2 hours after the televised showing the Reapings:

"I think we have a lot to talk about."

Athos didn't look up from the hologram he was toying with. "We always have a lot to talk about."
"Satisfied with this year's batch?"

"I've seen worse." Athos was finally done fiddling with the hologram. "But I can work with them. And I promise that things will be much more interesting come the arena. Now, where's Iovita?"

"Sir, I'm here!" Iovita burst into the room, bubblegum pink hair flying out from behind her. She was waving a stack of papers. "I got everything you wanted."
"Excellent. But in the future, don't be afraid to send it to me via hologram. More convenient that way."

Iovita's cheeks turned a bright red. "Oops. I mean, of course." She laughed nervously as she turned to Rosalina and did a little curtsy. "Madam President! What a pleasure."
"The pleasure is all mine, dear. Come have a seat. Let's see what you got."

Iovita joined them at the meeting room table, flipping through her notes. "Should I go in district order?"
"Sure." Athos wasn't really paying attention. "Whichever you prefer."

"District order it is! Okay, first up, we have Vivian Shaw. 18 years old. She comes from the more impoverished part of 1; her father is a miner and her mother a schoolteacher. She's been enrolled in the Training Centre for about nine years for now, and reportedly works as a dancer at a strip club in order to help pay for it. That sounds horrible, the poor girl."

In a sense, it was. But if Iovita was expecting sympathy from Rosalina or Athos, she had come to the wrong people. "We don't set the cost of enrollment for Training Centres," Rosalina said quietly. "As a matter of fact, we're technically not allowed to interfere in them."

"Oh. I guess that makes sense. Anyways, the other District 1 tribute is Prism Lazuli, also 18. Non-binary, goes by they/them. They've been enrolled in the Training Centre since the age of 12, around the time they did come out. No incidents or anything serious to report."

There was the sound of shuffling papers as Iovita slid them across the table. "District 2. First up, Arietis Rammestien. Also 18, and has lived at 2's Training Academy since the age of eight and has had no contact with his biological parents since. There were reports of suspected abuse from his parents, but no charges were ever officially pressed. No further reported incidents from the Training Academy."

Next tribute. "Olympia Bronze, 18. Older sister was a tribute in the 97th Games, Horizon's. Remember that?"
"Of course we do," Athos sniffed. He never really considered the outcome of the 97th Games his best work, rather a stain on his otherwise untainted legacy.

"Right. Anyways. Olympia has been more frequently spotted in the Academy but other than that, no further issues or incidents. Now for District 3."

More shuffling of papers. "Victor Perdue, 13, they/he pronouns. Raised from birth by only their father, and their mother has never been in the picture. Part of a Literature Club at their school and likes to talk a lot about…a homestuck?"

"I have no idea what that is," Rosalina said quickly and Athos nodded in agreement. "Probably some kind of pre-Dark Days literature. Please continue."

"Not much else to report on Victor; school grades all look fine. Next up we have Mila Estedon, age 16. School grades look okay, with the exception of the math grade. There was a report of a really loud shouting match in her household a few months ago but nothing really came of it."

"For District 4?" Athos asked.

"First up, Avonlea Headden. 18 years old, another volunteer. Parents have been separated for a few years and she lives with her mother. Had a nasty incident a few months back where she severely dislocated her knee, but it appears to be healed and no further injuries have been reported."

More flipping of paper. "Next up, Cyclone Riel. 18. Did join the Training Centre a little later than most kids in 4 do on average. Good, but was not the original choice for 4's male volunteer, until the first three or so were deemed unsuitable by Victors for whatever reasons."

As Iovita moved to the next tribute, Athos perked up a little. "A volunteer from 5. A Career aspirational or something else?"

"Not sure. 16 year old Loire Lemaire's mother and aunt were both killed in a dam flood four years ago, leaving her, her twin brother, and younger cousin as orphans. Her cousin Sidonie was born blind and deaf, which explained what happened at the Reaping. They've been seen around Aaliyah Anderson's Training Centre though.

"Moving on, next 5 tribute. Ganbaatar Tarkhan. 17 years old. Lives on the outskirts of the district with his parents, and they actually own a few hawks. Have been reported hunting with them, but within the confines of the district. That's not illegal, right?"

"Not our concern, at least." Definitely wasn't a concern for Athos. "Next district."
Rosalina was also inclined to move on. "6 produced some interesting results."
Athos frowned. "I thought you said you were never going to interfere with the Reapings."

"Not with my own agenda, of course. Regardless, what's done has been done. Iovita, if you will."

"Okay. Walker Jeong, 13. Heavily involved in debate club at school. Son of two politicians, both who ran opposing the current Mayor of 6 last election, but failed to win, obviously. And they've both been involved with drug smuggling. So…instead of getting arrested, their son got Reaped? As a warning?"

"I would suppose so," Rosalina muttered as she ignored the glance that Athos sent in her direction. "I think it's important we nip the cartel in the bud before more dirty money gets all over the place and this is one way to do it. Next."

"Naomi Bishop, aged 17. Family comes from a rougher part of 6 and she, her parents, and siblings have all been working in the factories. Older brother overdosed on morphling a few years ago, and it looks like her mother might be following in the same footsteps. Oh, how unfortunate!"

