Before you get my reaping recap, you have to suffer through this.
Missing/Dead parent(s) club:
Drake Braddock (District 1)
Aleksandra Fortran (District 3)
Mira Murray (District 4)
Kron Ustil kinda (District 5)
Tess Larson (District 9)
Aaron Miller (District 9)
Addilyn Robyns (District 10)
Alessandro Lionheart (District 11)
Under 13's club
Waylon Wilders (District 3)
Aaron Miller (District 9)
Reuben Lambert (District 10)
Brialle Thatch (District 12)
I volunteer! Club
Luna Mortem (District 2)
Jonas Hertz (District 2)
Mira Murray (District 4)
Damon Shark (District 4)
Kron Ustil (District 5)
'Is that all?' You ask.
No it isn't
You also get: terrible poetry.
The esteemed mayor's daughter,
Like a lamb to the slaughter.
Not broken, but scarred,
When he falls, he falls hard.
Dangerous lil' liar,
Jumping into the fire.
Friendly but not quite pure,
Regards to the rich but not to the poor.
Emotionless and smart,
But lonely at heart.
Hats, puns and gymnastics,
But How well will Way mix?
Mira, rethinking her plan to volunteer,
Will she make it another year?
Strong with a trident, strong overall,
But remember, pride before fall.
Techla isn't without friends,
But would they follow her until the ends?
Kron knows how to manipulate,
But what is in store for his fate?
Kind, friendly, not very mild,
Will Reiko survive in the wild?
Flynn is just a baker's son,
Will his life end before it's begun?
Aspen is so sad inside
Without her brother, part of her died.
Though his sister is very sick,
He'll play the game without a trick
Pretty in pink, that describes Cat,
Doesn't have what it takes for combat.
A musical boy with a passion for jazz
Will death give him a free pass?
Of her past, Tess is unsure,
She doesn't let it make her insecure.
Even if his parents are in jail,
Aaron won't let his life fail.
Addie is an animal lover
To any animal, she is a mother.
Reuben. A Shepard, through and through,
Any tricks? Maybe a few.
Vissie has a humour dark,
But her bite isn't her bark.
A circus boy, he once was free
What will happen? Let's wait and see.
Brialle is young but not an innocent foal,
What difference do diamonds have from coal?
To some, Jaxon has had it easy,
But his life hasn't been so breezy.
I admit I'm not the best poet so thank you for reading through that.
Meli Romilly
"Hello Meli," says the enthusiastic games commentator, Hermes Ajax says to me. Normally he'd be commentating the reapings alone but in a wish to get me more involved, they decided I would not only be on the island overseeing the challenges, but commentating the reapings and interviewing the tributes as well.
Allegra just about burst a blood vessel when she found out. She obviously doesn't want me involved in the games at all but it's amazing pay and a brilliant experience.
As a child, I always had to be nice about Allegra's 'sensitivity' because she was a genius but now we're adults and we both need to be mature about things.
"Hello Hermes," I say with a big smile on my face. "I'm excited to be here to see who the lucky 24 will be this special year."
Someone backstage turns on the large television and the Capitol anthem plays before turning on to the district One reaping.
"Ooh, it looks like neither of these two are volunteers this year. Let's hope the other careers can pick up the slack." I say, "Esmeralda Artiza, apparently mayor Artiza's daughter is wearing a beautiful orange sweater paired with a black skirt. She is apperently 15 according to the records we have of her."
On the table is a list of information about each tribute.
"Drake Braddock is looking dangerous in a black t shirt and fingerless gloves. He is 18 years old and has two brothers." This time it's Hermes talking. Apparently I'll be taking the females.
"The tributes from Two are both volunteers. Luna Mortem is looking beautiful in a grey dress. She is seventeen years old with no siblings. She has been trained by Floria Vexx, a previous victor."
The crowd cheers, obviously remembering Floria.
"Jonas Hertz looks every part the dashing boy from two with his blouse and jeans. I think we've found the heart stealer of the games this year, I can practically hear the swoons from here!"
Hermes has a way with words that I'll never have. I don't know why they didn't pick him to be the watchover. Maybe they wanted someone fresh.
"From district 3 we have two non volunteers, hardly a surprise. Aleksandra Fortran is 15 years old and she lives in the community home. She is wearing a comfortable looking shirt and slacks."
I wish I was wearing something comfortable. The tight dress and leather jacket I have on are movement constricting.
"Little Waylon Wilder appears to be 13 years old. Eben som that smile makes him look very confident about his chances. Do you think he'd let me borrow his hat?"
The crowd laughs.
