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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 27, 2019 16:48:34 GMT -5
(I love the ‘We we’re going to change the world’.
It strikes, deep, but in such a good way! I love it. I love Macaria so much :3.)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 27, 2019 21:00:28 GMT -5
Months, and we were finally free. At least, mostly free.
Not from the memories. I still remember the days. The sad ones, hearing Everest scream for Amadrya’s safety. Hearing Amadrya betray her ideals in attempt to protect him.
My words to Louden, smirking and grinning in spite, retorting to his comments like “One more word, and you’ll die.”
“We all die eventually, you’re really just prolonging it if you don’t kill me.” I would say with a roll of my eyes.
“I’ll find your lover, I’ll kill him!”
“I don’t have one, Love is disgusting and false, I’d rather enjoy dying.” I would sarcastically respond.
“Your mother died, your father left...” he would start.
“Was that supposed to hurt?”
With every conversation, my response had become stronger. To the point where I would be told to read from telegraphs, and instead I’d tell all of Panem to “Knock themselves out.” With the Capital. I got beat for it, but Louden’s face was priceless, full of surprise and barely concealed anger.
With this came the tears, the sorrow and loneliness, the broken hearted memories of when Everest and Amadrya would whisper at night, believing me to be asleep, of the sorrow of never getting to truly love one another. I would joke now, at times, that it would have even better to be left without the cliché lovers, I’d prefer a cell. But I was glad they had found love.
I wasn’t the loving type, not really. And despite being freed, my snark only increased around the base. My easygoing snark and sarcasm turned into clear dedication and I ignored everyone except a select few, Macaria being one of them. She, Amadrya, Everest and sometimes Burton.
I mostly didn’t talk outwards, other then snarky comments and rude comebacks to others. Halina would be speaking with Diana, they would ask me about my day politely, “How are you, Holly?”
My responses were glares, a roll of the eyes, and a comment about, “Wow, I wonder, the people that tortured me are still alive, and yet we’re wasting time with pleasantries,” before skirting off to train.
I wouldn’t stop until Louden was dead. I didn’t stop for anyone, not to joke with Burton, not to speak to the man who was once my father(and part of the reason I closed off more), nor anyone, not even my old cell mates.
I stopped one of these days, my father, no longer, but the man stood before me, no one tended to talk to me much anymore, my cold nature matching what it was prior to the games, but with less jokes and more cryptic humor and serious dedication. His foot tapped on the ground soft, beckoning me, “Daughter-“ he started as I attempted to duck my head and pass by him.
He held an arm out, blocking me, before gently grabbing my shoulder in his stern but soft way. But I felt a chilling emotionless feeling, a bite entering my voice, “I’m not your daughter,” I hissed.
“Holly,” he corrected, voice still stern, he was never a man for melodramatics, straight to business. “You need to stop,” he started.
I brushed him off roughly, pushing past him and down the hall.
He wasn’t my father, he would never be my father ever again.
And I didn’t listen to strangers.
—
However, my biting behavior garnered the attention of someone who I thought would appreciate it. She corned me one day, as I skipped on yet another group meal in favor of eating alone.
“Holly.” Her voice was cold, just like her sharp and calculating gaze, and I turned to look back, raising an eyebrow in questioning, “You need to stop.”
“I’m sorry?” I started, obviously not sorry at all, and she could tell, rolling her own eyes. It was like looking in a mirror, she reflected me, and I reflected her.
“You know what I mean,” She snapped, “You ignored everyone, Burton, Amadrya, Everest, your fath-the new man,” I’m glad she corrected that, and I bet my sharp glare when she started saying ‘father’ had to do with it. “-and I get it, I know what revenge and anger is like, the cold instinct to train because you feel you have to. Everyone else, they do this because they think it’s morally right. But you and I? We are doing this because we want Louden dead.”
She wasn’t wrong, exactly, but I turned away, walking.
“Holly, stop!” She commanded, and I ignored her, “Everyone is worried about you and-!”
I stopped, letting off a soft breath as my voice started calmly, with just a slight lilt of anger, “When are you going to realize that I don’t care?” I questioned, glancing at her out of the corner of my eye, before walking away, hoping she would leave me alone.
I didn’t expect her to literally chase me down, and instinct caused me to drop my stuff and start running.
She was huffing, obviously I was faster, though the injuries I endured in the Capital still bothered me, slowing me slightly.
She was fast too, but I had a natural talent for running.
“Holly, why are you so stubborn!?” She growled out, and I almost laughed, we were running past tons of the rebels, who gave us the oddest of looks. “Why can’t you just see that you’re wrong, and calm the hell down?”
I chuckled now, turning a sharp corner, and running past Burton, who glanced between me and Macaria’s running forms in confusion. “Because it’s a hobby of mine to prove people wrong!”
She groaned in annoyance and I found myself lighthearted, though it faded with her glare, “Thos is serious, you need to stop acting like a child!”
