Game Recognizes Game | [Stago]

[Deleted]

Iago Izar-McClaine	--
District 11	--

Hello From the Other Side

When I watched the games when I was a child, I’d always wondered about the tributes who treated it like some sort of paradise. The ones that acted like they were best friends, as though it was only a matter of time before they all had to slit each other’s throats. I’d roll my eyes, I’d think about how none of that seemed helpful (in fact it probably was going to lead to an even worse end considering how much trust they were going to put into another person they hardly knew). And then—then there were the few that showed who they really were, and nothing more. You could believe in them because they didn’t give a damn as to what anyone else thought. Maybe I was supposed to love my district but—District Eleven was always weak. Even Benat had been afraid of his own shadow, never so much as killed one person.

Then there was Stark Harper. We still talked about her, even after all those years. The girl from one that made everyone tremble, even if she didn’t say too much. Someone that knew their worth but didn’t have to prove it. Someone that was out to win, but not without humiliating her ally and the rest of the people around her. She was, and I rarely use this phrase—a queen. Emery was cut from the same cloth. And now, here she was, back in the games, just about the only person that I think could probably get the crown this time (aside from me).

“Stark. Harper.” I’m standing near the edge of the cafeteria, not far from her table. It doesn’t matter if I’m announced or not but—what was I supposed to do? I wasn’t going to fucking gush over her but, I wasn’t just about to lose the opportunity to meet a girl that should’ve been long dead. At least I’d get this chance, before shit hit the fan.

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HAYANA OF CAUTION 2.0

[gamemaker sloane ♕ kaяi ♕]

Well, treat me like the sea

I'm so salty and mean

Aha ha!

Stark Harper —

The Games are were my life. There's not a decision I would change, losing was just an unfortunate setback, but I can assure you it won't happen again. Even after death I never stopped thinking about them, never stopped training. New techniques, new styles, it never stops, I never stop. I was blessed to be given another chance at them, another chance to prove my worth. I stood there when my name was called, at the square that looked uncannily like District One, a huge smile plastered across my face. The boy didn't look half as thrilled as I did, but what can you expect from Reyes Moreno?

Most of my time has been spent in the training room, not that I really need it, but it's a nice intimidation factor. All the whispers and stares, I have a name for myself, the best kind of name in my opinion. People know not to mess with me, and they're damn right. I decide on a quick lunch break, no more than 20 minutes, it's valuable time being wasted instead of training. There's a few people I recognize from games before me, but I decide to sit alone, people are annoying anyways. I barely look up from my lunch, trying to finish as quickly as possible. It's rather surprising when I hear someone say my name, most people don't have the balls to approach me. It's probably just another fan. A boy definitely younger than I am stands not to far away. "Can I help you?" I say once I finish chewing. I don't even bother asking how he knows my name, everyone knows who I am. He must be from a later Games though since I have no clue who he is. "Who are you anyway?" I raise an eyebrow, waiting. I consider apologizing for not knowing who he is, but I'm really not sorry so I decide against it. I take another bite of my sandwich, still trying to finish eating in a reasonable amount of time.

[Deleted]

Iago Izar-McClaine	[Did You Miss Me?]
District 11	--

Hello From the Other Side

She’s a dream, really. I think it’s the way that she looks fragile but powerful—a paradox. Blond hair, piercing blue eyes, all the things you think of in a career. Then the fact that she doesn’t tear quick to anger, but has that slow and steady burn. I almost feel my face flush when she starts to speak. Stark Harper, in the flesh, talking to me. What is this feeling? I take a breath and look back at her again. Eating a sandwich and almost ignoring my presence. But then why would she ever know who I was? I was still a kid when she went into the games, not even in the reaping bowl. And yet.

“Iago Izar-McClaine. District Eleven. The sixty-fifth. Fourth.” As if the last bit of information would ever so much as impress a girl like Stark. But still. She’d notice me, even just a little. Something that would let me tip my hat to her and hers at mine so that I’d get some recognition. Someone like that knew what it was to be powerful; she knew what it meant to really live in this world. “You wouldn’t know me but I know you. I remember watching you when I was a kid. You were… effortless.” And the words all come tumbling out and I forget that I’m fourteen, that this is the training center, that here we are supposed to be getting ready to kill each other.

And I can’t stop staring at Stark Harper eating her sandwich.

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HAYANA OF CAUTION 2.0