Two: Black Waltz
June 2nd
Chariot Rides
Pluto leant against his chariot waiting for the parade to start. He looked up and down the line of tributes. The pair from Three did not get along at all, both making a decided effort to anyway but at the other. The girl from Six was comforting a small and terrified boy.
"Looking around for potential allies?" Cassia asked.
"Do we have to so soon?"
"Well, this the first time that we get a look at the other tributes."
"We can't get a good look at all of them from here," Pluto said.
"Then we don't go for a walk," Cassia offered.
"No. Not yet. They'll be other opportunities. Like during training," Pluto answered.
"So what do you think of Threes of the Sixes?" Cassia asked,
"The Threes don't seem to the that nice, they clearly don't get along with each other. The Sixes look to be a good choice." Pluto said.
"We can try and talk to them in training tomorrow. If you don't mind me asking why d'you think the Sixes would make could allies."
"I just believe that… Well, the boy looks so scared that would look out for something like that. He can't be older than thirteen and he doesn't deserve any of this. "
The boy from One walked over.
"So are the two volunteers from Five. I had to say expected to better." he taunted.
Pluto tugged on his costume.
"Just ignored them, Pluto, Cassia whispered
"Don't you have anything better than to torment outliers, Tremere?"
"Silence Venture!" she shouted down the line." Chasing a back down the line.
June 2nd
District Five Apartment
Post Parades
The parade had been overwhelming. All those eyes had focused on him, Pluto had done his best to try and look forward and try and pretend that the crowd wasn't there. But looking forward did nothing to drown the deafening sound of the crowd's applause.
"Any potential allies spotted from the Parade tonight?" Cosmo asked,
"It is a bit soon to say but we think the Sixes might be a good choice," Cassia answered,
"One of the Sixes is only 12. Why choose him as an ally?"
"It…ts just that he well should have to face the Games alone," Pluto replied
"But he had his district partner." Cosmo countered
Pluto pulled on and played with his hair.
"That doesn't mean that she shouldn't try and help in what ways we can," Pluto whispered.
"I wasn't opposing you, I just wanted to explore reasons I'll to Rin and Chiana to the morning, we haven;t had a chat for a while I'm sure they'll be thrilled to catch up."
June 4th
Training Day One
Morning
The Training Hall was huge, a sprawling array of range of different stations. The Careers were all focused on the combat stations, shutting off many of the outer tributes from trying them leaving to fare with the survival stations. Most of them would probably focus on one anyway but the line was still drawn and any outliner hoping to scramble together a few combat stations would have to tangle with careers or wait in the hope that they left to try something else. Of course, they would but keeping an eye for that would be a distraction.
"We should go to one of the quieter stations," Pluto said
"We're not going to talk to the Sixes?"
"Not yet… I just don't think we should appear too eager.."
Pluto and Cassia head over to the fire-making station which currently remained unoccupied.
"So when are where going and talk to them," Cassia asked.
"When they move a closer station, rather not cross the Training Hall, it will be making too much of an announcement," Pluto answered.
A short while passed and the Sixes approached Cassia and Pluto. They introduced themselves as Ossovina and Tibor.
"Do we mind if we join you?" Ossovina asked.
"Not at all," Pluto said quietly
"It's so nice that that friendly person here, so that Tibor can spend his birthday around some people," Ossovina said.
"Tibor has his birthday in the Games.?" Pluto asked
"On the 9th of June," Ossovina answered. "He doesn't think he''ll live to see it.
"Pluto has his birthday during the Games as well," Cassia interjected
"Not until the 13th that's nearly a week into the Games, I don't think I'll-" Pluto said
"You can't know that for sure," Ossovina said.
"I'll try and make sure that Tibor lives to see his," Pluto said, in hear whispered tone.
Pluto ultimately knew that he couldn't guarantee such promises, but being kind to others would make them happy and happiness is one of the most important things in the world. In the Games, happiness would be hard to find so you hand to make sure to kindle and grab on it when you could, for it could be the last little bit that you get.
June 4th
Training Day Two
Afternoon
"So do you. Do you think that anyone else would be willing to join us?" Pluto asked
"The boy from Ten and the girl from Eight, have been all alone day and they were yesterday as well perhaps we should go and talk to them," Ossovina answered
"I'm, I'm not sure that about that, maybe they'd rather been alone. " Pluto answered
"We could all go up together," Cassia suggested
"Can we talk to the boy first?" said Tibor
The four of them approached the boy from The, whose name was Rico and offered him to join his alliance.
"Why me?" Rico asked.
"We just don't think that you should be alone.?"
The Games were not a thing that anyone should face alone, for in the company of others small kernels of happiness may be gleaned.
"So are you. Are you going to join us?" Pluto asked.
"Sure. Why not?" Rico answered. "Looking to recruit anyone else?" he added.
"The girl from Eight" answered Ossovina.
"Eight?" Rico said, surprised. "She looks rice the kind of person who wishes to remain alone."
"I don't, don't think that anyone should have to face the Games alone," Pluto countered. "Maybe she is just a bit nervous to talk to anyone.
"It can't hurt to give it a try," said Ossovina
The five of them walked up to talk to the girl from Eight.
"Woah, woah, what made me so popular all of a sudden?" she quipped
Pluto look around and played with a loose thread on his shirt hoping that one of his allies would speak first.
"We just noticed that you were all alone and everyone else-"
"Have you considered that maybe I like being alone?" She interjected
"I don't believe that anyone truly likes being alone." Pluto blurred out.
"Well you haven't met everyone in the world have you." the Eight girl growled
"It's just that everyone else appears to have to talk to you, and we didn't think that we should leave to be completely on your own," Ossovina said.
The girl from Eight considered Ossovina's words for a moment. She gritted her teeth. "Wel I suppose I don't to be the only one alone," she said
"So you'll join us?"
"I suppose"
"What's your name?"
"Crinn."
Pluto found himself unsure of how much he could trust his allies. He ultimately knew that the alliance would break apart as the Games progressed but wasn't that was prepared to fully believe not yet. Despite having been betrayed before by Rueben back in District Five he didn't want to let that cloud his judgment. It was better to see the could in people rather than see enemies around every corner.
June 7th
District Five apartment
Night Before
Pluto could not sleep.
He had slept well all week tonight he found that drifting off even harder than it had been the previous nights. Of course, it would be tonight of all nights when getting the best sleep you can be of great importance, with the Games longer being a shadow looming over the week but something much more imminent. But as precise because the Games were so close that Pluto couldn't sleep
He couldn't shake the thought that his volunteering that just another form running despite all talk that was the first step into stopping doing so.
"Can't sleep either?" Cassia said
Pluto nodded.
"Just on the night, we need it most."
"How did we end up here?" Pluto asked. "Even after a week I still seem so
"So surreal. So horrifying that cannot be real"
"When did we get used to things like this?"
"I don't know"
"We shouldn't be used to stuff like this."
"But we are."
"And that's why cling to all good things." Pluto said, "No matter how matter how little they may be."