“Not to be rude or anything,” I lied, I completely meant it as demeaning, “But we’re all kids, the phrase ‘stop acting like a child’ doesn’t exactly apply,” I shrugged, half tempted to run my father over as I spotted him, instead I turned down another hallway. “So do me a favor, and shut up, and leave me alone.”
Welp, she didn’t like that, and suddenly I ran into someone as I glanced back at her, for some reason, a smirk on her face.
The figure caught me, holding large hands around my wrist with an annoyed look on his face.
Oh great, Alessandro, I was dead now, just absolutely great.
“I didn’t live through hell to die to the likes of you, whoreface,” Why this insult? I have no clue.
His face was priceless, and he held my arms tightly, while Macaria crossed her arms.
“I’ll take on both of you! Yeah! And this time I’ll win!” I forced my hands out of his grasp, stepping back with a snarl at them.
“Holly, wait, Holly-“ Macaria started, looking dumbfounded for a moment and stepping closer, which I stepped back, into the wall.
“Don’t test, me, I’ll do it! Thanks to my daily dose of beatings I now know some of the most painful ways too!” Was this too cryptic? Beats me.
“Holly, first of all you cannot fight us-“ Alessandro began, rubbing his temples.
I glared, stepping closer to him, “Watch me.”
“And second of all, you’re tiny, what kind of damage will you do?” He knew this was the wrong thing to say, stopping and raising his hands up, backing up, “Nevermind, just, we don’t want to fight. We just want you to calm the hell down.”
“Alessandro! I said I had it!” Macaria responded, and oh dear no, a lovers quarrel.
I could slip away, but now the two were bickering and I quirked a slight smile at them.
“I can help!” He commented.
“I told Diana I’d do it!” She hissed.
“Living with you drama queens in like watching two stylists whine about what looks the gaudiest,” I quipped, stopping the two of them.
The three of us walked on, chatting, them talking about my attitude, and of course they were right. I was harsh, too secluded, and they were worried.
I still couldn’t help it when we returned to the main room, a last quip as they were about to leave.
“Glad we sorted this out, sis,” Macaria said, turning to walk off.
“I thought I said distant cousin, or long lost twin. Or you know, you not existing is the more preferable option but-“
I received a hug, and a shake of the head from my friend.
And slowly, things returned to normal, as normal as they come for me anyways.
Well, as normal as it got with my crazy family, which wasn’t normal at all.
And as Macaria walked off, I raised a brow, “Oh! What about sisters and cousins! That’s certainly more spicy!”
“Holly, no.”
“Holly, yes!”
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 28, 2019 2:19:28 GMT -5
Oh I’m glad you liked it! I’m still gonna do the Pascal thing, or maybe a Burton thing. Depends on what inspires me
I LOVED that last post though. I adore your writing and you wrote Macaria so well
’Holly, no’, ‘Holly, yes’ had me creased - and if that is an Undertale reference that was incredible XD
Haha I was trying to think about who our characters would be in Undertale but they’re all either like Undyne or Sans XD)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 28, 2019 15:02:36 GMT -5
(No, it wasn’t meant to be an Undertale reference.
But oh my goodness you just gave me an idea for a oneshot fic.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 28, 2019 15:06:53 GMT -5
(Hahahahaha accidentally giving ideas is like my superpower tbh xD
Also I’m planning some writing for soon. Just need to figure out what I want to do
I considered something about Amadrya waking up briefly in the hovercraft on the way to the Capitol after they were captured but I’d need to figure out what I want to happen in that scene)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 28, 2019 15:26:45 GMT -5
(I’m highkey thinking about writing a Au universe where the characters are literal versions of Undertale characters now.
WTH?
watch as I just make a bunch of Au oneshots about the characters in different universes, like Clandestined, She-devil, OASIS, prison, a hero universe, that stiff.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 28, 2019 15:29:06 GMT -5
(Oh my god that would honestly be incredible you should totally do it. Potential aus to consider
- Undertale
- Harry Potter
- Clandestined
- She devil
- OASIS
- prison
- superheroes
- idk a teen cancer ward or something? A sad medical au type thing where they’re all on the same ward)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 28, 2019 15:31:25 GMT -5
(I’m also just letting you guys know, because I’m a bit depressed currently.
My cat passed away today, one that I helped raise, and she was still pretty young. I’m not looking for sympathy or anything, I just wanted to let you guys know because I consider you guys friends and talk to you guys about stuff.
