Invincible Gaultier, 18

District 1, They/Them

June 7th, 97 ADD

9:15 PM

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Vince sat in front of the vanity in their room, getting ready for the night ahead. They rolled their eyes. "Why wouldn't it be?"

In the mirror, Vince saw Aveline's frown deepen. "The Games are tomorrow."

"And that's exactly why this is a great idea," Vince countered. "Now stop talking or I'll fuck up my eyeliner."

"What if you get hungover?" Aveline asked.

"I'll deal with it."

"Or if none of the other tributes show?"

Vince leaned back from the mirror, admiring their handiwork. Despite Aveline's nonstop talking, they looked hot. It was nice to be able to style themself for the first time in a week. "They will. Rumi and the Twos and Fours will definitely be here, of course, and Mercury's bringing his little friend. A few others said they'd show too. Relax."

Aveline bit her lip. "I've never been to a party before."

"Yeah, I know," Vince snorted. "Look, here's the way things will go. You'll get dressed up, we'll start blasting some music, we'll do a few shots to loosen you up, and things will be fine. Talk to people, make friends, hook up with someone for all I care. It's our last night here, and we're making it count. Got it?"

Aveline hesitated.

Vince decided to shift gears. "Listen. You don't have to go. But it'll be fun, and Bastet will be there."

Aveline's cheeks went red. "What? Why would you say that?"

"Aveline," Vince groaned. "You're not subtle. At all. You've been making moony eyes at her and Tisiphone all week long. And you pushed them into a pool, like, two days ago."

"I have not," Aveline insisted. "And she pushed me."

"You have," Vince said. "I don't know what the fuck is going on with you guys, but kiss and make up already. And a great way to do that is by showing up to a party looking really hot."

Aveline gave them a look. "Is that what you're doing with Rumi?"

"Sure," Vince said.

(They did need to talk to Rumi, actually. They hadn't managed to have a private conversation with them since the whole kissing Mercury thing, and Vince needed to set things straight going into the arena. Especially if Bastet was going to insist on hogging the spotlight with Tisiphone or Aveline or whoever she was fucking now. Ideally, they and Rumi could work out a way for one of them to dramatically save the other's life in the Bloodbath and have enough spare time to hook up afterwards.)

Aveline sighed. "Okay," she mumbled.

"Good!" Vince replied. "The Careers will be here in twenty and then everyone else will show up later. You and I are doing a shot in fifteen minutes. You have until then to get ready."

Aveline bit her lip again.

"What now?"

"I, um… I'm not very good at makeup," she confessed. "Would you be willing to, um…"

Vince stood and pointed at the stool in front of the vanity. "Fine. Come sit."

Aveline brightened and followed instructions, sitting at Vince's vanity. Vince took a moment to examine what she still had on her face from her interview- it wasn't a lot, and it definitely wasn't suited to a party. Vince grabbed some contour and got to work.

"You know," they commented, "you never did tell me the rest of the story about Bastet."

Aveline sighed. "I, um… I trained with Bastet back in Two. We used to be really close, but we got separated last year during some riots."

"I think I heard about those," Vince said.

"They were bad," she admitted. "Violent. And I thought Bas died in one of them, and I thought it was my fault, so I just started running. That's how I got to One."

"I see. Close your eyes for me."

She did. "Bas is upset that I never went back for them," Aveline explained. "So… yeah."

"Sounds intense," Vince said.

"It was, yeah," Aveline said. "What about you and Rumi?"

This caught Vince so off guard that they almost fucked up Aveline's eyeliner. "What about us?"

"I don't know," she said. "I just, um… how's that going?"

"You can open your eyes, but stop talking so I can put lipstick on you," Vince said. Aveline obeyed. "It's fine. I'm not too worried about it. We don't have a crazy history like you two."

Aveline waited until they were done to reply. "But you kissed Mercury, right?"

"I… I did, yeah, but that didn't mean anything."

"Oh. Okay."

Vince went in with some powder and then stepped back. "Okay, all done. Go get dressed and then we're doing shots."

"Thank you," Aveline said, her voice achingly earnest.

Vince refrained from rolling their eyes. "Sure. See you in a minute."

