"Immortals"

A/N: And here are are the District 1 dummies, starring May and Prestige! So a heads up about pre-games and how they're gonna run in TTS. This is definitely a very games-centered story, I plan on really giving the arena time to breathe and develop arcs there, so there's less need to go OD with how much pre-games stuff I write. That combined with the fact that most of them are all in the same career alliance and getting plenty of screentime in other ppls POVs, and that means you can probably expect the average POV to be closer to 1-1.5k then 2.5-3k like I might normally do.

~I'm still comparing your past to my future

It might be your wound, but they're my sutures~

May Redding

The train is quiet. Everything after the reapings has been, from the moment that they ushered us off stage and into the Justice Center. It wasn't until I was waiting there in the quiet that I noticed how much my hands were shaking, or how loud my heartbeat was to my ears. A couple of friends came to say goodbye, but I've already forgotten what any of them said to me.

The escort ushers me through the cars by herself, quickly separating Pierre from me and sending him through another door where I catch a glimpse of Prestige lounging on a couch before the door shuts behind him. I'm sat in the dining room, and the escort tells me to wait there before disappearing and leaving me alone with just my thoughts.

I'm wandering around the room, poking at portraits and statues when Galavant storms through the door, Melody and Glory walking slowly after him. Gal looks mad, which is hardly surprising, but Melody and Glory are unexpected. They aren't even supposed to be here. The two stop short in the living room, and Gal closes the door shut behind him, leaving just the two of us.

"Do we always greet our volunteers by sticking them into a random room by themselves?" I ask. "I thought the escort would at least tell me her na-"

"What the hell were you thinking?" Gal demands, slamming a hand loudly onto the countertop.

"You don't have to yell," I murmur quietly, slinking into a seat.

"Maybe I should've done a lot more yelling," he says, but his voice is quieter as he drags a hand down his face. "God, May, what's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?"

"I told you not to volunteer."

"You don't get to tell me if I get to volunteer or not, I-"

"I'm your father, yes, I do."

I push away from the table, arms crossed over my chest. "You volunteered, but when it comes to me I don't get to choose for myself?"

"I wish that I could go back and slap my idiotic, egotistical self that volunteered and stop him from making that mistake, but that isn't an option."

"You always say that!" I exclaim, and now I'm on my feet, looking up at Gal from across the table. "But it isn't true. You won! You got a house in Victor's Village, and more money than you could ever spend, and the whole Capitol loves you, and-"

"And none of that is worth it," he replies darkly.

"None of it?"

He narrows his eyes. "None of it."

I try to quirk a smile, but it falls on my lips every time I try to force it up. "You never would've adopted me if you didn't volunteer."

He doesn't even wince, his eyes still locked with mine, something dark and painful shaking in the darkness of his pupil. "I know."

"You're just trying to be mean now," I spit. "You just think I'm a little kid still. You don't even trust me."

"Of course I don't trust you, why should I?" He demands. "Did you even think about what this is doing to Glory and Mel? They're both worried sick for you."

I shake my head. "I know they're worried, but they're gonna be fine."

"They're gonna be fine?" He asks incredulously.

"Yes!" I exclaim, and now it's my turn to slap the table with my palm in frustration. "This is exactly what I'm talking about, you think that I'm gonna lose. But I'm not, I know that I'm not."

"Let me count how many dead kids have told me that in this same exact train," he says, his voice hoarse.

I push away from the table again, turning away from Gal and facing the window. "I'm. Not. Like them."

"No, you're right, you're not. They at least had an excuse for being so stupid." The window is fogged, and I can just barely watch Gal's reflection as he turns from me and walks out the room, the door sliding shut behind him.

"Ugh," I moan, dropping lazily back into one of the chairs and leaning my head over the edge so that I'm staring up at the chandelier-covered ceiling. The dining room suddenly feels cold, and I tuck my hands into the sleeves of my shirt and hug my chest. "Jackass," I murmur.

The insult comes out weakly though, more like a weak whisper croaking through my lips. I knew that he'd be upset, he's always saying 'next year' but I know that he never really wanted me to volunteer. He wanted me to never grow up, never do anything but stay bundled up and safe. I knew he'd be mad when I pushed back against that. I just didn't expect it to be that bad.

Whatever. He doesn't have to believe in me. I'll just go and make him look like an idiot when I win the Games, just like he did. And in a couple of weeks we'll be back home in Victor's Village and I'll get to make fun of him for ever worrying in the first place. Who knows, maybe Glory or Prestige will talk to him and make him realize how stupid he's being before then.

It doesn't matter though. I was hoping that he would believe in me, but I don't need him. I already know everything I need to. Nobody else here is more ready than I am, and nobody here will be able to stand a chance against me. This is my year to be a victor, my turn to be the one on the front of all the magazines and getting all the interviews that get replayed on television all year long.

I hop up to my feet, a carefree smile finding its way back onto my lips as I slide my way over to the door to search for Pierre and whoever is gonna be willing to mentor me without giving me a lecture every other sentence. Prestige, probably.

May Redding, victor of the One-Hundred and Fifth Hunger Games. It has a nice ring to it. "May Redding, victor of the One-Hundred and Fifth Hunger Games," I say to myself as I walk the now-empty hall. My smile widens. Yeah, I could get used to that.

Prestige Freeman

"So. . ." I trail off, looking him up and down awkwardly. "They call you Achilles, huh?"

