D5 F: Fission "Izzy" Heisenburg
Age: 17
. . .
Izzy knew she was lucky; she knew she was fortunate because she was bored. To be bored on reaping day was a privilege most do not have.
Izzy had the privilege of being born into a useful family, with a lead research scientist as a father and a geneticist as a mother. Izzy also knew that with her intellect, she was useful. Her parents never caused trouble, and she had never had to take Tesserae. There was no chance for her name to be called at the reaping.
However, the downside was she was bored waiting for everyone to file into the rows for reaping. The was no nervousness or fear to curl into her stomach, and she took no pleasure in watching this part of the Hunger Games. Nothing fascinating happened during the reaping; no mutts or traps or beautiful explosions of fire and science.
Izzy almost wanted to be reaped if it would stop the monotony crawling through her. At least she would be a fascinating tribute to watch.
During her childhood, her mother worked a lot less in order to raise her, but her father still kept most of his busy schedules. She started school young, at the age of four; she was considered a genius after all, and she also spent time at home just observing her parents as they talked about work.
She always absorbed any information she heard, and school was so much more boring than hearing her parents talk about work. Soon enough, once she'd grown into a teenager, Izzy was interning at her father's work, specifically the combustion unit. It was fascinating to her, the idea that one device, no matter how simple or complex, could just decimate a certain amount of area around it.
Yes, she would be able to do wonderful things with the Capitol's resources at her fingertips. Now, don't get her wrong, she knew she would die if she was reaped, but she would die in a strange and fascinating way. She would be a much better entertainment than some.
Before Izzy could spiral further into her thoughts, Rumica Starville, the District 5 Escort, spoke, "Welcome everyone to this tremendous day!"
Rumica started speaking, and Izzy felt her interest wane again. It was always the same; after Snow's speech, Izzy would bet that in an attempt to be unique, Rumica would pick boys first in honour of it being a quell. Izzy would also bet that almost every other Escort would do the same.
Snow's speech started: War, terrible war. Widows, orphans, a motherless child. This was the uprising that rocked our land. Thirteen Districts rebelled against the country that fed them, loved them, protected them. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. And then came the peace, hard fought, sorely won. A people rose up from the ashes and a new era was born. But freedom has a cost. When the traitors were defeated, we swore as a nation we would never know this treason again.
And so it was decreed, that each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up in tribute, one young man and woman, to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice. The lone Victor, bathed in riches, would serve as a reminder of our generosity and our forgiveness. This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future.
On the twenty-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every district was made to hold an election and vote on the tributes that who would represent it.
On the fiftieth anniversary, as a reminder that two rebels died for each Capitol citizen, every district was required to send twice as many tributes.
On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the united rebels cannot overcome the power of the Capitol and to show the mercy of the Capital, the twenty-four tributes will be split into twelve groups of two decided by the Capitol, and those two, if they make it to the end, can become joint victors.
Izzy noticed that Snow's speech was different this year. If there was one good thing about the quell, it at least wasn't so predictable.
"... Special.. 75th... unique... boys," Izzy blinked, hearing the words and barely processing them; she was so bored. But the first step of her prediction was right, boys first this year. She wondered if she would be correct about the other Escorts doing the same. But she knew she was kidding herself. She was always right. It was part of the reason why the world was so very dull, boring, and predictable; a sigh escaped her mouth.
"Shui Torres! Our male tribute is Shui Torres!"
Izzy stared as the male tribute walked on stage; what caught her attention, though, was the baby strapped to his chest. Was that allowed? Izzy already found herself predicting that somebody would get in major trouble for the whole situation.
The Capital much preferred when the attention was on the tribute themselves; she bet his mentor could cry sabotage if he didn't get sponsors because the cameras were focused on the baby instead of his face. She wondered how his mentors would play it because they could also use the sympathy card.
Before she could ponder the situation more, she was harshly shoved from behind, landing flat on her face. Before she could cry out, she was being dragged forward.
Why was she being dragged forward?
"There she is, our female tribute, Fission Heisenburg. You're a shy one, aren't you."
Izzy heard the Escort's words and could not process them. It wasn't right; it wasn't logistical, and she was too valuable to be a tribute. But here she was, being dragged forward by Peacekeepers!
This wasn't right; Izzy couldn't process it, couldn't process much of anything, and before she knew it, the world went black.
AN: Please be aware I broke through my writer's block and got too excited to wait for a beta read; I hope you enjoy it!