Chapter 12:
District Eleven
Arthur Bramble, 17
One Year and Ten Months Before The Reaping
"Arthur, we got a call!"
Arthur jumps up immediately from his spot at the counter of their family run shop as he hears his father's footsteps racing down the stairs towards him. He just throws his whittling tools into his pockets without thinking about the knife being in his pocket, all too focused on whatever his father just heard a call about. "What is it?" Arthur asks as his father runs towards the back room where they keep their personal supplies and he follows him in.
"House fire," his father says as he starts putting on his protective fire gear and Arthur follows his actions, knowing his father is going to need everyone's help on this mission. "Three kids, two grandparents. Accidental fire from a candle getting knocked over. Only three blocks away, thankfully, neighbors to the Perkinsons. They called right away but we don't have much time." Despite the time crunch, his father takes a moment to stare at Arthur as he puts on his own gear, giving him a proud smile that Arthur quickly returns. "Stay safe, okay? You're still only fifteen."
"I'll follow your lead, Dad," Arthur answers him as he zips up the fireproof jacket. He gives it a solid pat, reassuring himself that he's all protected. "Is the team called?"
"Already on their way there," his father responds as he starts leading the way out of their survival gear shop. He just runs out the door, calling back to Arthur when he stops to lock it up, "No time! We have to trust our neighbors not to steal."
"Right," Arthur nods his head as he starts sprinting after his father, the pair of them racing through the streets to get over to the house fire. He knows the people owning shops surrounding theirs all respect his father and admire him for his work, something Arthur can relate to. This isn't the first time they've had to run out like this and Arthur suspects that it won't be the last, and they haven't had any issues yet. And what's a few stolen goods compared to a few seconds that could save a life?
As they get past the first block, Arthur can start seeing smoke rising and their pace quickens. Arthur can't see his father's face as they get closer, but he knows his father must be concerned by the way his shoulders are hunched down as he runs as fast as he can. So Arthur does the same, ignoring his lungs burning for air and the slight burn starting in his legs. But he can feel adrenaline starting to pump through him, also making his heart rate start increasing.
They round a street corner and start to slow down as they approach the burning house, finding people gathered around in front of it. "Let us through!" His father yells to be heard above the crackling of the fire and panicked cries of the people gathered. They all move out of his way, recognizing his booming voice, a few even crying out in relief that Josef Bramble has arrived.
The second-in-command of their rescue team runs out of the house carrying a small child coughing from the smoke. He spots them and moves towards them right away and Arthur finds himself looking towards his father for guidance as he tries to keep his breathing slow. One of the biggest lessons his father has taught him is to not let the adrenaline break his focus and he certainly needs it now. "Gregor, who's still in there?"
"One of the kids and both grandparents," Gregor answers as he passes the child over to another one of the crew so they can get taken for medical help. "They-"
Gregor hunches over in a coughing fit from the smoke and Josef pats him on the back. "Good work, we'll get the rest." He turns to Arthur and a couple seconds pass as he stares down at his son, seemingly deciding if he should bring him in with him. Arthur stands up straight, wanting his father to know he's ready for this. He wants to help rescue them. "Arthur, let's go."
Arthur nods his head and they jog over to the burning house and Arthur can feel the heat radiating off it from ten feet away. "Keep your head down and don't touch anything metal," his father warns him before they step inside the house and Arthur is blasted with hot air and smoke, making him start coughing immediately.
His father crouches down and Arthur does the same, holding up a sleeve to his mouth to try not to breathe in so much of the billowing black smoke that's quickly filling the small house. "Help!" They hear someone cry out before coughing and they navigate as quickly as they can around the flames engulfing the old wooden house towards the sound of a young boy crying. Arthur's lungs burn with each breath and he can barely hold back his own coughs, yet his father keeps pushing ahead, reminding Arthur that he can't quit. Not when there are two lives at risk.
They reach a closed door and his father looks at it for a brief second, holding back coughs before kicking right near the lock. The hinges quickly break off and the door falls to the ground, causing a burst of hot air and smoke to hit their faces. Arthur cries out from the heat and has to step towards his father as he feels the heat of a flame on his leg.
Despite everything, his father doesn't hesitate and runs into the bedroom to find a young boy coughing as he tries to move a fallen log off of his grandfather's leg. "Arthur, get him out!" His father yells at him as he starts pushing on the log, barely making any progress. Arthur hesitates for a moment, wanting to help out his father because he knows he needs it. His father looks up at him, sweat dripping down his face as he strains against the weight, "Go!"
Arthur nods his head, having to trust his father to make it out of their safely. After all, his father is the captain of their rescue team. He wouldn't be in that position if he couldn't make the right calls to save people. "Let's go," Arthur tells the boy as he steps forward to pick him up.
"No!" He yells out, clutching his grandfather's hand as tears leave clean streaks down his face covered in soot.
"Arbor, go with him, I'll be fine," the old man tells him as Arthur picks up the boy, trying to ignore him crying out as Arthur starts carrying him out of the room.
