the rest of Panem just how fired up they are for the quell. That's what I'm going to let them do…
"You know, if you guys don't calm down I can't do my job. And if I can't do my job, you won't have any tributes to represent you and your amazing district in this year's Games. And we don't want that, do we?"
"NO!"
"Well, then I guess you had better save some of that energy for AFTER I reap your tributes, don't you?"
It takes them a couple of seconds, but they do eventually quiet down enough for me to continue. And after taking a second to compose myself, I do just that.
"Now, I'm sure you all know why we're here, but for those of you who might have forgotten in the last ten seconds, I remind you that we are here to select the District One tributes for this, the One Hundredth Hunger Games and Fourth Quarter Quell!
"Now traditionally, we would start things off with the selection of the female tribute. But as I'm sure you all remember, the quell stipulation means that your District will only be sending in male tributes this year. And while I would be lying if I said I'm not crushed that I have to miss out on the scintillating company I know that lucky young lady would have provided, I'm positive that I'll find something to do with the pair of strapping young men I'm about to meet.
"And so, without further ado, let's find out which two young men are going to have the privilege of spending time with me and representing all of you in this year's games…"
I'm so excited right now that I feel like I might throw up. I mean I won't, or at least I hope that I don't, but I feel like I could. So I probably shouldn't draw this process out any longer than I have to.
I slip around the edge of the podium. A coy smile on my lips and a spring in my step. And gracefully glide over to the massive marble reaping ball and deftly pluck a slip of pearl-colored paper off the top of the small mountain of slips before returning to my podium and carefully unfolding the one I picked.
"Our first male tribute is–"
"I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!"
Well, that was fast. I mean, I expected someone to volunteer, it's one of the two big things District One is known for Games wise, but I also expected to be able to read the name I picked before someone stepped forward to volunteer.
Oh well, I'm sure I'll find a way to get over not getting to butcher the name of a young man who I'm never going to meet.
"Well, this is unexpected." Oh my god, why did I say that? No one is dumb enough to believe I mean it, not even me. Did I panic?
It doesn't matter. I have a tribute to meet. I can worry about how stupid I just sounded once I'm back on the train.
FOCUS!
"It sounds like we have ourselves a brave volunteer. Why don't you come up on stage and introduce yourself to everyone?"
It takes a couple of seconds for my volunteer to weave his way out of the mass of young men in the middle of the square, and while I've never been much of a fan of waiting, this young man is more than worth it.
He's tall, at least six feet, maybe six feet and a couple of inches. I'm not sure. I've never been good at eyeballing things like that. But it doesn't matter. My tribute is tall with broad shoulders and just the right amount of muscle in all the right places. He has a flawless complexion with just the faintest hint of a tan to his skin that contrasts amazingly with his dark black hair.
My only nit-picks with him are his facial hair, which is more of a personal problem than anything else, and his dreadfully abhorrent mullet haircut. Neither of which should be an issue for him. Heck, they might end up being beneficial if he's half as charming as those smoldering smokey-grey eyes of his make him look.
Well, I guess it's time to find out if that's the case.
"It's a pleasure to meet you–"
"Alfonso. Alfonso Cadel. And I want everyone here in One and watching this in the other districts to remember it. It's going to be on the lips of everyone who is anyone in the Capitol very shortly.
"Though I hope it makes its way to your lips much sooner than that."
He takes my expertly manicured hand in his and places the softest of kisses on it before taking a small step back and offering me a flirty and suggestive little wink; causing me to blush like a schoolgirl for the first time in ages and giving him an opening to slip away and take his place on the star a few feet to my left while I struggle to compose myself so I can reap him a partner.
"Well now, that was certainly unexpected. I hope our next tribute is ready because he has a high bar to clear if he hopes to make as good an impression as Alfonso just did. Not that I'm worried.
"After all, he'll be from District One. Making an impression is something every one of you can do without trying."
I hope my next tribute can live up to that boast. For his sake as much as mine.
