Hi, everyone! Now that the Reapings are all done, we can move to the second part of this story, which is about the preparation for the Games. From now on, SUBMITTERS will be able to assign MAX 20 POINTS to tributes per chapter. Here, some basic rules:
- only submitters can assign these extra points (normally to the tributes who have a POV in that chapter)
- these points can be assigned to either one tribute or be divided (just follow the 5 time table)
- to assign these points you just need to send a review or PM me
- these points are cumulative, which means that, if you don't assign your 20 points in a chapter, they will be added to those you already have (the list of submitters with their current points is on my profile)
I still accept submissions for SPONSORS, but, if you're not interested, you can read and review.
As for POVs, I will follow the scheme below:
- train rides: 5 POVs
- chariot parade: 6 POVs
- training days: 5 POVs per day
In this way, every tribute will have at least one POV before the Games.
Sorry for this long introduction, but I deemed it right to make everything clear. In any case, you can PM me for any doubts.
And now, enjoy your reading :)
On the way to Capitol City
Oliver "Ollie" Litore (15)- District 4 male tribute
The Distant Brother
As soon as we get on the train, the escort shows us what he calls a "little welcome buffet"- a round table full of any possible kind of finger food, mainly in the shape of fishes, shells, starfishes… of something sea-related, basically. How ridiculous! I don't even get close to the table, I'm not hungry at all. On the contrary, I would like to puke in disgust. This train is a sort of fancy, high-speed paradise, but it looks more like a cage to me.
Vivian eats something, instead. "You know, I had only a fish for breakfast," she says.
After that, Thalas shows us our private rooms and the dining car, where we will have our meals together before arriving at destination. A coast-to-coast journey separates District 4 from the Capitol, so we won't get there before tomorrow. I feel trapped… trapped in a one-way trip to hell. But what choice do I have? Have I ever had a choice in my life?
"We'd better watch the other Reapings and start thinking about alliances," he suggests at some point.
On the train, there's a compartment with a huge TV screen and some comfortable, velvet couches. We go there to watch the Reapings, not that I'm particularly interested in seeing the other tributes.
District 1. The girl volunteered and the boy was reaped, but… he rejected the volunteer!
"Oh, the boy is really handsome!" comments Vivian with a wide smile.
What's the point of being handsome? If he has to die, he will die in any case!
"Kyle Whiteswan… he's the son of two victors- King and Crystal Whiteswan, who won two years in a row- no doubt… definitely a good ally," Thalas points out, while taking notes on a pocketbook.
District 2. Two volunteers… predictable.
District 3. Nothing special.
We skip Four.
Districts 5, 6 and 7. Hopeless tributes.
District 8. The girl is a volunteer and, according to Thalas, she's also another victor's child, but the boy is too young to be considered a threat.
District 9. Both tributes look strong enough.
District 10. The boy volunteered for his little brother. I can't help but sympathize with him.
District 11. Basically, two bloodbaths.
District 12. My muscles stiffen, when the turn of my sister's district comes.
Please, not her…
"Yolanda Underwood!"
No, it can't be… it can't… I stare at the screen, unbelieving. My sister mounts the stage. She's clearly angry. No one volunteers for her… oh, come on! Someone has to volunteer! But nothing of the sort happens. I turn to Thalas. He's watching me with widened eyes, holding his breath. Suddenly, I feel like I was suffocating. I leap up like a spring and storm out of the compartment.
"Ollie!" cries Thalas.
I enter a room at random and flop down on the bed, burying my head in the pillow. I start weeping nervously. I hear the sliding doors open.
"Go away, Thalas!" I shout, without lifting my head.
I don't need to turn, after all, I know it's Thalas. No one else would come to see me now. No one else would understand.
"Ollie…" he says.
"Go away!" I repeat.
But he doesn't listen to me. He sits on the bed.
"Now, we know that your sister is a tribute. The best thing you can do for her is joining the Careers," he says with a sigh.
I turn to him. "Never!" I shout.
"But you'd protect her in this way, preventing them from killing her," he goes on.
"I will ally only with my sister, that's the best way to protect her!" I rebut, beside myself.
"But you won't know where the Careers are. Besides, Yolanda might ignore that she has a twin brother, she could distrust you."
"I'll tell her the truth! I'll tell it in front of the entire nation!"
"She may not believe you. In any case, allying with the Careers is your best bet," he insists.
"You say so because you were a Career, you wanted to be in the Games!" I retort.
"That's true, I was in the Games willingly. But this means also that I know how things work better than you, Oliver. Please, trust me, I'm not only your friend now, I'm also your mentor."
"Do what you want, Thalas, just remember that I'm going to do anything I can to make my sister win!"
"You know that you're asking me to give up on your life, don't you?" he says, losing his cool for a moment.
