bigger fish in the sea {d4 train / 97th}

[knuckles]

Tide Evros

This is going to be fun.

It's weird, walking on the train as it flies towards the Capitol, but it's one of those moments Tide has been looking forward to. Seeing the beauty, the wonderful world outside of district four. It helps him, gives him the motivation to find something worth fighting for - I want the crown. I want to stand so high on the pedestal that everyone bows down to me. But first, he has to get there.

Every now and then he stops in place, eyes peeking through the windows trying to take it all in, yet the outside world doesn't compare to anything to what's inside the train. A large smile spreads across his face, and it's hard not to feel like a child standing in their favorite store with permission to do whatever. The chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, the tablecloths, everything. It's more than he ever could've imagined.

He grabs a glass and quickly inspects it before filling it with some water, and then, he takes his seat next to a window where he continues watching the world fly by. All of this, it's a celebration of him, and while he's trying to enjoy it, Tide knows that all of it hinges on one thing. Coming home depends on his will to survive, to do whatever he takes.

That crown will be mine. Nobody will stop me.

[minie]

Everything about Circe Murdock always had to be perfect. A white dress tailored to fit her body perfectly, an innocent look for a girl with not much innocence left. Between her dress and her boots only her knees were visible, but like any aristocrat would have been taught from a young age; Right leg was crossed over left and hands placed carefully on top. The two French braids interwoven with orange poppies laid gently on her shoulders as she sat upright with impeccable posture. It would have not been far out of reach to assume the young girl was marionette.

(There were whispers that the middle Murdock child was about to launch a line of dolls for little girls to have their very own version of her, but those were just rumors.)

An insincere smile placed meticulously on her lips. There was not enough makeup or pretending in the world that could have covered up her hollow eyes. If one looked deep enough, you could see the turbulent sea in her eyes. Harsh waves reflecting the urge she had to destroy everything in her path, an instinct so primal Circe could not name it.

She watched her district partner fill up his glass with water and then sat himself across from her as he watched out the window. His name unknown to her, a nobody in the district but here he was surrounded with somebodies. The circle of district fours victors, a part of society that Circe had been part of by default although it was evident that the grandchildren of Blair Murdock could not last much longer on the laurels of district four’s very first victor. It had become evident to Circe that they needed another victor and none of her siblings had seemed to fit the role.

She would have resented any of the ungrateful disgraces if they were to have won before her. Circe was convinced that no one put in more effort than she had, for it was clear that she would always have to work double as much as the rest. The taint of her mother’s skin being a constant reminder of who she was, where she came from. Allowed only for half a year in the house, she had less time than the rest but despite it all; She was better than the lot of them combined.

Circe was the first to break the silence, never breaking her poise. “Congratulations” She spoke with the static smile as she turned her head away from the window. Any career would have been proud to have been reaped. “I’m Circe” She held out her hand well aware that she was not representing herself but as always each time she stepped foot outsaid the house, she was representing the Murdock name.

Circe could not have cared less about the boy sitting across from her, she would have slit his throat right there and then if permitted.

[kap]

Time flies so fucking fast.

Selkie is already a year old. Unfortunately, that also means that she's a lot to keep an eye on during the timeframe where the Hunger Games are going on. So, at the moment, Marina's looking after her.

Marina has the kind of motherly instinct that I really wish I had sometimes. She's always been great with kids our whole lives— a momma bird of sorts.

I never planned to have kids, and while I do love Selkie to pieces, I definitely wasn't prepared when she arrived. Even though Marina doesn't have kids of her own, she's been able to help me get more used to it and comfortable with the whole thing. I'm really grateful for her, even with all of our differences over the years.

I have a lot more respect for my older sister than I did when we were growing up. I hope she knows that. I never would've admitted how much I loved her when I was a kid, but I'm sure to tell her now.

Marina is a big part of the reason I even survived the Hunger Games, with all the intensive, dedicated training we did together. We probably sweat just as much as we argued back then. Don't tell her how much she helped, though. It'll go right to her head.

-

The reaping was cyclical at this point. Pretty much every tribute I'd been assigned to mentor over the years since the time I'd won had been terrified and the opposite of excited to be called up to the stage. They were like small dogs, shaking and whimpering as they went up there. Who am I kidding? My dog is braver than so many of them were.

