Leon Kimura, 30

Head Gamemaker

1045 - June 13, ADD.

It takes him a little more effort than normal to get ready for the day.

That's to be expected. Leon's been going nonstop since… since… well, it's been at least a couple months by now. He's sort of lost track of time. His years are solely comprised of planning, but he closer it gets to the Games, the more all-encompassing his endeavor becomes, and so he forgoes sleep entirely.

The job gets done - it always gets done - but things become a little fuzzier around the edges. Leon loses himself in his work. He blinks, and an entire day has gone by. The pieces are coming together, just as they always do… but it still doesn't feel like enough.

(Leon hates to admit it, but he's slipping.)

He can't afford that. Mistakes are a luxury only fools get to make. Leon didn't reach the position of head gamemaker by being a fool. He has an entire crew of gamemakers that work under him tirelessly, but Leon spends most nights checking all of their work, making sure that there are no kinks to work out. The Games will function flawlessly, and nothing will outmaneuver him.

"You're late," Reyna says from the middle table.

Leon is not late. He's actually still earlier than half the gamemakers, who have the audacity to roll up moments before the sessions begin and spend most of the day getting increasingly drunk. It would annoy Leon more if that sort of behavior didn't make it easier for him and Reyna to compile scores almost singlehandedly.

"I prefer to think of it like everyone else is running on my time. After all, private sessions can't exactly start without me."

Somehow, this does not reassure her. Reyna merely purses her lips and glances over at the papers he's shuffling through right now. "No notes this year?"

"I've got a lot of blank slates this year – which is preferred. There's nothing as irritating as a faux prophecy."

She hums. "You had plenty of fun with it last year."

"And this year I'll be perfectly content to let the tributes speak for themselves. See if anyone has anything interesting to say."

"Do you have any current predictions?"

Something squeaks in his pocket, and Leon pulls out Lemon. The hamster squirms in his hands, then runs a few circles around the desk the instant Leon puts him down. There's a slight lag, and Leon hears a few gears click, a reminder that Lemon wasn't supposed to last beyond private sessions last year. Still, Leon can't bring himself to let the creation go. Maybe later, when he has a moment to himself, he'll ask if the muttation expert can give it a look.

"Not really," Leon sighs. "Nothing except that I don't think One will get back to back years. Might give Two an opening to catch up."

"Maybe," is all Reyna says in return.

A few minutes tick by in near-silence. Leon shuffles papers around, getting himself ready, while Reyna watches the clock and Lemon settles down by her hand. More gamemakers arrive. Leon is too distracted to do more than wave to them. He stifles a yawn behind his hand.

"You should try to sleep after we're done here," Reyna says, almost too softly to be heard.

Leon blinks at her in surprise. "What? No. Why would I do that? I've got scores to finalize and a party to prepare for. I don't have time to waste."

She appears to have expected that answer. "After the party, then?"

"There are a few environmental kinks to work out still. Depending on private sessions, I may have to alter what will be available in the Arena. Now that the preliminary interviews have been concluded, I have to make a pass on all of them and figure out the best way to edit things for the Arena monitors. I like waiting until the party is over to finalize where everyone drops in the bloodbath, just to make sure we maximize drama without setting everything off too early."

"You have gamemakers that specialize in those areas. Why don't you let them do their jobs?"

Leon stiffens. "Because it's my job to oversee all of it. Even if I'm not directly involved in every piece that makes the Games work, I have to be able to personally verify that all of it runs as it should. If anything happens to go wrong, it won't fall on the specific department; it'll fall on me, the face of the entire operation."

Reyna watches him blankly, as if expecting something else from him. Leon has no other answer to give. "President Emerson wants to talk to you," she finally says.

"Oh. Is it urgent?"

"She didn't specify, but she is the President, so I'd say yes."

He frowns. "She probably wants to check in on the state of the Games. Can you take care of that for me?"

Reyna's expression doesn't change. "Sure," she replies smoothly. "Whatever you say, sir."

I - Saccharine Esculenta

One of Leon's greatest pet peeves is when tributes obviously hold back.

He gets it, he really does, but it's so much more boring this way. Saccharine has been flying under the radar since this whole show started. She's done absolutely nothing of note. Even her interview managed to skirt around any potentially worthwhile topics. It's like she's insistent on being nothing more than a blank slate, with no thoughts or opinions of her own.

Quite curious. Leon does wonder what she hopes to accomplish with the near-anonymity she's attained.

