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Post by Seryna on Apr 2, 2012 13:06:56 GMT -5
After a morning spent in training, you had worked up quite an appetite by noon. You find yourself guided to the cafeteria, where a long buffet table was laid out with fried chickens, lamb stew, various roasted vegetables and fruit tarts. The room was lined with white clothed Peace Keepers, intent on keeping the peace between the tributes.
The pace settings where 12 round tables, each set with four chairs. The male tributes from District 1 & 2 had somewhere hustled their way to the front of the line and were already carrying their laden plates to the first table nearest to the buffet line.
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Post by QuinnTalon on Apr 2, 2012 13:36:38 GMT -5
Jace Colton; District 9 Boy Tribute
I don't know where to sit.
I'm standing here with a plate of food--a little taste of everything because a lot of it I'd never seen and likely would never see again--and a glass of some sort of juice that smelled like some sort of berry I'd never heard of or smelled before. I figure if I don't like it, I'll finish the glass and go get water.
But I'm standing here, and I have no idea where to sit. Because the tables are empty except for the one with the District 1 and 2 Boys and frankly the thought of sitting with those guys?
It scares the hell out of me.
I'm alone. It finally hits me that I'm completely and utterly alone. For the first time in my life....I'm alone.
And I swallow at the thought. My brother isn't going to come through the door and sit with me. There's no good-natured ribbing or giggles from my sisters. My father isn't going to come through the door and tossle my hair to 'get the dust out'.
The room smells like a feast and there are people in line from other places and I should be ecstatic to be meeting all these interesting people...
...But I'm alone. Completely. Half of me is missing, or rather: I'm the half that's missing and I wonder if my brother is as much a mess as I am. Of course, everyone would be able to see it with him. I'm really, really good at hiding it if I need to. No one notices me anyway, and all I need to do is find a seat and eat.
But I have no idea where to sit. If there's a proper table. If I'm being watched and judged to see what I do....
So I do sit. At a table kind of in the middle of the back of the room and tell myself that I can not break down. Not here. Later, when I'm alone in my room I can break down and lose it, but not here.
Not with the whole world--not with the people who are going to try and kill me--watching.
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CuteLikeMurder
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Apr 2, 2012 18:14:09 GMT -5
Rory Noland: District 7 Female Tribute
I can't eat.
One of my mentors wants me to eat. She says I need to keep up my strength. I fight the urge to smack her every time. What is the point? I am going to die here. And this is like my last meal before my execution. I'm so sick I want to vomit. Nothing in this room smells appealing. It all just makes me want to gag.
I don't. I'm the girl who volunteered and volunteers don't throw up at lunch. They win. I can already see the career districts eying me. They think I'm after fame. I'm not. I'm not even here to win. Just to make a point. You can take my life but not my humanity. I won't let the Capital make me a monster. I came into these games on my own terms. And win or lose it will be on my own terms.
I scan the room. No way I am going to sit with the careers. I have seen enough games to know how they eventually treat their allies. No. I'm not going to be recruited by a camp of people that will eventually try to slaughter me.
I need people like me...
My gaze falls on a boy from district 9... His name starts with a J... Jan... Jacen... Jace, Jace Colton. I notice the look on his face and I almost smile. Seems odd to find comfort in his anguish. Maybe I'm just relieved I'm not the only one here waiting to die... or hoping not to be killed.
I sit down across from him and offer a weak smile. "It's okay," I tell him. "Being scared isn't a sign of weakness... Not to me."
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Apr 2, 2012 18:52:08 GMT -5
Tank: District 7 Male
Tank was proud of his achievements with the weights that morning, and ravenous for something to eat. If the Peace Keepers gave him any odd looks, Tank was oblivious to them as he piled his plate with food, before heading to the table Rory and another male was sat at. Conrad had said how important it that he stayed with his district partners. So Tank was. The chair groaned as he sat down.
"Not weak. Tank strong. You different strong." The male gave them both a friendly smile before tucking in.
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Post by seanman1224 on Apr 2, 2012 19:19:20 GMT -5
Femra: District 8 Female
I sat down at the far end from the careers with my food. They're scary. I want to be back at home with Elena and Ben. I feel...out of place here.
