Jude Caterham, 18
District Six Male
If Jude had to hear Kyra whine one more time about her failed fire, he was going to regret tricking her into thinking she could do it in the first place.
At first, he was thrilled to report back to Imperia that the first step of their plan was ready to be set in motion. They could focus in hard on Kyra, use her newly established weakness against her, and go from there. It made him antsy to think about the way Imperia kept pushing for more, but he was willing to go along with it, at least for now.
After all, he was the only one that understood her insatiable need to be in control.
"I just don't understand what happened!" Kyra continued on her tirade, raking a hand through her red hair that was rapidly coming undone. "Jude was there, I did it during training!"
Maybe Jude could use his old ice pick again, to jab it into his own head this time so he didn't have to continue hearing this. But instead, he just gritted his teeth and snagged a drink from an avox walking by, downing half of it in a single gulp in the hopes that he'd finally get out of it enough to enjoy this godforsaken party. As much as he hated to admit it, it was a good opportunity for him and Imperia to make progress on their plan.
"It's really not that big of a deal," Liam tried to reassure her, ever the irritating optimist. "Now they'll just underestimate you and you can show them up later!"
Kyra didn't seem convinced, childishly kicking at the ground with the toe of her shoe. "But I won't be able to contribute any sponsor stuff."
"I guess you'll just have to run into the cornucopia on your own to make up for it," Teagan muttered, not bothering to lower her volume.
Jude blinked at the girl's odd show of viciousness, opening his mouth before Imperia cut in. "That won't be necessary," she said smoothly. "Even if none of us do particularly well, maybe we just had an off day."
Imperia looked to him expectantly, and Jude gave Kyra a winning smile. "Just because you fumbled during your session doesn't mean you're completely useless or anything. It'll be more satisfying when you prove them wrong in the Arena."
Finally, Kyra seemed to be at least mostly content, so their evening was spared once more. Or, at least, it would calm down until scores were revealed and they'd risk another meltdown.
"Come with me," Imperia murmured in his ear, tugging on the edge of his shirt.
With Imperia there was never really a choice in the matter, so he looked at the rest of their group and gave a slight wave before turning to follow her. As Imperia led him a few steps away, he shot a look over his shoulder and noticed that Kyra was still lingering by them, not so subtly attempting to eavesdrop. It made his stomach turn, but he just pretended like he didn't notice.
"Are you trying to do this now?" he hissed, keeping his voice quiet so Kyra couldn't overhear. "This is supposed to be a waiting game."
Imperia just tilted her head to the side. "Don't you want to get a good inside look at the other pair in our little alliance? They could very well have some secrets they're keeping from us as well."
Frowning, Jude didn't feel like agreeing with her, so he continued on. "Then why aren't we trying to break down the established trust there? I mean, they've only known each other for as long as we have," he said, going along with their original lie even though there was no one around to hear them.
"Little Teagan is clinging to Liam like mold in an old damp house," Imperia said, wrinkling her nose. "She'd be eaten alive back in Six."
Jude tried not to flinch at the mention of Six, the home which he loved and loathed so much. Fond memories were few and far between, and the longer he was away the more he remembered the bad ones, such as his school days where everything was hell for him.
He had hoped to leave it all behind, but even here, Jude was forced to remember his home. The parties he and Imperia would frequent when he needed a distraction were nothing compared to the grandeur that surrounded him now, but it was enough like Six for him to want to leave immediately. Alas, the night was young and their mentors had, for once, put their foot down and insisted that they stay at least through scores.
Not that the scores mattered. Jude was aiming for a humble 3 or 4, as showing off his true talents in private sessions was tacky, while Imperia wanted the mystery of scoring a 6. They were just hopeful that Leon would happen to give them what they wanted.
"Yeah," Jude finally muttered, unable to determine whether he felt pity for the girl or not.
"Besides," Imperia said, giving him a light nudge, "I figured you'd want to wait a bit to pick her brain."
This time Jude really did flinch, edging away from her as if the brief contact made him sick. "You don't have to phrase it like that. I… I don't do that anymore."
She just waved her hand. "Still, good on you for the whole fire trick. Seems like it worked nicely."
Her voice had raised slightly, and Jude instantly caught on to what she was trying to do, choosing his next words carefully. "I guess we'll see the results soon, huh?"
"Poor Kyra," Imperia said with a sigh. "It really is a shame."
"Aha!" Kyra screeched, drawing the attention of a few people standing around them. "You did this to me!"
Well, it worked better than expected. For a child, she was rather paranoid.
"... What?" Jude deadpanned, looking down at her and blinking.
Her eyes were narrowed and she put her hands on her hips. "You did something to my fire, didn't you? That's why I couldn't do it for my session!"
"That doesn't make any sense," Jude insisted. "Why would I sabotage my own ally?"
Luckily for them, Kyra's commotion caused Teagan and Liam to shift closer, glancing between the young girl and Jude.
"You think he… sabotaged you?" Liam asked, trying to get a feel for the situation first.
"That just seems stupid," Teagan insisted, rolling her eyes. "If you did so poorly during your private session, you should own up to it instead of blaming other people."
Both of them were already beginning to side against Kyra, and, going unnoticed by everyone except him, Imperia's lips twitched up into the barest hint of a smile. For a test run, their plan was going more than smoothly.
"But…" Kyra looked around frantically, sensing that neither of them were inclined to believe her, "but I heard them! Imperia congratulated him on his 'fire trick' and Jude said they'd have to wait for results!"
Imperia finally decided to step in, letting a smile break across her face as she chuckled. "Aw, I was just congratulating Jude on his session! He started a fire during his as well, but he wasn't sure how far he would get with a successful fire, so I was merely reassuring him."
That finally made her pause, her brows furrowing as she tried to think through the pieces of conversation she heard. "But you said my name, you said it really was a shame-"
"I didn't want to say it to your face, but I guess now that I'm on trial or something I might as well," Imperia said with a sigh, the smile dropping to give her a more somber look. "We were feeling particularly bad about your… lackluster session, so I wanted to congratulate him in private so I wouldn't hurt your feelings."
Now Kyra looked properly embarrassed, her head ducking in shame. "Oh."
"See?" Liam said, smiling at the group. "Just a simple misunderstanding. I'm glad everything is okay."
"This is why you don't eavesdrop on people," Teagan said with a slight sneer.
"Leave it alone," Liam chided before moving back into the crowd.
Teagan didn't even pause before ditching Kyra to go follow Liam, back on target as always. Jude wasn't sure why Teagan appeared to resent the Three girl so much, but maybe she was just jealous, as that's all that Teagan's feelings ever seemed to boil down to.
