Chapter 17:
Demarcus Pollock, 18, District Four
As the chariot finally comes to a stop, Demarcus leans forward to rest his forehead against the rail of the chariot and takes deep breaths, trying to control his racing heart. He tried so very hard to keep it all together during the chariot rides, but being in front of that large crowd was ten times worse than he anticipated. The only thing that got him through it was repeating the mantra that Iona has had him reciting every hour since the reaping in the belief that if he says it enough times, he'll start to believe it.
"I was chosen for a reason," Demarcus whispers to himself as he hears some of the other chariots entering behind him and he picks up his head, knowing they might see his anxiety as weakness. "I deserve to be here. I will be the victor and help out my family."
Demarcus takes a few slow breaths, in through the nose and out the mouth, as he stares down in front of him, trying not to think about the tributes all around him. Slowly, he can feel his racing heart slowly down as he keeps reminding himself that the time in front of the crowds is done. No one will be staring down at him and judging him, all based on his appearance.
Until he gets to the interviews. Then he'll have the entire nation's attention trained solely on him.
And just like that his breathing quickens along with his heart as his stomach twists in anxiety. He only got through this knowing that the crowd wasn't focusing on anyone in particular. But for the interviews, they're going to be watching him and only him, analyzing every single thing he says and judging him for each word, each small action that he does and-
"Now what?" Delta asks him suddenly, stopping his thoughts from spiraling even further.
"What?" Demarcus asks as he blinks a couple times and brings his focus on her. He had been so caught up in his thoughts that he had forgotten for a moment that his District partner was next to him. And he's glad that she's the one the victors picked to go with him… She never tries to talk to him excessively, only a few awkward sentences here and there when they're talking just about the Games. No questions about his home life or himself.
"What do we do now?" Delta questions again and gestures around them, bringing Demarcus' attention away from her and to the tributes surrounding them. Almost all the chariots have arrived now and a few of the tributes have their gazes on him, causing him to quickly look away, especially at the glare from the young girl from Nine. Most of the tributes haven't started to get off their chariots yet, looking just as unsure as Demarcus feels about what to do next.
"Iona said we should talk to the others…" Demarcus answers quietly, hating the thought of talking to the others, even if it's absolutely necessary for their alliance. He knows he has to do it and it's inevitable…but he doesn't want to be the one to initiate it. And he can see from Delta's face that she isn't that thrilled at the thought of it either.
Luckily it seems like he won't have to. Or maybe unluckily since he still has to talk to them.
"Hey Four!"
It takes a few seconds for Demarcus to realize the person is talking to them, calling them by their District. He looks around and finds the pairs from One and Two standing together, the pair from Two introducing themselves to the girl from One while her partner bounces on his toes and waves them over.
"I guess that answers my question," Delta says with a sigh as she jumps down from the chariot, the scale plates on her armor jingling together from the movement. She starts storming over to the four careers, not waiting for Demarcus as he takes his time getting down from the chariot, trying to both avoid tripping and embarrassing himself in front of the others and avoid talking to them. He waits a second for the girl from Five to walk past him, determined expression on her face and walking on a mission over to the tributes from District Three.
He takes his time walking over the short distance, taking deep breaths and trying to calm himself down before talking to four brand new people that he needs to get along with. He doesn't have the luxury of feeling confident enough to talk to other tributes to be their ally if things go poorly here. Not that any of them would actually want to be his ally…he doesn't even know if the other careers will even want to be his ally.
Well, he supposes he's about to find out very soon.
"Hiya! I'm Major Emerson-Ness!" The boy from One greets him with a cute smile and sticks his hand right out to Demarcus. He hesitates for a couple seconds and Major keeps giving him that encouraging smile, so he reaches out and shakes his hand while trying to give a smile in return.
"Demarcus," he says quietly as Major lets go of his hand and holds out his hand to Delta, who keeps her arms crossed and gives him a nod instead.
"Delta," she says, giving him no sort of smile or anything.
"You know," the boy from Two speaks up, grin on his face as he uses his thumb to point over at Major, "I didn't know we would have a major from the army in our alliance." He gives Major a salute and waits a few seconds, grinning at each of them until Demarcus finally catches his joke and starts smiling genuinely. Major gives a forced laugh and Odyssey chuckles at his own joke before holding out his hand to Demarcus who doesn't hesitate as much to take it this time, "Odyssey Gunderson, nice to meet you."
"I would say you get used to his jokes, but no one gets used to dad jokes," Odyssey's District partner speaks up, shaking her head at him but still smiling up at him, clearly unbothered by the joke.
"Bell is a harsh critic," Odyssey sighs dramatically as he puts a hand over his heart, "She hurts me so much."
Bell scoffs at this and rolls her eyes, clearly fighting off a smile. "He's such a queen and you haven't even met the actual queen yet." Demarcus gives her a confused look that she ignores, instead offering her hand to them. "Bellona Silvanus."