Maybe it would be a good idea to sit with other tributes but I don't want to. I need alliances, but I'm nervous. I've never been a big talker, but I need to start to be. I'm gonna be killing people soon, so I think I can talk to a person who's going through the same thing as me.
I looked at my food as if it were a pile of vomit. I scrunched up my face when out of the corner of my eye I saw three tributes talking.
Jace, Tank, and.. Ronny? Roy? I don't remember. They're already starting an alliance. Ugh, how will I ever win if nobody comes and talks to me? Maybe I should just step up to the plate and go talk to someone...
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Post by QuinnTalon on Apr 2, 2012 20:10:25 GMT -5
Jace Colton; District 9 Tribute
District 7.
They won this thing last year. Or rather: Their District won this thing. Conrad. Who was probably with them as a mentor. Just like Jace had Lyme to help him through this.
But District 7 was sitting down at his table. First the girl, and then the mountain of a boy. Both sitting down at the table he'd sat down at. One of them with food, the other without and he could understand both mentalities.
Lyme said that he could stand to gain some weight, because it would toughen up to muscle in training, and he would lose a lot of it in the Arena, but honestly he really wasn't tasting any of it. Just eating because he needed to. He wasn't Jan. Broad and strong and who could probably stand toe to toe with those huge Careers.
"I'm Jace." They probably knew that already. Not 'District 9 Boy'. He was Jace Colton. He would be Jace Colton. He'd live and he'd die that person.
Not merely a sacrifice to the Capitol Gods from District 9.
His eyes shift to the bigger of the two. Tank. Appropriate.
"We're all strong in our own ways. We just have to be smart in how we utilize those strengths." And then they shift to the girl. Rory. "Being scared isn't a bad thing. It keeps you sharp. Keeps you solid. Real."
But they were all waiting to die. Only one of them could go home, and that was the terrifying thing.
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Apr 2, 2012 20:40:27 GMT -5
Rory Noland: District 7 Female Tribute
Rory smiles. It's the first genuine emotion she's showed all day. The way Jace says his name... With a subtle strength but not any less solid. A person. Not a pawn. That's good. The games don't need another puppet.
She looks down at her water, swallowing a sigh. It's almost gone. It is the one thing she is able to stomach. Rory silently reassures herself. I'll eat tonight.
"Well put, Jace," Rory says with a nod. Her smile widening just a little bit.
"Aurora... Rory Noland. District 7." She points to herself and then to the large young man next to her. "And this is Tank. It's good to meet you, Jace. I only wish it could've been under better circumstances."
Rory's eyes catch the young girl from District 8. She looks just about as young as Jenny Mason. Gable's sister. At least Jenny got to sleep well tonight. Safe. But this little girl isn't safe. She has to compete in the games. It's cruel. She didn't have a chance and unless someone protected her. Rory knows she'll be the one to do so. And it is that character trait that is going to get her killed.
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Post by seanman1224 on Apr 2, 2012 20:55:06 GMT -5
Femra: District 8 Female
I began to eat, carefully watching all the tributes. I looked up at the table with Tank and saw the girl looking at me. My eyes fell down on cue. Then remembering her name, I said it out loud - a little too loud. "Rory! Yes!" I said with a smirk. Realizing what I had done, I began to eat, hoping the girl - or anyone else for that matter - did not hear me.
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Post by SheWhoLivesInHerName on Apr 3, 2012 8:06:38 GMT -5
He looks around at the tributes. Everyone seems to be trying to get close to everyone else. Even his district mate is out there, far more charismatic than he is.
Luci on the other hand blends in. If they aren't laughing at him, they forget all about him. He shivers a little and looks around the room. Maybe, someone will ask him to eat with them. Or maybe he can just sit in a corner? No, that won't work. Better to find a table. See if he can find someone, anyone, to care about him.
There's the big man from the training exercises. He'll head there.
At least he hadn't laughed when Luci tried and failed to lift the balls. At least he'd had the same thing happen the first time with him.
That made him feel better.
