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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 1, 2019 18:45:19 GMT -5
I think I may leave Vesper, Oleander(maybe) and Viper open for other people to rp(and the names can be changed, so can the looks). The idea behind this is to include more family relationships outside of the games.
Other than that, quick family map.
Lancaster: Grandfather to Vesper, Shadow and Oleander. Father to Raven, Crowley, and Viper. Husband of Ivory(dead), remarried Constance. Close to 70 years old.
Constance: Grandmother to Vesper, Oleander and Shadow. Mother to Raven, Crowley, and Viper. Wife of Lancaster. Close to 68 years old.
Raven: Eldest sibling to Crowley and Viper. Aunt to Vesper, Oleander and Shadow. Daughter of Constance and Lancaster. Deceased, died in the 101rst Hunger Games at age 18. She was a heavy influence to her sister Viper. 7 in the fic.
Viper: Middle child to Lancaster and Constance. Aunt to Vesper, Oleander and Shadow. She’s the sister of Crowley and Raven. 39 years old(currently). Won the 102nd Hunger Games, volunteered for them after her sister Raven died the prior year. She was 17 at this time. 5 In is he fic.
Crowley: The youngest sibling to Raven and Viper. He’s the son of Constance and Lancaster. He’s the uncle to Vesper, Shadow, and Oleander. He’s now 3 years old. 3 in the fic.
Oleander: He’s the brother of Shadow and and twin to Vesper, son of Viper and her husband. Grandson to Lancaster and Constance, nephew to Raven and Crowley. He’s 17 years old.
Vesper: child of Viper and her husband, sibling to Oleander(her twin) and Shadow. Granddaughter to Lancaster and Constance, niece to Raven and Crowley. 17 years old.
Shadow: Youngest child of Viper, sibling to Oleander and Vesper, and niece to Raven and Crowley. She’s the granddaughter to Lancaster and Constance. Currently 15 years old.
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 1, 2019 21:16:40 GMT -5
Au Fic Universe: This is gonna be a fun one:  Holly was showing the mansion that she and the others pitched in to get to her extended family(her friends, basically), after the revolution, after they all survived somehow, they decided to live together, in a series of houses and rooms set right next to each other, conjoined. In part, they didn’t pay much for it, having been the leaders of the revolution, the overly large home was given to them. In short, along with homes in every district, the 8 survivors had a conjoined home, one that along with the requests of four of the survivors, was set on the border of District 7 and District 8, built in the forest, with tons of fabrics and textiles to spare, and within miles of both Districts. It was Holly and Burton that had arrived first to the home to get it prepared. Along with being a snarky know it all, Holly was from District 8, and as the stereotype in Panem went, those of District 8 were the best with fashion and home settings. So what if she was a little OCD with the way the house was set? She might as well fit such a stereotype, since she obviously didn’t fit the fashion one(she loved to claim, even though she tended to dress modestly and within season most of the time). So when Livia, Amadrya, Diana, and Ari came through the door, Holly was the closest to excited Holly got. She learned quickly that Everest and Macaria went to visit District 2 to collect any and all belongings they left at the Academy, and that Alessandro went with Macaria, as did Halina(who could blame her, she was a career too). She started a small tour, already proud with the way she set the rooms, and of course Burton and his family had helped, though they remained living at their old home, which was just within walking distance still, so Burton still decided to remain with us. Other than that, other houses were being built nearby for our families, so there was that too. However, whenever Holly turned the corner to go upstairs to the kitchen, she stopped with a deadpan glare overcoming her face. Burton was at the top of the stairs, haphazardly carrying cereal in his hands while trying to run, apparently having just noticed the guests. She saw it from a mile away what was about to accur, so in her classic monotone voice, she turned to the group, gesturing to the boy in question, “Here you can see the endangered Button Acton in his natural habitat,” as if on que, Burton pterodactyl screeched and fell down the stairs, milk flying through the air, cereal bits flying like a messy explosion. She sidestepped as he came to the bottom of the stairs, the bowl plopping on his head like some cartoon, and she returned her gaze to the stunned watchers, fighting back a laugh. “Natural selection is coming for this specimen.” |
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 1, 2019 21:38:20 GMT -5
