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Post by Seryna on Jun 6, 2012 14:52:13 GMT -5
The morning passed very quickly over District 9. As the Games were in their first day; every one was tense as they watched the footage unfold. Some people took turns working in the field with watching the footage. The whispered updates as people returned from the field became more and more tense.
"Jace Coltan has allied with the 'Big Alliance'. He's made it out of the Blood Bath...'
"That District 12 boy blinded two careers. They actually fled the Blood Bath...'
'Jace's alliance has reached the Forrest. I hope Thrall and Kale don't head there as well..."
Then the whispers come to a startled silence. The cries of pain and fright of young girls fill the screen. Someone is being attacked in the woods. The camera hurtles through the trees; coming to rest on Micha and little Abigail. Abigail is screeching in fright; making ineffective batting motions at the crow that harasses her. Micha does her best to beat the crows from Abigail with her hatchet; but the girl is untrained and the birds are merciless.
The crowd immediately hushes; all afraid to look over to where Abigail's family reside; clutching each other in fear. Abigail's father is presumably in the field... Abigail's mother, Beatrienne, is pregnant and near to term. Abraham and Brighton; six and ten respectively, refused to sit and scampered by their mother's legs. Alice, the three year old, snuggled with her mother.
The cameras move back to the Big Alliance; zooming in on the climbing Jasmine and Rory. Jasmine ventures towards the crows; then moves back to the alliance.
"Tributes ahead, with two biggun birds affer 'em. We can go 'round a long way an' 'void 'em... but," Jasmine said."They might make it tuh the lake'n'island first."
"Who are the tributes?" Tank called back to the two tree-dwelling members of the Alliance.
The cameras spin; showing the confusion and worry on the tributes faces as they decide. It eventually centers on Jace. He nodded to Lallek. "We go the long way and cover our tracks."
The two move away from the fight; heading for the Lake. The cameras center once again on the crows. Little Abigail has now fallen to the ground, covering her head in her hands. Rory, Tank, Jasmine, Rowan and Pearl arrive; doing their best to aid the girls. People gasp as the crows attack Micha, Rory, Tank and Rowan.
"I hope it doesn't go for eyes." Someone whispers as Rowan hides her face from the camera.
Soon the crows are slain and the tributes take stock. Someone realizes that Abigail isn't moving. Micha crouches beside her, cradling her and whispering her name. The big boy from district 7 inquires after a medkit; but there's none to give. The crowd of district nine grows increasingly worried as the camera zooms in on Abigail's face; showing her bloody wound and stilling body.
Someone finally breaks down as the little girl's eyes are closed. The camera now zooms to Micha's face as tears streak down her dirty cheeks. Rory speaks softly to Micha and the girl places her pack near Rory. Refusing Rory's help, skinny Micha struggles to carry and place Abigail in the shade of a nearby tree.
Soon the camera moves away; focusing now on Jace and Lallek. Jace is shown cultivating mushrooms; placing them in his pack. Soon the group reaches the Lake and Lallek shows Jace a note. The camera does not reveal it.
"You want a big smoky fire to draw them in?" "This is a good place. With a little modification, we could probably set it up that way."
"We don't even know if they're alive. Though...I haven't heard any cannons. They'll make it to the lake, and a group that big will likely be pretty visible."
"You're right though. For this to work, we'll need the Big Alliance. I'm no good in the trees. On the ground I'm solid, but in the trees...Looks like I'll be playing bait."
"We'll need a white flag. Because we left them."
"After we do it, though..."
The camera centers on Jace's face; showing that something is brewing in that mind...
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QuinnTalon
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Post by QuinnTalon on Jun 6, 2012 17:17:37 GMT -5
Jan Colton[/u]
He's playing smart. Jace was always smart. And not everyone would be able to tell, but it was tearing him up inside, making the choices he was making. But Jan could see it. Plain and bright as day. His younger twin was hating having to choose. Hating to have to leave people behind in order to keep himself safe. The first day of the Cornucopia, his parents had let him stay out of the fields because if he heard of Jace's death while working, he'd be no good to anyone.
And unlike Jace, his anger and grief was a palatable, violent thing. Someone killing his twin brother?
His rage would likely be too dangerous to allow a scythe.
He'd found himself down at the big screens in town. Watching. Waiting. Watching was better than not knowing, and the countdown and seeing hsi younger brother turn toward the camera and smile. Wink. Give the District 9 salute and then take off like a bat out of hell...
He hadn't been able to look away.
Now, he was sitting here and his brother--the eldest--had come to sit beside him. To watch the footage by the Lake. "Someone sent him binoculars."
Jan swallowed. "I know."
Kal's strong hand squeezed his shoulder. "He's smart, Jan. He has a chance."
"Only one can win." Having watched his mother gush over how handsome Jace had looked at the interviews had been downright nauseating. He hadn't been able to watch too long, though when his brother came on screen he hadn't been able to look away.
One of those people was going to kill his brother. One of those people....
"Come get something to eat. Pa says he's gonna come watch him. He'll never be alone, Jan."
Jan swallowed, his fingers clenching. "I'll stay a little longer. Just...a little longer." At least, until Pa came. He wouldn't be leaving Jace until their father was sitting here and watching over him.
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Post by QuinnTalon on Jun 7, 2012 9:37:21 GMT -5
Jan Colton[/u]
"I don't think I've ever heard Jace talk that much in...ever." Kal was sitting there with his father, listening to his younger brother make plans. Jace was their quiet shadow. The unnoticed one. The one who got in trouble mostly for getting his brothers and sisters out of it.
The one who got thrashed because he put his name in the tesserae when they were starving.
