Disclaimer: I still do not own the Hunger Games. My thanks to Loki This Is Madness for Eisley Harriet, IamNightlocked for Copernicus Asiago, FlyingSpaghettiLover for Valerie Tanaka and The Millenium Falcon for Malachi Nichols.
Two reapings in one day. Here we go folks.
Call My Name: District Two Reapings
Felina Sang – Victor of the 22nd Hunger Games
"You really don't have to go this year," Echo encouraged her. It was true. There were three of them, once again. Felina had co-mentored with Echo for the last two years, but last year Echo had seemed particularly uncomfortable having Felina at her side. Felina couldn't imagine why. She was more than ready to take on the tasks of full on mentoring and Echo's implications frustrated her.
"I'm ready," Felina insisted, her eyes cold with rage. And it was true. She had helped at the academy, trained tributes under Echo's direction. She had many pupils who were excelling. It was quite possible that someone she had trained would be picked today.
"There's really no need this year," Echo insisted again. "We both know Belen will want to mentor the female tribute." She paused, as though there were no doubt in her mind as to who that would be and Felina rolled her eyes.
"You know I didn't vote for her. There are much more qualified trainees."
"Name one." Echo challenged, not raising her voice. Felina sighed, knowing she was fighting a losing argument. Although she could think of the names of several that wouldn't change a thing. They would know for certain in a couple of minutes.
"Then let me mentor the boy, whoever that is. Maybe you can stay home this time." Felina insisted.
"Let's just see who ends up coming onto the stage," she said, not unkindly.
"What is it that has you so worried?" Felina demanded, grabbing Echo's arm.
"Come on you two, we're going to be late if you don't move it," Belen called from the street. She wasn't going to wait for them, that much was obvious.
"If you want the truth, you're too hard on them," Echo blurted out reluctantly and Felina stared her down.
"I'm only as hard on them as I have to be. The arena isn't an easy place, especially if you want to make it out alive. It was easier for you; you were in there before the tribute system really developed. I was in there three years ago and believe me, it's tough. All I want is for them to be tougher, and I intend to do that for them."
"Well, I hope that works out for you," Echo retorted, turning her back. "I've found, though, that when you apply too much pressure, people break." With that she turned towards the stage. Still huffing mad, Felina followed her, not wanting to arrive late.
Priskilla Andrei, the escort, had waited for them.
"There are my lovely ladies," she gushed over all of them. Being the only all-female victor team had its perks, Felina supposed. No men around to complicate matters. Priskilla adjusted a hair on Belen's face and Belen, in turn rolled her eyes. She detested when anyone adjusted her appearance, but tolerated it with Priskilla. Felina, on the other hand, shot the escort a "touch me and you die" look.
"Ladies, you might want to know that I just heard a rumor from District one."
"What's the rumor?" Echo asked. She had fallen for the gossip column of the Capitol and Felina just rolled her eyes.
"They say they're taking extra tributes this year," Priskilla revealed in a whisper and with that all of them emerged on stage as the Capitol theme sounded and Priskilla read off their names as previous victors.
"Extra tributes?" Echo whispered so no one besides Belen and Felina could hear.
"I wouldn't believe it." Belen said. "Probably just because district one failed so epically last year. "
"This year, representing the females, your district has elected Eisley Harriet." An applause rang out from the crowd. No surprise there, Felina thought. Eisley, a familiar face in the Victor's village, because of her relationship with Belen, had campaigned hard, and, with Belen's support, Felina was probably the only person who hadn't voted for her.
The familiar girl with straight brown hair flounced up to the stage, her face reflecting Belen's pride. Belen even briefly took her hand as the boy's name was called.
"This year, for the boys, you have chosen Copernicus Asiago."
Not who I voted for either, Felina thought as the shaggy haired boy donned a smile and stepped forward. He brushed his hair from his eyes as he made his way to the stage, blowing a kiss to a girl who rolled her eyes in turn. It seemed as though both of the tributes had something in common; they were both in it for love. That much was crystal clear to Felina. At least that along with their training should bode well for them with the sponsors.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your first round, elected tributes, Eisley and Copernicus." It was odd hearing Nic called by his full name for two sentences in a row. The applause was deafening as the two tributes shared the stage.
"Now that you have had your choice, this year our president has issued an edict requiring extra tributes," Priskilla announced. So it was true. So much that it was just a rumor that she had heard from District One. Priskilla had known the entire time and had just been stringing them along into believing that she knew less than she did. Felina groaned. She hated that. As Victors they should be told about these sort of things. They had the right to know, even if the rest of the district was still kept in the dark.
"These extra tributes are to be reaped as in an ordinary year and will be added to the pool of tributes. As with the first round, there will be no volunteers for this second round."
It seemed like the entire district tried to conceal its fear, pathetically. All of the potential tributes did their best to look enthused, as though whoever was chosen would be fortunate. Felina braced for the unknown with a side look at Echo.
