Radian Sempli (16) D3M
I never did like the Reapings. Sure, I didn't mind them as much as some kids did, but that was because it never crossed my mind to worry. I didn't like to worry. Worrying made things so much more frustrating than they had to be, and Three was frustrating enough without making it any worse. With so many things to keep track of, so many codes and things I was expected to memorize, so many patterns I was supposed to be able to catch instantly, I couldn't be bothered to keep up with smaller details like how many slips I had in the Reaping bowl compared to how many there were in total. Someone would get Reaped. It might be me. There was no use in worrying about it.
"Our male tribute this year will be... Radian Sempli!" our escort called out, reading off the name before I could be fully bothered to process that she had spoken. Poor kid. He's probably gonna die. Us Threes don't win often. I guess I'll have to go back to school tomorrow. Or I could skip class. School is so hard. No point in going if I can't learn anything the way they teach it.
After a couple of seconds with no one approaching the stage, I realized all the other sixteen-year-olds were staring at me. I jumped for a second, feeling my train of thought totally switch. No more school. That's kinda nice. Sudden death is less nice. I guess you're kinda screwed. Mom and Dad will worry. Maybe there'll be pre-Dark Days stuff to learn about. I couldn't focus on one particular thought, and soon enough, I wasn't really focusing on anything.
I walked to the stage, hardly aware of it. My movements would likely have felt robotic had I been processing them at all. Huh. So this is shock was the only thought that cut through my mind easily. I had heard of it. Shock was what left people emotionless after their friends died. No one will go through shock due to you. Was that why you were picked? You don't really have friends. Mom and Dad won't like to see you die, but it won't be the end of the world. You weren't a paycheck anyways.
The rest of the Reaping must have passed. A girl was called. I didn't process her. We shook hands. I didn't notice it. We must have, though, since that was protocol. I was far too deep into shock, what must have been shock, to notice everything or anything going on around me. I didn't hear my parents crying, but they must have. I wasn't the most useful, but I wasn't unloved. I didn't hear Pexey crying either, but I never doubted her. My thoughts were confirmed only when my mind cleared enough to show me her tear-stained face.
Lexi Circuit (18) D3F
Each shift was hard work. My muscles ached almost as much as my mind did, struggling against the cries of pain from my arms and the cries of lust from the people in front of me. Still, I had one of the best-paying jobs in Three, and I didn't intend to give it up anytime soon. Sure, it got me dirty looks sometimes, but there was just about no competition. I could ask whatever I wanted with no one else driving down the rates, and I never had to worry that I would get fired. I took my job security and high salary in exchange for people always trying to lower my self-esteem. I could handle it.
Still, as the music came on and I stepped out onto the stage, my makeup lathered onto me, my clothing already painfully tight, I had to steel myself. Then I grabbed onto the pole in front of me, slowly whirling myself around it. Men hooted and howled, some of them already drunk. It was going to be a long night. I was going to try not to think about it. I didn't mind the morality of stripping in a club. It was my body. I'd flaunt if I dang well pleased. I just minded how sore I was bound to be in the morning, and how often my butt was bound to get pinched by a lecherous man.
One person slipped a tip into my bra, the only article of clothing other than panties I still had left, and I showed him extra attention. Supper's going to be good tonight, I thought to myself, happy for both myself and Lyte. He was going to go to college, and I was funding it. He definitely wasn't using me. He loved me. He didn't mind that I always wore pajamas around the house. He just also didn't mind that I could afford to take care of us while he learned how to get a better life. I thought our life was fine. He didn't. Maybe you could get a steak. That was quite the tip.
As much as I valued each tip, and as much as I valued my paycheck, I was glad when I could clock out. I got to put my clothes back on, take off my caked-on face, and walk to the car I drove. A luxury few could afford, for me, it was a necessity. Without it, I was definitely getting raped on the way home. Even with it, I made a dash to it, hoping no one would catch me. Like normal, no one did.
One more shift done. That was all it was to me. To the customers, I was an object. Put in a coin and I did a task. To citizens who knew about my job, I was disgusting. A slut who was useful for nothing but her body. To me, I was a happy girl, willing to live my life however I wanted to keep myself going. It was all good, all fine. I just needed a break now and then. I just wanted a bit of alone time, taking a long way home to buy myself some precious privacy. That was the one thing stripping took from me. I never got to be alone, not unless I was deliberately hiding. So I hid.
Pretty sure no one in their right mind would attack Lexi, pole dancing makes you ripped
Anyways, Reapings are done! Next up is train rides :D So we're moving right along!