Chapter Text
Today's the day.
The Reaping. Harvest Festival. Or whatever the hell the Capitol calls it.
District tributes—what the Capitol calls us—12 to 18-year-old children drawn by name from a cold glass bowl. Victims or "pigs" waiting to be slaughtered fit more than tributes.
Living in the 'poorer districts' often meant skipping meals or not even eating at all.
How cunning the Capitol can be. In "good grace", they offer tesserae. An extra portion of grains and oil until the next sign up. Enough to keep you alive, not enough to fulfill. Not to mention, tastes like barf. Disgusting. Their 'fair' trade? Your fucking life in the bowl.
I heard someone has a near total of 140 entries. What a reckless, desperate child.
...I'm that child.
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In my neighbourhood, I am known as the "Snake Seller". Name already suggests what I barter: snake-related goods. Meat, oil, leather scraps. Things the Capitol sees as "barbaric". The Peacekeepers here don't seem to care much about my operation; either they receive their tax in forms of my goods, or let the snakes overrun the agriculture. Without me, there'd be no crop left to harvest.
5 hours left before the actual Reaping. Just enough time for me to sell my goods. A small precaution, in case those 140 entries finally caught up to me in my final year.
I set up my stall inside The Barrel, customers immediately lined themselves up. Waiting patiently.
"Hello, Margie. What is it today?" I ask the child, no older than 8, with a soft smile.
Margie, dressed in tattered clothes, tiptoed to place her trade on my table. Her eyes darting between myself and the oil, pushing her offering forward.
"One snake oil, please! And my trade is...cardinal flower!" She beamed with that innocent smile.
"Oh? Didn't you offer this last time?" I teased, handing her the small jar of oil, placing the flower on my right side of the table.
"Maybeeee...you just seem to like them!" Margie countered playfully, putting the goods in her small satchel.
"Observant. I do like them! But remember, be careful when handling flowers. Understood?" I gently reprimanded.
"Mhm! I'm clean this time!" She chirped, showing me her small itch-free hands. She made sure I checked her hands and I did.
"Well done, Margie! Proud of ya. Now, you best get going. Can't have your parents worrying." I gently waved her off with a smile.
She nods before happily skipping away. I noticed her hands holding the satchel steady, preventing the goods from moving constantly.
Costumer by costumer, my goods began to dwindle. First the oil. Then the meat. Finally the handcrafted leather. All gone within 3 hours.
Carrying the traded goods in my bag, I began my walk home. The soft breeze blowing my hair gently, cooling me down during sunny days. While enjoying the view, my ears picked up footsteps trying so hard not to be noticed. I stopped, bent down and pretended to tie my shoelaces. The person knew I was onto them, I think. I don't hear them walking any closer.
"Tch, better not be that damn Peacekeeper." I said internally while standing up.
I turned around to look. Lo and behold, Alex, stood right in front of me.
"AH! FUCK! STOP DOING THAT!" I screamed at the sudden jumpscare of closeness, almost recoiling back.
The masked man laughed. Sounding deep and almost husky. The fucking audacity.
A soft amused groan escapes my lips before kicking dirt at his direction, "You're an asshole, you know? Scaring me for what?"
"It's fun. Kills time." He answered bluntly, still amused at my...reaction.
"Tch, and you decided to pick me as your target?" I say annoyed after experiencing it a handful of times. I begin walking away, knowing he'll follow.
His steps ushered before slowing down once he's beside me, matching my pace. The walk is silent. Comfortable even.
"So," I broke the silence, "what exactly brings you this far out? Need more goods?"
"...No. Just...worried." He answered, his voice carrying actual worry. It scares me.
"About not getting any women?" I joked, testing if it's actual worry or not.
His feet planted down, making me stop to face him, tilting my head up to look at him.
"About you." He confessed. Even though the helmet is covering his face, I know enough that he's telling the truth.
"Why? What did my sibl-" I got cut off.
"Nothing, your siblings are behaving. Finally. No extra ballots for you." He interjects, making me sigh of relief from the good news.
"Then what? Afraid I'm getting picked this time?" I raised a brow, looking at him, testing the waters.
"One hundred forty-five entries, that's how much you have." He said, voice flat.
"Pshh, so? I haven't been called for the past 6 years." I shrugged, "Even if I was picked, it was just a matter of time."
His body language is stiff, almost as if anticipating my response. His hand grabbed my wrist, letting him drag me somewhere. And I let him.
We stop at a secluded area, away from any prying eyes and ears. I waited for an explanation on why he dragged me here. He sets his weapon down, taking his helmet off, holding it by his hips.
"Fuck! Forgot he's hot." I gushed internally, gawking at his young, annoyingly perfect face.
"Your face never ceases to amaze me." I grinned before furrowing my brows, "Why are we here? Why the helmet off?"
"I....uh...wanted to take a good look at you. Just in case you get picked." He said, his ear turning slight pink, eyes barely looking at mine.
My eyes did a slow-frog blink, my brain too smart but also too dumb to process. It was quiet for a few good seconds. Until....my mouth opened.
"Sculpt me like your Capitol girls then." I blurted out, no clue what I just said.
He stares at me.
I stare back.
....
.......
"You say the most random shit." He sighs softly.
