Cecil Peacemaker, 15.
District 3 Male.


"Are you sure it's okay?" Cecil asked. "I mean, I want to stay with you two."

"Yeah, it's alright, kid. Don't worry too much about it." Dean smiled, ruffling Cecil's hair.

"He's just being a dickhead," Chiffon grumbled. "Which, for the record, is no fault of yours. That Reign guy's had a stick up his ass this entire time."

"Chiffon! You can't say stuff like that in front of the kid!" Dean exclaimed, smacking Chiffon on the shoulder.

"Hey, hey, he's fifteen! It's fine!" Chiffon yelped, smacking Dean back. "I was saying way worse at his age!"

"That doesn't mean you can just say it in front of him!"

"Guys, c'mon, chill the fuck out!" Cecil yelled over the bickering of the older boys. Dean swung around, eyes wide to look at Cecil, before turning his attention back to Chiffon.

"See! Look what you've done, Chiffon! He's repeating you now!"

"Come on, I didn't even say fuck! He learned that one all on his own!"

"That's true, I learned it from my dad," Cecil laughed as Dean waved his hands, continuing to lecture Chiffon. The Career boys were odd, certainly, but they'd taken Cecil in without much question. He knew he'd make it into the Careers, but he didn't expect for them to shatter, giving way as easily as glass. After Reign and Dean's argument, Dean returned to say he had two options: either Cecil could go with him and Chiffon, or he could find another alliance. Cecil took Dean and Chiffon up on the offer. There was something strangely comforting about Dean's presence; he'd even offered to teach Cecil a few things since he was a trainer at one of the academies back in Four.

"Fine fine, fine, this is fine!" Dean exclaimed, running his hands through his hair, causing it to stick up at odd angles.

"Hey, hey, don't stress about it too much, okay? It's okay," Chiffon said. "I'm here, after all, and I'm decidedly the best at this, so obviously none of the others will try and fuck with us."

Dean sighed exasperatedly at Chiffon's language, but nodded.

"I know, I just… It's all my fault everything went so wrong."

"No, no it isn't. It's mine," Cecil spoke up. "You just stood up for me."

"Oh. Well, I did do that." Dean took a deep breath. "I don't think things were gonna go well either way, so I'm glad we got away before the Games."

"Exactly! That's the kind of positivity we want! Now, how about we go to one of the rings and see about training together," Chiffon grinned, guiding the trio towards one of the fighting rings they'd trained at earlier in the day. Dean had tried to show Cecil some tricks, but by lunch he'd been too frustrated, so Cecil decided to sit this round out and watch instead. It felt just like being at home with his father where he couldn't ever get anything right, and that frustrated him to no end. Even here, far from home, he couldn't get rid of his father's voice constantly in his ear telling him how he'd never amount to anything, how he'd never be successful.

But now he was on the other side of his father's fence, free from the shackles of his family. After years of wanting freedom, he could become whatever and whoever he wanted. And Cecil was determined to prove his father wrong.

"So, do you think we could… train together?" Chiffon said, sidling up to the trainers who stood, waiting around the rings.

"Together? Like… fight each other?" A trainer responded.

"Yeah, if that's okay. We won't hurt each other, we're allies after all." Chiffon grinned lazily as he spoke.

The trainer consulted with another trainer nearby. "You can, if you're careful, and if you're bullshitting me we'll step in, alright?"

"Sounds good, thanks." Chiffon winked as he made his way towards the rack of weapons nearby.

"I don't know how he always does that," Dean muttered, Cecil trailing behind him as he made his way towards the spear section.

"Mm, spears?" Cecil asked, as Dean grabbed one from the rack, nearly longer than Cecil was tall. "I never really trained with those, but I did do swords and knives and some other stuff."

"Yeah? Well, you were missing out. They're wonderful, very versatile and all," Dean shrugged, picking up a few knives and sliding them into sheathes on his hips. "I can teach you a few things later if you want."

"No, I'm fine with my batons," Cecil sighed. He was good enough with them to land himself a spot in the Careers, so surely he didn't need to learn that much more.

