lost in time and taste |zagreus/tobias|

what part

of living

Insomnia. Hunger. They were two things I knew I'd have to deal with in the arena, but while I was in the Capitol, I wasn't going to let them interfere with my training. That meant that I had to get at least a decent amount of sleep each night and eat sufficient amounts of food. Therefore, after a long afternoon of training, I went to get some lunch. I'd always been a rather healthy individual. Caitir had often pointed that out to me. I was going to stick with that, too, as it was best to be healthy before the Games, even though I was given the option of various delicious-looking deserts that never would have been available back in Eight.

I'd decided on a fruit cup with various exotic-looking fruits I'd never seen before, as well as a ham and cheese sandwich, followed by a glass of orange-colored juice, that I assumed- and hoped- was just regular orange juice. I sat down at an empty table, not really in the mood to mingle with any of the tributes that were presently in the room, and started to pick at my fruit with a fork. I wasn't particularly hungry, but I knew I would have to consume something anyway if I wanted to keep my strength up.

When I was about to take my first bite, however, I was interrupted. A boy who looked the slightest bit younger than me took a seat at the table after asking if I minded. I didn't have a chance to respond, but I wasn't going to argue. At least he was being polite. That was something I hadn't experienced much of here.

"Not at all. Be my guest," I told him with a slight smile. For some reason, I couldn't recall which District he was from, but I was almost certain I knew his name. There were two tributes by the same first name here, but I knew they had different last names. His name was Tobias, but which one was he? Would that be an alright thing to ask?

"You're Tobias, right? I'm Zagreus. District Eight. Which Distirct are you from?"

says you

gotta die

what part

of living

Tobias states his last name and his District. Apparently, he's Tobias Staite from District Four. He didn't look as well-built as other tributes I'd seen from the Career Districts, but perhaps he was hiding his power. Or, perhaps he wasn't even a Career after all. Not everyone from Four was a Career, even if they volunteered, just like not every Career volunteered. If I were from One, Two or Four, I was sure I would have been one of the people who trained for the Games, whether I wanted to or not, due to my parents' demands that likely would have been ever present.

As Tobias started to eat his food, I took a bite of the already exotic-looking fruit that was in front of my, only to experience a strange taste that I couldn't determine whether or not was pleasant. Perhaps that's what this fruit always tasted like. Regardless, it was quite odd. That was when the other boy spoke what was almost exactly the thought running through my mind in that very moment. He asked if I thought anything there was real. As he described it as 'extra', I let out a slight laugh after swallowing the strange fruit.

"I'm not really sure, to be honest. It's all quite different from back home. I'd imagine it is for you, too?" I said, using my voice to make it sound like more of a question, but continuing on afterward anyway. "What made you decide to sit here of all places, anyway? I mean, I probably don't look like the least likely to bite someone's head off, do I? I'd like to look at least somewhat intimidating," I laughed. My own words were humorous to me, and I didn't really care how that looked. It was good to have some genuine fun once in a while. Especially in a place like this.

says you

gotta die

what part

of living

The District Four boy was a kind soul. It was actually quite surprising to me, and I wasn't sure why. It was like I didn't expect kindness from anyone in the Hunger Games. Then again, why should I expect it? A death match doesn't come in a package deal with kindness.

That was when Tobias said something again that I almost didn't catch. He said he was drawn to me. Then, however, without seeming to skip a beat, he continued. Even though the wording was a bit strange, I suppose that he didn't mean it to be awkward. He said that he supposed it was fate. I was never sure if I believed in fate or not. I knew some people who certainly did or certainly didn't.

Do you believe in fate, he had asked me. That was quite the question. I paused for a moment, not sure what to say. Did I believe in fate, or did I not? I wasn't sure, and I'd tell him just that.

"I'm not sure, to be honest," I told him. "Do you?"

says you

gotta die