A/N I've taken slight liberties here in that the male tributes are called before the female ones for their private sessions, simply because it worked better for me character-wise.
The format for the training scores has been shamelessly adapted from Professor-R-J-Lupin1 whose work I stalk. Please check out some of their stories (they have no idea I'm writing this btw). Anyway, this is a sort of a two-in-one chapter. I realised I needed more character interaction before the private sessions, so hope you enjoy...
"And Mum says we're all to be brave and look after each other, and keep away from the people we're not friends with and she's going to ask people to support us and send us nice food and things in the games."
"But she can't talk. How is she going to ask people to help us?" Viola had been remarkably tear-free that morning but her voice was taking on a decidedly whiny tone now. Jupiter wanted to say something, but he was uncomfortable, too. No, he was jealous. Jealous because Aspen's Mum had written a letter to President Paylor and asked to be allowed to work in the tribute centre, and Paylor had actually granted her request. And what made it worst was that Aspen's Mum was so nice, and she'd asked Jupiter how he was and if she could get him anything...
And worst of all was the knowledge that even though he loved his own Mum more than anything in the world, she had never been the sort of person to sit down and hug him just because he was feeling sad, and that meant he was jealous of Aspen because her Mum was...well, more of a Mum than his own mother.
Aspen had gone quiet, which meant she was trying to work out how to answer. Jupiter let the silence continue for a little longer while he squashed down the bad feelings, then said "She's going to write signs. She can't talk, but she can still write."
Their alliance was hiding out at the firestarting station today; all but Victor. The six year old had inexplicably befriended the quiet volunteer girl representing District Twelve and was following her around as she practised on the agility course. Once the others had satisfied themselves that the girl wasn't going to drop him off the highest climbing net they had snuck off to practise their sign language and talk about their private sessions.
"She's going to send us nice things" Aspen insisted, and Jupiter struck his flint with a little more force than before. There was a spark, and four excited kids immediately began throwing bits of straw and stick at it in a vain effort to make it light. When the spark inevitably died, the trainer came over to show them once again how it was done.
All of them were nervous about the private sessions to some degree. Aspen was worried about all the adults staring at her and claimed she was going to ask if her Mum could be with her for that as well. She'd only started attending school after the end of the war, so hadn't got much experience with groups of people at all. She had told them all how nice it was to make some friends, though.
Viola was just plain scared. Despite attempting at least half the stations she had no real skills or talents to display, and it was debatable whether she would get through the session without crying.
Jupiter felt a whole lot better than he had forty eight hours earlier but was still running Beetee's words round and round his head. How could he tip the odds to be more in his favour? But underneath that was the far more frightening question, could he really abandon his new friends to save himself when it came to it?
Saoirse wasn't sure if she was more scared for herself or for Victor.
After lunch, all the tributes were funnelled into a waiting room. The benches were hard, the only refreshments were water and dried fruits, and there was nothing to do. The older tributes, the ones who had some skills with weapons, sat and whispered with each other or glared at the more nervous ones. The tributes who had no allies sat nervously, nibbling their fingernails or staring at the floor.
Victor was bored within ten minutes and began pacing, asking the others to run races with him and demanding to know how much time had passed.
After an hour and a half, Viola was called. She had been growing more and more anxious and as soon as she heard her name she froze like a frightened rabbit. When the official called her name for the second time, Aspen took her hand and led her over to the door. Viola went reluctantly, looking back over her shoulder as if one of the others could rescue her.
Victor was called next, and he skipped to the door with quite unnecessary vigour.
"I hate this" said Saoirse, staring down at her hands.
"Yeah."
"They're going to call you next" Aspen commented. Saoirse shook her head and lapsed into silence. When her name was called, she walked to the door without comment, her face completely impassive.
The boy representing District Six wasn't in the room. Jupiter now realised he hadn't seen him since the previous afternoon and wondered if something was wrong. He looked for a clock to check how much time had passed before Saoirse had been called, then realised there wasn't one. Was it longer than the tributes had been? He didn't know, and that made him uncomfortable. Not as much as the girl representing Six, who was rocking and muttering quietly to herself. When her name was called, she jumped to her feet as if electrified and stared wildly at the door for a couple of seconds before starting to move. Her steps were jerky and uncertain.