"That's 'cuz his partner can't talk." Pa had been watching. "That Lallek boy...he'll watch your brother's back. Jace'll watch his, and maybe they'll both get to come home." Because that was all he could hope for.
"He's making up for Jan's mouth?"
His father smirked. "Likely." Filling the silence, because being around someone who couldn't speak made things too quiet for him, most likely. Jan talked. Jace was quiet. One of the many juxtapositions between the Colton Twins.
But Jan not being there meant Jace needed to fill the silence. Six kids, and he was the one who didn't get nearly as much attention as the others, mostly because he didn't demand it.
...But he was getting attention now. From his mother. From his father. From his sisters and brothers and the entire District. Finally Jace was getting some attention.
Even if he would likely have to die for it.
Jan had eaten and then come right back. He'd have to go to work tomorrow in the fields, but until then he was free to do what he wanted, and right now he was sitting silently with his oldest brother and his father, watching Jace whenever he came on screen.
"This whole thing...with the 'more than one person can win'. It's good. So long as he has someone watching out for him, he'll be alright." Kal. The 'ray of sunshine'
Coward. He could have volunteered. He could have saved Jace, but he hadn't. Jace would have done it for him. Would have stood up and said he'd go in Kal's place. Coward.
So yes: Jan was a little angry. Even if he hadn't volunteered himself. He could kick himself for that. He was better suited to that. More ruthless. Less thoughtful. He could have taken out a Career or two, but he hadn't been able to get the words passed the lump in his throat and Jace was now paying the price.
"You could have volunteered." "So could you have." Kal snapped back. "And neither of you did. So enough." Their father was firm on that. There would be no blaming each other for this. Things happened, and if they were lucky Jace would come home, and the Colton's would never know this sort of pain ever again.
"That Micha is pretty." Kal said, after a long silence.
"The night before the Reaping, we all took a walk. Me and Jace and Micha and her cousin Tobias. I..."
"You clowned." Josiah--their father--stated.
"Yeah. But I think...I think she liked Jace more. Weird."
Kal raised an eyebrow, but stayed silent. "We should go give our condolences to Abby's family. And invite Tobias over. Or something. So he doesn't..."
"So he doesn't have to watch any of this alone?" Jan didn't much care.
"Yeah. So he doesn't have to watch it alone."
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Post by QuinnTalon on Jun 14, 2012 8:19:20 GMT -5
Jan Colton[/u]
"D'ya think Jace got good things ta eat in tha Capitol?"
Sam--their eleven year old brother--hadn't been allowed to come down to the Center. Where the big screens were playing the Games all day and all night. People watched loved one's die there every year.
"Probably. Did you see how he looked at the Interview? He was so handsome. I never knew Jace could look so handsome." Ally. His oldest sister. She and Kal both had been trying to keep all of them from remembering. They were trying to treat it as if Jace were coming home when the Games were over. As if he had a chance to win it all, and maybe he did, but...
Jan, where his head was resting in his mother's lap, knew better. She kept trying to keep him close. Had already convinced his father to let him stay home tomorrow too, and he knew. She was waiting for word that one of her babies had just died, and since Jan was--for all intents and purposes--Jace's 'other half', she was keeping him close.
Kal was down there right now, watching. They were waiting for word of what was going on, and Jan had been down there too much. Their father had said that. He needed to come back and have a rest.
Jan wanted to live it with him. To know it. To realize. To understand that when and if Jace came home--the off chance that could happen--that he could still be...his brother.
He also knew that the promise he made Jace make wasn't a fair one. 'Don't let it change you'. How was he supposed to do that? How could he do that and survive?
He couldn't.
And the two promises he'd made Jace make...
Stay alive.
Don't let this change you who are.
They weren't fair. They weren't right.
Kal was suddenly in the doorway, breathing heavily like he'd run all the way home. "They're fighting. Both him and Micha."
Jan was up like a bolt, and out the door before their mother could stop him. They'd been planning on lighting a fire and smoking out the Careers. Get them out of the way and so far as he could see, Jace was hoping they'd be able to out-survive everyone else.
His brother was very good at surviving. Maybe it was a chance.
He got there in time to see Diamond make a slash against Jace's shoe, but she was all but ignored as Jace charged at...that little twelve year old. He couldn't remember right away...
"Emily went after Lallek. Got him good too. In the side." Josiah was watching intently. Everyone else was alternating between watching Josiah and watching the screen. "You shouldn't be here."
"He shouldn't have to..."
"He wouldn't want you to see him like this, Jan. He would any of us to"
But they'd promised each other they wouldn't leave him alone. Even when Jace slashed Emily, and she managed to drive a knife into his thigh. Jan couldn't tear his eyes away.
And then it was both of them on him. He managed to hit Emily in the chest with his Scythe, but they were both coming at him pretty hard, and when Emily managed to pin him, Jan thought it was over....
...Something happened though. Diamond took off into the woods, picking up Emerald on her way and leaving Emily behind. Jace had tried to knock his head against the girl's, but that hadn't worked, and then he stepped on her instep....
"I was wonderin' when he was going to do that. It's how he always gets free of me when you're not around, Jan. Steps on my foot. Dont' know why I always fall for it but..."
And then Lallek. They both slit her throat at the same time, it looked like, and she fell lifeless to the ground.
Klo. Jan frowned. Klo-the-Career. If they were smart, they'd kill her, and when Lallek passed his brother that note, and he saw the way Jace's hand tightened on the scythe...
...And then the District 7 boy told them that they weren't killing her, and he saw the look in Jace's eyes.
He didn't want to, but he saw no other way. She was blind, and every point his brother made was a good one. She'd die. Slowly. And he couldn't blame Jace for breaking a doomed alliance if they kept her around. They hadn't told anyone how big an alliance would be able to go home together....
