I know, I know, you guys must all be screaming by now, "I WANT UPDATE. UPDATE NOWWWWW!"
I'm really sorry for the delays. I've had a sudden commitment crop up – I'm in the planning committee for this camp we're organizing for the incoming juniors next year! I'm on the Games committee… hehehe *rubs hands together evilly* I'm gonna torture them till they cry, and fall on their knees, begging for mercy! MUAHAHA- coughhackcoughcough- 'Scuse me.
In any case, do you guys still remember that fun question from the previous chapter? It was about how District 1 and 2 have much fuller reaping bowls than District 3. A lot of you said something to do with how the Careers wanted to assure their chances of winning or something, which sorta makes sense, and is pretty close to my answer, so I gave you the points. But then, I would've asked you – why would they do that? Isn't it better if they actually volunteered? Cos if they get Reaped, someone's just gonna volunteer for them instead!
So now I give to you my theory on why this is so. The basic theory is, that even in Career districts, there's still poverty. Which is pretty logical right? In just about any country in the world, despite whatever standard of living they might have, there are still people who are not as well-off. They may not be povertyss per say, but they definitely wouldn't mind some extra help – in this case, in terms of taking tessarae. So, if they already know that there's sure to be some big, burly Career dude volunteering for whoever gets Reaped, then they wouldn't be afraid of taking so much tessarae, right? If there's no fear in taking out tessarae, then by all means, take more! The point is, the other, non-Career families have not as much fear and reluctance in taking out tessarae, cos the resulting risks is greatly reduced.
So that's my theory – I hope it makes sense.
(The same Capitol viewer's POV)
Fancy music starts playing as the previous commercial ends off, and then we're back to the Reapings. I'm so excited, we're already halfway done! Pretty soon, the Reapings would be over, and then the tributes would be coming to town! Eeep, I can't wait – I've already coerced my boyfriend of the week, Edric Sumner – who, by the way, is an official somewhere high up in the government – to get me good, front row seats for the chariot rides. I can't wait! Its definitely going to be interesting this year, I can already tell!
The district 7 escort steps forward, clad in a ghastly shade of green, that looks absolutely horrifying against his pale, snow-white skin. How does he expect to get promoted looking like this? The other districts would be embarrassed to have him! I shake my head in annoyance, but perk up just as he reaches one white, perfectly manicured hand into the glass bowl, pulling out a tiny slip of paper. He squints slightly – God, there's something called contacts! – and reads out with a lisp, "Kalkora Madrone."
The crowd parts, like a red sea, to reveal a tanned, slim girl from the 17 year old's section, treading down the aisle carefully. Her short cameral curls roll just past her shoulders, and her eyes are a sparkling green. How is it that all the districts get all the pretty eye colors, whilst the Capitol citizens have to settle for colored contacts? I can't stand it, I'm so envious, I could just die!
As Kalkora steps cautiously onto the stage, I examine the rest of her body. Hmmm, strong arm muscles, reasonable leg muscles, basically the expected physique of a lumberjack from District 7. Nothing too exceptional, but not too weak either. I personally, have always felt that District 7's usually overlooked. You'd think that with their specialty of lumber, people would look out for their strength and ease of handling an axe, right? But no, the majority of people never think of District 7 as competition until its too late. Like with that Johanna girl, she acted like a cowardly fool, and nobody really cared about her, or noticed her, really, until it was too late, and she came out with both axes swinging. Really, do these tributes actually have brains?
All of a sudden, the door bell rings, and I am shocked out of my thoughts. I quickly peek down at my watch, and almost swear like a sailor. Is it that time already? I had totally lost track of time, and I'd forgotten that Collaice was supposed to come over! I scrambled out into the hallway, and swung open the door to reveal Collaice, my best friend.
