Panem | District 12 | June 1st
Rules were rules and the rules of Panem said that every person under the age of 18 born in the districts had to show up for the Reaping to see who would participate in the year's Hunger Games. That included Peeta. He didn't know what kind of punishment his family would face if he stayed in Fandom instead of showing up to the Reaping but he didn't want to find out. Besides, he didn't feel right about excluding himself. If everyone else in District 12 had to face this fate then he should as well. It would have been cowardly to avoid it and a coward was one thing Peeta wasn't.
Peeta headed down to the square with his two older brothers, who were 17 and 16 respectively. The Mellark family had a good chance of losing one of their own with the number of times the boys' names were in the running. Peeta knew that was nothing compared to some of the families that lived along the Seam. So desperate for food that they put their names in additional times just for an extra bag of grain and some oil. Peeta had heard that Gale Hawthorne's name was in there thirty times or more. The odds were most definitely not in his favor, but Peeta noted that he didn't look nervous when he passed Gale as everyone filed into the square. Then again, Peeta didn't think Gale was much for facial expressions in general, though he accepted that might be jealousy talking.
On normal days the square was a place for the buying and selling of goods but today it was cleared and a stage was set up, cameramen everywhere to film every detail. After signing in, the qualified candidates for Reaping were ushered into a closed off section of the square, boys to one side and the girls on the other. The older candidates who were more likely to be called on were in the front while the younger ones were in the back. On the fringes of the square were the families of the children (Peeta noted that his mother had decided not to show) and the inhabitants of District 12 that just wanted to watch the show. It was common for people to make bets on who would be chosen. Their lack of empathy disgusted Peeta but he did have to admit that it was a quick way to make a buck and that was hard to come by in this place.
Peeta looked up to the stage where Mayor Undersee, Haymitch Abernathy (who already looked beyond drunk) and Effie Trinket were sitting. There were few enjoyable things about the Reaping, but Peeta always liked to see Effie. Or liked to see what ridiculous craze was passing for fashion in the Capitol, rather. He didn't get what about bright pink hair and a lime green checkered pattern dress was supposed to be flattering but it amused him.
Once the clock struck two Mayor Undersee got up and proceeded to tell the history of Panem. Usually Peeta zoned out during this part but hearing about how Panem was the remnants of destroyed North America was especially jarring now that he spent most of his time in North America. He could only hope that the natural disasters and wars that led to Panem's creation were avoidable for the North America Fandom was located in.
As the mayor described the Dark Days where the district citizens rose up against the Capitol, Peeta couldn't help but think about what would happen if some of the people he had became acquainted with back in Fandom were involved in all this. He knew Karolina and Fawn wouldn't stand for it for sure. Then again, they haven't lived under the thumb of the Capitol, they hadn't seen what they were capable of, and they didn't have the personal stake in District 12 that he did. It wasn't as simple as saying no and fighting back. Not when so many lives were on the line. District 12 could easily end up like District 13, blasted off the map.
Eventually the mayor stopped speaking and Effie Trinket took the stage. Bright and bubbly as ever, she acted like she was about to pull the names of two people who were about to be thrown a huge party rather than being forced to fight to the death. "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"
After a brief moment for applause (she received none), she trotted over to the large glass bowl that held the names of the girls in District 12. "As always, ladies first."
Peeta glanced over at the girls' side until he spotted Katniss Everdeen. Every year he worried for her even though the two had never spoken a word to each other. He knew that, like Gale, she put her name in more times than necessary in hopes of giving her family more food. The thought of her being chosen made Peeta sick to his stomach. She did so much for District 12, it would be cruel for her to have to--
That line of thought ended when the name Effie chirped sounded nothing like Katniss Everdeen. Instead the crowd of girls cleared to make room for an older girl Peeta didn't recognize to make her way up to the stage. She was sobbing by the time she reached Effie. Peeta knew later on the TV coverage will play it off like she was crying out of happiness. The Capitol liked to play being a tribute as a great honor and Peeta wouldn't have been surprised if they really did believe that in the Capitol and wealthier districts.
Then it was time for the boys. Peeta looked up at his brothers, trying to search for emotion on their faces. Rhi had inherited his mother's stony disposition but Michetta caught his eye and gave him a slight smile before clearing his face of emotion. Peeta knew that it didn't matter how many times your name was in that glass bowl or how stoic you thought you were, this moment was enough to make you break down and start screaming for help. Peeta felt like his skipped a few beats when Effie placed her hand in the bowl and pulled out a slip of paper.
Effie had barely spoken the name before a blood curdling scream pierced the air. A woman was desperately trying to claw her way into the square of children, only to be held back by Peacekeepers who were not being gentle in the least. Peeta stood up on his tiptoes to see a young boy from the Seam make his way up to the stage. He looked younger than twelve and had a sickly pallor to him that marked much of the Seam population. Peeta could understand why the woman (who had to have been the boy's mother) screamed. This poor kid didn't stand a chance in the arena.
Effie didn't seem to notice the commotion. Once the boy got on stage she put an arm around both Tributes and forced them to shake hands. "Wonderful, wonderful! I think District 12 has a real shot of getting a champion this year!"
The crowd was silent. They all knew that these two kids had no chance of winning. District 12 never did. Effie ushered the two Tributes into the Justice Building and soon after that the cameras turned off and a Peacekeeper ordered everyone to their homes. Peeta caught a brief glimpse of Katniss as she met up with her family and Gale's. She hugged her visibly upset sister and smiled at Gale over the top of Prim's head. Peeta hated the way his heart clenched up at the sight and had to turn away before the feeling got worse.
