Chapter 12:
Capitol
Adonis Sylvester, 18
Six Months Before
"Hey Odyssey, can you give me a hand here?" Adonis looks over at the victor, who in turn looks down at his prosthetic hand for a second, before sighing as he walks over to Adonis. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean like that."
"It's fine," Odyssey answers quietly as he steps over to Adonis as he stands at the end of the archery range. Adonis stands up taller, puffing out his chest and pushing his hair back as the victor standing next to him, even throwing on his best charming smile. "What do you need help with?"
"Can you help me with my positioning?" Adonis asks him, gesturing at his body to bring Odyssey's attention to it. "You have a good form so maybe you can help mine."
"I can try my best," Odyssey says, not sounding too sure about himself. "Alright, show me what you've got."
Adonis does his best to aim his shot with the bow, but purposely aims off center. When the arrow hits the outer ring, Adonis shakes his head, "Fucker, I thought for sure I would get the bullseye."
Odyssey studies him for a moment, making Adonis puff up his chest a bit more. "I think I see what you need to do. Get in position like you're about to fire."
"I'm good at doing that," Adonis jokes as he pulls back his arrow. He turns his head to watch Odyssey as he steps around him, studying him and Adonis makes sure to stick his ass out a bit. "How am I?"
"Elbow up," Odyssey says as he moves Adonis's elbow. "And shoulders back like…this. Now try."
Adonis lets his shoulders slouch again, enjoying when Odyssey immediately steps in again and moves his shoulders back. He lines up the shot and releases the arrow, pulling it down to make sure it still doesn't hit the bullseye.
"That's not too bad," Odyssey tries to encourage him, but Adonis knows it's bad. Odyssey can shoot better than him with a prosthetic hand.
Normally, Adonis would hate performing bad like this – if there's anything about him, it's the fact that he gives a good performance. But he's got to do what's necessary here. Adonis lets out a loud sigh, frowning just a little as he partially turns from Odyssey – just enough so he can still see his face. "I'm never going to get it."
"You don't know that," Odyssey says quickly, giving him an encouraging smile and putting a hand on his shoulder. Adonis looks up at Odyssey's touch, finding his smile quite handsome up close. "Archery takes a lot of time to learn and you just picked it up. You're not going to be an expert overnight. But look, we're nearly out of time for the day so why don't you call it quits and we can pick it back up tomorrow morning."
"You'll help me?" Adonis asks, grinning over at Odyssey. "There's other students so like, I get it if you have to help them, but it would be cool if you could help me out."
"Yeah dude, we'll start tomorrow," Odyssey gives him a pat on the shoulder and an encouraging smile. "If you're really serious about volunteering…well, we're going to make you as prepared as possible."
"Ah, you're the best," Adonis answers, giving Odyssey's shoulder a fist bump. "You'll see this face bright and early tomorrow morning," Adonis says as he starts heading over to the locker room, getting a thumbs up from Odyssey. "I would say you'll get sick of seeing my face, but not sure if that's possible."
"See you tomorrow, Adonis," Odyssey tells him with a wave as he heads over to where Misha stands and Adonis barely holds back a sneer of annoyance when Odyssey takes Misha's hand right away.
It's fine. Odyssey is going to be working with him personally tomorrow. He can have Misha's attention now because it's only a matter of time before all he wants is Adonis.
Adonis has a skip to his step at this thought as he goes to his locker. He can be patient about this. Why would he mess up his chance of them wanting him to volunteer now all because he got a little eager? No, he's not dumb enough to do that and ruin his chance at charming one of the victors before the Games, use them to kickstart his fame.
The grin of satisfaction won't leave Adonis's face as he packs up his supplies and gets ready to leave the training center, knowing he succeeded in getting Odyssey's attention. Perfect. He's not surprised that he did, like come on, just look at him. He knows he has eyes on him when he's training, making sure to show off his arms and wear shorts that are just a tad on the tight side to show off both of his attributes.