"That's precisely what I want, Thalas."
…...
Scarlett Pearce (18)- District 2 female tribute
The Bloodthirsty
Victor and I are asked to watch the Reapings, even though I don't think one can identify possible threats by starting from there. However, it was our mentor- Hippolyta Arrowhead- who warmly recommended to have a look at them, and our mentor is a legend. She won the 87th Hunger Games, and even though District 2 had other victors after her, she hasn't renounced mentoring. The finale of her Games was particularly thrilling. The arena- a tropical island with a volcano (what a cliché!)- was half-flooded with lava, and the two remaining tributes besides her had joined forces to kill her, but she managed to get rid of both of them. I profoundly admire Hippolyta, and I'm really proud of being mentored by her. If she says that we should watch the Reapings, it must be worth it.
To be sincere, I'm more interested in knowing who my district partner really is, rather than seeing the other tributes on TV. As he's watching the Reapings, I intently look at him until he turns his dark brown eyes to me.
"What do you want?" he asks, annoyed.
"I was just wondering what happened to poor Roger…" I answer.
"No idea."
"Oh, really?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"What have you done to him?" I enquire.
"What do you mean?" he replies with another question.
"Now that we're alone, you can confess. Roger has been taken to the hospital, and I know it's your fault. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to judge you… on the contrary, if you really did something to take his place… well, I shall admire your courage," I say, smirking.
No, I don't really think what I just told him. I've been working hard to be here like Roger has, so I cannot stand impostors like Victor. But, if he ends up trusting me, getting rid of him will be easier… and more rewarding too.
"I deserve to be here more than Roger does," he replies, looking away from me.
I can consider it an admission of guilt, I suppose.
"Not according to our trainers," I retort.
He glares at me, but I'm not afraid of him, I'm as firm as a rock.
"I could care less about them! I'm a tribute now, I'll win the Games, and there's nothing they can do!" he blurts out. That said, he gets closer. "You'd better not tease me, otherwise you'll regret it," he adds in a menacing tone.
"Is that a threat?"
"Of course," he says, articulating every syllable.
I smirk. "I have to admit that Roger doesn't seem to possess this fire of yours, that's precisely what District 2 needs."
"I'm serious, Scarlett!"
"Me too."
"I don't know what you have in mind; in any case, I don't care. I'll ally with you until the Career pack splits, then… then, fate shall decide," he says, eventually.
He seems rather nervous.
"I'm not asking for more. May the odds be ever in our favour."
…...
Fabian Swift (15)- District 12 male tribute
The Gambler
Since I'm a tribute now and there's nothing I can do to change this fact, I should accept it, I suppose. But this doesn't mean that I cannot enjoy my time on this train. Apparently, Yolanda and I have a bedroom on our own with a private bathroom, and… oh, a real shower! I take off my Reaping outfit and try it. There are many different buttons to regulate the water temperature- for the first time in my life, I can bathe with warm water… how pleasant!- and to decide the type of shampoo or shower gel to use… but I'm so excited that I start pushing buttons at random, just to see what happens. I get out of the shower smelling like a garden in bloom. I dry my hair and then get dressed for supper, even though I wouldn't mind going around wearing this bathrobe, which is so comfortable. Anyway, I choose a silky shirt, black trousers, and loafers from my closet. I could get used to all this luxury.
For a moment, I gaze at my reflection in the mirror. I don't look like a boy from the Seam any longer, except for my physical characteristics- olive skin, grey eyes, dark hair. I've managed to scrape all the coal dust from my body. I've never worked in a mine, and yet… the coal dust is in the air and covers everything in Twelve. I wonder what Jonathan would think of me in this moment. Would he still see me as a resident of the Seam? Well, he hates Capitolites, he hates townies, he hates anyone who comes from another district… I don't think my physical aspect would be sufficient to spare myself his hatred, not that I care about what he thinks… no longer, at least.
In my room, there's a TV screen, so I can get an idea of my fellow tributes- or, rather, of my opponents- before meeting them. I don't watch the Reapings, though, I don't think one can get that much from them. I'm more interested in possible bets. I cannot bet, of course, but I'm curious to know how Capitolites judge us. The Hunger Games are a big event, and indeed I don't struggle to find a channel where they deal with bets. Not surprisingly, they expect Careers to excel, but their odds seem to be higher than I imagined. Higher odds mean that their victory is not necessarily taken for granted. Maybe it's because they haven't won for seven years. Yeah, it must be that. But I'm not going to underestimate them, that's for sure, it would be stupid, after all. I carefully examine the list of tributes on TV. Three names immediately catch my eye: Kyle Whiteswan, the boy from District 1; Autumn Peachskin, the girl from District 8; and Owen Coin, the boy from District 13. Their surnames are familiar. The first two are victors' children, or relatives, no doubt… people to whom I should look over my shoulder. As for the other boy… well, the name Coin is pretty self-explanatory. The remaining names ring no bells. I focus on the ages, then. Of course, many are older than me, but ten tributes are actually younger. The situation is not that desperate, after all. I must think about possible alliances. Apart from Yolanda, who should I ally with? Umm… maybe I should decide during training, after seeing their performances. The more elements of judgement the better, right?