"Arbor, I need you to trust me," Arthur tells the boy, holding him tightly as he ducks down, trying to see in the house as it grows even darker with smoke. "If there's anyone who will get your grandfather out alive, it's my father. He can do anything." Arbor starts coughing as Arthur pauses, trying to find the best way to make it through the blaze. He knows he shouldn't be hesitating, but he's a bit afraid of the growing blaze. But Arbor presses his head against his neck, coughing away and he knows he has to take action. It's what his father would do. "And I'm going to get you out of here."
Arthur starts jogging in the path he thinks was to the front door, stopping several times as his lungs struggle to take in oxygen from the smoke. He stumbles over fallen wood and can feel the small exposed areas of his skin burning, but he doesn't stop moving. Not until he bumps into open door frame and hears cries of relief as he gasps for air.
He collapses at the front of the house, but still manages to not let Arbor fall from his arms. Two people race over and pick him and Arbor up before carrying them away from the blaze. "My- dad," Arthur barely gets out through coughs that sting his lungs. He can barely see who is helping him, his eyes burning from the smoke and watering profusely.
"Damn it, he's going to get himself killed!" Gregor yells and Arthur can hear cries from the crowd as the second-in-command runs back into the house with another person.
Someone sits Arthur down and Arbor keeps clinging to his side as people carefully give them both water. Arthur can't take his eyes off of the front of the house, feeling guilt running through him for leaving his father alone in there. He could have stayed a few extra seconds and helped him lift the log. Didn't his father always say to not leave someone alone on a rescue mission? But his father also told him to go… And he saved Arbor by following his father's instruction.
Arthur glances down at the young boy that can't be much older than ten, finding him staring up at him with wide eyes. "Tha-ank you," the boy gets out before getting into a coughing fit, but he still looks up at Arthur with a look of amazement.
Arthur smiles down at the boy, feeling a sense of pride in himself that momentarily blocks out the fear for his father. He doesn't think anything could ever beat the feeling of knowing that he was the reason someone is safe and alive. He ruffles the top of Arbor's head gently, "Any time, kid. Now let's find your family."
Arthur slowly stands up and helps Arbor up, keeping an eye on the blazing house as he starts walking over to the three other people covered in soot and crying as they reach out for Arbor.
But at a few cries, Arthur turns back to the house to find four people stumbling out, two of them practically being dragged out. "Dad!" Arthur shouts as he runs forward, feeling his eyes watering for a new reason as he stares at his father's limp form barely held up by Gregor.
"He needs medics now," Gregor cries out, his normally calm voice betraying his fear. Arthur starts looking around, but there are no medics in sight. After all, they're not in a very populated area of Eleven, not that there are very many of those. Their group is usually the help. "Help!"
Gregor lays Josef down on the ground and Arthur can only watch through tear filled eyes as he starts doing chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth, a desperate attempt to get air into his father's smoke filled lungs. "Come on, Dad…" Arthur whispers, dropping down to his knees next to his father and Gregor, grasping one of his father's hands and pulling back the sleeve to expose his wrist. He desperately presses two fingers against the artery in the wrist, yet feels no pulse. "Dad, no!"
The house finally collapses down behind them, yet Arthur can't bring his gaze away from his father. When Gregor finally stops and sits up, wiping away sweat from his brow, Arthur very slowly brings his gaze up to him. "He breathed in too much smoke…" Gregor tells him quietly, clearly his throat as he looks away from Arthur but not before Arthur sees tears welling in the man's eyes. "I'm so sorry, Arthur." Gregor sits back, staring at the blazing fire with tears silently falling down his cheeks for a few seconds before finally bringing his gaze back to Arthur. "I failed him… I won't fail you…"
Arthur tries to nod his head at this, but can barely bring himself to do the small movement as he struggles to hold in his sobs in his burning chest. "What do I do now?" He asks quietly, trying to hide the wavering in his voice as he looks anywhere but at his father's body.
"For now you'll come with me until we figure this out."
~.~.
Arthur's footsteps are heavy as he follows Gregor into his tiny house, just enough space for the man, really. "I know it's not much…" Gregor says as they enter. "But it's home… I already have some of the team working on finding somewhere for you to stay. Elaina Perkinson said you can stay there once the Stien family has found somewhere else.
Arthur nods his head as he looks around the small shack, still feeling numb to the events that transpired tonight. He just…can't believe his father is gone. The man he's looked up to his entire life, gone because he was so selfless and just wanted to help someone else. Arthur can't even bring himself to cry anymore tears, his body so desperately holding on to the little water still in him after going into the blazing house. And yet…he almost feels proud of his father right now in a way that completely confuses him.
"What will happen to the team?" Arthur asks, knowing that the rescue team was his father's pride and joy. How many lives around the District have been made better thanks to him? How many lives have been saved?
