Chapter 16:
The Banquet Part Two
Farren Masou, 18, District Six
"He's staring at us again!"
Farren turns his head at the bitter whispering in his ear from his sister and raises an eyebrow in questioning, having no idea who she's talking about. "Who?" he asks, trying to follow her gaze but not finding the person.
"Elias!" Kasada whispers again and grabs his arm, pulling him away from where he was watching poker being played by a group of mentors, escorts, and tributes. He rolls his eyes at Kasada's back as she drags him to the side of the room and away from anyone listening in.
"Maybe we should just say hi," Farren offers as he leans against the wall and crosses his arms, looking over at where Elias stands at the bar with Anastacia, begrudgingly taking a shot from her before setting it down. Elias glances around again and when he looks at them, Farren gives him a small smile and a wave, before Kasada quickly grabs his arm and puts it down.
"Stop that!" Kasada scolds him and he rolls his eyes at her once more. "Don't encourage him to come over to us, he might say something about Grandfather!"
"Don't you think if he was going to say something, he would have by now?" Farren points out to her, turning his head so he can raise an eyebrow at her. "Like seriously, he's had an entire year where he could have exposed us. Why wouldn't he say something when they were arresting his family?"
"Because his family were abusive assholes," Kasada responds, crossing her arms as she glares up at him. "And we treat our fighters well."
"Well, I do, can't say I ever see you taking care of them after fights," Farren jabs his finger into her shoulder and she quickly elbows him back before taking a step away from him. "I'm just sayin' based on my own observations."
"They don't need someone who will coddle them, they need someone tough," she answers him and he can only shrug in response. This is precisely why the fighters like him better and makes him the better choice. She turns her gaze back to Elias who is no longer looking at them and she shakes her head. "Let's not let him expose us before I win and have time to run the fighting pits."
Farren lets out a snort at that and shakes his head as he watches his sister grow more frustrated with him by the second. "Okay Kasada, whatever you say. The pits have always been mine to inherit and it's going to stay that way after I win."
"Yeah and just how do you think you're going to win?" Kasada asks with a scoff. "I haven't seen you actually talking to anyone."
"Same to you little sister," he responds with a shrug. He looks around the room, knowing who he wants to ally with. He had just figured he'd wait until training to show them his skills first, but why not now? "Maybe I'll go talk to the careers."
"You'd really be a dumbass to try that," Kasada huffs at that and puts her hands on her hips, before shaking her head at him, which just makes him want to do it even more out of spite. "I can barely believe you had the balls to volunteer, let alone to get into the career alliance."
"Well I can't let you go beating me, little sister," Farren answers her, reaching over to ruffle her hair and earning a punch to the arm. He grins at her frustration and takes a step back from her, "Let's see who can get allies first. Should be easy for me since I haven't seen you talking to anyone."
"I-I've been assessing my options!" Kasada says quickly, crossing her arms at him and telling him right away that she's overthinking all of it. She can keep doing that while he's gonna get into the career alliance with his charms and good lucks. It won't even be a challenge. "In fact, I have great options lined up – way better than your dumb idea that will get you a knife in your back first night."
"You have so little faith in me," Farren shakes his head at her, getting serious for a moment as he studies her. She really knows so little about the person he's grown up to be in the last few years – and the same can be applied to him. "Maybe someday you'll see what I'm capable of. For now, let me show you how I can get an ally first."
He leaves his sister standing there, sputtering as she tries to form a comeback, as he heads back to the crowd. Farren takes a deep breath and rolls his shoulders to hype himself up for this, before looking around and assessing his best options on who to talk to first. And by that, he means talk to the cutest one first. That would be Bez, but after watching them dance on Juno – which he spent more time watching than he'll admit – he's not too sure they will give him the time of day. But luckily there are three other babes he can talk to.
And he can get a two for one deal right now. Although…maybe he shouldn't talk to Chantelle while she's chatting to Zephyr, all while Mercy is hovering behind her awkwardly. But then again, doesn't hurt to show the Head Gamemaker's boyfriend that he's ready to fight and win this. How about that for initiative over Kasada!
"Hello pretty ladies who could kick my ass!" Farren greets them loudly as he approaches, grinning at them and ready to win his way into the career pack. He looks at Zephyr and gives him a shrug, "And hello Mr. Ondrej, sir."
"Farren Masou," Zephyr says and nods his head, all he's getting in greeting from the victor. But hey, that's gotta be good that he knows his name.
Farren turns his focus to the two careers, offering his hand to them with his best winning smile. "As he said, I'm Farren. And I'm here to say that I should be in your alliance."
Chantelle and Mercy stare at him for a few seconds after that proclamation, before Chantelle lets out a loud laugh at him. "Seriously? What makes you think you can cut it with us?"
"Well I volunteered," Farren starts, trying not to be fazed by the cold look that Chantelle gives him, instead focusing on Mercy's hesitant but welcoming look.
"Everyone did, genius," Chantelle points out to him with a roll of her eyes.
"Ah, yeah, you're right. I forgot that – my bad," Farren chuckles at himself forgetting that detail and watches as the corners of Mercy's lips turn up in a hint of a smile. Aha, if he keeps this up, he's sure to win his way in. "I know how to fight."
"So does everyone else who went to training in the last few months," Chantelle responds coolly and she crosses her arms, not very impressed by him. "How can a few months compare to the years of training I've had? It doesn't even hold a flame to what I've done to be here. So frankly, I'm not very impressed."
"But it's not months, it's years," Farren says before realizing too late he should shut his mouth about that. The only hint that Chantelle gives that she's curious is a slight raise of her eyebrow.
But Mercy steps forward, clearing her throat and bringing their attention to her. "If that's true, we should train together," she says, her cheeks turning a slight hint of pink and Farren grins at her. "You know, see what he can do."
