63rd Reaping [D1]

The day had started like every other reaping day before it, Emerald Shore's mother and father waltzing into her bedroom at 6 AM as she got deep into her morning workout. Today was different, it was her last reaping day. If she missed this opportunity, her life would be ruined and she'd be kicked out on the street like those before her. Everyone was relying on her to be the quickest to speak up and run to the podium and she wanted nothing more than to be the one with the glory of representing District One. She was the most prepared in her family, who else trained all-day every day? It was imperative that she travel to the Capitol and work for the Victors crown or she risked the honor of her family. The Games were her future, there was nothing for her anywhere else. But really, even if she did get her way... How likely was it that she'd have a future?

"So, Emerald," Her father stared at her stone-faced from her study-desk. "I trust that you've been practicing your diction as well as your physical talents."

She had. Along with preparing for the actual combat, she'd been preparing for her interview and volunteering should she need it. Of course, she would need it. Of the thousands of girls in District One, it would likely be someone else without the skill to represent her district. And then there would be the hounds jumping to volunteer, she would need to be quick, loud and clear to be the first to volunteer. "Always, sir." Emerald took extra care to pronounce each letter clearly. Perhaps she was a career but she was also a lady meant to draw in the sponsors with her class. Her mother and father continued on preparing her with advice for every step towards victory.

On Reaping Days, Emerald always took extra care to be the perfect everything. She made sure that never would she come across as weak to anyone and let them see how ready she really was. These Games could easily be hers, she didn't have the brute strength of ten thousand men but she could handle herself in fights. I can't fail. Not today. Soon would be her trial by fire, even she feared of what came after death. It was her last year and there were few possible outcomes. She could fail or she could succeed and win the Games. The other one was the worst of the three, wasn't it? Emerald always repressed these feelings of self doubt because that wasn't part of the program. A Shore child was not supposed to feel fear, only victory.

After her preparations, she walked down to breakfast where she could hear the muffled sounds of shouting in the other room. She pursed her lips and prepared a plate knowing very well that Phenakite was preparing for the same thing against the wishes of everyone around her. The children must have wanted a victor just as much as their parents or they wouldn't have trained so hard. My brothers could go in with me, that's a big possibility. But with Phenakite, it's one or none of us. She understood why the younger blonde would want to volunteer as well, they all wanted to be the one who got the crown but it wasn't Phenakite who would get it. Phenakite had finally joined breakfast and Emmy watched her expression trying to understand what she was thinking. She hadn't trained for months with many sleepless nights like Emerald had, no one had trained as hard as her. They had a lot in common, actually. They both refused the accept limits, it was a lot to be proud of but this was one thing not fighting for. If only Emerald had known that.

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There they were again, the long discussions about what the proper strategies were because it could have been the last time they didn't have timed conversations. Her parents didn't show any love to her at all. There was no affection there, it was only as if she was a cow being sent to the slaughter. It didn't bother Emmy, it never bothered he that her parents didn't show any sign of love for her. She'd always assumed that they wouldn't have pushed their children so far if they weren't loved. Oh, she was very wrong but their parents had done a great job of grooming them into the perfect army of careers. Perhaps District One was due for back-to-back victors. Hadn't they worked hard enough for it?[/i]

Finally, the Shores entered the District Square where the crowds had already assembled to meet the new careers prepared for the sacrifice. Her dark purple dress clung to her skin as she walked behind the rope with all the other eighteen year olds but turned back to watch her siblings arrange themselves while paying close attention to Phenakite's giddy facial expressions. She wasn't making an attempt at masking her plans for the next fifteen minutes. There was no room for error because if her sister was her biggest competition for this spot, she knew she had bigger worries coming soon.

The escort smiled and took the stage, waving his hands around ecstatically almost like Phenakite but with extra caffeine and less bitterness. The speech was the same as always, a forever changing constant among a crowd of new faces. Perhaps one of them would be hers. Emerald could only hope that the reaping would save her the trouble of volunteering, but what were the od-

"Emerald Shore!"[/color][/blockquote]

Strength is a funny word with too many definitions and not nearly enough to suit her parents. Phenakite was one of their biggest failures as a parent in their eyes, lacking strength in the areas they focused on. Had they ever set a path for them or did they just make it up every single day? All there ever was in that house were silent conversations between siblings so far beyond even showing any hint of anything at all beyond distrust towards each other. Love no longer existed in their universe, lost ages before their own births. Phenakite, or Phena as you should call her, was a deviation from the norm but still maintained a crude form similar to that of her siblings. Lacking in morals, she lacked the motivation to train and developed a need to be pleased but not one to please. A child of excess, if you want.

Her eyes opened to look upon the cool pink paint running over the ceiling. Alone but not alone. She could hear them in the next room over as she always could on this day. Her parents had gotten an early start drilling plans into Emerald’s heads. This time it was not an if because how could it be? This was her chance and she was the most well-prepared children they had raised. Raised wouldn’t really be the right word. Grown might be closer to it. No, this was not Emmy’s turn, it was hers because she needed to do something. It’s her reaping, her Hunger Games, and her victory crown. She could picture it then, specially made for her. A small smile bubbles up as she picks her feet off of the bed and runs to the full-length mirror across the room.

The feeling was there, and it’s not one she’ll ignore. She was going to be the first tribute in the Hunger Games, and the last one alive. Phenakite would first start with being the best looking of the day, sponsors in the Capitol love a pretty career. There were hours left until the Reaping, but she knew so well how to use every second perfecting her image and chosen clothes. Phena was bubbling with excitement, fits of giggling popping up every time she thought she was going to be a tribute at long last. She made it through breakfast but she could tell from the calculated stares and angry glares that her plans were obvious. There’s a quick and heated argument between her and her parents after they realize what she wants to do. But Phena! You can’t! You’re too delicate. Delicate? Phenakite Shore is not delicate. She is an Olympian and the next victor of Panem.