"...Sooooo..." I start, swaying back and forth slightly, "other than your face, anything you wanna give me before I go and get ready?"
Alex chuckled softly, raking his finger over his hair, disheveling his perfectly messy hair.
"You never cease to amaze me." His face plastered an adorable smile I didn't know a Peacekeeper could make. "But here, from me." He reaches to his pockets, taking out a silver steel ring.
"You proposing, baby?" I teased, loving how easily flustered he is despite being trained to be ruthless and unemotional.
"S-shut up." He grumbled softly, hastily placing the ring on my palm. "I just want you to have it." He closed my palm for me, ensuring I didn't chuck it away or drop the ring.
I gave an endearing smile, my cheeks up, corners of my eyes crinkling. "I'll be sure to treasure it." I said, clasping the ring. Maybe tossing it in the air, watching his eyes fill with worry if I'll drop it or not.
"I..have nothing to give back..." I trailed off, catching the ring and worrying about how to repay him.
To him, this is one of those rare moments of me being actually worried. And I'm worried about reciprocating gifts instead of worrying about my damn life on the line.
"Worry about it after the announcements, yeah?" His hand brushed my hair back behind my ear before putting his helmet back on, grabbing his weapon.
"U-uh, yes yes. Definitely." I stammered in....I don't even know, "I....m gonna go get ready then."
I quickly left the area, pocketing the ring while making my way home. I can feel him smirking from the back of my head. Typical.
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"I'm back!" I announced, closing the door behind me by kicking it with my dust free boots. I went to my still healthy grandparents', taking their hands in mine as I press them against my forehead.
I then began arranging the traded goods in the pantry. As I do, footsteps came down. Multiple footsteps. Tiny ones. With their initial giggles, crying and complaining.
"So, what did you get today?" Mother asked while trying to do little Blossom's hair who's clearly trying to evade the brush.
"Some flour, oil, spices, rice, cured meat, and.....trinkets!" I say, standing up and turning around, waving the small wooden toy in front of Blossom, making her sit still before handing it over.
"That's good." Mother smiles, finishing the little one's hair in a cute pigtail bun before taking off to play with the others.
"Where's Rue? Did she finish-?" I didn't even get to finish my sentence before she bursts open the front door, Thresh behind her.
"My god, this tiny girl runs fast." Thresh said between short breaths, making Rue flip her hair playfully.
"My bestie finally wants to see me." I scoffed jokingly, handing him a glass of water, which he took in big gulps.
"So, what did Rue make you do now?" I ask, leaning on the doorframe with my arms crossed.
Thresh wiped his lips first, placing the glass in the sink before complaining, "That little meanie, asked me to get a 'special' flower in the South Orchards. Followed to check, only to get bird poop on me. And there wasn't any blooming flowers!"
My eyes drifted to Rue who tried to hold her laughter in but failed. She explodes into laughter, clutching her stomach and the chair for support. Some of small children joined Rue's laughing frenzy while some of us just smiled at the scene.
"Ha. Ha. Funny." Thresh tried to act serious but he's already cracking a smile.
"Aweee, poor Bird Boy." I teased as I hand him a small vial of perfume, "Just in case bathing doesn't remove the smell." Which he gratefully accepts before bidding farewell to get ready for the Reaping as well.
I turn to Rue, "You, little Flower, are a troublemaker. Get ready or I'm not making your perfume anymore." scolding her gently.
She groaned softly, "Yes, 'motherrr'."
"Good. Now, go on, young lady." I waved my hand, mocking a snobby Capitol.
Mother playfully swats Rue's back as she made her way towards the bathroom, making her giggle and run.
"So glad I'm not getting kids." I laughed with mother, helping her with her hair as we talked.
"Maybe. You know what it brings: loud, chaos, joy, makes you wanna rip your hair off. Lots of mixed emotions. Depends if you want any, really. All up to you, my dear." She said, patting my hand back.
My arms wrapped around her shoulder, despite working in the fields, it stayed soft. I placed a peck on her temple, "Thank you for taking me in. I know I say it often but I still mean every single one."
"You're a blessing for us. We should be thanking you." She turns around, hugging me back as she whispers tenderly, "I love you like my own child."
"..." I didn't say anything, nothing is needed to be said. I just returned her embrace.
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Standing with the other 18 year olds at the back in the girl's section, we all felt the sun's deadly warmth. All dressed in our 'best' attires. My eyes darted between my companions, Rue and Thresh, giving them a slight smile.
A man with slick black hair in flamboyant, frilly clothing came forward to the mic. His smile wide enough to be used as a boomerang.
"Welcome! Welcome, welcome!" He spoke, loud and too cheery for our impending doom.
"Before we start, I would like everyone to watch the screen above me. A special program from our President Snow!" He continued before looking up at the screen, clasping his hands as if praying to him.
With the amount of times I've heard the same reused shitty "special program", I naturally zoned it out. My gaze staring at the screen but eyes and ears aren't picking up signals. Just an empty, static head while fidgeting with the ring inside my pockets while sweat trickled down my temples. I sweat easily.
"....May the odds be ever in your favour." The man followed, almost...orgasming from that line, I suppose. "I just love that bit!"
"Ahem! Now, we shall begin the Reaping. As usual, ladies first." He said before dipping his hand in the bowl, taking the tape off to read the name, "Rue Barnette."