the grateful dead [niko & dorothy]

Dorothy Hope.

Her name rang familiar when he had heard it while watching the reaping recap with Itzal, his fellow phantom, on the train ride over. Something about Hope. He had shrugged it off as a coincidence and hadn't thought much about her until he had met the tribute from Eight in the training center just a day later.

The cameras hadn't done her justice. What had looked like an angered ghast of a girl was actually pretty cute in the light of the fire they had built in the depths of the training center. Especially in the shadow of baby dick Dyno from One and Romeo from Two, she was one of the few people Niko actually could tolerate besides Itzal.

She wasn't preening for attention or boasting of her prowess. Instead, she had the demeanor of someone who had to fight for everything she had in life, and that was something Niko could relate to all too unfortunately.

Maybe she could be a friend he could waste away his last days with.

Tonight was supposed to be one of those uneventful nights he was supposed to spend prepping with Salazar and his mentors, but Niko had no intention of doing so. He hadn't asked to be here like Itzal and Dory, so he was going to spend his last few moments enjoying his time.

When the avox and Niko had reached the roof that night, a cocktail kit and various syrups and alcohol in hand, the sky was what struck the boy from five the most. Normally, when he stared up at the sky from district five, the lights from the oil rigs would drown out all but a few stars, but at least there would be a few of the twinkling balls. The Capitol's night sky, however, was lit up as if it was daytime.

Various shades of pink, purple, orange, and blue flashed across the sky as people in the street below partied raucously. He felt a twinge of longing, wishing he could be down there with the partygoers. The Capitol's festivities were probably a hundred times more fun than the run-down warehouse raves Niko was used to.

After setting up the makeshift cocktail bar on the balcony ledge overlooking the training center, Niko shoos the avox away, thanking him for his help. He rests his arms on the ledge overlooking the Capitolites while he waits for the girl from eight. Down below, he sees one of the ants of a human puke on the street.

Maybe, in another life, Niko and that drunk would have been friends.

Hearing the elevator open behind him, Niko turns his head and pushes himself away from the railing and back towards the table of drinks.

"Took you long enough." he says with a smile as he picks up the measuring cup, "Tell me, Hope, what's your poison?"

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