She moves into the room almost silently – the almost is what gets him. He fully expected to be startled by her appearance in the middle of the room, but he hears footsteps the whole way. Quiet ones, but footsteps nonetheless. She stands in the center of the room, avoids looking at any of the gamemakers, and ducks her head, clasping her hands together in front of her.

Leon supposes that's her way of introducing herself. The rest of the session goes by without a hitch. She spends the first half at the medical station, coming up with various concoctions that work as everything from an antiseptic for a cut to a soothing paste for a burn. Once she's done with that, she makes her way to the weaponry, picking up several darts.

Her next demonstration is just as anticlimactic as the first. She takes up her stance across from her chosen target and throws every dart she's holding. They all hit, but Leon notices that not every dart hits a place that's lethal. His brows wrinkle. Saccharine does this twice more before her time runs out. She turns to face the gamemakers and bows her head again before exiting the room.

It's… unsettling. Somehow, Leon can't say why. He's skimmed Saccharine's profile more times than he could count, and he keeps coming up surprisingly empty-handed.

"She did well," Reyna comments.

"Her accuracy wasn't all there. Not every place she hit was lethal."

"I don't think she meant for it to be. You remember her occupation, don't you?"

Leon could kick himself for not thinking of it sooner. "There was no showmanship, though. Nothing… spectacular."

"No, but she's certainly talented. I think that's all she came here to prove."

"For now. The Games will demonstrate the rest."

II - Callum Cadogan

"One is off their game this year."

Below, Callum successfully disarms the trainer he'd been sparring with. A mid-level one, so certainly an accomplishment for a novice. The boy's movements aren't perfectly polished from years of practice. But he barely makes any effort to play to the audience; he keeps glancing up at the gamemakers as if he's not sure they're even watching, and… that's it, really. Nothing like the showmanship of any of his predecessors.

Reyna watches the boy intently, scrutinizing his form. "He's not so bad, really. I was expecting worse considering the circumstances."

The frown doesn't leave Leon's face. Callum is decent. More decent than he should be after a measly three days of training. That alone piques his curiosity, but Leon doesn't exactly know how to go about digging into the boy's past any further than he already has. There's not much else to find on the Cadogans.

"Again, it's the lack of showmanship. He's demonstrating his talent, but he doesn't know how to show it off. He's not selling me on it."

"Alila has her work cut out for her in her first year mentoring, then."

Leon sighs, flicking through the next few names. "I have faith in the Twos and Thessaly. Maybe there's hope for this alliance yet."

He makes towards a longbow at one point, and Leon thinks he's going to use that, but for whatever reason the boy decides against it, beckoning for another trainer to spar with him. Maybe he has something else up his sleeve, but Leon isn't sure he wants to gamble much on it.

Decent, yes, but nothing truly special. Leon writes a number down and shakes his head. The others won't have to do much to outshine these two.

III - Nerissa Kitharion

It's no exaggeration to say that Nerissa Kitharion knows how to wield every weapon she picks up. Her range and knowledge combined is nothing short of masterful, and each segment of her session is mesmerizing. The majority of her session revolves around her testing out as many weapons as possible, and just as Leon concludes there's one she's not as good with, she comments on how it's poorly balanced or a bad fit for her.

There is no particular flair to her performance, but Leon finds that he doesn't mind. Nerissa is very clinical about the matter, and she doesn't waste time with her movements. She's almost brutally efficient and doesn't even bother to smile – which makes her even more dangerous.

"She'll be an absolute force to reckon with," Leon mutters.

"I'd assume that's a side effect of being born into the most prestigious blacksmith family in Panem. She's been around these weapons all her life – before training, even."

"If she had the time and the materials, I'd half expect her to make her own weapon for the Arena."

Her favorite is clearly the pudao. There's a certain reverence about the way Nerissa holds the weapon, and it's the one she wields when she finally asks for trainers to duel.

"Thoughts?" Reyna leans closer to him.

"Technically, she's almost perfect."

"But?"

"It's a strong showcase, and I expected nothing less from Two. They're big on emphasizing teamwork to prepare for the Games, so theoretically, she'll be a helpful addition to the group."

"Theoretically?"

"I have reports that say Nerissa Kitharion is not much of a team player." Leon smiles to himself. "I look forward to seeing if that will change."

IV - Pantheon Lexicus

The first thing Pantheon Lexicus does when he enters the room is take off his shirt.

Leon does not fully understand why. Maybe he's supposed to admire the boy's physique? Pantheon is plenty confident in himself, based on the way he immediately poses a few times before going to lift weights.

