Laurent Veinot
District 1 Male
Age 18
Train Rides
Something seems off with Laurent's District partner, something different that he couldn't quite put his finger on. She just acts mentally unattached from everything. It feels like she's emotionally unavailable but to the extreme… As if she is locked in a jail cell of her own creation.
Laurent's unsure of how to help her out though.
Maybe she just needs some space? Laurent sighs. Does he even want to help her? He's only known her for two days, like he's seen her around the District but never actually engaged in a conversation or really interacted much in the slightest.
But he's alright with that, he loves meeting new people- that's the only good thing about these stupid fucking games. Laurent sighs again, "These games are sick, I can't believe people actually like them," trying once more to start a conversation with the ice queen herself, white hair and all.
Asteria nods, continuing to ignore him for a moment before looking away from the window. "Why'd you volunteer then?" she asks.
Laurent is taken aback for a moment, he didn't expect her to ask that but he rolls with it, "You see, my sister was planning to volunteer."
No response from Asteria.
"Because my aunt manipulated her into believing she had to." Laurent starts but Asteria rolls her eyes, turning back to the window.
"Whatever." She mumbles.
Most people would take the hint that she didn't want to talk but Laurent doesn't care, "So, I was left with two options: I could save her and volunteer or I could let her go off to her death."
"Save her? How the fuck could you do that?" Adiar says, stepping into their conversation.
Laurent smiles at his mentor, finally someone he could talk to. "My aunt… she won't give it up. Aunt Carnel believes the idea of a family of Victors that are loyal to the Capital will be One's ticket back to relevancy. All she wants to do is get back into the spotlight and it makes me want to puke. She basically grooms and manipulates me and my two siblings to get us to believe in the same things as her. But she can't make me, I see the truth I guess. She wants my sister to volunteer for these death games so I volunteered because A) so she can see these games are not what she thinks they are and B) to save Anais and Eamon from having to volunteer when they're eighteen and I'm not able to go in after them."
"Damn," Adair asks, sitting beside Laurent in the dining car's only booth seat.
"It was impulsive of me to volunteer, but there's no other way to convince my sister not too- trust me, I've tried literally everything else."
"That's so stupid," Asteria mutters and Laurent freezes for a moment but he quickly shakes out of it.
"I know right? Like dang it, what the hell was I thinking? I'm now off to my death." Laurent chuckles. "What about you? Any siblings."
For a second Asteria ignores the question, as if she hadn't heard it in the first place but after a minute of silence, she turns to Laurent. "I killed my sister." She sighs.
"Oh shit, really?" he asks, not exactly sure what to say.
She nods and Adiar's mouth hangs open in a wide O.
"Why did even… Holy shit fucking-g dang," Laurent stutters, speechless for the first time in a long while.
"Mhm," She whispers.
"How?" is all Laurent can think to utter.
"You really want to know?" she asks, her face emotionless as she raises a blonde eyebrow.
"Not really… but you already scare me so best to know your weapon of choice," Laurent chuckles, falling into his normal attitude even if he's still baffled by her statement.
"I guess…"
"Then what did you use? Dagger Spear?"
"Violin bow." She says, her features and tone emotionless.
Laurent gasps, his face turning a slight red, "holy crap, you really are that badass."
"Mhm,"
"That's so interesting ugh, I wish I had a cool story like that. Not the murdering your sister part though, like mine gets super annoying at times but I love her. Why else would I volunteer like I did if I didn't but like damn, that's such an epic story. Simply jaw-dropping."
"I mean you volunteered, that's pretty cool," Adiar says, eyes still wide from Asteria's words.
"I guess, yeah," Laurent nods, "anyway, any career pack thoughts?" he tries to steer the conversation away from sister killing.
Asteria doesn't say anything for a moment before responding, "The girl from two looks obnoxious."
Laurent nods, "But she was probably just acting, honestly, playing preppy for the camera." He reasons.
"I still don't like her,"
"Okay, you're allowed that," Laurent laughs, grinning widely, the shock of earlier wearing off, "You're allowed to not like any of them but me, well, you gotta get used to me. It's not like we're going to spend the next two weeks living together or anything."
"Whatever."
"Well, the boys from both Two and Four look so solemn ugh, they need some life zapped into them. And like Phoenix already acts way too cocky, I'm kinda nervous as to how he'll act around us."
"Mhm,"
"And Harry? Looks a little more unsure."
"Okay," Asteria nods. "You should talk to him so I don't have to listen to your chatty ass rant about something like freaking apples."
"You know what? Imma take that as a compliment," Laurent laughs.
"Alright then."
"Moving back, I'm not sure what to think about the rogue from four."
"Oh her."
"She looks really young, my guess would be sixteen, maybe fifteen?"
"She's so tiny."
"And she looks really cute, which is surely gonna get her sponsors- so even if she's not very good let's get in her pack for points."
"Sounds good to me,"
"Epic shit, awesome."
"Yeah…"
"Great talk but Laurent," Adiar says, blinking as he gets to his feet, interrupting the pair's conversation. "It's time." He says, referring to Laurent's planning time.