Realizing that she was alone with the people she'd accused of trying to betray her only moments before, Kyra took a slight step back. "I'm, um, really sorry about this whole mess."
Imperia's grin was as dangerous as a predator that finally got the upper hand against its prey. "There's nothing to be sorry for. We're sorry for worrying you when we just didn't want to hurt your feelings."
Watching her so easily lull the younger girl into a false sense of security, Jude had to be impressed. He hated it when he was genuinely impressed by her, as it made him think of all of her little digs at him, her claim that she would always be better. She hardly seemed bothered by anything he threw back at her, though he knew that the Diana situation grated on her more than she wanted people to think.
Diana… a former friend turned enemy, someone that had crossed Imperia a few too many times and paid the price for it.
Sometimes, if he let his mind wander too much, he feared the same would happen to him.
"It's fine," Jude said, hoping that his smile was even half as convincing as Imperia's. "It's hard to be here without anyone you trust. I'm just glad I made a friend in Imperia."
"If you want," Imperia cut in eagerly, "you can join us for the rest of the evening now that Teagan and Liam are gone."
Even though he wanted to protest and say it was too early, that they should really wait before honing in on the kill like this, all he could hear was Imperia confessing what she'd done to Diana as he told her all about Jett. They were too alike for this to ever work, and yet that's why it did.
"I'd love to." Kyra grinned, happy that all was (seemingly) forgiven.
It was such a shame that her fate was sealed. Maybe if she'd been with anyone else, Kyra would actually stand a chance.
Merix Joss, 15
District Three Male
If someone had told Merix a few years ago that he'd be at a real party with two of the coolest people he knew - his friends no less - he'd probably just laugh in their faces. And then maybe he'd tell Agoura all about it because it sounded like some kind of cruel prank at best.
But he really was here, and even though "here" was the Capitol and he was within two days of going into the Arena, Merix was sickeningly content. His notebook had been left in his room, as the last thing he wanted was for it to get lost somewhere, but he was already quaking with ideas for what he could write in it. It had somewhat evolved from a notebook with the lessons he'd learnt to one where he left himself notes of all his memories with his new friends.
Maybe, if his father got his hands on it, he could make Agoura a friend back home. That way they'd never be apart again.
Shaking his head to clear out his negative thoughts, Merix glanced between his two friends and cracked a smile at the vast difference between them. Lilith, while she'd opened up more as the days went by, was mostly just sipping a drink while staring out at the crowd, occasionally chipping into discussions. Nash, on the other hand, was having conversations with random Capitolites, enthralling them with tales of things Merix was pretty sure he'd never done, but his bravado alone made it a convincing tale.
"... and then it went fwoom!" Nash narrated, his arms flying into the air to demonstrate an explosion, the Capitolites gasping in shock around him.
"Was anyone hurt?" a snake-skinned Capitolite asked, her pupils merely slits as if she was trying to become a snake, not just look like one.
"'Course not!" Nash beamed. "But the operations in that facility had to be stopped, and that's why it's been empty for the past couple of years."
The Capitolites ooh-ed and ah-ed, nodding appreciatively at his story. They didn't seem to mind that it was, at the very least, scattered with lies, but that made enough sense to Merix. After all, they had always seemed more focused on the superficial, on whatever pretty lies could distract them from reality.
Sidling up to Lilith, Merix couldn't help but ask, "None of this is real, right?"
Without even looking in Nash's direction, Lilith just sighed. "He's been lying out of his ass since the Capitolites first started listening to him. Somehow he's managed to tell a compelling story without giving any details at all, which really just means that he's making it up as he goes."
Nodding, Merix wrapped his arms around himself. "He's probably doing it for sponsors or something, right?"
That made Lilith look up, and she squinted at Nash. "Actually, I think he's just having a good time talking to whoever will listen to him. Capitolite or not, he's thrilled to be in their presence."
"He's very optimistic about this kind of thing," Merix said, lowering his voice. "They'll be betting on us soon - if they haven't started doing that already."
Lilith fidgeted with the neckline of her wine red dress, smoothing out the long skirt with her other hand. "Well in that case, he's doing great by getting us sponsors. I certainly don't have it in me to entertain them, and I'm pretty sure you don't either."
No, he didn't, but Lilith also appeared to be more of a threat than him anyway. Both of his allies could very well be fighters, and since Nash could persuade the people to his side as well, that left Merix unsure of where exactly he stood in the alliance. Sure, he considered himself smart, but the little hamster he'd made in his session could only do so much.
Actually, Merix was a little bummed that he didn't get it back.
He'd considered using one of his creations back home as a token, but he was worried that something bad would happen to it while he was in the Arena. At least back home they were safe and, while they were far away from him, they didn't have to worry about anything.
"I'm not very good at the comforting thing," Lilith said suddenly, continuing to fidget where she stood, "but I can tell you're starting to panic so… don't. You're a member of our alliance because you're worthy to us even if no one else thinks you are."
She bit her tongue after that, as if worried she might say something she'd regret otherwise. Despite that, Merix couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Lilith."
A waiter came by carrying a platter of drinks and, while Lilith just shook her head, Merix went to grab one, feeling thirsty as the night went on. As soon as his hand had wrapped around one of the glasses, the drink was taken directly from his grasp. Merix made a noise of protest before turning to see that it was Nash who had grabbed the glass.
"What was that for?"
Nash just chuckled and waved the waiter away. "I have no idea what these avoxes are handing out, but I'm pretty positive that it has alcohol in it."
His stomach twisted at the mention of avoxes, not wanting to think about their inhumane treatment. At least most of these appeared to be older, as Merix was pretty sure that one of President Emerson's policies was to get rid of avoxing as a punishment.
"I guess that's fair," Merix said slowly, not particularly in the mood to try alcohol. "But I'm starting to get thirsty. Oh wait, weren't you busy talking to those Capitolites?"
Shrugging, Nash took a sip of the drink before wincing at the taste. "I saw you two start moving this way and didn't want to lose you! This is a party after all, and I'd much rather spend it with my friends."
Merix's face still heated up at any sign of affection, so he hoped that the rather dim lights and vibrant crowd would distract from his reddening face. Since he'd never had a real friend before outside of Agoura, he still had to get used to all the nuances of what it even meant to have a friend, and having Nash as a friend often meant getting randomly showered in optimistic compliments.
Merix found it strange that he was always reassured by Nash's kind words, no matter how frequently he heard them. The constant affirmation that they were friends helped soothe the voice in the back of his head that sometimes wondered if he'd made all of this up.
"Anyway, you wanna go find somewhere to get something to drink?" Nash offered, already scanning the room for a place they could go.