"Well," Gregor says with a heavy sigh as he pours out two tall glasses of water. He passes one to Arthur who gulps it down, his parched throat desperate for it. "I'll take over in the meantime but I'm not much to run things permanently… I have to talk to the team about it but…I know I want you to take over."
"Me?" Arthur asks in complete disbelief. He hands shake as he brings his glass back to his lips, trying to fill the empty space as he figures out his thoughts, yet only a couple drops hit his lips. Run the rescue team…? "Why me?"
"You're a good kid. You're selfless and always polite to everyone…" Gregor pauses to stare at him for a few seconds as Arthur stares at him in surprise over his praise, not completely sure if he deserves it. "I see a lot of Josef in you. He raised you well. But if you don't want to, I completely understand-"
"No, I want to," Arthur says quickly, making Gregor silently raise a single eyebrow at him. He sits up tall at this, feeling a determination running through him to step up for this task. He just knows it's exactly what his father would have wanted him to do and it's what he's been training him for. He just…never expected he would need to do this so soon. "But I…I'm scared of taking over. But I want to make him proud of me…and also you."
"Arthur, you're going to do great," Gregor tells him, slowly starting to smile proudly at him, even if his eyes are still filled with deep sadness over the loss of his oldest friend. "You won't be tackling this alone. We're a team and won't ever abandon you."
"I know…" Arthur responds before hunching back down in his chair, feeling overwhelmed by the pressure being placed on him. Isn't he too young for all of this responsibility? He doesn't even know if he'll be nearly as good of a person as his father…but he wants to. He wants to be as selfless and brave as him, never hesitating to rescue people. "But I'm only fifteen and I…I'm scared I won't be as good as him."
Gregor stares over at him carefully and Arthur turns down his gaze, not wanting to disappoint the man that's been close to a second father to him. "You don't have to be just like him."
"But I want to be!" Arthur brings his gaze back up at this, trying to make sure Gregor knows this is what he wants, even if he's scared and still trying to come to terms with the fact that is father is really gone. "I want to make him proud."
Eight Months Before the Reaping
The bells on the door to the shop tinkle and Arthur glances up from his notes as he catalogs what supplies they have loaned out, expecting to see another family coming in and desperately asking for help that he'll gladly provide. But instead he finds his best friend Fern entering, holding up a bag of lunch for the three of them, and he starts grinning at her immediately. "You're the best, Fern."
"You know, you should tell me that more often," Fern jokes with him and Arthur just keeps giving her a small smile, but when he feels his cheeks heating up a bit, he turns back to the notes in hopes that she won't see. "I only help run the shop when you go run off and be a dashing and brave hero-"
"I am not dashing," Arthur interrupts her, not really thinking it, but this just gets a scoff from Fern and an eyeroll.
"Tell that to all the girls at school," Fern chuckles at this, but her smile doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh Arthur, you're so brave for saving people! And wow, look at those muscles you have! Can I poke them?"
Arthur shakes his head at her impression, both of them knowing it's only a couple of the girls that go that far. He reaches out for the bag of food, only for her to pull it back out of his reach. He gives a sigh at her, but has to fight back a smile as she jumps up to sit on the wooden counter etched with all sorts of things from their boredom as kids. "I'm just trying my best to be as brave as my father. You know that."
Fern starts rummaging through the bag as Arthur leans against the counter next to her, still just lightly smiling at his friend. "Yeah I know," she answers as he tosses him over a sandwich. "Hey Arbor, lunch time!"
Hurried footsteps start racing towards them and Arbor slides into the front of the shop, huge grin on his face as he wipes off his hands on his pants, leaving wet marks across them. "You're the greatest!" He tells her as she offers a sandwich to him and she just raises her eyebrows as she looks over at Arthur.
"Oh stop," he tells her, laughing around a bit of his sandwich and shaking his head at her. She really is, but Arthur has yet to find the way to tell her that. It's the one thing he isn't brave about, but maybe someday he will be. Just…not today.
The bells to the shop ring again and he looks away from Fern, finding a very surprising person walking over to them, looking determined and way more confident than Arthur has seen her in past public appearances. "Pinova, wow, welcome," Arthur says, wiping at his mouth before smiling at their District's youngest victor. "How can we help you?"
"I want to help people prepare," the victor answers with determination, looking around at the other two before returning her gaze to Arthur and giving him a smile in return. "And I heard you're the person to go to."
"Well, I'm flattered," Arthur tells her, still smiling as he nods his head. "We've been selling survival gear for the upcoming storm and we still have a lot in stock."
"Great, I'll take whatever you can spare to distribute," Pinova answers, looking around the shop at all the gear.
"Let me help you!" Arbor says excitedly and Arthur looks over at him, amused look on his face to find the young boy grinning up at Pinova and looking enamored by her.
Pinova giggles a little and looks over at Arthur, "Well, I suppose you can, as long as it's okay with Arthur."
