the making of the flame (2) . ratmas day one

MATTIO
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the making of the flame (2) . ratmas day one Dec 21, 2021 14:28:12 GMT -5

Post by MATTIO on Dec 21, 2021 14:28:12 GMT -5

k a i u s.

He continues on with his speech at a quicker pace now, as the frost from his breath begins to grow more and more distracting. "This year, we've decided to become a bit more inclusive with our event. In prior years, the lighting of the Eternal Flame has been done by District Five's mayor, but this year, we want to try something different. Let's put everyone's fire-making skills to the test!"

Kaius is unsure about how it'll be received. What if nobody decides to volunteer to participate? Will he just have to do it himself? He can't light a fire! He flips his card, continuing on.

"Attached to each fire-making set is a line of rope, which links the sets to the Eternal Flame. You'll be given one piece of flint to assist you, but other than that, you're on your own! The first person to successfully light their line of rope and connect their handmade flame to the Eternal Flame's pit will win! And what's your prize? A student-sponsored twenty-dollars!"

Fearing the response to be lackluster, he throws in a second deal. "And if you're still in school, Mr. Eastling will give you a free one-hundred on your next math class!" Hopefully that'll motivate some volunteers.

As soon as all of the volunteers have their flint, Kaius gets ready to begin the event.

"On your mark.."

He hopes none of them light the Town Square on fire..

"Get set.."

What trouble he'd get in if that happened!

"GO!"

elegant

If you haven't already, check out part one of District Five's event [HERE].

For District Five's activity, residents will be allowed to compete in a fire-making challenge to light this year's Eternal Flame. To do so, respond to this thread. At the end of your post, roll a die between 1 and 100, which you can copy and paste below and delete the asterisks.

[*roll range="1-100*"]

The character that rolls the lowest number will successfully light the Eternal Flame! Woohoo! You'll also gain five bonus Ratmas points. Now isn't that some big poggers?

–

You will gain one Ratmas point for every post you write through the districts' events, for a maximum of 15 points! Writing in blitz length is encouraged. If you have any questions, please DM Mattio or another vetmeme on slack (or any other method of communication you have.)

1-100iKDlqJhjzT

Last Edit: Dec 21, 2021 14:28:43 GMT -5 by MATTIO

rook
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who needs another thing to be sad about?

the making of the flame (2) . ratmas day one Dec 21, 2021 15:56:16 GMT -5

Post by rook on Dec 21, 2021 15:56:16 GMT -5

♕

During the Winter Solstice the people of Five like to light a big fire in the District Square, to try and bring some warmth and comfort during the long nights. I used to absolutely hate it - I dunno, it just seemed like a pathetic attempt to show we were a community. For one night it was nice, sure, but the rest of the year people don't take a second look at homeless teenagers begging on the streets. It just seemed fake, I guess.

Then everything happened. I got Reaped, I won, blah-blah. I'm not homeless anymore. I have warm clothes, I have lots of food. But I still resented the eternal flame, as bitter and as unforgiving as I was in my twenties, I don't think I went once. I couldn't stand the false message behind it, after seeing how little community Five really had.

I was wrong, of course. Everyone's just out for themselves, which is understandable when you have an oppressive regime like the Capitol making it hard for all of us to just survive. I blamed others for my problems, even when I stopped having problems. Community is important to me now - I go to market, I give out my garden crops - I even help out at the Dam.

So yeah, I guess the eternal flame is important to me now too.

This year they don't want the mayor starting the kindling, they want the people to light the flame that will burn through the night. That's nice, I guess.

My mittens are so thick that I struggle to pick up one of the flint kits they are offering out, but I manage, carrying it away to open up. Funny, it reminds me of the kits we used in the Games. Fire wasn't just warmth in that arena, it was light too.

I strike the flint and light my rope.

wsq_jfodcG1-100

1-100

an hourglass is just a glass with sand inside

bailee
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come snuggle bro

the making of the flame (2) . ratmas day one Dec 21, 2021 21:40:36 GMT -5

Post by bailee on Dec 21, 2021 21:40:36 GMT -5

~~rulers make bad lovers~~

Olsen found it funny how fire meant something different to everyone. She was always taught that flames represented passion, desire, energy, enthusiasm. And she was right, she supposed, the sleepy District was bustling and spirts were higher than ever. She loved the spiritual energy the town square gave her - she felt a sense of commensalism that she had not felt in a long time, and her intuition was telling her that the energies were aligning for something good to come out of this.

The thing with spirituality was that when your intuition told you to do something - you did it. So when her gut began to soar at the sight of a single piece of flint and rope, she did not hesitate to crouch in front of a workstation.