...And Jace and Lallek had something solid. If they took care of themselves...
"If Jace and Lallek take care of each other, they could win this." Kal. Their father, on the other hand, wasn't able to take his eyes off of Jace's face.
And when Jan looked at him, watching the firelight the way he was and looking down at little Emily's broken body, he knew.
He knew which promise Jace had chosen.
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Post by Seryna on Jun 14, 2012 20:31:24 GMT -5
Town Center The Coltans had been intent on watching their brother compete; and two more families had gathered nearest the screens. Someone had brought over a rough hewn table and six figures sit upon it; clutching each other tightly. The other neighbors had stayed a respectful distance away; although at times moments of surprise made them cry out. Cry out things that could be hurtful to Tobias' and his mother, Tabitha, as Pearl blindsided Micha. His cousin lay sprawled on the muddy floor as Rachel leaned down and plucked Micha's pack from her unconscious hand.
"Kill the traitor." Someone hissed as Pearl came onscreen; slapping Rachel across the face. Rachel had whole legs however - and used them to savagely kick Pearl in her injured thigh. Pearl crumpled on the ground, fresh blood beginning to blossom through her pants. The girl didn't quit; quietly watching at Rachel went for the crows. When Rachel bent to pick up the brace of birds; Pearl flung dirt in the District 4 girl's face.
The people begin to become animated as the screen went back to Jace; following his encounter with Emily.
"Show Micha." Tobias urged; sitting on the edge of his seat. His mother -just as dusky skinned and dark haired as he - brushed his hair soothingly. But she was biting her lip; and had no words.
The other four at the table looked to Tobias sympathetically. Abigail's mother; Beatrice; looked like a wrung out dish towel. Her face was thin and had no color except for red splotches upon her nose. She was pregnant; near to term - and someone had pressed a warm bowl of soup into her hand. Kindness and charity; never seen in the Games; but glimpsed occasionally to the family left behind.
Beatrice seemed to have no appetite but Alice; the three year old, lapped the warm broth happily. She occasionally chirped happily when she recognized Micha and Jace; not understanding the enormity of what had occurred to her family today - or what might still unfold for Jace and Micha's family. Abraham and Brighton; six and ten; clutched each other fearfully.
These two made joyful exclamations at Jace's violence; but fell silent when the Big Alliance fell into words. This was confusing. They looked to each other; remarking quietly. "They need to hide." Beatrice patted their heads; trying to sooth them to silence. She was watching Jace's face as Tank continued to watch him.
"They need to talk, now." She explained simply. "Then they will hide and sleep."
The cluster at the table watched for another beat; hanging on the edge of their seats as the tension with the Alliance rose.
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Post by QuinnTalon on Jun 15, 2012 19:48:06 GMT -5
"I'll stay tonight while he sleeps." Max, Jan and Jace's younger sister. Thirteen. Colored like Jace. Dark skin and black hair and blue, blue eyes, her hair braided down to the middle of her back, pieces of it having escaped and touching her dirty cheeks.
They'd been working today, but she wanted to stay with him. "Someone needs to watch over him while he sleeps." And she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. Not without Jace's voice to soothe her there.
Jan could feel his own eyes getting heavy in spite of himself. He hadn't been able to sleep well since his brother had gone. Hard to sleep while you were waiting for someone you loved to be murdered on a huge screen for all of Panem to see.
Hard to sleep when you knew someone would take great pleasure in it.
Ally had gone to sit with Micha's family, offering her silent support. Family was important. More important than anything, and Jan well knew it. None of the Tributes would be left to die alone. There would be someone here from every family when ti happened. It was just the way things were done in District 9.
The words 'I never want to have babies' were never said aloud here. It was blasphemous. To say such things...it was to be broken. It was to admit that the Capitol had won. That you couldn't stand to love someone. That you'd rather do without than know the pain of loss.
Jace read the letter, and Jan released a breath. At least Lallek seemed to agree. That they leave. That they get away from the doomed alliance.
He just hoped that someone else--one of the others--saw the wisdom in Lallek's words. In Jace's.
Hopefully someone else wanted to go home as badly as they did.
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Post by QuinnTalon on Jun 17, 2012 9:51:15 GMT -5
Jan Colton[/u]
"He needs to get away from those people." It wasn't Kal or Ally this time. It was Max, her head resting in her arms. Micha and Jace had cuddled up for warmth, and Jan was in much the same position as his little sister, leaving his brother to sleep and keeping his mind off of things by talking to his sister.
"He needs someone to look at his wounds. That he went to bed with them like that..." Jan worried. A lot. No one expected him to do anything other than that though. What Jace said to those people about promises and souls wasn't a lie.
It was the honest truth. He didn't know how his brother thought he'd be able to live if he died. He'd be half a soul. How could a person live like that....
...They were both likely beginning to realize how unfair those promises they'd made each other make had been. Jan knew he was.
Jace likely was too.
"He's tired. He's hurt. And they're pressing his buttons. I'd slap the self-righteous look off that Rory's face if I could. She called him a 'Peacekeeper', and apparently she gets to be rude and bossy and nasty, but if someone else is...."
She sighed. "They don't understand...."
"Of course they don't. They're not from here. They don't get it."
"They never will. He tried but..."
Jan just shrugged. Micha, at least, seemed to get it. Even if she was raised in District 8. She got it. But then, her mother was from 9. Maybe that was why she understood. Why she felt safe enough to let Jace help keep her warm.
"..No one gets it."
Ally nodded. "I know. Even I don't. No one but you and Jace do...and that's okay." At least it was 'okay' to someone. "You know that Jace will stay true to us. To you. He's not going to forget his promise to you, even with them looking down their noses at him.
"He's strong. He's not a follower."
Jan frowned. "He follows me."