"You should prepare to be amazed by…these guns," Farren says, flexing his arms to show off his muscles to them. Mercy gives a small laugh at him while Chantelle narrows her eyes. "I mean…yeah that sounds like a good plan to me! I can show you my mad skills."
"We'll see. Now come on, Mercy, let's get back to chatting with – damn it!" Chantelle turns her glare to Farren after she realizes Zephyr has slipped away from them and he takes a nervous step back at the fire in her eyes. "Way to go, Six. If you think I would rather be talking to you than the co-Head Gamemaker, you're sorely mistaken."
Chantelle doesn't say anything else to him as she looks around the room, before setting off to the next person she wants to chat with. Mercy lingers for a moment, clearly wanting to follow after Chantelle but she hesitates as she looks up at him. "Hopefully we'll get to train together," she tells him quietly, her cheeks flushing a little.
"Oh we totally will," Farren responds with a grin before she turns and quickly catches up to Chantelle. He totally considers that a success in his book. All he needs is a majority in the pack to want him and he has one so far on his side.
He searches the room, wanting to find Kasada so he can brag to her about his accomplishment, but his grin quickly turns to a frown when he sees her talking to Baylor. He knows his sister well enough to see the annoyance in her eyes at the mostly one-sided conversation from Baylor, but she's still involved enough to strike up a potential alliance. Well shit, he can't let her beat him.
Which means it's time to go for the rest of the career pack and luckily for him – or maybe unluckily since he can't talk to Valletta on her own – she's sitting at a table with Vulcan and Adonis, watching the two chat and occasionally elbow each other or punch the other's arm. Ah…the kind of people who think they're the shit all because they have a dick. Maybe he doesn't want to talk to them… But then again, he has to get into the career pack and he needs their approval.
Decision made, he sets off for the careers, ready to win his spot. As he approaches their table, he catches bits of the story Adonis is telling Vulcan, "And like, who would have thought that two famous porn stars would fall and love and have a family? But here I am."
"Why would people ever want that career?" Vulcan asks, taking a sip of his drink with a raised eyebrow.
"Some people love fame and sex," Adonis answers with a nonchalant shrug and a cocky grin. "Myself included."
"Hmm clearly it's genetic," Vulcan responds sarcastically without missing a beat before noticing Farren standing to the side. He sits up taller and crosses his arms, looking over Farren and studying him. "Can we help you?"
He doesn't understand why Valletta is putting up with this type of conversation, until he notices the way she's staring at them and it all clicks, even if he doesn't understand. He has no idea why she would want to crush on a cocky person like Adonis or Vulcan.
But, they are in the career alliance so looks like Farren will have to put up with them. He slides into one of the open spots and offers his hand in greeting to Vulcan first, not missing the way Adonis's eyes narrow at the hand not being offered to him first. "Farren Masou, District Six, overall badass fighter."
Adonis lets out a scoff at that and Farren looks at him, his smile faltering just a bit. "Woo boy we have a tough guy over here," he says, laughing at his joke at Farren's expense. Vulcan joins in and Valletta lets out a small laugh, clearly trying to fit in with them.
Vulcan leans over the table to look at him closer, not letting any emotion show on his face. "You think you're good enough to be with the careers?"
"Well yeah, I wouldn't be talking to you if I didn't think that," Farren answers with a shrug. He points his thumb over at Adonis, noticing how he crosses his arms to show off his muscles as he tries to challenge Farren. "You're letting the Capitol in so why not me?"
"They know real talent when they see it," Adonis responds before Vulcan gets a chance. "I've been training with Odyssey for the last few months and, well, the Capitol loves him. And they're going to love me too. Why wouldn't they want me as an ally?"
Well…he does have a good point. They've probably guaranteed a bunch of sponsors by just having him there. Which means he really has to get with them. "I can offer more to your alliance: real fighting skills, and not the glossy and honorable stuff they teach at the training centers. I'm talking gritty and bloody fights."
Vulcan seems intrigued by this, but doesn't want to budge yet. Clearly Farren isn't good enough for instant acceptance into the pack like Adonis. But if they give him a chance, he'll show them. "We'll see in training tomorrow," Vulcan finally answers, giving him a look over and assessing him. He crosses his arms as he stares Farren down for a few seconds. "See if you have what it takes to cut it."
"I will definitely do that, you just wait and see!" Farren says cheerfully as he gets up from their table. He offers them his hand again and after a few seconds where neither of them grabs it, he awkwardly pulls it back and scratches the back of his neck. "Right…well, good chatting with you."
Farren leaves the three careers, unsure if that went well or if it was a disaster. He really thought they would take him right away… What is he going to do if he doesn't get in their alliance? It might be too late to find other allies. No, he can't let Kasada win this challenge. He searches for her and when he finds her, still chatting to Baylor, she gives him a smug smile and a subtle thumbs up, letting him know she secured an ally. Farren curses under his breath and decides he will have to talk to Bez and Juno tonight. He has to get at least one ally tonight.
"Don't mind them, they just have sticks up their ass and don't realize that sometimes you just need to be…" the person trails off and Farren looks over at Juno standing behind his shoulder, leaning over to whisper to him with a smirk on his face. When he knows he has Farren's attention, he finishes his statement, "Unconventional."
Farren turns to face him head on with a smile, able to see from Juno's appearance that he fits that bill. "Everything about these Games are unconventional."
"Hmm? Yes, indeed," Juno nods his head before giving a casual smirk as he brushes his hair over his eye. "Clearly you are unconventional too since you're trying to ally with the careers… But you don't want to be with those tributes."
"I don't?" Farren asks, confused on why Juno is so dismissive about his supposed allies. "One of them is your District partner."