There is no denying that the boy is talented; that much is made exceptionally clear. Pantheon goes from station to station, almost rapid-fire, excelling at everything he does. He's strong, has impeccable aim with a bow, aces his plant identification quiz, and gives himself enough time to throw a playful wink at the gamemakers when he knows he's done something well. He's well-rounded, charming, and knows exactly how to portray all of his strengths in a single short session.

"He's quite strange," Leon remarks. "Talented, but… strange."

Below, Pantheon is shaking the hand of every trainer willing to spar with him. He's saying something that Leon can't quite make out, but the trainers' perplexed expressions say enough.

"It's like he's off in his own little world," Reyna says dryly. "At least he'll be interesting to watch. You think he has what it takes?"

"I have no reason not to believe that."

There's a silence that settles between them as Pantheon picks up his weapon and faces off against the trainers. The grin on his face is downright cocky, and something about it makes Leon's own mouth twist downwards.

"But?" Reyna probes.

"It's almost too much. It reads like overcompensation – for what, I don't know."

"He looks to be plenty capable for now." Reyna watches as Pantheon disarms two opponents in quick succession. "More than capable, really. You have to admit that much."

"I will, and gladly. After the… lackluster performances from One, I'm glad Two has been able to show that they're not here to play around. Speaking strictly in terms of combat, they're likely the most lethal foes in the Games. Two's tributes are always well-prepared when it comes to combat. They're like machines."

Pantheon wins the fight mere seconds before time runs out on his session. He waves up at the gamemakers, smile so bright it's nearly blinding.

"I do love confidence," Leon mutters.

Next to him, Reyna sighs and writes down a few notes. "Of course you do, sir."

V - Sagan Pomare

Lemon scurries around the table, this time settling at the bottom of Leon's stack of papers. He gives the hamster a pat on the head, then wonders if it has the capacity to feel fondness.

He sighs to himself. It's not Sagan's fault that Three has the most unfortunate slot of the lineup: situated between Two and Four, there's almost nothing they could do that's impressive enough to snatch up a decent score.

It's not like she's doing poorly, either. She's clearly got a better than decent grasp of several survival skills, and she has wisely chosen to steer clear of any weaponry. The main flaw in her session is that it's boring. Her bangs are constantly covering her face, and she won't even look up at the gamemakers. Leon understands that they can be something of an intimidating force to the tributes, but he likes a little recognition.

"She seems quieter than usual," Reyna whispers.

"Any idea why?"

"I heard she spent the day avoiding her ally, the one from Six. He spent the whole day making doe eyes at her, so I don't think their separation was mutual."

"Fascinating," Leon mutters. "She doesn't seem the friendly type. I'm not sure I have much faith in her on her own, either."

"She just looks so… sad."

Leon tilts his head and looks down at the girl. She looks relatively solemn and resigned to the task at hand. Maybe a little somber. Is that what Reyna means by sad?

"Maybe she misses her friend," he finally suggests.

Reyna's responding sigh is quiet; it doesn't really answer any of the questions he has. "Something like that."

VII - Thessaly Akaste

"She has no idea what the hell she's doing." Reyna squints down at the floor.

"It's rather fun, actually." Leon tracks the Four girl's form as she completes another cartwheel, and then launches into a series of flips. "I don't even think she's a gymnast. She can just do that."

"There's no plan to it."

"Does there need to be?"

"Well, no, if she's at least showing us something."

"Improv could be a crucial talent, depending on who you ask."

Below, Thessaly is blissfully unaware of the discussion going on about her session. She bounded into the room with a surplus of energy, and even though she's been killing time by aimlessly visiting stations, moving things around, and doing tricks, her enthusiasm has remained high. Thessaly Akaste may clearly be running without a plan, but she's still taking her time to show off everything she's got.

Five minutes in, a thought occurs to her, and she vaults herself into the middle of the room. The smile on her face turns into something a little more cunning. She lifts her chin and asks for trainers to come at her in waves, with whatever weapon they'd prefer.

"She's not even carrying a weapon of her own," Reyna whispers.

"Maybe she is the weapon."

That turns out to be half true. While Thessaly prefers to fight hand to hand, it is soon revealed that her traipsing around the stations also gave her the chance to stash throwing stars on her body. Once she defeats the first wave of trainers, the second is forced to weave out of the way to avoid getting hit; most of her throwing stars hit the lethal targets on dummies lining the sidelines.

