District 1
Tributes: Maya Spencer (F) and Mudas Ambertide (M)
Escort: Lilith Teacup (F)
Maya's head was perched on her hand, she felt her lips curl into a smile. Midas sat opposite her, refusing to meet her eyes. He was trying to look cool and nonchalant, but his white knuckles gripping the table between the two betrayed him. Her devious smile never left her face, as she started speaking to the blond beauty beside her.
"So, Midas, isn't is funny how we both ended up together in these games? Seems like fate just adores us as a pair, yes?" She flicked a strand of hair behind her, while she leaned towards Midas slightly. She saw him stiffen visibly, his breath seeming to hitch, his features scrunching up in anger.
"Yeah, fate. Don't play dumb, Maya." He practically growled in response. She tried to feign innocence. Her mouth parting slightly. "Whatever do you mean, Midas?" She leaned forward even more, so that both her elbows now rested on the table, head perched still on them. She saw him breath out slowly, a slight growl escaping him.
"You planned this, Maya. This is somehow your sick way of revenge. Your going to kill me." Maya covered up her shock quickly, hoping Midas hadn't seen. How had the boy found out? Not only about her rigging the games in her favour, but about her plan of revenge as well?
She was an expert at keeping up a mask, barely anyone had ever broken it, but Midas. Dear Midas, he'd never cared much for status quo or rules very much, had he? Because everyone knew that you didn't challenge her. But he still did, even before the catastrophe that was her sentencing him to death. He'd always been different, and different people needed to be eliminated. That's what her father had drilled into her, wasn't it? Why her rebel of a mom had left. Thoughts swirled in Maya's head, the thought of her mom almost making her lose the cool facade she's placed so effortlessly onto herself. Midas had always had that ability, to throw her off her game. He made her weak.
And she hated him for it.
"I don't run these games, Midas, surely, you know this?" She would keep up this act for as long as it took. She didn't care if Midas knew, because honestly who was going to take his word, a rebel's, over hers? Nobody. At least, not anyone of importance. She was well aware that he knew, and nothing was changing that mindset, but she could convince everyone else couldn't she? Another thing Midas seemed to be able to do, he could tell when she was lying. Not even her own father could do that. Which Made Midas all the more intriguing, which was also why he had to die. And Maya, would have the pleasure of doing it.
"Whatever. But your dad does." Midas leaned forward as well. His teeth were bared, practically sneering at her. His eyes set in a heavy glare, that she was sure would make most back down, most, not Maya. She and Midas were special, instead she smiled. But once again, she was definitely impressed by the boy she would kill. It was inevitable really. But he'd figured out her father's involvement on the project, no one knew that. No matter how much Maya had wanted to speak about it. She made sure not to let that inpressed look work its way onto her way, instead opting to shape her features into one of cunning. She wanted Midas to think that she was always one step ahead of him.
"Fair enough. But enough about me, what about you? How's your father?" She smiled, trying to look as sweet as possible. She barely took notice to how their noses were practically touching. She saw Midas lean forward, she expected him to hit her, hurt her, lash out. But instead, he just immediately recoiled. Well that was dissapoitning. She sighed.
"He's good, last time I checked." Came the blond's hasty response. His fist were clenched. His eyes were trained on hers, never wavering. Challenging her to say more, edging her on. Like she'd just done to him. Oh Midas, how naive do you think she is? She wouldn't fall prey to his baiting, she wouldn't give him the pleasure. This was a game of cat and mouse, and Maya was determined to stay the cat.
"Great. What do you think of the games?" She sees his jaw clench, and his grip tighten. He's about to respond before a new presence interrupts them. They both turn at the sudden sound penetrating a world of just the two of them. Just the two of them, in their little game of dominance. There, in the doorway, is Lilith Teacup, their Capitol escort. Supposed to help them with their chances of surviving the games. She smiles at Lilith, hoping to fool yet another soul. Not hoping, no, knowing.
"Oh, um, Hello." Maya says, making sure her tone is sugary sweet. She hears Midas snort, because of course, he's Midas, he sees through any act she puts up. All thoughts of being impressed fly away, replaced by anger once again. Not that she lets it show of course, but she feels that if Midas wanted to, he'd be able to see through it. Like he always can. She wonders if circumstances had been different they'd have been lovers, the displays certainly point to that. She smiles, what a despicable thought.
They were soulmates, just not of the romantic or platonic way. They were soulmates, destined to hate. She sees Lilith smile back at her. "Well, as we wait for our train to arrive to the Capitol, I was thinking we could review the reapings. Give you a sense of the competition." That actually wasn't a bad idea, she lets her opinion on the idea show through, nodding at Lilith's statement. Lilith seems to light up at Maya's act. Maya smiles again, this time at Midas, and she makes sure it looks malicious.
Lilith walks over to the hologram on the table, and presses a few buttons on the projector. Now, instead of showing a still image of a forest, it changed to the reapings. Immediately she recognizes it as her own. She smiles. "We don't have to watch this one, it being yours and all." She hears the Calitolite accen to her side, she turns, to see her still standing escort. "It's fine, you can sit if you'd like." Is Maya's response, she pats the seat cushion next to her. Lilith smiles gratefully at the younger girl.
