last ticket to hell/d11 train(ems, arrows, cato, rade)

[pup]

[googlefont="Dancing Script:400"]

CARRITA NESSEGE OOC: omg I am so happy guys. d11 yay!!! Also I'm really sorry about how short it is XD.

My mind is blank. It has been ever since two words were ushered into the air that changed everything. I completely ignored whoever got reaped next. All I heard was "Miristioma" and I knew that I wouldn't be the one coming out alive. I barely understood what happened next. We were ushered into the justic buulding to wait for the train, and at the time when loved ones were supposed to visit, no one came to say goodbye to me and my sorry self. I guess no one loves me in this world. That is what I had expected though. In my aunt's eyes she was only losing a servent. I shuffle out of the Justice building, my eyes locked on the ground as my mind refuses to comprehend completely what had happened. When I reach the train on the other hand, I can't help but raise my eyes before blinking out the bright lights that shone down above me. For a minute I feel as though I am somewhere wonderful, but then I remember that it is all just for the tributes of the games before their untimely demises. At that thought I lock my eyes back onto the ground, refusing to allow the capitol to draw me in. After being shown my room, I start to look around the train. In every room an avox servent tries to wait upon me. I feel horrible for them, getting their tongungs snatched from them by the Capitol. I wonder what they do with all the tongues. Maybe they patch them all together and create a tongue mutt to lick tributes to death. That small thought allows a tiny smile on my face to appear before quickly disapearing again. As I move through the train I wonder why they put each room there. Why is there a pool on a train for a district with not enough water? Why is there a bar car for tributes who most of aren't even allowed to drink? Finally, why is there a petting zoo in the middle of a moving train? Even though that last one makes me question the capitol's sanity even more, I can't help but pat the head of a small goat on my way through. Finally, I reach a rather larger room filled with a buffet set for a king. I feel my stomach growl and remember all the days I was left to starve in my aunt's house. Despite my resolution to keep from falling into the capitolite ways, I can't help but pick up a small plate and pile it high with pasteries. After that I grab a cup and fill it to the brim with this weird juice that changes colors and fizzes. I take a seat in front of a small TV playing the reapings. It can help to know who is about to try and murder you Each bite of pastery I take feels as though it melts in my mouth. When I sip the juice sweet flavors fill my mouth, making me almost jump when I first take a sip from it. I am only at District Five and the weird capitolite thing has just called out "Sol Shim" when I hear a door slide open. I avert my eyes down to a weird crescent shaped bread in front of me. I don't want to really "make friends" with anyone, not even my famous mentors. I'm going to be murdered in a couple days time so I don't even want to bother getting attatched to people in any way. For all I know the Miristioma person reaped with me could be already planning my epitaph as I sit here. I can see it now: "Carrita Nessege. 59th - 72nd. She was an idiot weakling who believed in rainbow unicorns untill she was ten, but now she is dead. Oops, I murdered her. Sorrynotsorry." I cringe slightly as that wonderfully dark thought passes through my head. I must look rediculous to whoever must have walked in, my small figure trying to avoid eye contact with a celebraty, but I don't really care much about what they think of me.

[Knuckles]

Iain Miristioma

I'm at war with the world cause I Ain't never gonna sell my soul I've already made up my mind No matter what I can't be bought or sold

It felt like the entire family came to see me, and I was told the same thing over and over, but in all reality I don't feel like I can win. I'm not strong enough, and running is hard because my leg doesn't work, but getting my family to understand that takes a lot of effort on my part. Soon I'm led from the justice building. Taken away as the lingering crowd glares upon me. A forced grin twists across my lips as I raise my hand to my face willing myself not to cry, but soon the tears are falling anyway especially when I step onto the train. I've always wanted to ride a train, but this isn't how I imagined it. Windows are locked tight and the door to the train locks shut - even if I wanted to escape, it seems impossible. Nobody wants to take a chance for us to run away before we're thrown into the arena although I wouldn't get very far if I tried. Dragging my leg behind me, I walk down the train staring at the many rooms. A room filled with food and drinks and every dessert I can imagine. Yet it isn't enough to make me stop. Step after step I move forward trying to find someone to talk to. Maybe a place to relax and escape from the future. My future is bleak, but I will dictate what happens to me. The Capitol doesn't own me, and if they want to kill me, they'll have to knock me down in a fight and kill me because I do not plan on backing down. And I open another door, and in front of my is my district partner watching the reapings play out. Cringing slightly, I turn my head away from the screen because I don't want to see who else is in the games. Soon enough I'll know, and I don't want to know them. Putting a name to a face only makes it worse especially when their face appears in the sky at night. Shifting my gaze towards the ground, I lower myself into a chair unsure of what to do, or what to say. A normal conversation doesn't feel possible here because at least one of us has to die, and in all reality, I don't plan on it being me. From the moment our names were called, the games began, and it's definitely showing.

