say you're not sorry // Victory Tour // Arrows

[ali]

Brienne O'Dale ⚜ Don't touch the sleeping pills, they mess with my head, Dredging the Great White Sharks, swimming in the bed, And here comes a Killer Whale, to sing me to sleep, Thrashing the covers off, it has me by it's teeth. And oh my love remind me, what was it that I said? I can't help but pull the earth around me, to make my bed And oh my love remind me, what was it that I did? Did I drink too much? Am I losing touch? Did I build this ship to wreck? ⚜
	Brienne finds herself struggling to breath, it feels as if a vice is wrapping around her neck and it's being tightened with every passing second. Anxiety, grief is what the Doctor had refered to it as. Here, have some meds, they'll make you feel better. She'd taken the bottle of pills and flung them over the bridge and into the canal, watching it hit the water with an oddly satisfying plop. Brienne didn't want to feel happy, she didn't want to feel better. She wanted to wash herself in the pain she felt with every second of every waking moment; it was demanded to be felt, so she wanted to feel it. But sometimes, the pain would become too much and she'd drown it with alcohol. Booze which she'd stollen from her foster mother, booze she had brewed herself in the bathtub, it mad her dreadfully sick and drunk but Brienne didn't give a damn. It was on days, where the pain drowned her, that she just wanted to forget it anyway. Today- oh today- the pain was worse than any day before- but Brienne had yet to touch the booze- since the funeral, since she'd watched her baby sister take her final breaths. The thought sickened Brienne and she tried to wipe it from her mind but today- Oh fucking today- she couldn't forget because here she stood, by the side of the stage in the square outside the college, waiting to meet this years victor.   Some kid from 11, she hadn't cared to learn his name. She didn't care for anyone but Gabrielle, but she was gone. Tears welled in Brienne's eyes at the mention of her sister. A flash of that last breath crossed her mind and the tears began to slip down her cheeks silently. She knew that this kid didn't have anything to do with Gabrielle's death- heck she didn't even know he existed until he'd won and thats all everyone could talk about- but she still resented him. Why did you live and not my baby sister? Brienne took a shakey breath inwards and closed her eyes, hugging Buddy to her chest as the speech aimlessly continued. She blocked out the noise as best she could, in all truth she didn't want to be here, she didn't want to be anywhere except locked away in her room where no one would bother her. The crowd began to clap, signalling that the speech- the ceremony- was over. Thank fucking finally Brienne thought to herself, sourly, as she glanced at the other familes around her- those of Geo Venn and Wyatt O'Connor- who clapped gently too. Brienne didn't bother, she just continued  to clutch her prized bear to her chest as tightly as she could; if she smelt him, she could smell Gabrielle. But I can also smell her blood. Brienne kept her distance, seperating herself from the other familes; she didn't want to talk to the victor if she didn't have too.
	Words: Tag:  Arrows Notes: hope this is okay <3

[Arrows]

kirito

victor of the 70th hunger games

Confusion was a gauntlet filled with the liquids of grief and sorrow. A liquid tainted with the colors of scarlet drained from the lives of twenty three. Some known some unknown but all with the life washed out of their veins. Each and everyone of them locked deep within the confinements of grey boxes that tears would rain and splatter against. Yet Kirito's lips could never stop sipping the vile mixture as it held its addiction firmly on him like the vines of a mighty plant. 

Memories after memories had been shoved into the forefront of Kirito's mind as day after day he found himself facing the faces of the twenty three lost lives. Each one who's heart had stopped beating so his own could. With every thud of his own he could feel their energy as well. They were all gone so he could remain, and remain he would. He had sworn a promise to Katelyn to live on for them like she was for her own. Therefore he would never stop drinking from his own gauntlet. 

A clap of thunder shudder the train as it veered around yet another bend. Kirito's body flinched but did not launch him to his feet as it use to. Storms had become so much more since his victory. Since the blood of Wyatt hung to his hands like gloves. Every cry of thunder and flash of lightning always seemed to scream his name, every last one. What made things even worse was the fact there was a storm as he approached District Six.

