Summer Lindell - District 9 Female - Age 18

"For the love of god Isaac, you do not need to be so vicious with your chewing," The District 9 mentor, Ulyssa sighed as she watched Isaac take gigantic bites into the hamburger that was served on the train, "Thank you for being so polite, Summer."

The majority of the train ride could be summarized by Isaac doing something insanely dramatic and borderline violent, Ulyssa condemning him and thanking Summer for doing a better job. When she saw Isaac take the stage, she was fairly certain she would hate him, and though she was hoping to be proven wrong. It wasn't that he was as verbally deviant as she had thought he would be, but rather that everything he did, he did largely. Like when it was time for them to get out of their seats at the table, he nearly swung his chair at a poor Avox, and when he sat down on the couch, he did it with a large thud. It would have been easy for Summer to get angry at him, but she was too much of an empath to outwardly express the rage she felt. Maybe the boy was misunderstood, or at least hurting inside to some degree. The last name Galavan did sound familiar after all.

"Your sister wasn't like this you know," Ulyssa said as Isaac walked with loud thuds to the bathroom.

Ah! That was where Summer remembered the last name. Isaac's sister, Zipeena Galavan was in the Hunger Games the year prior. Poor kid. First his sister died, and then he was thrown into the exact same circumstances. No wonder he was an asshole.

"Hey Isaac," Summer decided it was time to try to directly talk to him.

"Go away, dyke."

Or not. Well, at least she tried.

"Wait no," Isaac said as she walked away, "We can talk."

"Please don't call me that word then." Summer tried her best to uphold the reputation as polite that she had recently received.

"I just wanted to say," Isaac stuttered and actually showed signs of human emotion, "You remind me of my sister."

"I'm sorry for your loss Isaac." Summer said, "I can only imagine how upset you must feel."

"Zipeena was the best!" Isaac exclaimed, "And you're going to have so much fun with her in hell when I kill you."

Geez the kid could switch emotions faster than a Capitolite could switch wigs. It was honestly disgusting. Summer really thought she was going to actually connect with him but alas. No wonder he was voted in. Still, Summer could tell he was hurting inside, but that was no longer her problem, not that it ever was.

"Hey Isaac," Androcles, their mentor said, "Maybe it's your bedtime right now."

"I'm not a fucking baby!" Isaac roared, attempting to punch Androcles who easily stopped his fist with his hand.

But he was, as Androcles was easily able to pick him up and carry him into the sleeping quarters.

"Sorry about that Summer," He smiled upon returning, "He'll be dead in a few days so try not to worry about him."

Brandon Colt - District 10 Male - Age 18

Brandon wasn't sure whether or not he should loathe Willadeene. On one hand, she was the mayor's daughter which meant she was likely pretentious as hell, and possibly also aware of his whole livestock smuggling scheme, but on the other hand, he would need allies, and she could possibly be one. So far she didn't seem scared of Brandon, which was a good sign, as he was used to people shuddering as he passed them in the fields. Brandon decided it was probably a good idea to talk to Olive, because he'd always admired her seemingly magical animal taming powers which managed to allow her to win the whole thing in the arena.

"Do you think you could show me how to do the thing you did with the mutts?" Brandon approached her, admittedly a bit nervous.

"To be honest," Olive laughed, "I still have no idea how I did it!"

Well that was fucking useless.

"Was it at all similar to getting cows to do what you want?" Brandon asked. He had become a master of cattle control, which was necessary in order for him to take other people's cows to his farm.

"Actually it sort of was!" Olive exclaimed, chipper as a bird.

The two proceeded to discuss cattle and it was actually quite pleasant, not that Brandon expected otherwise.

"Oh dear!" Olive said just as their conversation was wrapping up, "I believe we've been excluding Willadeene this entire time."

"I was hoping you'd notice," She had just been staring at them the entire time.

"Well do you have anything to say about cows?" Olive asked

"No," Willadeene said, "That's why I didn't contribute."

What a weirdo. Maybe she wouldn't be Brandon's ally afterall. He needed somebody who could behave like an adult, and Willadeene was a mere child.

"What do you want to talk about then?" Brandon said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Do you like playing cards?" She asked

"No," He said, "I've never played, but no."

"Well then tell me about yourself I guess."

"Is this a ploy from your dad to get me arrested?"

"Why would it be?"

Brandon proceeded to tell Willadeene the basic facts of his life. How he was born on a farm, raised on a farm, and worked on a farm. He told her about Cadence, and how he needed to win the Hunger Games so he could get back home to him.

"Why do you want to win?" He said as he ended his story, "I mean you surely have a reason since you campaigned to be here."

Willadeene told him her stupid story about being kidnapped and how she needed to win to prove she was more than the girl who got kidnapped. It was like she wanted to be killed, she basically already had almost been. Brandon barely remembered the kidnapping story when it happened, since he never read the news, but he knew it was god-awful.