But that's a concern for later, you know, thirty or forty seconds from now. The only thing on my mind right now is finding out who my next tribute is. And to do that, I need to pick a name out of that ball so someone else can jump in and volunteer before I have the chance to read it.
So that's what I try to do. Though this time I'm not nearly as graceful as I was before, and the suggestive looks Alfonso keeps shooting my way are only partly to blame for that.
"The name of our second tribute is–"
"I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!"
Two for two.
"It sounds like we have a second eager volunteer. Why don't you come and join Alfonso and me on stage? We're both very eager to meet you.
"Though not as eager as the rest of Panem."
This one doesn't take nearly as long to make his first appearance as Alfonso did, but the lack of a wait doesn't stop me from swooning for him just as hard as I did his new partner once I finally lay eyes on him.
He's just as tall and deliciously well built as Alfonso, but he doesn't have the same air of playful suaveness. And while that's not necessarily a bad thing, it is a little disappointing.
He's tall, though not quite as tall as his partner. He's got muscles in all the right places and a head full of beautiful short blond hair. He's got stunning blue eyes and a mysterious scar running down the right side of his face from the top of his forehead to mid-cheek, perfectly bisecting his eye without damaging it. Or at least I hope that's the case. It would be a real shame if someone as attractive as he is didn't have full use of both of those stunning blue eyes.
No, Dahlia won't have any more trouble selling him to sponsors than she will Alfonso. They both have that special something that sponsors love. But there's just something about this new one that feels- off.
I can't place my finger on it, and I'm sure whatever it is won't seem nearly as important or odd once I get to know him, but it's still there.
Could it be that he hasn't smiled? Is that a reason for me to think there's something wrong? Is it normal for volunteers not to smile?
"Well, it looks like the rest of Panem is in trouble. Because joining the oh so suave and impressive Alfonso we have–"
"Shimmer. Shimmer Calvisi."
"Well, Shimmer, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here."
Come on, kid. You have to give me more than that. I'm good, but I'm not a miracle worker.
"I'm sure it is.
"Is there anything else you would like to say? Anything you think the rest of Panem needs to know about you or that you would like to say to the people you are going to the Capitol to represent in the Games?"
"Nothing comes to mind."
"Oh come now. I'm sure you must have SOMETHING to say."
"I really don't."
Well, this is going splendidly. I hope this kid is trying to work an angle. Because if he's not, he's going to be in a world of trouble.
Then again, that's not MY problem. He's not my problem. He's Dahlia's.
She's the one that has to sell him to sponsors, not me.
And who knows, maybe he'll be good at other, more tangible things, like fighting. The people of the Capitol love themselves a good fighter, and if my first impression of him is any indication that might be the only options Dahlia will have.
"Well then, I guess that's all there is then."
I offer Shimmer a warm smile, which he doesn't even pretend to try to return, before turning towards Alfonso and motioning for him to join us at the podium.
"Ladies and gentleman of District One, allow me to introduce you all to the charmingly roguish Alfonso Cadel and the stoically determined Shimmer Calvisi. Your tributes for this, the Fourth Quarter Quell!"
Alfonso, possibly picking up on my unspoken cue, turns towards the nearest camera with a confident smirk on his face and offers his hand to Shimmer. Who, fortunately, has the good sense to follow suit and offer his hand to Alfonso. He doesn't smile, but he does have a solid-looking grip and a firm-looking handshake, so I guess that's better than nothing…
Oh, crap. I still have to say the thing, "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
Shimmer Calvisi-18 (District 1 Male)
I really hope Alfonso doesn't take his sweet time saying his goodbyes.
It's not going to take the peacekeepers very long to realize that my dad didn't show up for the Reaping. This is District One, sick people on their deathbed and old people who can barely stand up, let alone walk, find a way to make it to the Reaping every year. So my father's absence is definitely going to be noticed. And once it is, it is only a matter of time before someone finds the disgusting old booze-hound in the pool of blood I left his worthless ass in.
I should be one of the last people they think to question. It's no secret that he and I have been estranged for nearly a decade now. But I'd still rather be as far away from One as I can possibly be when they do find him. If only because I'd like to avoid having to deal with people feeling sorry for me because he's dead.