He'd done enough learning and waiting around to last him a lifetime. Now, it was time for him to finally act.

"Do you think you can beat him?" Cecil asked. "I think you can."

"It doesn't really matter who wins, right? It's just training after all," Dean replied. "The point isn't to win, it's just to get better and learn things from other people."

"I guess, but why fight without winning? There's no point," Cecil huffed.

"There's plenty of things more valuable than winning, buddy," Dean smiled, as he swung himself into the ring, spinning his spear around as he took his place opposite Chiffon.

"Mm, you think you can beat me with that toothpick?" Chiffon laughed as the boys circled each other. Dean didn't say a word, instead holding steady as Chiffon took a swipe at him with his sword. Dean blocked it with the shaft of his spear, responding with a strike of his own which Chiffon easily dodged.

"C'mon! This is boring!" Cecil called from the sidelines. "Make it interesting!"

"Interesting? So you want a show, little man?" Chiffon replied. "I can do that."

"It's just training, not a competition," Dean snorted.

"Where's the fun in that though!" Chiffon exclaimed as he attacked again. This time Dean saw it coming, choosing to sweep Chiffon's feet out from beneath him with the butt of his spear. It caught the One boy's ankle, causing him to stumble for a moment, the attack going wildly wide. Chiffon righted himself, twirling his strange, curved sword before turning back to Dean.

"C'mon Shivaan, keep it together," Dean smiled, as he moved forward, not giving Chiffon a moment to breathe. He struck again, this time sweeping the other boy's feet out from underneath him, Chiffon going down with a thud. Cecil heard the audible whoosh of air leaving Chiffon's lungs.

"You alright?" Dean asked, offering Chiffon a hand.

"Ow… that fucking hurt…" Chiffon panted, struggling to get the words out. He took Dean's hand in his, but before the Four boy could haul him to his feet, Chiffon swung a leg around, sweeping Dean's legs out from beneath him. Dean crashed to the floor next to Chiffon with an undignified yelp.

"Chiffon! What the hell!" Dean cried, as he clumsily rolled over onto his back.

"Everyone falls for me in the end, what can I say," Chiffon laughed, pulling himself to his feet and offering a hand to Dean, which he smacked away with little thought.

"Shut up, man, I only fell because you're a dirty fighter," Dean grunted.

"I bet I could do better!" Cecil called, heckling the pair from the sidelines.

"Really kid? Do you wanna come in here and try?" Chiffon said, making his way over to the sidelines where Cecil sat.

"Shut up, I know I'm good," Cecil growled.

"I never said I was doubting that, but do you actually think you could beat me?"

Cecil paused for a moment, before replying. "Well, no."

"That's what I thought," Chiffon grinned, winking as he turned back to Dean. "Let's go again?"

"Sure," Dean nodded, as the two returned to opposite ends of the ring, facing each other. Cecil liked the pair plenty. They'd prove to be good allies; he just hoped they'd actually take him seriously rather than just babysitting him.

Cecil refused to let himself be treated like that anymore, especially in what could very well be his very last days.


Claudia Bartoszek, 18.
District 2 Female.


"Come on, what are you gonna do when we have to actually go to interviews?" Claudia asked, laughing as she stretched her arms far above her head, hoping to unwind after a long day. Training had been better today than the day before, but the repetition of training was beginning to bore her, so Claudia was glad it was nearly over. She'd gone through years of this already; why hold her back from the Games now?

"I don't know, what am I supposed to do?" Reign growled, slamming his glass down onto the table. "These questions are stupid. I don't want to answer them."

"Well, if you want to make a good impression, you've got to," Claudia shrugged. She took a bite from her dinner and chewed it slowly and politely, as if to make a point.

"Whoever said I wanted to make a good impression!" Reign exclaimed. "This is bullshit."

"Just… take that stick that's up your ass and put it somewhere else for the night," Claudia snorted. "How hard is that?"

"Harder than it seems. I'm going for a walk. I'll see you later," Reign growled. With that, Reign stood, pushing his chair back before storming away from the table off towards the elevators.

