Aveline Averone, 18

District 1, She/Her

June 1st, 97 ADD

1:24 PM


Aveline stared at Aurelia. "...What?"

Aurelia frowned. "Sorry?"

"Repeat that name," Aveline said. "The- the District Two one."

Aurelia's eyes flickered back down to her file. "Bastet Avarne."

Aveline's heart tightened in her chest. "That- that's not p-possible-"

Aurelia pressed her lips together and reached for the television remote. She and Aveline had retreated to the entertainment car, and Aveline turned in her sofa chair to take in the screen as it came to life.

Aurelia didn't even have to change the channel. The Reaping recap skipped from clips of Five to clips of Two as two broadcasters discussed the lineup this year, first showing a boy with long hair and then-

-there she was.

Bas.

(Looking very much alive.)

"It's not possible," Aveline whispered to herself, dumbfounded as she studied the figure on the screen.

Aurelia glanced at her. "Do you know her? Diana wasn't able to tell me much-"

"Yes," Aveline replied. "I know her."

(What an understatement. Aveline Averone knew Bastet Avarne, sure. But they meant so much more than that. Bas was her best friend. Bas was always on her mind, even before she'd thought she killed them. Bas was everything. They were the most important person in her life, and Aveline didn't know how this was possible, but clearly it was.)

It hit her so hard she could barely breathe.

(Bas was alive.)

(Aveline didn't kill her.)

(Bas was alive.)

(Aveline missed her so badly.)

(Bas was alive.)

(Aveline would see them tomorrow.)

(Bas was alive.)

She didn't know when she had started crying, but she brushed a hand to her cheek and found tears.

"Aveline?" Aurelia asked cautiously. "Are you all right?"

"I…" Aveline breathed. "I thought they… I thought they were dead…"

The concern in Aurelia's expression quickly became troubled. "Oh?"

"I thought they were killed back in Two," Aveline said. A small smile fluttered across her lips. "But she wasn't. She survived. Oh my god, she survived." Her smile grew bigger. "Bas is alive."

"Well that's… good…"

"It's the best news ever!" Aveline shouted. The news was still sinking in, and it kept hitting her over and over again. "Bas isn't dead!"

"You'll see her in the Capitol tomorrow," Aurelia said.

"Right," Aveline said. Her eyes widened. "Oh, no…"

Aurelia gave her a careful look.

"I'll see them in the Capitol…" Aveline realized. "Because I left… so the spot was open… and… oh no no no… nonononononono…"

Aurelia pressed her lips together. "I'm sorry, Aveline," she said gently.

Aveline buried her head in her hands.

(She couldn't handle the whiplash. She'd just discovered Bas wasn't dead, only to realize that if she wanted to win, they soon would be.)

(The odds were high that Aveline would soon be watching them die all over again.)

She cried into her hands for a long while. Aurelia brought her water. Eventually, she raised her head again and looked at her Mentor with bleary eyes.

"Bas is alive," she said quietly. "For now, that's all that matters."


Jem Piper, 17

District 9, He/Him

2:29 PM


Jem stared out the window and watched the countryside go by.

(He'd done it. He'd really-)

"Why'd you do it?"

Jem turned and saw his district partner lingering by the door. He'd left his bedroom door open because… he wasn't really sure why. He just knew he preferred it open. The girl at the door looked him up and down with her dark eyes.

Jem shrugged. He tried to grin, but it faded quickly. "You know what they say about desperate times."

"So you weren't like… Volunteering for that kid."

"I didn't know him, no," Jem replied.

Shazia nodded slowly, still taking him in. "Must be pretty desperate."

Jem tilted his head at her, cocking an eyebrow. "More than I'd like to be, sure."

(Jem Piper had seen plenty desperation before. He'd seen it in the orphanage. He'd seen it on the streets. He'd seen it tear people apart from the inside out until he didn't recognize them anymore, and he'd seen it happen more times than he liked to think about.

And Jem had been desperate before. He'd faced his fair share of misfortune, just like everyone else. How many nights had he spent trying to ignore his empty stomach? How many times had he slept without a pillow or blanket, because another kid at the orphanage stole his?

But he'd fought back. Not so much with his fists, but with his words. And he'd never lost himself along the way. Not once. He'd always been Jem. He'd always known himself.)

(Looking back at Shazia, with her dark gaze and her arms crossed, Jem started to wonder how long that would last.)