She smiled at the person next to her, and whispered a quiet good luck before beginning to tear away at the piece of flint, igniting her way to the eternal flame.

IZeSxIEdVr1-100

~~you better put your kingdom up for sale~~

olsen

1-100

warehouse

celestials
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the making of the flame (2) . ratmas day one Dec 21, 2021 22:46:18 GMT -5

Post by celestials on Dec 21, 2021 22:46:18 GMT -5

dez cameron.

It's cold as balls out here.

Winter was never really my jam, y'know? Ma always made us bundle up in a bunch of layers and it's kinda hard to move with three pairs of underwear on. And you can barely skate with all the damn snow, I tried it once and fell on my ass, so I don't really recommend that unless you're into that sorta thing, no judging here!

This coat is making my neck itch and the more I claw at it, the more irritating it gets. I tried to slip out the front door without Ma noticing I don't have a jacket on but it was like she was a ninja and she slammed the door in the face before I could leave. I swear when they said moms have eyes in the back of their heads, they weren't joking. But she basically shoved me into this coat and it had a weird fur lining that smelled funny. Not cool man!

I have to rub my hands together super duper fast just so I could feel them to pick this flint thing up. Honestly, I wasn't really listening to what the guy was saying I just heard sign-ups and flames and warmth and something about a 100 on a math test, and I haven't passed one math test this whole year, so I was like, "Yeah man, I'm cold as shit, sign me up."

Not really sure what's going on, but like the god of stealth I am, I sneak a peek at what the girl next to me is doing. Here goes nothing.

bKRGZ3_N_V1-100

1-100

Deleted

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the making of the flame (2) . ratmas day one Dec 22, 2021 0:56:08 GMT -5

Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2021 0:56:08 GMT -5

♛

ATHENA MADAKI

This wasn't exactly my scene - trying to make fire with some stick. Like yeah my house has a fire place, but I just use a match. But, I wanted to win. After all, I had to show them who was boss. Plus, this was sort of a big deal around here. It would certainly give me attention, maybe help out the family business a bit with some free advertising.

How hard could it be?

I spoke too soon in thinking that because once I looked at the materials I realised I had absolutely no idea what I was doing really. Other people seemed to be focusing, coming up with a game plan. I was trying to figure out where to start. Like I've seen it in the Hunger Games and on TV, how hard could this really be? I just had to go for it. I didn't feel anxious, I never feel anxious. But I definitely felt something as the even got closer and closer to starting.

You got this Athena, slay girl.

I listened to them get ready to start the event. And I closed my eyes, picturing what I had seen previously. Imagining myself starting that fire. Manifesting it and spreading like positive vibes and shit into the universe. And then, as soon as I heard go, I started. Maybe I was just a natural at starting fires. A girl can hope.

TI66q63qLf1-100

[ table by ulla ]

1-100

pogue
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Is she trying to interrupt our henna session?

the making of the flame (2) . ratmas day one Dec 23, 2021 15:19:01 GMT -5

Post by pogue on Dec 23, 2021 15:19:01 GMT -5

C O Y O T E

There's sweat on his brow and dirt on his cheeks when he finally finishes up all his tasks on the ranch, pulling a palm down his face and swiping the sweat off of it. "Pa!" He calls to a house that has molded him into everything he is and forgotten everything he isn't. "I'm headed to the festival thing. Be back around midnight, I think?"

There's an affirming grunt and a slammed door and he's pulling his jacket tighter around him as he walks, wind whipping through the holes in the fabric and ice curling at his cheeks. District Five hadn't been one for community, but it had been one for pretending it was anything of the sort. He sighs as he comes across it, the eternal flame and all of its celebrations feeling like anything but as he makes his way through the crowd. He existed in the outskirts of Five for a reason, closed off from the rest of the world and just so desperately trying to survive.

"You! You here for the fire lighting ceremony right?"

The woman steps in front of him as he walks by, hands hardly out of his pockets and head hardly shaking no before she grabs his wrist and pulls him over to where the other contestants had gathered. "I told ya, I'm not here for this damn-" But she's gone before he can even finish, a huff and a puff and a sigh the only thing left in her wake.

There's one thing clear that runs in his veins, he's no fire expert.

It was one of many lessons his father had taught him and Pigeon as kids, memories swirling in the front of his mind as he desperately tries to remember his way around this competition. Flint kit in hand and mind already over it he sighs, looking up at the clock and the announcer before taking his place in front of the line he's supposed to be lighting.