"Hi." His voice is soft, almost fading easy to miss over the crowd. "Can I sit here?"
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Post by QuinnTalon on Apr 3, 2012 8:33:37 GMT -5
Jace Colton; District 9 Boy Tribute
District 7.
And...District 5's...boy? Who was at the strength training center. District 5 was Power, which meant that he didn't necessarily have to work in a way that made him naturally stronger.
Not like Jace, who worked in fields constantly. Who was all wiry strength and--apparently--too good at throwing knives for his own good.
He was likely good elsewhere though. Smarter. Faster, maybe. He was light on his feet which maybe meant he was just as quiet as Jace could be. Which could be useful in an alliance.
And Rory was outgoing. And Tank was strong--stronger and bigger than any two of them combined.
This could work.
"Have a seat." His own voice is quiet. Whispery, but strong at the same time. He's soft-spoken, but there's a touch of something there. Something hidden and beautiful that would likely die in the arena, under the knife or Axe of someone who could not appreciate what they were murdering.
They were all that way, in some way.
And then the other little girl. Fem-something. Sitting alone and watching them, her voice bubbly and bright, reminding him of his little sister. The one just a year or so younger than he was, who had been in tears when his name was called. Who liked laying her head against his shoulder late at night, when she had a night-scare, and he'd sing her back to sleep.
He chased her night-scares away, she'd say. Who would do that now, if he didn't get home?
Jace let his eyes shift to her. Blue, blue eyes that they kept trying to accentuate and probably would even in the photos of his death, and he offered a sweet half-smile in response to her little outburst.
She was just a little girl and she looked as alone as he was.
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Apr 3, 2012 10:49:18 GMT -5
Rory Noland: District 7 Female Tribute
Rory sees her path set out before her. The Reluctant leader. The honorable volunteer. She can almost see how the brains behind the games is going to market her. Rory knows she's all those things and so much more. But those strengths are also going to be her downfall. Only one person could make it out alive. And Rory is the type to grow attached. She can't help it. So how can you grow attached to someone you might have to kill.
She's about to say something more when the young girl from district 8, Ferma shouts her name. It appears she has a fan. Rory looks behind her at the two career tables. Some of them are looking her way. Rory's face is neutral. But silently she's thinking these are the ones to watch out for. Especially, Silver, she tell herself.
When she turns back toward her table mates, Rory's soft grin appears on her face again. And she nods to Ferma. She'd die in here. Most of them would. Rory's is sure she'll be one of them. That isn't going to change the type of person she is. At least that's what she tells herself. Does she believe it? She has too.
"There's room for one more," Rory greets the newcomer. "Rory Noland, District 7; Jace Colton, District 9; and Tank. He's from District 7 also."
Rory makes sure she says each person's name with the respect they deserve. After all, Jace is someone's son and, someone's brother. Tank has a family too. Rowan has her cousin, Cedar she needs to come home to. And as for herself, well... she is all her father has in the world.
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Post by seanman1224 on Apr 3, 2012 16:20:21 GMT -5
Femra: District 8 Female
I turned my head to look towards the table that I've been watching. The nice boy, Jace, is giving me a smirk. I stare at him, but eventually smile back. He seems like a good guy.
Finally done with my lunch, I walk to the garbage can and bump into the boy from District 1.
"Oops, I'm so sorry! What a clumsy girl I am.." I say, obviously terrified.
He snorts and walks away. Phew, I say to myself. I pick myself up and head back to a table. Not my table - Rory's table.
"Um, hi. I'm Femra, district 8. May I take a seat?" I questioned.
In my head, though, I told myself that I need to make friends. I need to go back home.
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Apr 3, 2012 17:06:37 GMT -5
Tank looked at the three other chairs around the table, currently occupied by Rory, Jace and Luci.
"No chairs."
The male reached over to the nearest table and dragged an empty chair over, leaving it between himself and Rory.
"Chair here now."
He smiled pleasantly at Femra.
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Post by Seryna on Apr 3, 2012 17:58:29 GMT -5
The boy from district 1, Silver, frowns at Femra's apology. Instead of walking away, he follows her over to the table.