Writing and joking helps bring up my mood some, so there’s that at least.)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 28, 2019 15:34:38 GMT -5
(What should I do first?)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 28, 2019 15:35:42 GMT -5
(Oh my gosh I’m so sorry Chaos that’s awful! It’s so terrible to lose a pet x I’m sending all my love and virtual hugs)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 28, 2019 15:36:58 GMT -5
(What should I do first?) Hmm well if you don’t have more muse for any particular au you could always randomise? I know I’d love to see any of them! Oh also with the medical au idea one of our lot could always get ill in our actual hunger games universe. I could certainly see the ones in captivity suffering some illnesses what with the torture and the conditions they’re kept in) |
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 28, 2019 16:41:10 GMT -5
All I’m aware of is an intense pain in my head. I don’t know what happened - did they torture me too much again? Louden hates it when they torture us so badly we pass out. It seems to take all the fun out of it for him. It’s happened to me several times before, and while it provides a nice respite from the pain. It only seems to be twice as bad when you wake up.
When waking up in a new place, you always get that feeling for a split second when you first wake that you’re back at home. I get that all the time here in the Capitol. I wake up, and for a split second I think I’m back in District 7, asleep in my bed, with my only worries being the work shift that day. But that only lasts a few moments before I realise with a sinking disappointment where I really am. In the Capitol, the place where I’m probably going to die. Where I’ve lost all control I thought I had over how I live and how I die. Where I can’t even stand up for the things I believe anymore. Where I realise that all the time I thought I could fool the Capitol, cheat the system and try and defy them, that was all a lie. I was so naive at the start of the Games, thinking I was actually opposing the Capitol.
My heart sinks every time I remember I’m in that stupid cell.
But that doesn’t happen. As I look around me, I realise I’m not in the Capitol. I’m in a room I don’t recognise, lying on what looks like a hospital bed. And standing at the end of that bed is a very familiar figure. A dark haired, slender girl with a cool, calculating gaze. And this has to be a dream.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” says Macaria, her voice the same as ever but with almost a note of tenderness. She speaks a little quieter, as if she knows I have a headache and she doesn’t want to make it worse.
“Jesus,” I mutter as I sit up “what happened?”
This can’t be real, really it can’t. Is this some new torture? Is the Capitol in my head? Are they showing me this because they have Macaria?
“I’d have thought you’d be more happy to see me, Seven” responds the other girl, raising an eyebrow
If this is a simulation or something, they really did their homework. Macaria’s mannerisms, the way she refers to me by my district number. The way she holds herself, very straight-backed and almost formal. Partly due to her training - it’s a fighter’s stance, but it’s obvious whoever raised her cared a lot about her posture. The way she speaks and moves very deliberately, like a predator stalking its prey. The way her eyes seem to see right into you. I’m starting to think it’s real, but I have to be careful. It’s possible it’s fake; they have access to the Games footage after all, they could study it to replicate Macaria perfectly.
“I...I am.” I reply, smiling but looking at Macaria a little suspiciously all the same.
And that’s when Macaria comes over and hugs me, something I thought would never happen in a million years. Unless she was about to stab me or something. So what the heck is going on? I hug her back but I’m still suspicious.
“What’s going on?” I ask “is this real? Where am I?”
Not that if it weren’t real she’d say so. But still, hopefully I can find some way to figure out what the hell is going on here because I’m at a loss.
“Woah, you really haven’t figured it out yet?” Macaria laughed “I thought you were meant to be smart. You’re on a hovercraft bound for the rebel base. We got you out of the Capitol, along with the others. It wasn’t an easy operation, if I do say so myself. Alessandro is being treated for a gunshot wound and I got a fair bit of shrapnel stuck in me. And yes, this is totally 100% real. You have my guarantee as a... truth-telling person.”
I laugh - “that’s not much of a guarantee, Macaria.”
“It is now,” Macaria shrugged “I’ve turned over a new leaf or whatever, I’m helping the rebels. Being good is working out well for me so far, so I think I might keep doing it permanently, you know. Since the trial run went well.”
“I’m glad for you,” I reply with a chuckle “but what about the others?”
That’s when the door to the room opens, and in walks first Holly, and then Everest. I hug Holly first, so relieved to see her safe.
“Why must everyone hug me today?” groans Holly, but she doesn’t seem that mad. Especially since she hugs me back pretty tightly.
And then I turn to Everest, looking him over for injuries. Like Holly, he seems to be pretty okay. They’re both just pale and tired, like me. And we’re all pretty bruised up and lost a lot of weight. We kind of seem a little in shock. But we’re safe now.
I give Everest a kiss, which seems to put a smile on the faces of Holly and Macaria. The kind of teases that tell me I’ve got a lot of teasing to look forward to.
“I’m so glad you’re alright.” I say to Everest.
And for now, just for a little at least, everything is alright.
(Okay I was gonna have her wake up on the way to the Capitol and I’m still totally gonna do that. I just need to figure out what I want to happen. So have this for now  )
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 28, 2019 17:51:23 GMT -5
I randomized it.