"Well-" He says, defeat already in his tone. "Light 'em up, I guess."

nglCCqjdrW1-100

1-100

kap
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goomy goomy on the brain

the making of the flame (2) . ratmas day one Dec 24, 2021 9:41:30 GMT -5

Post by kap on Dec 24, 2021 9:41:30 GMT -5

I've been spending some extra time working recently, especially with the holidays coming up. Today, though, I'd finally landed a day off, so I decided to go to the lighting of the eternal flame that would be taking place for the solstice today. It sounded like something I could enjoy doing. Fire making was new to me, but it seemed like it could be fun.

The guy running the event explained how things would work, and I listened. It didn't sound too complicated. They'd given us fire making kits, and we'd use that to light a rope in an attempt to make the eternal flame glow ablaze.

Picking up the flint, I strike it. There are small sparks that come from it the first time, and I realize how it works. Cool, I could do this: shouldn't be too hard. I strike the flint again, this time with the goal of lighting the rope on fire. Turns out, I actually think I know what I'm doing now.

3bwW9ZcxAK1-100

1-100

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the making of the flame (2) . ratmas day one Dec 27, 2021 20:32:43 GMT -5

Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2021 20:32:43 GMT -5

Leomie Genesis --

I don't want to sound shallow, but I'm 100% here for the free test grade. I mean, I'm no Scrooge, I'm all about some Ratmas themed celebrations. Gift and food? Uh, yeah, yes please. But so I'm a year above my age group and I got to be honest, skipping algebra 2 before trigonometry is really kicking me in the ass. I feel like everyone else in my class is just pretending to understand it or something, because nothing's clicking in that class.

Like, why are we learning so much about triangles anyways?

My dad's a politician so he's all about making the appearance here too. I'm just hoping I don't burn myself trying to get this easy A. Do you understand how embarrassing that would be? I honestly think Camilla would drop me over it. It'd be just my luck though, I feel like my family's been cursed for a few years now.

Is it bad I'm a little nervous? I thank the man when I grab the flint, but I can't help but notice Patricia's here and it's like seeing a legend in the flesh. Some little girl nearly burnt her hair off and I don't even want to think about that right now.

PnWVKaZptM1-100

1-100

marguerite harvard d2a (zori)
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🌻

the making of the flame (2) . ratmas day one Dec 28, 2021 9:22:48 GMT -5

Post by marguerite harvard d2a (zori) on Dec 28, 2021 9:22:48 GMT -5

Itzal Usoa

My sister dragged me here to say it would be good to get out of the house. We weren’t big on district celebrations – at least, I wasn’t – but I couldn’t turn down an opportunity to make her happy. She and mom had gotten more sentimental lately. December was a hard month. It was about this time that we’d gotten the telegram that Dad had been lost. The sort of strange, cryptic two lines – we are sorry to report that he could not be found – as though someone could just go missing off one of those oil refineries.

But this morning was a distraction from all that. A time when we could just be with the rest of the district, sipping on hot cider and nibbling on solstice spice cookies, and just be. While she wondered I kept my eye on the flame lighting. It wasn’t like I was ever competitive. No, I just wanted to see what it was all about. And when I got closer and listened to how much it meant to everyone, I guess I’d wanted to be a part of it, too.

So, I took up the flint in my hands and started to bring the rocks together. No time like the present to try and get this thing lit, no?

vXgFUmPU1s1-100

1-100

marcellus rhodes 11b arc
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the making of the flame (2) . ratmas day one Dec 28, 2021 22:27:23 GMT -5

Post by marcellus rhodes 11b arc on Dec 28, 2021 22:27:23 GMT -5

{ hayk shim }

"This year, we've decided to become a bit more inclusive with our event. In prior years, the lighting of the Eternal Flame has been done by District Five's mayor, but this year, we want to try something different. Let's put everyone's fire-making skills to the test!"

Sol was good at making fire. He killed someone with it. I figure it should be easy. It should be easy, right?

Oh, fuck it. I don't really know what I'm doing. But it's about time I start facing the world like I wasn't scared of it, because that's not what my brother would have wanted. He wouldn't want me to sit, scared. Sol would've wanted me to craft my own story, like the ones he'd tell me at bedtime. I guess this is a good first step. Conquering what Sol conquered in the arena, the branding of flame.

The speech is being given by some older guy. I think he's older. "Attached to each fire-making set is a line of rope, which links the sets to the Eternal Flame. You'll be given one piece of flint to assist you, but other than that, you're on your own! The first person to successfully light their line of rope and connect their handmade flame to the Eternal Flame's pit will win! And what's your prize? A student-sponsored twenty-dollars!"

Cool, money. I got this.

Well, Sol, here's to the solstice.

I hope our flame warms you up, wherever you may be.

tZaI7Wcq4H1-100