Again, Au fic:  Holly was sitting in Burton’s room, a shivering, cold mess, with hollow eyes, staring at the television before her. On it was a torture scene in a movie. Harmless, really, to most. The hero would pull through, as they tended to do, and justice would be served. But movies didn’t mentioned the scarring left behind, so Holly did as Holly did. She sat like a hollow mess, and curled the clutter of blankets around her more, winter was harsh in the forest, and the home the tributes shared was warm, but she still loved cocooning herself in blankets. The remote was in her hand, but the memories fresh in mind as the hero let off a cry, before spitting insults and refusing to give in. She realized she wasn’t breathing, and her chest was tight. Too tight. She tried to remind herself futilely that she was safer now, she was at home and loved, that she was in Burton’s room(she snuck in, but whatever, he didn’t need to know that), and that she wasn’t tortured anymore. Still, a low cry escaped her, before she fell motionless, sinking her body in the blankets, keeping her eyes on the screen. The hero attempted to run, the words run echoing in her mind, but a swing of a baton hit them, sending them down, and the familiarity hit her like the baton hit the hero. At that moment, she recognized the turning of the doorknob, and in a flash she turned the tv off, throwing the remote onto the table before her. She forced calming breaths in, watching as the scene died away, and recognized that Burton and Everest(she could tell from the voices) had stopped talking, taking in the girl who snuck into Burton’s room. She forced a smile onto her face, though Burton looked concerned for a moment, he could read her easily, but Everest chose to take in the blankets instead, fixing her with a stare before turning his head to Burton in an almost comedic manner, akin to an owl. He opened his mouth to talk, before glancing back between Holly and Burton again, before finally settling on, “Where did she get all those?” Burton cackled for a second, and I felt my breathing return a bit, they hadn’t seemed to notice her almost panic attack. “I have no idea,” he commented, fixing Holly with a curious stare, “I don’t even own that many blankets.” Everest seemed to open his mouth again, but apparently had no response and fixed Holly with an accusing look, finally finding something to say, “I bet she stole them.” He commented, not too accusatory, but as if he already knew. She became defensive then, crossing her arms, but she tried to look at the two of them, who fixed her with questioning looks, and she collapsed back into the blankets and tapestry, a buffled response exiting her, “I borrowed them!” She meekly mumbled. Both Everest and Burton exchanged looks, before glancing back at her, but she beat them to any response, rolling her eyes, “Indefinitely,” she commented, before diving off the couch in her cocoon, and hiding in her ocean of blankets. |
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 1:12:40 GMT -5
(Those characters all look awesome I can’t wait to see them in action!  Okay okay but those two prompt oneshots were so hilarious I feel like they’re both so accurate. You can’t tell me now that Burton didn’t fall down the stairs with his cereal or that Holly didn’t steal every blanket within a mile radius. Oh my god I love it) |
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 1:31:06 GMT -5
(I don’t want to use all females, sonim considering who to use, Shadow or Lore.
I’ll probably write out something for Shadow soon, just to see what you all prefer :3.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 1:46:00 GMT -5
Ooh okay exciting x well I know I like Lore but I bet I’ll love Shadow as well XD But if you do decide you wanna have all girls then go for it!
I will probably write something for Lark but first I wanna write funny domestic scenes now)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 1:59:19 GMT -5
Okay two possible cute domestic scenes I could write-
- a cute Christmas thing
- board games!!!)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 2:22:53 GMT -5
Both sound absolutely adorable.
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 2:33:15 GMT -5
(Ahh you know I’m gonna do both then XD
I’ll probs do Christmas first)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 2:55:09 GMT -5
When the day came for Shadow to do her interview, she did so with pride. Her mother, named Viper, had won the 104th Hunger Games in a vicious manner, but in a manner that wasn’t bloodthirsty like a career, no, in a manner of revenge. Viper used the tactics that Raven used the year before, she left the younger children alone, and only killed when attacked.
When threatened, the Raven died, but the Viper strikes back. And thus, Viper won by using her cunning, by remaining alone.
When the 125th reaping came, and Shadow’s name was chosen from the pile in her district, her mother bore a face of despair, and her father shook his head in sadness. In the square, Oleander and Vesper kept their tears silent, both carried a stubborn blood that Lancaster, their grandfather, did.
