for them | d3 train blitz

[ᕦ( ˘ᴗ˘ )ᕤ]

It's all becoming a little too real for Atticus Manor. Everything in his life exists on the back burner until a lifetime dwindles to a decade, a decade to a few years. Now, with less than three months until their twelfth birthday, what he thought of as the future way back when is caught braiding with the present and the past. His kids are much more mature, now, at eleven years old. Each has a personality of their own and a little more understanding of him and his life. They know what the Hunger Games are, and they know what they did to Atticus and could do to them if luck goes astray. He said goodbye to them this morning, Sylas, Eryn, and Maddox. It's painful to say goodbye even when he knows they'll be here in a few weeks' time. It's even more heart-aching to think of saying goodbye and never seeing them again.

The door abruptly slides open and Atticus jolts back from his worrying. Attempt Number Nineteen of trying to help these kids break out of their shells and win the Hunger Games. Sometimes, he truly wishes them the best when they succeed, but the other half of him doesn't want to live through decades and decades of trying (and failing) to mentor someone else's kids into surviving and killing.

Sparky is in first while the two tributes saunter in after them: Kassia Simons and Linnaea Valentine. He shoots them both a calm wave and invites them to have a seat. Nineteenth time is a charm, right? "Welcome, both of you. Settle on in, have some food or drinks or whatever you want." He's trying to remain calm but he burns on the inside. Atticus needs to master this game and bring one of them home. For their families. For themselves. For everyone.

a. m.

elegant

[pup]

k a s s i a .

"you are weak
but not foolish
you have learned
how to die."

Her legs were unsteady, as if she was taking her first few steps all over again. For the past half an hour, she had barely been able to breath after being rushed to the justice building and then onto the train. Now, as she walks in next to her counterpart, she sees the person who is supposed to save her.

At first glance, Kassia is slightly off-put by his peaceful wave when she would be described as anything but relaxed. He had won this so long ago, she wasn't even born yet. How many kids he was supposed to protect did he watch die? How many did he stress over? When did horror numb any form of stress into serenity?

On the counters next to him sat piles of deserts and drinks, more than she had ever seen before. All she knew was that she just needed to regain any semblance of confidence she had first. Grabbing a cup filled with water pushed to the end of the counter as an afterthought, she made her way and sat in the seat opposite him, sliding to the window to make room for Linnaea.

After taking a large sip from the glass, she finally felt her chest loosening. "So," Kassia says after a moment of silence, "Nice to meet you both. What's the plan for getting us out alive?"

elegant