Aveline nodded and left. Vince watched her go, then turned to find something slutty in their Capitol closet to wear.

(If they only had one more night to let loose, Vince was going to make sure it was a night everyone would remember.)

Chevre Kanaf-Kaziol, 16

District 10, She/Her

9:31 PM

As soon as she was done changing, Chevre left her room and headed towards the fifth floor. Before she could reach the elevators, though, she had to pass through the living room, where her Mentor was staring at a computer screen and chewing on her lip.

As Chevre walked by, Mallory looked up. "You're going to the party too?" Mallory asked, seeing her clothes. Chevre had opted for a flowy blue dress she'd found in her closet, mostly because it was both pretty and more comfortable than her interview dress.

"Yes," she answered. "Has Rumi already left?"

"A few minutes ago," Mallory said. She pushed the laptop off her legs and regarded Chevre thoughtfully. "Don't be out too late, okay? It's important that you get some sleep before tomorrow."

"I won't," Chevre said. "I just thought it would be a good idea to go for a little while. It's one last opportunity to learn more about the other tributes, especially the Careers, so most of my alliance is going."

"Got it," Mallory said. "You, um… you haven't mentioned your bone thing to any of them still, right?"

"Right," Chevre replied. "Why?"

Mallory shrugged. "I just wanted to check in," she said. "You've been out a lot, and I know we'll have time to talk tomorrow morning, but… you know."

Chevre did know. "I feel okay," she said. "My allies all agreed on our plan. I trust most of them. I know a lot of the Games relies on luck, which I don't feel great about, but… I feel prepared. As much as I can be, anyway."

Mallory tilted her head. "Which allies do you not trust?"

"Tomo," she said. "I need him to pick a side. I think he means well, but I could see him defecting."

"Anyone else?"

Chevre thought for a moment. "I mean, I don't trust any of them entirely. But for now, things feel… stable. And I'll take that."

Mallory nodded. "Fair enough."

"But I'm not telling them about the Brittle Bone Disease. They don't need to know," she stated.

"I think that makes a lot of sense," Mallory said. "I'm glad I know, because I can keep an eye on it while you're in there. And you're right that people in your alliance could always turn on you." She looked down, the corners of her mouth turning downwards, and Chevre knew she wasn't only thinking of the present situation.

"Sometimes it works out," Chevre said, trying to be gentle. She'd watched Mallory's Games a few years prior, and she had a feeling she knew what Mallory was remembering. "Right?"

"...Sometimes," Mallory echoed. She glanced back up at Chevre. "If your alliance splits, who are you sticking with?"

"It would depend on what was happening, of course, but… probably Jest," she answered. "I allied with him first, and he's the best fighter. Besides, he's a lot less strategic than some of the others."

Mallory furrowed her eyebrows. "That makes him a better ally?"

"It makes him seem more trustworthy, in a way," Chevre said. "Like he's not plotting against me all the time."

(She didn't get the sense that anyone was planning to turn on her from the others- at least, not yet. She planned to keep an eye on Jem, though. And Wisdom. And True.)

"Oh. I see what you mean," Mallory said.

Chevre nodded.

Mallory hesitated. "I know I'm not the most experienced Mentor," she said, "but I just want to remind you that you aren't alone in all this. You can ask me for questions or advice, and I'll do my best to help you. That's what I'm here for."

Chevre nodded again. "I know," she replied. "Everything's just been going so fast. I wanted to make sure I had everything covered."

"Don't worry, I get it," Mallory said. "Just a reminder. Since there's not so much time left."

Chevre exhaled. "Yeah, I know."

"That's all I had. I don't want to keep you unless there's anything you want to talk about."

"Maybe tomorrow," Chevre offered.

"Definitely."

Chevre started to back towards the door. "I won't be gone too long."

Mallory waved her off. "Have fun, okay?"

Chevre smiled. "I'll try."

Then she turned and made for the door, heading down to the fifth floor to meet up with Jest.

(Mallory was right when she said there wasn't much time left, but Chevre was a girl whose entire life was full of risk. She knew how to look out for herself. Nothing would stop her from continuing to do so.)

Jest Valencia, 18

District 5, He/Him

9:39 PM

Jest stared out the window of his room on the fifth floor, dread coiled in the pit of his stomach.