Arthur looks down at the young boy that he's been training to become a rescuer just like him ever since the fire, finding him holding his hands together in a pleading gesture and looking up at Arthur with wide cute eyes. "Oh I don't see why not," Arthur says with a smile and a shrug, holding in a laugh at how excited Arbor looks. He ruffles Arbor's hair, making the young boy swat his hand away and try to smooth out his hair. "Just ask if you're not sure about something."
"I will!" Arbor answers quickly before grabbing Pinova's hand and leading her into the shop to point out all the supplies that she'll need.
Arthur watches them, the young victor giving Arbor her full attention and asking him lots of questions, making Arthur smile proudly at the kid. "Should I be concerned that he's too infatuated by her to tell her the right stuff?"
"Nah, he'll be fine, you taught him well," Fern chuckles at this for a few seconds before falling quiet to take a bite of her sandwich. "You know," she starts up quietly after a minute of watching Arbor and Pinova, all sense of joking gone from her voice. "He's going to end up being just like you someday."
Arthur turns his full attention over to his friend at this, surprised by her change in tone. "Is that a bad thing?"
"No," Fern answers immediately, giving Arthur a small smile as she bumps his shoulder with hers. "It's a very good thing. We need more people like you in the world."
Jessamine "Mini" Briggs, 14
One Month Before The Reaping
Jessamine has been trying her best to focus on her book, but it's hard to pay attention when she's just waiting for the minutes to tick away until her friends arrive. They have been planning this outing all week and Jessamine simply can't wait any longer. Not when it means getting to go to her favorite place. She glances up from her book once more to look out the dirty window, sighing when she doesn't see her friends yet. She loves staying at home all day and being taught by her mother, but at times like this she wishes she wasn't homeschooled so she didn't have to wait for the others to walk the mile over to her house.
When she doesn't see any kids her age walking by, she tries to focus once more on the book in her lap, knowing she's supposed to be reading it and writing up a summary of it. Her mother knows she loves reading and it's why she told her to read on her own while she put her focus solely on Hugo, but…her friends are going to be here any minute now.
Jessamine glances over at the tiny clock on the mantel above the fireplace and when she sees that it's just about the time when her friends are dismissed from class, she finally gives up on reading the book and shuts it. She gently tosses it onto the table in front of her and stands up, putting her arms up to stretch after sitting on the couch for a couple hours reading. She'll just finish reading and do the assignment later…
With a slight skip to her step and keeping her gaze directed out the windows, Jessamine goes over to the small bedroom she shares with her twin brother, which conveniently also has a window overlooking the front yard. She goes to her small stereo and puts in one of her old cds, one she found ages ago of some rock band, and puts it in, letting the music start blasting around her. With a content smile, she flops down onto her bed, just feeling the vibrations from the music and the heavy drums. She nods her head along to the music, bringing her hands up above her to mimic playing on her own drum set. They'll never be able to avoid her one…but she would love to play music someday. If she can't be a singer, well, maybe drums would be a good alternative? Or maybe guitar…yeah, she could play a loud bass guitar and just play and feel the music vibrating in her chest.
A hand waves above her face suddenly, scaring her a little bit and she jumps up to look at her mother standing there, only a slightly disapproving look on her face. "Hi Mom," Jessamine tells her, smiling up at the woman that's raised her for years and taught her everything. "You almost gave me a heart attack, I thought you knew better than to sneak up on me."
Ethel Briggs nearly rolls her eyes at her daughter's sarcasm, but as Jessamine keeps grinning up at her, a smile slowly starts to form on her face. She shakes her head as she smooths out Jessamine's big pile of curls. "Mini, can you turn it down? Your brother can't concentrate."
Jessamine starts frowning right away at this and sadly nods her head as she goes over to the stereo to turn it down. She didn't want to distract her brother…she should have known better that the loud music is too much for him at times. When she turns back to her mother, she's trying not to let guilty tears fall down her face. "I'm sorry…I didn't want to distract him…"
Her mother starts frowning at her reaction and steps towards her so she can give her a quick hug and a kiss on the top of her head. "He doesn't blame you. You know he loves you."
Jessamine nods her head at this, but she still feels bad… She's going to apologize to him.
Her mother looks away from her at something and Jessamine waits until she turns back to her, a smile on her face. "I think your friends might be here."
Immediately Jessamine is grinning at this, her mood brightened right away as she runs out of the room and towards the front room. But she pauses halfway to the door to go into the kitchen where she knows her brother is working on things. She finds him sitting at the kitchen counter and he looks up at her approach, giving her one of his characteristic wide smiles. "Hi Hugo," she tells him, stepping closer to see his notes, knowing that he communicates in a different way from other people, just like her.
"Have fun," Hugo writes to her before smiling up at her and signing 'I love you'. She quickly returns the gesture to him, completely meaning it.
"I will," she answers him before turning to head back to the door once more. She skips over towards the door and yanks it open, ready to greet her two friends. But she starts frowning right away when she only sees one of them there. "Where's Lilith?"
Avery gives a shrug at Jessamine as she steps out of the house and shuts the door behind her. "She said something came up with her family last minute."