I still get chills when I think about that. He's dead, he's finally dead. He finally got what he deserved, and I was the one who got to kill the worthless bastard.
After everything he put me through; blaming me for my mother's death; trying to cut my eye out because I looked at him the wrong way; having the audacity to claim that his tough-love approach to raising me molded me into the career I am. I took great pleasure in ending his miserable existence.
My only real regret is that it was way too quick. I didn't have the time to sit there and make sure he suffered as he deserved to. I had important things to do. Important places to be. So I had to let him off easy and kill him quickly. It may have still hurt, though considering how much alcohol he had in his system, he probably didn't feel anything except the prick of my blade as it entered his throat and the sensation of emptiness after I ripped it out. But it wasn't nearly as painful as it deserved to be.
But none of that matters now. He's dead, like he deserves to be, and I got to enjoy it. I got to enjoy the warmth of his blood as it oozed around my blade and ran down my fingers. I got to revel in the satisfaction of watching the man who had gone out of his way to make my life a living hell since the day I was born as he gasped and struggled for air. And I got to feel the earth-shattering rush of adrenaline as the last vestiges of life seeped out of his worthless body while I looked down into his cold, dead eyes.
It was the single most euphoric moment of my life. And I'm eager to experience it again. I have to see if it feels anywhere near as good the second time around.
I have a theory on this because I have a similar experience from a few years ago. When, at the tender age of twelve, I snapped the arm of some stuck-up sixteen-year-old bitch at the training academy for calling me an ugly freak because of the scar on my face.
I may have been punished severely by the instructors for my insolence, but I kind of enjoyed that. And even if I hadn't, the blood-curdling scream she let out when I spun her around and snapped her arm like a twig more than made up for the consequences.
It was, to that point in my life, the single best moment of my life. I couldn't wait to feel that powerful and in control again. Then the second time happened, and I was disappointed.
It was still enjoyable. The way that stupid kid's face contorted as he screamed like a baby, writhing on the ground in pain after I shattered his knee into a million pieces with my baton was incredibly satisfying. It just wasn't as good as the first time.
I'm sure it'll be the same way with killing. It will probably be difficult, if not impossible, for any kill I might collect in the arena to come close to giving me the same thrill I felt when I stuck my knife into the throat of that miserable waste of a man. And, if I'm being completely honest, it doesn't have to.
It doesn't have to be as good, and it definitely doesn't have to be better. It just has to be enjoyable. And if it's not, I'll just have to use my imagination to come up with a way to spice things up so it is.
Today has opened my eyes to a whole new world of fun I have yet to experience. And I look forward to sampling as many of these new experiences as I can in the arena.
Alfonso Cadel-18 (District 1 Male)
I can't believe my family didn't come to say goodbye to me. I get that they don't necessarily agree with my decision to volunteer, but I never imagined they would be petty enough to use that as an excuse not to come and see me off.
This could be the last chance they have to see me on this side of death, and instead of taking advantage of it, and telling me that they love me like good parents, they're going to act like children.
"Is there a reason you waited this long to come and say your goodbyes?"
"Not a good one, officer. Honestly, I was just trying to figure out what to say to him."
"Well, you're lucky. Under normal circumstances, he would have already been on the train. But he's not, so I can give you five minutes if you want it."
"Thank you."
Well, it looks like someone finally decided to be an adult and come and say goodbye to me. And of course, it's my little sister and not one or both of my parents. Why would they bother acting like the adults they're supposed to be when they can let their fourteen-year-old daughter do it for them.
"Hey, Lara. I was starting to think no one was coming."
"I'm not going to lie, I seriously thought about it.
"But after mom and dad decided they weren't coming, I knew I had to. I can't let my big brother go to the Capitol without telling him how much we all love him."
"You're a good sister. You're a major pain in my ass. But a good sister."
"You're one to talk."
"Excuse me?"
"I said you're one to talk. After the stunts you pulled out there, you have the nerve to call me a pain in the ass?
