District Nine Departing

Alena wanted to stop her ears. But somewhere inside of her she knew that was simply another form of suicide. Instead she kept her hands at her side, allowing the crowd's screams to pierce her eardrums.

She looked at her toes, carefully stepping down the steps. Did she have to look at this freak show? Again, her conscience forced her to mover her gaze up. She touched her cheeks, mentally forcing herself to smile.

The crowd pressed against the roped barrier, hands reaching towards the tributes. Alena raised her right arm, gingerly wiggling her fingers. She tossed her head, swiveling to glance on both sides.

"Alena!" Someone in the crowd screamed. Alena swallowed forcing contact with the owner of the voice. His blue hair, and orange eyes made her stomach churn. She dipped her head, scurrying towards the tribute center.

She stepped under the arched door, glad that the crowd was now looking at her district partner. Rust looked nervous, his forehead shining. Alena touched her face, relieved that she had remained composed.

Peacekeepers stood on guard, but Alena found it fascinating that the area was fairly empty. The escort mentioned she had to greet someone, but weren't they supposed to get prepped right now?

Rust approached the portico, breathing a heavy sigh once the doors closed behind them. He ran a hand through his hair, "Wasn't that awfully scary?"

Alena stared at him, unwilling to chat. She turned, wrapping a strand of hair around her finger, "Some people just overreact to everything."

She glanced at him, noticing his Adam's apple wobbling. "It's too bad my district partner is such a pansy. He might have made a good ally. Oh, I forgot, he's a creepy joke."

Swallowing, Rust focused on ignoring Alena's comments. He couldn't remember seeing her too much at school. Knowing he hadn't run into her much, he hoped she didn't care about the nasty stuff other kids called him.
Again, he had been wrong.

The escort swept in, her long cape trailing her. "I just finished visiting with your stylist, I've given them both marvelous ideas. Isn't this so exciting?"
"Sure," Alena drawled, hands resting on her hips, "Another year of bread rolls, eh?"

"Now, now," the escort batted her hands in the air, "Do try to have a more positive outlook. Rust, you must try to appear happier, wider smiles win the games. That is my slogan, always has been."

"And how many of your tributes won?" Alena muttered, before speaking up, "So, can we go ahead and,"

"Yes!" Clapping her hands, she commanded, "Follow me, we'll walk right on over to the prep stations."

District 10 Arrival

The blurring images began to clear as the train slowed. Virginia tried to not gawk, but it was simply so fascinating. The sun glimmered in the east, casting the Capitol in a reflective shine.

"Isn't is simply awe-mazing?" The escort giggled, "Every time we come out of the tunnel, I am truly awe-struck."

Virginia eyes didn't stray from the window. She pressed her fingers to the glass, her blue eyes soaking in the city.

The escort shook her head, "You two need to learn to chatter, Levi you are simply too morose."

Levi looked up from his glass of milk, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," She laughed, a high pitched squeal that made Virginia wince, "I simply hope you try to smile and appeal to the crowds,"

As if on cue, the train was suddenly surrounded by feisty citizens. Virginia's nose wrinkled as the pressed against the train.
Shuddering she stepped away, "What do they want?"

The escort laid a hand on her shoulder, "Oh my dear, you! Tributes are the Capitol's inspiration, you can become the next face of victory." Pressing a finger under Virginia's chin, she smiled, "Aren't you excited?"

Virginia pulled away, goosebumps running across her neck, "I don't want to become the next face of anything."

The escort sighed, her lips drooping slightly, "Now, dearies, you two really should develop a more positive attitude."

She sashayed to the table, leaning over Levi's shoulder, "You are writing?"

Levi shifted, "It's nothing really, just some scribblings."

"Let me see," She picked up the paper, pausing to scan it's contents, then reading aloud,

"Pitch, the hues of grey,

Swirling mass, stinking clay

Low it flies, the vague abyss

Home of Hades, feel loneliness.

Opaque, fixed long and last

Inert Lifeless, set on past;

Surrounding, cutting off from air

Stinging, drowning in its lair.

Keen; it sings its wailing song,

The shadows, thus do prolong

Clock chiming, ring the bell;

Fast behold! Descent to Hell."