Adonis turns at the sound of the locker room door opening, finding his best friend there. "Guess who just got Odyssey to agree to train him personally."
"Ayy," Vulcan answers with a fist bump, both of them laughing at Adonis succeeding. "Just watch out for Misha, don't want him cramping on your style."
"Misha's not a problem, I can take him," Adonis shrugs off the comment as he leans up against the lockers, waiting for Vulcan to finish grabbing his things. "By the time the Games roll around, I'll have Odyssey wrapped around my finger."
"And your dick," Vulcan adds with a snicker as he slams his locker shut. "Maybe you'll get both of them."
Adonis gives a casual shrug at this, but can't fight the smirk on his face as they head out of the locker room. He certainly wouldn't be opposed to that situation happening. Who wouldn't want a threesome with the hottest young victors? "Hey, you said it, not me."
"But you were thinking it," Vulcan retorts and both of them laugh, knowing he's right. "And if not, there's plenty of other dime pieces that will be mentoring this year. Fingers crossed for the hot ones."
"Man I can't wait for the Games," Adonis elbows Vulcan as they head outside, giving a wink over at his friend Tiara, both of them knowing their plans for later tonight. "All those victors around me, just waiting for a good fu- Oh…it's you. Hey there." Adonis cuts himself off as they stop walking, finding Valerio waiting outside for him.
Valerio is grinning up at him, looking so sweet and innocent…and unaware of just what Adonis is going to do. He was going to wait until the weekend to do it, but since Valerio showed up here unexpectedly, well, there's no time like the present. "Hey babe," Valerio greets him, leaning in to give him a kiss and Adonis turns his head, making Valerio kiss his cheek instead. "Is something wrong?"
Adonis gives Vulcan a look and shoos him away, before letting out a big sigh as he turns to face Valerio. "Yeah, something is wrong. This," Adonis gestures between them, "It ain't working out."
Valerio blinks at him a few times and stares at him with confused eyes. "What…are you saying?"
"I'm saying that we're done, over with, the end," Adonis says, giving him an exasperate look at the shock on his face. "Come on, did you really not see this coming? It was never going to work out long term."
"I…" Valerio blinks a few times as his eyes start watering and Adonis grimaces at the upcoming tears. Why do they always have to cry? "I don't understand…"
"Umm…why are you crying? That's so unmanly, cut it out," Adonis tells him, looking around uncomfortably at the people passing them by at staring at them, all because Valerio is crying. "Seriously, stop."
"Why am I crying?" Valerio asks him through his tears and Adonis rolls his eyes at him. "Because you just broke up with me after telling me you love me!"
"Things change and feelings change," Adonis sighs and gives a shrug at Valerio. "I don't know what you want me to say. That's just the way things are and you need to man up and get over it. I have. Now, I need to go, I have plans."
"Y-you're just going to leave me like this?" Valerio asks him, pleading for him to stay. "Adonis, please-"
"Oh stop, Valerio, you sound pathetic," Adonis shakes his head at his former boyfriend. "Just go run home to Mommy Iris and cry to her, you're embarrassing me."
With that, Adonis turns to go catch up to Vulcan, finding Tiara standing with him. He rolls his eyes at his two friends and shakes his head about Valerio. "God, that was unnecessary. Tiara, do you want to change our plans for now?"
"Not a problem with me," Tiara winks at him and Adonis puts his arm around her as he glances back over his shoulder to see Valerio standing there, still crying as he has his phone out as he's surely calling his mother to come get him like the baby that he is.
Adonis needs a good fuck after having to break Valerio's heart like that.
Bezel Dorsey, 18
One Month Before
Nothing Bez was doing was going right and it had them seeing burning red.
How had a day that started so well, full of yellows and warm oranges turn so dark and blue? They'd been so happy at the start, with fresh new bubblegum pink hair up in two buns, nails freshly painted black, and a new painting drying in the corner of their room. Really, the day had been set up for Bez to succeed.