Time stretched inexorably. Neither he nor Aspen spoke, until "Remember to say please and thank you."
"What?"
"Mum says politeness costs nothing, and the game...makers will be nicer to us if they like us."
"She can't know that."
Aspen frowned and was silent for a few seconds, and then said "My Dad was a gamemaker."
It was the first time she'd talked about anyone but her mother. Jupiter looked up, but couldn't think how to ask the inevitable question.
"He went out in the war and never came back."
Oh. "I'm sorry."
Aspen reached over and laced her fingers through Jupiter's. They stayed like that until his name was called.
Report delivered to President Paylor prior to television broadcast: Training Scores and Private Sessions
Tribute: Hector Mansfield, 16.
Representing: District 1
Score: 4
Hector demonstrated barely competent use of throwing knives, hitting the target four times out of ten. He then showed how to build a shelter which stayed upright but was barely waterproof.
Notes: The tributes representing district one have allied with each other.
Tribute: Ellis Lorazinine, 16
Representing: District 1
Score: 3
Tribute attained a 76% score on the edible plants test and informed us she was a vegetarian.
Notes: Why that should be an asset in the Hunger Games, I cannot imagine.
Tribute: Brutus Legona, 13
Representing: District 2
Score: 3
Brutus threw spears at dummies and hit them twice out of five attempts.
Notes: At four feet, one inch tall, Brutus is the second shortest tribute this year.
Tribute: Magnificent Glory, 18
Representing: District 2
Score: 8
Unsurprisingly given her name, Magnificent fought a trainer with swords, disarming them after eight minutes.
Notes: She appears to be a member of what in a regular year would be the career alliance.
Tribute: Lorcan Heavensbee, 14
Representing: District 3
Score: 5
Lorcan asked us to close our eyes for a count of thirty and then look for him, in which time he vanished into the tribute centre and could not be found until his time was up.
Notes: If this was a game of hide and seek he would do very well.
Tribute: Sparkle Rizla, 17
Representing: District 3
Score: 6
Sparkle showed surprisingly competent survival skills, acing the edible plants test and building two serviceable snares. She was halfway up the climbing wall when her time ran out.
Notes: Apparently this girl loved the Hunger Games. Who says you can't learn anything from watching TV?
Tribute: Lavender Meadows, 17
Representing: District 4
Score: 4
Another one who built a barely acceptable shelter.
Notes: This is the Hunger Games, not a camping expedition.
Tribute: Viola Dupont, 10
Representing: District 4
Score: 2
Viola attempted to build a fire but grew increasingly tearful when she wasn't immediately successful. She eventually succeeded after 12 minutes.
Notes: Viola has the lowest odds oout of all of this year's tributes.
Tribute: Victor Rudolphine, 6
Representing: District 5
Score: 4
Victor showed surprising accuracy throwing marked tennis balls at a target, hitting the target 9 times out of 10 and scoring four bullseyes. He repeated this feat using a small catapult, scoring eight hits and four bullseyes. He then requested to be allowed to try a throwing knife and was ridiculously pleased with himself when he hit the centre of the target, running a victory lap and cheering himself until one of the trainers held his hand and led him out of the centre.
Notes: He'd have got a 7 if he'd been old enough to understand what was going on.
Tribute: Saoirse Rudolphine, 13
Representing: District 5
Score: 5
Saoirse firstly demonstrated a snare and then built a small shelter before running to the opposite end of the training centre, waving and shouting to get our attention and throwing four knives, all of which hit their target.
Notes: It wasn't until after she left that we realised she was demonstrating how she intended to protect her little brother.
Tribute: Riscan Crane, 16
Representing: District 6
Score: 1
Riscan informed us, using particularly colourful language, why he did not deserve to be here and then threw a spear at the gamemakers' box. Thankfully his aim is appalling.
Notes: Since threatening his escort yesterday evening Riscan has been kept separately from the other tributes, A psychiatric report has been ordered. He wasn't that close with his cousin.
Tribute: Everlove Honeybell, 16
Representing: District 6
Score: 3
Despite looking terrified of the throwing knives, Everlove hit the target three times out of ten.
Notes: Everlove has allied with Sparkle, Lavender and Laurana.
Tribute: Jupiter Mondrian, 11
Representing: District 7
Score: 4
Jupiter demonstrated competent fire starting and camouflage skills, and was unfailingly polite, thanking us for our time.