"Doesn't mean she isn't painfully traditional," Juno answers with a shrug. "You don't strike me as traditional. So what do you say about having a little chat with Bez and I during training. It's looking like there will be two career packs this year…" He starts taking some steps away from Farren, giving him a wink. "Make sure you join the fun one."
Farren doesn't get a chance to respond before Juno slips into the crowd and quickly disappears from his sight, leaving him to stand there dumbfounded for a few seconds. But he slowly starts grinning when his brain processes everything that just happened and he looks around the room for his sister, ready to brag to her about his success. And she thought he was dumb for trying to ally with the careers.
In your face, Kasada.
Clark Botwright, Victor of the 149th Hunger Games
He knows he promised Stig he wouldn't start any drama tonight at the party…but his boyfriend isn't here to know if he does or not. And who's going to snitch on him? Astrid? No way. She's the one who encouraged him to consider getting his feelings out there so they wouldn't be on his chest anymore. It had started to be easy to not be overwhelmed by the feeling of anger and resentment towards Odyssey every day when he didn't have to see him. But being in the same space as him…the feelings all came back full force.
He tried throwing himself into mentoring to distract himself but that opened a whole different can of worms. If only he could get the feelings about mentoring Rhiannon off his chest… It would have been so much simpler if he just chose to mentor Kazu instead – and Astrid sure did try to get him to. But he had to mentor the girl who so painfully reminds him of his former ally and friend… Not that he was able to do much for her aside from find someone who could do his job better.
He looks across the room, feeling both proud and disappointed at the sight of Rhiannon standing with Letha and two other tributes. Proud that she might be opening up slightly and maybe making allies. But disappointed that he couldn't be the one to help her. Is he ever going to be able to help her or will he just have to depend on Astrid and Iris or other mentors to do his job? For now at least he can just sit back while she talks with Letha and her tribute – as long as they don't go talking to Adonis. If they do, Iris might have an aneurysm for some reason she won't tell them. But even now, he can't let himself fully relax.
Pretty impossible to fight off the impending sense that he's going to be a complete failure at mentoring and the thought that his victory was just a fluke.
"Oh would you stop scowling already?" Astrid asks him, barely even looking up from her hand of cards, which just makes him scowl even more. She puts a card down on the table before looking over at him, concerned look in her eyes. "You going to talk to me about it or what?"
"Not around everyone else," Clark grumbles as he crosses his arms and looks around the table of people. Leave it to Astrid and Kazu to get together a group to play poker with – if Iris hadn't intervened, he's pretty sure they would have convinced Mord and Sloan to bet with actual money. Behind them, Roo and Lucky stand, hovering and looking like two parents trying to keep the other two from getting in trouble – which seems to be a theme, based on the dancing that almost made him puke earlier.
"Well you might as well play some cards with us then," Astrid tells him before letting out a noise of annoyance when Sloan sets down their cards and takes the poker chips in the center of the table. "Oh you little bitch!"
"Suck it," Sloan says with a grin, realizing that Astrid's cursing isn't serious.
But her yelling has drawn a few concerned looks and Clark rolls his eyes when Seraphim sends Zephyr over to check on them. Before he even gets to the table, Astrid waves him off. "We're fine, I just have to teach these scrubs a lesson."
"She's a sore loser," Sloan adds with a laugh, putting their hand over to Mord for a fist bump. Zephyr doesn't look too convinced by this, but after a few seconds of watching them without a fight breaking out, he shakes his head and turns to head back to Seraphim.
Clark shakes his head at them and motions for them to deal him cards in the next round. "Okay I'll show you how it's done."
"Hell yeah little dude!" Mord leans across the table to offer his fist to him and Clark stares at it for a few seconds before hesitantly reaching over and giving him a fist bump. Mord grins at him as he sits back and slaps the back of his hand against Lucky's stomach. "Come on, you two should play with us!"
"Yeah more people for me to take money from," Kazu tells them and Clark isn't completely sure if he's joking or not. If he isn't…well, he can support trying to take some money from some clueless, albeit fun, escorts.
"Why couldn't I have had an escort like you?" Clark asks with a snort as he looks at his cards, before shaking his head at the escort he had. "So many damn puns, it was ridiculous!"
"Not everyone can be cool like Roo," Sloan teases and Roo gently smacks them on the back of the head, before looking embarrassed at his action. "Oh you know I'm just messing with you! You're the coolest of us all."
"Oh stop and just play your cards already," Roo crosses his arms and lets out a huff as he looks around for his team, yet he stays with the group as his cheeks flush a little.
They focus on the game with plenty of jabs and insults getting thrown at each other, and Clark finds himself able to forget for a little while why he is here. Who would have thought telling an escort to suck a dick could be so much fun?
Before Sloan can deal out the next round, Cal comes up to them in a rush and puts his hands down in the middle of the table, leaning over to look closer at them. "Hey, have any of you seen Glen?"
Astrid gives a shrug and doesn't even look around the room. "I haven't moved from here in a while so your guess is good as mine."
Clark looks around, trying to remember if he saw Glen at all earlier, but his focus had been entirely on Rhiannon. He turns back to Cal and gives a shrug, being kinder than usual to him when he sees the genuine concern for his partner in his eyes. "I haven't, sorry."
Cal sighs and shakes his head, looking around the room. "Where did he go now?" he asks quietly.
"Ah don't worry kid, I'm sure he's hiding somewhere with a book," Astrid says with a wave of her hand, focusing on the cards in her other hand intently. "Now if you don't mind, I gotta sweep these fools."
"You're not beating me!" Kazu says defensively, holding his cards closer to his hands. Astrid makes a big show of pretending to peek at his cards and Iris slaps her lightly on the arm, making the mentor laugh loudly as she leans back in her chair.
"Well if you see him, let me know," Cal tells them before heading off, all of them giving him a wave.
