Author's Note
I do not own the Hunger Games.
A big thanks to Goldie for the kind review. Glad you're enjoying the story so far! The chapter and pov lengths will vary, some are longer, some are still short. On the other players, I actually have a list! Not that I expect you guys reading to keep track, it's just for me to keep things consistent.
Radiance Sterling, 17
The Second Quarter Quell. They'd not done a Quell yet. Radiance buzzed with excitement as he waved to the crowd of District Five. Their screaming cheers echoed in his ears.
A moment later, the world flashed dark as the scene changed to the train. He appeared in the dining carriage, alongside the escort and programmed mentors. Etheria stumbled, flailing for balance. Newbie. Radiance caught her elbow to steady her. She blushed pink. "Thanks."
"Whatever," he muttered.
Before them, the escort launched into his programmed speech about bringing honour to themselves and their families. Radiance groaned and wandered away to the buffet table.
"You don't want to listen to what he has to say?" asked Etheria.
Radiance shrugged. "It's always a similar thing. Same with them." He pointed at the mentors. Looked like they'd even chosen Victors from before the Fiftieth, which was admittedly nice detail. But all they did was give help and tips to new players.
"Might be adjusted slightly for the Quell, but I doubt it's exciting enough for me to want to sit through the waffle."
Etheria's expression fell. "Oh."
Radiance sighed. They didn't normally ally with newbies, but given this was a special situation, and they might take a few more allies than they usually did…
"You got any allies?" he asked.
Her eyes glittered with disappointment. "N-No?"
Radiance stuck his hand out. "You want to be allies with me and my siblings?"
Her expression lit up with hope and and surprise. "You mean it?"
"Sure. Luminescence and Iridescence'll probably grab an ally or two of their own as well."
"I'd love that! Thank you so much!"
The female mentor approached them, and Radiance stepped away. Etheria frowned at him.
"Go ahead and talk to her." He shrugged. "I'll find something else to do."
She smiled and sat down to listen to the computerised advice.
Radiance glanced at the grey, computerised scenery outside the window as the train began to move. While the programmers put plenty of detail into the main street and town square of the Districts, little attention was given to the outskirts. The houses were dull, repetitive, square things, their images repeating every minute or so. He shook his head and took a few pieces of food to top up his hunger metre. Never any harm, though it wouldn't benefit him in the here and now.
He turned his attention to the other boy, who had faded red hair and an old fake tattoo on his neck, and approached him with an easy smile. "You want allies?"
The boy grimaced and shook his head. "Entered with my brother, sorry."
Radiance shrugged. "No problem."
The boy nodded and turned his attention to the buffet table. Radiance glanced about to speak to the other girl, but she appeared to have already taken herself off to one of the bedrooms. Never mind. Assuming that Luminescence and Iridescence did manage to grab a few more allies, they should still have a decent sized alliance. He tapped Etheria on the shoulder. "I'll leave you to it here."
She nodded and he left them and walked to the end of the carriage, where he selected his bedroom, labelled as District Five Male One. It was plain, with a nice enough bed and large wardrobe. No point changing clothes, he'd be switched to the parade soon enough and only have to change again. Instead, he flopped down on the bed, resting his hands behind his head, and awaited the scene change.
Marcellina Arnoult, 16
District Twelve was a bit disappointing as a start point. Shouldn't she be in, like, One or something? They had all the pretty costumes – and the cool Victors. Twelve had only had five in ninety six years, they were kinda pathetic. Even the design for their train looked kinda pathetic. But someone had to go into Twelve she supposed, might as well be her. At least it wasn't Calpurnia as well. Maybe she got somewhere better. Like One! That would be cool for her.
No, instead, the other girl assigned to this District was a younger girl called Fee-something with bright, vibrant red hair bound up in a simple ponytail. Hair like that, she should do something stylish with it, but maybe she just wore it like that for the Game. It did look practical.
"I love your hair!" Marcellina said, indicating it.
The other girl made a half-smile and reached up to tug at that ponytail. "Thanks."
"Please settle down, tributes," said their escort, a young woman with a domino mask painted across her face. Marcellina could distantly remember seeing an escort like her in recordings for older Hunger Games, but she couldn't remember her name. It had been before her time. "We will be arriving at the Capitol shortly. If you wish to speak to your mentors for some arena advice, you may. Alternatively, you can view the other competitors in The Game on this screen at the far end of the carriage, fill up your hunger meters from the buffet table, or rest in your bedrooms."
Marcellina turned to the other girl again as soon as she finished. "I want to see the other players. Do you?"
She shrugged. "I guess I can. My siblings say it's pretty boring though."
"Well, I've never seen it, so I want to have a look. Come on!" Marcellina headed over to the screen and switched it on. It beeped happily and loaded an image of the Capitol banner. Unlike in real life, however, no announcer appeared in the bottom left corner. Instead, they only got a computerised voice.
"Reaping Recaps for Session BW187, The Fiftieth Hunger Games, will now begin!"
Marcellina flung herself down on one end of the bench opposite the screen and Phoenix took the other. One of the two boys, tall and lanky with purple hair, wandered over to join them, leaning against the wall. On screen, the banner split in half, revealing what she supposed was the District One town square. The boy snatched a cream puff from the table behind him and flopped down on Phoenix's end of the bench. "Might as well see who else is playing."