She turns back towards the screen. She sees herself, looking gorgeous as always. She sees herself volunteer, and she knows that the smile she displays towards the crowd will single her out as a threat. She knows it'll make her a threat. The volunteering will certainly make them intrigued. And she knows her beauty will catch the eyes of many male sponsors. She smiles. When she sees Midas walk up once his name is called, and she sees the look of absolute loathing he sends her way, she smiles. Some drama to stir up the Capitol citizens. She sees them shake hands and turn towards the crowd. She smiles, part one of mission Hunger Games is good. She succeeded. She's proud, she knows she's going to be a favourite. She knows.
Next is District 2. And Maya watches with mild interest, not even bothering to look over at Midas, she doesn't want to miss her competition. Maya was a master at reading people, she knew who she would have to lookout for and who she didn't. She also needed to know who to ally with. She needed someone she could manipulate.
It soon became clear that neither tribute of District 2 fit that criteria. The girl hadn't waited for a name to be called. Impatient, potentially reckless. Definitely not obedient. She was a threat. She looked dangerously hostile as well. And her wandering eyes definitely did not go unnoticed by Maya. She was looking for someone. Maya could use that knowledge in her favor, somehow she would. The boy was massive, he'd volunteered as well. For someone he knew, apparently. She cocked her to the side, strong, but soft. She saw weakness in the way he walked without confidence, the way he gently grasped the girl's hand. When it was clear she could handle herself. Too soft, possible threat. But she could break him.
Next is District 3. The boy, she struggles to read him, but only slightly. Their escort is very humorous, he works up some laughs and she can see how people are easily drawn to him. His name as well. His wild hand gestures and open smiles draw you in. Maya should know that strategy better than anyone, right?
When the girl's name is called, she appears to have frozen. It takes almost five times for the man to call her before she snaps out of it. She's weak, the girl. Frail, not even quite right in the head really. She looks shy. Perhaps Maya could use her, maybe. She looks too weak, though. And too broken, hurt. Maya doesn't think she can use her after all, she's an option, a last minute resort, for now. The boy, he volunteers for his deaf cousin. The sign language makes that fact clear. He looks calculating, intelligent. But Maya doesn't know if he'd be able to hold his own in a fight. She sighed, that'd be for the games to decided wouldn't it? District 3 is rather unremarkable, her smile drops slightly in dissapointement. What a let down.
She turns towards her District partner as soon as the District four reapings start playing. Hoping to get a glimpse of what he's thinking. He looks concentrated, calculating. She doesn't believe he's doing exactly what she's doing, but something similar along the lines that's for sure. She smirks before turning back towards the screen.
District 4. She doesn't know what to expect. It was one of the Capitol favourites, along with 1 and 2. District 3 having lost that privilege long ago. She wonders, so far the Capitol favourites have had all very strong looking tributes. No doubt perhaps all Capitol favourites for the games as well. (That was until someone found out Midas was a rebel.) Would District 4 join that?
The girl volunteers for 'personal reason'. That is something Maya can look into, hold over her head once she finds out. What reasons for volunteering could you have that didn't let you share it with the public. She looks strong and Maya can tell she's trained in a weapon. Which weapon that is, she doesn't know. The loyalist fought with guns, but the girl, Marrisa, didn't seem to have the proper body for it. Maya would look into that. The boy, Oliver, looked weak. Frail, spindly, but oddly calm. Strange, but of no use to her. He didn't look like the type she could use. She needed someone decent enough, not a walking pencil. He was reaped, he was forgettable at best. She smirked, once she was done, she would never be forgotten.
She smiled, those were the Capitol's favourite districts, it cut off after that. She turned towards Lilith, "Why'd it cut off?" She asked, feigning ignorance and innocence. Lilith smiled softly at her. Maya smirked internally, she had the escort under her thumb. "They were recorded in groups of four, we can watch the others of you'd like?" Lilith seemed hesitant, like she genuinely cared about Maya's opinion. She didn't ask Midas though. Maya looked over at her District partner, who was watching with mild curiosity. When she turned to face him, he simply cocked an eyebrow at her. And offered a shrug.
"No thank you, Ms. Teacup. A little surprise to be mixed in, yes? Should make it more exciting." Maya was confident she would win, she would scope out the competition once she got there. She wasn't lying, the surprise would make it all the more exciting. She heard Midas snort from across the table. Lilith glared at him. Maya smiled at Midas, she already had Lilith that much under her influence. Midas rolled his eyes before standing up. "I'm getting some water. You got any food or something?" He asked, looking around, before meeting Maya's eyes instead of Lilith's. The escort didn't seem to find that all too pleasing. Lilith coughed lightly into her hand.
"Um, yes. But it'd reserved for me and the other Capitol representatives. Loyalists as well." Midas rolled his eyes. Before sitting down. "Would it kill you for just one glass of water?" Came Midas grumbling response. Maya winked at him, which made the boy glare at her slightly, before turning to face Lilith. "What Midas meant was, we're going to need all the energy we can muster for the Capitol press." She smiled sweetly at the older escort. Who smiled, chuckling lightly. "The paparazzi can be a bit draining." She seemed to consider something for a moment before sighing. "Ok, I'll go get you two some water. Be right back." With that, Lilith left the compartment to get some food.