Clark watches him leave and frowns as he looks around the room, the happiness he felt from playing the cards slipping away at the bitter reminder of reality. He sighs loudly and Astrid looks over at him, making him shake his head. "Don't start," he warns her.
"What's the matter dude?" Mord asks him, causing Clark to turn and give him a sneer that he completely misses.
"Don't you have things you should be doing as, you know, an escort?" Clark asks Mord, sneering over at the escort getting all up in his business.
Mord mulls this over for a second, pulling his lip ring into his mouth before grinning at Clark and slapping his cards down on the table. "You're absolutely right! Yeah! I'm gonna go find the mentors!"
Mord scrambles away from the table and Sloan shakes their head at his antics, while Kazu swipes up Mord's poker chips before Sloan can. "Hey!"
"Snooze, ya lose," Kazu answers with a simple shrug while Astrid lets out a laugh, looking way too proud of their tribute swindling from the escorts.
"Yo Fonio! PARKOUR!"
They all look over in time to see Mord jump onto Fonio, sending the old man down to the floor with a yell. Astrid spit out her drink all over her cards and the table as she burst out into laughter. Clark watches her in partial disgust, while also finding the sight of Fonio getting knocked to the floor by his escort hilarious. "We got-" Astrid tries to start, laughing too hard as she leans over and slaps her hand a couple times on the table. "Gramps down! I repeat, gramps down!"
"Jesus, get me out of here," Clark mumbles under his breath as Iris stands up, looking a little concerned for Fonio as he tries to get back up.
"Someone call senior living for him," Astrid snorts at her comment and turns back to her soaked cards before sighing. "So much for that, but so worth it."
"I should go check on him, I am studying to be a nurse," Sloan says as they get up from the table and stare over at Roo scrambling over to Mord, a look of longing in their eyes before they get moving.
Clark sighs at the escorts all leaving him alone with Astrid and Kazu. "Now what?" he asks them, tapping his fingers on the table as he looks around the room. That urge to say…something to Odyssey has come back and he doesn't know if he can fight it off.
"Oh just go curse him out already and get it off your chest," Astrid tells him, following his gaze over to Odyssey.
"But I shouldn't," Clark says and Astrid gives him a look of surprise at his maturity. "The mentors of the tributes I killed didn't curse me out after I won…"
"They're also grown adults," Astrid shrugs at him before elbowing his shoulder. "You have the excuse of being a hormonal teenager that can't control his feelings so I say do it."
"Yeah go tell him to fuck himself," Kazu adds, earning a proud look from Astrid. "Screw the careers thinking they are better than us."
Their encouragement is the last push he needed. Not that Clark needed much encouragement in the first place to go do it… "No one snitch to Stig that I did this," Clark warns them, pointing his finger at both of them as he stands up. Astrid holds her hands up defensively and he knows she won't tell. As for Kazu…well, depends on him making it out of the arena… "Here goes nothing."
"Go off on him!" Astrid calls after him as he starts storming away from the table.
He clenches his fists at his sides as he stomps through the crowd, his gaze locked on where Odyssey is dancing with Misha, laughing and having way too much fun for being a damn murderer. Can't he have at least a little bit of the trauma from the Games that Clark feels? Must be nice to be so well adjusted to life after victory. He's just making it so easy for Clark to hate him. "Hey Odyssey," he calls out as he stops near the pair, trying his hardest to keep his voice from wavering.
The pair slows their dancing and Odyssey looks a little nervous about Clark standing there – which he would almost find funny if he hasn't been upset with him after the last year. "Yes…?" Odyssey says tentatively as Misha puts his arm around his shoulders protectively.
Clark narrows his eyes at Misha's action, wishing he had Stig here for support. If he doesn't have a supportive boyfriend for this, then Odyssey doesn't get to have his. He turns his gaze back up to Odyssey, crossing his arms and glaring down the career, hating that he still feels a bit of fear in his stomach when facing down any careers. "We need to talk. Alone."
"Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of me," Misha says before Odyssey can say anything, moving to stand partially in front of his boyfriend. Clark turns his glare at him, really not in the mood for this.
Odyssey sighs and puts his hand on Misha's shoulder, giving him a small smile as he gently pulls him back. "It's okay," he tells Misha and gives his shoulder a squeeze before letting go and turning to Clark. He gestures at him, "Lead the way."
Clark glares at Odyssey's back as the older boy leads them over to the side of the room, away from the crowds of people. A few people they pass give curious looks and Amelia steps towards them, only for Odyssey to shake his head and stop her from intervening. Clark wants to glare at her for trying to step in, but part of him can't do that to her. He might be ready to confront Odyssey but opening up the can of worms that is talking to the sister of someone that died in his Games? He has enough things to deal with.
Odyssey reaches the wall and turns to face Clark, leaning against it and opening his arms. "Go ahead and get it all out. I deserve it."
Clark opens and shuts his mouth a few times, having rehearsed all the things he wanted to tell him. But none of them ever started with Odyssey being so…so willing to let Clark curse him out. And so all rational thoughts just go out the window.
"Fuck you!" Clark says, shoving at Odyssey's chest and letting out a noise of frustration when he barely makes him budge. He keeps slamming his fist against him, expecting him to stop him already, yet he lets him keep going. "You didn't have to kill him like that! He deserved better than you brutally murdering him! You fucking asshole!"
Odyssey finally grabs his fist and gently moves it from his chest and Clark yanks it away from him, rubbing it and hating that he touched him. And hating even more that he was nice and didn't punch him back. "You're right. I regret every day how I killed him and-" he stops to let out a laugh at himself and shakes his head. "Even Major, despite everything he did to me. He was a manipulative asshole, but did he deserve to die that way? No."