"Sure," Merix agreed, clasping his hands together in front of him. "By the way, do you know when scores are gonna be revealed?"
Lilith stepped up beside Merix. "Probably not for a little while longer. They'll want to keep everyone here as long as they can, so I'd say scores will only be revealed when the Capitolites start getting restless."
"Why?" Nash asked curiously. "Are you antsy about your score? I told you there's nothing to worry about."
To his relief, Merix didn't even feel a bit dishonest as he said, "Not really. I did the best I could, and that's all that really matters."
Nash gave him a relieved smile at that. "I'm glad to hear it!"
"There's a bar over that way." Lilith started making her way through the crowd ahead of them, causing Merix to jump slightly before he started moving as well.
If he was on his own, Merix was certain that he'd be swept away in the vast crowd, never to be seen again, but luckily both of his friends were good at clearing a crowd out of the way. Though he couldn't see Lilith's face, he was pretty sure the startled faces of the Capitolites moving out of her way indicated her expression and Nash was big enough that people parted for him naturally.
Though he was somewhat hidden by his two companions, a few Capitolites peered down at him as they went. His prep team had pulled some of his hair away from his face, so Merix couldn't use it to shield himself from passing Capitolites. That being said, he didn't fully feel the urge either. It was merely a passing thought instead of a desire to hide himself, and he couldn't help but be impressed with himself. Maybe things would change again as he headed into the Games, but he was happy with the progress he'd made.
Wiping his sweaty palms on his pants as he got closer, Merix suddenly realized that he wasn't entirely sure what he wanted to order. The bar area was largely cleared out, as most people just grabbed whatever came by on a tray, but the counter behind the bar was full of glasses with colorful liquid, some shimmering in an almost dangerous way. Merix wasn't sure if he wanted to put any of this in his mouth. Surely it wouldn't be poisonous, but he wasn't positive. He still didn't know what to make of the Capitol.
"What can I get for you?" the bartender asked, looking at the three of them to see who would speak up first.
Out of the corner of his eye, Merix saw Nash glance his way expectantly, but he had no idea what to even look for. Everything looked alcoholic and he wasn't sure if he was ready for that, but the only other drinks he could come up with surely had no place at parties. Milk? Apple juice? That just sounded like the offerings back up on his floor.
"Do you have anything not alcoholic back here?" Nash asked, leaning forward on the counter.
Giving them a bemused look, the bartender raised an eyebrow. "Depends on what you're looking for."
Nash frowned and hummed. "I don't remember the name for it, but we have this drink back home… I think it's some kind of clear soda with a red syrup and cherries on top. Can he get one of those?"
"Incredibly specific," Lilith said dryly.
To Merix's surprise, the bartender said, "Oddly enough, I think I know what you're trying to order."
"Can you add extra cherries?" Merix requested, standing on his toes to better peek over the bar and watch, putting his arms up on the bar and hoping there was nothing sticky to stain his suit.
The bartender gave him a hint of a smile before nodding and going about his job, opening a few cabinets before he found what he was looking for. Just as Nash dictated, he pulled out a bottle with a clear liquid in it followed by a red syrup and a bowl of cherries before leaning down to grab a fancy crystal glass, the kind that Merix's father would never let him use at home.
"Do either of you want something too?" the bartender asked.
"Some kind of dark wine for me," Lilith conceded. "Doesn't matter what kind."
Nash just cheerily held up his glass from earlier. "I'm good!"
Before starting on Merix's drink, the bartender grabbed a bottle full of a dark liquid for Lilith, pouring it into a glass until it was about half full. A movement caught Merix's attention, and he turned to spot a card that had fluttered on the floor next to a man perched on a stool. Without thinking, he went to grab it.
"Excuse me? You dropped this," Merix said, squinting at the numbers and letters scrawled haphazardly on the card.
The man spun around on his stool and Merix blinked in surprise, recognizing him as the head gamemaker that had watched his private session. "Shit, thanks for grabbing that! I don't want any of those leaked early. You're a real lifesaver, Merix," he said with a grin, taking the card from Merix before offering him a wink. "Good thing I had those memorized anyway."
"Um..." Merix said, feeling suddenly out of place. "You're welcome?"
The man - Leon Kimura? Mr. Kimura? Merix wasn't sure how to refer to him - didn't seem bothered by his sudden nearly awestruck nature. "By the way, I love the little hamster you made for your session! I took a closer look at it and the craftsmanship is truly something to be proud of, especially considering the time constraint. He's snoozing up in my office right now."
Flattered by the praise and unsure of how to respond, Merix stammered out, "I, uh, thank you Mr. Kimura. I… I hope you take good care of him, sir."
Beaming, the man reached over and patted Merix on the shoulder. "Just Leon will do!" he said cheerily. "The 'sir' makes me feel old! Now, I've got some scores to present in just a few minutes, but it was nice talking with you, Merix."
Without waiting for Merix to respond, Mr. Kimura - Leon - shoved the notecard into his pocket and headed into the crowd, quickly disappearing into the masses. Merix stared after him blankly, wondering if he really had just held a short conversation with the head gamemaker of all people.
"What was that?" Nash asked as he stepped up beside Merix, holding out a glass full of an odd looking pinkish liquid.
"The head gamemaker, I think," Merix replied, taking the glass and staring down into it before taking a sip, hoping to finally quench his thirst.
Merix made a noise of surprise as soon as he swallowed it, the fizzy sensation unfamiliar on his tongue. It was so distracting that he'd barely managed to catch the flavor, so he want back for another sip, this time catching the flavor of cherries. Holding it in his mouth for a moment, he reveled in the sensation before managing to swallow it. He stared down at the drink, watching the bubbles rise up, baffled that he'd never had something as delicious as this before.
"This is amazing," he said, glancing up at Nash in awe.
"I'm glad you like it!" Nash said in return, taking another sip of his own drink. "Once you finish, we can go and dance, yeah?"
Bringing the glass to his lips again, Merix couldn't help but smile into his drink. He was braver than ever out here, trying new things at every corner. He hoped that Agoura could see him now.
He hoped she was proud of him.
Justus Arculeo, 18
District Two Male
The weight of Phaedra's eyes were heavy on him, inescapable as he tried to fight the nausea that threatened to overcome him. Justus had woken up in a cot with a killer headache and a nurse hovering over him to tell him that he hadn't managed to give himself a concussion, but only barely.
Even though Phaedra had immediately questioned him when he made his way back up to their floor, Justus didn't know what to say to her. For the first time, there was a barrier between them almost as high as the one after the Fortuna Equestris, except now Justus was the one overwhelmed with the need to apologize. But instead Phaedra had apologized for overstepping, making Justus feel even worse. It wasn't her fault. This was all on him.