"That's different. That's because he wants to follow you. He's not bullied into it. He trusts you, Jan."
"He trusts that Lallek boy."
"Yeah...but...Jace needs friends. Mama and Pa always say that."
"He has a friend."
"...True. But..." Max shook her head a little. "You know what they mean."
It was a long silence, the two of them laying their heads in their arms looking at each other. Waiting for the night to break into violence once again.
"Max." Jan felt tears threaten. His throat closed for a moment, and he swallowed. Even when he spoke though, his voice was weak. Nothing about Jan Colton was ever 'weak' but here, in this moment, he felt utterly helpless.
"If he dies...I die."
Max--sweet, understanding Max, put her hands over his. Dark like Jace. Pretty and sweet and quiet, like Jace.
"I know, Jan." And her own eyes filled with tears. "And that's okay."
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Post by QuinnTalon on Jun 18, 2012 10:27:13 GMT -5
From the Journal of Katie Colton[/u]
I watched My Sunlight die today.
No one else saw it. We all watched the big screen while Jace fought--with that alliance--those Career District children. I call them that. They're children. Someone's sons. Someone's daughters. To make them into monsters like that is beyond cruel.
Though perhaps it's their way of coping. Here, we keep our children close and love them with everything we are, and pray that the day doesn't come where we hear that awful woman say their names as if going to the slaughter were something they should be honored to do.
He'll never be the same. Even if he comes home--My Love assures me that he has a chance at it--My Sunlight will never be the same. Jace will play at being 'alright' like he always does, but I can already see the shadows creeping into his eyes. As I sit here, His Other Half's head resting exhausted in my lap as he sleeps, I see the shadows overtaking my Sunlight, and one day soon I'll watch it die.
There will be no more Sunlight.
Rays are trying to break through the clouds though. He's trying to smile. Trying to be charming and sweet and it's just not cutting through like it used to. These horrible Games are turning someone pure into someone monstrous, and in the end while we rail and blame the Capitol....
...We only have ourselves to blame. None of us fight back. None of us look those Peacekeepers in the eye and tell them they can't have our children. None of us refuse to take our children to The Reaping. None of us tell the Capitol to go to he-ll.
We let them take them. We let them make us watch them die, and we don't do a thing about it.
And I'm watching My Sunshine eat blueberries. I'm watching him bleed and hurt, and I know he's likely not coming home and I tell myself--I promise him--that it's alright, even as I know that I won't be losing one son.
I'll be losing two.
--Katie Colton
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Post by Seryna on Jul 3, 2012 23:12:13 GMT -5
The screen at the Town Square Suddenly; the image on the screen changes from Lallek and Jace planning. The camera is overhead; centering on a lone figure in a snow covered landscape. It pans in to reveal Rachel looking through a pair of binoculars. The camera follows Rachel as she moves to a section of trampled snow. She lifts the edge of the 'snow' and reveals a hidden lean to made with a tarp and concealed in a snow drift. It looks nearly imperceptible against the white landscape.
The girl sits in her hidden lean to and rubs her arms; keeping warm.
A young man in his twenties appears; wearing a black long sleeved shirt and pants. He glances around the center; observing the gathered whispering groups. Brighton and Abraham have taken to chasing each other around the square at this quiet portion of the games. Beatrice and Tabitha murmur quietly to one another; their eyes riveted to the screen. Little Alice is bobbing her way through the crowd, amusing herself by tugging on people's coats and ducking away in a fit of giggles.
The smiling girl comes upon the newcomer and promptly tugs on his sleeve. The man's instinct is a cross scowl; but it warms as he sees the toddler. "Hello, sweet pea." He greets softly; bending down to look at the girl eye to eye. "Where's your mama?" "Mama." Alice chirps. "Mama. Abby." "Abby? Abigail?" "Abby." The toddler insists. The man gains a peculiar look in his eye as he continues to evaluate the little girl. The girl; bored with the man, wanders back towards where her mother sits with Tabitha; Micha's aunt. Upon seeing Beatrice; the man has a glint of recognition in his eye. He steps back from the square; beginning to melt away.
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Post by QuinnTalon on Jul 5, 2012 21:14:15 GMT -5
Jan Colton[/u]
His brother wasn't on the screen anymore.
Which meant that he wasn't needed here. They'd turn away from his brother and Lallek from District 4 and gone to Rachel. That betraying little...nasty...Why would they put her on screen? She was a monster.
...And he couldn't say he wouldn't have done the same things in that position. His brother was a good person, but him? He never claimed that. It wasn't in his make-up, or in his capability, to be a 'good person' in a situation like that. He'd have slaughtered all of those people in their sleep.
Then again, he'd have charmed their pants off first. Convinced them all that it was safe to go to sleep and 'of course I'll wake you if something bad happens'. He'd have convinced the world that he was as noble as that Rory-girl who had the biggest damned martyr-honor-holier-than-thou complex he'd seen on anyone in his life....
...And he'd have killed them all.
It was why he could kick himself for not volunteering when Jace's name had been called. Jace didn't have a malicious bone in his body, and murdering these people would kill him--assuming he made it home.
Jan didn't have those sensibilities. He would just have a Purpose.
And Jace had meant it when he'd said that he wasn't going home without that Lallek-boy. He could see it in his eyes. That wasn't just for the camera, though Jan was sure his twin would be getting a great deal of sponsorship money for that little sweet moment.
The Capitol ate that crap up.
Little Alice had tugged on his shirt a time or two, and he'd just looked down at her and then back at the screen. When what his brother was doing apparently became 'not important' to the Capitol, he'd stood up and dusted his pants off, which was about when he saw the man talking to little Alice. Saw her run off and him look at her confused.
And then he started to try and fade away.