Laurent nods, "Oh damn alright, talk later," he whispers to Asteria.
Blue Hollis
District 7 "Male"- Nb
Age 15
Train Rides
The shining blur of District Five rushes past Blue's gaze. A glittering glint of somewhere they'll never be, somewhere they'll never get to explore because they'll surely be dead soon.
Blue turns back to the bread they'd put in the toaster, watching skeptically as the small metal pieces cook the soft slice.
"You." Someone says, and Blue can't help but jump. They hadn't heard Anna step into the train car let alone make her way all the way up to them.
She grabs the back of their shirt, causing them to whip around.
"Do not come near me," Anna breathes, her voice a low growl, "or I will rip you to shreds." The sharp smell of pond water and what Blue hopes is animal flesh drips off her words, causing them to gag.
Her cold eyes seem to bare themselves into Blue's soft blue ones. She doesn't move a muscle, frame locked only a few inches from their face. Blue suppresses the urge to scream and all they can think utter is a simple, "okay."
Anna lets go of the collar of Blue's shirt with her hands, slamming her palms against the wall. "Do not test me, I will make sure you never make it past the first day. I don't need you messing up my road to killing- victory, my road to victory."
Blue blinks for a moment, why would they intrude on whatever she's got going on? Nothing makes sense with Anna so they just look at her with a straight face and nod emotionlessly.
Blue can't help but feel a little bad for her, having been separated from civilization for her whole life. Of course, she doesn't make much sense, she's never learned how to make points connect- at least socially connect.
"Good." Anna grunts, sliding her hands off the wall.
Blue can't help but look confused as her muscular frame exits the dining car, leaving them alone with their toast. That was the strangest interaction they've had today.
As much as they can empathize with her, Blue does feel a bit of resentment towards Anna. And maybe that's what most are feeling towards her, clearly, their mentor is one of those people and Blue doesn't know what to think of that.
They remember their conversation with August late last night, "She deserves to die," August had muttered to which Blue simply nodded.
And maybe she does deserve to die but they know, in a game of murder, a huntress is sure to prevail. That slightly terrifies them, but Blue knows there's at least a small bit of Anna that won't hold up to her word. She won't really seek them out in the arena, Blue believes there's a small bit of good in her- even if she totally had threatened their life only seconds ago.
Pop!
They smile, the toast Blue had placed in the toaster is ready. Quite the invention; cooking such an amazing thing as bread. God, bread, that was a very rare thing for the middle-class family in District Seven so they have to savor it in the Capital for all their siblings.
If Blue managed to win, their siblings could have endless amounts of bread, cooked bread. Things like rent wouldn't be too big of a problem to their parents… but if they died… things would only worsen, but they can't afford to think of that now.
They slowly move to get a dark green plate, eyes more so fixed on the District that had just come into view of the train. Outside of the window, District One races to meet them.
Its shimmering buildings are much superior to Five, these glitter all different colors under the bright sunlight. People walk this way and that, hurrying to wherever they need to be, not paying too much attention to the train roaring past them. Their faces look less bright than the buildings and rather monotone but Blue still feels amazed seeing all of these new places. They'd always wanted to explore the rest of Panem outside of Seven and now that's kinda coming true. How amazing is that!
They turn back to the piece of cooked bread for a moment, thinking of how August had said capitalities often put honey on things to make them sweeter. For a second, Blue thought about the idea before deciding to give in to the impulse and put honey on their toast.
Opening the cupboard, they smile, excited to try the Capital's famous honey. Well, maybe it wasn't famous to anyone else but it gets Blue excited so that's enough for them.
But all that joy leaks away when they grab the container, something looks off. A plastic bottle isn't how they anticipated fancy honey to come in like a wooden jar would be much better for sharing because of all the toxins Capital plastic contains. They feel very disappointed but still pour a little of the golden liquid onto the cooked bread.
The taste is unfortunately artificial and Blue sets down the cooked bread. They sigh, the best honey is back in District Seven (to which the idea sends a homesick pang down Blue's chest).
But whatever, it's just honey? They have to win, then they'll be able to taste the honey from back home. Which is by far the best honey Blue has ever tasted because they've harvested it themselves.
Izora 'Izzy' Astanova
District 14 Female
Age 18
Train Rides
She doesn't respond so he gets to his feet and follows Adiar out of the dining room train car.
Izora takes a slow, slightly shaky step into the dining car, hoping not to run into...
"Izzy?" Ed asks, hearing her footsteps and in turn, looking up from his soup. She doesn't return his eye contact and instead shifts her gaze to the rows upon rows of delicate pastries and brightly colored cheeses. "You can't keep avoiding me like this," He squeaks, setting his metal spoon down beside the bowl of dark soup.
Izzy doesn't know how to respond, so she tilts her head slightly upward in acknowledgment.
"I mean it, what's up with you?"
"I know," she mumbles softly, tirling a small strand of her reddish-brown hair between her forefinger and thumb.
Ed looks genuinely hurt at her words, "This isn't like you, Izzy, why won't you talk to me?"
