flower crown [thad/fleur]

[kap]

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Friends, to most people, won't be given the task of killing you later. Unfortunately, every friend I make in this training center will be given that task. Even my allies will have to think about their own survival. Just because they're on my side doesn't mean they won't try to kill me eventually. Honestly, I kind of expect that Evan wants Six and I both dead anyway.

Regardless, I think it helps to make friends. It makes them less likely to target you first, in my opinion. Tribute who have a larger group of people that like them seem to survive longer in the Games. Although, that's not my only reason for wanting friends in the arena. I just want friends to have friends, because while I'm here, I won't see my brothers or my friends from back home.

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The girl from Nine is the first one I spot today in the training center. I couldn't recall her name, exactly, but I knew that she had volunteered. Perhaps I'd learn a thing or two from her. Often, the volunteers knew what they were getting themselves into and were a lot more confident and skilled.

"Hey," I said as I approached her. "I'm Thad. I saw you volunteered. That takes guts if you ask me."

Then I think about it for a second. I had tried to volunteer. Did that mean I had guts, too?

"I wanted to volunteer, too, but I guess fate just worked out in my direction."

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table by Pogue

[fireflyz]

She’d slipped out of the apartment as early as possible that morning, determined to start on her aim before the place got too crowded — which didn’t take long, really, but Fleur at least liked to pretend this space was hers, like it wasn’t just another vessel made to swallow her up. Big fish in small ponds were harder to catch, but they were ultimately still fish.

Fleur twirled a lithe arrow between her fingers, eying the target that stood before her. This shouldn’t be too hard, she thought, securing the fletching over the — what was the little bead thing called? The trainer had said it. Oh well, I’m not getting quizzed on the anatomy of a longbow. Her hand quaked as she lifted her arm, pulled the string back and —

TWANG!

The threads snapped against her cheekbone and the way her muscles locked up in response nearly sent the bow clattering to the floor. The arrow whizzed beside the target, and Fleur pressed a hand underneath her eye. ”Shit,” she hissed, left eye welling with tears. I am not off to a good start.

She was tempted to set the bow back where she found it, but that train of thought derailed when a voice piped up from behind her. ”Hey.”

Fleur turned, pulling her hand from her face and hoping the red of her skin didn’t give away what had just happened, if she was somehow lucky enough that he didn’t see it. ”Hi,” she breathed out, suddenly aware of the lack of air in her lungs.

”I’m Thad. I saw you volunteered. That takes guts, if you ask me.”

Fleur gave a jerky nod. ”Uh, yeah. It, uh- yeah.” At least she’d inspired someone? But what good was that inspiration if he was already here?

”I wanted to volunteer,” Thad continued, ”but I guess fate just worked out in my direction.”

”Guess so,” Fleur mumbled. After a brief beat, she regained her focus. ”Sorry, I was a bit out of it for a second. Where are you from? What’d you want to volunteer for?”