But Jan kept his eyes on him. Something odd was going on there, and Jan wasn't going to let him 'melt away' unremembered. Especially the way he'd just looked at Abigail's mother. At Beatrice.
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Post by Seryna on Jul 5, 2012 22:30:23 GMT -5
As Jan watches the unknown man; it dons on him just how odd that is. He could name every one in this center - and their kin folk; for that matter. The community had to pull together to make it through the lean times; and to make it through the viewing of these games. Yet here was a stranger who apparently was very interested in little Alice and her mother, Beatrice. Jan's observation pays off as the man pulls out something from his pocket.
Its something that Jan has never seen before. It is a black electronic device with a screen and the man seems to manipulate something very quickly with his thumb. A messaging device from the Capitol.
The Stranger spends about a minute composing a message; then slips the device back into his pocket. It was priceless here in District Nine; but likely plentiful in the Capitol. The man moved outside of the center; moving to sit in the shade of a tree. He remains rather motionless; watching. Two white clad Peacekeepers give what they think is a discreet glance in his direction; but Jace sees it...
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Post by QuinnTalon on Jul 6, 2012 9:26:26 GMT -5
If he were a thief, he'd consider it. Just not with all these people and Peacekeepers around. He'd consider stealing that device and...where would he sell it? There would be no place around here who could afford it, and no place that would buy it because God forbid they be caught with it...
...It just wasn't worth the risk, and how incredibly disappointed in him Jace would be...he couldn't stand the thought.
But he was still curious. Jan knew everyone in the town square. Everyone and their family. It was how things were here. They pulled together in times of need, and supported each other, and didn't let the Games or the Capitol turn them against each other. No matter what, it was an unspoken promise that no one blamed the families for what their sons and daughters were forced to do to survive in that place. It took a village to raise a child
It also took a village to mourn one.
Still, Jan didn't know him, and talking to the guy wasn't a crime and he'd never been shy, and Mama would thrash him into next Thursday if he weren't polite.
Which was why he made his way toward the tree, offering a hand to shake and smiling. Where Jace was all sunlight, Jan was all charm.
"Hi. I'm Jan, and I realized that you're tha only person in tha square that I don't know. So? I thought ta remedy that."
See? Nothing odd here. Just a simple farm-boy showing a little poor-man's hospitality. Just a simple, simple farmboy.
Hopefully the man believed it.
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Post by Seryna on Jul 6, 2012 13:23:28 GMT -5
The man blinked and stared up at Jan from his sitting position. He appeared to be in his mid twenties; with light milk - white skin. His eyes were grey; and his coloring light - his hair was the color of straw in the sunlight. The clothing that he wore was wrinkled; but still fine enough to look out of place. Not quite enough patches; not enough stains to suggest that they have been worked in.
The man stood; wiping his hand on his pants before extending it to accept Jan's. "Hello there. I'm Hans; Kal's nephew."
Kal. There was a name you hadn't heard in awhile. He was one of the older citizens of the district; bent over from arthritis. He wasn't seen around town or the fields much. Kal had run the blacksmith when you were a child; but now his children - Helois (28); Hank (25) and Greta, (23) - ensured that the scythes were cutting well.
"I just moved to town to help the family."
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Post by QuinnTalon on Jul 6, 2012 15:48:14 GMT -5
"My older brother is named after your uncle." No one had ever asked why. Kal didn't even know, but Pa had insisted when his first boy was born that he be named Kal.
Hence, Kal-the-Oldest.
"I'm Jan Colton, actually." He looks up at the screen, and Jace isn't back on it so he didn't much care what was going on. If his twin was on the screen, he'd be watching it. "Nice to meet you, Hans. Where'd you move from?"
It wasn't often you met someone from outside the District, and this was two in under a month. First Micha, and then Hans. It was more than a little interesting.
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Post by Seryna on Jul 12, 2012 21:02:31 GMT -5
"You're actually Jan Colton. The actual Jan." The man plays with Jan's choice of words with a bemused smile on his face.
"I didn't move." The man disagrees with Jan's assumption. "I have a temporary pass to help my uncle. I hope that I can get everything squared away in the time allotted..." That in itself was interesting; for poor farmers seldom were granted passes.
"Oh; thats interesting." Hans remarked blandly.
The center screen focuses on what the Game Makers are most interested in - usually confrontations. Right now it is trained on two tributes who have discovered that their cache of gear has been disturbed- and that some is missing. The feral young boy with the bow leads the way towards the Forrest; following the tracks laid down. The viewers know that these tracks will lead towards Jace and Lallek.
The second screen is centered on Jasmine's alliance as they attempt to track down the Victor's Bracelets.
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QuinnTalon
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Post by QuinnTalon on Jul 14, 2012 10:24:24 GMT -5
"Yeah. The actual Jan Colton." He looks back up at the screen and winces. His brother was being followed, and by that kid from District 12 who had an affinity for shooting at people's eyes. Hopefully Jace could stay off his radar.
If it were Jan? He'd talk his way into an alliance, but Jace wasn't Jan, and he had to stop thinking like that.
Jan swallowed, and looked back at the man. "Sorry. Boy-Twelve is hunting my twin and his alliance-partner. You understand."
And he hadn't answered where he'd come from. Jan caught that. "Alright...so where are you visiting from? We don't get many visitors here. Especially just to come and 'help'. They aren't exactly generous with the visitor's vouchers."
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QuinnTalon
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Post by QuinnTalon on Aug 30, 2012 16:33:09 GMT -5
Jan Colton; Post 25th Quarter Quell 'Feast'[/u]
He swallowed. Stopped what he was doing.
It was day. Bright. Harvest was soon. Fingers trailed over the thigh-high barley, his right hand wrapped around the machete as he searched. There. One.