Demarcus takes her hand, trying to smile at her but just feeling uncomfortable with how easily the pair from Two talk together and feeling like he's interrupting something. But Major steps forward then, redirecting the conversation away from him. "So what did you all think about that? I love being out in front of the crowd! Reminds me of dancing back home."
"Oh you dance?" Odyssey asks as excitement lights up his face and Major nods his head, grinning at Odyssey. "I also perform back home but a little bit different from that."
The girl from One steps forward as the two start talking excitedly about performing, having stayed away from Major the whole time. "Anastacia," she says quietly, nodding her head at the two of them before stepping back, clearly not wanting to be in the focus of the conversation, but not before Demarcus sees her give Major a cold look.
"Nice! I just love being out in front of the crowd," Major sighs wistfully at this and glances back to the closed door they came through and the muted sounds of the crowd leaving. Demarcus follows his gaze and he's just reminded that he'll have to face them again in a few days. When he turns back to them, he has an innocent smile on his face and when he looks at Demarcus, the look quickly fades away and he starts frowning at Demarcus. "Do you not like it?"
Demarcus shakes his head slowly, unsure of what to tell him about himself, at least in front of the others. Major has been warm and open to him, slowly making him grow more comfortable in the conversation. But the others? The ease the pair from Two have with each other just makes a stab of envy go through him that they can so easily talk to each other without any clear social anxiety over it. And Anastacia and Delta are choosing to stay back from the conversation, which Demarcus wouldn't mind doing. But Major isn't letting that happen as he puts his whole focus on him, making him feel like Major really cares about him being part of the conversation. "I…don't do too well in front of large crowds," Demarcus responds, already feeling anxious about watching the parade and seeing just how poorly he did. He knows he didn't impress the crowd and his family back home is probably yelling at him on the screen for volunteering, giving them more belief that he won't-
Demarcus jumps as Major pats his shoulder, giving him reassuring smile. "I'm sure you did just fine! And it's okay if you didn't. Not everyone can be a performer!"
"I don't think the alliance could handle having three performers in it," Odyssey jokes with him and Major laughs along with it. Demarcus tries to smile about this, slowly relaxing under Major's reassurance, but the anxiety is still lingering in him until he can see for himself.
"Tributes, please report to your assigned floors."
Demarcus lets out a sigh of relief at the announcement providing him with the opportunity to leave this conversation without looking bad for leaving before the others. Major starts pouting about this, "Oh darn, I was having fun talking to you all!" He gives a small shrug of his shoulders before smiling once more at them and motioning for them to start walking over to the elevators. "Well good thing we have two full days of training for me to get to know all of you!"
Right…two full days of socializing… Demarcus grimaces at the thought as Bellona gestures for them to head towards the elevator and Delta takes off first, clearly just as done with socializing as he is. Bellona lingers back to walk beside Anastacia to talk to her and Odyssey is ready to walk with Major, but the boy from One has decided to walk right beside Demarcus. "You know I'm really excited to get to know you!" Major says cheerfully as they make their way over to the elevator that Delta is waiting by. "I'm excited to get to know everyone, really. It seems like the victors really picked some good tributes from every District this year!"
"Right," Demarcus agrees quietly with him, still having that doubt in his head that he shouldn't have been picked.
"Of course they picked the best," Odyssey says from beside them, bringing Demarcus' gaze over to the boy that just walks with such confidence that he's envious of. He's never had that kind of confidence before… "We all want to be the next Quarter Quell victor."
"And District Two is going to get back to back Quell victors," Bellona adds on as the doors to the elevator open up. They step on as Odyssey nods his head in agreement at this, making the cheerful expression on Major's face come down a notch.
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Major teases and chuckles a little at this, but as the doors slide shut with all six careers in the tiny space, Demarcus can feel the growing tension in the air. All of them want to be the victor and he knows that despite all the friendliness they're showing right now to each other, they're not friends. They're competitors fighting for the same goal and none of them want to fail. Not when failure means death.
A tense silence falls on them until the doors open on the first floor and Major skips out, followed behind by Anastacia. He turns back around to wave at them, calling out as the doors start to shut, "See you all tomorrow!"
When the doors shut and they continue moving up, Bellona whispers to Odyssey and looks around at the two from Four, but in the tiny space, Demarcus is still able to hear her. "I don't trust him, no one is that cheerful to people that are competing against him for victory."
"I don't know, he didn't seem like a major asshole to me," Odyssey chuckles at his joke as the elevator stops on the second floor and he turns back to Delta and Demarcus, giving them a polite smile before stepping off. "See you tomorrow."
Bellona gives a casual wave at the two and soon they're going up to the fourth floor. Demarcus lets out a big sigh as his shoulders slouch, feeling some of the tension in him dissipate from no longer being near the people he doesn't know and feels forced to make like him. He looks over at Delta, finding similar relief on her face that they're no longer near the others. "What do you think?"