But then they had a test Bez forgot to study for in one class, they got a C- back on a painting in a different class, and then…
Sitting in front of Evelyn, their advisor and favorite professor, and the dean, being told they had until the end of the summer semester to pull up their grades or they would lose their scholarship. It was a black death sentence to their art. Without that scholarship, they'd have no way to pay, no way to make their art, and be forced to go back home.
No fucking way.
Bez walks back to their dorm in a cloudy red haze, their thoughts unable to process what just happened to them. Kicked out…what the fuck? How dare they even threaten them with that! They will not get kicked out of this school. They know their art has been slipping lately and they have been trying. Why should they be punished for experiencing an artist block? How are they supposed to get over it if they kick them out of this school and remove them from the environment?
Bez grabs the painting they were working on last night and takes a long look at it, just searching for imperfections in it. They were up until 2 in the morning drinking and painting, and when they had stepped back, they were happy. But now… "Worthless piece of trash," Bez tells the painting before chucking it across the room towards the pile of abandoned canvases that kept growing by the day, a physical reminder of their failure.
If they don't figure out a way to get over this artist block, they will have to go back to One. And that just simply isn't an option.
"I need…" Bez looks around their room, waving their hand around the air as they study the piles of art supplies, paintings haphazardly tossed aside, canvases painted white to hide their failures. But the problem is, they have no idea what they need. If they knew, they would have fixed this issue by now. A dark gray haze settles over them as they flop down to the ground, picking up a few paint brushes near them and throwing them at the wall with a loud scream. "Fuck me!"
Bez can only sit among the piles of their failure as they hear a quiet knock on their door before it opens. Without glancing over, they know it's their roommate Friday. "Bez?" they ask quietly, peeking their head inside. "Are you alright?"
"Alright?" Bez asks with a single harsh laugh. They throw their hands up in the air, waving around at the piles of art – if someone could even call it art. "If I can't get over this damn block that's make me so…so crimson angry, I'm going to-" they cut themself off as Friday stepped into the room and they saw what they are wearing. "Ew, what is that? That sweater is tacky and hideous." Bez grimaces and shakes their head at their roommate. A shudder runs over them at the navy and maroon color combination. "Ugh, it's awful, I can't even stand looking at you when you're wearing it."
Friday tugs at the bottom of their sweater and looks down at it, clearly upset by Bez's commentary, but they were just helping out their friend. "I thought it looked nice but…I can change if you want."
"Fat chance of that helping, but please, be my guest," Bez gestures to Friday's small section of the room. They let Bez take over their space with their art and never once complained about it. But Bez doesn't need supportive green right now. They need…dark cobalt.
And there's only one person that will give them that.
"I'll be back," Bez tells them over their shoulder as they get up and storm out of their room, into the common area and past their other roommates that quiet at their appearance. Bez sneers at them and their ugly fashion styles, throwing a comment over their shoulder as they step out the door. "Orange really doesn't go well with your hair, Asteria."
They don't wait for a response as they storm down the hallway, their emotions a flurry of dark purple and gray, as they go to the one person here who has made them feel enough of something to make art. They hate the fact that he's also their top rival.
Bez slams their fist against his door, screaming for him without a care for others around them. "Levi, I know you're in there! Open the damn door!"
They don't stop pounding the door until it opens suddenly and their fist hits Levi in the chest, surprising both of them for a moment. Levi glances down at their hand on his chest and his cheeks start to flush, prompting Bev to grab onto the front of his shirt. "You," Bez says, so caught up in the dark cobalt he makes them feel to come up with words.
"What do you want, Bez?" Levi says as he pries their hand off of his shirt. He smooths it out with a sigh before giving them an annoyed look that makes them want to punch it off his face and also kiss him. "I'm busy here and judging by what happened today, you should be too."
