Breaking Point Sextet V
Love: The 75th Hunger Games
Chapter Seven: District Two Reapings
A/N: Thanks to BeeBoo15 for the delightfully interesting Tribute pair featured in this chapter! Also, I still don't own the Hunger Games, and my lawyers have compared me to a 3-year-old asking them "are we there yet?" every five minutes in the car, except that the car is a spaceship trying to go to the edge of the universe.
Cadence Fellowes POV
Block. Redirect. Attack. A sword swings at me from my left. I catch it with that sai, the other's blade falling into the sai's specially designed hilt, captured for me to redirect it, unless my opponent pulls it out in time. They don't, of course. I push that arm, those two blades interlocked, up, and away from me, causing my opponent to stumble back. I stab forward with the one in my right hand. It hits the girl in the stomach, and she steps back, holding her hands up.
"Good job, Cadence," she says. Of course it was. I'm always good. This wasn't for training, I just needed to let some excess energy go before I need to deal with Capitol people. After all, some of them have… very punch-able faces.
"Thanks," I respond, returning the sais to their proper rack before heading into the showering area for a quick shower and a change. Combat clothes won't be appropriate for the Reaping, not for a Volunteer like me. Not that I couldn't fight in a dress, of course, and the one I'm wearing today is one I could easily fight in if I needed too, it doesn't restrict my mobility, there's no way to trip over it, and if it were legal, I could hide a weapon or two, like those sais, underneath. The sai, a beautiful weapon, as effective at catching knives as swords. Of course, not useful against a gun, nobody's catching bullets, but there aren't any guns in the Arena. Well, apart from that one year… but they're not going to do that again, wouldn't be entertaining enough.
Done with the shower, I put on my dress. There's a second where the zipper almost gets stuck in the middle of my back, but I manage to grab it. Of course I did. I pick a piece of lint from the locker room off the dress and look at myself in the mirror. I can see the determination in my hazel eyes, inset into my face, I consider shaving my hair a little shorter, but I don't think I have time for that. It's certainly not long enough to be pulled, so that's good.
Time to head to the Reaping, I suppose. Time to finally volunteer. Do what I've been training for my whole life. This is the last year I can. And I will, Quell twist or no. It's fine, I don't love anyone anyway. They'll just have to Reap a second.
Foxtrot Suevite –18- -D2- POV
"Foxtrot? Foxy, you should get up." Justice's voice, my beautiful wife's voice. And she is beautiful. And my wife. Why did I have to do what I did? Why? I've been awake for the past ten minutes, but it's hard to get up and face her, knowing that she doesn't know what I've done… although she knows something's up. Of course she does.
How will I keep this from her? If her sister does volunteer, and she's wrong about the Capitol, and they take Justice… can I let her die without knowing? And she would die, probably in the first five seconds, she's not the kind of person who could survive the Hunger Games. Not that that's a bad thing, I mean, I love her… well… I mean… do I?
"Ugh," she sighs. "I wish you'd tell me what was going on, you know. I love you, I just wish you'd let me know what was going on so I could help… of course, you aren't awake, so you won't hear this… I guess I'll have to say it again when you are." I feel her lips on mine. I guess now is as good a time as any to get up.
"Mmm, good morning honey," I return her kiss, trying my best to sound happy and peaceful. "Was that you muttering in my dream?"
She smiles. "Probably… hey, can I ask you what was up yesterday? I know we kind of made it better, at least temporarily, but I want to know that you're good… I wouldn't my husband to be unhappy."
I vividly feel the metal of the wedding ring on my finger as I see her long, curly, brown hair, and her hazel eyes staring down at me. "Oh, um, it's…" The truth, that likely destroys this marriage and her life? And might not mean anything depending on what happens today? Or a lie? If… if things go according to Cadence's plan, then she'll go away soon, and it might not matter… she might not come back. Ever. And then what good would it be to have destroyed my relationship with Justice? Especially since she'd need comfort if her sister was dead… and she's lovely enough, I suppose, I did marry her after all, I do love her… I think. So, a lie for now, and if Cadence comes back, then we'll think about the truth. Of course, I don't not want Cadence to come back, that thought… well, that thought makes me sick too, but there's nothing I can do about that. "It was nothing… somebody at the wedding made a bad joke about you that really got to me, sorry."