He smirks that cocky smirk of his, not so subtly flexing his muscles as he leans back into his chair. "Among other things."

"You'll have to tell me a few of them sometime," I say drolly. Even while lounging back in his seat Pierre's height is still staggering, especially compared to me. He must have a full foot of height on me, and while he's not the bulkiest tribute we've ever had, I've seen him enough at the academy to know he can go toe to toe with the biggest of the Goliaths. He's Galavant's retirement plan to hear him talk about the guy, and it isn't hard to tell why. And now here I am, mentoring him in Gal's place with the vague feeling that I shouldn't be helping him at all considering who the other District One kid is.

"You got a week to get to know me, and then after a few weeks off you'll have a lifetime." He winks at me, and it's all I can do to keep a straight expression.

"Charming," I say. "That's good. Nothing the Capitol likes more than a Career with some dazzle. They've gotten kinda sick of the angry brooder type lately. So other than a nickname and a wink, what do you got to show off?"

He shrugs. "What don't I have would be a quicker answer."

"Well, like you said, we got a whole week, so. . . ."

"I'll try to get a shortlist for you." He smirks.

"How thoughtful," I say, just barely catching myself from sighing and resting my cheek on my palm.

"I use a spear and shield mostly, nobody ever knows how to get past it. Also best in my class with a bow, javelin, short spear, short sword, and good enough to kill anyone in the arena with a dagger or a bastard sword if it comes to it."

I know enough from Galavant that his bragging isn't any exaggeration. He's already the best fighter by a long shot in the academy, and whenever someone tries to take him on with just a sword or a dagger they end up looking like an idiot when he throws them to the ground with his shield or just stabs them before they're even in reach of him. It's rare to find a narcissist who actually is as great as he thinks he is.

Blegh, Galavant really wants to retire and leave me co-mentoring with this guy for the next decade. Asshole.

I tune back in just in time to hear him wrapping up his list of accomplishments and talents, finishing with the bold claim that he "will have every Capitolite with a sexual organ rushing to be the first to sponsor me."

"Alright, that's a good list of strengths. How about your weaknesses?"

He snorts. "You remember my nickname?"

"Yes?"

"Does Achilles have any weaknesses?" He asks.

"Is-is that a trick question?"

"Aside from the heel thing, that- that's a lame weakness, it doesn't even really count," he says, waving a hand.

"Right, but, it killed him, didn't it?"

"Exactly, and nothing can kill me," he says, puffing out his chest.

I nod my head. "Yeah, well."

"I appreciate the attempt to help me out," he says, hands behind his head as he leans even further back into his seat. "Really, I do. I get it, you're the mentor and all, gotta try to mentor me. But I got this in the bag. Enjoy the vacation."

"Thanks," I say dully. "But unless you don't want any sponsor gifts in the arena, it won't be a vacation."

He shrugs. "Sponsor gifts, no sponsor gifts, it won't change anything. Can't say I wouldn't miss eating some good Capitol meals though."

"I'll make sure to send you plenty of roast lamb."

"Good call," he says, nodding his head. "Speaking of which, what's a man gotta do to get some of that Capitol food that's supposed to be so great."

"You're in the Capitol now," I say, and this time it's my turn to lean back cozily into my chair. "Just say what you want and even if you're alone and it's 3 in the morning there'll be a servant delivering what you asked for a few minutes later."

"Sweet," he says, turning to face the ceiling as he shouts out an order of "a meal fit for a God" before turning back to me with a curious look shining in his eyes. "So, have the rest of the mentors asked you to try to keep me from winning?"

I laugh at that, and he joins in. "Not explicitly. Or at least not yet anyways. But who knows, maybe I don't even need them to ask me, she is my friend after all," I say in a teasing tone.

"Maybe someone else, but not you," he says confidently. "I was actually hoping that I would get you as my mentor even before May jumped into my spotlight."

"Is that so?" I ask, not sure whether to be genuinely surprised or to expect him to start flirting with me like the boy two years ago did for the entire train ride and halfway through training before someone slipped him aside and whispered into his ear that I liked girls. Never mind that I like boys plenty well too, but that can be useful to keep on the down low.

"Galavant is the best trainer in Panem if you want to learn how to fight," Pierre explains. "But I'm already better than he ever was, so what's he gonna teach me now? I don't need any of his gut check bullshit, either. I know what the Hunger Games are, and as much as I like the kid, you won't catch me hesitating if I have to fight May."

"Somehow I believe that." I snort. "So what am I bringing to the table then."

He shrugs. "Well, you're the most popular victor, for now at least." He winks again, and I can't help but laugh again, and I'm not sure if I'm still laughing at him or if it's with him now. "And besides, you're the only mentor in this district who's anything like me."

"Now that I would love to hear explained," I say amusedly. "What are the two of us?"

He leans in, and his smile still has all that cocky assuredness but it's joined with a glimmer in his eye that radiates with a fire that reminds me of another set of eyes I still remember all too well.

"The best at what they do," he says. "And not afraid to fight to prove it."

A/N: And there's the first of our 3 train ride chaps! If you haven't seen it already, I've updated the blog so that the pre-games chapter planner accurately fits what's actually going to happen now since I changed things around. Next chapter will be Kyler and Everly!

Trivia: Any (ridiculously early) victor predictions/hopes?