to greener grass // marcellus & haizea

[Deleted]

" i wish i could hurt you back
love, what would you do if you couldn't get me back?
you're the one who's gonna lose
something so special, something so real "

---

"Mami, el clima sigue siendo un asno-"

"¡Haizea, cuida tu lenguaje!"

---

It's strange leaving her district for the first time. Seventeen years of being told that Eleven is the asscrack of Panem, she's always just accepted life is supposed to be hell on earth at home. Even so, it hit differently when she took her seat on the train, guitar by her side & her one suit case tucked underneath the seat. Haze watched the yellow dust grass pass ever so slowly, she scoffed when her mother gave her the window seat, but that moment stuck in her brain all the way until she did make it to District Ten. 

Just one district up - well, to the west. Her eyes were stuck out the window the entire time, only skirting back when her mother was talking to her. It's fascinating to a girl her age; for her whole age group, train rides were never meant to be a good thing. It's either the slaughterhouse or some cell, Haze couldn't stop her leg from bouncing. If she weren't such an Aquarius, she wouldn't have played it off so much. Would have thanked her mom for convincing her to go in the first place, the train ride alone made it worth it. 

The two hugged once they got off the train, Haizea standing on the tips of her toes to see every new inch she could of the district. 

"Haizea."

"Yes mami?" 

"Vasco offered us a room at the Izar cabin, are you okay with that, baby?"

"Ehhhh-" she tries to buy time to think it over, as much as she should appreciate them, she hasn't been able to bring herself to it. Her mother takes both of their luggage by the handle, "it's your decision, the sleepouts are completely free as well," she says. 

Haze continues looking for people in her age group, guitar in hand and itching to take as much of District 10 in as soon as possible. "Sure- yeah! Yes, the cabin, that works," she rushes it out, convincing herself she'll suck it up in exchange for the food & private showers. 

"M'kay, take the grounds map and give me a hug."

Haizea tries not to rush her mother off, stuffing the map in her jacket pocket before leaning in, "te quiero, mami." 

"Yo también te amo, cariño. Ten cuidado," it's the only time they can speak spanish in public. Ear to ear, words safe in the arms of her mom, and the Izar's. Haze keeps the guitar case from dragging on the ground as she walks in the other direction from her family. Marching on with her one man army, Haze fixes every bit of herself that she can before making it to the bonfire cook-out. 

She smells barbecue and fried foods, it's something but she still crosses her fingers like a silent prayer- God, please, tell me they can cook. If they're being rewarded for 11's harvest just for her neighbors to slap some salt on it and call it a day...? Well, there's nothing she can do about it, but begrudgingly eat it. 

Haizea props her case on one of the first tables she makes it to, trying to eye up the nearby kids to see who's from which district. It's hard to tell, she expected everybody to get labelled like when she'd watch the Olympics or Highland Games live, but this feels different. 

Not like home, but something human at least. 

"Hey," nodding with a smile to some random dude at the table, if she had to guess maybe he's from nine. "You know if the food's free? Or, like, good?" She can't get her mind off it, dude, if she knew there wouldn't be food on the train she would've smuggled snacks on herself. 

"Also it's free, right? I'd be pissed if it weren't, but damn," you just never know. 

Not with Panem at least. 

[thompson harvard - d2b - arc]

 

{ marcellus rhodes }

There was a buzz within the district upon the announcement of this whole 'county fair' thing. Walking down the streets of Eleven, there would always be murmurs from the various vendors on the streets. Talks of who would have the biggest eggplants or the best pumpkins. Talks about various events like corn mazes, horse races and knife throwing gave children a reason to be excited to go to. They wanted to be able to go to 10 and win some sort of prize - I don't know what - but they wanted to win. Teenage boys talking about all the girls they'd see while at the fair as if the barns we'd be in would provide a romantic enough atmosphere to do anything in. This cross-district fair provided a sense of life into the district, bringing us back to life with a constant bustle.

So, naturally, I wanted to be a part of that life.

The train ride was interesting. Quiet. I didn't come with anyone specific, so a lot of it was spent staring out of the window and enjoying what it felt like to have technology take me away. I didn't have anything else to do. I spent a lot of time hoping to myself that on the train ride home I'd be talking about memories with someone. There's a hope within that I make some friends that I never would've made in eleven.

I didn't bring a lot with me. Just two bags with enough clothes and a notebook to write things in - maybe I'll give some letters to people I meet before I leave. I don't know. I just want something to do when I'm bored. After quickly getting settled in, the scents of fried foods and cooked meat pulled me out of the barn I got assigned to. The world smelled like the worst sugar headache and the best possible corn options. Plenty of people scattered themselves across the grounds, but it was hard to tell who was from where. It didn't matter, though, because that makes it even more fun. Now I don't have to worry about which district is which, and just enjoying the experience of being in a different world! I just don't know what to experience first.

Taking a seat at a nearby table, the fair was open for me to take. I spent a lot of time looking off into the distance and just digesting the event as a whole. Now that I'm here, and the event is starting, it's a bit overwhelming to decide where to go first. Those things are kind of hard to plan when you haven't been there yet.

A voice interrupts my blank stares. "Hey," I turn to face a girl, a light smile dashed across her face. "You know if the food's free? Or, like, good?" Oh, shoot. That's what I forgot. I didn't even bring any money. A look of panic flashed upon my face at the thought of having to go the next week without food. How will I eat? What good are all of these smells for if I can't shove them into my mouth? "Also, it's free, right? I'd be pissed if it weren't, but damn," the thought of the food not being free worries me once again, but her concern causes the fear to subside and a smile and laugh to come in succession from the comment.

"You know," another small laugh to try and gain my composure, "I didn't think of that one." A quick look around at the multiple vendors in their wacky colored trucks, a quick sniff to follow. "I would be pissed too. I didn't exactly pack snacks for the trip." I watched as a few people walked by with food in their hands. "If so, I guess I'll provide a fantastic performance in that pie eating contest" A hand on my stomach to emphasize being hungry, my smile widened once more. It was reassuring to already find a friendly face early on in this new atmosphere.