"District 7?" Athos was ready to move on.

"First up, Aisling Trier. 14 years old. Another volunteer, but I don't really have any idea why? Nothing seems to indicate a clear reason. Her family is pretty well off and her parents actually both run paperwork in the Justice Building. No incidents or anything to report, given her subpar school grades. Next tribute though, that one's a doozy."

"Continue," Rosalina said in a curt tone.

"Messier Chitra, 15, he/they. Youngest child of Dabih Chitra, who ran the drug smuggling operations on the borders of 7. Was executed recently, along with most of his co-conspirators and children. Messier was sent to live with their birth mother afterwards. Peacekeepers have been keeping a close eye on them and there were no incidents since the bust."

Satisfied, Rosalina leaned back in her seat. "Good. Don't worry, Athos. That's the last one."
"Another nip in your bud, I suppose?"
"Of course. The cartels should be less of a problem now, with their interdistrict travelling severely restricted."

Athos stared down at the floor, as if his shoes were more interesting than his cousin's face. "Sure. Next tribute?"

"Ascella Fuhari. 15, ey/em pronouns. Father passed away from complications with diabetes when ey were a child. Mother works in one of the textile factories that produces Peacekeeper uniforms, and Ascella has been involved with a few environmental clubs at eir school.

"And the other tribute is Garnet Ashhill. 16 years old. Lives with his mother and sisters, but father has never been in the picture. He dropped out of school a few years back and currently works in the textile factory alongside his family."

Now they were almost done. Iovita took a deep breath and prepared for the next tribute. "Grail Drowen, 18, they/them pronouns. Father passed away ten years ago and left them and their sister living on the streets. Neither of them has much of a formal education. Grail has actually been working in the wheat fields for a while though."

Iovita pushed the papers to the side. "Then we have the youngest of the tributes, Cameron Solidago. Youngest of…woah…ten kids. Actually has a niece too! There's been a few issues regarding his siblings and the Peacekeepers, but none pertaining to Cameron himself. Decent school grades, no trouble, that's about it."

"What about District 10?" Athos asked. "Appalachie. I'm certain I've heard that last name before."

"Yes, Hunter Appalachie, aged 17. Parents were executed a few years ago due to treason and he has been living with his uncle and aunt since. I think they work as butchers and trade their meats with other shops in the district. No further incidents, thankfully."

"And the other tribute?" Athos asked.

"Linh Nguyen, she/they, 14. Their family isn't super well off, but they do come from a bit of money, you know what I mean? Good school grades, no reported incidents, spotted a lot in some of District 10's forests playing with any wildlife living there."

As much as Iovita had clearly enjoyed her little assignment, she was also ready to wrap things up. "From District 11, we have Kerkylas Andros. 16 years old. Comes from one of the wealthier families in 11, one that actually owns a couple of the orchards. Decent school grades, spends a lot of time working out around the district apparently.

"Then there's Cora Buchanan, they/them, aged 15. They're the eldest of six kids and a parent themselves too! Their father was arrested about maybe a year or so ago on charges of domestic abuse. Cora dropped out of school shortly afterwards when they became pregnant."

The last of the papers. "Now for the final district. We have Tati Very, 14. She actually worked in the coal mines; crawling into smaller shafts that the adult miners couldn't fit into. Was caught up in the big explosion last year that killed over twenty people, including Tati's mother. No idea what happened since, but she has not been in school since she was 5 years old."

"And the final tribute?"

"Reggie Baxter, 18. Runs an apothecary in the district. Parents both passed away when he was younger from black lung and his only family is his older sister. Reggie has reportedly no contact with her. There was an issue a while back in which one of his patients passed during surgery, but it doesn't seem the family pressed charges or anything."

Iovita stretched back in her chair. "Whew! And there you have it!"
Athos snapped forward a little, resting his hands on the table. "Excellent work, Iovita. Definitely impressed. Now if you don't mind giving me a bit of room; my cousin and I have some talking to do."

"Of course sir." And then Iovita was off.

Athos turned to Rosalina. "Rosie."
"Athos. You will still have plenty of control and I won't bother you any further. I do like your assistant. Very smart. Has a lot of potential to fill your shoes someday."

"Iovita still has more to learn before I even consider my replacement. I'm still young, you know." Athos tapped her nose again. "Are you in a hurry to force me into retirement?"
"You'll drop dead from overexertion before you retire."

Athos just gave a curt laugh. "Well. That is true. Promise me you'll be staying out of my affairs from now on?"
"I wouldn't dream of doing otherwise."

There was an element of truth to her words.

Okay...Reaping recap? A lot more tedious than expected lol.

Train rides are going to be broken into two chapters, just because it's easier to write and read that way. Expect to see the first part as we check in with Vivian, Arietis, Mila, Avonlea, Loire, Walker, and the respective district partners later this month.

I did not plan the timing so hey, enjoy the Super Bowl if you're going to be watching it! Also the discounted Valentine's Day (or as I like to call it, Pink Halloween) chocolate!

See you all next chapter,

-Vr