The last trainer holds out against her for a while, but Leon suspects that's only because Thessaly has fun showing off. Her movements get flashier as theirs get more desperate. She finds the time to throw a one-handed cartwheel into the mix without throwing off her own rhythm.

She ends up with about a minute to spare. Thessaly shrugs her shoulders and waves up at the gamemakers, evidently content with everything she's shown.

"Fascinating," is all Reyna has to say.

Leon's eyes track the girl as she walks towards the door. "I look forward to seeing what she'll get up to."

Thessaly Akaste trips on her way out.

VIII - Ibai Zubizarreta

Five full minutes linger on the clock as the door swings shut behind Ibai. Leon frowns contemplatively at the trainer still picking himself up off the floor.

"That was… odd." Reyna squints at the room below as trainers begin to reset it for the next tribute. "If he won, why stop?"

"If I had to wager a guess, I'd say it has something to do with that volunteer nonsense I caught wind of. A duel for the slot, and then death. Ibai got his first taste of blood and decided he didn't like it." Leon shakes his head morosely. "A shame, really. He has the talent for it."

"And the knowledge, and the strategy. Just not the commitment."

Leon sighs and writes a few things down on his sheet. "He had the potential to be one of the best of the day."

"He never made a mistake. Doesn't that still make him a frontrunner?"

"Maybe, but… he didn't utilize all of the time allotted, and he's left me with questions that would, say, make a sponsor hesitant to give their support."

Reyna glances at him. "And as head gamemaker?"

Leon chuckles. "As head gamemaker, they fascinate me. What would he do when put in a similar situation, when his life is really on the line? Would he run? Would he fight, knowing that killing was the only possible solution? If he won't kill, is he willing to incapacitate?"

"And maybe it's just a temporary moment of panic," Reyna says. "Maybe it doesn't mean anything at all."

"He all but fled the room. It means something to him."

"If that's the case, then I worry about him in the Arena."

"Whatever happened, it's notable. I'm keeping an eye on it – it might make for an interesting narrative. He's trained for the Games, and he can't even bring himself to kill. What does that make him?"

Reyna's brows pinch together. "I'm afraid the others will wonder that, too."

IX - Akira Hinode

If anything, Akira Hinode is good at making a mess.

She skips into the room humming a tune, which quickly turns into some sort of song. Leon can't quite catch all the lyrics, but there are a remarkable amount of expletives and she keeps mentioning Madoka. Their entire presentation is so off-putting that even the other gamemakers, who were beginning to grumble about the inevitable boredom of the afternoon, are stunned into silence.

Next, they make a… thing. It's a bunch of haphazard parts thrown together, but it moves around perfectly well. When Leon tries to squint and lean forward to get a better look, Lemon shudders and runs straight into Reyna's arm. Surprised, she looks down and begins trailing her fingers across his head.

While the creation – a monkey, Leon soon realizes – roams the open area, Akira grabs several cans of spray paint and begins making her mark on the room. Leon sighs to himself and notes that they'll need a break to clean up after her.

Once they run out of spray paint, Akira picks up a crossbow and shoots bolts left and right. She is clearly not aiming at all. Everything about her session has been a complete mess.

"Like rats in a cage," he mutters.

"What was that?"

"Rats in a cage. They come in, show their talent – or, sometimes, lack of it – and leave. Our goal is merely to observe, lest we disrupt whatever they're trying to tell us."

Reyna gives him a dubious look. "And what if they're not trying to tell us anything?"

"There's a lot to learn from silence. From what they're not saying."

Reyna scoffs. "You're one to talk."

"Maybe so, but my point still stands. They're trying to tell me something."

As if on cue, Akira tosses something to the monkey. It catches the object, then explodes into a pile of parts and neon blue paint. Akira cheers and claps her hands at the sight.

"You're putting a lot of faith in someone who doesn't seem keen on listening to anyone."

"Maybe that's because no one has ever given them a real chance."

"And you are?"

Leon hums. "We'll see, anyway"

X - Xander Luman

Compared to his district partner, Xander Luman is remarkably quiet. It's a shame that he's been overshadowed before he had the chance to show anything off. Leon finds himself yawning more than a couple of times – which is clearly the result of sheer boredom, and doesn't have anything to do with his impending exhaustion, as Reyna is claiming.

It's not that the boy is particularly inadequate. Xander's true talent is in healing, and he makes poultices and salves rapid-fire, like it's second nature. But other than that, he's rather mediocre, and compared to the excitement of the early afternoon, a survival-heavy skillset is… well, rather dull. Somehow, throughout his session, Leon would have to say the most notable thing is Xander's blank, lackluster expression.