"Hey, clumsy ox." He barked. "Whats wrong with you?"
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Post by QuinnTalon on Apr 3, 2012 18:15:08 GMT -5
Jace Colton
He starts to smile at the little girl. Femra. That was the name. Femra, who Tank put a chair at their table for. Who he invited to sit which was fine with Jace....
..Oh hell.
It's instinctual. Big scary kid picking on someone half his size? Of course he stands up. Of course he inserts himself between the little girl and that scary boy from a Career district, blue eyes narrow.
Even if he's a full head shorter than the other teenager.
"Ya weren't invited to sit here." Soft, but strong, and his eyes never waver. Never break contact. "She tripped. She apologized. She walked away. Take it for what it is.
"Be a man and do the same."
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Apr 3, 2012 18:18:36 GMT -5
Tank got up from his seat, towering a full head or more TALLER over Silver.
"You have problem with girl?"
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Apr 3, 2012 18:19:24 GMT -5
Rory Noland: District 7 Female Tribute
Rory stands, flanking Femra. She nowhere near as tall as Silver or Tank but the move she makes next may surprise others. She puts her arm around Femra's shoulder and meets Silver's gaze. The gesture is meant to seem sisterly. But there's something in Rory's eyes. Femra is hers. Just like Tank, Jace, Rowan, and probably Luci would be. All hers.
She is about to say something when Jace speaks. Rory can't fight off the grin that curls her lips. "Silver, right? District one. Career. Formidable. Supposed to be someone to look out for... I wonder... how would it look to your sponsors if you came off as a bully?"
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Post by seanman1224 on Apr 3, 2012 18:27:37 GMT -5
Femra: District 8 Female
It all happened so fast. The chair, the boy from district , the other tributes standing in front of me, the girl's arm around mine.
I turned my head past Jace's body and saw the boy, Silver, looking very angry.
Will he hurt me? I tripped, I swear. I never would have purposely pushed a career! I know I was blushing with fear and my eyes were open, wider than they could probably go. I stared and watched the horror unfold.
"I know I shouldn't be afraid. I'm a tribute, but please....d-...don't let him hurt me." I said to Rory while the boy from district 9, Jace, told him off.
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Post by Seryna on Apr 3, 2012 20:31:16 GMT -5
"She ought to be more careful." Silver growled. " The Arena is a dangerous place for clumsy little girls." He glances at Tank then his gaze leveled at Jace. He tilts his head as Rory speaks, evaluating the girl. The eyes are calculating. Whats he looking for? He steps back from the table. You note that he backs away, not showing his back to you.
The two girls at his table - Diamond and Emily, both district 1- begin to whisper animatedly to him as he takes his seat.
Four peace keepers walk over and take position five feet behind Rory, Tank, Jace & Femra's table. They don't speak or engage the tributes, simply watching for any other tributes approaching.
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CuteLikeMurder
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Apr 3, 2012 23:03:40 GMT -5
Rory: District 7 Female Tribute
“The Arena is a dangerous place for all of us,” Rory states, flatly. She isn’t one for sarcasm but a myriad of sardonic comebacks fill her thoughts. She keeps her mouth shut. The way Silver eyes her… Rory knows that she’s made herself stand out. The Honorable Volunteer. The Reluctant Leader. The Defender of the Weak.
He’s a predator. A wolf, Rory tells herself. Silver has made it to the top of her watchlist as well. She gives him a slight nod, never giving him her back. She even turns Femra to face him.
“He won’t hurt you. Not today,” Rory tells the girl. She knows she can’t promise to protect her. Silver is a killer. Femra isn’t. And Rory… well, we shall see, won’t we?
“Ferma, take my seat,” Rory says, picking up the extra chair. She places it on the other side of the table. Now she has a clear line of sight on the careers. “I think might have worked up an appetite after all… Excuse me.”
Something is happening to Rory. She doesn’t know what it is… And she doesn’t know if she likes it.
She makes a quick run through the buffet line, gripping thing she knows are high in protein. She’s building muscle. And she knows she’ll need the carbs for energy so she loads up. The large tray of food looks strange in the hands of the small girl.