"A set of volunteers from four as expected. The girl- Mira Murray a 17 year old I'd wearing a beautiful blue dress. She lives with her older brother." My sentence feels incomplete but there isn't any more info on her slip.
"Damon Shark is an 18 year old only child. He appears very confident in a simple blue t shirt and black jeans."
We should probably say more but neither of these tributes were the most explicitly interesting.
"Oh wow! From 5 we have a volunteer! The girl Techla Fares is 16 years old. In black shorts and a purple shirt she looks very cute, though maybe that's the wrong word for a girl of her age."
She also appears to be crying but I don't say that out loud.
"Kron Ustil, our volunteer has very little information about him. He's 15 years old and looking dashing in a red shirt and black pants."
If this was normal games he'd be made popular by sponsers. They love an outlying volunteer. Apperently it shows 'bravery.' I think it shows stupidity to be an untrained volunteer but again, I refrain from saying this.
"Fresh from District 6 we have Reiko Shimoto in a leather jacket and black pants. She appears unhappy in the choice of the male. Bad blood perhaps?" I don't really think that. The boy looks startled at her glares.
Hermes smiles. "Maybe so Meli. Talking of Flynn Charter, he's the 16 year old son of the bakers. He looks very casual in his red shirt and brown shorts."
I quickly read through Aspen and Ronan's file and feel kind of sorry for them.
"Aspen Beech from 7 is no stranger to the Games. Fans of the games will no doubt remember poor Reuben from a few years back. With her amazing jacket she looks fearsome and a real contender."
It's terrible, just giving someone's private information like this. Hermes doesn't seem to be having the same trouble.
"Ronan Longwind looks like the perfect muscled lumberjack. Maybe he's going to take Jonas's role of the heartthrob. Give us an 'ooh!' Ladies!"
The audience obligingly 'oohs' and I laugh. Enthusiasm can be infectious sometimes.
"You can certainly see Cat Oxnard from a mile away! What a distinctive hair colour." I thought Allegra was a ginger but not like this Cat. "In her pretty pink dress Cat certainly looks like the epitome of innocence!"
"15 year old Kevlar Clark certainly has an unusual hobby." I look over Hermes shoulder at his notes. "He apparently plays in a band with his unusually large family. Tributes with hobbies like that are music to my ears!"
Everyone groans at his joke, myself included.
"From District 9, Tess Larson will be representing the female half. In a white dress with georgeous lace, she looks positively angelic!"
"Young Aaron Miller is looking good in black shorts and a is 12 years old and lives with his grandfather after his parents went to prison!"
I can't believe Hermes actually just hold everyone that. That was too private. I just smile, trying to act like I'm not disgusted.
I swallow and when 10 comes on start to talk, "Addilyn Robyns from District 10 is 17 years old. She works at an animal shelter ran by her uncle!"
Her parents are dead but I decide that I have the decency to not mention it.
"Reuben Lambert is another 13 year old. He works as a farmer with the rest of his family!"
Its always awkward when there are tributes with not much else to talk about like Reuben, you can never get the full personality.
"Vissilea Tera is rocking dreadlocks and a grey shirt and leggings. Casual but cute! The two appear to know each other from the way they're laughing together!"
"Allessandro Jasons looks very distinctive in his gold waist coat. There isn't any information about him other than that he's 18!"
They both look pretty pissed about being reaped to be honest.
"13 year old Brialle Thatch is simply gorgeous in that skirt and shirt combination. Brialle lives with her mother, father and two brothers."
The audience is getting bored now, you can tell by their mutters. Thank god we only have one to go.
"Jaxon Bod looks smart in his suit and tie combination! If you listen closely you can hear someone crying in the background. A lover perhaps?"
Honestly, I don't like the look on Jaxon. I can't tell whether he looks cocky or annoyed.
"Thank you all for watching!" I say, slightly relieved we're done. "Tune in tomorrow fir the Chariot rides!"
Thankfully, I won't be commentating them.
I'm starting a sponsoring system where I ask a trivia question.
The first to get the right answer gets 30 points,
The second 20
The third 10.
I'll be keeping track in the chapters.
These are the things you can get.
5 points- Hair bands
10 points- fresh socks
15 points- A hair brush
20 points- fresh underwear
25 points- Any hygiene products, E.g. Soap, sanitary towels, shampoo or conditioner
30 points- A towel
30 points- A fresh pair of shorts
40 points- A fresh t shirt
40 points- A fresh pair of trousers
45 points- A new hoodie
50 points- A pair of new shoes
80 points- A letter from home
You can give these to tributes that aren't your own.
First trivia question:
Which of the traditional five senses are dolphins believed not to possess?
13 day streak y'all!
Fun fact: Pteronophobia is the fear of being tickled by feathers!