A stalk that was diseased. With little more than a passing though he chopped down the stalk, and then knelt down. Pulled. The roots came up with it, and he left it for Max to pick up as she walked behind him. It was disconcerting, to see her out of the corner of his eye sometimes.
Same height. Same coloring. Same quiet sweetness.
Still, he stopped. Swallowing.
"You need water?" Sweet. Offering her water-skin. Jan shook his head, his left hand unconsciously rubbing his shirt over his heart. For once--since they took Jace away--he'd been oddly quiet.
Normally, they couldn't get hm to shut up.
Max shrugged, hooking the water-skin back to her belt and picking up the root and the stalk to shove into her overssized sack. Tendrils of black hair were escaping her long braid. Hair the same color and texture as her immediate older brother...
...She missed him nearly as much as Jan did.
He was better at this. Jace could spot a sick or diseased plant from thirty paces. He was just...a better farmer. He always had been, and would probably be happy living hand-to-mouth. Or at least, he would have been.
Maybe.
"You feel alright?" "What do you think?" It's snapped, and he closed his eyes. "Sorry." "No need, Jan. No need." Another smile. Bright. Too bright. It hurt.
"...Kal's comin'."
Jan looked up from where his eyes were traveling over barley stalks. The Feast was today, but Kal wasn't rushing. Wasn't moving toward the two of them any faster than normal. In fact.... ...He'd slowed down. Stopped just out of Jan's arm-reach.
The look on his face though. Green eyes were pinched. His nice clothes from the Winery a little bit mussed, and there was a wet stain on his shoulder. His shoes...He shouldn't be wearing those shoes out here. They were too nice and too expensive. Mama would have kittens...
He'd gotten a good job after the last Reaping if only because he would be too old next year to be Reaped. A really good job. His family would never starve the way the rest of the Coltons did.
"...Jan..." His voice was choked. Raspy. His oldest brother swallowed, and took a deep, shaking breath. There was a small sound behind him. The familiar sound of his little sister on the verge of tears and he looked over his shoulder to see one of her delicate, calloused hands covering her mouth. Her pretty blue eyes full of tears.
Kal couldn't even say it. But Jan...
Jan didn't need him to.
It felt like his soul was breaking. It hurt, more than anything in his life had ever hurt. His breath was coming in short pants. Fingers clenched around the machete in his hand, and the sound of the field was silent. There was no sweet singing. No whispering melody to take them all away from their work and to someplace lovely.
The west wind touched his cheek, it's fingers playing through his hair. Caressing the cold tears that had apparently started falling the moment his brother had said his name. The moment he'd seen his face. The moment he'd seen Max's pain.
His soul was breaking... ...The fields were silent. No one was moving. They were watching him. Waiting.
They didn't wait long.
It's a blur of movement, and he doesnt' hear his own wordless, broken cry of utter rage as his brother dodges the overhand motion of the machete. He turned toward where he'd run to see Kal shielding their youngest sister, who was by now wracked with tears.
His arm came up once again, but it was stopped by a stronger hand, and he dropped the tool. Still, he fought, and his arm was twisted around behind his back, and whoever had him sunk to the ground with him, his other arm wrapped around Jan's chest.
He didn't feel himself break.
All Jan felt was the rage melt into despair, and his own body was wracked with sobs. There was no strength left in him, and he could hear small gasps of both disbelief and sympathy, but they were somewhere far away.
The strong arms holding him were rocking now, and he could hear his Pa's voice trying to sooth him. Could hear the man's own pain and own tears in his voice as he did it. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore.
Nothing.
Broken. Violent. Loud. His body was curling in on itself in his father's arms.
Because his brother--his Better Half--was gone. Dead. They'd killed him. They'd killed the purest thing in Jan's life. The best thing. The thing that embodied everything that was Hope and Goodness.
It was gone. All of it. The Hope. The Good. The Purity. It was gone.
"Go, Kal. Take Max home. I'll take care of Jan. Tell your Mama...just tell her I have him." Strong. Broken. Bleeding on the inside.
Family was everything. Everything.
And Jace was gone.
"Pa..." It's shaking, and loud, and...he doesn't even know how he gets enough air. It hurt. It hurt so bad....
"I know, Jan....I know."
No. He didn't. He didn't know.
No one would ever, ever know...
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CuteLikeMurder
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Sept 2, 2012 19:55:49 GMT -5
Oralee Miller: Mayor
Oralee approached the Colton's home, her old bones protesting each step. The old woman looked like she could have been related to them. She had the same blue eyes. All that was different was her hair color. Before it was as white as snow it had been a rich dark auburn.
When she had heard of the terrible news she sent runners to find the Coltons. Oralee spoke with every family that lost a child to the Games; to offer what she could. There was nothing she could offer that would ease the pain of losing a child or a siblings. Having lost children, siblings, and a spouse to the brutality of the Capitol she knew that much. But if Oralee could just offer something that might help in any small way, she had to do so.
For the last 25 years, Oralee had done this too many times. 48 times she spoke with the grieving families of fallen tributes. This would be her 49th time. And Oralee prayed that Micha survived so she wouldn't have to do it once more this year.
At least she didn't have many more of these games to sit through. At 70 years old, Oralee wouldn't be around much longer. That was her only solace.
Oralee knocked on the door and waited.
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QuinnTalon
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Post by QuinnTalon on Sept 4, 2012 8:28:37 GMT -5
The Coltons were a large family. Six Children, which was the norm--even a bit small, some might say--for District 9.
Five, now that their fourth had been killed in the Games.
It's tall, blond, seventeen year old Ally who opens the door, and it's like stepping into a miasma of sadness. Like most in District 9 who were mourning, there was a picture on the mantle of their son, two candles on either side of it, a black shroud covering.