"But," he said, "it's like what I always told the fellas. You stand up, and seize the day, and after that there's no lookin' back."

Shazia seemed amused by this. "Well, you've definitely done that."

"Thanks."

"What happens next, then?"

"What?"

"You seized the day. What now?"

Jem exhaled and rubbed his jaw. "What's my plan, you mean?"

"Yes."

He shrugged again. "Honestly," he answered, "I always do best with other people. So I'll get workin' on that as soon as I can."

"An alliance."

"Sure, that," he said. "Which would be open to you, by the way."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Glad I made a good first impression," Shazia replied. "I'll think about it."

"Nice," Jem grinned. "I'm hoping for a real solid crew."

Shazia raised an eyebrow. "In the Hunger Games?"

"Sure!" Jem replied. "Already got my eye on a couple from watching the recap."

"Like who?"

Jem winked.

Shazia raised her other eyebrow. "Interesting."

"We'll see how it goes, of course," Jem said. "But I'm hopeful. And the offer stands."

(He had to be hopeful. He had no other choice. He'd assemble an alliance again, just like he'd done for the strike, and then tackle the Games head-on. Then he'd come home and get Sparrow out of jail and they'd be off to Ten together. Never mind the strike didn't go as planned- nothing did. Jem would learn from his mistakes and try again.)

(As he and Shazia talked, he glanced out the window again, watching Panem go by.)

(Yeah. There was really no looking back now.)


Tomo Metellus, 18

District 6, He/Him

2:43 PM


"Please?"

His Mentor sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "What exactly is it you want me to do here?"

"I just-" Tomo hesitated. "I'm afraid my father won't feed my dogs."

"That's terrible," the girl with pink hair gushed. Her voice was slightly too loud.

"So you want… me to feed them…?"

"No, Mr. Myrellis-Verilla-"

"I already told you to call me Esper-"

"-I was just asking if there was a way to check on them. Or to make sure someone is checking on them. Their names are Aster and Lotus, they're very small, and they need to be fed and walked and they'll get lonely if I'm not there after a few days-"

"Hold on," Mr. Myrellis-Verilla interrupted. "Tomo. Listen to what you're saying. You just got Reaped for the Hunger Games, and your first concern is your dogs?"

"Yes."

"That's… okay. I can, uh, call someone later about that."

"Can you do it now?" Tomo asked.

Mr. Myrellis-Verilla gave Tomo a look he couldn't quite read, but after a moment, he pushed his chair back from the table. "I'll go make a call." Then he left through a door that led into the next car.

"I hope your dogs are okay," the pink-haired girl said.

"Me too," Tomo said. "It hasn't been very long, so I'm sure they're fine, but I'll be gone for a very long time and I'm just worried."

"I can't blame you at all." The girl leaned across the table and extended a hand. "I'm Fleur Pettifur, by the way!"

Tomo took her hand and shook it. "Tomo Metellus."

(He glanced at her face. Her eye contact was so intense he looked away after only a few seconds, but a few details did register with him. One was that he'd never seen pink hair in person before. Her voice was very cheery, which did not match the streaks of black mascara down her cheeks. Also, she was very intense.)

When she pulled her hand back, she started drumming her nails on the table faster than Tomo thought possible. "I really was not expecting to be here today," she admitted.

Tomo frowned. "Neither was I. I did the math and everything."

"Well, now we've got something in common!"

"I guess so."

Mr. Myrellis-Verilla returned to the dining car. "Your dogs will be fine," he said to Tomo, sitting back down.

A bit of tension left Tomo's shoulders. "Thank you. I really appreciate it."

"Who did you call?" Fleur asked.

"My brother."

"Oh, that's so cool! I don't have a brother. Tomo, do you have a brother?"

Tomo shifted in his seat. "No."

"Another thing we have in common!"

Mr. Myrellis-Verilla let out a very long sigh. "I do actually want to get to know you both better," he admitted. "It'll help me advise you."

Tomo considered. "Uh… I have two dogs. I live with my father."

His Mentor nodded. "I'm aware."

"I… like school?"

Mr. Myrellis-Verilla nodded again. "Which subjects?"

Tomo hesitated. Thankfully, that was when Fleur opened her mouth to start talking again, and he was let off the hook.

(What else was there to know about Tomo Metellus, anyway?)