[googlefont="Nothing You Could Do:400"]

[Noah Vau - D2 (Cato)]

Harbinger Rhodes Nineteen | Male | District Eleven

Fear lingers inside me, but it's a different fear than a year ago. For the first time since I returned from the games, I'm being forced to head to the Capitol along side Katelyn and Kirito to mentor two tributes for the hunger games. My bags have been packed, and I said my farewells to my family, and of course Navya. Knowing I'll see her again soon makes me feel at ease, yet I can't bring myself to face the two children, and one of them is a relative to Kirito. In the back of my mind, I know Kirito is going to work with him more than Carrita, and that's not right. Sure Kirito wants to do everything he can to make sure Iain returns home alive, but we can't forget about Carrita. She wants our help, and she's going to need the help Katelyn and Kirito never gave me. Automatically I feel bad for her, and I will stay by her side making sure she has everything she needs. But first I want to take care of myself some. Walking through the bar car, I find a variety of alcoholic beverages strung about. It's the first time I don't have to use my cane to keep myself balanced. After a lot of practice, I finally got the hang of my new leg. Lifting one of the bottles of wine from the table, I dump it into a glass before sighing to myself. Many thoughts bounce through my skull over and over. What if I don't succeed. What if they both die? Taking a swig, I block it from my mind before walking forward into the next car. And in front of me sitting silently is both the tributes. A lump forms in the back of my throat, and every word and each breath catches beneath it. Just a year ago I was in their shoes. Afraid. Unsure of what to do. I would thank Katelyn and Kirito for helping me, but they didn't. They left me for dead. I won because I wanted it. Maybe one of them will want it. Repeating their names over and over to myself, I do the best I can to not forget about them. I can only keep them alive, but I doubt we'll be able to send many sponsorships. Snow has just proven he's in charge of the district by sending in two young tributes, and Iain had a strange walk to him. Stopping behind Carrita, I try to find the words to say. What can I say? Hi I'm nice to meet you? Hi! I'm Harbinger and I'm seeing you off to your death? No. None of that, and I find myself reflecting back to the train ride I had a year ago. What did they say to me? How did they start off the conversation? Making false promises goes against my wishes. One of them has to die, and I don't want to see it, and I don't want to witness it happen, but I can't stand here staring at them like a piece of meat. Taking another swig of wine, I slowly move into their line of sight hoping they won't run away from me. Sitting down in one of the chairs next to Carrita, I look at her trying to find what to say. Surely I'll screw it up, but I have to try. Not for me, but for her, and for Iain. I just hope Katelyn and Kirito get here soon because they'll know what to say more than I will.

Victor Of The 71st Hunger Games

[googlefont="Rock Salt:400"]

[Arrows]

Thoughts and questions roared like a torrential storm as Kirito's mind was thrown through chaos once again. Light dipped its hat to the unwanted taste of darkness as anger protruded from Kirito's fragile soul. Balance was disposed from its position within Kirito's body as everything became about Snow. It all made so much sense. It all pointed to the snake that sat with venom swirling within the spit of his mouth while he ruled over a nation he viewed as nothing more than expendable slaves. Dare anything go differently than his coordinated planning all hell is suppose to be let loose upon them and all that they love. However this time Snow had plunged his fangs into the wrong District and the wrong family. Rigging the Reaping to produce two young tributes from a lower District and one being that of Kirito's own family wasn't just wrong, it was inhumane. Snow knew damn well what horrors he was sending Carrita and Iain into yet he called for their deaths anyway. Snow was no longer just a poisonous serpent but a vicious hydra who Kirito would stop at nothing to slay. Carrita and Iain weren't just things he could throw away to appease himself and the nation that was wavering. They were humans, young humans with futures unforeseeable yet now at least one of their futures if not both lied within the cold dirt. 