Maya turned towards her rebel companion. "That's how you get some water, Midas-poo." She said, leaning over to pat her companion on the head. Ruffling his blond locks as she did so. Who growled in response. "The hell you just call me?" She rolled her eyes before slumping back into her chair. This was no fun, Midas read her too well, knew her too well. It was like talking to an equal. How terrifying.
District 2
Tributes: Artemis Neverending (F) and Asher Valentine (M)
Escort: Sisabelle Malek (F)
Asher's District partner scared him, but only a little. She was just so intimidating. While Asher had always been buff but soft, she looked hostile and very, very intimidating. The glares and looks she kept giving him made him extremely uncomfortable. Not that he was going to show it. Asher wasn't an idiot, he knew that showing he was visibly scared of the much smaller girl next to him may not be the best plan.
Because despite not wanting to kill, Asher did want to win. They hadn't talked at all during the ride. Just sat next to one another uncomfortably. Leaving them both to try strategizing, all Asher had come up with was scare away the other tribute. Which he knew he was capable of due to his size. If he just scared them enough during training and maybe the interviews then he should be fine, right? No one would try and mess with him then. All he needed to complete that was a high training score, whatever that meant, he had overheard his escort, Sisabelle, say something about it though, so he was assured that it was important.
He just hoped that none of the tributes realized how soft or opposite his demeanor he was. They hadn't watched the tapes yet, due to his escort seemingly having a hard time finding them. Asher wouldn't deny the fact that he was curious who his competition was.
On the note of allies, Asher would just have to decided once they all met together wouldn't he? At the Capitol. And Asher would be lying if he said he wasn't interested on seeing what the Caoitol was like. Although, it was the least of his concerns. Right now, he just hoped that despite volunteering, he hadn't just signed his own death. Asher was confident, at least slightly, that he could win. He had to win. For Titus, his parents and all of his District. He'd make them all proud, hopefully, they'd be proud even after he became a murderrer.
District 3
Tributes: Zeldan Knightly (F) and Velkan Findlay (M)
Escort: Zamboyang Carzicoiski (M)
Velkan stared at his District partner. Who was huddled in her own corner of the couch, trying to look as small as possible. He didn't know her, but she acted as if she may know him. Which was very peculiar indeed. He didn't quite understand the vague mumbles his black haired District partner kept saying.
"Um, hi?" He tried, hoping to get a reaction out of her. Evidently it worked. The girl perked up and looked at him, still a bit wary. He gave her a little wave. "Hello." Well, this was progress, she'd talked back. "Wel, um, I'm Velkan. You're Zelda, right?" She nodded, before licking her lips and speaking. "Do you know me?" He shook his head, why? Did she know him. He looked at her, expecting an answer. Instead all the girl did was nod at his response, looking a little pleased. She seemed to one up a little at that.
"I like tech. What about you?" Velkan perked up at the sudden question. He was getting some conversation. "Well, I quite like tinkering around with certain objects, some which you could qualify as tech." She smiled at him, he repeated the action.
Velkan knew that warming up or befriends the competition was a big no. It would make it harder to kill them if it came down to the two of you. But Velkan didn't think it'd be him killing her, the odds were stacked against it. He also doubted it'd end up with them as the final two, once again, the odds. And although he wouldn't say it out loud, he doubted the young girl would last for more than three days. Certainly not long enough for the games to end. So realistically, Velkan doubted that they would even encounter one another during the games. Which was why he had no trouble befriending the younger girl.
At least, now he had no trouble. Plus, it'd be nice to have someone to talk to once they reached the Capitol. He didn't exactly look forward to greeting the other tributes. And he wondered exactly what kind of competition they'd have. Apparently he's find out soon enough, since his mentor had gone to find the tapes on which the reapings had been put onto. He was curious. Very, very curious.
Who exactly was he going up against?
District 4
Tributes: Marisa Zale (F) and Oliver Seadowns (M)
Escort: Regale Casopalvo (M)
Marrisa stared at her companion. They were playing blackjack. She was currently losing. Which pissed her off extremely. Because she was losing to a fourteen year-old boy. How the hell was she losing!? How the hell was he so good at this. It was kinda based on luck, a little. So how was she losing this badly. She looked at the cards.
She smirked. "Two kings. Beat that!" She was confidently crossing her arms, there was no way he was beating that. Twenty, that was one away from twenty-one. She had this. Finally she'd somehat do something. She had actually lost every single round before this. She looked at the fpsandy-haired fourteen year old. Who seemed a lot more confident now then he had before. He was in his element, just like Marrisa would be the second they stepped Into that arena. "You sure about that, Zale?" He showed a jack and an ace. Twenty-one exactly. "Blackjack." Groaning Marrisa smacked her head onto the table. What the hell was this. Why was the kid so freakishly good at this.