On the stage, Shadow looked up with solemn eyes, she was 15, and her gaze focused on her grandparents, standing behind her own parents. Constance looked broken-hearted, but it was perhaps Lancaster’s stoic attitude he normally carried that broke her, because on his face, in his eyes, she could read an unbearable terror and pain.
And it made her scared.
—
The night of her interview was similar, she found some fright building in her chest. Catullus Acton, for some reason, made her incredibly nervous, well, many people did. But she had her reasons.
So with that, she silently walked onto stage, her stylist had put her into a simple dress, one with dark blue colors, and soft golden streaks, with little black accents to. They said it was to represent her sisters, and she frowned deeply. She watched their games, and somwhen she walked on stage, she tried not to retreat away from Catallus when he offered his hand to shake.
Her wide, green eyes flickered from him to the crowd, her ebony hair in a bun, black and gold ribbons trailing down from it. She could read people, a bit, and he seemed a bit startled too.
She shakily shook his hand, sitting when it was offered, and he greeted her, “Hello Shadow Zaldivar,” He started, and the two sat down in the stairs, across from one another, though her gaze kept flickering to the crowd, “Do you mind if I ask you some questions?” He seemed to pick up on her anxiety, offering a soft, comforting smile.
“No-yes-“ she shook her head, “Um, silly me, go ahead and ask away,” she commented with a soft laugh, nervous, but not for reasons one may assume.
“Let’s start off simple, what do you feel are your strengths?” He started, and her gaze trailed to her feet for a moment, thinking.
“I’m good with strategy, I’m pretty quiet, fast,” his eyes widened a bit, a spark of recognition in his eyes, I must have reminded him of someone, “And I’m guessing if push comes to shove, I could be Really good at hiding,” that sounded cowardly, but she laughed a little, “Or I could do what my mom did and fight, I’m not too picky, I just think this is hard to awnswer, I’m impeccably tiny and small, physical strengths don’t really bode well for me,” she joked, some of her nervousness seeming to fade ever so slightly.
“I see,” Catullus commented, glancing at the girl with a curious expression, “What do you feel is the difference between you and the other tributes?”
She quirked a brow, “I mean, we’re all about to be shipped into a big game of hide and seek with the stakes raised, you know, to dying,” She commented, before curling her hands to cross her arms and hug herself, “Other than that, we all have victors for parents.” Similarities, she kept listing them.
“Well, what about your parents inspired you, what’s pushing you to win?” He prompted, and Shadow could tell he was really trying to help her.
She smiled a bit, though a bit of mirth was in her eyes, “Well, my mom won her games, but-“ a sadness clouded her eyes then, glancing down, “Her sisters died in the games of prior years,” she commented, “I never met either of them, but-but my grandfather told me about them one day, he said he had a lot of regrets.”
Catullus furrowed his brows, from what he knew, only one of Viper’s sisters died, Raven, in the 103rd Hunger Games. But he prompted her further, “Well, what about them inspires you?”
“Raven fought hard to return home, she was dedicated to her core, and she didn’t get to return home and it broke my family’s heart,” she commented, frowning, “I don’t want to break my mom or dad’s hearts, or my grandparents or siblings hearts’.” She whispered softly, earning a soft sigh from the crowd.
“The other?”
“Oh, not even Viper met her. She was a lot like Raven, very protective, she was scared though,”
“Of what?”
Shadow winced slightly, “Of being forgotten,” she spoke aloud, and Catullus frowned deeper.
“What Games did she die in?”
Shadow didn’t respond for a moment, before looking up to meet his eyes, “You already know,” she admitted, “You were her ally afterall,”
She glanced away, the alarm ticking, just mere seconds left.
He was stunned and she couldn’t blame him.
“You know,” she started, “She was never forgotten though,” she quirked a soft smile, “You made sure of that, even if Lancaster couldn’t.” She stood up, exiting the room with those simple words.
Hint hint.
She’s not District 8, and Lancaster named all his kids with Connie in some form after Holly(even if she wasn’t dead when they were born).
And thus, Holly’s heritage continued, even if not directly through her.