Finter's apologetic and horrified voice dug into Kirito's skull like Wyatt's blades had done to Kirito's entire body. Already several tears had fallen from Kirito's face within the privacy of a closed door and now Kirito still fought to keep his emotions at bay. Yet Kirito found his anger slip as his words quickly snapped out towards Finter like blades of his own. "Enough Finter just forget it I don't give a single shit about anything you or another Capitolite has to say!" Instantly Finter's voice cut off and Kirito felt his own stomach twist when he spotted the horrified look that pierced Finter's face. Guilt wrapped its claws around Kirito's body as he turned away from Finter with his eyes trailing towards the tiled floor of the Justice Building. "I'm sorry Finter that was uncalled for. I just need some space." Then without another word Kirito made his way out of the Justice Building and onto the road to the train awaiting him and the others.

As the din of the crowd further down the road just pricked at Kirito's ears he felt his mind falling back into the same patterns it had when he was in the same position the previous year. However this time as Kirito thought about the tributes he couldn't help the anger and sorrow that rippled through his entire body. Carrita was so young and small with so much innocence Kirito could only hope that she would be able to use that to her advantage. As for Iain he was young as well with a limp he had sustained many years ago. Kirito could only hope that Iain found a group of allies he could absolutely trust to assist him while remembering some of the basic healing skills Kirito had taught him when they were younger and the world wasn't falling into the pits of hell.

Light sparked across Kirito's eyes as Kirito turned the final corner and the train stood dauntingly ready for him to board.  As Kirito had anticipated the crowd was in a frenzy as their hopes for a fourth victor could not be crushed no matter what the size and age of their tributes was. For everyones' sake Kirito only prayed they were right despite all the odds that Snow surely was stacking against him. Not to mention the arrival of two new twin head game makers surely ready to make their name resonate well with their almighty president. Still Kirito wouldn't stop helping Carrita or Iain until the very end and they had to know that, even if Harbinger didn't believe he or Katelyn would. 

A gentle swoosh greeted Kirito as he entered the car where the tributes were waiting. As Kirito slowly walked over and took a seat he couldn't help but see the effect of alcohol Harbinger was embracing. Much of Kirito wanted to scold him and tell him that if he truly wanted to help Carrita and Iain that he needed to view them normally and not out of the end of a bottle. Yet Kirito knew all to well that the conversation would only result in an argument that wouldn't help the tributes in any shape or fashion, if anything it would only make things worse.

Several minutes rolled by and Katelyn still had yet to arrive and Kirito couldn't stand the amount of silence that was rolling over the car like a heavy fog. Sitting up Kirito looked at both Carrita and Iain as he began his first steps as one of their new mentors for enduring pure hell. 

"Alright, I know this may seem quick but its best we start discussing training and the games now. We don't have a lot of time so its best to use as much of it as we can. I know it isn't easy being in the position you are, especially because of your ages.  However you can never allow your selves to give in and believe you have no chance against larger and older tributes. Aranica Petros won at the age of 12 and she was from District 12 as well. She stands as beacon for both of you that age and size doesn't mean everything. Also I want to make it clear to you that all of us intend to help you in every way we can whether it be training or sponsorship. I know it will be hard sometimes but just always believe we have your backs even if it seems like we don't. We will always be with you guys watching every step and breath you take. Also I want to make it clear to you right now Carrita, Iain is in these games as you know, but I will do everything in my power to help you as much as I can. You are both mine, Katelyn, and Harbinger's tributes and we will treat you both like our top priorities. In the end the odds might not be great but odds be damned if District Eleven has ever listened to them."

Kirito Miristioma
Victor Of The Seventieth Hunger Games

[charade]

KATELYN PERSIMMON

It was always the food cart.

It was where she had been drawn, where she’d talked with Kirito, where she’d tried to give Annora and Harbinger advice. Where had tried to teach three people what it meant to survive. Two of them were on the train with her. As she entered the area, the other four people on the train were already there, but conversation was nonexistent. She had had a speech prepared, but forgot most of it the minute she saw Kirito’s world come crashing down. The girl, Carrita, munched softly on a pastry and avoided looking at anyone in the room. She was probably scared, and Katelyn couldn’t blame her. A thirteen year old had no business being in the games. Neither did a fourteen year old. Hell, no age would ever be the right one.