"Oh," she searches my eyes, probably trying to tell if I'm lying. Well, I am. "Okay then… I don't get why you couldn't have told me this yesterday."
"Well, then we wouldn't have had a fight… and everything after the fight," I respond, trying to sound teasing.
She chuckles, but still looks worried. "Okay then… well, in future, tell me before it turns into a fight, okay?"
I smile. "Of course, my love. I guess we should get heading to the Reaping?"
She nods. "Dressed first, then to the Reaping, and we'll get to see Cadence's big day! Right after mine! I'm so excited for her!" And this is why I don't want to tell her… like I said, maybe it won't end up being a problem. I feel like I'm a horrible person. Well… in fairness, I probably am… but I can't help what I feel.
Cadence Fellowes –18- -D2- POV
I get to the Reaping and take a quick glance around. There's Mom, Peacekeeper Liaison-ing it up with the local Peacekeeper Captain. Woman aren't allowed in the official Corps, which is a stupid decision in my opinion, but in Liaison and certain support positions, they're fine. I guess it's better than nothing, hopefully they'll change it someday. I hear there's some powerful political figure in the Capitol who's a woman, maybe she'll get that changed. Although, sometimes they say that people like mom have more authority than the actual Peacekeepers to change things, I don't know about that, but… well, it's not particularly relevant to me. I'm here today for one reason. Everyone who would care about me already knows where I'm going, I've already said the goodbyes they would have insisted on. Now I just want to get started.
I walk over to my section, standing towards the front and edge, I want to get up there as quickly as I can. I see a glimpse of Justice and Foxtrot coming, nearly late, arm in arm. I shouldn't have done that. At least he didn't blab. Justice never needs to know, it was just one stupid mistake after all. Ah, here's Caity Crane, District Two Escort, now.
"Okay! It's that time of year again! Time for the District Two Reapings! Now, I expect things might be a little different – remember, you can only volunteer for the first Tribute slot this year, and when you come up here, Reaped or Volunteer, you'll have to tell us who you love most so they can join you!" Yeah, that's what she thinks. "Everybody ready?"
It takes a few minutes for all the chatting and such to die down, but once it does, Caity smiles and reaches into the bowl. "The Tribute from District Two is -"
I cut her off with a shout so loud I think I hear it echo off the buildings in the square. "I volunteer as Tribute!"
Caity had clearly not been expecting this, and drops the paper back into the bowl in surprise as I walk up to firmly shake her hand, but she regains her composure quickly, and smiles at me as she shakes my hand. "Hello, young lady. What's your name?"
"Cadence Fellowes," I respond.
"I see," she says. "Well, everyone, say hello to Cadence Fellowes, your volunteer!" There's some applause and cheering, although less than usual. Some people probably think I'm crazy. "And who do you love most, Cadence?"
"No one. I don't love anyone," I say.
Caity checks a tablet on her podium, and that's when I see a screen on the same podium, facing me, displaying a single name. No. They're wrong. I. Don't. Love. Anyone! "Not according to this, dear. It says here that the person you love most is… Foxtrot Suevite! Foxtrot Suevite, please come to the stage."
Foxtrot Suevite –18- -D2- POV
I and Justice barely make it to the Reaping on time… mostly my fault from the sleeping in. Justice didn't even have time to do her makeup, and I feel bad… I mean, if me and Cadence hadn't… that night… then I wouldn't have been pretending to sleep to avoid dealing with her, and we wouldn't have been late. But she says she doesn't mind not having time to put on makeup, that her newlywed glow will be enough.
Anyway, barely squeaking in there, we separate to go to our sections. I see Justice tries to get near her sister, but Cadence isn't paying attention, and it's pretty jam-packed by this point, so she doesn't get far.
Then Cadence volunteers, just as planned. Good for her, and I can't help but smile and clap as Caity announces her the volunteer. It is what she's been training for her whole life, after all, and I like to think that I've helped her with that. If she does win, or even do good, it should cement my position as an academy trainer. At least I'll have a good job to provide for Justice… assuming I don't tell her and she divorces me.
But now comes the tricky part, and I start to feel a little nervous. After all, what if Cadence selects Justice? Or rather, what if the Capitol selects Justice for her? Will they accept just Reaping someone else, or will they take my wife and… Cadence from me?