"You're not impressed." Reyna looks over at him.

"Not particularly. I know what his father does. I expected this to be a skill passed down."

Reyna hums. "Saccharine utilized her acupuncture knowledge in her session. Should that not dock her similarly?"

"I don't intend to discredit him. I'm not grading anyone strictly on what skills they picked up during training. He avoided that station entirely because he knew he would be good at it. I just find it… fascinating. He clearly has no passion for the knowledge he possesses."

His companion doesn't conceal the dramatic roll of her eyes. "In this situation, who could blame him?"

"It's boring," Leon counters petulantly. "It's not inventive or thinking outside the box. It's formulaic and fine. I despise fine."

"Not everyone makes it their goal to be extraordinary for you."

Leon sniffs. "They should. I'm hours away from assigning them a number that could define their experience in the Arena. I control the Arena. They could stand to fight for my attention a little more."

"But you don't control their actions," Reyna points out. "And you can't force an outcome, or else it becomes disingenuous."

"True," he finally admits. "But this is where the narrative begins. And if they don't provide me reasoning as to why their narrative should be continued… well, not everyone was made to survive the Games."

XII - Aleksei Court

Similarly to his (former?) ally, Aleksei is rather quiet as he enters the room. He looks nearly contemplative, which is a stark contrast from the attitude Leon has been hearing about over the past several days. His energy is still boundless, which at least brings some life back into the room; the boy darts back and forth between several different stations, gathering small knives and eyeing the obstacle course. When he's done, he politely requests a couple of trainers.

"Damn," Reyna breathes, "is he planning to fight them?"

Leon shakes his head slowly. "No… certainly not. I didn't see him train with a weapon at all. Unless he's been holding out on us-"

Aleksei holds firm in his position until one of the trainers draws close, and then he darts away. What ensues is a game of cat and mouse, where Aleksei utilizes his surroundings to the best of his ability to get away from his pursuers. When one of them gets close, he lashes out with his weapon to buy more time.

"He's fast," Reyna says, fascinated. "What the hell did he do out in Six?"

"His paper trail is almost nonexistent. There's almost no record that he exists at all. I'd guess he was either living in extreme poverty or doing something illegal. Possibly both. Considering his temperament, I'd assume the former, but I could be wrong."

Reyna snorts. "I've never heard that one before."

"Heard what?"

"'I could be wrong.'"

Leon frowns at her. "It's statistically improbable, but improbable doesn't mean impossible."

She shakes her head, still smiling to herself. "If you insist, sir."

Aleksei ends his session entirely unscathed. He's breathing hard, but his grin is bright enough to light up the room. He may not be much use in a fight, but knowing when – and how – to run is still a useful talent.

It's a shame that isn't a viable option in every situation.

XIII - Marri Esters

The only real entertainment during Marri's session is Lemon, who is particularly animated during it. The hamster runs laps around the outside of the table, as if it's trying to amuse Leon. He taps his fingers on the table, waiting for the time to run down.

Naturally, Marri is attempting more survival stations. She doesn't so much as look at a weapon. Which is all fine and good, except that the majority of her session consists of her sitting in the same place. There's almost no movement, and it has Leon feeling like he's about to go insane.

Even Reyna, who does her best to pay close attention to every session, is starting to look a little drained. Still, she takes notes and does her best to remain alert. Not many other gamemakers are good at that part.

As the afternoon drags on, and they've only just surpassed the halfway point, Leon expects the rest to grow increasingly incoherent. If he wasn't head gamemaker, he would be annoyed by the behavior of his coworkers, but as it stands… well, only his opinion and Reyna's really matter. The others only know how to recognize a session for its entertainment factor, not for any sort of underlying potential.

Which… is probably also what Marri lacks. Leon scrutinizes her behavior, but there's hardly a spark of life in her. He can't say he's surprised. The death of her father occurred so close to her getting reaped that she was given no time to so much as block it from her mind.

Reyna's thought process mirrors his own. She sighs to herself. "It's a shame," she mutters. "She'll probably follow him soon."

"Potential bloodbath fodder. At least it'll be quick."

Reyna isn't able to hide her wince. "I… suppose that's a kindness."

"I'm not sure she'll be good for much else."

He waits for Reyna to respond, but she never does. When he finally looks over, her lips are drawn into a thin line.