She quirked an eyebrow at the challenge. What's the worst the little guy couldn't on anyways. Besides severely damage her pride, and Marrisa was an extremely prideful person. That's why losing consistently to a fourteen year old boy at blackjack was slightly humiliating. Whatever. Marrisa tried to jot think of this boy as someone she would have to kill. She couldn't think like that. It would wound both him and her. So the kid was goodness or an game of cards, whatever, she wouldn't hesitate to kill him once the games began. She wouldn't be able to win if she did.
As for strategy, Marrisa was relying pretty heavily on her prior skills. She was sure she'd have the best chance. She just really hoped there was a trident somewhere in the cornucopia. A sword would do, but she felt most at home with her trident. She'd already watched all the reapings, no one stood out as a possible threat to her. Maybe the District 2 male. He was giant, damn, what's he do, eat himself. She snorted at her own joke, leading Oliver to look at her funnily. "Hey, Marrisa, how 'bout we take a break for now." She nodded and set to work gathering the cards. She handed the boy back his deck. He smiled.
They'd gotten to know each other slightly. Enough to know that they weren't allying. Neither of them said it out Loud, but the message cut across. If she was allying with anyone it was the District 2 male, if she didn't kill him first. She wondered how Oliver'd fare during the games, obviously not Victor. That was a position Marrisa had made sure to reserve for herself, but she highly doubted he'd get above like seventeenth. She made sure not to say that out loud. The only ones who'd really caught her eyes.
Were the strangely beautiful, model like girl from 1. Like she looked like a freakin' angel, or that she deserved to be on the cover of the latest edition of Capitol Weekly. The boy was handsome sure, but looked plain compared to her. That little beauty queen wasn't gonna survive more than a day. Then again, Marrisa had spotted perhaps some underlining muscles under her dress.
Of course there was the big burly boy from District 2, who if you didn't label as a threat, then you were absolutely insane. He looked like he could crush his District partner over his leg. Ooh, bad images.
The small red-headed boy reminded her strangely of home. Weirdly enough. She wasn't sure why, he practically screamed District 5, but she couldn't help but think of her own home of District 4 the second her eyes landed on him. He was also the mayor's son, so there was that. She found out later through her escort, who apparently had just been talking to the District five escort. The mayor had gone to talk to the Caoitol personally, requesting her son be pulled from the games. Her request was denied obviously. Of she didn't think he could handle it, then she'd better be prepared for some gore.
District six, both tributes had been flat out weird. The girl looked crazy and according to their escort, the word was she'd been rigged Into the games. Because of some conspiracy involving rebels and her parents. Interessting, the girl looked kinda insane though, so Marrisa wondered if that was the only rEason. The boy'd had a crazy show of screaming for some Lexi chick, before being beaten and dragged up towards the stage. His hair was also a strange white colour. Ashton's been his name, she thinks.
District 9 and 8 had both out on quite a show. Both the female tribute of eight and nine had completely disrupted the ceremony. During the video the girl had been screaming bloody murder, clutching her head and basically acting insane. Marrisa made a mental note to stray away from her during training.
The boy of District nine had first, well him and his friends, had completely disrespected and insulted the escort. Smart move, bud. His friends and him earning public whippings, not even flinching when his number was upped. Then, when his name was called, he'd attacked his peacekeeper before trying to run. He'd been held at gunpoint before fainting and having to be carried and handcuffed out. Rebel. Definite rebel, someone who was going to pay the second they stepped into the arena. She smirked at the though.
No one else had really intrigued her. The girl and boy from ten seemed to know each other though. Which should be fun to exploit, obviously. Marrisa was a nice person, really, but she wanted to win and she wanted to survive. To that, sometimes you had to play a little dirty.
"So, Oliver, anyone stand out to you?" The young boy looked over. Fiddle with his hands a little before looking Howard's to meet her gaze. "Um, well, there was the really big male from District 2. And the really pretty girl from District 1?" Marrisa smiled at him. Seemed they had common competition, but she imagined those two would stand out to most. "Also, the girl from District 7."
At that, Marrisa gave her District partner a slightly quizzical look. "Who?" Oliver gave her a sheepish smile. "Well, she looked so young, like, maybe twelve at the latest. No way is she surviving more than a day out here." Marrisa looked at the young boy, who seemed honest in the opinion he was presenting. Marrisa gave a curt nod of the head, trying to change the subject. "What about the boy from 9? He sure caused a scene." Oliver nodded. Marrisa didn't like the awkward silence now stretching between the two.
"What about the guy who volunteered for his cousin?" Marrisa prodded, she wanted Oliver's intake of the tributes. It might help, it also was the only thing they had in common besides living in District 4. "Vulcan, right?" Marrisa kept going, Oliver gave her a look when she said his name. "I don't think that was his name." Marrisa shrugged at her District partner's statement.
God, she couldn't imagine killing him. This was going to be torture, she was sure of it. He was so innocent, so young, so talented. And if Marrisa wanted to win, if Marrisa wanted to survive... Well, 23 had to die, right?
District 5
Tributes: Diana Riverton (F) and Christian Powers (M)
Escort: Carlo Gasrtic (M)
Christian looked at the girl besides him. Wondering if he should talk to her. So far, the two had sat in an uncomfortable silence to be left alone with their thoughts. But now, the silence was getting uncomfortably wrong, and Christian wondered if he should say something. What would he even say anyways? Wanna ally? Who do you think is the biggest threat? Who would you most like to kill? Yeah, he doubted those would go over very well in any circumstance.