He felt sick. He felt like a failure. He felt like a disappointment.
Justus couldn't figure out which feeling was the worst. He'd let everyone down, but nothing would cut deeper than Phaedra finding out that he still couldn't keep up with her. In the end, her training meant nothing in the end. Those rooftop nights led up to nothing more than happy memories in the end.
Shaking his head, Justus sighed. He couldn't say things like that, implying that those nights weren't worth anything. They were worth everything in the end.
"Justus!" Phaedra said with all the exasperation of someone that had been trying to get his attention for a few minutes now.
"Sorry," he blurted out, turning to face her again. "I'm just… sorry. What is it?"
The blatant hurt on her face was enough for him to feel like he was the worst person alive, but all he could do was rub the back of his head and wait to hear what she had to say.
"You know… you know I'm always here for you, right?" she asked, and it hit Justus that his uncomfortable silence probably led her to believe that out of nowhere he didn't trust her, that this wasn't just a product of his own inadequacy.
He glanced around, swallowing hard as he registered that their other allies had scattered once more, fracturing into the duos that had been his idea in the first place. He really couldn't do anything, could he? Even the pack couldn't stay together for long, so what did that mean for the Games?
But at least this gave him the opportunity to tell Phaedra before she could find out. She'd already told him that her session went very well, but that was par for the course for her.
"It's my private session," he finally muttered, looking back at her. "It-"
Before he could finish, his heart dropped into his stomach as he heard the cheers of Capitolites all around, gathering up under a large screen that had been playing reruns of the Reapings and Chariot Rides. Now, it displayed twenty-four empty boxes, each with a number in the bottom corner.
Justus had run out of time.
"Hello and welcome, Capitolites and tributes alike!" a man cheered, casually lounging in one of the chairs perched beside the screen. "I'm Leon Kimura, Head Gamemaker extraordinaire, and after twenty-four thrilling sessions, I'm here to deliver the scores and update the predicted placements."
Justus suddenly remembered that his original predicted placement was second, and he could only imagine how much he'd fallen since then. What kind of trained tribute had ever failed as abysmally as he had?
Quietly, Phaedra slipped her hand into his. He didn't have the strength to squeeze back.
"To, ah… spice things up a little this year, I'll be starting from last and working my way up to our predicted Victor," Leon said, not even bothering to pull out a page of notes as he smirked and leaned back in his seat. "The performances in training this year ranged from good to… well, less good, and all I can say for sure is that I look forward to seeing how the Games play out this year."
Justus already felt himself freezing up, knowing that his performance was certainly one of the aforementioned bad ones, but he still hadn't fully come to terms with what had happened. His throat started to tighten, and Justus stared unblinkingly at the lights, praying that he wouldn't break down.
His father was going to be so disappointed in him.
"You know I'll always be proud of you, right?" Phaedra whispered in his ear, her side pressing against his as if recognizing his need for support.
Logically, Justus knew that was true. But he still couldn't fully fathom the idea that his actions were at all forgivable. He'd tried so hard, Phaedra had tried so hard to get him prepared... and he'd failed anyway.
Kyra from Three came in last with a 1, lifting a bit of weight off of Justus's chest as he recognized he wasn't a complete failure. From what he could remember, his session had been going well up until…
Wincing, he lifted a hand to rub at his forehead, where his prep team had made sure to style his hair so it covered the lump that was forming. Apparently he wasn't the only one with a head injury, so Teagan's 3 and predicted placement of twentieth made sense. Merix seemed smart, and from what Justus could tell his allies would take him far, but he'd only done marginally better than his District partner, getting a 3 as well and landing one spot below Teagan.
"I… I'm sorry if I'm bothering you," Phaedra tried again, her voice quiet as if she was nervous to even speak, "but I just want to make sure you're okay. Did you hurt your head in your session? Is that why you came to our floor late?"
He couldn't keep anything from Phaedra. It hurt to try. It hurt to see the look on her face, and he knew that she only wanted to help.
Carefully, he tried to clear his throat, scraping together the last fragments of his courage before mumbling, "I knocked myself out."
Jude, 4, seventeenth. Crush, 4, fifteenth. Eleanor, 5, thirteenth.
With every name rattled off, appearing on the screen behind Leon, Justus felt his heart beat faster, his head pounding. When would his name be called? Surely he hadn't gotten something as high as a 6.
"You what?" Phaedra asked before being cut off.
"In twelfth we have Justus Arculeo with a score of 5," Leon announced, murmurs of confusion running through the crowd.
He could feel an entire room's worth of eyes on him, and his face heated up as he realized his own allies were probably wondering why they'd agreed to let him of all people be the leader. Maybe he should've just allowed Kano to have his way. At least then they could all be strong.
At his side, Phaedra never budged, unmoving as Justus tried not to duck his head in shame. It would be worse for him if he did, almost a sign of giving up. If Phaedra was gold, then Justus was merely a fake standing beside her, tarnished and dirty in comparison.
"Everyone makes mistakes," Phaedra insisted quietly beside him.
He barely managed a weak smile and a shake of his head. "I could've died."
As soon as the words left his mouth, they both paused, likely remembering the same face of one Petra Palladino and the destiny she'd nearly ripped from Phaedra's chest. In exchange, Phaedra had stolen her life, even if it was accidental.
"This isn't how things were supposed to happen!"
"Please, I'm just… trying to understand what's wrong."
Her hand squeezed his tightly, and Justus tried to use it as an anchor, grounding him as the placements were rattled off. He wished he could say he felt better now that he told her, but he was certain that nothing could stop the burning in his chest, the sensation of being eaten alive by everyone around him.
Imperia, 6, eleventh. Jack, 6, ninth. Nash, 7, eighth.
Though his relief made Justus feel horrible, Makani's 7 and predicted placement of seventh was another shock, a Victor relative who didn't appear to have what it took. The assumptions were flying around that not one but two of the supposed high scorers falling out of the elite top six.
Oddly enough, when he caught sight of Makani, she didn't seem to mind at all, brushing off whatever Alila said to her and laughing softly. She turned her head, catching Justus's eye and smiling kindly before looking back to Leon.
The Nines landed in fifth and sixth, their matching 8s making Justus worry about what they were bringing to the table, but their deadpan expressions gave nothing away. Lilith almost looked put out, as if disappointed that she had only gotten sixth.
Justus had no doubt in mind that Phaedra would get first, likely with something as impressive as an 11. She deserved it, he told himself. He'd be more than happy to congratulate her.