("I told Ma you're going on vacation."

Jest stared at Jiddana with a lump in his throat. His younger sister stared right back, tears still damp on her cheeks and Divvy nestled on her hip.

Jiddana cleared her throat. "So don't make me into a liar. You hear me?"

"Yeah," Jest whispered. "Loud and clear.")

This high up, he could see a bunch of the Capitol. Part of him wanted to pretend that way off in the distance, he could see Five, could see his and Jiddana's apartment.

("When we start school, I'm gonna study hard."

He and Jori were six. Even back then, Jest had been much bigger than his brother, and Jori had to look up to meet Jest's eyes. Jest smiled. "So I can be a doctor, and I'll fix you, Jori. And I'll fix other people like you, too. Then we can do whatever we want, and go wherever we want.")

But Jest wasn't good at pretending. Not anymore.

He glanced down at his forearms. His skin still felt raw, but not as horrible as those first few days. The tattoos themselves bothered him more.

He'd been this person before. He'd tried. Didn't the Capitol know it didn't work?

("You get half now, and half once the gig's done."

Jest nodded and eagerly accepted the envelope, taking a brief moment to count the bills inside. Security work didn't pay well, but it paid, and doctor's appointments needed money. When he was sure it was the right amount, Jest slipped it inside his coat.)

Jest had never been able to save anyone- tattoos or no- let alone himself.

("Let him go!"

Ten-year-old Jest turned to see Jori a few paces behind him. Still, he didn't let go of the other kid's collar. "He hit you, Jori!"

"He's already got a bloody nose!" Jori pleaded. "Stop!"

Jest hesitated. He was only trying to help. Jori didn't have the strength to fight back against the other kids, so Jest did it for him. Jest was the strong one. Strength was the only thing Jest was good at.

"Put him down!" Jori insisted.

Jest scowled and shoved the other kid aside. He turned to Jori, looking for approval, but Jori turned away.)

But that was what the Capitol now wanted him to become again. The Capitol wanted the Jest Valencia that hated himself most. They didn't give a shit about what he had at home, not like the others- all the interviewer wanted to know about was his 9 in training and the ink beneath his skin. They didn't see him and didn't care to try. No, they wanted him to be worse.

("I'm not gonna get better."

"You have to," Jest insisted.

Jori rolled his eyes. By the time they were fifteen, he was bedridden. "I don't have to do shit."

"Don't talk like that."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"I'm not-"

"You were," Jori interrupted. "Now scoot. I told Jiddana I'd help her with her homework.")

And if Jest wanted to keep his promise to Jiddana, he had to play along. Albert had already made it clear to him that the Capitol had a role they wanted him to play, and having a role made it more likely that he'd make it out. He had to be the Jest that couldn't get enough money for Jori's medicine, who couldn't protect Jori, who Jori didn't even like sometimes.

Maybe violence was all Jest Valencia was ever meant to be. He was violence, and Jori was sick, and that would never change.

("How long until Jori gets back?"

Ma looked at him expectantly. Jest's mother was what kind people would describe as "slow." Many were not so kind.

Jest tried to smile, but it came off as more of a grimace. It had been a week. They didn't have enough money for a funeral. They barely had enough for a plot at the graveyard and a small stone. "Not for a while, Ma. He's on vacation, remember?"

"Right," she answered. "Well, he better come back soon."

He didn't. Jori would be on vacation for years to come.)

Jest turned from the window and rummaged through the dresser until he found a hoodie that would cover his arms. He ran a comb through his hair, which was still a bit damp from his shower, before tying it back.

He still had one more night. He could still be himself tonight.

Then, he would do what he needed to do to go home.

(He wasn't able to be the Jest he needed to be to save Jori. He still had a chance to be the Jest he needed to be to make it back to Jiddana.)

(He refused to make Jiddana bury another brother.)

Mendi Navar, 14

District 12, She/Her

9:43 PM

Mendi was already a lump under the covers when she heard a muffled knock on the door.

"Mendi?" a voice called. Definitely Sienna.

Mendi waited, hoping her Mentor would go away, but she wasn't so lucky. "Mendi? Can you unlock the door?"

Mendi groaned and dragged herself out of bed to unlock the door, then resumed burrowing into her covers again.