Waving the paper around, the escort beamed, "Oh, you are such a poet! Imagine what a victor's talent that would be! Think of all the books you could sell! I simply can't wait to see how you'll do." Bending down, she kissed his head.

Levi's face reddened, "I'm not a poet, I just scribble down stuff,"

Virginia interrupted, "Are we about to get out of this thing?" She waved her hand to the door, "We've stopped moving, I was just thinking, you know, what's next?"

"Of course, Virginia dear," she pressed a hand to her cheek, "We depart the train at exactly 2 o'clock. Looking down at her wrists, "that's only 7 minutes away! I need to go put on my hat!"

Virginia rolled her eyes as the escort hopped away, sending a cynical glance towards her district partner.

"Thanks for that," Levi spoke, hesitating, "you know, for changing the subject."

A shrug of the shoulder, "No prob. Her voice was making me sick anyway."

Tribute Center, Second Floor

Loki nodded as the tributes entered the dining room. The girl pointed her toes, drawing the eyes to her spiked boots. "Everyone at the tribute parade should be terrified. By the time that cannon sounds, the entire country is going to know I mean business."

"Such insight," Loki's lips curled, but his eyes remained neutral, "Alex, that is what you prefer?" A quick nod, "Aggression can be impressive but it can scare some sponsors away entirely."

Alex folder her arms, while Felix settled unto the futon. "I think you two will make an agreeable team," Loki caught each of their gaze, "I do hope you don't plan on going into the arena lone ranger style."

"That's what killed that idiot last year," Alex snorted, "I'm not that stupid."

Felix shifted, "He had to have made some enemies to have been excluded from the traditional alliance, right?" He leaned forward, hands cupping his chin.

The boy was a thinker, what luck. "Unfortunately, it was his own choice. Not something I recommend, but you make your bed, you lie in it."

"He was really that foolish?" Felix sat back, shaking his head, "To reject the traditional alliance? No wonder they picked him off."

"It's not that big a deal, Felix. He's dead, why waste our time talking about him?" Alex picked up a chocolate muffin as she spoke, rolling her eyes at ehr partner.

Felix sent a cold glance her way, "Because you can learn from the past."

"Not when they're complete idiots." She shrugged, flopping unto the duvet, her pitch raising an octave, "Can we please talk about something more interesting?"

"Have you watched any recaps?" Rhea spoke as she strode into the room, "Loki loves strategy, but sometimes it's knowing the peeps that wins the day." The two kids glanced up, both wondering how she had come in so quietly.

Loki slid over, allowing room for Rhea to settle beside him, "What do you think of the stylist choice this time around?"
A slight lift of the eyebrows, just enough to say, 'Since when have we cared about that?' but still answering aloud, "Oh, just business as usual."

"Mine won't be business as usual," Alex muttered over her muffin, earning a sharp look from Rhea.

Rhea pulled her short hair behind her ears, "Back to my question, what do you guys think of the others?"

"The guy from one looks nice, you know, well-muscled, and capable." Felix spoke with a note of assurance, "And we have a guy volunteer from Four, I'm sure he's adept."

"Sure, Mr. Wave and Smile at the camera's," Alex smirked, "He's a prig, we can get rid of him quick." She tapped her foot impatiently, toying with the cuff of her hoodie.

Felix glanced Loki and Rhea's direction, eyebrows lifted slightly. Loki picked up his wine glass, sipping the ginger taste. He swallowed, while Rhea rolled her eyes at him. "Tell me, Felix, why are you so quick to write Bjorn as adept?"
Felix's eyes narrowed, slightly irritated that his assessment should be picked at, "I just don't think we should,"
Loki spoke over the boy, "And Miss Alex, you seem terribly quick to dismiss your possible future ally as a prig."

Loki glared into the girl's face, setting the glass down, "Judging personalities from a screen is pure stupidity. Ability, as Felix, has noted can easily be assessed. Though, it can sometimes be cleverly disguised."

I'm excited about these characters, I really enjoyed thinking of their interactions. I hope it was a delight to read, as well!

What do you think of the poem? :-) First one of mine I've put online...