But they were both surprised when Kano got fourth with a score of 9. Justus's brow furrowed; that meant Shai had gotten a better placement than the hotheaded boy from Four. It would've made more sense if Justus understood how, but he hadn't seen Shai do much more than annoy Kano during training. There was more to him than Justus first thought, and he didn't like the implications of that.
Shai ended up matching Kano in score even though he landed a placement higher, resulting in Shai looking particularly smug as Kano rolled his eyes.
"In second place we have Alila Perwane with an impressive score of 10." Leon scanned the crowd, looking all too pleased with himself as only one score was left.
"Good job," Justus whispered honestly, noting the bashful look on Phaedra's face. "You more than deserve it."
"And that leaves Phaedra Nikostratos as our predicted Victor once more." Leon paused. A glint appeared in his eye, making Justus suddenly feel sick to his stomach.
"With a perfect score of 12."
The room instantly dove into chaos now that an elusive 12 was in their midst. Phaedra's hand was immediately torn from his grip as a crowd swarmed her, and no matter how hard Justus tried to stay by her side, he was swept away, tossed aside and forgotten. He tried to catch her eye, tried to let her know that he was still there with her, but he couldn't see her at all anymore. The Capitolites clamoring to get Phaedra's attention barely spared Justus a glance as he slunk away, and who could blame them?
Up front, Leon gave everyone a wave before sauntering off into the crowd, a smirk playing across his face as he went. Justus frowned as he watched him go, thinking about how this man had single handedly turned Phaedra into a walking target and given Justus a score that was laughable at best. It was as if he'd already drafted Phaedra and Justus's death certificates and was only waiting to sign them.
He made his way to the bar area, muttering a request that the bartender probably couldn't even hear, but he slid Justus a drink anyway. Staring into its depths, Justus sighed and took a sip, barely noticing the flavor. He searched for Phaedra once more, finally catching a glimpse of her red hair and longingly wishing that it could be just the two of them again.
"I never thought I'd see you here," came a voice from beside Justus. He didn't even have to look, recognizing the tone of voice, feeling the familiar shift in the air.
It had been years since Justus had been this close to his sister Asteria, but he'd never forgotten anything about her.
Justus kept his eyes on Phaedra, his hand tight around his glass as she was swallowed whole by the crowd. He kept trying to catch her eye, but he was invisible even to her. Maybe if things were different, he could fend the crowd off and they could dance the night away just as they had back home. But those nights were gone, and the Capitol didn't want to give up their shiny new toy.
"It's my fault you're here, isn't it?" Asteria asked quietly, following his gaze. "Dad couldn't be content with just one Victor, so he packed up and moved Districts to get a fresh start. I began something, and now you're the one that has to finish it."
"It's not your fault," Justus mumbled quietly, finally dragging his eyes away from Phaedra to take a sip of his drink. "It was… inevitable. He's always been insatiable, and I was his last chance at everything. If it wasn't this, it would have been something else."
Out of the corner of his eye, Justus saw her lift a hand as if to pat him on the shoulder, but it wavered in the air before she lowered it. "I believe in you," she muttered. "I always have, Justus; if I can get home, you can too."
Justus had to swallow the lump in his throat, ignoring the way his eyes were beginning to prickle. He'd always longed for the chance to see Asteria again, but not like this. He didn't want to say hello only to say goodbye again, this time…
"I missed you," he said instead, feeling like a child again. This time, he was the one that needed comfort, but there was none to be found. He wondered if his mother could see him now, if she'd collapse to the floor and weep over him leaving just as she had for Asteria.
If he came back, would he look like the moon too?
"I sent you letters," Justus said, thinking about all the times he'd tried to write to Asteria, and all the times he'd heard nothing in return. "Why didn't you ever answer?"
At that, she frowned. "What do you mean?"
Pausing, Justus looked up at her. "All the letters I sent you after I got into Mirador, why didn't you answer them?"
Something in Asteria's face changed, tightening as if she had an unpleasant thought. "None of your letters went unanswered," she said quietly. "I assumed you were the one that stopped writing to me. I heard about everything… your swift love for Wyverna overpowered by your overwhelming love for Phaedra, the Cardiff incident and everything that came after, the Fortuna Equestris..."
Swallowing hard, Justus noticed that his sister's eyes were filled with tears, recognizing that his own vision was beginning to blur. "You… you did?"
Asteria made a soft noise resembling a sob, reaching out to stroke Justus's hair. "Of course I did. I'd never leave you in the dark, I hope you know that."
"Then why…?" As Justus trailed off, he could clearly envision his own father intercepting the letters, though he couldn't fathom why. "Father?"
"That's my only guess," Asteria said gravely.
Silence fell between them for a moment before Justus sniffled. "I'm glad I got to see you again," he choked out, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around her.
She didn't hesitate before returning the hug, and Justus could only squeeze his eyes shut and pretend like everything was fine. They'd see each other again soon enough. He just had to focus on the present.
"Come back to me," she whispered in his ear.
He didn't know how long they stayed like that before separating, Justus immediately swiping at his damp eyes. As if on instinct, he searched for Phaedra again, seeing her tight smile as she tried to interact with everyone around her. Justus could instantly tell she was overwhelmed, and as if by a miracle, she looked over and met his gaze.
Help me.
Following his gaze, Asteria patted his shoulder. "Go to her," she encouraged. "I'll be waiting for you."
Justus took a few steps in the direction of Phaedra before turning back. "I love you," he said over the noise of the crowd, staring at Asteria as if this was about to be his last time seeing her.
She smiled and nodded, her cool blue eyes still misty. "I love you too, Justus."
After that, he took off through the crowd, weaving past people in an attempt to get back to Phaedra. People seemed to sense his desperation and moved out of his way this time, and it was far easier to sidle up next to her.
"May I have this dance?" Justus asked, extending a hand for Phaedra to take, cutting into whatever conversation the Capitolites were trying to drag her into.
She regarded his hand as if it was a lifeline, instantly placing her hand in his. "I'd like nothing more."
As they moved away from the crowd, hand in hand, all Justus could think was that he couldn't possibly be a disappointment, not to the ones that mattered most.
Shai Kingston, 18
District One Male
God, there were parts of the Capitol that Shai just adored.
One couldn't even hold a candle to the grandeur of the Capitol, with its tall buildings and flashy lights that could be viewed out of the wall of windows, letting in the light of a dying sunset barely peeking over the horizon. The floor was made of marble, the ceiling high and scattered with lights, a lone chandelier hanging from the center of the room. The screens had again changed, no longer depicting solely scores but offering up highlights of each tribute thus far with their score pictured next to them.