Iain avoided looking at anyone too, the ghost of a grimace on his face as he tried to avoid looking at the screen playing out the other reapings as well as the victors. It annoyed her a little, not being able to tell if the tributes were awestruck or frightened of her and the boys or both. Clearly, they were afraid of what was to come in the arena, but the way they were acting made Katelyn curse the Capitol vehemently. She was tired, so tired of victors and tributes being referred to as gods and demons, the damned and saints. They were just people, no matter the label the Capitol put on them. She supposed that was all part of the plan. The average person wouldn’t listen to the neighbor down the street if they told them to do something.

But a celebrity? Someone whose words carried weight on the television? Why, a celebrity could convince the average person of what to love and what to hate, could get them to change their whole world view, their beliefs, simply by virtue of being famous. But fame was overrated. Harbinger took a swig of wine and watched his fellow victors silently with accusing eyes, gracing Katelyn’s imagination with a younger Arbor Halt, and wondering how many coffins it took him to start drinking. Maybe just the one. He was sitting by Carrita, which she took to be a good sign, remembering the first awkward ride with Kirito. The quell victor was chugging away at a speech, in the middle of it when she entered.

Katelyn eyed him worryingly. The media mill was starting to pick up speed; it was bad enough when the relatives of past tributes were reaped. It was another thing altogether when the sibling of a victor was sent to the games. Another thing entirely, she thought moodily as she recalled what had happened to Colgate’s younger sister. The gulpers would be circling for blood. She put a hand on his shoulder to steady Kirito as he finished without stopping to breathe, looking at him with her head slightly bent forward, eyes focused. Katelyn didn’t say anything but gave him a nod of affirmation. They’d face this together. It was going to be their toughest ordeal yet, but they’d get through it. Somehow.

“Like Kirito said. I’m Katelyn, and the big lug back there is Harbinger. We’re the district’s victors and we’ll be mentoring you.” She paused for a moment, clearing her throat and staring at the pair of tributes. This was her third time around, and it wasn’t getting any easier. It had to be said, she knew that. Sugarcoating what they were up against was a surefire way to get them killed, but they were so young that she didn’t want to be as blunt as had been the last two years. “We’ll help you as long as we can, but at some point, the rest will be up to you. We have no control over whether people sponsor you, no matter how we beg and plead, one day, maybe early, maybe late the fountain will run dry.” She glanced at Harbinger meaningfully as she said that. The words she had prepared started to come back to her.

“But what I –we- want you to focus on is survival. Look out for each other if you can. Be wary of the careers and the district sevens. Find food and water. Keep moving . Don’t start fights, but finish them.“ She bit her lower lip in concertation, debating what to sat next. It was difficult, knowing Kirito was sitting a hairs breadth away from his younger cousin; she knew it was going to be hard for him to stay subjective, but who could hold it against him if he was? Tell Colgate not to care. Mace. Opal. Kirito was not the first victor to see a relative get thrown into the arena, and he was very likely not to be the last.

If his heart decided to wrap around his cousin, she’d focus solely on Carrita; there were enough mentors to go around. “If you want lessons, advice, or just want to vent you can talk to any or all of us. Any questions?” A minute passed, and she wrapped her hair up in her bandanna, searching the faces around the table, hoping that the tributes would have some tricks up their sleeves, and praying fervently that there was room in district eleven for one more miracle.

"And I don't wanna live like this again
I thought you said it would be so simple"

table coding (c) ghosty

[pup]

I set the pastry down on the plate and stare at it, trying to not make eye contact with the celebrities that had entered the room soon after me. Up above my head the reaping in district six was starting and made her start to feel kind of sick. Just five districts left until I see myself crying up on stage and the the reactions of the crowd realizing the president snow wants to destroy their streak of victors. All I can say is that he's certainly stopping the streak correctly by reaping me of all people.

I hear the door open again, and a few seconds later I can hear a noise as someone sits down next to me. I spare a small glance at the victor who walked in before looking back to the drink which was currently changing colors from a sickly white to a bright orange. A smell from the victor besides me sickened me to the stomach as horrible memories of my mother's alcohol cabinet wafted into my mind. Alcohol was normally the source of the most beatings and most cruel words when I couldn't do anything right.