XIV - Zephyr Vitale

Strangely, Zephyr doesn't immediately aim for a weapon. Instead, they roam around the room with their arms clasped behind their back. His behavior is strange, but they've clearly got some sort of strategy in mind, so Leon finds himself curious.

This general nothingness lasts a few minutes before Zephyr snatches something up from a table. Leon catches sight of a grin before the entire center of the training room is swallowed up by smoke.

"What the fuck?" Reyna says, probably louder than she intends. "How did they do that?"

"Oh yeah," Leon replies, blinking. "Smoke bombs. I forgot about those."

Reyna stares at him, baffled. "You forgot?"

Shrugging, Leon writes a note about Zephyr's attention to detail. "It'll probably come in handy. Help navigate wide open areas or mask movement in a smaller space…"

"Where'd he even go?" Reyna is still peering into the midst of the smoke. "Surely he can't see in there, either."

"He took his time beforehand. He probably memorized his surroundings so he wouldn't need to see. Admirable approach to the matter, really."

There's a yelp and then a thud. Several seconds later, a trainer stumbles out of the cloud of smoke, completely weaponless. She looks baffled by whatever just happened.

"I don't think their allies even know the extent of their talents," Leon says, delighted. "Maybe he's angling for an inside job."

"He's been seen with the others after training, so I'm not sure. Maybe he's actually fond of the others."

Leon sighs sadly. "Tragic. I love a good story of betrayal."

"I know, sir."

When the smoke finally clears, three more trainers have been disarmed and Zephyr is nowhere to be seen. It takes Reyna's sharp eyes to spot them up in the rafters, twirling a knife between his fingers. As soon as Zephyr knows they've been found out, they smile and wave.

XV - Guinevere Solomon

Guinevere Solomon smiles serenely as she walks into the room. There's something about her presence that is slightly off, enough to make Leon shudder. When Reyna gives him a strange look, he tries to wave her off.

Maybe it's the way she carries herself. She's pretty unassuming, but Leon thinks she wants to be. She purposefully allied herself with the most temperamental tribute in the Games, which is either the dumbest decision someone could make or an excellent attempt to shield herself from the scrutiny of others.

Granted, there's the slight chance that Guinevere chose to ally with Akira because she actually likes the child. But that feels far-fetched.

Her knife skills, while rudimentary, show promise. If she can last a few days in the Arena and get a little more practice in somehow, maybe she'll stand a chance. She knows where to aim, and could probably win a fight against a lesser opponent, but against anyone with experience… well, Leon wouldn't bet on her.

Maybe it's the fact that she hasn't said a word.

Once Guinevere is done with her knives, she moves to start a fire, and to tie knots. There's the barest hint of a smile on her face. Leon can't figure out why.

It's the only session he doesn't talk to Reyna during. Leon isn't quite sure what to write. Being unsettling isn't exactly a talent, but Guinevere manages to weaponize it anyway. The ability to make an opponent falter without so much as drawing a blade might come in handy, after all.

A full minute before her time is up, Guinevere stands and walks towards the exit. She's barely acknowledged the onlookers at all. Leon finally turns to Reyna, ready to make a comment, when-

"Oh." A thought occurs to her. Guinevere turns and faces the gamemakers mere steps from the door. Her lips curl up into a smile. "I forgot. It's urban, isn't it?"

Leon raises his eyebrows in surprise and looks over to Reyna. She just blinks back at him.

"It's alright." Guinevere brings a finger to her lips and winks. "I'll keep your secret."

XVI - Svelte Rasa

A couple of minutes tick by with no sign of Svelte Rasa. Leon leans forward, hoping that he's just hiding behind one of the training stations, but there's still nothing. He's just started tinkering with the idea of handing out his first zero when Svelte descends from the rafters.

What happens next is not a true private session, but it is a show - and it's completely mesmerizing. He's essentially doing an aerial show from the ceiling of the training center. He doesn't have the luxury of the proper materials, but he's managed to improvise with what he has on hand; all that's keeping him aloft is a rough-hewn rope.

Svelte's movements are fluid, as though he's practiced this a hundred times before. Leon whistles lowly. "So this is the show everyone got to see back in Eight. He may not be the most approachable, but something in him comes alive when he's in the spotlight."

"He's certainly got a flair for the dramatics. I think he used the rope from knot tying to get himself up there, and now he's- god, he's flexible."

"Basic survival skills, making good use of his surroundings, knowing how to play to an audience… he's actually showing off more than we think."