"I – what?" Clark asks in disbelief. This wasn't going at all how he had imagined it would go for the last few months. He gets it together and points his finger at him, even poking him in the chest with it. "Yes, I am right. Now your tributes better stay the fuck away from Rhiannon and Kazu or else."
Clark turns and leaves him standing there with his jaw open in shock and storms off, his fists clenched tightly at his sides and nails digging into his palms to stop himself from letting the stupid tears of frustration he feels forming fall. He storms into the bathroom and hesitates for a moment when Glen jumps at the door banging open, before shaking his head and heading into a stall. He takes a few deep breaths, trying to hold it all together. A small part of him feels relief at finally telling Odyssey off after being kept up with nightmares watching him kill Fete for the last year and yet…it's only a small part of him.
He slams his fist against the stall wall and curses to himself, before grabbing a bundle of toilet paper and holding it to his eyes. This wasn't how it was supposed to go…he was supposed to yell at Odyssey and feel so much better about things. Yet it didn't solve all of his issues. And part of him knows he can't just yell at everyone who ever wronged him to fix the fear in him over mentoring and losing another person he cares for. It won't change what he did in the past and the mistakes he made. Fuck…it's only the first day of this and he's already desperately wishing for it to end.
How do some of the victors do this for years and years? He barely knows if he can survive his second year of mentoring…
Riley Roomer, 15, District Three
Everything about this banquet has her feeling sick. The blatant celebration of kids volunteering for their deaths. The false niceties between tributes that wouldn't hesitate to backstab each other. And the food…so much food for them, more than they could possibly eat, all because they volunteered for the Hunger Games. Foods so rich that have made her sick from eating too much of them. But what is she to do? She's never had a meal this nice before and she doesn't remember a time there was this volume of food available to her.
Worst of all is the fact that she is willingly participating in this.
She feels like she's barely holding herself together and all it would take is one small breeze to make her shatter into thousands of pieces with no chance of putting her back together. How is she supposed to process everything that has happened in less than a week?
It's too much for one person to deal with and yet she must. Her family is depending on her. At least she has the small consolation that her family will get money right away. That should prevent them from losing more than her. Because really, what are the odds she makes it out alive with this group? She's not a career or one of the handful of other tributes that spent the last few months preparing for this. Her odds are slim, so very slim, yet she would do it again in a heartbeat to keep her family safe.
Despite that, part of her feels guilty that she's upset about her life getting flipped upside down by this, her future torn away. She had so many grand plans of university and was right on track to get there…but it was all snatched away in an instant. And part of her wonders if she could have done something more, worked harder to get opportunities sooner. If she was older…would her sister have died?
If they had access to even a fraction of this banquet, her family would be set for weeks, if not months. What will they do with the leftovers? Maybe she can ask them to donate it to the Districts and those in need… But who is she trying to kid? She's a scrawny girl from Three. No one is going to listen to her. Which means the only way she can help her family and those like her is by winning…
Oh she's so screwed.
She so desperately needs to be able to just break down and process the past week, but she can't yet. Not with all the people here that could witness her. No one is paying attention to the sad thin girl in the corner now, but she's sure they would if she started sobbing. Which is just unacceptable. She can see the pity in some of their eyes, thinking she's a dead girl walking, or the look of an easy target from the careers. And yes, she knows she's not setting any records with her physicality, but these people don't have the sheer determination to save their family like she does.
Her wallowing in self-pity is interrupted when the music stops for the first time in a while. "Yo I'm gonna take a quick break but I'll be right back!" Riley looks up at Ryam's voice before a few of the mentors and escorts on the dance floor jokingly boo at the thought of the music stopping, but he puts on some tracks to play while he's gone and they soon cheer and get back to dancing. It must be nice to be able to enjoy life right now and not be worried about their family or what seems likely to be their death in a few days. But she soon turns away when he catches her gaze and she curses under her breath at him taking it as an invitation to approach her.
"Hey how's it going?" Ryam asks her with a smile before taking a big swig of water. He sits down next to her and lets out a small sigh as he looks around the room.
"I'm fine," Riley responds quickly, way too quickly to be actually fine, and from the side look he gives her, he knows it. "Really, I'm fine. Did Amelia put it up to you to check on me?"
"Nope," he answers, popping the 'p' and turning to face her. "I wanted to check on you myself since I haven't seen you around with the others."
"Hard to enjoy all this after what happened…" Riley gestures at the space in front of them as she trails off.
Ryam nods his head and gives her a sad smile, not out of pity like half the people here but a genuine smile. "If there's anything I can do, let me know."
"You can just not worry about me and keep having fun," Riley tells him with a sad smile, wishing she could be as carefree as he is right now. Here he is getting to do what he loves and she's here wallowing in self-pity. "At least give District Three some hope of winning."
"Hey there's two great chances of Three winning this year," he answers and gently bumps her shoulder with his. His grin makes her unable to stop a hint of a smile from forming. He's too nice for all of this and that alone should be reason enough for her to stay far away from him. She doesn't need to get to know someone just to lose them. "Are you going to be okay here on your own?"
"I'll be fine," Riley responds, wrapping her arms around herself in a poor attempt to hold herself together. "Just go keep playing music for them and have fun."
Ryam doesn't look like he wants to do that for a few seconds, before finally sighing and standing up. "Again, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," he says, adjusting the headphones around his neck. "You know where to find me."
"Thanks," Riley answers quietly as he leaves her, understanding when someone just needs some time on their own. He's not a bad person and if Riley ever finds herself potentially allying with anyone…well, a District partner is the least likely to backstab her.
But if only others would get the hint that she's sitting in the corner because she doesn't want to be bothered.
"You're too cute to be sitting in the corner by yourself."