We got Clandestined.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 28, 2019 18:07:32 GMT -5
Oooh go for it! Magical fantasyish universe for our lot would be awesome)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 28, 2019 19:09:16 GMT -5
The prince: Everest(Zahavi)
The healer: Alessandro(Drusilla)
The thief: Holly(Zach)
The vigilante: Amadrya(Leon)
The advisor: Diana and Alistar(Eldred)
The peasant: Burton(Isabel)
The hunter: Macaria(our favorite drunkboi)
The fae: Halina(Corona)
The pet/lost boy: Ari(Our favorite salty boi, Zelos)
The traitor: Louden(Dang you Zander!) In a kingdom far from wherever the hell you are, a family of spoiled royals lived. At first, years back, it was the Darrows’ throne, and now it belonged to the prince, Everest, and his parents, the king and queen. Now as all stories go, other such people lived. His two advisors, Diana and Alistar were related, and loyal to the prince, though much wiser than him. They advised the old prince and princess, the old Darrow’s, who had passed years back. The daughter of the two, Amadrya, lived with her uncle and cousins who rescued her after her parents were killed. I was but a humble little thief, my story was different from theirs. I was one of those ‘magic users’, and thus no one could trust me, and I had to fake my death years and years back after I was targeted by witch hunters, and my parents died in the crossfire. My mother did, anyways, my father just left, he couldn’t handle a daughter that was a magic user, in specifics, a sorceress. So thus, I stole to stay alive. And I was great at it. Now, while I didn’t know who Amadrya, who went by ‘Maddie’, was, not then, I would work with her from time to time. However, her morals were strong, she had a sense of justice that I did not. Thus, sometimes she would help me, and other times she would stop me, and she was a formidable foe, Guardian to the village. And thus, after a large ball, where I spoke with the peasant Burton and his friends such as Alessandro, a healer in training, I gained insight on the kingdom. Yet the king and queen were poisoned, a disease that Maddie, Diana, and Alistar concerned themselves with finding, justice and morality driving them all. But I stuck to my own, I couldn’t care less about some prince and his family, I couldn’t care less about the leaders of the kingdom. I didn’t follow any of the laws anyways, so why should I? But I knew some stuff most didn’t, and Maddie, being an acquaintance of mine, forced me to join her on some journey to find a cure. Plus, the two others, a huntress named Macaria, and the healer’s apprentice, cornered me when they found my talents in fighting, they too were roped into the journey, however they would get compensation. Golden coins, and I, if I joined them, would get it too. I think Macaria knew I was a sorceress, her seemingly hate for me, and her threats, lead me to believe so. She lost her family to magic, I lost mine to hunters, automatically, the two of us were enemies. And thus, joined by Burton, Everest the prince, Amadrya, Amadrya’s pet shifter, Ari, Macaria, Alessandro, Halina, a fae who worked at the castle, and a boy who was friends with the prince, the eldest of the journeying group, Louden, we set off. Diana and Alistar remained to watch the king and queen. And now, I was here, fighting alongside my enemy, and watching my friend, Maddie, come to terms with her growing feelings for her own enemy(for some reason), the prince, I was annoyed. Which left me speaking with the others, working out a plan. “If we head east, past the cave, we can bypass the sylph,” Macaria suggested, the sylph, a wind creature and shifter who appeared humanoid, protector of the West. “That’s a dumb idea,” I commented, irked by the girl, so much like me in her mannerisms, yet so opposite of me all the same, “We’de run into the nymph and her sirens!” “Couldn’t you shut up, witch?” She snapped at me, grabbing her knives, her skilled weapon, in her hands. “What about you, murderer?” I knew the comment irked her too, since her parents were killed, “You care so little about the lives you hunt and take, but you’re so upset about your parents dying. Don’t you realize both magic users and normals are the same? You’re doing the exact same thing you’re trying to avenge, you occisor!” The insult was common in the Kingdom, but terrible to use. She breathed in a harsh breath, stepping closer to me. “At least I don’t live off of stealing, at least I do what I can to protect the kingdom instead of ruining it, at least I don’t run from my problems, Nix!” the insult given to me was cruel, rarely used. It was demeaning, meant ‘nothing, worth nothing, not in mind’ and often described those who were orphans or cowards. “At least my parents loved me.” Maddie stepped between us, a serious gaze on her face, “Guys, stop!” She ordered, and I found power struggling to be released. “Sure,” I said, not arguing as I tauntly turned back, my history wasn’t secret, not very secret at least, not once someone knew my name and my band luck(I was often considered a hex by the people), and once Macaria knew my name she would know this. That’s how she knew, how most of the now frozen party knew. The fire in the middle of the group went out in a chilling manner, the flame dying out without cause, and my green eyes focused on the forest ahead of me as wind rushed past the flame, cutting past used and into the forest like blade, blowing leaves in the air, and causing some limbs to falls off trees, moving fast and quick, and if directed at one of my friends, absolutely deadly. Then, like wind, my representation