Svelte's hands slip on the rope, and he tumbles to the ground. Leon winces, but the boy catches himself with a well-timed roll and pops back up to his feet. There's a knife clenched between his teeth, and Svelte takes it and aims it straight at a dummy. When it sinks into the heart, Svelte turns to face the gamemakers, and sinks into an exaggerated bow.

He's been laying low up until now, but it looks like Svelte can't resist the urge to perform. He exits the room almost silently.

"He'll be one to watch," Reyna comments.

"If his skills can translate into actual combat."

"Well, yes, but… he's eye-catching. And in your mind, that counts for a lot."

XVII - Bourbon Jaque

Something has very clearly bothered Bourbon Jaque.

She stomps her way into the room muttering to herself, and even though Leon only catches bits of it, he hears her say shit more times than he can count.

"Seems someone is in a lovely mood," he mutters to Reyna. "Trouble in paradise, you think?"

"Not a good sign if she can get herself this worked up."

"... not some pathetic damsel in fucking distress…"

Leon laughs aloud. "This is certainly a show."

As if she can hear him, Bourbon looks up, makes direct eye contact with him, and rolls her eyes. "Fuckers," she mutters, just loud enough for them all to hear.

Beside him, Reyna snickers. Leon shoots her a betrayed look. "Sorry, sorry," Reyna says, waving her hands. "She's just… got a bit of fire to her, that's all."

And honestly, Bourbon proves herself to be astonishingly competent. She picks up a shortsword and completely batters a dummy with it. Her sheer rage – or whatever the hell is wrong with her – gives her an added strength that cancels out her lack of any technique. She's rather… combative, sure, but she's useful.

"Impulsive, though," Leon says aloud. "I'm not so sure that will work in her favor."

Reyna hums, still entertained by the girl's demeanor. "Maybe not."

"She is crafty."

"Indeed."

"And has narrative potential."

"Your favorite."

"And she's vulgar and aggressive and easily riled up. You see the problem?"

"Ah… sort of?"

Leon taps his fingers on the table impatiently. "I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with someone like her."

"In general, or…?"

"I can't say I'm a fan of being outright insulted. I'll have to see what I make of her when compared to the rest."

"You have to admit she at least has something to show."

"An incredibly low bar, but true."

Bourbon pumps her fist in the air as she aces the plant identification quiz. When someone walks up to escort her out of the room as her time runs out, she greets them with a raised middle finger and walks out all on her own.

XVIII - Kodo Hotakim

It's not often that Leon gets someone that addresses him directly. The occasional hello, goodbye, thank you for watching, whatever helps them feel like they'll get a little boost in their score. Leon is wholly unentertained by most of them, but others…

Well, others are Kodo Hotakim.

The boy doesn't bother heading to any sort of training station at all. Instead, he saunters into the center of the room and clears his throat expectantly.

Mildly intrigued, Leon doesn't take the bait just yet. This late in the day, the other gamemakers are beginning to get antsy. The most interesting tributes of the day are long gone. They've been sitting in the same place for hours. No matter your dedication to the task at hand, it's enough to make even Leon's vision go hazy at times.

(Or maybe that's the lack of sleep talking.)

"I have a proposition for you."

Kodo's voice rings clear, all the way up to them, and Leon can't help but notice that he captures the attention of the other gamemakers with ease.

Fascinating. Looks like his theatre background might be good for something after all.

"Go on," Leon says. It's the only opening he's willing to give.

Not every tribute has a talent, per se, but Leon knows entertainment when he sees it. And while there is nothing terribly thrilling about Kodo besides his eagerness to open his mouth, Leon can tell there's potential.

Potential for what? Leon isn't quite sure.

(He doesn't think Kodo is, either.)

"Well?" Reyna asks him, once the boy is well out of earshot. "Are you going to take him up on his offer?"

"It's a gamble," Leon muses aloud, "but I do enjoy the odds. Especially when they seem to be in my favor."

XXII - Nolan Okorie

Nolan Okorie is clearly the biggest physical threat from the outer districts.

Leon can't say he's surprised. The records show that he went to jail for murder, after all. He has a history of a short temper, and though that part hasn't reared its ugly head just yet, Leon supposes he'll have to wait for the right circumstances.

Which is fine. He can be patient when the potential payoff is so… delightful.

The only real surprise is that Nolan is rather proficient with a scythe. He has no sense of flair, but it's the sort of brutal efficiency that would've thrived in Two. He doesn't bother asking for trainers, instead attacking dummies with everything he's got.

