Enigma Fenn (13) D1F
It was time. It was finally time for me to show off my skills to a group of people specifically trained to know exactly what they were doing, analyzing my every pro and con and telling me, on a scale of one to twelve, how much I was worth. I was about to hit a turning point in my Games, and as such, in the rest of my life, and for one of the first times, I was questioning myself. Should I get a ten? I could probably get pretty high if I tried. Or should I get a three? It would definitely play up the weak little wuss trope. But would sponsors be more likely to sponsor a strong kiddo, who definitely showed potential, or a weak kiddo? I couldn't analyze an entire District at once. I could only analyze individuals.
Screw it. I was going to show off. Sponsors would probably like that, the Careers knew I was tough, and the outer-District kids would have absolutely no idea what to expect from me. A tiny little kid who absolutely stank in training getting a nine? It would make them stop believing in the system. They would question everyone's score, and I would successfully top the system. I didn't have anything in particular against the system, but I did like reading reactions, and that would cause some strong reactions.
I went into the private sessions second, which was great. Of course, I hated being after Tiger. He got the first impression; he got to set the bar. The thing was, I knew I could outdo him. More importantly, I knew I could probably outdo just about everyone else. I could go in there while the Gamemakers were still alert, blow them away, and then all of the other tributes would be compared to me, while the Gamemakers were quickly losing interest and getting drunk. It was perfect for me. It would make my score higher and everyone else's lower.
"Enigma Fenn, please come into the Private Session Room," the loudspeaker called. I went in, greeted by Draco Stilleto and a bunch of other Gamemakers I didn't know. I took a bow when I reached the center of the room, then went over to the throwing knives station, watching the Gamemakers carefully.
"Draco. You're enjoying the feast greatly. That makes sense, because you get to order all of the food. The head Gamemaker plans just about everything that goes on in these sessions. You couldn't have planned the woman in pink's - sorry, I don't know your name, but that isn't really upsetting you - makeout session just before this, but seeing as you were totally unaware of it, I'm guessing you don't really mind," I said, throwing knives into the target squarely. I knew how to aim then make eye contact while still hitting the target. I just held my hand steady, but the Gamemakers didn't necessarily notice.
"You, sir, in the purple, hate this feast. You're a vegetarian; why did Draco order so much meat? He knows you. You're one of his right-hand men. But he clearly doesn't have that much respect for you. He can't even hold it in that he finds this hilarious. And you're steaming, because a real friend would care," I continued, missing the bullseye but still cleanly hitting the target. It wasn't perfectly centered, but that would still take a person down.
"Blue madame in the lovely dress, you were thinking that dress was hideous. You thought wrong. Your husband still loves you, by the way, and you're still a great person," I finished. I bluffed almost everything I guessed. The Gamemakers definitely didn't seem to notice. They looked totally awestruck at how well I had guessed, while I was guessing moods and opinions. I just rolled with each guess off of facial expressions.
I ended up getting a nine, which seemed good to me. Tiger got a nine, too, which ticked me off. I could tell it ticked him off, too. Still, I tied for the highest score of any tribute that year, and it was easy to read the shock on everyone's face. People thought they had done well, yet a thirteen-year-old beat them. I almost felt sorry for them. It wasn't their fault that the Gamemakers were flawed.
Hey yo, anyone want to send in some tributes here? Just like a name and a line of personality. They're gonna lose (it says so on the title) but I don't feel like making twenty-two more names or personalities. #Lazy