They were sitting across from one another. And Christian wondered if she knew that he was the mayor's son. Probably, didn't everyone. It didn't help that after he was reaped, apparently his mom had tried negotiating with the Capitol to get him pulled from the games. Obviously, she was denied. They weren't pulling him from the games, what kind of reputation would that serve. Certainly not the whole take no prisoners thing they had going so far. He wondered what Diana's parents were like, and he almost brought it up, too. But last minute he'd decided against it. When you haven't socialized for like the last ten years of your life, it was hard to get back into the whole swing of things.
But Christian was pretty sure that this Diana girl knew that, yet, he had absolutely no idea about anything to do with her. It was slightly humiliating to be honest. The last thing he wanted her to think was Mayor's son. That no matter what he said, she'd know him as the mayor's son. It was embarrassing. He often preferred people to actually say something to him before he dropped the bomb. Yet, she probably already knew. If the looks she gave him from time to time were anything to go by.
Christian sighed and turned back to face his window. This was going to be a long ride.
District 6
Tributes: Iris Elmswood (F) and Aston Swifte (M)
Escort: Prusilla Pasonova (F)
Aston stared at the girl who was rigged to be reaped. She didn't look like anything special, not really. But he knew better than to approach the most likely insane girl. Aston mostly just kept to himself. Currently he was bloodied and bruised, but their escort, Prusilla, had promised that once they reached the Capitol that they, he had no idea who 'they' were by the way, would fix him up. He did have to look presentable because if not, oh no, what would the tabloids think.
The blood that had been running down his face was now dried, and his ribs didn't hurt aS much as before. So there was that. Iris still looked as she had at the reapings. Strangely calm, she hadn't uttered a word to him during the whole ride. Unless you counted the strange mumbling she'd do every now and then.
Aston and Iris had already viewed the taping of the reapings, they had to apparently. It would be 'good strategy' according to their escort. Aston couldn't help but flinch away when District 6's came on. He sounded so desperate. Madly screaming 'Lexi!' 'Lexi!'. His escort had said that if he played up that Lexi angle during the interviews or whatever. Then they might actually like him, just a bit. He knew it was the best strategy, he did want to survive this thing despite what anyone might say. He just, damn it, he sounded like such a pansy, anyways, he didn't want to do that to Lexi. Get him?
No, probably not. But their escort did say that no matter what, he would most likely be the favourite out of him and Iris. But, being compared to some crazy chick, wasn't exactly his idea of an accomplishment. He just had to hope that they liked the whole 'unrequited love' bit his escort had prepared for him. Yeah already, apparently, they were really serious about this thing. Whatever, he would make Lexi proud. No matter what. He just hoped that he was a better actor than whatever the hell he'd played up with Lexi. Because obviously, that had failed.
District 7
Tributes: Veronica Delayney (F) and Oakley Axemoore (M)
Escort: Lovinska Von Heckilebeurg (F)
Oakley had left Veronica back in their cart, using the I have to go to the bathroom excuse. The young girl didn't question it, so there was that. He remembered their escort saying car two at the reapings, he hadn't understood it, that was until he stepped into the train car and saw the big blocky number two hanging off one of the doors. They'd been led to car six, much to Oakley's displeasure. But now he's gotten up to go to the car. Hoping to see their escort there.
He maneuvered through the train, the lack of staff unnerving him greatly. Why was it so damn empty? Once he finally did reach the door, he found it to be open. Strange, very strange indeed. His escort, Lovinska, had brought them the tapes with the reapings recorded onto them to slip into the holographic machine, which was what Veronica was currently watching. Oakley didn't mind missing a few tributes, since he would se them once they reached the Capitol anyways.
He slowly pushed open the door just a little more, so that he had enough room to get into the place without touching the door itself. "Hello." He called out, relatively softly, this place gave him the creeps, sue him. "Hello." This time a little louder. Suddenly a figure emerged from the back, Oakley bit his tongue to avoid screaming. What came out instead was an awkward squeak on his part.
"Oakley. Hello." He sees Lovinska, still dressed in al purple, looking a lot more relaxed than she had before. He raises an eyebrow in question, before instinctively looking over his shoulder. "Why'd you ask me to come here?" He questions, looking back once more over his shoulder. Afraid of being caught he supposes. She gave him a sheepish smile.
"Is it bad that I don't want to keep my problems to myself anymore?" Okaley immediately sinks, great. So this'll be just like home. People coming to him for help, and of course he bestows it upon them. But he forces a smile, "No, it's fine to want to get things off your chest." Lovinska's smile falters slightly. "Ok, but listen, the only reason I'm telling you this is because this secret is one I'm supposed to be taking to the grave." Her smile is long gone by the time she finishes that sentence, she looks so serious. Oakley reaches back and closes the door.
"Got it." He nods to reassure her. She shakes her head. "I'm serious Oakley. But someone needs to know. I need you to win, ok? Someone needs to tell the world what the Capitol's doing." Oakley nods, suddenly a lot more self aware than before.