“I think we’ve made a friend.” Rory says when she returns to the table, nodding over to where Silver sat.
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Post by QuinnTalon on Apr 4, 2012 9:11:21 GMT -5
Jace Colton
That was monumentally stupid, but people like that never failed to get his hackles up. Yes, they'd have to kill each other in the Arena, but until then they could stand to be civil. Maybe he was the only one who thought that way.
Maybe he was the only one who's parents raised him right.
"Yes. The Arena is a dangerous place. But we're not in the Arena. You can stand to be civil."
Yes. Monumentally stupid, but he'd had enough of moping. He was in this to win. To go home and by God no one would say he'd given up. No way.
Silver backs away, and Jace watches him go. Stands stock still between his table and that of the Careers. Until the other boy sits.
He had five brothers and sisters. Someone like Silver?
He had nothing on the Colton Brood.
And then he sits, looks to Rory as she speaks and looks over his shoulder. Well...damn. Looked like he was going to get a reputation for 'protecting' people. Not that it mattered. It was a reputation he had back home. No one in District 9 would be surprised he was sure.
"Monumentally stupid of me, I'm sure, but I have a younger sister Femra's age." Which probably explained a lot.
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Post by Seryna on Apr 4, 2012 10:02:07 GMT -5
As Rory moved around the room to get her plate, she got a good look at how the room was shaping up. Tank, Jace, Luci and Femra also had a chance to glance around and take the temperature of the room. The district 1 tributes - Silver, Diamond and Emerald - were sitting with the District 2 tributes of Cade, Emily and Topaz. Silver, Diamond and Emily were talking animatedly at the table. Rory couldn't miss Diamond or Emily sneaking a look over at your table. Emerald, the girl with the flaming red hair from District 1, sat beside Emily. She seemed more interested in her chicken leg than the conversation. Topaz and Cade were listening intently, occasionally nodding or interjecting something.
The tributes from district 10 and 11 sat together at the table closest to your newfound friends. The tributes from district 11 were simply wolfing down food as quickly as they could, but the tributes from district 10 were whispering as well. Was there an alliance forming?
At another table close to yours, the district 4 girls Peal and Rachel were whispering animatedly. Pearl is scoping out the room - and she glances at you more than once. She didn't seem menacing or challenging - but certainly curious.
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Apr 4, 2012 11:00:44 GMT -5
Rory watches the scene unfold trying to commit everything to memory. Silver, Diamond, Emerald, Cade, Emily and Topaz. Career Alliance. Rory can see it as plan as day. Silver is the alpha male, the pack leader. Diamond... his second in command maybe. Either way, Rory knows they'll be the two to look out for.
It also means their little stunt put them directly into the line of fire for the Career Alliance. Rory doesn't let the fear show on her face. But it's there. And she's fine with that. Fear means you won't do anything stupid.
Districts 10 and 11 were forming an alliance, maybe. But it seemed the tributes from 11 just need to eat. It's the two girls from district 4 that surprise her. They aren't looking at her band of misfits like a pack of hyenas.
Rory ventures to shoot them a soft smile and small nod.
"Whatever you do, don't act like this upsets you... but Districts one and two are the Career Alliance. And we probably just got put to the top of their list."
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Post by SheWhoLivesInHerName on Apr 4, 2012 14:18:28 GMT -5
There's a wince from Luci as he tries to shrink smaller in his seat. He doesn't like the idea of being singled out this early. Maybe this wasn't the best table to sit at. Still, he doesn't see his chances as being any better anywhere else. Might as well stick with it.
"They aren't nice."
Which is about as many words as anyone is likely to pry from him on the subject. He's not big on social interaction.
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Post by QuinnTalon on Apr 4, 2012 14:31:12 GMT -5
"Are we truly shocked? They always team up. It's predictable. They team up, kill everyone, and then have a free-for-all." Which is likely why his brother told him to run and not look back. Why his father told him to find high-ground and find water and to not build a fire no matter how cold he got.
He'd rather see him die in his sleep of hypothermia than die on the end of a Career sword.
"They'll take the Cornicopia. No doubt."
Because he wasn't going to even attempt it.
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