Claudia had never exactly gotten why her District partner was so uptight about everything. If anything, they - especially Claudia - deserved to indulge in the luxuries placed in their laps, what had been out of reach for so long finally presented to her just like she deserved. But Reign didn't seem to be able to do that. Now, that wasn't exactly Claudia's problem. But at the very least the first volunteers out of Two in years should appear attractive, put together, and appreciative of the Capitol and its grandeur. And Reign was very much so none of those things.

At least Claudia made up for it of her own accord. She had plenty enough charm to cover for the both of them.

"What's his issue?" Claudia asked, to nobody in particular, and when a voice responded she nearly fell out of her chair.

"That's not my story to tell," Omega said, sliding into the chair across from her, nearly silently.

"Wh- where the fuck did you just come from?"

"I'm just quiet," Omega sighed. "I'm sorry if I startled you, but I just figured I'd come and talk to you, since we didn't get to chat yesterday."

"Oh, alright, yeah," Claudia nodded. Riley was a frustrating mentor; she didn't know what to expect when she found out Two's most recent victor was mentoring, but she didn't expect him to be like this. It seemed like he spent all of his time on Reign, when she was just as capable as he, if not even more so since Claudia was actually willing to appeal to the Capitol.

"Would you mind taking a walk with me?" Omega asked, standing and offering Claudia his arm.

"I mean… I guess, sure," Claudia replied, taking the man's arm as she stood. She towered above him, his head barely coming up to her shoulder. She didn't expect him to be so small, having only ever seen the man from afar, but he was certainly not as impressive as she'd thought he'd be.

"So, what happened with the Careers today?" Omega asked, as they made their way to the elevators. "I heard you've broken up, is that correct?"

"It is. I only got there part of the way through the argument, but Reign got into it with the Four boy," Claudia said, wrinkling her nose. "He ruined any chance of us making up with the others."

"And do you want to make up with the others?"

Claudia paused for a moment. Did she? Did she really want to ally with those who showed her up so easily? How was she supposed to shine if she was surrounded by the blinding lights of her own allies?

Plain and simple, Claudia couldn't.

"No, I don't think so," Claudia said, shaking her head.

"Why is that exactly?"

"I don't think we'll be able to get along, and I'd be jeopardizing my life if an argument comes up."

Omega nodded as the elevator came to a stop, the doors opening to the lobby floor, empty as when they'd arrived a few days prior. He gestured for Claudia to follow him from the elevator as they made their way through the wide open lobby, Claudia's heels clicking on the polished marble floor.

"Obviously you're looking to preserve your own life, so why not go without allies entirely?"

"Well, that'd be boring; nobody wants to watch somebody wasting away on their own. I want people to like me here."

Claudia didn't know what Omega was trying to get at, but Claudia wasn't entirely convinced of his reputation of being a good mentor. After all, Two hadn't brought home a victor in over a decade, and if Omega was part of the reason for that, then things didn't bode well for her. It was likely in part due to the virus and the way it tore apart Two and any chance it had for a few years, but Claudia wasn't like the ones that came before her. She'd make the difference nobody else could.

The pair rounded a corner through a large archway into a library of sorts, shelves upon shelves of books stretching across all of the walls. Omega led Claudia towards a pair of plush armchairs in one of the corners, which surrounded a crackling fireplace. This wasn't anywhere Claudia would normally choose to spend time, but it still had a nice enough atmosphere. She still didn't get why Omega had brought her here, though.

Across the room, on a couch beneath a large window framed by plush velvet curtains, was a pair of kids, a girl with short dark hair and a lanky boy with strange bits of metal decorating his face. Claudia recognized them as other tributes, the pair from Five or Six if she remembered correctly. The girl was curled up next to the boy, his arm wrapped around her shoulders as she read out of a large book, her soft voice carrying through the room. The girl said something that Claudia couldn't quite make out, causing the boy to crack a large smile as they both broke into a fit of giggles. They seemed so enraptured in each other that they didn't even notice Claudia and Omega's entrance. It reminded Claudia much of Vanessa, how they'd sit and Vanessa would draw and Claudia would do her makeup and they'd be peaceful in each other's company. Claudia hadn't thought much of home, but she suddenly found herself wishing Vanessa was here.