She takes a deep breath. "I've been told you're the District's resident secret's guy. People tell you things and you don't blab, correct?" He nods, "Good. Well here it is. Rebels. They choose rebels. Rebels as the escorts. And for every year, our tributes don't win, we get punished. We already have been." She glances to the left before pulling up her sleeve. A long gash is prominent upon it. Ugly, deep, jagged, and Oakley has to look away. Umcomfortable with the sight. "For every year, our tribute doesn't win, the punishments just get worse. Once you win, you need to tell the District, you'll be a figure once you win. A victor, they'll look up to you. They'll listen. Please, you have to win."
Oakley nods, "Ok." Lovinska takes a deep breath. "You may leave now, Oakley." He nods again. Suddenly feeling the weight of her words on his shoulders. Knowing he can't win these games, that he doesn't want to win these games. He doesn't want to kill. But her words weigh him down and they scare him. The weight of everything he stands for, golden boy, secret keeper, perfect Victor. He knows that the second he steps into that arena, all the masks drop. And for once, the world is gonna see the real Oakley.
District 8
Tributes: Rosemary Finch (F) and Thread Flynn (M)
Escort: Jordan Yukin (M)
Thread looked at Rosemary. The girl who'd been stopping by the rebel refugee camp. This was going to be very awkward, he was sure of it. Thread loved giving food to those who'd lost so much that they couldn't live on their own. But now the people he'd helped were now trying to kill him, at least one of them was. There was a reason they hadn't spoken to one another. At least, not yet.
Their awkward silence had been siftly broken just then by their escort. "Hello." Thread said to them, trying to be polite. They gave him a smile. "Hello to you, too. Anyways, have you two reviewed the reaping footages?" The tributes nodded. Their escort clasped their hands together. "Excellent, anyone stand out to you? Allies? Threats?" He saw Rosemary seeming to be contemplating something, before speaking up.
"I liked the girl from eleven, who volunteered for her friend." Jordan, their escort, nodded at this. "Then maybe you could try allying with her, though don't expect her to agree." Rosemary nodded vigorously, "Got it." Mr. Yukin seemed to smile at that. "But remeber, if she doesn't have anything useful to offer the alliance, then don't do it." Rosemary nodded again. Siddenly Jordan snapped his fingers as if just realizing something. "Have you two considered allying with each other?" He pointed a finger at each of them, before crossing them over one another. As if the fingers represented them, and this was his way of displaying his words. And there was the question. Both tributes seemed to shrink into themselves, not wanting to speak. "I'll take that as a no." Came Jordan reply, moments after the silence had settled in.
"Anyways, what about you, Thread?" Jordan seemed quick to change the subject. Thread thought about it for a moment. Was there actually anyone from the videos he's seen that he'd want to ally with? As for threats, well, there were a whole lot of 'em.
"The girl from ten looked oddly strong." At this, his mentor gave him a strange look. "Did you say ten? Because she's just a pretty face really, Thread. Not much of a threat there." He shrugged in response to his mentor's response, he'd though the girl's looked strong. "Speaking of threats," Rosemary piped up, " The boy from two was massive!" She exclaimed, wildly gesturing as if trying to demonstrate just how huge he was from hand motions. Their escort chuckled at that.
And Thread could visibly feel his escort picking a favourite.
District 9
Tributes: Leilani Tareyn (F) and Holls Pobarr (M)
Escort: Sylvia Silvertongue (F)
"So, threat?" Leilani stated, towards her partner. The boy in question shrugged, his arm and most of his body wrapped up. They said they'd heal him once they reached the Capitol. But the boy still looked to be in a lot more pain then he let on. "I mean, the dude from two is massive, but I don't know, I'm just not feeling it, you get me?" Leilani nodded, choosing to ignore just how bad the boy's English was. "I got that vibe from him, too. So not a threat?"
Hollis nodded, "Not a threat. Unless you pick a fist fight with him he doesn't seem like the type to go after you, you know?" She quickly crossed his name off of their list, so far, they'd crossed out the boy from 1 and now the boy from 2. Keeping both girls from their respective Districts. "So Zelda, threat?" Hollis snorted, like actually snorted.
"Her? Are you kidding me? No threat." Leilani let out a loose chuckle at that as well. She quickly crossed off the girl's name. She looked up at her partner. "Velkan? And him?" Hollis bit his lip, seeming to consider it. "I don't know, what do you think?" She raised her pencil, before bringing it back down. "Threat, he seems smart. Also, due to him volunteering, he might become a favourite." Hollis nodded at that.
Hollis and Leilani weren't allies, per se. They'd just agreed not to kill one another before the final two. Leilani had a grudging respect for the boy, and after Hollis found out she wasn't loyalist and exactly how cunning she was, he had agreed as well. So they wouldn't help one another, but they would let the other live if they encountered one another in the arena. Which seemed like a solid plan to her. Currently they were discussing who were threats, their escort nowhere to be found considering she hated Hollis, and would avoid him at all cost. But hey, less weirdo Capitol people the better.