I glance up again and back down as the quarter quell victor walks into the car. By this time I can hear a new escort shouting the names for some district. I'm not even keeping track any more about who is going to be killed and from where they are from. Everyone is going to die except for one crazy from a career district who's been brought up to murder on a whim. I start to pick at a small cookie, taking small pieces and playing around with them for a bit before placing each piece in my mouth.

Minutes tick by in awkward silence, but I look up once the 70th victor starts to talk. He goes on a long speech which I think was supposed to be an inspirational speech, but I don't really feel very inspired. I only smiled a bit towards the end before quickly assuming my "sad yet still trying to look emotionless look." Somewhere throughout the speech the "ice queen" had walked in and had started to listen to Kirito speak.

Soon after the 70th victor had finished his long speech, Katelyn Persimmon started to talk as well. Like Kirito's words, it felt as though the meaning behind it was supposed to give hope, but all it did was fill me with even more dread. Towards the end when she was saying if we wanted help come talk to her, I couldn't help but feeling as though it was directed towards me, the youngest tribute of the batch.

It was just tense silence for a minute afterwards as I wracked my mind thinking for something to say, but in my constant state of disbelieving I can't help but feel at a loss for words. I could feel the hope of victory this year floating quickly out the window after their speeches that had been intended to make us feel better about going into the death tournament.

I look up for a minute and gaze around the room with my dark brown eyes, hoping someone else will talk first, but when no one does I start to speak in my soft voice.

"What's the point?" I say quietly, almost a whisper as my eyes drift back to being bolted to the table, "I'm not going to be making it out alive."

[ a small doe ]

^{rave is amazing <33}

OOC: Y'all write amazing posts <33

[Knuckles]

Iain Miristioma

I'm at war with the world cause I Ain't never gonna sell my soul I've already made up my mind No matter what I can't be bought or sold

An awkward silence fills the air as Harbinger Rhodes walks into the train car holding something in his hand. Part of me wonders if he's going to say something to us, but he doesn't. Harbinger sits there beside Carrita. In that moment I know I'm in trouble. Soon Kirito is in the same car, and he's already beginning a speech of how we need to start preparing now. But Kirito, I don't want to prepare. I want to say. I'm going to die. Nobody can save me. But I quickly shake the thoughts away. A small sense of hope floods my veins as he reassures Carrita that he'll help her as well. And then Katelyn comes in introducing herself right away. Of course I know who she is, and I know who Harbinger is, and I knew Kirito before he became a victor. He's my family, and here I am following in his footsteps. I always wanted to follow him around. I wanted to become like him, but had I known this was my fate, I would've chose to follow something different instead. But all I can do is sit here listening as she talks about sponsorships drying up, and she's eyeing Harbinger. Harbinger received very little, but somehow he managed to move forward. He managed to break the odds that was placed in front of it, and I find myself wondering how he did it, yet I can't bring myself to speak because the moment Katelyn finishes, Carrita chimes in - "What's the point? I'm not going to be making it out alive." Her words slap me across the face because a truth registers inside her voice. She's so tiny, and so young, and here I am the cousin to a victor. I watched the last games, and I know what happened to Hannah O'Leary the sister to Colgate O'Leary. Tributes pounded her from the start of the games leading to her untimely death; however, I can't have myself thinking of death right now. Kirito wouldn't want me to. An invisible hand wraps around my throat suffocating the life out of me. Why did this happen? Why was my name chosen? Was this really done to get back at Kirito? Had he done something wrong? In my eyes he hasn't, yet I feel in the eyes of the Capitol district eleven bringing three victors back to back is slowly showing signs of Panem crashing around it. But I still can't bring myself to speak as tears stain the corners of my eyes threatening to fall down my face at any given second - I will not cry. I tell myself over and over because crying would only show me as weak, and I want to believe I'm not weak, but in all reality, I am weak, however, I refuse to let it hold me back. Crippled leg and all, I will somehow make my family proud.