"Seriously?"
"Where the hell did that come from, Lara?"
I can tell she's upset, this is honestly the most upset I've ever seen her, at least with me. I just don't understand why she's so upset.
She knew I was planning to volunteer, she was with me at the academy when I was asked if I wanted one of the two slots for this year. So she can't be surprised that I volunteered… Unless she didn't think I would go through with it.
That's it. She didn't think I was serious about volunteering. She expected me to chicken out at the last minute and let someone else take my place.
I mean, I know that my parents were hoping I would back out. They made that abundantly clear on more than one occasion. But Lara never hinted that she was hoping I would back out too.
"Did you… did you expect me to back out, Lara?"
"Kind of."
"Why? I told you I wanted to do it. I've been waiting for the opportunity to do so for years."
"I know that. But the last time you seriously talked about volunteering was before mom and dad got divorced.
"That was a lifetime ago. We lived in a different world."
"It was three years ago, and I never stopped being interested in volunteering. That's why I kept training so hard for the opportunity.
"It's the chance of a lifetime. We talked about that for like six hours yesterday. Remember?"
"Of course I do. But there's a huge difference between talking about doing something and actually doing it."
"Not with me. You know that.
"I've never said I would do something if I didn't have every intention of doing it. Why did you think I would start now?"
"Because I need you."
"You don't need me. You never have."
"Yes, I do. I need you to help me keep mom and dad from killing each other and you can't do that if you're bleeding out in the arena."
"Do you honestly think the other tributes will be able to hurt me?"
"This is serious. Will you please act like it?!"
"I am. I understand how dangerous this is. I understand that I might die in the arena if I'm not careful."
"Then WHY? WHY did you volunteer?
"Is winning the Hunger Games really that important to you?!"
"No, it's not. But the opportunity to win them is. The chance to visit the Capitol, to test myself against the best tributes Panem has to offer in the biggest Hunger Games in history. Is an opportunity that I couldn't pass up."
"You… You are the most selfish person in the entire world. You know that, right?"
"I do. But it's my choice.
"You don't have to like it, but I do hope you can accept it. Because I need to know that I have you in my corner, cheering for me.
"Can you do that for me?" I ask, on the verge of tears, my voice quivering in fear. "Can you set aside your anger until I get back from the Capitol and just be my awesome little sister and biggest fan? Please?"
"Only if you promise me you'll come back.
"Promise me, Alfonso."
I don't know if I'm going to be able to keep that promise, and I think she knows that. But if she needs to hear me say the words to come to terms with what's about to happen, then I'm more than happy to say them. "I promise."
She jumps into my arms and buries her face in my shoulder as I say that. Sobbing, softly, as I run my fingers gently through her hair like our mom used to do for me when I got upset when I was her age.
And that's how we spend the last thirty seconds we have before the peacekeepers return to collect me for the trip to the Capitol. Standing in the middle of the room, trying my best to console her while she does her best to let me. And in that moment, as the tears continue to fall freely from her red, puffy eyes and I fight the urge to let my guard down and cry with her, I can't help but wonder if I might have made a mistake putting her through this...
A/N: I'd like to start off by sending an extra special thank you to AlexFalTon and neonfunerals13 for sending in Alfonso and Shimmer. They are both amazing tributes and I thoroughly enjoyed bringing them to life for you. I hope that both of you, and everyone else for that matter, is as excited to see the two of them in action as I am.
So I know that I said I would have the full tribute list posted by now, but I'm still waiting on the last couple of reservation tributes to come in, and I really do want to wait to post the list until it's full. So I was thinking I would update it as the tributes are revealed and that's the plan for now.
And that's really all I have. I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks of our first two tributes, so please leave a review and let me know. We all know you'll be leaving one, Alfonso and Shimmer are just that amazing and you have to let everyone know that :) Thank you all for your amazing support and for taking this journey with me, I'll be looking for all of your happy and smiling faces at the next update :D
(I made a few small changes to the format of the story after some feedback. Nothing of substance changes, just some style corrections to make things easier to read.)