"Marrisa, threat?" Hollis scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. "She looked strong, definitely had some muscles on her. But arrogant, that's what's gonna get her killed. So, semi threat?" Leilani have him a look, one of quizzical thinking and bewilderment, some amusement thrown into the mix as well. "She did seem arrogant. Too cocky." Hollis nodded, though Leilani still slightly doubted the title given of 'semi-threat'. But Leilani scribbled in 'semi-threat' messily next to Marrisa's name anyways.
"Oliver? Wait, let me guess. No threat, right?" Hollis nodded, "yep." So Leilani scratched off his name and continued on. "What about Diana? She looked strong didn't she?" Hollis nodded, "Yeah she did, but I don't know if she's the strongest emotionally. Pretty sure I saw some scars." Leilani cocked an eyebrow at him, "So she cuts?" Hollis nodded, biting his top lip weirdly. "Okay then, not a threat." Leilani stated, before crossing her name off of the list.
"Who's next? Oh, mayor's boy. Threat?" Hollis had been looking over his shoulder, and it'd been him who's spoken. Turns out Capitol citizens liked to gossip, and word that Christan was the mayor's son had spread like wildfire. Apparently his mom had tried to pull him from the games. "Too weak," the girl started, "So not a threat." She continued as she scratched his name off of the list.
"District six. Iris?" Hollis shook his head, "Girl isn't right in the head, she is not surviving a day out here." Leilani nodded, "agreed." She crossed the red-head off of the list. "What about her District partner? Blondie, who caused almost a big a scene as you." Hollis laughed. "Threat." He didn't elaborate on the statement, so she didn't press.
"What about Veronica? Threat?" Hollis gave her a strange look. "The little twelve year old? She'll be Dead before sundown." Leilani shrugged, "True enough." So she crossed out the little girl's name. Not feeling the slightest bit remorseful after what Hollis had said anyways. It was true, no need to be an unrealistic optimist. "What about Oakley?" Hollis snorted, "Pretty boy? He's good looking, his strengths end there." Leilani nodded, strangely, her and Hollis seemed to mutually agree with the one another on most of their opinions. "True enough, what about Rosemary? Threat?" Leilani asked, while scribbling out Rosemary's name.
Hollis let out a chuckle. "Crazy PTSD girl? What do you think?" Leilani started crossing out Rosemary's name, "I agree. Not a threat. She'd probably freak out too much to actually be able to kill someone." Brushing blonde hair over her shoulder as she did so.
"Who's next?" The rebel asked, glancing over Leilani's shoulder. "Her District partner, Thread." Was the blonde's reply. Hollis shook his head, giving her an incredulous look. "Have you seen the boy?" Leilani smirked, "That's what I thought you'd say." And she got busy scratching out his name.
"District 10, Haizea. Threat?" Hollis shrugged, "She's just another pretty face, I think." Leilani nodded, silently agreeing with the boy. She crossed out Haizea's name, "Her partner isn't a threat either. He's like a walking pencil." Came Hollis steady continuation of his past statement. Leilani moved swiftly on to cross out Buck's name.
"Sparrow, threat?" Hollis nodded, "She's got some muscle, and she's a volunteer. She might be a Capitol favourite." Leilani brushed some hair from her face. "Good point, okay, so threat?" Hollis nodded. "And her partner, Thorn?" Leilani questioned.
"What do you think I'm gonna say?" Leilani sighed, before replying. "No threat?" Hollis smirked, "Good job, young grasshopper. I see you're finally catching on." Leilani brushed off his arm, which had been in the middle of patting her on the back, rolling her eyes at his immaturity. "Alarik? What about him?" Hollis bit his lip, "I dunno, you?" She looked at his name, remembering the ceremony. "No threat, nothing remarkable, minus maybe a few muscles peeking out." Hollis nodded in agreement, "Ok, cross his name out." So she did.
"And his partner? Lilith?" Hollis shook his head, that was all she needed. The District 12 female hadn't looked like much, nor had she looked completely stable. She crossed out Lilith's name. The little thirteen year old was definitely not a threat to her or Hollis.
"So, on our list of threats, we have; Maya (D1), Artemis (D2), Velkan (D3), Marrisa (D4) (Semi-threat), Aston (D6), Sparow (D11). Great." She reached out for a high-five, after a moment's hesitation, surpringly Hollis returned it.
District 10
Tributes: Haizea Lobo (F) and Buck Chandler (M)
Escort: Lukas Myth (M) (Turns out I forgot to give him a name.)
Buck didn't know what to do. He was nervous and scared. Add onto the fact that Haizea was his District partner. One half of his friends. And either she'd kill him, or he'd have to kill her. Which he was pretty sure wasn't happening. There was no way Buck was surviving a day out here.
Not when there were Haizea and Asher's just prancing about. What was he going to do? He subconsciously glanced over at Haizea, who seemed to be off in her own little world. Presumably think I about the other tributes, they had just viewed the tapes. Asher looked scary, so did his District partner. He forgot her name, Anna? Allison? Something to do with an 'A' he was certain.
He wondered how the games would go, if he'd get any allies. He hoped so, though he dogged anyone would really want to ally with him, so there was always that cheerful thought. And Haizea was way too good that to downgrade to allying with something like him. He'd just be dead weight.