"No one. I don't love anyone." Cadence says. Now let's see what Caity will say. She's checking a tablet. That's probably not good. Please, just accept that and move on. Accept that and move on, accept that and move on, accept -
"Not according to this, dear." That's not good. It's going to be her sister, it's the only logical choice. Of course she must love Justice somewhat. "It says here, the person you love most is… Foxtrot Suevite!" Wait, what?! She doesn't love me, she doesn't love anybody, and if she did, it'd obviously be her sister, not… me. "Foxtrot Suevite, please come to the stage."
Well, I know enough to know I need to go… how will we explain this to Justice? Or my parents? Heck, I need an explanation! I know we're friends, and after the rehearsal dinner… more than friends, and I know I… well, but she doesn't love me! Not more than her sister… or so I thought.
As I turn around on the stage, I see Justice's face in the crowd. She looks shocked. And sad. And angry… and I can't blame her for any of those emotions. Why oh why did I get involved with this girl?
"The Tributes from District Two are Cadence Fellowes and Foxtrot Suevite!"
Lucy Snow giggled when she watched the District Two Reapings. When all the Tributes submitted the little pieces of paper the day before the Reaping, talking about who they loved most, they had quickly referenced them with Project Insight's predictions, the project of which Lucy was the lead, both because of her interest in the Games, and because it helped her set up her other plans. Most of the time, they matched at least one of Insight's predictions, made from covert surveillance, with the addition of hacking into people's calls, texts, and emails in the more privileged and also more populous Districts. Occasionally, they were just plain wrong, and somebody took a quick look to figure out whether the kid was lying or the system was wrong, determined which one to go with, and put that into the system. But when somebody from District Two said 'no one' and had at least two eligible people, plus was actively planning to Volunteer, Lucy Snow was called in to make a decision. Partially because nobody wanted to make the wrong decision, and partially because everyone who worked for the President's daughter knew it was important to keep her amused, otherwise she might become bored. And that wasn't good for anybody. And they thought she would find this girl very amusing. She did.
A girl who was so confident in herself, in her love of absolutely no one, despite so obviously being in love with this boy, so much that she confided in him and hooked up with him on the night of their wedding (which Lucy figured out after noting that no security footage showed them leaving until later than they should've, and then it showed them together, oh, and then the texts to keep it a secret that were quickly 'deleted' were helpful), was truly amusing to Lucy. Her confidence, her arrogance, such that she would volunteer this year, was amusing, Lucy loved people who thought they could match her might. No, the irony never did occur to her. Also, Lucy was happy at the thought of having someone strong and trained in the Games, it wouldn't have been as much fun without somebody like a career, all those weak kids would be boring.
So, after a good hour or so of detective work, Lucy made her decision, assigned her Foxtrot Suevite, and then hoped she'd volunteer. She was very curious to see what the fallout would be if she did. She also noted that none of the people she was hoping to remain amused by for at least a little bit after the Games would be affected by Operation Mountaintop, so perhaps she'd have some good post-Rebellion-crushing soap opera to amuse her.
A/N: Well, another Reaping done, a career is in the Games! Not one, but two! Well, kinda. Also, another quick look at our favorite psychopathic President's daughter/general. See you all again soon, please continue submitting awesome Tributes!
Tribute List:
D1R: Open
D1L: Open
D2R: Candence Fellows, 18, by BeeBoo15
D2L: Foxtrot Suevite, 18, by BeeBoo15
D3R: Open
D3L: Open
D4R: Nerys Pacifica, 18, by Son of Arryn
D4L: Halian "Hal" Maui, 17, by Son of Arryn
D5R: Daisy Brownstone, 15, by chcolate
D5L: Matilda 'Mattie' Edlington, 17, by chcolate
D6R: Seras Axis, 15, by TheWatcherofTheVoid
D6L: Remington Axis, 18, by TheWatcherofTheVoid
D7R: Rowan Mildberg, 18, by Pengu54324
D7L: Cedar Mildberg, 15, by Pengu54324
D8R: Open
D8L: Open
D9R: Open
D9L: Open
D10R: Gadge Paddet, 17, by Professor R.J Lupin1
D10L: Simon Hazel, 17 by Professor R.J Lupin1
D11R: Open
D11L: Open
D12R: Open
D12L: Open