But this is why Shadow looks like Holly to a heavy degree, and why I’ve always kept Holly’s dad as a stoic, short and sweet character and never gave background.
Cuz eventually I had plans to show what happened after he left Holly alone after Ivory’s death.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 3:24:43 GMT -5
Oh my god that was so amazing! And Holly’s heritage continues oh my god
Okay so writing I just HAVE to do now:
- Burton’s reaction to the whole realisation that she’s related to Holly
- Christmas and board games cute domestic things)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 3:29:15 GMT -5
(Yep.
I’m either going to do District 7 or maybe 11 or 5.
But I kind of want Shadow to be some weird personality mash-up of Macaria, Amadrya, Holly and like...maybe Halina, but a super chill version.
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 3:36:14 GMT -5
(Oh I love that idea a lot!
I could always have someone somehow related to Amadrya. Maybe she had another aunt or uncle so she has another cousin who was in the Games or something. Maybe she’d had an older sibling who died in the Games but it was before she was born so she never knew or... so many possibilities. Or maybe related to Macaria or something)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 3:46:23 GMT -5
(I’m just imagining Shadow talking to any of these characters.
As for Lorelei, I may keep the personality but make her a male instead? As to try and not overload the genders.
I may change Lore to 5 or 11, and keep Shadow as 7(unless you have plans for a 7 kid).
I honestly love these kids so far tbh.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 3:51:48 GMT -5
This is gonna be a amazing
You can keep her as a 7 kid, if I make a 7 tribute I can always make it a dude. I could just make them 2 and have them related to Macaria)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 4:02:28 GMT -5
(Oh cool.)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 4:03:20 GMT -5
(Highkey excited for kid Macaria :3.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 4:03:28 GMT -5
(I love all of your characters for this next Games I have to say
I have Lark and Lacey and then I’m not sure x I’ll have to come up with a couple more
Macaria relative is a possibility. Talking of Macaria I have that flashback for her I also have planned. I tried to write it yesterday and then I lost it. But you will be introduced to kid Macaria)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 4:07:04 GMT -5
Yay kid Macaria.
Either way, it’s exciting!
i feel bad for having four girls so Lorelei’s gonna change genders and we’re gonna pretend it’s normal.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 4:09:03 GMT -5
Haha it’s gonna be so much fun. Should I make her a sassy kid or super feral and aggressive?
Hahahahaha of course, totally normal! Don’t feel bad about having four girls though you can totally do that if you want x)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 4:15:33 GMT -5
Oh both sound fun.
I just randomly generate stuff most of the time for that stuff.
le excitement is building.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 4:22:08 GMT -5
(I know! I feel like we should do loads of 125th Games stuff now XD
Yah I’ll randomly generate. I probably won’t get kid Macaria up for a while cos I wanna go on my computer so I can put proper effort into it. But sometime soon I will do the Burton interview reaction and the cute domestic scenes)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 4:24:19 GMT -5
(You’re all good.
And yes, tons will most likely happen with the 125th games.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 4:26:24 GMT -5
I’m so excited to do more writing I have so much muse!
Yess the 125th Games will be the awesomest and I can’t wait)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 4:52:37 GMT -5
(I have tons of muse as well :3.
The hardest part. Unlike literally every single character before(where I had at least one I could kill and not contemplate it) I have no idea which one will survive(if any) and which will die first.
So there’s that.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 5:03:04 GMT -5
I’m gonna work on that Burton thing now x
Hmm I know. I feel like I don’t want both Lark and Lacey to survive, so... see there’s the sadness for Burton if Lacey dies, but then if Lark dies than he leaves his twin. I don’t know which death would be sadder)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 5:22:48 GMT -5
A statue laid in the middle of the city, a girl painted in the obsidian stone in which made up her body, her stance defensive, fearful and scared, a monument is what she stood for.
So it came as a surprise when the heroes of the city, the Capitol of the Nation called Panem, came face to face with said statue, clues of a villain named Louden, or ‘The President’ as he called himself, had led them to the statue.
A statue that, upclose, looked remarkably real, specific strands of hair floated behind her, her eyes, wide and unblinking, stared with terror and determination.
It left the group floored, staring at her.
And the statue was me.
