overthink [garbage fire]

Coach's first experience in the dining hall had been with the blonde girl from District Four, and it had started off in a very frustrating manner. Luckily, since then, he'd managed to obtain a new training center uniform shirt, as his old one was now stained with food. He'd also been able to mostly forget about his encounter with the girl, or at least push it from his mind for the time being. Some people were just irritating and disrespectful, and he would have to learn to ignore that fact.

Luckily, this time, in the dining hall, he'd be meeting with some tributes that he didn't find to be irritating and disrespectful. He'd made some acquaintances, although he wasn't sure he should call them friends yet. None of them were careers, but they didn't seem to be too bothered by the fact that being a career was his whole life's focus. He'd planned to volunteer to be here, but now only one person in his little group was a volunteer, and it wasn't him. It was a kid from District Twelve, of all places. Then again, he must have guts, had he volunteered, so he wasn't going to discriminate against him for where he was from, even though that's most definitely what his father would have done in this situation.

He could only imagine how his father would react once Coach got into the arena with these lower District kids by his side. It certainly wouldn't be a positive reaction, that's for sure. His father was never a nice man, though. Coach, to be entirely honest, didn't care what he thought. These kids seemed useful, and he'd be using that to his advantage.

Belle was definitely the smart type. Coach could tell just by talking to her that she had brains, and he wanted that on his side, rather than against him.

Benedict carried around a picture of his girlfriend. Clearly he was the more emotionally attached type, in comparison to Coach. Coach on the other hand, had never really formed that type of bond with someone. Perhaps it was the want to learn from him that caused Coach to befriend him.

Syd was a volunteer. That said enough about him, in Coach's opinion. He clearly knew what he wanted, having put himself forward for the Games. Coach respected that, as he would've done the same if he hadn't been chosen by fate for this instead.

The group looked a little odd, all together. The four of them were seated at a table in the dining hall, and Coach had a mound of food in front of him on his plate. It was mostly spicy foods that he'd found since being here and learned that he really enjoyed. He just had to be a bit more careful with the hot sauce this time, so as to not get it on his shirt again.

Coach was the first to speak.

"So," he began. "Figure I'll help us get to know each other a bit more. What're you all fighting for in the arena?"

He'd wait to share why he was here, just in case he had to tweak his words a little bit. He was a career, after all, and showing his side that longer for glory, wealth and victory may not be the best thing to do quite yet. After Coach heard what the others had to say, he'd share.