*peeks out from dark corner* Yay, you're still here (if anyone even sees this naturally), thanks a lot! Virtual cookies anyone?
This chapter, le sigh, it might not be that good. I'll probably come back and edit this some time later, and I don't always approve of all the OCs inserted (in similar format to the Brutal series) in here, but I promise they're all for plot purposes. And by now you're all getting really tired of my stupid rant so *gestures toward my thing* here's Ch3.
Chiara Wang, 18, D6
Chiara stared at the plush cushion in front of her, fingers distractedly plucking at the fancy lace trimmings on the sofa's covering-thing. The fabric felt high-quality, sliding easily through her fingers like water. It could fetch a really good price on the market, assuming she got out of here alive. Which was a pretty big if at the moment.
She sighed, leaning back in the soft seat. She wasn't going to give up, but at this stage things seemed hopeless...She was cheerful most of the time, but the shock of getting Reap was gradually wearing off, leaving terror, sadness, and anger behind. She was going into the Games with a one-in-twenty-four chance of seeing everyone and living her life again. She might never yell at Kori for peeking into the kitchen before the meal was ready, or roll out dough for dumplings, or snap at her siblings for eating the fillings instead of stuffing them into skins like they were supposed to-
Riiiiiiip. Chiara winced as her fingers tore through the lace. She hoped she didn't just mess up and tank her chances by destroying Capitol property. Deciding not to risk causing further damage, Chiara sat forward, hands on her knees as she watched the door, any second now...
"Aniki!" A blur flung itself through the door, tackling Chiara in a tearful hug.
Kori looked up, her eyes filling with tears, "Please don't goooo, Anikiii!" She wailed, tightening her hug. Chiara patted her little sister on the head reassuringly, even though she was mentally screaming inside at the prospect of going into the Games. She was the eldest, and so was responsible for everyone, there was no way she was letting her little sister cry.
"There, there, aru." Chiara said comfortingly, "It's all going to be okay, aru. I'll come back in no time and we'll make dumplings."
"With kimchi?" Kori asked hopefully. Chiara smiled, relieved Kori felt better. Sure, the two had some conflicts, clashing over who created dumplings and Hello Kitty. Yes, Kori sometimes did weird things, like shouting 'da-ze' randomly and claiming other people's vital regions, and yes, she did have an unhealthy obsession with kimchi, but she was still her little sister, and she'll be damned if she let her family cry due to her. She'd raised and taken care of every single one of them, feeding and caring for them. Kori and Mei had grown from toddlers to teenagers under her care, and she'd rather destroy everything cute in the entire world than let them come to harm.
Lifting her eyes up from Kori, Chiara saw her other three siblings standing around her, waiting for the two to finish. Mei was openly crying, tears streaming down her face as she tried to muster up words. In the end, she gave up and simply flung herself at Chiara, crying onto her shoulder as she hugged her older sister tight, not wanting to ever let go.
"I'm...Don't go...Please...Big sister...!" Mei said between sobs as Chiara stroked her hair, doing her best to keep her sibling calm. Normally, Mei always liked Nihon better and tended to ignore Chiara's efforts in getting her to call her big sister, but seeing as they might never see each other again...
"Hey Chiara-onee..." Satisfied Mei was going to be fine, Chiara turned her attention to the more stoic members of her family. To her surprise, Kong's normally blank eyes were red rimmed from crying. The normally rebellious boy didn't even protest as Chiara reached out, pulling him into the group hug.
Turning to the last member of her family, Chiara watched as Nihon's neutral mask slipped away as tears rolled down his face. The boy had always prided himself on being able to control his emotions, but now he was crying freely, for everyone to see. Usually, the two always had a small pseudo-rivalry going on, but that wasn't important now. Chiara gave him a small smile, and wordlessly, the smaller male stepped into the huddle, resting his arm around her shoulder.
She didn't know how long they stayed that way, pressed together for reassurance as they cried, some with loud racking sobs while silent tears slid down the faces of others. Finally, Nihon broke the hug, stepping out and wiping away his tears. Kong followed suit, as did the others, until they stood in a solemn line in front of her, Kori and Mei holding in their sniffles.
Unexpectedly, Nihon spoke first, "I believe you can do this, Chiara-onee." The tears melted away until his eyes became steely and serious, "You have the Wushu you taught us to help you." Chiara sighed at the memory of her attempt to get Kori to aim her kicks. She'd barely survived the experience after Kori decided to try a round house kick and her shin took weeks to recover.
"A-and you know how to survive, aniki!" Kori stuttered out, "After all, you took care of us all, and now, you have to survive and come back to us!"