Fifteen minutes before she was to be ushered into the square, she settled on a dress. Colorful but still mature enough that says young adult, it’s perfect for her. The excitement grew every second counting down until the escort finally would introduce her to Panem, as if they didn’t already know her. Olympic athletes were celebrated, were they not? Her parents stopped her again as they walked out of that big house but she was watching the Lightwoods in the distance. She heard them tell her she was not in any circumstances to steal the spot from Emmy but she’s not concerned. Those damned freaks, they don’t even realize that Avon’s death was noble. It’s been a TV drama over there since the end of the Quell, and it makes no sense to her. Phena was almost hoping she'd get to take the spot from one of them.

She didn’t notice anything else but the cameras, the flashy officials from the Capitol, and the peacekeepers. Everything else was irrelevant to Phenakite Shore. The Reaping is the most important thing because it’s her chance to steal the spotlight, the hearts of millions around Panem, and the long lives of twenty-three lesser individuals. Not taking it would be a disservice to the people hoping for a new district one victor. The quick prick of the identification machine triggered a beep and she looked as her name appeared on the screen. It was the first significant sight of her name; the one that allows her into the reaping. Her chance of being reaped was slim, but volunteering is there for a reason. Walking into the roped off area, she flashed a smile to her mother and father who glare at her in disapproval and then to Emmy's even more abysmal facial expression. Sucks to suck.

The run-down of the Reaping is always the same boring speech and everything else that comes before the real entertainment. All they were waiting for is the names of the first tributes of the year, or possible tributes. She grins as the escort from the Capitol walks across towards the Reaping bowl at long last. She didn’t have to hope It’s her, she knew it probably wouldn’t be but it’d be easier if it was. No, there was more talking that didn’t really matter to her. She’d been there more than enough times, she’d heard it enough. Even though it would be her last Reaping with her name in the ball, she didn’t care to savor the experience. Phena just wanted the names called so it could all be over and the real fun could begin. He was speaking again and it was the signal that she needs to pay attention again.

It was finally happening. After six years of hoping and wishing, on her last time in the reaping... It was her name. Emmy worried that she was dreaming now, how was this possible? All of her dreams were coming true. As she walked across the stage, she struggled to keep her emotions under control. This was everything she had ever dreamed of. She was facing death but there was no fear there anymore. The honor of representing her district had overcome everything else. Nothing else mattered. No one would take this spot away from Emerald. This was hers.

Finally, she smiled a elegant smile at the escort and then at the cameras in this distance. "Hello Panem. It fills me with unbelievable happiness to stand here now to represent my District in the Hunger Games." She turned to the crowd before her, looking hard at Phenakite Shore staring off into space. "I'll try my hardest to not let my District down."

This grabbed her attention and only made her resolve to volunteer stronger. I'm sorry... My sister? This was better than she expected, it's the perfect karma. Phenakite Shore, stealing the final chance away from Emerald Shore. Perfection, that was what it felt like. Victory was there at last, she would be the star from now on. As her perfect older sister walked up the podium, the excitement was too hard to contain within herself. Emerald was charismatic in appearance, grinning from ear to ear but ultimately awful. Emerald didn’t need this, but Phenakite did and she was shoving girls out of the way so she could make her way to the front.

“I volunteer!” She shouted out loud enough that she was sure those in the train station preparing for her could hear her.

She walked across the gritty pavement so she could take the stage at the Justice Building. Phenakite giave Mayor Morgan a small wave of recognition along with Topaz and Peridot and turned to the escort. “I believe you were waiting for me.” It was a cocky tone because she knows she’s the best. Everyone can see it if they have eyes. Panem was going to love her for sure even though she couldn’t see the comparisons to York Mentz coming. Then she realized they were waiting for her to introduce herself and she rolled her eyes and stomped her feet while looking over at her older sister standing there with her head hanging low, even she knew there was no escaping her fate of failure. Oh well. It’s her chance at the crown and she’s going to grab it. Her parents are in shock and their scowls have grown twenty sizes. Nope, she wasn’t pressured to do this. She decided to, because she had everything to prove.

“I’m an Olympian,” she scowled at the escort as he tries to coax a name out of her. “Everyone in Panem should know very well who I am!” Phena gave a cocky grin as someone in the crowd calls out her name for her. She gestured to the crowd and smirked at the escort.

“See what I mean? I’m fabulous incarnate.”

Phenakite Shore volunteers as District One female in the 62nd Hunger Games. But no, there was no volunteering. She'd missed it. There it was. Gone, all because of her overactive imagination.

Emmy took a step back from the microphone, knowing very well that every girl had missed their opportunity to steal it away from her. The escort smiled at her and threw his hand into the reaping ball for the boys. "Viridian Harper!" Emerald applauded along with the rest of the crowd as the name was drawn, immediately recognizing the name and finding the face in the crowd to go along with it. This was Stark Harper's brother. This was a great day indeed for District One. Every dream had come true at last for Emerald Shore.

(Emerald Shore accepts her position as District One Female, seriously)

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( c o m m e n t s / o t h e r )

( f a c e c l a i m ) hannah murray

( m a i n ) FF8669
( e m p h a s i s ) FDE4CE
( t h i n k i n g ) 6C6C50
( s p e a k i n g ) BFB29F

( s o n g ) teen idle - marina and the diamonds

( c r e d i t s )
template by south [slightly modified]. graphics by lei. palette by napkin guy.

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