of the elements, my power, I ran off, much faster than that if a normal, into the forest and away from them, quiet, but deadly still. — When I returned that night, the group argued some. Many truths came, Maddie revealed who she was, and Everest was upset, feeling led on, but not angry with her. Macaria and Alessandro argued over simple things. Macaria wouldn’t stop due to her training and anger at her family’s death, and Alessandro followed strictly in his mother’s footsteps. Ari and Halina argued over the path we should take, and Burton simply tried to be a mediator. I noticed in the midst of it all, Louden remained calm, almost looking amused. So I talked to Burton about it, and went to his tent before he did, inviting myself in and sitting. The group didn’t know I had returned yet, and I wasn’t about to get into another’s argument and tire myself. After minutes full of yells, and soft pleads to stop, Burton opened his tent with a sigh, and immediately screeched out a cry of surprise, one which I returned with a raised eyebrow. “You’re in my tent!” He suddenly said, “Wait, don’t kill me!” “Yes, I’m in your tent, and no, I plan not on killing you, thanks.” I couldn’t help my cryptic words, “And lucky for you I’m not hungry for human.” “Lucky for us both, Macaria’s hunting Arlo down and not us,” he teased, and I rolled my eyes, suddenly running closer to him quicker than he could blink. I was a sorceress and half-sylph, hence why I didn’t want to dodge the guardian of the West, I knew how to defeat her, being part of her kind. My mother was a sylph, my father human(a sorcerer), and I was their odd orphan child. “Louden’s fishy,” I commented blandly, leaning into his personal space with a smirk, to which he rolled his eyes and pushed me back slightly. “Sorry, but he must be a fish out of water, and those kind of fish are dead fish,” Oh he got me there. “Not if repossessed,” I pointed out with a trill, “I know this old hag that could do some wicked voodoo too!” He rolled his eyes, pushing me out of his tent, “Goodnight, conspiracy theorist,” “Hey, I have proof!” I yelled out with a laugh, turning to walk to my own tent, feeling a bit better. We had no idea what existed on the horizon. |
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 29, 2019 1:49:47 GMT -5
Ahhhhh that was amazing I love it! Macaria as the huntress and thus hating Holly is a stroke of genius, as well as Ari as Zelos. I love that so much!
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Post by Sparky on Aug 29, 2019 14:50:05 GMT -5
[ xDD I especially love the opening sentence of that ]
edit: omlllll sending all the love chaos <3333
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 29, 2019 17:00:20 GMT -5
[ xDD I especially love the opening sentence of that ] edit: omlllll sending all the love chaos <3333 Same XD the first sentence gave me life x Okay I plan to do some writing before I go to bed but don’t know what to do. I could do some Pascal, possibly go over the thing we didn’t do of the careers taking him. There’s also a thing I had of Maddie waking up in the hovercraft on the way to the Capitol after being captured and something happening but idk what yet. Basically I’m open to suggestions) |
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 29, 2019 22:00:23 GMT -5
(Using Pallas’ list, I got a two.
i honestly never read the Harry Potter series after the first few chapters of one. But I have friends who love it and so I get the basic gist.
Just don’t sue me mkay.)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 29, 2019 22:24:32 GMT -5
(Ill probably write it tommorow, I’m really tired.
And thanks guys, for everything :3.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 30, 2019 2:40:33 GMT -5
Ooh cool x but you don’t have to if you don’t want to! You don’t have to write aus you’re not interested in you could totally just do the Undertale one instead if you want x but if you do the Harry Potter one promise we won’t sue you haha And no problem! I hope you’re doing okay x <3) |
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 30, 2019 5:07:59 GMT -5
I stand with Diana, dressed in a dark uniform and looking into a mirror. This is Alistair’s work, or so Diana has explained to me.
“This is designed just for you, Burton,” Diana explains “it’s lightweight but designed to be incredibly durable so that it doesn’t slow you down but will protect you from jumps or falls. It’s got lots of secret compartments for storage of weapons and other things, because for you we need the weapons to be easily concealed. We may need you for more stealthy missions, for the more diplomatic stuff maybe, or maybe we need you to pretend you’ve been disarmed so you can take the enemy by surprise.”
“Okay, so this whole thing is designed for agility, stealth, sneaking?” I ask
“Well, you’re not likely to be engaging in close-quarters hand to hand combat. That’s best left to the Careers.” Diana responds “and we need fighters like you.”
“Macaria is good at the stealth stuff,” I suggest
I just want to feel like I’m actually helping, not like I’m just sneaking around in the background or that I’m holding anything back. I’m not a fighter after all, and I don’t want to just be an inconvenience, dead weight.
“Which is why hers is designed similarly. She also uses ranged attacks. I promise this is going to maximise your strengths as a fighter.”
I nod, but still feel doubtful. I don’t know if I can be of any help here. I want to be, there’s no doubt about that.
“I’m going to try,” I say “but I think we all wish it was Holly standing here instead of me. Or Amadrya or Everest.”
