Gallant Deacon (18) D2M
Some people hit the dummies with the weapon they were best at, pretending they were their enemies in Two, anyone from school bullies to abusive family members. Some people hit the dummies with brand new weapons, ones they had never held, trying to figure out what they were doing in their first week in the Academy. I normally helped the newbies out when I was done training, stalling before I went home, but I still had a couple more hours left before I would give myself a break. After all, the Games would never give me one.
You've gotta be the best, Gal. What's your value if not the top? Never be happy with second. It isn't worthwhile. Who cares who you've beaten if even one person beats you? You worthless piece of crud. Why didn't Vanilla propose to you? You were beaten. Old taunts ran through my head while I trained with my sword, a weapon I was neither great nor terrible at. I was trying to keep faces off the dummies. I didn't want to be some psychopath who wanted to kill my family, even if they were the source of the taunts. I wanted to be a strong gentleman, worthy of everything my parents expected of me, even if part of me knew my parents were wrong to expect so much. It was only part.
"Hey, Gallant! Could you come show Rocky here how to hold a sword? He's new, and you're the best!" Dwayne, a thirteen-year-old, asked me. I had helped him out a little bit in the past, since I was good enough to teach someone the basics. I figured Rocky was probably one of his newbie friends, and I was willing to help him out. Helping was pretty ingrained in me.
"All right, you hold onto the hilt, like this. This is a two-handed sword, so it's gonna be pretty heavy. You got it?" I asked Rocky, making careful eye contact. Look for a bit, break. Look for a bit, break. That was how social situations worked. He gripped the sword, and I helped him move his hands so they were just right for a good swing. Part of me wanted to swing the sword at him, far enough away to miss on purpose, just to see his response, but that would be rude. I wasn't supposed to be rude.
So I did it, making sure not to hit him. It was a small rebellion against my parents, but one nonetheless. It was rude to attack a kiddo. So I did it. Of course, Rocky jumped backwards and threw the sword up, causing a small clash, but it wasn't enough to damage the swords. I smiled at him brightly, knowing my reputation preceded me. I would be seen as being playful. The kid wouldn't be scared at all, and he didn't have to be. I wouldn't hurt a kiddo who had done nothing wrong.
Cassiopeia Palassaqua (17) D2F
Everyone needed a break sometimes. I chose to take mine late a night the day before the Games, cuddling with the love of my life, Magnus. He was more than happy to cuddle with me on the beach, pleased by both the warmth and by my presence. I was sure he was going to miss me when I left, just like I was going to miss him. The Games would be a long break in our relationship, a good time to test its strength. I was sure he liked me, but was it love, or was in infatuation? Kids couldn't always tell, and I was still a kid, really.
"Do you love me, Magnus?" I asked, knowing he would say yes. He always did. He stopped playing with my hair for a second, and I hoped he wasn't hurt that I asked. I just liked to hear it sometimes, especially when I was down, worried that maybe it was a childish relationship.
"Of course I do, Cassiopeia. I promised not to volunteer because of you, remember?" he asked back, teasing a little. He could have volunteered if he really wanted to, but how dumb would that be? Only one person was coming back alive.
"Are you still gonna love me when I'm gone?" I asked, knowing how hard it would be for him to want to stay with me. It was going to be a while that I was gone, at least two weeks, and every moment was going to hurt. I'd have to kill people. I didn't mind the idea yet, or else I wouldn't volunteer, but that didn't mean Magnus wouldn't see me differently when I came back stained with blood.
"Of course I will. I'll never leave you, and I'll never stop loving you, even if the Games go on for a year." Magnus kissed my forehead after saying that, and I knew he thought it was true. I wasn't sure if I could fully trust that. Magnus wasn't lying to me. I believed him. But that didn't mean he wasn't wrong. People were wrong a lot. I was wrong sometimes, friends were wrong sometimes, everyone made mistakes. I just had to hope Magnus wasn't wrong this time. I had to hope the Games weren't my mistake.
"I'll love you forever, too," I said, trying to right any hurt that might have been done by me insisting he reconfirm it. I wasn't entirely sure it was true, but I thought it was. I would love him until one of us died...if what I felt was love. It probably was. We had been dating for years. We were past infatuation. I could read him like the back of my hand, and he could read me. It was love all right.
~I'm not dead~
I finally updated! Boy, it's about time. I'll try not to poof again, but really, no promises. I can promise that this'll get done, I just can't say when.
Important note: This is my last full District! Get in your tributes quickly, please. I'll start PMing individuals soon, and I might write half-Districts or mixed Districts, but it'd still be nicer to have full Districts (or a full story) so we can really kick this thing into gear!