Alectron "Alec" Dalton, 14

District 3 Male

"Alectron, you know how disappointing this is." My father says across the dinner table, in his usual stern voice.

"What is it this time?" My older brother Chadwick chimes in, as he always has to do. A know-it-all.

"I know what it was." I replied. "I failed my chemistry test and doodled on the teacher's chalkboard."

My father stares at me, and although he doesn't speak I can sense the tension. My mother looks down at her plate of salad, and my sister Neutra looks over at me from her chair two seats away.

"Alec, you just need to work harder. That is why the rest of us are so successful." Neutra says.

It's like a broken record. The same thing my family tells me all the time.

"The Dalton family, we're so smart!"

"Dalton Repairs, everyone in the family is smart enough to work here but you!"

"The black sheep of this family!"

Of course my parents and my older siblings never said any of that stuff out loud, but I know that's what they wish to say. It's pretty obvious. Growing up in a family of geniuses and being the only dyslexic kid comes with consequences. Such as not being allowed to work in the family electronic-repair business, Dalton Repairs, because they see me as dumb.

Maybe my parents love me. In their own way. They never really socialize with me much, so I guess I would never know. We sit in silence for a few moments, and although I expected an argument to happen like usual, it never comes. My family is probably too tired out by work to continue on with this. Maybe they're starting to give up on me.

After dinner, I walk up to my room and pull out my sketchbook. My family might not understand me, but art does. I finish on my latest sketch, a drawing of me, but if I was the smartest man in the world. I look big, tall, strong, and of course, intelligent. The things I always wanted to be, but never could achieve.

I put my headphones in, put my favorite song on, and close my eyes. I dream of being a superhero, flying high above the sky, and watching the world below. If I was a superhero, then everyone would idolize me and listen to me. If I was a superhero, I wouldn't have to worry about getting reaped for the Hunger Games.

Anemone Fletcher, 15

District 4 Female

My grandmother claps after I finish my piece. Our beautiful piano gleams in the sunlight through the window, and I've learned to appreciate this family heirloom throughout the years.

"Sounds beautiful… As always."

"Thank you, gran!"

My grandmother smiles, but starts coughing again. I go to grab her some warm tea and tell her to take her medicine, even though I know it won't help forever.

"Now remember what I told you, dear. Show them what you are capable of."

I nod, and pull out the locket she gave me a few years ago. It holds a picture of a rare toxic flower, but today it holds a bit of rat poison.

My parents died in a boating accident when I was still a toddler, so my grandmother raised me since then. The two of us, we're like two peas in a pod, and she has taught me everything, including numerous ways to use poison, and different toxic herbs to grow. I learned how to use it to keep rodents and insects out of the house, but now it helps me in more useful ways.

My former tutor, Carlotta Vaugn, had recommended me to the academy. And now my grandmother is sick, and despite our wealth, we can't afford to cure the disease. So now, volunteering for the Hunger Games is my last shot, otherwise my grandmother will die.

Today is the private sessions at the academy, where we showcase our skills, and they choose who they recommend to volunteer this year. I already know my chances are slim, being only fifteen, but I hope that my skills with the poison will change their mind on me.

See, most people would probably not see me as a typical volunteer. I'm small, quiet, and have an innocent face, but nothing about me is innocent. I am willing to risk my life for my grandmother. She has given me everything, and I'm not gonna just let her slip away from me. I don't have any other family left.

I keep a straight face, and hope for the best.

Hey everyone! I have only received two submissions so far, but I was excited to get started, so I wrote this! I hope it isn't too short, I'm not a big fan of really long intro chapters, but I had a lot of fun writing these two. Thank you to n3b for Alec and fiona11303 for Anemone! Also, as I've only received two forms so far, to those with tribute reservations this is your reminder to please get your tributes in soon, I want to continue writing ?

Alectron faceclaim: Adan Maverick Carcano

Anemone faceclaim: Sophia Lillis

QNA:

1) Which of these tributes did you like more?