"I hope everything is okay…" Jessamine frowns as she looks up at Avery, really worried about Lilith. "Should we go see her instead?"
"No, no," Avery shakes her head at Jessamine right away as they start walking away from her house, but Jessamine isn't totally convinced. "I think she had to babysit her younger brother or something for a bit."
"Oh okay," Jessamine responds, still a little worried for her friend and also a bit sad that Lilith couldn't join them. She was looking forward to seeing both of her friends today… But at least she still gets to see Avery. "How was your day?"
Avery shrugs as she fiddles with her hands, looking ahead as they walk for a few seconds before turning to respond to Jessamine. "A little boring? We're just learning about geometry and shapes are not very exciting. But I did hear a rumor that we might be having an end of the year picnic."
"I didn't hear it," Jessamine giggles to herself at her comment and grins over at Avery, waiting to see her friend's response.
It takes a moment for Avery to figure out Jessamine's joke and she quickly shakes her head at her friend, but gives her a small hip bump. "Go figure," Avery laughs a little bit at this as they wait at an intersection for someone on a bike to ride past, with Avery sticking out her arm to stop Jessamine from walking in front of them. Jessamine carefully looks both ways before they continue walking across, getting closer to the busy part of town. "But you should come to the picnic. It would be fun and I will make sure no one says anything bad about you."
"I don't think anyone will say anything mean," Jessamine responds, firmly believing that none of the kids their age will do that. Why would they? They don't know much about her and she's sure they're all nice.
"I'll stick up for you," Avery answers, determined look on her face as she looks at her friend. "And if it's lame, we'll just ditch and go to the picnic Pride is hosting with Pinova."
Jessamine nods her head at that, wanting to go to the Pride picnic, but also just not sure if she'll fit in there… Do they even allow people to go that might be straight? She barely talks to others her age, thanks to being homeschooled so how is she supposed to know? "I…want to go to the Pride picnic instead," Jessamine says slowly, getting a look of surprise from her friend. They stop at a traffic light and Avery turns fully towards her as they wait to cross. "Pinova just seems really nice but…that's if we're allowed to go."
"Of course you're allowed," Avery shakes her head at Jessamine as they resume walking, her friend looping her arm with Jessamine's as they start getting into the busier part so they don't get separated. "Why wouldn't you be?"
Jessamine shrugs at her, not really knowing why. "I don't know how that works."
Avery doesn't respond as they get closer to the music shop, having to focus on what's going on around them. As they reach the door, Jessamine pats her pocket, just double checking that she has her allowance with her that she's been saving up for this day. Avery opens the door for them and Jessamine forgets about the picnics, all her thoughts on the small amount of old instruments and Capitol-approved selection of cds.
The shop owner looks up at them entering and Jessamine knows he heard the bells on the door. He smiles when he sees them and Jessamine reads his lips as he welcomes them before she untangles her arm from Avery's so she can start wandering around the shop. Jessamine is so happy Ernie is a nice man and has never kicked them out before on the many times they've come in just so Jessamine can listen to music in the shop or stare at the old drum kit no one is every able to afford so it just sits in the corner collecting dust.
Jessamine starts walking among the records, running her hand over them as she passes the folk and pop stuff, staring a little at them and contemplating for a second if she should buy one of them. But she soon moves on, knowing those songs won't have enough bass to allow her to really feel it in her chest. Avery keeps trying to convince her to give Beyond The Realm a chance, claiming they're all the rage, but the small bit she's sampled of them just hasn't appealed to her in the same way the rock stuff does.
Jessamine reaches the cds she always chooses from and starts flipping through them, just reading the titles of the mostly ancient bands that the Capitol has approved of for them. She always just picks based on the name of the band and her fingers stop flipping through as she stops at one that's had water stains on the paper and made the band name hard to read. Jessamine looks up at Avery to question her about the band, wondering if she has heard of them. "Pain At The…Disco? What's a disco and why would you want to be in pain at one?"
Avery comes over to look over at the cd and Jessamine watches her, seeing her start laughing before she turns towards her. "It's panic, not pain. And not sure, I'll ask Ernie. Do you want to listen to it?"
Jessamine nods her head as she picks up the package and brings it over to the small player that Ernie has set up in the shop for people to sample the music before buying it. She gently removes the cd and sets it in the player before pushing back her mass of curls so she can fit the headphones on her head. She cranks the volume all the way up and picks up the small player so she can keep walking around the store as she nods her head to the music. She tucks it into the waistband of her pants, freeing up her hands so she can keep looking through cds and move along to the music. She stares at the drums as she listens to the band playing, really liking the bass and thinking she'll buy this one.
She feels a tap on her shoulder and turns around to face Avery. "A disco is like a party place," Avery tells her and Jessamine nods her head, slowly picturing a fun place with just music blasting and people dancing along.