Whilst boyfriends come and go, best friends last forever. At least, this was true for me and Collaice! I average one boyfriend a week, maybe one for two weeks, if they're lucky, which is more than I can say for Collaice, who's the queen of one-night stands! She's had so many guys in her lifetime, I'm surprised she hasn't run out of hot men from the Capitol to prey on yet. I shudder to think of what kind of guys she would resort to then… district farmers? Although that Finnick Odair, the handsome fisherman from District 4, is actually pretty hot…
I quickly ushered Collaice in, ignoring her blabbering about some crazy night with two gay men in handcuffs, and brisk-walked over to the kitchen to get her a drink. I would run, but its just so undignified, for a woman of my stature and grace! Striding back into the television room, with a Bloody Marianne in hand, I find Collaice has plopped herself on the sofa, perfectly at home in my apartment. I swear, the girl spends more time her than at her own penthouse suite. Even at night, when she's not at some wild party, or tangled under the sheets with random strangers, she would always manage to find some lame excuse to stay over at mine. One day, I should just convince her to trade apartments. Her bay windows have such a better view than mine!
By the time I've settled back into the comfort of my plush sofa, I realize that, again, I've missed a couple of Reapings. In fact, the camera is now zoomed in on the surgically enhanced face of the District 8 escort, who stretches a stubby, baby blue arm into the enormous glass bowl, and plucks a slip of paper from it. An Alex Malcolm is called, and as I watch Alex saunter up to the platform at the front, I recognize the familiar swagger of a playboy – one that's perfectly comfortable in his own skin, and knows how he affects the girls. I've seen the type before – heck, half my exes were the same. I never really figured out why, but that swagger can make half the female population fall at a man's feet, provided he masters it completely. Maybe they could analyse some of their DNA, and figure out what makes this happen. Then I could just go for the operation, and come out as a female Casanova! How delightful that would be!
He clambers onto the platform, and I finally get a glimpse of his outfit. Not bad, a plain white tee, with a leather jacket and some clean looking pants. He's got that whole too-cool look working for him. I imagine half the district's in love with him, by now! What surprises me though, is his height, or lack thereof. I wonder out loud why he's so short, and Collaice promptly replies, "Because he's 12, dumbass."
Oh…. Well, that explains it. He does have a baby face, and he is pretty tiny compared to the other, older tributes. But then, there's something in his blue eyes that gives me the impression that he's seen more than a 12 year old boy ever should. I can tell, underneath that optimistic front, and the show-off attitude, that he still feels depressed about something. Don't ask me how I know though – I just know. Maybe he's feeling sad because his parents didn't let him buy a pair of kickass boots, like the ones that that District 2 dude has!
I am halfway through admiring his short blonde hair, that looks as soft as any Capitol hairdresser can claim to be able to do, yet is one hundred percent natural. I turn to whisper and snicker with Collaice about the dirty town square of District 8, when suddenly, the camera flashes to District 9, where the Reaping has just begun.
The camera spans the entire width of the tiny town square of District 9, before zooming in on the 16 year old blonde girl who was just called. With her skinny and tall build, long and wavy blond hair, sky blue eyes, and a handful of freckles across her nose, Alura Stefon is traditionally pretty, with the exception of the few scars across her arms. Considering her build up of lean muscles, especially on both her arms and her legs, she looks to be pretty strong for her age as well.
That's besides the point though. The moment I saw her, my breath was just swept away by her exquisite midnight blue dress, that was draped on her body as if it were made for her. The material ended just beneath her knees, the bottom fabric gathered up into glittery ruffles that shimmered in the morning light. Her feet were clad in tan sandals, which, ordinarily, would have ruined the whole outfit, yet Alura managed to look perfectly glamorous and beautiful in them. Her golden locks tumbled down her back in loose curls, and completed her whole look. Overall, a very decent attempt by a district girl. I'm impressed!
Almost immediately, the male tribute is drawn, and a Zack Tanner is called to the stage. He runs a hand through his already-messy brown hair, and closes his blue eyes momentarily, before opening them again, taking a deep breath, and strolling down the center aisle. He tries to act cocky, you can tell, but I also notice his frequent sideway glances to Alura, and how his face pales more and more, every time he peeks at her. I wonder… could this be another pair of star-crossed lovers? Oooh, how exciting! We haven't had such an interesting romance since good ol' Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark! And this couple looks infinitely better together too! What with Alura's classical beauty, and Zack's boyish good looks, they'd surely be the cutest couple in Panem!
