my oh my . kiah/yuki

[cass]

O P A L

Compared to the district nine reaping, district three had been a mess. Opal had watched it with a confused and shocked expression on her face. There had been plenty of cases of lovers being separated, families destroyed and parents taken from children. She'd lost her own partner to the games, but she'd never really seen anyone react the way the girl chasing after Yuki had.

Her screams had pierced the ear and filled the train carriage as she'd watched them on her journey back to the Capitol. The girl seemed... psychotic, like there were a few loose screws rolling around in her head. She'd winced, cringing at the way the Peacekeeper's had brutally put her down after she had tried to reach for the boy she loved. There had to have been better ways to do it, but she imagined it made for better television- an entertainment factor that couldn't be ignored.

Opal wondered if he felt the same way, or if it was unrequited love. Regardless, he was good at hiding it and from the whispers, she'd heard throughout the training centre he might be just as crazy as she was. She wasn't quite sure why she decided that she'd sit down beside him, pushing her plate of food onto the table. She supposed she knew what it felt like to be separated from the person you loved. Words of wisdom? No, she wasn't wise, but she could tell him to get over it. That girl didn't seem worth the trouble.

"Yuki, right?" She asked, grabbing her fork and pushing it into some of her salad. She stared at him, narrowing her gaze, he didn't look any creepier than some of the careers. But from the whisper of the halls she had heard some worrisome tales of pins.

"How are you holding up? That was a crazy reaping you had," she laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

E A R N E S T

kaitlin

[k!ah]

He had not expected to see the beautiful, yet ageing, face of Opal Earnest as he took a mouthful of steaming hot soup. A victor who had married a peasant from Eleven, that peasant who had been murdered in a game that he was about to take part in. Out of all the victors her had not expected her to seek him out. He was not one of her tributes, he had kept mostly to himself during his time in the capitol, quietly observing. Watching.

Taking a mouthful of food she dresses him by his name. Another surprise that he had not been expecting. Why had she bothered to to learn his name? "How are you holding up? That was a crazy reaping you had."

Ah.

The reaping.

Yuno.

The spectacle.

Placing down his mug he turned slightly to face the Victor, "I'm fine." Which was mostly true. If he was being honest with himself he did find himself missing her a little, he hated himself for it too. Why did he miss her? Why was psychotic. Crazy. Yet he missed how she always managed to make him feel important. But then he would remember how she held him down as his parents were murder. If he missed her did that make him sick? Maybe he was just as crazy as her, in his own way.

"It was a little bit dramatic, if you ask me." And that was true. Yuno always managed to blow everything out of proportion when it came to him.

"Your husband died in the games," he says shortly, taking a sip of cold water to try and soothe his burnt tongue, eyes watching her closely. "Must be difficult to come back each year."

[cass]

O P A L

He seemed to tighten, as though she’d struck an area he’d wanted to avoid. She wondered if this was information she should pass onto her tributes; a weak spot of his. But she buried the idea, taking a sip of her own tea as she leaned back in her chair. That was a pathetic and weak idea, and honestly rather cruel. If people had of used her against Potato in the games, she’d have run to that Arena herself and burned them all.

But then he opens his mouth, words falling from his lips and hitting her like a brick. Opal paused, cup resting on her lips as she narrowed her gaze at him. That was history, a tale finished and over before this child had even been born. Honestly, she had started to believe that these younger and newer kids would not know of it. There were far more fascinating tales to be heard, victors falling in love, and having children. There was even a tribute from the 80th games in here with Yuki. To waste time on her own history was a luxury he didn’t have.

Opal shrugged, placing the cup down and running a hand through her hair as she smiled at him. The movement was all teeth, flashing in the fluorescent lighting of this hell.

“Not as difficult as talking to children just before I watch them get murdered,” she replied. If he was anywhere near as crazy as the girl that had charged through the crowds for him, he wouldn’t make it far. Brittle minds bore quick deaths, lost to their own insanity as the realisation of the world around them settled in.

Maybe he wasn’t. And if that were the case perhaps, he’d make it a few stumbling steps into the thrall before perishing. She’d stopped trying to feel hopeful for any of them. It was a waste of time and energy, better used for Katelyn.

“It’s okay, I’m sure you won’t have to suffer the same difficulties I’m faced with. I doubt you’ll be coming back next year.”

E A R N E S T

kaitlin