But Claudia would see her soon enough. She knew she would.

"Take a seat," Omega said quietly, gesturing to one of the large, open armchairs.

"Aren't you worried about those two overhearing our plans?" Claudia whispered, flicking a finger towards the couple. The girl had gotten up, dragging the boy off into the maze of bookshelves, her laughter echoing through the high ceilings of the room.

"No, it's fine, just try and be quiet. We don't want to get kicked out," Omega said with a wry smile. "So, I'd like to hear more about the other Careers, if you don't mind sharing."

"The… other Careers?" Claudia repeated. "I mean, why? It's not like we're allying with them anyways."

"Mm, I know, but it's still of value to have your perspective on them." Omega sighed, running his hands through his unruly blond hair.

"Ah, I see. Well, there's Reign, he's… well you know how he is," Claudia began, counting on her fingers as she listed off the Careers. "Then… well the Ones, they're both arrogant, but they don't exactly seem to get along with each other. The Fours um, Dean is nice enough, he's just stubborn in how he wants things and, I mean, the girl is fine, she doesn't really seem to be too invested in the politics of everything. Then there's Cecil from Three, but he's just a kid. I don't know why Dean was so hellbent on bringing him in but he was… and now here we are."

"And here we are, yes," Omega nodded. "Thank you for the insight."

"Of course," Claudia inclined her head, leaning back in her seat further, fingers gripping the armrests. As she did, a large crash rang out from behind her. Claudia whipped her head around, trying to find the source of the noise.

"Motherfucker!" A voice screeched, followed by loud footsteps. Claudia watched as the small, dark haired girl running from the library, the boy in tow. Though she was laughing, the boy looked more worried than amused.

"That was fucking insane, Dee, did you see that? We gotta go! I don't wanna get banned, that would be bad." The girl giggled as the pair hurried out of the library, the boy still too stunned to answer as their footsteps, alongside the girl's laughter, receded.

"What the hell was that?" Claudia muttered, turning to Omega who was laughing loudly, his face turning bright red.

"I have no clue, but it was funny," Omega laughed, as he tried to keep his amusement subdued.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine- I'm fine, yeah," Omega snorted, finally seeming to regain his breath. "I just wanted to make sure that we're on the same page. If anything else comes up with the Careers though just… let me know, okay?"

"I will," Claudia agreed, as she stood. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some things to attend to."

Omega flashed her a thumbs up, as she spun on her heel, leaving without another word. Claudia would outshine them all, even if it was the last thing she did.


Lane Freely, 17.
District 7 Male.


Lane ducked through the doorway, making his way towards the dining table. It was loaded with all sorts of foods, half of which Lane didn't know the names for and the other half he barely recognized, as even the food that he had back home looked much nicer here in the Capitol. He liked it well enough; in fact, he'd already put on a few pounds in just the few days they'd been there. Lane doubted that would be a bad thing, however, as who knew how much food there'd be in the Arena.

"Here, here, take a seat," Qarza said, shooing one of his cats off of a chair before gesturing to Lane to sit down.

"Oh, alright, thanks," Lane replied, ducking his head as he sat.

"Now we just need- oh, Mor, there you are," Qarza muttered, nearly smacking into the smaller girl. "Where have you been?"

"Not here," Mor shrugged, taking a seat across from Lane and piling her plate full of food. "Why do you care?"

"Well, I just wanted to make sure you were okay, and I don't want to lose you or anything so- Anyways, it's fine, you're here and you're fine," Qarza rattled, counting on his fingers as he spoke. "Now, I've been meaning to ask you something. Are you two gonna ally with each other?"

Lane turned towards Qarza at this proposition, listening intently as this idea more than interested him.

"Ally… with each other?" Mor asked.

"I mean, I'd like to," Lane shrugged.

"You think I'm gonna ally with you?" Mor laughed. "Really? That's a fuckin' joke."

