nothing new [griffin] [nerve]

[pearl mcclain d4 [ryan]]

This place is so different from anything that you could have imagined. He is beyond confused, but at the same time, completely enamored with the obvious lavishness of the city that he has entered. The captiol was nothing like he thought it was going to be, and right now, he could tell there was a little unrest. He was thinking about why he was here, if he was being honest. He wondered what his sister said in his application in order to get him this spot. Even now, he still scratches his head over it.

However, he does feel some sort of pride. The fact that he was picked was a compliment enough, that was for sure. He licked his lips due to how dry it was in the air, he wondered if they had anything for that. The air was cool, and while it had been a relatively short lived day, he wondered if it was going to rain. It had been a little bit since he had seen rainfall. He cracked his knuckles as he had placed the bag that he had packed with him on the bed. His own room to stay in, what a concept. He acted like he didnt have his own room at home. The difference though was pretty obvious to him. There was a lock on this door. He could allow whoever he wanted in, and keep everyone else out.

Privacy had never sounded so good.

---

He had found time to unwind a little before he had realized that this was his time to get out and walk around a little bit. He put on some neatly pressed clothes and exited his room for the first time since he had gotten here. He was instructed to wear the camera that he was provided with at all times, so adjusting it to his outfit had been a little jarring, but someone had come out of the woodwork to make sure everything was going right. He gave them a light smile, and the first thing out of their mouth had been a compliment. James hadnt been too used to that from people that he didnt know at all. Around the district he would have never batted an eyelash, but here had didnt trust many people.

Especially when he saw Jesse walk out of an adjacent room not too far from him.

shit. he thought as the camera had come alive, a few beeps and boops later and he sees his name pop up on the screen. James makes it a point to put a little distance between them, walking forward and down the hall, not even trying to acknowledge him. He was going to do what he needed to do and keep himself out of whatever business Jesse was involved in.

And then something took over his peripheral. Race Jesse to City Circle. A map had popped up with a blip, and Jesse's location, which wasnt too far from him. James smirked as the Elevator had appeared as soon as he pressed the button and he turned around. "Guess last one there is a little bitch." James turned his head for a moment, knowing well that pleasentries weren't necessary right now. Maybe one day they would see each other eye to eye, but for now, this was a competition, and James was determined to prove that he could do anything that Jesse could do.

With a wink, the elevator doors closed as he descended.

[napoleon, d2m ₊⊹ 🐁 ɢʀɪғғɪɴ.]

↳ JESSE HATFIELD

It’s dangerous how the city-lights can bewitch someone.

Ever since he arrived, he hasn’t taken his eyes off ‘em.

Why should he take them off? The way ‘em tall buildings spark and twinkle is something has been reserved for Ratmas nights only, where soft choirs ring from every street and cozy bonfires warm up the air. Lights in Ten are for festivities; lights in the Capitol are for the show.

And goddamnit, is Jesse’s ready for the show to begin. In the moments where he does peel his eyes away from the sparkling lights, he has been tryna’ figure out how this camera thing works. Is it recording now? He gives it a sharp tap, tap, tap, calls out a long, “hellooooo?” Can it hear him? Frowning, he brings it up to his ear. Silence.

Heck, maybe they got him a broken one.

He shrugs and sets it down on his bedside table.

So, first order of business! Get himself out of these farm clothes. Thankfully, the organizers have gotten him a new attire, and he looks at it in marvel as it lays sprawled over his bed, a black turtleneck that glistens with the faintest layers of that uh glitter stuff’, a dark jacket made from the greatest leather in Ten, and a pair of brown style pants. Jesse’s callouses feel too out of place on his fingertips when he runs them across the almost satin material. He grins.

Panem gets one cheek-full glimpse through the camera that’s definitely recording before production is quick to blur it out. The clothes are stretched in all the right places, but breathable in the others. Jesse flexes a muscle and winks at the full-length mirror in his room before he chuckles. Now, he’s ready. He takes one last look at the glittering city-lights, painting his entire room in neon, and then he takes the camera as he leaves.

And man, does James have to be the person he sees first?

Fate isn't that kind, huh.

The same old jealousy from the same old feud fills his chest so suddenly that Jesse’s nice farm boy façade threatens to crack. Why does he gotta’ be here, man. Only one is enough, ain’t it? He thought he was enough, but he and James are the only ones from the same district here and that means he isn’t enough.

At least, it also means in proxy that James isn’t too. It’s a pleasant thought he channels for a pleasant smile as he dips his chin in casual acknowledgement towards the other.

Then, the first message reaches him, something he is slower to read because he doesn't know where to look but eventually he does: Race James to the City Circle.

“Well, son of a motherless goa—”

Jesse’s eyes flit up a moment late to see the silver doors close over James’ damnably handsome and gallingly taunting face, and then the elevator starts to whirl. He ain’t dumb enough to not know what that means. Shit. Looking left, and then looking right, Jesse spots the stairs and darts towards them instantly.

“You’re gonna’ be the bitch, James!!!”