Trying out new things (Semper and Kousei blitz)

s h a d o w b i s o n

The shirt was terribly itchy against your skin and it took your stylist quite a few tries to get you to stop scratching at the collar. You frowned, sucking on your bottom lip and nibbling on it. Your stylist wouldn’t let you take your powder horn, either, and so you were left fiddling with the end of your shirt, running your fingers along the seams and rubbing the fabric. There was no doubt in your mind that Cassie would be the one to shine from Five and you would be tucked away, forgotten. Just like the last two tributes.

In the training area you tried your best to comprehend what the instructor was saying but she used terms that you didn’t recognize. You gnawed on your lip again as the instructor dismissed the crowd and the other tributes began to disperse. Cassie was nowhere to be found so you began to wander by yourself. Everything in the room looked far too heavy for you to pick up so you avoided the swords and maces, heading instead to a little knife station. There was a boy already there examining and knife and then setting it back down; you didn’t mean to watch him but he caught you, asking if he could help. ”Oh, erm—“ Your voice wavered and you brought your hands up to tug at the itchy collar nervously. ”N-no not really, I’m just watching. S-sorry.”

s h a d o w b i s o n

Much to your relief the boy does not immediately shove you away because you were staring. You bit your lip, holding tightly onto the lower seam of your shirt, ducking your gaze away as soon as he noticed you. He was roughly your size, perhaps a bit bigger, but not enough to where he could easily overpower you. He didn’t seem like he’d want to try to intimidate you anyway – he asked a question, putting to rest your worries.

You wanted to smile but it never came to your face. Instead you mumbled at first, taking a quick intake of air and settling your nerves as best you could to answer. ”Th-that’s good. I’m, um, I’m Shadow.” You cast a brief glance back up at the stranger, trying to spot the number on his shoulder. ”I am from Five.” Despite the anxiety, you didn’t want the conversation to last for only a few seconds, so you choked back the wavering tone in your voice. ”What about y-you?”

s h a d o w b i s o n

It amazed you that you were actually meeting someone outside of your home district. His words held a different accent, one that you only ever heard on the television, and it amazing you how the vowels stretched and molded the words in comparison to how you spoke. Your words were short and choppy, though, filled with the fear you felt gnawing away on the inside. Little hands gripped at the shirt seam once again and you hesitantly looked up to find him looking just as nervous as you felt.

”Mantel.” The name rolled unnaturally off your tongue. Wasn’t that a shelf above a fireplace? You shoved the thought away and instead replaced the meaning of the word with his face, committing it to memory as best you could. In response to his question you turn your attention to the rest of the room. People were trying weapons here and there, and you hadn’t ventured to try anything out of your comfort zone. Hell, even the small knives were almost too scary. So you shook your head and mumbled. ”No, n-not yet. I don’t wanna try out the sharp weapons.”