The Capitol also gave him access to sponsors, who fawned over him and his score of 9 and predicted placement of 3. While he appreciated the attention, he also felt the need to escape them and their constant questions every now and again. Fortunately, it was easy enough to duck into a corner to take a drag from his device before shoving it back into his pocket. In all, Shai couldn't resist the way he was absolutely thriving, a stark contrast to most of his allies.
Alila and Makani kept pairing off, ditching the rest of them as soon as scores dropped. Phaedra had been swept away by the crowd and he was pretty sure Justus was entirely losing it. If his sister hadn't shown up, Shai might've wandered over to take advantage of the situation, but for now he was content to sit back and watch. Kano, on the other hand, just looked… irritated.
So you could say it was a good day for Shai.
He wasn't necessarily surprised by his score and placement, but he also figured that he was risking a fair amount by making that bet with Kano, which is part of why he went for it. But no one really cared about a 9, no matter how good it was, when there was a 12 wandering around. To the Capitol, she was a symbol of something great, something to be admired, but all she'd done to her fellow tributes was instill fear and resentment, which would continue to build until she couldn't handle it anymore.
Shai almost wanted to go talk to whoever was in charge of scores, just to tell them he approved of their methods.
Blowing out another puff of smoke, Shai shoved his device in his pocket before meandering back out into the crowd, throwing out a few smiles and waves whenever someone decided to look his way. It was almost frustrating, the way every tribute had been eclipsed by Phaedra Nikostratos, but surely there was a way for him to come out on top in the end anyway.
"There you are," Kano said, appearing out of the crowd in his deep blue suit, tie missing and shirt partially unbuttoned as if whoever had dressed him wanted him to give off vibes that screamed he didn't care.
"Aw, were you looking for me?" Shai teased. "Did you miss me?"
"You, pretty boy?" Kano laughed to himself. "Never."
Shai lifted a hand to his head dramatically. "Oh how you wound me!"
"Shut up," Kano muttered, gripping his arm and dragging them off to the side when a few Capitolites surrounding them started staring in their direction.
Laughing as he got dragged away, Shai protested lightly with a, "Getting handsy now, are we?"
"Don't you have a favor to call in?" Kano asked, ignoring him in favor of rolling his eyes, pausing once they were more out of the way.
Shai just laughed and looped an arm around his shoulders. "Aw, you're getting antsy already, huh? There's still interviews and the whole night before that I could take advantage of."
Scoffing, Kano shoved him aside. "Quit fucking around."
That brought a smile to Shai's face, relentless even as he tried to hide it behind a hand. He was more than used to the stench of failure by now, but it was rolling off of Kano in waves right now. God, it was just so easy to get under his skin, to rile him up until he was on the verge of snapping before backing off and acting like nothing had happened. It made him remember why he'd instantly latched onto Kano; he saw in the Four boy the one thing that had followed Shai around his whole life.
"Aw, don't be like that," Shai said, brushing something invisible off of his shoulder. "Learn to lighten up a bit."
"I am perfectly light," Kano said through gritted teeth.
Shai couldn't help but laugh at that. "You're wound up tighter than Justus and he looks like he's about to implode."
Before Kano could say anything in response, Shai held up a hand to stop an Avox wandering by. He grabbed two of the drinks balanced on their tray and held one out to Kano, who just stared at him blankly. With a sigh, Shai took a sip before raising his eyebrow, signaling Kano to take it.
"Whatever," he muttered before grabbing it and drinking nearly half of it in one go.
Hiding his smirk behind his glass, Shai took another sip. It was ridiculously easy to mess around with someone like Kano, but he still had to figure out what exactly to use that favor for, how exactly to push Kano's buttons. Nothing too drastic, just enough to confuse him. With the Games looming on the horizon, he did actually think that this was the best time to cash in his favor, as he fully intended to go to bed early the night before and get plenty of sleep in preparation. Not that Kano needed to know that, of course. Shai just wanted to keep him on his toes.
The two stood quietly as Shai waited for Kano to at least finish his drink, hoping that would make him chill out. He nodded his head along to the music as he thought about his favor, noting that the lights were getting progressively dimmer through the night.
A light tug on his sleeve made Shai whip his head around, raising an eyebrow as Estelle stared at him with a frown. She meant well, certainly, but she was a constant nagging thorn in Shai's side that he couldn't seem to get rid of. It was as if she couldn't get the hint that Shai was playing the game by his rules and no one else's.
With a sigh, he let himself be led to the side, the music starting to get fainter as a Capitolite said something into a microphone that led to cheers and applause. All at once, the lights dimmed even more, and Shai had to squint to follow Estelle, nearly running over a tiny redhead before a much taller blonde boy managed to tug him out of the way.
"At least play nice for the night," Estelle pleaded as soon as they got out of earshot of any other tributes.
He crossed his arms at that, finally pulling away from her. "What do you care? You're not even my mentor."
Biting her lip, Estelle's eyes scanned the crowd. "Asteria's been… off today. I'm picking up the slack for her. I'd assumed you would appreciate it, but maybe I was wrong."
With a sigh, Shai tilted his head to the side to mimic her, indicating that he was listening. "Well? I'd love to hear your advice, dearest not-mentor of mine."
Though she bristled at the lack of any real interest in his tone, Estelle just sighed and rubbed her temples. "I'm the one that got you your…" she gestured vaguely, "vape or whatever because you said you needed it to calm your nerves. Can't you just go dance or something like everyone else here?"
"Oh, so I owe you for that, huh?" Shai mused to himself. "Why are you so intent on me 'playing nice' for the evening?"
"Sponsors everywhere are interested solely in the girl from Two," Estelle whispered fiercely. "They don't care that you're predicted third or that you got a nine, all they care about is that damn twelve. Ditch Kano for now and find a way to follow the spotlight, get some attention back on you."
Perplexed by her relentless determination, Shai let out a hum. "So you want me to find a way to get back in the spotlight," he drawled. "Is that all?"
Pinching the bridge of her nose between her fingers, Estelle managed a sigh. "If you keep latching onto Kano like a leech, you could end up tearing the pack in half before you milk her sponsorship money dry. If it's her money, it'll still be tied to the alliance until those signed papers are nothing but meaningless scraps. The Twos are aiming to get on their own as soon as things are looking rough, and they'll leave the rest of you out to dry if you aren't careful."
Though she meant well, Shai couldn't help but feel the slightest bit insulted that she didn't think he'd already walked all of this through himself. It was simple, really. He'd spent the first couple of days testing the waters before going back to his usual calm, collected self, letting everyone else sink into a false sense of security before he turned the water up to boiling in the Games. Shai had thought it all through, figured out everyone's plan for the Games.