"Can we talk for a few minutes?" Sienna asked, poking her head in Mendi's room.

Mendi shrugged.

Sienna took this as a yes and stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "How are you doing?"

Mendi shrugged and looked away. She was trying not to think about it.

"Very fair," she replied. She pulled a chair up to Mendi's bedside and sat down. "I'll try to make this quick and let you go to bed. I want to talk to you about your alliance."

Mendi tilted her head.

"Are you sure that you want to stay with them tomorrow?" Sienna asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

"I want to stay with Bryony," Mendi mumbled.

Sienna nodded. "I think that would be good for you. What about the other two?"

Mendi shrugged.

"Okay," Sienna said. "From what I can see, Mendi, I think it would be best for you if you and Tiernan split up."

"What?"

"I'll be honest with you," Sienna said, "I was surprised that you guys ended up in the same alliance in the first place. At first, I thought maybe that would help you get along better. But I don't think it has. I don't think Tiernan is a safe person for you to be around."

Mendi frowned, processing all of this. "He's not safe?"

"No," Sienna answered. "Not for you. I don't think you should trust him."

"Why?"

Sienna hesitated.

"Why?" Mendi repeated.

"Based on some of the things Tiernan has said to me," Sienna said very slowly, "it would not be unreasonable to say that, um… he views you as a threat."

Mendi pulled the covers tighter around her shoulders.

(He was just like everyone else in Twelve. Just like all the others.)

"I also don't think you two get along very well, and you would be better off separated anyway," Sienna said.

Mendi didn't respond.

Sienna sighed. "For what it's worth," she said, "I disagree with Tiernan on a few things. The one thing I do think he's right about is that you have a lot of potential to do well in the arena."

Mendi watched Sienna, waiting for her to continue.

"I think you know how to survive, and how to hide, and you're actually very capable of defending yourself," Sienna told her. She lowered her voice. "And I understand how it feels to be judged by people who don't know what they're talking about."

Mendi's eyes widened.

"Maybe more than you know, but I do," Sienna said. "And you're better off without those people."

Mendi buried her head in the covers.

(It was too much, all too much. Sienna's kind eyes and Tiernan's sly glances that he thought she didn't see and the way he always stopped talking when she walked up. She wasn't stupid- she knew Tiernan had never liked her- but now Sienna was forcing her to really see it, and this was a kindness she was not used to.)

"Mendi," Sienna coaxed, "here's what's going to happen tomorrow, okay?"

Mendi exhaled and lifted her head enough for her eyes to peek out over the top of the covers.

"You're going to find Bryony, and Bryony only, and you're going to run," Sienna said.

She nodded slowly.

"If you see Tiernan, go the other way. If you see a Career, go the other way. If anyone comes towards you with a weapon, you run the other way."

She nodded.

"Unless they're from District Eleven, you get away from them," Sienna told her.

"Okay," Mendi whispered.

"I might say something different tomorrow morning, when the three of us are talking together, but that is what I want you to do," Sienna said. "Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Good." Sienna sat back in her chair. "I know this is a lot, but I do think you could have a real chance, Mendi. No matter what happens in there, I'll be rooting for you. Okay?"

"Okay," Mendi said.

"Do you have any questions for me?" Sienna asked.

Mendi thought about that for a long, silent moment.

Sienna nodded. "In that case, I won't keep you up-"

"What did he say?" Mendi whispered.

Sienna stood. "Tiernan?"

"Yes."

Sienna exhaled. "I don't think that's in your best interest."

Mendi frowned.

"Trust me, okay?" Sienna said. "Your odds are higher the further you are from him."

"Okay," Mendi said reluctantly.

Sienna walked to the door. "Goodnight. I'll see you in the morning. Try to get some sleep."

Mendi nodded. Sienna gave her a small smile and then left, closing the door behind her.

(Leaving Mendi alone in the darkness.)

Bastet Avarne, 18

District 2, She/They

9:46 PM

"Where are you going?"

Bastet stopped at the door. They'd changed into an all-black outfit that showed a fair amount of skin. "Out."

They turned to see their mentor, Diana, standing in the hallway. As per usual, she was frowning.

"Where?"