The image brings a smile to her face and she starts moving along to the music playing, almost shutting her eyes to just picture herself in the disco, but she doesn't want to accidentally knock something over in Ernie's shop. She did that once and felt bad about it for days.
Jessamine turns around to Avery, smiling to herself as she keeps bobbing her head along and tapping her foot to the beat. "I want to go to a disco."
"I don't think Eleven has one," Avery responds to her, frowning just a little and making Jessamine do the same. She loves Eleven, especially with all the exciting things that have happened here since Pinova's victory two years ago…but she wishes they had a disco and other fun stuff to do. "But we can make one in your room!"
"I'd love that!" Jessamine giggles in excitement at it and takes the headphones off of her head, shaking her head a bit to get her curls to fluff out again. "And we can ask Hugo to join too!"
"Sure," Avery answers with a smile before gesturing to the cd player. "Are you getting that one?"
"I think so," Jessamine nods her head and looks down at the player. "Do you want to listen?" She asks before taking the player into her hands and holding it out to her friend."
Avery shakes her head but smiles at her friend. "I'll listen later at your house."
Jessamine nods her head, grinning up at her friend before putting the headphones back on her head. She keeps wandering around the shop, occasionally catching glimpses of Avery talking to Ernie and asking him questions about the stuff in the shop, both of them lighting up in enthusiasm as they discuss the music. It makes Jessamine happy to see them both happy and she smiles a little to herself as she dances along, spinning a little bit and having to reach out to stop a display from falling over after she accidentally bumps into it. Once it's steady, she keeps moving around, limiting her dancing to just moving her arms instead of twirling to prevent herself from actually knocking something over.
She ends up listening to the whole cd but keeps wandering over to the drum set and staring longingly at it. She could never have one in her home…surely it would be too much for Hugo… Not that they can even afford one. But she sure would love to play one.
Out of her periphery, she catches Avery waving at her and turns over to her, finding her pointing at Ernie. She reads the lips of the shop owner as the cd loops back to the first song. "You can try it if you want."
"Really?" Jessamine questions, a slow smile forming on her face as Ernie nods his head at her. "Thank you, thank you!" Jessamine quickly tells him as she takes off her headphones and sets the cd player gently on a pile of cds next to the drum set. She slides onto the stool and stares with wide eyes down at the various drums and other stuff she doesn't know the name for, not even knowing where to start.
She runs a hand over one of the drums and hesitantly presses her foot onto one of the pedals, making the small mallet hit the bass drum. She can feel the noise vibrate up her leg and presses the pedal a little harder, grinning as she keeps feeling the vibrations of the drum. She could spend hours just pressing the pedals, but she grabs the drumsticks and hits a symbol, grinning as the crash makes a different feeling to her.
She tries to start making the pattern that was in the song as Avery comes over to stand next to her, doing her best to look happy with what is probably just a cacophony of noise from Jessamine. "You sure you haven't played before? It actually sounds good."
Jessamine pauses and rests the drumsticks carefully on her lap before slowly answering Avery. "I wish…and I wouldn't know," she frowns a little, being reminded once more of the dream she can never achieve. Most days she is accepting of it, knowing this is the life she was born into. And yet, she can't help but have times when she longs for it to be different.
"I'm serious," Avery tells her, frowning down at her friend. "You have some talent for that…maybe you could someday play."
"But I want to sing…" Jessamine frowns, feeling her eyes watering at the dream she'll never reach. But she takes a deep breath and shakes her head, trying not to dwell on it. She's lucky to have the life she has and wouldn't want to trade it. If she did, she might not have Hugo as her brother and best friend, or have met Avery and Ernie and enjoyed music with them. "Well I should go buy the cd so we can go home and make a disco in my room."
Avery looks like she wants to keep talking but soon nods her head and turns over to Ernie, saying something to him as Jessamine carefully stands up, doing her best to be gentle with the drum set. Once away from it, she runs a hand over one of the drums, smiling longingly at it and already starting to think about when they might be able to come back so she can try playing it again. Probably not until after the school year ends, but even then, Avery will probably be busy working in the fields to help out her family. But she's sure they can find some time to come back. She knows Avery will make time for her.
Jessamine carefully puts the cd back in its case and the player back in its spot before walking over to the counter, holding the cd up to her chest and smiling just thinking about bringing it home and letting Hugo listen to it. She gently sets it down on the counter and starts to reach into her pocket to pay for it, but Avery puts a hand on her arm to stop her. She looks up in confusion and Avery quickly explains. "Ernie said you can have it for free as long as you keep coming back to play for him."
Jessamine immediately looks up at Ernie, jaw dropping open in surprise and he laughs as he smiles at her. "I can't take it for free…"
"Of course you can," Ernie says to her, still smiling pleasantly at her. He pushes the cd back towards her and she slowly picks it up before hugging it to her chest, it meaning so much more to her now that Ernie is giving it to her.
"Thank you," Jessamine tells him, whatever little remnants of sadness at never getting to have her dream gone and replaced with gratitude towards him. "Thank you so very much!" She turns to Avery, still grinning about the cd. "Come on, I want to go play this for Hugo!"
