Breaking Point Sextet V
Love: The 75th Hunger Games
Chapter Eleven
District 4 Justice Building Scene
A/N: It's four time, now in chapter eleven… maybe I should've delayed it so that it'd be in chapter fourteen, but oh well. Anyway, onward!
Nerys Pacifica –18- -D4- POV
Well, this is just… terrible. Let's see, I've been Reaped for the Games I thought I had succeeded at avoiding, and now I've also gotten Hal Reaped… which means that while I'll at least get some time to beg and plead my case, he'll probably hate me for tossing him in a year early. Oh, and only one of us can win… yep, delightful.
My parents walk in. "Hello, Nerys," Father says, "I suppose at least this is finally a good opportunity for you to bring us glory… although I know it's not what you wanted." No kidding.
"I'm… sorry, Nerys," Mother says. "I… don't particularly know what to say, but I am sorry. I hope you come back."
Father nods. "If you can use that relationship you had with Hal to manipulate him, you should do that."
Mother nods. "That sounds like a good plan."
"I, uh… thanks, guys," I say. I don't want to say that I don't think I could ever manipulate Hal, and I do want to come back, so… yeah, fun. "I, uh, love you guys."
"We love you too," Mother says. Father nods.
"I suppose we should be heading out, a couple of your… friends are waiting," Father says. Now Mother nods, and then they leave.
"Bye, guys!" I say. Wow, they didn't even give me a hug.
Finnian and Deria come in. Finnian gives me a hug. "Nerys… I'm sorry this happened to you." Mmm, he feels good… I suppose that's one of the reasons I did what I did. But Hal would feel better, I'm sure. He pulls back from me, and smiles. "I suppose now at least you'll get to see the Capitol." He's joking, trying to make me feel better. And it's working.
I laugh. "I suppose so, in all it's glory for a few days, before they force me into… well, you know."
He nods. "Yeah… I'm sorry, Nerys."
"Hey, it's not your fault, you didn't make get Reaped," I say.
"Maybe so, but he can still be sorry," Deria says. "Just like I am. Come here." I do, and she gives me a hug as well.
"Exactly," Finnian says. "We're sorry for the situation, not cause we did anything to cause it… as far as you know."
I laugh. "Thanks for coming, guys."
"Of course," Deria says. "We're your friends… and as your friend, I think I should give you some advice."
"What's that?" I ask.
"Well… about Hal… I think you should drop it," she says. "I think even risking an alliance would be risky. You might… think you love him, but all he'll see is that you've dragged him into this after cheating on him, he's not going to be happy, you should probably try to avoid him."
"I… Ido love him, Deria," I say, "but… you do have a point… I'm going to try to ask him first, but… if he turns it down, I won't… follow him around to try to protect him, or something."
She sighs, and nods. "I suppose that's the best I can ask for."
Finnian nods. "You should definitely… not be around him if he doesn't want to. He's been training for longer than you, he's dangerous, and… well, like Deria said, whether or not it's right, he's kinda angry at you."
I nod. "I'll keep that in mind, guys… thanks for the advice… and for still being my friends."
"Of course," Deria says, "as your friend, I have to give you advice, and as for being your friend… well, I know you're not that bad of a person, you're just working through some things," she shrugs, "like everyone does."
Finnian chuckles. "Considering I'm why everybody views you the way they do, it would be kinda terrible of me to abandon you… not like I didn't know you were in a relationship."
I smile. "Group hug before I go?"
They smile and oblige. "Well, I guess we should get going, then," Deria says. "Good luck, Nerys."
"Yeah, good luck," Finnian says. "We'll see you in a week or so."
They leave, and I return to sitting on the stool. As I sit there, some of the energy they had given me fades away… what if Hal does want to kill me? What will I do then? Can I fight him? Can I hurt him? Can I… if it's between my survival and his, what will I do? And what about the other Tributes? I haven't trained in a year! What if there are more people like Hal, actual careers? How can I survive then? How did this happen? I thought I was safe! I thought -
"Ma'am, it's time to go," a Peacekeeper's smooth intonations interrupt my inner spiral.
"Oh, uh… okay," I say, and stand up. My hands are shaking, and I clasp them behind my back. I know there will be cameras soon. I can't show weakness to anybody.
Halian "Hal" Maui –17- -D4- POV
Well, this is… I mean, not as bad as it would be for some people, I suppose. After all, I have been training for years for this… I would prefer to have done it on my own terms, and not with such a… Nerys as my District partner, but still. I can do this, I can win the Hunger Games. I just need to stay focused.
The Peacekeepers take me to the Justice Building, thankfully away from Nerys. I wonder who will come see –
"Hal!" Mom shouts as she comes into the building, and runs to me, wrapping her arms around me. I hug her back. "Oh my goodness, I can't believe this happened… you, going into the Games, a year early too… and all because of that cheater!"
She couldn't have summarized my thoughts better, honestly. "I know, Mom, I know," I say, "but I can win this, I have been training for years, after all."
"I'm sure you can, Hal," Dad says, coming to join Mom and I, and putting a hand on both of our shoulders as Mom pulls away a bit. "You're strong, intelligent, and prepared, you'll do well. But be careful, Nerys is going to try to manipulate you."
"I know," I say. "She's been trying to manipulate me in one way or another since she cheated… maybe before that. I won't let her get to me though."
He nods. "That's good, son…" he seems to consider, and then hugs, bringing me and a teary Mom together as well. "I love you, Hal, you'll do well."
Mom sniffles a little. "You can do this, Hal… it's what you've always wanted, and I believe in you." She tries to smile at me.