Riley's ears burn at the unwanted compliment and she looks up to find Ricky approaching her, cocky grin on his face that's unfortunately directed right at her. This is really not what she wants to deal with right now. Is he that oblivious that she doesn't want anything to do with him? Does she need to have a big sign on her forehead saying 'go away'? Because apparently she does. "I'm sitting here alone for a reason."
"Must be pretty lonely though," Ricky responds and Riley barely holds back a grimace when he sits in the spot that Ryam so recently left. "Come on, it's a party! We're supposed to be having some fun on the Capitol's bill. Don't you want to take advantage of that?"
"I want my sister who died three days ago to be alive!" Riley snaps at him and takes a deep breath, trying to keep herself from bursting into tears of frustration at everything. Why can't people just leave her alone until she dies in that arena?
Ricky blows out his breath and rolls his eyes, making her ball her fists together as she tries not to snap again and make an enemy. "Geez, didn't realize you were all fucked up like that. Siblings are overrated anyways. Only a matter of time until they would have tried to burn your house down or attack your pet."
Riley stands up at that and her chair slams on the ground, yet all she can do is stare down at him with tears threatening to fall. Her nails dig into her palms from how tightly she holds her fist, trying so hard to not let this…this jerk cause her to snap. "She was two! So don't even start to me on siblings. Maybe you have a messed up one by mine are all good!"
Ricky stands up at her outburst and his eyes narrow as he opens his mouth, no doubt to give a snarky response to her. But before he can say anything, someone stops him.
"Ricky, don't you have someone else you can go bother?" Sonya asks, crossing her arms as she approaches them. As much as Riley doesn't want to depend on someone coming to her rescue, she does find herself a bit grateful for it because she doesn't know how much long she can hold it all together.
"Sonya, can't you see I'm busy here?" Ricky sneers back at her while gesturing to Riley, and she finds herself scooting further away from him and barely holding back a look of disgust.
"Yes, busy bothering someone who doesn't want to talk," Sonya says and uncrosses her arms just to flick him in the forehead. "Now go before I drag Ain over here to beat you with his flute."
Ricky swats her hand away and gets up in her face, glaring down at her. "You're a little prick, you know that?"
"Yes, and you're an ass, so go already," Sonya stands her ground and Ricky considers staying there for a few more seconds before ultimately turning and leaving them, but not without flipping them off over his shoulder.
"He's…something," Riley says, trying to break the uncomfortable tension that's settled around her. This is the last thing she needs right now…
"I've found he just needs someone to put him in his place," Sonya shakes her head as she watches Ricky leave them, before turning back to Riley. "Try not to let him bother you too much. He has anger issues," she continues, approaching slowly and studying her. When Riley gives her a confused look, she elaborates, "No, like actually though. Runs in the family."
"That's…great," Riley says, trying to discretely rub at her eyes that feel on the verge of tears. "Sorry you're stuck with him as your District partner."
"I think deep down he's not bad, just has…a fucked up moral code." Sonya gives a shrug at that as she sits down next to her, missing the fact that Riley just wants to be alone right now. "Better than his older brother would have been."
Riley can't imagine worse than him but doesn't care to. She just needs to get somewhere where people will stop bothering her and just let her cry everything out. Because at this point, the tears are inevitable. "I suppose. Thanks. I…gotta go."
Riley scrambles to her feet and quickly leaves Sonya behind, keeping her head down low as she feels her eyes prickling with the tears she's struggled to hold back for the past three days. She bumps into some people and quickly apologizes without looking at them, rushing to get to the bathroom so she can break down without the other tributes all witnessing it.
She throws open the bathroom door and stumbles into a stall, locking it as the tears start falling. She chokes back a sob as she sits down on the closed toilet lid, wrapping her arms tightly around herself and leaning down to put her head on her knees. The pent up tears that she refused to shed in front of her younger siblings come pouring out and she can't hold back the sobs anymore and they rip out of her, painful and burning her lungs. She's tried so hard to stay brave for her siblings…but she's not. She's fucking terrified of what she volunteered for and her death.
She sits there, sobbing out the pain of her life crashing down for who knows how long, until she hears the bathroom door open up and she quickly tries to hold in her sobs.
"Riley?" the person calls out and a small whimper slips out at the sound of Amelia coming in to find her. She hears her feet moving towards her locked door and she starts knocking on it, "Riley? Please, let me in."
"I'm wasting your time," Riley sobs out as Amelia stops knocking on the stall door. She can see from the gap at the bottom the mentor slid to sit down on the floor, leaning against it.
"Don't make me crawl under this door to get to you, because I will," Amelia tells her and Riley can tell from her tone she absolutely means it. "I'm not going to tell you not to cry…I just don't want you to be alone right now."
Riley is stunned into silence when she hears some sniffles coming from Amelia and can't help but wonder why she cares so much about her. But it just brings a wave of hurt to her, that she is missing out on the opportunity to go to university with her in a few years and learn from her. So she slowly gets up and walks to the door. "I'm going to unlock it, so don't fall over," she says, watching Amelia stand up before she opens the door.
Amelia faces her with eyes brimming with tears and when she sees Riley, she immediately pulls her into a hug and just lets her sob against her shoulder for a few minutes and release all the pent up loss of the last week. The loss of Macy, the loss of her future, the impending loss of her life…
"Shh, let it all out," Amelia says, soothingly rubbing her back as she holds her tight. "Don't keep it all in and let it get worse."
"I can't do this," Riley says, stepping out of Amelia's arms and trying to hide her tearstained face. She shakes her head as she steps back into the stall and sits down on the toilet again. "My family needs me the money, yet I know I can't win. And that just opens a whole can of guilt that they're going to lose another child…"
"Hey, you don't know that you can't win," Amelia tells her, stepping out of the stall for a moment before returning with a box of tissues. "There have been plenty of tributes like you who have won."