"Ms. Mayor." Josiah Colton stood, his voice still strong, even if the grief was obvious. Having five other children didn't lessen the loss of one. The heart is not a finite thing. As District 9 would say, 'The Birth of Child only multiplies its' capacity.' There was no doubt in anyone's mind that the loss of the youngest twin would be felt for years to come.
Four of the others were there. The oldest. The two youngest. The elder twin, however, could be heard in another room, still broken. Inconsolable.
It was no wonder.
"What can we do for you?"
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Sept 4, 2012 11:12:46 GMT -5
Oralee placed a steady hand on Ally's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Family meant everything to the people of District 9. Losing someone was like losing a vital body part. She still lit candles for her fallen loved ones twice a year. Once for the day of their birth and again on the day they were taken from her.
"Mr. Colton..." Oralee's heart broke, hearing Jan in the other room. It took her a moment to find her words. "I am so sorry for your loss. Little Jace... I never knew him but my grandchildren tell me that he had a truly beautiful voice. I wish I could have heard him sing."
Her voice was thick with sorrow. "I've come to offer what I can that might help, for lack of a better word. I know very well that nothing will truly help during this time. But I have to offer all of the same."
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QuinnTalon
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Post by QuinnTalon on Sept 4, 2012 14:10:52 GMT -5
The Coltons[/u]
"He...He was a good boy." Josiah's voice caught. Tears never spilled, but they were there. "He loved to sing. The fields won't be the same without him." The family wouldn't be the same without him.
"Jan's taking it the worst." Kal said, looking to the door where his mother and younger brother had disappeared hours ago. The house would never be the same. "Not sure if there's anything anyone can do right now. I'm just hoping Micha comes home."
At least that way, his brother will have won some small victory. That bracelet had been meant for Jace. There was no doubt in his mind. All it would have taken was Jace finding a place to hide and waiting it all out. Waiting until there were none but those with Victor's Bracelets were left.
The bracelet had come too little too late. He'd already been fatally wounded. Maybe if they were lucky, Micha would somehow get it, and Micha would be able to come home. It would be what Jace would have wanted.
Kal was sure of it.
"I can go get him..."
"No need."
Jan was standing in the doorway to the room, one hand on the doorframe. He looked...half-dead, for lack of a better term, dark eyes bloodshot. Tears dried on his face, but there was a new determination there. Something in him had snapped, and now there was nothing there but pure, unadulterated determination.
"Thank you for coming, Ms. Mayor." His voice is thick and raw all at once. Jan Colton was bigger, broader, stronger--and much more 'attractive' than his younger twin. Jace had an understated beauty and a sweetness that couldnt' be matched, but Jan was the 'knock you out of your socks' lovely that the Capitol loved.
"I'm going to volunteer next year, Pa. I need to." It was the only true closure he'd ever have. "If it'll save someone else from feeling like this, then I'll volunteer next year. I'll make myself ready for it."
"...Jan, you need to sit down and think..." "I can't live with half a soul, Pa. Best case: I win and you all live like kings for the rest of your lives. Worst case? I die, and Jace doesn't have to wait so long to go to a better place.
"This world wasn't good enough for him. We all know it. I don't want him stuck here any longer than he has to be, and he can't move on without me.
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Sept 5, 2012 18:35:02 GMT -5
Oralee Miller: Mayor
"We're all hoping Micha makes it home," Oralee said softly. If only to ease the pain this district was going through. However, Micha only had one other. A career and a shady one at that... No, Oralee wouldn't dwell on that. Micha had a chance.
When Jan spoke, Oralee frowned. She took a deep breath and looked around the room. Then she met Jan's eyes.
"It's a noble notion, little one. But this worst case scenario, it doesn't take into account what happens to everyone here after you're gone," Oraless said. "I've buried two brothers, a husband, four children, and countless friends. All gone before their time. Taken during the Dark Days. It's been over 25 years and there are days where it still feels like it was yesterday. It's hard to move, hard to breath... Some days where you wish that it had been you instead of them.
"And I know the bond between twins. But the attachment a parent has for their child... It's just as deep. After all, we made you. Every bone, every vein; we grew you ourselves. We breathed life into you. So there's something unnatural about burying one of your children. And its a pain that you never quite get over."
Oralee paused. "Your twin is with other natives of District Nine. My children and husband are taking good care of him."
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QuinnTalon
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Post by QuinnTalon on Sept 11, 2012 8:31:20 GMT -5
Jan Colton[/u]
"I can't just do nothing." It's said more vehemently than anyone would give him credit for. Jan was intense, and this particular subject--Jace--would make him even more intense than normal. "It should have been me. You all know it. I should have volunteered, but I didn't, and Jace paid for it."
He'd have been better. It was no slight against his brother and in fact was a compliment. Jace didn't belong there. Didn't belong in that horrible place scrounging and killing to survive. He should never had died with blood on his hands.
"Jace...was the best of us. He should have died old and grey in his bed, surrounded by his children. By his grandchildren. By his greatgrandchildren. All he wanted...." All he wanted was to be a farmer. To live the life his father lived. That his father lived.
There's a look to the Mayor then. Maybe she was right. That his parents were going through an awful ordeal right now, and he needed to think about it. He'd thought long and hard before Jace died. Knew that his brother would never have been the same, even if he had come home.
"Even if he'd have survived and come home, his life was already ruined. He'd never be able to thresh again without seeing himself kill those other people. We watched the Jace we knew die on that screen long before that sword and that...scary little girl killed him. I don't blame those other kids for killing Jace.
"I blame the Capitol. I blame the sick, twisted people who could think that putting a teenager in an Arena against others to fight to the death could possibly be entertainment. I blame them.
