blissful ignorance [d6 train, 94th]

blissful ignorance [d6 train, 94th] May 28, 2023 12:59:32 GMT -5

Post by djed carnelian . d8m [kap] on May 28, 2023 12:59:32 GMT -5

♛

My family got extremely emotional during our goodbyes, and I'll admit, while I'm looking forward to being in the Games, I got a bit emotional as well. I didn't cry, but there were certainly lots of sentimental words and tightly-held hugs to go around. I made sure Queenie and Quella were okay, or at least got them to stop crying. They were worried about me, and I suppose that made sense. I would've been worried if it were one of the two of them. Except, it wasn't. It was me, so I was much more prepared for what was to come than I would've been if they were the ones going into the arena.

What I'm saying is, I understand why they reacted the way they did. I just wish that they hadn't. I mean, I didn't need them to be happy about me going to fight in a death match, even if I was happy about it. I just wanted them to not be sad, you know?

It hurts to see my family upset.

Surprisingly, though, Dad was having the hardest time holding himself together out of everyone. I hadn't seen him this upset since Papa— Dad's husband and my other father— passed away. It was like he was already mourning me and it wasn't even guaranteed that I was going to die. I tried to explain it to him, but he wasn't having it. He just kept repeating how much he wished that he wished he could've taken my place, if only he were still young enough.

Unfortunately, nothing could calm his nerves, so I had to let him leave the justice building in tears with my two younger sisters trying to comfort him. I hated to see him like that.

-

When I was eventually escorted to the train, the confident look I'd had at the reaping was back. My shoulders were back, my head held aloft and an overall look of satisfaction resting on my face. It wasn't even intentional to look that way. I was just pretty satisfied with the way things had worked out at the reaping. I was picked and no one else I knew was. That was how I wanted it to be.

As soon as I boarded the train, I picked up a pastry off of the nearest cart of food and sat down in a plush-looking seat that was even more comfortable than it had looked. Tapping my foot in anticipation of the other tribute from my home District of Six and perhaps a mentor or two joining me, I bit into the pastry. Delicious.

I finished off my pastry by the time I next heard the train car door open, and looked over to see someone walking in.

"Look who it is," I said with a slight smile as I stood up from my seat. "I'm Quentin." Extending my hand in greeting, I waited for them to take it.

[ 481 words ]
[ tags: frankel & Benson Sharpe D3M [Tom] ]
[ lyrics: "Hell's Comin' With Me" by Poor Man's Poison ]

blissful ignorance [d6 train, 94th] May 28, 2023 14:24:57 GMT -5

Post by frankel on May 28, 2023 14:24:57 GMT -5

Flynn Garner

Time spent working at the hospital was supposed to be the perfect way to reintroduce myself to society before another reaping, after nearly a year secluded to my house. It was not a perfect idea. Everyone there held some kind of grudge, an awkward tinge in the air whenever I walked onto the ward. Now a hospital is not supposed to be a relaxed place, but it was never like that before. Maybe I just came back at the wrong time, the programme restarts when I return after the 94th. There will be new faces, new medical students taking their turn. Another chance for me to restart.

But first, back to the mentoring job that I also suck at.

A new face pulls the names out of the glass, all thanks to me. Star has fled the escort career and now we are blessed with Moon. Where do they get these people from? I have no idea what they are like but after the reading the report they wrote up about me last year, they are meant to be sterner and stricter. Great! At least I do not know who the tributes are this year. Maybe the stint of reaping my family and loved ones is over. I am just facing another punishment; I have hundreds of engagements to look forwards too and another interrogation in the Capitol. And of course, a review of the pills that are in my trouser pocket.

I barely step through the train door and Quentin Quinn is already up on his feet. A name like that, they did that on purpose! He has his hand out and wants me to shake it, a tribute has never been so enthusiastic to meet me before. I do him the favour and shake it. All his hopes are on me now, with my meaningless advice and useless sponsorship that I am going to have to haul my ass for in a few days. ”You can sit back down, Quentin.”

The usual jug of fresh cooled orange juice is waiting for me in the centre of the beverages table, I pour myself a drink, waiting for the rest of the entourage and the other tribute to join us. ”Now I know you are probably waiting for Teddy and I to fill you with ideas and strategies but it is not down to us. It is down to you and what you do in that arena. It does not matter how well you do in the Capitol either, it is down to every second you are in that arena. We can send as many parachutes as we can but it won’t matter.” The hours I spent strategizing with Johnny together on that couch never mattered. All the times I reminded Quinn on how to impress the sponsors never mattered. I told Aurora to flee the bloodbath, but it never mattered.

I take a big sip of the orange juice and wipe the residue from my lips with the back of my hand. ”Just do as you are told okay? Try and learn as much as you can until it is up to you to make the decisions.”