She turns over to him as the doors open on their floor and gives him a shrug. "They'll be good allies, that's about it."
"Yeah…" he responds as they walk out onto their floor, becoming a bit awed as he looks around the luxurious floor that's just for their team and his home for the next few days. Until it's time for him to fight the people that were just being friendly with him…
Somehow, he doubts Iona will let him hide up here for the next few days and avoid the others.
Eva Orville-Wright, 18, District Five
Before the chariot even has time to stop, Eva is already jumping down from it and on a mission. Of course she's already planned out her next move after the chariot, not willing to waste any of her time during the Capitol. She's planned out too much of her future to let it slip away from her now all because she was unlucky, despite the odds being in her favor. But, she knows having a few slips in the Reaping bowl didn't make it impossible to be picked, just statistically unlikely. But she's never been one to focus on the past, instead always planning out her next move to get to her future at the university.
"Whe-where are you going?" Davy asks her in confusion as the chariot stops and he catches himself from the sudden stop. "Letha said to head up to the fifth floor once we were done."
Eva stops and turns back, staring at him blankly for a few seconds for interrupting her plan. But she can afford a minute here. "Letha might have told you that but Galen is my mentor and we have a plan. So go on, you can go run and hide while I get myself allies."
Before turning around to continue on her mission, Eva can see the slight disappointment on her District partner's face from her still rejecting him, but she doesn't dwell on it. Davy seems like a good kid, but good kids don't win the Hunger Games. And Davy might be smart, but so is Eva and that's all he has to offer her. Eva isn't looking for people like her. She's looking for people to balance out her weaknesses and get her sponsors to keep her alive. Davy isn't that person.
But Eva has her eyes on two people that fit that criteria and she's going to make them her allies.
Eva walks with a purpose over to the District Three chariot, determined look on her face. The boy from Four waits for her to pass, but she doesn't give him a second glance, knowing he would never ally with her. She'll never get the careers to ally with her unless one of them goes rogue like the girl from One last year. But Galen doubts this will happen and the career Districts will send their best options that won't risk going off alone, so Eva will make do with her other options. And if these two both say no – which she doubts – then Eva has a list in order of who she'll ask next.
The pair from Three look over at her as she approaches, Calvin with a skeptical look and Amelia with a confused look – and Eva stops in front of them, placing both hands on her hips and making sure she has attention from both of them before starting. "Eva Orville-Wright, District Five. I'm not going to beat around the bush or anything with you. I know what I want and need to win these Games and that's allies to balance out what I have to offer. I think you two have the most to offer to me. I don't want to be your friend – that would be wasting all of our time because both of you know well that only one person is making it out alive."
Eva stares at both of them, watching how they react to her statement. Amelia is the only one to really show emotion, her face falling a bit at the reminder that only one is making it out alive, before it's replaced by confusion as she stares at Eva. "But…why me?" She asks, clearly not realizing how valuable she is in the eyes of the sponsors.
"You're already the President's favorite and bound to get sponsors," Eva gives a nonchalant shrug at this, knowing she'll never be as popular in the eyes of the sponsors as these two. She isn't part of the university program in Three nor is she a career that's trained for this. She's a girl from Five with the brains to win but lacking on popularity and physical skills. She's smart enough to know this and find a way around it. "I want in on those sponsor gifts. And Calvin seems strong."
The boy crosses his arms at this, his body tense and defensive, conflicting with the neutral look on his face. "What exactly do you have to offer?"
"My brain," Eva answers confidently, knowing she's right on par intellectually with these two, if not higher. "I'm smart – I have a full ride to Five's university waiting for me at home – and I'm efficient at planning. I know what my odds are and what I need to learn and I won't sugar coat anything in our alliance. And everyone in Panem knows you two and that you're smart, so I'm sure you'll see how this alliance would be mutually beneficial."
"I don't need someone that's smart. I already have that," Calvin responds right away, making Eva narrow her eyes a bit. "If you don't have survival skills – which seems unlikely coming from District Five – then I don't want to be your ally."
"Well go off then," Eva responds with a huff, crossing her arms to mirror his as he starts to walk away from her. "Suit yourself if you want to turn down what I have to offer. I don't need you." And she really doesn't. She knew there was a chance they could say no to her and she's thought through her next plan. Sure, these two are the best options for her – and she'd be lying if she didn't want Calvin more because he she saw his muscles while analyzing each Reaping. But there's still one still there. "Well? Are you going to say no as well?"
Amelia hesitates with her response and Eva raises an eyebrow at her, starting to question if Amelia is really a good option for her as an ally. Sure, she'll get sponsors, but she doesn't seem to have much drive.