"I'm happy you've found an outlet to express yourself." Brandon said, "I wish you the best of luck."

Tulip Everly - District 11 Female - Age 18

"Hey!" Tulip exclaimed, finally remembering why she recognized Louis, "You're the mayor's son's boyfriend!"

They had just finished dinner and were just about ready to pass out for the night, as their mentor Ashby didn't want to start talking strategy until the next day. She was clearly more tired than Louis and Tulip though, or at least she looked it.

"Not yet," Louis said, "But maybe someday."

Tulip was confused. She has seen Louis a few days prior walking hand in hand with the boy and entering his mansion. Surely they were dating.

"You're not dating him?" Tulip questioned, "But I saw you a few days ag-"

"That was just sex." Louis cut her off, "But we'll be fully together soon."

Tulip listened as Louis told the story of him and Ryan, the mayor's son. The way he told it made her seem as though it was supposed to be romantic, but Tulip thought it was quite creepy. How did he not realize that he didn't like him back? Did anybody teach him to not have sex with people drunk? He was a piece of work that was for certain.

"Well, I hope that you can be with him if you win." Tulip sighed, trying to end the conversation.

That didn't work though and Louis went into another rant about how mad he was that people thought he was a bad person, when all he wanted was to be with Ryan. He was a hopeless case it seemed, and Tulip had seen it all.

"Tell me about yourself then," Louis began to see that Tulip was uncomfortable.

Tulip loved to talk about herself, so she did. She told him about the recording devices and how she didn't mean to out him and Ryan, she just saw gossip. He told her he didn't mind and was flattered that she saw them as a couple. Tulip talked about how Trink betrayed her, which was why she was in the Games in the first place.

"I'm sorry your friend did that," He said, "It's an awful thing for somebody to do that. I get it. Ryan hurt me the same way."

Tulip couldn't believe what she was hearing. How the hell were the two situations similar. Tulip was vulnerable, and allowed herself to be taken advantage of, while Louis assaulted somebody three years his minor and was rightfully ridiculed for it. Tulip knew that she needed allies if she wanted to survive though, but Louis simply would not be the right one for her. She could work well with others. She worked well with Trink at least. Trink dealt with the customers and the devices, Tulip's job was in making the content, and it worked, even though the ending wasn't ideal.

"You're fine Louis." Tulip said, "If you win, I'm sure Ryan will want you, just please stop talking about him because I honestly don't give a fuck."

Simon Steel Clade - District 12 Male - Age 13

"Rose! You're going to get sick!" Simon watched in horror as his sister grabbed handfuls of chocolate from the various bowls on the train and shoved them into her mouth.

"Simon, this is delicious!" Rose laughed, "You have got to try some."

At least one of the Clade twins was enjoying the ride to the Capitol. Simon was unable to because it all seemed simply too good to be true. The candy everywhere, the Avoxes at his beck and call, the warm water, there simply had to be a catch. Well, the catch was that he was going to die eventually, but surely there was another thing.

Simon also didn't trust Dennis, the man who was supposed to mentor him and Rose. He'd spent the entire train ride smoking something, which didn't feel very mentor-y.

"Would you like to help us with the Games, Mr. Fling." Simon patted his arm, "We'd love to hear what you have to say."

Rose stopped eating chocolate and stood beside her brother.

"We'd love to!"

"Go away brats." Dennis grunted, "You're going to die and nothing I say will change it."

Rose started to cry so Simon held her. He tried to console her, but nothing would stop her tears.

"You made my sister cry!" He screamed at Dennis, "I hate you."

"I can see she's crying, and I don't care, punk!"

Simon moved to the sleeping quarters with Rose.

"He's a horrible person!" Rose said, "Do you think everybody in the Capitol will be that awful."

Simon was disappointed as well. While the only things he knew about the Capitol came from stories about Lucy Gray, meaning they may not have been true, he did remember that Lucy Gray's mentor had been exceptionally kind to her, and Simon could tell Rose was upset because she expected the same.

"This didn't happen to Lucy Gray." She grunted.

"I knew that was what was upsetting you Rose." Simon said.

"How did you know?"

"We're twins!"
"And you know everything about me," Rose laughed and gave her brother a hug, "I'm so glad you're here with my Simon!"

"I couldn't imagine life without you."

"Maybe they'll let both of us win when they see us play our music!"

The concept was bold, and definitely unrealistic, but Simon admired his sister's tenacity.

"Maybe they will!"

Simon knew that playing into Rose's hopes would prevent her from getting upset. He didn't know what he would do when she died, as he assumed she would die first, though he hoped he would follow shortly after. If not, he would do the unthinkable.

"We're both going to die aren't we?" Rose asked.

Simon was too afraid to answer that. He knew that deep inside Rose knew the truth too.

"We'll both be together."

"Like our aunt?"

"Exactly."

WOOHOO! That's it for the train! Next chapter will be parade time!