"Hold on, I'm not a joke!" Lane replied. "If anything, that little Twelve kid you've been hanging around is a joke."

"He is not a joke," Mor growled, stabbing the tip of her knife into the table, the resounding thud silencing the room. "Don't let me ever catch you saying shit like that ever again."

"Okay, okay, okay, how about we calm down and not do this right now," Qarza insisted, standing and holding his hands apart to try and defuse the situation. "You don't have to ally, I was just wondering if you wanted to."

"No fuckin' way I'm allying with him, his brain has as many holes as that stupid swiss cheese," Mor grunted, grabbing her plate of food and storming off from the table. Lane couldn't feel anything but pure rage boiling in his mind- she'd take that useless little weakling over him? He was competent, he could fight, and he'd proved that. They could've made a perfectly sustainable team, but Mor was blind to the possibilities at hand.

Oh, well. It was her own loss if she wanted to ditch him for the Twelvie.

"Okay, well that answers my question then. I'm gonna uh… take my food and go to my room. If you need me I'll be there," Qarza said, picking his plate up before scuttling off to his room. Lane stood, taking off towards the elevators. He didn't know where he was going, but he just didn't want to be here. Lane would rather be far from here, at home with his brothers. He didn't care if it meant working long, hard days for the rest of his life; at least he'd be with them.

But that wouldn't happen. Now he was really and truly alone, all by himself unless Lane could find another alliance, which he doubted he'd be able to pull off.

Lane knew this made him no better than his father, getting all wound up over such a miniscule thing, but here he was regardless. He wouldn't let himself become that, not in what could very well be his last days.

No matter what, he wouldn't let himself become a monster. Not now, not ever.

Lane found his feet carrying him into the elevator, hitting the button for the top floor. He didn't care where he ended up anymore, he just wanted to feel wind on his skin, smell the not so fresh air of the Capitol, if even for just a moment. It wasn't home, but it'd have to do. The elevator took off, rocketing skywards as Lane gripped the railing, having never gotten used to the odd sensation. Nor was he used to the feeling of watching the Capitol descend through the glass floor of the elevator, its walls more like windows to the city's grandeur. Before he knew it, Lane was high above the city, the skyscrapers giving way to the deep black of the night sky. The elevator came to a stop, the doors sliding open to strong wind, whipping around his face casting his hair into his eyes, the cold easily permeating his clothes. The wind was not forgiving and yet Lane hadn't felt so alive in an eternity.

Making his way to the edge of the rooftop, leaning against the railing, the full expanse of the Capitol stretched out before him, a world of possibilities and despair, one never far from the other. If only he were to win, to keep his family comfortable for the rest of their lives and yet there was practically no chance, and yet he couldn't just give up.

No, not yet.

"Hey, what're you doin' up here?" An unfamiliar voice called. Lane spun around to see the boy from Ten, standing just outside the elevator, a younger boy with curly dark hair in tow.

"Just thinking, don't mind me," Lane replied, as he returned to his thoughts. The pair made their way towards one of the benches scattered around the rooftop, and Lane couldn't help but be envious. If only he had an ally, somebody to work with but he was alone, completely and utterly alone.

And if that's the hand fate dealt him then so be it. Lane would do it, with an ally, without, it didn't matter, he still had to try.

For his brothers. For himself.


Ifer Aigulle, 17.
District 8 Female.


"Here, Ifer, try some," Pluto laughed, passing the glass bottle to the girl. She took it, swirling the liquid around a few times before taking a swig. The alcohol hit the back of her throat, burning as it went down, but not in the worst kind of way. Ifer had certainly had worse kinds of alcohol in her life, but this was still pretty bad.

"This movie is so bad," Ifer sighed, passing the bottle to Tallin, who paused before taking a swig himself.

"It is, but this makes it a little more bearable at least," Pluto laughed, pulling the plush blanket closer around his shoulders.

"Where did you even get this stuff anyways? It tastes like shit," Tallin coughed, passing the bottle back to Tallin.

"I never reveal secrets like that!" Pluto grinned, blinking a few times. "But, if you insist, I found it."