Fate only seemed to want to drive even more of a dagger into Kirito's constantly throbbing chest. The wounds left by Wyatt still had their stingers deep in Kirito's ribs. They were like anchors that Kirito knew would never fade. In fact Kirito knew that even once all his wounds were healed he would still have twenty three anchors attached to him. Twenty three anchors he would forever have to carry. 

Lights illuminated the train car as it whizzed through the gates and into District Six. Buildings rose up from every direction as the train seemed to be surrounded in a science wonderland. Off in the distance Kirito could have sworn he saw a building actually harassing the lighting bolts. So many questions soared through his mind only to be interrupted by the piercing voices of his styling team. 

Hands ripped and pulled at Kirito's skin as constant questions flew from Zell's mouth. Answers were sent back from Kirito in uncaring tones. All Kirito could focus on as his body was morphed into presentable shape was how Wyatt seemed to be staring at him from every window. The sound of Wyatt ripping his book seared Kirito's ears as his eyes fell upon the train station.

Breaks squealed through the storm kissed air as Kirito finally managed to see what he was wearing. A deep smokey grey suit with neon blue trim was what presented itself to his gaze. As much as Kirito hated the get up he did not defy his stylish tema but instead casually strolled of the train. Peace keepers instantly surrounded him as Kirito could already here the calls for his head from the crowds. 

Every turn the armored truck seemed to make was welcomed with more calls of death. Kirito's name swung from tongue to tongue as he continued to be driven through the daunting waves of people. Finter shifted nervously as he asked how safe both he and Kirito were. A typical Peace Keeper answer of "Safe." was all that was given. However even Kirito felt more vulnerable here then in the arena.

Panic ripped away at Kirito's throat as his name boomed through the District's loud speakers. As the mayor and Kirito passed his couldn't help but hear the boos roaring through the area. The smell of Wyatt's blood seemed to waft through the air as fear warped Kirito's heart. Every step he took forward the more angry the crowd got. Kirito had stolen their chances at victory and to them it was unforgivable.

The sound of Kirito clearing his throat created silence as they glared upon their Victor. Hate burned deep into Kirito's bones as his words filled the breeze. " Hello, as all of y'all surely know meh name is Kirito. As I am sure y'all also know I am the Victor of the Quell. Now I am well aware that I am not the Victor y'all wanted. An' jus' like every otha' District I am sure y'all only see meh as a killa'. One that stole the lives of y'all's tributes so I could live. Now y'all are not wrong. I am a killa' an' I am the one alive an' not the tributes from this here District. Howeva' I will say I am tired of the constant harassment. Y'all can view me how ya want I do not care. But until y'all go through a games yaself and survive then I don' care whatcha think. If Wyatt, Geo, or Gabrielle had won then they would be dealin' with the same thing I am. No one likes anotha' District winnin'. But it happened an' I am sorry it did but I won' eva' apologize for what I did. I survived an' I saved meh family. An' now I won' eva' let y'all's tributes be forgotten. I am gonna live on for them all. Now I jus' hope y'all can learn to accept that. Thank ya." 

Surprise greeted Kirito as his speech ended as claps mingled with mild rage met his ears. As the Justrice Building doors shut behind him he actually thought that maybe his words had reached them all. Yet through the window he spotted Gabrielle's sister sort of lingering away. Although Kirito did not know Gabrielle he figured she would appreciate if he didn't just leave her sister to drown in sadness. 

A hood protected Kirito's identity from the crowd until he was able to reach Gabrielle's sister in an area others couldn't really see them. Words and phrases raced through Kirito's mind as he tried to formulate a sentence. However what came out wasn't the best but it was enough for the conversation to start at least. "Hey, that is a nice bear ya have. My lil' cousin has one jus' like it back home."

There is a Key to every gate and every exit,
yet every Key has its own cost.

table by anzie
tag:ali