"For the girls, Valerie Tanaka." That name didn't sound familiar at all to Felina, so it was probably not someone from the academy. Given the silence in the compound, it seemed as though the girl wasn't eager at all. The sound of someone crying, multiple people crying, actually, was heard in the distance, further back.
Then a girl emerged from the sixteen year old section, slowly coming forward. She glanced back behind her briefly, but it didn't look as though she was planning to run, more like she was looking back, trying to comfort someone. No doubt that's where the crying was coming from. Valerie, though she certainly looked devastated, wasn't crying. Good, Felina thought. Any tears now would betray weakness, something this girl couldn't afford to do, not in front of two trained Careers. Otherwise she could have given up any hope she had right then and there.
The girl forced a smile as she took the final steps, but then Felina saw the tears on her cheeks and sighed. Now she could only hope the cameras hadn't caught those, but of course they had. She pried her eyes from the girl as Priskilla announced the next tribute.
"For the gentlemen, Malachi Nichols." That name was familiar to everyone onstage, and was, perhaps the last name they expected to hear.
"Someone stop him," Echo whispered as laughter, instead of tears arose from the fifteen year old section and a familiar boy made his way forward, his arms out in front of him to steady himself. A determined look was on his face as he made sure he didn't run into anything on the way to the stage.
"She said no volunteers," Felina repeated, cynically.
"Come on, I don't want to fight him," Eisley growled audibly as Malachi finally made his way to the stage.
"Great, Eisley, I don't want to fight a golddigger like you, either. You and your Career system have your heads up your butts if you think you're fooling anyone. You're just a bunch of cowardly idiots to set this up that way. . ." Malachi started.
"Now look, you," Eisley tried to get a smart remark in, but Priskilla stepped between them.
"District Two, may I present your-"
"You aren't any better, you airhead," Malachi backlashed Priskilla. "You can walk around with your head in the clouds, but you're just a terrible escort too."
"Your tributes for the quarter quell. Happy Hunger Games!" Priskilla chimed, ushering all of the tributes to the Justice building without bothering to force them to shake hands.
Malachi Nichols – Age 15 Second Round Male Tribute
"I don't want to see him," Malachi insisted as the Peacekeeper held the door open for his brother, Ernest. The tone in his voice must have been clear, for he saw his brother's silhouette turn around and leave.
It was for the best, Malachi knew as he heard the door shut. No one else would be coming to see him, not after everything that had happened. His brother would have come, would have stayed until they kicked him out, but it would have only been a pity party, and Malachi didn't need that, he didn't want it
His brother, of course blamed himself for what had happened that day, and so did Malachi. It didn't matter that it had happened at the Career training center, that Ernest had never shown any interest in training; as a matter of fact he'd never even stepped foot in the training center. It had just been he and his friends goofing off and putting a mild poison on their weapons while Echo and Belen hadn't been looking. It was supposed to be almost harmless, just inducing nausea to test their toughness. The poison certainly wasn't supposed to cause blindness. But it had. His friends and the trainers had tried to rush him to the hospital, of course, but it was too late. He wasn't completely blind, he could see shapes and outlines, but nothing else.
Seriously, what was a blind boy supposed to do in the Hunger Games? Malachi laughed again, an ironic laugh that emanated from deep within him. A couple years ago, before the accident he could have been a victor. Even if this had happened when he was twelve he would have stood a decent chance, but now, what chance did he have? It was out of sheer spiteful irony that they had called his name.
Eisley Harriet – Age 18 Round 1 Female Tribute
"It's shameful that they're making us fight together. The voting should have been enough for the quell, now they're sticking us in with weaklings? Why not just line them up and get rid of them to start out with!" Eisley growled.
"Just don't pay them any mind. All that matters is you. Belen will be with you," Eisley's mother, Kenna encouraged her.
"Oh, don't worry, I'll be sure to make a quick end to all of them."
"Just make sure to get back here as a Victor, just like I know you can," her father, Cassius said. He'd always supported her dreams of becoming a Victor and now she was so close she could feel it. This was her year, even with the pesky second round of tributes in the way she would be victorious she would be coming home.
"Be sure to watch me on the screen," she said, turning to her younger siblings, Rowenna and Bash. Bash was bouncing up and down, looking mischievous, but for once he wouldn't be all over the place. For now, just for a precious few moments, even at age six, he understood the sacredness of this moment, as Eisley went on to fulfill her destiny.
"We'll watch," Rowenna promised, beaming proudly at her older sister and Eisley scooped both of them up. They were getting heavier than the last time she had really spent any time with them. What with training and spending most of her nights with Belen she hadn't gotten to see much of her siblings. She was certain they'd seem even more grown by the time she returned from the Games.