Too soon, our view is interrupted, when the screen changes abruptly to the somber scene of District 10. Their rainbow-eyed escort – I wonder where she got those contacts from… Anyway, their rainbow-eyed escort reaches a long French-manicured hand in, and gingerly plucks out a crumpled slip of paper, as if she was afraid of some contagious virus living on the paper. Actually, considering the dirty conditions of the District – there's actually mud on their shoes! – that's entirely possible. But I try not to think about it…
Evidently, its ladies first, as the escort screeches out in her thin, nasel voice, "Cordelia Harlow!" Oh please, thin and nasel is so last week! This escort really needs to keep in with the trends! No wonder they put her in District 10 – the further away she is from me, the better!
In any case, Cordelia has already begun her walk to her death, literally. She saunters up to the raised platform, her mouth set in a smirk, as if she had something witty to say, right at that moment, but has decided not to let you in on her little secret. Its intriguing. I vaguely recognize her last name too, Harlow… Now, where have I heard that name before? Its only when that escort remarks on it that I get a lightbulb moment.
"Oh my, a victor's child," The escort remarks shrilly, holding her pointed nails to her mouth in glee, "How exciting!"
Mmm, how exciting indeed! I've already calculated before though, on previous occasions when a victor's kid is drawn. The odds are, unless they're a Career, they'd probably die in the first half of the Games. The problem is, most victors are too haunted by their memories of the Arena, that even if they pull themselves together enough to raise a kid properly, they'd almost never give their kid the proper training needed. And, since the kid has such a legendary reputation that precedes him, almost everyone would be gunning to kill him. So… I would give Cordelia a 10% chance of survival, overall. Trust me, I've seen enough victor's children die uneventfully at the Bloodbath, or within the first few days.
But then, I reconsider my estimation. There's something in Cori's eyes, the way she holds a secret that she would never tell, the way she glares at another girl in the crowd, who looked to be on the verge of volunteering, the way she marches forward with her head held high. I think there's something different about Cori – maybe she won't be as anticlimactic as the rest after all!
I glance through Cori's uninspiring outfit, and can tell she's not the kind of girl to dress up. But just then, my heart stops, as I spot her strappy silver sandals. Mmm, stylish, shiny, and most importantly, seen on the feet of a tribute. The Capitol's going to be eating this trend up the minute the video feed goes live. Which, come to think of it, is now!
Luckily, my apartment is right down the block from this megamall that opened last week, that has the most ginormous shoe shop I've ever seen! Its just pure heaven! I'm 100% certain that I'll find those silver strappy sandals in there!
I grin and turn to Collaice, "Lets hightail it outta here. I've seen enough, and my eyes tell me I just must get those darling strappy sandals!"
I need not say more, and hop off the sofa, tottering to the door. Out we go now! I barely remember to reach over to switch off the television – the program is getting too boring for words!
Yupp, so that's the Reapings! The other tributes that she didn't see, whether in between, or in the last half that she completely declared boring, and skipped over, is basically empty. So… they're bloodbath tributes. Of course, if anyone still wants to submit, you still can, for these empty slots, but I'd just not write your Reapings. Its still sorta open, but the criteria's stricter? Yeah. :)
Anyway, here's the sponser points:
ChrissyGrace – 35
lillyday – 10
spindleberried – 30
BookAddictForLife – 50
booksarecool – 20
Cloudy-TheNightmareQueen – 15
SM1432 – 5
Esse Quam Videri – 10
Marya Badica – 35
harvestmoonrox – 25
pjmoo – 5
Max Alleyne – 15
Degrassilove14 – 15
Right, so I'm warning you, I've been really busy and overcommitted these few days, so if you feel like I didn't give you the points you were supposed to get, just drop me a PM, and I promise we'll go over it and see what we can do. Or if you just wanna let me know how awesome this chapter was, or how you think I can improve, just leave a review! Really. I don't bite! :)
xoxo