And as soon as all of them touched my outstretched hand, the obsidian washed away, leaving me with wide eyes, dodging down before attacking the closest target.
The girl in question had sharp eyes, which stared at me in surprise, but not in fear, she quickly apprehended me, pinning me and glaring at her allies.
“The statue was a person?” Burton, a boy, questioned, and it took everything in me not to comment.
“Well, isn’t this just depressing,” Arlo responded then, “We’ll need a new statue. Wonder where she came from?”
“You people do not frighten me!” They spoke so formally, and I huffed in agitation at them, “Where are the guards?” I then demanded, rolling out of Macaria’s grasp and grabbing a small circular disk from a necklace I wore, applying pressure to a gem on it and pointing the now open blade at Macaria, the obsidian blade ready to cut.
“What guards?” Asked the youngest of their group, a girl with pale hair and chilling look to her, I assumed they were abnormals, I could sense it.
“My guards, the queen would be distraught to learn of my kidnapping!” I responded, though it was kitting me quickly.
“The queen?”
“I’m assuming we’re not in Syndicate anymore, are we?”
We weren’t.
—
Once I became more accustomed and joined them, I learned more about every single one of them.
Macaria was a deadly girl without powers, but it made her dedication twice as much. I honored this about her, she was one of the strongest on the team because of it.
Alessandro had the power of enhanced healing, meaning he could fight with less damage to himself.
The small one, Halina, whose size was close to mine, was a powerful ice mage, a hero as well.
The boy, Everest, had abilities that dealt with shields and telekinesis.
Amadrya had abilities that dealt with plants.
Burton had those with charm and illusions to do so.
Ari, the youngest boy, had an ability of telepathy and could detect when lies were told.
And together, us outcasts we’re now a team, leaving together clues of the man known as Louden.
This left me, one day, alone with Macaria and Ari, lending me to an awkward silence. I wasn’t chatty, they quickly learned, and was overly sarcastic.
Macaria broke this, side-glancing at me, before tapping her nails on the table before her, “So, What!s syndicate?”
“The current date doesn’t fit with when I lived, so Syndicate was a kingdom that existed, perhaps centuries ago,” I commented honestly, gazing at Ari. He would know if I was lying.
“Okay then-“ Macaria responded crossing her arms, “You mentioned a queen? Why does she care about you?”
“I was her heir?” I smirked, crossing my arms, “Her bloodborn daughter died close to childbirth, customs called that Eirene, the queen at the time, pick an heir from the children. She chose me despite my status as a lost one.”
“Lost one?”
“As you would call it,” I started, “I was an orphan.”
“Oh.” She commented in response, before screwing her eyes to a narrow, “So you’re a princess?”
“An heiress,” I corrected.
“Same different.”
“Not really.” I huffed. But Ari spoke next.
“Wait, If you were so important, why were you turned to obsidian?”
“The mirror,” I hummed, “The mirror turns those who the wisher wants into whatever the wisher pleases. The wisher pleased for me to be obsidian, and thus I turned to it.” It was short and curt.
“Alrighty then, how is your technology still advanced if this was 100s of years ago.”
“Because Some of us survived on our knowledge and wits instead of our phones,” I quirked, “And Anyways, I’m the only one who can use the weapon,” I added, levitating the disc in my palm.
“How?”
I didn’t really respond. Just closed my eyes and grabbed Ari’s hand, letting myself control his body for a moment, “It’s like this, I can control you, but I can’t make you use a power you don’t have.”
After that lesson, no one asked me much else, instead they left me alone.
I didn’t care much, at all.
(A crappy tiny superhero fic cuz the randomizer picked it and I wanted it to be unique.)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Sept 2, 2019 5:25:42 GMT -5
(Also it’s 5:30am and I need sleep, so goodnight.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 5:35:16 GMT -5
(That was not crappy it was awesome and I loved it! It was so cool and unique and I love the whole idea. Also it was such a clever idea to have Macaria have no powers but being twice as dedicated because of it, that fits her so incredibly well! Okay! I thought it must be really late for you x have a good sleep! When you next come online there’ll be lots of writing to greet you ) |
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Sept 2, 2019 6:22:29 GMT -5
I try right from the start of the interview to put a young girl at ease who I can tell instantly is very nervous. It’s my job to make her seem like a competitor to the sponsors, and so I’m doing everything I can to make that happen. Something seems oddly familiar about the girl as she takes a seat next to me.
