ambrose pixel / d3m, first hunger games / fin

[fireflyz]

ambrose pixel
seventeen
district three
a short history told in poems

for what is time worth
if not to fight for one's life,
the way life should be?

[fireflyz]

I. villanelle
bright and searching were his eyes
little pixel was no one to fear
such a shame if that were to die

brilliant and driven his exterior would imply
so dedicated to those that he held dear
little ambrose wouldn't hurt a fly

descendant of a family of lies
though it was for the good of those near
such a shame if that were to die

he smiled and grinned, he wasn't shy
kind to his neighbors throughout the years
little ambrose wouldn't hurt a fly

then three began to crumble in the blink of an eye
under the watch of the capitol, the revered
such a shame if that were to die

his kindness turned to fatigue, a war cry
the world of his dreams became the world of his fears
little ambrose wouldn't hurt a fly
such a shame if that were to die

[fireflyz]

II. sonnet
do you hear the hum of the TV screens?
it's dark out, but we're here in our own light
we're clueless lovebirds to others, it seems
in an artificial world so contrite

we may have met when things were still alright
but this war has not changed us yet, my love
for you I fight, to find a spot so bright
in this world that we try to dispose of

my dear Katherine, do not fret, for I will find
a way to bring this nation to its knees
and a way to set free all of mankind
from this abominable tyranny

for our life, in whichever way it blooms
do not fret, love, we will all be free soon.

[fireflyz]

III. free verse
i put a hand through my own reflection,
a hologram instead of something immutable,
static where my stomach should be and emptiness otherwise.
i shock myself when i look, when i try to touch who i think i am.

i once had wires tethering me to where i stand.
i would never zap the hand that charged me.
yet my ground cable has come undone, my circuits have blown.
i am tired,
my energy is drained not to serve me but another.
my friends have gone, sparks on the wind,
my lights go out while i stand in the dark.

forgive me, or don't,
for when my family is going
and i am on the verge of fraying,
i don't feel particularly inclined to keep shining.

i may never see my neighbors again,
or my siblings
or my lover
but one thing is for certain:

the capitol shall burn one way or another.

[fireflyz]

IV. prose

The Pixel family was a glitch in a well-circuited system. Aisling, Alexander, Aine, and youngest Ambrose, all the remnants of a virus that only served to destroy a wondrous Panem. Not all of the children were involved in the rebel plot, but each of them knew, and those who harbor secrets become poisoned, even if they don't know it, their hearts at risk of corrupting their entire network - their friends, neighbors, all that they love. How dare someone introduce a concept so malicious? How dare you, rebel?

Ambrose was always the littlest, even when he wasn't so little anymore and his ideas soared higher than his height, as high as the trees, high as hovercrafts. He was known for commenting on everything around him: "look at the sky today, hear the birds singing, everything's so lovely" - not quite in those terms, but he was an optimist through and through. He used to get along with almost anybody, including his neighbor, a younger girl, Yejide Jonquil, who had the unfortunate honor of being arrested along with him. So when the whispers of rebellion began to spread, and he began to resist the temptation, his world was shattered. His parents had told him to stay out of it. His older siblings would tell him to stay out of it, they were doing the same, although later on Alexander and Aine walked onto the battlefield anyway. Aisling never changed her position, never took up arms, only gave little Ambrose a pitiful look as their happy family slowly dwindled. One year into the war, some of his friends became child soldiers, died out who knows where. Two years into the war, his long-term crush Katherine's parents were killed. Three years into the war, at age fourteen, he walked onto the battlefield to do exactly what his family had warned him against. He would fight. He would be as ruthless as he could be, although he was afraid. He would enter a relationship with Katherine, talk about a family, a life after the rebellion, they'd start making good on their plans like the world was ending because it was even though they'd pretend it was all alright.

And then the war would end, and the rebels would not win, and the Treaty of Treason would be passed, and Ambrose would be arrested, stolen away from Katherine and their undeveloped future. Katherine was older than he - she was 18, safe from any future games the Capitol wanted to play. But he was their guinea pig, the one to make an example of, one of the first tributes, first martyrs. They wanted to destroy him; even though it would be public, he was meant to fade into anonymity. He'd play along. He'd fight for the pardon, even though he was sure he would lose. He was disposable. Faceless, nameless, meant to be erased from memory.

But by Ripred, would he be immortal. He'd make certain of it.

[L△LIA]

All of the pieces of this bio tell the development of his personality so well. Each poem gives such a strong sense of mood for each different time in his life and the pacing is great! It's all very thoughtful and every little detail really makes me feel like I know his history beyond just the events.

ACCEPTED!