Ophelia Veleno- District One mentor
"Oh that's funny. Both your names start with 'K.'"
Kendall and Kallik looked at each other.
"I didn't notice that," Kendall said.
"Yeah, feels kind of obvious now that you say it," Kallik said.
"So what are you good at?" I asked. Kendall deduced that I was talking to Kallik since she wasn't a volunteer and let her go ahead.
"I can use harpoons and spears and I know edible plants," she said.
"That's a good start. Sucks you got Reaped but seems like we got off pretty lucky."
Amazon Stonn- District Two mentor
"I'm going to be really real, I hate this job."
I glared at Valerius and Octavia over a mug of black coffee. I hadn't been getting much sleep in the last... how many years ago was my Games? Not enough, that was for sure.
"Well, uh... on the bright side, we didn't volunteer? So we hate this too," Valerius offered with an ingratiating smile.
"If I can be real back at you, I just want to take care of my baby," Octavia said.
I put my head in my hands. "Oh great, a baby. Why do you people vol- oh, right."
"Yeah, no joke, her baby's with our brother-in-law right now and he is terrible." Valerius' face went far too serious. I looked from him to Octavia, who had that too-familiar expression of someone acting brave but really falling apart.
"If it gets me out of mentoring, great," I said, standing up. "You two figure out training. There's plenty of other mentors who just loooooove Games stuff. I'll see what I can do on the legal side."
Beetee Latier- District Three mentor
Ai sat on my lap with his head on my chest, not caring that a week ago he would have said he was too old to sit like that. I had my arms around him, rocking slightly as the train swayed.I didn't have to tell him I'd do anything for him. I was afraid to say it wouldn't be enough.
Gidget Ford- District Four mentor
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Ford."
Yarrow extended her hand, her posture eager yet respectful. She was the perfect portrait of a well-behaved young woman and it was weirding me out.
"Ms. Ford is my mother," I said, waving her off informally. "It's just Gidget."
"Oh," Yarrow said. "Okay."
"You were the scapegoat child, I see?" I asked.
"What?" Yarrow said, seeming totally confused. "No, I'm an orphan."
It all came together and the motherly amusement turned to regret for someone I'd just met. "Oh," I said. "You don't have to be perfect here."
Yarrow's face twitched. It went dark in a way I hadn't expected.
"I'm not trying to gain approval," she said, her voice suddenly cold. "I just want what they can give me."
Caio Sagres- District Four mentor
"Oh, you!" I put out my arms to welcome someone I recognized better once I saw him up close. "How are the waves? I've been stuck here doing parties- which I love- but I do miss the beach."
"It's been great," Dorian replied. "It's just about that time again when the sunsets get that purple-golden tinge, you know the one?"
"Ah, I know the one." All sunsets were beautiful but for just two or three weeks every autumn, the evenings in District Four were beyond compare.
"But did you see Sandy Cheeks closed up?" Dorian's expression went pained.
"What? No!" It can't be. Not the best hot dog stand on the beach...
"Excuse me?" Alara's voice was meek and polite. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but maybe we could talk about the Games?"
Meenah Turbine- District Five mentor
"Is there a phone around? I need to tell my work I won't be in."
"I think they figured it out," I said.
The panic didn't leave Trydan's face. "My job is very important. Please, let me talk to them. They need me."
Ah. This isn't about the job, is it? From Trydan's ironed clothes to his white-knuckled fingers, it was becoming clear this kid needed something he could say he was in control of.
"All right, let's see what we can do." I flagged down an Avox and requested a phone. Even as the Avox was still walking away I could see the relief pass over Trydan.
"The Capitol's a huge city, isn't it?" BIrdie wrinkled her nose as she looked out the window. Then a light sparked in her eyes. "They probably have the world's best vegan food."
Lancia Audren- District Six mentor
"I want to learn to fight." Lana struggled with herself before finishing the sentence her inflection had left open. "But I think I should also learn to run away."
"I think that's most of us," I answered. "Do you know how to climb?"
Lana looked up excitedly. "I was kind of looking forward to that."
"How about you?" I turned to Trayne.