Holly was always a better fighter than me, and seeing the suit designed for her, with special katanas to go with it, that hurts. Same with Amadrya’s, which has its own axe with a gleaming District 7 crest on the handle. And Everest’s, for whom they seem to have provided a selection of weapons. He’s skilled with pretty much anything, after all, being a Career. All of them would be more useful to the rebels than me, and I would trade places in a heartbeat. Especially for Holly. But I’m here, and not them. And they’re going through a lot of suffering right now. Which means I need to step up and help get them back.
This isn’t about whatever my feelings are for Holly. They’re complicated. And it’s true that I miss her a lot and it hurts me so much to know she’s in pain. But this is more about my inability to do anything to help her or the others, or even the rebels.
But then something interesting happens. Macaria, who was on the other side of the room, seems to notice the conversation we were having, definitely she caught those last words, and she steps forward and wordlessly grabs me by the wrist. She doesn’t say anything until we’re outside in the hall, at which point she fixes me with a gaze, and looks at me with an expression I could swear I’ve seen on Holly.
“What’s up with you?” Macaria asks, her voice sharp as well, but precise. She’s not mincing her words, and she’s not wasting her time
“I thought you were Mr. Optimistic,” she continues
“Nah, I was never optimistic,” I reply “optimism is lying to yourself by saying a terrible situation isn’t so terrible. I just told jokes about said terrible situations. Why do you care anyway?”
This is the girl, after all, who wanted to kill me in the Arena, the girl who hurt my leg and who hurt Holly too. Why on earth does she care now.
“I don’t know why I care, but don’t bite the hand that feeds you. We have a short window where I still care so let’s use it. What the hell is going on with you?”
“I’m useless here!” I say, my voice growing angry, surprising Macaria “I’m useless here, and three people who are far more useful to this rebellion are currently being tortured in the Capitol. I saw Holly get shot on TV, I know she’s suffering and I can’t help her. I should think all of that is a perfect reason for being a little down, wouldn’t you say? I want to help, but I’m not trained like you and I’m not strong either.”
Macaria studies me for a moment, which is more than a little uncomfortable, but then she grabs me by the wrist again and starts marching me somewhere else.
“Why is it always me who has to snap people out of being idiots?” Macaria sighs “I’m not the nice one.”
“Where are we going?” I ask
But my question is answered very quickly. She leads me to the training room, letting go of my wrist while she sets some things up. Alessandro is in the room training with a spear, so focused he hardly notices us. I’m glad I don’t flinch when he launches the spear hard at the target, and it lands in the centre with a thunk. He’s been trained with the guns, but I suppose he likes to train with the spear every now and then because it’s comforting to him to be training with a weapon that’s a little more familiar. I can understand that.
“When I feel like I’m lost, when I don’t have any hope and my heart feels like it’ll break if I feel any more pain, that’s when I focus on my training. You want to feel better? You want to be a better fighter? Alessandro and I can help with that,” Macaria says with a smile
Her words interest me, when did she feel like that? When did she feel lost and hopeless? When she’s training, is that why she does it? But there’s no time to ask her about that because she’s shoving one of the rebel guns into my hand.
We practise with the gun for a while, which it turns out I’m not bad at. At least, I’ll be decent after some practise. And we try out a few more weapons, most of which I’m not that great at. But I’ll be a decent fighter with practise, especially with the Careers training me. They know what they’re doing.
Then Macaria has the idea (for whatever crazy Macaria reason) that I should practise fighting with Alessandro, to bring my strength up and allow me to practise fighting techniques for hand-to-hand stuff. I really don’t think I have to explain what happened in those fights. I ended up very bruised, and Alessandro ended up very smug. But he was okay. He was surprisingly encouraging of me, and Macaria was the same. They were actually training me, and actually being... nice?
I left the training room feeling like I could maybe have a chance of being a useful fighter for the rebels. Maybe being able to help get Everest, Holly and Amadrya out of the Capitol. Because this is an actual war, and I’m not a soldier. I can use a weapon intelligently and I’m pretty decent at managing to escape from dangerous situations, but that isn’t going to help against actual Capitol soldiers. This isn’t the Arena anymore. I need to be a fighter.
And thanks to Macaria and Alessandro, maybe I will be.
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 30, 2019 5:14:22 GMT -5
That wasn’t great but XD I tried. I may do more writing actually focussing on the training but I don’t know. Would you guys rather see Pascal stuff, Maddie waking up on the hovercraft to the Capitol, or this? Or something else? Also! Tomorrow I will officially be 18 The last year where I would be eligible for the Hunger Games is upon us XD) |
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 30, 2019 11:54:09 GMT -5
(Oh no!
We will no longer be twins until October 11th!
But, happy early birthday!
And also, that was great, I love reading your stuff tbh :3.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 30, 2019 12:33:58 GMT -5
Oh no I’m gonna miss being your twin for a month or two! Xx thank you! I’ll be on tomorrow I think but probably not as much I’m glad you liked it! I’m gonna do more writing today ) |
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 30, 2019 14:18:07 GMT -5
I was, in regards to this world, a magic user. One who, in particular, didn’t like anyone. Because of this, I always assumed my house would be with Slytherin when I came to Hogwarts.