I return the smile, or at least try to. "Thanks, Mom, Dad, I love you guys too, and don't worry, I have every intention of winning this and coming back."
Dad nods. "I'm sure you will… now, I think we should be going… you have quite the lineup of friends who want to talk to you, and only a few minutes."
I nod. "Thanks for coming to see me… bye, guys, for now. Love you."
"Love you too," Mom responds, and Dad nods, and silently leads her out. I feel bad for her, she was always worried about losing me… and now it's happened, without her having had any time to prepare. But I'll come back, for her.
My usual gaggle of friends comes in as they leave – Kale, Paulina, Ross, even Teresa and Gage. Gage is really a surprise, I don't see him much since he told me Nerys was cheating, he thought both of us were too much drama – can't blame him, honestly.
"Well, the whole gang's here," I smile. "How's it going?"
Teresa, Kale, and Paulina laugh, the other two look depressed.
"I'm sorry this happened, man," Kale says. "This is probably the worst way it could've gone this year."
I nod. "Yeah… Nerys being my partner is not ideal."
"No kidding," Teresa says. "She's… well, you know. She cheated on you and still thinks she's in love with you? You could do so much better than her."
Paulina nods. "Totally. And, yeah… I'm sorry this happened, I know you wanted another year of training."
"I'm sure he'll be fine, right Hal?" Ross asks.
"I'm planning to be fine, yeah," I say. "I'll ignore whatever Nerys throws my way, try to find some stronger allies, if there are any this year, and… win."
"I like that plan," Teresa comments. "We have dinner plans to complete, after all." She's trying to joke, but I can see that she's sad.
"And lunch plans," Paulina adds.
I chuckle. "Sounds like I'll just be caught up in meals when I return home… don't worry, y'all, I'll come home. Now, hugs before I go?"
A few shrugs, and Teresa comes up to me first, hugging me tightly. "Hey… I guess at least this gets it over with a year early, right?"
I nod, and squeeze her back. "Yeah, that's a good way to look at it."
She smiles as she pulls away from me, her eyes teary. "Glad you think so… see you in a week or so, I suppose."
"See you in a week," I smile, and she walks out, wiping her eyes.
Kale comes up next for a hug. "Hey, let's go fishing when you get back too, okay? Maybe you can even get us some beer, a nice preview of the next few years."
I chuckle. "Maybe on the beer, definitely on the fishing."
He smiles. "Awesome, man, I'll see you soon, then. And good luck."
"Thanks," I smile, and he heads out. Maybe back to the docks for some fishing? I'm pretty sure his goal in life is to spend every day doing nothing but fishing. Can't blame him for that either, it's relaxing.
Paulina comes up and gives me a hug. "It feels like this shouldn't hurt so much… you were always going to leave for this, but I just wasn't prepared for it to be this year."
"I know," I nod. "But don't worry, I'll come back, like Teresa said, I'm just getting it out of the way a year early, right?"
"I guess," she smiles a little. "Well, I'm holding you to that… if you don't come back, I'm charging you for making me miss lunch."
I chuckle. "I'll have to make sure to come back, then."
She steps back, but not out of the room, probably to wait for Ross, who comes up and also hugs me. "I really don't know what to say," he says. "Like Paulina said… I shouldn't be hurting, but I'm gonna miss you, even if it is only for a week."
"Don't worry," I say. "It'll only be a week or two… you'll even get to watch me on TV."
He nods. "I suppose so… well, good luck, and… be strong with Nerys, okay? I know the effect she can have on you."
"I will," I say. "Thanks." He nods, and steps back with his twin, and they both leave, leaving me alone with Gage. "Hey, Gage… long time no see."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Gage responds. "The whole thing between you and Nerys is a little much for me… I just can't believe she thinks she loves you."
"I know," I say. "Thanks for telling me about all that though, again… I know it was hard."
He shrugs. "It was the right thing to do… I want you to come back, Hal, but it feels weird knowing the means rooting for somebody I know dying, even if she's not a great person."
"Yeah, I get that… I don't want to kill her, either," I say, "but… well, you can root for her too, I won't hold it against you."
He chuckles a little. "Really? You wouldn't mind if I wanted your cheating ex to live?"
I shrug. "I'd be more concerned if you had no issues with somebody you used to be friends with dying."
"Fair enough," he says. "Well, still… good luck."
"Thanks," I say. "Want a hug?"
"I, uh… sure, I guess," he says. He comes up, and I embrace him, he responds a bit awkwardly, but he still gets his hug. After a few seconds, he breaks away. "I'll be heading out now… see ya, Hal."
"See ya, Gage," I say.
Only a few seconds later, I'm taken towards the train, with the… Nerys who dragged me into all of this against my will. She better not try anything, I'm not going to take it. Just the thought of her trying one of her tricks makes me angry, wiping away the kind of happiness my friends had brought as I remember that I'm going into all this a year early – all because of her.
A/N: Well, another chapter, another District… I suppose, pardoning getting any Tributes before I'm done, Five's next. Thanks to all you wonderful reviewers and submitters! Keep leaving reviews and submitting your Tributes! Also, any predictions for how Nerys and Hal's dynamic will go?
Tribute List:
D1R: Reserved for cupofdeathflowertea
D1L: Reserved for cupofdeathflowertea
D2R: Candence Fellows, 18, by BeeBoo15
D2L: Foxtrot Suevite, 18, by BeeBoo15
D3R: Elara Sora, 14, by Draph
D3L: Yuna Odalis, 14, by Draph
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: Reserved for LeafVines
D9L: Reserved for LeafVines
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