After a minute goes by with no response as a bunch of different emotions pass over Amelia's face, Eva decides she has her response and is ready to turn around and go to her next option. "Well you could at least say no."
Eva turns to leave and head over towards the District Eleven chariot to proposition Arthur for an alliance, given him also appearing to be strong from watching the Reapings. She only allows herself to be disappointed for a second, knowing there's no point in dwelling on them turning her down. Not when there's way more important things to focus her attention on.
"Wait!"
Eva glances back at Amelia over her shoulder and as she watches Amelia take a step closer towards her, she turns around to fully face the girl still hesitating. "Well?" Eva asks, a bit of annoyance seeping into her voice that this is taking longer than she planned and she doesn't even have an ally yet.
Amelia starts fidgeting with her hands and stares at them for a few seconds, but when she finally brings her gaze up to Eva, she can see a spark of determination in her eyes and it's enough to keep Eva put to hear what she has to say. "I guess I'm a little surprised and confused about why you want to be my ally."
"I already told you why," Eva responds, not feeling the need to waste her energy on repeating herself.
"Who wouldn't want to be your ally?"
Both girls turn to look over at the girl approaching them, and it takes only a moment for Eva to recognize her. And even if she hadn't, it would be easy to recognize the girl from Six based on her costume. "Hi!" She says cheerfully as she stops next to them, holding out her hand to Amelia to shake. The girl from Three slowly takes it as the confusion on her face continues to grow. "I'm Courtney Cassini, from District Six."
"I know," Eva responds as Courtney holds out her hand to Eva, who stares at it for a moment until Courtney gets the hint that she isn't going to waste her time on pleasantries and pulls her hand back in to brush back her short hair. "You're seventh on my list of who I would ask to be my ally."
"Seventh?" Courtney asks and contemplates the number for a few seconds, not realizing that it seems unlikely that Eva would have reached her. "I suppose seventh out of twenty two isn't too bad! What number are you up to now?"
"Amelia is second."
"Oh," Courtney responds, her smile faltering for a moment before she starts smiling again at the two of them. "Well I suppose it's not impossible that you would have reached me. But I'm here now so maybe I can move up if you let me join you two!"
"We're not allies…" Amelia says slowly and Eva raises her eyebrows at her, surprised to see her turning her offer down. "Well…at least not yet. I just…why me? I don't get it. I'm not remarkable or strong."
"Well, us girls in engineering need to stick together," Courtney says as she puffs out her chest, still smiling at them. "You're like goals for getting into the program! You got in from Six to the District Three program. I want to try to get in next year and I'm hopeful with another year of experience, I'll do it."
Eva and Amelia share a look at this information and it makes Courtney go up two spots in her ranking. "What kind? We know Amelia is civil and I have a full ride in mechanical and aerospace."
"I want to study aerospace too!" Courtney grins at this statement, seemingly unbothered by the fact that they are entering a death match in a few days. "Hell yeah to females in science!"
"Tributes, please report to your assigned floors."
"You'll do," Eva tells her after the announcement, knowing she could take the chance of finding allies that better balance out her skills but risk no one agreeing to her. And she's smart enough to know being on her own is not the best idea. Sure, they're lacking in strength, but surely they can make up for that between three smart girls in engineering. "But I'm only here to be allies, that's it. No friendship. You won't see me dying for one of you in the arena."
Courtney frowns for just a fraction of a second before nodding her head and smiling once more as she holds out her hand to Eva again. "Sounds good with me, ally."
Eva waits to shake her hand, staring over at Amelia and waiting for her to confirm her part in this alliance because she's not joining without her. Amelia slowly nods her head and forces a tiny bit of a smile. "I wasn't expecting to get in an alliance before training even started. I figured I would need to prove myself by displaying mediocre skills at weapons before someone approached me."
"You already proved yourself by getting into the District Three summer program," Courtney tells her and Eva just gives a quick nod of agreement, seeing some Peacekeepers heading their way to probably escort them up to their rooms since they've ignored the message. But she is not leaving without Amelia as her ally.
Amelia takes a deep breath before nodding her head with a bit more resolution. "Well then… I'm in."
"Good," Eva says as the Peacekeepers stop beside them. She turns around before they can tell her what to do. "See you in the morning. Be prepared to learn because I'm not wasting my time."
There we have it, our first bits of interactions among the tributes! I always love this part of the pre-Games chapters and I can't wait to get into the training chapters and really delve into the interactions. But, I couldn't skip out on this important time right after the chariot rides, and Demarcus and Eva were the ones to show us the earliest interactions!
Any surprises about how the careers are interacting with each other? Or any surprise about Eva joining with the other two STEM girls? And since Cal turned Eva down, who do you think he has in mind instead for being his ally?
Next up we'll be checking in with Major and Elias for training day one! Before we get there, any last predictions on some of the alliances that will form? I can't wait and I'll see you soon after the next Wayward chapter!