…...
Rebecca Field (16)- District 9 female tribute
The Rebel
I keep wandering back and forth the train, unable to sleep. All I can see from the windows is that night has fallen. Normally, I would be happy- I prefer night over day- but not now. I feel suffocated, I need some open space… some fresh air, at least… but I was told that the windows must not be opened when the train is moving. I reach the bar car to drink some water. Its freshness should soothe me a bit in theory, but it doesn't really work in this case. I'm sweating and breathing hard.
"You okay?" asks a voice from behind my back.
I can't help startling. I turn around. "Adam… you're here. Cannot sleep as well?"
"You don't look well," he remarks in a worried tone.
"Just a bit of claustrophobia," I explain.
"What can I do to help you?"
"Nothing really, it will pass soon."
He gets closer. I feel more embarrassed than ever. We haven't talked about what happened at the Reaping yet, and I don't know how to introduce the topic. All I know is that we must talk about it, and the sooner the better.
"You know that you can count on my help, don't you?" he says, giving me the input I needed.
"That's why you volunteered?" I ask him.
"I couldn't let you go alone," he answers, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"That's insane, and you know it, right?"
"Risking my life for you? Maybe."
"I'm serious, Adam! Why did you volunteer?" I insist, watching him right in the eye.
"I love you, Rebecca. When you were reaped, I… I don't know… I felt that it was the right thing to do. You should be relieved, if not happy. At least, you know that you can trust your district partner as an ally," he explains.
"I see. You take our alliance for granted," I point out.
"You not? We were about to get married, Rebecca!" he retorts, shaking his head in disbelief.
I laugh despite myself. "You call that a marriage!? You gave me no choice but accept your proposal!"
"Would our union be that bad for you, then?"
Then, his dark green eyes dart from my face to my left hand. He grabs it. "Where's the ring I gave you?" he asks in a rather inquisitive tone.
"Do you think I'm an opportunist?" I reply, holding his gaze.
"Of course not!"
"Pamela will give it back to your parents, since our engagement is broken," I explain, freeing my hand.
"But it was a present for you!" he rebuts, clearly disappointed.
"It was more than a present, Adam, it was a promise for life… but now this promise cannot be kept, and you know why."
"I thought you would have kept my ring as a sort of district token, at least to remind you that you can trust me."
"No, it would have only reminded me that you're willing to sacrifice your life for me, but I don't want anyone to die for me, Adam! Is that understood?" I retort, raising my voice.
"There can be only one victor, so only one of us can survive. Believe me, I'll do anything I can to make sure it's you," he says, putting his hands on my shoulders.
"Anything may happen in the arena, you cannot make predictions now!"
"Please, calm down, Rebecca! I'm just saying what I'm going to do; you'd better start thinking of your strategy as well," he suggests.
"So, wasting your life is a strategy for you!?"
"Do you know what my parents told me after the Reaping? They said that, if I win, they'll make sure I'll settle down properly- properly according to their standards, of course, my opinion is not important. In this way, I won't make any other "rush decision". But do you know what I think? I think that I'd rather die for a person I really care about than live the rest of my life in a cage and with a person I don't love."
"Who knows? You could fall for this person," I offer.
"I don't think so, not if my parents choose her in my place."
"You did the same with me, when you asked for my hand."
I know it's a cruel thing to tell a person who will probably die to save your life, but it must be said. That's how I feel, that's how things are: I didn't want to get engaged, but everything had already been settled without my consent.
"You may not love me, Rebecca- I mean, not in the way a wife is supposed to love her husband- but I'm sure you don't hate me," he says.
"I don't hate you, indeed, but I've never thought of marrying you; I didn't see you as a possible husband before your proposal, and even more so now," I reply.
"The Games ruined everything, I know," he says in a sad tone.
"You destroyed all your hopes yourself, when you volunteered."
He doesn't say anything in response. He's about to leave the bar car with his tail between his legs, but I feel too guilty to let him go. I've been too harsh.
"Adam, wait!" I say.
He turns around. "Yes?"
I sigh. "Just because one of us will die, it doesn't mean that we cannot be allies."
A slight smile forms on his lips. "I think so as well."
…...