"Party on the first floor," Bastet deadpanned. "My allies are going."

"Including Tisiphone and Aveline?"

"That's what I just said," Bastet replied. "Why?"

Diana crossed her arms. "You need to tell me what's going on with you and them."

Bastet laughed out loud. "Nothing's going on."

"That's not true. I've spoken to Aurelia and Birch-"

"Everything is fine-"

"-and we still haven't discussed the pool incident-"

"She pushed me. That was the incident."

"Why?" Diana asked.

"Because she's stuck in the past, and I'm not, and she can't get over that," Bastet snapped.

"I know the two of you have a history, but I'm worried that whatever she's stuck on is going to drag you down," Diana said coolly.

"Fine. I'll talk to her."

"As for Tisiphone-"

"There's nothing with Tisiphone. We're just allies."

Diana raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Bastet asked.

"You've been on the fourth floor every night since training started," Diana said.

"So?"

"And now you're going to see her again."

"It's a party, everyone will be there-"

"Including her."

Bastet rolled her eyes. "I can't spend time with my allies?"

"I'm not an idiot, Bastet," Diana told her. "If something's going on between you two, you should tell me."

"Why?"

"Because I'm your Mentor, and hiding information from me only hurts your chances," Diana answered. "I can't help you if I don't know what you're doing."

Bastet stared at Diana. Diana stared back.

(As much as her Mentor consistently got on their nerves, Bastet had no intention of dying anytime soon. It wasn't as though anything Bastet was doing was real.)

Bastet leaned against the doorway and shrugged. "Fine. We've kissed a couple times."

Diana exhaled.

"But it's not like that," Bastet insisted. "Not for me, anyway. And if Tiss wants to think otherwise, that's on her."

"You're leading her on?"

"I'm forming bonds with my allies," Bastet replied. "Look, she's this giant, trained Career who thinks I'm hot. Am I not supposed to use that to my advantage?"

Diana regarded Bastet for a long, silent moment.

"Is the interrogation over?" Bastet asked.

"No," Diana answered.

"What is it now?"

"I don't believe you," Diana said.

Bastet scoffed. "About what?"

"You spend time with her all day every day during training and private sessions. But you've been up there for hours every night, for four nights straight, just to lead her on?"

"Yeah, so?"

"That's overdoing it, don't you think?"

"Isn't this sort of a life-or-death situation?" Bastet shot back.

"Look, Bastet," Diana said, "I know you well enough to know that you don't do anything you don't want to. I'm just pointing out that this doesn't add up."

"You're reaching," Bastet replied. "I don't care about Tiss. Or Aveline. I'm here to win."

"Mmm."

"And you don't fucking know me, by the way," they said.

Diana tilted her head to the left, making her blonde ponytail swish. "You keep calling her Tiss, too."

"Tisiphone's a long name."

"I see."

"I don't get why you're trying to convince me to have feelings for someone," Bastet snapped. "This is the Games. That kind of shit gets people killed."

"I'm not trying to convince you. I wanted to see if you would admit it," Diana replied.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure."

"I'm leaving now."

"Have fun."

Bastet stepped out and slammed the door behind her.

(Who the fuck did Diana think she was? There was nothing more to her alliance with Tisiphone- at least, not for them. Even if Bastet wanted to, they didn't have those kinds of feelings in them anymore. They'd long since rotted away.)

(Bastet only went to the fourth floor to make sure Tisiphone was invested in guarding her back. It didn't hurt that Tisiphone was pretty, but Bastet wasn't an idiot. She just liked spending time up there. There was no Aveline there, no ugly history of grief and jealousy and loss. Neither of them owed each other anything. Bastet could just be present and kiss a pretty girl who knew nothing of their scars. It was just different. And Bastet liked different.)

(So Diana was completely… wrong…)

(...because if there was anyone, it would be Aveline, right?)

(But there wasn't Aveline, because her feelings about Aveline were a jumbled mess that made their head ache to think about. Aveline was the one Bastet could never be and would never have. Aveline had been used against her all their life and Bastet had wanted her anyway, but then she was gone and Bastet thought maybe they could live their own life for once- but then she was back and their history was all too much-)

(-and Tisiphone was a fresh start.)