"We both know I volunteered for my death," Riley says bitterly, using her sleeve to wipe away tears and snot pouring down her face in a never ending stream. She'd been holding it together for so long… "I stupidly volunteered for this, giving up my life, all so they could live. And I hate feeling bitter about giving up my future for them."
"I think you're being so brave," Amelia tells her as she passes her a few more tissues, taking a couple for herself to dab at her eyes. Riley rubs at her face, nose raw and surely red, and Amelia takes her silence to keep going. "You did what I wish I could do for my brother… And I am going to do everything that I damn well can to make sure you are the one making it out of that arena alive."
"Do you really think I can make it out against the tributes out there?" Riley asks her, really not believing that. She's seen her competition all evening and she doesn't come close to them.
"I do," Amelia answers resolutely and gives her an encouraging smile. "Us smart girls have a way of outthinking the competition, so I know you can do it."
Riley starts to smile at that and quickly brushes away fresh tears falling down her cheeks. All she's ever wanted was to do something like Amelia has…and here she is supporting her… "I might need some help…"
"You have a whole team ready to help you."
Calisto Flowers, Gamemaker Intern
Nearly fifteen years later and a whole new identity later, yet he still has managed to get put on babysitting duty for the others. Well, babysitting is hardly the word Mendalius used to describe it. More so…making sure the rebels didn't try to stir up any drama at the banquet.
He's not sure what situation is worse: babysitting them when they were all preteens or now when they can drink. Probably now because at least when they were younger, their families hadn't all imploded and nearly started a war. And Elin was with them and not actively out to get them… Yeah, he'd take the preteen babysitting over this and that's with the knowledge that he was unwanted there.
Khaya, Niek, and Josefine haven't seemed to change that much over the years, while Calisto is a completely different person. And he didn't expect it, but…he feels a pang in his chest from missing out on the years growing up with them. But also, he doesn't miss Vera's bitchy attitude towards him and blaming him for everything.
Why couldn't it be simple? Just let him miss it or not, not this weird mix of longing… Either way, he needs a damn break from it, at least for just five minutes. He can't take any more of their talk about the tributes, always getting back to Baylor and mentions of what Vera did to her parents, worried that their parents were going to try to do something against her. It was all too familiar to what Vera did to him years ago, yet she didn't succeed in killing him.
Clutching his stomach, he excuses himself from the group to head towards the restroom, picking up his pace as he gets closer to it. But of course with his luck, it's not empty right now and inside is one of the few people he has been trying to avoid.
Glen jumps at the door opening, sitting on a couch – seriously, why do rich people need couches in bathrooms?! – nearly throwing his book out of his hands. He clears his throat awkwardly as Calisto lingers by the door, wondering who he'd rather face less: the rebels he grew up with or the man who mentored him years ago. He decides to go for the latter, suspecting Glen won't remember one tribute of his that died years ago. "Why are you reading in the bathroom?"
"Parties aren't exactly my thing," he says, waving his book in the direction of the door and the group Calisto also ran away from. "And Cal can handle the tributes. Much better than I can in this situation…"
"So you're hiding in the bathroom," Calisto states and Glen considers it for a moment, before just shrugging in response. He can't really judge his former mentor since he's doing the same thing – and he finds himself smiling a little bit, realizing Glen really hasn't changed too much in the years since Calisto first met him. "Mind if I join you for some bathroom hiding?" he asks, knowing he probably shouldn't be risking this, but a part of him is filled with some morbid fascination to know if Glen can figure out his secret, consequences be damned.
Glen blinks in surprise at his question and looks around uncomfortably, before shrugging again, "I probably shouldn't say no to Seraphim's new intern."
"Ah yes, if you said no, I'd go tell him that the mean mentor wouldn't let me hide in the bathroom with him," Calisto responds sarcastically as he approaches the couch, getting a small smile from Glen. He sits at the far end of the couch and lets himself fully slouch down, letting out a loud sigh as he stares up at the ceiling. "Socializing is hard," he says aloud, having not realized it before this moment. His years of isolation in the President's Mansion did not prepare him for this day.
"You're so right," Glen answers with a chuckle and Calisto glances over at him, the mentor giving him a small smile before looking back at his book and sighing. "Mentoring is even harder though."
Calisto studies him at this, wondering if the man in front of him still actually cares about the tributes he mentors like he did at 18. "Do you think they can do it?" he asks softly, watching the man tilt his head back and look at the ceiling as he figures out his answer.
"I think that every year," Glen finally answers after a few minutes of silence. He turns to look at Calisto, a sad smile on his face. "And for every year except for Cal, I've been wrong…" he shakes his head as he looks back down at his book. "It always hurts to lose them. And recent years…"
"Do you still remember them all?" Calisto asks, knowing he really shouldn't…but the question slips out anyways.
Glen plays with the page of his book, still staring down at it, but Calisto knows he isn't actually reading right now. "I wish I didn't still remember all of their faces," Glen finally says quietly. He looks over at Calisto, sad smile still on his face but now his eyes are glistening. "Certainly would make life easier. But here I am, hiding in a bathroom because I'm afraid to spend time with our two and care too much."
Calisto turns away first, not knowing if that's the answer he was expecting. It would certainly be easier if Glen had just forgotten about him. And now…well, he feels bad that he's here self-indulging in the conversation. "I'm sorry to hear that…"
"Ah, it's nothing for you to worry about," Glen gives a wave of his hand, clearly trying not to let Calisto see how much it bothers him. "Now what has got you hiding in the bathroom?"
"Oh if only you knew," Calisto gives a short laugh and shakes his head. "We would need a lot more time to unpack decades worth of trauma."
They're interrupted by the door opening and that weird bird man that has been lingering around Kostas enters the room. He tilts his head to the side when he sees them, studying them with narrowed eyes that unsettles Calisto. He moves his parrot from his shoulder to his finger, all while still staring Calisto down. "I've been looking for you."
