stark black\\ JB.one.shot

What is that they say? History repeats itself. It was only a matter of time before the last Harper child was reaped for the Games. What will what's left of his family do now? His parents were suck a wreck that they didn't even stay the full time to say goodbye, just left him there in the Justice Building to be shipped off to die. Rather negative thoughts for a Career but one can't help but feel a little bitter when abandoned. There were plenty of people to send off his District partner, Viridian knew that much. The Shore family was well known and large compared to his and no doubt were crowding the room to say good bye to their pride and joy.

Viri had been the one to send Stark off, in this very room no less. Alone in the silence of the Justice Building, the switchblade became heavy in his pocket. His older sister had given it to him for safekeeping until she came back. Only she came home in a wooden box and had no need of it anymore. Since then Viri had cleaned it daily and carried it around with him everywhere. Had it seen any action? Hardly, although the boy had gained a certain reputation around the District. Always wearing his hood pulled up, brandishing a knife and never stopping to talk to anymore. Hanging out in the graveyard and just giving of the overall vibe of dangerous intentions. Of course that all could have been attributed to Stark whom the whole country saw tease, kill and exhibit a special kind of cruelness.

He didn't have a single soul to pass her legacy onto. If he took Stark's knife to the Capitol it'd be confiscated- it wasn't like he could use it as a token or anything- but what could he possibly do with it? Just then there was a knock at the door, shattering his thoughts and sending his stomach rolling. Who had come to see him? Was there really a person left who cared about the coarse, stubborn Harpers? The answer was no. It was only a Peacekeeper announcing it was time to board the train. Viridian couldn't help but feel disappointed but he took that pain and shoved it down. It was pathetic to care what people around here thought. They'd come to kiss his feet when he won- they would see how stupid they had been. Only Viridian wasn't sure if those thoughts were his own or his sister's.

Flanked by two Keepers, Viri made his way out of the Justice Building. It was mid-morning and the sun was hidden by clouds. He hoped it was sunny in the Arena, it had been so rainy in District One as of late it would be nice for some different weather. Walking the path to the train station, Viri took in the last stretch of District ground he'd walk before being whisked off to the Capitol. Along the path to the train was a small fork that led to the graveyard. When Viri and his escorts came to it, he veered off onto it without waiting to see what the Keepers would do.

He knew exactly where he was going. There was the row designated for tributes on the west side of the graveyard and Viridian jogged down it until he hit the gravestone he had so often sat in front of the past two years.

Stark Harper
Tribute in the 61st Hunger Games

Kind of depressing the only person he had to say good bye to was a corpse, but nevertheless he had to. Kneeling in the grass, Viridian took out the switchblade and held it in his hands measuring the weight. What would Stark have told him if she were alive? What advice would she have bestowed?

"Remember, you'll only be famous until I win." That didn't quite fit anymore. Truthfully, she probably would have slapped him for moping in front of a grave on his Reaping day where there cameras filming him. In that way, Viri was weaker than Stark. She had not needed him, but he needed her.

"Don't get too attached to it... I'll be wanting it back." he said, lying the switchblade at the foot of Stark's tombstone. He hadn't meant for her words to spill out but the last memory he shared with her had stuck in his mind. His heart felt like it was in a pressure vice, being crushed under all the emotions he wasn't allowed to show. "Good bye Stark, I'll see you in a week."

Standing up, he brushed the dirt from his pants and looked to the Keepers that were waiting for him two plots over. His heart still felt strangled in the thick walls of his chest, but Viridian took a step away from the grave, and then another and then another. Eventually he was aboard the train and already heading toward the Capitol and his chance at glory. A thought still itched at the back of his brain- what would Stark's advice for a tribute be?

"Kill them all." Now that sounded like something he could do.