"How the hell do you know about that?" Bez asks them, sticking their foot in the door to stop Levi as he tries to shut it in their face. "I need…" they wave their hand around between them, watching his cheeks flush a bit more. Checkmate, buddy. Of course he still wants them and they won't let him forget it. "That passion we had. I know you still feel it. So come on, live a little Levi-boy and have some fun with me so I can make some art."
"And just why would I want to help you?" Levi asks pointedly and gives them a shrug. "If you're gone, there's no one else to compete with me at the top of the class. So best of luck, Bezel. Truly, you need it."
With that, Levi pushes their foot back so he can slam the door. Bez stares in shock at the closed door, their mouth hanging open for a few seconds. They realize other people have peeked out their doors to look at them and they quickly flip off Levi's closed door and give it a good kick. "Well screw you, Levi! Oh wait, I have screwed your tiny dick!"
The dark cobalt of emotions from him swirls with red as they stomp back to their room, not hesitating to tell off anyone that has stuck around in the hallway and is looking at them. They can't help it with the storm of darkness in them as everything is crashing down around them. They slam open their dorm and go past their three roommates without a word, and when they get back into their room, they slam the door shut and lean against it.
Bez lets out a loud scream of frustration before grabbing some of their paintbrushes and their darkest paints with a few vibrant ones, setting their sights on a blank canvas. They have to funnel these emotions into their art. They start painting heavy, harsh strokes, filling the canvas with their darkness.
This wasn't how university was supposed to go for them! They were supposed to be a great artist and finally express all the colors and emotions in them that their parents pushed down. They earned a damn good scholarship, one of a select few to be part of this trial art program from the Districts, and they were going to flourish! And they did. At least for the first few months.
How come now that Bez finally has started to feel happy their art has to suffer? Must they suffer for the art? They've already felt anger, pain and betrayal; lust and heartache. What else is there left to feel? What colors have they yet to experience?
Bez pauses their aggressive painting to stare down at their paint stained hands, covered in callouses that have yet to fade away from years of training. Why can't these hands make art anymore? They feel everything so strongly, surely something must give them inspiration. But they've tried everything… They clench their calloused hands, hiding what the years of training have done to them. The hands that could take a life, cause pain, but they instead have used them for beauty in art.
Why can't they do both?
Cause pain… True loss. What do those things feel like? What colors will they make them feel? Bez doesn't know the answer to that and it burns a hole in their chest to feel it, one they know they will not stop until they figure it out. And they will. They will do anything for their art. Yes, it's a perfect plan. They will get the inspiration that has been lacking in their life and when they come out of it, the university won't dare take away their scholarship, not when they see the art they create.
If Bez can't make art out of happiness, they will make masterpieces out of nightmares.
We have finally reached the Capitol and completed the intros, woo! Very big thanks to Dreamer and Celtic for this pair and also for waiting until the very last intro for your tributes! Been looking forward to these two for a very long time so I'm excited to finally have them up!
I can finally reveal the order behind the intros! Some of you figured it out - it's order of most recent victors for each District. So it's Odyssey (2, 150th), Clark (8, 149th), Pinova (11, 148th), Gwen (1, 145th), Cal (7, 144th), Nerissa (4, 142nd), Pigmy (10, 141st), Galen (5, 139th), Electro (3, 138th), Jarle (6, 131st), and of course Capitol last since they don't have one. And if you're reading Legacy, don't read into that order because I ignored 137 in the order because spoilers and I don't have a victor picked yet lol.
Ah, feels good to be done with the intros and have our full cast of tributes! And now we can get into the fun stuff with the pre-Games - but probably after a few week break. I am aiming to have the reaping recap chapter up in the next week or two (9 out of 12 are done rn) and after that I'll take a little break. Partially to give people time to catch up since I know life is chaotic right now and also because I haven't written that stuff yet and want to give myself some time to write it lol.
RQ #12: Which tribute(s) aside from your own are you most looking forward to seeing more of in the pre-Games?
Alright, hopefully I'll see you in a week or two! Stay safe, keep washing hands and wearing a mask, and hang in there.
