District 10
Diego Aldrez, (48), Victor of the 42nd Hunger Games
Diego knows it's going to be him.
And it may even be a choice. Of course, Diego remembers the agreement that pretty much all of the Victors except for the ones from District 2 made. Whoever's Reaped, goes. Simple as that. And while it is indeed true that District 10 has three living male Victors, Diego knows that it would be horrible for either of the other two to go.
The first possibility is a 77-year-old man named Vernon, who won the Games exactly sixty years ago. Vernon's so elderly and his body has fallen into such disrepair that it would be pitiful to watch him even walk to the stage without his cane, never mind compete in another Hunger Games. The only other possibility besides Vernon and Diego is a young, handsome, intelligent, 23-year-old man named Braxton. He came out of the arena just seven years ago, the arena with only spiked maces as weaponry. Watching him go would be such a waste of a life, when Braxton could do so much more than die in a Quarter Quell in his early twenties.
So, it comes down to that. Vernon's too old, Braxton's too young. Diego is the perfect midway. Now of course it won't be easy for him to go, and he may even have to compete with his husband, Galvin, from District 13. He's come to terms with what must happen, and what may happen, however. No matter what, Diego's going back in.
"Braxton Callister!"
"I volunteer as tribute!" Diego screams before the young man can react.
Vernon, Braxton, Dolly, Trina, and the rest of District 10 stares at Diego in slight disbelief as the man mounts the stage. Braxton looks as if he wants to say something, but can't really seem to form the words in his mind. Diego doesn't care. Just as long as his old Mentor and at least one of his Victors are safe, Diego doesn't care.
Trina Waxler, (31), Victor of the 59th Hunger Games
There are only two of them.
Now that Diego has been selected as the District 10 Male tribute, it's between her and Dolly. District 10 has two living female Victors. The woman who helped bring her to victory sixteen years ago, out of that rocky, biting-cold landscape. Trina feels a flashback coming on, but shakes her head rapidly for a moment in the hopes that it will go away. Surprisingly enough, it works.
Trina knows that she's going to volunteer if Dolly's Reaped. She has to. Her fellow Victors, those also from District 10 and some of those from other districts, are all she has. Sixteen years ago, Trina was just a girl living in the Community Center, going to school, and trying to make a small living by working a few hours a week and on weekends at a nearby butcher's shop. There was nothing special about her at the time that would point to her becoming a Victor. It was only after she scored an eight in Training did anyone pay any special attention to her, other than her Mentors and District Partner.
She was abandoned by her parents as an infant, and both tragically and stereotypically left on the outside porch of the district's Community Center. Growing up, she never had any family. She had a few friends, both at school and back at the Center, but never really any that were notably close. After winning the Games, though, she became quite close with her fellow Victors. They're all that Trina had. And since Trina's still unmarried without any children, they're still all she has. She can't bear to watch not one, but both of her old Mentors enter the arena yet again.
"Dolly Withers!"
"I volunteer as tribute!" Trina hollers, prompting some people's mouths to fall open once again.
After stepping onto the stage, Trina doesn't regret her decision. She thinks it was the right thing to do, the only thing that she could do. Besides, Dolly's got a family to go home to.
A/N: District 10, everybody, with Diego and Trina! Thoughts on the two of them?
I once again apologize for the spotty lack of consistency with updating. Life is life though, and that kinda thing happens sometimes.
Tomorrow we'll be in District 11, with Seeder and Chaff. Hope to see ya there.
Until next time.
-Bo