"Find comfort in the next couple days with Belen," Kenna advised. "You're not going to enjoy much friendship or comfort in the Games. She'll be a good mentor." Kenna paused, as though she was holding something back. "Yes, she'll be a good mentor."
"Exactly. She'll be devoted, dedicated to saving you, no matter what," her father echoed.
"I can take care of myself," Eisley spat, getting defensive.
"That's not what I meant, dear. It's a mentor's job to take care of their tributes. She'll be doing her job, not giving you special treatment. You're the best tribute from our district. I have no doubt you'll be coming home alive."
"Make us proud," her mother said as the door opened, signaling the time for them to part.
Valerie Tanaka Age 16 Second Round Female Tribute
"Now, now, we don't have time for tears," Valerie encouraged her siblings. Not that it did much good.
Her parents were there for once, trying to control the unexpected madness of seven children, most of who were crying. Her mother wrapped her arms around the youngest as Valerie held the others. There weren't any words. What could she say to really encourage any of them?
Violet, the oldest, was holding up the best. Perhaps she knew she'd have to take over Valerie's role should she not return. At fourteen it would be a heavy burden, but as Violet took her sister's hand, Valerie knew her family would be alright. Eventually. If she didn't return they would stay together.
That gave her hope.
"Why do you have to go? They only need two!" Lars, the five year old started pouting. He didn't understand. He didn't understand how cruel the Capitol was.
"Should they even be there?" her father asked, gesturing to all of the children. It was true, the youngest was three.
"We're not missing this chance," Valerie's mother emphasized. Valerie knew what she meant. They didn't want to miss the last chance to say goodbye to their sister.
Even the youngest, Kirsten, at age three, who didn't really understand, just clung to Valerie's leg. The others crowded around, knowing their time would be up too soon, knowing that within only a few moments Valerie would be taken from them, perhaps forever.
"Don't watch what's on the screen," Valerie made them promise. If things turned terrible, when they turned terrible, she wanted to shield her siblings from whatever happened. They needed to have their innocence still.
All of them nodded. Violet would probably break that promise, maybe even Aster, at age twelve, but the younger ones, eleven year old Ferdinand, eight year old Mallory, seven year old Kennedy and Lars and Kirsten shouldn't see what was going on. They were far too young for that.
Valerie sighed as she wrapped all of them in a giant hug. One last hug before the Games.
Copernicus "Nic" Asiago Age 18 First Round Male tribute.
"She's not coming, you know," Nic's father, Gerard, said.
"But some of your other friend's might. In fact I bet as soon as we leave this place will be just swarming with your friends," Halsey, his mother swooned. His father tried to look as though he believed it.
Nic just rolled his eyes. "I'm going to the Games, not to die. I'm coming back and when I do, she'll come back to me."
He knew his parents were tired of hearing about her, but he couldn't stop himself. Zoi had been the entire basis of his campaign. She had been the reason he wanted to be in the Games. Then, once he came home in glory, she would see that he was really the person she wanted to be with, not the girl who was holding her hand now.
"Just promise me you'll make some good allies," his mother insisted. Nic nodded obediently. Even though he'd been almost a recluse before the campaign, that energy would certainly put him on everyone's radar. Along with his training he stood a good chance. He knew he would come home.
"I just can't wait to see the competition. I know what Eisley can do, but everyone else, I'm excited to see what districts one and four offer. It's really a shame we got satcheled with the other two this year, but no matter. Easy prey, I suppose."
"We love you son," his parents said as they rose and left the room. Nic forced himself to smile again. This is what he wanted, now he just needed to focus on the end goal, the same end goal he had had since she had broken his heart: getting Zoi back.
Priskilla Andei District Two Escort:
She couldn't believe it. She'd said four names, yes, but even this was despicable for the Capitol. If it were up to her she would have left it at the voting; wasn't it bad enough choosing who was to die? Not that that mattered in District Two with the Career system, but the outer districts surely wouldn't have many campaigners. She'd been an escort in District Twelve for a year and couldn't imagine anyone there campaigning. Now it seemed every district would have to send extra tributes.
Right until she'd picked the second pair of names, she had thought the Capitol was bluffing, that they were only performing that atrocity in District One for what had happened last year. Or that, at least they would allow for volunteers, not subject helpless, blind tributes to the blind justice of the Games. No, none of that was allowed by the Capitol. And she was part of it. Even though she was here in District Two, even though everyone seemed okay with this, it rubbed her the wrong way.
She swallowed as she watched the square clear out. So this was how the first quarter quell began in District Two. She called two names, chosen by the residents who were convinced that love-struck teenagers were fit for a fight to the death. And then, the second pair of names she called belonged to an innocent girl, beloved by her family, and a blind boy. She put on a smile and did her best to remain optimistic for their chances this year.
"For some reason I can't explain, I know St. Peter won't call my name. Never an honest word, but that was when I ruled the world."