How he wished it wasn't Haizea who'd been chosen, it just made the games that much harder. And he was not excited, nor was he pleased. Not even in the slightest. He just wanted to go home. And he'd left Ralphie on such a sour note too. Great, now the last memory his best friend would have of him would be Buck screaming at him that what he'd done was wrong and that he was basically a criminal.
He felt like crying, but he didn't want to do that in front of Haizea. She was strong, she barely even looked flustered at the moment. He would do the same, if he wanted anyone to even look at him twice, other than just dead meat.
District 11
Tributes: Sparow Blackmore (F) and Tjorn Willows (M)
Escort: Deduc Harmony (M)
Sparrow hoped that once she got to the Capitol, someone would be able to disinfect and heal her back. Because right now it was killing her more than ever. Her District partner Thorn looked relatively calm, save for his slightly bloodshot eyes. When he'd started crying she'd decided it'd be best if she didn't comment on it. Because she wanted to do the same.
How the hell was Sage going to survive now. If Sparrow died, not only was she herself dead, but so was Sage. Sage who couldn't afford her own food, and she was sure as hell that nobody was going to give her some of theirs. Because that's just how the world worked wasn't it? She gets randomly selected for some death games (volunteered more like it) and now not only was she dying. So was Sage.
Now all she had to do was win, as long as she won, not only would her and Sage win the prize, but they'd be honoured. Treated like queens, that was the life Sage deserved, and that was the Life Sparrow was planning on giving to her.
In the eyes of Sparrow, her District partner wasn't much. She was sure she'd seen him around before, but never fully interacted with him. At least, she thought so. He had some muscle on him, and Sparrow wondered if she should ask him to ally. So far, all they'd done was sit next to one another, no other further interactions. She kept thinking she should say something, but then didn't. She guessed she was still partially in shock, but still, she didn't even know what to say.
Ugh. She simply turned her back towards him. And she started to think. They'd already been shown the tapes. Sparrow hadn't seen any potential allies, so she guessed she'd find out for sure once they reached the Capitol. Sparrow knew sleeping probably wasn't the best idea, but she sure as hell didn't care.
She closed her eyes and hoped, that for a few hours, her life wouldn't be a walking hell.
District 12
Tributes: Lilith Cadow (F) and Alarik Dayne (M)
Escort: Maia Lucarcy (F)
Alarik felt like he should approach Lilith. Sure she was crazy, but he did feel bad. People not caring even in the slightest that she was being shipped off to her death must've hurt, he didn't really know how to approach her though. He'd tried, but either she didn't hear him or didn't care. She just kept starring and mumbling half comprehensible words. Sometimes she'd look up, look around, then slump back down to her original position.
He'd tried slightly nudging her to see if she'd react but nothing. Halfway through he'd semi just given up. She was impossible, but he still did feel bad. It was more pity, because he was pretty sure not a single person expected her to survive more than a day. They didn't have a lot of informations right now on the topic of the games, but with what he was pretty sure he knew, Lilith wasn't going to survive.
He'd overheard his escort saying something, so he did have some clues as to what the games might Be like, but didn't want to say it out loud and jinx it. Also, no matter how much he pitied or felt bad for Lilith, he wasn't going to tell her things that may help her win. Call him heartless, he was just playing strategy.
Him and Lilith and already watched the tributes tales, though he doubted she was even paying attention. Alarik was planning on going it solo, but he wasn't so sure now after seeing the competition. Big burly males from Capitol favourite Districts. Cunning, snake like tributes. Who looked like they'd poison your water or stab you in the back. Strangely gorgeous girls, that looked a lot more dangerous than they let on.
Yeah, Alarik was starting to wonder if he might need an ally to survive. He doubted that all of the other tributes were going to ally, but certainly it would help? Unless they killed you in your sleep, or betrayed you in any shape or form. Like stole your supplies, oh great, now he was doubting the ally plan once again. Maybe he'd just wing it, he'd meet them, and if anyone asked, he'd ally. If not, he was sure he could win without one. Right?
He'd already discussed strategy with their escort. She didn't have the most helpful advice. He doubted she was all that qualified. Lilithnhad just sat there, Alarik wasn't even sure if the young girl had even been paying attention at all. Their escort had tried engagin Lilith into the conversation, but she too did not succeed in ways she's hoped to do so. Alarik just really wanted this to end.
His escort had given him some food to eat, nothing special, apparently he wasn't loyalist a enough to get the good stuff. Which was extremely unfair in the young boy's point of view. He was neutral, not a rebel, but they insisted on treating him like one. Lilith was a loyalist though, so of course she'd received some nice gourmet food, which she hadn't even touched yet. Alarik sighed, this was going to be a long ride.
Maya got the really long pov because I robbed her of her chance at a reaction chapter or a reaping chapter. Also, some tributes got a longer pov because I felt like it. Literally no other reason, but trust me this isn't tribute favourism. Just over the next few chapter, (a) certain tribute(s) will get a longer povs than most, ok?
Also I haven't done this yet, but thank you to everyone who's reviewed, followed and favourited this story. Haven't said it yet, so I thought I would now.