Of course the Twos were going to split off. Why else would they gun for Justus, who was more helpless than anyone had guessed, to be leader of the pack? Why else would they band together and insist on "becoming a team," all the while keeping themselves at arms length?
He could see it now, the way they'd leave one night under the cover of darkness, too good natured to do anything more than take their own share of the supplies. There'd be no use in tracking them down, as they'd be prepared for a fight instead of a reunion.
But putting all of that aside, Shai just gave Estelle a relaxed smile. "You mentioned dancing?" he asked, ignoring the rest of what she'd said.
Her lips pursed as she nodded, clearly too stressed out for what was supposed to be a fun and eventful evening. "Just… don't make things worse for yourself."
Offering her a playful salute, he winked and started heading back to where he'd left Kano. Her lack of faith in him was unsettling at best and insulting at worst, but he just shrugged it off. He didn't need someone else to step in and tell him how to do his job.
Thankfully, Kano had drained his glass and had shoved his hands into his pockets, watching the crowd around him. His pose was far more relaxed than before, and Shai couldn't help but grin.
"Feeling better?" Shai asked as the music picked back up with an old, slower number that had been around for years.
Kano didn't even startle, just giving Shai a grin. "Much. I guess I was a little more tightly wound than I realized."
Tapping his foot, Shai smirked as he saw some of the partygoers around him begin to pair up. He figured now was as good a time as ever to cash in that favor.
Holding out a hand for Kano expectantly, Shai said, "Join me."
Apprehension flickered across Kano's face for the first time as he stayed an arms length away. "I have a boyfriend."
Letting out a dry laugh, Shai shook his head. "Believe me, if I was flirting with you, you'd know."
That seemed to be enough to assuage his worries, as Kano relaxed enough to take Shai's hand. Carefully, he led Kano towards the center of the room, closer to where the Twos were already swaying together, eyes closed and occasionally whispering to each other, desperate to avoid the spotlight.
A prickle on the back of his neck told Shai that he was being watched, so he lifted his head to see Estelle again. She had a contemplative frown on her face again, but Shai just shot her an easy grin.
See? it seemed to say. I've got this all under control.
Crush Xing, 17
District Twelve Female
If Crush squinted, she could pretend like the figures in front of her were sculptures acting out a lively scene. They mingled together in the center of the room, some dancing and drinking while others chattered away. She didn't fully understand why she had to be here, but when she caught sight of Makani in a light blue and purple dress, she figured she could stay for at least a little bit.
Leaning back against the wall, she instinctively sought out the source of her inspiration once more, trying to dedicate everything to memory so she could make a drawing of this later. Never had a creation consumed her as much as this one, but Crush was never one to shy away from being consumed by her work. It was merely a sign that she was on the verge of a breakthrough, something that would change her art forever.
There was nothing like an artist pursuing the means to make their art perfect. Crush would know that better than anyone.
She didn't care all that much about scores, so she barely flinched when the crowd had muttered amongst themselves at the news of her 4. The perfectionist in her wanted to rage, to show them all that she deserved nothing but the best, but she had to hold herself back. That wasn't her true goal, after all. They'd all see in the end.
They didn't know what real art was, anyway.
The occasional Capitolite tried to approach her, but it only took a look from her for them to scurry away, fear flickering across their faces. There must've been something that kept drawing them back to her, like an artist drawn back to their creation, mindless and insistent. She didn't pay them any mind, however. She distantly remembered her mentor trying to plead with her that interviews were tomorrow night and she should really be more invested in making a good impression, but what did the Crush Xing have to prove to anyone but herself?
Glancing down at her hands, she pulled her old piece of marble out of her pocket, frowning as she took a moment to scrape off a fleck of old dried blood. Her prep team would probably have a heart attack when they saw she'd ruined her nails again, but the thought made Crush's lips twitch up in a smile as she started grating the marble against her nails.
At least they'd done her the favor of getting her pants to wear for this occasion. Favor was probably a strong word, considering she'd nearly torn the dress they presented her with to shreds, so these slate grey pants and plain white shirt were something of a last minute compromise.
She wasn't as grand as some of the other tributes here, but Crush was comfortable and her simplistic style was clearly superior anyway. Her sculptures didn't need any accessories, so why did she?
Then again, her sculptures had never been perfect. But maybe that was just Crush's subject matter - perhaps the citizens of Twelve couldn't hope to compare to someone that looked as if she was born from the sea itself. Attempting to carve a creature such as that… only a true master could achieve that, and Crush was determined to fully encapsulate it in her work.
That was all she wanted, after all: to be a master of her craft.
Some might strive for material things, but Crush would never lower herself to sculpt for something as insignificant as money or fame. They were inconsequential, worthless aspirations, something anyone could achieve. And Crush was not just anyone; even the most famous artists could only aspire to be what Crush was, to do what Crush could do. Her creation yesterday was a rushed rough draft, but the real thing?
No one would forget the name Crush Xing.
Making her way over to the bar area, Crush grabbed a drink, watching as the small boy from Nine threw back a shot of something before walking off into the crowd, completely unbothered. She hummed and took a sip of her own drink, watching as he strolled up to the One girl, who looked surprised by his intrusion. Crush cocked her head to the side before shrugging. At least that got the One girl out of the way so Crush could watch Makani.
Frowning, Crush realized that she'd lost track of her muse. The crowd had clumped together, pairing off to dance.
Maybe this was the time for Crush to make her exit.
"Hello again, Crush."
Her head spun around quickly, and Crush took an instinctive step back when she saw the person that had haunted her every thought since the chariots a few days ago. It had to have been lifetimes since then, as no one could ever compare to the muse she'd chosen now. How were they ever sufficient?
This close, Crush couldn't help but swallow hard, her words sticking in her throat. Makani just smiled at her, an otherworldly being that Crush longed to carve the likeness of.
Realizing that she was beginning to stare, Crush finally forced out, "Hi Makani."
The other girl's face brightened. "You learned my name!"
How could she not? How could Crush meet the most exceptional creature she'd ever seen and not learn her name? Crush remembered the barest whispers of an old tale about a woman that came out of the seafoam, the most beautiful goddess of them all, and that's what Makani had to be. Nothing else could explain her delicate features and the way she moved so gracefully.
It was unusual for her to be this poetic, even in her own mind, as words were never her strong suit, but Makani's influence was something else entirely. She was a drug, one that Crush was addicted to, one that Crush wanted to show to the entire world and yet keep to herself. Makani was her masterpiece, her untapped potential, and she was practically itching with the urge to create a likeness of her.
