Chapter 5: The Deceiver and the Sophisticated

District 1: Isadora Emily Gallagher

"Hmmm? Should I wear the pearls or the rubies?" Isadora Gallagher weighed her options, examining each of the necklaces in the early morning light radiating through her bedroom window.

Margaret sighed from across the room as she dragged her eyes away from the magazine she was flipping through. The magazine she had swiped from Isadora's nightstand. The girl jumped off the bed, and strode to her best friend's side.

Isadora furrowed her eyebrows as she took turns lifting each necklace as she peered into the mirror. "It's a hard decision."

Margaret heaved another sigh. "No, it's not. How many times do I have to tell you—with your hair color," Margaret lifted a lock of Isadora's strawberry blonde hair, "rubies simply don't look flattering. Stick with the pearls. They're classier looking anyways."

"Really?" Isadora spoke as she locked eyes with Margaret, who was standing behind her, through the mirror. She was busy fastening the pearls onto Isadora's neck. "I was going to wear the red to symbolize all the blood I shall be spilling during this year's Games. These rubies are colored exactly like blood, you know." Isadora spoke with a straight face. There was a moment of utter silence.

And then the two broke out in a hysterical fit of laughter.

"Let's just stick with the pearls," Margaret wheezed, as the two were still grinning like madmen.

Isadora turned to Margaret and grabbed her hands. The playful demeanor that lingered in the air just seconds ago had turned to something far more serious.

"Thank you, Margaret, for coming over here so early in the morning. It means a lot to me. This day is really special to me, thanks for understanding that." Isadora stood from her seat at the bureau, and the two girls stood to face each other.

Margaret pulled Isadora into an embrace. "That's what best friends are for."

Isadora turned back to her mirror, and slipped on one last piece of jewelry, the ring that had been made especially for her. It was a gift from her mother; one of the many benefits to being a jeweler's daughter in the district known for luxury.

"Okay, let's get going. I want to be there early." Isadora spoke. Margaret nodded, then left the room, leaving Isadora to herself.

She took a look around her room. The pale pink walls that were complimented by the white furniture, including her desk and bureau. The string of white lights that hung behind Isadora's bed. The walk-in closet that was practically overflowing with all sorts of clothes despite the fact that Isadora tried to keep it neat. The glass case in the corner of her room that displayed all the awards she had been bestowed during her time at the Academy. And the picture wall.

The wall parallel from her bed was littered with pictures, from top to bottom, leaving no space to indicate the pink wall it covered. It had been Margaret's idea when the room was renovated three years ago, as something to fill the empty space. But Isadora quickly became obsessed with the idea. That whole summer she rifled through boxes in the attic, scoured through old photo albums, looking for anything she could find that could become an addition to the wall.

It was her masterpiece. Her life story, condensed into hundreds of photos. She smiled as she dragged her eyes across the wall, smiled at all the memories it held.

A photo of the first time Isadora held a bow. She was six, and was missing both front teeth. The weapon itself was taller than her. Another photo, of her and Margaret, standing in front of her best friend's house, which also happened to be the mayor's residence. They wore the silliest expressions on their face. There was one picture where Isadora stood tall and proud next to a ranking board at the Academy. It was the first time she had reached the first place rank. She was 15. Another picture, from Isadora's 16th birthday party. She was surrounded by all her closest friends, a photo where they were all stuffing their faces full with cake.

Isadora's eyes glassed over. This was her life. And today, she was going to leave it behind as she had been instructed to before she could remember.

But, not forever. She would be back. She promised. And when she came back she would add another picture to this wall. The picture of the moment Snow crowned her Victor.

Her smile faded, and her eyes were no longer glassy. A deadly expression rippled across her face. Isadora smoothed down the pleats of her light blue dress and took a deep breath as she closed her eyes and spoke silently to herself.

This is my Games. It always was, always will be. And no one, no one can take that away from me.

She left the room without a second glance. Why bother saying goodbye to something you would see again?

District 1: Paris D'aramitz

"Paris?" A female voice called from behind him. "Is that you? What are you doing up so early?"

He rolled his eyes. All he wanted was one morning, one morning of peace, of serenity. Was that too unfathomable? Apparently.

Paris turned around, his irritated face replaced with a smirk and soft eyes. "Seraphina, darling, the question is, what are you doing up so early?" He sauntered over to her, cupping her face into his hands. Her big blue eyes gleamed, so eager, so vulnerable.

"I—I couldn't sleep, so I decided to take a trip down to the kitchen. The Academy chef makes the best insomnia cookies. And then I just happened to see you out and about too, and since this is reaping day and all, I decided to see where you were going at four in the morning."

"Oh, of course darling," Paris flashed a warm smile as he went along with the lie. It was a dull one. Honestly, how stupid did these girls deem him to be? The boarding girls at the Training Academy were always lurking around, trying to take advantage of all the extra time with Paris the day students didn't get.

"I though you might need to relax a a bit," Seraphina bit her bottom lip and peered into Paris's hazel eyes. "I can help you with that." She reached for his dark hair.

God, he loved all the attention. It was disappointing he was going to be missing out on it for a while. "You're absolutely right, darling," Paris slipped his hands down to Seraphina's waist. She flashed him an excited smile.