[googlefont="Nothing You Could Do:400"]

[Noah Vau - D2 (Cato)]

Harbinger Rhodes Nineteen | Male | District Eleven

For the time being the world feels at ease. Nothing could possibly go wrong, but everything has gone wrong. I'm sitting here on the train with my eyes focused on two young kids. While I do feel bad for them, I don't know what to do. How can I mentor them? I don't even remember much of the pregames, and I'm not sure how to tell them to survive in the games. But the moment Kirito and Katelyn start speaking, I can feel my anger rising. All the broken promises ring through my ears. The promise of helping me as much as they could. The promise of helping Annora. She should be sitting here, not me, but here I am trying to figure out what to do. All my options are limited, so instead of speaking after Kirito finishes, I take another swig of the wine hoping to drown away my fears. Luckily for me, Katelyn starts speaking. Talking about how sponsors will run dry. All I can do is lift my glass into the air before taking another drink. Sometimes I don't think they tried hard enough, but they swear they begged for them. I guess I'll find out very soon. Iain may have an advantage in the games seeing as he is related to Kirito which makes me sad because Carrita deserves the attention too, and I feel like the world won't even know she exists because of Iain standing here. I don't want nothing to happen to either of them because I can't imagine the pain lingering inside Kirito. In all honesty, I'm glad one of my brothers wasn't reaped because I couldn't imagine one of them standing here in Iain's shoes. I may be a little too thankful. But instead of speaking, I remain silent unsure of what to say. I remember when they told me we'd start preparing right away. I know how afraid I was. I remember the pastries placed before me as my heart sank into the pits of my stomach. Not a day goes by where I don't mourn the loss of my brother, but the pain has been masked by the death of twenty-three others. Chloe, and Annora, and Kitty, and Beretta, and every other tribute who journeyed through the arena. I'm quiet until Carrita's tiny voice feels the air around me. My heart breaks in half. She's given herself up for dead already. Just like me the moment my name was called. Both Iain and Carrita are so tiny, and I don't want to break it to anyone here, but I believe Carrita's words ring true. Neither of them have a chance. I thought I was prepared, but I wasn't, and to this day I'm still not, but I can't let her think this way. Maybe I can offer a distraction. Something to help ease her mind. Sitting the glass of wine down on the table I turn to her wanting to wrap my arms around her. But I don't because I don't want to get attached, yet the words I'm looking for stick on the tip of my tongue no matter how many times I try to free them. Sighing to myself I lean back in my chair.

Victor Of The 71st Hunger Games

[googlefont="Rock Salt:400"]

[Arrows]

Everything about Kirito's body and mind felt wrong. Even as his words flowed with advice from his heart it felt as though the seams that Katelyn had stitched just years ago on his soul were slowly uncoiling. With every seam that shattered more darkness seemed to mix with the dangerous levels of anger and sorrow that ran rampant through Kirito's veins. All the memories of blood and pain that hung like a cloud over Kirito's past all unleashed the rain they held and Kirito could hear Kiri embracing his long awaited bath. It had been years since Kirito had felt Kiri's dark growls for death and revenge. With every seam that snapped Kirito lost more and more of his grip on the control he had established, that he and Katelyn had built when the world crumbled down to Kirito's feet.  In the games Kirito had become a beast with nothing more than a thirst for blood and a desire for a golden crown enumerated by the glorious light of victory. The monster had trapped Kirito deep within the pit of its darkness where he was let to rot until not single beam of light remained glowing. Luckily Kirito had climbed from the pits of his imprisonment and sent Kiri hissing back into the cell he belonged. Kirito always knew Kiri was lurking below his conscience waiting for a moment to resurface as he had in the arena. Yet now that his assault had begun Kirito was terrified. 

Just across from Kirito sat two tributes younger than nearly all their competition whos' lives depended desperately upon the actions of their mentors. If Kirito allowed himself to be consumed by the devilish smite that rolled through his mind like a plague he could do nothing for them. If Kirito allowed himself to be consumed he could hurt those who he wished to protect the most, he could even hurt Katelyn who had originally put him back together. In his current state Kirito knew he was nothing more than a ticking time bomb that he had no idea how to diffuse. Kirito felt weak and powerless, and like Iain he felt scared. Never more had Kirito wished he could embody the strength and power that Harbinger carried within him. In every way Harbinger was strong and brave and knew how to over come the impossible. Kirito believed his games were hard yet now he knew Harbinger's games were even more so. Harbinger survived against the President himself scorning his existence. Yet the man Kirito saw now drowning his life in alcohol was still a man worth living whether Harbinger thought so or not. Kirito only wished he could be like the giant who towered over him yet was supposedly his successor. 