Slowly, Crush nodded after she realized she'd probably been quiet for too long.
"It's much quieter back here," Makani said, clearly intent on carrying on a conversation with Crush, who was feeling more and more out of her element.
"Fewer people," Crush muttered under her breath. "They're all annoying."
Makani let out a laugh at that, the sound musical as it traveled through the air. Crush wished she could learn how to carve that noise into stone, but for now she'd simply commit it to memory and hope to find a way to capture it later.
"You're not much for crowds, are you?" she asked curiously. "I guess I should've guessed, since I noticed you haven't picked up any allies."
Her heart stuttered at that, bewildered that Makani had noticed something about her. It seemed too good to be true, that Makani paid her even the slightest bit of attention, and yet…
"I work best on my own," Crush said, her voice gruff as she spoke.
"What about the Six girl?" Makani tapped her fingers on the bar counter. "She came up and asked you personally."
Crush frowned as she thought back to the one person that had bothered to interrupt her during training. "I'm particularly uninterested in a large alliance."
"That's fair. Sometimes mine can be… overwhelming at times."
Though Crush didn't say anything in return, she merely raised an eyebrow in an attempt to prompt Makani to continue.
Makani sighed and leaned against the bar, raking a hand through her hair. "Kano, my District partner, is nice but Shai keeps getting him riled up over minor things. The Twos are wonderful people, really, but it's clear they have a lot going on individually, not even considering the fact that they're in a relationship. And Alila is hardworking and the most level-headed of the bunch, but… there's something going on, I just don't know what."
Unable to help herself, even though she already knew the answer, Crush asked, "Where'd the One girl even go?"
Humming to herself, Makani looked around the room before pointing out the One girl, who was dancing with the Nine boy, both of them holding themselves as far away from the other as they could. It looked like they were quietly conversing, though Crush couldn't imagine what they could possibly be talking about.
"He came up and asked to speak with her," Makani muttered. "She looked plenty surprised, so I don't think she knew it was coming. If I hadn't spent most of training with her, I'd suspect something like a secret alliance, but I don't think it's anything like that."
Mulling it over, Crush wasn't sure either. She'd never seen the One girl as anything more than a diligent worker, one perhaps with a stick up her ass, so it wouldn't make any sense for her to betray her allies.
"... Why are you telling me this?" Crush finally asked, grateful but wary.
At that, Makani finally looked up to regard her, tilting her head to the side. "It's nice to talk to someone different for a change. There's something about you that's just… refreshing."
Crush's stone heart fluttered at that, and she bared her teeth in something she hoped resembled a smile. Based on Makani's giggle, she figured she didn't come close, but at least she got to hear that laugh again.
All of a sudden, Makani's whole demeanor changed. Her spine stiffened as her eyes locked onto something behind Crush, her hand clenching into a fist on the table. Crush started turning her head to look and see what was behind her, but Makani put a hand on hers.
"Would you mind dancing with me? Please?"
She tried to keep her breathing under control at the feeling of Makani's hand on hers again, relishing in the sensation of her soft hand on Crush's own callused one. Crush couldn't manage anything more than a faint nod, letting Makani tug her away from the bar and into the crowd.
Now that Crush had a chance to let her eyes wander, she did, and she caught sight of what she was pretty sure was a Victor from Four, who watched the two of them as they disappeared into the middle of the crowd. Crush suddenly recalled her Mentors whispering about the two sets of Victor siblings they had this year and concluded that Makani must've been one of those.
Once Makani had determined that they were a sufficient way into the crowd, she let go of Crush's hand, looking her over. "You've never danced before, have you?"
Wordlessly, Crush shook her head, choosing instead to watch as Makani picked up both of her hands, holding one while she put the other on her side, just below her ribcage. Makani put her own hand on Crush's shoulder, breathing a quiet sigh of relief.
In the background, the music was somber and forlorn, a longing that Crush could feel deep within her. It was quiet, weaving between the dancing tributes and Capitolites alike as they chatted and danced, captivating enough that the constant lull of voices were beginning to quiet as the song went on.
"Thanks," Makani breathed, tilting her head back to look up at Crush. Her lashes brushed against her cheeks as she closed her eyes for a moment. "I hope this isn't too much of a bother."
"Not at all," Crush replied in a hoarse voice.
Crush looked away, staring at some of the other people's feet to try and get an idea of what she was supposed to do. Dancing was about as foreign a concept to her as studying, so she was very clearly out of her comfort zone. Luckily, most people just seemed to be swaying in place, not imaginative or talented enough to do anything more.
Smugly, Crush recalled that One was lauded for being some kind of dancer, but she was nowhere to be found, not when Makani really needed her. Crush had been there, though, and knew she'd be riding this high all the way into the Games.
There wasn't anything Crush could say to help this situation, considering she didn't know what the situation was, but Makani seemed more than willing to accept the peace and quiet she was offering.
As for Crush, she was trying to memorize every detail. Any good piece of art could convey more than the surface suggested, and she aimed to do exactly that. These encounters with Makani would only heighten her art, adding a new level to what was there before.
The music crescendoed to its peak before ceasing all at once, leaving a stark silence in its wake. Then, just as Crush was beginning to worry that something was happening, it started up again, playing the final melancholy notes of a broken heart, a lost soul. The sound made Crush think of her mother once again, attempting to conjure even a single memory of her face, only for her memory to come up blank, just as it always did.
Makani released her hand and took a step back, applauding as everyone else did. Crush couldn't bring herself to do the same, still stunned by what this evening had turned into.
She was beyond glad that she'd stayed.
"Thank you again," Makani said as a faster paced song picked up. "I think I'm done for the night, but just… thank you."
Crush nodded, trying to clear her head for long enough to formulate a coherent response. "Of course," she ended up saying to an empty space in front of her.
Of course. After all, she'd do anything for her muse. It was her sole goal now to learn her, inside and out, and to capture her in stone. She craved her tools and the chance to begin now, but Crush had to hold herself back.
The best masterpieces came with time.
i am so sorry. anyway scores:
alila - 10, 2nd
shai - 9, 3rd
phaedra - 12, 1st
justus - 5, 12th
kyra (only relevant cus people mention it) - 1, 24th
merix - 3, 21st
makani - 7, 7th
kano - 9, 4th
eleanor - 5, 13th
nash - 7, 8th
imperia - 6, 11th
jude - 4, 17th
jack - 6, 9th
lilith - 8, 6th
thay - 8, 5th
teagan - 3, 20th
crush - 4, 15th
yes justus only mentioned the main cast ft. kyra. no one else is relevant i swear.
~de laney is out