At that moment he heard the pitter-patter of extra sets of feet booming through the empty training room. Paris casually pulled his hands away from Seraphina, and turned to face the newcomers. Sure enough two other girls, Macy and Satin as he recalled, were standing with their arms crossed. They both glared daggers at Seraphina, who stood beaming as if she herself had just won the Games.

Oh, this was just too much fun.

"Good morning, beauties. How are you?" Paris abandoned Seraphina's side just to reappear between Macy and Satin, pulling one arm around each girl's shoulder. They both relaxed at his touch. "What do you say? An early breakfast for us all?"

Paris stood with all the other boys from his district as the escort began her annual humdrum about "justice this" and "fidelity that". The guys around him murmured to each other quietly. There was no anticipation here, no nervousness. Whoever was reaped was to be replaced anyway. By him.

Paris was finally given a break from the swooning girls, but a group of his guy friends had only taken their place. He stood with them muttering about silly little irrelevancies.

Finally the escort announced the District 1 female tribute, and before she even had the chance to take another breath, a voice shouted out from the crowd. Isadora Gallagher. He knew who the girl was before she even took the stage. Selected for this year's Games by the Academy. His new district partner, and absolute favorite person. Paris rolled his eyes.

The escort called the male tribute's name. Paris didn't even hear who it was. It didn't matter anyways. None of it did. The only sound was his commanding voice as the words echoed though the town square. "I volunteer. I volunteer as tribute."

Paris strode to the stage, well aware he looked like the epitome of confidence while doing so.

"What's your name?" The escort asked in her shrilly voice.

He grabbed the microphone from her hand. "My name is Paris D'aramitz."

He sauntered over to take his place besides his new district partner.

Paris grinned out at the rest of his district with that flattering and bright smile of his. He lifted his hand in the air, and flashed the crowd a hand motion: number one. He waved his hand around in the air, for his district and the rest of Panem to see. He locked eyes with the camera in front of him.

"Humble much? I shouldn't have expected anything less from Paris D'aramitz," Isadora whispered through gritted teeth. Her face was still plastered into a smile as she waved to the crowd, and the cameras as well.

"Spare me, Gallagher. Don't pretend to act as if you are oh so deferential," Paris muttered in reply, not bothering to draw his eyes away from the crowd.

"At least I don't have the audacity to walk around as if I'm already Victor. Just how large is your self-esteem?"

"Pretty large," Paris replied. "But do you know what's even bigger than my ego? Meet me in my room tonight on the train and you can find out," he whispered low enough so no microphones could pick up what he said. Then he flashed a devilish smile at Isadora before resuming his soak in the limelight.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" Isadora hissed, keeping her voice low and a smile still unwavering on her face. There were cameras everywhere. Lights everywhere. All eyes lingered on the District 1 tributes that would be competing in this year's games. The tributes that were supposed to bring back the title of Victor. Had been trained to do so.

The escort finished up her speech, congratulating Paris and Isadora while looking silly as ever with a wreath of fruit crowning her orange wig, and her lips painted into the shape of a heart.

"I'm flattered you feel that way," Paris replied, sarcasm oozing from his voice as the peacekeepers ushered the two inside the district's Capitol building.

His voice oozed with sarcasm, but the short, gleaming flash in his eyes revealed otherwise. Good. Paris thought, let them all perceive me as some shallow brute from 1. It will only make the stupefied look on their face more priceless when the discover I am more than what I seem. But by the time they do, it will be too late; as I leap from the shadows and add yet another name to my kill list.

District 1 wanted a Victor? Well that's indeed what they'd get.

Author's Note: Finally, someone other than Verena! Crazy, right? We have begun! Seriously guys, I'm so excited. It is so much fun taking who was submitted and transforming them into characters with dialogue and everything. I will be letting the people whose tributes are selected know through PM. Let me know what you think of the tributes! Who do you like better, Isadora or Paris? Sit down, and buckle in cause this is a long Author's Note...

I will reveal the tributes by District, so here we have it, District 1's tributes:

District 1 Male: Paris D'aramitz, 18 (Oodlestroodle)

District 1 Female: Isadora Emily Gallagher, 17 (xQueen-Of-Applesx)

I am giving each tribute a "title" that they are associated with, their titles will be the chapter names for all the "introducing the tributes" chapters. I thought it was a cool idea. ;)

NOTE: I AM NOT DOING 12 REAPINGS! Every tribute will get a POV before the Games start, but 12 reapings gets really boring, as I'm sure you agree. So I will do chapters like train rides, training days, interviews, all that, but not for each tribute. I'm sure that benefits all of us, as you probably don't want to read 12 reapings and 12 interviews, and I don't want to write 'em.

Also, their are still tribute spots open, don't be shy! Submit a tribute if you have already!

Sponsor System: I don't have everything planned out yet, but I am doing a sponsor system. You can send things to tributes of your choice with points. And ladies and gentlemen, POINT COLLECTING STARTS NOW! Here's how it works:

You get 2 points for reviewing each chapter.

You get 1 point for answering correctly whose title is whose. So for example, this chapter we have The Deceiver and The Sophisticated. If you can correctly match each title with the tribute it belongs to, you get a point! I will reveal the correct answers in the next chapter!

So you could basically get three sponsor points in each chapter through one review!

In the near future I will create a list of all the things you can send to the tributes of your choice and how many points they cost.

Phew! Well, that was a lot. I will have all this sponsor info in my bio too. I hope you enjoyed. :) Until next time! -Kath