Notes: Despite his youth Jupiter appears to be the leader of an alliance between Districts 5 and 7, and Viola from District 4.
Tribute: Aspen Ambrose, 15
Representing: District 7
Score: 4
Aspen made a passable effort with bow and arrow, hitting the target three times out of five. She thanked us as she was leaving and hoped we would have a nice day.
Notes: District Seven's representatives are tied with Five for the sympathy vote this year.
Tribute: Cecil Sawtry, 17
Representing: District 8
Score: 9
As the younger brother of a tribute trainer Cecil demonstrated excellent swordsmanship and even appeared to enjoy himself.
Notes: He's one to watch for sure. Cecil has joined the 'career' alliance.
Tribute: Cordelia Hax, 16
Representing: District 8
Score: 6
Cordelia completed the agility course in an impressive time and then wrestled a trainer, though she had never fought anyone until two days ago.
Notes: At six feet tall and 190 pounds, Cordelia dwarfs nearly all the other tributes this year. She has joined the 'career' alliance.
Tribute: Richmond Halifax, 18
Representing: District 9
Score: 10
The second oldest tribute, Richmond demonstrated swordsmanship, archery and knife throwing before completing the climbing wall in the fourth ever fastest time.
Notes: Unsurprisingly, Richmond is leading the 'career' alliance.
Tribute: Abundance Verity, 17
Representing: District 9
Score: 5
Abundance was tearful and clearly anxious at the beginning of her private session but set three creditable snares and started two fires in her allotted time.
Notes: Another one named after a victor.
Tribute: Wilbraham Bailey, 14
Representing: District 10
Score: 7
Wilbraham demonstrated surprisingly excellent knife throwing skills.
Notes: The youngest member of the 'career' alliance, but not to be discounted.
Tribute: Cleopatra Flickerman, 18
Representing: District 10
Score: 5
After scoring 78% on the edible insects test, Cleopatra painted herself with camouflage, climbed a tree, and disappeared.
Notes: Caesar's granddaughter only had the minimum number of slips in the reaping bowl and was due to start university next month. Poor girl.
Tribute: Raven Brooks, 16
Representing: District 11
Score: 6
Raven showed surprising prowess with spears, though he peppered his session with colourful language and rather crude humour.
Notes: A wannabe comedian, apparently.
Tribute: Ki'yana Rankine, 13
Representing: District 11
Score: 5
Ki'yana demonstrated reasonable knife-throwing skills, hitting the target seven times out of ten, and then threw a spear which also hit the target.
Notes: Although she attracted attention from several other tributes, Ki'yana declined to join an alliance.
Tribute: Goldstein Trinket, 15
Representing: District 12
Score: 3
Seeming unsure what he was supposed to do, Goldstein threw a couple of knives, did half the edible plants test, drew a picture with the camouflage paints and was fiddling with a bow and arrow when his time ran out.
Notes: It's unclear whether he's simple-minded or just easily distracted.
Tribute: Chenille Whitemark, 15
Representing: District 12
Score: 5
Chenille appeared wide-eyed and shivering as she entered, but completed the agility course and climbing wall with excellent technique.
Notes: Rumour has it she was coerced into volunteering for Snow's granddaughter.
Tribute: Arctic Corbin, 18
Representing: District 13
Score: 6
Arctic informed us that he was a pacifist and would only fight in self-defence, then gave a fine solo karate demonstration.
Notes: The oldest tribute this year, Arctic is still attempting to get his reaping reversed. He has refused all alliance offers.
Tribute: Laurana Pinkerton, 15
Representing: District 13
Score: 5
Laurana was limping when she entered and explained she'd been sitting cross-legged for too long. She showed reasonable mastery of the bow and arrow, hitting the target three times out of five with one shot in the centre of the target.
Notes: The final tribute of the final games, Laurana has allied with several of the other prettier tributes.
So there we have it. A bit of a 'nothing' chapter really, but a necessary one. What do you think of the tribute scores? Any surprises there (apart from Victor, but I did include some pretty heavy hints in the last chapter that he'd discovered a hidden talent - which I hope seems reasonably realistic given his age)?
Anyway next time we'll be onto the interviews, which means the stylists, some of whom are rather familiar, will be making their first appearance!