Autumn Peachskin (18)- District 8 female tribute
The Actress
I have to admit that I spent a good night despite everything. My bed was quite comfortable. I get out of my room ready for breakfast. I sincerely hope to meet Gemini Webb and speak to him about strategy before arriving at the Capitol. As a mentor, he's supposed to give advice to his tributes, but he hasn't even dignified Tartan and me with a look since we left District 8. I find him in the bar car, while he's doing lovey-dovey along with Miranda Cleo. Not a great sight, to be sincere. And the worst part of all is that even though they have clearly seen me enter, they haven't stopped yet.
I clear my throat. "Ahem… can I speak to you in private, Gemini?"
He snorts. "You can say whatever you want even in front of Miranda," he says in what sounds like an exasperated voice.
Hey, I'm just asking you to do your job!
"I'd rather not," I insist.
Gemini snorts again. "Please, Miranda, wait for me in the dining car. We'll have breakfast together, okay?"
She doesn't say a word in response. She limits herself to leave the car, without looking at me. Anyway, I can tell by the way she walks that she's rather annoyed.
Don't worry, your charming prince will come back to you soon!
I get closer to the bar counter and sit on a high, cherry-red chair. "Do you really love her?" I ask Gemini.
"What?" he says with a puzzled expression on his face.
Clearly, my question was unexpected.
"I was just wondering if you love Miranda," I go on, shrugging.
"No, this can't be what you came for!"
"No, indeed. But we could have a little conversation in the meantime."
"What's your game?"
"No game. I just want to know my mentor," I reply with a slight smile.
"Well, if you expect to find a friend in me, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed; I'm not less despicable than my Capitolite girlfriend," he states, while pouring some blue liquor in a long, slim glass.
I'm taken aback by his statement, and the puzzled expression on my face must have betrayed my feelings, since Gemini goes on speaking with a satisfied smirk on his lips: "Oh, dear, it was not the answer you expected, was it?"
I'm suddenly aware of a role reversal. Gemini is leading the game now; he's the villain and he's keeping the hero in check. To be sincere, I didn't realize my mentor was like that before. Yeah, during his Games he double-crossed his allies, but who could image that he was that despicable? This revelation has shocked me. Now, I don't know how to behave, and this is not something that happens very often. What should I do?
"So, you don't love her for real," I say eventually.
He bursts out laughing in response. "Oh, dear, you're really naïve! Of course not! We both know that this is just a temporary affair; mixed marriages are not allowed, after all. But we can be talked about, in the meantime. Miranda has become more popular as an escort, so, when we spilt up, she'll certainly be assigned to a better district. I truly hope Eight will have another attractive escort to console my poor, broken heart, when Miranda leaves me," he replies, uttering the last words in a fake desperate tone.
At this stage, I decide to change the subject and move straight to what I came for: strategy. "Okay, your private life is not my business. I'd rather talk about the Hunger Games," I say.
"There are few things you need to do, in this regard: look pleasant and self-confident in front of the cameras, stay alive... and I'll see what I can do with sponsors. I heard that you're an actress, so it shouldn't be hard for you," he replies.
"What about Tartan?" I enquire.
"He's a bloodbath like his brother, don't ally with him," he dismisses the subject with such a coolness that my blood turns cold in my veins.
"But you're his mentor! You cannot give up on him now!" I retort, beside myself.
"What I have to do as a mentor is choosing the best tribute to focus on. You're the daughter of a victor, Autumn, and you volunteered for your sister… Capitolites love this kind of stuff! You've already built your character- drawing a parallel with theatre should make it easier for you to understand, I suppose. On the other hand, we have Tartan, a hopeless child. Who do you think the audience will root for? For Tartan? Or for you?" he explains, while pacing around, always keeping his piercing, green eyes on me.
"I don't care about what you think! I'll ally with Tartan!"
He smirks and shrugs. "Do as you please, I'll be focusing on you, in any case."
So, these are the train rides with the first POVs after the Reapings. I hope nicknames help you to remember the tributes' backgrounds, because that's precisely their purpose.
SUBMITTERS can assign points to: Scarlett (D2F), Oliver (D4M), Autumn (D8F), Rebecca (D9F), Fabian (D12M)
(For everyone) Below, I'll provide you with a question for each tribute. Of course, you're not obliged to answer them all, but, if you do, I'll be glad to know your opinion. Every review is worth 5 points for the tributes you name.
Scarlett: what do you think of her strategy with Victor?
Oliver: how do you think he should approach his twin sister?
Autumn: do you agree with her decision to ally with her district partner?
Rebecca: should she really ally with Adam?
Fabian: what do you think of his attitude?
I'm pretty busy at the moment, since I've got many exams is January, so I'll probably update less frequently. I'm really sorry, I'll try not to disappear, but I can make no promises. Bear with me.
Thank you a lot for reading! Have a nice week and a happy holiday :)
