losing dogs | {jacknmac}
Oct 17, 2023 18:48:31 GMT -5
Post by dars on Oct 17, 2023 18:48:31 GMT -5
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Jack decided somewhere between bites of buttery steak that, probably, Machiavelli Hope had only seemed so keen in forming an alliance with him because he was from District Five, so his mentors probably mentioned that it'd be easy. They hadn't exactly had the strongest reputation since Patricia died and Lethe had to come back out of retirement to help Lysander. Come to think of it, Jack was pretty certain Mace Emberstatt came out of retirement this year as well, though he assumed that was more out of personal choice than any forced commitment. Plus, District Ten had been doing a lot better in the Games than Five. The two weren't really comparable, so it really only made sense that Machiavelli was doing what was easiest for him.
Otherwise, what could it have been? Jack was one of the biggest tributes this year physically, sure, but Mac was wider and Javi taller. He had experience being watched, but the tributes would've had no ethical way of obtaining that information, nor would it actually help him survive an arena or any of the other tributes. So path of least resistance seemed like the obvious answer. Which maybe wasn't the worst thing, Jack wasn't sure yet. Arcadia's proposition hadn't exactly been one cloaked in sunshine and purity either. When it had more assuredly been beneficial to Jack's well-being, he'd had absolutely no qualm with maybe making a selfish decision if it was in the name of his own survival. He would've been a little hypocritical to feel reservations toward the boy from Eight for doing the same, but if he had reservations that wasn't why.
He just didn't want to fail to live up to some sort of expectation. His drive to succeed is exactly what had gotten him everything good in his life, but it also hadn't come without some steep esteem issues. He was hyper critical of himself, poring over the footage of his performances for hours, days, weeks if that's what it took to make it a success. Being here was catapulting him to the biggest stage he'd ever had access to. He had a realization that if he was potentially presenting himself as someone worthy of allying with, he was also presenting himself as a potential threat. And he wasn't sure if he was ready to back that up.
He nodded to the other boy anyway, both seemingly having been comfortable in their silence as they continued their workout and Jack stepped behind Mac to spot him for a bench press.
"Dinner after? I'm starving," he asked when his stomach grumbled.
Otherwise, what could it have been? Jack was one of the biggest tributes this year physically, sure, but Mac was wider and Javi taller. He had experience being watched, but the tributes would've had no ethical way of obtaining that information, nor would it actually help him survive an arena or any of the other tributes. So path of least resistance seemed like the obvious answer. Which maybe wasn't the worst thing, Jack wasn't sure yet. Arcadia's proposition hadn't exactly been one cloaked in sunshine and purity either. When it had more assuredly been beneficial to Jack's well-being, he'd had absolutely no qualm with maybe making a selfish decision if it was in the name of his own survival. He would've been a little hypocritical to feel reservations toward the boy from Eight for doing the same, but if he had reservations that wasn't why.
He just didn't want to fail to live up to some sort of expectation. His drive to succeed is exactly what had gotten him everything good in his life, but it also hadn't come without some steep esteem issues. He was hyper critical of himself, poring over the footage of his performances for hours, days, weeks if that's what it took to make it a success. Being here was catapulting him to the biggest stage he'd ever had access to. He had a realization that if he was potentially presenting himself as someone worthy of allying with, he was also presenting himself as a potential threat. And he wasn't sure if he was ready to back that up.
He nodded to the other boy anyway, both seemingly having been comfortable in their silence as they continued their workout and Jack stepped behind Mac to spot him for a bench press.
"Dinner after? I'm starving," he asked when his stomach grumbled.