Venomous bile rose in Kirito's throat as he felt the train begin to move. Kirito was now fully aware that there was no stopping Iain from falling into President Snow's poison laced hands. Kirito had failed Iain and his family, and for once Kirito assumed that perhaps Ikaia was right to leave him locked out of his life. Even in the games Kirito found a will to survive, yet now he could only find two reasons to control the beast that stirred within him. Carrita was one and Iain was the other. One way or another Kirito would not allow himself to rest until they got whatever they needed in the games. If Harbinger believed they had abandoned him fine, but Kirito refused to let them, especially Iain believe that. Still Kirito knew that there was only so much a mentor could do from being an unknown amount of miles away from the arena. When push came to shove victors forge their own crowns not their mentors.

However just as Kirito's lips were about to part with more advice to spill from them Carrita's voice of failure hit his stomach like a gong. Yet instead of feeling sympathy Kirito felt cold and he felt anger. Being young was one thing but being hopeless was another. So with a stern yet mild voice Kirito forced his gaze directly upon Carrita. 

"What is the point Carrita? If you don't want to live then you have none. You can enter that arena and die like countless others before you have. You have a heart still beating in your chest while hundreds of tributes before you no longer do. You still have a chance to fight to survive and you choose to have the attitude as though it's already over? When did the games end and when was the victor crowned? Have I really missed it?" For just a split second Kirito let the pause fill the room before continuing. "No I haven't because you haven't even arrived to the Capitol yet. Don't act as though you already know what is going to happen. If I did then I would have ended up as just another sixteen year old slaughtered by nine careers. If Katelyn had she would just be another girl lying dead in the snow. If Harbinger had he would never have gotten up from losing his leg. If you give into your sorrow and believe that all that is awaiting you is death then be prepared to greet it with arms out stretched. Yet if you choose to fight with a will to see the next sunrise then there is no telling what each day will hold, no matter what the odds say. This goes for both of you." Kirito said finally as he also carried his gaze over to Iain as well. "Like Katelyn said we can only do so much but in the end its your fight."

Kirito Miristioma
Victor Of The Seventieth Hunger Games

[charade]

KATELYN PERSIMMON

What’s the point? I’m not going to be making it out alive.


Twelve words had never cut Katelyn so deep. Her eyes flicked to Iain, but while the boy had nothing to add, the look on his face was agreement enough. Harbinger shifted in his seat but remained quiet; she didn’t blame him, she hadn’t really known what to say to Kirito on the train to the quell. This was Harbinger’s first year as a mentor and he was just as lost as she had been. Maybe more. At least Kirito had been optimistic. At least Harbinger had had a plan and Annora hadn’t cared. To see two young tributes so resigned to dying, to hear such words come out of the mouth of a thirteen year old was agonizing.

Kirito had a speech ready before she could even formulate a reply and in his words she could hear a small touch of annoyance, borderline anger perhaps; could see it in the way he was holding himself, the small tics in his expression. He went on to say that as long as they still drew breath, that as long as their hearts still beat, they had a chance and that was more than scores of past tributes from eleven had. He told them not to give up before the race was even run, before they left the starting line. That if any of the victors in the train had thought like Carrita did they wouldn’t be standing here. Katelyn bit in her lip in a mix of pride for Kirito and shame for herself. Kirito was learning from the lessons she’d been teaching over the past few years, but he was wrong on one account.

Katelyn had given herself up as lost before the games had started. Harbinger hadn’t even wanted to come home at first. True, both of them had found their will to live, had become survivors like Katelyn now taught tributes to be, but at the start, before the start they had both been hopeless, not like Kirito, not that she’d ever let Kirito know that about her. His eyes fell on her and she felt her face redden slightly. He ended his speech by agreeing that in the end, it was up to the tributes to survive and Katelyn nodded, letting her thoughts slip away and moving back into mentor mode. “Please,” she said to the tributes. “Let us help you as much as we can. I know things look pretty bleak,” she stated with a pointed look at Carrita. “But it ain’t over till it’s over. Chin up.” She spoke of hope and ignored the knife twisting in her gut.

