Hearing Damage // [Avaria, Castor, Open]

She spoke with a voice that disrupted the sky
She said walk on over here to the bitter shade
I will wrap you in my arms and you'll know that you're saved

Another Games, another set of tributes, another chance for glory. Another pair of children set to their deaths, their horrible, violent ends. It tortured him to think about them, but he couldn't help it. His days now revolved around Baylee and Fledger, even though they'd left the district almost a week ago. The Games would officially begin on the morrow, and he wasn't planning on sleeping. The day had begun with his family, mostly getting his little ones ready for school. He'd spent several of the dawning hours in his office writing and rewriting a speech for that evening, which was intended to support and rally the district around their tributes, even though they weren't likely to see it.

Pointless - that's what his life had boiled down to. Fabian rubbed his forehead, pushed back the deepening wrinkles into his receding hairline. His appearance was yet another battle he was losing. There was no way to win that one, however, and he still could win the Games, by providing a Victor. It shouldn't be such a hard thing, in a Career district, but their luck had run out in the last decade. He wanted to believe in Baylee and Fledger, but he didn't have any faith left.

And soon enough President Snow would be back, his snake eyes on the portraits of his five children. He'd been a fool to have any children at all.

With the speech scrawled on a lined notepad tucked under his arm, Fabian took to the warm streets. District Four enjoyed reasonably consistent weather, so while the rest of the districts limped along, it was pleasant to be outside in a light jacket and pants, which is exactly what Fabian wore - all in blue, for the ocean. He should have gone for a swim to clear his head, but it had been more important to be there for Egon. The thought of his youngest son quickened his pace as Fabian rounded corner after corner until he came into the Games Square.

People had camped out since the Reaping, and though it was still full of tents, it was quieter than usual. Likely people were showering, eating, prepping for tomorrow, when the tributes were cast into some forsaken arena. He hoped, for Four's sake, that it would have plenty of water. That would be a huge advantage, however, and he didn't imagine the President would be doing him any favors any time soon.

Fabian exchanged a brief word with one of the audio visual technicians, and then found that he had some time on his hands. Ever the politician, the Mayor eased back his wrinkles with a smile and approached two girls, who may not have been speaking to each other, but they were both within close proximity, so he naturally assumed they were friends.

"Ready for the Games tomorrow?" He asked the safest question available to him as he reached into his navy jacket pocket and drew out two pins - one with Fledger's name on it, and the other with Baylee's, the tributes of District Four. He had more pins than he cared to count in his office, and he wanted to be rid of every single one. "Here, take them."