Putting those thoughts aside, I ask her if it’s alright to ask her some questions in an effort to calm her nerves. And then when she agrees, I ask Shadow what her greatest strength. A pretty standard question but hopefully one which will draw her out of her shell, give her some confidence. It also allows the sponsors to get anfeel for her personality and to see where her skills lie. An ideal question to start with for Shadow.
When she answers, saying she’s fast, quiet, and good at strategy, my stomach twists as a flash of recognition lights my brown eyes. My eyes, about the only part of me that hasn’t changed at all. She sounds just like Holly, and well... her appearance... it reminds an awful lot of her. It’s almost as if after all these years I’m being forced to confront this girl and everything I did after her death that would have disappointed her. If there’s an afterlife, I’d be shocked if Holly wasn’t watching this right now.
I think more about this connection as I ask her about the differences between her and the other tributes. The way she quirks a brow is exactly the same way Holly used to. I ask about Shadow’s parents, since she seems to be growing more confident now. I’m trying to help her as much a I can, promoting her to talk about the things that’ll help her get sponsors. Reminding everyone of her victor family will help.
The mention of Raven brings back memories for me. The 103rd Games was the last one I hosted before I returned back to my own district, and I remember the girl. She’d been eighteen, if I remember rightly. The same age I’d been the first time I presented the Games. Raven had reminded me of Holly too, and watching her die had partly been what prompted me to try and see if I could go home. I couldn’t watch Holly die all over again.
But when she answers she talks about two siblings, and my brows furrow. I only knew of one aunt of Shadow’s who’d died in the Games, Raven. So who was this other girl? I have a strange feeling about this. Is the resemblance more than coincidence? More than the universe just playing some kind of cruel joke?
“The other?” I ask, my stomach knotting even more.
She says the others sister was a lot like Raven, very protective. And my memories of Raven are of a girl who was incredibly like Holly in many ways. But then Shadow says that the other sister was scared.
“Of what?” I ask
But I already know. I know what Holly’s worst fear was, and so I could have said the words along with Shadow if I’d wanted to. She only confirmed what I already now knew.
“Of being forgotten.”
I swallow, looking down for a moment, shifting my glance uncertainly back to the camera just for a moment before returning my gaze to Shadow. I have to be sure, I need to know. It’ll kill me if I’m right, but I’ll always wonder if I don’t ask.
I almost stutter when I ask the question, my voice uncharacteristically nervous and shaky.
“What Games did she die in?” I ask
And I could swear my heart stops when Shadow speaks again.
“You already know,” she says “you were her ally after all.”
And it’s like my heart is breaking again. I try to speak but no words come out and so I turn away from the camera for a moment in an effort to collect myself. A second or two later I am silently sitting with my head in my hands.
Holly. She did have family, at least of some sort. And I can’t help but think about the fact that now either my daughter dies or Holly’s niece does. Somehow, the universe has managed to screw both of us over once again. No matter how old we get, how much we change, even if we die, the truth seems to be that there’s still no way for either of us to escape the Games.
What hits me so hard though is her fear of being forgotten. I was the only one who could have remembered her and kept her memory alive. And sure, I spoke out once or twice because I thought of her and I wanted to make her proud. I wanted to remember her. But on the whole? I’ve betrayed everything she stood for, and went back to my district and moved on with my own family. I never stopped thinking of her, but what did I really do to remember her.
But Shadow’s next words make me lift my head, telling me that Holly was never forgotten and that I made sure of that. I give the girl a weak smile.
“Thank you,” I say as I watch her stand and leave “I couldn’t ever forget her. I’m here because of her.”
At least Holly, even though she died, she can know that she made an impression on the world. Something is different because she was here. I know I need to do more to make her proud, and to protect her niece and my daughter. I don’t care what sacrifices I have to make. I might be getting old but that doesn’t mean I can’t do what I should have done when I was a teenager. I can hear the crowd, who seem to have been hit hard emotionally too. The interviews with Shadow, with Lacey, it seems to have affected them quite a lot.
Things feel different this year.
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