"And I don't wanna live like this again
I thought you said it would be so simple"

table coding (c) ghosty

[pup]

The final pastery stares up at me from the plate. Challenging me to take another scrumptious bite while this immensly awkward conversation played out. After my small words left my mouth, I felt a tension slip into the air along with The Silence. A minute passes, I glance up from my pastery at Iain, at Harbinger, but no one speaks. Suddenly, Kiritio bursts out, breaking the silence. I cringe back slightly at his words. When I hear them I think of the reprimanding tone my "mother" used whenever I upset her, but this was different. Normally when I upset the screecher it came along with a slap or a kick to the ribs.

This was just an angered chastising, not a physical reprimanding, but for some reason it didn't make me feel any better. Instead, it made me feel even worse.

I don't care. I say to myself in my mind.

I don't care if I'm the same.

I don't care if I win or lose.

I don't care if my heart still beats in my chest.

I just don't care.

These thoughts flood my mind, one by one, making me want to cry at the hopelessness filling up inside my small frame. I manage to resist the pull to cry, to well up into a wet mess. I want to vocolize my thoughts, but I have a feeling that might only anger the victor even more. I feel his gaze slide of me, and onto his relative. He says it is our fight, but I know what the real truth is.

It is Snow's fight. Not ours. Iain and I are just a means to an end to prove that even the mightiest call fall. We are puppets, and when we are deemed unfit to live by our esteemed president, we will die.

I hear Katelyn Persimmon speak up, her gaze focusing on my bowed head. My eyes are still locked on the table, refusing to make eye contact with people I will never see again after just a few short days.

I hear her speak of hope, just a small phrase meant to make others feel better, but instead it makes me feel like throwing up.

Those who need hope are those who have monumental odds stacked against them.

I want to tell them to leave me alone.

I want to tell them I have embraced my hopelessness.

I want to tell them I have embraced my death.

I stare placidly down at my plate, a blank expression painted across my face, trying not to reveal emotion. My right eye is watering slightly as I try to stop the flow of tears building up behind them. Tears are for later.

Instead of responding, silence consumes the air again just as it had when I had spoken before.

[ a small doe ]

^{rave is amazing <33}

[Knuckles]

Iain Miristioma Fourteen | Male | District Eleven | 72nd Hunger Games

My entire body tenses the moment Kirito's words burst past his lips. Not once in my entire life have I seen him feeling so much anger and tension. The tension is so high I could cut through it with a dull butter knife. A broken heart plummets deep to the pits of my stomach as my eyes become wide as plates. In all honesty, I'm not sure what to do or what to say to him because his words are true. Yet it's completely terrifying and devastating. Kirito has always been a strong, brave man. One that worked hard for everything he was given. Kirito's a family man. One that would do anything in order to make sure his family was well - until he became a powerless being the moment my name was drawn from the reaping. Oh how I wish I could comfort him right now. To wrap my arms around him and tell him it'll be alright like he's done to me so many times. I want to feel his embrace like I did in the justice building, but this isn't the time nor the place. Not when so much is sitting on the line. Neither of us asked for this, but neither did they. Katelyn, Kirito, and Harbinger was chosen to fight in the games. Just like us. Yet it doesn't make this situation any easier. And yelling definitely didn't help the situation any. But who am I to tell him that? In the eyes of the world I'm just another kid being shipped off to the Capitol. I'm just another number in the game of death. I'm just another scrawny kid from district eleven who absolutely stands no chance in winning. But I won't give up because I do no want to die. I want to see many sunrises and sunsets. I want to be able to go home and talk with Tobias once more. I want to wrap my arms around him and never let go. But it's impossible. I know the odds are against me. I watched the games where Hannah O'Leary was jumped because she was the sister to Colgate. I know that's what awaits me; however, I will not let the fear of death keep me from trying to find some happiness in the world. The reaping was the start of a new chapter. A new beginning. But it's up to me to finish writing the story, and I'm not ready to say the end. Once more silence fills the air around me after Katelyn offers up a few words, and I can't help it when my gaze shifts towards Carrita. I wish I could do something for her. I wish I could help her find something worth living for despite the horrible situation we've both been placed in. But what can I do? How can I help her? I can't because I'm not going to die for her. Sighing, I lift my hands to my face rubbing the palm of my hands against my eyes. "So what do we do?" I ask quietly hoping to remove the tension from that atmosphere.

OOC notes go here

[googlefont="Geo:400"]