"Yo, teach, you can do this, kay? So go into the Games, kick ass, then come back." Chiara actually let out a disbelieving laugh at this, while the others turned to stare at Kong, wide-eyed. Those were more words than they'd heard him string together, ever, period. At their stares, Kong rolled his eyes and stared back down at the floor, ignoring the four.
"Seriously, Kong? That's the most words I've heard from you!" Kori exclaimed, grinning through tears as she teased her older sibling. For once, instead of simply flipping her off, Kong looked up, smirked, and the two actually started some back-and-forth bantering.
"Da-ze, you're actually talking!"
"Shut up."
"Wow, two more words."
This time Kong did flip her off, but Kori persisted, attempting to get Kong to form another sentence through ceaseless teasing while Mei, Nihon, and Chiara watched in silent amusement at the two's little display.
Nihon was back to business though, face impassive once again, "Chiara-onee, try to find a strong alliance, your district partner is good since he volunteered and the whole district bond thing will help keep you alive." He lectured as Mei did her best to break up Kori and Kong's argument-y thing. "Try to expand the alliance by one as three people alliances have the highest statistical probability of winning. Always be on guard for hints of betrayal, you'll be able to sense it in the mood." Chiara rolled her eyes at that. Nihon always talked about being able to read the mood and act accordingly, but the ability had decided not to manifest in anyone else in the group. "Only display the full extent of your talents in front of the Gamemakers, but not too much in case the score gets you noticed by the careers-"
"Yes, I know, aru. I'm far older than you and have much more experience, and I have watched the Games before." Despite the dire situation, Chiara felt a small smile creeping up her face at her siblings' attempts to comfort her in their own ways, "I'll be fine, aru. Don't worry about me."
"You have one more minute" The Peacekeeper said before gently closing the door. Chiara tensed at the reminder of her short time, just sixty seconds until she won't see them, likely forever.
Squashing the thought into the dark recesses of her mind, Chiara put on a smile. She didn't want the last memory they had of her to be sad. She wanted their last memories together to be cheerful and caring, like dumpling night, or that kimchi fight they had long ago, though the 'care' in that one could be debated seeing as they'd smelled weird for weeks.
The others also wore smiles, wiping away their tears as they hugged one last time. When they pulled away, the Peacekeepers were there, ready to escort them away. Right before they were dragged off, Kori turned to her, a serious expression on her face.
"Dumplings are nearly as good as kimchi, even though it didn't originate from Korea, aniki."
Then the door swung shut as she was separated from her family. Chiara smiled sadly as she sank back into the couch, waiting for the Peacekeepers to return and drag her off to the train ride.
At least she got a happy memory to go out on.
I'll miss you all, aru.
And I'll make it through for you all.
Aero Munroe, 16, D6
Aero grinned as he kicked back on the couch, propping his feet up as he relaxed. The plan had worked! He'd trained as part of the gang, and he'd volunteered for the Games. When he won, they'd have financial backing for all their endeavors, and soon they'll be the head honchos in District Six.
The door banged as the rest of the gang charged in, wrapping him in a celebratory group hug as the Peacekeeper looked on disapprovingly before closing the door. Aero flipped him off as the others laughed, congratulating him on his feat.
"Dude, you actually got through it!" Oto clapped him on the shoulder, grinning, "Knew you'd be able to do it!"
Aero smirked right back, "Well, duh, O. I'm me, aren't I?" He flexed his biceps, making the tattoos dance as the others cheered.
"Of course you are, and we completely believe in you." Suvy batted her eyes, glancing up at him coyly. Today, the silver dress she wore fitted like a glove, further accentuating her normal curvaceousness. The drooping neckline gave just enough of a glimpse to tantalize, and sure enough a few of the boys were already practically salivating. "After you come back, I'll be free at ten."
Aero grinned back, "I'll leave that in mind, beautiful." The proposal sent a thrill down his spine. Suvy was the gang's collective eye candy and never went out with anyone from the gang itself, instead preferring show people from the higher classes a good time.
To be sharing that privilege with those people was...exciting to say the very least. Suvy was quite the beauty, and he wouldn't mind doing something with her...
Like she caught his thought, Suvy winked, then sashayed behind the other guys, high heels clicking on the floor as the light shone on her bare shoulders. Yes, he wouldn't mind at all.
The next one to offer his congratulations was Tommy. The older giant stepped forward, the two doing the gang handshake (fist-bump, shake, front, back, front) before hugging (in the manliest way possible naturally). The cheery giant smirked down at his buddy.
"Grats, short stuff."