But no, I was dearly misguided in this assumption. The house I wanted to have was not the one I got. I was cunning, I was ambitious(I wanted to be the best, afterall), and I was extremely resourceful. I possessed leadership skills(even if I didn’t like anyone). But the house I was put into was for creative, the witty, the smart and the learners.
I mean, at least it wasn’t the selfless house of Gryffindor, or the worst, in my opinion, Hufflepuff. But still, Slytherin was the best, and I would never fit in with a bunch of weaklings like Ravenclaw.
It was a few days later, I was 11 at the time, walking down the halls, that I bumped into a girl of 13, one dressed in classical Slytherin attire, with sharp eyes and a glare on her face.
“Watch it, first year!” She snapped, giving me the automatic clue of her not being a First Year, but then her face morphed into a smirk, “Ha, a Ravenclaw! Pathetic!”
“I didn’t ask for it!” I snapped back, gripping my textbooks closer to my chest. “I wanted to be in Slytherin, but the hat placed me-“
“If you really wanted to be in Slytherin, you could have just said so, but you’re still weak, best that you didn’t, Isn’t it?” She had me there, if I was really determined, I could have just picked Slytherin.
“I didn’t do that because I’m not petty, I’m in whatever House the hat placed me in, as the knowledge is from the founders of the houses, who am I to question it?” I snapped back, glaring at her.
“A true, weak Ravenclaw, selfless as can be, isn’t she?” The girl snarled, and I found my heart burning with the desire to beat her. I couldn’t now, but I’d get better than her, eventually.
“At least I’m not a ditzy idiot.” I remarked coldly, “You got your looks, but looks will take you so far,” I glanced at her, before brushing past, glaring forward.
A boy stared at me as I brushed past Macaria, frowning at me, “Hello, are you okay-?” He started, a first year, like me. His name was Burton, but he was Hufflepuff and I refused to be caught talking to one.
So I brushed past him too, and I worked as hard as possible to be the top of my class.
And with my dedication, I quickly got there.
—
A few years, 3 to be exact, had passed. I was now 14, the boy, Burton, was elder to be by a few months, and was 15 now. The girl, whose name I quickly learned was Macaria, was now 16, and her ally and flirt-buddy, Alessandro, was in Gryffindor. Yet also in Gryffindor were two others in their grade, the same age. Amadrya and Everest. In the year under me, was a friend of Amadrya’s named Ari. Ari was currently 13(having started when he was 11 too), and he was in Gryffindor with his elder friend. The year below him, a girl named Halina, a second year(who currently 13 too) was in Slytherin like Macaria, however Halina was ambitious and dedicated, she wasn’t a complete jerk.
And while Macaria had her friends, Halina being one, and Alessandro and some others, and even Amadrya had her own, Burton, Ari, and Everest, I had no one.
And that’s when Diana, one of my teachers pulled me to the side. She told me to go and make some friends, to try acting nicer.
I ignored her, for the most part. I had no interest in them, just my studies, and none of the people in Ravenclaw really cared much for me, I was cruel, mean, and snarky. I had surpassed many(If not all) in my studies.
It was after this conversation that I wondered the halls, I wanted peace and quiet, but apparently that wasn’t what I’d get.
I realized this when, me, wondering aimlessly with my nose in a book, ran into none other than Macaria.
I was quickly met with a threat, and my eyes rolled on their own accord.
“Dumb Ravenclaw! Get out of my way!” She huffed, crossing her arms, behind her, Alessandro stood, with a quieter Halina on the other side.
“Macaria, for once, shut up.” I remarked, but I regretted the words quickly. Arlo wasn’t nice either, and he walked forward, easily picking me up, and dangling me in the air.
I hated my small size sometimes, but his words were annoyed and angry, “Watch your mouth and who you talk to. You really don’t want to mess with us.”
“And why is that?” A new voice beat me to the punch, and I recognized it as Amadrya.
“You know why, Maddie,” Macaria smirked at the nickname, but I cried out as Alessandro just dropped me, sending me to crash to the floor, and let off soft huffs of air.
They just walked away, and I stared with wide eyes at them.
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 30, 2019 14:25:50 GMT -5
(Oh my god that was incredible I love it! You got the houses so perfect I swear. Macaria is a textbook Slytherin 100% and Burton couldn’t be more Hufflepuff if he tried. And I love Holly as a Ravenclaw I won’t lie.