Trayne look over his shoulder almost guiltily, having been distracted until then by the view out the window.
"Oh, uh, I didn't really have much of a plan," he admitted. "I was kind of waiting to hear what you advised."
"My advice?" I asked. "Learn to fight but also learn to run away."
Desiree Redwood- District Seven mentor
Cactus found the splinter in the edge of the table far more interesting than me. As in, he was more focused on rubbing that spot smooth than listening to me, his mentor. If that was how he wanted it, I didn't mind an easier job.
"So how should I learn to fight?"
Rowena was as engaged as Cactus was absent. I could have perhaps done without the seeming eagerness for violence, but I appreciated the enthusiasm.
"I can help overall, but I think you'd be better off with one of the petite trainers," I said. "You're gonna have to fight in a whole different style than me and I would just confuse you." Rowena was at least a foot shorter than me. Her proportions and balance were way beyond my math skills.
Rowena shrugged in agreement. "I can do axes, too," she said, miming a throwing motion.
"Nice. Good start going already."
Tillo Peters- District Eight mentor
"Mom! Look at this!"
I brushed Felix's hand aside as I shushed him. The Capitol and their goons had decided it would really "brighten up our image" if we saw more cute smiling faces. Mine own being in short supply, they'd decided on "take your child to work day". As photographers flashed their bulbs at us at random moments, I wrestled with a wiggly six-year-old.
Gotta get Tommy's brother taken care of. Taylor's a goth. I've never really talked to a goth before. They looked so freaking cool when I was little. Like I was scared to go up to them and surely burn in Hell and all that but they looked so cool. Tommy wants to train on the gauntlet. Taylor wants to try javelins. Felix just mentioned it's a dog he's drawing so remember that when he asks you about it. Taylor looks pale- is that just the makeup or is she sick? Gotta remember to send a thank-you note to Jocasta...
Randy Mills- District Nine mentor
Robbie looked around the train with wonder. "They really just live like this," he said.
"I know, right?" Though I seemed to fit right into the Capitol world, I'd never forgotten what the other side lived like. These people ate gold while some people ate nothing at all.
Amberlynn seemed fascinated rather than appalled. From the way her eyes were skipping around she seemed almost like an architect.
"What are the parties like in the Capitol?" she asked. I'd seen enough Reapings to know people reacted to disaster in a thousand ways and I wasn't surprised at her dissonant excitement.
"They're pretty cool," I said.
"Just 'pretty cool'?" Amberlynn asked.
I smiled. "They're pretty cool."
Cornflower Fields- District Ten mentor
I'm supposed to say something. I'm supposed to start the conversation. But no, they're clearly thinking about other things. I would be interrupting. They're probably waiting for me to say something.
"I know a lot about veterinary stuff," Virgo offered after a dragging silence. "Maybe that can translate somehow?"
Thank heavens I can work with that. "Maybe knife skills. Gross, but, I mean, that's what this is."
Virgo turned to Shepard. "Aren't you Amish or something?"
"That's the easiest way to say it, yeah."
Oh. Perfect. I have a related anecdote.
"Some Amish guys live down the road from me."
Hlenn Rambutan- District Eleven mentor
Clover and I stiffly made small talk as we both pretended everything was normal. He recognized me, of course, because I was a Victor. I recognized him, though, since I was a rebel. Our circle wasn't large and we'd crossed paths quite a few times, though I'd known him as an alias. But nope, nothing suspicious here. We have never met each other and know nothing about each other...
When Persi opened her mouth I leaped at the excuse to look away from Clover.
"I know most people hate this but I have people who need me to come home," she said. "I want to learn poisons."
"Great choice!" Let's talk about that for a really long time...
Nubu Sanders- District Twelve mentor
"I want to work at the fire station."
Enzo pulled himself back from where he'd leaned forward in excitement and tried to act normal.
"But maybe also the knife station to broaden my skills."
"Are you looking for allies?"
"Yes," Josie broke in. "Hopefully an older and stronger male." The overly mature coldness in her tone disquieted me.
"I don't know if anyone will offer but I'd look into it," Enzo added.
Josie looked up at me with big innocent eyes. "I just hope someone will want to be friends with me."