Wisdom Garland, 16

District 3, He/Him

3:07 PM


Wisdom was not at all pleased with how his day was going.

First of all, he'd been Reaped. That was not ideal. Wisdom hadn't bothered giving the cameras a reaction- he'd been too busy planning ahead. There was already so much to process and consider, and he intended to be ahead of the curve when it came to the competition.

Then he'd had to endure saying good-bye to his family. Wisdom was not someone who handled crying people well, especially when he needed time to think. His parents were both distraught, and his mother in particular wouldn't stop crying. He hadn't expected his siblings Jada and Tré to be that upset, either. He'd barely had time to say a word to them before being escorted to the train, and soon enough, District Three was in the dust behind him.

Now, he was sitting at a table with three other people. His district partner was a small girl who wouldn't stop silently crying, which he did not enjoy. One of the Mentors- Gianna Tesoro, who'd won a few years ago and was barely older than Wisdom- had tried to get her to speak, but she appeared unwilling or unable. Gigi, as she introduced herself, was a bit high-energy for his taste, but seemed like she would be of use. Their other Mentor, Kellin, was another individual Wisdom thought would be useful, simply by virtue of having proven he could get someone out of the arena alive. This was promising.

So while his day was going poorly, at least it was now improving. Slightly.

"Alright," Kellin said, clasping his hands together. "I know this has been… a lot. If you'd like to go find your rooms and be alone, you're welcome to."

His district partner nodded, teary-eyed.

Gigi stood up. "I'll show you the way!"

As soon as they were gone, Wisdom turned to his Mentor. "That seems like a waste of time."

Kellin raised his eyebrows. "If you'd prefer, the Reapings should be on."

Wisdom nodded. "I'd like to see who I'm up against."

"We can watch it in the entertainment car."

Wisdom followed the man into a room a few cars down, which was filled with a floor-to-ceiling television and ornate furniture. Wisdom settled in as Kellin turned on the screen.

He immediately started noting the threats. As for the Careers, all appeared capable enough, especially the One girl, although it was the strange gleam in both Twos' eyes that captured his attention. The boy from Five looked older than eighteen, and his stocky build made him an immediate target. He also noted both girls from Eight and Nine, the former of which for her anger, and the latter of whom for the way she strode forward with her chin in the air. The Nine boy was interesting, too- Wisdom wondered why he'd Volunteered. As for the Ten tribute, based on the outfit alone, Wisdom wasn't sure he wanted to know what his deal was. Although the Seven boy hadn't Volunteered, Wisdom took one look at him and came to the same conclusion. Everyone else seemed average or small and weak.

Still, to Wisdom's satisfaction, there were plenty of intriguing competitors right off the bat.

(Plenty of pawns Wisdom Garland would no doubt overcome.)


Fleur Pettifur, 17

District 6, She/They

3:25 PM


"But yeah, that's pretty much all there is to know about me!" Fleur chirped.

(She hoped that she sounded more cheerful than she felt.)

She looked back at Esper and Tomo expectantly, waiting for a response, but instead found that Esper was staring at them, eyes wide, and Tomo was fiddling with his fingers.

Finally, Esper spoke. "How is that possible?" he muttered.

"What do you mean?" Fleur asked.

"How are you even here?" he said, gesturing to them. "You're a Capitolite. Your name shouldn't have been in the bowl."

Fleur struggled to remain cheerful. "...Really?"

"From what I know, yes," he replied. "That's… let me get this straight. Your family was spending a year in District Six for business reasons, and then you somehow got Reaped?"

"Pretty much," Fleur answered. She glanced at Tomo, but he was looking at the table, his eyebrows furrowed.

Esper shook his head slightly. "Unbelievable."

Fleur smiled, but she could feel their hands shaking under the table. "Well, it has to be believable, right?" she managed. "I'm here. It… happened."

"I'll be looking into it," Esper reassured her. "For now, though… honestly, Fleur, this is something that could work to your advantage."

"You think?"

"I'll be wanting a list of everyone you know in the Capitol so we can leverage them for sponsorships," he told them. "Everyone. If you play it right- which I'll help you do- we can get the Capitol audience invested in you. But we'll have to be careful."

Fleur swallowed. "Not everyone in the Capitol will be rooting for me," she said slowly.

Esper gave her a look. "...Why?"

"Um." Fleur decided to go with Tomo's strategy and stare at the table.