Aineon "Ain" Ashminov, Escort for District Eleven
Unlike the majority of the other escorts, Ain hasn't been looking forward to the Reaping this year. No…ever since the Quell twist was announced, he's been confused and scared about the implications of the twist. Why would anyone do that to someone? And the past year has opened his eyes to the people of Eleven and he can't just view them as being different from him like so many of his colleagues do. There's also the fear that with the recent rebel activity, someone is going to steal the technology to take away the senses and he'll end up losing a sense… He doesn't understand why there's suddenly rebels, but he wants to. And he also wants to find some way to make sure he doesn't lose his sight, hearing, or touch… He can't imagine not being able to play his flute anymore and losing something that brings him so much joy.
But speaking of joy… There was one reason Ain has at least been looking forward to returning to Eleven. He's probably the only escort who has ever genuinely been excited to return to District Eleven, but those other escorts must have never realized what a rich culture is present in the District. And, of course, returning to District Eleven means he gets to see his girlfriend.
Ain has been both excitedly and nervously counting down the days until he got to return to District Eleven to see Pinova once more. Part of him wishes he wasn't so excited for the Games to roll around once more because he saw firsthand how much it hurt Pinova to lose their two tributes last year…but he won't lie and say that he hasn't been excited about spending a lot of time with her for the next few weeks. He just wishes it wasn't for such a somber reason.
Ain has passed on making another long grand entrance again this year to stay back with Pinova for a few extra minutes in the Justice Building. He had even contemplated not performing this year as a deep part of him assumed that if he acts out and not like a 'normal escort', they'll punish him for playing… But Pinova was able to convince him that wasn't the case, so he has a little something planned for her. And he can't disappoint his new admirer, even if Devrek could use a little help from him.
"I'm so glad you're here," Pinova whispers as she keeps holding on to him, even as the time for her to go out on stage quickly returns. "This Quell twist has me so anxious."
"I know…me too," Ain responds, rubbing her back to try and soothe her, but he knows there's not much he can do. He can't change the Quell twist or stop her from mentoring, not that she would let that happen. And he loves the fierce determination in her to help others, it was what first drew him in and just made him keep loving her. "But we're going to get through this together and I just know we're going to get a victor this year. I feel it."
Pinova lets out a sigh at this as footsteps approach them and she picks up her head to look at Kanzi walking over. "I sure hope you're right…" She leans up to give him a kiss on the cheek and he quickly turns his head so she kisses him on the lips, making her giggle a little. Hearing her laugh, even if for just a couple seconds, is enough for him and he feels a little better about having to let go of her for the Reaping. "Play well and pick a winner."
"I will," Ain answers, grinning at his adorable girlfriend as she walks backwards towards the door, smiling back at him. When she's out of sight, he lets out a sigh and the smile disappears as he thinks once more about the upcoming Quell. He doesn't know what to expect with the twist and that worries him… How are they going to take away their senses? And what sense will his two lose? If it's sight or hearing, he doesn't know if they'll win… And what if someone were to get ahold of whatever they use and make the mentors lose a sense? He's worried about the tributes already but also his girlfriend… But at least he knows he can protect Pinova and he's going to do everything he can once more to get home one of the tributes.
"Okay let's bring out our escort," he can hear the mayor say from outside and he pulls out his trusty flute, ready to make another spectacular entrance once more. "Who knows where he'll appear from this year? Welcome, Aineon Ashminov!"
Ain nods for the doors to be opened in front of him and he starts playing the song, a special one that he picked out for someone since he heard that Careless Whisper is his favorite song. A few in the crowd applaud him as he steps out on the stage, but he's pretty sure that's mostly Pinova. He twirls a bit, not being as dramatic with his performance as last year, but he still ends with a flourish before bowing to the crowd. He grins when he's met with applause and goes to the microphone, pointing out at one of the cameras. "Dave, I picked that song just for you! Great job today, bud!"
Ain takes a deep breath, trying to force the grin from performing off his face, all too aware that the choices he makes in the next few minutes will change the lives of two people and their families forever. And he's spent too much time with Pinova and knows that everyone in this District are just like the people in the Capitol, just born in a different place and with less opportunities available. "Hello, District Eleven," he says gently and gives the children gathered an encouraging smile. "I'm Ain Ashminov and I'm very grateful to be back here. And I am ready to do everything in my power to bring you home another victor this year." He tucks his flute away in his pocket and clasps his hands in front of him before continuing, "Now I think we'll keep switching things up like last year and pick in a different order from everyone else."
Ain takes a deep breath before walking over to the first of the glass spheres, considering the large amount of slips present and knowing that the reason there are so many is from how many people have to take out tesserae… It's gotten better since Pinova's victory, but there's still so much more he would like to do to help them with her. He finally picks the first name and returns to the microphone, somber compared to when he first walked out on the stage. After all, he's about to pick a child to send into the Hunger Games. "Our first tribute is…Arthur Bramble."