"And you just… took it?" Ifer snorted.

"Yeah, of course. What else was I supposed to do, just leave it?"

"Well… yeah? Who's is it even?" Tallin continued.

"Finders keepers," Pluto giggled.

Pluto had invited over to hang out for the night, and Ifer had accepted since there wasn't anything else better to do. Ifer hadn't gone to anything even remotely party-like in so long she could barely remember it. She'd always go with her sisters, the three of them looking after each other, taking turns not drinking so they could haul their siblings home after. It was fun, but Ifer just… hadn't had the time for it. No, not with the insanity that the past six months at Chardae's were. Who'd have thought that here in the Capitol she'd find a sort of respite and comfort? For a night, just a night, they all felt like normal kids. Even if they were from all corners of Panem, all walks of life, they were here together, and somehow the threat of the Games didn't matter quite as much.

That was, until reality came crashing down on them again. But that was a tomorrow problem, not a right now problem.

"What are you guys doing?" the voice of Pluto's mentor, Revan, called. All three of them whipped around to see the Victor standing just over the back of the couch, having snuck up on them during their conversation.

"Uhh…" Ifer stuttered, looking to Pluto.

"Drinking alcohol. That I found," Pluto shrugged.

"You're… what?"

"Drinking alcohol that I found. Just like I told you," Pluto insisted.

"That… That's mine," Revan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers.

"Oh…" Pluto's eyes went wide, floundering for a moment as he looked to his allies. Ifer felt the familiar feeling of panic rising, just like at home when Tovewould get in trouble and Ifer knew she couldn't cover for her.

"It's fine, just gimme some," Revan muttered, reaching over the couch for the bottle. He grabbed it from Pluto and took a long swig, finishing the bottle off.

"Great, okay, have fun. Don't do anything stupid, and don't wake me up," Revan waved, discarding the bottle onto a nearby table before disappearing into the depths of the dimly lit apartment.

"Pluto?! What the fuck!" Ifer exclaimed.

"You stole alcohol. From a Victor. Without even realizing it," Tallin groaned.

"I'm- I'm sorry, but it's fine, see? Everything is fine!" Pluto exclaimed loudly. "Look, we have more, it's not a big deal."

"That felt like it could've been a very big deal," Ifer muttered. "You gotta be careful. Your mentor controls what gifts you get in the arena and stuff. He's your lifeline so you don't wanna piss him off."

"I could never! He loves me, how could he not?" Pluto bragged, flexing his arm.

"I can see the appeal, but you still gotta be careful," Tallin muttered, gesturing towards the last bottle which that sat next to Pluto. "I'm too tired for this bullshit Gimme more."

The trio lapsed back into comfortable silence, settling in to continue watching the show which none of them quite understood, but at least they could all not understand it together. Ifer hadn't expected to find allies, much less allies she actually liked. She thought she'd have to settle for people who would just help keep her alive, but these boys felt like friends. They'd stick together, until the bitter end, and Ifer was glad for that. Even if she died, at least she'd die knowing she wasn't alone, she was among friends. That brought her more comfort than she was willing to admit.

And yet, that felt like a betrayal to her sisters. Was she replacing them? The last thing Ifer wanted to do was replace them, and yet the moment she was taken from them, she'd done just that.

"I think I'd better be going," Ifer said, as the episode came to an end.

"What? So soon?" Pluto cried, dramatically. "What time is it, even?"

"Late," Tallin shrugged. "I'll stay longer if you wanna stay up later."

"Oh! Okay, sure, yeah!" Pluto nodded. "We'll see you uhh… later then?"

"Mm, see you tomorrow," Ifer nodded, and with that she departed, making her way back to the elevators. The weight of homesickness had set in, weighing on her body and mind, and all she wanted to do was wake up to all of this being a bad dream.

But she wouldn't. It wasn't a bad dream, nor it wasn't any kind of nightmare. It was reality, and Ifer had no choice but to face it, with Pluto and Tallin by her side.

Even if she couldn't have her sisters, at least she had them.