embroidery of the skin { revan/nan }

[k!ah]

NANETTE

Revan Antilles was one big boy.

He was huge.

I struggled to fathom how a boy from district Eleven managed to be so big. What must they have fed him when he was just an infant? He was one of the biggest tributes of the games and broody as all hell. Some might have been intimidated in approaching him and the constant down turn of his lips. I silently wondered if it might be permanent, if he was unable to smile, cause I had not seen one god damn tilt of those lips. Barely even a twitch. Right then I swore an oath that I would see the boy smile.

I didn't know what it was exactly that drew me towards him, maybe it was the fact that he was from Eleven, from the birthplace of Dustin Carter and Nanette Emsworth. Maybe it was simply because he was a giant, the perfect shield for the chaos that would be unleashed the moment that gong sounded.

Right now he stood by the first aid station, sauntering over I pick up a bandage, tossing it from one hand to the other. For a few moments I say nothing, just watch him from my peripherals as I examine the range of different medical supplies spread out before us. Placing down the bandage I reach for a needle and thread and some fake skin which had been constructed to look like a savage deep gash. Pressing on the edge of the 'wound' something oozed from it and I crinkle my nose. "They really go all out for this, huh?"

Placing on the bench beside me I pick up some thread, unraveling it for few rounds before using my teeth to rip it from the spool. Carefully I thread the tip through the eye of the needle, my gaze slipping to Revan as I tie a sturdy knot at the end. "How are your sewing skills?"

[Cato]

Revan Antilles

Sometimes I regret my decision to volunteer, but there's nothing I can do about it now. For a moment I had a death wish, however, now I want to live. Winning will bring me and my family great fortune. So now I must figure things out. I've been told it's important to look at survival stations and not just weapons. Of course it's easy to pick up a weapon and use it. Don't know what they'll give us, but it's bound to be better than nothing. Better than just learning first aid and how to heal. It's stupid. I'm wasting my time. First aid has never saved anyone before. It's never given anyone the chance to make it out of this stupid game alive. Fighting does. Fighting gives people the win.

I'm about to just walk away and give up and find something else to do when someone joins me at this station. I don't know her, and quite frankly I don't care about her. I just want to be left alone. But right now I don't say a word. I don't need enemies before the game truly begins. So I just mind my own business until she speaks to me and asks me about sewing. What does that have to do with this? First aid doesn't teach people how to sew. It teaches them to save a life, and clearly I'll fail at that.

I turn around and look at her pondering the question for a moment. It would be easy to just give stupid dumb answers, but I can't do that. I owe it to at least say something that's not dumb. But what can I say? I've never sewn anything before. Why does it matter? So I finally come up with an answer. "Not good. What's the use in being proficient in first aid for? Learning how to use a spear or sword would be more useful." It's an honest answer. Maybe she'll just go away and leave me alone.

District Eleven

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[k!ah]

NANETTE

He does not look impressed by my question and I begin to think he is going to walk away without so much as a word. I hate that I know I would have given chase, refusing to be ignore by a tall broody boy from district Eleven. But after another moment he speaks, almost as he was bored and answering my question was just a waste of his time.

"Not good. What's the use in being proficient in first aid for? Learning how to use a spear or sword would be more useful."

Sure learning how to use a spear or sword would be useful, but in the space of two weeks there was not a lot that you would be able to master. It took years for us careers to learn how to correctly use a sword and spear. Many underestimated the skills of first aid. It was the base of survival. How many tributes would have fallen in the first couple days if they hadn't had the basic knowledge on how to avoid infection or reduce the bleeding.

"Hmmmm, I don't think that a boy of your size would have much trouble using a spear. Just whack your opponent with as much strength as you can and hope for the best," I shrug casually. "The use of being proficient with first aid is so that you can last the longest. If you cant stop bleeding, or reduce infection how are you supposed to survive until the last couple days?"

My free hand moves to my hip and I harden my gaze, "don't be a fool. First aid is essential."