Murmurs travel through the crowd at the name, most of them letting out some form of relief that it was not their name that was called. It takes a few seconds before a boy steps out from the seventeen year olds and Ain briefly turns back to look at Pinova, all too aware that he's the same age as her. But his girlfriend is staying strong, simply staring at Arthur approaching the stage. Much like Pinova, Arthur is keeping all of his emotions bottled up and his face clear of what he's feeling inside. As he gets closer to the stage, Ain can see a ruggedness to him, from the scar across the left side of his jaw, his fit build, and the scruff on his face. When he reaches Ain, he stands tall and holds out his hand to shake the escort's, and up close, Ain can see just how much he's trying to hold it all together. "Welcome, Arthur," Ain says as he shakes his hand, Arthur firmly gripping is own, and he notices the tattoo of an eagle on the back of his right hand. "Cool ink."
"Thank you, it's for my father…" Arthur tells him, a pang of sadness briefly crossing his face before he keeps his gaze neutral. He lets go of Ain's hand to face the crowd, holding his hands behind his back as he stands tall and stares straight ahead, seemingly accepting of all of this.
"And are there any volunteers for Arthur?" Ain asks the crowd out of obligation, but he knows from Pinova that no one is going to volunteer. Even if a sibling is Reaped, the chances of someone volunteering are so slim. And just like he predicted, no one steps forward for Arthur. "Alright, let's pick the tribute who will join Arthur."
Ain once more takes his time assessing the slips and picking one, trying not to think about the families that will be losing a child or sibling if he fails to help them get home… But he has to stay positive that they'll get one of them home. Arthur already seems like he might be a good choice and perhaps the other will as well. So he picks his name and returns to the microphone. "And the second tribute is…Jessamine Briggs."
It takes a few seconds before a girl steps out into the aisle to walk up, looking back at a friend that's pointing up towards the stage. Jessamine slowly starts walking up, looking around at the people staring at her. As she gets closer, she wipes away tears in her eyes and that's when a woman lets out a cry for her from the gathered crowd before getting cut off. But Jessamine doesn't look around at the sound like other people do, instead staring up at Ain with wide eyes full of fear and awe as she walks up the steps to the stage. "Welcome, Jessamine," Ain says to her, but gets no acknowledgement from her and he just assumes she's in shock.
Jessamine looks back up at him as she stops walking next to him and starts moving her hands in front of her in very specific patterns. It takes a few seconds for realization to cross over Ain and his eyes widen as he stares down at her with growing dread. What did he just do… "You can't hear," he whispers, realizing she won't be able to hear him say that. But she stares at his lips and after a few seconds, she slowly nods her head as her eyes start turning glossy.
Ain can just stare at her in growing dread, not believing that he picked someone who already has lost one of their senses and is forcing them to lose another. He slowly turns away from her and back to the crowd, unable to even bring himself to look over at Pinova to see how she's reacting because it's all his fault. "Are there…" he starts quietly, clearing his throat to try and speak louder. "Are there any volunteers for Jessamine?" He pleads to the crowd, desperately hoping that someone might step forward.
But no one does and he turns back to Jessamine, feeling so guilty as she stares at him with tear filled eyes. "I'm sorry," he tells her, watching as she reads his lips. He already knows the first thing he does on the train will be securing a translator for her. He will not give her any less of a chance at winning than Arthur.
He turns back to the crowd, much more somber than when he first started, and he takes a deep breath. "Well, we have our two tributes… Jessamine Briggs and Arthur Bramble…"
Ain watches the two shake hands as the District gives obligated applause for hem before motioning them to walk into the building. As he turns himself, he feels a tug on his billowy sleeve and glances down to see Jessamine looking up at him with innocent eyes. She points to her chest before putting her left palm up and running the fingertips of her right hand down the palm and her fingers before pointing at Ain. Ain doesn't know very much sign language, only a few phrases and he cannot sign himself, but he knows what she just said to him.
She might forgive him, but he's not sure if he forgives himself.
WE HAVE OFFICIALLY MADE IT THROUGH ALL OF THE INTROS! I'm so very hyped to have gotten through all the intros and have everyone see what the complete set of awesome tributes we have for this story! As always, very big thanks to GalacticCoach, EllaRoseEverdeen, and Shunkazamis-girl for Arthur, Ella, and Ain respectively!
So there we have it, our District Eleven pair! Thoughts on these two? I'm curious at what point you realized that Jessamine is deaf - I threw in lots of little hints here and there!
Now that we have seen all of the tributes, I've put up a poll on my profile for 'Who are your favorite tributes?' because I'm curious! As always, if you vote for your own in the poll, please at least pick a couple others! Also I'm curious if there are any ideas about who might be allies. And why not ask, preliminary picks for victor right now?
Next chapter we'll be checking in with Seraphim for our usually reaping recap chapter! It should be up around March 16th so I'll see you then!