eye on prize . jupiter x tide

[jupiter graves [d1] 🚀 pogue]

J  U  P  I  T  E  R

"Nobody likes a self-made outcast."

At the end of his first day in the Training Center Jupiter had been pulled from his bedroom and into the living room of the District One quarters, a yawn still dancing on his lips from the sudden wake-up call. Principle's office, stern talking to and a metaphorical slap on the wrist, they'd watched footage of the time he'd spent practicing his combat skills, alone in the corner of the room and carving smiles into the chests of fake bodies.

Jupiter watches a brief interaction with one of the trainers, Quartz, eye twitching in annoyance as the memories come flooding back to the forefront of his mind. There's red that kicks in from the edge sof his vision, arms folded and gaze sharp enough to drill a hole through the screen. It takes several seconds for him to register the bitching being shot at him from one of the District One team's members.

"Alone, alone, alone! Always by yourself. It really does no good-"

"Am I here to make friends?" Jupiter's voice cuts through the room like he means something, intentionally deepened to maximize the impact. It crumbles in seconds-

"Are you here to make enemies?" One of them throws back, and he's reminded that they've done this before, time and time again, just to watch the tribute never come home. Gulp, swallow, he watches their faces and realizes he's half a ghost already, too proud to admit it. "Alright, fine- I'll talk more."

But words aren't his strong suit, not like the sharpened end of a blade or a knife flicked from his wrist. It's why he finds himself awkwardly standing near the District Four tribute at the javelin station, crossed arms and narrowed gaze, measuring the distance between the target and himself and stealing glances at his soon-to-be opponent.

Tide Evros. Jupiter had memorized the names of his fellow careers on the train ride to the Capitol, sizing up his competition before the Games even started, planning their end.

"Teach a guy a thing or two?" He finally offers, pulling the javelin from the table and balancing it clumsily. "Javelins've never been my strong suit."

Little white lies told in false bravado. Jupiter smiles.

[d4a tide evros {ems}]

Tide Evros

Part of training is learning how to handle and use various different weapons, even the ones that Tide isn't sure about, but mostly, he's spent his time trying to learn about the others and figure them out when he has nothing left to do. Of course, it's important to remember that everyone here could easily put on a show. Sometimes wearing a mask is for the best. It's easy enough, and maybe that's why everything else is falling apart. Wearing a mask is simple, yet it's more important for him to always be himself even in the face of adversity.

It's easy enough to want the crown, and now he wants to do whatever he can to make sure it's handed to him when it's all said and done, but he knows it might not be that easy. Fighting others, killing others - this is the moment he's been waiting for, and now that it's here, Tide is starting to second guess himself. Not that he outwardly shows it, but he wants to fly high, he wants to be the very best, and when it's all said and done, he wants the crown that belongs to him.

Javelins remind him of throwing spears into the ocean to potentially catch some fish. It can help him more than anything else in the world right now, but javelins are much lighter, they're more capable of being thrown further distances. It's a weapon he plans on staying far away from.

"Teach a guy a thing or two?"

He pauses and turns and finds himself standing face to face with a tribute from one. Jupiter. Maybe there's something off about him, and maybe Tide can use this as a chance to make sure he's the strongest. But even then, Tide wants nothing to do with the others. Turning him away isn't ideal either. Wrapping a hand around a javelin, he turns towards the target and throws it almost hitting dead center in the middle of the bullseye. It's just off to the side, but maybe it would still wind up as a killing blow.

He smiles briefly before turning back around and picking up another javelin.

"Why do you want my help? Shouldn't you know everything?" It's a simple truth, but it's also a simple curiosity. "But if you really want to know, just hold it loosely in your palm, keep it level, and then aim and throw." It's always fun to see what happens. Having an enemy isn't ideal, but Tide doesn't care because he's going for the win.

I'll leave it to him to figure it out if he wants to go from there.