"Can't a man just hide in the bathroom in peace?" Calisto grumbles and the man tilts his head to the other side, further unsettling him and also setting off a spark of familiarity. It's Calisto's turn to narrow his eyes at him, distrustful of him simply from the fact that he seems close to Theodosius. "Do I know you from somewhere?"
The man laughs loudly at the question, his feathered hair shifting around him. "No, I don't think so," he answers and the parrot lets out a squawk at that, prompting him to shush the bird. "Quiet, Fucker, I don't need your commentary right now."
"I'm sorry, did you just call the bird Fucker?!" Calisto asks in disbelief and the man grins in response. "Who the hell names a bird a swear word like that?" he asks, before pursing his lips at the memory of someone who had done that years ago…and also with a parrot… But that can't be possible. He died in the arena. But then again…Calisto supposedly died too… But wouldn't they have told him if there was another who lived all these years?! "Who are you?"
"My name is Julian Avis, at your service," he answers, giving a big flourish of his arm with sleeves to look like wings, going into a dramatic bow. When he rights himself, he puts Fucker back on his shoulder. "I work with Kostas and Theodosius," he continues on with a casual air, but they both know what that means. And since Calisto has never met this man before…he must be working on something very top secret within the Security Branch. "They asked me to find you immediately."
"Oh goodie," Calisto says, sighing as he stands up. He straightens out his shirt and looks over at Glen, who is busy in his book pretending like he isn't following along the conversation. "Thanks for letting me hide with you in the bathroom for a bit," he tells his former mentor, who nods his head. "And I won't tell Cal where you're hiding."
That earns him a smile from Glen. "I'd appreciate that, unless of course he's actually worried."
Calisto nods in understanding before Julian gestures for him out the door. "After you, Mr. Intern," Julian tells him and Calisto doesn't hold back a sneer at the comment.
"Okay bird boy," he responds and doesn't miss how his smile falters just a little at that. "So what do they need me for?"
"I don't know," Julian answers as he leads him back through the crowd, shushing his parrot when she squawks again. "How many times do I have to tell you not to react when I'm lying?" he asks the bird softly and when he looks over at Calisto, who is watching him with a raised eyebrow, he gives a nervous grin. "Oh nothing to worry about here."
"Yeah, sure," Calisto answers slowly, not at all trusting this man. His whole vibe just screams…unhinged. "So, how long have you been working with them?"
"Hmm, about fifteen years, give or take," Julian answers over his shoulder with a casual shrug.
"Interesting," Calisto remarks, noticing how the bird didn't react to that comment. Unable to hold back the urge to stir the pot, he keeps pressing Julian with questions, feeling like he's on to something. And if he's right…well, Mendalius has some explaining to do. "And what about before then? What did you do?"
Julian doesn't turn back to look at him, but his shoulders tense up as they approach Kostas and Theodosius. When he finally turns to answer Calisto, his eyes are narrowed slightly as if he can see right through his plan. "Worked with birds. I do, in fact, have several degrees in ornithology. But now is not the time nor place for it."
"Calisto, come here," Theodosius waves them over and they walk the rest of the distance in tense silence, potentially two boys who shouldn't even be here. "Julian, you too, unless you have more to question."
"I think you might need me and Fucker," Julian answers as he casually reaches up to scratch the parrot's head.
"I really wish you'd use a different name when we're in public," Kostas tells him, shaking her head at the bird man.
"Can we get to what's going on?" Calisto asks, a bit of bite to his tone from being left out of their knowledge.
"Right, of course," Kostas nods her head, focusing on Calisto right away and getting to business. While she does, Julian leans over to whisper something into Theodosius's ear and from the way they are staring at him, Calisto knows they're gossiping about him. "We have a bit of a problem."
"What kind of problem?" Calisto asks quietly, looking around the room nervously to see if he can figure out what's happening. But to his untrained eye, nothing seems wrong – unless they consider Jory and Emilio's terrible dad dancing something wrong. Or even worse, the fact that they seemed to have dragged Seraphim and Zephyr into it. It truly might be the end of the world, Seraphim and Jory in the same space.
"We don't know where Niek went and his sister is covering up for him," Kostas tells him quietly, staring out at the crowded room.
"Haven't you asked Khaya where he went?" Calisto asks her, ignoring for now the judging look Theodosius is giving him.
"We did and she doesn't know either," Kostas replies, looking upset with herself for that.
"She was telling the truth, Fucker would have known otherwise," Julian says, confirming what Calisto thought he heard him saying. The man looks lovingly at his parrot, clearly proud of the mutt he owns. "She's such a good girl."
"You were supposed to watch them," Theodosius adds in an accusing tone and Calisto rolls his eyes at him. "Not going on trips down memory lane."
"I needed to use the bathroom and he was already in there," Calisto answers, scowling at the much larger man. "Am I not allowed to use the bathroom?"
"That's not the issue," Kostas says quickly before Calisto and Theodosius can truly start bickering. "The problem is that one of the tributes is also missing."
"I'm sorry, what?!" Calisto asks in disbelief, turning his focus completely to Kostas. The Head of Security solemnly nods her head, letting him know just how dire this situation has gotten. "Who?"
"Juno Ladair."
Ohoho things are starting to get emo and spicy! And again, no apologies over the chapter length lol I was having fun XD Probably would have been shorter if I didn't have POVs from Julian and Calisto, but like, how could I not write them? XD
So yes, we have some more interactions going on, potential alliances... And yeah, if you couldn't tell, the careers ain't working together this year XD I do love me some good career drama *chef kiss*
RQ #16: Again I'll just ask, fav moment from this part?
Alrighty, next chapter will wrap up the banquet! Stay tuned for that next Friday!
