olive doherty. d2. cb.

Eighteen, standing at the back of the queue. Let's just hope someone volunteers for my place if they call my name. My parents never let me be a Career. They called it barbaric, said I'm better off learning practical skills to help me with the rest of my life. Besides, they chided, half the Victors are from the lower districts. Two had their glory days in the first few games and the 60's. Now we're spread thin among middles and lowers and you can't really tell the difference between One and Two's aging crowns anyway. I wanted to do something remotely entertaining so they took one look at Stella Blakesley from Twelve on the television screen and suggested I take up dancing. So I did, learning how to move and balance and drilling patience and discipline into the crux of my skeleton. It'll be embarrassing when I ask someone to take my place, but at least I'll have enough grace to not fall down the stairs on my decent.

But that's only if I ask for them to take my place.