I mean, there were definitely some more notable tributes since I'd won. Talon, of course. Derecho was another one I liked, but I didn't even really get to know the guy. Lucky was impressive, but I was so busy with Selkie last Games that I didn't even get to get to know my own tributes all that much.

Most of the tributes I'd mentored were in the Games during a time where I was super busy with publicity shit, too. So, now that I had more free time, I really just wanted a fun pair of 'em. Could I just have a year where they're both careers? Like, real careers, like me?

If they weren't dedicated to the sport, they wouldn't be nearly as much fun to watch fight their way through the games, nor would they be nearly as much fun to spend time with afterward if one of them one.

I took my seat on the stage, and listened while Aloysia welcomed everyone to the reaping. She made all of the routine announcements that I probably could've recited by memory at this point, before moving onto the bowls full of names. The perfectly folded, pristine white sheets of paper upon which the names were written were visible through the beautiful crystal vessels as Aloysia fished around for the right one.

She plucked one out between her fingertips and unfolded it, her long, bright pink fingernails making an unfortunate scratching sound against the paper scrap she was holding in front of her face at the microphone.

Calling out the first name, she didn't even look out to the people she was reading the name to.

"Tide Evros!"

The kid looks like he's confused at first, or nervous. Maybe both. I like to think that he was just caught off-guard, but the look he holds on his face looks like fake confidence. I suppose everyone gets a bit of nerves. I figure I can give him the benefit of the doubt.

Almost as soon as he reaches the stage, Aloysia is reading out the next tribute's name.

"Medea Haley!"

I scan the crowd quickly with my eyes and locate the girl almost immediately. She'd already noticed her name was called, but the person next to her gave her a quick jab with her elbow to get her attention. This one didn't look nervous— that could be good.

Then someone called out to volunteer.

When I tell you I hoped so, so fucking much that this was an actual career volunteering and not some bullshit situation of a kid trying to 'save' their friend or family member by taking their place, I absolutely mean it.

My eyes flicked over to look at the girl whose voice had rang out. She was now approaching the stage, and I knew her face. I wasn't sure what her name was, or where I'd seen her exactly, since as a victor, I saw a lot of people these days, but she did look familiar.

“My name is Circe Murdock and I volunteer as tribute,” she'd announced as a way to introduce herself.

Murdock— I was pretty sure I'd seen her at a yacht party not too long ago, awkwardly standing around on the arm of a Morrisen. Rich kid— definitely came from money. The Murdocks were one of the socialite families who were regularly in my circles, or at least adjacent to them.

I didn't know anything about Tide, but between the two of them, maybe it could make for something vaguely promising.

-

When I boarded the train destined for the Capitol, my first stop was the drink car. I poured myself a gin and tonic— which I'll admit, was definitely more gin than tonic— and stood looking out the window for a few moments before the train eventually started moving. Then, I decided to head into the car where the tributes were to be.

I'd wanted to give them a moment to sit and see each other before I came in. Even if it didn't allow for much conversation before I got there, they could get their bearings before their celebrity encounter (with me, of course).

The door to the tribute car slid open and I stepped through to see this year's Games-star-hopefuls.

The boy, Tide, has an especially excited grin upon his face now— certainly an improvement from his facial expression at the reaping. He seemed like he was glad to be here. Thank fuck.

Circe fit the vision of a pretty, socialite rich girl with what she was wearing. Her demeanor matched quite well, too. She congratulated Tide and introduced herself. Congratulations certainly that meant she wanted to be here. Well, that and the fact that she'd volunteered, of course.

A solid start.

I knew so many people like Circe, including myself. These type of career kids acted like they wanted to be your friend— and they were, at least until you stopped benefiting them. It was a great strategy. It'd worked out for me.

I'd kept Whiskey on my side until we were the only two left. Having a competent tribute not wanting to kill me right away was helpful, until it wasn't, which is when I killed him. I could see Circe doing the same to a guy like Tide. I suppose whether or not it did turn out that way would be something we'd all find out later.

"Yes—" I spoke up as I walked in, agreeing with Circe's congratulatory remark and standing near the two of them. "Congratulations, both of you."

I wasn't here to baby these kids, so I really didn't see harm in being blunt with them. I was going to get straight to the point.

"Looking out the window won't be much help for ya, Tide. The more time you waste gawking in it all, the less likely you'll have the opportunity to do it again after the Games."

