Romulus Diodato, District 2

"I feel the tension

I'm afraid it will break

I should start lifting weights."-

Car Seat Headrest, Weightlifters


When Remus Diodato was reaped for the Fifth Hunger Games, his brother, Romulus - the younger by eighteen minutes - didn't cry.

Why would he? Even at seventeen, Remus was the biggest Two tribute so far, even larger that Aeneas. He had that victory in the bag.

When Remus Diodato charged straight into the bloodbath of the Fifth Hunger Games, Romulus could not be more proud of his brother. Remus was clearly the strongest tribute in the arena. His sword arced through the air, glinting in the sunlight as it sliced the life out of tribute after tribute.

Remus Diodato was a victor, through and through.

Romulus couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

That jealousy quickly transformed into grief and rage when the quiet, skinny boy from Eleven put his pitchfork right through Remus' throat. How dare he! That was his brother!

Romulus watched his parents break down in front of him as his brother's corpse cooled on the ground. They confessed to numerous crimes against the Capitol, kept hidden for so many years but recently uncovered. They blamed themselves for Remus being chosen for the games. They knelt on the floor before Romulus and begged him to forgive them.

They told him that he would be next. He would be in the Sixth Hunger Games.

He dismissed his parents as fools for daring to defy the mighty Capitol. He left home, abandoned his parents, and rented a small room with a few of his friends from the quarry.

But he still found himself tossing and turning all night, wondering if he would be next.

He felt a little silly waving his broomstick around like a sword when he was alone in his room but it helped him gain confidence over time. Soon he was staging mock battles with his friends, teaching his body the positions it would need to take in a fight against someone else. They all tolerated him, knowing what he'd been through. They'd nicknamed him 'Rom the victor' jokingly.

But their smiles had all vanished on reaping day.

When Romulus Diodato was reaped for the Sixth Hunger Games, he didn't cry.

Why would he? He was the biggest Two tribute so far, even larger than Remus. He knew how to hold a sword as well. He had that victory in the bag.

Nevertheless, when Romulus Diodato charged straight into the bloodbath of the Sixth Hunger Games, he was certain to take out the boy from District 11 first.

He wasn't going to make the same mistakes that Remus had. He would bear it all - a lifetime of people looking at him with pity in their eyes like poison - just to earn some glory for himself and his brother.

He was going to win the Hunger Games.


We draw closer and closer to that elusive first ever Career. Romulus doesn't really count because he only trained for a year and didn't even volunteer but he'll definitely play a role in District 2 being a major Career District. Next chapter, we'll see the other major pre-Career victor.

I feel like now's a good time to mention that, even without training, this first decade is where District 2 really peaked. The first arena is really combat-focused which is really good for the stronger quarry workers. Once survival and sponsors become more of an issue, the outliers will begin to get more wins. Looking back, I probably didn't write enough Career victors and gave some outlying districts like Five and Seven too many.