She thinks for a moment, Ed is obviously in pain because of her taciturn behavior but she just doesn't want to address the elephant in the room… or maybe she doesn't know how? She'd promised him she wouldn't volunteer, yet, when his sister's name was called she couldn't help herself. She wasn't going to let her best friend have to go into the arena with his little sister...
"I'm sorry." She says and Edmund smiles quietly, chapped lips turning slightly upward at her apology.
"You know I'll die so you can make it home, right?" Ed blurts, face reddening. His hands fly to cover his once-grinning mouth as if he had said something wrong.
"Yeah…" Izora starts, "but that's the problem."
"Huh?"
"I didn't want to volunteer because of this exact situation but life truly said fuck you and reaped your sister. So of course, I wouldn't let you two go in together but like god I don't want to die."
Ed nods, "Yes, I know you don't, you have a life back in Fourteen which is why you have to win. You have to."
"But bitch, I don't want you to die either," Izora admits, inhaling deeply before looking him dead in the eyes.
"One of us is going to have to, so it's gotta be me,"
"No it doesn't though, we can find a way to win together, I'm not letting you get yourself killed that easily."
"Why should I win? There is nothing for me to come home to, Izzy, I'm worthless, you know that." Ed says softly.
"But you're not, you're my best friend, you're worth something to me," Izzy responds, a small tear forms in the corner of her right eye socket but she blinks it away.
Ed shoots her a small smile, "face it, one of us will die and I'd rather it be me."
"But it doesn't have to," she says, trying not to let the desperation sink into her voice. He doesn't get it, Izzy doesn't want him to die… but can she really let herself die for him?
"I'm going to die Izzy."
Izora bites her lip and sighs, "Selfless bitch,"
"I mean it." He says, his voice as flat as a piece of paper.
"Ed you don't have to die, we CAN find a way to win together, stage a protest or something."
"You can't protest in the Capital, they use force- they'd never listen to you."
"Oh yeah? How do you know?" She giggles, "you some Capital expert?"
Ed sighs, "Of course I am,"
"Duh, what else would you be?" Izzy laughs, smiling wide as she slides into the booth beside him.
"...dead, I could be dead."
"Oh shush, com'on let's talk about sad shit like death when we get there." She chuckles even though she knows, deep down, there's a hardened reason why she doesn't want to talk about either of them having to die.
"Language,"
"Fuck you," she grins, punching him playfully in the shoulder.
"Dang it, you have the mouth of a peacekeeper."
"I mean you're not wrong but like do I care? Nope." She lightly shrugs, "Not a chance, I'm livin' it up here."
"Of course you are, I'd expect nothing less."
"Jeez, can't I have a little fun if we're supposed to die in a week?"
"Fair," Ed nods, taking another sip of his soup.
"Is that good?" she asks, motioning to his bowl.
"Kinda, I'm not sure what to think about it. It's really herby and kinda spicy but like a good spicy,"
"Herby? That's the best, I love that, welcome to another word in the dictionary of Edmund Evander."
He sighs but shakes his head lightheartedly, "it's with the program."
"The Ed program?"
He nods, "the best program-"
Izzy smiles but their conversation is interrupted by Dakota, their mentor, stepping slowly into the training car.
"Hey." She says, rather timidly.
Izzy beams back, "Hi! You're Dakota, right?" she asks, just to be polite even though she already knows it's her.
"That's me." Dakota sighs, "Izora Astanova and Edmund Evandor, I'm your mentor this year." She smiles, submissively waving her palm in their direction.
"It's awesome to meet you!" Izzy says, energy coursing through her veins. She thought that with said depressing talk with Ed, she'd be emotionally drained but that is obviously not the case, in fact, Izzy has more energy after getting some things off her chest.
"Yeah but I haven't been a mentor in like ten years so I'm a little rusty."
"That's alright, I remember watching reruns of that year… your last tribute tried to escape the arena, correct?" Ed says slowly, formulating his words in a rather methodical manner. Izzy sighs, knowing he always sounds like that when talking to people he doesn't know very well.
"Oh yeah, she did, Sunna made it pretty far though, I was actually surprised."
Izzy chuckles, "we'll make it farther though." She says with half-faked confidence.
"I'm sure you will, I have a lot of faith this year."
"Damn right," Izzy smiles.
Neither Ed nor Dakota has a chance to respond before a loud screech fills the warm train air.
"The train's stopping! We're here." Izzy says, quickly getting up and heading to the window.
She looks out at the slowing city before her. The train station looks rather packed with a colorful crowd. They cheer and shout at her and she smiles back, waving at the Capitalites.
But beyond that lay a world of skyscrapers practically touching the clouds. People below them bustle around on the streets dressed in fabulous outfits of all different styles and colors, looking like bright ants from the train station suspended in the air.
"We are." Dakota nods.
"Let's do this thing," Izzy smiles, fisting bumping Ed before dashing to her room to collect her things.
A/N: Annnnd we're back with another chapter! Staboom.
Fuck school, that's the tweet but I hope you enjoy this smaller chapter :) next up is my fav chapter the welcome party! That'll be coming soon to an ugly blue site near you, get your tickets now. LMAO but yeah that's all I got- as always have a good day/night/afternoon.
Bye for now,
Marie