(Maybe a fresh start was what Bastet had always needed.)

(But still, as she headed towards the stairwell, she knew it didn't matter. Aveline or Tisiphone, Tisiphone or Aveline, one fact remained: both would have to die for Bastet's survival.)

(When it came down to it, Bastet would pick their own life every time.)

Jude Finnegan, 12

District 8, He/They

9:57 PM

Jude stood on a pedestal, trembling violently.

He was in a forest, with a gleaming, silver Cornucopia looming over him. Pedestals circled the Cornucopia. He glanced to their left and saw the boy from Seven licking his lips and grinning. They glanced to the right and there was the tribute from One, their chin held high as they lowered into a lunge.

Jude looked back at the Cornucopia and suddenly time was up, everyone was running- the tributes next to him took off- where was True, where was Jem, he couldn't see them- kids were screaming, but Jude couldn't move- he wanted to run and hide, they wanted to go home, they wanted their dad-

-and then something hit them from behind, and Jude looked down to see a bloodied sword coming out through their stomach, and Jude still couldn't move or scream or do anything at all-

Jude opened their eyes.

It wasn't real. They'd been dreaming again.

He curled up in a ball as his chin wobbled. Jude's dreams got worse when they were having a hard time, but it had never been like this. His hard times had always been related to other kids at school, or his fear that their mom didn't love them anymore, which were awful enough already. The Games was something else entirely.

(The dream wasn't real, but wouldn't it be soon? Wasn't that what they were heading for tomorrow morning? His allies were all smart and tough and had good plans, but they relied on living through tomorrow morning, and Jude wasn't so sure he could do that.)

They pulled the covers over his head, failing to hold back the tears in their eyes. He wanted to go home. He wanted to go somewhere his dreams couldn't find him anymore.

(They'd always been exhausted by what their mind could come up with. He was not prepared for their mind to be right for once.)

"Jude?" someone asked, his voice muffled by the covers.

He recognized the voice. "Dad?"

"You under there, bud?"

Jude slowly pulled the covers back. Sure enough, his dad was sitting on the edge of their bed, looking at him kindly. He had the same black hair and brown skin and wrinkles by his eyes, and he still wore the collared shirt that was part of his work uniform. Jude could see through him to where the dresser sat against the opposite wall.

(Jude knew his dad wasn't real. Rahul Finnegan was not there in the Capitol with them. This was one of his imaginary friends, of which Jude had a collection. Some were real people. Many were not.

But right now, Jude wanted their dad badly enough that they didn't care.)

(Why could only the bad dreams be real? Why couldn't he have his dad, if only for a moment?)

"There you are," their dad smiled.

Jude sniffled. "I don't want to go tomorrow," they whispered.

His dad's smile faded. "I don't want you to go either," he said. "But you remember what we talked about before you left?"

Jude wiped his eyes with shaking fingers. "I- I have to be brave."

"Exactly."

"And stay w-with people I t-trust."

"See? You know what to do," their dad said.

"But- but what if I c-can't?" Jude asked.

His dad rubbed Jude's shoulder. They closed his eyes and pretended he could feel it. "You already have been brave, Jude," he told them.

"I don't feel very b-brave," Jude confessed.

"That doesn't mean you're not," his dad replied. "I actually think you're the bravest kid I know, Jude."

"Really?"

"Absolutely," he answered.

"Will y-you stay with me?" Jude asked.

"I can for tonight," their dad said.

Jude nodded, and his dad got up and walked to the other side of the massive Capitol bed and got under the covers, the way Jude did in his parent's room when they had a bad dream.

"Go to sleep, bud," their dad said.

(Usually, he would say "It'll be better in the morning." Not this time.)

Jude curled up into the smallest ball he possibly could and closed his eyes.

Dad's here with me. He said I was brave. I can be brave.

They repeated it to themself over and over, slowly lulling themself back to sleep.

He slept soundly for the rest of that night.

happy birthday to me :D so close to the end of pregames... we will wrap up the tribute povs next time with aveline, mercury, rumi, tomo, valentina, jem, and last but not least tisiphone! after next chap i'll also throw a bb predictions poll on my profile so be ready for that teehee. then a quick interlude and then it's time... :DDDDDDD

rb