My gaze shifted to look at Circe more directly.

"I've seen you around before, clinging to that Morrisen boy. So, I have to ask—"

I'm not just blunt— I'm also a nosy bitch, and proud of that fact.

"You volunteering to impress him, or doing this for yourself?"

There's a teasing smirk on my face. Conversations like these were good to test the tributes' confidence, as well as— if they weren't confident— how well they could keep up a façade.

table by dars!

[ryan]

she clutches the pearls that were gifted to her by her stylist ages ago. a gift for making their career rise from the ashes. Annie still cant believe that so much time as passed, but three quells later and here she is, standing in front of a mirror in a house that still seemed so vacant.

everyone has felt the need to move, or at least, that is what it felt like. trish and axel are off doing their own things, angel is off chasing a dream that annie cant have any stake in, and wander simply exists in a realm that cant be reached.

the quiet.

thats what she is learning to hate.

---

she moves from the victor village to the justice building, annie slightly thankful that they seem to be in the same block. she never walked around with peacekeepers or bodyguards, mostly because annie was clearly capable of handling herself. it would be silly for someone to assume that an ex career would walk around empty handed. she knew if she was stopped, she would be question, but at the end of the day, she was a victor, she knew what she could and couldnt get away with.

it was the only thing that gave her any power any more.

there are rumblings in the crowds as she takes her seat on the stage. its so weird to think that she was in that very crowd all those years ago. she remembered being eighteen, and promising herself that even if her name wasnt called on her last birthday, she would volunteer anyway. anything to get away from her father at this point. her name was called, just like others had been through out the years. she went in, she won, she got a do over with everyone else, and then she learned to find herself.

looking down on everyone now, she knew all too well that she was such a different version of herself.

the escort hit the mic, and the thoughts went silent.

---

and for once, there seemed to be murmurs as one of the girls had volunteered this year. even annie had been sort of confused, until she realized the name. murdock. it had been ages since she had even thought about the family. she knew the head of the family begrudgingly. her father and him would go out from time to time.

she didnt really learn much of the family, besides the fact that his grandfather was a victor.

she was curious to say the least about the girl that threw herself into the fire. annie always found the more eager the tribute, the more likely they are going to fizzle before they even ignite.

annie would keep a watchful eye on this one.

---

she eased into her car after the ceremony. this was the first time in a while she had decided to take the ride to the capital as a mentor. the council though did make it very clear to her that she did need to start showing up just a little more often. apparently her random trips to find out information just isnt enough for their liking. she had been avoiding the commitment for a while now, seeing as there were three young victors that could handle all of the bureaucratic bullshit.

talon had been non existent, nixie had been busy with her new child, and beck? who knows.

annie always claimed that her time in the mayor's office was far more important, that she was sure that most people wouldnt want advice from someone that didnt even really kill someone in the games. annie learned the shrug off the comments, but it always hurt when they were made. however, telling people that they had be there to see it, only quieted so much.

she felt the train doors open while she stood from her bed. they were on the train.

showtime.

---

annie walked out for a moment, resting her shoulder on the wall of the car. her arms were crossed but her posture otherwise relaxed. the tributes both seemed ready to get started. annie smirked for a moment before pushing herself off the wall and walking closer to them.

the boy, tide, seems to be stuck in his own train of thought, he doesnt even acknowledge the victors presence. circe on the other hand seems to be somewhat more social. she introduces herself to everyone, she didnt even recognize that nixie had been present. "well, its been a long time huh?" annie said to her before looking at the tributes before her. nixie seemed to be gauging them, but annie is already thinking about how one of them could come back home.

its what she did when nixie herself came back.

it had been a long while since she had thrown her hat into the mentoring ring, but with not much input from the others, annie felt like this could be the year for her to bring back another tribute. after all, four hadnt won in what felt like decades. lots of close calls, but none of them could seal the deal.

nixie is sipping on a drink and offering some sort of advice, but before annie could interject, she heard something slip out of her mouth that annie had to inquire about. "morrisen you say? better not be axel." annie actually smirked. "we both know hes far too much to handle." the fact that circe seemed to be enthralled with one of cousins was enough to get annie to possibly invest more than she thought she would into her.

"i would hope shes doing this for herself nixie." annie took the seat next to her and crossed one leg over the other. "but please, do tell."

she wants to know so much more.