"What good is sitting alone in your room?
Come hear the music play
Life is a cabaret, old chum
Come to the cabaret."
Marquis Kennedy, 18, District One Male
Marquis leans back in his chair on the train, one foot thrown up against the edge of his chair, and surveys the other people who he'll be spending his time with for the next week or so. The girl from One was Reaped, and obviously isn't a Career. When she got chosen, tears started streaming down her face and haven't really stopped since. Marquis supposes that the glitz and glamour of the Capitol just isn't her thing.
It's certainly his. He can't get enough of the flamboyantly dressed escort, the bejeweled glasses filled to the brim with sparkling cider, the plush chairs. He takes it all in with open wonder, feeling very glad that his friends convinced him to Volunteer.
"I hear it's like a super fun adventure," his friend in the Academy had told him, "like a really intense and competitive survival camp; but it's gonna be televised this year, which will mean you'd be onscreen for all of Panem to see."
Of course he's taking that chance! Who is Marquis Kennedy if not a performer?
He's always dreamed of being a celebrity, being under the brightest stage lights of Panem, and while this isn't quite the type of show he adores, he's still eager. Everyone back in his District made it seem so irresistible. And he knows they wouldn't lie to him; they're his friends, they're on his side.
Just then, a young man in a fine coat, with eyes that are just shy of golden, walks into the room. "Sorry for my tardiness. Marquis and Delilah, it is wonderful to meet you. My name is Romulus Render, and I've been assigned to mentor you two in these Games."
Marquis's eyes go wide as saucers and he gapes. "Wait. You're Romulus Render? Like, famous Victor and Capitol darling?"
Back in One, this man is practically a legend.
Romulus smiles and nods. "That's me. Are you a Career then, Mr. Kennedy?"
Mr. Kennedy. Marquis grins and nods. He wants to tell Romulus more about his life, what he does when he's not training, but the Victor continues speaking.
"Fabulous. I can definitely see a Victor in you; it looks like you've trained quite well." He indicates Marquis' bulging muscles. "So, what's your token then?"
Marquis notices how Romulus all but ignores the crying girl. He pulls out his makeup compact, presenting it proudly. "I always keep it handy."
Something crosses Romulus' face, skepticism and disappointment perhaps, and Marquis likes him markedly less. Well, you know what they say about never meeting your heroes.
He lets Romulus' cynicism roll off of him though, because life's too short to care about what anyone else thinks. Marquis is happy, and if anyone has a problem with him for just existing and living his life... well, he pities them, because those who spend more time pointing out others' faults must lead very sad lives indeed.
...
Luz Contreras, 15, District Nine Female
When Asa Trevino first crossed Luz's path, he was a broken bird: wounded, vulnerable and skittish. Luz saw this immediately, and she was gentle and methodical as she patched him up, saw to every wound, because she saw how he was poised to take flight at the slightest provocation. Even then, Luz hadn't wanted him to leave. Not before she knew he was okay.
Not to say that she fell for him instantly, because Luz Contreras is logical and practical to her core. Loving Asa was a slow, gradual thing; something that happened little by little.
Now they cling to each other on a train, and everything is out of their control, but they're still holding on. Because that's what they do.
Luz remembers fifteenth birthday, that tear-streaked night when Asa rushed in late, battered and bruised. Her parents had debated in hurried tones while Luz cried and cried while she mended his wounds. She'd begged him not to go back to his father, and he'd been staying with them ever since. Everything was perfect, before today.
She's always dreamed of running the apothecary shop, Asa by her side with his blossoming smile and his eyes full of light. And now she realizes that that dream can never be a reality.
"Are you okay?" Asa's voice is soft.
She shakes her head. She's not going to lie. Before the Reaping, she meticulously sketched out the figures herself, and the odds were miniscule. There was simply no way her and Asa would be chosen.
But Luz has learned the world just doesn't make sense sometimes, no matter how much she wants it to.
"Don't worry," Asa whispers. "Everything will be-" He breaks off quickly before she can tell him not to lie, smiling sadly.
They both know the truth.
A sound splits the quiet, a click of something against the floor, and Asa flinches, gripping her hand tighter. "I think that's our Mentor," says Luz softly, and Asa nods, exhaling.
The door opens to reveal a young woman holding a cane, which she sweeps in front of her as she enters the room. There is something about her presence that is inexplicably comforting, and when she starts speaking, her District Nine drawl is familiar and soothing.
"Asa Trevino and Luz Contreras, right?" she says softly. "My name is Linnet Llamora."
Luz smiles and nods. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Llamora. I believe my mother knew you; Dolores Contreras?"
Something sparks in Linnet's eyes. "Yes! Tell her-" She pauses, realizing her mistake. "You're from a good family, Luz. Your parents helped my mother when she was sick. We are so grateful."
Luz relaxes instantly. "It was no trouble at all. The world is moving too fast to waste your time, and assisting others is the best way to live."
Linnet looks on the verge of tears, but she simply nods. "Yes," she breathes. Then she takes a breath, steadying herself. "Do you and Asa know each other?"
Asa squeezes her hand and smiles, seeming all too eager to speak. "We're in love," says Asa simply, looking to her for approval, and Luz laughs despite herself, but this only seems to make Linnet sadder.
"Dear me..." she murmurs.
"How long will we have before... the Games begin?" says Luz, gears turning within her brain.
"Four days," says Linnet grimly.
"Well. We'll just have to make the most of it," says Asa, and Luz smiles once more.
She just has to trust. She knows Asa like she knows herself, and can read his determined expression like a book. He's planning something, something that will probably include sacrificing himself for her, which is just... unbelievable. After they've gone this far, after she's pulled him from his suffering, he can't just throw it all away.
Which is why she's going to make a plan, as Luz Contreras always does. Her and Asa will stick together. And everything will play out as it plays out. But Luz knows one thing for sure: she will not abandon Asa, her Asa, who knows her deeply and accepts her as she is. She'll work it all out. Somehow.
...
And with that, intros are officially completed! Can you believe it? This chapter, we met Marquis and Luz, and the song for this chapter was "Cabaret" from the musical of the same name. I'm so excited that we're now in pregames! At this point I'd love to hear your thoughts and predictions. Who do you think will ally? Any favorites? Personally for me, all of them are my favorite but I want to know who you're rooting for!
As for Pregames, we're going to have 4 POVs per chapter, and they're gonna be significantly longer. Each Tribute will have two POVs, and we'll also have some Capitol people sprinkled in. Nobody's going to die in the Bloodbath because partial, woo! And just a warning, I may have to move updates to weekly, because I need to figure out everything for Pregames and make sure I have everything all worked out correctly—nobody told me Pregames was so hard to organize?—and since I'll be doing more writing, that'll mean more editing! I think that's all I had to say, other than you all are so cool and awesome, thank you for giving me your very interesting kids that I can make suffer, and I hope you have a fabulous day!
Much Love,
Miri