f l a m i n g o { venus&petelia

Back to the grind, he called it. Two of the busiest weeks in the Training Center demanded the presence of Gamemakers, Junior Gamemakers, scientists, stylists, servants, Avoxes, and of course trainers such as himself. The majority of tributes originated from inexperienced backgrounds, districts with little to no resources for career training. He wasn’t quite sure why the hierarchy was designed that way, especially when careers were hardly putting out Victors nowadays, but there was only so much he could handle in terms of politics. When one contemplated too hard, one began to realize how troubling their world was.

For now, he could push his thoughts aside and focus on his work. He was a former Gamemaker, and he had been asked into his office rather than the heart of the training center, but he dismissed the idea of sitting in a chair all day. He wasn’t just a former Gamemaker, but a former trainer before that. These two weeks of the year were his only chance to return to what he loved to do, and that was passing his knowledge from one brain to the next. Perhaps tributes were not quick learners – and certainly not the most patient – but every little bit of information was worth cherishing.

This particular tribute had a puzzlingly carefree attitude, and he had yet to deduce whether it was a defense mechanism against the trauma of imminent battle, or if he simply didn’t want to take any of this seriously. For his sake, he hoped it was the former.

A voice called out to him the moment he demonstrated how to properly wield a spear. ”Venus!”

And he knew that bubbly voice. It belonged to his junior Gamemaker Petelia, famous for her excellent work and craftsmanship with mutations. Speaking of, he nearly coughed when he noticed the bright pink lions poised beside her. Creations of hers, he imagined.

”Take your pick, either one’s fine.”

He stared at the two creatures, colored beautifully and sitting obediently by her side. Of course she trained them herself – she was no fool. But lions? Seriously? She was offering him a majestic beast that he wasn’t quite sure he could handle. Yet he thought of Sun, and the way his eyes lit up when he spotted a stray cat in the yard. He would fall in love with a pink lion.

”You really shouldn’t have,” he said, sporting a friendly grin. Normally he put careful thought into his decisions, but the temptation was too strong. He owed her this anyway. ”But I’ll take this one, if this is a serious offer.”