"And I blame us, because none of us have done a thing to stop it. Like cowards, we just let them do this. We deal with the pain year in and year out, and let them do it again and again and we don't fight back."
He's angry, and he knows it, and he could care less who was listening right now. "Fine. I'll think about it. I'm not promising anything, but I'll think about it."
But even if he didn't volunteer... ...His family would be eating like kings for the next year, because he was going to take out enough tesserae to be sure that he had a really, really good chance of being Reaped.
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Sept 11, 2012 23:44:28 GMT -5
Oralee Miller: Mayor
Oralee frown deepened. And she studied Jan for a long moment. That fire, that rage... Jan was like a barrel of hay dowsed in kerosene. All he needed was a spark and it would go up like a wildfire.
The elderly woman glanced at his parents. She knew the fear they must be feeling. She had gone through it herself when she saw her children off to war. If she had known then what she knew now....
The mayor's gaze fell on Jan again and Oralee knew then she would have still let them join the Rebellion.
She stepped forward until she was face to face with Jan. A few moments in silence passed as Oralee studied the boy once more. "If there were Peacekeepers anywhere around here... they wouldn't just kill you, Jan. They'd kill everyone here... So if you want to live long enough to volunteer learn to be careful..." Oralee paused, and looked into his eyes.
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QuinnTalon
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Post by QuinnTalon on Mar 14, 2013 21:05:16 GMT -5
Maxine "Max" Colton[/u][/color] She didn't think Pa knew he was holding her hand so tight. District 9 was in the square. Everyone. Even Sammy, who was sitting with the Mayor's granddaughter, transfixed. The girl was watching as well, one of her hands resting on Sammy's back, the other resting over Sammy's as they both watched. There were tears in Sammy's eyes, watching Jan fight the way he was. Fight for his life, and every time Felix got him with that axe, Sammy would flinch. Max was flinching too. But not Pa. Pa was watching the fight, the only person, it seemed, who wasn't cheering whenever Jan managed to get a hit or two on that Felix boy. His face was a mask of passive intensity, those blue eyes following Jan's every move. The only sign at all that he was worried was that his hand would flex around Max's every time Felix would hit Jan with that Axe. As they circled each other. "Get him, Colton!" There were cheers. People cheering on their Boy Tribute. The collapse when Isolde died quickly vanished in the face of the fact they could very well have a Victor this year. That Jan was just so close. So close, to succeeding where Jace had failed. Ally was wrapped up in her beau's arms, watching, just as he was. They would get married next month now that Ally was free of the Games, but right now he was being a good man and being there for her while she watched her little brother maybe-die. Kal was...here. Somewhere. Drinking. Not watching the screen. Since Jace had died last year, Kal and Jan were at each others' throats more often than not. Jan had nearly strangled Kal in the Capitol, and while she hated seeing her brother's fight, she sort of agreed with Jan. The least Kal could do is play the part. He was staring into his cup of beer--they were keeping it full. Ever since Isolde had died--since that cannon had gone off--Kal had been staring into his cup. Playing the grieving not-quite-widower. The pats on the shoulder and the mugs of beer kept lining up... At least he was attempting to play the part. They were close now. Felix had missed, and Jan had buried his knife under Felix's ribs. Max could see it. Something in Jan had changed in these Games. Whether it was the girl who he apparently loved or that there was something in Felix that reminded him of Jace, the 26th Annual Hunger Games had healed her brother. Had fixed that piece of him that had broken when Jace died last year. Even if he died here, Jan would be alright. Felix buried his Axe in Jan's side one last time, and Jan made some pained sound before he sobbed. The boy--Felix--said something to him. Max read his lips... Make them pay.And something died in Jan, even as he twisted the knife buried in Felix's ribs, and the boy's legs gave out. Jan lowered him to the ground, and was saying over and over... "I promise...I promise..." She wasn't even sure if he heard himself. Two cannons sounded. Felix. Sassinak. She would swear that the sounds of them overlapped. And the District went silent for just a moment. Silence and shock seemed permeate the Town Square, and Ally was still in her beau's arms, but he was whispering. She saw Ally smile. And then the entire District erupted into cheers. Erupted into excitement and chaos. Sammy was crying, where he was sitting onstage, and everyone was slapping each other on their backs and celebrating. District 9 would have a Victor this year. Max felt her own eyes tear up, and she looked up at Pa... Her father hadn't moved, even as men were clasping his shoulder and congratulating him. Even as the entire District celebrated around him, her father hadn't moved. He was standing there, transfixed. Because Jan was sobbing brokenly into that boy's chest. Brokenly, and he was very nearly dead himself. There was so much blood on that ground. So much blood... "Oh, Jan..." Max whispered, turning closer to her father. He responded by pulling her close, his arm protecting her from whoever might be watching. This should be a happy time. At least, that's what the Capitol would say... But it wasn't. She couldn't be happy. Not watching Jan break in front of the entirety of Panem. And then that girl. Ember. The girl who Ally swore loved Jan more than life itself, standing there watching the little girl--little Lily--poison herself.... Oh..poor Ember. Poor, poor Ember. "Pa..." May We Present the Victors of the Twenty-Sixth Annual Hunger Games: Ember Clay of District 12 and Jan Colton of District 9Her father didn't say a word, but she could feel his stillness. It was a terrifying thing, Pa's stillness. "Oh Pa...""I know, Sweetness." He finally spoke. Finally, and it was only for her ears. "I know."Someone would have to put Jan back together again. That Ember girl, maybe. Someone... "Thank The One Ma stayed behind...."Pa nodded. Jan would need her right now. She'd always been able to get through to him. Max could only hope that this time, he wasn't so far gone that he couldn't come back.
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