He followed Rhi and Michetta out of the square and towards the bakery. He'd have dinner with his family tonight and take the late night portal back to Fandom. He didn't want to be here any longer than he had to be.
[lol false alarm. NFI, NFB but OOC is fine]
Peeta headed down to the square with his two older brothers, who were 17 and 16 respectively. The Mellark family had a good chance of losing one of their own with the number of times the boys' names were in the running. Peeta knew that was nothing compared to some of the families that lived along the Seam. So desperate for food that they put their names in additional times just for an extra bag of grain and some oil. Peeta had heard that Gale Hawthorne's name was in there thirty times or more. The odds were most definitely not in his favor, but Peeta noted that he didn't look nervous when he passed Gale as everyone filed into the square. Then again, Peeta didn't think Gale was much for facial expressions in general, though he accepted that might be jealousy talking.
On normal days the square was a place for the buying and selling of goods but today it was cleared and a stage was set up, cameramen everywhere to film every detail. After signing in, the qualified candidates for Reaping were ushered into a closed off section of the square, boys to one side and the girls on the other. The older candidates who were more likely to be called on were in the front while the younger ones were in the back. On the fringes of the square were the families of the children (Peeta noted that his mother had decided not to show) and the inhabitants of District 12 that just wanted to watch the show. It was common for people to make bets on who would be chosen. Their lack of empathy disgusted Peeta but he did have to admit that it was a quick way to make a buck and that was hard to come by in this place.
Peeta looked up to the stage where Mayor Undersee, Haymitch Abernathy (who already looked beyond drunk) and Effie Trinket were sitting. There were few enjoyable things about the Reaping, but Peeta always liked to see Effie. Or liked to see what ridiculous craze was passing for fashion in the Capitol, rather. He didn't get what about bright pink hair and a lime green checkered pattern dress was supposed to be flattering but it amused him.
Once the clock struck two Mayor Undersee got up and proceeded to tell the history of Panem. Usually Peeta zoned out during this part but hearing about how Panem was the remnants of destroyed North America was especially jarring now that he spent most of his time in North America. He could only hope that the natural disasters and wars that led to Panem's creation were avoidable for the North America Fandom was located in.
As the mayor described the Dark Days where the district citizens rose up against the Capitol, Peeta couldn't help but think about what would happen if some of the people he had became acquainted with back in Fandom were involved in all this. He knew Karolina and Fawn wouldn't stand for it for sure. Then again, they haven't lived under the thumb of the Capitol, they hadn't seen what they were capable of, and they didn't have the personal stake in District 12 that he did. It wasn't as simple as saying no and fighting back. Not when so many lives were on the line. District 12 could easily end up like District 13, blasted off the map.
Eventually the mayor stopped speaking and Effie Trinket took the stage. Bright and bubbly as ever, she acted like she was about to pull the names of two people who were about to be thrown a huge party rather than being forced to fight to the death. "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"
After a brief moment for applause (she received none), she trotted over to the large glass bowl that held the names of the girls in District 12. "As always, ladies first."
Peeta glanced over at the girls' side until he spotted Katniss Everdeen. Every year he worried for her even though the two had never spoken a word to each other. He knew that, like Gale, she put her name in more times than necessary in hopes of giving her family more food. The thought of her being chosen made Peeta sick to his stomach. She did so much for District 12, it would be cruel for her to have to--
That line of thought ended when the name Effie chirped sounded nothing like Katniss Everdeen. Instead the crowd of girls cleared to make room for an older girl Peeta didn't recognize to make her way up to the stage. She was sobbing by the time she reached Effie. Peeta knew later on the TV coverage will play it off like she was crying out of happiness. The Capitol liked to play being a tribute as a great honor and Peeta wouldn't have been surprised if they really did believe that in the Capitol and wealthier districts.
Then it was time for the boys. Peeta looked up at his brothers, trying to search for emotion on their faces. Rhi had inherited his mother's stony disposition but Michetta caught his eye and gave him a slight smile before clearing his face of emotion. Peeta knew that it didn't matter how many times your name was in that glass bowl or how stoic you thought you were, this moment was enough to make you break down and start screaming for help. Peeta felt like his skipped a few beats when Effie placed her hand in the bowl and pulled out a slip of paper.
Effie had barely spoken the name before a blood curdling scream pierced the air. A woman was desperately trying to claw her way into the square of children, only to be held back by Peacekeepers who were not being gentle in the least. Peeta stood up on his tiptoes to see a young boy from the Seam make his way up to the stage. He looked younger than twelve and had a sickly pallor to him that marked much of the Seam population. Peeta could understand why the woman (who had to have been the boy's mother) screamed. This poor kid didn't stand a chance in the arena.
Effie didn't seem to notice the commotion. Once the boy got on stage she put an arm around both Tributes and forced them to shake hands. "Wonderful, wonderful! I think District 12 has a real shot of getting a champion this year!"
The crowd was silent. They all knew that these two kids had no chance of winning. District 12 never did. Effie ushered the two Tributes into the Justice Building and soon after that the cameras turned off and a Peacekeeper ordered everyone to their homes. Peeta caught a brief glimpse of Katniss as she met up with her family and Gale's. She hugged her visibly upset sister and smiled at Gale over the top of Prim's head. Peeta hated the way his heart clenched up at the sight and had to turn away before the feeling got worse.
He followed Rhi and Michetta out of the square and towards the bakery. He'd have dinner with his family tonight and take the late night portal back to Fandom. He didn't want to be here any longer than he had to be.
[lol false alarm. NFI, NFB but OOC is fine]