Aero glared up good naturedly at Tommy, ignoring the obvious height difference, "How's the weather up there, Big T?" The two laughed at their shared joke before Tommy stepped away for the next gang members to give their congratulations. Aero sat back smugly as waves of compliments rolled over him, giving distracted nods and grins here or there to signal 'yes, the king's heard you, move on'. Those who received the nods looked ecstatic, like they might start groveling on their knees or something. Especially the younger ones, the newest twelve-year-old, Tommy's little brother Linc, looked just about ready to fall over from glee when he got a small slice of attention.
The feeling he got when those small nods and smiles garnered such respect and gratitude was the best, ever.
Finally, the waves of adulation died down as the others stepped back respectfully, clearing a space in front of Aero. Confidently, Tiberius stepped into the space, nodding his head in acknowledgement. As per gang traditions, Aero bowed, forty-five degrees down, before the others bowed, doing the full ninety degrees. Tiberius raised a hand, and the ten members straightened back up, posture perfect as they gazed at their leader in awe.
"Congratulations on making it, Aero Munroe." Tiberius's voice was deep and powerful, the sound reverberating in the small room to amplify its majestic effect.
Aero swallowed down his nervousness, "Thank you, sir." Nobodies like him nearly never got a single word from the boss, but now here they were, having a full conversation, "I will do my best, sir."
Tiberius's steely gaze bore down at him as he continued, "I would suggest allying with your district partner, Chiara Wang, since it is said she is a good fighter."
"And she's a pretty hot chick too." Someone joked and a few others tittered, but one look from Tiberius silenced them.
"You know how to fight, we've taught you that at the very least." Yes, he could fight, and the gang made sure he could deal damage without hesitation as well. His first time, well, it had been the second-best rush he ever got other than today.
He'd been just a thirteen-year-old then, but he'd already been selected as one of the strongest in his age section. The gang had approached him, and he'd been thrilled at the prospect, accepting almost immediately. After a small bit of training, he'd been sent on his first assignments.
Some little twerp had been flouting their rules, and their gang, the Eagles, took that very, very seriously. It had been a small thing, he, along with Tommy and Niobe cornered the little shit easily, then neat some sense into him.
Aero had enjoyed every single crack of bones breaking, while the boy's pleading, which had finally been reduced to simple groans and whimpers, was music to his ears. They'd left him, bloodied and barely able to move, on the sidewalk to be scraped off by anyone who saw him. The next day, the news had reported him as dead.
The best thing? He didn't feel any namby-pamby prissy regret after the whole thing. The little shit deserved it, and he couldn't say he didn't enjoy playing judge and executioner. The rush of power and adrenaline had been exhilarating, and he fully intended to feel it again.
And felt it again he did. He snatched every single mission with glee and executed them perfectly, making sure to savor each one as much as the first.
He'd already killed, who else the fuck would be able to say the same? He was part of the Eagle gang, he could kick the other tributes' asses from here to District Twelve easily.
"Do not join the careers, instead simply form a simple alliance, preferably of two." Aero nearly didn't hold back his snort of derision at that. Sure, careers, were fierce, they're professionals, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah, well guess what, so was he. They've been getting more and more wishy-washy these days, like, come on, last year Four didn't even have a volunteer.
"One minute left." The Peacekeeper shouted before rudely slamming the door.
"Yes, sir. Anything else, sir?" He didn't really think he had any problems whatsoever wining this thing, but it was always good to stay on boss's good side.
Tiberius paused for a moment, thoughtful, before continuing, "Yes. Do not behave rashly and pick fights you cannot win. Winning is more important than any grudges you bear." Yes sir. Anyway, he could probably beat anyone if he needed. He'd already killed by himself, while the careers simply handled a few weapons and the outers cried for their mommies.
This time, he let a confident smile creep onto his face, "Of course, sir." Tiberius only said fights he couldn't win, but he could win any fight with anyone in the arena. It'll be a cakewalk, except he'll get a whole lot of moolah at the end.
"Times up." The two Peacekeepers barged, half ordering, half dragging the others out the room. Tommy gave him one more thumbs up before being yanked out by a peacekeeper with a yelp. Suvy winked again suggestively before strutting out, ignoring the Peacekeeper's orders to 'hurry up!' and throwing one more air-kiss back before the door slammed shut.
Making himself comfortable, Aero stared at the door, waiting for the peacekeepers to come back in and escort him to the train.
He'll have to ally with that Chaira chick, so hopefully she'll be nice and meek. If she was nice he might even keep her alive long enough for final four, or even kill her painlessly.
Man, he was going to come back from this completely goddamn loaded.
Aero grinned at the prospect. He could hardly wait.
Yeah, Yeah, I know. Not the best, and Suvy is weird. Sorry about that, I just don't really understand looking good (zero experience in the beauty department can do that to a person :)