"He doesn't have any sort of technique," Reyna says, slightly awed. "The unpredictability might work in his favor."

"It could work for him just as much as it could work against him. Impressive either way. I almost wish he'd been given the opportunity to hone his skills – they're messy, but existent."

Once Nolan has decimated one dummy, he moves onto the next, then the next. He gives himself no time to rest in between. It's almost like he's in some other world, one that the gamemakers aren't privy to.

He has potential. Leon loves potential.

Nolan only stops when his time is up, the timer ringing loudly in the room. He takes a step back, breathing heavily, and when he looks up at the gamemakers, his expression is nearly murderous.

Leon can't help it. He smiles.

XXIII - Jasmine McCoy

"She allied with the Eleven boy, right?" Leon asks, peeking over at Reyna's diligently written notes.

"Yes. She approached him on day one and hounded him until he said yes. I assume you can gather her interest in him specifically."

Jasmine is talking aloud as she works, discussing different poisons and antidotes. She narrates the ingredients and their intended effect, as well as where she could best hit someone to get it into their system; one well-placed slice is all it would take in most situations.

But throughout her session, Jasmine doesn't bring out a single weapon. Her knowledge, though vast, is entirely based in hypotheticals. She appears to be aware of this, though, and does not let it faze her at all; she remains clearly confident in herself and her skills, which Leon can admire.

Not everyone knows how to sell themself, but she knows exactly how to highlight her strengths.

"She's likely using him as a cover," Leon muses. "Like her predecessor. Tessa's technique was flawless."

"Won her more than a few sponsors. Jasmine might try to take him to the end. And even if it came down to a fight, she keeps insisting that one hit is all it would take."

"I find myself wondering if she'd be able to manage that at all. If Nolan sensed a betrayal, he'd fight with everything he had. I don't think Jasmine could last against such a relentless onslaught."

"Or, maybe, they'll stay true to their word and remain allied the whole time. She's smart and he's strong. On paper, it may be all they need."

Leon remains sitting long after the last tribute is gone, and long after the other gamemakers have excused themselves to type up notes. His pencil absentmindedly scratches at a blank sheet of paper, the one where he'll write down every score and rank the tributes accordingly.

There's the sound of a door opening, and then sharp heels clicking against the ground. Reyna sets a glass of water down next to his hand and retakes her seat. She watches him for a moment before speaking up.

"How do you feel about this set of tributes?"

He laughs and shakes his head. "There are so many moving pieces that I hardly know where to start. The possibilities are endless."

"In a good way?"

"Absolutely. The rankings at the end of private sessions are never meant to be accurate, but I fear mine won't even come close to what's really going to happen."

"As in… you're shockingly low on predictions?"

"I think so."

Reyna gasps and clasps a hand to her chest. "Who are you and what have you done with Leon Kimura?"

He laughs weakly. After her initial frustration with him today, it's nice to see she's back to joking around with him. "I have my moments."

"You're not going to get any rest for the next few weeks, are you?"

Leon shakes his head. "There's no time for it."

"And you still want me to meet with President Emerson for you?"

"If you can."

There's a silence that stretches between them, and it occurs to Leon that maybe they aren't as close as they once were. He's not sure what to do about it, or how he feels about it, so he merely tucks that information away for later.

"If that's what you want."

He nods, relieved. He's hardly talked to Emerson in ages, and he wouldn't know where to start now. And besides that, he's got so much going on that there's hardly a moment in his day to spare.

The thought suddenly makes him exhausted. Leon loves having things to do – he thrives on it, really – but right now…

Well, right now a rest really does sound nice.

"Do you need a few minutes?" Reyna asks gently.

Gratefully, Leon nods his head once. He doesn't know what there is to say.

There's something sad about her expression, and Lemon scurries over to nudge at her hand. She manages a bit of a smile and pats the top of his head before standing.

"You know where to find me, then."

i'm tipsy

okay so yeah this was more than a week but it was less than two weeks so i think we should all count our blessings and recognize that i have no concept of time and any estimation of when i'll be posting is probably going to be a few days more than i ever say it will be. never take me at my word. i'm fucking dumb

party horns THREE CHAPTERS LEFT TIL GAMES! if you're new here, no i don't release scores during private sessions, i just like my head gamemaker a lot and personally i think scores are lame and gay if i don't at least know what the kid did to earn them, so all will be revealed during le party. also kalanit makes her grand return as a legal adult. fucking horrifying tbh

idk i think that's all

~de laney is out