Okay but theory:
Macaria said ‘you know why’ because she and her friends are the children of/associate with Deatheaters. If it was set at the same time as the books imagine Everest and Maddie and their friends trying to take down Voldemort? Ooh and the Battle for Hogwarts would be so cool with them! Imagine Macaria switching sides at the last moment to protect her school or a friend of something and then she ends up being killed? Or Burton or Maddie or anyone being killed oh my gosh?)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 30, 2019 17:53:56 GMT -5
(Okay but there was something I wanted to explore but obvs not canon to the fic. I could see something like this being even more effective with one of the Careers or one of the young tributes)
My whole body aches, and that is the first thing I’m aware of. It’s the kind of throbbing pain that sucks the life out of you. My head seems especially painful, and my ears are ringing a fair bit. I can’t tell if my hearing is diminished or not.
But then a burning, fiery pain in my leg suddenly makes itself known, and the pain is enough to cause my eyes to fly open as I sit up. All the muscles in my body seem to tighten at the pain.
I’m still drowsy and confused and in pain, but as I look around it’s fairly clear to see I’m on a hospital bed, which confuses me more. They only have hospitals in the Capitol, and only Holly received any kind of treatment, and that was when she got shot. I don’t remember getting injured enough to warrant receiving any treatment in a Capitol hospital. So where am I? Did the rebels get us out?
Before I can check out the pain in my leg, the door to the room opens to reveal Holly. She isn’t wearing the same clothes she was when we were captured, and she looks healthier. The bruises that I last remember being fresh and dark on her skin have lightened to yellow. It must have been a couple days. She looks pale and thin, but she has her usual fire, which is a good sign. She’s strong and feisty and if she isn’t scared I trust that I don’t need to be.
She approaches, perching on the end of my bed.
“How long was I out?” is the first thing I ask
And as I speak I realise that my hearing is definitely worse. What happened?
“Two days,” Holly replies “Macaria has been brushing and braiding your hair for you and everything. Everest and Burton have been taking shifts by your bed. Halina and Ari have been looking after dressing your wounds, under my supervision of course.”
I can’t help but smile at that as my hand rises to touch the perfect braids in my hair, carefully done my Macaria. The dressings on my upper arms and stomach are expertly done, but Holly places a hand on my shoulder to get my attention before I can keep investigating my wounds. And as I take in her words properly, surprise floods into my gaze and I take another look at the room around me. It makes sense now.
“Wait...” I say “Macaria? Burton? Alessandro? Halina? Ari? That has to mean...”
“Yes,” Holly confirms with a nod and a smile “the rebels got us out. Diana thought it’d be best if I was the first person you saw, since you wouldn’t freak out because I’m a familiar face from the Capitol. Less of a shock to the system. But everyone’s here and they’ll be excited to see you soon, I’m sure.”
My smile grows at this. I can’t believe we’re safe after all this time, all of us. I though we were going to die. Watching them get hurt, watching them try and destroy Holly’s spark. All of that was so painful, almost as much as the torture I went through myself. I’m so relieved I can feel tears flowing down my cheeks and I’m not even embarrassed that I’m crying.
But Holly’s face has a strange expression on it that I can’t read, and she draws her eyebrows together for a moment before she speaks again.
“Listen,” she says, “that’s not the only reason they asked me to talk to you. Apart from Macaria or Alessandro I'm the only one who won’t mince words. On the way out of the Capitol, there was an explosion. You lost hearing in your left ear, but that might return yet, and a piece of shrapnel went into your leg. You started to bleed out and you lost consciousness. But the shrapnel wound was so bad... well...”
I don’t like the sympathetic tone of her voice - sympathy is something Holly does not give easily. It’s enough to tell me what I’m going to see before I see it. I draw back the covers of the bed to examine my left leg only to find it’s been amputated at the thigh. I’m not going to be able to do things nearly as easily as I used to, it’s going to take me a long tine to get back on my feet even.
I understand why Everest didn’t tell me. It’d probably be too painful for him. I look at Holly, and the pity in her expression is more than I can bear.
“Stop doing that weird thing with your face,” I say to Holly as I wipe some fresh tears away
“What?” Holly asks “a sympathetic expression?”
“Yeah,” I say with a hint of a smile, “it’s weird. And I don’t want you to pity me.”
“Alright, then I won’t,” Holly says with a smile “you’ve been through torture and you got out of the Capitol alive - I think the loss of your leg pales in comparison. You’re going to be okay, Amadrya, really. I’ll tell the others they can come see you, including your family, who the rebels got out of District 7.”
And it’s those words that reassure me that it really is all going to be okay. This, it’s just a setback, and I’ll figure it out. Somehow.
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 30, 2019 21:04:55 GMT -5
(I love it :3.
I love Amadrya dangit.
Eventually I’ll write the rest of the Dang fic I’m sorry.)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 30, 2019 21:07:42 GMT -5
(I did it again, got Oasis.
Some of these will be multi-chap/oneshot things, and be really lax and such. For most/all, Holly will be the narrator(because she’s the one I’m most comfy writing in, and I like developing her. I no way does narrator mean main character, however.)
Maybe for one or two in the future, I’ll do others, like Arlo(in a spin-off stuff), and I hope you guys aren’t annoyed of me writing with Holly.)
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