From the corner of their eye, she saw Esper wave a hand. "We can talk about it later."

She looked back up as a glint of gold on his finger caught their eye. "Ooh! Is that your engagement ring?"

"Yes."

"I remember seeing pictures of it on TV," Fleur said. She smiled, trying to return to the friendly conversation from before. "My friends and I had a watch party for your wedding! It was so fun."

"A watch party?" Esper repeated, the confusion on his face shifting to something else. Suddenly, Fleur wasn't sure that was the right thing to say.

"Yeah! Lots of people did it. Honestly, I thought your wedding was the prettiest of the Victor weddings. But I also just like the Victor weddings because…" Fleur shifted in her seat. "I like happy endings. The Games are mostly the opposite. So the watch party for your wedding was much better than the Games watch parties. Everyone was happy."

Esper nodded slowly. "I see."

"And there were way more sparkles than the Games usually have."

"Sparkles are messy," Tomo muttered.

Fleur gasped. "Oh my god! Tomo, you did not just say that."

"I don't mean to offend you," Tomo replied.

"It's okay! I can change your mind about sparkles."

"Please don't."

Esper smirked. "Go easy on him, Fleur."

Fleur shrugged mischievously. "Don't worry, Tomo! I'll show you!"

Tomo shook his head. "Oh, dear," he mumbled. "Oh dear…"


Valentina Gammon, 16

District 7, She/Her

6:28 PM


Valentina eyed her district partner dubiously as he extended his hand.

"We met earlier, but I'd like to introduce myself properly. I am Aescelin," he said, his voice quieter than she would've expected. Not wanting to be rude, she shook his hand. He had rough calluses on his palms, and when she pulled her hand back, there were a few splotches of dirt on it.

"Valentina," she said with a dignified nod.

(As far as she was concerned, they were already competing. Valentina had spent her life in competition- for barbeque ribbons, for respect, for admiration- and this was no different.)

(Of course, the stakes were much higher. But at the end of the day, a competition was a competition. That was where Tina thrived. All of her competitions had, at the end of the day, been preparing her for this. She would not let that experience go to waste.)

(She would not let herself place second again.)

"Tell me, Valentina," he said, leaning in slightly, "have you ever given thought to… the supernatural?"

Tina snorted. "Excuse me?" She turned over her shoulder and glanced at the door, wondering where their Mentor, Acadia, was. She'd told them to meet in the dining car for dinner at this time.

"The supernatural," Aescelin repeated, undaunted. "Very well. I was simply curious."

Tina gave him a look. "Do you?"

"Yes." He paused. "If not the supernatural… what do you believe in, Valentina?"

"Myself," she said without hesitation.

He raised an eyebrow. "Interesting."

She tilted her head. "There's no one I trust more," she remarked. "At the end of the day, no willy-nilly ghost or spirit or whatever is going to get shit done for me. I am."

"I respect that," Aescelin answered.

"Good." Feeling more at ease, somehow, she glanced out the window and sighed heavily.

Aescelin took her cue. "What is it?"

She wrinkled her nose. "I don't want to be here."

"Ah. Admittedly, neither do I."

"At least you're not one of those freaks who Volunteered," she said.

It was his turn to look disdainful. "I value my own life too much to throw it away like that."

"Exactly!"

"No, I prefer Seven's forests much more than… this," he said, gesturing to the fancy dishes and cutlery laid before them on the table.

"That's not a surprise," Valentina noted.

"Oh?"

"You're covered in dirt," she told him.

He tilted his head. "It brings me closer to the Spirit of the Forest."

"I… okay. Still, though. Of course the guy who covers himself in dirt doesn't love fancy things," she observed.

(Valentina personally did enjoy the fancy parts of this whole ordeal so far. It reminded her of simpler times, before her parents lost their fortune to a scammer and sent the family into poverty. This was fancier than she remembered… but in a way, nostalgic.)

"That is fair," Aescelin replied.

That was when Acadia finally arrived, and then the Avoxes came and served dinner. The entire affair was silent. But every once in a while, Tina would study Aescelin again, intrigued.

(He was a strange, dirty boy. But Valentina suspected there was more to him than that.)

(Perhaps she was interested in finding out more.)


haha back at it again! i adore train rides so i had way too much fun writing these. lfg! we'll do another round on the train before we hit parades, and then we'll be done with round one of pg povs! hype!

okay bye

rb